Week 38

HOW FAR ALONG?    
38 weeks, 2 days.
Only 8 days to go (c-section is scheduled a few days before actual due date because baby is still breeched)

THE PLAN    
The section is scheduled for 11am. Pending everything goes well, the baby should be delivered, all checked and cleaned and me sown up by Noon at the latest.  At this point, expect a mass text from Michael to say mom & baby are healthy (God willing!)

I will be in recovery for 1 hour max. Thanks to the new hospital and their policies, we will be with baby the entire time (IF all is well and IF baby doesn’t need to go to the transition nursery or NICU).  During this hour, we’ll be partaking in a lil special time between just the 3 of us. I will also attempt the first feeding at this time (thanks again to the wonderful Woman’s Hospital and their excellent prioritizing to mom and baby – their mission is to have the baby to breast within 1 hour of delivery – c-section or not. Love this!)

After my recovery and when we are all settled in and comfortable, we are going to at that time invite the family into our room for Michael to do the big introduction. The intro to my family will come next – because of the distance, they will not be able to be at the hospital – so, virtual introduction it shall be.

Shortly thereafter, any of you wonderful friends who are available to be at the hospital that day will be welcomed into the room.  The majority of you (or shall I say 99% of you) that live out of town who won’t be at the hospital, expect to rec’v another mass text with pictures…..accompanied by name. Boy or Girl??? Ahhhhh

So….sometime around 1:30ish is when all of you will be ‘in the know.’   This time table will undoubtedly be off cue, but this way, at least y’all know what we’re thinking in terms of the rough plan for announcing the big news to everyone.  Also, for those of you who do plan to come to the hospital, I’d hate for you to be there at 11am, but not get to see us for hours after that. 

HOW AM I FEELING?

Emotionally:  I think I’m nearing the end of my freak out (anticipatory anxiety anyone?) and feel the excitement phase creeping along.

Michael?  He’s been more than excited for a while now.  His main concern is that we haven't picked the name yet!!!!  Ahhh. I cannot believe we're waiting til the last minute on that one!

Physically:  better than I’ve felt in 2 months!  This must be that last kick of energy pregnant women are flooded with in their last couple weeks.  (Granted those kicks of energy are followed by extremely tireness, but I’ll take it!).

I am sad to announce, however, that I have officially reached the end of my working out while pregnant rein.  I have not had a true “work out” in a week.  As I suspected they would, once hitting month 9, my workouts have been deduced to just walking Pepper every day (some days faster than others) with long stretch sessions afterward.  

I’ve been using those energy reserves for other things – like stocking the freezer with delicious, healthy meals like this:

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN?

33 pounds.  Whew. Cutting it close with the 25-35 pound healthy gain range. Remember those pounds in the bank I wrote about early on?  Good thing! Because I’ve been rocking out 2 pounds a week playing catch up.  Have I mentioned how fun it is to tie my shoes?  I should have invested in those velcro ones we joked about, Reagan!!!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK?

Being finished (for the time being) on all house projects. There are still a few things to knock out (drapes in dining room, throw pillows for living room, pictures to fill frames in breakfast area, lots of things in the keeping room), but at this point, I’m over it.  Had a little productive/nesting weekend and am satisfied enough with the status to throw in the towel.  Sounds funny for that to be a highlight, but trust me – it is!  Peace of mind is priceless.

Speaking of…

OPERATION DECO – UPDATE

We finally finished painting our shutters and door. And by "we" I mean Michael!
You see, when we first moved in, the builder wouldn’t allow us to have the color choices we wanted, so we settled for a bad maroon’ish color that looked horrible with our bricks.  Bricks, that mind you, came out NOT looking like the ones we choose at all.  Anywho - it was time to repaint (due to normal weathering) and we received permission to paint them a darker shade to look a little better with our bricks. Here goes:

We also made a little further progress in the nursey.   (sorry...again, I can't figure out how to rotate the picture!)

 

Ole Pep – gotta get in on the action!!!

