8/30/10

Today I had lots of things I had planned on finishing up, and as I sat down to accomplish them I received a phone call from the Dr.’s Office asking me if I could come in today rather than Wednesday.  Sure sounds good to me I said I’ll be there in a few hours.  Went int everything started as normal and then my blood pressure was pretty low compared to what it’s been recently 100/60…….hmmm interesting.  So now I’m sitting there patiently waiting on my doctor, not really expecting any changes since I was there 5 whole days ago!  So now we’ve got some changes happening…..dilated to 4, we are 70% effaced, and still a -2 station.  I panicked just a bit I won’t lie.  She then asked about my contractions and I explained that I was very good at keeping track of them, but that I was having some.  She then told me to keep track of them and if they are 5 minutes apart to come back and hopefully she’ll see us tonight!  AHHHHH.  Do I really think I’m going to have a baby tonight?  No.  But then again he could have different plans for us!  (that and I’ve never done this before so I really don’t have a clue what I’m talking about!)  :)  Oh and the whole staph thing……no worries, tested negative for it!  yay.

8/25/10

I just got back from Baby Dotson’s Dr. appointment.  You know obviously that there’s this routine by now so I’ll just cut to the chase.  Blood pressure was a bit lower this time (probably bc I had a little time to sit in the waiting room today) 120/70 and still 50% effaced.  But we are making small changes!  Now we’re at 3cm and he’s sitting at a -2 station.  I will mention that I have to go back tomorrow to be tested for staph.  I had a horrible little episode about 5 years ago during one of my lifeguarding summers (that’s where I must have caught it), if you’ve ever had staph you know it isn’t fun, but if you haven’t basically I broke out with a few boils on my inner thighs and they are PAINFUL!  I took antibiotics to make it disappear but I’m guessing this test is to see if it’s still active in my body.  If it is I’ll have to be in some sort of isolation room at the hospital!!!  Not fun and I’m sure that will have an impact on my plans.  I’ll keep you posted.  (Does anyone read this?)

8/20/10

So as you all know I’m at that point where I have weekly Dr. appointments, oh the joy!  Yesterday as I was making my way to my scheduled 1:10pm appointment I was stopped by a red light, knowing I should go straight I of course am totally impatient and decided to take a “short cut” well I’m sure you can all imagine by no means was that a short cut, especially after I found the interstate and traveled the wrong direction before I finally figured out where I was.  Long story short there’s this crazy lady that whips into the parking lot 20 min past her scheduled 1:10pm appointment and rushes inside to the receptionist whom must think she’s crazy and apologizes and begins to explain the whole reason why she’s 20 minutes late…..let me tell you the receptionist…..she doesn’t care (and really Erika why would she?).  Ok anyways you know the drill, sign in, wait, pee in a cup, get weighed (we won’t mention that number), take your blood pressure (128/70), sit and wait on the doctor.  My parents left town yesterday for California so frantically when the Dr. comes in I start rambling how I have a wedding to shoot, my parents are out of town, and my husband has a dancing fundraiser all this weekend so whatever happens Baby Dotson has got to stay comfy in there for the weekend.  She says we’ll just have to check……terrified I just know she’s about to check and say well we need to check you in……thankfully she doesn’t!!!!  Everything is still the same…….AWESOME news.  Effaced at 50% and still at 2cm.  She proceeded to tell me that we were doing really well for being 37 weeks along and that walking would really speed up the process……that’s when I sheepishly admitted that for the last couple weeks I’ve totally avoided walking or doing really much of anything trying to make sure we didn’t have this kiddo this weekend!  Ha ha so you better believe after Sunday (when my parents get back) I’ll be booking it all over town!!!  :)

8/13/10

Yesterday I had another doctors appointment.  I had to pee so bad the first thing I did when I got there was ask the receptionist if I could go ahead and go and if she would  give me a cup even though it wasn’t quite my turn.  She didn’t complain a bit.  This is pretty gross, but my tummy is so big that I can no longer see anything while I’m using the restroom, which means it’s hard to pee in a cup……without making a slight mess.  I had to go so bad I peed all over my hand while I was holding that cup there bc I filled it up so fast and couldn’t tell.  So I’m sitting there with a soaking wet hand trying to be as sanitary as humanly possible (I know pee is sterile but really people that’s gross)!  Anyways moving on…….

