I'm gonna combine my lives here...

I'll be going back to making my main updates on angelhorn.blogspot.com. I'll keep this for posterity...hopefully, I'll remember to print this out for Ryan to have some day.

Thanks for reading this while I was preggo and putting up with all my complaining! :)

Much better...

Yes, formula is the answer. I have a much more peaceful and happier baby on my hands. Hooray!

Now, we just have to get him to stay awake during the day, instead of torturing me every hour and a half at night.

However, he did try a new trick on me today -- and I didn't really like it all that much.

I was changing a poopy diaper and I was almost done with it and about to put on a new one when MORE POOP came flying out. YUCK! I tried to catch it, but it got on his blanket (not to mention in my raccoon wounds) and then, like an idiot, I accidentally set him back down in it, so it got on his back and his onesie. oops.

So, I got him cleaned up and changed and all that stuff. And now I've been peed AND pooped on. I'm hoping he saves the explosive poops for Dad.

Just another fun day of gross in my life.

I got all the Explanation of Benefits for the hospital stay for me and Ryan. My bills totaled approx. $15k. Ryan's were $4500 or so. Luckily, we only pay $2k for the deductables for me and Ryan. AND, we won't have to pay for another doctor bill this year, because we've met everything for the year. Pretty sweet. :)

So, in conclusion...

We think that it's my milk that is causing the random screaming. We switched over to all formula, just cold turkey on Sunday for 24 hours and then started breastmilk again last night, to see what happened.

What we got was a happy baby for Sunday and most of Monday and a screaming baby this morning. When, of course, I am home alone with him to deal with while he's screaming at random.

So, no more breastmilk, I guess. I feel bad. He's not allergic to milk/dairy, because the formula we give him is dairy based and he doesn't have an issue with it -- other than the iron causes him to not be able to poop as much as he did. But, all babies have trouble pooping at the beginning, because they don't know the best way to force it out of their systems. But, I do feel bad, because I know that BM is really what is the best for him and will really help his immune system, but, something about it really makes him scream.

I don't have a problem nursing, but I do have a problem trying to comfort a baby who CANNOT be comforted by anything other than a car ride to force him to fall asleep. Breastfeeding, after a couple of weeks of practice for both of us, is actually pretty easy and convenient. But, I would prefer to have a baby that I like to take care of, versus one that I am terrified of when he's awake. It's just better for everyone involved.

Now, we just have to get Jake immune to his crying.

Ryan has been much more awake during the day -- he will be up at 6am-ish, be awake and eating most of the morning and early afternoon, go to sleep for a nap around 2 to 3pm and sleep until between 5 and 6, wake up for a bit and usually fall back asleep around 9 or so and sleep until midnight. Luckily, Jake stays up with him after 9pm, so I can sleep, since I get up at 6 with him. And really, I was up at 4:30 with him and I just tried to get him to rest until 6. It's the small battles.

I guess he's hungry again, because he's yelling from the swing. I guess I should get him. Maybe. :)

Back at 2:30pm

He's finally sleeping. Hooray! I'm waiting for Mom to come over -- she's coming over later than normal today, so she can hang out with me tonight, since Jake will be at rehearsal. Plus, I could use a nap at some point. And based on the morning, Ryan is sure to be screaming at me tonight. I need someone who is not me to try and get him to sleep.
See, babies are very basic creatures at this point. I, as the mom, make him food. We'll call me "Food Bag". Food Bag smells like milk. Therefore, when I hold him, it MUST be time for him to eat. If Dad holds him (or anyone else for that matter), they don't smell like milk and if they give him a paci or something, he doesn't get raging angry when it doesn't actually give him food.

Oh, and about that pooping -- he's pooped like 5 times today. Formula poop smells yucky. Smells like real grown up poo. Oh well. It's a small sacrifice.

I do feel bad about not breastfeeding him. I wanted him to have the protections that offers. But, if it makes him scream-y, then we need to be sane around here. 2 weeks is better than none, I suppose. And he's such a sweet little guy when he's not screaming.

Yep, we'll call it the dreaded "C word"

Colic.

Frightening.

I am seriously terrified of my child nowadays. When he starts to wake up from naps, I can feel my blood pressure rise at the mere sound of his squeaking, which used to be cute.

Wednesday was fine. Thursday, we were back to eating too much, throwing up and generally screaming for hours and hours. Finally, he passed out around 10 pm Thursday night and actually sleep until 2am. Then, up at 5:30am. Then up at 6:30am. He doesn't sleep much past 6am. Which sucks. Friday -- more screaming. Even my mom is troubled by it. He used to be such a quiet baby. He is just awake for hours and hours and finally, he passes out to sleep. Last night, it was around 9pm. Then, up at midnight. And then 2. And then 5. Then, he was up from 5:30am this morning, until about 12 noon. Then, he slept only like 30 mins. Finally, we took him for a car ride around 2:30 and went down to the Milwaukee Public Market, just because it was a long care ride in town. He's been sleeping pretty much since then, which he needs to do, but at the same time, I know that he's going to up later tonight. Sigh. I should really take a nap.

We're just going to totally switch over to formula and see if that helps at all. I'm going to pump to keep up with the BF part, but if my milk is going to make him insanely gassy, then what's the point of doing it, you know? If formula makes him a little happier and quieter and able to rest, then I'm all for that. Not reason to feed him enough, but have him be upset all the time.

At least car rides put him to sleep. Thank God.

I feel guilty, but at the same time, it's finally quiet

Ryan has turned from good baby to colicky baby in the past week. Well, if it's not colicky, then he's just a big ol' fuss baby. Both of which are annoying, but at least the fuss baby will shut up every once and a while.

He's started getting crazy fussy in the evenings, around 5-6 pm. Side note: the cat just scraped his butt on the couch and is presently trying to cover the smell. Asshole.

Last night, he ate too much, threw up on himself and a little on me, which freaked me out and then proceeded to want to eat more, which freaked me out even more. I think that he must be having a growth spurt here and just wants to eat and eat and eat.

But, the screaming is what gets to me.

So, we were at the doctor this morning -- he's up to 6 lbs 12 oz., which is perfect growth -- they like to see a 1/2 oz to 1 oz. per day and he gained 7 oz. in the week. We got all our questions answered and I feel marginally better. Plus, I know that I can give him a bottle okay and formula with an issue from the pedi. And we know we can give him Mylicon for gas if we think it does something -- the pedi says it doesn't really do anything.

But, he started screaming last night and Jake was at rehearsal for Spanglish and finally I had to give in and call my mom and dad to come over -- which I always feel badly about, since it's always 8pm when I call, desperate for help. So, they came over, Dad got him to fall asleep and when I took him upstairs to lay him in the basinette, he woke up screaming again. So, Jake had to take over, because I was too exhausted from the previous 3 hours to get up. But, I did get to sleep a bit. And he slept a bit overnight, but he was screaming and fussy this morning again.

After we got back from the doctor, I was trying to feed him, but he kept eating, fussing, pulling off and screaming. Over and over. No matter boob or bottle. Finally, I got him to eat a good amount and then when he started screaming again, I just gave up and threw him in the swing and pretended he wasn't crying. Which he finally stopped and fell asleep around 5 mins ago. Which is what I should be doing, honestly. Sleeping. Right after I spray stuff on the couch to cover the cats smelly ass. Stupid jerk cat. What a morning. I can't wait for Jake to get home. Or for the Brewer game to be over -- I might ask Mom if she can stop by. I was going to run out to the Waukesha County Courthouse for Ryan's Birth Certificate, but I am too freakin' tired. BLAH.

Time is flying, but dragging by

I can't believe it was a week ago that I last posted, but it has truly seemed like the longest week ever.

We took Ryan to the doctor on Wednesday around 11:15, which was a HUGE mistake. They took us back to the room right on time. Unfortunately, the doctor was running 45 mins late, so he was starving. I was thinking that they would be right on time, so we would have been home by the time that we were being seen by the pedi. Jake and I were both really upset. Then, she walks in and says, go ahead and feed him -- do what you have to do. Jake said "It would have been nice to know that before". ha ha! Like I said, we were both pist.

The little monster gained almost 3/4 of a pound! He was 6 lb. 5 oz., but I think he gave back an ounce or two immediately, when he pooped his diaper. Still, he's already back to birth weight in a week, which is really good. He was clearly struggling inside of me and now that he's out, he's much better. In fact, we "weighed" him yesterday and we think that he might even be close to 7 lbs. now. GEEZ!! Fatty McFatterson.

And, I am officially done with breastfeeding. I'm talking to the doctor about what formula to put him on and how to handle all the gas that he has. He really has trouble with gas and pooping some days and really struggles with it.

Oh boy -- NBC Special Report. and crying baby. Gotta go!

I keep trying to post, but it doesn't seem to work out...

I think that I should be more successful right now, because Ryan is sleeping in the swing.

To finish the story of Ryan's arrival:

They took me in the OR and did the spinal, so I was paralyzed from the ribs down. I did manage to keep feeling the poking needle, but I think that was my brain overworking. They did the c section and they did have a bit of trouble delivering him that way too -- I heard the doctor request foreceps at one point, but the surgical assistant and the doctor did manage to get him out without using them. He pretty much cried right away and got apgar scores of 8 and 9 (at 1 min and 5 min).

