Happy Birthday!!!!

Zachary David Hiestand

Born Dec 2, 2012 @ 1120 am

8 lbs 12 oz, 22 1/4" long

Daddy and Zach

Momma with Little Z

1 day old

Update - New Due Date :)

We went back in this morning, to get stripped again, and monitored. We sat and talked with Sherry for some time, about what lies ahead for us. She mentioned that we should get a biophysical profile, and we talked about the possibility that we are actually 'due today'. So after looking at the previous ultra sounds - specifically the first one - she agreed that we could actually be due today. We had our first ultrasound at 9w+6days, but the ultra sound put us at 8weeks + 5 days. Usually, if a first trimester ultra sound is more that 7 days off, they will change the due date. So, since we are 'overdue' and over 41 weeks, she felt good about changing our due date to today, Nov 30th, based on that first ultrasound. (Somehow, Nate and I knew this was going to become an issue. We had talked about this early on! I'm just glad that it really wasn't an 'issue'. And Sherry wouldn't do anything she was uncomfortable with!) Nate and I both agree, that this also 'buys' a little time with the doctors... So they are pressuring us to induce!

She checked me again, and I was the same - a stretchy 5. And then we had another NST. The baby still looked good, so we will go back on Friday to have another NST. If we do not have the baby over the weekend, we go in on Tuesday for a biophysical profile. At that point, I will be 40 + 6 based on the first u/s - or 42 weeks based on LMP - so we know the docs are going to want it done.

Keep your fingers crossed that we have the baby by Tuesday!!

41 Week - Appointment

Well, we weren't in labor Sunday night... obviously or I would be posting pictures of the baby!!! My contractions puttered out, again, that night. We even left and went to Meijer and walked from 10-11pm!

So our appointment was at 8:45 this morning. My B/P was alittle high - it was 128/82 - which, even though is normal for most people, is high for me. I also had protein in my urine, which could be a sign that I need to deliver soon. She said with me being 41 weeks, she would really like to get things going. So she checked me, and I was a 'stretchy 4' which is such an improvement over last week! So that was exciting, because at least the contractions are doing something!! We decided to have her strip my membranes, and really stir things up - which made me about jump off the table! Holy cow - was that horrible!! I had another Nonstress Test - which was good, but not excellent. The baby was sleeping, so she had to keep trying to wake it up, to get some better accelerations. The baby had accels, just not alot, and not for very long.

We decided to come back at 2 - to do it all over again! I had some contractions in between the appointments, but none of them were really strong. I was really crampy, but they just didn't feel very strong.

We went back at 2 and started with our NST - which was so much better! The baby was much more awake, and had great accelerations! She was much, much happier about the results! So then when she checked me, I was a stretchy 5!! She stripped me again... and said 'I'll see you later tonight!'

So since then, I have definitely been contracting - not really consistently though - and not too strong. As long as they are 'doing something', I don't even care at this point! Nate and I got a couple hours of sleep (Thanks to Grammy J for being down here and helping with Tyler!!!) and so I feel rested up for a long night ahead...

Worse case scenario, we go back to see Sherry at 8:45 in the morning, and do it all over again...

40 Weeks and 5 days... Update

Today we are 5 days overdue. While I have continued to try to "get things going" - not a whole had changed until this afternoon.

Since we had such wonderful weather this morning, after we woke up, I figured I would go somewhere and walk today. So we went to Meijer this afternoon, and I walked for a bit, while Nate grocery shopped. And then after we got home, I didn't feel like it was enough, so I decided to go to Menards and walk. So since about 3:45 pm - my contractions have been about 4-6 mins apart. Once I was done walking, I went home and laid down, (about 5pm) just to see if they would putter out again. They didn't, so I got in the shower and we decided that we should maybe give our parents a 'heads up'.

We decided to time them from 6-7pm, and I had 14 contractions in that hour! (pretty consistently 4 mins apart) - so I am hoping that this isn't just another evening of 'false labor'!!

