40 Weeks

"It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds (a small pumpkin) and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary."

Today is my due date, but I am still pregnant. =( Tristan is being a tease. I'll get contractions for hours, but they aren't consistent at all. They will start five minutes apart, then seven minutes, then ten minutes, then 14 minutes, then they stop. I don't know if that's normal or not. They hurt, but they are bearable at least.

I went to labor and delivery yesterday morning because my contractions were really strong and I was having a lot of them. They checked me and monitored Tristan. I'm 2 cm dilated and 90% effaced. There were no problems with me or Tristan, which is good, but they sent me home and told me to come back in when my contractions are four to five minutes apart and I need to time them for an hour.

That was discouraging to say the least. I was really hoping that was true labor, but I guess it wasn't. I hope he comes before my next appointment on the 2nd. My friend, Tannin, told me that her midwife had her take primrose oil tablets to help get labor going. The primrose oil softens your cervix apparently. It's all natural, 100% safe, and no icky side effects like castor oil. So I'm going to try that and see if it helps.

Come on baby boy! I know it's warm and snug in there, but we all love you and want to meet you and hold you. Come out into the world!

And The Waiting Game Continues...

I went to the doctor today. She checked me and I'm still 1.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced, so she stripped my membranes again! I was really hoping I would have better news this week. I've been trying everything to induce labor. Well, except castor oil, but I refuse to do that.

I have been having stronger contractions since my OB stripped my membranes again, but they aren't consistent at all. They are still really sporadic. =( Ash and I are going to go for a long walk tomorrow and see if we can't help him come out. He is just a really stubborn baby I guess. There is nothing wrong with either one of us. He just wants to stay in there.

I have another appointment scheduled for September 2nd. My doctor said that if I am still pregnant by then we are going to schedule an induction. Please come out before then, Tristan! I don't know if I can handle another week. Everyone keep your fingers crossed!

Why is it...

... That anytime Robbie and I help one of our siblings out that they take complete advantage of us and use us as fucking doormats!?

My brother has been living with us since April. He's going to school full time and working part time. He needed a room to rent, so Robbie and I offered our guest bedroom in our house for $250 a month plus $100 a month for food. Not bad considering I don't make him pay utilities. I had no issue with that until I realized what an ungrateful bastard he is!

He rarely pays rent on time. He'll pay it a week late, or later some months. He knows that I won't just throw him out into the streets because I'm his sister, so he takes advantage of that. He never seems to have money to pitch in for food, but he always seems to have enough to go to Salt Lake and go clubbing with his friends. Oh, but he has no problem raiding our fridge and eating all of the food that we pay for!

My in-laws got us some fried chicken tonight so we didn't have to cook. Before Robbie and I even have a chance to help ourselves my brother takes four pieces. Plus, he eats like eight times a day. What the fuck!?

And don't even get me started on him helping around the house. The only thing he'll do without being asked is the dishes. He doesn't actually clean the kitchen, just the dishes. I guess he expects me or Robbie to finish the half-assed job he does. I ask him to keep the guest bathroom clean and he can't manage to do that either. Grrr!!! >=(

Most of you are probably wondering if I've talked to him about all of this. You bet your ass I have. Multiple times in fact. I tried to be nice at first, but then I finally had to get mean and blunt about it. That changed things for about a week and then he starts doing the same shit over again!

What do you guys think I should do? Should I kick his ass to the curb? I'm really starting to think so. Tristan is coming soon and we'll need every penny we can get to stay afloat until I go back to work since I'm only getting 60% of my normal pay. My brother is actually costing us money rather than saving us money, so financially kicking him out would be the best option, but do I want to deal with the bullshit from my family? Help?

Tristan's Nursery

Finally! Tristan's nursery is all done! I'm really happy with the way it turned out. Here are the pics...

39 Weeks

"Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath."

Tristan Jude Randall, please come out now. You are fully developed, healthy, and you've already dropped, but I'm still only 1.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced. Why must you tease me like this? It really is okay to come out. We all want to meet you!

I went to the doctors office yesterday morning and my OB stripped my membranes (OUCH!) to make contractions start, but nothing has happened yet. Although she did say it could happen within 24 to 48 hours so there is always tomorrow, I guess.

I am so ready to give birth! My hospital bag is packed and ready to go, Tristan's nursery is all done (pics are soon to come), his car seat is installed, I am officially on maternity leave... it's time.

Everyone hope and pray that I go into labor this weekend. I really don't want to be induced if I can help it. =/ Here are my 39 week and hopefully my last pregnant belly pics. Enjoy!