Ryan had a skinny cord, which wasn't supplying enough nutrition to him (hence the reason that my big butt gave birth to a little tiny thing) and his cord was wrapped around his shoulders and above his head. I think it's called a prolasped cord, but mine was not as serious as it could have been. I would say that I had a semi-emergency c-section.

He was overdue/past term because he had little old man hands and feet when he came out and he has a lot of dry peeling skin.

Otherwise, he was totally perfect...well, except the fact that his little testicles did not descend prior to birth -- one is kind of where it should be and the other is still WAY up in his abdomen. The one that is way up there will probably require surgery when he's around 6 months old or so, but we'll see what happens...maybe a miracle will occur and it will come down on its own too.

The hospital stay was long. I ended up with a minor spinal headache -- which felt like a migrane to me -- light sensitivity, nausea -- and a MAJOR tension headache, which ran up my shoulders into my neck, into the back of my head. BLAH!

So, when we came home Sunday, I was in pretty rough shape. Lots of caffeine and Sudafed solved it by Tuesday. And the tension headache was gone after a day or two at home as well. Too bad all the caffeine kept Ryan up that first night, all crazy, which made me crazy too. He sleeps upstairs with us for now, in the Pack N Play. It works out pretty much okay.

I am breastfeeding, which is as easy as it sounds. You just put the baby where he needs to go and he knows exactly what to do...SARCASM'D'D'D!

As I had previously blogged, I was not sure about this whole process. I never was, but I was willing to give it a whirl and see if it was something that I really was okay with. I know that a week is really not a fair trial, but between caring for a new baby, this whole being totally attached to the baby because I'm the food source and just being totally destroyed mentally, I am donzo with this.

I am just going to start pumping whatever I have and give him bottles -- there are times when I probably will be a bit lazy to pump and I can certain give him the food directly, but I need someone else to be able to give him a bottle every once and a while. This will make me happier, which will hopefully make Ryan happier. And when Jake comes home and my mom leaves to go back to her house, I won't be a crying mess, like I was every day this week so far. I hit the wall on this yesterday -- I think that he must have another growth spurt on, because he is just eating like a freak and I can't handle having him attached to me every 20 mins for 4 hours.

Whatever makes the mom happy is what should happen, IMO. I'm still not sure of the bottles either, because we didn't learn to bottle feed in the hospital, but it doesn't seem to hard and I have books to read up on this stuff.

I do feel bad for Jake -- we'll have to come up with a different schedule for feeding. I think that for the most part, I will probably just pump and bottle feed him, but there were a couple of times last night where it was just easier to pull out a lady part and feed him. Jake looks so tired all the time -- not that I don't, but I can stay home and I have Mom to help me with him. Jake has to work all day and then come home to crazy me.

Ryan sure does fart a lot and it's REALLY funny. I don't think that it will ever reach a point where it's not funny.

I am healing pretty quickly, which is a good thing. There is some numbness around my incision, which is expected. They cut a lot of nerves down there. I have also already lost half of what I gained -- so, like 17 pounds to go on the weight loss. And then, I'm going to try for 10 more, but we'll see where we are in July/August.

I guess that about sums everything up. I'm not real sure what I'm going to do when Mom doesn't have to come over anymore because I can drive and I'll be totally alone with him. Others have done it, so I can too. I think. Now, time for a nap. Maybe.

Welcome Ryan Joshua!

He's here! Born 5/13/09 at 8:41pm via c-section.

I did go to the hospital yesterday, thinking that they would just send me home after they monitored me.

I was having contractions, but very strange ones. So, they had me on the monitors for a while and at some point, his heart rate started to drop during a contraction and then come back up. The doctor was concerned, because this really seemed like a cord issue, as apposed to a placental issue. So, the best course of action was to just deliver him.

So, into the OR I went, which was very weird -- I felt like a science experiment, all the way.

More later...

Just gross...

I wish that I would have had the balls to take a pic of what just came out of me. Sorry, folks, we're down to the gross stuff of being pregnant now.

Lost my mucus plug this morning. Totally gross. liek OMG. Think the worst cold you've ever had, except it ain't comin' out of your nose.

Yep, it's 3:20 am and I don't care what I'm talking about at this point. suckers.

I've been having random contractions for the past 24 hours or so and since 2am this morning (like the last hour), they are getting more consistent and closer together. I've been timing them using 'Contraction Master' online. It does the job. Better than my waking up, looking at the clock and going back to sleep. Or trying anyway.

At least when I call the doctor's office this morning, I can report what's been happening and see if maybe he wants to do something different than the plan.

Just had a contraction now. I have to breathe through them now and I've barely started the journey -- this is why I have to take drugs -- I would a big ball of puking incoherence by the time I got to the end. And let's be honest, I'll probably get to that part anyway.

They really suck too. You can feel them start and really can't do jack about it. I'm not sure if I should take some pain killers so I can sleep or what -- I'd like this to keep going, so I can get this kid out of me, so I don't want to kill them by taking something for them, you know?

I think that 5/13 is a perfectly good day for a birthday. Don't you agree?

Since I MIGHT end up in the hospital today (oh please, oh please, oh please), maybe I'll update later today. Otherwise, check the ol' Fbook for status updates, as I can get them in.

Overdue and cranky

Mostly cranky at the doctor though.

I don't really mind being overdue, so much in that I just want him to be here, so I can get started in on that.

It's very depressing being totally ready for something that isn't coming. I'm close to cracking.

TMI alert!!!!
So, I guess I never blogged this -- Friday afternoon, I had a lot more discharge of "stuff" than I normally have, and it had a bit of pink in it. And Saturday morning, there was more, but this time it was featuring brown (which is old blood).

Continuing on....

I told the doctor about the discharge I have been experiencing since Saturday morning, and he basically just attributed it to the internal exam I had Thursday. Seems logical, right? Unless you factor in the part where I haven't spotted from an internal exam EVER in my life. The only time I have spotted was either my girlie no-no time or my miscarriages. Oh, and one time with this little guy, but clearly that worked out just fine.

Then, they want me to call Wednesday, to find out his schedule for Friday, so I can come back, since he's out of the office Thursday afternoon (his normal office hours). During my check today, I guess it wasn't any different than any other exam I've had in the past 4 and a half weeks, which, frankly, is BULLSHIT! Something HAS to be different, because he's lower and I've got this discharge. But, nope. I'm not at a stage where I'm "inducable", because my BP is ok. So fucking what? I bet my BP doesn't spike that much -- and in fact, I bet a "normal" BP is high for me. I bet my BP is high now, because I've been pretty ticked off all day.


I was pretty close to arguing with him today about it, but I was really tired, really upset and not wearing pants, which makes it hard to argue about anything. When you're not wearing pants. And I was ready to burst into tears when he said that I wasn't coming back until Friday.

So, send some good "go into labor" thoughts my way for the rest of the week. Because, if I'm still preggo on Friday, I'm probably just going to cry.

Only slightly annoyed...

I just got a call, from work, while on leave. *insert eye roll here*

I called back and there were two questions.
The first, I can understand, because I haven't had to do the issue that came up and I probably wouldn't have know the answer either, but all my notes and everything are at work. I think I know the answer, but I'm not totally sure of the implications of what needs to be done, you know?

The second, I had addressed with the person before I left. The instructions for variances on the link are fairly benign. If you can't find your variance on such and such report, then contact this person. I hope I don't get many calls about that situation again, because I'll stop answering my phone when it's work. Seriously.

I'm trying to do some things today to try and get him to move lower over the next few days -- some ideas from people online were to sit on the floor, with your legs butterflied in front of you -- which was a fairly good suggestion -- something to open up the pelvic floor. And I'm also trying just to hang out on my hands and knees to try and get my belly to relax.

So, far, the only excitement was the hour of contractions I had that were 7 minutes apart. Clearly, unproductive, but a start.

I'm hoping for some sort of good news on Monday.

I'm sitting and printing Brookie's wedding invites today. At least, starting them. If I can just sit and put them together once he's here, that would be pretty sweet. I think they are going to look awesome once completed. However, I managed to print 49 before I realized that I had misspelled something. WHOOPS! Luckily, I printed on the other side and you can't see through. So, it worked out a-ok. :)

BAH! I give up!

I quit. Seriously.

Had some contractions last night -- mild, but they were steady for an hour -- every 7 minutes from like 3 am to 4 am, when I got up to eat some cereal, because I was starving!

Then, once I got up, they pretty much went away.

I wonder if I'm too uptight about going into labor to go into labor.

So, doctor's appt today at 1pm: NOTHING! No dilation again, he hasn't even dropped that much! BAH!!!! GAH!!!! The doc said that maybe I was a little softer, but I was still closed up.

I'm hoping the full moon on Saturday morning will influence me somehow.

Next appt: Monday at 9:15 am. and, seriously, I'd better be on my way to the hospital after that to get induced. Because I am done.

If my only relaxed enough time to contract is between 3 and 4 in the morning, I'm truly F-ed. Because I will never sleep again, forever.

