NST

Today was my first non-stress test (NST) at Banner Thunderbird.  


I was no big deal...just took nearly three hours.  I am hoping it will be a bit quicker now that I am registered and all questions about my medical history have been answered.


They strapped me to a monitor and monitored Blip for about 30 minutes.  He's a mover and a shaker, so it took a few minutes longer than normal to get all the info they needed.  He refused to move for our 4D ultrasound, but he wouldn't sit still for this stupid (free) test.


After they determined he was complete perfection, I waddled down the hall to the ultrasound room.  A super nice ultrasound tech explained what she needed to measure and then we got started.  She did an AFI...which basically measures the amniotic fluid Blip currently lives in.  I think I measured a nine....and between 5 and 25 is "normal".  So that was perfect too.  

The ultrasound tech also gave us a good look at Blip's heart (it's probably one of our favorite parts of every ultrasound)...and a nice long look at him sticking his tongue out.  That's definitely my favorite part.  She was so nice and let us just stare at our little guy...it was fun.


I've had more ultrasounds than I can keep track of.  It's the only good part of having so many issues.  It's funny that it never gets old.  I could lay there and look at the fuzzy pictures all day long.  It just makes me happy.


Although I hope and pray my next pregnancy has 100% less complications, it will be hard not to see the baby all the time.  We have been spoiled...and I like it.


My blood pressure was really low (more like normal) today.  So I'm  thinking that's a good sign as far as the avoiding pre-eclampsia goes.  I hope everything stays on track...it feels nice to be told normal numbers and etc for a change.


I will continue to do these NSTs twice a week until Blip makes his grand entrance.  I am ready to not be pregnant....or at least to be allowed to get some real exercise and to not feel like my pelvis is being ripped in half.

Tonight is the first time I really broke loose and just said "screw it".  I organized a bunch of Blip's stuff.  I really just got it mostly put in one place.  Anna is coming to paint this weekend, so the playroom and the nursery needed to be emptied out.  I drug/pushed all of Blip's new stuff to the living room and stacked it along the wall.  All of his furniture and bathroom stuff is upstairs on the landing.  


That pile is just child restraints (one infant carrier and two convertible seats), his stroller, swing, bouncy seat, a portable swing (for upstairs...and it was free), his Bumbo chair, his booster chair (instead of a high chair...we think), exersaucer, diaper bags, porta-crib/bassinet, and a second smaller porta-crib to either stay downstairs or go the babysitter's house (from a friend of a friend for $10!), a box of blankets/towels, a bag of bottles/pacifiers/etc...You get the idea.  Across the room from all that crap the diapers we've been collecting are stacked up.


Nothing has been opened yet.  I have been waiting for the nursery to be finished, so I have a place to put everything.  I decided I should at least start washing the blankets, towels and washcloths. Once his furniture is in place, I can start washing some of his new clothes.  I think just about everything is hanging in Blip's closet...I took a picture of just his 0-3 months/newborn clothes.  They are so tiny and so cute!!

 This week my sisters took me to Buy Buy Baby to buy my stroller and a few other items.  I can't wait to open everything and get it all put together.  It's shocking to me how much stuff we have acquired...and how much we've spent.  Yikes!!  Luckily, I'm not a big believer in blue and pink, so almost everything is pretty gender neutral and can be used for the next baby no matter what sex he or she may be.  I am far (far) from a feminist, but I really hate how gender specific some of this crap is.


Tomorrow is New Year's Eve...I am thankful I am not in the dark place I was last year at this time.  I was really struggling with our infertility...I didn't even leave the house.  I avoided several friends' parties.  I can't believe how much difference a year (and really expensive fertility drugs) can make.  I am thankful for how far Mike and I have come in this year.  I am so very thankful for Blip...he's already brought so much joy to my life.  I am so excited to meet him.