 

LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Enjoying our last week as a married couple sans kids?  Soaking up as much relaxing, quiet time as possible.  Since I’m not really capable of doing a whole heck of a lot and neither is Michael for that matter (his back is still recouping from an unfortunate incident with the tailgate trailer), we’ll probably be soaking up a lot of sofa time! 

 

Until next time....and by the way, the next time will more than likely be post baby! 

Week 36

HOW FAR ALONG?    

36 weeks, 3 days.

9^th month!

SAVE THE DATE

After having another check up and ultrasound (will continue to have ultrasounds with weekly appointments to keep tabs on fluid levels), things have not changed since last week.  Fluid levels are pretty much the same, but baby is still healthy (yay!) and is still breech (which it’s pretty much guaranteed to remain).  I am not dilated one bit (yay²).

We officially have a birth day selected for the big delivery.  The doc gave us the choice of Oct 29, 20, 31.  All along during the pregnancy, I said I had a feeling it would come the last week of October and commented numerous times how cool it would be to happen on the 30^th.  That is a very special day to us, as it was my Mom’s birthday as well as the day Michael proposed.  One of those ‘meant to be’ gigs I suppose. 

So, October 30^th at 11am it is!   (Unless of course I go into labor beforehand). 

O M G that’s only 21 days away.

This also means that – barring everything happens normally and mom & baby are happy and healthy – Michael is going to the Bama game Nov 3!  Unless our offense gets a major kick in the butt and changes pace by then, we may all still be healthy, but definitely not happy post game.

HOW AM I FEELING?

Emotionally:  Much better than last week, that’s for sure. After the much needed breakdown, I’m feeling pretty good about everything now. Despite the lack of sleep!

Physically:  same ole same old with my ribs in my back right side. Other than that, everything else is still good to go. My energy levels are still up there which is good.  Still doing my 3^rd trimester workout plan 3 days a week and walking Pepper at least 5 days a week. (I am going to miss our walks so much during recovery).

OPERATION DECO – UPDATE

Everything is about as good as it’s gonna get for a while. We have some stuff ordered that’s on the way and other that that, we’re nearing the point of completion for now.  A few biggies are postponed until after the 1^st of the year (patio, banquette, gutters), but I feel okay about that because the hard part (planning, vendors, quotes, designs, etc.) is done. It’s just a matter of pressing ‘go.’

Here are some shots on the nursery progress.  *Warning* this is NOT the cutest, most complete nursery you’ve ever seen. We sought out to keep it simple across the board, so there aren’t a lot of bells and whistles to make you ooh and ahh. So…just keep your expectations low;)

 

Dresser/Changing table 

BEFORE                                                              AFTER

 

          

 

IN PROGRESS

 UP CLOSE

I love the knobs!

 

 

Crib and Window Cover

 

 

 

Thanks for the owl frame,Max Neal!

 

Pepper's new favorite hang out spots

sorry...can't figure out how to rotate the pics

 

 

Checking on 'her baby's" stuff

 

 

 

Keeping an eye on Megan and Brandon's house 

 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK?

An impromptu trip to Lafayette to visit the Harris'.  Even though Michael and I were engulfed in the game the entire time, it was nice to get to spend a lil time with some of our most favorite peeps. Thanks for being such a great hostess, Heather!

LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Tailgating in this beautiful weather this Saturday for the South Carolina game.

Week 35

HOW FAR ALONG?    
35 weeks, 3 days.  Tail end of 8^th month.

NEWS:

Had the big doc appt this morning….

The good:  Baby G is healthy, despite a small fundal height due to lower amounts of fluid.  It is in the 60^th percentile for size measurements.  Weighs 5 lbs 14 oz with….wait for it……a FULL HEAD OF HAIR!  I am so excited about that because I was a very odd looking baby to say the least and didn’t have hair until I don’t know when. Baby G will apparently not have that problem. The hair was visible on the untrasound. The tech would bump my stomach with the wand thing to make the baby move up and down and you could see the hair floating around from the motion. 

The bad:  Due to the aforementioned lower amounts of fluid, the baby has no room in there whatsoever.  Which means whatever position it’s in….it’s pretty much stuck in.  What position would that be?   BREECH!  That’s what. 

