Wedding Rings

I did something really dumb. My fingers have been swollen, but instead of taking my wedding rings off I left them on, even after I knew they were getting a little tight. I just hated the idea of not wearing them! Well, they definitely got stuck! The past few days I've been trying pull them off and haven't been able to. I thought they were going to have to cut them off at the hospital and I've been so sad about it!

Today I googled how to take a ring off a swollen finger. A number of people had tried this unusual sequence and it worked:

1. Hold your hand above your heart to reduce swelling and let the fluid drain from your finger.
2. Soak your hand in ice water for 10 minutes to reduce swelling.
3. Spray Windex (I know...weird) on your finger and twist the ring off.

So today, I tried it. It hurt pretty bad, but it worked! So for all of you other pregnant momma's - take your rings off before it's too late and you have to go through this:)

A visit with friends

So far bed rest is going pretty well. I'm allowed to get up for doctor's appointments, and so far I've had one every day, so I'm able to get outside at least once during the day. Also, Matt has been a HUGE help! He cleans, cooks, takes care of the dogs, and has even painted my toes for me! I have such a wonderful husband and I am so thankful for him!!

Yesterday our friends Jenny and Adam came to visit, along with their two little girls, Baylie and Morgan, and Jenny's mom. Adam is a pitcher for the Cardinals, and they are playing the Cubs right now (he's pitching tomorrow's 7pm game), so they came up to see us after the game yesterday! It was so good to catch up with them and see their adorable girls! Jenny also brought me a gift for Baby Dart - a beautiful chenille Petunia Pickle Bottom bag filled with swaddling blankets and things for the baby! It is such a gorgeous bag and I love it!

Bed Rest

I went for a routine visit to my endocrinologist (diabetes doctor) this morning and when they took my blood pressure it was a little high. I already had an appointment this afternoon with a high-risk OBGYN at the hospital. By this afternoon my blood pressure was even higher, so they ran a few more tests and told me I may have pre-eclampsia and needed to be monitored.

I sent Matt a text message telling him that I was being admitted into the labor and delivery unit of the hospital. In retrospect, it probably would have been a good idea to tell him that I was not actually in labor! He was freaking out and ran through downtown Chicago to catch a train to get to me. Meanwhile, he couldn't get me on the phone because I was taken to a room and was being hooked up to several machines. I could hear my phone beeping across the room, but they were drawing blood and I couldn't get to it, and I felt so bad! Soon we were able to talk though and he was there within an hour. I was a little scared too because I didn't know what was going to happen. I had a good hour by myself laying in that hospital bed praying harder than I have in a long time!

Apparently pre-eclampsia can be dangerous for both the baby and mother. If I was further along, they would go ahead and induce me, but since I am only 34 weeks, they want me to wait a little longer so the baby can develop a little more. They said it is a balancing act of not wanting it to be dangerous for me or baby, but also not wanting to take the baby too prematurely.

Finally they said I could go home but ordered me on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. I'm allowed up to go to the bathroom and to get a shower and to go to doctor's appointments, but other than that I am supposed to be laying on my side. I already have a stack of books by my bed and I am looking forward to having no excuse not to read them!

Thanks to everyone for the calls, concerns, and prayers. We are extremely blessed to have such wonderful family and friends who care about us.

Miller, a.k.a. 'Big Foot'

My new favorite pregnancy item: compression socks. I went yesterday to a medical supply store and a nice lady measured around my ankles and then said, "Wow. You are quite swollen." Yes, I know my feet look like big puffy sausages, thank you.

I was so excited to get home and try them on. They are like REALLY tight knee highs. I have no idea how a pregnant woman could get these on herself though...Matt had to help me, which was quite humorous! They aren't the prettiest things, but my feet have been feeling much better, which at the moment is all I care about!

Happy 4th of July!

It has definitely been a different 4th of July this year. This is the first year I can remember not being in St. Simons - going to the beach, being with our families, and going to watch the fireworks. But, Matt and I decided to grill out and have some semblance of 4th of July!

We grilled hotdogs, and made macaroni and a watermelon-tomato salad (from Southern Living, and very good!) to go with it. And we made flag cake for desert! We have a tiny little courtyard area outside our back door in our condo, and we ate out there tonight.

Update and Baby News

I haven't been feeling that great for the last couple of days so I haven't updated since the ultrasound on Tuesday. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and the baby's heart rate was normal, which was great! They had a hard time finding his heartbeat at first, and then realized that he has turned upside down! I knew something was different Wednesday - his kicks were much more painful (he was kicking my internal organs!) And my lower back was hurting a lot more than normal - I am not sure if that is due to him being upside down or if I pulled a muscle in my back, but standing and walking has been really hard to do the last couple of days - I feel like an old lady walking down the street! That, along with my hugely swollen feet and ankles mean that I am trying to stay off my feet and stay as comfortable as possible!

This week has been filled with TERRIFIC baby news!

• Ashley and Craig Pope had their little boy today! He is just precious, and his name is Benjamin Andrew Pope.
• My cousin Chrissy and her husband Mike announced this week that they are expecting!! Yay!! We couldn't be more excited for them.
• Our friends Ryan and Julia, and Charlie and Lauren both announced this week that they are expecting! We have been praying for both of them for awhile and this is truly an answer to prayer!