D-Day!

We had our follow-up appointment today with the doctor. He seemed very glad that we had made it to week 38. He also went over the test results from last Friday and what they meant. He feels confident that Jesstine will be ready this week. He has decided to induce on August 14! That will be Thursday. It is also the day before my birthday. It gives me a goal! I feel like this pregnancy has been full of goals. I am so full of many different emotions right now! I really am excited about having Jesstine! It seems like it is finally going to happen! I am so excited to share my life with this little person who is some of me and some of my wonderful husband! I am excited to dress her in pretty dresses and show her the world! Yet, I also know that it is still a couple of days away and I am so anxious that something is going to go wrong. All I have is a bad experience with pregnancy and birth! I haven't had the joy! I want it so bad! I for some reason just can't let myself go and trust that it is going to happen. After Friday, I knew that God wanted me to trust Him and I haven't been. I want to. I am still working on that!

In any case, here is the picture that I promised in the last blog! This is of Noah, my wonderful, smart, amazing nephew! He came all the way to Wichita this weekend to see baby Jesstine. Unfortunately, he didn't get to see anything but my big belly! Oh, and here is his equally wonderful brother Ian. He still is confused about where exactly Baby Jesstine is. We have video of him lifting my shirt to see her! CUTE!

Oh, and here is the last time you will see me pregnant for a while! Hopefully I will lose all 30 lbs. I have put on in the last 9 months! Enjoy it while it lasts! The next picture will be of a beautiful baby!

In Him,

Lacie, Stephen and Jesstine

Humm....

As you can tell, three days has come and gone. We went to the hospital yesterday and had the amniocentesis done. The first time they came back and said it was borderline. That was not a definitive enough answer for my doctor. He wanted to be absolutely sure that Jesstine was not going to come out with immature lungs. So, he sent it off to another hospital for a better test. He was thinking if it was just slightly low, he would go ahead with the induction. However, it was more than just slightly low. So, we were sent home. They all thought I was going to cry. I didn't until I got home. Even then it was more of the same terrified feeling I have been having through this whole pregnancy. My biggest fear is that I have come this far and she will die inside of me like Babe B. did. The good thing is I have made it farther in the pregnancy than I did with Babe B. That has helped. My attitude after leaving the hospital was more along the lines of, "I know that this is for the best." Obviously God has a plan for Jesstine. One thing I have struggled with is trusting Him and His plan for our lives. Perhaps this is His way of saying, "Let me take control of this situation." Really, He has had control the whole time, He was just waiting for me to see that! So, now my attitude is that I trust whatever timing God has planned, I just ask that he let this baby be born alive, healthy and strong! Now, as far as plans medically are concerned, we have a new approach as well. I am not quite sure what that is yet! The doctor said he wanted to see me Tuesday morning and we will reevaluate things then. I am hoping (again with God's timing in mind) that he will say, "We have reached 38 weeks and her lungs should be ready now. Let's shoot for Friday." Again, I am praying for God to use his timing in whatever approach the doctor talks to me about on Tuesday. I would LOVE to share my birthday with my daughter. (For those of you who don't know, my birthday is Friday, August 15.) I have always wanted her to have her own day, but that would be FINE with me if we shared the same day! I don't plan on having another amnio. though! I won't go through that again. I still hurt from this one! Her position didn't make it easy for the doctor to perform! It took three tries to get the fluid out. the good news is that the fluid was clear!

Anyhow, so stay tuned to the blog for more information. Right now I am just like every other pregnant woman! I have to wait (at least until my doctor decides where to go next). I think the doctor will still like a controlled environment where he induces, but I am not sure on the timing. If I should go into labor on my own, then the doctor is not going to stop it. At this point if babies come on their own, they are ready. My nephew, Noah, was born at exactly 37 weeks and is one of the smartest little boys I know for his age! He did just fine! He is wonderful! I will have to post the picture that Jenni took of him feeling Jesstine's foot moving inside my belly. It is precious! As soon as you get it on the computer Jenni, send it my way please!

Until then,
Lacie, Stephen, and Jesstine

3 Days (not including today)!

Well, we have reached the 37 week mark! It has been an emotional couple of days. This marks the point in my last pregnancy that was the last time Babe B. was alive. It has caused at least one sleepless night. I am not counting out another tonight. I am glued to the heart monitor!