Remember that Simpsons Halloween episode where they do the Shining parody and Homer "goes crazy" toward the end? That's what I feel like, right now.

So, am I overdue today or tomorrow?

The doctor says I am due today. So, am I over due now? Or starting tomorrow?

My ticker says that I am overdue today. So, I'll go with that! ha ha!

The past two days of not working were pretty good -- I slept until 8 on Monday and I probably could have slept longer, if it wasn't for the urge to pee. Then, I ran errands in the morning and had some McDonald's for lunch and did some more stuff around the house -- cleaned out the fridge and cabinets. Then, I went over to Sam's to buy some food in bulk, in case I wind up with a c-section and am in the hospital for 4 days instead of just 2. So, Jake has some food to take with him for lunches or just to eat if/when he runs home to check on cats and such.

Yesterday, I was up a little earlier and did the same sort of thing -- I just didn't leave the house. UPS was delivering a package for me, so I had to hang around for that. But, I cleaned more areas and did some last minute things in the nursery and started mudding the back closet area, so that can get finished once I don't have a big stomach sticking out in front of me. Then, Colio and G.Nate were over last night, just to hang out, since Colio was home from LA-LA land for a week. We watched the Brewers and ate Toppers.

I've just been trying to...someone just ran the stop sign out in front of our house -- I swear, one day, I am going to count the number of cars that either run that stop sign or don't make a complete stop. Then, I'm going to start taking pictures of cars and calling the cops. And the same car just ran the stop sign again, going the other way. Jerk.

Anyway, I've just been trying to get things moving with him by walking, etc.

So, I wake up pretty early today -- I was SOOOO hot last night that I was uncovered most of the night and I was still sweating. Yuck. But, I got up around 7:15 or so and started to clean the remains of last night's festivies and ate, etc. etc. etc. I went upstairs to clean up clothes and I just decided that I didn't feel good. I did pick up a bit, but mostly, I just laid on the bed with the cats and watched "Pride and Prejudice". I'm just tired and I just feel off today.

Now, I'm sitting here and my lower back is really hurting, close to my hips and it's sharp pains. It really feels yuck. I don't know if it's the start of something or not. I hope so. It sort of wraps around my hips in the front too. And Ryan is really moving around right now, but that might be the iced tea that I am having too.

I guess I'll just wait and see. This all because I said that I had no intention of being in the hospital for the series finale of Scrubs, which, of course, is tonight!

I had this rant this morning...

And then I decided it wasn't that important to write 5 paragraphs about.

Suffice it to say that I think that I'm not getting paid as much from my STD insurance that I pay for and money will be a bit tighter this summer. Which is frustrating, but we'll make it work. I have to go back and refigure things. Hopefully, work will really start to pick up for Jake here.

Plus, money won't really be tight until June. I have to use three weeks vacay, so I will be getting paid for those weeks through the rest of the month. I'm glad I get paid in arrears instead of for current working.

I've been washing lots of diapers and getting all that ready. I need to finish the very last things in the nursery - hang up Ryan's name letters on his wall, hang the wall hangings that match the bedding, put up a shelf for diaper changing stuff. That should probably do it. I actually have my hospital bag mostly packed too! AMAZING! I just need to wash some clothes and throw those in there. I'll be taking a pair of good old maternity jeans and probably a t-shirt and tank top. Nothing fancy for coming home.

I'm still hoping that I come home from the hospital 20 pounds lighter. That would be pretty sweet. 15 pounds is doable to lose. That's what walking is for.

Still not feeling real sure about the whole breastfeeding thing. I know that I should try it, but I'm just not feeling positive about it. I would rather just pump and do bottles. We'll see what happens. That's all I can do.

I still have a feeling that I will end up with a c-section. I don't have any feeling that I am going to have any progress by Thursday (for the 4th week in a row) and while the doc may like to let nature take its course, I prefer just to kick things off. Which I will bring up. I'm tired of being pregnant. Have been for a while. In my unprofessional opinion, I think that if I haven't progressed at all in 4 weeks, another week won't make a difference. Which I will probably say. My feeling is that if he hasn't come by May 10th, I would like to be at the hospital in the morning on May 11th to start an induction. And even then, I almost just want to elect a c-section because inductions have a much high incidence of c-section anyway. This, however, may just be my frustration with no progress in three weeks talking. Of course, I don't want to use up a lot of leave time waiting for him either. So, it could be that frustration talking too.

I really want to have a garage sale this summer, too, while I'm off. I have SOOO much stuff that I need to get rid of, it's not even funny. And if I could sell enough to make a car payment, that would be pretty sweet. But, I need to go through everything in the house and that would take me at least a week and even then, I would need somewhere to put it all. I guess I should just decide to do it and then go for it. Mom could watch Ryan while I dig through shit, if necessary, I'm sure. We'll see. I have lots of clothes that I have already gone through that I need to at least try to sell. I guess that I could start washing them and empty out rubbermaid containers and put them all in there for now. I just have so much stuff that I would like to get out of the house! I've wanted to do this since last summer, but last summer was just such a suck time.

I'm starting to rant again. Oops.

I ordered the stuff for Brooke's wedding invites on Thursday! YAY! I will have it by next week and I will start printing things and putting stuff together. It should go pretty fast, I think. The gluing and stamping of stuff will really be the tough part...and by tough, I mean, time consuming. And that's okay. I'm really not anticipating this being very difficult. The printing part will probably be the annoying part -- mostly because the printer is annoying and loud. But, the ink is cheap, so it's okay.

Well, it's almost 9. I guess I should do something. Maybe. :)

5 to 9 Days to go...depending on who you ask

Now, if you ask me, I'll say 9 and then some.

However, the doc goes with my earliest date, which is May 6th and won't really let me go a week to 10 days past that day. He doesn't want to let Ryan overcook -- going past term can be just as bad as pre-term. The placenta starts to say 'f this' and stop working as well.

Ryan is still pretty much just hanging out in the same place he has been for the last 3 weeks. I think his head is leaned or on my left hip and his butt is up by my right ribs. My left hip sure does hurt quite a bit some days. I think that my stomach muscles are not going to release him from that position and knowing that he's my and Jake's child, he's probably just doesn't care about getting in the right position to come out. LOL!

I'm still closed up -- very few contractions and he really hasn't dropped much other than being head down.

Swine flu can kiss my shiny metal ass. It's a flu. Yes, it's a new flu that they don't have a vaccine for yet, but they will. Just take care of yourself and you'll survive.

$2 Summerfest tickets!?!?!?!!!....OMG, I have to go!

38 weeks...well, tomorrow

38 weeks tomorrow.

Thursday's appt was great fun. Still swelling, BP okay and the internal exam revealed...nothing.

Nothing happening. Oh well. Technically, I still have two weeks to go, so maybe by next week, something will have started. I've been feeling more pressure and oddness down there the past couple of days and a little more crampy than usual, but that's pretty much it.

We had a fake shower with my mom and dad and my mom's friend Kathy, since she couldn't make the real shower due to tax season. But, she got us our monitor, which was really, really nice of her to do! So, we just have the swing left to purchase and that will pretty much do it.

Nothing else fun to report. Here's a new picture of me looking as big as a house:

And again...nothing going on

GAH!

Nothing happening.

At least it was painful this time. bleech.

I feel like he moved farther back up after my check too. Not fun.

The weather changing a million times a day keeps giving me headaches and I can't sleep very well now.

My knee started hurting last night, for some unknown reason. It was pretty hard going up and down the stairs. It's not too bad right now though.

I hope something changes this week. I really do.

My BP is good, despite my water retention. I was up 2 more pounds over this week. I wish I would have anticipated gaining water weight at the end here -- I wouldn't have gone on such an eating bender in March...okay, well, I guess I don't really have control over that.

Anyway, I'm cranky. The end. :) Sorry it's not more exciting. This is the hard part. One more week of work and then I am done-zo until July! WOO!

Perhaps I should stop overdoing it

I may have overdone it a bit this weekend and today. Well, Saturday = ok. Sat around mostly.

Sunday, we ran TONS of errands and I may have been a little swell-y at the end of day. We went to Babies R Us, to buy a few remaining items with our gift card, to the new Menards in Waukesha, which has an IKEA style escalator in the middle and it totally sweet, back to Dairy Queen for lunch and Pick N Save for groceries, over to Motherhood Maternity, for me to spend another $100 on clothes that I will only wear temporarily. Meh.

But, I was pretty tired and my legs were a bit swollen when I got home. Yuck.

Today, I may have done too much at work and stood too long at the post office. My face is pretty puffy right now. I keep having headaches too, but, I hope those are just stress/tension and not something bad. My BP was good on Thursday and I haven't had a problem, but I'm just concerned, especially since I'm so close to the end. I don't want anything to happen to him while he's in there, when he could probably survive on the outside just as well too.

So, I think that I just get to sit around a work more and try not to walk around so much. I'm turning over a lot of my work tomorrow to the other girls, so that will leave more free time -- I think that I am probably going to end up assisting the CDC, since they seem to be backed up right now and I'm probably going to have free time.

Actually, and while I wouldn't TOTALLY mind this, I am concerned that I might get pulled off work Thursday, due to my puffing up. BUT, since the BP has been ok and the pee tests have been ok, I think that I will make my last week ok.

