Introducing....

Franklin! Franklin III arrived last Friday, October 23, 2009, at 7:52 AM. He weighed 6 lbs, 12 oz, and is 19 inches long. He's perfect! (A little smaller than expected, but still perfect).

Here's the story: Last Thursday I had a regularly scheduled doctor's appointment to monitor my blood pressure. I went in thinking that it would probably be a little up based on the way I'd felt the few days prior, but still thought that Dr. Straughn would schedule the delivery for the next week. Much to my surprise, my blood pressure was 150/100 at the appointment that day, and Dr. Straughn walked in with "let's have a baby!" I was 36 weeks 5 days, and she wanted to deliver that afternoon or the next day. I was immedately wheeled into the adjoining hospital and hooked up to monitors and a blood pressure cuff. A magnesium drip was started to lower my blood pressure, which made me feel even worse, and I settled in for the long haul. Frank arrived later that afternoon, and my family came by later that night. Luckily, I was offered ambien and slept as much as I could that night.

I woke up early the next morning to prepare to meet my little man! A quick shower and a little makup later, Frank arrived and it was time to get started. Unfortunately, because of the mag drip and my hormones, there are several details of the morning that I've already forgotten... but I do recall that I was rather emotional and couldn't stop crying! Frank just kept laughing at me. Around 7:30 they wheeled me into the OR and the process began. Frank came in a little while later, and then Franklin arrived! Despite being 36 weeks 6 days, his apgars were 8 and 9, and he did not have any respiratory issues. I remember hearing him cry, and then I remember them holding him up for me to see. He is a beautiful baby, the pictures really don't do him justice.

I don't remember much about what happened next, other than that when I felt "with it" again I was in recovery with Franklin next to me. I was give the chance to snuggle with him as much as I wanted, and the first nursing attempt revealed that Franklin was tongue tied, and we made arrangements to have it clipped. The hospital was great, and we were visited by the pediatrician that afternoon to confirm the tongue tie, and the neonatologist right after to discuss the procedure. He was taken for about 10 minutes to complete the clip and returned to us without a scratch. Nursing has been much better since then, and he doesn't seem like the minor procedure phased him. Like many breastfed babies, he's a bit jaundice at the moment and is down 10% of his body weight, so he's hung out under the bili lights last night and all day today. His levels weren't that bad, only moderately concerning, so the lights were a precaution. However, he keeps losing weight... primarily because instead of having the one dirty and 2-3 wet diapers a day that most babies have (apparently they are to have as many wet diapers as they are days old) he's having 2-3 dirty diapers and 4-5 wet diapers a day... meaning that despite my attempts to fatten him up with feedings, he's eliminating everything that I'm putting in! We are doing pretty well, they put me on procardia today to regulate my blood pressure and I've got my fingers crossed that we'll get to go home tomorrow (I'm tired of being in the hospital!). Franklin is a trooper, he's done well hanging out under the lights and Dr. Straughn completed his circumcision today and he's handled it well. I think we'll all feel better once we're home.

Frank is a fantastic dad, he's changed diapers like a champ and holds Franklin like an old pro. I'm so proud :-) Here are a few more pics!

Another Dr. Update

Well, it finally happened (no surprise), my blood pressure was officially "high" at yesterday's appointment, 144/90, and I have been placed in the never-ending rotation of repeat appointments and testing to make sure things stay within acceptable ranges. Yesterday, we did the group B strep swab and blood work, so luckily they had a baseline for my white blood count and platelet (sp?) counts, which were fine. They took blood a second time to check my kidney and liver function, and those should be back today. They also sent me down to antepartum testing for a Contractions Stress Test, which would monitor how the baby handles my blood pressure during a contraction. Franklin did just fine, he kicked at the monitor again, but we didn't have any decels during contractions (I had three in ten minutes as required for the test) and his heart rate was great. They also did another ultrasound to check his fluid levels, and those were great too! Turns out, I am 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced, and the doctor could feel his head yesterday in the exam he is so low (I could've told her that). The ultrasound couldn't have measured his head very well yesterday either, since the tech said he had it jammed into my pelvis (lovely). We did have a new phenomenon during the ultrasound, however, because Franklin likes to keep things interesting. Yesterday, instead of his hands next to his face, his FOOT was next to his face. The tech was like, "Wow, that's a huge foot!" followed by "Wow, that's a really wide, flat foot!" Those of you who know Frank are likely aware (or possibly not) that he has what I refer to as "Fred Flintstone" feet, or the widest, most arch-free feet I've ever seen. So grandparents, prepare yourselves for a tiny version of Frank to arrive very soon!