Everyone keep your fingers crossed that this is really 'it' and hopefully we will get to meet Baby Hiestand soon!!!

Happy 40 Weeks!

Well, I woke up this morning, and thought... while I am happy that the baby made it 40 weeks, I am also so surprised!! I have truly had a week of crazy contractions. Even though most of them were braxton hicks, I had a TON of true contractions. On Thursday I again, went hours having contractions 10-15 mins apart, and then nothing... and again on Saturday, and again yesterday. There have been multiple nights where the contractions wake me up (and Nate) and then nothing... and the last few days have been filled with uncomfortable, crampy, have to "concentrate through" contractions... and basically they have all done nothing! lol

We had our 40 week appointment this morning. It started with the nonstress test. The baby looked good. The first half of the test the baby was pretty chilled out and I didn't have any contractions. Then at the end, the baby livened up, and I had a pretty 'big' contraction. His/her heart rate pretty much stayed between 120's to 140's.

Then Sherry checked me, and she said that I really haven't changed much. We discussed 'stirring things up' or letting things go on their own. We all agreed that since I hadn't progressed at all, it was better to just let things happen on their own. We also expressed our concerns with waiting until next week to 'get things going'. With the holidays this weekend, and her being off on Mondays, we won't be able to go back in until next Tues. Next Tues I will be 41 weeks, and while I am not concerned about it, I know that the doctors get a little 'squirrely' about being 41 weeks. She didn't seem concerned at all, and she really does believe I will go in the next day or two.

I am at the point where if I don't go tonight, I would like to wait until Friday evening! lol I am being totally selfish and would really like to go shopping on Friday! hahahaha

No, really, I don't really care when we go, I just hope I realize it when I do! I told Sherry today that with all the contractions I have been having, I hope I know when it's really time. That probably sounds crazy, but this time has been so completely different than with Tyler, I really wonder...

So since the appointment, I have again, been contracting and cramping all day. I went hours where they were 10 mins apart, and then they spread back out. I went and got my 'go into labor pedicure/foot massage' at 5pm and they started back up consistently, and now they are still about every 10-12. So, I guess, again, we will wait and see...

39 Week Appointment

I was supposed to see the NP today (since Sherry is out of the office all week) but her little girl was sick, so I actually saw one of the doctor's in the practice. The baby's heart rate was 140's, still, and I measured at 37 1/2 weeks.

When she checked me, she said that she would call me a 'tight 3', so between 2 and 3, so more like a 2 1/2 (were her exact words, lol) So... hmmmm... not much different. She did say that my cervix was very, very soft. (which I already knew from last week) and she said I am still posterior. She made a bigger deal about me being posterior, then Sherry did last week. So because of that, after she was done, I said, you think I'm going to 40 weeks, don't you? And she smiled, and said, yeah, probably. But you just never know... your water could break or you could just go anytime!

Since she is a Doctor of Osteopathy, I was curious to see if she had any other "getting labor started" advice, that I hadn't heard of, or thought of. She said, "Nope, just lots of sex. Go home and make your husband happy!" So I said, alright... if that's what the doctor is ordering! :)

So now I am mentally back to going the full 40 weeks. Whew... I was tired of wondering if it was going to be today, or tonight, or tomorrow... I'm sure it will be on Thanksgiving. Just to make Maggie's mom happy :)

Weekend Update

So Friday night, Nate and I talked and decided that while yes, at 37 +4 weeks was a bit too early to have the baby, after this weekend, I was going to 'get things going'. I would absolutely hate to take it easy, and do the bare minimum, and then 1 of 2 things will happen: 1) I go over or 2) I will have this crazy long, horrific 2nd pregnancy labor because I have been taking it easy, and trying to slow things down! LOL Although I am perfectly fine with going over, then we always run the risk over going 'too far over' (by doctor's standards) and dealing with the thought of them wanting to induce... yuck.

