Week 37

Let's see, this past week Luke and I had a doctor's appointment. I am still measuring about 1-1/2 weeks ahead in my fundal height, so the doctor ordered another growth ultrasound. She said depending on how big baby is measuring next week at the ultrasound she might want to "tap" me to check Austin's lung maturity (tap = amniocentesis). If Austin gets too big, they might want to her to come early. She said that there is still a chance that I can have Austin regularly and I would not need a c-section. This was very positive news and a complete change in her attitude from the weeks before. Also this week's appointment I was given my first internal and disappointingly I have made no progress and my cervix is still closed. I have been bouncing on my exercise ball every night trying to get Austin to drop and I thought maybe I will show some dilation or effacement.

Friday was a great day for me because I started working part time and I will continue until delivery. I am going to still work everyday, but only from 8am-Noon. I have been so tired and uncomfortable lately that this is exactly what I needed. I am hoping to come home each day and take a nap. Doing this does counts towards my FMLA leave, but at this point it is becoming too difficult for me to be at work for 9 hours a day sitting at my desk.

Yesterday I had my breastfeeding class. It was very informative and I am glad that I signed up for it. The class was from 9am-12:30pm and by the time I got home, I ate lunch and was so worn out. Of course I took a nap. Speaking of sleeping, my body is already regulating it self for Austin's arrival. I can only sleep 1-1/2 to 3 hour lengths at a time. Then I am up to either use the restroom or switch sides. I think last night I broke a new record with getting up 5 times.

Today I am going to try and venture out of the house and go to lunch with Ragen. I am happy to report that Ragen is pregnant and expecting at the end of April. I am so happy for her and Rito. I am also excited because this means that Austin will have a life long playmate who is the same age. We were joking earlier that depending on if she has a girl or boy, Austin will have a best friend or a boyfriend.

If anything exciting happens at the ultrasound on Wednesday or our doctor's appointment on Thursday I will post an mid-week update.

Week 36

On Friday Luke and I had another growth ultrasound to check out how Austin has been growing the last couple weeks. Well to say the least, she has definitely been growing. According to the ultrasound (which we were told could be +/- 1lb) Austin is currently weighing in at 7lbs 12ozs. I was quite shocked and asked the tech if she was serious. I mean, I know Austin was measuring big, but that is HUGE. I am still measuring 2 weeks ahead and Austin's weight puts her is the 97th percentile again. The ultrasound doctor (Perinatologist) said that everything else looked great. My amniotic fluid levels are on the higher side of normal though. He said that this is typical when the baby is big. Big Baby = Extra Fluid. Our regular doctor's appointment is not scheduled until Thursday of this week, so we will learn more then. But I have a hunch that Dr. Brodkin is going to tell me that we will be having a c-section. At our last appointment she said that if Austin is in the 90th percentile, "I was buying myself a ticket for a c-section." I have come to grips with the fact that I most likely will have a c-section. Although this was not my first choice, I am fine with this. I mean heck, I have been through surgery before. I will make a mid-week post after our appointment this week if a decision is made.

I definitely am feeling better since my trip to L&D earlier this week. I have not had anymore nausea or vomiting. I have been taking it as easy as possible. I did not even leave the house yesterday and stayed in my pajamas all day. I am thinking that sounds like a good plan for today too. I am still waiting for Austin to drop and for me to get my boost of energy. She is really high in my abdomen and is usually camped out right under my ribs. I guess there is really no other place for her to go because there is no room in there.

Baby Pool

I have created the above online baby pool so you can join in the excitement and anticipation of Baby Austin. Please participate by entering your guess! You can either click on the the above box or go to the link at: http://www.expectnet.com/games/KautzmanBabyPool

My first trip...

to Labor and Delivery was today.

I was at work and I started having some contractions (I have been having contractions that last couple days). They are were not anything regular, so I just powered on through them. Well all of sudden I started feeling really sick to my stomach. I went to the ladies room and threw up. This freaked me out because I have not been sick since my first trimester. I came back out and asked my boss if it was okay if I went home for the day. I sat back down at my desk and sure enough I threw up again in my trash can. By this time my coworkers were concerned and everyone was trying to help. I was going to drive myself home, but a few of my coworkers thought that was a bad idea and said to call Luke. So I called Luke and ask him to come get me. In the meantime I continued to throw up in my trash can a couple more times. Then one of my coworkers said maybe you should call your doctor. I called and explained what was going on and the nurse said because I work so close to the hospital and live further away, I should just go to the hospital now, instead of them sending me later.

