That does it!

Well, the season is officially over for the Kansas Women. We played Michigan State this evening in the WNIT and lost 58-54. I was able to listen to the game on the radio and it sounded as if they fought hard ... they just couldn't pull the win out on the road.

It has been a little bit of a rough season for us. We started out very strong in non-conference and then had some major let-downs in the conference season. We just couldn't pull it all together for the Big 12 opponents. We are a young team, but we are also much better than we played down the stretch. We beat several teams that landed in the NCAA tournament, we just didn't get there ourselves this year.

We lose 2 seniors off this team and will return 99% of our scoring. We have a talented group of freshmen coming in next fall (including one All-American) so there should be some improvement. It was a good run this year, but we have got to get to work so we aren't in the same position again this time next year!!

Week 31!!

Just back from the doctor ... everything is going well :) The doctor was happy with the growth of the baby as well as my health right now. Nothing has really changed, but we are still pregnant so that is GREAT! My BP remains on the high side, but my swelling is greatly reduced so that is a positive. As much as I would love to get out of bed at this point, what we are doing is working so we are going to stay with the gameplan and keep on going. So, not alot to report. No news is good news at this point!

The team will be leaving today for Michigan State. They played Evansville on Monday night and won in the WNIT so they have moved on to the next round. They will play at Michigan State tomorrow night. I asked about going, but that was shot done pretty quickly :( Oh well, I am happy to stay at home and help this little guy! Go Hawks!!

New Pictures ..

Here are some pictures of what has been happening here in the last few weeks. We thought we were going to have more time to get ready for this little guy, but it appears that he will be here before we know it now! We finally made progress and got the nursery painted. It went from sunny yellow room to a baby blue room. It should look very good once we have all the furniture here and set up. Here are some pics of Eric and Theresa painting it ....

This last picture is of the diaper cake that my mom made (along with the help of her friends, Cindy and Sue). They were planning to make it for my shower next month, but since I am bedrest now, I will not be able to have them. My mom wanted to cheer me up this past weekend so she brought it to me. It is filled with 140+ diapers as well as all kinds of grooming things, toys, hats, washcloths, bib and other neat things. It is really cute!!

Making it!

Well, almost a week since we got the news about full-time bedrest ... I am still alive!! I have had a "few moments" but I think I am doing pretty good. (Eric might have another opinion, though!) Anyway, I am feeling good. Not alot has changed, which is a good thing. Changes usually mean we are getting worse so I am just trying to lay low and keep busy at home. All I can say, is thank goodness for technology. I couldn't imagine not having my cell phone and laptop and trying to make it through this!

My parents were out this weekend. My mom brought the "diaper cake" that she wanted to make for my shower. Since I won't be having them, she went ahead and brought it early for me so that I had something "baby." It is very cute!!! She did an awesome job! I am neither creative, nor patient enough to put something together like that. Imagine wedding cake meets diapers and baby toys. I took some pics the other night of it so I will get them downloaded so you all can see how cool it is. I really don't want to "use" it as it is so cute. I think that I will leave it together for as long as I can until I "need" the 140+ diapers that it is made of. Thanks mom (and Cindy and Sue)!!

Not much else going on. I was able to leave the house today for a dentist appointment. Because it was just a "cleaning" my doctor told me I could go as long as I returned straight home following the appt. It was so nice to get out of the house and drive my car!! We will go to the baby doctor each Wednesday from here on out so I will have weekly updates then. One week at a time, but we are still shooting for April 23rd as the "goal."

Hits keep on coming!

We went to the doctor again today and things have not gotten any better. It is Toxemia (otherwise known as preclampsia) that I am suffering from and could be dangerous to both my health and the health of the baby. As a result, I am on BED REST from here on out. The only time I am permitted to get out of bed is to shower, use the bathroom or get something to eat. Other than that, I am to stay on my side as much as absolute possible. There is no real reason for this disease ... she called it "the disease of first pregnancies." It usually happens to women that are very young (under 20) or older (over 40). With my activeness, overall good health and age, it is a little mysterious as to why I am now suffering from this condition.

The goal now is to make it five more weeks. We are at 30 weeks today and this baby stands a better chance the longer we can keep him in. 37 weeks is considered full-term, but my doctor is confident that if we make it 5 more weeks, we will be in good shape. Any earlier, we will be facing a battle with lung development and so forth. So, that is the goal ... anything after 35 weeks is going to be icing on the cake.

