Dr. Appointment Update

We had our appointment with Dr. Rice this morning. We didn't have much progress since Tuesday with dilation or with effacement so she decided to strip my membranes (OUCH). I have had alot more contractions, although they actually started last night, but they have not been consistent or painful at this point. She is anticipating that we will go into labor naturally over the weekend, but if we don't have the baby by Sunday, we will be heading down there at 7:00 a.m. when she will break my water. She did tell me early in my pregnancy that she is shooting for us to deliver around 39 weeks, so I guess she is following through with it. She tells me that studies are showing that labor can be easier and it is less likely to have a c-section if you don't go past your due date. I sure hope that she is right! Other than that, the baby continues to be head down and the head is down pretty far, so that is good too. My blood pressure is good and I am starting to loose some weight, which is always good :)

I told her that I want my body to go through things as natural as possible, that is why she stripped my membranes today. Then if the baby doesn't come by Sunday we will first have my water broke instead of getting induced with medicine. So, I guess we will see if baby Felton is going to make his or her appearance before Sunday or not.

We plan to have our computer with us, so check back with us! Please also send us your prayers for an easy delivery and a healthy baby!

39 weeks! (pictures to follow)

We had a Dr. Appointment on July 28, 2009 (a day shy of 39 weeks). I was 2 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced. Dr. Rice was impressed with my progress and set us up for another appointment on Friday. She would like to see how much progress we have made before the weekend and indicated that she would give us the option of being induced over the weekend. We are not certain how we feel about being induced. So, we are going to see what progress we have made on Friday and go from there!

Last night was my monthly Walker Wino's gathering and was surprised by a baby shower! We are truly blessed to have these women in our lives. Not only for their support but for their words of wisdom and encouragment. My anxiety has gone down and I told John last night that these women have given me the courage to know that I can get through labor, that it is ok to make mistakes and that God has provided us with a gift and he will help us get through anything that is to come!

We are also able to get really excited for next summer as they bought us a Schwinn Bike Trailer for the baby. John was so excited he put it together last night so that "we are ready to go" next summer. I am not certain that he liked the comment on the card that stated that maybe John would need the bike trailer to give him more support for his bike (training wheels). I think it is pretty funny!

I will have John take pictures of me tonight and get them up soon. I will also put an update up after our Dr. Appointment tomorrow!

38 Weeks!

Yesterday John and I went down to Brainerd for a Doctor's Appointment and went to Gander Mountain afterwards and the lady at the check out asked me when I was due... I said "two weeks". Aparently, this is the first time that I had said it out loud, I nearly fell over! HOLY COW, 2 WEEKS!!

The Dr. checked me out, I have only made a fingertip of progress since last week. She said that I am a fingertip dilated, same on the effacement. Sounds like my cervix is still pretty thick! Well, at least it was something. The baby's heartrate was in the 120's again, which she said was normal. She guessed that the baby's weight was around 7 pounds and must be putting alot of pressure on my tailbone. I had complained to her about it feeling like it is going to poke right through my bottom, so now I am worried that it is going to break during labor. Lets pray that it doesn't happen that way.

We continue to get things ready at the house and I am also trying to get ready mentally. All I need to do now is get alot of rest and put my feet up, Doctors orders!

37 weeks (plus a few days)

Here is a picture of me at 37 weeks (plus 2 days). We had a Doctor's Appointment last week Tuesday, July 14th. The Dr. said that everything looks great, I am measuring right on, exactly where she wanted me for weight gain (ugh) and everything else seems to be normal and progressing. The baby was taking a nap when she checked the heartbeat, so it was in the low 120's. Apparently, this is normal! She checked to see if I had any progress and stated that I am starting to thin out (efface) but I have not dialated. So, I guess we will see what she says again at my next appointment, which is tomorrow.

Here is a picture of John and our Neice Breanna putting the car seat into my car. We are all packed and ready to go when our little one decides!!

Updates to Nursery and House are almost done...

Here are a few pictures of the house. We are getting there!! The first two are of the nursery after we were able to get the furniture in there that my dad built. It looks great! I have also included a picture of the living room and dining room with our new paint colors/furniture and carpeting. (We got the furniture in December)

After we moved the furniture in last week, we were able to get everything in the nursery. This is great! Just as stated before though, we have to teach Ace and Gaddie that this is NOT their room. Gaddie thinks that the changing pad is her new bed, well at least it is not the crib, right?

