39 weeks, 4 days and counting ...

Good news and bad news this week ...

Good news: Mommy doesn't have high blood pressure (or pre-ecclampsia) and Cletus is still developing quite nicely in utero. The baby's heartbeat is strong, he displays no signs of distress and his level of movement is quite high. Mommy has been tested for every issue under the sun and the doctors are quite confident that Mommy is not in labor and there is no need to speed up our previously scheduled date of induction (Tues, Sept 2).

Bad news: (and I repeat ...) the doctors are quite confident that Mommy is not in labor and there is no need to speed our previously scheduled date of induction (Tues, Sept 2). 39 weeks, 4 days and counting ... we've been kicked out of the hospital twice this week and it's currently 101 degrees in the shade here in Santa Clara. The 39th week is not for the faint of heart. Is this baby ever coming out???

Mommy has been tracking her blood pressure readings at home. On Wednesday night the home montitor indicated that Mommy's BP's were in the high 150's and 90's from 7pm to 3am. At 3am, Mommy called the doctor on call who suggested that she go into the hospital. When we got to the hosptial, Mommy's BP's were well below the normal range, tests for pre-cclampsia were negative so she was released to recoup at home. Instructions at that point were to lay down on her side for 6+ daytime hours a day. (gag).

On Friday ... Mommy's BP's skyrocked again and the doctor again sent Mommy back into the hospital for another "check". Similar to Wed, as soon as Mommy got hooked up to a BP machine, her readings showed up well within the normal range and doctor started to wonder. Either I am one of the few rare people who is more relaxed in a hospital than at home or there is something wrong with my home BP machine. Turns out ... Mommy arm is so fat that the BP arm cuff on her home machine is too tight and gives off false high readings. Nice. Now not only do I have cankle to obsess about, but my arms are now deemed too fat for a normal BP cuff. Dang ...

Suffice it say, everyone at the hospital was super nice, the doctors and nurses were very happy to see that Mommy's BP's are normal and there were no signs of distress to either her or the baby. This is good news ... yes. Mommy is happy that baby is doing well, but she sure wishes that her water would just go and ahead and break.

BTW, while Mommy was hoping to deliver early, she's kinda glad that the doctor on call this past Wed will not be one to deliver Cleet. After reciting her BP readings to the doctor over the phone the doctor said, "so I understand that your readings are high but why are you awake and checking your weight at 3am in the morning?" ... Nice, 7 years of college, 3 years of residency and the guy thinks that when I say my readings are "155 over 90" that I'm talking about my weight to height ratio not my blood pressure ...