Great.  Just great.  That means, we’re in for a c-section.  This is by no means the worse news we could have received today by far.  I am aware that it could be much much worse.  Nonetheless, I am extremely perturbed and am allowing myself the right to be upset by the news. I am disheartened by the fact that my body isn’t going to get to go through the birthing process.  That’s what it was designed to do after all. Sure, I was terrified out of my mind to go through labor and delivery, but now I feel like something been taken away from me or something.  I will eventually come to terms with it, but for now, it’s still sinking in and I haven’t accepted it yet.  

I go back for another checkup this coming Monday, after of which the situation will be reassessed with another ultrasound and a date will be chosen for delivery.  For now, the doc is thinking just a few days early, but that could be pushed to an earlier date depending on fluid levels next week.

The Precious:

Disclaimer: the nose did not look like that in every frame.  lol.  It kept putting it's arm across its face, making taking a picture very difficult (you can see that an arm is still covering half of the face). It had just brushed that arm across its face when this picture was taken, making the nose look all huge.  Don't get me wrong, still cute as hell! 

 

 

Profile:

So, yeah, that first image is 3-D. We didn't sign up for that, but I guess that's where a little small talk about LSU football will get cha.  The tech just offered to do it for us so of course we were on board!

 

HOW AM I FEELING?
Emotionally:  still swallowing the news of the c-section and still a little freaked and in shock at how fast time is flying by.  Everyone said pregnancy would take forever and that by now, the whole “I just can’t wait to have the baby” feelings would have taken over…neither has been the case for me (yet!).

Physically:  my ribs in my back right side are still killing me and all signs still point to a fracture.  It gets worse by the day.  The only relief found is by avoiding sitting down.  Laying down in one of two spots in the house in my “pillow palace” with my best friend-the heating pad is about the only place you’ll find me.   Oddly enough, it doesn’t bother me while I’m exercising, thank goodness.

My doctor actually offered to write me a note to be freed from work from now until delivery, but luckily I don’t have to take her up on that (there is WAY too much to do between now and maternity leave).  I cannot be thankful enough that Horizon is totally on board with whatever I need.  I am working from home now everyday (in my pillow palace that is!) from lunchtime through the end of the day (well, most days, when it’s feasible to do so per afternoon meetings that cannot be reworked).  

Despite the rib pain, everything else is good to go. Still have lots of energy and have no swelling, no heartburn, etc... no other complaints. I’m very grateful for that. Instead of having a bunch of little nagging things going on, it’s just one big one for me.

32 weeks!

HOW FAR ALONG?    
32 weeks, 3 days.  In month 8. Yikes!
53 days to go. Double Yikes!!! Here are some cool pictures of what the baby looks like (from the internet, not of actual Baby G...so don't get excited about the body parts in the top pic!):

DEVELOPMENTS

• Should weight nearly 4 pounds and measure crown-to-rump anywhere between 11-18’’ long
• Sleeps 90-95% of the day and there’s actual proof of fetuses dreaming.  Wonder what they have to dream about?!  I’m intrigued!
• Now has fingernails, toenails and hair
• Still developing more fat, filling in all that wrinkly skin AKA gettin’ cute!
• Gaining ½ pound/week from now until birth (about half to one third of its full term body weight)
• Beginning to store vital minerals, such as iron and calcium
• Bones are fully formed, but still soft
• According to one website, “your baby’s kicks and jabs are forceful.”  CHECK.  You are correct!

NOT SO GOOD NEWS…OR POTENTIALLY NOT GOOD
I had a doc appointment today and for the 4-5^th time in a row, I’ve “measured small” (in regards to Fundal Height AKA the size of my belly).  Sounds like that would be a good thing, but it very well may not be.  At this point in time, there is no need to throw the red flag and sound the alarms. We have moved my final ultrasound appointment up two weeks (to occur Oct 1) to check in on Baby G. 

