We're Ready!....Where are you baby Lou?!

Today I am 39 weeks and 1 day pregnant! Wow, time flew by! I can't believe I am about to finally be a mama...We cannot wait to meet her!!!!
I had an appointment today. I wasn't expecting to progress too much because the last 2 appointments the doctor said I was "locked up tight" and the baby was still pretty high. Everything was fine with blood pressure (considering the stressful day I had) protein, weight, belly measurement, and baby heartbeat:138. The doctor came in and checked me. To my surprise I am 70% effaced and 2 centimeters dilated! This could mean she could hold off for a week or so but the doctor said anytime. He told me he may even see me tonight...yikes! Luckily, our bags are packed and the dogs' stuff is packed for the trip to grandma and sean's house. So, I am going to continue to work and do what I do until she decides to make her debut. Hopefully my next post will be after she is born :-) I am the luckiest.....

work baby shower....10 more days!!!

Kary and I have so much stuff for baby Lou and we got even more this Thursday at my work shower! Two of my team members planned it for me. There was a very cool cake, some delicious "southern" punch and sugar babies, animal crackers, chex mix, etc. Perfect snacks for a fatty like me. Loren took lots of pics but I looked so AWFUL in them. I don't photograph very well anyways but with 40 extra pounds I look super gross....especially from the side...but enough of that....I am so grateful that I work with generous people who spend their time and $ buying something special for my little Lou. Not a lot of teachers could make it because it was after the school day and there were meetings and teacher stuff to do...but, they did get me a lot of stuff. We got lots of the last minute stuff we needed along with clothes, blankets, socks, a bumbo tray, rattles, a bottle dry rack, etc. Kary's brother Pat also sent us a tummy mat, an owl pillow for the room and a monkey robe. This morning I got even more stuff. Patricia from my work got us an adorable robe sleep sack with little ears to keep her warm when her little bobble head shivers. It's soooo cute! I'm sure we'll be using it very soon ;-)
I am now 10 days away from my due date and am super excited and terrified at the same time. The hospital tour did a good job of preparing me and allowing me to visualize where it will all go down.
I only have one more week of work to go. I am tying up loose ends and trying to prepare my students the best I can for my absence. I am going to miss them and I hate that they will lose me and my awesome talents for 10 weeks ;-) but being home with my baby girl is my top priority. I can't wait to spend my days snuggling her instead of yelling to 2nd graders all day...haha. I know it will not all be cuddles. I am prepared for no sleep, a screaming baby, poop, pee, barf, etc. I actually look forward to most of that..haha.
Kary got a promotion today which is awesome and just in time for daddyhood. He found out that he currently has 450 clients (they had to send an e-mail to notify that his prices went up) I am so proud!
My mom quit her job this week and retired which is awesome. I am hoping she can come stay a few extra days and I am happy she'll be more available to answer all my crazy mothering questions.
This weekend Kary and I are packing our hospital bag, doing some last minute baby laundry and trying to relax. It may be our last weekend ever as childless people! A crazy thought!

hospital tour...doctor update....anxiety!!!

