Tryin' to bring it on

Okay, not doing anything excessive or crazy, I just

1) Went for a long walk today-supposed to help baby move further down into the birth canal
2) Took a couple of really nice naps- in case labor started, I wanted an attempt at being rested
3) Soaked in the tub for an hour- I read somewhere that if Mom is stressed, baby may not wanna face the world
4) Went shopping at Target to get a stability ball- helped me feel more prepared, and maybe baby would, too
5) Rubbed baby thru Momma's tummy-perhaps he's just nervous?
6) Overall, had a very nice, calm day-and if labor strikes, all the better!!

7) Now I'm going to sit and watch Chicago on DVD. Maybe he'll feel like dancing...

More later!

Tick, tock, tick, tock

I guess you can tell that means I'm still waiting...

Jensen is still very active and having a great time kicking me in my right side. I've been trying to sleep a lot, cuz I am extremely tired. Even after a good 4 hour nap, I think I'm ready to go back to bed for the night.

Everything, from getting up from the couch to getting in and out of the bathtub challenging now, so I really wouldn't mind having my body be uninhabited sometime in the near future.

Okay, trying to go get some rest. Who knows when the countdown will be over...

Ummm, nope

Went to the doctor today and had an exam. I'm not dialated yet, but the doc says the party could be started any time now.

If I haven't gone into labor by next Friday (my due date) we'll have a discussion about how long to wait before he wants to have my labor induced. He says he's concerned because of my status as diabetic and says it's not good for the baby to go too far past my due date with that condition. But, we'll deal with all that when it happens.

Personally, I hope things get going pretty soon. Something in the last day or two has changed and it is a LOT harder to do even the normal things that I've been doing the whole time I've been pregnant. I can barely get out of the car, up the stairsm or even into bed without considerable effort and, well, not to complain too much, without a lot more pain than I'd like. The only place I'm really comfortable at all anymore is in the bath.

So, hopefully sooner than later I'll be posting a more rousing update!

Who'd a thunk it?

Okay, so still no baby...but, as I was searching for images to put on a "natural childbirth" sign for our hospital room door, I did come across this interesting article:

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Moons-Effect-on-Natural-Childbirth&id=70253

Turns out that the author discovered that the moon really does have an effect on labor and delivery and it appears that it's possible that the moon pulls on the waters of the baby's amniotic sac just like the waters of the ocean. Turns out a lot of women have false labor or labor symptoms on or around the full moon. HHHmmmm.

Better?

I am feeling better-no more nausea or acid reflux since last night. I'm guessing that's a good thing, although I know longer know how that fits with the idea that the aforementioned symptoms could have been considered the early signs of labor. All I do know is that I was so dehydrated from everything coming out of me that I ended up drinking 3 and a half bottles of gatorade--the big 32 oz bottles. And since we got them at 7-11, we even got a snack of 2 hot dogs each. That could have been a tragic decision, considering my digestive difficulties lately, but everything was okay and I went to bed finally feeling neither hungry, thirsty, or sick.

I have not, for the record, gotten the "big burst" of energy that can also signal the beginning of labor, otherwise known as the nesting instinct, but I have gotten some sense in my head. Seeing as how labor is now possibly any time now, I am starting to get together hospital stuff, since it has been spread all around the house, and washing the clothes that I am planning to take with me.

I guess the last thing on the list is to hope that Michael makes the same realizations, and soon. He still has yet to give me phone numbers for the phone tree or addresses for the announcements. Mine are all done, thank you very much, and I even went ahead and typed the labels for the announcements, and all they have to do is be peeled and stuck onto the envelopes.

I suppose that's all the news for now. It's a little weird, as I certainly didn't want to feel sick anymore, but since I thought it was a sign of labor, to not be sick AND not having sure signs of labor makes me feel like I've gone backwards....

Still nothing

Except feeling icky and sick. I spent most of the day either on the couch or in bed.

I don't know that I still feel totally ready for this little one to come out, but if the choice is between that and continuing to feel all gross and sickly, then I'd rather him come out.

I'm doing a final synch on my ipod to include the relaxation cd we've been working with for hypnosis and collecting the things that I want to go with me to the hospital but hadn't wanted to pack away yet. Included there are my digital camera, ipod speakers, and toiletry kit.

Since contractions haven't started, when Michael gets home from his church committee meeting, I'll probably persuade him to take me to the grocery store to stock up on snacks, since I already ate everything we had intended to take to the hospital. (It was really good, btw-apple chips and gatorade and some power bars-yum.)

