Our Pregnancy

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Due Date: April 29th, 2003

Online Poll! Go to: http://www.expectnet.com

 Poll Name is CooperHenryWitmer

37.5 weeks

179lbs

38 weeks

178lbs

39 weeks

183lbs

40 weeks

181lbs

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To View the beginning of pregnancy portion of my Pregnancy Journal click here!

But the best parts are below....in the 2nd part of our pregnancy....

31 October 02 - Great news this week!  The all day morning sickness has seemed to disappear!!!  That is the best thing that could happen.  We just got a baby beat in the mail.  It is so awesome cause you can hear the baby's heartbeat like at the doctor's office.  It actually the same device that they use.  We've rented it for the pregnancy so if I don't feel any movement, I can check out it's heartbeat.  www.babybeat.com We get to find out if it's a boy or a girl in Jan according to our doctor.  At our next appt we will get clearance to travel for a little bit.  Other than that things seem to be going great.  

08 November 02 - WOaaaah....no one ever told me that when the heartburn comes, I'd be ready to go pick out a casket!  I thought I was going to die when the first bout hit me.  I've never had heartburn before so I had no idea what it was.  Luckily Matt has had it and diagnosed me before I had a chance to go to the emergency room and make a fool of myself.  I've gotten a lot bigger (in my eyes) since our last doctor's appt.  I am so afraid that I am going to gain to much weight and then have to slack off of this eating thing...it's too much fun to be ravenously hungry and then eat eat eat!!!!

I finally got a maternity winter coat and you can actually see it hanging in the background of the 15 weeks pics.  It's like a classic shearling jacket, but without that nasty animal hair.  I just love it. I'll get to use it when we go to OKC next month to visit and spend time with Matt. 

10 January 2003 - 24 Weeks  -  It's a boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We were so excited to find out.  We had our sonogram on the 23rd of December so that was our Christmas present.  You couldn't slap the smile off of our faces when Dr. Webb told us.  Our actual delivery doctor is Dr Kennedy, but I don't think he does ultra sounds.  We've decided to name him Cooper Henry Witmer.  We just love the name Cooper for no reason, but Henry is Dad Witmer's first name and he passed it to Matt as Matt's middle name, so we've decided that we'd name Cooper with it as well.  I just love the idea of namesakes.  That's so neat! 

We had lots of fun during Christmas.  Cooper got his first Ole Miss outfit and bottle from my cousin Jason.  He got his first Bama outfit and booties from his Auntie Ann.  We had a shower on the 28th of December at Mrs Charlene's home in Alabama.  Annie hosted it and it turned out just perfect!  We received tons of awesome gifts.  Then when we got home Mom and Dad Witmer's present arrived!  Cooper's first furniture!  A Sweet Dreams Deluxe Pack n Play (Travel crib, bassinet, changing station, and play pen)  It is awesome...We put all the nice things we have received so far in the bassinet part so we can display them. 

My brain has flown far far away.  I don't know what's happen to it.  Although I read somewhere, where a pregnant woman's brain actually shrinks until like 18 months post partum.  We were in the grocery store the other night and I needed to get chicken broth for Veggie soup.  Matt waited with the buggy at the end of the aisle while I went to get a can.  I looked and looked and looked until I had to turn to Matt and ask; "What'd I need again?"  He gave me a "homey" look and went and got it for me.  Things like that have been happening a lot here lately. 

I had my first bout with Braxton Hicks contractions.  My uterus was getting really really tight and hard after I cleaned the whole house the other day and I freaked out.  Matt and  I found out that it is just BH contractions and that that happens if you over do it sometimes.  So I guess I should settle it down!  They supposedly prepare your body for the real labor contractions throughout the end of your 2nd trimester and 3rd... Oh and I have frequent midnight cravings for crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches!!!! There is nothing better in the world....well other than bar-b-q with slaw on top...heh heh

23 January 2003 - 26 Weeks 5 days - Everything seems to be moving right along.  My appetite has gotten a little bigger which is not to cool considering gaining a lot more weight is the last thing that I want to do.  At the last doctor's appt. Dr Kennedy weighed us in at 155 lbs!  I have never in my life weighed that much so it was a pretty big shocker when the nurse moved the weight from my usual 100 on the top bar to the 150 bar and then added 5 extra on the bottom bar.  It's like when they move the weight that far, you'll never be the same again.  

We went shopping at Babies R Us while we helped Patrick move in Birmingham.  We got the best diaper bag ever, a Baby Bjorn and lots of other things as well.  Matt kept throwing packages of sheets in the buggy.  He is really worried that every time Cooper looks at the crib cradle or pack n play that he is going to go over and pee on it...heh heh  I laughed so hard at him and his sheet obsession.  We also bought Cooper his first 2 pairs of Khaki short, which if you know me you know that I love khakis better than jeans any day.

