I am enjoying the new hospital quite a bit. Some reasons are simple, some are more complex, but overall they just make me feel much more comfortable. One of the simplest things is that all of the doctors, nurses, etc. always point out all of the restrooms to me, even if they know I've just used one 20 minutes prior! I always need to go, and it's such a nice touch. They probably snicker as I go in at every single opportunity, but I truly appreciate it.
Totally unflattering picture of me with the belts on, which look far more uncomfortable than they really are.Next, I had my ultrasound. They are continually monitoring the velamentous cord insertion, and said that it showed no signs of change today. I don't think they were necessarily expecting any change, but they want to keep a close eye on it regardless. The succenturiate placenta also looks the same.
They also wanted to do an estimated fetal weight today, since a VCI baby oftentimes shows signs of growth restriction. They simply take a few measurements (they actually took a couple of measurements of her head) and say that she is weighing in at roughly 4 lbs. already, which is spot on for where she should be. I was glad to hear that she wasn't too small OR too big, and it obviously means that the placenta and cord are doing what they're supposed to be doing!
Baby weighs as much as this tub of Red Vines. mmm, licorice.Since things looked so spot on, they were a bit more relaxed about having me come in for the rest of the nonstress tests/biophysical profiles. Initially they wanted me to come in twice a week, but now I just have to come in once a week, and they were able to set them up so they generally go along with my other appointments.
A couple of random things about our visit: they were able to see a little bit of hair on the baby's head! I won't be surprised if they are someday able to have colorized ultrasound machines and will be able to tell you the color of their hair. Seems strange that they can even see as much as they do already. Also, the doctors called her a 'wild child' and were in awe of how much she was moving around! This can only mean one thing - Justin and I better enjoy our sleep while we can. It's really a shame that you can't stock up on it before birth. And last - she was head down, just as I thought! She's beginning to prepare to make her way into the world!
Overall, a perfect visit, and 32 weeks tomorrow! Time is flying now.
-Jenny
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Justin here, just wanting to add some quick notes about the boat in the cold weather recently. It has been like a real winter here! Jenny and I are both from Michigan and we are used to weather much colder and snowier than what Boston has had since we've lived here. This year Boston has finally pulled out all the stops to give us an honest to goodness winter. :) We love it!
This weather certainly adds some interesting aspects to living on the boat. We've never had more than maybe 2 inches of ice in the marina, and even that was only in around a-dock where there is least water movement. Well last week we got a foot of snow, then it got to sub zero temperatures for the first time since we've lived here. The ice was a good 4 inches thick and the marina wasn't able to get their ice breaking tender in because it was too small and light. The movement of Madrigal swaying on the dock lines had kept he ice a couple inches from the hull and created sort of a safety pocket so that the ice didn't try to squeeze or crush. --then the wind kicked up as last night's nor-easter blew in.... We started rocking and suddenly our 2 inches of wiggle room between the ice wasn't enough. We would SLAM into the ice and everything would shake and rattle. It was really creepy, but our lines were just tight enough that it wasn't really doing any damage. Just making an awful racket and being a little scary. Our paint at the waterline might be a little worse for wear, but I doubt it.
And then there was the bilge pump hose issue... During those two days of sub zero temps the hose leading out of our main bilge pump froze over. It runs in a convoluted path from amidships to the transom and overboard above the waterline. Well, in the course of that run there are some ups and downs. The valleys created by the downs always have a bit of water in them. In the worst spot possible--of course-- the hose froze where it has to dip down to go under a bulkhead below the cockpit between two lazarettes. ugh. It took Jenny and I over 3 hours with pans of hot water, a hair dryer, space heaters, a steel wire snake, and a lot of contortions to get the dang thing warmed up and moving again. Now we know: if it gets down to zero, we have to let some of our cabin heat back there!
And through it all, we stay so toasty warm in our comfy little boat.
That's all. Otherwise it's just been fun in the snow!
-Justin
Overall, a perfect visit, and 32 weeks tomorrow! Time is flying now.
-Jenny
------------
Justin here, just wanting to add some quick notes about the boat in the cold weather recently. It has been like a real winter here! Jenny and I are both from Michigan and we are used to weather much colder and snowier than what Boston has had since we've lived here. This year Boston has finally pulled out all the stops to give us an honest to goodness winter. :) We love it!
This weather certainly adds some interesting aspects to living on the boat. We've never had more than maybe 2 inches of ice in the marina, and even that was only in around a-dock where there is least water movement. Well last week we got a foot of snow, then it got to sub zero temperatures for the first time since we've lived here. The ice was a good 4 inches thick and the marina wasn't able to get their ice breaking tender in because it was too small and light. The movement of Madrigal swaying on the dock lines had kept he ice a couple inches from the hull and created sort of a safety pocket so that the ice didn't try to squeeze or crush. --then the wind kicked up as last night's nor-easter blew in.... We started rocking and suddenly our 2 inches of wiggle room between the ice wasn't enough. We would SLAM into the ice and everything would shake and rattle. It was really creepy, but our lines were just tight enough that it wasn't really doing any damage. Just making an awful racket and being a little scary. Our paint at the waterline might be a little worse for wear, but I doubt it.
And then there was the bilge pump hose issue... During those two days of sub zero temps the hose leading out of our main bilge pump froze over. It runs in a convoluted path from amidships to the transom and overboard above the waterline. Well, in the course of that run there are some ups and downs. The valleys created by the downs always have a bit of water in them. In the worst spot possible--of course-- the hose froze where it has to dip down to go under a bulkhead below the cockpit between two lazarettes. ugh. It took Jenny and I over 3 hours with pans of hot water, a hair dryer, space heaters, a steel wire snake, and a lot of contortions to get the dang thing warmed up and moving again. Now we know: if it gets down to zero, we have to let some of our cabin heat back there!
And through it all, we stay so toasty warm in our comfy little boat.That's all. Otherwise it's just been fun in the snow!
-Justin
Wish you all the best for your delivery, Hope everything goes smoothly as planned.
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