Crying for Momma

I'm not really sure what I'm about to say/explain means, but it's definitely odd. Jack has a sudden attachment to his Momma. This week has been a wreck and at first I thought it was because he had spent the night at Chris' parents house and to say his schedule lacks while he is there is an understatement - so the lack of sleep, the constant cakes, cookies, chips and pop, and his overall running a muck for 2 days turned him into a nightmare! Monday and Tuesday might have been the WORST days ever. Then on Wednesday his Momma obsession began. He wanted to stay in bed and "snuddle", he didn't want to go to Tonya's - which by the way has never happened (he usually wakes up and says " Milk please Momma. Can I go to Honya's?"), the has started wanting me to carry him again and when I try to leave him (whether at Tonya's or just at home with Daddy) he has a major meltdown! MAJOR, I had church Wednesday night and he was going to stay home with Chris - when he saw me grab my purse he ran to me and buried his face in my legs and wrapped his arms around my thighs (as much as he can at this point) and when Chris tried to peel him off he wrapped his feet around my ankles, I almost died - he has never acted like that! Then Thursday and Friday at daycare Tonya said he whined for me all day, again never happens.

I'm beginning to think this is all baby driven, but I'm hoping I'm wrong, although Tonya agrees. We have started talking about baby alot more because I thought that would help him, but I think I was wrong. Chris hasn't been traveling as much lately so he has been trying to help me out and give Jack baths and get his jammies on or make his dinner, etc. - just all the regular things I normally do and Jack does not like it. He will say, "No, no, no Daddy (with his hand up in the stop position), Momma do it" or "No, no, no Daddy, Momma got it" and when I tell Jack that Daddy is just helping me out he freaks - FREAKS! Usually I can convince him to let Daddy help me out, but he is always reluctant and I usally have to say, "Will you please just let Daddy get you started and I'll come check on you?"...

Another new thing is that Jack wants baby out of my belly. I think I again started this, but by accident. Here is a conversation we had Tuesday night as we were laying in bed...

Jack: What's Daddy doin?

Me: He is listening to baby.

Jack: Oh me too, me too.

Me: Do you want to talk to her?

Jack nods and I pulled my tank top up so he could see my belly

Me: Say hi Baby...

Jack: Hi Baby

Me: What is she doing in there? (Now I asked this in a "wow" type of way, but Jack didn't take it like that)

Jack: I no know? (concerned face) Whatta you doin in there? (leaned in close) GET OUTTA THERE! (in almost a frantic tone)

Me: Well Bub she can't come out for a few more months

Jack: No, now. Get out, get out, get out (as he got increasingly upset)

Me: Bub she can't come out, it's OK, she needs to stay in there

Jack just kind of looked at my belly then pushed my shirt down and said "Go night-night baby"

He moved on quickly, but now ever since then when he is noticing my belly he says, "Baby get out."

I really am starting to worry about his sudden attachment and what I think might be a dislike of his Baby Sister...

xoxo

Single Digits...

Over the weekend my days countdown rolled into the SINGLE DIGITS! 8 days to go! I'm getting super impatient and anxious! I keep hoping that I will suddenly get very painful contractions and go into labor, but so far nada!?!? Everyone keeps asking me if I've had any contractions and that makes me think I'm supposed to, but as far as I know I haven't? Unless, maybe they just aren't very strong and I don't feel them? I don't think that's possible though. I really am begging for the PAIN at this point! At least then I would know something was happening, all this waiting around is making me crazy! And once I have the pain, then comes the hospital, then the DRUGS!

People keep offering up more "how to induce" advice - Eggplant, Jumping on a Trampoline, Four-Wheeling, Water Skiing (yeah right), and the ole' standard S E X. I'm not too fond of any suggestions that involve a ton of bouncing b/c I'm thinking that might lead to shaken baby syndrome from inside the womb - I have no clue if that's possible, but you never know. I only bounce on my birth ball - that's enough for me. So tonight I'm going to go for a walk,eat an entire pineapple for dinner, and bounce on my ball so that hopefully tomorrow morning will be good news from the doctor.

We go in for our 39 week appointment at 9:20am - I'm thinking strategy right now, what can I say/do to make her induce. Here are my reasons: I'm so swollen it hurts, My hands have started swelling too, The baby isn't moving as much so he must be running out of room, My husband can't stand me anymore, I'm just overall miserable - and I'm going to CRY! haha! I'll let you know how it goes...

xoxo

MY SWELLING IS FINE!!

Fair Warning - This is another VENT post!