I was VERY uncomfortable last night. It hurt to stand and it hurt to lie down. The only comfy position was sitting upright! Tylenol really didn't help much. Because the pain was in my belly, I was concerned and called the doctor today. So, we had an appointment today instead of tomorrow. He did a sonogram. There are quite a few things to report. He said that the amniotic fluid is a little on the low side. It wasn't low enough to be concerned and the baby was moving a lot! He actually took this as more of a sign that she will be ready on Friday. Also, my placenta is on the left and in the front. The baby is on the right. This means that the pockets of fluid are less accessible. So, he said when we do the sonogram before the amnio. on Friday, if the fluid is any lower, he will just induce. If not, they will still attempt an amnio. and see what it says. He is pretty confident based on what he is seeing that she will be ready. This is all good news! I did mention that I was just concerned that I would get to that day and they would find out that her lungs are not ready. I said I didn't know how I would handle that! I hope I don't have to. I know it is better for her that she be ready, but I am miserable emotionally and physically! I am SOOOOOO ready! Oh, also we went to the hospital early Sunday morning because of contractions. They checked my cervix and I was dilated to 1-1.5 cm. This is more than I have ever done without chemical assistance! He took that as a positive sign as well. He didn't check me today, but I figured it was just because Friday was so close.

So, we are still on for Friday. We are still praying that things will work out so she can come that day! (If she doesn't come on her own which would be good too!)

Stay tuned! We plan on taking the laptop to the hospital with us, so we should be able to update at least once or twice amidst the chaos!

In Him,
Lacie, Stephen and Jesstine

1 Week, 2 Days!

Well, we are almost there! I am so excited. Every appointment brings more excitement. Yesterday, I woke up at 4:15ish (AM) to take one of my usual nightly trips to the potty! When I was done, I continued to hear and feel a trickle that I had no control over. I thought that it was odd. In the morning I called my doctor and he was out on a delivery. His nurse said she wanted me to go to the hospital to be checked to make sure my water hadn't broken. Luckily it had not. They checked my cervix as well. It is still closed tight and her head is not "engaged." That was all good news as I reached 36 weeks yesterday. Today we went for my normal appointment. I have just been feeling very tired today! I kind of almost had the blah's! the doctor said that is normal for how far along I am. He did a quick sonogram and checked the baby. She is head down. She has plenty of fluid. Her heart rate was high, but he said she was just wide awake and moving like crazy! She was breathing and kicking her legs. He also guessed that she is already close to 7 lbs!!! That is big! He said I was measuring big and looked big. All of this is good news because it means there is a better possibility that she will be ready on next Friday. I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to come on her own! If not, I would be shocked if the amnio says she isn't ready. I am praying and counting on the amnio showing that she is ready! I am ready! I just want her to get here safe and sound. I want her to be healthy!

In the meantime, Jesstine and I are planning on spending a lot of these remaining days out of the summer heat and with my feet up! We hope all of you are doing well!

In Him,
Lacie, Stephen, and Jesstine

2 Weeks Left!

Well, we have made it to 35 weeks. The last appointment was on Thursday. It was a bit different because my doctor was out of town on vacation. I had to see the other doctor. It ended up being just fine. He was very informative. I was checked for Strep B. Still don't know how that turned out. Also I have a bladder infection, so I had to be put on antibiotics to my dismay! I guess that is why the movements Jesstine has recently been making on my bladder have been a lot more sensitive (forget the fact that she is likely about 6 lbs. now)! As far as we know, she is growing well. My belly is measuring perfectly at 35 cm. I have video taped her moving and you can see my belly move.

There isn't really much else to update. I am still anxious. We are getting so close. People keep reminding me that this baby has been checked numerous times and has been given a clean bill of health. I appreciate their sentiments, but we were told that Babe B. was healthy as well. I know this baby doesn't have her heart defect, but I know that there are other things that are out of anyone's control that could still happen. I am just going to be anxious until she is in my arms crying! I have decided to only check the baby's heartbeat twice to three times a day. I am no longer counting how fast it is. I was just driving myself crazy!

Thank you for your continued prayers. Again, we are specifically praying that the amnio on August 8 will determine that she is ready to come and that everything goes smoothly from there. We really do appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement! It has been such a long road. We are looking forward to the new beginning that is to come!

In Him,
Lacie, Stephen, and Jesstine

You do the hokey pokey....

and she's turned herself around....

