39 Weeks

This weeks appointment went well! Baby is doing great.  My BP was normal, and no weight gain!  I still have problems with all this fluid retention, but the end is near!! Thankfully the time has come!  We are getting induced on Friday, September 28th at 9 AM! Please continue to pray for a healthy & happy baby boy and a nice and easy delivery for me :) We can't wait to meet him, it's hard to believe Friday is the day!  Next post- WELCOME BABY EASTON!

38 Weeks

Not much has changed this week.  Still at a 1 and  feel about the same, experience maybe 1 -2 contractions a day.  Lots of pressure, swelling, and of course the pregnancy induced carpel tunnel in my wrists is very annoying.  Fluid retention is the cause.  Nights are most painful and then of course when I'm at work because my hands are in the same position for long periods of time, typing.  I've been told it will go away when baby is born, I can't wait!
We are nearing the end of this long 9 month process and lots of things are on my mind.  For instance, why can a Giant Panda deliver a cub the size of a stick of butter ( 4 oz) and only take 3 hours?  Things like this marvel me;)  But seriously the nervousness has not totally set it, but next week may be a different story. I just know that to meet my sweet baby boy I have to do this! :) I'm still up in the air on whether I will have an epidural, I feel I have a high pain tollerance, but have no idea how bad this is going to hurt! After the first stage of labor maybe I'll have an idea :) If labor is long I know it will be painful, I'm kind of hoping for a fast delivery, but not always is that mean painless.  Time will tell and either way I'll be fine with my decision, I'm not sold one way or another.
Thanks for checking in this week and please continue to pray for a healthy and happy baby.  I get to call in tomorrow to schedule our induction!  Then we have one more appointment next Tuesday.  I don't think he will come on his own before then, but you never know ;) I keep telling him to kick a little harder and break that water ;)

37 Weeks

My appointment went well this week!  My BP was a little high, but in a normal range for me.  I still get some headaches, but none that don't go away with Tylenol.  I didn't gain any weight- YEAH! Which really means I didn't retain any more fluid- YEAH! She said I looked better, I can't really tell anymore.  To me, I always look puffy and am tired of looking in the mirror ;) The bed rest must be helping so my instructions were the same.  To work 4-6 hours a day, and then come home and rest on my left side.  I'm getting use to this schedule and Mark is too.  He's realizing it's no fun to plan supper, clean the house and do laundry :) His days off this past week were full of "honey-to-do's"! He did a great job!
Our plan is still induction at 39 weeks which would be Friday, September 28th.  Unless of course he comes on his own before then.  I was only 1 cm dilated so I doubt that, but you never know!  We're getting so very anxious and excited to meet our little boy, Easton!  Two weeks :)
We put the car seats in the vehicles on Sunday.  It's makes me smile when I look in my rear view mirror and see his seat, soon enough I'll be looking at him :)  We also got the carpets cleaned this morning, and have one last finishing touch in the nursery.  Bags are packed and clothes washed- I think we're ready! 
I admitted to Mark last night I have new addiction, I gave him one guess and he got it right ;)  I'm having so much fun shopping for Easton it's ridiculous!  I just can't wait for him to get here so I can dress him everyday, for those of you who know me well know this is the truth!! But really we are just excited to meet him, love on him, and of course show him off!  He's our very own precious child that we can't wait to bring into our family!
Hope you're having a great week, LOVING this cool fall day! The heat and this Momma aren't getting along anymore at this point! Bring on Fall :)   

36 Weeks

My appointment seemed to go well, but ended with bed rest.  For the first time since they have been tracking my labs, the protein in my urine it was close to normal. :) And my BP was also normal, however I have started having headaches and the swelling is getting worse.  I have gained we'll just say "enough" weight for a full term pregnant lady if not more than I should have. So because I'm only 36 weeks pregnant and fluid retention is high, she put me on bed rest in hopes that it will slow up.  We also found out that Easton is getting ready to enter this world, regardless if we are!  He is in the head down postion and entering the birth canal!  Dr. Landeen was very shocked at just how far down he was ;) I had wondered if he had dropped because I've had more pressure and cramping in my lower abdomen and lots of lower back pain.  She asked if it felt like I had a bowling ball down there, and yes that's pretty much what it feels like :) So at this point, I am working part-time and then coming home to lay down on my left side and rest.  I learned a long time ago babies are a miracle from God, that you don't get to plan them.  And now realizing that when they come is not up to you either, so I'm trying to go with the flow!  But Dr. Landeen did tell me most likely he will come on his own and we won't have to induce, which is great!  But we want to keep him in there as long as we can, so thinking a little extra rest will help that.  I've heard so many things about babies being born early, good and bad.  But if we can make it to 37 weeks hopefully we'll miss the NICU.  But who knows, maybe he's planning on camping out where he's at for the next two weeks, time will tell.  Looks like he will be a September baby! Please keep the prayers coming, we're grateful for getting this far healthy and look forward to the next couple weeks.  In the meantime, I'm accepting magazines and movies ;)

Maternity Pictures- 32.5 weeks pregnant

I was debating taking these pictures.  In the beginning I thought it was a really cool idea.  Then as I started to grow, stretch, and swell I thought maybe not.  I don't like how I look these days, but when I think about what is growing inside my belly and how big he is actually getting, it's definitely a miracle!! One that you have to capture why it's happening or you might regret it.  So I went ahead with the photo shoot, our friend Lisa took the pictures.  She also took our baby annoucement pictures.  She does a great job, and believe it or not, just does it as a hobby! I will admit I do like most of these, even with the double chins and swollen hands!  THANKS Lisa :)

My old jeans fit! Of course they were wide open & uncomfortable- but I got them on ;) 

34 Weeks

I'm happy to say we've made it to 34 weeks!! For some reason this feels like such a good mile marker for me!  I think hitting week 36 will even feel better, and then for the home stretch :) The past 2 weeks have felt like a wild rollercoaster ride!

