Jack Update: Week 37

I wanted to give a little bit more of an update on the pregnancy on our website, as opposed to the little tid bits I put on Facebook.  We had lots of good news last week and we feel very, very blessed.  As mentioned in the last post, Jack defied odds and flipped from a breech presentation to a head-down presentation!  Not only that, but he immediately started to drop into my pelvis. (I could almost hear him say, "Mom, I know what I'm doing here :-) ).  I had my midwife appt a week ago today and expressed that I was feeling LOTS of pressure.  They decided to check me and reported that he was indeed head-down, at a 0 station (midwife could feel his head easily), 3 cm, 70% effaced, and cervix was "laboring" (completely soft and anterior I found out since I didn't know what "laboring" meant).  The midwife predicted that I would have a "37 weeker" or she would see me within a couple of days to deliver.  I left the office and was actually contracting for the next 2 days.  I didn't feel any pain, but some discomfort and my stomach was hardening every 2-3 minutes, lasting for 1-2 min each!!!  I then lost my mucus plug on Thursday morning and had some back pain all day.  I was hustling around the house to get some things ready since I wasn't ready!  All to say, everything halted on Friday.  We did lots of housework on Saturday and even walked around the Zoo on Sunday and all that has transpired has been lots of pain and discomfort at night from aching muscles and ligaments.  I go back to the midwife this afternoon, but have started to prepare myself for anything--even another 3+ weeks of waiting :-).  I REALLY hope he comes before then, but have to say that I am really excited to experience going into labor and delivering without being induced.  I feel so blessed that he is no longer breech and I can attempt the natural labor and delivery I have hoped for this pregnancy.  This will be my last week of work and am starting to compile my list of tasks and projects I have been anxious to work on.  I am confident I can stay busy until this little guy decides he is ready to come.  --I just hope I can be patient and enjoy the time :)....updates to follow...

Prayers and Exercises Worked!

I could not be happier today to say that I was wrong and so were the opinions and expereince of some fantastic nurse midwives.  I just had an ultrasound at the hospital, surrounded by a team of physicians who were going to determine if I would be a candidate for an external version attempt.  Needless to say, no discussion or decision was necessary because the prayers and exercises I have been doing have worked and Jack is head-down!!!!  I was shocked again when the ultrasound from last week and the midwife appt continued to show him breech.  Please continue to pray for the next few weeks that he stays head-down and that I can have the opportunity to have the natural labor and delivery I have hoped for!  As of today, he is estimated to weigh 6.5 lbs and measure 17.5 inches long....he also has some hair :-) Color?  I am feeling so blessed today and am so, so happy that the midwives were wrong and that I was wrong to think there wasn't a chance he'd flip.  The little bugger continues to teach me :-)

Jack 4D ultrasound

Jack's 3D Pic

Too Long...Again

On my long list of goals during my maternity leave is to establish a routine of blogging.  Everytime I go on someone's blog and see how wonderful it is that they have an update and pictures once a week, I am envious and think of what a treasure it will be in years to come.  I am good about taking pictures, but not the best at recording our family's events and history.  As Clay and I have already noticed, we DO NOT remember a fraction of what we thought we'd remember about the last 5-7 years--especially specifics of when each of the kids hit milestones, etc.  Soooo, I am really going to try to do better.  I may even go so far as to put a weekly reminder in my Outlook :-)  With that said, we have so much to update from over the summer.  Most of it can best be shared in pictures, so I will share Snapfish links on this page.  For now, our latest excitement is the 3D/4D ultrasound we had last night.  It was amazing and it was so fun to see some non-skeletal like images of our little Jack.  The kids were interested for all of 5 minutes before the stuffed animals in the room were more interesting, but Clay and Nana and I really enjoyed it.  We got to bring home several pictures and a DVD of the entire session, so I will upload those here.  We (I) was extremely shocked to find out that Jack is still (or returned to being) breech. Clay was not as surprised as I was as he has been skeptical this whole time that he had flipped since the 21 week ultrasound.  The midwives have been sure that he's been head-down and I have been sure as well.  I am 34 weeks this week, and although there is always a chance he could flip again, the chances are much lower given the anterior location of the placenta.  I will be seeing the midwives again on Monday and we're going to discuss a timeline for decision-making with regard to any attempt at inversion or c-section.  I was really disappointed last night at the news of his being breech, but am a bit more grateful (and less focused on the thought of a c-section) for his health this morning.  We made the decision this pregnancy to change OB groups and go with a midwives group that would better support a natural labor and delivery (and thefore quicker, less invasive, and more conducive for less stitches and an easier recovery).  In the end, Jack and I are both healthy and if my greatest disappointment is to have a c-section, than we need to consider ourselves more than blessed.  The ultrasound tech even noted last night that Jack's lungs were contracting to demonstrate that he is practicing breathing outside of the womb--a huge indication of how healthy and non-stressed he is. More to come as we prepare for the next few weeks to welcome the newest member of our family :-)

SaddleRidge Ranch VBS 2010

Ethan is in the front row on the Left.  They all did such a great job! 

It's a BOY!!

It is confirmed, although I've been pretty positive since February that Baby #3 is a boy!  It is clear as a bell and along with being cooperative with showing his gender, he gave me a real treat.  As the technician was measuring his length, I saw one of his little hands come up to his face.  He spread all 5 fingers and I saw his little jaw bone drop as he poked around until he got his thumb in his mouth.  Honestly one of the most precious things I have ever seen in my life.  The feeling of seeing your child for the first time (in an ultrasound anyway) never gets old; never gets boring.  I have to admit that with my new job position and two active, young kids at home, I really haven't thought much about this little guy.  Seeing him move and seeing all of his body parts, albeit very small, have made it very real for me again.  I love it and I can't wait until Ethan and Maddy can really grasp the concept of what is going on inside of my body and how this little guy will be a huge gift to all of us.  We don't have a name yet, but stay tuned.  We may even post a few names we are tossing around on this blog and ask for your help!  Please continue to pray for his health and development...he looks perfect so far.

Star Wars, starring the Blanchard Family

Big Move

So, after 4 plus years, we've left our website at BabyHomePages to Blogspot. It was getting harder and harder to keep the BabyHomePages site updated (no comments, please...I know). I figured out that it was silly to upload all of our photos to the website and also to snapfish to be able to order prints. So, my goal is to use this blog to give updates on our family and highlight a few pictures, but to also simply include a link to snapfish so that I don't have to upload photos twice :-). As a full-time working mom of almost 3 (oh my!) I am looking for ways to save time. These blogs are so cool and so neat to keep in touch with family and friends, but its a really great way to document and almost journal our lives so that we can go back through the stories and events ourselves. So, wish me luck as I attempt to do a better job with this blog :-)