Swolling

A couple days ago Annah noticed that I'm having some swelling issues...

 She said, "Mommy, your legs are getting big."

 "Yes, Annah, I'm swollen because of all the extra water I have in my body from the baby."

 "Oh. Your legs are swolling ."

 "Yes Annah. My whole body is swollen ."

 "Mommy, your bottom is swolling."

 "Well, thank you for noticing, Annah."

Urologist

I went to the urologist today. I asked him how long after the baby being born he plans to do the lithotripsy, and his answer surprised me. He said I will need to recover before having the lithotripsy, so he will see me a few weeks after the baby is born. So, I'm not even scheduled to see him again until November! I was thinking I would have the kidney stones removed while still in the hospital with the baby. So, even though I can see how it will be good for me to have some recovery time, I am somewhat disappointed that I am going to be dealing with these kidney stones into November or after! Argh. I also asked if the stones are going to be broken up small enough that it won't be too painful, or if it will be like passing a whole bunch of kidney stones. He said the goal is to break them up as small as sand, so that the discomfort is minimal. But, since the stone in my left kidney is so large, there is some concern as to how small it will be able to be broken up. Not what I wanted to hear.

Getting ready!

I had my weekly check-up this morning. I am still dilated to 1 centimeter, and am also now 50% effaced! Dr. W. said I should pack my bags! I am working on it, but my guess is I will not be going into labor this week. I suppose I could be wrong, but I think it will be closer to the duedate. Baby's heartrate was in the 150's today. That's the highest it's been in many weeks. I have no idea whether this is a boy or a girl! I can't wait to find out!

Anniversary, doctors, baby needs

Happy "anniversary" to us! Today we have been "together" for 13 years!!! Pretty amazing, really, for only being 27 and 29 years old! We've also been married for 4 years and 4 months today. ;)

Sylvia had her 18 month check-up today. She is finally back on the growth chart for weight! Yay! She is in the 10th percentile at 20 pounds, 9 ounces, and is 32 inches tall. Dr. K. said she made a big jump in the past 3 months, and is looking really good and healthy.

I had a baby check-up today too. Baby's heartrate was 136, and I am dialated to 1 centimeter! We have an appointment every week now! It's getting close!!!! We can't wait to meet this baby!!!!!!!

We're not registered anywhere, but since people have been asking, we're making a list of things Baby L could really use.

Pediatrician visit

Both girls visited their pediatrician today. Annah had her ears flushed to get out tons of extra wax. She did very well once she was convinced that it wouldn't hurt. She got to eat lunch at McDonald's for her reward. Sylvia is finally back on the growth chart, and the doctor gave the okay for her to switch from formula to whole milk! Yay! We like the idea of $2/week much better than the $33/week her formula has been! Sylvie grew 2 1/2 inches and gained 3 pounds, 2 ounces in the past 3 months. We have been working and praying hard for this! She did very well with her 3 shots today too.

Sharing a room

The girls are doing surprisingly well with sharing a room! (This is just one more example of proof that prayer works!) Sylvia cries for a few moments after we put her in her crib (which isn't anything new), but she and Annah have both slept through the night quietly for the past two nights. The only thing is that Annah wakes up earlier than Sylvia is used to, so she's getting a little less sleep right now. We're not even attempting naptime in the same room, because Annah doesn't actually do much sleeping at naptime these days. She is getting to rest in Mommy & Daddy's room for naptime, and Sylvia is doing just fine napping in the "new" room. Yesterday, I moved all of Sylvie's clothes, and today her toys, into the shared room. So, now, the baby will get its own room!

Annah started preschool yesterday. I am kicking myself because my rechargeable digital camera batteries died just as I turned on the camera to take her picture with her backpack all ready to go to school. It takes 13 hours to recharge them, and I didn't have film for the regular camera either. Aargh! I did do a little video interview with her, which was really sweet. I guess I'll have to take pictures of "Annah's 2nd Day of School."

Sylvia's new favorite word is, "NO!" She is using it frequently these days, directed at any one of us, especially her sister, from whom she learned the word!

Baby check up

We had a "baby check-up" yesterday. Everything seems fine. Baby's heartrate was in the 120's, and my belly is measuring right on at 33 weeks. Baby has been head down for a while already too.