So, since everything is still wait, watch and see, I'll post updates if and when I can! Kinda hoping he feels ready to come tonight OR that this icky feeling passes. Either thing would make me really happy!

Not yet

No official labor signs yet, although on the could be/wait and see/what if set of symptoms, I've really felt like crap for the last day and a half. Several websites list having a flu-like experience as something that may be a sign for the onset of labor, although you really don't know anything until actual contractions start. So, I'm waiting. I've felt really tired, nauseated, heartburn (again), gas, emotional and kind of like I did before I would have started my period. Michael and I are considering ourselves on baby watch and have no real plans to go more than 15 or 20 minutes from the house anytime in the next week or so.

Since I don't have a ton of energy, don't be surprised to see several more posts about basically nothing!!

Rock hard tummy

Ah, I only wish it was what it sounded like! Wouldn't it be great to be the newest success story for a fitness infomercial?



But no, it's just that now not only does my belly look like I've got a basketball under my shirt, it feels like it, too. The good news is that he's dropped, sometimes called lightening (although I can tell you, he still feels heavy to me...) which means that the heartburn I've had almost constantly for the last month has actually let up. Well, instead of heartburn, it's back to being really gassy. TMI? Too bad.



I've been wearing jammies for 2 days now and will probably be ending up at the hospital in jammies,too. Why not? Even some of my pregnany dresses are starting to be uncomfortable around the "waistline" (right under my boobs). I think it's kinda interesting, too, that I've gone up several bra sizes circumfrence-wise, but even with that, I can be comfortable wearing a bra in the morning, but by afternoon, I want to take it off. Maybe I'm swelling. Dunno.

Still trying hard to get stuff done. I suppose my nesting instinct has kicked in (finally!) but I'm still really, really tired. After about a half and hour of work, I end up taking a nap, pretty much wherever I am. Today it was on the bed, surrounded by baskets to separate Jensen's stuff into.

I also got address labels and started entering information-that way I don't have to 1)wait until the envelopes come in, although they should be here by Friday and 2) don't have to worry about ruining envelopes with my crazy brain damaged writing. Just pop the labels on and go!

And, I'm done with my snappybaby list, I think. All of the people I'm interested in having called are entered and just waiting for me to record the birth information after it happens. Yay me!

Also, I called Queens College and am working on all the emails I need to send out to get things going to finish my degree (1 more class!) and renew my teaching certification. Since I kinda fell off the face of the Earth when it comes to classes, I have to plead my case and swear I'll be a good girl for that last semester.

Okay, last thought for the day: I think Lena knows something is up. If I didn't know better, I'd say she knows she's not gonna be "the" baby anymore. She's usually the neediest out of my furbabies, but even for her, it was excessive to demand in my face snuggling 5 times today. I let her, as even if she isn't aware of the soon-to-change situation, I am, and I want to make sure all of the kitties know how much I love them and that Jensen doesn't take that away. If I can help it, I don't want them to be jealous-I want them to love Jensen, too.



Mommy-brain is making me feel fried, and I think I need to relax. Off to take a bubble bath!

Itchy, squirmy

There is something about being pregnant that has changed my body chemistry so that it's really appealing to mosquitos. It was wonderfully cool outside the other night, so we decided to open the balcony door to let the air in. Unfortunately, we realized too late that we had also let in a bunch of bugs. At first, I thought I had avoided bites, but after we went to bed and then woke up the next morning, I discovered that I had been bitten literally from head to toe. Argh.

On top of that, the skin on my belly is pretty much stretched to the max, which interestingly not only itches, but is really sensitive when I try to rub or scratch it. So, I am off to take an Aveeno bath to try to relieve my itchiness. Sigh.

The squirminess, naturally, is the little dolphin I have trying out his flips and turns inside my belly. He's been hanging out on my right side most of the day, so I've felt a bit lopsided. Then, he finally moved, and it really does look like a little dolphin fin moving across my tummy. Coincidently, it also looks like he really likes it when I take a bath. He gets really active when I'm in the water.

If he decides to come on his due date, I've got 1 week and 4 and a half days to go!

Bits and pieces

Things are starting to come together.

I went to the hospital for another sonogram, to determine the size of the baby. It's interesting to me that they use this method as a way to make medical decisions before labor begins, since a sonogram can be up to a 1 1/2 lbs off in either direction. Anyway, as of today, the medically produced guess says Jensen is now 7 lbs, 3 oz. We will see.