I go back to the doctor tomorrow to repeat all of the testing from yesterday, and will return on Monday to do the same all over again. Since I'm officially "Full Term" on Saturday, he'll most likely be here sometime next week. I am hopeful that my blood work stays normal, because if my counts get too low then I cannot have an epidural during the c-section and will have to undergo general anesthesia. So let's keep our fingers crossed that we get him out before it gets to that point, because general anesthesia means no Frank in the operating room and several hours of waiting for me to wake up after the surgery to meet my little boy! I'm hopeful that won't happen, and luckily my doctor is keeping a close watch on everything to make sure that it doesn't. So (despite my prediction otherwise), next week is the week! Here's to the end of this exciting journey :-)

The End of the Affair

And my love affair with Pottery Barn has officially ended. Frank and I have been in our house for over 2 years, and the only major piece of furniture that we've purchased was our bed. We were lucky to have extra furniture in in the family that we could use in our den for the time-being, and used a slipcover over a couch and chair that has worked fine. The slipcovers have allowed me to wash doggie paw prints and spills off them, and still looked ok when we entertained. However, they were messy looking 99.9% of the time, and required pretty constant upkeep to look fairly decent. For someone with OCD like myself, slipcovers are hard. I appreciate the fact that we were saved from an expensive purchase until we were in a better financial position, but the sight of a messy slipcover seriously affects my blood pressure. Moreover, washing, ironing, and continually tucking the slipcovers back into place is absolutely exhausting. To top it off, in the past 7 years, I have only had one year of slipcover-free bliss-- my last year in law school.

So, in the interest of my sanity and to make life a bit easier once the baby arrived, Frank and I decided it was time to take the plunge and purchase a new sofa and chair for our den, the room we spend the most time in. We talked about it for months, honestly, and it took some convincing (as in me convincing Frank) for it to finally happen. I was pretty adamant that with two dogs and a new baby that we purchase a sofa that had SEPARATE slipcovers, so that in case a spill or paw print occurred on one cushion, that cushion could be removed, washed, and replaced-- without having to remove the ENTIRE slipcover. I was also convinced that purchasing a sofa from somewhere like Pottery Barn was a good investment, because their furniture is good quality and 3 years down the road when this slipcover is worn out, we will only have to purchase the slipcover instead of an entirely new sofa.

On August 29, Frank and I headed over to the Pottery Barn in our town to take the plunge. We pretty much knew what we wanted, but needed to see it in person to be sure. We ended up purchasing the Pottery Barn Comfort Grand Sofa with Stone slipcover and box pleat cushions, and the Manhattan Leather Arm Chair in Whiskey. I was pleased, and thought (think, I guess) that they'll look great and that we'll use them for years and years. Here are examples of our thoughtful purchases:

I have purchased many items from Pottery Barn over the years, including rugs, plates, curtains, bedding, pillows, etc., and have been pleased with all of them. They hold up well and are classic enough to work from season to season. However, this was my first furniture purchase. When I was told that the Manhattan Chair was "quick ship," I was pleased-- it was due to ship to us the next week, and I figured we could enjoy the chair while we waited on the sofa to arrive. I received the shipping email shortly after that, and anticipated receiving the phone call to schedule my delivery date. The 3rd week of September passed, and I called to see where the heck my chair was. I was informed that since we'd ordered 2 pieces of furniture, the chair wouldn't be delivered until the sofa had shipped as well. However, the delivery company said that the sofa was due to ship the following weekend, September 30th, and that we should receive it fairly shortly after that. I decided that I could live with it, since we would probably receive our sofa sooner than we'd anticipated.

Sure enough, October 1st arrived and we received the e-mail that our sofa had been shipped on September 30. I knew that it would be around a week before we got the call to schedule delivery, so I waited. And waited. And waited. And today, on October 14, 2 weeks after the sofa shipped, I called to see where my furniture was. And I was notified that the earliest that I can expect my sofa is October 22nd, next Thursday.

In the words of Supernanny, "UNACCEPTABLE!" It's unconscionable that furniture that's been sitting in a warehouse for several weeks would take yet ANOTHER several weeks to be delivered. That is just ridiculous, and in my opinion, bad business. So what's the story?? Lesson learned. I will be happy to purchase items from Pottery Barn that I can take home from the store or that can be shipped via the mailways, but my furniture-purchasing days from Pottery Barn are O-V-E-R. Thank God the slipcover doesn't require in-home delivery.

