Bambino is a Little Stinker

I'm sure you guessed it... Bambino hasn't flipped.  And, probably won't at this point.  Little Stinker.  Tom and I were at the Doctor again today for another update on what this baby is up to, how I will be delivering, and how things are progressing.

As of this week, the estimated weight is just under 7 pounds, and Bambino is measuring a little small.  There wasn't much growth from our last ultrasound two weeks ago, which made me a little nervous.  However, our Doctor isn't concerned about the lack of growth over the last two weeks, which made me feel better.  Because of the position, she said that most of the measurements aren't really accurate anymore.  Nevertheless, she wants me to have another ultrasound next week to get another reading of the weight.  Ultrasounds were really fun and exciting in the beginning, but now that I am bigger they are uncomfortable and tend to hurt.  All of the pushing on the head and butt makes my toes curl, so I am glad that this will be my last before Bambino makes his/her grand entrance into the world.  I think that Tom will be happy to not have Doctor appointments too, since things can be a tad uncomfortable for a man in an OBGYN office.  God bless his patience.

I am still scheduled for a C-Section in the very near future- its quite strange to know that I will wake up one day knowing that it will be the day I am having a baby (unless, of course, I go into labor before the scheduled day).  The Doctor did a great job of pumping us up for it today, and putting some of my nerves at ease.  She is so upbeat and friendly, and assured us that we would have an afternoon of fun and excitement.  I sure hope so!  And, she said that I am lucky to not have to endure hours and hours of labor before going into a C-Section- that I should be happy about that.  So, I guess I am!  I am just keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery and not too much pain.  We'll see how that works out for me...

Bambino today- between 38 and 39 weeks

My Mom was able to finish up the bumper pads and dust ruffle this week.  I am SO thankful to her for offering to sew them for us so that we didn't have to buy them from Pottery Barn- talk about cost savings!!  I found a Mobile on Etsy that I fell in love with, but the creator wanted $150.00 for it- um, excuse me?!  It is just fabric, yarn and embroidery hoops!  So, we wandered down to a quilting store, bought our own fabric and embroidery hoops and re-created it for much less than $150.00! 

Our custom-made Dust Ruffle- Thanks, Mom!

Our custom-made Bumper Pads- Thanks again, Mom!

I never knew that Dr. Seuss fabric existed... but it indeed does!

Not much else is going on in our world.  I guess we are old, married, parents-to-be now!

Bambino Is Not Cooperating

Life has been pretty boring- big change, right?  Tom and I managed to finish off our Registry at both Target and Babies R Us, so we are all set for the arrival of Bambino.  I'm sure there are still things that we will think of that we need, but for now we are all set and ready to go!  This is becoming more real now that there is a mattress in the crib and car seat bases in our cars.  Before we know it, Bambino will be here and our lives will be changed forever.  Bring it on!

We had a Doctor appointment this morning- this little stinker isn't cooperating very well!  First we had an ultrasound to determine if the baby had flipped yet- no such luck.  Bambino is still "frank breech," meaning that it is head up with its legs tucked up by its head.  If nothing else, we will have one flexible baby!  On a brighter note, Tom and I brought my Mom with us today to see the ultrasound.  Ultrasounds weren't really a part of OB care when my Mom was in her child-rearing years, so she had never experienced one.  Needless to say, it made her cry.  And, after what has been a CRAZY two weeks for her (my Grandma was in the Hospital and is now in transitional care), I think it was just what she needed. 

After the ultrasound, Tom and I met with my Doctor to talk about where we go from here.  She does not want to flip the baby because she knows how hard she will have to work at it, and knows how much pain and discomfort that would mean for me.  She just doesn't see where that option would be good for either me or the baby, and I have to agree.  Bottom line- between my shorter torso, tight abdominal muscles and the baby getting bigger each day, we are having a c-section. 

I have never been extremely excited about how babies come into the world-don't get me wrong, I am excited to have a baby- but I have never been excited about the process of bringing a baby into the outside world.  So I am not upset or bummed out that I will be having a c-section, which is probably good, but the thought of being awake during a major surgery is a little freaky to me.  Oh well, what can ya do?

This weekend is the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade up at the cabin.  I would like to go, but we will just have to see how I am feeling.  I am getting a little stir crazy around the house and I think that getting away for the day will be good for me, but maybe Tom and I will do something fun around the Cities instead.  Have any fun, cheap ideas?

Blogging Slacker

Wow, for being unemployed, I have NOT been updating this nearly enough!  So much has happened in the last month that it is hard to remember!  I have now been to three Baby Showers, and feel so humbled by everyone's generosity.  The Nursery (if you can call it that) is finally starting to come together, and I am no longer worried that Bambino will be sleeping on the floor, with no clothes, and no diapers.  The outpouring of love at showers is so amazing, and I am so thankful to have such wonderful friends and family in my life.

A couple of weeks ago, my Doctor had me do an unplanned ultrasound because my belly is measuring a little small for how far along I am.  She said that she wasn't worried because I am such a low-risk patient, but she wanted to get to the bottom of why my measurements don't quite add up so that she could note it in my chart.  It turns out that Bambino is sitting in a "Frank Breech" position, meaning that he/she is head up, with his/her arms and legs all folded up and wrapped behind his/her head.  Great.  No wonder why this Baby is measuring small- it's folded up like a pretzel!!  At my last appointment, my Doctor couldn't get a clear feel for where the Baby is positioned right now, but she isn't confident that the Baby has dropped into this position it should be.  So, next week we will check again, and I might be having another ultrasound to determine which route I will be going for delivery.  If the Baby hasn't dropped, then it looks like it will be a C-Section... Stay tuned on this news! 

This weekend Tom and I were supposed to head down to Iowa for his cousin's wedding, and a Rooney/Easterly Baby Shower but, things have changed a bit.  Instead, Tom is going to Iowa alone and representing me at the shower with his family- he gets major points for sitting through a Baby Shower!  I'm sure the stories he comes back with will be priceless and a teeny-tiny part of me always gets the giggles thinking about him sitting through a Baby Shower.  What a man!  My Doctor doesn't recommend travel for me anymore, especially since Iowa would be a longer drive, and if I were to go into labor- Iowa is where I would have to deliver.  Originally I was going to take the risk, but after really thinking about my chances of a c-section, I wanted to be closer to home in the event of delivery. 

So, with all of this time on my hands, and no where to go, I am going to have to get more creative in how to pass the days until Bambino arrives.  Have any ideas?!