Heirlooms

Unfortunately, I do not have any special items from when I was a baby that I can pass on to Mary Grace. I don't want that to be the case when she has children of her own. So throughout this pregnancy, I've tried to get a few pieces that will become heirlooms for her children and grandchildren.

The first item we picked out was her bassinet. I wanted an antique, but wasn't able to find one in good condition. I stumbled upon THIS bassinet from Pottery Barn that will definitely become a family heirloom piece. I am in love with her bassinet. I decided to go with the chocolate wicker (as opposed to white) and the chocolate piping on the bedding (rather than blue or pink).

Please excuse the wrinkled skirt which is in desperate need of ironing.

My favorite piece is by far the coming home gown I made for Mary Grace. I didn't want to just buy something, I wanted it to be special. The dress will double as her coming home outfit and the dress for her dedication at church. I decided to use a pattern for a smocked day gown that my dear friend, T, used for her daughter's coming home outfit. I cannot even begin to describe how much time and love went into making this dress. There was a time when things were scary and I didn't think I would be able to have her dress made in time. Thankfully, she decided to bake a while longer giving me time to make this special piece.

I'm finishing up the bonnet to go along with the dress. My baby bonnet was pretty neat- it had two stitches that I snipped on my wedding day, which turned my bonnet into my wedding handkerchief. I'm using my bonnet as a pattern to make one similar for Mary Grace, so she too will have that special item on her wedding day.

Bobby's grandmother gave us a wonderful family piece- a small rocking chair that belonged to his great-grandmother. It is the perfect size for Mary Grace to sit in and read books when she gets a little older. 

36 Week Update

We are officially 36 weeks. We had an appointment today and everything is sailing right along. We had our last ultrasound. So sad. The bright side to this whole ordeal has been seeing our sweet little girl each week on the ultrasound. Little Miss is weighing 7 lbs 7 oz, which is big for a 36 weeker. She's measuring two weeks ahead, so she's the size of a 38 weeker.

The doctor has taken me off the Procardia (medication to stop contractions / preterm labor) and bedrest. I can rejoin the land of the living! If she were to be born now, more than likely we would have a baby we could bring home, rather than her being sent to the NICU.  Now it's just a waiting game. The specialist thinks we will go into labor within a week or so of stopping the medication- he kept telling us we would not make it to April. I guess we'll find out! Little Miss may have  plans of her own and could decide to camp out in the womb a little while longer.

We are so very thankful that we've made it this far! Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us!
Now we just wait for sweet Mary Grace to make her grand entrance into the world!

Baby Bump: 34 Weeks

How Far Along? 34 weeks

Size of the Peanut? According to thebump.com, sweet pea is the size of a durian. However, according to the neonatal specialist, she's weighing in a bit bigger at 6 lbs!

Maternity Clothes? I’m working whatever covers my ginormous belly these days. All of my maternity shirts are long sleeved, and with temps in the mid 70's and even 80's, they just aren't cutting it. These days, I just dig through the hubby's t-shirts and put on whatever covers the bump! Since I'm on bedrest and have no need of better work attire, I'm planning to just make do from here on out.

Weight Gain? 24 pounds. I was fussed at a little at my appointment today for not gaining any weight during my last two weeks. In my defense, it's hard to eat when you're full after only 3 bits and then you suffer from heartburn for 3 hours!
Stretch Marks? I haven’t seen any...so we'll call that a no!
Gender? A sweet baby GIRL! 

Sleep? Sleep has been a tad better since my doctor gave the okay to take Unisom. I still wake up every hour to get a drink of water, or pee, or roll over (which is like trying to move Mt. Everest). The difference is that with Unisom, I'm able to go right back to sleep.

Food Cravings? Cantaloupe!

What I Miss? Everything from my “former life”…I feel like a walrus this week. The belly is no longer cute and manageable, it's now reached behemoth proportions and makes even the slightest movements difficult.

Symptoms? contractions (what else is new?), heartburn, and a general tiredness similar to that of my first trimester.

Belly Button?half in / half out

Best Moment of the Week?  Meeting our goal of 34 weeks! This has been a HUGE milestone for us! Finding out on Monday during an ultrasound that sweet pea has hair! I've been praying she would not be a bald baby!

