2 (but really 3...) Month Appointment

Sweet Ellyotte Pierce will be 3 months on Thursday. It is hard to believe, but... not really. These three months have seemed to have an eternity packed into them.

She's a precious girl. Today at her appointment, she weighed 12 lbs, 14 ounces (exactly 5 lbs more than her birth weight) putting her in the 50th percentile for weight. She was 23 1/4 inches long putting her also in the 50th percentile for length. And her sweet little head is just that: little! It was in the 25th percentile for circumference!

Ellyotte sleeps a LOT. She goes to bed at 6:30 pm, wakes about midnight to eat, again at 4:00 am, then she will sleep till I usually wake her about 8:00 am. She will get up, eat breakfast (4 ounces each bottle) and then goes back down for a nap about 8:45 or 9:00 am. She will take an hour and a half nap, get up, eat lunch, play then goes back to napping at about 12:00 pm. She will sleep about 2-3 hours, then the same routine: eat, play then one more nap mid-late afternoon. What a wonderful schedule!

But, it is tough to keep her well rested on days that Noah has school. I hate waking her to take him/pick him up but it has to be done. She sleeps on her tummy and loves her paci. Noah wasn't ever a paci baby so this is new to me - she spits it out, I have to run in and put it back in her mouth. But, it is nice having something that helps to soothe her. And I am glad I discovered that she liked sleeping on her tummy - what a difference that has made in her sleeping habits.

She's such a sweet baby. She nuzzles my neck and I just can't get enough of her. Everyday with this baby girl is a blessing.

Delivery Update

We just got back from the hospital where I had my last appointment with my doctor and got pre-admitted to the hospital. They did my bloodwork and all my necessary lab work so I don't have to do it tomorrow.

We arrive at the hospital at 5:00 tomorrow morning, get situated in our room, IV, etc started and my doctor said that the surgery should start at 7:30 AM and Ellyotte should be here no later than 8:00 AM.

To say that we are excited is an understatement. Dan and I had a date last night and had such a great time. We just went to dinner but we laughed and talked for hours. It was much needed. Noah was home with his Graddy and Jan-Jan and they put him to bed for us. He's had SUCH an incredible and special time with them being here the last few days.

Today we sent Noah to school so he could keep some normalcy to his routine. He was looking forward to seeing his friends and I think we all needed a break in this house to get things in order the day before Ellyotte comes. We will pick him up this afternoon and I think Dan and I will take him out for ice cream or something special - just the three of us.

Please keep me in your prayers tomorrow morning. I am definitely not as nervous as I thought I would be - just anxious for the surgery portion to be over and for her to be in our arms.

Until next time!

Last Appointment Update!

Today was my final "check up" appointment. I am scheduled for another next Tuesday so I can get my paperwork and bloodwork done for the c-section which is still scheduled for first thing Wednesday morning. But today was the last normal one.

I have lost 3 pounds - which didn't surprise me. Ellyotte STILL hasn't "dropped" and she perpetually has a foot stuck so far up in my diaphram that it is extremely uncomfortable to eat too much. I am not dilated at all - not a bit. So I was a bit disappointed to learn that - but not really since it doesn't affect the surgery.

My parents come Friday and then Kelly comes out the day of the c-section. My doctor told me that they will likely keep me in the hospital for 3 days so that might be annoying - I will be SUPER ready to get Ellyotte home by then! But it might be a good break from being a full-time mom to a 2 year old :) He will love having his Jan-Jan and Graddy and Aunt Kelly here with him.

There wasn't much to update you guys on, but I wanted to let you know how the appointment went today. Noah started his breathing treatments and was really excited to have a mask put on his face! It was cute - he wanted to play with it after we gave him his puffs of Albuterol. It is still sad to have to do the treatments, but if they help rid of the cough, then they are necessary.

Okay... I am going to try to go to sleep. But for all of you who have been 39 weeks pregnant before, you know the level of discomfort that accompanies this late date of pregnancy! But... the babies are worth it, right?!

