Well....here's the latest.

Hello everyone....
Just thought I would let you know the happenings this week. We went to our 40 week Dr. appointment on Monday. Everything looks good, but the baby hasn't made any progress. He said the cervix was soft, but I'm not dialated, effaced or anything. We did an ultrasound and he estimated her weight at 8.2 lbs, but that has a 10% error rate either way. That being said, she is not crazy big at all.
Now, here is the part that sucks...
My doctor, is not working this holiday. Which means he started his vacation Wed and will be back on call Sunday night. Which is normally ok...I know other doctors have delivered babies before (yadda yadda yadda), BUT this doctor that would be delivering me if I go into labor this week, is not very patient and is always quick to jump into doing c-sections and with an "unfavorable" cervix, he may end up being quite pushy. MY doctor told us this. I mean, above anything and everything, we want her to come on her own so if she does, more power to her and we'll deal with the doctor and he'll do what we want him to do, but it would just be nice to have my own doctor there. I don't want to have to argue with a doctor who is trying to push a quick c-section so he can get through us and get home to his turkey.
Sooo....
If Lily does not come naturally by Monday, we have ANOTHER FREAKING APPOINTMENT to see if there is any progression. Now, we have this appointment, but we also have a c-section scheduled on Tuesday December 1st at 12:30. Now here is why...If I am NOT moving any further along, then we will be doing the c-section on Tuesday, but if I am dilating, MOST LIKELY, we are going to be induced sometime next week. The doctor did say that he did want her delivered next week. When and how is just a wait and see game, but we have put a deadline on this kid...she will be here a week from now.

Anywho, so needless to say, I'm uncomfortable, swollen and am dying to have our baby girl here. Thanksgiving morning was very emotional for me. Thank goodness I have a great husband who was so willing to listen and someone else who just got it. Although, we knew the chances were slim that she would be on time and here for the holiday, we were still a little sad that she wasn't here. Brandon and I had both our families in town for the holiday and it was kinda upsetting that she wasn't here for that. She was definitely missed, to say the least.

Today was Black Friday, Sal left and Brandon's parents, sister and her kids left as well. Things are calming down around here and mom, Ali and Tim are the last ones left here in Texas. Mom and Ali leave tomorrow and Tim will follow on Sunday to head back to Mandeville. Lily has dropped really low and it feels as if she could fall out any second, but I'm not painfully contracting. It is soooo hard to sit down, stand and walk around, but that's about as far as that goes...just hard not painful.
Here is a picture showing how low she is...

His hand is pretty much at the top of my tummy

I am going to update again soon, hopefully with more news. Just please say a few prayers for us during this time. We want to make the right decisions with this whole process and most importantly we want our baby girl nice and healthy without incident. I know that no matter what happens, it is in God's hands and Brandon and I put all our faith in the fact that with whatever happens, he is guiding us, but this is quite a daunting time for us. I mean, we don't know what to do, but what new parent does? All we can do is have faith in God and have faith in the fact that he is with us and our doctors while these decisions are being made for Lily and I. This is all we can rely on and that is what we will do.

No baby news :/

Well, yesterday was our 39 week appointment and there is no movement forward on the baby front. Lily is still nice and cozy. Snug inside... She has dropped, but is not "engaged" and that's about it. On the 23rd, her due date, we have another appointment and a scan, but Dr. Plavidal promises that is the last time he will see me in his office till after she is born. The scan will show her size, and based on how big she is and if I am dilated or not, we will then choose our next step whether it is a c-section or an induction...Problem is, if we induce or do the c-section, it probably won't be able to be scheduled until AFTER Thanksgiving so that would put us at the week of the 30th....

Honestly, everything depends on whether or not I have progressed at all on the 23rd. Hopefully, I will go into labor before then, but he doesn't think that will happen. He said,

"I have eaten my words more times than I've eaten dinner at home, but I do not see you going into labor this week."

cue heart dropping to the floor
Brandon and I are so ready for our baby girl to be here, it isn't even funny. She still has till the 23rd though. I just keep telling myself that. She's fine where she is, and I'm just being impatient. It just feels like these last weeks have drug on and on and on...Especially since we were told more than once that because she was measuring so big on the scan, he would expect her "sooner rather than later". That just goes to show how reliable technology is...and most likely how stubborn my child will be. Hmmm, imagine that.