Today is the Day

Today is a big day in the James house- we made it to our goal of 34 weeks! I remember laying in the bed back in January, crying my eyes out because I was so miserable, and wondering how in the world I was going to survive 7 more weeks on bedrest! I remember the fear that would fill my heart each time I had to get up, because I was so afraid I was going to go into labor. I remember being so afraid she would be born too early and either not make it, or have complications that would haunt her throughout her life.Time definitely went by slowly, but at last I'm here. Today we are thanking our sweet Savior for seeing us through this scary time.

We saw the specialist for the last time on Monday. At our last specialist appointment, sweet pea was weighing 4.5 lbs. On Monday she weighed 6 lbs. She's measuring 2 weeks ahead, which is partly due to the fact that I am borderline gestational diabetic. On the up side, measuring a bit big will work to her advantage since she will be early.

We saw our regular OB doctor today and everything is still looking good! The plan is to take me off bedrest and the medication for preterm labor at 36 weeks (2 weeks from today). Dr. Naef (the specialist) told us Monday that he expects me to go into labor within 2-3 days of stopping the medication. He said there is absolutely no way we will make it to our April due date, but by 36 weeks we will have a baby we can bring home, rather than her having to visit the NICU for a bit. On a side note, Mary Grace could have other plans for us. I could see us being that small percentage of women suffering from preterm labor that go past their due dates and require an induction. Wouldn't that be something?!?

Hence the time crunch, we are finishing up some last minute things before she arrives. Most everything is ready! The house was deep cleaned last week, the nursery is ready, Mary Grace's bag is packed, bottles are washed.... We're just waiting for her grand entrance! We  The hubby only has 3 things left on the honey-do list:

1. Clean/Wash the car and install the car seat.
    The hubby has been taking my car to work since I'm on bedrest. Needless to say, it's full of his stuff now!

2. Finish painting second set of closet doors for nursery and install them.

3. Pick up chair for nursery.
    We've already ordered our chair and the slipcover for it. It will arrive on Tuesday.

Our bags are packed and waiting by the door, just in case we don't make it another two (+)  weeks. We are getting more excited by the day! We cannot wait to meet this sweet little girl who has already changed our lives for the better in so many ways!

Check back tomorrow for an updated baby bump post and some sweet ultrasound pictures!

Maternity Photos

We had maternity pictures taken on Feb. 25th, at 33.3 weeks along. Since traveling was not an option, our photographer came out to our home and snapped some great shots. In the end, I think having them taken at home and around the lake made them much more personable. Here are just a few of our favorites. Enjoy!

DIY Baby Booties

I've been browsing Etsy drooling over the cute baby shoes. I've actually found some really good deals! As always though, I start thinking "Hey, I could do that." So, I turned to Pinterest (isn't it addictive) and found a tutorial. I definitely plan to try it out and I'll let you know how it goes!

Click HERE for the tutorial.

Wonder Woman

While checking the news this morning, I came across this incredible birth story. An Iowa woman has given birth to a 13 pound 12 ounce baby boy. He was just over 23 inches long.

What makes her wonder woman? She delivered him naturally!

This may not seem interesting to some, but for this pregnant lady it's something to read about!

Click HERE to read the story and see the news clip.

Etsy Love

Oh Etsy.... who doesn't love you?

I am drooling over these two gorgeous Amy Butler fabric diaper bags from Etsy.

Love them!

Updates

First I want to thank all the prayer warriors who have been sending up prayers on our behalf!

On Monday I was scheduled to retake the glucose test. This time it was a three hour test. I did not pass the first hour, but I did pass the second and third hours which was enough to keep me from being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Praise the Lord! My doctor has instructed me to keep an eye on my diet.

After the glucose test we had an appointment with our doctor. They did an unstrasound to check out sweet Mary Grace. She is still cute as a button and is doing great. She is no longer laying across my belly putting pressure on my kidney, which is a great thing! She's moved into a head down position. The ultrasound tech and the doctor both checked my cervix again and this time it had thinned even more to 2.1 mm.  Very scary! At that point Bobby and I were trying to mentally prepare ourselves in case we ended up having our baby before the 34 week goal. I was put on even stricter bedrest. I know what you're thinking- isn't bedrest strict enough? Well, I just thought I had it tough before, but was now told to lay flat pretty much at all times. Only get up to use the restroom and only sit up to eat.

