July 02, 2007

We have been so busy the last few weeks!! We've had prenatal classes, and showers, and have been busy trying to get everything ready for sweet Meredith.

This past Friday, I had some cramping and back pain, and very frequent trips to the restroom...I called and talked to the nurse and she thought I may have a bladder infection. They wanted me to come in; my doctor was off that day, so I saw another doctor. He said there were no signs of pre-term labor, and the culture didn't show any signs of infection. I was glad...still didn't explain the weird symptoms I had, but they were gone the next day. I was supposed to take it easy this weekend, which is very hard for me to do...I really didn't relax as much as I should have :)

We had our labor and delivery classes on Friday and Saturday. They were very informative!!!!! and actually scared me. Before, I was a little nervous, but now I'm really scared....about everything!!! We went on another tour of the hospital, and they took us by the nursery again...those babies were so precious!!! I can't wait to see my precious little girl!!! I can't wait till she's here with us, even though I'm terrified about getting her here :) Oh, and during class the guys had to wear the sympathy belly...it was great! Matt said it was hard to breathe in it :)

Today was such a wonderful day!!! Me and my mom went with Shannon and Matt to their ultrasound appointment. I was so excited that they asked me to go!!! They found out that they're having a boy!!! We're all so excited!!! Meredith was very active during the ultrasound...she's just as excited about Baby Baskin as the rest of us are!! The ultrasound pictures were so cute!!!! Can't wait to find out what name they decide on, and how they are going to decorate the nursery. And I can't wait for the 4D ultrasound...just hope I can go, their first one will probably be very close to my due date.

I'm feeling pretty good today, and my blood sugar levels have been great!! We have our next appointment on Friday!! Well, it's getting late so I better get to bed, but I'll hopefully have more pictures loaded soon.

Shanda

June 17, 2007

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!! I was so busy this week that I didn't get around to posting a journal, so this one is longer than usual.

We had another doctor's appointment on Monday and it went very well...the doctor is only having me test three days a week now, which is wonderful!! We go back again on the 22nd for another checkup. I had a checkup on my thyroid also; as long as my bloodwork is fine, I won't have to go back again till after Meredith is born.

We had our first prenatal class, and have our next one this coming Thursday (infant cpr). I'm glad we're able to go to this one. I'll feel better knowing how to do it. Our last class was really informative, so I'm sure this one will be really great, too!! Can't wait!!

I had my first shower this week...it was a complete surprise!!! I was going to a meeting that had been scheduled, and it turned out to be a baby shower. They all did such a wonderful job putting it together!!! It was so much fun!!! We got some awesome gifts for Meredith, and the food and company were great! I love playing shower games, so I was excited that we played a few. Also, everyone left advice for me...it was so much fun reading their advice! Thanks so much to everyone that had a part in it!! It meant so much to me!!

On Saturday, we had our second 4D ultrasound! I had a little bit of morning sickness, but was excited to have some cherry coke before our appointment...i skipped breakfast and my snack to have the coke hoping that it would get Meredith moving around a lot. She cooperated better than last time, but we still didn't get the best pictures of her face...she kept tilting her head back. She's beautiful!!! She smiled a lot this time...I hope she continues to do that because she looked so cute and happy!! She also stuck out her tongue a lot (we included one of the pictures under the 2nd 4D ultrasound section) and it was so funny!!! It was so exciting to get to see her again. We can't wait till she's here!!!

We have our Nashville shower this next weekend; I"m so excited about it, and can't wait to have another piece of cake and some punch...yum!! :)

I've been feeling pretty good!! I'm having some back pain and a little swelling in my feet, but nothing too bad...and my eyes have been bothering me (I think they're just really dry and when I put my contacts in they get irritated, so I've been wearing my glasses a lot).

Hope you all have a wonderful week!! Please keep us and sweet Meredith in your prayers throughout the next few weeks as we get closer to our due date!

Shanda

June 03, 2007

I hope everyone has had a great weekend!! We've been busy working on the nursery, and we love how everything is looking!! (new pictures have been added). Also, we went on a tour of the birth unit at Centennial Women's Hospital yesterday - it was so exciting!! We thought the rooms were really nice. They even let me pre-register; that will make things so much easier the day I go into labor. I also signed us up for a few more classes at Centennial - two this month, and one next. They sounded like they would be really good, and the lady that led our tour teaches some of them...she was really great, so I hope she's our instructor.

I've been doing ok with my diet; I've only gone over my limit once...and I completely know why...I overdid it with some cheese pizza, but it was so good!!!!!!!

