37 Weeks

FULL TERM!  Whoa!  Where did these past 37 weeks go!?  Don't mind the fat arms and bloated face... I think this is what pregnancy is suppose to look like at 37 weeks... right??  haha... If not, just say yes.  Thank you!  And look at Bay-Bay!  She is getting so big.  She has more than doubled in size since we brought her home now (8 weeks ago)... we brought her home right under 10lbs.  She is a little over 20 lbs now!!  I can no longer carry her comfortably.  We are very much looking forward to introducing her to her little bud, Sal very SOON! 

So.... we had our doctor visit which included a little ultra sound to see how Sal is positioned.... And now I feel like that damn rib pain is finally explained!! His noggin has been nestled right under my right rib all this time!  His head is up towards my right side, his little booty is resting on the bottom right side, and his little kicking feet continue to bang in to the bottom left side of my belly (a very tender area!).  He has been moving A TON since the dr apt but I am not totally convinced yet that he will completely flip.  I wonder if as I continue to drop he can wiggle out from the ribs and turn but I am trying to not stress over it....   The doctor said there is still some chance he will flip, but I am guessing he has been in this position for months explaining the inflamed rib!  The other option was ECV (external cephalic version) which is where the doctor and a specialist monitor the baby while trying to move him in your belly into the right position for a natural delivery.  Since I had already a HUGE hunch that Sal's head was up (I have been telling Tyler that this large "limb" pushing out of the top of my belly is too big to be a foot or hand so I was CONVINCED it was his head!), I had done my homework.  #1.  This process. ECV, works about 58% of the time for a 2nd baby... not so successful for a first pregnancy since the uterus is so tight.... #2. Another thing that drew me away from this is that while they are pushing and turning, they can cause labor by detaching the uterus/placenta or stress Sal enough that they would have to do an emergency C section right away.  No thanks, would rather plan a C section while he is not under a whole bunch of stress from people invading his territory!  #3.  Also, I heard/read it was very painful and uncomfortable.  I already feel like the inside of my tummy is bruised and there are parts that are tender to the touch, so I cannot IMAGINE two people pushing all over my belly and turning Sal...  So all in all... there must be a reason he is positioned the way he is and I suppose we just work with what we got and be thankful that we live in a day and age that they can deliver him via C section rather a breech natural delivery...(Thank God!) 

So.. like the doctor ordered, we scheduled the C section in the week before the due date.  In fact, Daddy asked for the earliest possible opening on Monday!  (Someone is EXCITED to hold the little guy!)  Daddy even said in the doctor office how either way, he won't be able to sleep the night before.  haha.  I am so excited that Tyler is on cloud nine.  And honestly, it sucks that I will not be able to hold Sal right away, but I am so happy that it means the WORLD to Tyler that he gets to be the first to hold him.  I cannot wait to see the smile on Tyler's face.  So, I am sure we will have our bags packed at the door and ready to go before the weekend of the September 8th, and I am sure Tyler and I will not get any sleep the night of the 9th... because shortly after 10am on September 10th, 2012 we will have our little Salvatore in our arms! 

Exercising?   Got SOME walking in this week...(Baya was getting her workouts in Doggy-Day-Care with all the big dogs!) but with all the cleaning and organizing we did with the house, I honestly feel like I ran a marathon!!  SO SORE and tired!  

Maternity clothes?  Popped over to Old Navy... got some very comfy large pants and tops for after the C section.  The pants are a VERY thin sweat pant with a band that can be very low or very high to work around an incision.... and the tops are  the same material with buttons down the front to accommodate for feeding.  Also going to look for a couple maxi dresses at Walmart... and of course... getting some hot granny panties to accommodate for the healing and the scar after Sal is born.  Watch out, hide your husbands and your sons, I will be one hot mama!  (wink wink)  

Sleeping?   I WISH.... I am just absolutely exhausted 24/7 right now.  Pretty sure I have Restless Leg Syndrome and it is one of the most annoying symptoms that I have had yet in these 37 weeks.  Tyler has had this for years, and I FINALLY understand how disturbing it is now... It is not painful at all, in fact, I cannot explain to you what it "feels" like... but let me tell you - I flail all over the place for like an hour before I even fall asleep.  Then I wake up shortly after to go potty and do it all over again.... The only thing painful about it is missing the MUCH NEEDED sleep from CONSTANTLY having to move... and then using every muscle to move... and then TRYING to sleep on one side although it hurts because I can't sleep on the other side, just to be annoyed enough by the restless legs and turning into a whole new position... ya, I feel like a fish out of water and I wonder how Tyler sleeps through a beached whale shaking the bed with every move.   Wish someone could just sedate me for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep before Sal arrives.   