Monday and Tuesday were very hard days- not just physically, but emotionally.

On Wednesday we had our appointment with Dr. Naef, a specialist in Jackson, MS. Can I just tell you how much we loved him! He is such an awesome doctor! They did an extensive ultrasound on my kidneys. While there was still some fluid on my right kidney, it looked much better than it did during the last check. This is due in part to MG shifting off of it and the medications I've been on to treat the issue. Mary Grace looked great, as always! They even looked for things like cleft lip, etc.. Everything looks great! She's a little porker in that she is measuring a week bigger than we actually are. This is a good thing since they are thinking she may be born early. We were told by the specialist that she would not be an April baby, and instead would more than likely come in March. March 1st is our 34 week goal, so anytime after that is good. He has estimated that even if she comes early in March, she will probably weigh around 7 lbs. 8 oz. How he came up with that weight, I have no idea. He was so thorough and answered all our questions and them some. He assured me that this kidney issue will go away after delivery and it will not end up being something that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life.

But I still haven't shared the best news of all. On Wednesday my cervix had improved a little and had thickened up to 2.9 mm. Dr. Neaf said that the medications I'm on for contractions will often help with cervix issues. I'm giving God the glory for this miracle, not the meds. Can we say answered prayers! I am still on bedrest, but am not required to lay flat 24/7. I can get up and move around, but I cannot be on my feet more than 10 minutes at a time. I can even get out of the house from time to time as long as I take it easy and am not on my feet long. Words cannot express how relieved we are. Not having the fear of going into labor any minute and having our baby born so early has been a huge relief!

We will go back to the specialist at 31 weeks and again at 34 weeks. At the 34 week mark, we will not see him anymore because as he said "If she's born, she's born and she'll be okay." Meanwhile we will continue to see our regular doctor weekly.

Again, thank you to everyone who has called, sent cards and flowers, brought food and gifts, and just stopped by to ease my cabin fever. We have been overwhelmed by such an outpouring of love from our family, church family, and friends! Mary Grace is one lucky little girl to have so many people who love her already!

26.5 weeks

27.6 weeks

She had her hand over her eyes.

This Road

On Tuesday, I woke up with lower tummy pains once again. We went to the doctor's office and were told the following:
An ultrasound showed there is fluid built up on my right kidney, and to make it worse, sweet MG is laying in a way that's putting pressure on the tube that drains my kindey into my bladder.
My cervix has started to thin. The minimum is 3 cm thick, mine was 2.4 cm. Thus, I'm on bedrest and taking meds every 4 hours to prevent any more contractions. Our new goal is to make it to at least 34 weeks gestation, which is March 1st. We are praying that my cervix will not continue to thin and that we can at least make it another 7 weeks. Bob and I keep joking that we will make it past our due date and end up being induced.

On Wednesday, the doctor's office called and said that I did not pass my glucose test. We are scheduled to retake it again on Monday morning before we see our regular doctor. We also learned that the urologist would not see me since I'm pregnant and now high-risk. We are now scheduled to see specialist who deals with high-risk pregnancy complications on Wednesday, Jan. 18th.

On Friday, the doctor's office called again and said that there was still a moderate amount of blood in my urine. They placed me on more medication to try and deal with that issue until we can figure out what the game plan will be on Wednesday.

Today (Saturday) my husband cut his finger pretty badly and is at this moment in the ER waiting to get stitches/treatment. Please say a prayer for him.

While looking through scriptures and asking the big 'WHY' question, I keep thinking about this song by one of my favorite Christian artists, Ginny Owens...

This Road
A million miles away from anything familiar
A thousand places I would rather be
So I choke back the tears and try to find the bright side
Though I find it hard to see beyond my suffering
In my heart I know Your plan is so much bigger
But this small part is all that I can see
And I believe you haven't left me here to wander
Still I can't help but ponder where You're leading me

Chorus:
And I ask why this road
Why this way and this load
Tell me how far I must go
'Til I see
'Til I know why this road

A million miles away from anythig familliar
What was it like to be so far from home
And though You came in love the world misunderstood You
There must have been some days when You felt so alone
But You endured 'cause there was joy before You
Joy that came because You sacrificed
Since You gave yourself just to spend forever with me
Surely I can trust You'll lead me through my darkest times

When I ask why this road
Why this way and this load
Tell me how far must I go
'Til I see
'Til I know why this road

From here I can not see why You'd choose this path for me
But I don't have to understand to believe that You know why

You know why this road
Why this way and this load
You know how far I must go
'Til I see
'Til I know why this road

This is not how things were supposed to be. This is not the road we were on just two weeks ago. This is not the load we wanted to carry or the path we wanted to travel. We just keep telling each other that although our situation has changed, our God has not.

