38 Weeks 5 Days

Another productive weekend at the Hood household, thanks to my mom. I picked her up from the airport on Friday and after her only being here about one hour, she had already helped me put together the pack-n-play and helped me decide what else I needed or did not need!!!!

On Saturday, Mom and I went shopping and picked up a bookshelf for Camden's room, a few shelves to hang on his wall, and I got the luxury of being fitted for a nursing bra!!! UGH!!! All I know is I have not been thrilled to look at myself in the mirror thanks to the way the girls are a hangin' and getting measured for a bra was no better!!!!

Today, we got up and went to church and then Shane took us to IHOP!!! He said since it was my last time to "eat out" that I should make the most of it. It sounds like I am about to die or something. . . . . Anyway, I of course had a big bacon omelet as well as chocolate chip pancakes. To my friends that know how I eat, I was only able to consume half of this meal, and brought the other half home! The past two days my appetite has really decreased, so that was a lot for me - but I couldn't resist.

Mom and I again went shopping today for a few other little items that we didn't get yesterday, and today Shane hung several things on Camden's walls and now I feel much better about the way his room looks!!! I have had my bag packed for the most part, but really got the rest of my things together today since I have an appointment tomorrow and if Dr. D doesn't like what she sees, then she will induce tomorrow!!! I am still hoping and praying for Thursday, due to our scheduling, but I can assure you, my misery would definitely vote for tomorrow!!!

38 Weeks - 12th Appointment

Today my son made me a proud mommy. I had my weekly appointment and Dr. D had scheduled me for a bio-physical profile ultrasound in order to make sure Camden was doing OK and because I have been measuring small. Well, he scored eight out of eight and did all things he was to do in less than 2 minutes, which included practice breathing and sucking in amniotic fluid! Also, he finally allowed us to see his face, which she printed out a few 4-D pictures of. This is really the first time he has behaved when we have done an ultrasound and I think this is the first time I have seen his whole face since he was 3 months old (when he looked like an alien). So to say the least, I was so very proud to see him!!!



As for me, I weighed the same as last week, still a 30 lb weight gain on their scale and 27 lbs on mine. My fundal height was 37cm and I was 1 1/2cm dilated and 50% effaced. She requested to see me on Monday, at which time she will do yet another bio-physical profile ultrasound and also get measurements of Camden again. She said if he does not pass at least 6 out of the 8 things they look for, then she will induce me on Monday instead of Thursday. Let's say a prayer that he passes with flying colors again so that we can keep our induction date of Thursday - that would really work better for all our families!! : )

37 Weeks 4 Days

Less than two weeks before Camden's arrival - I still can't believe it is almost here!! Last night Shane and I went out to eat at Outback - which is a rarity for us. I figured since this was our true last weekend alone, we should make the most of it - so a nice dinner for us!! I enjoyed it very much!!!

Today was another day of preparation for Camden. My great friend Lorrie had sent Camden another care package with some precious newborn clothes to keep my angel warm as well as a changing pad cover. Along with the items we bought last weekend at Babies-R-Us and some gifts that we received this week, I did two more loads of Camden's laundry. After I hang a few things on his walls and get his car seat installed and stroller out of the box, we just might be ready. Today, I also worked on our income tax return so that I won't have to fret over that once he is here. Just a few more things to get together for it, and it will be done!!

Outfits sent by Lorrie

Just a few gifts that I loved the way they were wrapped

I was a bit stressed earlier in the week because I still did not have a glider or a diaper bag. Well, on Tuesday I ordered a diaper bag from Etsy which I can hardly wait to get. I will definitely post a picture when it arrives. As for the glider, I am still in search of one - I am not sure what my issue is with ordering one. I have found a few I think will be fine, I just need to break down and order it so it will be here in time for Camden's arrival. That is something that WILL be done by the end of the weekend.

