2 weeks old

Another week has passed already. Carter had his two week appointment today. He weighed in at 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20.75" long. He is now turning his head from side to side when he picks it up.
My mom went home this past Tuesday - I knew I was going to miss her. I do - mornings are rough and it has only been two days since she went home!
Jason's parents will be here in a week to visit. We are looking forward to seeing them. I am glad they are able to come out and see Carter while he is still so small and new. Having skype has been great - a way to stay visually connected across the miles.

7 days old

We have survived our first week. Carter is a sweet baby boy! He sleeps well & eats like there is no tomorrow. He does pick his head up - not for long yet but he is working on it. He is also smiling (and it isn't gas - sorry Jason). He really is perfect - I could not have asked for a better baby. Sarah is a great big sister. She loves to hold him and is always telling him she loves him. Emma loves him too - just not as gently. :-)
I am not sure what I will do when my mom goes home - she has been getting up with the girls (mainly Emma) at 6:00 or so in the morning so I can sleep! Thanks mom - you rock!

Homeward Bound

Well, here we are 2 days old and on our way home. Our nurses were great, the food not too bad but the girls were missing mommy pretty badly and wanted brother at home. My recovery was going nicely so we got the ok late this afternoon that we were headed home.
Sarah LOVES her new baby brother and by the looks of it we may have some difficulty getting his picture without her in it.
Blessings,
Kim

Introductions

Carter Joseph Edward LaBombard
Born: 11.15.07 at 7:58 am.
Weighed: 6 pounds 7.5 ounces
Measured: 20.5 inches long.

How many nurses?

How many nurses does it take to get an IV in my arm?

Apparently 4 - 1 to blow out my vein the first time and then 3 more to get it in on the second try. Can you say OUCH!! I hope things go better tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow...we got the results back from our amnio today and the baby is mature! Praise God! I do not think I could have lasted another week. So we are a go for surgery tomorrow. We need to arrive at 5:30am and the c-section is scheduled for 7:30am.

I am a bit nervous (new dr., new hopsital, lots of new rules). I really do miss Dr. Chu and the other drs. at my old office in MI.

Be on the lookout for new baby pics and a name announcement. We have to have one picked out soon - deadline has arrived.

Please keep us in your prayers tomorrow.

We love you and miss you!
Blessings,
Kim & family

Week 37

This is day number 260 and I am 37 weeks pregnant!
I have 20 days or 2 weeks left, and are 92.9% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 246 days or 35 weeks. My due date is 12/4/2007.

Our baby is now considered full term. This means that if he arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though my due date is still three weeks away.

He is probably about 6.5 pounds and measures approximately 21 inches in length, and has developed enough coordination so that he can grasp an object with his fingers.

Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. I won't be surprised if the baby's hair isn't the same color as mine. The girls are blondies (just like daddy), however I am holding out that baby boy will have dark hair like me. (We’ll find out soon enough).

Personal Info:
Weight:
Waist: 39”
Baby’s Heart Rate: 130 – 155 (quite the range today).

I know, I know…no picture again! We do have them taken but Jason just hasn’t gotten them to me yet. So, as soon as I can get them from him – I will update the posts with the pics.

Short but sweet tonight.

Blessings,
Kim

Week 36

Well, we are getting close! Only 3 more days to go.

Here is the update for week 36...Obviously, I did not make the next day posting deadline. :-)

This is day number 257 and I am 36 weeks pregnant!
I technically have 23 days or 3 weeks left, and are 91.8% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 243 days or 34 weeks. My due date is 12/4/2007.

The baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He has added another half pound and now weighs about 6 pounds, measures anywhere from 18 1/2 inches - 20.7 inches in length, and is almost ready to check out of "Hotel Mom." (Did I mention 3 more days?)

He’s shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. The baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, this will form the contents of his first bowel movement. (Does that sound as gross to anyone else as it does to me?) YUCK!

At the end of this week, our baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) He will be almost full term – We are scheduled to deliver at 37 weeks and 2 days.

He's in a head-down position (not that it matters too much). But if he wasn't, our practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax the baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly (glad I don’t have to do that – that does not sound like much fun).

Personal Info:
Weight: 134 pounds
BP: 98/62
Waist: 40”
Fundal Height: 31 cm (not sure what happened this week – but we did get an extra ultrasound out of the deal. He is looking good! Right where he should be, not too big, not too small)
Baby’s Heart Rate: 135ish

There you have it - week 36. One more post before the baby arrives (well hopefully it will get posted before he arrives) :-)

Please continue to pray that the amnio shows good levels of surfactant (soapy substance measured to check lung maturity)& that I do not start contracting from it (a possible side effect). My amnio is scheduled for 8:45 am on Wednesday. Please pray also for the surgery on Thursday. I have done this twice before and not so much worried about the surgery as having a new doctor and being in a new hospital. Our c-section is scheduled for 7:30 am.

I know you are all wondering if we have a name yet...nope sorry! We didn't have one picked out for either one of the girls until the hospital was hounding us for the info - why should baby boy be any different? We'll have one soon. :-)

Have a great week.

Love & Blessings,
Kim

Week 35

Okay, okay! I know I am really late on this one but things are getting just a little bit crazy around here. Really, they are...

We started TOAG this past week - TOAG stands for Training Ordinary Apprentices to Go. This is a year long intensive training program for the mission field. We attend a meeting/class every Monday night, we are required to bring the girls (this is tons of fun) :-), and we have lots of homework! So, considering my days are taken with caring for two young girls and a home - my nights have been relinquished to study. I have been spending any free time unpacking the boxes that are still left (most in the baby's room)and trying to tie up any loose ends (mostly painting) on the project front so I can just enjoy the new baby and the visit from my mom. Hence, my not being able to blog until now.

So without further delay...here's the stats for week 35!

This is day number 251 and I am 35 weeks pregnant!
I have 29 days or 4 weeks left, and are 89.6% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 237 days or 33 weeks. We are due on 12/4/2007.

The baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). He will continue to gain about half a pound per week until you deliver.

His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products.

Stem cells in the bone marrow continue to produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to maintain a healthy immune system, but there is not really any development remaining for arms, legs, brain or organs.

Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Info taken from babycenter.com and pregnancyweekly.com.

Personal Info:
Weight: 133 pounds
BP: 96/60
Waist: 39”
Fundal Height: 34cm
Baby’s heart rate: 135-140

There it is – week 35 info, just in time for me to post week 36 tomorrow. 

Please continue to pray that the baby’s lungs will be fully developed by November 14th when we do our amnio. Thanks!

Blessings,
Kim

I am still blogging!

Hey there -

Yes, I am still here.

I am hoping to get the baby update posted tomorrow. If you happen to also read Jason's blog (he updates more than I do) you know we started our mission training this past week. My evenings have been taken up with homework for that and by the time I am done...I am exhausted.

So, please keep checking in - I will get it all figured out eventually.

We are 35 weeks this week, coming up on week 36 on Tuesday! Just 11 days to go. Please continue to pray that the baby's lungs are fully developed by the amnio on the 14th.

Blessings,
Kim