We want to say a big thank you to everyone who has called, came by to visit, brought us food, and most importantly to those who have been praying. Right now we are specifically praying that I will pass this second glucose test. With everything else going on, gestational diabetes is the absolute last thing we want to deal with. Please continue to lift us up!

Let The Countdown Begin

How Far Along? 25 weeks, 5 days…ONLY 100 DAYS TO GO! {please tell me that sounds like it is quickly approaching and I am not losing my mind}
Size of Sweet Mary Grace? 13.5 inches long and she weighs about 1.5 pounds...some websites say she is the size of a rutabaga, while others point to an eggplant--either way, she is growing like a weed.
Maternity Clothes? I'm still in most of my pre-pregger pants with the help of belly bands, and I have a few maternity pants. Shirts are another story! I may have 4 pre-pregnancy sweaters that I can wear, the rest of my shirts are all maternity.
Weight Gain? Drumroll please--14 pounds as of yesterday! At my last appointment on Dec. 21st, we were measuring right on the button for where we should be.
Stretch Marks? Nope, but my tummy itches quite a bit these days, so I know they're going to make their grand debut anytime now.
Gender? Sugar and spice and everything nice...that is what little girls are made of!
Movement? Sweet Pea is active morning, noon, and night these days. Her movements are strong enough now that my husband can see my belly moving and jumping! He first felt her kick the night before Thanksgiving. Now, he can just look at my tummy and know that she's wiggling around!
Sleep? I haven't been doing so great the past couple of nights, but that's due to this pesky little UTI. Still, I don't sleep as good as I did a few weeks ago.
Food Cravings? Several weeks ago I was craving soy sauce and anything oriental- but it only lasted a couple of days. There was about a month span where I craved original bubble flavored bubble gum. Other than that, I haven't really had cravings, but I do find myself leaning more towards fresh foods such as fruit, salads, etc...
What I Miss? My morning cup of coffee and sleeping on my tummy.
Symptoms? Heartburn and indigestion- YUCK! The old wives tale says that since I'm having those symptoms, she'll have a full head of hair. My money is on her being as bald as a cue ball (like I was). But I would just love her to have a head full of red hair. For those of you who don't already know, I've wanted red-headed babies for as long as I can remember.
Best Moment of the Week? Hearing that our sweet baby girl was just fine and dandy yesterday! Another good moment will be this Saturday when we order her nursery furniture!

A Little Scare

We had a little scare today, but everything is okay and sweet Mary Grace is just fine.

Yesterday afternoon I started hurting in my lower right abdomen. It started getting pretty painful, and last night blood was showing up in my urine. I immediately started forcing down lots of fluids and tried laying on my left side for a bit. A few hours later the situation was still about the same. I called the doctor's office at about 11:30, and the answering service transferred me to the on call doctor. He said I needed to come in to Labor and Delivery to get things checked out. We ended up at L&D this morning and we were reassured when Mary Grace was doing fine on the monitors. A little while later we started having some light contractions. I was already scared to death, but when the nurse came in and started talking about the contractions, I just lost it. I was terrified! Ultimately, the contractions were being brought on by a severe UTI. The infection was the reason for the blood showing up in my urine, the pain in my abdomen, and was even causing some light contractions.

After being monitored for a while, things started settling down. We were assured over and over that everything was okay and that we would be just fine. We were later sent home with some meds to help clear up the infection and orders to take it easy and stay well hydrated.

And while the nurses and staff were wonderful, I do not want to see them again until April!

So, Mary Grace and I have been hanging out on the couch taking it easy this evening. We made it back home around 4:00 this evening and other than the same tenderness in my lower abdomen, everything is okay. It's uncomfortable, but other than that I feel fine!

If a pesky little infection is all we have to worry about, then we can handle it! I know there are far worse things we could be facing! We are praising God for being with us and letting it be something minor! A special thanks to our prayer warriors and everyone who has called to check on us!