New Car!

We got a new car! It's a white 2008 Chevy Equinox LT AWD! We traded in our mustang and alero to get it. It's what we needed to do. We needed a four door car and it's going to save us money on monthly car payments and insurance. We're selling Robbie's 1968 Buick LeSabre for $1,000 then we're going to use that money to pay cash for a Thunderbird that Robbie wants. So we'll have two cars, but only one payment. Woot! Our car looks like this...

Guessing Game!

Anyone want to guess when Tristan will make an appearance? Robbie and I are both thinking the 22nd at this point. Let the guessing begin!

Still Pregnant at 38 Weeks 1 Day Gestation

Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after he's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

38 weeks and 1 day pregnant and I am still playing the waiting game. I know that I'm not due for another 13 days, but I am ready now! I also know it's not up to me. Tristan will come when he is ready, but I am so impatient! I'm sure everyone is sick of hearing about it from me by now, but it's really hard to concentrate on anything else.

I've been having really strong Braxton Hicks contractions, but they are not close enough together to be considered true labor. Now is the time when I should be catching up on sleep, but it's almost impossible when you sleep on a queen sized bed with a husband, two dogs, and the summer heat. Even when the swamp cooler is on full blast I'm still too hot. I am so miserable! I just keep telling myself it won't be long now and all of this will be worth it.

My OB checked me on Friday. I am now 80% effaced, but I am still only 1.5 cm dilated. It's a little discouraging, but the doctor still thinks that I'm going to go into labor before my due date. At this point I'm trying all sorts of things to make dilation progress faster. I'm walking up and down the stairs a lot, having sex, etc. So we'll see if any of that helps.

I started nesting this weekend. Everyone says that's a sign that he will be here soon. I sure hope so. It is nice to feel this energized for once. I've been so worn out and tired the last few weeks.

Robbie won't let me do much as far as cleaning goes because my feet are so swollen. Don't worry. I got checked for Preeclampsia and Toxemia and I don't have either disease. Tristan is just putting so much pressure on the lower half of my body that it is restricting some blood flow to my legs. My doctor told me to take it easy and keep my feet up as much as possible, which is so frustrating right now! I know it's important that I do what she says though, so I'm being a good girl.

I'll keep everyone updated and let you know once I go into labor for real. LOL! I can't wait!

Weeks 37-Delivery (Month 9): Watermelon

"At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life."

I am officially full term today! Yay! I can have him at any time and he will most likely be healthy and thrive. I feel like I've reached a huge milestone.

I went to the doctor yesterday. She checked me and I'm 1.5 cm dilated and 70% effaced! I know that could mean a short time to delivery, or a long time, but I'm still really excited. It's nice to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that I'll be holding Tristan in my arms within three weeks.

I've been feeling a lot of pressure on my cervix the last few days and it's been a lot harder to do simple things like walk and change positions. My doctor confirmed yesterday that my baby has dropped into the birth canal. I think the fact that he is as big as a watermelon is very appropriate because I feel like I am carrying a watermelon between my legs. The pressure is intense, but at least I can breathe now. LOL!

Since Tristan has dropped, my doctor thinks that I'll be going into labor sooner than later now, but there is no way to tell for sure. I'll just continue to play the waiting game. The important thing is that he and I are doing really well. His heart rate is at 130 BPM, he is still moving around all of the time. I don't have Group B Strep, Gestational Diabetes, Preeclampsia, or any other serious pregnancy complications. Everything is going so well.

Hurry, Tristan! We can't wait to see your cute little face. =)

36 Weeks Pregnant

"Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly."

28 days left until my due date! Aaaahh!!! I'm so nervous. I'm going to be a mom in less than one month. I feel so unprepared. There are still so many things we need to get for him. I know everything will turn out okay and that I'm probably just over reacting, but I worry we won't have everything we need in time.

I had my 36 week appointment yesterday. My OB said they aren't going to check me to see if I am dilated until my next appointment which is on August 7th. She did do the Group B Strep test though. That appointment literally took like ten minutes. The shortest one I've ever had. I guess that's good though, right? That means nothing bad is happening.

His heart rate is good at about 135 BPM and I'm measuring at 35 1/2 cm which is where I'm supposed to be. He isn't too big, or too small, just average. My blood pressure is 92 over 58 which is also normal. My OB thinks I'm going to be pregnant up to my due date if not a few days longer, so I guess we'll see what happens.

I can't wait to meet my little guy. I will admit that I am nervous and a little scared, but I am also really happy and excited. My life is going to change forever, but it will be for the better.