We had another doctor's visit today. Firstly, my belly was measuring 34 cm. which is great because I am at 34 weeks! (If you remember last week, it was a week behind). Her heartrate was 144 which has been about the average lately when I calculate it myself. The best news is that she has flipped herself head down! We were talking to the doctor trying to set an actual time and date for the amnio. and he said he would really like to look and see if she was head up or head down. We stepped into the sonogram room and sure enough, she had turned herself! Again I was able to watch her breathe! I asked the doctor if it was possible to feel her breathing. He said that she is so big now that it is most certainly possible! I have been feeling her breathe a few times a day! It is just amazing. Seeing her breath is actually a promising sign that her lungs are developing correctly and she will be ready by August the 8th.

So, we have been scheduled for an amnio. on August 8, at 9:00 AM. They will likely get the results within and hour of that time. If the chemical levels look good, they will induce (or do a c-section if she flips again! They will be able to determine that during the amnio.) shortly afterwards. He says he thinks things will go fast and he will probably be able to get her here that day. If she is born a day later, that is okay too. That would put her birthday halfway between Daddy's and Mommy's birthdays.

We hope all of you are doing well! Please continue to pray for the health of Jesstine and I as we try and get through these last three weeks and two days!

In Him,
Lacie, Stephen and Jesstine

33 Weeks..Only 4 weeks and 2 days left!

It's us again! We had another appointment with the doctor today. It has been a nerve wrecking week! I barely slept Tuesday night. July 9 is the day that we found out that Babe B. was no longer alive. Little did I know, I had scheduled a doctor's appointment for that same day this year for Jesstine! I was a little anxious to say the least. For the most part things went well. We discussed a birthing plan and talked to the doctor about who Jesstine's doctor would be when she comes into this world. (They gave us a sheet to fill out. There is a section on circumcision. You are supposed to check one of three categories: Would like, No Strong View, or Wish to Avoid. I told the doctor that we wished to avoid circumcision because she is a girl. He had a good laugh at that!) The only thing that didn't go so great is that when he measured my belly, I was a cm short for the week. (The number of cm is supposed to match how many weeks you are into your pregnancy.) He didn't seem concerned. He said it could just be the way she was lying. He also looked at my records and noticed that I hadn't had a fetal growth sonogram since week 20. So, he gave me orders to get one done. That is always done at the office of my PCP. I called my PCP's office directly after I got home and they were able to get me in that day! I was amazed. The results that we know so far are: 1.) Amniotic fluid levels are great. 2.) Placenta looked healthy and in a great place. 3.) Jesstine looked wonderful and was certainly not small! Her measurements calculated that she was actually 6 days ahead and in like the 59th percentile or something! The only measurement I caught out of all of that was that she weighs roughly 5 lbs! She is basically as big as a 34 week old baby. We were very pleased after that visit! What was even more special is that my mom, who is home recovering from surgery, was able to come with us. She was teary and all she could say at first was, "She is SO beautiful!"

So, here are the results of the latest photo shoot! There were times when she wouldn't let us see her face. Then she wouldn't hold her foot still so we could get a good shot of it! Also, she is currently breech again. I am okay with that if she stays that way. The doctor already said he wouldn't do anything to try and turn her. He would opt for a c-section because of what we have been through. There are greater chances of a cord problem when they attempt to turn a baby. Not to mention it hurts a lot! So, here is our glamor girl. I will try to describe the pictures as best as I can for those of you who see nothing but black and white when it comes to these things.

1.) In this first picture, her head is slightly tilted to the side (her head is on the left of the picture) and she has her hand under her chin. It stayed there for most of the procedure. That is why we say she was being a glamour girl! It was as though she was posing! 2.) Her head is tilted backwards and you can see her nose, lips and chin very clearly! This little one has some chubby cheeks! 3.) to the bottom left are her feet, crossed at the ankles. If you start at the top right, you will see her thighs. Follow those down and then you will see her calves. Then her ankles are crossed and her feet are at the bottom left.

1.) These are pretty obvious. They are the bottoms of her feet. The one on the left (which I think is actually her left foot) was always moving, so it was difficult to get a clear picture of her toes. It looks like her second toe curls under her big toe. That is characteristic of her Daddy's feet! 2.) these show her foot, ankle, and calf of both feet. I can't wait to see them playing soccer someday soon!

We hope you and yours are doing well. We are almost there.

Love,
Lacie, Stephen and Jesstine