36 Weeks

Okay y'all, I finally figured out how to adjust the settings on this blog (Anissa, you should be so proud - I didn't even have to call you!) and now it is possible to leave comments without signing up for anything! Happy days are here again... Anyway, please leave comments! I feel so lonely... Just kidding. But really do start leaving comments. I had the wonderful Becky Milam test it for me, and joy of joys it actually worked!

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My C-Section has been moved up - I am now scheduled to have Baby Dolton on April 13th! Of course, that is also Friday the 13th... Maybe I should name him Michael? Just kidding! My lovely Aunt Sandy reminded me that April thirteenth was my great-grandmother's birthday - Gramma Askins was born in the year 1900. There's got to be something lucky about being born exactly 107 years after your great-great-grandmother, eh? So let's see, it is currently 7:43 am on the 29th of March, and my C-Section is scheduled for 7:30 am... I have 14 days, 23 hours, and 47 minutes left of this pregnancy! Nothing like counting down the time... Wonder if I should figure up the seconds? Ha ha!

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After my O.B. appointment last Friday (March 23rd), I once again had to get a non-stress test, and collect my urine for 24 hours. I'm starting to think my doc has a pee fetish... Anyway, the test results were fine. They said the baby looked great - I looked like crap, but the baby looked great. The nurse was saying how bad my ankles looked, but they were actually better than they had been! I did, however, get put on modified bed rest. Ugh. I have to lay down (not sit) for four hours throughout the day - morning, lunchtime, afternoon, and evening. So not looking forward to this! I also was told no shopping, be it for the baby or even just groceries; no exercise; no house work; and no sex (not a problem there!). I'm only supposed to drive when absolutely necessary, such as getting to the doctor's office. I guess Ryan will be walking home from school from now on!

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I'm having another shower this Saturday - its a diaper shower! Everyone is just bringing diapers as gifts. Way cool, right? I'm pretty excited about it. Adreanne and Beth are throwing this one - they were worried about having it at my house instead of one of theirs, but since I'm on stinking bed rest now, it has totally worked out for the best. I was happy to have it here anyway, just so I didn't have to lug everything home again!

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Once again, from www.babycenter.com:

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"Your baby is still putting on the pounds — about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds and is a little less than 19 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the creamy substance that covered and protected his skin during its submersion in amniotic fluid. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, which will stay in his bowels until birth. This blackish mixture, called meconium, will become his first bowel movement.

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"At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Babies between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full-term; a baby born before 37 weeks is pre-term and after 42 is post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position by now, which is optimal for a smooth delivery, but if he isn't in the next week, your provider may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying he'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position manually, by manipulating him from the outside of your belly."

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Ouch! That last part makes me glad I'm having a C-section! As for what I'm experiencing now, it goes on to say:

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"While your baby continues to grow and crowd your internal organs, you may find that you're not as hungry as you were a few weeks ago. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to drop down lower in your pelvis. This dropping — called lightening or engagement — is more likely to happen before labor if this is your first baby. When it does, though, you may feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, making walking increasingly uncomfortable. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs, or as if the baby is going to fall out (Don't worry, he won't!).

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"You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are a little more frequent now. Be sure to review with your practitioner exactly when and where to call him when you think your labor has started. As a general rule, you should call when you start having regular contractions coming every five minutes for about an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you're not yet 37 weeks and have signs of preterm labor. You should also call without delay if your water breaks (or if you even think you're leaking amniotic fluid), if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, severe headaches, abdominal pain, or changes in your vision.

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"Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying during your final month, when you're more likely to go into labor. In fact, many airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within seven or sometimes 30 days of the flight."

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The official countdown has now begun - T-minus 15 days and counting...

35 Weeks

My shower was wonderful! Thanks to Patti Deiter, Robin Lovelace, Debbie Harper, Kathy Neher, Denise Clary, and Jane Ford for hosting it, and extra thanks to Patti for having it in her beautiful home. Here are the pictures I promised last post... (click on any image to enlarge)

Many thanks also go to everyone who attended. I know I am blessed with the most wonderful friends, but was still surprised at the generosity that was poured over the baby and me. Once I got everything home, it looked a bit like Babies 'R' Us exploded in my living room... I actually sat down and cried at how much love was given with each gift!