I've taken off work this week, and I'm so excited!!! I've got a very long list of things I want to get done around the house. Also, my parents and grandparents have rented cabins at Cumberland Mountain State Park, so I'm planning on going up around the middle of the week...and Matt will join us this weekend. It will be good to get some rest, and I've got to work on Meredith's blanky...I want to finish it before she gets here :)

I hope everyone has a great week!!

Shanda

May 23, 2007

This past weekend was really hard on me; it was so hard to stick to my diet, and I was really upset about it...but I survived, and my blood levels were great!! It's so much easier to follow during the week.

We had another doctor's appointment on Monday, and it went great!! We got to hear Meredith's heartbeat again...I love hearing it!!! The doctor checked all my blood levels, and told me I was doing really good. She said if they continue to be as good at my next appointment, she'll let me test less often - that would be wonderful!! I really don't like pricking my finger!!! She measured my stomach, and said it measured perfect. I will now be going every two weeks...except this next, I'll be on vacation, and the doctor will be out most of that week. So we will be going for our next appointment on June 11th. We signed up for our prenatal classes, and can't wait...it's a two day class, June 29th and 30th.

We have our next 4D ultrasound on June 16th - I can't wait to see how much she's changed...hopefully, we can get a really good look at her sweet face.

Only 12 weeks till my due date...I'm getting really excited, and a little nervous.

Shanda

May 17, 2007

This week has been much better than last week was. I've been really tired this week, but I feel so good about my blood sugar levels. It takes me a long time to plan out my meals and snacks each day, but making sure I do this right to take care of my precious baby girl is all that matters. I still get hungry occasionally, but it has been much better than I was thinking it would be.

Yesterday, me and Shannon celebrated our 26th birthday...wow, can't believe we're 26. :) We had a wonderful dinner last night with our family at Olive Garden....I was so excited to get my favorite, Chicken Parmesan. It was so good!!! I just skipped the bread sticks, and only had a small bite of my birthday cake, and my blood sugar was great afterwards. I'm so thankful I can still enjoy some of my favorite things!!

The nursery is so close to being finished. We still have a little bit of painting to do, and we've got to hang the pictures and butterfly...oh, and we have to get the curtains, and the rug that matches the bedding. I love the curtains we picked out...they are pink silk, and are so pretty!!! The rug is really great, too!! Can't wait to get them!!

Meredith has been very active the last few days. The other day I felt some extremely strong kicks (they almost hurt!), and I could see her arm or leg kinda sticking out...it was really weird, but really awesome!! Every day I get more anxious...I can't wait to see my baby girl. The sickness and the exhaustion have not been fun, but it will all be worth it when I have her in my arms.

Shanda

May 09, 2007

Well, today has not been the best day for me. My test results finally came in, and I found out that I have gestational diabetes. I was pretty upset about it. I'm not worried about myself, I'm just worried about Meredith. I didn't have much of an appetite today, I think I was just so scared to eat because I don't know what is ok to have; I just don't want to cause her to have any problems. It's a lot of pressure! The nurse is going to set me up an appointment for training at a Diabetes Center. I'll have to test my blood several times a day. Hopefully, I'll be able to manage it with diet alone.

On a positive note, I feel my little girl moving more each day. It makes me so happy! I love her so much already, and would do anything for her!!!

Shanda

3D/4D Ultrasound - #1 May 05, 2007

Today was so amazing!!!! First of all, I want to thank my mom (so much!!!!!) for the gift certificate (for two ultrasounds). We had the first one today, and it was just incredible. We had a big breakfast, and made our way to Focused Imaging in the pouring down rain. My mom, Shannon and her husband Matt, and Gigi Connie went with us to the appointment. At first, all we could see were arms and legs...she was all balled up. For most of the appointment, she had her arms in front of her face. We tried everything to get her to move - I was rolling from side to side, and pushing on my stomach...and walking up and down the hall, and they even gave me some Hi-C to drink. We got to see a few really good glimpses of her beautiful face, and even got to see her smile. The man doing the ultrasound was so funny - he said she looked really healthy for a 25 week old baby, and was talking about her cheeks. He was right...she had some chubby little cheeks :)

Still haven't heard the results of the glucose test. Hopefully, they will come back ok. I've been feeling pretty good lately, and have been feeling her move around more and more each day...I started keeping track of her movements at work. I've counted at least 10 just while I've been at work every day...one day I even felt her move 16 times. It's wonderful!!!

Shanda