Nursery

Here are a few pictures of the nursery! We had our friends help us out last night to get some of the details together. Johns buddy Kenny came over and helped put up all the trim/door and my friend Lara has helped us pick out the paint color and she came and painted the grass! She is going to come again next week to paint some of the flowers that are on the bedding! Then when we find out what we are having, she is going to come and paint the name on the wall! It is going to be so cute! My dad also built some furniture for the nursery a changing table and armoire. We will be getting that in tonight! It is absolutely beautiful.

As you can see in the picture above, we got the crib together last night and also added the bedding! Yes, we even read the directions!

Now, if only Ace and Gaddie didn't think that this was their room! Gaddie is pretty certain that we put the crib together just for her! Oh boy!

Baby Shower

The baby shower in Hackensack on Saturday was wonderful! We are so blessed to have all of these friends around to support us! It is becoming very real that we will be bringing another life into the world, and VERY soon!! The first picture is of Theresa and Chris, the hostess's of the shower. Anytime these ladies are involved with planning, we get wonderful food. It helps that Theresa is also pregnant, we must think alike!! The second picture is of a few of the ladies at the shower. There has really been a baby boom in Hackensack. Tina and Tanner (3 months), Theresa (due in October), myself and then Shannon and Noah (5 months). How exciting to have all of our children so close in age!

We got our carpet in FINALLY and this means that we can start finishing things up to get ready for the baby to arrive! I can't wait. My mother was able to come for the shower, so I took advantage of her and had her help me do some touch up... Okay, maybe she did the touch up and I watched! She doesn't complain, much :) I have another Dr. Appointment tomorrow, so I will update soon with another belly pic.

36 weeks (the baby is on the way!)

What a busy week we have had! On Sunday after being busy all weekend, I started cramping. I thought, oh boy here we go! But it went away. I have been cramping almost every day and the OB Nurse tells me it is just the baby making his/her way down for the big day! I am patiently waiting. I have also started "dropping" this week and thankfully because I can finally breath again and I don't have the little one in my ribs anymore! On Tuesday John and I went and took Infant and Child CPR and First Aid. What a great refresher for the both of us.

The Fourth of July was Great! The weather was great and we were able to spend it with all of our friends here in Hackensack. We watched the fireworks this year from the boat, with Ace. He did very good!! There is a lot of progress on the house and we hope to get things put back together this weekend. The carpet is getting installed today, so that will give us the go ahead to start putting the nursery together. We are looking forward to getting the crib set up and ready! However, we have been really busy as we decided to put a fresh coat of paint in the living room and dining room, plus all new light fixtures and window treatments. It is going to be like a new house!

I have my second shower this weekend in Hackensack. My friends Theresa and Chris are throwing it for me. My first shower was in May with a few girlfriends from Gamma Phi Beta back in Fargo! It was nice to get together and visit with them. I had not been able to see many of them since our wedding! What an exciting time to celebrate where we have been, plus what is to come!

35 Week Dr. Appointment

I met with the Dr. yesterday afternoon and she says everything is looking good. The baby's heartbeat was around 138-144 and is measuring right on. The baby is already facing the right direction and will check again in two weeks at my next appointment. I asked her how long she would let me go before they would induce and she said no later than 41 weeks but is shooting for me to deliver around 39-40 weeks, so that would put to the last week of July or the begining of August. Ready or not... our baby is coming!

She told me to take it easy due to my low blood pressure and swelling. So, I guess that means I will have to sit by the lake for the next month! :)

35 Weeks

Well only 5 more weeks to go! I have another Dr. Appointment this afternoon, so I guess we will see what she has to say. I have been feeling pretty good this week, only a couple of my dizzy spells due to low blood pressure, but I have people watching out for me.

We continue to work on getting things ready around the house... I may be freaking out a little bit! We have washed everything that we have received thus far and we we are putting things together, so that helps my anxiety a little bit.

Last week we thought that the carpet was ordered and ready to be installed next week, but I guess not. So, hopefully within the next couple of days we can get that all straitened out!

Here is a picture of John after he put together the bouncer... the bear looks upright and happy! Hopefully we can get the baby in there as easy as the bear!

Over the weekend we were back in Fargo and we were able to see a few friends. We were also able to see Amy and Ryan, which was pretty exciting since Amy is due close to two weeks after me. The guys couldn't resist showing us their baby bumps too!