Body Cast

eek I decided I was wanting to do a body cast for this munchkin. Cora had many ultrasounds and we had many pictures of her before she got here. Lili isn't going to have the pictures so when I found this idea I thought it would be a great keepsake for her.

I did an internet search about them and figured we didn't have time to get a "kit" and get it here in time so I sent Trent out while he was in Tri-Cities to find a kit but there was none to be found. He went to four stores before Micheal's Craft Store and found the plaster wrap we needed and I got the petrolatum jelly at Bi-Mart on one of my trips.

Wednesday night we had time to sit down and do it. Most of the things I had found online said it would take 20-30 minutes. It was a bit longer than that.... and I thought I was going to fall off the chair. But the final piece looks pretty good. I am not sure how I want to decorate it or if I want to yet - and we still need to cut it down a little to make the sides even.

Here are the photos that Trent took tonight after its had the two days to sit and harden up. Its cell phone pics so until we get a better camera (its supposed to be here on the 6th) these will have to do. I hope the camera gets here before the baby!





That's all for now.

No news is... well, news at least.

The only real data I have for you is the belly measurement, blood pressure, and heart beat of baby.  40, 160/80, and averaging 170's.

What, you want more?  I'm not sure I have anything else to report.  No changes to the dilation from last week.  Lili is still trying to test her limits (much to the chagrin of Darby) - but it looks (and I'm told "feels") like she's definitely settled head down. 

We're probably going to invest some time in setting up a phone tree for details (so I'm not having to call everyone...)  So, some of you may get a phone call from someone you don't quite recognize with the details.  Cool?  If you want to be notified via a phone call, shoot me an email so I know to put you on the list.  If I don't have your number, or have 2 numbers for you - I'll say something.  Probably should do this pretty quick like...

When the moon is in the 7th house..

What is it about music references lately?  I dunno - been one of those months.

Anyway, this weeks appointment was easy.  A few minutes in "the chair" while Darby did her NST.  A few minutes with the Dr. and that's about it.


Top band is the contraction sensor and the bottom band is the heartbeat monitor.  Heartbeat was bouncing between 130 and 170 with no real contractions while she was in the chair. 

Belly measurement was 38cm, but the Dr. thinks that measurement is going to go down as Lili drops more.  Speaking of which, I got a strange phone call from Darby yesterday afternoon - the gist of it was "she's dropped more - you know how I know?  I was able to eat lunch!"

No dilation so far.

Until next week...

Dancing Queen

"You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen"

Right.  So after three weeks of a small bag of rabid weasels running around inside Darby's belly (her analogy, not mine), Lili seems to have settled into a head down position.  The Dr. was pretty sure of it with the physical exam, and brought in the machine that goes "ping" to prove it to Darby.

Funny story - at the appointment on the 2nd, we were talking about how there's some study talking about foot pain causing babies to turn.  Friday the 5th, Darby damn near broke her toe (so much so we went to the walk-in clinic to make sure it wasn't).  Swelling and purple bruises later (and some more toe-kicking) things are looking better, both for the toe and for the position... Coincidence?  :)

Salient details.  36cm belly, baby's heartbeat in the 130's, if she went into labor today they wouldn't do anything to stop her.  They made her do a NST, and it was funny to watch the changes to Lili's heartbeat when Cora would enter and exit the room (it didn't help that little miss sunshine #1 didn't nap yesterday and was in "a mood").

We also took a tour of the birth center over at the hospital and got pre-registered, so now when she goes into labor, we can skip all the paperwork.

Questions?

Update for March 2nd Dr. Appt

The good:
Darby's weight is down 2 pounds from last checkup, blood pressure is a good 120/60 (almost saintly considering the night we had - Cora was running a slight fever and didn't want to sleep).  Belly measurement is "about 35 to 36cm" - yeah we're only officially at 34 weeks... hmmmm.  Heartbeat of baby was in the high 130's.