Anyway, I have a basket of baby clothes to fold now, so I'm going to get to it. :)

No changes

Doc appt today.

Nothing going on downstairs. Too bad. Everything is closed up.

Ryan is head down right now, so that's probably a good thing. And it's in the correct place, although I think that it tends to gravitate toward my left hip, causing me pain.

BP is good, but I have some swelling today, the first that I have had. But, I can see it in my legs and face a bit.

So, I'm under orders to take it easy and keep my legs elevated. Which I have been trying to do tonight. Hopefully, it's better overnight.

I knew something was amiss when I gained a pound and a half from one day to the next. I'm up 30 pounds now, but I'm guessing that 3-4 pounds right now is fluid retention. I'm really hoping I can leave the hospital at 215. That would be sweet.

I'm not sure how much swelling is because I am moving around during the day and how much is because I sit on my butt all day too. I would think that both would contribute. But, I'll have to watch it and see.

I still have a few more things to purchase for Ryan, but for the most part, I think that we're done. What I REALLY need to do is finish my thank you notes! Saturday, I think, while Jake is at his gig. Mail them Monday and I'll be good. I need to email everyone at work tomorrow to thank them for the shower I had last Thursday. I was going to bring a card, but I'm worried that I'll never finish them!

So, I go back to the doc next week -- hopefully, something will happen and I'll progress a bit more. I just want to make it past Wednesday, to meet the pedi first. I wouldn't want the first time we meet to be at the hospital when he's born, you know?

36 weeks and 1 day

I am just totally out of room here.

Seriously.

Jake is putting the changing table together as I sit on my butt and type this. This is the last piece of furniture that we needed to have a functional room. So, basically, he can come anytime now. Maybe wait until after we meet the pediatrician a week from Wednesday, but really...I'm done.

I'm tired of the following:

1. Being kicked or having various body parts shoved into my ribs and/or left hip.
2. Not being able to sleep on my stomach
3. Back pain in weird areas
4. A stomach I can't see around
5. Feeling like I gained 5 pounds during the day

I could go on, but I won't. *and there was much rejoicing*

Best I can figure, he's laying head down, with head pointed at my left hip (because I feel pressure there occassionally) and butt pointed toward my right ribs. Hopefully, he's facing rear, so he can be born correctly. And when he hiccups, which has been a couple of times, I can feel it way down low, so I assume that he is head down. Maybe not though. I plan on asking on Thursday to see if the doctor can tell which way he's pointing.

I have a doc appt every week now until he's here. I'm actually looking forward to seeing if I'm effaced/dilated/whatever at the next appt. I'm sure that I'm not, BUT, it will be interesting. Not that I want to have a hand up in my business.

OH, speaking of being up in my lady business, my mom finally asked me about being in the room at the birth, because someone asked her and we both agreed that it would probably just be Jake in there with me. Because, you need someone to curse and swear at during the process. We'll probably just call them and have them wait in the waiting room -- they can see him once he's a little cleaner and prettier. Same for me.

I did start to gather things for my bag to take to the hospital, but some of it is hard to pack now -- it's stuff that I would grab at the last minute (like camera, lappy, etc.). But, I got some travel size items to take with me, so I can shower and feel human post birth. I have to go check out Target this week (or weekend) for some nursing tanks and a light weight robe. And some giant undies for the hospital. Because, let's face it: birth is just gross.

Jake did say the magic words to me over the weekend: You don't have to breastfeed, if you don't want to. I mean, I'll give it a shot, because a) it's free and b) it really is supposed to be better for the baby. But, one of my friends has formula fed her little girl and she's totally fine. I'm just not sure if I really am committed to it or not. And if you're not committed, I bet it makes it harder. Plus, I didn't plan on going that long -- only 3 months or so. I just don't know. Formula is SUPER expensive. IDK. I'm torn. Mostly for "selfish" reasons. Like, I don't want to get up every two hours. I'd prefer if Jake could do a feeding or two. I've heard of parents doing shifts of like 9p - 2a and 2a - 7a, so each parent can get some decent sleep. And I want to drink again.

Finally, I purchased a t shirt and yoga pants from Vicky's Secret recently -- they gave out these gift cards that could be 10, 50, 100 or 500 bucks. So, I picked a couple of items and used it -- and mine was FIFTY!!! So, my shirt and pants cost me $16.52! I was stoked. So, basically, this will be my "not fat" anymore outfit -- when it looks decent on me again (besides being able to fit into my old jeans again), I will consider myself back to pre-preggo status. I'd just like to be back to 200 at this point.

I did order a bridesmaids dress in a size that will need to be taken in hardcore, but it made me feel good. Actually, I could have ordered an 18, I think, but I didn't want to take the chance that my ribs were really too big for the size.

I think after my appt on Thursday, when I find out where he is and where we are, I am going to start walking at night after work, if the weather is nice. At least around the block or something. The geneticist said the the best way to get the baby to come was to exercise. I won't go CRAZY, but I should start walking anyway, because I have turned into a big blob.

The Shower!

I think that it's going to take me a week (or more!) to decompress from this weekend. As you may know, I am not much of a people person (except when drinking!) and it takes a LOT out of me to be at a large party like that. And it was a LARGE party!

It was really a fun time though. The Qdoba was really good and so was the cake. I think the margaritas were good, because we went through both tubs and some back up margarita mix that Dad purchased. I had sodas.

If we were in a slightly warmer state, it would have been really great to have the party outside, but it's still WI and it's early April, so inside it was. The only thing that I would have changed was to use the upstairs big room, just for more room to spread out, but it worked out okay. I think the custodian was a little ticked because we were "over capacity" for the room (which was 48 and there were probably 55 people there); but they didn't say that was a fire code thing or anything. Plus, there were two doors out of the room, so it wasn't a big deal. That guy was just a fuss.

We got a TON of nice stuff. Lots of clothes, some bed stuff and books and things. I did get my diaper bag, which was sweet! and Josh and Kristine got us a bunch of cloth diapers. My godparents and family got us cloth diapers too, but they didn't come in time. The part I felt bad about was I opened their card and I totally never read it for some reason and I don't know why. I feel like I opened it and set it aside or something. So, I missed the part where it said that their gift didn't arrive in time and they would get it to me when it did show up. (and the moral of that story is don't use Kelly's Closet basically -- I'm sure that the store is fine, but Kristine ran into trouble with them and so did my godparents, so it's not that I don't think they have a good thing going, they just have sort of crummy CS -- Kristine said that they were out of green bG's and they wanted to sub, but they subbed white and blue, instead of asking what colors she wanted.)

But, I was just totally overwhelmed at that point, so I never even noticed that I had opened the card and not read it, essentially. We opened gifts at 3:45 or 4, so I was really burnt out by then. By 5:15, I was dying. I spent most of the time on my feet, which left me with achy legs and sore foot bottoms. I don't have swelling issues, so that wasn't a problem.

The big problem is that I have NO PICTURES! Oops. I took two pics with my camera and Dad misplaced his at some point and I could just get him to use mine to take some. He's such a fuss sometimes.

Now, we begin the task of deciding what we REALLY REALLY need and what stuff I just wanted to have, you know? My parents still have to buy us something, and I think that they will probably buy us our travel system (maybe...), but we'll see. I'll probably go to BRU this Saturday with Mom to spend the couple of cash/GC pressies I got and maybe we can buy it. If they would buy that, it would be really cool. :)

I'm going to go after I'm done here and print out my registry as it is currently and figure out what we are def going to buy and maybe find out where it is the cheapest, instead of just purchasing from BRU. I can always edit my registry.


But, I had a really good time and it really was a great idea to have the boy/girl shower thing. I think that everyone said what I good time it was. The last thing that I have left is to write my thank you notes! I'd take them to work, but I have time to make up the next three days, so I have no lunch until Thursday and I'd really like to have them done by this Saturday, to get them in the mail.


In other weekend news, I met Brookie's fiance and he's okay. She likes him and that's the part that really really matters. We also went and picked out the sizes for our bridesmaids (matrons?) dresses. I got a size 20, mostly because it's the one that fit my rib cage decently at this point. I have NO idea how much weight I will have lost by then, so if they really have to take the dress in, then they do. I have a picture of it, but I feel like a giant preggo lady in it, so I pass on posting it. I have a feeling they will be taking the dress in hardcore by August, but we shall see. I hope it doesn't come down too the fact that I should have gone down a size and then had it altered. That would really suck if they wouldn't been able to take it in enough to fit me. I'd be pist.

Only 5 weeks left to go now. I can't believe how fast it has gone. Soon, he'll be here, which is just crazy to me. I don't know if I am ready, but I don't know if I'll ever be ready. So, it's now or never. :)

We're at the end!

HO-LY shit.

I have 5 1/2 more weeks. I have been pregnant on and off since January 2008. Think about that. Actually, in the span from Jan 2008 through May 2009, I will have NOT been pregnant about 3 1/2 months. GAH.

