41 Weeks: Induction Day!

The end is FINALLY here! Though, if we were delivering in Philly, I'd be waiting at least a few more days to another week because they don't induce until closer to 42 weeks! I'll be heading over shortly to have one last NST done and my OB has also requested that they do an u/s weight estimation. I have always thought those to be pretty inaccurate but it will be fun to compare the two and see just how close the u/s came.

Then tonight around 6:30 we will head over to L&D to start the induction process. We were supposed to go in last night but they are completely booked solid until TUESDAY! Thankfully my OB made them squeeze me in for tonight. This induction is going to be much different than my last two. At Penn they had us come in the morning and start right off with the pitocin. At BMC we go in the night before because they begin the process with cervidil. Then in the morning they will start the pitocin.

So that is where the story ends for now. The next post will be Evan's birth story and pictures! Hopefully sooner rather than later!

40 Weeks and the BIG Tease:

Today is due date day and we are still in limbo. My chance to have an "on-time" baby (for once) is slowing coming to an end and it is looking more and more like another scheduled induction. If he's not here by my appointment next Thursday afternoon we'll be heading to the hospital that evening to start the process. It's pretty much what I had thought all along (as you can see from my baby pool guess).

There is, of course, still a chance he could come on his own terms and he's already shown us that maybe he could do just that. Labor started on Sunday afternoon only to stall out after being sent home early Monday morning. Below is the story of Evan's big tease:

Sunday April 18, 2010:
Sunday morning began with a delicious breakfast of eggs, pancakes and bacon at one of our favorite breakfast restaurants. About 10:30 I got a call from my friend asking if we wanted to join them at the movies to see "How to Train Your Dragon". Since it was cold and rainy it seemed like the perfect thing to do to get out of the house for a bit. After we settled on the show I started to feel what I assumed to be Braxton Hicks contractions. I blew it off until they continued. They started to fall into some type of rhythm that we contemplated cancelling our plans to go to the movies.

We decided to go anyway since we had already told David and he was really excited to be going to the movies again. Besides, nothing about these contractions told me I should be really worried. I did continue to time them while at the movies and found that they were coming (on average) every 15 to 20 minutes. It wasn't until 5:30pm that they started to feel different and become closer together. The Doc and I continued to track and time each one and found that it was becoming more consistent and slightly stronger at every 10 minutes. This continued for the next hour and we decided it would be best to have MIL come down and spend the night, you know, just in case!

MIL got here about 8:30 and I decided I should finish packing all the things I would want to bring with me in case we ended up going into the hospital. I also took a nice long hot shower which was really nice. As they kept going, I was trying really hard not to get my hopes up. It was challenging though, since David and Shaun were both scheduled inductions, and this was the first time I had every experienced anything like this.

At 10:30 I thought it would be a good idea to try and go to lay down, but who was I kidding? I couldn't really sleep, so I continued to time the contractions and realized they were starting to feel slightly more uncomfortable and they were getting closer together at about every 6 minutes. This continued for the next hour while the Doc and I went back and forth on deciding whether we should go into the hospital. Since this is baby number 3, I was advised by the NP that I should probably go in once they were like 5 to 8 minutes apart. So around midnight we decided that we would go.

Monday April 19, 2010 (Midnightish):
We pack up the car and head over to L&D and get checked in. We were set up in a triage room where I was hooked up to the monitors. The nurse told me she was seeing contractions every 4 minutes! I was pretty excited to hear that. It wasn't much long after she said that that the intensity of those contractions picked up significantly. They were intense enough that I needed to focus and breath through them. The resident came in to do an exam and found that I was only a centimeter dilated. I was a little disappointed and was hoping for better news. She told us she would re-examine me in a couple hours and said that I was free to walk around. So we did. The Doc had some emails to send for work to get coverage for his shift in the morning.

When we returned we waited for the resident to come back to recheck me and unfortunately nothing changed much. With that in mind and the fact that even though I was having strong contractions (just not strong enough or long enough) her recommendation was for us to go home. I was crushed. I really didn't want to go home. She left to talk with the Attending but ultimately they asked us to leave. The concern was that since things were moving slowly that it would be very easy for the morning team to push some pitocin, which they didn't want to have happen.

