Things are Looking Good!

So, we had a follow up ultrasound and Dr. appointment this morning and it was our first appt. since I was released from the hospital. I was actually nervous because I know that bedrest at home just isn't as strict as in the hospital. As hard as I try to not walk around much, there are just more rooms to move around here than in a hospital room. We had our ultrasound first and they did a full growth scan which is always fun because we get to see more of the baby. She was pretty wiggly this morning. I had a little caffeine this morning just to wake her up. Her growth looks great. They estimate her at 3 lbs 15 oz. One fun thing we saw this morning is hair on her head. To our untrained eye...I wouldn't have known that's what it was, but the ultrasound tech pointed it out and said she could see it flowing around. The baby is head down and ready to go. She was face up for the 1st part of the ultrasound and pulled a switcheroo part way through and turned away from us.

My cervix is looking good. It's funny.....I never thought I would ever be discussing my cervix with everyone....but it seems like the main topic of my life right now. It shows no funneling now, which is what was so alarming to them a month ago when they admitted me to the hospital. The Dr. explained that it isn't exactly that my cervix gets longer, but that it is no longer bearing the weight of the babies head right on it and so has recuperated I guess. The Dr. was very happy that things have gone this well and that we have made it this far.

This Friday I will be at 32 weeks and our Dr. is okay with me removing some of the restrictions of bedrest. I'm so eager to be able to go do something. I have to take it easy and really listen to my body, but she wants me to try to walk around a little each day. I get achy super fast....my body has not been able to really adjust to carrying all the weight I've gained since I've been laying down, so even being off bedrest.....I won't be going too crazy. But, hey....dinner out and some trips to Target are all I need to make me pretty happy right now.

31 Weeks!

Here I am at 31 weeks! It feels good to be this far along and to know that we don't have to worry so much about if our little girl is born now. We want her to hang in there longer so she can get nice and chubby and healthy, but we are past the really scary zone. I have been home from the hospital for a week now. I can't believe I was in the hospital for almost 3 weeks! It feels like a dream that never really happened. It's been nice to be home, but I will admit that it is way harder to stay laying down. I'm supposed to be laying down most all the time and I no longer have privileges to leave the house. At least in the hospital I could get out in the wheelchair. At my next followup appointment we are going to ask if they will allow us to at least go out to dinner once a week or something. It does take a toll on my mental state to be in the house all the time for sure. I look forward to doing the most normal things again....like grocery shopping. It's been 3 months since I've stepped foot into a grocery store and I miss it. I went nearly every day before. I like wandering around and picking out my own produce. I can't wait to start cooking again. I know it'll be crazy when the baby gets here and I probably won't feel as much like doing those things as I think, but I'm looking forward to feeling more like myself I guess.

I have a follow up Dr. appointment this next week and then I will be alternating weekly appointments between the high risk specialists and my midwife. I'm really hopeful that we will be able to have a normal delivery with our midwife. They should be able to deliver the baby at 32-34 weeks. I've heard different things from different people, but at least we are getting close to both those weeks. Even if we can't have a full midwife delivery, their practice has said that whoever their on-call midwife is at Vanderbilt Hospital at the time will be there for me since I am still their patient. I have loved every one of the midwives I have met with at their practice and I know I will be comfortable with them there instead of just the on-call doctor whom I may not have even met. My original birth plan was to have a natural birth, but since nothing has gone according to plan....I'm not holding as strongly to it. I'm not sure my body will have the strength or energy to endure a natural birth since I've lost so much strength being on bed rest. But, we will see how it goes. Our midwife wants us to take it as it comes and they are supportive of whatever i decide to do. Maybe with all the trouble this little one has caused so far......she'll decide to take it easy on me and come out nice and easy:)

The Big Nursery Reveal

You know I've been watching too much HGTV when "the big reveal" sounds so normal:) Well, I think the nursery is done. Now all we need is a cute little baby girl to add and it will be perfect. The theme is owls and it's not overly done with them, just some little owl artwork and decor sprinkled throughout. Chad made the cute owl prints for the walls and the one over the changing table will have her name on it. In fact...it's under the picture with no name...but no looking! I found someone on Etsy to make the bedding set and blanket and pillow on the chair and my mom made the valance for the window. I love how it turned out. It's fun and cheerful. Hopefully our little baby will be, too:)

Crossing my fingers....might get to go home!