So... I have decided to start drinking my red raspberry tea, and on Monday morning, I will start my 2-a-day walks. I was going to start my 'old wives tales' menus for dinners, beginning Monday night, but I think I'll wait until Thursday now... and get Nate through 1 more shift at work :) Or maybe we'll do italian on Tues., mexican on Thursday, and our hot-fried-and spicy on Friday... which is what did it for Tyler! Hmmm... that sounds like a good plan! :)

Sherry is off this week (just out of the office, not out of town!) so I will be seeing the NP tomorrow. I am assuming she will want to check me. I'll post tomorrow with any updates...

38 Week Appointment

We went in to see Sherry today, and it was pretty funny because she came in and said, "I did not think you would make it until today!" And we said, I know, we didn't either!!

She did her usual, measured the baby and listened to it's heart beat. He/she still sounded good. (Sounded 130-140's) She asked how I was feeling and I told her ok. Still have some random strong contractions, but tons of my normal Braxton Hicks. She said to continue to take it easy... the longer the baby stays in, the better. She wanted to check me and I agreed as long as she could do it 'gently' and not stir things up!! LOL! So she did.

I am 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and my cervix is still posterior, but very, very soft. She seems to think we will have the baby in the next week.

I am really hoping it is not Thursday or Friday - but I know Mother Nature likes to do things her way, so whatever happens, happens!! We would actually really like to make it until at least next Monday, so we will see!!

Still Pregnant :) Update

Just wanted to update...

Yesterday (Sunday) when we talked to Sherry - I asked her what she thinks as far as "trying" to get things going, or whether she thinks I need to relax, and let things come on their own. She said even though we are 37 +5, she would prefer us to take it easy, and let things come on their own. Who knows if a day or two matters, but it could... so back to no heavy lifting, (which includes Tyler), no unnecessary stairs, no walks, and just relax... She is fairly confident we will go on our own, but no need to rush it.

So since Nate works today, Joyce decided to stay to help me with Tyler (so I can avoid the stairs, and not lift him up and down all day).

Last night I had a few contractions that woke me up, and this morning I am back to having some back pain...

I will update tomorrow after our weekly appointment. I am interested to see what she has to say...

37 weeks + 5 days

I swear Tyler knows there is a baby inside of there!!

So yesterday was a pretty interesting/exciting day. My back had starting 'hurting' about 4 days ago - just feeling a little crampy and uncomfortable. Nothing different than what happened a week or so before we had Tyler. So yesterday, when Nate got home from the firehouse, we had planned for him to finish up his truck (changing the ball joints and tie rod ends) and I would have my typical day with Tyler :)

I ran a couple errands during his first nap, and had 5 contractions while I was gone (which was a bit over an hour). I thought I better take it easy when I got home, but once monkey wakes up, that's not always easy to do... My back 'cramps' really kicked in, and would NOT go away. I was in the middle of feeding Tyler his snack before his 2nd nap, and got to the point that I knew there was no way I could get him down for a nap by myself. So with the combination of how much pain I was in, with the thought of being in labor two weeks early, combined with the fact that Nate's truck was in pieces in the garage, combined with feeling of not being able to take care of Tyler on my own, mixed with so many other feelings and hormones, I went out in the garage to get help from Nate, in tears. After that, things got a little crazy for a moment.

Nate took over with Ty until my mom could get here. Bless her heart - she was on the way out the door to have an evening with the girls... I went upstairs to lay down and try to relax. At that point we started timing them, just to see where they were. They were consistently 10 - 12 min. apart. My sister and the boys stopped by to pick up something Mags had dropped off for her, and to help out in any way. She went to the store for us, thank goodness, which desperately needed to be done! And, Nate got back out in the garage to get his truck put back together. Nate's mom got on the road to come down, so if I went into hard labor later in the evening or overnight, she would already be here and settled. So at the end of the evening... everyone came together to help out! We are truly blessed to have such a supportive and caring family! Thank you all for being in our lives and being there for us!!

