First "picture" of Kayla

I had two doctors appointments today (Perinatologist and my OB).  All is looking good.  I had a high level ultrasound where Kayla was measured and she is estimated to be about 6 pounds 2 oz.  She is head down now, but both doctors are recommending a c-section.  I'm ok with it since I already know what to expect.  It was neat to see her on the ultrasound and to get an awesome 4D picture of her.  It's her first "picture".  The ultrasound also showed she has hair on her head.  My regular OB is looking at scheduling a c-section at 38 weeks.  I do hope to make it to then.

Here is the 4D picture of Kayla.  The ultrasound tech was only able to get half of her face.  Kayla kept putting her hand up to her face.  She must be camera shy!  She sure has chubby cheeks!

Kayla - 35 weeks, 2 days

 

35 Week Update

 

How many weeks?  I'm 35 weeks!

How am I feeling?  Feeling big!  Kayla must have had a growth spurt because I'm really popping out now.  I'm feeling so many emotions right now.  I'm excited and nervous as the time gets closer to when she will arrive.  I just can't believe that we are getting closer to meeting our new little girl.  She is a miracle and a blessing.  I'm so thankful to have gotten to experience a normal singleton pregnancy.  I have to admit I have been worried about this pregnancy since the beginning, but it goes to show the Lord is in charge and has really blessed me.  

Weight gain?  I've gained 2 pounds in one week.  It must have been all that Thanksgiving food.  I've gained a total of 26 pounds.  

Doctors appointment?  I will be seeing the perinatologist one last time this week.  I will get a high level ultrasound and the perinatologist will measure Kayla to get an estimate of how big she is.  I look forward to seeing how big she has gotten.  I hope to get a 4D picture of her face (that's if she cooperates).  I will also see my regular OB this week as well.  At my last OB appointment I got an ultrasound, but Kayla was not cooperating and was facing my back so I couldn't get a good look at her face.  Kayla is breech and I don't think she will flip so a C-section looks to be the way she will be delivered.  My doctor also checked my cervix and it is still closed and thick!

Baby preparation?  I've been working on her room.  I hung up some pictures and did some other organizing/cleaning.  I still need to hang up the letters of her name.  That will get done this week.  Her room is really coming along.

Happy Thansksgiving 2011

Haley and Rachel

The girls had a good 2nd Thanksgiving.  My parents (the girls grandparents) came to visit.  We had a good day together and enjoyed good food.  We are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for!  Happy Thanksgiving!

34 Week Update

 

How many weeks?  I can't believe it, but I'm finally 34 weeks!  I've made it this far, I'm determined to make it to full term (37 weeks).

How am I feeling?  Well not the greatest right now.  I have a cold so I'm congested.  No fun since I would rather not take any cold medicine.  I'll make it through.  Other than that I'm feeling very pregnant.  My back hurts along with other aches and pains associated with the pregnancy.  I'm still not as big as I was when I had the sextuplets, but for some reason I feel like I'm more uncomfortable this time around.  I am very happy to have made it to 34 weeks.  I made it a goal to make it to 34 weeks a while ago, but seeing that I'm still going, I've made a new goal to make it to 37 weeks (full term).  Even if I don't make it to 37 weeks, I know that Kayla will be just fine.  I am hoping to keep Kayla out of the NICU, but even if she does have to go there hopefully it will be a short stay.   

Weight gain?  I've gained 1 pound this past week so I've gained a total of 24 pounds. 

Doctors appointment?  Every week.  Last week things continue to look good.  Nothing new to report after seeing my doctor last week.

33 Week Update

 

How many weeks?  I'm 33 weeks.

How am I feeling? As I get bigger, I'm getting more uncomfortable.  I have back pain sometimes and my ligament muscles hurt at times too, but other than that I'm doing good.  I'm so happy to be this far in my pregnancy that these aches and pains I'm feeling are really not too bad.  I am taking it easy and really want to make it to 36 / 37 weeks.  If I go farther, that would be great!  I'm doing surprisingly well so who knows exactly when Kayla will arrive.

Weight gain?  Yes finally I've gained.  I've gained a total of 23 pounds.  It seems that all my weight gain is the belly/baby. 

Doctors appointment?  Yes I will be seeing Dr. Pinell this week.  Last week he checked my cervix and it is still closed and thick.  Also he did fetal heart rate and contraction monitoring again for 20 minutes.  All continues to look good.  Kayla is an active baby!

Baby preparation? I've gotten together all of her clothes (thanks to Rachel and Haley for passing some of them down) and have put them in the new chest of drawers.  I've looked at what baby items we have for her and what we still need.  We still need to purchase the mattress for her crib.  We have time for that though as she will be sleeping in our room when she gets home.

Rachel and Haley - Update

Rachel and Haley are growing up so fast!  I can't believe how big they are getting.  I still remember so well how tiny they were when they were born.  They have come a long way!  The girls continue to get physical, speech and occupational therapy.  Little by little the therapy is helping them to progress. 

Rachel is getting closer to walking.  Well she has taken some steps on her own, but she is unsteady.  She still falls, but she keeps trying.

Haley has finally met the requirements for the forward facing carseat.  She's finally 20 pounds!  We took out the infant carseat carrier and put in the big girl carseat.  Now her and Rachel are matching in the same carseats.  She seems to like it.  Haley also got new lenses in her glasses.  We took Haley to the eye doctor because she stopped wanting to wear her glasses.  We figured something was going on.  The doctor said her prescription needed to be changed.  Her prescription is now not as strong and her lenses are not as thick.  Yea!!!  She seems to be wearing her new glasses well and seems to be seeing better.  Haley's vision will be a mystery to us until she can talk to tell us what and how much she sees, but to us and her therapists, she seems to be seeing better than her eye doctors say.  She just amazes me how well she gets around with her limited vision.

Haley with her new lenses

Below are some new random pictures:

Haley and Rachel ready for a walk out in the cooler fall weather.  We love this new stroller!

Daddy and his girls

Mommy and her girls (Haley, Kayla and Rachel)

Physical therapy helping Rachel learn to ride the tricycle.  Haley climbed on back for a ride.

 

32 Week Update

 

How many weeks?  I'm 32 weeks and still going!

How am I feeling?  I'm definitely feeling like 3rd trimester pregnant.  I'm feeling bigger and I'm moving slower.  My belly is feeling heavy, but I'm not even close to being as big as I was with the sextuplets.  This is how big I was when I was 18 weeks with the sextuplets.  Sleep has been getting a little more uncomfortable, but surprisingly I'm sleeping good most nights.

Weight gain?  I haven't gained this past week.  I'm still at 22 pounds total weight gain.  No weight gain the past week surprises me because I've been really getting into the Halloween candy.  I just can't resist all that chocolate. 

Doctors appointment?  I'm seeing my doctor weekly.  Last week my doctor did fetal heart rate monitoring and contraction monitoring for about 20 minutes.  The results were good.  Kayla's heart rate was good and it showed normal healthy activity.  

Baby preparation?  We finally got a chest of drawers for Kayla's room.  I was going to order one online, but I kept searching craigslist in hopes to find one and we finally found the perfect one.  It matches the color of her crib and it's the right size for her room.  We don't have a lot of room for furniture in her room since we have a full size bed in her room and we don't want to get rid of it or have any place else to put it.  We plan on using that bed later.  Slowly we are getting her room ready.

Kayla's room