Sonogram Photo

I am adding the pictures from yesterday. As you can see, they are not very clear. At this point in development, the sonogram doesn't capture images as well because of the size of the baby as well as the lack of amniotic fluid. The first image is her foot. She is sticking it in the air and used it to kick the sonogram tech's machine! This is a profile of Elliott's face. You can see her lips and the tip of her nose. As you can see, she has a big head! We got to see her practicing her sucking with her lips and even her breathing. So cool! Now, if she would just decide to go ahead and introduce herself to the world, then that would be great! The little bubble looking things to the left is actually her umbilical chord. Right below that is her hand and fingers. The stuff around her nose is actually the placenta. Pretty cool, huh?!?!

7.2

Afternoon All!

We had our weekly appointment today and final sonogram. Ms. Elliott is still way head down and according to the sonogram, weighing in at a reasonable 7.2 pounds. Based on the due date, she could be a little over 8 pounds when she is born, if she comes at that time. I am totally ok with her coming NOW!!!

She is measuring right on target. Due to the crazy swelling in my leg and foot, I was sent over to the outpatient portion of the hospital where they did a sonogram on my legs to check for blood clots. I am clot free! I just have to rest my legs and try not to do so much.

The sonogram pictures are not very clear this time because she is so big and because she was constantly moving. We did get to see her practicing her breathing and sucking. She even showed us the toes on her foot as she tried to put them in her mouth. Her belly is very round and her heart is strong. Shaun asked the tech to double check to see if she is still a girl.... She is!

This weekend we went to the child birth class. The class itself wasn't that bad. The video that they showed us was super cheesy and from the 80's, but they gave us a tour of the labor and delivery room and the rooms where you stay after delivery. The L and D rooms are nice. I had already had a stay in one of those thanks to my fall a few weeks ago. The recovery rooms..... uhmm....... not so nice. They are clean and very 1980's themed and tiny. At least it is only 2 nights there though! Poor Shaun might not even fit on the pull out couch!

Hopefully, this will be my last full weekend working at church. I am trying to get things covered and Shaun is wrapping up his immediate projects. It is a tough time of year to try to do so simply because the holiday season is approaching, the church is growing, Mo Kids is expanding, and I'm losing a staff person. However, what great problems to have!

I will keep you updated and posted when anything new develops!

Much Love,

Jess

Full Term

Well,

It is official. Elliott is now considered full term and if/when labor begins, it will be GO time. The Doctor said that everything looks good and we are scheduled for our final ultrasound next week. So, I technically have 3 ish weeks left. The Doctor also said that I should be able to deliver an 8 pound baby no problem. Ummm.... yeah for me?!?! She also told Shaun that should the Rangers make the world series and be playing during the early stages of labor, that he can watch them on TV in the room. Glad to know he has questions about the important things!

I had hoped that Elliott would make her appearance today in honor of Siti's birthday, but so far, doesn't look like that will happen.

I have been thinking a lot today about Siti and how truly blessed I am that she was such a big part of our lives. I know that even today, she is making a difference in the lives of those she is around despite her illness.

I remember how I used to climb the tree in the yard at the house on Farrington and how much she would fuss and worry. "Get down dear, you could fall." I remember how I loved when she would pick me up from school when I was sick and make me homemade soup. "You need to eat, you need to eat." I remember how she sewed all of my Christmas dresses, special events dresses, and even altered my wedding dress. " I don't need a new sewing machine, mine works just fine." I remember how she tutored Shaun in Algebra and got him through his first semester at MSU. " You must learn and use your times tables, math is important." Shaun of course didn't mind all the free food that came with the lessons! "You are a big young man, you need to eat..you need to eat!"

I remember how she saved EVERYTHING and always scraped the bottom of the bowl or pan to ensure that every last drop was used. I admit, I save twist ties and scrape the bowl too. She taught me how to cook without ever measuring and not really following a recipe. She taught me how to clean a house and watch out for germs. I admit, I'm still a little prone to go overboard when it comes to germs and hand sanitizer!

Siti taught me how to love a man unconditionally and what it means to be an honoring wife. That love is truly patient and kind, it does not boast, it is not arrogant or self seeking. I have also seen how much it hurts to lose that love to such a crushing and unfair illness.

So, happy birthday Siti! I hope that I can pass on your knowledge to Elliott and pray that I will have half of the servant's heart that you do. Thank you Lord for Siti's!

So, maybe Elliott won't have her birthday, but I do hope that she has her heart! I'll update more next week after we have our final sonogram!

Blessings!

Jessica

Lesson Learned

Hello All,

Most of you know how umm... "determined" I can be. Some might even dare to label my determination as stubbornness. Well, being so umm...."determined" taught me a tough lesson yesterday.

So, what did I learn you ask? I learned that your center of gravity really is off when you are pregnant and that when you are 35 weeks pregnant, you should not run after escaping four year olds because if you do, you will get to visit the labor and delivery floor of the hospital.

So, yes, I took a pretty bad fall yesterday in the front lobby of the church and in a dress! Lucky for me, my ummm...assets remained fully covered and it happened 20 minutes into when the first service had already begun, so not EVERYONE saw it! We had an escaped kiddo running down the hall and I was up front and started running after him (without thinking) because I didn't want him to run out the front doors into the parking lot. I reached for the hood of his hoodie and fell forward right onto the big belly. Good news is it distracted the kid long enough for someone to grab him. I think if I had been wearing flip flops that weren't too big, I totally would have caught him! So, note to self: go buy new shoes! Just don't tell Shaun! :-)

Note to parents: don't give your four year old a mohawk and don't pierce his ear and give him a big blue topaz earring. He's not in a rap video and all your setting him up for is a life of delinquency! He's never going to be bank president or supreme court justice with that foundation. And when we tell you that he hit someone and then escaped, don't blame the worker, confront that kiddo and whip that butt! By the way, the name Tyler is officially added to my list of names that one can not name their child or they are destined to be one of my clients list. For a full listing of all names, just email me! Ok, I'm off my soapbox now...

So, what else did I learn yesterday you ask? I learned that the hospital where we will deliver Elliott is very nice and the staff are all very kind. I also learned that falls should be taken seriously. I learned that the amniotic sack is nature's way of creating an airbag for your baby and that when one falls, they can expect to be ridiculously sore and need to rest.

I also learned that Elliott is 100% ok and that according to the sonogram, she is weighing 6 pounds and 6 ounces as of yesterday! The sonogram tech told me that she is head down (very head down) and then stated and I quote.."Wow, she has a large head". Yeah for me on the day of delivery, whenever that day comes. Obviously, she did not get her father's melon! :-)

So, we spent most of the day at the hospital for observation and they gave me an iv to stop the contractions. I wasn't in labor at all... no dilation or effacement, but the contractions were more than the usual braxton hicks that I've been having for the last few weeks. I was ordered to rest for the rest of the day and to not chase kiddos for the duration of the pregnancy.

Lesson learned!!!!