After 32 weeks you can pretty much stay put where you are unless there is an additional medical need to be transferred to a hospital with a higher level of care. If I had just been three more weeks along with Oliver I could have stayed where I was and they would have tried to induce me. But by the time the decision was made that it was better for me to be where they could care for him if I couldn't make it that long (I think it was pretty obvious already that I wouldn't) I was too sick and he just needed to come out. So when I was pregnant with Elliott I made sure that I was already going to be admitted to a hospital that could care for another premature baby if that were the case. This time I made my decision based on NICU level and of course whether they would allow for a VBAC, but during the tour of the hospital, I smiled politely at the doors of the NICU as we stopped to talk about it and thought "Nice knowin ya!" to myself. Because now, at 35 weeks, unless there is an unforeseen complication, we shouldn't need it for more than a handful of days if even that.
So that's where we are.... this is my 33 week picture... of course late, but I've been super busy!
The boys and I have been very busy all day long for the past few weeks getting routines in order to keep the house together. Laundry, kitchen, bathrooms... adding in new priorities every week or where I find them and they fit in easily to what's already established. Getting rid of things, reorganizing etc. But finally this week I feel like everything is in good enough maintained shape that I obviously felt I had time this afternoon to sit and do this (after a poor attempt at a nap, but who needs them!) instead of either cleaning or hiding from cleaning!
My leg and my back pain are starting to flare up more often and worse now. Which makes me really glad I did get established with physical therapy even when it wasn't hurting that much at all. I felt silly at first because they would ask me my pain scale and I would make up a number even though I had explained to them why I was there repeatedly just to hopefully keep it manageable etc. But I realized I'm just a few pounds short of how much I weighed before I lost weight last year and that means I'm in the range I was starting out in my other two pregnancies where the pain started much earlier. So I guess that means that it could really be a weight thing, like the more weight is pressing on the nerves to worse it gets. A few nights ago I woke up in the middle of the night and it was so bad no matter what I did I couldn't make it feel any better. Finally after over an hour of tossing and turning and stretching with no relief, I feel asleep with my fist in a ball under my back putting pressure where it hurts the most which is what she does in physical therapy that feels really good.. On the bright side, I have only up to six more weeks to go!!! So my hope of keeping things manageable longer came to pass and I'll take it!!!
I'm also really excited about this picture...
This was from 4 weeks ago when I was 31 weeks.... but I forgot to even post it anywhere. As I think I've mentioned, I joined MOPS this year. It has been a wonderful experience especially meeting these other mammas in the same stages of life I am. At various times, we had three pregnancy announcements. There's me, due in July.... Catie due with her second in August, and Kelly also due with her second in September. All baby boys!!! We're just missing Kim who up and moved on us (sad face) but she is also having a boy in September!!! This was our last meeting before the summer break, so when we come back it will presumably be with three new little men <3 Oh my! Life is always better together :)
Well, it's getting too hot in the office for me to stay... and why my boys aren't awake I have no idea... but I may do another update this week. I have a regular OB appointment tomorrow and then I'm every week appointments after that. And a growth scan on Friday. At the last one at 31 weeks he was measuring perfectly at 3 pounds 14 ounces. We call him fat baby. I don't think he likes that as he is constantly beating me up in retaliation. But he has been and stayed head down so at least he seems cooperative in that area! I'm looking foreword to seeing what they estimate his weight to be this week. Though I still don't anticipate too big, I definitely get a feeling he is growing better since I am healthier <3
So until then...