We got the hospital and they had me change into a gown and they hooked me up to two different monitors. One to check Austin's heartbeat and one to check contractions. After an hour of monitoring they said Austin looked good and I only had a few contractions which weren't that big of deal so they sent me home. I was feeling better too, just from resting. Once Luke and I got home I laid on the couch for a while and then decided to take a nap. I just woke up from my 2 hour nap, I hope I can sleep tonight.

So who knows what made me sick this morning. They said as long as I was keeping liquids down they were not concerned.

Week 35

This week we had a doctor's appointment. We were told that I am measuring about 2 weeks ahead. My doctor scheduled us for an ultrasound next Friday to check Austin's growth. She is still concerned that Austin is on track to being a 9-10lb baby and to quote her, "I do not think your pelvis is big enough to deliver a baby that big." So you may ask, where does that leave us? Answer, a C-section. This, of course, is the last possible way I wanted Austin to enter into this world, but the doctor said she just wants to get her out the safest way possible. I totally understand that, but to be truthful I am a little disappointed. It's not set in stone yet, so I guess there is still a chance that I might be able to try and deliver Austin normally. I guess we will see what the doctor says at our next appointment after we have the ultrasound done.

This past week also my Mom and I attended a infant/newborn care class. It was very informative, but I feel like Luke still learned more at Daddy Boot Camp. I think one of the hard things was this class was on Wednesday night from 6:30pm-9:30pm. I am most uncomfortable at night I am generally in bed, if not already asleep by 9:30pm. I still have one more class to take on the 27th, but luckily it is in the morning.

Yesterday while Luke and a friend went to the ASU football game, I went over to my Mom's to be babysat (as I put it). We took the opportunity to get some last minute shopping done. Went to Babies R Us and spent nearly 2 hours there. I am pretty sure I go everything we are going to need. Then last night when we got home my Uncle Ron who is in town visiting was making Ribs and my Uncle Jack, Cousin Cassie and her husband Justin were all over for dinner. We ate and watched the game, which ASU lost in OT. I kept telling myself that they lost because I wasn't there. Next week ASU plays Georgia and this is going to be one of the biggest games of the season. I am sad that I cannot go, but Ragen is going to come over to "babysit" me while Luke is at the game.

So besides putting away all my purchases from yesterday, I need to pack my bag for the hospital. Its so weird to think that Austin is almost here and how fast the time has gone. I am glad this last month I can just relax. I would like to take a week or 2 off of work before Austin comes, but I only have 1 week of vacation saved up (we have a use it or loose it policy so you cannot bank any vacation time). That 1 week gets used up the first week I am off after Austin's birth before my short term disability kicks in. I guess I should of planned my vacation use better this year. Oh well. Getting up and getting ready for work everyday is becoming more and more difficult though. I move so slow that I now have to get up a 1/2 hour earlier than normal just to make it to work on-time.

Week 34

Well I definitely pushed myself yesterday and I am paying the price today. Even though it was 108 degrees outside I thought I could handle going to the ASU game. Tailgating was not that bad, I drank lots of water and was in the shade with two different fans on me, but once we got into the game, I found it to be unbearable. There was absolutely no breeze at all and it had not cooled down one bit. At half time I told Luke I had enough and that I was starting not to not feel well, so we left. Last night I felt like absolute crap. This morning I am a little better, but I definitely need a day to lay around the house and do nothing.

On Friday my work threw me a wonderful baby shower. It was so nice and again people were extremely generous with their gifts. Luke and I are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives that are just as excited about Austin as we are. Now that all of my showers are over with (can you believe I had 4 of them!) we need to go to Babies R Us and complete our registry. I have to admit there is not much left on it. Babies R Us is going to have to wait until next week or weekend, because I am not going anywhere today.

This coming week Luke and I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and then on Wednesday I have a infant/newborn care class in the evening that my Mom and I are going to take together. It will be a great refresher course for her. Luke gets a pass on this class because he already learned all of it in Daddy Boot Camp. Next Saturday we have ASU football again, but I think I might have to pass on going to it. Unless it cools down considerably. Yesterdays game might have been my last one before Austin makes her debut.

So how am I feeling? I get that question a lot. Before yesterday I had still been feeling pretty good. The only complaint I have been having lately is that I am not sleeping. I cannot get comfortable for the life of me. I have pillows jammed everywhere, but that does not seem to help. I am getting up at least 4 times at night to use the restroom and tossing and turning the rest of the time. I guess this is my bodies way of preparing me for when Austin comes. My restlessness had also affected Luke's sleeping and I gave him permission to sleep on the couch. He has been taking full advantage of this. At least one of us is getting sleep.

What Austin might look like...

Nursery Pictures Part 3

Nursery Pictures Part 2

Nursery Pictures Part 1