And we're still here....

My appointment with Dr. Straughn yesterday went fine, and I was pleased that she offered a growth scan "just for fun." Essentially, I have only trace protein showing up in my labs and my blood pressure was 130/82. Yes, up ten points in five days, but still not technically "high," which is at least 140/90. My next appointment is Tuesday the 20th, a week from today, so we'll see where we are at that point. In any event, I'm here and still pregnant for at least the next week.

Now to the fun part! Last week when Dr. Straughn measured my fundal height, I measured at 36 1/2 weeks. Yes, ahead for where I was at that point (34 weeks 3 days), but fairly typical. Yesterday, however, my fundal height measured at 39 weeks. So looks like Franklin has enjoyed another large growth spurt. So I'm now measuring about 4 weeks ahead of where I am. Dr. Straughn decided to have her ultrasound tech scan me just to make sure everything was ok, and off I went. Sometimes fundal height measurements can be off, due to the way the baby is positioned or the amount of amniotic fluid present. The ultrasound, however, confirmed the measurement -- Baby is head down, and his head, abdomen and a few other measurements were dead on at 39 weeks. His estimated weight at this point: 7 lbs 5 ounces. (!!!!) Seriously??!? That's 2 pounds more than I weighed at birth. At this point, he's packing on a 1/2 a pound a week, meaning that if I went to 40 weeks Franklin would be a 10 pound baby. OMG. I hope he can wear some of the cute outfits I've bought him, they obviously won't fit very long. He also has hair! And chubby cheeks! And he STILL had his hands next to his face. Poor thing will probably come out with scratches all over his sweet face due to those fingernails... I've purchased several sets of mittens so that I can hopefully prevent him from doing further damage once he's decided to make his appearance.

In another way, the fact that he's so big and I'm measuring so far ahead also made me feel better about how bad I feel at this point. I don't think I've ever met a pregnant woman who's reached 39 weeks who isn't ready for the baby to just get out already! You're exhausted, you're carrying around a ton of extra weight, the baby's huge and pressing on all of your organs, you can't sleep, and it's a rough go. I was beginning to feel like a bit of a whiner, honestly, since at 35 weeks I am still not technically "term" and shouldn't be quite so anxious for him to get out... but my body feels like I'm at 39 weeks, and it's telling me that it's ill-equipped to carry around this much extra stuff all the time. At this point, the swelling in my legs, thighs and feet never goes down, even with rest and putting my feet up. The indentions in my ankles and legs when I cross my feet totally freak Frank out, because they don't exactly "bounce back" like normal skin would. And yes, with the amount of swelling I'm experiencing, it actually hurts to bend my ankles. So the normal "pregnancy waddle" is compounded by the fact that I'm in pain when I walk in more ways than one.

I am anxious to meet my little boy, and am hopeful that the day will arrive sooner rather than later. I just try to hang in there from week to week now, and look forward to my visits with Dr. Straughn so I might catch a glimpse of when this entire experience will reach it's end. Next week, another pregnancy milestone: the GBS Swab and the beginning of weekly cervical checks. FUN!

Dr. Update

Well, it appears my firm discussion with Franklin yesterday worked. At my appointment with Dr. Straughn yesterday afternoon, she declared that I am "trending" towards Pre-E, and asked that I come back on Monday so that they can check my blood pressure again. Apparently it's still not high, but because of the swelling in my hands and face, and the fact that it was 10 points higher than it was at the last appointment, she thought I should be monitored more closely. She also refused to officially schedule the C-Section for November 6th, because she doesn't think that I'll go that long! So, I'm supposed to watch myself over the weekend, and we'll see where we're at on Monday. Dr. Straughn also confirmed my desire for a section, and said that she thought it was actually a really good decision due to my blood pressure and swelling combined with the baby's size. Further, it was better to have pre-decided on a c-section versus an induction, which often leads to a c-section anyway. She said I should be pleased and at peace with my decision, so it definitely made me feel better. She also said that there really isn't anything that I can do to keep myself from getting pre-e, that it just happens and they don't know why.

So it's looking more and more like Franklin will be an October baby. I have been given instructions by Frank, however, that the baby is NOT to arrive the third weekend in October (the AL v. TN game), because he'd rather not fight birthday party schedules and going to the game every year for the rest of his life. Love, I'll do my best (and I think you're good, that's next Saturday and I still don't think he's quite ready to arrive just yet). I also would rather not have the baby on October 31st. My new prediction: He'll arrive sometime between the 19th and 24th. We'll know soon enough! (I keep telling myself "Less than 30 days... less than 30 days....")