Our Portable Crib came in the other day and Matt did such a great job putting it together.  Then the bedding for it came in a week later so we put all of that on there as well.  It a baby Jungle Animal theme, which is the cutest I could find for a little boy.  I'm not into trains planes and cars.... 

I am so glad that I rediscovered crunchy Peanut Butter toast.  I eat that every morning with a banana.  It makes me feel like I am eating healthy for Coopie.  I always worry that he won't have enough good stuff to eat from me.  Even though he gets everything he needs..it is my body that will suffer if I am lacking any important vitamins or anything.

Had to go and buy some sweat suits on Tuesday.  My biggest advice for anybody that is pregnant for the first time is: DO NOT GO OUT AND BUY A WHOLE NEW MATERNITY WARDROBE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW BIG YOU WILL GET OR IF YOU WILL EVEN WANT TO DRESS THAT WAY AT A CERTAIN POINT!  I bought TONS of cute in style maternity clothes from Motherhood, Target, Gap, Old Navy.  Then I hit "maximum capacity" and I could care less if I look cute...I just want to be comfortable.  My velour sweat suit is the best thing that I bought and now I wish I had ten of them and none of the other clothes. 

10 January 2003 - 29 weeks - We finally started our Childbirth Classes last Monday.  They are ok...nothing special because I watch those Birth Day TV shows on Discovery Health Channel all day everyday.  All I know is that my rear end always ends up killing me because of those hard chairs.  VERY uncomfortable.  They keep telling us to pack our hospital bags....but I can't get motivated.  Plus I use my toothbrush, shampoo, etc everyday so how am I suppose to pack it up and sit it by the door?  Matt is so cute in the classes though.  He pays serious attention.  I keep zoning out so he has to bump me to make sure I'm paying attention.  Don't know why it happens, but my mind goes in a hundred different directions when I have to be quiet like in these classes.

Our last doctor's appt was January 31st.  We did another Glucose test and it turned out fine.  However, I now weigh a whooping 162lbs! Big Mama!  I don't really care though.  I will wait until Dr Kennedy gets very concerned before I do.  No need for added worries.

Our rocker comes in in about 5 weeks.  I can't wait...We ordered it at Baby Land in Tupelo.  That's a pretty nice store considering location.  We have gotten so much stuff so far.  We're really ready for Cooper to be here now.  We have gotten almost all the big stuff....Pack n Play Travel system (Mom & Dad Witmer), Cradle, Portable Crib, Sheets for all of those, Baby Bjorn (Annie), Ear Thermometer (Annie), Eddie Bauer Diaper Bag, Bath Tub, lots of little cutie clothes, Carter's Loose leaf Baby Book, Hamper, Daddy & Cyn are getting the Eddie Bauer Travel System (stroller) with Infant car seat, Diaper Genie (Dan & Patrick), Lots of Pittsburg Steelers Baby Things (Mom & Dad Witmer), and Carter's Baby Gym Play mat (so cute)!  We still need to get some of the smaller things, but I'm sure we'll take care of it before he gets here.

As for Cooper....he is still growing and growing.  His kicks and turns are harder but fewer.  I guess because he is getting bigger and my belly isn't keeping up like it should.  I'm sure it will do a great job of catch up in the next 2 1/2 months. 

Oh one last thing... I am reading the best Pregnancy book there ever was!  It's called The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine.  I laugh until I cry almost every time I read a chapter of it.  It is such a good depiction of pregnancy and it is very real.  Not to medical and doesn't try to spare your feelings like a lot of those books do.  I recommend it to EVERY pregnant woman! Or if your trying to get pregnant it's good too!   

18 February 2003 - 30 weeks 2 days - I was just reading about "this week in pregnancy" and realized that we are no doubt on the home stretch!  The third trimester isn't that bad when you think of what happens at the end of it.  Watching all these baby shows all day everyday is making me antsy!  Cooper's movements are so pronounced now that there is no doubt there is a big lil boy in there and I am ready to meet him!  He makes me laugh because he will get in a tight little ball at the very top my my abdomen right underneath my ribs and he will just poke out.  I know I look deformed when he does this, but that's alright, because it slows down my need to pee every 30 minutes when he is off my bladder like this.  I wonder sometimes which body part is making it's way across my belly...SOme people say they know what it is, but I haven't a clue....