I think that he moved down a bit in the last week or so. I'm feeling a bit heavier down lower and there's more...activity...down there. Like punching and kicking and things. Although, I'm pretty sure that his head is pointed toward my left hip, which is sometimes painful and there are definitely feet nearby my right rib area. Jake was rubbing my back while I was laying on my side on the couch, which really gets him moving and I'm pretty sure that I felt a foot over on that side.

I'm 34 weeks and 2 days now. Two more weeks and I believe that I will be considered "to term" and if he shows up between April 12th (which is Easter) and May 10th (which is Mother's Day), I don't think he's considered premature anymore. Just early.

My boss is mentally preparing for me to be out early and I don't know why. Maybe she knows something I don't. :) But, I've reached the point where I need to start wrapping up loose ends at work and not opening any new cans of worms until I'm back in July.

Stupid HR didn't get my leave paperwork until Monday, even though I had faxed a month before that. I wish I worked for a company where the HQ was not in Florida. So, hopefully, they get cracking on that, because, there's only a month to go.

I don't plan on doing much my last week, except cleaning up any misc issues. I figure that I will probably turn over my work a couple of days before I leave, so they can make sure that it's all doable for them while I'm going, or if they need to redistribute work.

Shower is Saturday! There are 60 people who are attending! That's another Holy Shit! We invited a lot, thinking that, like a wedding, half would attend, which would have been about 40 people. But, I guess we got an 80% turnout rate instead. wow! I also have a few gifts that I have received in the mail so far, which I am saving to open on Saturday. My MIL would be so proud of me. I'm very excited to see some people and I hope that everyone has a good time. The weather is supposed to be very nice that day (keep your fingers crossed!), so that's a good thing.

Funny side story: My SIL is getting married in September and we are going to the local David's Bridal to order dresses before her color is discontinued. I talked to the girl on the phone when I made the appt and they are seriously going to make me and Kristine try on dresses 8 months pregnant. Which makes me laugh. Sure, I'll try on a dress with my big ole preggo belly in the way and my 25 extra pounds and then have you order me one in my pre-pregnancy size and pray to God that I fit into it in 5 months. Of course, my pre-preggo size is probably pretty close to what I am now, so I'm not super worried about it. But, I am going to laugh and I will post a picture of this debacle on Sunday. ha ha!

Well, I have new bedding to unpack right now and I really have to use the bathroom, so I will say good night.

Le sigh....

Why do I eat when I am just hungrier afterwards? Blah. So frustrating! I don't like to be hungry!

Also, I am hot all the time. I don't like this either, but luckily, but the time it's actually Spring in this state, Ryan will probably be born and I won't worry about being hot all the time. I did switch to Secret Clinical Strength for the extra sweatyness. Fun, right?

I purchased my bedding yesterday! $183.20 shipped and taxed. I had a 15% off coupon from BRU, which knocked a ton of money of the cost of the bedding itself. Shipping was still $12 and plus tax bumped it back up, but still less than the original cost of said bedding. So, I win.

Then, we went out to go buy the crib mattress I wanted and the BRU in Brookfield was out of the one I wanted, so we bought the next one up. Basically, got a slightly better mattress for the same as the original price of the one we were registered for, which had I waited another day, we would have had to pay! Sale ended yesterday. I really hope they have another sale start before the shower, but I doubt it. Which sucks. I'll keep my fingers crossed. They started the last one the first Friday of the month, so there's hope. :)

So, in a few short days (I hope), I will have something that resembles a nursery!

The closet will be done this weekend, come hell or high water, because with the shower next weekend, we will need the room cleaned out to put stuff. And Jake will not have time next weekend to do it. So, therefore....now. didi mao!

It shouldn't be too much more work. Cut some cutting of metal and screwing in of things. But, with Jake, you never know how he will take the annoyance of having to cut weird things. We'll see what happens....

Crib'd'd'd!

We have our crib.

It wasn't too bad to put together.

Except for when the cats were fighting, knocked into some of the pieces, causing them to fall over and get dinged up before I could even put the darn thing together.

It made a loud noise, I swore really loudly and Jake, who wasn't feeling well and was upstairs sleeping had to make sure I was okay. Oops. I felt bad. I should have just yelled "I'm okay" right after it happened.

It's really much bigger than I was thinking. I think that I'm going to take the dresser that matches off the registry, because the room is just not big enough.

I'm really thinking that we're going to have to sell the house before child #2. And by that, I mean, we're going to have to try to sell the house very soon. It's just too small at this point. And I don't think it's worth trying to expand the upstairs and spending money on that like my parents.

I'm having buyers remorse after two years. Ha ha. :)

Part of me kind of wants to find a job in Madison, move out to Jefferson and Jake can drive to Waukesha driving west to east. But, I don't know what I would do. And we would really have to think about that very carefully. But, I think that maybe being farther away from the city would help Jake out -- I think that part of the issue of his throat over the past year has been living in the city when he hasn't really lived in a city ever.

Anyway...just thoughts...


The shower is looking like it's really going to be fun! There were 43 people confirmed coming and I know that there were people who will def be coming that aren't in the tally yet. So, I'm really looking forward to it. And I'm a registry stalker, so there are a few things off of it, which is really exciting to me! I love presents. :)

Ryan has really been getting pushy over the last week or so. I think that he's really running out of room. I think that he's also moving a bit -- maybe moving to the face down position? Not sure. The kicking and general harassment has moved around in the past couple of days.

The closet is very, very close to being completed, so then I can really get everything together and have it be done with. Not more construction stuff down there and I can clean the carpet and we'll be ready to put all of his stuff in there.

I'm thinking of moving the crib and the chair around right now, just because I won't be wanting the dresser, so I can have a different configuration if I want. Well, okay, I want the dresser, but there's no room for it, as previously stated.

Anyway, that's all I've got. Next doc appt is April 2nd. Then, they really begin to happen faster -- there is only one Thursday in April that I won't have to see the doc. I can't believe it. It's just amazing to me.

I waiver between wanting him to be here right now and being terrified out of my mind. Which is probably natural, I'm sure. I guess we'll see how it goes. It'll be an exciting ride, I'm sure. :)

33 weeks

Okay, 7 to go.

My crib comes Monday! Sweet! It's on a truck in Cudahy at the Fed Ex place (prolly the airport) to go out for delivery on Monday. Luckily, Jake is having his throat scoped Monday afternoon and I might actually be here to have said crib delivered! If not, we'll have to go pick it up, because otherwise, we're not home during the day, you know?

Closet shelves just need to go up and that's donezo.

I'm getting more uncomfortable as we go here. My back is really the issue now. All the weight on the front is really killing me. Middle and upper parts hurt insanely bad a lot of the time. It is also hard to haul my big butt around now. GAH! I can't wait for him to be here and have my body back to myself.

Then, I will just need stuff and things.

Tour Completed!

Jake and I went on the tour of Elmbrook Memorial Today. It was pretty nice. Very quiet and a very easy drive for us to get to. 15 mins, tops. The tour was really nice too. The nurse was very informative -- I just wish that I would have been able to go back in January, because I could have taken advantage of a few more of their services and stuff. With only 8 weeks to go (WOW!), there's not much time to do much else.

They are VERY pro-breastfeeding, which is awesome. The only supplement with regular formula if absolutely necessary and the only time they do paci's is when they circumcise the boys -- they put a little meds on the paci do divert the pain when they do the surgery. The baby can stay in the room with us and so can Jake. The rooms are HUGE!!! Seriously. There's a nice shower in the bathroom and a table and chairs, and a couch for Jake to sleep on.

There's a family waiting area with coffee and stuff for the parents and anyone, for when the doctor is in the room or whatever.

I'm not planning on having anyone else in the room with me and Jake, because I've had enough people looking at my lady business so far. Plus, it's SO gross. Yuck. I'd rather people just come see me after everything is done and I look a little better. And the baby is clean. Not full of gore.

So, I highly recommend Elmbrook Memorial if you're insurance covers it and your doc had privileges at the hospital. :)

I wasn't nervous before we went in and I'm still not nervous. I don't think that I will be. I'm just too laid back about it, I think. I don't know if/when the panic will set in about this. I've just been waiting SO LONG that maybe I will just be cool about everything. Maybe it's not denial, maybe it's just indifference or something.

Working on my closet yesterday. I can feel a battle about the closet set up brewing. Jake thinks it should be one way (as in the way it was) and I don't agree. Try telling him that. Argh!

Who's totally NOT diabetic?

This guy! (or girl).

Passed my stupid 1 hr sugar test with a 107. Anything under 140 is sweet. I rock.

Or my pancreas rock. either way.

Nothing big to report from the doc otherwise. I go back in 3 weeks. Then 2 weeks after that. Then, every week after that until he's here. Wow. I'm down to the end.

I did gain 9 pounds over the last month -- yikes! I gotta slow down. But, I had a lot of hunger over the last month. Like right now. Boo. I want to eat, all the time.

Growth was good (says the doc); and the heartbeat is good. Right below my belly button this time, instead of in my belly button like the last two times. Which was always funny.

Shower invites went out and hopefully some of our friends can make it.

I'm still waiting for my crib to get shipped. I'm not really sure what the hell is taking so long. I would have just paid the extra $20 on BabiesRUs to have it already, honestly. It's free shipping there too. I emailed them today to find out what the heck is going on with it. BRU has some online right now, so I'm not really sure why it would take longer from this place, but I guess we'll find out.

