It's a....GIRL!!!

For months, we had fun playing the guessing game as to whether I was pregnant with a baby boy or a baby girl. A lot of people were guessing a boy based on how I was carrying.  I even did the blog where I went over all the old wives' tales--that leaned toward girl.  A couple weeks before we had our baby I did a poll for my friends on FB asking what they thought.  The majority leaned toward a boy.  I guess we fooled quite a few people because to our incredible surprise and delight, we had a beautiful baby girl--Virginia Sophia Geelhart.  She was born at 7 pounds 8.8 ounces.  We plan on calling her Ginny.

My c-section wasn't too awful, but I'm not in a rush for another.  I had a spinal to block the pain.  While the pain is blocked, the sensations of pushing and pulling are not.  The c-section was far from easy and definitely NOT comfortable.  For those out there who decide to get a c-section because they think it is easier and less painful than a vaginal delivery--I would say it is likely you are crazy.  You should try vaginal if that is an option for you.  It wasn't for me and when we decide to have another baby (if God so blesses us again), I'll have to do the c-section again.  However, all the discomfort is worth it in the end.

I've been home from the hospital for 3 days now.  Sleep has been hit and miss.  I expected that.  What I didn't expect is that even without sleep, I have more energy now than when pregnant.  What some women might forget or others might not realize is that if you have pregnancy fatigue in your 1st and 3rd trimesters, it can be nearly "debilitating".  That is kind of strong wording, but the fatigue I had left me with no energy to do much.  More sleep didn't help either.  I just felt exhausted all the time and then if I got little sleep it was even worse.  Now, the fatigue is gone.  I just have some basic sleep deprivation.  Sleep helps that.  But when I am awake I do have some actual energy.  It feels good to have energy again.  Of course, most of my energy is spent on Ginny now. :-)

I'm also recovering from the c-section.  I take pain medication every 3 hours--rotating hydrocodone and prescription strength ibuprofen.  If I miss a dose, I'm okay but end up in more pain later.  Tomorrow we go to the doctor to have her remove my staples (I have staples instead of stitches).  Hopefully that isn't too awful and will help some of the pain deplete (fingers crossed).

The most important and wonderful thing is my lovely daughter.  I can't believe I'm a mom, but I love her with my whole heart and being.  I would do anything for her.  I just enjoy gazing at her and loving her.

In 24 hours...

I will be heading to the operating room in the Carol Jo Vecchie building of St. John's Hospital for a c-section. Part of me will be slightly uncomfortable because I will not have had anything to eat or drink for 10 hours or more, but I won't be focused on that.  I will be filled with nervous anticipation knowing that my life is about to change.

It is hard to believe that the time is here and that in less in 24 hours Chris and I will be heading to the hospital.

I still remember seeing the FRER with a positive result in early August and exploding with joy.  It is kind of strange because I had such a sense of peace that this baby would be okay and I would carry it to term. God filled me with that peace from the beginning.  It doesn't mean I wasn't nervous the whole way that something would go wrong--a miscarriage or incompetent cervix or many other possibilities that crossed my mind.  Who would blame me for those fears after losing 3 babies?  However, I would always go back to the feeling I had when I first saw the positive pregnancy test.  Hope!

I'm so looking forward to meeting Baby G and loving on Baby G.  I can't wait to "know" his or her name either.  I still have fears and worries.  My main concern now is that my baby is healthy.  That is all I want is a healthy baby....not so much for my sake, but for my baby's sake.  I will take what God gives us with joy, but I hope and pray that the baby is healthy so it can live a long and happy life.

9 months

Well, I am officially 9 months pregnant now.  I'm 36 weeks and a couple days although my uterus is measuring at 37 weeks.  It is hard to believe!  Reality is truly beginning to hit now.

I had an appointment with my doctor on Wednesday.  Now I will be seeing Dr. Quinn once a week.  I only have 2 appointments left to go--next week and the following week.  Unreal.

The appt. went quite well.  It started with an ultrasound.  We were able to see the baby (who is positioned properly with his/her head down) and hear the strong heartbeat (160 bpm).  The baby looked fabulous and measured in the 85th percentile at 6 lbs 12 oz.  The ultrasound tech reminded us that the weight could be 1 pound off in either direction.  And, at this point the baby is growing 1/2 pound a week.  So, with 3 weeks to go....we'll have a healthy size baby. Anywhere from 7 1/2 lbs to 9 1/2 pounds.  I'm hoping for the lower end of that. ;)

While getting the ultrasound the baby kept moving around, even opening and closing his/her mouth.  I loved it!   Several pictures were taken (they are posted at the end of this post).  One even showed us some hair.  When I asked if that was the normal amount, the sonographer indicated that they usually only see a few wisps and it is quite possible that our baby will have a headful of hair when born.  Wow!

After the ultrasound, we saw the doctor.  We did the basics (measuring the uterus and Doppler), plus a group B strep culture.  She also checked the cervix.  It seems I am between 30-50% effaced and 1 cm dilated.  I did notice this morning that my mucus plug seems to be coming out (lovely discharge).    That means I'm probably getting more effaced.  Also, when I walk, I feel like the baby might "fall out."  I know that isn't possible, but it is a funky feeling.  Anyhow, I guess that means the baby could come any time, from now until the scheduled c-section on April 14.

The last thing we discussed with the doctor was the c-section a bit more in depth than we had in the past.  In my 20s, I had major trauma and internal bleeding which required exploratory surgery.  So....I have a long scar going down my belly already.  I joked for years that I would love to get the "normal" c-section cut (horizontal) so I could have an anchor on my belly.  The doctor told me that she won't be doing that.  She will need to cut along the scar tissue.  The main issue is that if she makes a brand new cut (the normal cut for c-sections), it could further weaken the area of my abs and even make it more likely that I would develop complications (like a hernia).  I did ask if I could have regular stitches instead of staples.  Dr. Quinn said no.  She did say that had this been my first abdominal surgery she probably would have done stitches, but since I've got the scar, they will need to do staples to best put things back together, essentially.  Oh well.  I tried. ;)  

Our next appointment is this coming Wednesday.  It should be a quickie appointment where she addresses any concerns, does the Doppler, and measures me.  Nothing too exciting, really.  The only excitement now is the knowledge that I will meet my baby very soon!  I can't wait to hold and love on our baby! :-)

Baby G waving to everyone!  Loving those fingers!

A blurry profile shot...Baby G kept opening and closing his/her mouth!

Face---I love that chipmunk cheek!

Lots of hair, it looks like.