I'm still getting that crazy numb feeling in both of my hands and arms. It is like my shoulder, elbow, wrist, and all the joints in my fingers hurt, but my hands fall asleep and don't wake up. It is horrible! I've looked it up online and it is sounding like pregnancy related carpal tunnel...They say it goes away once the baby is born and the swelling goes down, so that's promising, but who knows how much longer that will take! I've had issues with my left wrist before, multiple times, but when I was tested before they said it wasn't carpal tunnel, it was a pinched nerve in my neck. Who the hell knows. I've decided that I am going to try my hardest to keep salt at a super minimum for the next few weeks(hopefully days)to minimize the swelling as much as possible. Ali has my wrist brace in Mandeville, so I might go get another one tomorrow to see if stabilizing it helps.

I'll update again when things get moving or when we know more!

10 days and counting...every second

Well, there is nothing like hoping for a huge gush of water down your leg every time you stand up...

We had our 38 week dr. appointment on Monday the 9th and so far there has been no progression which is super discouraging. He did say that she indeed dropped a little bit, but that's about all. After we walked out of the office I started bawling. I'm just mentally done with being pregnant. Things have gotten better the past few days though. Tuesday, Candice and Drew came in to stay with us until Lily gets here. We have had fun. We've done lots of shopping and LOTS of walking but I am grateful for it. I've needed to get out of this house and it's really nice to have company over...it helps take my mind off of things.

Lately, my feet and hands are super swollen. To me...I notice and and boy do I feel swollen. It's been especially bad all this week. I had two really bad nights and only slept a few hours combined on both nights because my hands kept falling asleep. I would turn over, sit up, but it didn't ever go away till I STOOD up and walked around and then it still took forever for me to get the feeling back in my hands. So weird. My hands were also super painful. Everytime I make a fist, they hurt. I know it is going back to fluid retention and swelling in the joints which is most likely cutting off the circulation, but boy when you can't get that feeling to go away, it sucks. I am thinking the two nights that were really bad were because of a red sauce that was in the Carrabbarras(<-sp?) I ate two nights in a row. I didn't realize red sauce would have a lot of salt in it, but that must have been it because those nights were horrible. Last night I slept ok, but we'll see how tonight goes.

Anywho, well today we went to the Nutcracker Market at the Reliant Center here in Houston. It was AMAZING! It is like the biggest and baddest craft fair in Texas. Seriously! The Houston Ballet puts it on as their annual fundraiser every year and the thing is huge. Bran, Candice, Drew and I were there for about 5 hours today and we were all EXHAUSTED! I don't even think we saw all the booths! The only thing that sucks...which honestly is a blessing and curse for everyone there...is that their are no strollers allowed. None. They don't even rent them. I must have misread something that said that they did, but either way, I didn't remember that we couldn't have the stroller till we were half way there and we left Candice's snuggly at home!!! I felt so bad and I knew we were all in for it! Drew is the cutest, chunkiest, happiest little flirt that you've ever met, but carrying ANY 6 mth old for 5 hours along with bags and bags of stuff is EXHAUSTING! I wish we could go back, but I don't think ANY of us will have the energy for it again till next year!!!! But we are DEFINITELY going next year!

Anywho, well I am so sad to say no baby news as of yet. I was hoping to have her by now, but at the dr appt, when he was looking for her heart, she was being a diva and just stuck her butt up at him and told us all to kiss it...she isn't going anywhere anytime soon! At least we have the 23rd though when he said he was looking to induce. We still don't know if we are going to do the section or not. I am guessing we will have a better idea when we go on Tuesday, Nov 17th. I'll update soon! Hopefully with some exciting baby news!!!!

Damn you water, why do you weigh so much???!!!

So, yesterday was our 37 week appointment with Dr. Plavidal. My last visit was about 2 1/2 weeks ago and not too much has changed. He said that there was protein in my urine and I also gained 6 lbs! UGH! I about dropped on the floor when I heard that. He said that with that very odd weight gain (because my weight gain has been pretty consistent thus far) and the protein in the urine, he said that he thinks that it's mostly fluid retention. That's normal and all, but not fun for the chick looking at that number that jumped six lbs in 2 1/2 weeks. It just kills me because I have been so careful with what I have been eating this whole 9 months! Now I am at a 30 lb weight gain and I have 2 1/2 more weeks. Lovely.

