Jenny Garland

Baby Garlando Update

Had a doctor's appointment today and things are still stable. Looks like bedrest is working! :) Another standard appointment (sonogram, non-stress test, etc) next Friday.

An Advent Calendar

Bedrest stinks. I know it's for a wonderfully important and worthwhile cause... but it stinks. I have fantasies of darting out the front door to go for a run or driving myself to Target to walk around. Not so good since I am only on day 9 and have a long, long while to go.

On a positive note, Kate is doing GREAT and loves spending weekdays with her Nana. She pretty much has the whole routine down. Friday morning she told me "Daddy take Kate to Nana's. Kate play and go park and nappy. Then Kate come home and snuggle with Mommy." Yep, that's pretty much how it works, kid!

The other day I asked Brad to go to the craft store for me. Although initially hesitant, he agreed and actually found the "skeins of embroidery floss" I needed. I've been working on this advent calendar while watching every tv show known to man. Kate helped fill each pocket with a Hershey's Kiss and I know she'll love opening a pocket each day. It will be a great way for us to count down the days until Christmas and the days until I am 34 weeks pregnant!

Baby Garlando Update

I had a sonogram, non-stress test, and doctor's appointment this morning. Measurements remain stable from last week which is great and means I can keep staying home for now! Next appointment is Tuesday afternoon.

Playing around with Photoshop until Oprah starts

I've already read and watched countless hours of tv today. So now I'm waiting for Oprah to come on at 4! I am trying to combat boredom so I started to edit pictures in Photoshop and thought that could occupy some time. Here's a sweet picture of Kate I made dreamy looking.

Before and After:

* Next doctor's appt is Wed morning, so I'll post an update after I get home :)

Baby Garlando Update

Thank you so, so much for all the well wishes these past few days. From now on I'll be posting updates to my blog about how we're doing instead of sending mass emails, facebook updates, etc. That way, if you want to know, head over here and if you don't, I won't bombard you with boring details :)

Here's what's going on ...

Around my 20th week of pregnancy in mid-September, my doctor noticed that my cervical length had shortened/funneled. When the cervix is shorter than normal, the risk of thinning and dilation (aka premature labor) unfortunately rises. A short cervix can’t grow, so once it shrinks, it's shrunk.

We have been keeping a close eye on my lovely cervix with regular appointments and it held steady for almost two months. Until my 28 week appointment last Friday. It had really, really gotten shorter (happens sometimes as the baby gets heavier). My OB sent me directly to a high risk doctor the same day and they both recommended I be admitted to the hospital for at least 48 hours. I've had a full round of steroid shots for the baby to help develop her lungs and heart in case she makes an early appearance. Last night we got results back from the fetalfibronectin (FFN) test which indicated that there is a 90% chance I will NOT go into labor in the next 14 days. Since that test was negative (woo hoo), I will be allowed to go home for bedrest tonight (Sunday) instead of remaining in the hospital.

At home, I'm allowed to shower, use the restroom, lay down, and sit on the couch. Somehow lugging around a 34 pound toddler doesn't fit into that equation! Thankfully my mom will be able to watch Kate while Brad works and my in-laws will likely come back from New Mexico to help for a while too. Kate is crazy about all of her grandparents so I'm certain she'll have fun these next few months.

Each week (not sure how many times per week yet), I'll go back to my doctor for sonos and they'll repeat that FFN test every two weeks to get a heads up if labor could sneak up on us. Today I am 28 weeks 3 days. My first goal is to make it to Christmas which would be 34 weeks. After that, I'll take it a week at a time. My due date is not until February 5th.

I think that's pretty much everything. Like I said, feel free to head back here for updates but I don't want to clog up everyone's inboxes!

Love,
Jenny

Quick Headband

My hair is in a weird in-between-lengths stage. I made this headband last night to help disguise that. Great tutorial, by the way :)

A Christmas Tree Appliqued Shirt

My neighbor Lisa and I made these shirts for our girls the other night. They turned out pretty cute, huh? Much cheaper than buying a similar one :)

Sneak Peek - Christmas Aprons

I just finished five aprons for Christmas gifts. Although the recipients may read this blog, I had to share a picture of the fabrics. Oh, how I love fabric :)

 

Toddler Color Blocks

Kate loves sorting, counting, organizing, and stacking. So when I saw this post about color blocks, I decided to make a set for Toaster. It didn't take long at all and would make a pretty cute stocking stuffer or birthday present for a special little person in your life.

I love manipulatives that provide structure and creative exploration at the same time. You can practice colors, counting, stacking, and fine motor skills. Not bad for blocks that cost a buck, huh? :) I had to make a little bag for the blocks too...

MOPS Group - November Craft

My MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group is having a craft meeting Monday and I decided we would make brownies in a jar. Yummy, simple, and cute! Thanks Melissa for the recipe :)