You see, there is a normal range of Fundal Height with a plus or minus scale around that range.  I have consistently fallen at the very bottom of the minus part of that scale (so, not enough to sound the alarms, but just enough to need to check in on things earlier than expected).  In this upcoming ultrasound, the Doc is going to check the fluid levels and the size of the baby.  More often than not, the result is that all is good….the small fundal height is chalked up to body shape, position of the baby, conditioning of abdominal wall, etc.  But, sometimes it’s because the baby is not big enough due to a lower than normal level of amniotic fluid (this is the potentially not good part!). 

Depending on a lot of different variables, what is likely to happen will be an early induction! (Meaning, I’d have the baby early.  Triple Yikes!!!)  They do this because if there isn’t a proper amount of fluid, then the baby can’t get the nutrients it needs, and therefore the healthier alternative is for it to get out of the womb earlier than planned.  Let’s REALLY hope that is NOT the case!!!    

The only thing keeping me sane is to remind myself that all other signs are a-ok (heart rate, my BP, my weight gain, fetal movements, etc.).

I will update y’all just as soon as I’m back from my next appt Oct 1.

HOW AM I FEELING?

You mean…despite the emotions surrounding all the jazz I just recapped you on?...

I may not be ready for the baby to arrive yet (I’m freaked that I only have a few weeks left) but I sure as hell am ready to not be pregnant anymore.  This shit is for the birds! 

The middle back and back of the rib cage pain I’ve complained about for the past…forever…is progressively worse. It sucks. The way I’m carrying combo’d with my posture is saving my lower back from the ever so typical pregger woes, but wreaking havoc on my middle back!  The stretches and exercises I could do to alleviate the pain, I can't because of the big belly and uterus in my ribs thing.  It’s terrible. There is no other way to put it. 

Positive = I still have lots of energy, but it is just wasted because all I can do after a few short hours of activity is lay on the sofa with a heating pad on my back instead of being productive.  At work, I have been making myself at home in the offices of one of our advisors when he’s out and about (thank you for the big comfy sofa!).

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK?

LSU’s performance against Washington.  Hell yeah the boys are looking good! 

Also, lots and lots of progress being made on Operation Deco.  Not finished yet and still behind deadline, but things are moving.  I know I keep promising pictures, but things are coming together piece by piece with not one thing being fully complete yet (that’s what you get when you take on 7 rooms at a time!)

LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Visiting my PawPaw this Friday! I’m taking a vacation day from work to go spend the day with him and help him out with a few things.  Although I’m NOT looking forward to the 1.5 hour car ride (my max is about 15 min before my back hurts like hell), but am surely looking forward to seeing him….and hearing more of him talk about how he doesn’t care about the that “honey bear” anymore because Blue is the man!  (That’s what he calls Mathieu by the way - instead of honey badger. lol. He cracks me up!)

Until next time…

Geaux Tigers!

31 weeks (8 months!)

HOW FAR ALONG?    

31 weeks, 2 days

HELLO 8^th month!!!!

What does 8 months look like? 

Baby

Me

 

I mean, really!  How cute is that tank top!  Thanks again, Betty, for such a super cute gift!!! It was a hit.

It’s a shame Nicole and I didn’t run into each other on campus that day-she was wearing the SAME tank top as a way to announce she and Tony are expecting Baby Landry this Spring.  {To think in college, we were mistaken as either twins or sisters 99% of the time and that earned us many many many free shots!  Talk about a missed oppty to really look like twinkies!}  Congrats, Nurse Nicole! You are going to be the sweetest, cutest mommy and the world!!!  

DEVELOPMENTS

The baby should weight between 3.5-4 pounds and measure crown-to-rump anywhere between 11-12’’ long.

This week is a big one for the baby's lung development. Before now, the air sacs and branches in the lungs were present but not functional (the lungs were not able to inflate properly.)  However, there is now stuff being produced by the lungs that are going to make its amphibian-like transformation possible (to be able to go from breathing in amniotic fluid to air after birth).

The fingernails have grown to the end of her/his fingers and she/he may scratch her/himself while in the womb.

HOW AM I FEELING?

Still about the same. 

Positive = sustained energy throughout the day. Still able to do my workouts, stuff around the house, tailgate;), etc.

Negative = still coping with that horrendous middle back pain that hits me the worst after sitting up for a long time. (walking around doing whatever activity I want, it’s fine. The trouble comes from sitting...with the worst being my desk at work or riding in a car for more than about 30 minutes at a time.)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK?