Anywho, I know it's all water and baby, but it drives me nuts! So, to try and remedy the situation, he said I should spend a few days in bed with my feet up but most importantly, stay off my feet. Which granted, I have been on the run quite a bit lately. I've been off walking around the galleria a few times after dr appts, going Christmas shopping, the ren fest, going to classes at the hospital and church, working in the yard and garage. To give myself a little credit, I haven't really been sitting on my butt these past few weeks. So, I tried that today (staying in bed with the feet up) and it got old quick, but it wasn't too bad, but then we ate Chinese food for dinner. One step forward, six hundred steps back. I knew it was a bad idea with the salt content in Chinese food and all, but that will be the last Chinese food I eat till Lily gets here...I have decided that. I just had to get that Chinese food craving out of my system!

OMG, a woman on tv just had a baby in her pants. In her pants! The baby was in her pant leg! I mean, really? Thank God for spandex and all , but booo on Discovery health for the tv show "I didn't know I was pregnant". What a crap show for a pregnant woman to watch. Why is this even on my TV??!! Nothing like watching a few episodes of this show to make you fear giving birth on a toilet...That's all I'm saying.

Dr. Plavidal also said that if she is not here by the 23rd, he will induce me then. Usually, they will give you up to two weeks after your "due date" before they induce, but he said he doesn't want to wait much longer because she will be a big baby. HOPEFULLY, pray to God, she is here before the 23rd, but if she isn't, we will probably have her then or shortly thereafter. Now, that day we may just end up doing a c-section depending on her size, but we will not know till then.

Well, I finally made a super cute pacifier clip for Lily and I started on a Christmas wreath. They came out pretty cute. Here are the pictures!


I really want an embroidery machine. It would be so badass! I could put L's and Caseys on everything!
That being said, the L is iron-on...sigh.

The wreath is obviously not done yet. I need to get some gold wired ribbon and make a bow to put in the middle. We also have a set of bells that will dangle on the inside.

Anyways, I'll keep everyone updated on the ongoings. Till then, I will be here...Waiting...Patiently :)

Hormones, hairbows and homecoming... :)

Well hello there...

Not too much to talk about, but I figured I would update. Here is a quote from "Knocked Up" that kinda sums up how the past few weeks have been going. Brandon says this a lot, but puts my name in there... It makes us both laugh and make light of the situation, thank GOD! He is great. Here is the quote...

"You know what, I know this isn't you talking, it's your hormones, but I would just like to say, F#%CK YOU, HORMONES, YOU ARE A CRAZY BITCH, HORMONES--not Alison, HORMONES. F#%ck 'em. It's a girl, buy some pink sh#t."
-"Knocked Up"

*Sigh* We're almost done....almost done. ;)

Well, I don't think I've mentioned this in my past posts, but I've been spending my free time making hair bows for Lily and Abby. They are coming out really cute. Lately, I have been focusing on Christmas bows. I made some really cute matching ones for Lily and Abby for the holidays so I'm excited about that. I don't have pictures of them at this moment on my computer, but I am going to take some and post them soon. I know Lily probably won't have enough hair to put them directly in her hair come Christmastime, but we have quite a few of the interchangeable headbands that you can add the bows to so we're all set in that department.
*Update* Here are a few of the ones I have been working on...

Gwen likes helping. :)

Abby gets the big turkey!

I'm also going to make some poinsetta flowers for the girls and a few other little things. :)

I've also been working on pacifer clips...I figured since I had all the ribbon laying around, I might as well. They are so easy to make! I just need to pick up some more pieces for the base of the clip and I need to find my crop-a-dile! My other snap method isn't working very well.


Oh! Before I forget, my beautiful Ali had her FIRST homecoming this past weekend! She looked AMAZING! I was crying forever when mom sent me these pictures. Check them out!

Ali and Mom before dinner

Pretty girl!

Ali and Simon dancing at the dance.


Ali and Simon again :)

Everyone take care and I'll update again soon! Our next doctor appointment is November 2nd! :)

The beautiful life...

Hello all!
Sorry for the long lapse in updates...there just hasn't been a whole lot going on around here! I mean, there has, but I've just been super busy. The past few weeks, Brandon and I have been took a Life with Baby class, 2 childbirth classes, 2 Christening Classes for Lily, and 2 marriage preparation classes! We have been super busy! I have also been having both Dr. appointments every two weeks. Next week, I will start seeing Dr. Plavidal every weeke. We are in the home stretch!