We ate dinner and my contractions stayed consistent. 10-12 min apart, but not real strong. Then around 9:30 or so, they started to putter out. Once Joyce got here, we all went to bed. I got a typical night's sleep (up 3 or 4 times), until about 4:45 and then had some pretty strong contractions for a couple hours, then back to normal...

I guess we will just see what today brings...

We Are Officially Full Term!

37 week update

Today we had our 37 week appointment. The baby's heart rate was in the 130's and sounded great. I told Sherry that I thought the baby had dropped. I have started getting that wonderful nerve pain shooting down the front/mid part of my thighs, that happened when I was pregnant with Tyler, after he dropped. Sherry said it looked like I had more 'room' up top, and sure enough, the baby's head is down, and has definitely dropped! She seems to think I'm going to go early, but then again, she thought that with Tyler, too (and we were 3 days late)! So I am not going to hold my breath... but it would be nice to go, maybe, 1 week early! ;) I couldn't remember when I dropped with Tyler, so I had to look it up... and it wasn't until 39 weeks - so maybe...!

Despite the new nerve pain, I am still feeling pretty good. My contractions seem to have changed the last couple of days. I have a lot more pressure down low, and I am starting to cramp in my lower back. So if that means I'm going to have back labor again, I'm NOT very excited!!!

I measured my self a couple of days ago, and I am 2" bigger around, than I was when I delivered Tyler! At this point, I have officially gained 2 more lbs than I did before - and I have 3 more weeks - so I don't think that is too bad!! Especially considering that with Tyler I craved steak and fruit, and with this baby I could eat cake and doughnuts for every meal... lol (If Nate would only let me ;)

We are finally getting some things done around the house. Nothing like waiting til the last minute!! The baby's room has been painted - but we are still doing the 'finishing touches'. The crib is almost put together, and the dresser was delivered today! We still need to go look at curtain rods and I have to start painting the circles on the walls. Hopefully I can get to that later this week!

We are having our maternity pictures taken tomorrow, and Nate brought up last night that we should probably get the bag for the hospital packed... hmmmm... yeah, he is probably right!!

34 Week Update

34 Week Baby Bump

There really isn't much new to report... The baby is measuring right on schedule, and the heart rate is still in the 140-150's. This week the baby's head was down... so the flashlight trick must have worked! :)

The baby is still moving around like crazy, and wakes me up at least 3 times a night. I have really hit the 'uncomfortable' stage, and have so much more ligament pain than I ever did with Tyler. Oh well... it will all be over before I know it!!!

We have been busy trying to things ready... the process has been slow. We are planning on starting to paint the nursery this weekend, and hopefully will be ordering the furniture within the next couple of days!

I start going in weekly to see Sherry now... I will update again soon!

32 Week Check Up

Today we went in for our routine 32 week appointment. The baby's heart rate was in the 140's again, and sounded great. The only thing that was a bit disappointing was that the baby was head up :( This is the first time (that we know of) that he has been this way. It still has plenty of time to flip back, but still makes me a little nervous. I'm going to have to start holding the flashlight up to my lower belly, and see if we can't get him flipped back, and stay that way :)

I also decided to measure myself "around", just to see where I am, compared to where I was with Tyler... and I am officially as big "around" as I was the day I delivered Tyler!!! With 8 weeks left to go... where in the world is this baby going to go??!!

30 Week Appt

We had our 30 week appt. yesterday. There isn't really anything new to report. The baby's heart rate was 140-150's and he/she was moving all around (like usual!).

I've still been feeling good, for the most part. I'm pretty tired, but that is to be expected... especially since Tyler is non-stop! lol The baby seems to move around a lot more than Tyler did, but I'm sure it just feels that way because my placenta is in a different place. And any time I am holding Tyler, the baby starts kicking him! I'm sure that's a sign of what we have to look forward to!!

We are in the process of getting ready to start the new nursery. We aren't really sure how we are going to decorate yet, so hopefully it gets done before the baby comes! We have started looking for furniture to match the crib, but it's beginning to be a bigger process than we had thought it was going to be.