The closet will be finished by the end of this weekend. Painted and everything. I'll make Jake sand her tomorrow night. I'll get the coat of primer/sandy stuff on in the morning and hopefully paint it blue sunday morning. I'm pretty excited about that. Then, I just need to touch up the trim in the room and we're done. Then, we'll just need furniture.

I'll post some pictures when all the misc stuff it out of the room and it's all clean and pretty. :)

Requested by Becky...

Okay, that took too much work to just add that here.

Anyway, I didn't really want to, but here is what I look like. It IS the end of day, keep in mind. :)

So, there you go Becky. Hope you're happy! ha ha!

Time rolls on

Really, there's only 9 weeks left. 8 weeks until I go on my maternity leave.

I'm still busy being in denial. I'm sure that I'll freak out at some point, but not yet.

Shower invites went out -- hopefully, you'll get yours soon. :)

So far, just my parents friends are coming. ha ha. That's okay. I know them. And they have known me since I was small.

Today I need to finish mudding the closet and then move all the tools/construction crap out of the baby's room. THEN, I need to steam clean the carpeting in there again, because I'm sure it's full of dust and other yuck. Then, I can paint on the texture and I'll paint the closet blue and then Jake can put up some shelves and hanging bars for me. Hopefully, by the end of next weekend, this will all be done. Because then the nursery will be finished, except for my furniture.

I think once his room is done, it will probably be more real to me and I will freak out. maybe. I just can't see myself doing it. I don't freak out too much anymore. I'm much more mellow. I'll freak out in my own special way.

Next appt on Thursday. I think that I might start going every two weeks after this, but I am not sure. I will be almost 32 weeks on Thursday, so you'd think it would probably be time for semi-weekly appts. Then, at 36 weeks, I assume I get to go once a week until I explode.

What a road this has been. I can't believe we're coming down to the end of it. It's been over a year since I was first pregnant and over a year since the first miscarriage. I was so young and innocent then. HA! Seriously, that sort of thing really changes how you feel about getting/being pregnant. I am very happy for the people who have had no problems, because it's not something I'd wish on my worst enemy. It just sucks. And what they say about the pregnancy memory is true -- I remember how bad I felt while I had morning sickness/all day sickness, but once it was gone, I didn't care. All the aches and pains and weight gain and whatever -- it won't matter.

And I'll do it again. But, probably not for at least 2-3 years.

Oh, two posts in one day

So, I took the sugar water test.

It's basically what I thought. You pee for them, so they can test your pee to make sure you're okay to drink the glucose stuff; you drink the orange soda pop/sugar water from a bottle (or cup) in 5-7 mins. I think that I had mine down in 3 mins.

Then, wait 1 hour.

I was doing okay, then my tummy kinda hurt and I was burpy (which I think was more from my dinner than the stuff), then I kind of woke up and it was time to have my blood drawn and leave. yay!

Now, the baby is moving a lot, but I think that he was sleeping most of the day, so I kind of expected him to be more active. And now I'm just hanging out until I finally crash from the sugar explosion. Which feels like it's coming on very soon.

I think that I'll go have some ice cream. Yum.

Finally gonna do it...

I've procrastinated long enough. I'm gonna do it.

Stupid Glucose Tolerance Test.

The lab is open until 8pm and Jake has rehearsal tonight, so I'm going to run over to the lab at 6pm and pee in a cup for them, drink a bottle of liquid sugar and sit for a hour to have my blood drawn. WHOOPIE!!!!!

I've put it off for two weeks, and I need to go do it before my appt a week from Thursday. So, I better go sooner rather than later. grrrrr....

I also have some concerns that Ryan isn't growing enough, after a couple people have commented to me that I'm not that big for only having 10 weeks left to go. Which I agree with. So, next appt, that question gets asked. He always measures where the top of my uterus is at my appts, but he never gets out the measuring tape that you always see on the shows and stuff.

I think that this doc is just too laid back for me. Oh well. Only a little bit of time left to go. I need to ask Dr. Olson if he takes care of babies, otherwise, I need to find a decent pediatrician. I will probably ask my friend Heidi at work, because she's as anal as me sometimes and she seems to like her pedi.

Next baby (which I am voting for not until 2011, at least!), I will go to Dr. Olson OR try the docs at Milwaukee OBGYN on Mayfair Road.

Okay, I had plans to try to get to work early today, but I just don't see it happening. I think that I'm going back to my 7:30 to 4 schedule soon. I am tired of sitting there until 4:30.

Off to start my day!

EDD Change

So, after my "big" scan back in December, the doctor measured Ryan a little bit behind was my doctor was saying was my due date (which I always thought was crap anyway, because Ryan must have just had a growth spurt right before my first u/s and was measuring ahead -- he never has again).

When I went in for my next appt and we talked about the results of the scan, he said that the other doctor had my EDD (estimated due date) at May 10th, but we weren't going to change it, because it was so close and really, it's a guess anyway. And I was fine with that.

However, when I went to pick my my FMLA paperwork for my job to turn in, they had my EDD as MAY 10!!! WTF? So, essentially, we changed it anyway. That's kind of frustrating to me. But, I'll get over it. It's only 4 days. But, then I decided that I'm just going to take May 4 through July 9 as leave and see what I get paid for. I really think that I should get 3 weeks vacation (which I know I will get, because I HAVE to take it) and 6 weeks paid leave (at 60%) from Prudential. Which really leaves 2 or 3 days unpaid, which I will get over anyway. We'll see what I get approved for. I think that I should be approved for the whole thing. It's just a matter of getting paid for all of it too.

Plus, at this point, who knows what will happen? I could go into labor on April 30th and then it's all moot.


In other news, our shower is April 4th. Boys and girls are invited. The invites are going out very soon. Like Monday. Actually, my mom already hand delivered one of them, to a person that I was friends with growing up. We didn't have his address anyway and it saves postage. :)

Jake, however, being Jake, and having no memory for dates, okayed a gig for the same day, in Green Bay. Now, it IS at 8pm in GB, so it's really not that big a deal, except he'll have family in town who might think he's nuts. Plus, the gig pays $125, which is pretty good. And frankly, I don't care if he has a gig. I just care, that, like ALWAYS, he approves his gigs without asking me first. If he had, we would have talked about it and reached the same conclusion -- that he should take the gig, because it's not interfering with the shower and it's good money that we need. But, still frustrating, because then he gets upset that he has to run around and be busy and it's really his own fault.

He also okayed a gig without reading for May 7th in Sheboygan. Again, I don't care if he takes the gig, especially since we can always use the extra money, but he just has this insane idea that he can't tell the band that he has to leave, if necessary. Sheboygan is only an hour away, so I doubt that it's really a big deal, but this is almost asking me to go in labor on May 7th, just because he'll be out of town.

He's impossible to talk to about any of this stuff, because I swear, he just thinks that he can't upset the band because they don't have a back up trumpet player, so I will pretty much always come second to whatever the band is doing, plus he doesn't want to rock the boat.

I'm about ready to email the guy myself and tell him what's what. That Jake is NOT answering his stupid text messages between 8 and 5 any more, especially during the week OR that he needs to start texting me instead, because the master calendar is ALWAYS in my head.

Frustrating with hubby aside, I am really looking forward to the shower. We went and checked out the room Thursday night (in the POURING RAIN!!!) and it's a good size for the party. There are windows right into the ice rink, which is kind of annoying, but we'll have to find some cool decorations or something to cover it up a bit more. There are several long flat tables and a few roundies. The Kitchen comes with and it's HUGE!! So, mom and I are feeling pretty good about it. I have to run over to Sam's and order cake. We'll also pick up margarita stuff too. Hopefully, a party store will have some funky glasses to use that don't cost too much. I'm thinking of dragging Jake over to the party store -- maybe see if Mom wants to go too -- today and looking a decorations and stuff. I'm just a freak about planning stuff.

I made my own shower invites and it was really, really enjoyable. I wish that I had more graphic design background and more ideas for stuff like that. That would be a really good business to try to start. I just forgot how much I like doing that stuff.

Oh well. I should eat something. Ryan's hungry. ha ha. :)

Alright! A Goal!

Alright! I have a goal for after the baby is here! WOOOO!!!

My SIL is getting married Labor Day weekend and I'm going to be a bridesmaid. Finally, I don't have to say "always a bride, never a bridesmaid" anymore. Ha ha! :)

I can lose 50 pounds this summer, right? I think that I'd better start walking on the treadmill now, so I stop gaining so much weight. Well....we'll see.

I'm not much that much for being preggo, but like I've said, I wasn't small to begin with.

Besides, I don't want to look like the fat one. I'd shoot for 180.

I needed a goal. Hopefully, I will be back to pre-pregnancy weight pretty quick. Then, it's the battle for the last 20.

Sweet a.

Raise your hand if you're annoyed with Babies R Us...

*raises hand*

Geez. So, the day that we signed up for a registry, we had also signed up for a rewards card. However, I guess that we didn't, because it wasn't in the system today. So, I signed up for a new one. If I have to go back and make a purchase, I guess I will. Whatever.