EVICTION NOTICE

Dear Franklin H. Long, III:

I am issuing you a 30 day notice for EVICTION. You will have 30 days from today in which you may either gather your belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, you will be physically removed from the property.

You are being evicted due to breach of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made! Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.

Therefore, in the event that you do not comply with this notice within 30 days from this day, it will result in your immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.

Sincerely,

Your Mother

34 weeks!

Finally, the day has arrived and Franklin is officially pre-term. I have completed 34 weeks of pregnancy, and by this weekend we'll be inching closer to a healthy baby boy with healthy lungs. For my reference, so I don't forget, there are a few things I'd like to remember about this point in pregnancy:

The Bad

1. The swelling is bad. Yesterday, I clipped both of our dogs (we groom them on our own, saves tons of money), and by the end of the hour-long process my feet and ankles were so swollen it took hours for them to return to normal.
2. It hurts to walk. My ankles are really super sore, and when I try and walk they ache and it makes me hobble like an old lady.
3. My lower back hurts too. When I stand up, it feels like I'm carrying 100 pounds in front of me.
4. Pregnancy carpel tunnel stinks. My fingers and wrists are so sore they burn like crazy at night... Last night I finally found relief for a few hours by holding a bag of frozen blueberries in my hands. I'll be attempting this every night to try and end the aching. By the end of the day, it hurts to hold a pen and I don't have the strength in my hands to grip much of anything.
5. The pity looks. People used to look at me like, "how neat, she's expecting!" Now, it's more like, "Geez she looks miserable, I hope she doesn't go into labor right now." When I tell people I have another month to go, they all look at me like I'm insane.

The Good:

1. Franklin has the hiccups all the time and it's hilarious. They last on average about 20-30 minutes, and he gets them several times a day. Frank was able to feel him hiccuping last week when he'd turned back breech, but he's reversed himself again and I can tell exactly how he's oriented based on where I feel the hiccups.
2. Franklin is pretty temperamental. He gets rather ticked off when someone puts weight on a part of my belly. For example, when Frank rests an arm against the side of my stomach, or puts his hand on my belly, Franklin kicks at it like, "Seriously, I already don't have enough room in here, and now you're pushing on me?? I don't think so." It's pretty funny. He kicks at the dogs too. Lola has created a new position for herself where she rests with her head on my belly at night. Yesterday, Franklin was extremely irritated at her, and kicked her so hard 2-3 times that she kept lifting her head and looking at me like "What the heck was that?!"
3. The pity looks. I find it amusing, because yes, I realize that I am huuuge. But the pity looks also mean that this whole pregnancy thing is almost over. Which I'm good with. I'm ready to feel like myself again.
4. My husband's slow realizations. Because Franklin has turned again I'm feeling pressure and sometimes it (I know, TMI) feels like he is extremely low, particularly when I walk. I mentioned it to Frank yesterday, and he got this look on his face like, "wait a minute, I'm supposed to have another month to 'prepare' before the baby arrives....you had better not go into labor early!" It's almost like day by day it's finally hitting my husband that yes, in a few short weeks he will have an infant to care for, and yes, I will expect him to help! I've spent the last 8 1/2 months prepping for this baby, coming to term with the realization that I'll have a little human who is dependent upon my every need come November. I suppose that since Frank hasn't actually experienced carrying the baby, it's been a bit more surreal for him.
5. The final countdown! Now that I've reached 34 weeks, I no longer have to take the brethine. It also seems as if the contractions have calmed down on their own, which is a good thing. A part of me would be ok with Franklin's decision that he'd like to show up at around 37 weeks and change, but another part of me would really like to follow my scheduled date. I'd like the week before he gets here to mentally prepare, rest, get the manicure/pedicure I want, have a hair cut, throw a few extra frozen meals in the freezer, etc. - so I have mixed feelings about the whole thing I guess. So what's my prediction?? My last day of work before I start maternity leave is October 30, at 37 w 6 days. I predict that Franklin will decide to make his arrival the next Monday, which is Nov. 1st (which, Marina, means you'll be right!) Why that date? I think Franklin's a stinker like his Dad, and will come according to his own terms, thereby depriving me of both an early end to pregnancy as well as my coveted week off. I suppose we'll know soon enough!

Our next Dr. appointment is Wednesday, I'm hoping to schedule a growth ultrasound so that we have a better idea of just how big baby boy is. I'll keep you posted!