As far as the pregnancy goes, this past week has been an uncomfortable one. I am now having that lovely lower extremity swelling that takes away your ankles. Also, Camden has finally found my bladder and today has felt the urge to pounce all over it!!! I am so tired of urinating, I could scream!!!! And, the upper back pain really hits me in the evenings, and carries over into the night, so my sleep is definitely not as 'sound' as it used to be. I really think God causes all these uncomfortable inconveniences at the end of pregnancy so that you are so ready for your child to be here that you are not even worried about the labor pains you will endure. (Although I do think about them daily!!) Regardless, like I said at the beginning of this entry, I can't believe the end is drawing near!!!

37 Weeks

37 Weeks 3 Days

Today I had an eye appointment with Dr. Kurdirka to evaluate the optic neuritis. I have noticed improvement in my vision over the past month, but the clarity that I have always loved just really has not been there. Also, the darned floater I have is so annoying and just will not seem to settle down. He was pleased with what he saw and said the swelling definitely has gone down and my vision has improved a little. He said that over time the floater will eventually settle and I will not notice it as much. I did ask him his opinion if he thought that I would have a flare up with the stress of labor. (Since no one will ever relate it to pregnancy, I wasn't sure what he would say.) He said that I could notice some blurriness in my vision, but he really was not sure. I asked him that if there was a flare up, would there be anything we would do for it and the answer, as I had suspected, was no. He said he would like to see me in 3 months, but like I told Shane, I really am not sure why I would keep that appointment since there is not anything he would do anyway!!

37 Weeks - 11th Appointment

Today was my weekly appointment with an ultrasound. I gained 3 pounds according to their scales, 1 pound according to mine. (I still like mine better since it is a morning weight. These afternoon appointments are killing me!!!) Camden is head down, face down and he was holding onto his foot while we were looking at him. His heart rate was 128 and they had a hard time getting good head measurements since he is sitting low. They estimated his weight at 5 lbs 8 ounces, which measures small. His kidneys looked great, as well as his abdomen and spine. When Dr. D came in my room, she informed me that he is in the 11th percentile for growth, based on his head measurements, but they don't get concerned until it is 10th percentile or less. She said his femur measurement were in the 15th percentile. My fluid levels were good and not concerning to her. She said that she was not concerned with his measurements because since his head is so far down, it is hard for them to get good measurements and as long as he was progressing and my fluid levels stayed good, she was fine with his measurements. She said that they do not do growth measurements weekly, usually every 3 weeks, so next week she would do another ultrasound, but basically just to measure my fluid to make sure it was still good. When she did my check, she said I was 1 almost 2 cm - ugh - I was hoping for a good 2!!! She left the room and had me get dressed and said she would come back in to discuss an arrival date for Camden.

Now up until recently, I had pretty much decided that I did not want to be induced, that I would rather Camden just come on his own. But, Shane is doing his student teaching this semester and is only allowed to miss 3 days the whole semester. Now, Shane had pretty much decided that Camden needed to arrive on a Friday - like that would just happen on its own -that way he could miss just one day since my mother will be here, and then if need be he could miss two other days sometime during the semester. So I had Friday, February 5th in my head. When Dr. D came back in the room, she suggested Thursday, February 4th (it all has to do with her call schedule). I told her that was fine with me. I figure Shane can miss two days at that time and we will just cross any other bridge we need to the rest of the semester. So now it is becoming more and more real to me that unless he decides to come earlier, which I do not forsee, then he will definitely be here February 4th. It is a bit overwhelming, but very exciting!!

36 Weeks 6 Days

Tonight was the last of our birthing classes, which we were to bring 2 pillows and a blanket. So Shane and I headed to the hospital with the mentioned items and in the room were about 15 couples who were set in a "U" pattern. Shane and I ended up at the bottom of the "U" so the teacher basically was always looking at us and really seemed to be just talking to us the whole time. Anyway, it was time to learn how to breath and she explained what we needed to do. The first time, she acted as our coach and we 'breathed through a contraction'. Well, next it was time for our own coaches to instruct us how to breathe through the contraction. So, of course it is quiet in the room as every one's coaches are quietly telling them what to do, when in my ear I hear my husband tell me "Deep cleansing breath in" in some tone of voice I have never heard in my life. I can't even describe the tone to you, but it was priceless. I just busted out laughing and could not stop through the whole contraction. So, in front of the whole class, the instructor says to us, "Did I not explain well enough what to do or how to do it?" Oh yes, she calls us out in class!! I told her "No, it is just my husband." She laughed and said she figured as much, but was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. So, she wanted to try it again. I looked at Shane and told him to not use that tone with me, talk to me normal - as were both still laughing. He tried to tell me it was his "coaching" voice - whatever!!!! I have heard his coaching voice and I can assure you this voice I heard come out of him was not that!!! If I can just remember this evening while I am truly having contractions - maybe I can laugh my way through them!! : ) Needless to say, we laughed a lot on our way home about this!!!

