MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

What an eventful weekend. This year was Gracie's turn to be at her mom's on Christmas morning, so we started the festivities on Saturday, the 23rd. We went to Memaw T and Papa B's for the day. Gracie got a lot of great gifts and of course I think she played with about everything while we were there. Daddy wasn't feeling well so he slept for a good chunk of the day. As for me well I just tried to find a comfortable spot to relax, I fell asleep for about 45 minutes. It was really nice just to be able to get together and relax. Daddy and I did do something that will be really cool when it is finished. We made a body cast of my belly, I had seen the idea on tv and thought it would be an awesome keepsake. Little did I know it would make for a very uncomfortable hour. You have to sit really still and let the mold set and dry...that was terrible because I sat up against an ottoman and it kept slipping which made me slip and oh the pain on my lower back. I can only imagine how much of a baby I will be during labor.
Sunday, the 24th, we woke up early, Santa had come to our house early since Gracie wouldn't be there on Christmas morning. He left Gracie so many presents, her favorite is the Bratz ipod. There is nothing that little girl doesn't have, especially after this Christmas. We then quickly rushed around the house to get cleaned up and went we to church. After church we went to Freddie and Ginger's for the Acker family Christmas celebration. It was so fun watching Gracie and Zach open gifts. As soon as Zach would open one he had to get it out, play with it, then move onto the next. It was yet another relaxing day we family, I just love days like that!

Monday, the 25th, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Jason and I got to sleep in a bit, it was great we never get to do that. Then we cleaned up the house and started laundry. It is amazing how Christmas can make a house so messy...we had gifts and wrapping paper everywhere. He took off about 11 am and picked up Gracie. She is spending the next week with us. She is out of school till the 4th, so this week she is ours. I feel bad for her though she is not feeling 100%, but she has been good and taking her medicine. We still have a lot planned and lots of stuff to play with at home so we will make the best of it.

Tuesday, the 26th, the BPP. Today Miss Gabriele was definitely showing off for sissy. It had been a long time since Gracie had gone to a doctors appointment, so she was excited to get to go. And Gabi was happy she was there, she passed her test in 25 minutes. The cutest thing though when the nusre was showing Gracie Gabi's face and hands Gabi gave Gracie a thumbs up and she waved at her. It is like she knew Gracie was there and she wanted to say hello to her sissy. So things are going great and we are getting closer so we are getting really anxious, me more so than Daddy.

Overall it was a great weekend and now we are counting down. Christmas has come and gone and now our next big event is the birth of our little angel...only 5 weeks left if we go as planned.

Taking her time...

Yesterday was our weekly BPP test. Gabriele was being a little stubborn today. She passed her movement. flexibility, and fluid portion right away, but we could not get her to practice breathing for any longer than 4-5 seconds. In order for her to pass she must practice for at least 30 seconds. Since she would not do it I had to get hooked up to the fetal monitor. It was actually very relaxing though, Daddy and I got a quick cat nap in while we waited during the test. So this week since we had to do all five test she got a 8 out of 10, which is still passing so we are go to go for another week. Here is a quick look of me at this point. I am becoming very uncomfortable. I hate to say I am miserable at this point because I know the best is yet to come. From beginning to now I am definitely noticing a lot more pain, mostly my back and some contractions... it's exciting though cause it means everyday we get closer to seeing our baby girl.

Another Big Weekend...

I can't believe it, Michael is married! Saturday, December 16th, Michael and Laura exchanged their wedding vows. I am so excited for them, they looked great and seemed really happy. It's hard to believe that we are both married now, but I also think it is great to see us both growing up and starting the next chapter of our lives with someone very special by our sides.

Later that night we took Gracie to see the plaza lights for the first time. We wanted to take her on a carriage ride, but there was an hour and a half wait. So we decided we'd try that another time. She wasn't as impressed as we hoped, her mom said she said it was neat, but just a bunch of lights on buildings. Not as exciting as what she had seen with her mom in Topeka at a lake, but we really wanted her to experience it from the carriage, so hopfelly we can make up for that.

As for me and Gabi, things are getting very uncomfortable. I am officially 8 1/2 months now, so things are slowly coming to an end. I am so thankful I don't have to much longer. I can tell she is getting bigger, but it doesn't seem like my tummy is so I am close to miserable. I have a feeling the best is yet to come. I think this time next month we will have a little one to hold, I don't know why, but I think she will be a week or two early...maybe that's just wishful thinking? Either way it won't be long and I can't wait. I have to admit though, the thought of labor scares me to death. I know it is natural and if she can fit she will, but it's strange to think that she could. Hummmm, I know it will be perfect and if it were so terrible there would be a lot less women doing it.

Meeting the Neonatologists...

Yesterday was Gabi's BPP, it went very well. She was definitely showing off for Daddy, she passed within 15 minutes...she is such a strong little monkey. After her test we finally met the neonatologists, he is the specialists that will take care of her in NICU, he works with the cardiologoist, but we didn't meet him yet. Anyways we had a great conversation with him, oh yeah, his name is Dr. Ragavear (no clue if I spelled that right). Anyways he said the only things we have to watch once she is born is her feeding, that she has gained weight, and that she can maintain her body temperature, at that point she can go home. He said most babies with her heart condition go home with no problem. Once she is born the pressure in her lungs is still really high from being in me, but about 4-6 weeks later it goes to the normal low pressure, which if she has heart failure right away this is when it would happen. We asked a lot of questions, like what happens when she does go into heart failure? He said there is no need for us to worry, because it is a slow process and we will be taught what to look for and have plenty of time to react. It was a very postive, up lifting meeting. Daddy and I are definitely seeing things in a brighter light now.
When we met with Dr. Ragavear we had to go through the nursey to get to NICU and we saw a few babies. Wow, they were beautiful and they had so much hair. It was awesome to finally see some newborns, I cannot wait to see Gabriele, she will be the most beautiful...of course I am not parcial or anything. Dr. Ragavear did say Down babies are the happiest...he said we're lucky...we already knew that though!

100 %

Memaw T and Papa B came with me to the visit, Daddy was out of town. Yesterday was our first Bio Physical Profile Test (BPP), this is the test we have to go in for on a weekly basis now. Gabriele scored 100%, 8 out of 8. The nurse had to observe 4 different functions: muscle tone, muscle flexibility, her respiratory motion, and the amount of amniotic fluid. The tests can be as short as 5 minutes or as long as an hour and a half. She passed within 26 minutes. It was a very comforting visit today...FINALLY!!
Then I met with Dr. Bennett, he has no concerns at this point. I asked him more about the potential liver problem, he said it is nothing I should consume myself with...it is not a major focus. That was a relief I had been worried since last week. Unfortunately we were unable to meet with the neonatologist, but I will see him next week. Jason will get to be at the appointment next week, so I am kind of glad we didn't meet with him this week, I didn't want Daddy to miss out.
I cannot believe I have officially entered into my 8th month, 32 weeks and 2 days to be exact. It is so exciting to think that in about 7 weeks we will get to see Gabriele for the first time. She is constantly kicking, punching, and stretching inside of me, but to see her and hold her for the first time...I CANNOT WAIT!!!