I think the nesting thing has kicked in a little. I'm not sure is a good thing since I'm supposed to be taking it easy because of the kidney stones. But, I was feeling good this morning and did some rearranging of things in Sylvia's room. I still don't know if Sylvia or the baby will be sharing a room with Annah...we need to get another crib. Does anyone have a crib they want to get rid of for a couple of years or even permanently? Please let me know if so!

Sunny Sissies

Just loving these 2 cuties sitting in the sun of our living room window bench in their matching dresses...

Huge hog of a stone

I had another ultrasound on my kidneys today and saw the urologist again. Not only did the visit confirm that I still have a "huge hog of a stone" (as the urologist called it) in my left kidney, but I also learned that I have one (about 3 mm in size) in my right kidney as well. That was not what we wanted to hear! The ultrasound technician did say that at least the one in my left kidney is in a spot where it should stay put and not block anything, but the one on the right could decide to come out at any time. So, we're just going to continue to pray that they will both stay right where they are until the baby is born and the urologist can "blast them out of there" with the lithotripsy. I am feeling mostly okay, but now the exhausted feeling of the third trimester has really set in on top of everything else.

Jeremy has been going non-stop--poor guy! He is in a busy time at work, and has been doing double-duty at home too to help me out. He's also been hard at work on clearing the pool mess out of the backyard and is making great headway out there!

Annah and Sylvia have really been getting into music a lot lately--which, of course, excites me! Annah knows how to put CD's in the DVD player and operate the surround sound system, so she'll stick in a CD and the girls will dance around the living room. This usually happens several times each day. Sylvia sometimes even requests this by saying, "eesick" (music) and/or "deets" (dance). Annah has also started learning her favorite songs from her tapes and CD's lately, and singing along. It's a really neat blessing for me to hear her singing like this!

Resting

Thank you so much to those of you who have been praying for us, thinking of us, sending cards, and helping us out over the past week and a half! Things are going better for now, thank goodness!

Friday through Sunday I was in a LOT of pain, especially for a few hours early Sunday morning. My pain meds didn't even phase the pain, and all I could do was cry and writhe around in pain, with Jeremy holding my hand until I could calm down a bit and try to be still and breathe. The surprising thing was that late Sunday evening I did pass a stone. It was about the size of a pea, and I have been feeling a lot better since.

On Monday, Jeremy took me to see the urologist, who was shocked that I passed a kidney stone that large. Since the ultrasound I had in the hospital indicated that my stone was the size of a quarter, we're not sure where the one I passed came from. He said that there could have been two stones right next to each other that looked like one on the ultrasound. Or, the one I passed could have been a piece that broke off of the larger one. Or, the ultrasound could have been inaccurate, and what I passed was the entire thing. I'm betting that the last option is not the case, as I have had more pain since passing the stone. So...I will be having another ultrasound on my kidneys next Thursday to see what the deal really is. He did say that I shouldn't have to wait too long after the baby is born to have the lithotripsy procedure done to break up the stone. That was encouraging.

Yesterday, I saw my OB doctor. My chart didn't have any indications of my being hospitalized or having a kidney stone, so I had to tell her about it. She said she knew the story, but didn't know that it was me. Kind of odd, I thought. But, she did say that I won't have to have a c-section because of the kidney stone, which as a relief to me. (Even though I had planned to try going without an epidural originally, there is no way I want to attempt that while having a kidney stone!) She said she may want to induce me and take the baby a little early, so we'll see how things progress. She said baby's heartbeat is nice and strong, and that it was good to see the baby moving around a lot even just while I was there for a few minutes.

While I was in the hospital, the baby was being monitored almost the whole time, although, it moves so much that a lot of the time it was hard to get a consistent reading. Sometimes I would have to press the monitor into my belly for an hour to make sure it was reading right. It was nice to know that the baby was moving so much though. Most of the time over those 2 days that baby's heartrate was in the 120's and 130's. Granted, I was on painkillers, so I don't know if that affects baby's heartrate or not.

As far as how we are doing now, things are better. I am still very tired, and do have pain at times. I am thankful that, at least right now, I am not completely bedridden. Last week, I was. Today I am feeling the best I have in a week and a half. I have twinges of pain in my kidney several times a day, and still have to rest a lot. But, for the past 2 days, I have been able to move around. I am a little afraid to hope that I will feel this good for the next 8 1/2 weeks until the baby is born, because sometimes the pain will just come on suddenly and overtake me. But, maybe the stone will just stay put and not move until the baby is born. That's what we're praying for!