I was so upset because, in my opinion, my contractions were pretty intense and I was confused by how much more intense they would have to be before I was to return. I was advised to take a hot shower and get some rest. So a little after 4am Monday morning we packed up all our stuff and headed back home. Needless to say I was devastated. Here I was thinking this is it and I, of course, got my hopes up that this was the real deal. My contractions continued with the same intensity but I noticed them getting farther apart. I took that hot shower, mostly because I was wired and needed to clear my head. After the shower I decided to lay down. Apparently I was much more tired than I thought and ended up falling asleep and that was pretty much the end of my labor. When I woke up the contractions were back to what I was feeling earlier in the day Sunday and eventually they stalled out.

And that brings us to Friday April 23, 2010, due date day. We are still hoping that he will be joining us really soon (like tomorrow would be nice!!) but at least we know for sure he'll be here by the end of next week!

39 Weeks: Insert Jeopardy Theme Music Here

One week, 7 days, 168 hours, 10080 minutes (you get the picture) until Evan's official due date, and here we are, still waiting. I don't know why I thought this would go down any differently, but for some reason I was feeling really good about the chances of an early arrival. I suppose if he decides to grace us with his presence in the next 168 hours, he'd still be early but I won't be holding my breath!

Having never gone into labor on my own (the last two times I was induced), I still don't know what to expect when, and if, labor begins. I have been trying not to get my hopes up every time I feel something going on, but it's hard! From what I have heard and read, I'll know when it's the real thing so until then we wait. If Evan decides to be late to his own party, we'll be scheduling the induction for around 41 weeks.

I had my weekly NST on Wednesday and everything was perfect as it has been the previous two tests. He's very responsive and all fluid levels are in check. After the test I headed over to have one last ultrasound, and while I enjoy the ultrasounds, I am ready to see him in person! The ultrasound tech has estimated his weight at 8lbs 5oz. When I asked her how accurate the estimates are, she said very! Oy vey!! I am hoping she is wrong because he he waits another two weeks I very well may be correct in my "pushing out a toddler" statement in my last post.

Thanks to modern technology (my android smart phone and the hospital wi-fi) I will be able to keep everyone updated on the status of Evans arrival. You will all be the first to know!

Here is our last 3D shot of Evan, he was playing peek-a-boo and covering his face:

38 Weeks: Nesting?!

So here I am at 38 weeks with the BIGGEST belly ever. It's seriously impressive. I would love to have this baby right now. I fear that if I go too much longer I'll be pushing out a TODDLER!

I have started to think about all the things that should get done before Evan's debut. Like having a clean and organized house for once. This what is referred to in the pregnancy world as "nesting". So on Wednesday my Mom came down to watch the boys while I went to my weekly NST. While I was gone she swept my floors, did all the dishes, cleaned the counter tops and the stove and had the boys pick up their toys. The place looked so nice when I got back!

On Friday, MIL came down to organize and fold all of the laundry I washed, because while I have no issues with the washing and drying part, I HATE to fold and put away. She also cleaned up the boys room and washed out the sink and took the trash down to the garage. It was so nice to have everything neat and organized after she left!

Today's to-do list was to clean out the van, wash and clean all car seat covers, move David's car seat to the back row and set up the infant carrier. Charlie spent a good hour and half outside this afternoon taking care of that entire list. My van looks awesome and it's ready to go for whenever Evan decides to join us!

So here is the million dollar question; Can I still call it nesting if I wasn't the one who did any of the work?

37 Weeks: Ready When You Are Evan!

We are officially in the home stretch! Today I am 37 weeks and 1 day along in what has felt like an eternity of a pregnancy. At this point Evan is officially considered full term and so we are ready whenever he is!

On Wednesday I had a routine NST that goes along with all the ultrasounds I have been having every six weeks. This hospitals policy is to err on the side of caution when your as old and BIG as I am! Evan passed with flying colors. His heartrate was perfect, my fluid levels were in check and I was told I even had a few contractions, which was nothing to write home about since I didn't even notice them!

I have been told by random people that my belly has dropped, though I haven't noticed. I have also been told by random people (ahem...the Doc) that I look REALLY pregnant! Could it be because I AM really pregnant!?! He is lucky that I have a really good sense of humor!

