A quick update...

First of all, Merry Christmas! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed their Christmas.

I will update with the pictures of our Christmas tomorrow or Friday, when I have a bit more time. I mainly just wanted to update everyone on my OB appt today.

I saw Dr. Lee, a true obstetrician and not the nurse practitioner this time. Needless to say, Dr. Lee was much more knowledgable. Here is the abbreviated version of the appointment:

**BGP has definitely dropped, according to Dr. Lee. She says that BGP's head is very low and that is why I am measuring a little behind (her head is so far down in my pelvis).

**I am 2cm dilated and 50% effaced. I will be 36 weeks on Friday so I guess this is really good news for being 36 weeks. I was only 1cm dilated with Jackson at 36 weeks. Hopefully I'll be a good 3-4cm by 38-39 weeks. The more I can dilate without being in active labor = much better for me.

**I lost 2 pounds since last week. Not sure how that happened, as I've eaten boatloads with the holidays. I honestly thought I had put on at least 5 pounds. But, my OB isn't worried. She feels like BGP is taking whatever she needs from me. That was reassuring because I was a little more than upset when I saw that I had actually lost weight.

**Dr. Lee doesn't think that BGP is that small of a baby. She thinks she'll be about 6lbs at birth, just like Jackson. She wasn't worried at all about her size. I just don't have a big babies, which is nice when it comes to pushing!

**Dr. Lee and Dr. Thibodeau both granted me permission to go to Duke University in Raleigh, North Carolina for Dad's surgery on January 10th. It's about a 2.5 hour drive but I just have to stretch my legs and walk each hour. I will be almost 38 weeks and they prefer that you not travel after 36 weeks but both thought that this was not "elective." I told them that I really would like to be there if they would agree to it and they gave me their blessings and said, "Absolutely, without a doubt -- GO." They are going to give me my records, just in case I go into labor at Duke hospital. And they actually said they felt like there was no other place they'd rather me deliver. The care there is so specialized and Dr. Lee even jokingly said, "It's probably best case scenario, especially with all of your family being there anyway." So, I'll be prepared for BGP's arrival in North Carolina, just in case.

**If no baby by 39 weeks, they will induce me. Dr. Lee doesn't think I'll make it to 39 weeks. She thinks I will go into labor on my own by then but just in case, we are going to schedule a 39 week induction. I had the placental abruption with Jackson at 38 weeks so I'm a little nervous about waiting it out until 39 weeks but I know the Lord will keep us safe.

Here are a couple of almost 36 week belly pictures:



And one picture from 33 weeks, so that you can compare and see how much BGP dropped. Notice how I was carrying higher at 33 weeks and more "all-around."



Okay, look for the Christmas pictures and video within the next few days.


Much love,
Wee 4 Peters

Christmas Pictures

As promised, here are our Christmas pictures (don't forget that you can click on the actual picture to get a closer view of it):

One of only 2 family pictures where Jackson smiled. Taking family pictures was extremely difficult.


We had to hide Jackson's pacifier in the tree to get this picture. He wasn't interested in the Christmas tree at all until we stuck his pacifier in there but it was a real challenge to get him to look back at the camera and give us a half-smile whilst searching for his paci.


Jackson had a ball in the sleigh and the photographer really captured his excitement in this pic.


In the sleigh....


On Santa's lap! If you ask me, I think he looks a lot like Grandaddy Chitwood in this picture (and maybe a bit like me too!).

It's been a while.....

So sorry we haven't updated in a while. Things have been so hectic lately. With Christmas and BGP coming, we've had little to no time.

I have an OB appointment tomorrow. BGP definitely "dropped" so I am going to be inquiring about that. Jax dropped at 37 weeks and I thought that with subsequent pregnancies, babies don't drop until right before labor or a few days before labor. So, I am definitely going to talk to the doctor about that. I continue to have lots of pressure and contractions. I also have this horrible cramp/radiating pain that runs from my uterus down into the middle of my right thigh. I am not sure what is causing this though that's on my list of questions too. Thus far, I've gained 16 pounds and I really tried hard the past 2 weeks gain more. At my last appointment, the doctor told me that BGP was a "peanut" but she wasn't surprised since Jackson was only 6lbs at birth. She also said, "You may just not grow them very big, which is much easier for you during delivery!" Hoping for a bit more weight gain, not that it will matter. I gained the average 34-35 pounds with Jackson and he still was 6lbs; a VERY healthy 6lbs, I might add. I might also add he's now a grand ol' 26pound toddler.

Mr. Jackson & all his glory:


My father & mother went to get a 2nd opinion at Duke University today. They also used this as a consultation for his surgery. Duke University is known as one of the top pulmonary (lung) speciality hospitals in the nation so we know we are in good hands. They usually are at the fore-front of all oncology (cancer) medications and treatments. So, they met with Dr. Harpole, who is a thoracic oncologist (chest/lung cancer specialist). He viewed the slides of my Dad's cells and basically said he couldn't tell whether his cancer was mesothieloma or renal cell carcinoma. He requested my dad's cells from Obici so that Duke's own pathologist could do his own testing and staining on the slides. Apparently their pathologist is one of the best in the nation as well. Dr. Harpole is definitely leaning towards mesothieloma but they absolutely have to rule out the renal cell carcinoma before they do any surgery. He was very perplexed by Dad's case; therefore, he requested permission from my father to present his case at a conference being held on January 2nd at Duke. He said that it's a conference with all the "experts" and "big-wigs." Dad, of course, gave his "okay" and we will be eager to hear what the determination is. It will take about 7-10 days for the pathologist at Duke to formulate his opinion on Dad's cells (determine what type of cancer) and we have to figure in time off for the holidays as well. Otherwise, Dr. Harpole said that they could have done the surgery this week. So, we will wait for the determination from the pathologist, then we wait to see what all the experts say from the meeting on January 2nd and Dad goes back to Duke on January 8th for an ultrasound on his kidney (to rule out any tumors on it). The surgery date is January 10th. He will definitely have some sort of surgery but we are unsure what it will entail -- the surgery will depend on the type of cancer. Please keep my father in your prayers!!

Dan's squadron-mates returned from their 6 month deployment today. He was responsible for setting up some of the activities. Their aircraft carrier returns tomorrow. Dan got to meet almost all of his new squadron-mates. Apparently they indicated to Dan that there would be a "meet and greet" after the holidays. They also alluded that there would be some practical jokes being played on him. I think the direct quote was, "We had a lot of time to think while we were on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.....nothing better to do with our time." Oh boy, this ought to be interesting!

We got our Christmas portraits taken last week. I mailed them out last week as well. Most of you all should have received one. I need to scan them and place them up on here, but again, no time to do so yet. I will try to do that tomorrow since I have the day off.

Jackson is growing like a weed. He's been incredibly fussy the past week and I think it's because his canines are erupting in his mouth. I know these teeth can be quite painful for them to cut, possibly even more so than molars. He's not eating well, not sleeping, very tired and cranky, etc. Hopefully he'll be over this in a few days.

It's been really chilly around here the past few days. Dan and my dad created a little fire in Dad's new firepit on Sunday and I snapped some pictures of Dad & Jackson. I couldn't believe Jackson actually left the stocking cap and the hood on his head.



Crawling all over and laying on Grandaddy's chest is one of Jackson's favorite things to do. Even though Grandaddy's chest is still sore, Jackson gets far too much fun out of it to stop. Actually, I'm not sure who loves it more: Grandaddy or Jackson. Better do it now and get his "fill" before Dad's surgery in January.



Guess that's about it! Again, sorry for not updating but we've been so busy.

Look for me to update with the Christmas pictures tomorrow!