Night before induction

Well, Kyen didn't make his presence known today. So I guess he prefers we stick to the schedule and allow his birthday to be tomorrow the 10th after all. I've come to terms with the fact that my body is doing just fine holding this 'lil angel in and I truly do feel blessed to have had this time with his family (and him). When I look back on this week, I'll cherish the time we shared together in Oklahoma. :)

Today was hectic for me. I've been going non stop since I woke up (can't believe I'm giving birth tomorrow when I feel so damn good - it's just not natural, I tell ya).

We had lunch with my twin sister's IPs before their 4D ultrasound this afternoon (I went to take pictures as Ang did for me) - it's a BOY!...penis vibes radiated off me and stuck to them, I think, LOL.

After the ultrasound,

I came home to pack a bit for my upcoming vacation with my family (after I deliver and get out of the hospital - Monday - we have plans to go to Port Aransas, TX - if all is well).

Then we went to my IPs hotel and drove to a small town called Okarche for some Oklahoma fried chicken (Eischen's - Oklahoma's oldest

bar) - YUM! It's a dive, but we had a great time! My parents, grandma, and mom's boss and fiancé (Fred and Janeal) were all there too.

My family is staying the night w/Fred tonight so they can come visit me at the hospital tomorrow. At the restaurant we exchanged a few gifts - Noel got an amazing thank you card (had me teary) and gift certificate to Bass Pro from aunt Suzanne and uncle Bob! Overall, I think it was a nice evening to end my

IP's time here w/o baby in tow. ;)

Now, it's baby birth'n time! I've got to be up at 3:00am tomorrow, so I'm going to bed now (if I can). I hope to be hooked up to Pitocin by 5:00am (dreading it, but not much else I can do - it's my OB's induction protocol) and then I'll get my water broke by 8:00am...my OB better be on time too - we've waited long enough for baby to get here and that's all I've needed her to help me with.

Please pray that all goes well for us and I'll post again after the little miracle arrives! :)

Feeling better

You'll be happy to know that I have stopped feeling sorry for myself and I'm trying to move on and enjoy these last couple days (as many of you have been pulling for me to do - thank you!) I do (physically) feel amazing - not like I will be giving birth in a few days - AT ALL! I'm usually so exhausted, etc...this pregnancy had been THE BEST yet!

Now, I have to admit that I'm still a little disappointed that things aren't progressing faster then they are, but I'll know soon enough if my body is still in working order by the induction Friday - if that fails I'll be devastated. We'll see I guess. I feel this pregnancy is VERY similar to my very first (I did have a failed induction w/him on my due date - it was awful). How is it possible to not have this baby here already after four prior pregnancies that needed either medication, bed rest, or both to keep the baby from coming to early? This one needed nothing but a cooperative OB that will sympathetically volunteer to break my water to release him...ugh! Did I grow a new uterus or something?...this baby shouldn't be held in so well, LOL.

Anyhoo, we had a nice visit w/Taryn and JD tonight. I'll see them all again tomorrow for lunch w/Ang and her IPs. Then again for a last dinner out w/my family arriving in town to be w/me for the induction Friday.

Here are a few pictures I took - Noel made his "famous wildlife surprise" chili for them to try and we watched the boys swim while visiting them at the hotel.

OK - so as it stands, unless I go into spontaneous labor tomorrow, I'll plan to arrive at the hospital for the induction at 5am Friday - wow!

Last OB Appointment

Well, I had my last OB appointment today (38wk 1day). Taryn and JD met me there and were able to meet my OB. I'll let Tar's post below describe what happened for the most part at the appointment. But, I wanted to add that it was nice to have them there. They were able to hear Kyen's heartbeat again (haven't since just before our first 4D u/s) and Taryn even recorded it on her phone. She has some pictures I'll share that we took at the appointment today too. BP was back to 110/70 and I lost 3 lbs since last week - another sign of early latent labor. Baby D is up high yet (as is normal for multi pars) however, he's come down some since last week's check. I'm afraid Kyen won't make his appearance until Friday after all.

Before I forget, I wanted to send out a HUGE thank you to Taryn's Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Bob for the absolutely awesome, most appreciated, WAY to expensive gift for the boys and Noel (Xbox 360 w/all the bells and whistles). It arrived in the mail for them and the boys are LOVING it...me too 'cause they are getting their homework done as soon as they get home from school so they can play it when they are done. ;) Oh, and Suzanne made me the prettiest fluffy scarf...gave it to me Friday night.

I felt better getting out of the house today a bit more. My twin sister, Angie (also a surrogate), is having a ultrasound this Thursday and her couple (Kathleen & Joe) from NY flew in with their daughters (Madeline and Charlotte) tonight (Charlotte was carried by Ang in 2003). Since my Sis lives 2 hours away from the airport, I thought it would be nice to greet them there - I needed to be out on my feet more too. I loved finally meeting them - they are a lovely family! Here is a pic of us:

We're going to take the boys to T&J's hotel tomorrow to swim and eat pizza.