But, I did get to buy my gifts that I am sending to a "due date" buddy from my online group. I think I spent too much, but I don't care about that. Now, I just need to wander over to UPS to ship it out before March 1.

We were also thinking of buying our bath center that we registered for, but I think that I want something different now anyway, so I'm going to go online and pick out something else.

Jake's drywalling now and I may need to help at the drop of a hat.

Coming into the home stretch...

So, I am offically in the last trimester now. 28 weeks and counting, leaving 12 to go. Crazy. And, for the first, I actually look preggo and not just like a gained a bunch of weight in the stomach area. Well, I think so, anyway.

Maybe it's just the usual nighttime bloating in the stomach area.

I think that I've had a few fake/practice/Braxton-Hicks contractions, but it's hard to stay. I just don't know.

I was supposed to have my monthly appt today, but I went in on Monday, because I wasn't feeling well and was having some cramping feelings, but all was well. Blood pressure was okay (I think), I only gained 3 pounds since the last appt (bringing my total, according to the doctor's office up to 13 lbs.; if you ask me it's more like 15 - 18 lbs, considering my illness at the beginning), pee test was fine and the baby's heartbeat was fine. He did a manual check as well and said the baby wasn't even down and everything was closed up tight. So, I just have to deal with the weird aches and pains.

I swear, the instant I hit 27 weeks, the back locked up. I have sore back ALL the time. It hurts so badly. I have Jake push on it a bit, just to get something to crack back there and usually, my spine does a good one. Yesterday, for instance, he was pushing and proding my spine area and it popped three times right in a row. And I felt a LOT better. I wish he were here right now to do the same, but he's off playing a gig in Chicago.

Also, he must be having growth spurts, because I am back to being as tired as I was in the 1st trimester, or very close to it. I'm forcing myself to stay up right now and it's only 9:40. V. tired. He has also be VERY active the past few days. It's really starting to become rather painful. I think that I'll have to go back to playing horn after he's here to get those tummy muscles back in shape. I did have good muscles under my fat layer.

In other news,

I am going to try to work on the bathroom this weekend. I also have plans to run over to Babies R Us and get a gift for one of the girls that I am on a preggo board online with -- we are having a virtual shower. So, I want to go buy her gifts and mail them to her ASAP. I just have to sand the layer of mud in the bathroom and make sure that it all looks fairly decent and paint with the texture paint for primer and then paint the blue. Then, the shelves need to go up and we'll be done with that. I doubt that I'll be able to do all of that this weekend, but I can dream. I guess if I am done with it before March, that will be okay. The baby's room closet is ready for the rest of the drywall and we just need to finish cutting into the room in the back to make that closet. That really just needs a layer of drywall on the back wall and mudding and repainting. Oh, and a door. We can just hang the rack from the baby's room closet back there. Easy peasy, right? We'll see. If all that could just be done before Ryan gets here, I'll be happy. Ha ha!

Well, I'm going to lay down and try to sleep before I feel like throwing up even more than I do already.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that password

I think. Dang it. I better go check.

Yep, I just checked. That's it. Sorry. I tried to make it simple and then I forgot to put it somehwere. Oops. I'll make a "sticky" over on the sidebar too.

So, I got my 6 diapers that I ordered TODAY!!! USPS from STL to MKE is super fast, I guess.



Sweet! So, that's a good start. I was probably money I shouldn't have really spent, but I really wanted to have some, so I could check them out.

I am almost done with my "birth record" that I've been cross stitching for months and months. I am working on the border right now and then there is just a few things to finish up, besides the date/weight, etc. I'll probably wait on the name too, just in case. :)

Then, I have a quilt in the same pattern that I can start OR I have this ABC afghan that I have been working on since last year that I can finish too. I think that I'm on Q. It's really cute.

I can't wait to have all the furniture for the nursery, so I can take pictures of what it really looks like. But, the closet needs to get finished first, before I do anything else in there. And we're currently waiting on Jake to make some illegal wiring legal. This house...everything that we find is just so not up to any sort of recent code. Blah. That will def be checked with the next house.

A New/Different Registry

I picked a different wesbite for my cloth diaper registry. I used Kelly's Closet, because it's a more efficient online system. I love bumGenius still and it makes up my whole registry, but now if I need to make a change, it's instant, instead of having to email someone and wait for a couple of days. Woot!

I put the link on the side bar, of course. :) Feel free to peek at it.

And, as I have said before, I have registered for WAY too many diapers, hoping that I get enough.

Plus, I already bought 6 online from Cotton Babies. I want to look at them and start my stash. Now, we just need a functional closet in the baby's room. Oh, well, that and furniture.

Diapers! YAY!

I bought some diapers online just this minute! I'm very excited!

I got three One Size in two shades of blue and one white and three All-in-Ones in the same. It was $100, but it starts the stash. :) I'm really hoping to get enough so I don't have to wash everyday, except at the very beginning.

We also got some closets going in the house -- it's going to be very good!

I hope they come very fast -- it's only shipping from STL, so it's probably a good chance that they will come before the end of the week. I hope. I will cross my fingers and hope for the best. :)

That's pretty much all I've got today. Nothing new to report and no doctor visits for a week and a half.

But, "fluffy mail" is always good news. :)

Feeling "post-y" this week

Wow, this is like, a bunch of days in a row or something for me.

Crazy.

We finished the baby registry at BRU today. I have all three linked on the side right now. Feel free to admire. :) We just added some other random items and toys today. Also, I found a "travel system" that I like much better that the old one. Well, it's the same system, different color.

The color is called Diaz. You can click on the name to view. It's really sweet. I really hope this baby is a boy, like the Dr. told us.

Oh, did I mention that I get to take my GTT next month? (Gluclose Tolerance Test)...an indicator of Gestational Diabetes. I guess I get to drink a ton of sugary crap and then they check my blood in an hour to see how I'm doing.

I suspect either I will be fine or I will have a major problem. The first one that I can think of is that I won't be able to keep the drink down, because I haven't been tolerating sugary stuff very well. I just don't like it. This baby is much more a meat baby.

Hooray for Cotton Babies!

So, registry is all set up there. Like, I said, it's probably more than we really need, so if we only get some of it, it's still a win.

Seems like our tax return is going to have to go on the ol' credit cards instead of for baby stuff. And that's okay, I guess. I have managed to whittle it down to under 200 owed to federal taxes, which is pretty good. It'll be better next year when we have a kid and can claim him.

But, for now, we'll just have to hope that people get us all our stuff we're registered for. haha! :)


Today was, apparently, kick me in the crotch from the inside day. Man, that sucks! It's quite painful. He's sleeping now, but there were times today where I was quinting in pain from getting kicked. The ribs and real low in the baby bag area are favorites too. He must only pick a few positions to be in OR I can only feel him in a few. What can you do? It's very much like having an alien living inside you for 9 months.

I'll be 25 weeks pretty soon here. Pretty crazy. Time seemed to have slowed down a bit here. I expect that by March, time will really start flying by.

Officially Frustrated!

So, I have been trying for the better part of the last hour and a half to try to add a slideshow of all the baby clothes that I am currently in possession of...and failing at it. I blame blogger. I tried in photobucket and I can't get the link to enter into the gadget and Picasa (you know, google's own photo product) and it keeps only displaying the first 5 pics and I can't figure out how to make it show more.

I don't get it. But, I sure do have a lot of clothes. They are sweet.

Maybe I'll figure it out soon.

EDIT: I WIN!!!!!! Too bad it took me five minutes to figure that out, as apposed to the hour and a half I spent before that.

Oh well, what can you do?

I have stolen Jake's computer for this project and now he can't use it! Hahahahahaha!

So, anyway, I spent WAY too much tonight on stuff, considering that I will probably get a lot of clothes for the shower, I'm sure. But, since I don't have a lot of clothes on my registry currently, maybe people will buy me the other stuff. Maybe?

Woot!

Oooooooooo-ah!

So, the place where I have been admiring cloth diapers since we decided we were going to cloth diaper has a little registry section! Sweet! Once it's set up, I'll probably link on the side, because I do those sorts of things. Then, I don't lose track of things too.

But, I'm pretty excited, because now I can try to register for some of that stuff instead of just thinking that we would probably have to purchase it all ourselves. I'm crossing my fingers on this one. And true to form, I've registered for WAY more than is probably necessary, although, if we did buy all that I registered for, we'd have to do wash WAY less that every other day. Maybe every two days.

Now I just wish I had a house that had laundry on the first floor.

EDIT: Hey, I do have a link on the side, but it's to the general website. I'll link the actual registry eventually.

Kicks 'n' stuff

The kicking continues. I tried to get Jake to feel it, because it's much, much harder than, say, last week, but he can't feel it on my stomach yet. Too bad. Maybe a few more weeks.

Had my next appt on Thursday. It was fine. The office was SUPER quiet, because everyone cancelled due to the freezing ass cold, but I got to leave work early, so I didn't care. And I was in and out very quickly. Blood results were fine. I still have B+ blood type. Nothing exceptional. Listened for the heart beat, which he had to put the heart listener thingy halfway into my belly button to hear it. I thought that was funny. He felt my tummy and said it was growing fine.

