38 week appointment

I had my 38 week appointment today. This last week I've gained about 5 lbs. which puts me at 23 1/2 lbs. total. I may just make the suggested 25-35 lbs gained during my pregnancy after all. I'm measuring at 38 cm this time which puts me almost right on again. I'm still not quite at 2 cm yet, but everything looks good and is progressing. Today, the baby was awake and moving around and her heart beat was 178 bpm when checked. Also, I woke up this morning with my hips and lower back all hurting and making it harder to walk, plus my feet are a little swollen. Normally, if I feel like this it isn't until the afternoon or later after being up and about for a while. I think that my body is about done. Next appointment is in a week unless I have the baby first.

37 week appointment

Today was my 37 week appointment, however since my appointments generally end up on Fridays and I'm due on a Sunday I'm closer to 38 weeks now. I've gained another 1 1/2 lbs in the last week. Blood pressure and everything else looked good. Baby is still head down and she really shouldn't be able to flip over anymore anyway. I measured at 36 1/2 cm this time, which is a little small for how far along I am. But, that is exactly the same way that both Carissa and Gabe measured at this point too. And, this week I'm dilated to 1 1/2 cm, so things are progressing from last week.

36 week appointment

Today was my 36 week appointment. Everything is still going well. I've gained about 3 1/1 lbs. in the last 12 days, which puts me at a total of about 17 lbs gained. My group B strep test was positive this time, so I will be getting antibiotics while in labor. Also, the baby is head down like she should be. And my cervix is softened, 50% effaced and a fingertip dilated. My next appointment will be on the 23rd.

4th of July

Most of the festivities here for the 4th were actually on the 3rd this year. So, we went to a youth arts fair mid-day and the kids got to color their own Frisbees, ball and paddle, and make crowns. Then we went back after dinner and met up with my parents and my sister there. My dad gave Gabe and Carissa both $5 to play on/in the big blow up toys there, and then later he bought both of them light up swords too. They were both so excited about both of those, especially since we were only letting them do things that were free due to a lack of funds on our part. They were still happy to do the free activities too, but Grandpa made it even better. Then we watched the concert that was going on for a little bit while waiting for the fireworks to start. Gabe had several questions/comments during the fireworks too. He wondered what happened if the sparks raining down from the sky landed on you, which I told him that they are ashes by then and that they couldn't hurt him. He also said, "So that is how clouds are made, by fireworks." He did really well with the loud music and the fireworks display.

Then on the 4th we had a family get together at my parents' house and had a bbq. The kids played, rode their bikes, rode their ATVs and everyone spent time together until it was dark enough to do fireworks. Then all 3 of my younger siblings lit the fireworks in the street while the rest of us watched. Carissa enjoyed doing sparklers as well. Gabe on the other hand didn't like sparklers. He doesn't think they are safe. And, he was a nervous wreck during a good portion of the fireworks. He didn't like the loud fireworks, and when he was being all fidgety and kept getting out of his seat I ask him if he was excited or nervous, and he responded by telling me that he was afraid that someone was going to get hurt. He watched all the fireworks and didn't ask to leave, but he was nervous about it.

Last day of swimming lessons

The last day of swimming lessons was yesterday, and it was a fun day for the kids. Gabe got to jump off of the diving board and go down the big water slide. Carissa got to go down the big water slide. Gabe's class only had 2 kids so I think the diving board thing was easier to manage with only 2 kids. Both kids loved the water slide, and Gabe got a few more jumps in off the diving board because he asked to keep going. They both really want to keep taking swimming lessons, which I think is great. But, for this summer they are probably done. Between not having enough money to sign up right now and the baby coming in about a month, I think that swimming lessons are going to wait.

34 week appointment

This morning I had my 34 week appointment. I've actually gained a little over 3 lbs. since my last appointment, which is good. I'm still only at a gain of 14 lbs. total, but no one seems worried about it. It is just weird to me, this pregnancy will probably consist of the least weigh gained out of all of them so far. I had my strep B test done today. And everything else checked out well. The baby's heart beat was about 150 bpm. My doctor said to start coming in weekly, but the front desk already scheduled all my appointments about a month ago and they thought I would be doing one more 2 week appointment. So, I am going to go back in on the 14th, so about a week and a half from now. Then I will start going in weekly. At my next appointment the doctor will start checking my cervix too. We're getting closer.