This time I was a little more prepared than last time and TW came along so it made me much more comfortable.  Although, sorry if this is gruesome but, having your husband sit there and watch your doctor “check” you is sort of an awkward moment, but then again it’s about to get a whole lot more awkward!  I’m sure all of you are wondering what the new news is……. so I’ll start with the basics, my blood pressure is a bit higher than normal at 128/70 but still pretty normal as far as BP is concerned, baby’s heart rate was higher at 150 as well (mom seems to think it has something to do with the heat), still measuring a week ahead of schedule (so 37 weeks), now we’re dilated to a 2, effacement is 50%, and he’s at a -3 station (which means he hasn’t dropped down just yet).

8/6/10

Today’s doctor appointment was a bit of a surprise, well not the actual appointment but I don’t think I realized this would be the first…..let’s say “detailed” exam.  I was used to going in, having my blood pressure taken, getting weighed, peeing in a cup, laying on the table, having my belly measured, listening to his heart rate, paying, and walking out the door.  Well today was a bit different….all those things plus the “details” of which I will spare you (I know you are very welcome).  So we are measuring at 36 weeks which I guess would technically be about right since we’re at 35 and a half weeks.  Baby Dotson was resting a bit I guess since his heart rate was a little lower than normal at 141 bpm.  Then the big news came……she said we were dilated to 1cm.  Now I just posted on FB last night that I was starting to realize that yes I really am pregnant……well maybe I wasn’t quite there since this was scary news.  Instantly thoughts flooded my mind of having to rush to the hospital later that day alone bc I already know my husband is hours away working today.  I went ahead and called my work and let them know the news just in case I wouldn’t be coming in for all the shifts I am scheduled during the upcoming weeks and she reassured me that my body could decide to go into labor in two hours or it could be three weeks from now.  Either way I got nervous!

6/9/10

We have paid to have our baby naturally at the hospital now so let’s hope we don’t have to have a c-section!  About 13 more weeks to go!  At the doctors appointment today Baby Dotson’s heart rate was 146 bpm.  Also she measured my tummy and said we were at about half a week ahead.  Apparently you want to measure within 2 cm or in I don’t remember of your due date more or less.  So I was about 28 she said.  I wouldn’t mind having this little guy a bit early but not super early I have a wedding to shoot August 21st!

5/15/10

I went to the doctor a few days ago for a regular checkup and I had to take this horrible tasting drink to test and see if I have gestational diabetes, well the good news is that I don’t, however the bad news surprise surprise….is that I’m anemic (I think I’ve known that my whole life) and now I get to add an iron supplement to my daily vitamins.  Oh goodie!

4/30/10

There’s a pretty nasty storm outside today.  TW came home from work a bit earlier than usual.  He decided to sit and watch a John Wayne movie while I tried to finish editing Amber and Alan’s engagement pictures I took yesterday.  I had the radio on and all of a sudden I felt distinct rolling and waves and flutters in my belly!  I knew this time it was him!  I’ve been pretty uncertain recently just because it could be gas or me just imagining things!  I was certain!  I yelled WHOA!  TW panicked….”what what’s wrong”?  ”Nothing I just felt him move”!  As I ran to the living room.  TW and I both had a chance to feel him when we put our hands on my lower stomach.  He’s practicing that soccer kick.  Then after all the excitement I went back into the office to keep working and I could see my stomach push out when I felt him kick so the whole thing started all over again!  WHOA!  ”what what’s wrong”?  ”Nothing you can see him move”!!!  What an exciting day.  It seems so much more real now than when we started this little journey together a few months ago.

4/21/10

I just want to be sure to keep everyone up to date.  We went to find out what we were having on March 18th which was a Thursday.  We opted not to find out then and there and instead had a big gender reveal party for all our family and friends.  We took the ultrasound pictures straight to Rick’s Bakery and they made us some cupcakes that had a colored filling in the middle.  On Sunday after handing out all the cupcakes and having a bit of a countdown TW and I bit into our cupcakes and saw blue filling!  We’re super excited to be having a baby boy!

3/17/10

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Thanks

erika