We go back to the midwife in 2 weeks... It's still so crazy we are 30 weeks along already!!

28 Week Update - 3rd Trimester

28 Week Baby Bump

We are officially beginning our 3rd trimester... Holy cow has this pregnancy gone fast!!

The baby weighs 2 and 1/4 lbs and is almost 15 inches long (according to babycenter) He/she is able to blink her eyes, and even has eye lashes now. I can't wait to meet the little booger!!

I went in for my 28 week labs yesterday, and had to take the 1 hr glucose test. Yuck. That stuff is awful! This afternoon we had our appointment with Sherry. The baby is measuring on schedule, (even though I feel WAY bigger than I was with Tyler at this point!) and his/her heart rate is in the 140's again :)

I am still having lots of braxton hicks contractions (which isn't any different than with Tyler - so Sherry is not concerned) My heart burn has come on with a vengiance - so it looks as though this little guy/girl is going to have lots of hair, just like Tyler did!

All of my blood tests came back normal, so that is good! Sherry let us know that we will start coming in every other week, now... I still cannot believe that we are this far along already!

Ultra Sound - 24 weeks, 2 days

Profile of Baby Hiestand #2

We had our follow up ultrasound today... my 'low lying placenta' has resolved!! It has 'moved' completely away from my cervix, so we are excited about that! I haven't spoken with Sherry yet, but I am hoping that when I do, I will be off all of my restrictions.

The baby was moving all around (like usual) and his/her heart rate was 132 today. You could tell that the baby was starting to get some fat on his face, even though he only weighs 1 lb, 10 oz right now. We got some really cute pictures of his little nose and mouth - it's crazy how much his nose and mouth looks like Tyler's!

24 Week Appointment

Today we had our 24 week appointment. The baby was moving around like crazy. His/her heart rate was in the 140's-150's and sounded great! We talked a lot with Sherry about the 'low lying placenta'. Apparently there was a little 'misunderstanding' after the last appointment... I should have been taking it easy again, no heavy lifting and no extra-curricular activities ;) and somehow we missed that information!!

So we are going to go ahead and have our follow up ultra sound tomorrow, instead of at our 28 week appointment, to see if it has resolved. If it has, then i will be able to go back to 'normal' activities. If not, then I would guess that she will want another one later on. Keep your fingers crossed it has resolved!!

Nate can feel the Baby kicking :)

Nate got to feel the baby kick tonight :) We are 20 1/2 weeks pregnant... and I had thought this was a lot earlier than Tyler, but it's actually about the same time! (I had to go back and look at Tyler's blog to be sure!)

I am feeling pretty good, just tired. Tyler really took off crawling on Monday (July 4th) so he has been keeping us on our toes (to say the least!) He also started pulling himself up on the crib and the pack-n-play at the sitter's, so it's just a matter of time before he is really off and running!

I have also really popped out, which is much earlier than with Tyler, but that was expected! So far, the only thing that I have really noticed to be much different than the last pregnancy, is that with this one, I do not have my little line on my belly. It showed up almost immediately with Tyler, and went away about 6 weeks post-partum. Seems kind of weird I didn't get it this time...

19 Week Ultrasound and Appt

Today we had our "big" ultrasound... where they check all the anatomical parts of the baby, and make sure everything is ok. The baby looked great :) We decided not to find out the baby's gender, right now, but we did have her print off a picture, and place it in a sealed envelope. We will keep the envelope in a safe place, just in case we decide later on, to find out :)

I do have a low lying placenta, so she will have to do a follow up u/s in a few weeks, to see if it has moved. It doesn't really "move", but as my uterus gets bigger, it will hopefully spread further from my cervix. If it happens to remain close, there is a chance I will not be able to deliver naturally. We have 21 weeks remaining, so I am sure it will take care of itself!

The baby's heart rate was 140 - so right in line with what Tyler's was! The baby measured right on schedule... so we are still going to have a Thanksgiving baby!!