We went to our first tailgate and game of the season together. As Michael pointed out, our last season of it just being the two of us.  Gettin’ a little nostalgic up in here!

The baby, being it’s shy self, didn’t move a muscle all day. (It’s as if it knows when people are around wanting to feel it move or something.)  BUT let me tell ya, JUST as soon as we were in our seats in the stadium, it started moving and didn’t stop until I left the game.  Teehee. Of course it did!  It made my day. Little sucker!   I’m sure it was logistically just responding to my elevated adrenalin and heart rate, but I tend to think it was moving because it was pissed it couldn’t see the game from the womb. Worst seat in the house!   

 

This one is getting framed for the nursery! 
 

LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Yet another productive next couple weeks of house projects.  I’m ashamed to say that we are behind schedule.  Granted, most of the reasons are things out of our control, but behind schedule we remain.  Gurrrrr.  NOT a happy camper.  In the words of Forrest Gump, “that’s all I have to say about that!”

29 WEEKS

HOW FAR ALONG?    
29 weeks, 2 days (in the 7^th month).

DEVELOPMENTS

The baby should weight about 2.5-3 pounds and measure somewhere around 15-17 inches long.

Here's what ole Macaroni looks like this week:

Cool factoid:  the baby’s sense of light is strong enough to where it may be able to see silhouettes of objects or even people in the right amount of light.  Fun!

It also got the hiccups for the first time this week – twice. Both times after eating my Bolognese.  

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN?

19 pounds. 

I’m very happy with that number, because at this point, I should be between 19-25 pounds gained, so feelin good about this despite having a poor past week nutritionally and fitness- wise! 

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?

Baby learnin’, that’s what!

Last week was my first visit to the new hospital. I graced that place with my presence, not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4…BUT 5 TIMES in one week!  I had a normal check up appointment, blood work to check blood sugar (passed! whew!), a shot (forgot the name-since my blood type is O- and Michael’s is A+), and we both attended 2 educational classes.  The ed classes were on ‘the ABCs of child care’ and were very informative! I think we have a total of about 8 pages of notes!  ;)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK?
Two, actually:

1) Watching the ravishing Courtney A. walk down the aisle this past Saturday in NOLA. What a beautiful, happy and relaxed bride!  Oh, and indulging in the most delicious wedding cake EVER!  

2) Spending the entire day Sunday in my PJs and not leaving the house once!  Granted I still tackled a majorly overdue project-cleaning out my closet! Yikes! Took about 4 hours and totaled 6 bags of stuff donated to Good Will.

The best part of day, though, was all the progress made despite my butt sitting on the sofa!  Michael and his Dad were working on project after project – painting our shutters, taping the nursery for painting, hanging a new light fixture, etc. etc.  I gotta tell y’all…Michael has been dominating his run for the Husband of the Year award. He has been taking initiative on so much house stuff especially when it comes to stuff for the baby. He’s been awesome!

He’s even taken it upon himself to decide to paint the nursery, pick the color and start taping the room…..hah….and hounds me daily about picking a name. I even got on his iPad the other day to mess around and noticed he had beaucoup pregnancy and baby apps on there (even a workout one for me). It’s the cutest thing ever!

(sorry, Michael. You’re probably embarrassed now!)

LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Another productive weekend of house projects. We’ve only got 2 left until the much awaited football season begins!!!!

We’re also taking our pre-natal visit to the Pediatrician’s office to visit the one and only Dr. Laura Boudreaux! Watch out, Laura – the Guillot’s are coming!!!

Week 27

SOMBER NEWS

A post has been overdue, thanks to an atypical past 2 weeks.  It has been a somber one. 

I bid farewell to one of my best friends (Sarah Folse) last week.  She moved to New York, which is great news for her – she’s been wanting to move there her entire life – but a lil sad for her friends back home to say the least!  We’ll miss you and love you Sarah!!! 

