An Email From My Husband

Todd is always saying and writing sweet things to me. I wish that I had kept all of them. Anyhow, this is an email that I got from him today and had to share it. God has blessed me with a wonderful, sweet husband....

"I am so incredibly excited for you to bring our son into the world, Lisa.  To think that it could be as early as next week is unreal, and I still haven’t wrapped my mind around it.  I probably won’t until he’s actually here.  You will be an incredible mother, and although people tell you that all the time, I actually know you inside and out, and I can say it with 100% certainty.  There is no little boy alive who will be more blessed than Landon is to have you for a mommy.  (Grace already knows this. :))"

Week 36 Appointment #2

**If you didn't see my update in my Week 36 Appointment post, my blood work came back with no major concerns though some acid level was borderline.

Landon @ 36w3d

Today's appointment was the same as Monday's with one exception - it started off with us seeing our boy! Another thorough ultrasound showed that he is weighing approximately 6.5lbs., amniotic fluid levels are good, blood flow through the umbilical cord is good - you get the idea, everything with him is good :) A check of my cervix showed that it was still good - high, firm and closed. Landon is still not ready to join us - which is another good thing, as we are not quite ready either!

Now the not so good. My blood pressure was still high. I heard the words borderline pre-eclampsia, modified bed rest and last day of work. Talk about some stress factors! My doctor ordered me or I guess, rather, advised me to stop working to reduce stress. Um...do you not know what I do?!? Okay, he probably doesn't, but come on!  If he had taken my blood pressure right then I think he would have admitted me to the hospital for observation which is a possibility at every appointment. *BTW: For those of you who don't know what I do, I teach 2nd/3rd grade special education. Not a job you can just stop going to exactly. And, it does not really cause me a lot of stress....

Anyhow, I agreed with my doctor no more work, however, Todd and I talked about it on the way home and I explained to him that I could not not go to work on Thursday and Friday. I needed time to not only get ready for a sub, but to process that I was going on maternity leave three weeks early (something we did not budget for). Todd agreed but only because the doctor said modified bed rest and he knows me well enough to know that having Wednesday be my last day would be more stressful than it being Friday. Oh, and, I had to agree to let the nurse take my blood pressure at school. If it was high, I will leave. I can handle that.

So, this is where we are at. I have been officially diagnosed with borderline pre-eclampsia and put on modified bed rest. I have to take my blood pressure daily. If it is above 140/90 I have to call the doctor and will most likely be admitted to the hospital for a 24-hour observation. I will have two appointments per week until Landon's arrival. I will have blood drawn at both of these appointments. If the levels of platelets or the acid are higher than my baseline, Landon will be arriving within 24 hours of when we got those results. At one of those appointments, we will also have an ultrasound. My last day of work for 15 weeks is this Friday. Whew!

My next appointment is next Monday when I will be 37 weeks and considered full-term. Praying that we can make at least that far!

We ask that you continue to pray that my platelet level and acid level remain at my baseline or lower so that Landon can continue to do what he needs to in there :)

Week 36 Appointment

My monthly appointments, as of today's, had turned into weekly appointments which have turned into (at least for this week possibly), two appointments per week thanks to high blood pressure. I had blood drawn to test for something - my doctor didn't say what. My only guess is pre-eclampsia as I had also gained 7 pounds in two weeks - Eek! I will find out tomorrow if all looks good. As for the rest of me, all is good, firm, closed and high :) And, as for Landon, he is still doing great and not showing any signs that he ready to make his grand appearance! I go back on Thursday for another appointment, blood work and ultra-sound. I can't wait to see my boy again - it has been two months!

Please pray with us that there is nothing more going on....

**Update** Blood work did not show anything concerning though some type of acid level was borderline. Everything will be checked again on Thursday.

Ashley/Noorman Shower

Baby Shower - Take 2. After a couple of days and baby shower number 1 in my hometown, we drove over to the northern part of Michigan to Todd's hometown of Sparta (near Grand Rapids). Once again our family (namely my Sister-in-Law, Mother-in-Law, Grandma Ashley and Todd's aunts) outdid themselves and threw us a wonderful shower.

