Wednesday February 22, 2012 - 35 Weeks

This morning I went for my last ultrasound and found out that the baby is only 4lbs 4 ounces and that she is now in the 5th - 10th percentile for her size. We got a phone call about 30 minutes after we left the office from Dr. Castilla that we needed to go to the hospital and start an induction. She said that the baby has basically stopped growing and my amniotic fluid is low and that it would be more favorable outside my uterus so we need to get her out. I am completely devastated. I'm so worried that she will be okay. Dr. Castilla said that she is healthy and should be just fine but I can't help but be sick with worry. We aren't ready for her at all at home. We don't have a car seat yet, no cradle mattress yet and her clothes and blankets haven't been washed yet.

So we checked in the hospital at 3:30 today and Dr. Castilla put in Cervidil at 5:30 and it will stay in for 12 hours. This will cause my cervix to dilate. The plan is to then start pitocin at 7:30 tomorrow morning. This will then cause my uterus to contract. Hopefully all will go as planned and I will be able to have this baby vaginally. Dr. Castilla said there is a higher chance of needing a c section because of the IUGR (intra-uterine growth restriction) so I'm praying I won't need one. I am scared, nervous and just incredibly worried. I'm just praying that Tatum will be just fine and that nothing is wrong with her. I will update more tomorrow. Here is a picture of me coming into the hospital and two of me tonight. :)

Monday February 20, 2012 - 34.5 Weeks

I had an appointment with Dr. Castilla today and I will now start to see her every week until Tatum decides to come. Everything looked great today and she is sending me for another ultrasound on Wednesday and this will probably be the last one of my pregnancy. It's bittersweet. I'm so excited to see Tatum again on ultrasound but I just can't believe that we're at the end of my pregnancy and this will likely be the last one. I hope she cooperates and allows us to see her beautiful face on 3D, although the tech says that it's unlikely because of where the placenta is located in relation to the baby. We can still hope! :) Dr. Castilla said that since I will be 35 weeks on Thursday, if I go into labor at any point from here on forward, they will not stop it from happening. She said that the baby is developed enough at this point and that it would be safe to deliver any time now. I told her to not jinx me because I want to go the distance…I want to keep her in my belly as long as possible. It's better for her and it has been the most special, precious time of my life. I have been carrying and caring for this baby on my own. Just her and I. When she comes out, I have to share her with the world. It will be absolutely fantastic when she comes but I want to keep her for myself for now as long as possible. I keep saying she needs to keep cooking and she's not done yet. :)

Sunday February 19, 2012 - 34 Weeks

Today was my baby shower!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited to see everyone and to show everyone the completed (almost) nursery. The day turned out to be absolutely beautiful! The weather was perfect and I couldn't have asked for a better day. Most everyone showed up and the food, drinks, decorations, everything was perfect. Jennifer, Deb, and Ashley did a fantastic job putting it all together and I am completely grateful that they did this for me. I never had a party like that thrown for me and it was just so special and a day that I will never forget. Everyone was generous and gave me such great gifts to start Tatum's life out and I am truly touched by the generosity of everyone for their gifts and time and incredible support for Rich and I. Everyone is so exited for us and we are truly humbled.

Food Table

Yummy cupcakes from Sugarlips Cakery with Miss Tatum's initials :)

Holy smokes…everyone was very generous & I am grateful!!

My beautiful Niece Ashley and I 

Dana came in from California for my shower…such a great friend!

Rich's family

The Hostesses with the mostesses :)

Rich and I

Who's belly is bigger???? :)

Table confetti…it was literally everywhere

Saturday February 18, 2012 - 34 Weeks

Rich attended "Daddy Bootcamp" class today at the hospital. He thought it was really great and it helped prepare him for some of the challenges he will face as a new Daddy and set his mind at ease too. Some of the things they went over he already learned in the baby classes we have been taking but it was a different perspective for him because a dad taught the class. Tomorrow is my baby shower and I am so excited! I spent the whole day getting the house ready and running around town for party favors. It is so silly but I planned on giving away homemade fudge that my Mom made to my guests as a parting gift and I grossly underestimated how much we would need. There wasn't enough and I completely freaked out running around town trying to find something that would work and I couldn't really find anything special or that I could get at such a late notice. Rich and Jennifer told me to let it go and not worry about it. I tend to stress out on the little things at these types of events so I just had to remind myself that it's not that important and to let it go…I am super excited for tomorrow and can't wait to see everyone!

Tuesday February 14, 2012 - 34 Weeks

Today is Valentine's Day and the last one that we will have without baby Tatum. It was a pretty ordinary day but Rich brought me beautiful pink, white and red roses home and I picked up a heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's for dinner. It was a great day and we talked all about how Rich will have 2 Valentine's to shop for next year and every year from now on. He is absolutely thrilled and will spoil his baby girl on Valentine's!!

Friday February 3, 2012 - 32 Weeks

I received a call today from Dr. Castilla's office that the results of my test yesterday are negative! There is no cause for concern at this point and they said to just continue on and to come back at my regularly scheduled appointment in 2 weeks. Thank God everything is okay!!

Thursday February 2, 2012 - 32 Weeks

I had my follow-up appointment with Dr. Castilla today and since I am no longer bleeding, she could do the Fetal Fibronectin test today. I have to wait until tomorrow to get the results but due to the results of all my tests at the hospital, Dr. Castilla is pretty confident that I'm not going into pre-term labor and that everything is fine. Again, we're not really sure why I started bleeding in the first place but I'm not now so we will see what the results of the test are. Tonight we had our first childbirth class. It's a 4 week class every week that goes over different topics that we need to know about for the birth process. Tonight we went over different things we could do to ease labor. I truly hope that I can utilize what I learned tonight and help my labor. I plan to not leave for the hospital until I've labored for awhile. I would rather labor at home then at the hospital for hours and hours. Everyone says that labor for your first child can take a very long time. We both really enjoyed the class and look forward to next week's topic. On a side note, I received a call today from the salon manager and it seems that they have worked out leaving my station at the salon and that I can stay! It is a huge relief to not have to worry about finding another salon right now.   The salon nonsense and the bleeding was way too much stress for me this week. The stress is not good for a pregnant woman so I am looking forward to trying to relax as much as possible.

Wednesday February 1, 2012 - 32 Weeks

Today was a very stressful day that ended with a great night. Today at work they told me that I would have to leave the salon in 30 days because they were doing construction and there would no longer be a space for me to work. I was completely stressed and devastated because I like the salon where I work, I like all my co-workers and as I told them, I AM HAVING A BABY IN 8 WEEKS!!!! I could not believe that they want me to find another salon and re-locate my business 8 weeks before I have my baby. How heartless and ridiculous is that?! I can't believe they can't find a spot for my station somewhere in the whole, entire salon. It's absurd. I was completely crushed and my co-workers found out and told the salon owner that they needed to find a spot for me or they would all share their stations with me. I was truly touched that they all care so much and feel truly blessed to work with such great people. It was not resolved today but I left early to go to our first baby class. The class was held at Mercy Gilbert Hospital and it's called "Baby Your Baby". It's all about what to do when you bring your baby home and how to care for your baby. It was really informative and Rich and I really enjoyed it and got a lot of useful information from it. We feel a little more confident in what to do when we bring baby Tatum home. So my night ended on a positive, fun note.