waiting....

On Tuesday, I saw my OB and hoped that she would send me straight to the Maternity floor to be induced.  Unfortunately, I did not get my wish.  She did schedule me to be induced the following day, which is today, at 5 pm, which is 20 minutes from now.  I should be on the way to the hospital right now.  But nope.  Here we sit, waiting for a phone call.

What phone call?

Well, I was told to call an hour before my scheduled time, to make sure they were ready for me.  I did not receive good news from that call.  It seems other doctors have scheduled inductions for today too, and there are several laboring mothers right now, and not enough staff to adequately care for them all.  So, they are supposed to call me back to let me know when we can come in.  They either need to find more staff, or we wait for someone to deliver.  She promised me it would be tonight, and she apologized, and said she knew that was not what I wanted to hear.  Ya think???

So we wait, and I simmer, and hope I do not boil.  It is not easy, but I am trying not to be upset.  They assured me they will call before 6 pm to let me know what is going on.  Allison will come, one way or another, one day or another.  But dang it!  Why doesn't anything ever go as planned??

I will be bringing my computer with me to the hospital, whenever that may be, and hope to keep you all posted.

Much love to you all, and keep up us in your thoughts and prayers!

Christmas in review!

I am finally getting caught up on the past few days, and getting pictures downloaded off my camera.  Here was the recap of our Christmas holiday.

On Christmas Eve, we had a relaxing morning, and then went to visit Grandma Stanley in the afternoon.  We had a lovely time exchanging gifts with her and Uncle Dennis!

At around 4 pm, we headed over to Mom and Bob's, and spent the rest of the evening with them.  All night Michael was bouncing off the walls!  He had a blast and enjoyed unwrapping his gifts!  You would never know what the next morning had in store from the energy he had that night!







He took a moment out of playing with his new stuff to take a picture with Aunt Connie




We didn't get home until after 9, and Michael had fallen asleep in the car, so he was not really in the mood to get the cookies and milk out for Santa, but we did it anyway.   He could have also been just starting to feel badly too.





Since Michael started to get sick around 4 am, he really didn't care about the empty plate the next morning, even though we showed it to him.



We didn't get too many pictures of MJ opening presents Christmas morning, since he was under the weather.  But here is what I got!

Opening some stocking stuffers:



And his big new boat!



And where he spent most of the rest of the day:



On Saturday afternoon, we were visited by Jennifer and Jace, even though I warned them of possible germs in the house!  They braved it anyway, and it was nice to see them and exchange gifts with them.  Jace loved his Move and Crawl Ball, and we thought he was going to crawl towards it, but it didn't quite happen.  He was so close though!

That night, we were going to attend an after Christmas party hosted by our dear friends, but with MJ still not eating well, and not knowing if he was contagious or not, we decided to stay home.  We had our pizza and a movie night instead.  Although MJ didn't eat any pizza, mommy and daddy did, and we watched "Up" and enjoyed our quiet evening.

Before bedtime, we took a quick bath, and MJ played with his new shaving kit.  He had been asking to play with it since he opened it from his Great Grandma.  He loved it!





We had planned to visit with Mike's parents Christmas morning, but because of our sick boy, we didn't make it.  So on Sunday, we had breakfast with them, and spent a few hours hanging out and exchanging gifts with them.  He loved his gifts from everyone, but wouldn't you know, an empty box still wins his heart!

Where's Michael?  That is just a box, right?







Nope!  It was a MJ-in-the-box!


Hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday!  I soon hope to make a post about 2009 in review, and maybe an annoucement of our new arrival???  Stay tuned!

Sledding!!

A few days before Christmas, we had just enough snow to go sledding.  I was able to waddle along a take a few pictures.  What a fun time we had!!











That snow didn't last long, but we had more last night!!  Since Michael was feeling much better, he and Daddy spent quite a bit of time outdoors today.  I didn't get any pictures, as I was busy getting the last of the Christmas stuff put away.  I hope there are more fun snow days ahead!!

38 Weeks

Weekly update from BabyCenter.com:

"How your baby's growing:

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.

How Your Life's Changing:

For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can.

Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain. Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia."