36 Weeks 5 Days

I had a productive weekend, well compared to how the last few weeks have been. Yesterday, I did not even get out of my pajamas - which I must say was really nice. I was able to sleep until 8:40 which was extremely late for me. I got up and washed everything of Camden's that needed to be washed and finally got the kitchen table cleaned off. I meant to take a before picture of the table, but forgot - some of my closest friends would have never believed what the table looked like. It was stacked with gift bags and gifts - you couldn't even see the top!!! And to think, I let it look like that for a week!! Anyway, I also got some thank you cards written, reorganized my wrapping paper/gift bag container, cleaned out the armoire in the guest bedroom and cooked both breakfast and lunch!!!

Zach found the Boppy

Today after church, Shane and I headed to Babies-R-Us to pick up the last needed items for Camden's arrival. Well, I must admit, now those bags are on the kitchen table!! What is my problem???? They WILL be gone by mid week - I can't stand another week of a kitchen mess!!!

36 Weeks 3 Days

Things are definitely changing - that is in regards to my body. It seems as though my ankles now stay swollen and I think I am losing the inability to see the bone structure in my face!!! Also, I am urinating even more, which is such a nuisance to me!!! All I know is that after reading my books, apparently this is all 'normal' and marks the end of pregnancy.

I had my hair done today and let her cut off a little more than normal because I just feel "drugged down" at this time. She wouldn't cut too much off since she knows there will be days that the hair will go up and I will wonder if I ever even brushed my teeth!!! Even so, it is fine and just one last stop for a pedicure in about a week or so, and I think I will be ready!!

I have to take a minute to give props to Shane - who has been so understanding with my lack of energy and unwillingness to cook over the past few weeks. I honestly think I have cooked once, maybe twice in 2 weeks, which is NOT our norm and he has not made one negative comment about it. So, I have already mentally prepared the menu for next week, and plan on cooking for him so he can have a week away from the fast food. After that, I make no promises about what his eating situation will be!!! : )

36 Weeks 1 Day

Well, after confirmation from Lorrie regarding exactly what a mucous plug does look like, I am happy to say that I lost mine this morning. Now why they call it "lost" I have no idea, because I know exactly where mine came from and exactly where I put it!!! But, none the less, it is gone!!!

Today after work, my co-workers had a baby shower for me, which was very nice. I received a lot of great items, including a pak-n-play, monitors, some precious clothing items, and some baseball book ends and picture frame that will definitely go with his nursery. Now I must do some inventory this week, and see what else we need to get, then off the Babies-R-Us this weekend for those items.

Opening the Pak-N-Play

I talked with my mother and since Dr. DiPiazza said that Camden may be here a week early, we decided that she should fly here the weekend of 01/29/10. That way, hopefully, she will be here for his arrival! Funny, no matter how old you get, you still want your mom there!!!

36 Weeks - 10th Appointment

It is so hard to believe that we have 4 weeks or less until Camden's arrival. I must say I am getting a bit nervous, but am so ready to meet him!! Today at my appointment (which was in the afternoon) I gained two more pounds, which totals 27 pounds. According to my scale at home, I have only gained 25 lbs - which I feel is a bit more accurate since I weigh at the same time at home. We discussed my restless legs, which she said people can take Ambien or Lortab for, but I told her I would pass - although I am driving myself crazy with it in the evenings. I also asked her about exercising because the last time I went to the gym, my cardio routine just did not seem to agree with Camden. My upper abdomen stayed very tight the majority of the time, which she said was probably contractions. I guess I have Braxton-Hicks, but honestly just ignore them, as I do a lot of the things I feel with pregnancy. She recommended that I just stick to the bike at the gym now - I may just forgo it all. She checked me for the first time and she said I was 1cm and very soft. His heart rate was 138, and my fundal height was 33cm. Next week she will do another ultrasound along with the weekly check. When I told her I was still trying to figure out when to get my mother here, she said she felt he may come a week early, but she would know better next week. OH MY GOSH - that means possibly in 3 weeks!?!?!?! Am I really ready??? I just keep trying to tell myself that so many have done this before me and I will be fine!!

