Thursday, 20th November, 2003
Jackson's a BIG boy!
Christie and I went to the doctor yesterday for our last scheduled ultrasound. From now on we'll go every week until the birth.
The results were pretty amazing. We knew Jackson Samuel wasn't a tiny baby (he was 4 pounds at 30 weeks), but now we're at 36 weeks and he's (according to the sonographer's estimate) 7.8 pounds! Dr. Piper says that the ultrasound usually puts the number a little high, but that he's definitely going to be a decent-size baby. Everything else looks good, too.
Dr. Piper said that Christie's progressing well (70% effaced and slightly dilated), and that Jackson is at "zero station" just waiting for the buzzer to go off.
Christie's really excited and so am I, but we're really eager to get everything together for the birth now. We still have a lot of work to do getting the house and nursery organized, so that'll take some time and energy. Christie wanted everything done before Jackson gets here, but her priority right now is having a healthy boy and bringing him home safely; the rest will come in due time. Still, we have our hands full until he arrives--then we'll REALLY have our hands full!
We appreciate and covet everyone's prayers as we get closer to our truly blessed event.
Tuesday, 25th November, 2003
Today's Doctor Visit: So Far, So Good!
We had our first weekly doctor visit today, and everything looks good. Christie's effaced and dilated the same as last week, but now Jackson Samuel has moved from 0 to +1 station. That means his head is 1 centimeter past the ischial spines, the narrowest part of the pelvis—he's really getting ready to be born!
We came to the hospital with a packed bag in Christie's trunk thinking that we might be staying for the delivery. Dr. Piper says that at 36 weeks 5 days Jackson's lungs aren't quite finished developing yet, so it's good that he's not coming out just yet. We're getting a bit anxious, though! Christie's predicting it will happen in the second week of December; I'm predicting it'll happen sometime after Thanksgiving.
Saturday, 29th November, 2003
A Quiet Thanksgiving Holiday
On the direction of Dr. Piper and the advice of our families, we've been spending the holiday pretty close to home. We had Thankgiving dinner at the Cracker Barrel, and then went to Garden Ridge and got some holiday essentials. Then on Friday afternoon we went to WalMart and the Hickory Hollow Mall, which made Christie feel lots better. We capped that off with a quiet evening at home.
Jackson seems to have dropped a bit more since Wednesday, so we're progressing nicely toward delivery. We ask for and appreciate everyone's prayers for Christie's and Jackson's health, and for a safe and healthy delivery!