8.9.12- Cori hosted a wonderful Baby Shower!  I was blessed with many friends, gifts, and of course what would a baby shower be without tears ;) Thanks to everyone for making us feel so loved and special, Easton is so spoiled and doesn't even know it! I'm upset at myself for not taking more photos with all my awesome friends, but here are a couple that Cori took.

Dairy Queen ice cream cake :)

One of the games we played, they had to cut a piece of yarn the size of my belly!

8.13.12- Mark and I had planned to take the boys to the Zoo in Sioux Falls as kind of a last hurrah before school started and before baby Easton arrives!  We had a great afternoon enjoying all the Zoo had to offer, and of course we ended our day at McDonald's ;)

8.14.12- As many of you know, I was unable to go to Denver with Mark last week.  When they called me with my lab results they warned me of bed rest and early delivery, but said that Dr. Landeen would discuss with me more in detail at my appointment.  As you can imagine I was a hot mess! My gears had switched, all I could think about was not going to Denver and the possibility of having an early baby!  I found out my blood pressure was still high and I had elevated levels of protein in my urine.  She advised no travel to Denver, and to take it easy with rest on my left side.  I had to do another 24 hour urine test also :( Of course I cried, and then got over it.  But then when Mark was packing, leaving, gone, I cried!! I think it was the hormones :) It turned out to be an ok weekend.  I went to Sioux Falls on Friday night with my Mom, bought some newborn outfits, as I was freaking out that he could be early! On Saturday I washed a bunch of Easton's clothes & blankets, organized and cleaned the house and attended a friend's 40th Birthday Party.  Sunday I listened to doctor's orders and pretty much rested all day!!  But as for Mark, he had a great time!! Below are some pictures from his trip.  His list of activity is long! He attended his cousin's wedding, went to "shoot doves" with Abe, Aaron & Erica, went to a Broncos game with Josh, spent time with Megan & Kacey in Fort Collins, had lunch with Kevin & Teddy, and dinner wtih Shane! Not to mention the quality time he spent at home with his parents.  I don't know what else he could have squeezed in, but glad he got to see everyone!  Easton wasn't even there, but he got spoiled by Grandma Sheri and Megan! He got a nice surplus of clothes that I had fun upacking on Tuesday :)

Cousins

(Bryan standing next to Mark is the one that got married)

Family pic

Easton is set to cheer on the CSU Rams!

8.21.12- I had an doctor appointment and it went WELL!  My BP and protein were lower!  The protein is still higher than where they want to see it, but I was just happy to see it had gone down instead of up!  I guess the rest does help :) She told me that because I don't have headaches, vision problems. etc, she doesn't need to see me next week, but I will have to do another 24 hour urine test before my appointment on Sept. 4th.  I can handle that, she let me skip this weekend which made my day!  She also told me with my history and complications that she won't let me go past 39 weeks.  So with that said I guess our new due date (if things continue to stay the same, which we all know they can change by the day or week) is September 28th!  I am just taking things day by day and praying for no visual changes or headaches, I know how fast preeclampsia can come on!  Prayers are still appreciated and needed :)  

Thanks for catching up with the Radtke's!

32 weeks

Where to start?!?  We got the nursery furniture all in, and it looks great! I was worried how it would all fit, but it looks nice.  We went with a double wide dresser that will also work as a changing table, a chest of drawers, night stand, glider and ottoman.  I don't have any pictures yet, I want to get the nursery completely finished before I post them.  I have some items to get on the walls and need to finish the window treatments.  I have been busy putting away his clothes in the drawers and just sitting in the rocker admiring the peace and quiet & simplicity of his room before all chaos breaks loose :)  Nelli knows somethings coming, she sits with me in the room when I'm doing different things and has already found her favorite spot, next to the crib :)

I played golf probably for the last time of the year on Friday.  It was very hot, but I did it!  I had a great time and thankful my job allows me to be apart of such fun events.  I played with great friends, which helped me deal with the heat ;).  I even won the longest drive contest (might be lack of women in these tournaments, but still claimed the prize)!

On Saturday we had a wedding shower in Clear Lake for my cousin Corrine.  It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to see her in October! She'll be a stunning Bride, it will be a beautiful time of year, and Easton will be here :)   Here are some photos from the shower. 

Meg, Corrine & Selena 

Sisters :)

The whole family in our handmade hats- just call us royalty!!

My hat coordinated with my outift :)

They also had a baby shower for me when we were through with the wedding shower!  It's hard to get everyone in the same place these days, so we decided to kill two birds with one stone :) Thanks to Carmen for letting us take over the lake house for the afternoon!

My Mom and I

Our beautiful family of ladies :)

And of course the baby shower had a great assortment of desserts- my favorite :)

And to wrap up these past 2 weeks, I had an appointment yesterday.  The appointment went well, but has me a little worried.  My blood pressure was a little higher than it had been, (122/90) and of course the talk of all my swelling in my hands, feet and face had my doctor wondering.  So we did some blood work and as of today it all came back within normal range.  I have to go back to the doctor tomorrow to have my blood pressure checked.  I'm praying that it goes back down, because we are suppose to fly out to Denver next week!  My doctor has said all along it would be fine, but lets hope nothing changes that.  It's our summer vacation and we're really looking forward to it.  Please pray for good results and hopefully a clean bill of health to fly :) 

Tomorrow night I have a baby shower with all my friends!  I can't wait, and Easton must be excited too, because he's been moving a lot the last couple days ;) Thanks for all the prayers, keep them coming, we're getting closer!