35 Weeks 5 Days

Today we had a shower given to us by some of our church friends. It was so very nice, and Shane's Maw Maw, as well as his aunt Manya, cousin Ronya, and aunt Carol were able to attend. It is so nice to live close to some of his family that were able to attend, because in the past they have lived too far away to be able to attend different things. We received lots of great things!! We are so fortunate to be part of a great church family who blessed us not only with gifts today, but who have also blessed us through out our time here with their friendship and support.

Maw Maw, Me, Manya, Carol and Ronya

Delicious Cake

The neatest diaper cake - Amy Sims made two of these and they were full of diapers and wrapped with receiving blankets!

While I was at the baby shower, Shane repainted the accent wall in Camden's room. I really have not discussed his nursery up until now, but his bedding is called Cooperstown, and has a very subtle baseball theme - which is perfect, I think. We needed to paint one of his walls because the comforter that was on Connor's bed was navy blue and rubbed off on the wall and so we needed to paint over it. Well, there is a website that had his bedding and recommended a baby blue as a color to use. So, Shane painted the wall that color, which truly is a pretty color, but I didn't think it went with his espresso bed or with the bedding. I was not pleased, so after much coercing, Shane mixed up some different colors and had me choose which one I wanted. I chose a rust color he mixed up that matches a color in Camden's bedding. I LOVE it and he did a great job, as he always does with painting. I am much more pleased with it!!! Now, if I could just get Connor's bed out of there........

35 weeks 4 Days

I know I have already posted once today, but it was earlier and we got a few things accomplished today in regards to baby preparation. I was on a mission to get the items I needed for the hospital stay, including pajamas, house shoes and toiletry type items. I also wanted to look for a glider for the nursery. I was able to find one set of pajamas, some house shoes, as well as the toiletry items I needed. So, once I figure out what items to pack for Camden, the hospital bag should be ready, aside from the last minute items like makeup and stuff that I can't pack until it is time to go. As for the glider, we will have to look again next weekend when we go to Birmingham to pick up all the items from Babies-R-Us that we feel we need to get to be ready for Camden's arrival.

Shane received an email from one of his Texas friends making fun of the fact that the National Championship trophy was at Wal-mart. Much to our surprise, the trophy was indeed there and you could take your picture with it, courtesy of Dr. Pepper. Shane was thrilled, and of course, Wal-Mart ended up being our first stop. So what turned out to be a slam on Bama, ended up being a good thing for Shane.

35 Weeks 4 Days

I have finally taken the time to download some pictures that have been taken over the past month and thought I would share!

Our Christmas Tree

Shane with his new Alabama belt

Mom, Dad and Grandma Key

Manya (an Alabama fan) sporting a University of Texas shirt

The Hood clan (when we went to Georgia)

6 Weeks vs 35 Weeks

35 Weeks 3 Days

Yesterday evening was the National Championship game between The Univeristy of Texas and Alabama. The weather here in Tuscaloosa put a damper on the plans we had. It had snowed off and on through out the day, but not enough to stick. It also sleeted and rained. So after the below freezing temperatures, Shane decided that our plans to go watch the game at the student center on campus were no longer good, and that we would stay home to avoid ice on the roads. I felt for him because he was really looking forward to watching the game with a big group of Alabama fans, and needless to say, he ended up with me and the dogs!!