Well, here we are!  38 weeks!  I hear so many women proclaim at this time, "I am so done with being pregnant!"  I am not quite there...yet.  I feel great, just a little on the tired side.  I don't sleep well because I am pretty uncomfortable.  But that is to be expected.  But I am not quite ready to "be done" because I really want to make it past Christmas.  I don't necessarily want to make it past New Year's, but definitely past the 25th.

I am getting a little nervous about that right now though.  As I type (and for the past few hours), I have been having contractions.  They are probably false contractions (Braxton Hicks), but having them on Christmas Eve really gets me concerned.  They are not regular or painful, so I am going to assume at this point that they will eventually subside.  So nobody get excited just yet!!

I really had my hopes set that I might get induced on the 28th.  But my doctor was on vacation this week, and the doctor I saw instead did NOT throw me a bone.  I asked about getting induced, and he suggested I wait until I see MY doctor next week, which is scheduled for Tuesday the 29th.  Ok, so it is only one more day, but I am now wondering if she will make me go until she is on call next, which is on the 31st.  Yuck!  I mean, the idea of having "Baby New Year" is kinda fun, but I don't know if I want to spend New Year's in the hospital.

I also wanted all hospital bills to be in 2009.  If I get induced on the 31st, there is a chance that Allison will not be born until Jan.1st, so I will have some bills in 2009 and some in 2010.  That means my out of pocket maximum that I reached for 2009 means nada, and I have to pay another deductible.  Plus, there is the tax deduction that would be nice if she arrived in 2009 too!  But in the end, I want a healthy baby girl.  That is the most important thing, and I just have to accept that what will happen, will happen.  She will still be here at some point, and we will love her sooooo much!!  We can't wait to meet her and hold her for the first time!

Merry Christmas

There is a good chance that I will not get on the computer again in the next 24 hours, so I just wanted to wish all of our family and friends, a very


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!




Much love to you all!

A visit with Santa

Last night we went to our dear friends' house, and they hosted a visit with Santa.  What a great time!  Well, that is until our darling son reached his limits.  We had some repeat incidents with him locking himself in one of the bedrooms - the one he lovingly claims as "his room."  Anyway, after the, ummmm...10th time (?), we decided it was time to go.  Ok, well, mommy decided.  Plus mommy was very tired, and her patience had run out.  Sigh.

Anyway,  Michael loved talking to Santa, and loved his gift.  How did that man in red know he wanted those Star Wars toys?  Hmmmmm....  He even gave Santa a big hug before he had to head back to the north pole.  None of us were anticipating that, so it was not caught on film.  But it was a super cute moment.

Here is the only shot I ended up with the entire night.  Not a great one, but a picture none the less.




Thanks Pinkey and Kooter for a wonderful time!

Cookies!

Today was cookie day!!  It's an annual event, and we look forward to it every Christmas.  Mom, Connie, and I baked, rolled, mixed, and decorated.  Ok, I even sampled a little bit.  I had to give myself a shot of insulin, but hey, ya gotta taste 'em before you serve 'em, right?   Don't they look good?







My lucky co-workers will get the bulk of them on Monday!! Mmmmm.....

Santa's Little Helper

Although our little man gives us challenges, he keeps us entertained, and laughing all the time!  I mean, just look at him!

"Ho!  Ho! Ho!"









We love you buddy!

Giveaway

Another great giveaway from Stellan's mom!

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2009/12/power-of-two.html#

37 Weeks!

Weekly update from BabyCenter.com:

"How your baby's growing:




Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.




Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.




How your life is changing:




Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics.




It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.




While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy."


I am so excited to reach 37 weeks!!  I do want her to wait until after Christmas to arrive, but I feel so much better knowing that she is officially full term now, of she can't wait!  Yay!!!


I am getting more noticably uncomfortable, but nothing I can't handle.  I feel really good over all!  I am not sleeping well at night, but well, I am expecting that for the next several months, so why not start getting used to it again now??

We have a few more events coming up before her arrival, and of course Christmas, so the next 9-10 days should be fun!  Looking forward to it all!

Today's Appointment

Today's doctor's appointment went really well.  It started with the bio physical ultrasound.  She looked great!  She is head down, face up.  All systems perfect, and her heart rate was between 140-160.

Next I was hooked up to the non-stress test, and again passed with flying colors.  The past 2 appointments have been just like this.