Night!

Taryn's Post

Looks like Kyen will make his appearance Friday. I tried to tell him he is being evicted, but he likes his Heather (who wouldn't).

We are 2+ centimeters dilated, 50% effaced and his head is at a -3 ( I am clueless on that one).

My family and I are enjoying our time here, relaxing and eating. Tomorrow we are going to spend some time with Heather and put a smile on her face! We are all just so happy to be here, we are eating our way through Oklahoma LOL. The food and weather here is GREAT!

So all is well here!!! Just need to get my Heather happy!!! I know this is tough on her I just hope I am doing and saying the right things.

Not feeling well - Emotional post

Well, today I met Taryn and JD at the hospital to talk to the hospital social worker about our upcoming plans to give birth and have the PBO honored. I'm a tad bit nervous that she took a copy of the order for the hospital legal department to review, but overall the meeting seemed to go in our favor and that makes me feel some relief.

Then she gave T&J a tour of L&D (I think they enjoyed it) and told us that they do not yet have wireless Internet access - blat (not sure who told Taryn on the phone a few weeks ago that they did). So, we aren't going to be able to do a web broadcast of the birth after all. :( That's fine 'cause I seriously doubt my OB will like seeing all the cameras we have planned to be in the room (not counting the computer cams)...she has already told me I can't have pics/video during delivery (but, we are going to try to sneak some in anyway, LOL).

Putting the finishing touches on blanket for Baby D.

Anyway, tonight I haven't felt very well at all...just a bit emotional and feeling yucky all of a sudden, a little crampy but still only having a few contractions - but they are a bit more intense it seems. Things are starting to wear on me overall, I think. I'm trying to enjoy the last few days of the pregnancy, but it's hard being patient. I did lose a little (tiny) bit more of my mucous plug this morning. I couldn't believe there was actually more there to lose after what I already passed Saturday - although I've heard you can build more back up. Oh, and for the last couple days my system seems to be cleaning itself out (my stomach has been very upset today especially). Maybe a sign of impending/early latent labor? Let's hope so!

Tomorrow I have my last OB appointment at 2:30pm. Hoping she'll strip my membranes when she checks me...but I doubt it 'cause she's never been rough or helpful in that way in the two previous checks...it's like she doesn't want to disturb anything so I'll have to make it to my Friday induction (more convenient for her schedule - grr).

I know, I know - the baby will come when he's ready...it's just so frustrating 'cause I'm such a planner and here I am again, the "watched pot". I feel like crying again. Going to bed, if I can.

Here are some pictures and video of my couple and their family visiting us at our house & eating dinner with us at a local BBQ restaurant:

TMI update

If you are grossed out easily, don't read below...

Tonight Noel and I hired a babysitter to watch our sons and went out to dinner w/Taryn and her aunt Suzanne. I wasn't feeling many contractions, but what I have felt were intense. Two of which were in the car on the way home (from our fabulous dinner, I might add). When I ran into the bathroom to potty before taking the sitter to her car, I noticed I had lost my mucos plug! Woohoo!! I'm not used to seeing so much there all at once (it was the size of a jello jiggler, NS!) I've been checking and checking before tonight and disappointed to see nothing each check...usually it comes a little at a time...but, not tonight! So I'm thrilled that things are moving along a bit more.

The men should arrive very soon - Baby Kyen can make his appearance anytime now! Come on baby!!! I think it will be thrilling to go into labor naturally and not need the dreaded devil drip. Even more so if my water breaks on it's own.

Please pray for as natural a birth experience as possible (that would be a gift I've yet to receive - outside of the twin's scary unmedicated birth). Thanks!

Trial Run

I had another OB appointment Tuesday (37.1wks) and found out that I was 2 cm and 50% effaced (baby still up high). BP had gone up to 122/72 (still good), baby's heartbeat was 147bpm, and I hadn't gained any weight. I forgot to ask that day, but apparently my group B strep test was negative (I'll be treated w/antibiotics at birth, regardless, due to being positive in my 3rd pregnancy).

Throughout the week I've been very frustrated w/my body. Feeling as though I'll stay pregnant forever (that it has forgotten what to do in preparation of birth) because I've had very few braxton hicks contractions or any of the other signs that I'm getting ready to give birth. My OB refuses to induce before 38.4 wks, but she'll let me have him if I do go into labor on my own (which I've only ever done with my very first son's birth - all others were augmented to some degree). I'm a tad bit upset that my OB won't even consider the report my perinatologist wrote after my ultrasound appointment last week...stating the baby was a good size, taking breaths, and he was able to detect visually lots of vernix floating in the amniotic fluid - the white cheesy substance on baby's skin to protect his skin and also aids in lung development as they swallow it later in pregnancy, coating the lungs to maturity. I just hope that if I'm "favorable" by my next appointment (next Tuesday - 38.1wks) that she'll consider inducing me earlier. I know my IPs are very eager to meet their little man.