Our childbirth classes are still going pretty good.  Our tour of the hospital is next week.  I'm glad too because I get tired of sitting there for the whole class.  Also there is a breastfeeding class next week on Thursday, but I don't think I will make it...It's Survivor night!  I told Matt to buy me a book and I'll self-educate. 

So I would like to know why anyone would rather hurt than not hurt when it comes to birth.  I want the epidural as soon as possible.  I HATE needles, but I HATE pain worse!  I wouldn't feel any better about myself if I didn't get meds to help me through.  I can imagine I would feel tired and in pain.  I wouldn't feel like Superwoman....I wouldn't want to feel like Superwoman....I want to feel like a mommy and that's it.

I have got to get a Maternity Pillow.  The belly is getting really heavy.  Can't lay on my side without it feeling like my belly is going to fall off. 

Belly Button is popping out now.  It started on the left and is making it's way out all the way around.  I also noticed a bunch of teeny tiny stretch marks on my hips....It's all this tub that I have added to my poor hips....heh heh

Matt bought Cooper some Alabama Gear at the mall yesterday.  He's got Bama socks, Bib, and a beanie hat now!

27 February 2003 - 31 weeks 4 days - Wow...I just ate the mother load piece of Baskin Robins Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Chocolate Cake that was purple.  It was just toooo tasty and I don't feel any remorse!  heh heh  Here is why:  Beginning after my last dr's appt 31Jan2003, I went on an "any kind of sweet food" strike.  I mean NO candy, chocolate, cake, ice cream... Why?  Well every time I go to the Doctor I have gained 7 lbs.  I haven't watched my weight during this entire pregnancy so 7lbs though it is VERY high, it is understandable.  Anyway I decided to see if I could be like a normal pregnant person and gain only 1 to 2 pounds between the 31 of Jan and the next appt Feb 24th.  After not eating my essential sweets for the past three weeks I stepped onto the scale full of confidence.  To my surprise, I went from weighing 152 to 169!  How many pounds is that??? 7 more lbs!  So exactly how much good did going on a Sweet food strike do me? Absolutely no good!  That is why I am not going to worry about it anymore!  If it is good I am going to eat it and I am going to pay dearly when I try to lose it all, but when is there another time in my life that I will have an excuse to eat any and everything I want.....

Either way the doctor's appt went well.  Our appts are very short so there isn't much to say about them.  Dr Kennedy looks a lot like Albert Einstein and I am not kidding a bit!  I think that's one reason I like him.  Plus he is just super sweet.  And he hasn't complained that much about my weight.  He gets a measurement and asks about Cooper (he even called him by name which was awesome), then we go pay and go home.  Next appt is March 10th.  We have started going every two weeks now.  Then at 35 weeks we start every week.  WOW it is so close.

I've got the robe and slippers and one gown for the hospital bag so far.  I am not going to pack it all the way yet cause I use most everything that I have to pack in there.  Toothbrush, shampoo, soap....how can I pack that now??

Something is crazy about my system....sometimes I just open up my mouth and a noise comes out.  It sounds like I say "Herpppp" and Matt looked at me the other day and said "HERP"....what is "HERP"?  I laughed so hard I "HERPED" again! 

Cooper is super active lately.  He is our little wiggle worm!  When he moves just a little you can see it on the outside.  I think he my be head down already because the sharp Cooper limbs I feel below my belly button feel much tinier than the ones above my belly button.  The ones up top feel like knees and feet and the ones at the bottom feel like elbows (they almost hurt).  He has almost gotten this belly button popped out.  It's more weird looking than completely popped out.  I just can't wait to meet him.  I can't wait to see what Matt and I look like when we are combined into one little baby.  Cooper should weigh in at about 3.5-4.3 lbs right about now (31 wks) and should be about 17 inches from head to tip of toes. 

I am so excited that the shower is this weekend.  The theme is Cooper...heh heh....It going to be blue and yellow gingham.  It is at Kirk's Grill from 2-4.  I finally have an outfit with shoes that fit these swollen things below my ankles....some might call them feet, but I ceased to have feet when I went from sz 6 shoes to a whole bigger size.

We toured the hospital at our last Childbirth class.  I am ready to check in now!  I think we did it to soon, so no I am very anxious.  Then I was thinking why they were showing us, the pregnant women, the tour of the hospital.  Why?  Well we are going to check in and go to a labor and delivery suite, where we will labor and deliver Cooper and the I will be wheeled on my bed to my room by a nurse.  I won't leave out of there until we are leaving the hospital, sooooooo then why should I know where anything is if I don't have to walk around the hospital???  Just a thought......