Michael and I met again with our labor and delivery doula, as well as her backup and the owner of the agency, who was using the appointment to model how she'd like prenatal conferences done for her group. Our doula is an experienced professional, but new to the company. Everything was really straightforward, and at this point, it was just mainly her listing choices she suggested thinking about. As we went through the list, it seemed pretty clear that we'd already done that. Still, it's always good to be reminded of what our options are.

We had met them in the lobby of the hospital, so when we were ready for the sonogram, all we had to do was go upstairs. It just so happened that our OB had 2 patients go into labor today, so he actually said hello and took us on a personal tour of the labor and delivery center. Nothing flashy, but nice enough for a hospital. We are planning to stay at home as long as possible, so not having a cozy room at the maternity center isn't such a big deal. I just think now I will work a little harder to make sure that I take some things that really make me happy, like photos of my friends and my kitties, as well as my own clothes. We visited the 2 women laboring today as we sneaked a peak at their rooms (with their ok, of course) and I was really struck by how impersonal the partners were acting toward their wives. The women both had already had epidurals and were therefore confined to bed, but for the most part, the guys were just watching tv as their partners were dealing with labor. Since the pain was managed, the guys didn't seem to think they had a responsibility to do anything. I mean, talk to her, comfort her, play a game, hold her hand, something. Just because physical pain has dissipated doesn't mean she couldn't use some emotional soothing. I imagine that even without physical pain, labor has the distinct possibility of being emotionally challenging - it's such a life changing event! To go through it without my partner even talking to me because he's too busy watching tv, even though he's in the room with me seems really barbaric.

Michael may have his moments, but he's committed to being a birthing partner for this child. And if he turns out to be a dud, I've already told him if he won't be involved or useful, then he can go sit outside. I have no need for someone to sit quietly and just watch me do the work. If you're not involved, I honestly don't need an audience instead. Naturally, I'm planning ahead for this, and packing things that can be used as distractions from pain and keep Michael focused on me.

I'm so glad I got to see people actually going through this process. I realize my birth plan may not be perfect, or even if it was that it may not work out that way, but this also helped me solidify my ideas for what Michael's part should include to help me consider this a successful partnership experience. In that way, I can also now give him specific directives so that he feels like he is giving me what I need, when I need it, and he doesn't end up feeling like he has nothing to do.

What am I, a Duck?

So, time is still ticking down, whether or not I feel or actually am ready for this baby to come. I had quite a productive morning, and scheduled the aforementioned extra sonogram, had a phone session with the nutritionist, and scheduled the last prenatal visit with my labor doula. After all that, I went for a 20 minute walk, got the mail and went through the car looking for my wallet (I am pretty sure it's in my possession, I just can't remember where I put it.)

Then, I conked out for pretty much the rest of the day.

Oops.

When I finally did wake up, several hours later, I went for a second walk (yay me!) and made some phone calls. However, it is harder to walk than I expect for longer times, and I definitely have that "pregnancy waddle." Pretty soon you'll be seeing a line of duckings behind me thinking I'm their momma. I guess I'd better warn them to look out for the cats!

On a final note for today, thanks to my Getaway Girls, who have been more helpful than they probably realize. Knowing that I can turn to ya'll, through phone, email, text, whatever, makes this whole process a lot easier. I love you!

Venting

I'm trying, I really, really am. Sometimes I am just. so. tired.

The emotions are running high, and the physical energy level is running low. I have some great girls that I can turn to to be great examples of gettin' it done, but even that isn't workin for me today. All I want is to go back to sleep, but right now, takin a nap kinda frightens me because there is STILL so much undone.

Michael and I are getting along well right now, but I am still feeling like trying to put the house in order is all up to me. We've had the craziest of years, and we are stuffed to the gills with all this CRAP.

*My classroom supplies - ALL OF THEM
*His office from school - AGAIN, everything, including a hutch for a desk that doesn't fit OUR desk. HHHmmmm. (Why did he bring that home?!?)
*Equipment from the gym-a 50 lbs barbell I have no chance (or desire) to even attempt to move, along with a broken(?) swively stair stepper thing, plus about 100 more lbs in iron plates for the barbell. All are sitting in the front hallway
*His stuff for working from home-it now has taken over the desk and the dining table
*About 10 unpacked boxes/big black garbage bags
*2 fully packed suitcases with dirty laundry from his trips to wrestling camps over the summer
*All of the new stuff for Jensen
*All of Celine's stuff from her room at Grandpa's, cuz her cousin is now living there as she goes to Grad school
*A freestanding jewlery amoire and entryway table that are sitting in the living room where they were put together, instead of in the bedroom and entryway.