Last night however I did make a "trial run" to L&D after finally feeling some very consistent contractions causing me lots of lower back pain. They were coming, what seemed like, every 5 minutes here at home. But, once I was hooked up to the monitors it seemed they were only near 7-12 minutes. They kept me at the hospital for 2 hours and let me go home after noticing I hadn't made much of a change in my cervix. It was 1am by the time I was permitted to leave (oh, so tired and achy but relieved that I had made a tiny bit of progress). So, I left there at 3cm dilated and near 50-60% effaced.

Taryn and her Aunt Suzanne were due to fly in tonight (9:30pm), but they decided to take an earlier flight and arrived instead at 6:30pm. I'm glad they are here now and will be even more relieved when the men arrive (they moved their flights to tomorrow - Sat - night). Then baby Kyen will hopefully receive another eviction notice and grace us with his presence. ;)

We have plans to eat out tomorrow night and we'll have a few days now to visit some sites around OKC together...we'll walk this baby out if we have to, LOL. I went to meet Tar and her Aunt tonight at the airport and get them settled in the hotel (across from the hospital). So, we are all set now, I think. Just waiting...

I'll keep y'all updated!

36 wk OB appt & Last Ultrasound

I had another OB appointment yesterday - it went just as I expected. Gained 2 lbs (25 lbs total so far - not bad at all *wink*), the baby's heart rate was 152 bpm, and my blood pressure was 110/76. My OB did the GBS test (she'll call w/the results if I'm + or I'll find out at my next appointment) and I was given my first internal check. Again, as expected, I was only 1-2 cm dilated, but "soft"...w/Christopher at this time, I was firm and long...so maybe I've made a bit more progress then during his pregnancy. ;) I go back for another OB appointment Tuesday.

And today, I had my final ultrasound with the perinatologist - Dr. Stanley. The baby looks fabulous! He's so chubby already. Weighing in at approximately 7 lbs 12 ozs (another big boy). Dr. Stanley feels pretty confident, as do I, that this baby will be quite close to the same size that all four of the other boys were (Cole - 8lb 3oz, Cam & Chris - 8lb 6oz, Chandler - 9lb 2oz)...at least my body is consistent in growing 'em...LOL. I'm 36.3wks today, but Baby Kyen is measuring 39.3wks placing him in the 87.2 percentile for growth. When I talked to Taryn today after the sono, she kept saying she'd have to build up her arm strength and hopes he doesn't come out walking/talking (Ha!).

We finally got some good pictures of Kyen's face this time too...his head has grown large enough now (even though he is still wedged in my pelvis - being a good boy) that his position allowed for some great shots. Oh, and he's got hair (apparently, from what the tech saw - I couldn't make it out) and he's taking lots of breaths (that was awesome to see). He's always hiccuping, so I figured he was doing this already.

Here's one of the 4D pics taken today of baby Kyen:

I've got some great video of the ultrasound too:

Now, I just wait until my body (and baby) decide it's time to deliver. I suspect he'll come earlier then my 38.4 wk induction date (March 10th). He's so active and I swear some days I think he just might break my water from inside (never had that happen before, so we'll see). I'm feeling SOOOO good...full of energy, very few aches or pains of any sort (except for feeling uncomfortable in my rib area at night)...hopefully I'll continue to feel this way for another 2 weeks.

Oh, and here are a few belly picture I took today. And I've included a couple pictures, for comparison, with the belly cast we did at 36 wks during my youngest son, Christopher's, pregnancy (he's in the third photo pointing to where he grew when I was pregnant w/him):

I've been playing a stuffed teddy bear w/lullaby that my IPs bought for the baby since about 20 wks (in hopes of getting him familiar w/the tune for soothing) and since about 28 wks I've played a recording that my IPs also sent of them talking and reading to him (JD even sings a little to him - so sweet!). I really feel that Kyen already knows Mom and Dad 'cause he's active while I play it (I crank it up in the car while I'm alone & use a headset at home)...could be why he was moving around so much today at the ultrasound...I played it on my ride across town to the sonogram. ;)

Anyway, I can't wait to see Taryn and Aunt Suzanne again - they fly down next Friday evening. I've got babysitting arranged by a great service here in OKC called seeking sitters. And Saturday I'm planning to get our assigned sitter a base pass for her car in case she needs to get to us in a hurry when I go into labor. Plus, she can get to know the boys while Taryn, Suzanne, Noel, and I enjoy a few hours out together.

OK, this post is long enough...bye for now.