Now it is hurry up and wait for Evan to decide when he's ready to join us all on the outside. I hope he's less stubborn than his brothers because I am SO ready to have this baby! Don't forget to place your bets in the baby pool before the game is locked! You wouldn't want to miss out on a chance for a shiny nickle and bragging rights!

The 9th Month!

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Yesterday marked 36 weeks (or rather the beginning of the 9th month!). I just need to be a little more patient. It's just easier said than done. I truly feel like things will be easier once he's on the outside!

As you can see in the picture to the right I got my hair cut and colored! Today I had a lovely day of pampering that included a morning pedicure, lunch, hair appointment, shopping and dinner with my cousin. It was a much needed "me" day! It is nice to have the opportunity to decompress every now and then.

I will now be going to the doctors weekly and I will also be going in for a couple of NST's (non-stress tests) which are routine for someone in my condition (you remember, old and fat!). For now we are in the hurry up and wait mode and while my bets are on a scheduled induction after my due date, this is baby number three and therefore perhaps I may just get lucky and have one on time for a change!

And speaking of bets, don't forget to place yours in the baby pool. Just click on the link to the right and enter your guess. Remeber you don't need to have an account to make a guess. Even David made a guess, and he had so much fun doing it, he wanted to make more guesses!

35 Weeks + Hotel Pool = BLISS!

On Thursday after we picked David up from school we headed south to Long Island to visit with G.G. and some of the Doc's extended family. We were able to find a hotel nearby G.G. that had an indoor pool and the boys had a blast being able to go swimming each night.

Since I am almost 9 months pregnant, and there was no way I was going to fit in my regular bathing suit, I had to purchase a maternity one. I wasn't very thrilled about it but I also knew the pool would feel lovely, so I sucked it up!

Turns out it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, and what better excuse to look fat in a bathing suit than to have a GIANT BABY BELLY! You can see the top to the bathing suit in the picture on the right.

Well I was right about the pool. It was very nice. It was a small pool but it was the perfect size for the boys and it felt nice to be weightless for a change! All the walking around we did this weekend did a number on my ankles (er...I mean CANKLES!)

It is hard to believe that we have 5 weeks left, and I have to be honest, my fingers are crossed that Evan decides to arrive at least on time. So don't forget to place your bet in the baby pool. Remember a nice shiny nickel and (most importantly) bragging rights are at stake!

Baby Evan in 3D

Yesterday we had another ultrasound and got to see Baby Evan on the "TV". I had one done about 6 weeks ago but he wasn't very cooperative so we never got a nice profile picture. I was really hoping for one this time but again he was being stubborn and sugar I had prior to the scan did nothing to make him move his hands out of his face. She was able to get this 3D profile. It's not great but you can make out some facial features.



While she was measuring his head she pointed out to me that he has hair! No wonder my heartburn has increasingly gotten worse over the last two weeks. Of course we won't really know until he makes his grand entrance into the world but it was neat to see on the monitor.

They have estimated that Evan is about 5lbs 8oz right now, and of course the Doc says that those estimates are not very reliable and to figure plus or minus 1 pound. I was just happy to hear that everything is right on schedule and he's looking good! Assuming I don't go into labor early (which we know doesn't happen for me!), I'll have one more ulstrasound on April 14th.

42 Days to Go: Place Your Bets!

Today I am 34 weeks pregnant. That means I have 6 weeks (or 42 days) to go before the "big day". I started a fun pool on a free website and thought it would be fun for people to guess when Evan's birthday will be, how much he'll weigh, his length and time of birth. Obviously Evan is a boy so that is a given!

How to Play:
Click on the ExpectNet box in the top right hand corner and it will bring you to the game. Fill in your answers and submit. You DO NOT need to register with the website to play, however your answers will be final! If you want the option to change your guesses then you would need to register, but it is a free site. Eventually once it gets closer to go time I will close the game so no more guesses and or changes can be made. I'll give some warning, so if you want to wait until the last minute to place your bet you may do so!

The game is based on a point system and once Evan is here I will plug in the results. The program will then calculate the winner who will win a nice shiny nickel and bragging rights!

Good Luck everyone!!