20March 2003- 34 weeks 4 days- WOW!  We our last Dr's appt and everything is all well.  I weighed in at 172....so I only gained the 2 lbs that everyone is suppose to gain every two weeks in their last trimester.  Got to allow for baby's weight somewhere.  Dr Kennedy says that from where he is picking up his heartbeat, Cooper should be upside down in the correct position.  I HOPE HE'S RIGHT! There is nothing I want less in this world than a C-section.  Our next appointment is going to be our first "real" exciting appointment.  We get to make sure Coop's in the right position, do a strep test, and check for any dilation and effacement.  SAY A PRAYER! 

26 March 2003 - 35 weeks3 days-  Another Dr's appt was on the 24th of March.  I weighed in at 175.  We did the Strep B test which was not fun and then talked about checking for dilation and effacement.  We were going to check at that appt but I think he was a little busy. Our next appt is on Monday March 31st. We're now officially going weekly, which means that we are soooooooo close!  Yea!  I am ready! 

Dr Kennedy says I have Pregnancy Induced Corporal Tunnel Syndrome.  For the past 3 weeks my fingers have been falling asleep for no apparent reason.  Could be when I am brushing my teeth, reading a magazine, putting on make up, or using a fork....This especially happens at night when I am sleeping and it wakes me up.  So anyway Dr Kennedy's remedy is to wear wrist splints on both hands...I'll see if it works.  Seems to me that I keep putting my hands to sleep myself cause I accidentally put the splints on to tight. URGH!  Can't win! 

Cooper has been getting more and more predictable in his movements.  He is so funny in the mornings when I wake up.  He is always wadded up in a little ball with his little butt poking out of the top of belly.  I can't help but laugh.  Matt tells him that it's time to wake up when he does this so he can see him move....and he usually does move for him.  However if Cooper is already moving and Matt starts talking he stops to listen to Matt...always.  It's kind of amazing!  He knows his daddy....that's for sure.

We had the shower at Aunt Steph's and it was lots of fun!  Mostly family was there and Matt set up our video camera so I could remember it all.  Maw Maw and Paw Paw got us the Fisher Price Cradle Swing (so fun)! Daddy and Cyn got us the Eddie Bauer travel system with car seat and stroller.  Steph got us the Boppy pillow and a ton of teeny tiny diapers.  There were a lot of other wonderful gifts from the rest of the family!  It was so exciting.  We played the "Wrap the toilet paper around Brandie's belly" game.  Then we played the "Guess the price of the baby item" game.  They were all fun!  Everyone gave advise at the end.

We've already installed the car seat.  I have to take it over to the fire dept to make sure we installed it correctly. A study says something like 85% of car seats are not installed correctly....ours is probably not so I'll have it checked.  It's cute cause we ride around with it in the car and I just can't wait until it has Coopie in it! 

Then of course there was the not so nicest thing...  "I just love to hear you weigh so much....It just makes me feel so good to hear you say you weigh 170!....You weigh more than me now!" (can't tell who said it) My response: "You won't have to worry about that for very much longer....don't plan on being this fat forever!" 

At our last Dr's appt on Mon 31March03 was interesting.  Weighed in at 176 lbs...might actually make it to gaining 60 lbs.  I got my first internal which was extremely uncomfy!  No dilation and no effacement as of then. He said, "Well he's not coming out today!"  Dr Kennedy didn't really explain a whole lot I had to ask most of everything.  We also have GSB which means we have to get antibiotics in the IV when we get to the hospital.  40-65% of women have to go through this and it is fairly new so not many people know about it that haven't been pregnant in the past 2 years.  It's a naturally occurring bacteria that lives in the intestines and could be passed to the baby during birth.  Odds are very low, but they try to be safe because it could give like 1-2% of babies a blood disease...which is very scary!  Dr Kennedy gave us a few numbers to call when the water breaks or we start getting contractions. 

Cooper gets the hiccups all the time!  It is so funny cause it is these little rhythmic like thumps in my belly.  Matt can feel them when he puts his hand there and you can even see them make my belly jump. 

I think Cooper is getting to big for his space in there.  Sometimes he is wadded up in a tight ball and I wouldn't think that would be to comfortable.  I feel so bad when I wake up in the night and see that I am leaning a little far onto my belly and he is all over on that one side.  Poor baby!  He just needs to come out so we don't have to worry about that.

I AM SO MAD!  I've made it to month 9 with only stretchy marks on my hips.... AND what do I see yesterday as I am checking out the belly progress?  Belly stretch marks.  I could have gone my whole life without those nasty things.  Now for the rest of my life I will have to live with silverish lines on my belly!  They are light red and pretty vague right now, but will progress to look like the monstrous looking marks on my hips I am sure.  It looks like I got clawed by a bear on each hip.  Won't that be a lovely thing to have hanging out at the beach.... YUCKY! 

