Well, it was our last doctor's visit and we were hoping that Phillips would say to come back on Wednesday.  But he said, let's schedule for Monday.  That is what we were expecting but not what we were hoping for.  Oh, well-this really will be a Christmas baby.  So the 21st will be our date-hoefully all will go well and we can be home by the 23rd.  The appointment went well-baby's heart rate was 130 and we were out of there.

This evening we had one last thing to do before baby comes-get that pesky car seat in the van.  The kids helped and it looks like we will even be able to manage with 4 car seats in the car.  So now we are officially ready for IV to arrive.

I had some expectations today that the doctor would give us a date but instead we only heard those 4 dreaded words: See you next week.  Actually, I am beginning to doubt that we will in fact be home for Christmas and the "only in my dreams" stuff just won't cut it.  We go back next Tuesday so he will probably induce me on the 21st-and again, that is not what the doctor has said, just what I have tried to guess.  I am crossing my fingers that some how we can be induced before then-they probably don't do that on the weekends though.  Oh, well, guess I will just have to drink some castor oil-kidding, only kidding about that (kind of!)  Anyway, all of my stats were good today-and I am still a tiny bit below my "oh my gosh weight!" and have been staying there for a week or two now.   The baby's heartbeat was 134ish and the doctor said I have progressed more than I ever have before-which was still a 1!  We will be excited whenever IV shows up-and thrilled to have a healthy baby.  Now, off to drink some castor oil, I mean a coke!

Baby IV received his first few presents tonight at a Christmas party.  The Wilsons hosted us at their house and the Dorseys, Phillips and Atwoods were there as well.  Everyone brought salty and sweet foods and we devoured them.  The kids exchanged ornaments and busied themselves playing all evening long.  We opened lots of diapers and wipes and we know that we will use them all very soon and very quickly!

My hope was that Phillips would say-let's just head next door to the hospital now.  But of course, all he said was "why don't you just pop these babies out like other women who are having their fourth?"  My blood pressure was great.  Whenever I chat with the nurse, it is always a tiny bit higher than I like so I kept my mouth closed today!  One of my tests did come back positive for Group B Strep which just means that I will get antibiotics on my IV.  So that is something different than before but not a big deal.  The heartbeat of the baby was 149 and he is still head down.  But other than that not much has changed so we will head back to the doctor next week-and we probably still won't get a date then (which starts pushing us too close to Christmas) but oh, well we can wait on Baby IV!

Well, not much was going on in this visit and nothing new really happened.  Our appointment was at 11:45 and we were in and out before 12:15.  Everything was good-heard the heartbeat was 135 and that was about it.  He said that I wasn't dilated and since I wasn't going to have this baby anytime soon, we could come back in one and a half weeks.  Woohoo!  I was hoping that he would say that he would see me in 2 weeks or even see me again when we check into the hospital!  So far, baby IV is doing well and we are counting down the days to meet him/her

This was our sixth doctor's visit.  It seems like Phillips is the only one around on Fridays since the waiting room is pretty empty.  My weight was great (well, they didn't say that-I said that!)  My blood pressure was perfect-even a little on the lower end.  Phillips said the baby was head down.  Actually, I thought I knew that since he kicks pretty hard up high.  Phillips did confirm that we would have this baby before Christmas and I suggested anytime after the 13th (Anderson's birthday).  The baby's heartbeat was 132-Phillips said it was a girl (then told Robby, that he had a 50/50 chance of getting it right).  Another good visit and we go back in two weeks.

I skipped out on the garage sale for a few minutes to check in at my 5th doctor's appointment. My weight and blood pressure were fine. Phillips was on time and quickly measured my stomach-just the right size. He listened to IV's heartbeat which was 146 and then he said it was a girl (only a guess)-might be my guess too right now. I don't have to go back for another 4 weeks. I was thinking I was going to have to start going back every 2 weeks this time so I was a relieved to have one more 4 week break. Before I left, I even got my flu shot and was quickly out the door.

Before going to the doctor this morning, I had to drink the glucose stuff to check for gestational diabetes. I always dread drinking it because when I was pregnant with Anderson it made me very shaky. No trouble this time though. We were a little late to the appointment but I soon had my blood drawn and was seeing Dr. Phillips. He gave me the low down on the flu and swine flu-basically, don't get it. Before he listened to the baby's heartbeat, Charlotte (nurse) knocked on the door and said that labor and delivery was waiting on him. Needless to say, he quickly heard the baby's heartbeat and was out the door. All was well and we go back in 4 weeks.

IV's received her first present today. Something that Mom and Dad will get more use out of than the baby. So Dad couldn't be happier! Wondering what it is? A mini-fridge for Mom's bedroom. Yep, that's right. Now, when IV is hungry in the middle of the night. No one just has to stumble down the stairs to grab a bottle out of the refrigerator. And it will be handy when the other 3 wake up and want their milk. Yes, it will filled up before we go to bed tonight! (We should have bought it years ago!)

Another doctor appointment today-just the monthly check up. Phillips was running a little behind but so he didn't stay around the chat too long. Everything looked good and IV's heart rate 152 bpm. He said that he guessed that IV was a girl. My next visit is after our trip and it is the one that I have to drink the glucose stuff for the diabetes screen.

(click here for pictures) After having my AFP test before we left on vacation, I got the dreaded call yesterday that my numbers were off. My odds were increased for Down Syndrome so the nurse called (and left a message) to let us know. At first our appointment with the specialist was going to be next week, but God intervened and our appointment was moved to today at 8. We arrived and waited and waited before being called back. Once we were in the back, the doctor did the ultrasound and all of the measurements. Thankfully, everything measured good and he was able to greatly reduce my odds of a Downs baby so that was a huge relief. I called my doctor and they said that we didn't have to go to our regularly scheduled ultrasound. He didn't tell us what the baby was and we didn't ask! So baby IV will be another surprise.

(click here for pictures) Home from Ireland and it must surely be time to tell everyone about Dennie Baby 4-which I now refer to as IV. The kids t-shirts were delivered while we were gone and after picking them up from swimming we told them of the good news. Reagan said “another one?” when we told her Mom was going to have a baby. She then said that she hoped it was a girl and hoped that God would tell us what it is soon. But we will again wait to find out-the big ultrasound is in a few weeks now. We went to the Brock’s house and told them. Tommye didn’t seem surprised and even had a date written on the calendar of when she first suspicioned that IV was on the way. Next we headed to the Dennie’s and they were surprised too-though they did say they had been expecting it. The next few months will fly by and we can’t wait for IV to arrive.

Another doctor’s appointment today. It was a short visit which included some more blood work and hearing the baby’s heartbeat (143). Phillips guessed that it was a girl-we are doubtful! The next visit will be the big ultrasound but don’t get too excited because we will not find out the sex…or maybe we will! Everyone at the doctor’s office found it funny that no one knows that we are pregnant yet…or do they? It is getting a little hard to hide since I am starting to look pregnant. Oh, well, they can wait a little bit more before they find out the news!

(click here for pictures) It was soon obvious that Dennie baby 4 was on his way. After a little figuring, Tara thought he would be here near Christmas time so she laid a baby Christmas outfit on the bed to let Robby know the exciting news. He didn’t notice it for a few hours-even laid his clothes beside it. After all, we do have lots of little clothes lying around our house. Tara finally had to draw Robby’s attention to the outfit for him to notice. He quickly understood the news and was thrilled.