Then I saw the OB.  This time I saw Dr. W.  It was the first time I had met her.  So, I have officially seen 5 out of the 6 doctors now.  I love them all, so I feel really good about whoever may be on call when the day arrives!

She asked me today if I had spoken with my regular OB about when Allison would be born.  Well, last week she mentioned that I would not go past my due date, but that was the extent of it.  So Dr. W tells me that with me being diabetic, and on insulin, that they would probably look at inducing me at 39 weeks!  This was music to my ears.  Since the day I discovered my due date, I was always hoping to give birth the last week of December.  Well, at one time I wanted her to be born as far from Christmas as possible, even if it was into January. 

But I think I am now back on board with wanting her to come at the end of December.  Today I made my LAST 2 appointments, which will be December 21st, and December 29th.  So, my doc may be possibly inducing me on the 29th, or if she feels differently after my appointment next week, that could change.  Ideally I would like to be induced either the 28th or 29th, so I would be home before Jan 1st.  It may depend on when she is on call too.  We shall soon find out!!  I am getting so excited!!!

To do list

Things I wanted to get done this weekend:

Finish Christmas shopping - CHECK!
Wrap above gifts and place under tree - CHECK!
Pick up remaining must needed items for baby - CHECK!
Launder and put away newborn/0-3 months baby clothes - CHECK!
Finish our laundry - CHECK!
Pack hospital bag - CHECK!
Gift bag filled with presents to MJ from Allison when she is born - CHECK!
Put car seat in car - CHECK!
Grocery shopping - CHECK!
Snuggle time with Michael after his nap - CHECK!
Finish Michael's annual DVD - not complete
Write Thank you notes - not complete

I feel pretty ready if Allison decides to come early.  I am not expecting her to come before Christmas, but just in case she does....Bring it on!!

Even though I didn't gett everything done, I feel like I got quite a bit accomplished!

36 Weeks

I was a little busy yesterday, and didn't get to post this.  Catching up now!

Weekly update from BabyCenter.com:

"How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

How your life is changing:

Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!


You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes."

A giveaway

Ok, so you all know that I am following Stellan's story. Although he is doing famously, and is one month SVT free, I still read Mckmama's blog daily. She also has a blog dedicated to giveaways. She is hosting one that is too good to not pass along. She is going to be able to give away a computer! If you want to try your chances to win, check out her give away blog here. http://mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart-giveaway.html

I entered, did you? Good luck!

Appointments, appointments, appointments!

Man,  I cannot wait for December to be done!  I seem to have appointments nearly every day!

Tuesday: OB appointment, with U/S and NST.
Wednesday:  a.m. Dentist (joint with MJ), p.m. haircut
Thursday: scheduled meetings at work - two of 'em
Next Monday: a.m. OB appt with U/S and NST
Monday pm: appointment with diabetes doctor

I am getting so confused about when and where I need to be!  I have had to call Mike from work a couple of times to have him check our calendar at home to make sure I had times and places right!

I have an eye exam due in January, but I am waiting until Allison is here before scheduling that one.  I also expect to have at least 2 more OB appointments before she comes, and I am hoping next week will be my last appt for GD!  No more appointments, PLEASE!!!

An update on my OB appointment from yesterday:

Was tested for Group B Strep.  Fun stuff, let me tell ya!  Don't know the results yet, but I am guessing no news is good news.  They also checked my iron levels.  Nothing like getting poked in the finger, when I am already doing it 6 times a day on my own!

Doc confirmed that Michael would not be allowed in the hospital to visit us when Allison is born.  I am still crossing my fingers in hopes they lift restrictions, but I don't think it will happen.  You have no idea how disappointed I am about this.  While I understand why the policy is in place, it still breaks my heart!

She also confirmed that she will not let me go past my due date because I have GD.  She said she wants me to at least stay pregnant until I reach 37 weeks (next Thursday), and then she will let me have her at anytime after that.  There was no mention of an induction, and I am not really a fan of her coming before Christmas.  But if Alli decides to come that  early, then who am I to stop her?  I am so excited to meet her!

