Dearest Harper,
One of my favorite things about being pregnant is feeling you move. It's kind of weird, when you think about it - a person moving inside of me - but also really freaking cool. I got some video of you having hiccups. It's subtle, but you can see it if you watch closely.
As eager as I am to meet you, I'm going to miss this part of the process. I can't wait to share in your pregnancy adventures with you - but only after you've graduated college and have a good job. See, I'm in Mommy mode already!
I love you,
Mommy
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Friday, October 3, 2014
Damn You, Blood Pressure!
Dearest Harper,
It looks like you might be coming to us sooner rather than later, a thought that both excites and terrifies me. I'm excited for obvious reasons - I absolutely cannot wait to meet you, see what you look like, hold you in my arms, give you kisses, and have you meet everyone who loves you so much already. I'm terrified because life as I know it is going to dramatically change, which I've had 36 weeks to prepare for, but I'm not sure I can ever really prepare myself until it happens. I just want nothing more than to do the best by you. You deserve nothing less.
My blood pressures are borderline high. My feet and my hands are swollen, and I occasionally have mild headaches. I had a set of labs drawn yesterday, and they were completely normal, which is awesome, so right now I'm just diagnosed with gestational hypertension and not pre-ecclampsia. Since nobody is entirely sure why this happens to some women, there was nothing I could have done to prevent it, and nothing I can do to fix it.
At the appointment with my doctor today we discussed all of this and made a plan. I'll monitor my blood pressures until my appointment next week. If they stay just borderline high and don't start getting crazy high, we'll do another set of labs to see if the pre-ecclampsia is developing or not. If it's not, we'll likely induce you the week of the 13th (once my doctor gets back into town) with the logic that it's best to get you out while everything's ok and not give anything bad a chance to develop. You'll be solidly in your 37th week at that point, so there are no worries about your health.
Daddy is worried about us, but luckily I'm a labor and delivery nurse and know what to look for to see if things are headed in a bad direction. I promised him tonight that I wouldn't let it get to a bad place - I love him too much to risk taking you and me away from him, and I love you too much to not be here for you. At this stage of the pregnancy, it would be silly not to do what needs to be done to assure we're both safe and healthy. We'll be ok, Harper, I promise.
So, maybe I'll see you in less than 2 weeks...
I love you,
Mommy
It looks like you might be coming to us sooner rather than later, a thought that both excites and terrifies me. I'm excited for obvious reasons - I absolutely cannot wait to meet you, see what you look like, hold you in my arms, give you kisses, and have you meet everyone who loves you so much already. I'm terrified because life as I know it is going to dramatically change, which I've had 36 weeks to prepare for, but I'm not sure I can ever really prepare myself until it happens. I just want nothing more than to do the best by you. You deserve nothing less.
My blood pressures are borderline high. My feet and my hands are swollen, and I occasionally have mild headaches. I had a set of labs drawn yesterday, and they were completely normal, which is awesome, so right now I'm just diagnosed with gestational hypertension and not pre-ecclampsia. Since nobody is entirely sure why this happens to some women, there was nothing I could have done to prevent it, and nothing I can do to fix it.
At the appointment with my doctor today we discussed all of this and made a plan. I'll monitor my blood pressures until my appointment next week. If they stay just borderline high and don't start getting crazy high, we'll do another set of labs to see if the pre-ecclampsia is developing or not. If it's not, we'll likely induce you the week of the 13th (once my doctor gets back into town) with the logic that it's best to get you out while everything's ok and not give anything bad a chance to develop. You'll be solidly in your 37th week at that point, so there are no worries about your health.
Daddy is worried about us, but luckily I'm a labor and delivery nurse and know what to look for to see if things are headed in a bad direction. I promised him tonight that I wouldn't let it get to a bad place - I love him too much to risk taking you and me away from him, and I love you too much to not be here for you. At this stage of the pregnancy, it would be silly not to do what needs to be done to assure we're both safe and healthy. We'll be ok, Harper, I promise.