Also, while at the beach on a girl's trip (mentioned in my last post) I received the call saying it was “that time” for my MawMaw.  She had been set up with hospice at the house (and you know what that means). I left the beach early to drive to see her…fearing that once the week started, I wouldn’t be able to head that way.  I could not be more grateful for being able to spend that Sunday with her, as she passed away a few days later on Friday, 7/27. My PawPaw called me when I was on the way to work…I basically got to my office, packed up my stuff and hit the road to Bunkie to be with him and help with the logistics.  Luckily, they had pretty much taken care of everything back in 1987 (lol – yes, planning ahead is apparently genetic!), but nonetheless, there were still a couple things to work out and I was pleasantly surprised he actually accepted my help. 

To say the least, it is incredibly sad to lose her – but especially before the baby is born.  She was the next best thing to my Mom and it breaks my heart that she will never get to meet Baby Guillot.  When I visited with her the previous weekend, she told me she had asked the doctor if she were going to make it until November…she started crying telling me that she wasn’t going to. L  Crushed my soul.  I assured her that Baby Guillot will hear all too often about his/her MawMaw Gauthier!

(P.S.  She was convinced it’s a girl!)

The bright side here is that she got to do what most all of us hope to do – live a full life and grow old with your lifelong partner.  She was able to pass away an old lady, in her living room with her dog by her side, looking into my PawPaw’s eyes, holding his hand.  What a beautiful way to go!   We should all be so lucky! 

I hope you all don’t mind me sharing that with you…but, hey, I’ve gotta update with you about the good/bad/ugly/sad on this blog thing!

On to a lighter notes…

HOW FAR ALONG?    

Today, I am 27 weeks, 0 days.  Mathematically that’s the start of the 7^th month and 3^rd Trimester, but medically the 7^th month doesn’t officially begin until 28 weeks.  The way I see it….why rush?!  I’ll gladly take another week for month #6.

91 days to go!  Ahhhh.

DEVELOPMENTS

The baby is around 2 pounds and 15 inches long.

This week, he/she can not only hear the sound of my voice, but it can recognize it! How cool is that?!!

It’s also opening and closing its eyes and sleeping and waking at regular intervals.

Cool fact: there is an 85% survival rate of babies born pre-mature at week 27. 

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN?
17 pounds.  I’m very happy with that number!  Not too much and not too little.   

HOW AM I FEELING?

Echoing every other pregnant person once hitting the 3^rd trimester – “getting a little more uncomfortable” as the days go by. Got a lil list of complaints going on that is typical to start at about this time.

Bending from the waist is getting dang near impossible, making putting on my shoes and painting my toenails interesting.   

Back pain!  Fair to say I’ve had significant middle back pain kickin’ in on any day where I sit down too long. Desk at work, riding in a car, etc.

Sleeping is also getting tricky. I STILL keep waking up on my back (which is a no-no). I’m borrowing a “pregnancy pillow” from Anne this weekend, which I’m excited to try (thanks again, Anne!!!).

Aside from all of that J on a positive note – my energy level is still up there.  As usual, I have been crashing for bed around 9~9:30, but still go non-stop until then with no problem. Grass mowing, working out and walking my girl Pep is still in my routine (did all 3 today in fact….included a morning and evening walk with Pep).

OPERATION DECO:

Repeat from the last update = Rain rain go away!  We have STILL not been about to pour the concrete for our new patio.

Great progress has been made in the nursery to the tune of starting on the dresser.  We bought an unfinished piece and are refinishing it to have a distressed look.  It’s a multiple step progress and earlier today we completed all but the final one (because the second to last step takes a long time to set).  Good timing, though, because after 4 hours I was ready for a break and Michael had to head out to Grand Isle to go catch some supper!   Hopefully we finish up tomorrow night and have a delicious fish dinner!!!

LOOKING FORWARD TO?
For one, the remainder of this weekend. The past 2 weeks were exhausting.

Also majorly looking forward to Baby Macaroni’s shower this coming Saturday!!!!

I don’t know what I’m more excited about – getting lots of fun baby stuff for ole Macaroni, or getting to visit with friends (looking forward to seeing you, Em!  Thanks in advance for taking the lead on the shower and flying in from Charleston to visit!!!)