I got Coopie's Coming Home Outfit.  It is a Carriage Boutique Bubble outfit - blue with a white collar and rocking horses on the collar.  Really cute, but now that I have it I almost would rather put him in something Alabama for Matt's sake.  I worry that it is not boy enough...or not blue enough or something.  Who knows....I will pack both just in case I have a change of heart. 

I have got to order birth announcements!  Better quit writing on here and try and find some BEFORE Coop gets here!

Oh and last but not least.... The 16th is the Full Moon!  Maybe there will be a baby!

I did a little nesting today and so did Matt.  I cleaned almost the entire insides of this house and Matt cleaned the outsides.  He sprayed the pollen off the house and porch and windows.  The pollen was EVERYWHERE!!!

I don't think Cooper has dropped yet, but everyone seems to think he has.  I have carried SOOO low this entire pregnancy I don't see how anyone could tell.  I have no idea and it's my belly.  To me he is still in the same comfy position that he has always been in.  I just have to thank God I haven't carried high and not been able to breath like some women.  My breathing has been fine.  The only time I have breathing issues is when I have to get up off the couch and do things because I am so out of shape!  What a lazy butt!

The war is still happening in Iraq.  The troops have made it to Bagdad.  No one knows is Sadam Hussien is dead or alive...  I saved the front pages of the Tupelo Daily Journal that has to do with this war for Cooper.  I want him to be able to see them when he is older and becomes interested in history.  

Tonight we spring forward with the time 1 hour.  That only means one thing!  Cooper is closer to coming out to visit!  YaY!!!  I am so anxious!

I subscribed to the BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB.  We ordered about 6 books so far for Coopie.  Goodnight Moon, a Dr Seuss book, Bedtime Stories book, How Much I Love You book and some others...   

April 6th, 2003 - 36 wks 7 days -

I am SOOOOO HAPPY that Matt has been able to be home for almost this entire pregnancy!  How lucky are we!  You know there are some people that live their entire lives and are not able to spend as much time together, every day and night, as we have in the past 9 months.  And I realize how lucky that makes us.  Minus about a month or so and he has been at home (working from home) with me every day.  He was gone more in the beginning, but he is here now and that is all that matters. 

I was watching Steel Magnolia's today (love that movie) and I did not cry!  I have cried when watching that movie every time I have watched it since I was a little girl!  I have come to the conclusion that pregnancy has a reverse affect on my emotions.  Most women cry and cry and cry during their pregnancy and I haven't been able to!  I wouldn't mind it....I wouldn't mind cleaning out my system!  I haven't been able to cry since the beginning of this pregnancy.  Isn't that weird!  It will probably all hit me one day soon and I will wish I could quit and won't be able to.....heh heh

I have a pregnancy hobby! My favorite thing to do during this pregnancy is check my message boards on www.epregnancy.com  I go to the "Due in April" board and it seems like there are a hundred ladies on their having the same complications and aches and pains as me.  Kinda help me to feel not all by myself in a female setting.  I can rant and rave about my swollen feet and carpal tunnel all day long and someone is going through the same thing and is helpful with what I should do to make it better.  I also LOVE and wish I would have bought a subscription EARLIER.... to EPregnancy magazine.  I only like that one and Fit Pregnancy.  The other pregnancy mags aren't my cup of tea.

Done with the books!!!  I am tired of reading all of my pregnancy books and have finally put them away.  What to Expect while Expecting, The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy, The Everything Pregnancy Book and others are all in Cooper's Nursery and are NOT coming out again!  I am tired of worry about reading them all the time....Obsessions! 

I got a Manicure and Pedicure the other day at Glamour Nails.  It was nice, but the lady had to scrub FOREVER trying to get the heel stuff off of my heels.  They were and are still pretty bad. Then she rubbed my feet with something that burned the crap out of them.  I won't be getting that stuff again.  It is nice to have pretty toe nails and finger nails. 

My husband has done it again!  Matt told me the other day "You look like a TICK!"  I didn't know whether to laugh my butt off or be mad....  Then I realized it was tooooo funny not to laugh at.  He's right too!  He said that I have a little head and a big round middle and small arms and legs.  LOLOLOLOLOL!  Too funny!

April 7th, 2003 - 37weeks - Had our latest appointment today!  Dr Kennedy was out of the office so we saw the Nurse Practitioner, Melissa Barnett.  She is awesome I tell you!  We found out things at this appointment that we had no idea about.  Here's the progress:

*  We are a finger tip dilated!  During the internal she said she was going to "try" and help us along a little (thank you!!!) Meaning sometimes when you get to a point the Dr can try and stretch things a bit to help you progress faster.

