I really wanted to name this post : "Ok. This isn't fun anymore." But I decided against it.
PAIN WITH A PURPOSE.
I don't remember who exactly it was that got that phrase stuck in my head, but they were right. I just keep telling myself that, and the purpose is so worth it.
As most of you know, I was in the hospital for a week last week with lots of complications. I'm back at home now and feeling much better, and more importantly, Connor is doing great. He is a healthy, growing boy.
Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers, texts, calls, and facebook messages.
All I can say is, he is SO READY to meet all of you.
Here is what is going on with Baby Connor this week:
Our 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. Our 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, our 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, our practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax our baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of my belly. {babycenter.com}
At the end of this week, our 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, our practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax our baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of my belly. {babycenter.com}
PHYSICAL CHANGES:
Well, I joked with some of my friends on Halloween that I was going as the "Stay Puft Marshmallow Man" this year and sent them a picture of my feet and ankles. Because the hospital forgot to turn down the fluid being pumped into my IV when they were supposed to and flooded my lungs, (its a long story... hit me up if you want to hear the other ways I could have died because of negligence sometime)... the swelling in my feet just would not go down. But I think they have finally found their way back to my normal size. Whew.
I'm also at that point that I never felt I would get to. The dreaded uncomfortable stage. Yeah. I get it now. Sleep is just a word to me and I'm not sure how to really get any with a 6 lb munchkin rolling around inside me.
But I will say, other than these two things, and needing to be at home resting and 20 minutes from the hospital until he comes, I really REALLY can't complain. I'm just that much closer to holding this precious little boy in my arms. He could make his debut just any day now.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO:
Well, life hasn't been too eventful lately since we have been in and out of the hospital. But the day before I checked in the first time, one of my friends/coworkers had an amazing baby shower for me. It was so much fun and I got to see some of my best friends that I haven't seen in almost 4 years. It was definitely one of the best weekends of 2011 in my book. Here are some pics:
Hang in there!! Glad you are back home. Send Adam out to Denny's for a Mooons Over My Hammy!! Best scrambled egg sandwich ever! (Minus the ham, sub bacon!) Can't wait to see Connor's sweet face!
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