36 weeks, 5 days. here's the deal.

so lately, i've been spending a lot of time here:

and here:

not because i just live such a chill life, no. a couple of weeks ago i went in for a routine appointment with my ob and what do you know, high blood pressure. 158/96 to be exact. not good, not good at all. it had been a little high the week before, but this was getting dangerous!

diagnosis, BED REST. WHAT??! seriously? not so fun. luckily, its not super super strict bed rest (you know, the kind where you have to be in bed laying flat except for if you have to pee), my doc has given the thumbs up for a couple of hours of activity to get things done around the house when necessary, and i can leave for small amounts of time on occasion- example, dinner with the hubby and go home. as long as feet are up and i'm relaxing, that's the key. she even recommended some time in the pool! like, floating to relax, not the usual catching max as he jumps in over and over and over. haha!

after the first few days, BP was still high. i was informed that if i get up to 160/110, DONE. Immediate induction. I was 35.5 weeks, the big push was to get to 36. 3 days later, i came in again, the day baby girl hit 36 weeks. i was SOOO nervous, but my BP had gone down to 130/84, which is like, NORMAL! what a relief! i asked if this meant no more bed rest- my doctor gave me a big fat NO and explained that it just meant that it was working and to keep it up. =)

new goals. remain on bed rest. come in twice weekly for an NST (where they monitor contractions and the baby's heart rate), check BP and urine protein levels. make it to 38 weeks, and DONE. unless anything happens sooner, induction is scheduled for the end of next week!

my plan, be very good this week and lay low, especially because my doc is out of town until saturday. =) 37 weeks is also a big milestone for baby girl's development. today i am also starting to take evening primrose oil, which is supposed to help "ripen the cervix." we have been planning a natural birth and taking HYPNOBIRTH classes- sooooo cool! so anything i can do to help my body get ready will help. ideally, i'm hoping that i will go into labor on my own next week so i don't have to be induced. pitocin + natural birth, not exactly ideal. so girls, any tricks? i'm thinking i'm going to try clary sage and pressure points. we'll see what happens!

thankfully, i have had a lot of help to make this whole bed rest thing work. first, danny has been a champ. taking over a lot of things around the house and helping a TON with max!!! he is no small project, that boy. and a busy three year old doesn't really make bed rest possible! last week, my aaaaamazing sister in law leslie came down with max's favorite cousin tyson and took care of him ALL WEEK. i seriously have no idea how i would have made it through the week! she kept him busy and took care of the house so i could rest and go to the doctor etc. they had swimming lessons every day, went to the park, rode their tricycles, you name it! les seriously SAVED me. i don't think it's a coincidence that my BP dropped after she had been here for a few days. =) my sister kenzie was also in town for the weekends before and after she had byu diving camp. she played with max and put him to bed at night (HIS request!), helped fold laundry, and was just plain fun to be with! i miss that girl. this week, my awesome inlaws are helping again, max is up at "GRANDMA'S CABIN!!" with all of his aunts and cousins. i soooo wish i were there, and it was really hard to see him go, but i know it's best for everyone. i will be able to rest and max will be able to PLAY! he was soooo excited to go and is having the best time. i feel SO blessed to have such an amazing family- they have stepped right in and taken care of everything! even though we don't live close.

anyway, that's the deal for now, i will keep everyone posted! more pics of swimming lessons and summer fun to come. =)