Audrey is 1 week old!

We survived the first week...HOORAY! It seems like every day gets a little better and we're all adjusting very well. This whole week has been a blur. We took Audrey grocery shopping last night and I couldn't help but think, "Wow, 1 week ago today we didn't have her!" She is amazing in every way and we love her so much.

2008 was a great year. It couldn't be ending any better either! I'm looking forward to 2009 and enjoying our new family. Happy New Year to all!

Jaundice-schmaundice!

Audrey has another bili ruben check up today. Hopefully her levels have gone down enough to get her off the bili blanket. That thing is a pain in the butt! I love that it's helping her, but it's so hard being restricted to a 2 foot hose in our living room. I'm actually looking forward to taking her off it for our outing tomorrow. She can wear a pretty little outfit and be free for a couple hours!

She's had so many visitors... I have tons of pictures to post! Wish us luck...hopefully we get some reassuring news.

****UPDATE****
The doctor called with great news...no more bili blanket! Audrey's levels are down and she now free to roam about the house. Hooray!!

She'll always be our little glow worm :)

Our little glow worm...

Audrey has to be on the bili blanket until her bili ruben levels come down...she's such a tropper! It sucks having her attached to it all day and night, but we're working through it!

Baby Burns is here!!

And it's a GIRL!!

I posted a short birth story & a picture on our web page

I'll post a more detailed story and TONS of pictures when I get a chance!

She is a living dream...Chris and I are so proud! Audrey is a true blessing.

Still no baby!

Quick update: I'm still having very irregular contractions. We took a nice long walk today around town. Still losing my MP. Waiting around is so very hard, but I'm getting things done and relaxing when I need to. Today has been especially nice b/c Chris was home. So we wait and we wait...

Stripping membranes: a form of torture

So we had our 38w appointment yesterday and Dr K asked if I wanted my membranes stripped. I knew from the research I had done that it would hurt. It was the worst pain I have ever felt! I can't even describe it except to say that it felt like he was digging a hole to China. It lasted only a minute and when he was done he showed me the results: the Bloody Show. I thought Chris was going to throw up, lol. Actually he was great and asked some good questions. I'm 2 cm dilated (but I felt like 20 when I left!) and 50% effaced. He thinks there's a good chance we'll have this baby soon. He wants to see me back on Tuesday to check for progress. He advised us to go walk around and then have sex. I've had really bad cramps (front and back, menstrual-like) AND I've been having contractions. The contractions are still far apart and not too intense. I lost gobs of my MP in the shower this morning, which I'm hoping is a good sign!

Today is Christopher's birthday. I plan on staying busy today in hopes of bringing on labor soon. Maybe we'll have 2 birthdays to celebrate, lol.

Elf Yourself!

My brother Craig sent me this hilarious video...It cracks me up every time!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

We're almost ready!

It's crazy to think that BB could be here any day. I was having Braxton Hicks like crazy last night. They are definitely becoming more uncomfortable. We need to put the car seat bases in and that's about it! Today I set up the Angel Care monitor in the bassinet. I also cleaned out my car to see how the Stokke would fit...it doesn't! Well, at least not in the trunk. The chassis will have to go behind my seat while the seat has to go in the trunk. I have 2 days of school this week which gives me the time I need to get last minute things done there (and train my sub.)

We keep talking about the different things we could do to bring on labor, but I know tht BB will come when he or she is ready. I'm not even convinced that stripping my membranes will work.

Here's what I found:
By running an examining finger around the inside of your cervix, he can separate the amniotic sac from where it's stuck there. Theoretically, this will allow the bridging molecules that stick the membranes to the inside rim of the cervix to break--all at a molecular level, mind you--and so be released and then converted into prostaglandins, which are powerful stimulants of labor. It is however not a form of induction but more a form of stimulation of labor.

I couldn't find any good stats about how often it brings on labor. To be honest, at that point it won't really matter. I'll be done with work, which means no more suffering 10 hours a day! I'll still be up and walking around, but at least I can do so at my own comfort level (and I don't have to hide the pain!)

As uncomfortable as these last weeks will be/have been, I really love being pregnant. This is the best thing I've ever done. Chris is so excited! I'm so grateful for him. We're getting closer and closer to meeting this little angel we've created. I can't wait!

The Waiting Game

No induction for us! Baby Burns is measuring at about 7 lbs and looks great. He or she has started to descend (I knew it!) but I'm still only 1 cm, 30 % effaced. I told him how miserable I've been the past week and he suggested stripping my membranes at the next visit. I couldn't help but blurt out "Can we do that today?" lol. Physically, I am so ready. Emotionally, I'd love another few weeks of being pregnant. I just have to get through school for a few days next week. My appointment is Thursday. I see lots of baths and heating pads in my future! Now I'm off to Google everything I can about membrane stripping.

Drop it like it's hot...

Yeah, I think the baby has dropped. I FEEL like he or she has dropped. Lots of pressure down below, my back and hips hurt....it's a major effort to get up and walk. Who knows, I could just be having a growing pains kind of day (similar to a couple weeks ago.) We'll see what tomorrow brings. Chris said this would be a difficult week for me, and so far he is right...

Full Moon=Baby?

I just noticed that this Friday, 12/12, there will be a full moon. Supposedly lots of babies are born on full moons. We'll take it :)

BIG UPDATES!

We made it to 36 weeks! I had my first internal today. As soon as Dr K measured my belly, he said, "Wow!" Apparently I'm measuring big...which means the baby is probably going to be big! So next Friday we're going to have an ultrasound so he can get exact measurements. We might be looking at an induction! Chris and I are very happy about that. I'm very anxious to see how it goes next week, and see how soon we get to meet Baby Burns!! Turns out I'm also 1 cm dilated and my cervix has started to thin. I was hoping for some progress, so I was very pleased to hear that. The internal itself was definitely uncomfortable. Dr K said, "Can you feel that? I'm touching your baby's head!" Oh, I felt it alright! I was relieved to hear that the baby was head down though. So, all in all, great appointment!

We had our first childbirth class last night. It was very informational- we learned about the stages of labor, contractions, breathing techniques, and my personal favorite- massage techniques! Next week we'll learn more about c-sections, inductions (how appropriate!) and take a tour of L&D. I can't wait! We also have a breast feeding class and a Home with Baby class next week, so we will be very busy!

I got a much-needed pedicure earlier this week. It was so nice to sit in the massage chair and have my swollen feet and legs rubbed down! I could have cared less about my actual toe nails, but I did get them painted pink & blue in honor of Jaudrey's arrival:



Look at how huge my feet are! They hurt a lot, but it's totally worth it. Wish us luck, that we can keep BB in there until Friday. After that, I don't care when he/she comes!