Yes, I have been swollen since week 29-30. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it looks really bad. Yes, I know I no longer have feet, ankles, and sometimes even the hint of calf definition. Yes, I know I should put my feet up. Yes, I know you think I need to wear "supportive" shoes.

I am so SICK and tired of my co-workers telling me that my swelling is bad. It is NOT bad - not in my case. Does it suck - absolutely, but bad (as in bad for baby or me) - NO! I'm sick of people being like, "Oh that's bad? What did your doctor say? Why haven't they put you on bedrest?" Well people it's because my blood pressure has stayed consistent in the 110-120 over 60 range my entire pregnancy and all of my urine screens (which is done at EVERY appointment) have never showed any protein in my urine - OK?!?! There is no medical reason for me to be concerned about my swelling! And FYI - unless I can get a recliner wheeled into my office and work with my laptop sitting on my belly all day so that my feet are elevated above my heart, propping my feet up is WORTHLESS so back off! And as for the shoes - nothing fits other then flip flops so SUPPORT THIS!!!!

Grr...

My Last 2 Weeks...Hopefully!

I've decided I'd like to document the last couple weeks of my pregnancy on a daily basis, just so I can look back and see what progress I made when and how completely ridiculous I've been acting and so Baby Jack can see just what I went through these last few days while waiting for him to decide he was ready to make his big entrance into the Real World!

5/20/09 - Wednesday:
I'm still working full-time 8-5, swelling like crazy, and feeling tons of pressure in my pelvic region - Jack has definitely dropped (actually he dropped the end of last week around 5/15/09)! Chris and I decided not to go for our walk tonight and just relax. I bounced/swayed on my birth ball for about an hour or so and then I lost my mucus plug at about 7pm tonight and also had a bit of a bloody show. I was hoping the contractions would start immediately, but no such luck - looks like we might be in for the long haul! Oh and we had baked potatoes for dinner - mmm...mmm....good!

5/21/09 - Thursday:
Worked like normal. Lost another chunk of my mucus plug at lunch...hopefully that's the last of it! I've decided to go on 4 "mini walks" throughout the day at work - at 9am, 11am, 2pm, and 4pm, they only last about 10 minutes each, but I thought it couldn't hurt! We went out to eat for dinner at Cafe Del Rio - I was hoping the spicy food would kick start something, but no such luck! My stomach did however get a bit upset - but I think I just drank too much too fast at dinner. Chris and I went for a walk once we got home and then watched a bit of TV while I bounced on the birth ball. About 9pm I got the itch to clean for some reason, so I cleaned up the bathroom vanity and our bedroom. After that I hit the sheets!

5/22/09 - Friday:
Worked like normal. Oh and we had the boys groomed so that they will hopefully still be clean and smelling good when baby Jack comes home, but it's doubtful! After work Chris and I met my Mom and Grandma and Grandpa from AZ out at Chicken Annie's for dinner - it was GOOD! I really didn't do much else out of the ordinary.

5/23/09 - Saturday:
Today was a pretty full day! Started off with meeting Dawn for lunch at El Charro and having my favorite waiter rub my belly (uninvited I might add, but it was OK), his name is Chimmi and I love it! Lunch was great - it was good to see Dawn and catch up! After lunch Chris and I went out and did a bit of shopping, first stop the flea market where I picked up a little table for Jack's room! Then the dreaded Wal-Mart! YUCK! The rest of the day was full of relaxation and movies! We watched My Bloody Valentine, Taken, Valkyrie, The Reader, and In the Electric Mist - not all in one day though!

5/24/09 - Sunday:
Chris washed and cleaned the vehicles this morning while I did a bit of indoor cleaning. We moved the Pack N Play into our bedroom and rearranged some furniture so that we have room for Jack! This also means that I had to rearrange the living room about 20 times, moving things about an inch at a time until I was satisfied. It must be part of pregnancy, but I seriously have a problem lately with things being in their exact, perfect place! It drives Chris NUTS! We also went over to Columbus to our friend's Robbie and Madeline's house for a BBQ. It was really fun, but I ate way TOO MUCH food!

5/25/09 - Monday:
MEMORIAL DAY! I was hoping Jack would come this weekend so that I wouldn't have to go back to work on Tuesday, but no such luck! The day started off early, meeting the Spear Family in McCune to put flowers out at the cemetery, then to Galesburg, then to Parsons, then to Oswego and finally back to Columbus (and it poured 95% of the time - I didn't get out of the car much!). We went to Daryl and Sandy's for a cookout lunch and then Chris decided to play Cory in a game of 1 on 1 b-ball that seemed to last way too long. After Chris recovered we headed home for a nap, then evening TV then off to bed.