As I indicated above, I had an U/S with this appointment, and they did measurements.  Allison is estimated to be at around 6 pounds right now, which is between the 50th-75th percentile.  So, if I keep up my good work with my diet, she should end up right around the same size as Michael, which was 8 lbs 4.6 oz.  It all depends on when she arrives, of course.  But they say the baby should gain .5 pound per week at this stage.  Here is the best shot we ended up with from this session:


In one of the pictures, the tech confirmed baby girl has hair!!  Couldn't tell for sure how much, but it is there!  She also confirmed that she is STILL a girl!!  This is the third U/S that has confirmed that, so I am feeling pretty confident that we have it right!

My blood pressure was a bit high, but I am not too concerned about it.  I knew there was a lot that was going to happen at this appointment, so I think I was a little anxious about it.  As long as work doesn't stress me out, I am guessing it will be back to more normal numbers next week.  But my legs are showing more signs of swelling this week.  High blood pressure is what caused MJ to be born 10 days early, but we will just have to wait and see how it goes this time around.

I think that about covers it.

As I mentioned above, Michael and I had dentist appointments this morning.  We both passed with flying colors!  No cavities, and Michael did so well!  This was his third trip to the dentist, and he just keeps doing better each time.  I am sure if he ever ends up with a cavity, his opinion of going to the dentist is gonna change.  So lets hope that never happens!

Ok, I think I have rambled on long enough.  I need to get working on MIchael's annual DVD.  I have done one every year, and I am not going to drop the ball this year!  Good night all!

Nursery

Ok, I took these quite some time ago, and I decided it was time to get them posted!

Here is a wide angle shot of most of the room:



A closer look at the crib





Closer look at the changing table/dresser



The glider (ottoman is there, it is just tucked behind the glider for now)



Here is the wall art I had been working on.  I don't think it turned out too shabby!



The only thing I have left is a few picture frames to fill.  One will have to wait for her arrival, but the other one will be an frame with her ultrasound picture in it, along with a preggo picture of me, with a poem.  That frame has been tough, because I am trying to create a matte on my own.  I have had several versions of it, and none of them have been "just right."  Hopefully I can get it done soon!!

35 Weeks

Weekly update from Babiesonline (yes, I am using a different source this week!)

"Your Baby


Your baby is getting plump. The fat deposits are now beginning to offer form and fullness to your baby's legs and arms. Your baby is taking up most of the room in your uterus, so there is a lot less room to move around. Also, your baby's lungs are now completely developed and producing what is called surfactant, a substance that helps in the exchange of oxygen in the lungs. Your baby is now approximately 18 inches long and weighs about five pounds. If you were to have your premature baby now, you'd be happy to know that there is a 99 percent chance of the baby surviving. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.


Your Body


Your routine visits to your healthcare provider may start to include the checking of your cervix now. Your doctor is checking your cervix for signs of effacement and dilation, the indication that labor is not far off. You may be having trouble sleeping now and there are also numerous physical reasons that sleep may be difficult. For instance, the baby may be putting extra pressure on your bladder and going the bathroom every 45 minutes isn't conducive to sleep. You may also have a backache, swollen feet or may not be able to find a comfortable position. You may want to try doing pelvic tilts before bed, limiting fluids after a certain time, and being tired when you go to bed can also help you in falling asleep."

4-year physical

Yesterday I took Michael to the doctor for his 4 year physical.  He weighed in at 36.5 pounds, and is 41 inches tall.  He is (and has been pretty much since birth) in the 50th percentile.  He talked the doctor's and nurse's ears off, and was not nervous about being there at all!  I promised him no shots, so I think that helped!

He did get his second dose of his H1N1 flu mist, which he handled like a champ!

Everything else was great!  He is right where he needs to be with his motor skills, speech, developments, etc.  The doctor reminded him to brush his teeth twice a day, and make sure he wears his seat belt. (He is still in his 5 point harness car seat)

He was thrilled to get 2 stickers before we left.  All in all, a great appointment!

Happy Birthday, MJ!

Here he is!  Our now FOUR year old!



His birthday was Monday, November 30th, but we celebrated on Sunday.  The party had a Spiderman theme, and those attending were family and godparents.  I think MJ really enjoyed his day, and loved playing with his cousins even more.  He is already talking about his "next" birthday!

Here are a few pictures from the party










These next pics are from Monday morning, his actual birthday.  We saved a few presents from Mommy & Daddy for him to open.





Happy Birthday, our sweet, energetic boy!!