Helpful Hints for Placing your Guess:
David was 8lbs 2oz, 20 inches long born at 7:25am. We were induced on our due date (with no signs of labor going on its own anytime soon!) and he was born the next morning.

Shaun was 7lbs 15oz, 21 inches long born at 6:21pm. He was ELEVEN days past his due date before our induction.

They do say all bets are off with baby number three...but based on my history I have a feeling Evan might be fashionably late as his brothers were! But you never know!

33-1/2 Weeks: Closer But Not Close Enough

Holy HUGE Belly Batman!!

I swear there is only ONE baby in there! It's hard to tell people I still have 6.5 more weeks of this because I am SO HUGE! They are polite enough to not say anything but you can tell by the shocked look on their faces!

I cannot even begin to tell you how ready I am to be done. I am so completely over this pregnancy. It's has been much harder being a full time Mommy AND being pregnant than it was to sit in an office for 40 hours a week (as I did with my previous two pregnancies).

I think it's pretty obvious how tired I have been just from looking at the picture. I blame the anemia and a 21 month old named Shaun who never stops moving. I also haven't been able to get very comfortable at night. And then, when I do finally get to sleep, my mind doesn't seem to shut off and so I have been having some really bizarre dreams.

Rumor has it that it's Mother Natures way of preparing you for the "sleepless" nights that come with having a newborn...well news flash Mother Nature...this is not my first rodeo and I remember what sleepless nights are like and therefore do not need to be "prepared". If it is all the same to you, I just assume get my sleep now! Thanks!

30 Weeks: Shamu's Got Nothing on Me!

Friday marked 30 weeks. We are coming into the home stretch (assuming we have this baby on schedule which we all know doesn't happen!). Everything still going smoothly. I am now seeing the doctor every two weeks and have actually scheduled the rest of my appointments.

On Wednesday I go in for another ultrasound. I love seeing Squishy on the "TV". I was hoping the reason for all these ultrasounds (every six weeks) was because I am considered to be V.I.P since the Doc works at the hospital, sadly however, it's just because I am OLD and FAT! *insert laugh track here*

Yup. Now that THREE is the first number of my age, I am considered slightly more high risk. Then add my BMI into the mix and well...they just want to make sure Baby Evan is growing as he should be! So far so good, and it's no skin off my back. It's been nice seeing him so much!

Not only do I get to see him more but this guy is a mover and a shaker. Not only does he kick, but he shifts from side to side, making himself all comfy cozy, not exactly comfy cozy for Mommy! He has adapted the Rock's signature move, giving me that people's elbow at least twice a day! I did find out at my last appointment he is head down so lets keep our fingers crossed that he stays that way.

28 Weeks and 12 to Go!

We have entered the final stretch, the third trimester. In 12 short weeks (OK more like 14 but whatever!) our sweet Evan will be making his grand entrance! I feel pretty good. My belly looks as though there is more than one in there. It's MUCH bigger than both my previous pregnancies. I am starting to worry I am going to have a 10 pounder!

I am still exhausted. I never got that second trimester energy and it only seems to be getting worse as the time goes on. Oh well, thankfully I have a wonderful husband who doesn't mind eating take out Chinese food on a regular basis! In my defense I have been battling this nasty cough going on three weeks now.

It's disappointing though, because I REALLY need this whole nesting instinct to kick in. Sadly, though, I don't think my genetic make up is conducive to nesting. I did, however, start a project to help get the toys organized into bins. I started this on Monday and it's not even close to being done. The little that has been done was mostly with the Doc's help! Perhaps someday I'll get organized!

6 Months: A Total Blur!

I woke up Friday morning, 24 weeks pregnant, and thought to myself - it's been 6 months already?! I thought Shaun's pregnancy went by pretty fast, but this one has been a complete blur. It's hard to believe that in just three short months we'll be getting ready to meet Baby Evan.

Evan is as active as I remember Shaun being, if not more. The Doc jokes that it's correlated to the increased caffeine intake from each pregnancy. With David, I only drank coffee during the last three months and only during the work week. With Shaun, I was drinking a Medium Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee every work day from day one and then sometimes on the weekends. With Evan, I am drinking a LARGE Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee every single day! What can I say, I need my caffeine more than ever these days.