Putting everything away was so much fun! All the tiny onesies, socks, toys...

Lots of adorable outfits and hats from Adreanne Ethridge, along with days of the week onesies and a beautiful metal picture frame with magnetic booties;

A stuffed classic eeyore from Anissa and Mrs. Core;

A wipe warmer, diaper wipes, and a hand and foot print set from Beth and Mydia Freeman;

A set of puppy dog clothes, a baby einstein outfit, and a rain forest car mirror from Bob and Stacey Golden;

These beautiful picture frames and a car seat from Bopper and Birdie;

Puppy dog onesies, a hat and booties set, an adorable baseball outfit, and a baby einstein video from Cheryl Humphreys;

Diapers, onesies, toys, washcloths, diaper disposal bags, and a winnie the pooh blanket from Cindy, Nate, and Nikolas Harmer and Pricilla, Mike, and Lauren Tubbs;

A Diaper Genie II and Sounds and Lights baby monitor from the Deiter's;

This soothing spa and shower baby bath tub from Jana Atchley and her mom Carol Dutton, and the diaper cake, mum, onesies, washcloths, and towels from Jana as well;


A classic pooh outfit with matching socks, a boppy cover, and baby einstein blocks from Julie Shahan;


Two cute onesies and a pair of camo pants, along with a baby einstein toy from Kelly and Emily McCaskill (soon-to-be aunt and cousin!);


This baby einstein block set from Kiki Short;


This stroller, baby soap, baby powder, and no more rash ointment from Patti Deiter, Robin Lovelace, Debbie Harper, Kathy Neher, Denise Cleary, and Jane Ford; the hand-made diaper bag from Kathy Neher along with the diapers, wipes, and teething toys; and the bibs and baby's first silverware set from Denise Cleary;


A stuffed classic tigger and winnie the pooh hat and socks from Lauren Warmack;

This vibrating bouncer from Marja McCart;


This exquisite hand-made baby afghan from Mary Ray James;


A cute giraffe outfit with matching hat and socks, along with Baby Dolton's first pair of sandals, from Melody Gevaza;

This co-sleeper bassinet that attaches to the side of my bed, and later turns into a play yard from Nana and Papa;

A baby einstein play mat and first aid kit from the Prochaska's;

Baby Dolton's 'coming home' outfit, complete with hat, mittens, and blanket, from Sandy Kimberlin;

An overall outfit, giraffe blanket, onesies, diapers, and ball rattle from Sandy and Chelle McCaskill;

Two outfits, a blanket, and a musical stuffed lamb to go with the check Aunt Sandy and Uncle Greg had already sent;

A set of cloth diapers and a Mommy Bear (with womb sounds) from Shelia and David Simpson;

A stuffed classic pooh from Tanja, Jim, Jessie, and Larissa Detwiler;

And a onesie that says 'baby shower', washcloths, and a bath set from Wendy and Mackensie Knapp.

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Thanks to everyone!

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Adam and Ryan are still in Disneyworld, having the time of their lives. I must say, it has been nice being here by myself... I can walk through the house in my underwear again! Ha ha. Of course, the day after they left, two lightbulbs in the livingroom blew out, and I'm not about to get up on a ladder! It may get rather dark over here by the time they make it home... I do miss having people in the house. The dogs aren't great conversationalists, and the cats just kind of do as they please. Also, I really miss having little Ryan around - "Honey, go get me..." or "Sugar, will you..." He's such a good kid, and I have a feeling I ask way too much of him. Not having him to help pull me up off the couch has sucked! Here is a picture Adam sent me of Ryan and Britian on Main Street, U.S.A. with Cinderella's castle in the background...