After several tests today (and over the past week), it has been determined that we are both "OK" right now. The baby is weighing in at 3 lbs, 6 ozs ... a little small for his "age" but that is to be expected with what all is going on. His brain, heart, lungs and measurements all look good right now. The scary thing about all of this is that I feel fine. I am a little bit swollen, but nothing too crazy. I have been resting and taking it easy for the past week (as directed) so this is just alot to take in. This condition is progressive though and can take-over very quickly. Headaches, seizures, kidney failure are all possibilities that can happen. So, we are taking it very serious.

As a result of all this, I will no longer be able to travel home to IL or KY. I am saddened by this as we had showers planned in the coming weeks at both homes :( I was really looking forward to seeing all our family and friends. This won't be happening now as travel is prohibited (and dangerous). So, the girls are going to take care of calling and sharing the news with everyone about what has happened and what we are going through.

Please keep us in your prayers and hope for the best. Our medical care has been great so I am fully confident that we are going to be OK. Eric and I know that this is serious and that we need to treat it that way .. it is just alot to take in right now. We know that we need to get ready for this lil one as he could come at any time ... we have alot to do/buy! We thought we had plenty of time --- the end of May seemed like forever, but now, we are looking at the end of April!!

Very UNeventful weekend!

Under doctor's orders to take it easy, I have not done much at all since Wednesday. When I told Bonnie and the other coaches what my doctor said, they put a halt on all events that I can do for the next few days. I haven't been to practice in the past few days and have only been in the office for about 2 hours since Wednesday. They have been great and want to make sure that I am following orders. They have gone a little bit above the necessary precautions, but I appreciate their support and will do as I have been told.

Theresa is out here this weekend. She got in late on Friday night and has been hanging out with us all weekend. I feel a bit bad that we haven't really done all that much with her, but I don't think she is too upset. We did go into KC for a couple of hours yesterday to look at bedding and things for the baby. We also bought paint and got the game plan together for the nursery. Theresa, being the night owl that she is, even started to paint last night and had the room almost all done by the time I woke up this morning. I got to help a little bit, but with the fumes, I was quickly kicked out of the room. She and Eric finished up this evening and we are just waiting for the paint to dry to put the room back together. The furniture is not here yet, but we are much closer to being ready for his arrival.

I have also gotten my registries done. We have a shower in KY in a couple weeks and then another one in IL the weekend of April 19th. I ended up registering at Target, Babies R Us and PotteryBarn Kids since all of our friends/family are spread out and there isn't one good store for everyone to shop. It seems like alot, but I was just trying to make it easy.

Well, we will find out tomorrow what our fate is in terms of postseason. We are projected to make the WNIT and will find out late tomorrow who/where we play. The game will probably be later this week. We are on spring break now for the next few days so we will have plenty of time to prepare!!

Resting!!!

So, we got our first "bad" news of the pregnancy yesterday. According to my doctor, I am borderline toxemia right now and have a limited amount of time to get this turned around and hopefully avoid permanent bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. I have been experiencing quite a bit of swelling in my legs and feet as well as elevated blood pressure, but really thought nothing of it as I have been working ALOT over the past few months (ok, the whole pregnancy).

I have always been wrapped up in what I do and usually can make it all work. However, this little one has put his foot down and is demanding to rest. Bottom line -- I have to slow down....my body (and baby) can't quite keep up this time. Dr. gave me quite a scare as she told me that I am on course to go into premature labor and could give birth in a matter of a couple of weeks from now if I am not careful. Well, we all know that would not be in the best interest of this child, so we are going to slow down and take it easy for the remainder of the pregnancy. I have 10 weeks left to go, but she told me that if I can make it six more weeks, than we are in good shape.

So, I have rested for the past few days and I feel 100% better right now than I did 36 hrs ago. Yes, I was tired, I will admit it. But, it is post-season and there just isn't time to slow down now. But, in really thinking about, it is not about me anymore and I don't have a choice!! I spent the majority of yesterday and all of today on my back .. just lying around and doing nothing. I am bored out of my mind already :) But, it is for the best so I will OK.

Final Home Game

I will say that I have been a wee bit stressed the past few weeks. Our games have not gone well (to say the least) and we find ourselves fighting just to hang on. I am not sure what it is, but we have just not gotten it done :( So tonight will hopefully be the turning point for us. We play our final game at home vs. Kansas State. We are both playing for something -- us (pride), K-State (a share of the Big 12 Championship). There is a lot of the line, but I think that we are going to come out and show what we are all about. Heck, we have nothing to lose! Keep your fingers crossed!!