countdown to Izzy

Yesterday we went to our 36 week appointment and chatted with the doctor about what is to come for the rest of my pregnancy and the birth of Izzy! Due to concerns about my continual high blood pressure, my doctor is strongly suggesting that we induce labor next week-wowzers! So after we talked with her and thought about it a great deal (risks, benefits, etc.) we are in agreement and looks like we'll go in on Wednesday June 4th to start the process. My sister will be here, and graham's mom is coming so we are so happy to have support here for the big day. My mom may come next week or in a few weeks-- whenever she can come it will be great to have her here too! We finished up the baby/guest room so I thought I'd post a few pics.
Can't wait to have actual baby pictures to finally post! Thanks for everyone's support during the last few difficult weeks!

36 weeks!

Izzy made it another week and no more hospital visits-yeah! Tomorrow we have our 36 week check-up and we'll see if we have any other news. My sister is coming out Thursday and I'm so excited to see her and have company at home! She's staying for almost 2 weeks so we hope Izzy will make her grand appearance while she's here!

We had to miss my life long best friend's wedding this week in Mexico--we were bummed but I'm sure it was amazing. Maybe Izzy would've wanted to be born in Mexico? =)
Congrats Ang and Kevin!! we love you.

35 weeks and round 2

Hello belly!! This week we had round 2 in the hospital. After a doctor visit where they were worried about Izzy's fast heartbeat they sent us again up to Labor and Delivery for monitoring. While we were there they listened to my lungs and said-hmmm. sounds like you might have pneumonia. One chest x-ray, blood tests, and a night in the hospital on monitoring and fluids and surprise I didn't have pneumonia- just a virus- and luckily the baby looked great the whole time we were there. So sent home on modified bed rest for the week. I'm feeling so lucky to be at home because it is getting more and more uncomfortable and hard to move around with a belly that keeps expanding- but glad she's still a growin'. The night we were in the hospital was actually our 2 year wedding anniversary--whoohoo! Graham brought cupcakes to the hospital and we celebrated being together- 2 years married and 7 years total-wow. We are going out to one of our favorite restaurants- The Melting Pot- on Friday to celebrate.

making onesies

So our friend Kathy came over Saturday night with dinner and surprised us with a huge gift bag full of baby essentials from graham's co-workers at National Geographic! Everyone has been so generous- we are so thankful. She also brought us a fun project to do where you can make your own designs on onesies using crayons, sandpaper, and the iron. We all made a few and I thought I'd post some pictures. Thanks so much Kathy and all the other people that contributed to an overwhelmingly generous gift! We feel much more prepared now for Izzy with all the essentials.

Woohooo 1 more week inside!

34 weeks ...yeah!! I've been working from home and it's going well. It is nice to be at home and on the couch rather than running around town- at least for now. I feel busy still and it is nice to have something to do while Izzy grows! It's funny how your perspective can change from day to day because now I just want her to get as big as she can so I'm happy that my belly is lookin' so big!!
Elvis and Stubbs are making themselves comfortable in the baby room and on all the baby stuff. Here elvis is on the changing pad-freshly washed of course. And stubbs lounging in the car seat/stroller. Everything now has a nice coating of black and brown stripped fur on it...ugh. Good thing they're so cute!

not yet Izzy!

So on Thursday we went in for another blood pressure check for me, were sent down for a stress test for the baby- and surprise!...found out I was contracting every 1-2 minutes. They promptly sent us upstairs for admission into Labor and Delivery where we spent the day and night while I was given liquids, monitored, and ultimately started some medicine to help the contractions ease in attempts to prevent the onset of labor. A sonogram revealed that Izzy is estimated to be about 5 and a half pounds already and they are thus are moving my due date up to June 14th making it 35 weeks along today. The sonogram also showed that I have excess amniotic fluid which they believe is causing the contractions. The nurses in the hospital said that I must be having a boy if the baby is already giving me trouble. I told them it's actually a girl- but with a dad like graham it's not a surprise. =) hehe. It was a long day and night and we went home very happy to be in our own house and sleeping in our own bed! I happened to have my camera in the hospital because I had taken it to work for my baby shower that my coworkers were throwing for me--that I missed due to the ordeal- so we thought we'd get a snap of the "trial run" trip to the labor room. I'm now on bed rest and at home and will take the meds for 10 days until they feel that it would be fine for labor to continue and safe for her to be born. At that time we'll see if she decides to come or if she waits it out! Graham was by my side which helped alot and my friends have been great! I will continue to work from home doing projects that I can which will be super helpful. And I got some practice in with my relaxation techniques in the labor room!

33 weeks

Today I am counting my blessings that everything has gone so well thus far in the pregnancy! For the last couple weeks my blood pressure has been going up so today at my appointment I was sent home with orders to stay home tomorrow and rest and come back for another check in 2 days. So far it doesn't appear that I have any other worrisome symptoms so that's positive.





Everyone at work is supportive and my friends and graham are taking care of me so I'm in good hands.

And...I'm getting some challenges to practice my breathing, relaxation and not worrying! I'll keep everyone posted for sure.

Trash men plus one

I got a few pics of graham with the "Trash men" display outside the National Geographic building. As always-- he's the jokester of the bunch!

Take me out to the ballgame

Friday night we went out to the Nationals Game with a few of graham's friends. The stadium is brand new and has lots of great food! It was a beautiful evening and made for a fun time (even though they lost). My personal highlights- the 7th inning stretch and dippin' dots!