Weekly Update

We've had a few doctor appointments over the last few days and have some updates on how things are going. On Friday we went to see our Perinatal Specialist (High Risk Doctor) Dr. Peters. He does an ultrasound on the baby every week and then every other week he takes a ton of measurements of the baby. Harper is still a very BIG girl. According to his measurements she is right at 8 pounds. We are at 34 weeks and 4 days as of today. At this rate she is on her way to being a 10 pound baby when we deliver at 38 weeks. If we were to go full term to 40 weeks she would be around 12 pounds. Thank God we are not planning on going full term. We do fetal monitoring every week with Dr. Peters and things look great with Harper. Her heart rate is great and she is not showing any signs of distress. Every Monday we see my OB Dr. Bailey. Think of it like this….. Dr. Peters is all about the baby and monitoring her progress. Dr. Bailey is watching me and how my body is holding up with the baby and the other medical issues I have had with this pregnancy. Our appointment with Dr. B didn’t go as well as I had hoped for. I have gained 9 pounds in the last week. This is all in fluid. I am extremely swollen and my body is having a difficult time with all the fluid. In the last two weeks I have gained a total of 15 pounds. As a reference point up until 2 weeks ago I had only gained 12 pounds during this entire pregnancy. So needless to say the "Modified Bed Rest" that I have been on for the last few weeks has now turned into "Very Strict Bed rest" until we deliver the baby. I am allowed to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, move to the couch, or if the house in on fire. No more little trips to the store, or walking upstairs. The alternative to this is me checking into the hospital and I refuse to do that. So I have promised Chris I will be a very good patient and follow the doctors orders form this point.

We are still all set to deliver Harper on Monday, November 23, 2009 as long as I can make it until then. My blood pressure has been stable over the last few weeks and the preeclampsia seems to still be manageable.

I am still in good spirits just trying to manage the boredom that comes with bed rest. I know that Chris and I have done so much to make this little miracle happen and the bed rest is the easy part. Chris has been nothing short of amazing. He is taking excellent care of me and I know that there have to be moments where it is difficult on him to wait on me all the time. He is so protective of me that at times it is funny.

Thank you to everyone for all your phone calls, prayers, and email messages you send our way. We are blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends.

Best wishes!