From: "Kimberly McDaniel"
Subject: 12 days and counting
Date: Wed, 05 Sep 2001 22:58:52

Dear family and friends,

I had my 38 week appointment today.  I was told that my cervix is 1 cm
dilated (normal) and it's 40% effaced.  (Effacement is the thinning,
sometimes called ripening, of the cervix in preperation for delivery.
During effacement, the cervix goes from more than 1 inch thick to
paperthin.)  I'm not sure what 40% effaced means, but I have a friend that
will be able to tell me tomorrow.  I was assured by my doctor that
everything is normal.  My blood pressure was a little higher this time but
after retaking it, it had dropped down into a normal range.  I'm also
experiencing some Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my left hand (I'm a lefty).  My
middle finger and ring finger are always numb on the tips (like an body part
that has fallen asleep).  This is due to endema (swelling of the hands and
feet/ankles).  After I have the baby and my fluid retention drops the
pressure on the nerves in my hand will gradually go away and so will the
numbness...hopefully.  Learn something new every day.

We are almost done painting my bathroom upstairs.  I'll see if I can
sweettalk John into finishing the job.  He worked so hard this Labor day
weekend that I let him be on Tuesday night.  He played video games on his
computer.  We'll post some pictures on our website so you can see the before
and after pictures...pretty incredible!

We're expriencing Indian summer right now; it was 90 today and the humidity
was awful.  It's supposed to cool off over the weekend.  We might do a
little shopping or take in a movie...play the waiting game for this baby.

Take care of yourselves and let us know how you're doing.

Love,

Kim and John