When I was admitted to the Hospital 2 1/2 weeks ago.....I was under the impression that I would be here for the duration of my pregnancy. I think that's what they thought too and I honestly think they probably thought I would have delivered the baby by now. But, it's been a very uneventful stay here at the hospital. On Monday they decided to do an ultrasound to see what had changed in the past 2 weeks. Thankfully my cervix was actually showing a little longer and thicker than it was on the day that they admitted me to the hospital. It wasn't dramatic, but more importantly it just hadn't gotten any shorter. I guess being on such strict bed rest has really helped. So, they are thinking that as long as nothing changes this week that they may be able to send me home this weekend. On Friday I will be 30 weeks along which is a great milestone to get to. So many of the risks are reduced and really it's looking like I can make it a bit further which will be great. So, I'm praying things will be smooth this week and I'll get to go home this weekend. It will be wonderful to sleep in my own bed. But, then again....I will miss the nurse call button. It kind of became more like the button you push at a Sonic Drive In...."Yes, could I get a sprite please?" I will be on bed rest at home, but at least Chad won't have to be running all over town and we can watch our TV shows on our nice big TV with Tivo:) Oh, the things I miss.

Wow...this has been quite a roller coaster ride for us. I know that everyone does this...but you just have a picture in your mind about how things are going to go and this certainly wasn't it. I've had to learn to just surrender and let go to things that are outside my control. Not easy to do. I think that the fact that it feels like we've had to fight for this baby makes us feel so eager for her to be her. I've always known it will be an amazing feeling when she finally gets here, but because of the situation I haven't been able to have the normal distractions of everyday normal life and so I feel like it will just be that much more amazing when she does arrive.

Other than my stupid (okay they call it incompetent) cervix, I've actually felt really good. I think I had heartburn once....either that or a mild heart attack...not likely. I guess one advantage to laying in bed is that my feet aren't swollen. I've been given some exercises to do on bed rest which are pretty sad that they are even called exercise. I'm pretty worried about how 3-4 months of being on bed rest will take a major toll on my body. I've heard that it really hits you when the baby is born. Right now I feel winded when I walk from the bathroom to my bed. It's depressing because I felt that I was in pretty good cardiovascular condition before I got pregnant. Chad keeps telling me I need to cut myself some slack...he's right. It'll be a long journey getting back to normal, but I know it'll all be worth it.

Maybe my next blog post will be typed from the comfort of my couch at home.....we will keep you posted.

Baby Shower at the Hospital

Friday night I got to have a baby shower here at Vanderbilt Hospital! My dear friend Anna has been planning a baby shower for some time now....I'm pretty sure she started long before I was even pregnant:) But, my pregnancy has been uncooperative to say the least. Initially it was planned for May and was going to be a double shower with my friend JJ who is having twins. But, knowing the likelihood of me delivering early....we decided to move it up. It was going to now be a solo shower and be at my house since I was on bedrest. Unfortunately the week before it was scheduled was when I was admitted to the hospital. I think that was actually my first thought when I found out I had to go to the hospital...."But what about my baby shower?" Chad asked the doctor right then if she thought we could have it here. She checked and they agreed to let us used a conference room and wheel me there in a wheelchair.

The food was wonderful! The theme was dips....pizza dip, jalepeno popper dip, layered taco dip, spinach dip, fruit dip. My friends Anna, JJ and Wendi all pitched in on the making of the food. It was all so delicious. Anna had made the cutest cupcakes with little nests on the top.....the inspiration was my blog name "Our Happy Nest". And she made little cakes on a stick that turned out adorable and were as yummy as they were cute.

For decor, Anna made a 3 tier diaper cake. I loved it! She definitely needs to go in business making them!

It was so great to see everyone....it was mostly girls that I work with or have worked with in the past. It's been so long since I've seen a lot of them. I got a ton of wonderful gifts....cute clothes, my baby bouncer, baby monitor, gift cards, bibs, shoes, baby necessities and more.

It was so nice to get out of my room for a few hours and kind of forget that I'm stuck here in the hospital. It was a really fun night. I'm thankful for my wonderful friends!

Pics included:
2 of my best friends - Anna and JJ and I
Me with some cute owl shoes
Diaper cake
Cupcakes and cake on the stick