15 Week Ultrasound and Appointment

Today we had our followup ultrasound. The baby's heart rate was 150 and everything looked good! My hemorrhage has resolved and I can go back to living my life!!! Woohoo!

She released me back to work, so I will start on light duty tomorrow. She said we can go on our evening walks, but she said I still needed to make sure I do not overdue it. It has been such a long 5 weeks, of not being able to do anything, but it totally has paid off!!

This time the ultrasound estimated his/her due date to be Nov 22 (the same date we calculated) so everything seems to be on schedule! Yay! :)

1st Appointment with Midwife

We had our appointment this morning with Sherry. We were both pretty anxious about it, considering what we learned yesterday from the ultrasound. Of course when we got home, we looked it up on the internet, and we read the 'worst of the worst' horror stories of people with these hemorrhages. So we were a bit nervous...

When she came in the room, she was very positive, and upbeat about everything! She said the baby looked good, and she was actually "glad" I had the hemorrhage - because it explains why I am spotting. She said it is a small hemorrhage and that as long as I 'take it easy' the next month or so, hopefully it will resolve on it's own. We listened to the baby's heart beat using the doppler, and she was very excited we could even hear it at 10 weeks. (Which she said is another good sign :)

I explained my concerns with the possibility of miscarrying, and she seemed very positive that with making every effort to take it easy, that it would likely resolve itself. She will do a followup ultrasound in 4 wks, and see what it looks like.

So that is the plan. Nothing for me. Probably the absolute worst timing possible considering we are supposed be moving 2 wks from today! No work. No moving. No lifting. No walks. No nothing. What in the world am I going to do??!!

Ultra Sound - 9 wks, 6 days

So, we were scheduled to have our first prenatal visit on Friday, but Sherry's nurse called early that morning and said she had a woman in labor, and was going to have to reschedule. I told her that was fine, but I have had some spotting (that I never had with Tyler) and that I would like to get in soon. So after telling her that, Sherry wanted me to go ahead and have some blood work done, and we scheduled an ultrasound and my first appointment with her.

So today we had the ultrasound and everything looked good with the baby. His/her heart rate was 175 and the u/s put our due date on Nov 30. (8 days after we calculated.) The ultrasound showed that I have a subchorionic hemorrhage, and the tech said they are fairly common, and often explains why some women have 1st trimester bleeding. She said Sherry would go over the details with us at our appointment in the morning.

Positive Pregnancy Test

So where do we even begin?!?

I am still nursing Tyler, and the past month or so, we noticed he hasn't been so fond of the breast milk. It all started about the same time we increased his cereal to 3 times a day, and started adding veggies and fruits. We have really had to "work" to get him to take his minimum allowance of fluids a day...

Then, last week, my milk supply plummeted (literally, cut in half) so I started doing some investigating. Monday night at the firehouse, I read that pregnancy can change the way breast milk tastes (due to the change in hormone levels) and can reduce your milk supply (as early as being 2 weeks pregnant!)

So, yesterday morning, the thought of eating cereal for breakfast, made me slightly nauseous, and I just really felt like having a fried egg sandwich! I thought to myself... uh oh. Nate and I talked over breakfast, and agreed we should pick up a test later on while we are out and about. (Just to rule it out)

We got home about 630p and were in a mad rush to get Tyler changed, and fed to be as much 'on schedule' as we could... and I had to pee so bad! So, Nate said, just pee on the stick, and I said, no, I'll just wait til morning. I've been drinking so much water (trying to increase my milk supply) - I'm sure it's way too diluted! Not caring what I just said (lol) he went ahead and opened the box, took out the test and handed it to me. I hurried and 'did my business' and set it down. Immediately, a blue line showed up. (We both noticed, but didn't think anything - just thought, well that is the control line!) He went into Tyler's room to change him, and about 10 seconds later, both blue lines were there! It felt like deja vu!

I said... "uh, babe?!?"