Reality has not set in yet that in less than 3 weeks I will have a newborn baby! We have planned for her but it all seems too surreal. We have been looking at all her clothes, toys, crib, etc for months now and it seems like she is never going to get here!
Monday was my 38 week appointment. Kary got to come along this time but will miss the next one (hair must be done) Everything looked good this week. My bacteria test came back negative (no antibiotics...yay!) I managed to not gain any more weight (yay!) My bp is good and still no swelling (yay again!) The baby's heartbeat was 137. The doctor I saw this time was the same one I see often and I'm really starting to like him because he knows what he is doing. He pressed on my belly and felt her head. He also squished and squeezed her and said he predicts she will be between 7 1/2-8lbs. yikes! That is pretty big. He checked for dilation...nope. She still has not dropped either. He said her head is down but she is still pretty high. This is ok but if still no progress next week I am going to get ansy. I don't want her to be late. I want as much time with her (on the outside) as possible before returning to work. The doctor said he'll let me go as much as a week over...not too thrilled about that one. But, I guess she'll come when she's ready.
After our appointment we had a few hours to kill before our tour of the hospital (same building as doctor) so we ate at panera (yum) and stopped at old navy and got me some pajama pants and 2 pairs of pajamas for Lou Lou.
We got to the tour about 20 minutes early. We were the first couple and Kary was teasing me that I got the location/ time wrong again. Soon some more people showed up. They all seemed quite a big older than us. They looked about 40 or so...weird. Anyways, the nurse came and she walked us to the elevators and we made our way up to the maternity floor. She showed us the family waiting room, nursery (empty...most babies stay with their moms in the room), fridge, outside of operating room and NICU. Everyone on the tour was super quiet which made it awkward..haha. Then we all piled into the hospital room where all the shit goes down. They are very nice and big. I had already seen one when Lynn had her baby. The rooms have a cd player, tv, fridge, wifi, giant windows, nice little window seat/bed for dad....and a bed...that dreadful bed...with stirrups lurking below ready to hold me during the most traumatic gross experience I will have thus far. The nurse took it apart and showed us how it raises for various positions and then I saw it...the red bag...the bag the nurse referred to as the "waste" bag. All I could think about was pooping in that bag...haha...that has been a fear of mine but I think at that point I will not care..haha. Then the nurse held up panties we have to wear and giant pads with an ice pack holder...scary!! I accidentally voiced my comments a bit too loud getting a shush from Kary and then we both would crack up. Then we went around the room and said our due dates. Some women who were way larger than me had November due dates...they seemed surprised at how close I was. There was a lady who was a few days ahead of me and she was bigger too. I guess I can't complain that I am not HUGE....yet...haha.
My work shower is Thursday so I'll update again after that....more presents....yay!

chocolate donuts and leg cramps

Today I went to my 37 week appointment. Kary had to work and it was the first time he's missed an appointment since my first one. :-( He was pretty bummed but it was a quick appointment. I got in super quick...blood pressure was good, protein and sugar levels were good, gained 2 more pounds....(I give up!..haha)and baby is measuring perfect for 37 weeks. Her heart rate has dropped down to 127, which is normal. I met a new doctor. She wasn't very friendly. She came in, did her job and left...didn't even ask if I had any questions...so I blurted out a few before she ran out...haha.

*disclaimer* dad, you might want to skip over some of this next part..ha

I was tested for a common bacteria and then the doctor checked to see if I was dilated at all...nope...she said I was locked shut...haha. But I am 50% effaced. I also have not "dropped" yet. So, hopefully that means she will hold off for the next 3 weeks or so.
After my appointment I had to stop at the grocery store to get a chocolate donut. I have never been a huge fan of chocolate donuts but after seeing Carrie eat one on "King of Queens" last night I could not stop thinking about it. So, I stopped and bought two. So delicious! I decided I am not going to beat myself up about cravings and not stress about my weight gain. I eat low fat oatmeal for breakfast, vegan meals for lunch and usually something pretty healthy for dinner so a donut can't hurt.
In body news, my legs have been in SO much pain! All night I toss and turn and they throb. I sleep with a pillow between them but it barely helps. If I sit down for more than 15 minutes and then try to get up I limp like an old lady...luckily, I haven't had any more swelling but leg cramps really suuuuck!
I can't believe my baby girl will be here in less than 3 weeks!!! I can't wait to kiss her, cuddle her, and love her to pieces! ♥


Kary and I holding hands over my giant belly ♥

belly full of elbows and knees!!!

"you ready for this?!"



