34 Weeks:) (Day 11)

Today we are 34 weeks along!!

Baby is now about 4 3/4 lbs and about 18 inches long (about the size of a cantaloupe). Her fat layers, which she'll need to help regulate her body temperature after she's born, are filling her out and making her rounder. Her skin is also becoming smoother. Her central nervous system and lungs are continuing to mature. Studies also show that children born prematurely between 34 and 37 weeks (with no other health issues) generally do just as well as full term babies after a short stay in the NICU.

Thanksgiving went well, despite being stuck in the hospital. We had a non-stress test while we watched the parade, which Bean passed with no issues. We had the hospital's Thanksgiving food for lunch and had a nap in the afternoon. Mom, Frank, and Grace came by in the evening and brought us plates of food from Thanksgiving at Mamaw's house (which was much better than what the hospital had for lunch). 

We had another ultrasound on Friday, which they took me for while Tim was at home getting some chores done. They checked fluid levels and blood flow--everything looked good. I was in a bad mood because they messed up my food orders (on top of not sleeping well the night before and having all my attempts at napping interrupted by nurses and techs). The kitchen staff must have lost my menu, since they only sent up the food that was on special for that day, instead of what I'd ordered. So Tim brought pizza and we hat a little pizza party with Mom, Frank, and Grace. 

Pam, Bob, and Mamaw came up for a visit on Saturday and we played some games, ate lunch, and chatted. Tim's parents helped him with some chores and Christmas decorating on Sunday. 

Yesterday, I had another frustrating 3-hour long non-stress test. And it took the head nurse 10 minutes (after 3 hours of laying totally still and not being able to get up or move around at all without losing Bean's heartbeat on the monitor) to poke and prod Bean into doing what they needed her to do. It was extremely frustrating--especially since they sat my lunch in front of me and then told me not to eat it until they heard from the doctor. Seriously? Have all the nurses forgotten what it's like to be pregnant? I had to pee SO BAD and was ridiculously hungry--and therefore VERY angry with them by the time it was all over.

Luckily, this morning's ultrasound did not take long (although they still insist on making me ride the 100ft trip to the U/S room in a wheelchair), and I got a 3D picture out of it. They just checked fluid and blood flow again, and everything still looks good. The labs they took Monday also came back fine.

You can kind of see her eye, nose and mouth peeking out from behind all those blobs. I had to stare at it for awhile:P

I should have a quiet day tomorrow, since there are no tests scheduled. We have another non-stress test on Thursday and another ultrasound on Friday.