As far as my medication goes, I am completely off of one of them! Yeayy, right? Yeah, but now I am feeling my hormones in a ten fold and it is just not pleasant. It pretty much comes down to three things: Don't say anything nice to me, don't say anything mean to me, and I have to get up and out of this house EVERYDAY. I am also super needy of Brandon right now. If all of those things are followed, the day is usually pretty ok. As far as how I am feeling, well, I am feeling ok. I feel huge, but I have only put on 24 lbs through the whole pregnancy, so it could be worse. Sleeping sucks. Yes...I said it, sleeping sucks. I never realized it could possibly hurt to sleep, but it does. The test for Group B Strep came back positive, so they will have to give antibiotics during delivery, but it's not really a big deal. As long as I don't have this kid at home, it really won't be an issue.

Brandon made a work flow diagram as to what will be going on once I go into labor FOR THE DOCTOR. LOL...My little efficient husband who just has to have things on paper...what can I say, I love him. He's so cute.

33 days till the 23rd...her original due date... I'll keep ya updated!
Till then, here are some pictures from my birthday and the renaissance festival we went to last weekend...Pip pip cheerio!

Beer and the Ren Fest go hand in hand!

Brandon and I split a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich...it was amazing, but dangerous!

28 years young...glorious!

Ali, Mom and I

My hubby, Lil and I

My little musketeer!


Brandon trying his hand at the Longbows!

Waiting for the joust in the beautiful cool weather!!

We can just see Lily in one of these next year!

32 weeks and busy as a bee...

Hello all!
This week has been crazy! Lots going on. Lots of appointments. Yesterday, I had an appointment with Lily's pediatrician and everything was great. He is amazing, older, but very knowledgable and up to date on things so we were happy with that. I also had a psych appointment is going well with that, so that's cool.
After that, Brandon and I went over to St. Michael's (our new church) which is right next to his office and talked to them about getting our classes together in order to get Lil christened. Most excitingly, the deacon who does the baptisms said that Ali can be the godmother! I am very excited about that because at the other church we went to, I talked to them and they were very nasty and didn't seem open minded about me making a handicapped person a godparent. I was so upset about that, I left crying and was adament on finding a new church. Although this one is 45 min away from the house, after talking to the deacon for awhile and attending a really nice mass, Brandon and I were sure this was where we wanted to be. We are so excited Ali can be Lily's godmother, but we're not going to tell her just yet. First, we want to go through the classes, get our marriage blessed, have the baby, get Tim confirmed, and THEN when the christening is about a month away, we will tell her. ;) She will love it though.

Today we had our 32 week appointment with Dr. Plavidal. At the appointment, they did the Group B Strep Test and an ultrasound. The pictures are so cute and come to find out, Lily has hair! He saw it there, shook the ultrasound wand and you could see it floating in the amniotic fluid! Kid won't be lacking in the hair department, that's for sure. I thought for sure that she was going to be bald because neither Brandon or I had hair when we were born. She also had these cute little ghetto baby lips on her! I say ghetto, but they were all puckered up and looked huge! Doc said she was about 4 lbs right now, and she will probably be about 8 lbs when she is born. He did say that she will be on the bigger side depending on when she gets here. Today he also said that I gained 3 lbs. 1 lb over... :( 1 lb isn't bad though. Also, as you can also see in the pictures, here lip is closed up! Yeayyy! We won't have to worry about that, so that fear is gone! Thank GOD! As far as her due date goes...ha...today he said anywhere from the 14th to the 23rd. Today, with her measurements TODAY, he said the 14th of November. Maybe she's just big or long or something. I'm so over trying to guess when this kid is going to get here, but I am a planner. A 16 day period in which she can make her appearance is just too much for me! Then, she might come late...who knows. I know you can't plan these things, but THIS drives me nuts! Oh well, I'll get over it soon enough.
EDIT: 16 days, what the heck am I talking about? He told us there was a 16 day time period in which she can come in but between the 14th and 23rd is only 9 days..still a lot...I guess I should have counted before I wrote that.

Anywho,
Here are the ultrasound pictures!



Her heartrate was 160... nice and strong :)

Look at those lips! :)

Lily's definitely a girl! Here are her lady bits


In this picture, she was throwing up a "peace" sign and their is a weird little smiley thing in there....Maybe she made a friend???



Well, we are just so excited today. We've been super busy, but I think this fall air just puts everyone in a good mood. It's so nice outside right now. The windows are open and the kitties are loving it! So am I!
Anywho, this weekend my mom is coming in town to visit for my birthday and on Sunday, Brandon's mom comes in to visit on her way to Louisiana. I have so much cleaning to do, I just want to run around and do it, but it is so much more difficult these days. Everyone take care and go outside and enjoy the weather!