So, maybe I'll see you in less than 2 weeks...
I love you,
Mommy
Thursday, October 2, 2014
36 Weeks
Here we are, at 36 weeks, only 4 weeks left until your due date! As of yesterday, we're officially in your birthday month - October. I like to call it Harpertober! It's crazy to think that we could very possibly meet you THIS month! Eeeeek!
We're nearly ready for you - the shopping is done, the supplies are gathered, the laundry is washed, the Baby Basics class has been taken, and we have just a few little things left to do to your room. Keep growing strong and healthy, my sweet girl.
I love you,
Mommy
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
A Little Scare
Dearest Harper,
I had a little scare yesterday at work. After lunch I started to feel cramping, like uncomfortable menstrual cramps. They weren't super painful, but definitely different and more uncomfortable than the occasional tightening I've been feeling. I spoke up and my co-workers jumped on it, putting me in a room and hooking me up to monitor your heartbeat and any uterine activity I might be having. The doctor checked my cervix and did a test to screen for preterm labor. After 2 hours, this is what we learned: 1) Those labor and delivery beds are really uncomfortable! 2) My cervix was closed, long, and posterior, which tells us that you're held in there pretty securely and not coming out anytime soon. 3) The test to screen for preterm labor was negative. 4) Your heartbeat tracing says you are a happy girl in there, getting all of the oxygen and nutrients you need to continue to grow strong and healthy. Seeing how good your heartbeat looked on the monitor made me so happy, a proud Mommy already! For the whole 2 hours I was in the room, I never turned on the TV; I was perfectly content laying there listening to your heartbeat. It truly is one of the best sounds in the world.
I love you,
Mommy
I had a little scare yesterday at work. After lunch I started to feel cramping, like uncomfortable menstrual cramps. They weren't super painful, but definitely different and more uncomfortable than the occasional tightening I've been feeling. I spoke up and my co-workers jumped on it, putting me in a room and hooking me up to monitor your heartbeat and any uterine activity I might be having. The doctor checked my cervix and did a test to screen for preterm labor. After 2 hours, this is what we learned: 1) Those labor and delivery beds are really uncomfortable! 2) My cervix was closed, long, and posterior, which tells us that you're held in there pretty securely and not coming out anytime soon. 3) The test to screen for preterm labor was negative. 4) Your heartbeat tracing says you are a happy girl in there, getting all of the oxygen and nutrients you need to continue to grow strong and healthy. Seeing how good your heartbeat looked on the monitor made me so happy, a proud Mommy already! For the whole 2 hours I was in the room, I never turned on the TV; I was perfectly content laying there listening to your heartbeat. It truly is one of the best sounds in the world.
I love you,
Mommy
Thursday, September 4, 2014
32 Weeks
Dearest Harper,
Today marks 32 weeks of pregnancy! Your movements are much bigger than they used to be, probably a combination of you getting bigger, stronger, and running out of room in there. We can see you move from this side of the world, and when I occasionally set things on my belly, you are strong enough to move them when you kick. You get hiccups a lot, which is a good thing, and sometimes we can see those too!
Your room is painted. Your furniture is set up. Your Grandpa Dave is coming over in a little bit to hang your chandelier. We have your curtains, but need to get the rod to hang them. It's a very surreal thing for Daddy and me, setting up a nursery and putting together baby furniture. We wanted you for so very long, and resigned ourselves to the fact that parenthood probably wouldn't happen for us, then you came, making all of our dreams come true. We're enjoying every minute we spend planning for you, organizing and cleaning the rest of the house for you. We've been busy - and still have a lot to do - but you're worth it.
By the way - no gestational diabetes! I can't even tell you how happy I am about this!
Keep growing big and strong and healthy, my sweet girl, and I promise I'll continue to keep you safe until it's time for us to meet.
I love you,
Mommy
Today marks 32 weeks of pregnancy! Your movements are much bigger than they used to be, probably a combination of you getting bigger, stronger, and running out of room in there. We can see you move from this side of the world, and when I occasionally set things on my belly, you are strong enough to move them when you kick. You get hiccups a lot, which is a good thing, and sometimes we can see those too!