I finally got the jellyfish hung up! I think it looks really cute in the baby's nursery. I also got the eyes sewn onto the cat. Ahh, two WIPs turned FOs! Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside... My current WIP is a blue Totoro softie. I think he's actually sort of grey in the movie, but I like my anime monsters to be blue... I'm using RHSS in delft blue for the main body and in white for the accents on the face and belly.
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Wow, another week already! Here's what the Baby Center has to say about week 35:

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"Your baby's getting big. He weighs a tad over 5 pounds and is just over 18 inches long. Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

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"Your uterus — now up under your ribs — has expanded to about 15 times its original volume, and you may feel like you've run out of room! If you could peek inside your uterus, you'd see that there's much less amniotic fluid and much more baby in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your internal organs too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and have heartburn and other digestive problems. If you don't have these problems, you're one of the lucky few.

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"Your doctor will probably want to start seeing you every week until you deliver. He may ask you to count fetal movements, to track your baby's activity level. Between now and 37 weeks, he'll also do a culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). This is done by swabbing the lower end of your vagina and your rectum — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all. Group B streptococcus is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during labor and birth, it can cause complications (like pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection). Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's important to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll be given IV antibiotics when you're in labor, which will reduce your baby's risk of infection by 70 percent.

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"This is also a good time to fill out your birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who will be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and how long you want to stay in the hospital. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Labor and delivery are unpredictable and you probably won't follow your plan to the letter, but knowing ahead of time what choices you have to make can take some of the anxiety out of the process."

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By the way, I hate the lucky few. Note to self - washing down antacids with Dr. Pepper will fizz so much it comes out of your nose.

34 Weeks

Well, my baby shower is this Sunday! Here is a picture of the invitation...

Isn't it cute? I'm really excited. I keep seeing things in stores that I want to get for the baby, and have to make myself wait to see what Baby Dolton receives at the shower first! I've already gotten a few things in the mail... A card and check from my wonderful Aunt Sandy and Uncle Greg, a Target Baby gift certificate from my cousin Todd and his wife Amy, and this cute suitcase from Mike and Melody Gevaza...

It even comes with it's own matching blanket! I think it's adorable. Thanks to all, and expect your thank-you notes soon!!!

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Hopefully I'll post pictures from the shower next week... Depends on how long it takes me to get them downloaded.

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Adam and Ryan left yesterday for Disneyworld - I so wish I could have gone!!! Oh well. They're driving out there with Adam's folks, Donna and Randy; along with his sisters Aubrey and Angelique, and his nephew Britian - all in a Ford Expedition. Maybe I'm glad I'm not going... Ha ha! I did request Mickey Mouse ears for the baby, though.

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I passed the non-stress test with flying colors... It took a long time to do since Baby Dolton was so active. They had a hard time getting his resting heart rate! He moves all the time now. They say to make sure the baby moves at least 10 times a day - I don't think 10 minutes go by without him kicking me!!!

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Well, I've finished the cat I was making in the last post... I don't have any beads for the eyes, though - I'll have get some later this week. I guess being an eyeless cat isn't as bad as being an earless cat! Poor Smokey. Anyway, here are some pics of the toy...

I took them on my couch, if you're wondering about the weird paisley background. He's not exactly appropriate for a child's toy, since the arms and legs are just sewn on with yarn, but I still think he's cute. I've also made a crocheted jellyfish to hang in the baby's room out of that same yarn. Once I get it hung, I'll post pictures of that as well. It didn't photograph too well laying on it's side!

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With all the boy stuff floating around here, I decided to get something girly for myself. I ordered a Little Dead Ragdolly from Pandora's Button Box. Her name is Lucinda LaGrippe, and she is beautiful! I love the fact that she's dead, since I was never that into dolls growing up. It just seemed to fit!

Note to self... Make Ryan tell all his friends that he will be gone the next time he goes out of town - I just answered the door for the sixth time today for a kid wanting him to come out and play!

The Baby Center website has this to say about the 34th week: "Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is probably almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which he'll need to regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His central nervous system is still maturing and his lungs are well developed by now. If you've been nervous about going into preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that 99 percent of babies this age can survive outside the womb — and most have no major long-term problems related to prematurity.

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"You may be feeling a little fatigued lately, and that's perfectly understandable. Let yourself slow down and save some energy for labor day. If you have to spend a lot of time on your feet, try wearing a maternity belt that supports your abdomen and helps redistribute some of the weight. And if you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, which may cause a temporary (but rapid) drop in your blood pressure and make you feel dizzy when you get up.