*  We are 50% thinned/Effaced.  This is good news as well. 

*  Gained 3 lbs in 1 week.  She said it was due to all of the fluid I have.  She felt of my feet, ankles and legs and confirmed that I was pretty swollen.

We walked around the park 2 time (equals 2 miles) today after the appointment.  They say walking helps things along so I thought I'd partake in a little natural labor induction!  Boy was I tired after that though!  For most of this pregnancy I have been sitting on the couch so I shocked my system needless to say! 

My ankles and feet are very swollen.  They don't really hurt, but it's no fun!  My calves kind of become puffy feet at a certain point.  There aren't really any ankles left....  Matt was rubbing my feet tonight and said he would very much like to POP them.  Leave it to Matt to make me laugh about my aliments.  It is actually a hindrance because I can't wear an of my shoes.  If I were to go to the store and buy a pair I have to buy them in a whole size bigger.  I usually wear a size 6 and now I have to have a sz 7 or nothing.  That is where the whole barefoot and pregnant adage comes into play. My fingers are pretty nice and full of fluid as well.  I haven't been able to wear my wedding ring in about 2 months because it doesn't even fit my pinky.  Fat and fluid are the cause of this. 

I am getting so excited.  I can't believe we are in the last weeks of this pregnancy.  I don't think it has totally hit me yet, but I am afraid that when it does I am going to freak out!  There is actually a baby name Coopie that is going to be born to me and Matt and he is going to come home with us!  OH MY GOODNESS!  It just doesn't seem real. I think I need to get the visual in the delivery room before I totally realize what's really going to happen.

2 more weeks and Mom Witmer is coming to visit until May, after Cooper gets here!  That is going to be fun fun fun!  She comes in on Easter April 20th.  Hopefully Cooper hangs in here until sometime after that.  I figure he is in here for the long haul though.  Just have a new feeling that it may be May before he comes out....dunno why??!?!?!?!!!!

14 April 2003 - 38 weeks -  Our latest appointment was today and went well.  I lost 2 pounds which is amazing to me!  I ate like regular....hmmm....  Our progress is that there is none.  We are still 1 centimeter dilated and 50% effaced.  The Dr is impressing me less and less these days.  It goes something like this:  Way to much waiting and not much one on one time......It's unfortunate...but it's too long of a story to get into in full. 

An update on my Carpal Tunnel - Fingers are still numb on my right hand.  It's making me crazy!

We got our digital camera yesterday!!!  We are so excited about it....  It's called the Cooper Cam!  I'm sure we will get our money's worth out of it when he gets here.  I was way to worried about taking Cooper's first pictures with a disposable camera.  Those are important pictures ya know!  Our video camera has digital camera mode, but it is way to blurry to really use.  Not sure why they even bothered putting one as a feature of the camera anyway. 

I am coming to the realization that there is going to be a baby at the end of this journey!  It is so exciting, yet so scary!  Makes me wonder things like what kind of Mommy will I be and will I make the kid crazy when he grows up.  It's a lot to think about.  I'm not worried about Matt though...I know he'll do everything right.  He's just that way...I can't explain it, but I haven't a doubt in the world about his daddy abilities... He will probably have to teach me a thing or two.

Labor and Delivery are becoming a scary thought now that they are inevitable.  I just hope they get that epidural in my body in time.  I will be SO mad if they don't.  I will need some relief I know that for sure!  

April 22nd, 2003 ~39 weeks  -  Okay the latest Dr's appt was worthless!  No change except in my weight.  I gained 5 lbs in one week.  Guess those 2 lbs that I lost was just to tease me.  Anyway Dr Kennedy said that he would not let us go past May6th since Matt has to travel....but May 6th is a Looooong time away and I am sooooo anxious!  And while I am on this Dr's appt let me just say that the wait time in that office is HORRIBLE!  We have to wait a total of 2 hours to in order to see the Dr for 5 minutes. 

I am starting to take the Evening Primrose Oil Gel Caps that help soften the cervix.  Today is my first day to take the first tablet so as I am taking it Matt made me laugh to hard!  He said, "You need to take that thing and stop being stingy with the baby!"  I laughed and laughed!  He was serious.  He can't wait to get his hands on this little baby!  He's so excited.

Matt's Mom flew into Tupelo on Sunday and is staying until May 10th unless Coopie doesn't come until then.  Then she said she can stay as long as she can.  Yay!  We have already been roaming all around Tup! Or as Mom and Dad Witmer call it "COOPelo".  We even went to Elvis Presley's birthplace today which I have never been to even though I live right here in NE, MS.  I have to say though that that man was POOR!  That little house was nothing more than a box. 