Your room is painted. Your furniture is set up. Your Grandpa Dave is coming over in a little bit to hang your chandelier. We have your curtains, but need to get the rod to hang them. It's a very surreal thing for Daddy and me, setting up a nursery and putting together baby furniture. We wanted you for so very long, and resigned ourselves to the fact that parenthood probably wouldn't happen for us, then you came, making all of our dreams come true. We're enjoying every minute we spend planning for you, organizing and cleaning the rest of the house for you. We've been busy - and still have a lot to do - but you're worth it.
By the way - no gestational diabetes! I can't even tell you how happy I am about this!
Keep growing big and strong and healthy, my sweet girl, and I promise I'll continue to keep you safe until it's time for us to meet.
I love you,
Mommy
Monday, August 18, 2014
Your Brother and Sister
Dearest Harper,
Leia and Winston (and Orko before him) were our kids before you came along. We called them our fur babies.
We adopted Leia from the SPCA the month after we got married. We brought her home on December 14, 2002, and that's the day we celebrate her birthday each year. Her previous family surrendered her because she escaped the back yard and ate baby diapers. Her name was Lucky, but we changed it to Leia after Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies. They told us she was about 2 when we adopted her. She's an Australian Cattle Dog mix. They were vague on what she's mixed with, but looking at her, you can see there's some Pit Bull in her. She is a SMART dog and very well behaved, despite the fact that she sheds enough for, like, 37 dogs. You'll grow up with her dog hair all over your clothes - get used to it. She'll turn 14 a couple months after you're born. She's still going strong for being an old lady, just losing her hearing. I think she'll be your protector.
We adopted Orko from a breeder in the Fall of 2005. He was an AKC certified Schnauzer that she had purchased for at least $1000 when he was a puppy to use as a stud. When we met him he was 7 years old and losing interest in the ladies, as she called it. She loved him, but wanted him to live the rest of his life as a pet, a life she couldn't offer him with all the other dogs she had. His name was Lady Dusty's Buster Brown and she called him Buster, but we changed it to Orko, after a character in one of Daddy's favorite childhood cartoons, He Man. It took him a while to adjust to being an inside dog, but for the most part he did, even if he did choose to occasionally sleep on a pile of newspapers rather than the comfy dog bed he had. He would let you do anything to him, he was very mild mannered and easy going. In early 2010 he was diagnosed with diabetes, which, after much research and discussion, we decided not to treat because of the financial and time burden on us, as well as the fact that he was already almost 12 years old. He lived a good life until the day before he died, you'd never know he was sick. On April 26th he had two huge seizures, and we decided it was time, so we put him to sleep, one of the most awful experiences of our lives.
In October of 2010 we bought a Schnauzer puppy from a friend's sister, who was selling them at a super low price because she didn't know to get their tails cropped early, and since Schnauzers aren't supposed to have tails, she couldn't sell them for what she wanted. He was born August 31st, and we brought him home on Halloween, at exactly 2 months old. We named him Winston, after the character Winston Wolf in Pulp Fiction. Daddy and I had never had a puppy, but we figured it out, and he's a good boy. He is super playful and has lots and lots of personality. He is a Momma's boy - loves to snuggle me and follows me everywhere. He'll turn 4 a couple months before you're born. I think you're going to be his new snuggle buddy.
We'll always have dogs in the house - they're fun, entertaining, and they'll help teach you about responsibility. Plus, they're a good example for how humans should behave because they give unconditional love.
I love you,
Mommy
Leia and Winston (and Orko before him) were our kids before you came along. We called them our fur babies.