With the 6th month came the heartburn. Let me say that I did not miss this. I had some really bad heartburn with David starting around now but with Shaun it was occasional and not nearly as bad. Evan is proving to be more like his oldest brother David. It has me wondering if the old wives tale will continue to prove true. The worse the heartburn the more hair the baby has at birth! It was true for David and Shaun, so if Baby Evan has a head full of hair like David did then I will be sold!

Today I got to see Baby Evan again. It must be this hospital's policy to do a scan every six weeks, because I have another one scheduled mid-February. The girl who did the scan got a really neat picture of Evan's face in 3D. It was kind of cool, I must admit. Normally I feel like they look all weird and alien like but this shows his eyes, nose and lips so perfectly!

Baby Evan in 3D


Everything is measuring pefectly and they estimated that he is now 1lb 11oz., though the Doc would tell you that it's not even close to an exact science! It is always fun to see our little man squirming around.

Here is his profile picture with his foot by his face:

David: Future Baby Doc?!

Ever since David was a doctor for Halloween he has been obsessed with everything medical. When he sees the Doc wearing his white coat...he says: "Mommy, Daddy is a doctor and I am a doctor!". He likes to check our blood pressure and our ears using his "doctor tools".

Today I had an appointment with the "Baby Doctor". This is only the second time seeing him, since every other appointment I see the Nurse Practitioner. He's really nice, but I've only met him once, so I didn't really have any particular feelings on if I would like him as my doctor. Well today he won me over! This was the first time I had to bring David to my appointment, since normally I can schedule them when he has playgroup or school so that I only have to bring Shaun.

He was very interested in the equipment he saw in the office, and my efforts to tell him NOT to touch anything went unheard. When the doctor walked in David started talking to him right away. He told him about how he was a doctor for Halloween and that he brought in his sheep that he got at a birthday party yesterday. He just kept right on talking. The OB was great and asked him questions, and even asked if he would like to use that Doppler that David couldn't stop eyeing!

His eyes lit up and so he hopped up onto the table waited for the Med student to squeeze the "jelly" on my belly. He then went to town trying to find that heartbeat! It didn't take him long, either, and when he heard the sound I had described to him earlier (whoosh, whoosh, whoosh) that morning he smiled so big at me. He was so proud of himself! The doc just let him keep on moving it around while he asked me some questions and we finished up the appointment. He was in heaven! It totally made his day, and he couldn't wait for Daddy to get home so he could tell him what he got to do at the doctors office!

We have another formal ultrasound in a couple weeks, and he'll get to come to that one (I didn't bring him to the first one). I think he's going to get a kick out of seeing the baby this time!

20 Weeks: Halfway There!

It's hard to believe that we are halfway to meeting baby Evan. It seems like yesterday I was just finding out that we were expecting. My pregnancies are (thankfully) so uneventful, that sometimes I forget I am even pregnant. I look forward to that first feeling of movement because it helps make it that much more real to me.

I remembered that with Shaun I felt him move just after our 18 week scan. I was hoping the same thing would happen this time as well. A couple days after our ultrasound I felt Evan move! This is the third time going through this and it still catches me off guard. It's the weirdest feeling, but also a really neat feeling!

The next big milestone will be when other people can feel him moving. I am pretty sure that won't happen until about 25 weeks but I don't really remember.

It's BOY number THREE!!

What can I say...we're good at making BOYS! We had our ultrasound today and confirmed what we saw at the 12 week ultrasound, that baby number three is in fact another BOY! He is perfect and healthy and really that is all that matters!

He was not cooperating very well but at least he showed us the goods. I was a little sad that we didn't get a good profile picture like I got with David and Shaun. I found out though, that I get to go back in 6 weeks for another ultrasound so that is neat. Maybe I'll get a better picture then!



As we have done in the past we have chosen his name, so from this point forward Baby Squishy will be known as Evan Michael. David is so excited that he's getting, as he puts it, another Shaun!

18 Weeks: BIG Fall (you could say it's a hat trick)

And by hat trick I mean, I have now had a major fall in all three pregnancies. The first fall I was 21 weeks along with David and somehow rolled my ankle on a wood chip. The second fall I was 15 weeks along with Shaun and slipped on the wet floor after coming off the El. I do not know what my problem is with staying on two feet while pregnant. It's actually a little ridiculous.