The bad:
We start doing NST's next appointment.  (For those of you just joining us, NST or "Non Stress Test" is something the did for Darby when she was pregnant with Cora.  It's used to measure heartbeat and movement of baby to make sure things are going ok.  They did it for Cora because Darby was being treated for Gestational Diabetes (also a great Scrabble word...).  Darby passed the tests this go around, and the Dr. admitted he may have been a little too worried about Darby's numbers this time - her's blood sugars are good).

The ugly:
Lili has shifted again.  Dr. thinks she might be "foot breach" but he's not too worried yet.  We're only at 34 weeks.  If she's still not sitting right at the next appointment, that's when things get interesting.  There's a few options available at that point that don't include C-Section - so we'll burn that bridge when we get there.

That's all I have for an update - I'll leave any other details to the wife.  :)

On the move....

Had a good appt yesterday. Weight is 2-3 more lbs in 2 weeks. A bit faster than I want but of no real concern. Didn't get the belly measurement this time. I got distracted with the quick ultrasound as we couldn't quite figure out what direction she was. I knew she wasn't head down anymore. A couple of nights ago there was some sort of spacial argument in my belly and she is now sideways or transverse. The ultrasound showed her head to the left (if looking down from the top) and butt to the right. That would explain the different shape I am sporting now. But with hands, legs and feet down its a bit rough on my bladder and anything else that is down there. Sometimes it feels like she is moving some where in the thigh area. There is no real concern about her position yet. Still have 7 weeks or so to go.

Had a quick blood test to see if my thyroid meds are still at the right levels. We will know in a couple of days. Other than that there is another appt in two weeks and I think that is one where we starting doing a NST here and there. (NST= non stress test) Had a crap ton of those with Cora so all it entails is laying with a blood pressure cuff and belly monitors on for 1/2 hour to see what the baby is doing.

Name clarification for those in desperate need of closure :p Liliana Abigail (now we just have to hope that fits when she comes out but I think its set) Most likely Lili for short.

Cora update:
She started a Creative Movement class (pre ballet sort of thing) yesterday. She had a total blast! She has been telling me for weeks that she wants to be a ballerina so we have made her a tutu and now this class has started. Found out about it from a friend of mine. They didn't have any classes for the 2 year old age range and the classes they did have started at 3-5 years. Now anyone who has had kids or observed them at all knows they will start dancing as soon as their walking if they are exposed to it. So it was requested that a younger class be offered and this is a trial run but after yesterday I think it is going to be a hit.

Other than all that its pretty quiet here.... Any questions?

10 weeks to go...

We had a Dr.s appt today. We went from one a month to three weeks (for one appt) and now we are going every other week. So more updates! In two weeks we will have another.
No more planned ultra sounds for now so we might not have the picture collection we had with Cora.

The baby is head down and doing well. My kick counts are usually done in 1-10 minutes. She is an active baby! Heart beat was at 160. Tummy measurement was 31.

I have gained two pounds in the last three weeks. I was disappointed with it but the Dr was happy with that and when I grumbled a little I was told I did need to gain some weight. This puts me at 9 lbs total gain so far. Guess I can't complain though!

I am on a generic version of pepsid. Acid reflux feels like an understatement. Every time I laid down I would have food and or acid at the top of my throat if not all the way up. It has been like that for the last week. No matter what I ate, how much or when it would creep up and I would occasionally throw up at 2am. I had been popping tums like a mad woman which lead to my earlier problem. This will help so much!

I still have "morning sickness". I am thinking I am going to be having it to the end. Oh well there are good and bad days and sometimes its just easier just to throw up. Although Cora has moved into this space where things "scare her". We aren't sure where that has come from but as I was throwing up today I kept telling her it was ok and mommy was just sick (I usually get "again??") When I came out of the bathroom I was told I had scared her. Wonder how that is all going to go.....

Everything else is going well so far.... the house is off the market now so stress has lowered. We will hope the bank will keep the mortgage at the lowered rate. If not we believe the paper work says we will be able to do a deed in lieu instead and be out from under it one way or another. If the payments stay at the adjusted rate we plan to stay in the house at least for a few years. I don't really want to move with a new baby again. So fingers crossed!

Anything else Honey?