I can't believe it has been 5 weeks since I last posted. I fell behind, but I have good excuses, I promise!
So way back when...on November 12 (the day after my last post), my dad was in Memphis for work. He woke up that morning to put on his exercise clothes and had all the symptoms of a heart attack (he's had two others, so he knows what the symptoms are). He knew exactly what it was and actually took himself to the hospital! Crazy! They caught it early and did a stint in the artery that was 100% blocked. However, the cardiologist in Memphis told him his arteries were heavily blocked and he needed to see an expert ASAP. So that following Tuesday, the 18th, my parents managed to get him an appointment at Emory University Hospital. Side note: this place is incredible! If you ever have anything major wrong, this is the place to go. They met with the chief of cardiothoracic surgery who determined he needed 5-6 bypasses done sooner rather than later. So, the following Monday, 11/24 (Monday of Thanksgiving week), my dad had quintuple bypass surgery. The surgery was a success and he's on the mend! Yesterday was 3 weeks removed from surgery and he gets more energy back every day and is doing so well. We're thankful to God that the heart attack in Memphis caught this problem...otherwise, he would have been a ticking time bomb and things could have been much worse. This was all in God's plan to get him healthy for a grand baby! :)
So with all that said, you see how the past 5 weeks have been insane for us. We spent two weekends in Atlanta (the weekend before his surgery and then the weekend after as well) and have spent lots of time working on the nursery and getting ready for this sweet baby girl to join our family. Still can't do a nursery reveal since we're missing a few things, but hopefully soon!
I had my 36 weeks appointment today, which is the start of weekly appointments at the doctor. It is just insane to me how quickly all this time has gone. I remember back in May, when we first found that precious heartbeat on the ultrasound, thinking January felt eons away. Well, now it is here! Here is what we learned at the doctor:
• I tested positive for GBS (Group B Strep). I won't go into details of this, and you can Google it (although Google makes it worse than it is...always). I was kind of bummed to learn about this, but the doctor reassured me 25% of women have it. You either have it or you don't. You don't "catch" it and it doesn't mean you have the cooties or are dirty or anything like that. It is just a natural bacteria in the body. It is completely harmless to me. The only thing is, they check for it so I don't transmit it to the baby during labor. All this means is they will put me on an antibiotic IV during labor. So not really that big of a deal...I just hate that my body isn't perfect for her.
• The doctor is pretty sure she's head down! This has been something I've been worried about the past few weeks. At 32 weeks, she was breach. Breach means a c-section, which I am really trying to avoid. The past few weeks, I have felt this hard knot at the top of my belly so I've just assumed she has stayed breach and have been mentally preparing myself for that. She did an exam this morning and said she was pretty confident she is head down (and not butt down). So that hard knot at the top must be her little butt! Ha ha! We'll know for sure Monday if she's head down because...
• The BIG news is I measured 39 weeks! WHAT??? Gestationally, I am 36 weeks today. Crazy! So because on the fundal height measurement we are measuring more than 2 weeks off, we get to have a growth scan done Monday. This is so exciting, but also intimidating to me. I am excited because it means I get to see here again, but also because it means we may be closer than we think to meeting her! YAY!!!!!!! It's also intimidating because it means she may be a big girl and because it means we may be closer than we think to meeting her!
So here is where we are:
Weeks: 36 (measuring 39)
Size: More than 18.5" long and almost 6 pounds.
Sleep: I do not sleep. That's about the long and short of it. It's God's way of preparing me for when she gets here I think. I swear I'll sleep more once she's out than I am now! Ha ha! Between the intense hip pain and heartburn, sleep is but a thing of the past. Of course, I wouldn't change it for the world and am grateful this is where we are!
Feeling: She is a feisty little thing! All the apps say she should be on a wake schedule in the womb. HA HA HA! I laugh at them! This child does what she wants, when she wants. Sometimes she moves all day and is quiet at night. Other times I barely feel her during the day and start to get nervous about it, but then she'll squirm all night long. And I LOVE feeling her move! I'm going to miss not having her with me all the time and feeling this wiggles and punches.
Showing: Well, since we're measuring 39 weeks, I'll go ahead and say YES on this one! No need for further clarification and there will NOT be a bump picture, either.
Milestone: Hitting the 36 week mark, which means weekly doctor visits and also that if we were to go into labor at this point, she would be a good size/weight and would hopefully get to come home with me when I get released. Of course, staying in there a few more weeks is what is ideal, but it's a relief to know she could be delivered safely at this point.
We ask for prayers that God continue to bless this pregnancy and baby and for a safe and healthy delivery for both she and I. We're incredibly close to the end and I am joyful, excited, emotional, anxious and nervous all rolled into one. God has blessed Jarren and I beyond words with this gift and I love her so much. Every time I see her sweet face on my phone I get choked up with all the love. I know it only grows stronger! We have prayed, "Lord, light our path" and that He has done...He has illuminated it!