Here is what happened. Yesterday I was cleaning up after lunch and turned around to head back into the kitchen where I slipped on David's sweatshirt that he had taken off. It couldn't have just been a graceful fall on my butt, no, I fell hard on my hip after my arm got caught in trashcan cover, spilling some contents of the trash out all over me. I mean, really. I hurt all over.

It was just me and the boys when it happened but that doesn't help the ego, I still feel like the biggest klutz. My arm has a huge bruise where it scrapped against the trash cover, and I have a slight limp. Not to sound like a drama queen, but it feels like I might need a hip replacement (OK, it's not really that bad but man it hurts like hell!).

I got ZERO sympathy from the Doc who laughed at me (again) while calling me a FEEB for the rest of the night. This was the worst of the three falls, I am banged up and bruised and this time it's more than just my ego.

As you can see from the picture above I am HUGE! I feel so much bigger this time around, but I am going to chalk it up to the fact that it's the third time my body has endured this. Other than the fall this has so far been another uneventful pregnancy. Monday is our big ultrasound and we'll find out for sure if Baby Squishy is in fact a boy like we have thought since our 12 week scan.

14 weeks (and 4 days): Belly & The Mom-Mobile!

Today I am 14 weeks and 4 days along (with 178 days to go) in this pregnancy and everything is still smooth sailing! The mild queasiness that I had early on is gone but I am still feeling pretty tired. I think that has more to do with the extremely active 16 month old who loves to get into trouble than the actual pregnancy.

I am showing now so I decided to take the first belly shot of this pregnancy (taken yesterday)


I am also excited to show off our new purchase. I am now the proud owner of a Mom-Mobile (otherwise known as a 2010 Toyota Sienna). I felt like a kid on Christmas morning when I finally go to drive it off the lot and it was mine! It will be nice having all the extra space when Baby Squishy makes his entrance this spring!

12 Weeks: Baby Squishy's First Portrait Session

Today we had our first ultrasound. It was a long 12 weeks, since with my two prior pregnancies I had already had ultrasounds done at this point. Everything looked great and Baby Squishy is measuring exactly on schedule at 12 weeks. I am feeling tired still, but I'm looking forward to that 2nd trimester boost. Thankfully, the queasiness I was feeling early on has subsided. It was something that I never experienced with David and Shaun and I have to say that it was not pleasant.

David is excited about the baby. He'll say "Mommy, there is a baby in your belly". He also says it is a boy baby because he wants another Shaun. We have had a conversation where he has told us his new "brother's" name. Went something like this:

David: Mommy where is the baby?
Me: You know where the baby is.
David: In your belly!
Me: That is right, is it a girl baby or a boy baby?
David: It's a boy baby, his name is Trouble!
Me: Trouble?!
David: YES!

Turns out after hearing him say the baby's "name" over and over he was saying CHARLES. From the back seat of the car it sounded like Trouble which he now thinks is hilarious! We're trying to explain to him that Charles is Daddy's name and we're going to pick a new name for the baby.

We also found out today that there is a very good chance that David will be getting his wish for another brother. During the scan the tech showed us the legs and I hear Charlie behind me say, "Am I seeing boy parts there?" The tech went back to take a look and, sure enough, there was "something" there. She agreed with Charlie's assessment of what that "something" was but wouldn't say with 100% confidence, since it is still very early and that it might "retract". I'm not sure if that would be a good thing either, though - retracted boy parts... Regardless, Charlie is convinced of what he saw and he now has me convinced. We'll know for sure the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Here are Baby Squishy's first pictures!




The creepy 3D image:

And Baby Makes FIVE!

You read that right! We are expecting baby #3 and come spring (April 23, 2010 to be exact) we'll be a family of five! Today was my first appointment and it went very well. I was a little sad that I didn't get to see Baby Squishy via ultrasound. They do not do them at the office so I'll have to wait until my first trimester ultrasound which will be about two weeks from now.



The news was a bit of a shock to us as we did not expect this to happen so quickly! It's a little overwhelming but we are also very excited as this will be the last baby for us! Cross you fingers for that GIRL!!