So the first quarter was not good for Alabama and a lot of yelling at the TV took place. Shelbe, who is deaf, even heard the yelling!! : ) But, in the end, Alabama reigned victorious. I found myself pulling for both teams, especially since the Longhorns quarterback got hurt in the first quarter and they brought in a freshman quarterback. I am always for the under dog for whatever reason, but was glad that in the end, (for my husband's sake) that the Crimson Tide's perfect season held strong. What more could Shane ask for during his time here in Tuscaloosa?

Today I took Shelbe to the vet due to the increase in her seizures. I had a huge meltdown with the receptionist when she asked me why we were there, but then I finally regained composure and did OK the rest of the time. I explained to the vet about her recent decrease in appetite as well as her seizure history. He did lab work on her and found her BUN and creatinine (which is her kidney function) to be elevated as well as her calcium level. He said that the elevation in her kidney function could be contributing to her seizures, but really wasn't sure, that it could also be a drop in her blood sugar. He said that sometimes an elevated calcium level is indicative of cancer, but for her age, he could not necessarily rely on that. He recommended we put her on a low protein diet and gave me a Nutrical paste to give her once a day that is high in calories as well as glucose. He and I had a long discussion about her quality of life and he felt like she still had a good quality of life, but if the seizures became more frequent or she did not pick up on her eating, that we would need to look at other options. So, only time will tell!!!

35 Weeks 1 Day

Just a few trivial things today - yesterday for some reason I had in my head that I was 36 weeks, and even told a few people that. It was not until I was looking at the calendar yet again trying to figure out when to have my mother come, that I realized I was only 35 weeks. Once again, a reminder that my mind is gone!!! LOL

Tomorrow is the National Football Championship game between the University of Alabama and the University of Texas. I am at a loss on who to root for, I can not even express. How do you go against a school that you attended and loved while not rooting for a team that you send a chunk of money to and have for 2 1/2 years now????? I am at a loss, but as my father says, "You must remember your roots!" So tomorrow at work, we are encouraged to wear Alabama clothing to support the team. I have decided that I am wearing the one University of Texas shirt I have (and yes it will fit over my belly) as well as an Alabama necklace I have that Shane gave me last year. Hopefully no one will be offended by my allegiance to both schools!!

35 Weeks

I have decided today to just list the things that I am NOT going to miss after pregnancy!!

1. Restless legs - something I developed a few weeks ago and is causing my evenings to be miserable
2. Rib pain
3. My friend - THE Varicose Vein
4. Heartburn
5. Being so very short of breath
6. Hearing myself grunt every time I move
7. Not being able to find a bra that fits
8. Being lazy and feeling unorganized

I am sure there are more, and I may add them as this last trimester comes to an end.

34 Weeks 5 Days

On New Year's Eve, Shane, Connor and myself hopped in the truck and headed for Macon, Georgia - which is where Shane's grandparents live. I always LOVE being around the Hood Grandparents because they are one of the sweetest couples you will meet and his grandmother reminds me so much of my Grandma Key, whom I adore. The trip takes us about 4 1/2 hours and I must say, it was a bit harder than I was hoping for. The rib pain as well as back pain was very evident, even though we took the truck so I could stretch out in the back seat. But, have no fear, my laziness the next 2 days allowed me to recover!! I tell you what, all I did that whole visit was eat, sleep and visit with family - I felt worthless!!!

Shelbe, my child/dog, also had a rough time. She is completely blind and very deaf and felt very out of kilter in Georgia. On both Friday and Saturday night she had a seizure. She has had one a month for the past 4 or 5 months, but never back to back like this. Anyway, I have really had to contemplate her life and decide if she is enjoying her life or suffering. It has been rough thinking about this and I am praying that perhaps she die in her sleep when it is time, or that I am very aware it is time to do something when that time arises. I am glad to report that since we have been home, she is definitely back to herself and seems cheerful. So hopefully for the time being, I can put those thoughts on the back burner.

I must throw in a Congratulations to my cousin Chris and her husband Jerry on the birth of their son, Cooper, this morning. Chris and her sister Becky were pregnant and due the same week as myself - all of us with boys. Anyway, apparently Cooper had to prove a point and came a bit early, but I am glad to say he is beautiful and doing very well!! Ought to be interesting to see who goes next...... : )