A riddle for you...

What does high blood pressure and having a stressful job get you? Drum roll please....

Bed Rest!

Yup, after having the third straight day of high blood pressure results at my doctor's office, I have been officially put on bed rest. There is a possibility that if my blood pressure goes down by Friday, I might be able to go back next week, but it's not looking good. I'm actually in the middle of a 24 hour urine collection (good times) to test for too much protein. If that comes back positive, then I will be diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, which is pretty dangerous for the mom, but poses no risk for the baby. Unfortunately, the only cure is to deliver the baby, so Avery may be making an early debut. Right now, we're just praying and keeping our fingers crossed that my test results come back negative. 

So, the hardest thing right now will be staying off my feet when I feel like there's so much to do to finish getting ready for Avery. In reality, everything is done; nursery's set up, hospital bag is packed, car seat is installed, but there are little odds and ends things that I want to finish. The other hardest thing is letting go of school. I tend to be a stress case, even though I know that I've done everything I can to prepare, and now I just have to let it go. 

Well, that's the update from the House of Rulis. We hope that you and your families are well! 

-B

18 Days to Go

So it seems that Avery is attempting an early debut. I went to my weekly doctor's appointment last Tuesday to find out that I am starting to efface and Avery's head has engaged. Being only 34w4d at that point, they put me on the monitor. I was having some contractions, although I couldn't feel them, so they gave me a drug called Turbutaline to stop them. After about a half hour things calmed down and they let me go home. I did, however, get to go back both Wed. and Thursday to be monitored. I wasn't having contractions either time, but my doctor is concerned with pre-term labor, so I'm on "modified" bed rest. She really didn't want me to go back to work, but that isn't really an option, because I still have so much left to do! So, I get to go to work (although I have to sit the entire day), and all other times I'm supposed to be off my feet. I go back in on Monday for more monitoring, and hopefully there are no more contractions. If there are, I have a feeling that I won't get a choice about returning to work. I'd really like to make it two more weeks, just to get things wrapped up.

Nate has been really wonderful making sure that I stay off my feet. He's taken care of the laundry and food, all the while putting up with my complaining. All prayers are welcome as we near the end of our pregnancy. We cannot wait for Avery to be here, and for all of you to meet her! Only 18 more days!!!

B

Our Attempt at Artsy

Well, Nate and I have had a busy weekend. Thursday night I ended up in the ER after having some pretty severe chest pain and shortness of breath for most of the afternoon. After a whole lot of test, and a rather patronizing doctor, everything checked out okay with both me and Avery. Nate was such a trooper sitting by my side for 5 hours in the hospital. I guess it'll be good practice for when it comes time for Avery to arrive. At any rate, I'm hoping that the trips to the hospital will be limited to childbirth classes from now on. I took Friday off of work to rest and because I had to go into my OBs office in the morning for a non-stress test. It's basically just laying around while they monitor the baby's heartbeat, movement, and any contractions. After the night before, it was really nice to have the day to relax.

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My whole pregnancy I've had the dilemna of whether or not to get "maternity photos" taken. On one hand, we have an amazing photographer that would take awesome pictures. One the other hand, do we really want to spend $$$ on pictures that would just get put in an album and most people would never see. So, Nate and I came up with a compromise. We borrowed my mom's hi-tec camera and set up a little shoot in our office. Nate took some great pictures, and then I used my new-found abilities in Photoshop to touch them up. They're not even close to being done yet, but I've included a couple of examples for you to see. Any feedback is much appreciated!

So Very Blessed

This past weekend, my sister threw me a baby shower. I have to say, that never before have I felt so lucky to have the friends and family that I do. I mean, I've always known they are amazing, but their generosity far exceeded anything I could have expected. I had friends come in from LA and Dallas, and Nate's mom flew in from Oregon. We got so many wonderful things for Avery, and it was awesome to spend time with friends. I'll try to post some pictures soon, but they're all on my mom's camera and I haven't made it over there to download them yet.

In other news, Nate would like to tell you about our class tonight. Boobs ... women have them and can use them to feed babies. AMAZING!!! Anyway, the highlight of the class had to be our "child" for the night. It appeared to be some sort of Pee Pee Pants Polly that had been run over by a truck then given a really crude haircut by a four-year-old hairdresser in training. She was definitely the most beautiful baby of the bunch. We have included a picture for your viewing pleasure below. Enjoy the beauty.

Nursery in progress...(part II)

This weekend we have made major strides in Avery's room. The furniture got delivered on Saturday and Nate quickly went to work putting the crib together. Of course, there's a lot of details and decorating to be done, but the major stuff is finished. Enjoy!


Nate putting the crib together.


The finished crib.


The closet organizer.

30 weeks down--8 to go!

I have officially been pregnant for 30 weeks. All in all, it has been a wonderful and healthy experience, which I am extremely thankful for. I will say, however, that in the last week or so I am getting more and more uncomfortable, and two nights ago a not-so-fun side effect began...heartburn. Now, I have never gotten heartburn, and honestly thought that it was "no big deal". Well, let me tell you, I thought I was having a heart attack and was in tears for an hour at 2AM. After nearly 24 hours of horrible pain, I discovered Zantac, and it has been a lifesaver.

In other news, school has been challenging lately. I'm getting tired more easily, which is not a good thing when you're trying to keep up with 35 eight-year-olds. I'm looking forward to my maternity leave, that's for sure. Whether or not I go back next year or take a year off is yet to be determined. I will have to see how my 6 weeks off go, and if I'm stir-crazy or not. I'm sure that no matter what, it will be difficult to leave Avery for any amount of time.

Well, I think that's all I've got. I know Nate wants to add some stuff, so I'll pass off to him.

From Nate:

While Brittany has been struggling with being uncomfortable and heartburn what is it that I have been doing you ask ... well I spent this last weekend skiing until my legs felt like they were going to fall off in amazing Winter Park, Colorado with my brother. Hold on a second though ... before you say, "WHAT!!! He went to Colorado and skied all weekend and left his pregnant wife at home all alone?!?!?!" I would like to clear up that the only reason I was in Colorado is because I have an amazing wife who surprised me last week with this trip. I had no idea that she had been planning this weekend for me since November, but boy am I lucky. Well, the weekend turned out absolutely incredible ... the snow was pristine and you just do not get ski runs like that anywhere close to Las Vegas.

And now we hit the stretch run. EIGHT (that's right eight and counting down) weeks to go until our little Avery arrives and hopefully I can take care of Brittany how ever she needs to be cared for in these next two months. Each new day I learn something new about babies and what I am going to be called on to do to care for our little daughter. Lately, I have been reading "The Happiest Baby on the Block" in preparation helping our baby to be just that. Well, that's all for now... until next time, bye!

Love,

N&B

Let the Cravings Begin!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen I am pleased to inform you that you do not mess with a pregnant lady when she is craving a particular type of food. For the past seven months I have been surprised by the lack of specific cravings that Brittany has had, but over that last week or so the cravings have arrived. In the last few days Brittany has 'required' various foods and it has been quite fun seeing the different foods that she craves. I also am interested in seeing and hearing the many different foods that she will be be craving over the next 10 weeks until Avery is born. However I fully understand (from the small 'taste' of pregnant lady cravings that I got this week) that you DO NOT mess with a pregnant lady and her cravings. Thus, I shall be doing my best to help Brit fulfill her culinary desires. I will be checking back in with the random foods that my wife eats, so check back in!!!

- Nate