25 April 2003 - 39 wks 5 days (3days pre-duedate)~ And I am still pregnant! ARGH!  I thought for sure that this popcorn ball was going to come early!  What is going on in there Cooper?  I think I just may be pregnant forever.

We went to Grand Casino in Tunica today!  Woooo Whoooo!  I spent $10.00 and won $100.00, quit gambling, and cashed out.  I couldn't believe my eyes when that thing started dinging and I was going home with some funds!  Matt spent $10.00 and won back $20.00 so we came out on the good end!  Mom Witmer won $100.00 also!  We ate at the buffet which was SO good, then went over to the Outlet Mall.  I got to spend some of my winning at the Carter's store.  I bought Mr. Cooper a bib, wrist rattle, a blue Duckie romper, and a John Lennon elephant that plays Imagine...all for $40.00....and yes that was cheap for all that!

I've still been taking my Primrose Oil.  Nothing yet.  Dr's office called to resked appt until 3pm next Monday.  We have been walking like crazy to try and get him to come, but still he stays... 

So what is up with this? My face is starting to break out again.  It has COMPLETELY cleared up without one even small bump for the past 5 months and then here they come again?  Now in the 1st trimester it was horrible.  My hormones kick started this mass of nastiness on my face for the first 3months, which was thankfully over as soon as we hit the 2nd trimester.  So why are they back now?  That's all I need....Not only do I have to be fat.  I have to be the Fat Pimply kid! 

Cooper has been head butting my cervix.  Wow...they are these sharp little twinges of pain in my abdomen.  It's not very nice of him.  I will forgive him though if he comes out within the next year.  Woe is me!

Here is something wonderful though...  Mom Witmer gave me a pedicure last night when we got back from eating at Aunt Steph and Uncle Kirk's Restaurant in Pontotoc.  Now my toes are just Beautiful.  I have been scrubbing my heels with a foot scrubber from Bath and Body Works every night after I shower and it seems to be getting that awful white dead skin off my heels.

27 Apr 2003 ~ 39 wks 7 days! - So if I am writing here it means two things...I am still pregnant and am not at the hospital where I wish I would be by this time.  Two days away from my due date...on Tuesday.  I think it may be kind of hard because so many people are wishing that he would hurry and come out.  I almost feel rushed....but I wish he would come out just as bad. 

Matt's Birthday is tomorrow.  He will be 29!!!  We had him a Cook Out this afternoon here at our house and it was lots of fun.  Mom Witmer, Paw Paw, Maw Maw, Daddy, Cyn, Aunt Steph, Uncle Kirk, Kirklyn, Robby, Matt and I were all here.  However the most horrible thing happened!  Kirklyn (My Aunt and Uncle's 3 yr old) locked herself in out bathroom and couldn't get out when she was done.  They tried to tell her through the door how to get out and even though she is only 3 she would say(without crying) - "Hurry up and get me out" and "I can't hear you!".  She was SO calm.  Robby climbed onto Daddy's shoulders and talked to her though the bathroom window.  Then Paw Paw climbed onto a ladder and lifted her up out of the window and then crawled into the bathroom himself and unlocked the door.  Wow!  That was scary!

Anyway our next appt is at 3pm tomorrow.  Hope we get some news we can use! Last night my contractions were exactly 10 minutes apart for about 2 hours....then they quit.  We were all getting so excited, but I guess Cooper got tired.  Maybe next time! 

Matt's Birthday Celebration Pictures are up on this site for 2 weeks.  Click here for a look!  Matt's Birthday Pictures!

April 28th, 2003 - 40 wks - Today's Doctor's appt was totally yucky!  Dr said that we are still 1 cm dilated.  I lost 2 lbs.  He said baby is pretty big...he said about 10 lbs, but I don't know how right that is when he isn't actually weighing the baby, he is just guesstimating.  He tells me every time I come in to go eat Mexican food and I told him this week that I did and that it didn't work.  He said that that is the first time that it didn't work!  He said maybe I needed to eat at a run down Mexican Restaurant...heh  I don't think I am going to bother though.  I don't like Mexican food and I don't want to waist my time.

Cooper isn't going to come out in my opinion until we get induced.  Dr Kennedy said that we have to make an appt for next Monday...May 5th.  He said that if my cervix was favorable then we could talk about our other options...meaning induction.  I'm so sad though cause if he comes out to late then Dad Witmer won't be able to see him when he is here for a week May 5th-11th.  And when we go to Florida Memorial Day weekend Cooper won't be able to go out as much...And Matt won't be able to spend a lot of "at home" time with little Coopie because he has to go back to work the last week of May and come home for like 3 days then leave for OKC again for a lot longer.  YUCK!  I am depressed and I am hungie so I quit!

