Third Trimester (28 to 40 weeks)

January 13th, 2004 (29 weeks):  Week 29 of my pregnancy starts today.  WOW!  We just went to the doctor this morning.  We had another ultrasound taken, a regular and a 3D.  Our little baby boy is getting big.  He is somewhere between 4 and 5 pounds.  The ultrasound tech thought I was further along than I am, just because the baby is growing lots in his head and torso.  However, the doctor reassured us that his growth is normal.  He said they grow like teenagers, growth in the head here, growth in the legs there, etc., etc.  He also said "With dad being as tall and big as he is, this will be a good-sized baby."  Lucky Maria :)  The baby's heartbeat is great, 146.  I took my 28-week glucose blood test and that came back normal.  My blood pressure is still very good and my weight gain is good.  Like Paul reassures me, "You're as healthy as a horse."  You can check out the pictures below.  One is a regular ultrasound picture.  You can see the baby’s face.  It looks like he has some cheeks now :)  The other picture is a 3D view.  The ultrasound technician was awesome.  She tried to get a really good 3D picture of him from the side, but he kept moving or looking down.  Check them out below, plus a picture of me in the nursery 29 weeks pregnant!

January 27th, 2004 (31 weeks):  Our baby boy and I are doing great!  Today I start week 31.  We got another ultrasound taken today.  The last time we were in they thought our baby was big so we got scheduled for a follow-up ultrasound to check his growth.  Well, today we heard the same thing “Your baby is big.”  The ultrasound tech measured his head, abdomen, and thigh bone leg.  She said his head is measuring of a 36 week baby, his abdomen of a 34 week baby, and his leg of a 32 week baby.  She also asked us how big we were when we were born, just to see if good-sized babies run in our families :)  The doctor said everything looks great!  We are going to get a second-level ultrasound by special perinatologists, just to consult on our baby’s growth.  The doctor said that these second-level ultrasounds are more accurate in measurements and she wants to see if they match up with their ultrasound measurements.  Only two more months left till I am at 40 weeks but full term actually begins at week 37 :)  See our week 31 ultrasound photo below.

January 30th, 2004 (31 weeks):  Here are some pictures of the nursery.  It is a outdoors / woodsy / bears / cabin type of theme, if that makes any sense :)

February 4th, 2004 (32 weeks):  The baby is still looking great!  The level II ultrasound tech measured his head, abdomen, and thigh again.  Their estimate is he is 35 weeks along, versus 32 weeks.  This closely matches my OB ultrasound scans.  The level II tech and doctor figure he is just a big baby and recommend that my OB perform some follow-up ultrasounds near the end to see what his size is.  We got some cool pictures of him this morning - a picture of his hand, his foot and a profile of his face.  Check out the photos below!

February 10th, 2004 (33 weeks):  Another visit to the doctor.  This time to review the results from my level II ultrasound.  The doctor says everything is good.  I will have a follow-up standard ultrasound in three weeks, to see progress of the baby's growth.  If she determines him to be too big to go full term, then she might take him, perhaps by c-section, as early as 38 weeks.  She says his growth is genetics...go figure :)  Oh!  We got registered at Babies 'R Us!  You can check out our registry at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/registry/CUHW4SB6T7G1/ref=ba_br_s_1/qid=1076428675/sr=1-1/103-0272202-0376659

February 24th, 2004 (35 weeks):  I start seeing the doctor every week now.  Today's visit was pretty painless.  My blood pressure remains low and all blood work comes back normal.  God is taking GREAT care of me and the baby.  Praise God!  Next week is another ultrasound, to check on the baby's growth.  I know this about the baby, he keeps pounding on my ribs :)  We also got registered at Target, in case family and friends can't check out our registry at Amazon or Babies 'R Us.  You can check out our Target registry online, http://www.target.com/gp/registry/registry.html/602-0745626-5320641?%5Fencoding=UTF8&sort=taxonomy&type=babyreg&id=39ZORXPS1BG01&msgid=&message=&pageNum=1&view=owner, or at any Target store.

March 2nd, 2004 (36 weeks):  We went in for another doctor visit this morning, along with another ultrasound to check our baby’s growth.  Well, he is a BIG baby :)  They are measuring him at full term, e.g. 40 weeks OR MORE, even though he should be ~36 weeks.  His head is nice and big :) and they estimate his weight at 4185 grams, which converts to 9.2 pounds.  WOW!  The doctor says his size is ALL genetics, mainly Paul’s genetics :)  Based on his current size and growth for the next few weeks, my doctor scheduled me for a c-section.  She said the baby’s head is too big to deliver.  The c-section is scheduled for March 22nd, 2004 at 3:20P.  The doctor also said that she would check out / remove the cyst on my ovary at the time of the c-section.  So, we should have our baby boy in less than three weeks!  YEA!  Please be praying for my doctor, Paul, and I, as a c-section is a major operation and recovery is longer than a normal delivery.  Be praying for the remainder of my pregnancy, for Paul and I to enjoy the last few weeks “just the two of us,” and for Paul and I in preparing ourselves for the c-section (especially Paul).  I go back in next week and the following week for continued health check-ups.  We have been blessed that the baby and I are doing great…no complications, no major issues, all lab work comes back normal.  Praise the Lord!  Check out the picture below of me 36 weeks pregnant!

March 16th, 2004 (38 weeks):  We went in for our last doctor appointment, before the baby arrives.  That makes it our 13th appointment and our 7th ultrasound.  Our baby boy is still measuring big…his head and abdomen are 41+ weeks in size and his leg (femur) is about 40 weeks in length.  My cyst hasn’t grown any (praise God!) and the baby and amniotic fluids all look great.  Now, we just wait till Monday afternoon – woo hoo :)  Oh, the ultrasound tech said he is measuring in at 10 pounds, which makes some sense as he weighed in at 9.2 pounds two weeks ago and babies gain on average a half a pound a week.  I am figuring he’ll be between 10.5 and 11 pounds by Monday :)  The doctor also said “Hold on to your receipts on your 0-3 month baby clothes!  Those clothes only go up to 10 pounds or so.” :)  Paul and I can’t wait to see him!  The next time you hear from us we should have a bouncing baby boy in our arms!  How amazing is that?!

March 22nd, 2004 (38.5 weeks):  11:15AM - We are on our way to the hospital!  Estimated time of arrival - 3:00PM Arizona Time.  Check out the picture below of me on our way to the hospital for the surgery!