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"You may notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly (they might even spread to your thighs and buttocks). This is usually a harmless condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short), but let your practitioner make a diagnosis to be sure. Also be sure to call him if you feel itchy all over your body, even if you don't have a rash. It could signal a liver problem."

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I came to a sad realization today... I am too big to do laundry. I can put clothes into the washer and get it started, and I can put clothes in and take clothes out of the dryer, but I can no longer get the clothes out of the washer. My belly is too big for me to get close enough to reach the bottom! Either that or my arms are too short... Ah, the joys of pregnancy!

33 Weeks

Currently there are 48 days left until I meet my son! Hip hip hooray! Have I mentioned that I'm ready to be done with this whole pregnancy thing? My ankles are so swollen it looks like I have elephantiasis. Well, maybe not that bad, but pretty darn close!
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I'm beginning to dread going to bed. It takes forever to get comfortable, and it seems like as soon as I do, I have to get up and pee. Getting up is a chore in and of itself! I now have 6 pillows on the bed that I use to prop myself up and keep me on my left side. I toss and turn in my sleep on a regular basis, so staying in one position has taken some creativity! Too bad Sinaka isn't still around - when he slept in the bed with me, he'd get mad if I moved! Who am I to argue with a Great Dane? Poor Thunder and Sabrina have been banished - they both kick in their sleep, and I'm afraid they'll kick me in the belly. Or off the bed entirely, which has happened in the past! Sinaka was a good sleeper, though - he would stay in one place all night (head on the pillow next to mine, of course), and he always wanted me to keep my arm over him. He'd actually wake me up if I rolled over and wasn't holding him! He was a strange one, but then again, he never ate a towel. Not that Thunder is retarded or anything - oh, wait a sec here...

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I had another O.B. appointment today... My blood pressure was a little bit high - 140/82. Not nearly as high as it has been, but since my feet are so swollen they want me to go in tomorrow and get a non-stress test. Yay for me. Could you tell that was sarcastic? I also have to collect my urine for 24 hours. Again. Yay for me. Again. Ugh.

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I did get to have another ultrasound today! My insurance only covers two, but mom said she'd pay for it so we can see the baby again. My O.B.'s office just got a 4-D machine, so we didn't have to go all the way to the northside this time. Of course, since I'm past 28 weeks, the pictures weren't just crystal clear. Most of the time he had his face turned into the placenta! Not a bunch of room in there anymore, I guess. Mom, Dad, Kelly, and Emily all came with me to see Baby Dolton. Here are a few of the pictures they took...


The first two are in 3-D, the last two are 2-D. The third picture shows his boy parts - click on the image to zoom in if you're really interested. Baby Dolton is looking directly at us in the fourth picture, but the image kind of reminds me of the movie poster from The Frighteners!

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One of my current WIP's is this cute cat! I hope it turns out as well as the picture does... I'm using RHSS/WW instead of #10 crochet thread so it will be larger and softer. At the rate I'm going, Baby Dolton will have so many softies I won't have to buy him any toys for years!

I found the cutest shirt to wear to the baby shower!!! It's too perfect - of course, I've felt this way since I hit 6 months...

Time for another look from www.babycenter.com:

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"This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 17.2 inches from the top of his head to his heels. His skin is becoming less red and wrinkled, and while most of his bones are hardening, his skull is quite pliable and not completely joined. This will help him ease out of your relatively narrow birth canal.

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"You may be feeling some aches and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can swell, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" end up pinched, creating numbness, tingling, shooting or burning pain, or a dull ache. Try wearing a brace or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or assembly line, for example), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks.

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"If you're having trouble sleeping at night, try wedging a pillow between your legs and behind your back. If that doesn't help, try sleeping in a semi-upright position, with several pillows behind your head (or sleep in a recliner!). If frequent trips to the bathroom are robbing you of your zzz's, cut back on fluids by late afternoon or evening."

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I sure hope Baby Dolton appreciates all of this!!! Ha ha, not a chance, right Mom?