The Cox Family: 36 weeks

Wow - I can't believe we are already here at 36 weeks! The past 2 weeks have gone by quickly, though I feel I don't have much to show for it.

Last week we met with some neonatologists at Texas Children's, then got a hospital/NICU tour. The doctors explained what we should expect on delivery day. Basically - even if baby is 100% healthy, which they are expecting, baby will still have to head to the level 2 NICU after birth. Not necessarily because he/she will need that level of care, but because all the evaluations and consults for the nasal glioma will likely be done in the first 24-48 hours, and that is where those doctors will be. This unfortunately is one of the limitations of Texas Children's - they don't have their own maternity ward right now. That is in the process of being built - ready in early 2012 - not quite early enough for this baby. As a result, labor and delivery is at St. Luke's next door. But the NICU and specialists are at Texas Children's. As soon as I am able to walk about, it is easy enough for me to go be with baby in the NICU, since the two hospitals are connected by elevators and bridges. Hopefully things will go smoothly and we won't have to be separated for long. Not the most ideal situation, but again, we just want the best care possible for our precious baby.

Yesterday I had my 36 week ultrasound and OB appointment. Baby is still growing well, estimated at around 5 lbs 12 oz right now. Heart rate was in the mid 140s. Not much change in the nasal glioma either. Baby is still head down too, which is a good thing at this point! I thought I might get my first check for dilation/effacement at this appointment, but not till next week. I am curious if anything is "happening" yet! One more week and baby will be considered full term. So now I am trying to finish off my checklist as much as possible. I finally washed all the bedding and clothes that we have today. I have a detailed list for our hospital bags, and hopefully will put those together tomorrow. Greg has the car seat installed in his car. But I still have to get my car cleaned to get all the dog hair out. Once that is done I want to get them inspected to make sure we did it right!

This past weekend I had the chance to get together with some of my friends from pharmacy school for the first time since moving back to Texas. It was so nice catching up with them. They were so sweet and threw me a little shower too! Between the 3 of them, they have had 4 boys in the past 4 years. And Morgan is due in August with her second baby too! It was nice to get little tidbits of advice from recent new moms. I am sure I will be asking them more questions in about a month or so. Thanks again for such a nice day!