5/26/09 - Tuesday:
It was back to the grind at work as usual, which was totally hard after the long weekend. After work I made a trip to Wal-Mart and then went for a walk and then had dinner - Chicken Fried Pork and Mashed Potatoes and Cinnamon Apples (Chris is such a good cook)! After dinner I bounced and swayed on my Birth Ball until I literally could not move! Haha! Then off to bed.

Caution - Too Much Info Ahead...

So I know this might totally gross some readers out (especially any males), but I just had to share! I just lost my mucus plug! At first it was accompanied with some brownish colored mucus, then it switched to more pinkish/reddish...so I'm thinking that was the (this is so gross) "Bloody Show" they always tell you about!

I'm trying not to get overly excited because from what I've read losing your plug could mean labor anywhere from 24 hours to 2-3 weeks... not sure if since there was blood if that changes that statistic? Let's hope so! Maybe Baby Jack is hearing and feeling his Mommy's pain and is going to come in the next few days! Or maybe it's my birth ball I've been bouncing on continuously for the past 2 nights - I bounce up and down, then do big circles, then rock side to side, then front to back! Keep that in mind all my pregnant lady friends! It could be the power of the BALL at work!

Let's all keep our fingers crossed!

xoxo

38 Week Pictures!

Since we are nearing the end I thought I'd provide a few extra angles! Haha! Enjoy! Hopefully it won't be too much longer!

xoxo

twitter!

I set up a twitter account so that I could post "instant updates" from my phone to twitter, and then to this blog! So now everyone will be able to stay up-to-date to the minute as I document my journey of these last 2 weeks of pregnancy and of course labor and delivery!

14 long, miserable, uncomfortable days...

As of today we have 14 days until our due date - 2 short weeks, but honestly I think I'm done! I'm sure all pregnant women have this feeling at some point during their pregnancy and I guess I've hit my boiling point!

I am really about to kill someone, mainly people at work. I see you everyday - why do you insist on asking me everyday something about me still being pregnant or how I'm feeling or how I'm handling it, or commenting on how miserable and uncomfortable I look? I just don't get it! I KNOW I'm uncomfortable, I KNOW how miserable I feel - and if you can TELL just by looking at my why would you still force me to speak to you about it? Can't people just leave a pregnant lady alone? I can't stand it!

I know I'm sounding like, and I'm sure acting like, QUEEN B at this point, but I really have no off switch anymore! And the more people that ask me about being pregnant the more rude of a response I start giving and I just really don't care. I think I'm going to start shutting my office door - and hopefully that will keep them away!

I just don't know how I'm going to make it another 2 weeks...this is HORRIBLE!

1.5 centimeters....

Grr... Just got back from our doctor appointment and well we didn't make much progress. She said I'm 1.5 cm - maybe 2, but decided 1.5 and still pretty thick, but much easier to check this week then last week. So all in all - I didn't get anywhere. FRUSTRATING!

Then we had this conversation:
Dr: I can let you go to 41 weeks
Me: Shakes head NO
Dr: I know you don't want to go to 41 weeks
Me: I'm just more concerned about his size and him getting too big since you've said he has been big the whole time?
Dr: Well let's see where we are at next Wednesday and what progress you've made. If there hasn't been much we will get another ultrasound to check his size again and then go from there.

You'd think this would make me happy, but the office only does ultrasounds on Thursdays and Tuesdays and since our appointment is on Wednesday I'm sure I won't get on the schedule for the next day so I will have to wait until the next Tuesday (June 2nd) which is the day before our due date! So even if Dr. decides to induce it will still be past our due date! I'm just so ready to get this baby out of me! I swear if he is too big I will KILL someone!

xoxo

DROPPED!!

I know this might all be wishful thinking, but I have received confirmation from a few people at work this morning so maybe it's the real deal. Last night little Jack Hammer woke me up doing some crazy little jig in my belly - I know you are thinking, OK what's special about that? Well he actually hasn't been moving that much lately or at least not like he used to - I feel more rolling type movements as opposed to his old sharp punches and kicks. Anyway, I thought to myself - maybe this is him making his big move down, but thought I'd better not get excited so I just laid there for a few minutes and fell back asleep.