The only thing that bothered me was that he commented on my weight gain. Like it was bad. I have, to date, gained 8 pounds. 8! I didn't gain weight for months. Plus, that includes what I lost while I was so sick that never really showed up on the scale, because I am PREGNANT! Anna, his nurse, was happy that I gained weight. The Dr. seemed like I should be watching my weight. Granted, I wasn't light to begin with, so I shouldn't be gaining TOO much, but I'm up 8 pounds. 1 pound, at least, is the baby that I'm carrying. grrrr....

Whatev, I say. I do what I want. And if I want to drink choco milk all day long, then I will. Now, if I really start to sky rocket, then I will lay off a bit. But, at 24 weeks, I think that I'm just fine. 15-25 pounds is what they say you should gain if you're overweight to begin with. 25-35 if you're average weight. 25-40 if you were underweight. Eff off, Dr.!! :)

I also picked Elmbrook Memorial to go to as well, because it's 2 mins from the Dr.'s house, according to Anna. Which works for me. I signed up for the "Childbirth Express" class today too. $80.00, for the two of us. Which is okay. Plus, it's one Saturday of our time, instead of 4 weeks, one night a week. Yuck. I just really want the tour and what they do/don't do. I don't really care too much about the rest. I'm a wimp, so it's going to suck either way until I get that epidural. Woot!

I'm hungry, so it's lunch time.

Shower-y Thoughts Abound (and other things)

So, we've started to think about a baby shower nowadays.

The registries are started (and I added some sweet toys to the BRU one today). I'm still debating Target. I'm almost thinking that if we don't have enough on the registry or whatever, then people will either do gift cards or pick their own outfits out. Which I will promptly return to get stuff I like. Ha ha. :)

But, I'd rather just limit it. But, then again, BRU is rather limited in nature. As in, there are only 4 in WI and they are all over on this side of the state. So...I still don't know.

I do know that I get kicked a lot. He will go quiet for a few days (like the past two or so) and then crazy wild (like today). Maybe it was the OJ that I drank.

But, I'm making my own invites for the shower, because I LOVE doing that sort of thing. I still think about maybe starting to make invites and stuff for actual money, but I'm not sure how to start and if it's even worth it, you know? I have to do lots of research about that type of thing. Any extra funds sure would help us out though. So, I will continue to think about it. I think. I will probably forget eventually. Maybe I'll sit on the couch tonight and make notes.

My dad thought that I was nutz for making my own, but I had paper to use, stamps to use, ink, etc. all the tools that I would normally probably have to go buy. Or I did have to buy for the wedding invites. Plus, they don't have to be done until around March 1st (since right now, we're scheduled for April 4), so there's plenty of time. And I've already designed them and done a lot of the prep work to just slap them together, paste in the info on the inside and send them out. I should find my clear labels from the wedding invites and make sure that I have those too. I think my aunt is taking RSVP's. I think. I was making myself involved and then I though I should back off a bit. I'm a little controlling. Just a bit.

The "weird" thing that I am doing for this shower (and I'm sure some people would find it VERY weird) is that I'm including the boys. Because I have WAY too many guys that I am good friends with and I don't want to feel trapped with only girls. Frankly, I don't like girls that much. I know that I've talking extensively about this already, so I won't go into it again, but boys are invited. It'll be more like a party than the typical baby shower, I hope. I'm going with the kind of "Cinco de Mayo"/Mexican Fiesta theme, since I am technically due on May 6th (which is close enough to May 5th). Of course, I'm sure that I will be overdue based on that date, but that's ok. Mexican food, margaritas, non-alcoholic margaritas (for me, mostly), etc. Jake can bring his Spanglish CD and find a bunch of other music and I think that it will be a good time. If not, oh well.

The only bad thing is that Maggie can't make it because of work and that's very disappointing to me. I misheard her when I was talking to her about it and she will be in NY with the SLSO that night, because they are playing at Carnegie. BUT, that day (April 4th) works for Betsy and Brooke, so I can't change it. I am hoping to get her to come up another weekend and have Nims come down and we'll have our own "baby shower". And by baby shower, I mean we'll have dinner at Red Lobster and Maggie and I can watch Nims and Jake drink. My idea of a very good time.

Slowly getting more stuff out of the room. I'm thinking about starting the border tomorrow, putting up as much as I can until I run out and finishing it when the other roll arrives (I ordered it today). Dad is going to give us a door to put on the closet. The next project, of course, after the border is to put the closet together so it's a real closet, and not a closet plus weird hole.

In tummy news, I offically have one. It's almost out past my boobs. It varies depending on time of day, but, for the most part, it's out all the time. It's so weird, because I look "fat", but the sides are rock hard. Ask me to feel it sometime. Very strange. Also, my belly button is much less of an innie nowadays. I wonder how long it will take to move to outie. Probably right before I give birth.

Pregnancy is also full of weird pains. Like my pelvic bones. One side has been giving me sharp pains today. It happens on and off, since a month ago and I said something to the doc last appt and he didn't seem concerned. So, I'm not concerned, other than it's annoying and I have to sit down most of the day. What can you do?

I'm thinking about my leave from work too. I think that I'll get approved for 6 weeks, so I can take my time. I want to come back June 30th, so I don't get dicked out of a personal holiday, so I was planning on leaving April 30th. And a bunch of the women were like, I'd wait longer. Well, maybe you would, but I'm worried about that PH, so I'm just not sure. Of course, depending on how we're going in April, I could have him sooner than expected and then it won't matter. But, if the doc thinks that I'm not going to have him any time soon close to April 30th, I will probably wait longer. And of course, I get to spend 3 weeks vacation prior to all this leave pay. And I don't accrue sick time while I'm gone, SO therefore, when I get back, I'll have 1 PH left and maybe 16 hours of sick time. 3 days for the rest of the freakin' year. I can't wait for 2010 already, when my vacation will be normal again.

Forgive my preggo brain. I can't remember if I've talked about this stuff and how much. Now, it's time for us to eat. Which means that I'll probably be getting kicked in places I don't like soon enough. WOOT!

What's that behind me?! Oh, wait. It's just my butt

Which has been increasing in size as of late. Maybe it's just back to the normal size and because I lost weight in the beginning, I got used to it being small.

22 weeks now. I get kicked all the time. He stopped waking me up at 5am, which I was grateful for. I have an appointment in a couple of weeks. My controlling nature is starting to rear it's ugly head as I am feeling more and more dissatisfied with my doctor. Not that I don't like him, but he may be a little laid back for my high-maintenance personality. We'll see how the rest goes.

I did get the nursery painted. I won't post pics until I have the border up, because it looks a little silly the way it is right now. But, it's very very cool. I love it. I may try to tackle the border here shortly.

My Christmas present from Jakie was a rocking chair and ottoman from Target! We went around the city looking for a Target that had the one I wanted. We tried ours -- West Allis and then had to run out to West Milwaukee (like, right by Miller Park) to find it. We finally put it together today, as we had the Christmas tree in the way, which is now gone. It is very nice. I'm pretty excited.

We also went over to Babies R Us to register some more. I had started one online, and I wanted to add to it in person, because that's way more fun. And it was. We got a coupon for $5.00 off a $25.00 purchase, so when we were done, I bought a pillow to lay my tummy on when I'm sleeping and two really cute outfits. One is a pair of swim trucks and a t shirt and the other is a onesie with a bib that matches. We now have 4 outfits and a hat hanging in the closet. I have another outfit from Brooke (my SIL) from USC, but I still have to get a dresser to store such a thing.

I also have a small registry on Amazon.com, for my bedding, which they only have a little bit of on BRU. I'm still debating Target. I really, really should do Target, because it's so much more widespread, but I think that would just be really simple stuff -- like bottles, toys and clothes. I will think on it. BRU is just not that widespread around WI. Of course, you can order online, but sometimes, that's just not that fun! :)

Also got some very cool baby stuff from Kristine and Josh for Christmas. A little picture frame, some scrapbooking stuff, etc. So, I bought the book I will use for a baby scrapbook. I bet you anything, I will have a baby scrapbook finished before my wedding one -- mostly because, after 3 years (for my paid for album) and 2 years (for paid for reprints), I still don't have the pictures! Can you believe that?!

Moral of the story there is always have a friend who is an amazing photographer do your wedding pictures. Because it will be a better deal, you will get the proofs on DVD and you won't have some idiot dumping pictures that you might want to keep. As we did. Plus, they were JUST learning to use digital photography on our wedding (which should have been some sort of discount), so a lot of the pictures were TERRIBLE!

Oops! Off on a little rant there.

But, at least it reminds me to go email them again about the stupid pictures. *roll eyes*

I can't wait to get more baby stuff. Actually, what I am really excited to get is my cloth diapers. Kristine found one of the ones that I want at Target in GB, so I actually got to look at them in person. I like them even more now. I can't decide if I want to get 24 of the one size diapers and just use them all the way through or get 12 of the AIO extra small size for when he's little and still has an umbellical cord waiting to fall off. I think it would be prudent to get the 24 one size and maybe 6 of the AIO, just in case. I could always sell them online if I didn't need them. We'll see what Jake sez. That's a lot of money in the short term, but not in the long term.