Another Appointment Update

Today I had my 38 week appointment. I guess technically it is my 37 week appointment because I will have my c-section at 39 weeks. But... whatever. The doctor said it was 38 weeks because I guess they make the due date the day I will actually deliver. So 38 weeks it is!

Anyway, I had my appointment today and it went well. Despite monstrous contractions, though, I am still not dilated at all and Ellyotte hasn't yet dropped. My doctor just shrugged her shoulders and reminded me that Noah's arrival was the exact same: I never progressed at all and had a c-section then.

She said that some women just never have that "natural" experience, for whatever reason. She said sometimes your pelvic structure, your genetics, many things can contribute to lack of the natural labor process.

All that said, Ellyotte's heartbeat is still in the 140s and she's still very active and growing. That is good - I am thankful that our baby is thriving and even though I am BEYOND miserable (!!!) I am looking forward to these next 2 weeks as a small family of 3.

My mom and dad come out next weekend to get some time with Noah and me and Dan and we are excited to have them here. Maybe we will even utilize their babysitting services and have a date while they are here the weekend before she arrives!

Until next update...!

36 Weeks Appointment

Today I had my weekly appointment. And despite the major contractions I have had the past few days - regular, at that - Ellyotte is still happy and content to remain where she is! There is no sign at all that she's making her descent any time soon (don't want to get graphic, but my doctor is doing the "check" to see where we stand).

My friend, Amy Hall, said today "Are you really ready for her to be here?" And I responded that yes, I am definitely ready but I don't really desire for her to be here any earlier than 21 July. I just WISH it were the 21st already!

I love the planning one can do around a c-section. We have my mom, dad and sister coming out for her arrival (Mom and Dad will come a few days early to be with Noah and give me and Dan some time together) and then Kelly comes the day after her arrival so she can be here at our home with Noah until we come home from the hospital a couple of days post surgery.

Then my mother in law, Carol, will come out the first of August once my mom leaves and hopefully we will have a few more of my girlfriends and maybe even my sister-in-law, Annie, come out in August at some point. So, all that to say, I am happy to be able to have her arrival and our visitors planned out; something you obviously cannot do when you are waiting to go into labor!

And to be honest, I don't mind having these next few weeks to spend exclusively with "my boys." Noah's world is about to be rocked and I am enjoying snuggling and playing with my little man as much as possible. And hopefully Dan's schedule will continue to ease up so we can have some down time together as well. We have a lifetime ahead with Ellyotte so I want to be able to enjoy the two men in my life and not rush this precious time.

We have another appointment next Tuesday so I will provide another "Ellyotte update" then!

EPB - 6 months

I went into my 6 month appointment today and was surprised when they called me right back for an ultrasound! Dan wasn't even with me, so that was disappointing. But what wasn't disappointing was getting to see Ellyotte again. We were wanting to make sure that her feet were "okay" since it was at 19 weeks with Noah that we learned of his possible club feet diagnosis, so my doctor scheduled me for an ultrasound before I saw the doc. Ellyotte's feet are LONG, straight, and perfectly arched. Hallelujah.

She is head down directly on my bladder already! And she's a very active baby. While I was getting the ultrasound, she was stretching and yawning so much. It was very moving to see. And her profile... it is identical to her brother's. His little profile now looks just like it did in the many ultrasound pictures we had done. We cannot wait to touch her beautiful face.

My appointment went well. I am having some terrible back pain this go round - so much so that it is keeping me up at night. So the doctor prescribed some muscle relaxants - however, I doubt I will be taking them very often since I have an active 2 year old to chase all day! I would pass out, I think, if I were to take one during the daytime.

Ellyotte's heartrate still remains much lower than Noah's was - it was in the low 140s today. She's a nightowl - I am not kidding: I lay down at night to sleep and she wakes up and kicks me HARD for hours on end. I hope that changes before she's born!

My doctor is very anti-VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) so I will be scheduled at my next appointment in 3 weeks for my c-section. It will be at week 39 and will either be the morning of the 21st or the 22nd of July. I will let you know when we are on the books!

Praise God for a healthy baby girl.