Upon my waking up this morning I immediately felt "different" like more pressure down there and lower and more constant than usual. I figured I just needed to go to the bathroom, b/c all of your ladies that are or have ever been pregnant know that when you have to use the restroom it pretty much feels like the baby is trying to escape from your downstairs area and you have to "waddle" quickly to the restroom to relieve the pressure. I went to the restroom, but then as I stood up and starting taking my first few steps I thought to myself, "Am I not done? Is there more?" b/c I still felt an intense amount of pressure. So I sat back down and waited and waited, then decided I guess I was done. Well the pressure has yet to subside and it just feels like there is something down there, lower then yesterday. Then I saw my friend at work just a few minutes ago and she was like - did you drop since yesterday? I know my face lit up b/c I thought "maybe I'm not crazy?" She said yesterday you were still up pretty far up under your boobs and today you aren't? So I explained to her (she has had 2 kids) the whole story and how I've been feeling today and she was like, well I'd say he is making his move down!!

I know this isn't a sure fire confirmation and I know I will never get one, but something just feels different! But if this is how I'm going to feel until I deliver I don't think I'm lovin' it? It's awkward and uncomfortable - imagine having to use the restroom 24/7? That's what I'm feeling!

xoxo

3 Weeks To Go!!!

As of today we officially have 3 weeks - only 21 days - until our due date! I'm so ready for Baby Jack to get here already! Seems like we've been waiting FOREVER, however this revelation has also led me to think about all the things we have yet to do. Install the car seat bases in our vehicles, pack our bags for the hospital, give every room in the house another thorough cleaning and make sure the rest of his clothes are washed! Yikes! And I still need a trash can for his room - so many things to think about! I did already get all our travel sized items for the hospital and bagged it all up in a plastic bag and I put the necessities in the diaper bag - although I'm not sure I'm even taking that to the hospital? Am I supposed to? I also realized I don't have a true coming home outfit for Jack?! I thought I had one then I realized it was 0-3 months and not newborn, but hopefully it might fit or else he might be coming home in a onesie!

It's going to be a busy weekend too b/c Chris' brother is graduating from Pitt State so we are attending his party on Saturday afternoon... I know I'm going to start majorly stressing any day now! Haha!

xoxo

1 Centimeter!

We had our first appointment in almost 3 weeks this morning and it was actually quite amusing! First I got weighed, no biggie. Peed in the cup - nothing new. Blood pressure 110/64 - good. Then the nurse says, "Dr. is going to do your Group B Strep Test so just undress from the waist down and I will give you a drape" I thought, "OK-no big deal". Well the drape didn't so much fit. I tried it laying across my lap, but that left my bottom exposed. I tried putting it around me from the back but then the front was out there for all to see. I kept messing with it until I managed to tear 2 or 3 large holes in it from trying to force it to fit. Then Chris so politely said, "Maybe that's not the maternity drape?" Haha! I was fairly sure there was only one size, but decided to give the Dr. a bit of a hard time, teasing her as to why she told the nurse to give me the pre-prego drape instead of the maternity drape!? She laughed and said "It's one size fits all!"- we both laughed, b/c obviously this one size wasn't fitting all!

So enough about that, she did my swab - not going into detail. Then I said, "Oh, this is the week you check me, right (knowing good and well that she doesn't start checking until 38 weeks)?" And she said "Well usually I don't until 38 weeks (we are 36 weeks and 5 days), unless there is a reason too or you are just dying to be checked?" I said, "Yes, dying!" So she checked, she said, "Lots of pressure..." It really didn't hurt or anything - at first, she said I was 1 centimeter dilated, but still pretty thick - then she started pushing from the top of my belly and from inside the down there area - and goes, and I can still push baby up a bit - THAT FREAKIN HURT!!! So I guess 1 is better then none, but he definitely won't be coming in the near, near future! She said to go ahead and make an appointment per week until our due date - so I made the last one for June 1st on a Monday that way I can talk induction of that week instead of having to wait the week after our due date if he hasn't arrived by then!

xoxo

To Circumsize or Not Circumsize...

That is NOT the question - of course we are...but which method do you chose?

As part of our pediatrician visit this morning we discussed whether or not we were going to have him circumsized...well heck yes we are! The doctor then described the two methods of circumcision - #1 Gomco Method - this is where they actually cut the foreskin away, she said that post care is having to put vaseline and gauze on it everytime you change his diaper as well as just keeping the area clean. #2 Plastibell Method - this is where they pull the foreskin back and put a plastic ring on, then pull the skin back up and then tie a string around it cutting off the blood supply and then after a week or so the dead foreskin will fall off.