Things are getting very crowded in here this week! I can very clearly feel distinct arms, legs, knees and elbows tumbling around in my belly. She is still staying quite active despite the total limited space in her current dwelling. She is probably about 5-6 lbs by now and the weight of carrying an almost full term baby has taken it's toll on my body this week. My sciatic nerve has been pinched causing a shooting pain that goes from my lower back down my leg. Sometimes I seriously cannot even walk when it really flares up. My ribs still hurt and sometimes burn when she wedges parts up there. Last night I had my first experience with swelling. I looked down to find my right food was suddenly puffy. I am used to just seeing bones and veins and none were visible...haha. I panicked at first but after elevating it a bit, the swelling went away. Speaking of swelling I am become a bloated beast. My face is starting to swell up, my legs look thicker and I can no longer fit into any of my pajama shorts or tops....it's so gross but I just keep remembering how much more excited I am to meet our new baby girl and I can always lose the weight after she arrives.
Kary and I had a great long Labor Day weekend. We got a lot of things done as far as baby prep goes. We cleaned out our room to fit the bassinet, we washed baby clothes (the smell of the detergent was so exciting!...baby smell!!!), we packed her hospital bag and picked out a few outfits she could wear on her way home, Kary cleaned out the garage and installed the base of the car seat. I even got a nursing bra and some new comfy pajama pants to wear at the hospital. The only items we still need are snacks and hard candy for delivery day and some new slippers for me to wear at the hospital.
Normally I'd have a doctors appointment today but there were no openings so I have to wait until Tuesday. Kary is super bummed because he has only missed one appointment and won't be able to make the next one. At this next one they will check to see my "progress" and see if labor is on it's way (aka dilation...haha) I really am hoping that she does not come early...unless a few days of course. I just have things planned and would like to keep dates...:-) October 2nd would work best for us baby...;-)
September 20th is our tour of the maternity ward at the hospital. We thought we were getting our tour last weekend but I screwed up and scheduled us for the hospital downtown and we ended up showing up in the waiting room with no tour planned. We were bummed.
September 23rd is my work shower. I am looking forward to getting a few more baby items. We are so grateful for all the stuff people have gotten us.....3 more weeks....just seems surreal!!!!

Dreaming of Lou...

9 months pregnant!...in the home stretch now. Our to-do list and items needed list are almost completely crossed out. We got the glider rocker for the nursery (thanks Morrisons!) which was our last piece of furniture we needed. My co-worker is also throwing me a shower at work so we may get a few more items, which we hadn't planned on. I mostly want the educational toys I registered for at Babies 'R' Us. We got a nice big soft rug for the living room...great play area for her when she gets a little bigger.
I had a doctors appointment yesterday. I gained more weight (yuck!) My weight gain is not up to 38 pounds....I was not planning on that but I actually think I still look pretty good. But I'm sure in about 3 weeks I will be a giant bloated whale. Her heart rate was at 150 at first then jumped down to 139. The nurse said she was happy about something. Maybe she is pumped that she's making her mama a fatty! Brat! haha....anyways the most exciting part was when Dr. Parks checked to see where her head was. It turns out she has already jumped her last somersault and has put herself head down and into position for birth. very exciting! Hopefully this means I can deliver her the old-fashioned way (with drugs of course!) But we'll find out soon enough. Being back to work has been insane. I am so incredibly busy I often forget I am even pregnant (except of course when I am walking to the bathroom and get a killer Braxton Hicks contraction) The kids are always wanting to rub my belly and it sometimes hurts. I tell them she's sleeping and when that doesn't work I just crazily shout, "Stop touching me!" I am on my feet almost all day and talking, walking, yelling, etc. The doctor said this should not cause me to go early and my body can handle the walking and being on my feet. I have only 2 days of teaching this coming week and then 3 full weeks before I go on leave. I finally found out who my replacement will be until Jan. 3rd and am meeting with her next week. I am busy preparing a binder for her with all she'll need to care for my little "babies". I'm sure I won't miss them much when I actually have my own baby ;-)
I can't stop thinking about my little baby girl. We refer to her as "Lou" and "Lou Lou." It's a name Kary came up with that goes sort of with her name ;-) and also stands for "Love of Us." We can't stop imagining what it will be like when she gets here...What will she look like? Will she cry a lot? Will she have hair? Will she be a good sleeper? I imagine her in her little monkey outfit bobbling around in her car seat. It all seems just too surreal. I can imagine her little body squished up in my belly and can feel her tiny little butt ramming into my side. I am even excited to change diapers and wake up to feed her. Kary and I are sooo ready but we do want her to wait it out the next 4 weeks so our time off work won't be screwed up. Today we are going to do some baby laundry and we get to spend the whole weekend together plus Labor Day :-) I guess we should enjoy the quiet (well Kary isn't ever quiet) company of each other before our world is rocked by a pint sized cutie pie. Until then I'll be dreaming of her....