Here’s the birth story with TMI…don’t read if you don’t feel a need to hear about birthing babies!

We went into labor on Wed night April 30 at about 12am.  We ate Thai food for lunch and Baskin Robbins that day and I did 5 jumping jacks and was in labor 5 minutes later..heh  Matt started timing them at 12am and they were automatically 5 minutes apart(no less) so Matt called the Dr after an hour and he said to get to Labor and Delivery ASAP.  Well I freaked at that point and started washing everything I owned in the washing machine.  Who knows why???  And if you know me you automatically know that I was able to put on ALL my makeup and fix my hair before leaving for the hospital dealing with God awful contractions that were every 5 minutes like clockwork.  After all that we went to Labor and Delivery and were told we were officially in labor. However I was only dilated 1 cm still so she made us start walking the halls for an hour.    Whew that was tough cause I found out contractions make me nauseous.  So after every contraction it was me and the nearest garbage can.  Anyway we went back to the room after and hour and still only a cm.    She asked if we wanted to go rest at home with a sleeping pill.  I did, so we went and the pill was useless.  Went back to labor and delivery after about 2 hours and got hooked up to the monitors and my contractions started spiking putting stress on Cooper’s heart.  Then it was like 4am and the Dr came in and ordered an epidural…started Pitocin drip to help me progress in centimeters….and broke my water for me and I got my IV, and low and behold an enema…Now that was TMI!  Long story short-9 hours without an epidural…finally get the epidural inserted 2 times cause the first lady did the first one wrong (which is why I have a migraine still)  and went for about 4 hours until it started wearing off.  I must say though the epidural did not hurt and it was my hero for the time that it lasted.  I went from 3cm to 7 cm to 10 in no time at all.  We were at a full 10 cm, but Cooper was still floating to high so we had to do some serious pushing and had to let the epidural wear off so I could push better.  After 2 hours of pushing and nothing the Dr said we needed to talk about what to do.  1)Cooper’s heart was in distress with every contraction 2) Dr did not think Cooper’s big head was going to make it though my pelvic area 3)He was so high that I was going to have to push for a very long time to get him out unless a amniotic fluid insertion would make him engage.  I said ok lets do the insertion and then push for one more hour and if it doesn’t work out I would go with the c-section.  Again long story short – epidural wore off…I thought I was dieing…Cooper’s heart was way to low and head circumference was way to big…and I started throwing up neon green!  Dr rushed in gave 3 more epidurals…I felt like God loved me again…they dressed Matt in scrubs, prepped me and wheeled me as fast as they could down the hall to get our emergency c-section.  Everything went good and we heard Cooper cry then Matt watched them pull him out and plop him on me(I had shields up so I couldn’t see)…they did all the goodsey stuff to him and he got a 9 and 9 on his Apgar test scores.   They then gave Coop to Matt and let me see the side of his face and they left me there.  Then some pain got really bad and they put me to sleep.  I woke up in recovery-and had to wait another 3 hours to see my little Coopie Coop!  I had a fever that they were so worried about.  But it went away and the cathtader and IV came out and we went home a day early…

Poor Cooper was a Mecronium(sp?) baby - meaning he went potty while he was in the womb which made things a little more complicated.  He could have inhaled it when he took his first breath and that could have caused serious issues but all went well and he didn't inhale it. Also his head was severely bruised and scratched because when the Dr has to break my water he accidently got the top of Coop's head with the hook thingy that he used.   

THEN while at home I got a spinal headache…so we had to go back to the hospital 2 days later and were almost admitted overnight but the nurse saved me from that.  Come to find out when the lady messed up my first epidural during labor she poked a hole in my spinal thingy that holds my spinal fluid.  Sooo it started leaking resulting in the massive headache that would not quit. They gave me another IV and the Anesthesiologist had to insert another epidural with some of my blood in it so make a patch to fix the problem.  Well he messed up 4 time and got it right on the 5^th so I got to get 5 more epidurals that day not to mention the 2 I got on the 1^st.  Anyway they inserted my blood and I had to lie flat on the back for 3 days so that the patch wouldn’t pop and we’d have to go through it all again…  Well it didn’t pop and life is starting to move on.  The only real complaint I have now is my boobs feel like they are about to fall off.  Ouch breastfeeding hurts!

We are:  40 Weeks as of  ~ April 28th, 2003

**Hopefully we won't be overdue by going past 40 weeks!**