I asked which method was more common and she said she does more of the Gomco procedures, and before I could ask which method was more invasive or which one was easier/more comfortable for the baby - Chris interjects, we'll do that one! OK - thanks for discussing this with me?! Dr. said most people like Gomco b/c you can see the results immediately versus waiting a week or so? I'm like I don't care about immediate results - I care about making my little man comfortable and anytime you cut anything there is a chance for infection and other complications. Chris and I may be discussing this more at a later date before anything is done...

xoxo

Pediatrician

On top of all the crazy weather this morning, Chris and I ventured across town (long ways I know) and had our "New Mommy (and Daddy)" visit with our pediatrician. Basically, you go in and meet the doctor, she asks a bunch of questions, you can ask questions and then it's over - gotta love doctors, no wonder insurance premiums are on the rise!

But I was glad we did it b/c we discussed his kidney situation and she said that a couple weeks after he is born they she will do an ultrasound on him to see how they look and just go from there, but that usually it will correct itself on its own and that we will just need to monitor it.

Our pediatrician is a new, young female doctor in town. I've heard really good things about her so that makes me feel good, but I just really hate where her office is. It's in the Community Health Center (where typically lower income families go), but I have no choice. The two older pediatricians in town won't hardly ever take any new patients and the only other two pediatricians are both at the health center. I'm not worried or concerned at all about the level of care we will get out there, but just more about the environment and all the crazy, dirty, icky people that we will have to encounter in the waiting areas?! I know I might sound like a superficial brat, but hey it's my kid and I don't want him catching anyone's germs - especially dirty germs from Mexico (I can say that I'm half mexican)! haha! The waiting room was full of spanish only speaking individuals this morning! Are you getting a better picture of what I'm dealing with here!?

Most of my friends here in town take their kids there too b/c like I said you can't get into the other pediatricians in town and they are always satisfied with the care, but the only complaint is the environment. So I'm just going to have to put a mask on him like we are trying to avoid the Swine Flu and keep a blanket over his carrier while in the waiting room! haha!

xoxo

In The 20's

Yes, today my baby ticker said only 29 days to go! It's so weird to think that in less then a month we are going to have a baby, like a little person! I think we have done all the preparing we can do, and I also know that 95% of our preparations aren't going to mean squat once we actually have him and take him home! I've spent hours working on his room, but I know for awhile he isn't even going to be in his room, except for maybe naps? I've organized and reorganized his clothes, the bathroom, our bedroom, the living room, dining room (still have the kitchen left this weekend) and I know none of that is going to matter. All that is going to matter is being home with my little man and being completely consumed by him!? Wow, life will truly never be the same in 29 days...

xoxo

My Body Will Never Be The Same...

As I started looking back at my old posts I became obsessed with my pregnancy photos. The damage, I mean change, that has taken place over the last 35 weeks is devastating, I mean amazing! I thought I would gather some of them and put them all in one post for easy inspection for everyone!

12 Weeks

16 Weeks

21 Weeks

25 Weeks

28 Weeks

31 Weeks

33 Weeks

35 Weeks

xoxo

35 Weeks!!

xoxo

Work Baby Shower

The Wonderful Ladies I work with threw me a Baby Shower over lunch this week! Here are a few pictures! I was so surprised and it was so nice!

Me and the Diaper Cake

The Gift Table

Diaper Cake

The Cutest Cake Ever!

xoxo

The Unknown

As our due date approaches I find myself full on uncertainty about "The Unknown"! Not so much what I don't know about taking care of an infant or even down the road raising a somewhat normal, happy, inteligent child, but of the immediate unknown! Down the road I will always have friends and family to ask, "Hey what does this mean?" or "What do I do when...", but right now I can't ask anyone "Hey, when is my water going to break so I can squeeze this baby on out?" - well at least ask and get an inteligent and valid response. Not knowing when I'm going to go into labor and actually have this kid is driving me crazy! As most of you know I'm a big "planner"! I schedule everything! I think about what I'm going to eat 3 days before I eat it - that stems from my younger years, but we won't go there! So needless to say, this unknown is killing me! I would much prefer to schedule the day I will give birth, heck I'd even almost opt for a schedule c-section, I'm all on board for a scheduled induction - but why doesn't the doctor see it this way?

Everyone says, "Oh let it happen naturally!" I say "Boo on your naturally, I want certainty!"

xoxo

Maternity Photos

We had our Maternity Pictures taken last Saturday and they are now available for viewing! I must admit at first I wanted to cry, but then the more I looked at them I decided they aren't that bad overall so I thought I should share! Haha! There are definitely some funny ones!

The link is: http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/store.aspx?p=48091 you will need to click on Chris & Darci in the "Recent Photos" section. The password is jack.

Oh, and don't laugh too hard! :-)

xoxo