The love shown for our baby boy (who may be here sooner than we thought - post to come) and the generosity of those who attended, were more than Todd and I could have ever imagined. Family and friends of ours attended including one of Todd's college roommates and his wife and my suite-mate of three years (who I hadn't seen since my bridal shower 7 years ago!). We received our Boppy Newborn Lounger, picture frames, cute, tiny clothes and so much more!

My Sister-in-Law got us a scrapbook and had each table decorate different themed pages. All we have to do is add the pictures and text! PS - This is just a sampling - there are pages for his 1st Birthday to everyday to Family!

Erika (35 weeks pregnant) and I (21 weeks pregnant)

Chanter/Noorman Family Picture

Todd and I with Grandma Ashley

Landon is one loved baby boy!

Hand-made blanket from my Mother-in-Law

Wipp/Zill Baby Shower

Okay, so this post is only about three months late, but I thought I had better post about our first two showers now before our next two showers (which are next Tuesday and the following Monday). Yes, FOUR baby showers! We have already been blessed beyond belief by Michigan family and friends and now our Tennessee friends are throwing us baby showers. Amazing!

Our first shower was in my hometown of Royal Oak, Michigan on October 16 when we were a mere 21 weeks pregnant. My aunts and mom put it all together for us and it was way better than we ever could have imagined! Neither Todd nor I are 'theme' people so my poor aunt had to come up with something on her own and she did awesome! Todd and I are huge Detroit Tigers fans and so as you can see from the pictures the theme for the baby shower fit us perfectly!

We had family and friends from over two hours away attend as well as friends from my childhood. My best friend drove up from Ohio with her two boys, both under three, only to have to drive back to Ohio to be back for a dinner at her church that same evening. Family from both my mom's side as well as my dad's side were there.  People we hadn't seen since our wedding seven years ago were there. We were overwhelmed just by those in attendance so you can imagine what we felt like after opening all the gifts.

We received everything from our Chicco Travel System to cute, tiny clothes to homemade quilts. The pictures do not do the love and generosity of our family and friends justice. I have more pictures somewhere that I hope to find and post soon!

Each guest received a homemade bag (thanks to my Aunt Kathy filled with homemade goodies thanks to my Aunt Linda)

Landon's first Detroit Tigers gear on a cute coat rack from Uncle Ron

Todd and I still in shock from the love showed by our family and friends (this picture doesn't show everything)!

Our cake made by a childhood friend's mom (also a friend!). Everything is homemade and edible except the baby - The detail was crazy!

And last but not least, gifts for Grace from my aunts and cousins :)

*Post about the Ashley/Noorman shower to follow!

34 Weeks

*How far along? 34 weeks

*How big is your baby? A honeydew (17.2 to 18.7 in, 4.2 to 5.8 lb)

*Total weight gain: 18 pounds

*Sex: It’s a BOY!

*Name: Landon John Noorman

*Maternity clothes: Yes, but I am still able to fit in some of my regular clothes (though those are slowly dwindling)

*Stretch marks: Breasts - yes. Belly - no. I am still using Burt’s Bees Mama Bee body oil every night.

*Movement: Not only feeling it, but seeing it, too!

*Sleep: I have been getting about 4-5 hours a night and am waking up about every hour.

*Best moment this week: Getting started (and almost finishing the nursery thanks to my hubby)

*Food cravings: Homemade chicken tenders, cheese sticks and french fries, any Cherry Cola product, Little Caesar's Baby Pan Pan, Sweet N' Sour Chicken

*Labor signs: I have had Braxton Hicks contractions for a few weeks now.

*Belly button in or out: In (though starting to come out)
*What I miss: Not having heartburn 24/7

*What we’re looking forward to: The nursery being finished (just a couple of more finishing touches) - hope to post pictures later this week!