Missing Anything?   Sleep.  Something I know I will miss for a very long time but I have been a total b!tch this week!!  So I apologize to anyone that I might have snapped at... just really missing sleep right now....  

Food cravings?   Cold Cold Cold... for the last couple weeks I have really noticed that I love VERY COLD foods and drinks... must be why I have turned a huge ice cream fan.  I can't get my water cold enough and once the ice melts, I don't want to drink it anymore.   

Heartburn?  Just a little acid reflux... nothing too bad!    

Anything making you queasy or sick?  Eating too much!  HAHA.   I still am having a hard time eating a full meal.. I mean, I do it, but after I feel like it might all come back up.     

This Weeks Symptoms?  So the Restless Leg Syndrome bothers me at night a lot, but it is also very present during the day at work when I am sitting at my desk... I just want to move my legs and arms all day... nothing can SIT STILL!  Haha... it is not painful, just extremely annoying!  Also feeling the BLOAT.  Just feeling really chunky... not "fat" chunky, more like balloon chunky.... haha... it is NOT a heavy feeling, so it is hard to explain...  you just feel extra gooshy all over...  Like someone needs to put a pin in you and let some air out...   

Any Movement?  A ton... not any that makes me think he has flipped, but I do question it now every time he is moving and every time I feel a limb/body part... I wonder, okay, is this still the head?  Maybe it is a foot now?  What would it take to get my own little ultra sound device so I can keep my eye on him 24/7!?!?  It sucks not knowing what is what!!    

 Labor Signs?   Nada... no braxton hix contractions... nothing is going on downstairs either... which is good now that we are not using that area anymore anyway.... 

Belly Button: in or out?  What belly button?     

Wedding rings on or off?   Real ring still off... and still wearing my fake one. Haha.   

Overall Mood this week?  Haha...  I was one big fat crab ass.... it think the news of C section early in the week set it off and the restless leg syndrome/lack of sleep took it from there... I was so bummed out about the C section.  I think recovery (natural or C section) scares me the most, and now adding on to the time that I will be recovering is a bummer... I do feel the best option is the C section and I want Sal to come out healthy so that is all that matters.  Although there are many down sides to the C section over the natural birth, we were trying to talk about all the great attributes of this situation...  - Hopefully my water wont break before then in some crazy place like the grocery store or at work! - We KNOW we get to meet him on the 10th instead of WAITING for him to make the call! - He will have a nice round head, hopefully... unless those ribs had a say. - I can wear makeup and look pretty for my first picture with Sal. - Not having to question if I could have mustered through hours of labor without a C section as a result anyway. - Having a PLAN and set schedule (I love being able to be in control!).   

Looking forward to?  Well... pretty much TWO weeks away from the finish line here.... so that is TRULY what I am looking forward to.... I am feeling accomplished at home and I feel very ready to bring Sal home.  I am feeling pretty anxious to be done with the pregnancy  and most of all very excited to have Salvatore here with his family.  I know many of his family members are very anxious to meet him as well!    

Pit of the week?  Discovering that Sal is breech.  That was a curve ball.  But we are going to be fine!    

Peak of the week?  The last baby shower was held this Sunday at our house by the Foti's.  It was another shower well done!  Salvatore got MANY GREAT books and lots of diapers along with an abundance of sports wear and some very awesome gifts off the registry.  Oh and I can't forget the 3 legged gator, stuffed animal (family inside joke)... Sal is going to be ONE lucky little guy and we will make sure he knows it!  It is amazing to feel so taken care of by family and friends... there are VERY few items that Tyler and I need to purchase before Sal's arrival and it is minimal compared to the MANY gifts and clothes we have received.  We cannot thank family and friends enough for all the love and generosity.  We feel so loved and we cannot wait for Sal to meet all the amazing people that we are surrounded by! 

The house is DONE... I should take pictures of what we have been working on over the last couple months... too bad I don't have any "before" pics, so I don't know that it would really matter.  It just feels great to feel accomplished and READY for anything now.  

Starting the countdown!  As of Monday (tomorrow) morning at 10am, we will be exactly TWO weeks shy of Sal's arrival!  It's almost hard to get too excited, because what if we do the count down and get SUPER amped, go in for the C section, and find out he is flipped and then we will be playing the damn waiting game... But in the mean time... we are so ready to meet this kid!!   

Make it a great week everyone!
Much Love, Jax