We adopted Leia from the SPCA the month after we got married. We brought her home on December 14, 2002, and that's the day we celebrate her birthday each year. Her previous family surrendered her because she escaped the back yard and ate baby diapers. Her name was Lucky, but we changed it to Leia after Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies. They told us she was about 2 when we adopted her. She's an Australian Cattle Dog mix. They were vague on what she's mixed with, but looking at her, you can see there's some Pit Bull in her. She is a SMART dog and very well behaved, despite the fact that she sheds enough for, like, 37 dogs. You'll grow up with her dog hair all over your clothes - get used to it. She'll turn 14 a couple months after you're born. She's still going strong for being an old lady, just losing her hearing. I think she'll be your protector.
We adopted Orko from a breeder in the Fall of 2005. He was an AKC certified Schnauzer that she had purchased for at least $1000 when he was a puppy to use as a stud. When we met him he was 7 years old and losing interest in the ladies, as she called it. She loved him, but wanted him to live the rest of his life as a pet, a life she couldn't offer him with all the other dogs she had. His name was Lady Dusty's Buster Brown and she called him Buster, but we changed it to Orko, after a character in one of Daddy's favorite childhood cartoons, He Man. It took him a while to adjust to being an inside dog, but for the most part he did, even if he did choose to occasionally sleep on a pile of newspapers rather than the comfy dog bed he had. He would let you do anything to him, he was very mild mannered and easy going. In early 2010 he was diagnosed with diabetes, which, after much research and discussion, we decided not to treat because of the financial and time burden on us, as well as the fact that he was already almost 12 years old. He lived a good life until the day before he died, you'd never know he was sick. On April 26th he had two huge seizures, and we decided it was time, so we put him to sleep, one of the most awful experiences of our lives.
In October of 2010 we bought a Schnauzer puppy from a friend's sister, who was selling them at a super low price because she didn't know to get their tails cropped early, and since Schnauzers aren't supposed to have tails, she couldn't sell them for what she wanted. He was born August 31st, and we brought him home on Halloween, at exactly 2 months old. We named him Winston, after the character Winston Wolf in Pulp Fiction. Daddy and I had never had a puppy, but we figured it out, and he's a good boy. He is super playful and has lots and lots of personality. He is a Momma's boy - loves to snuggle me and follows me everywhere. He'll turn 4 a couple months before you're born. I think you're going to be his new snuggle buddy.
We'll always have dogs in the house - they're fun, entertaining, and they'll help teach you about responsibility. Plus, they're a good example for how humans should behave because they give unconditional love.
I love you,
Mommy
Thursday, August 7, 2014
28 Weeks
Dearest Harper,
We officially made it to the third trimester today!
Two days ago I took my 1 hour glucose tolerance test, to screen for gestational diabetes, and it came back way high. They said the cut off is below 135, and I was 159. Ouch! So today I had to do a 3 hour test - I got my blood drawn fasting, then I drank a drink that had 100 grams of sugar, then 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours after, I got my blood drawn. Daddy kept me company while I sat in the lab all that time, and Daddy is so good at keeping me entertained. He's a fun guy.
I wouldn't be surprised if I end up having it - this pregnancy has been pretty easy so far, and they don't call it The Nurse Curse for nothing. Gestational diabetes wouldn't be the end of the world, I've done low carb diets before, but fingers crossed I don't have it, because I really like carbs. A lot. I've been craving fruit this pregnancy, I could eat pounds and pounds of it, plus cereal and ice cream are two of my favorite foods. But I'd give them all up for you, baby girl, because keeping you healthy is so much more important than nectarines, rainbow sherbet on a sugar cone, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
I love you,
Mommy
We officially made it to the third trimester today!
I wouldn't be surprised if I end up having it - this pregnancy has been pretty easy so far, and they don't call it The Nurse Curse for nothing. Gestational diabetes wouldn't be the end of the world, I've done low carb diets before, but fingers crossed I don't have it, because I really like carbs. A lot. I've been craving fruit this pregnancy, I could eat pounds and pounds of it, plus cereal and ice cream are two of my favorite foods. But I'd give them all up for you, baby girl, because keeping you healthy is so much more important than nectarines, rainbow sherbet on a sugar cone, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
I love you,
Mommy
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