Okay, thanks for letting me vent. I actually feel a little better now, and seeing it in print helps me to break it down into sections that are a bit more manageable. I've broken out the giant post-it tablet people use at business meetings, and have started mapping out my route to a decluttered home. It may not get done before Jensen arrives, but at least his room and the living room should be done in the next day or two. Here's praying that he's not earlier than expected!

Big Boy??

Went to see the OB on Friday. After months of expressing a concern that I was "all tummy," the doc took one look at me on Friday and said, "MMmmm, I think your baby might be big." Um, duh. He guesses about 8 lbs. And since he is only guessing, I have to call and arrange a sonogram at the hospital to get a more scientific...guess. At this point, it still doesn't change my hopes for how Jensen will be born, and I am still working with my self-hypnosis CD's and loading my ipod.

What else? Oh, yeah, it's also possible that "big" might actually translate to "ready to come out." The sonogram might establish a new due date-surprise!! He may be here at any time and still be considered "fully cooked." At home, we are putting things into overdrive and trying very hard to finish everything as quickly as possible.

Among those things needed to be finished are ordering the announcements and putting everyone's phone number into the automated calling service we're going to use. (Thanks to Jenny for being an example on that. I got a prerecorded birth message from her earlier this week and thought it was the coolest thing. Not having to make 20 phone calls from the hospital will be priceless!)

Still feeling a bit anxious about all of this, but I'm told that it's totally normal until after baby comes, so I won't stress about being stressed. Now, if only I could find away around having to pee 10 times every night....

More to do

Sigh...there's always more to do. I just finished the rough draft of my birth plan for bringing Jensen into the world.

I haven't written about this a lot, partially because I realize that each child and each parent has their own experience, and the parent has to do what feels best for them at the time. Also, I understand that what you say you want might change dramatically once you get to the point in time where you are forced to make the real decision.

That being said, here is what I am aiming for in my experience: I don't want to be totally drugged up. While on one hand, it actually does sound kind of cool, the reality is that accepting one drug for a specific purpose can then lead to all kinds of other interventions. As an example, if I got an epidural for pain, it could possibly slow or stop my contractions, so the doctor would then recommend pitocin to get them to start back up, which then would require an IV for anti-nausea medication to combat the effects of pitocin, and then they would recommend that I have a fetal montior strapped to my belly, thus confining me to bed for the remainer of my labor. After that, the possibility that they'll want to do a C-section goes up by something like 25%! Personally, I hate needles and surgical knives, and want as few of them as possible.

Instead, I am planning on hanging out at home for as long as possible (no needles here!) and going through early labor with the help of my doula. Whether or not she meets me at the house or the hospital will depend on the factors of the day, including where Michael is when labor starts and how fast my contractions are coming. At home, I can also eat and drink what and when I want and move around freely.

Once it is decided by my doctor and doula when I should head to the hospital, I am going to decline the routine IV (it's easier to refuse drugs if there's no IV to put them in...) and play soft music and hopefully (really, really hoping...) I will be able to put myself into a state of self-hypnosis/deep relaxation (I am working on this at home with guided imagery tapes) if needed, my doula is also trained in guided imagery and may help me in this area. With luck, the baby will decide to come out without needing intervention, and we'll stay together until I've held and nursed him. Only after that will be whisked away for those newborn baby tests. As soon as those are finished, he should be returned to my room so we can all be together.

I still have to go tour the hospital facilities, but I've read online that their rooms are all private, and they anticipate the baby "rooming in." There is also supposed to be a pull out bed in each room so that Michael can be comfortable and not need to leave the room to be able to sleep.

I'm going tomorrow to discuss the plan with the doula and present the plan to our doctor. We'll see how he reacts...I'm guessing he'll be fine with it, as it makes a lot less work for him.

Besides that, the nursery is almost done, and we got the car seat and stroller the other day. Things are happening quickly now, and I'm starting to get a little nervous!

Suckas!!!!

To all my lovely, lovely friends who are going back to school tomorrow (or are registering a whole new crop for after school...) I say:

Ha, ha, ha!!!!!!

Too bad for you!

Just kidding! I love you all very much and wish you the very best . I, probably like you, have been shopping most of today and up late organizing and packing supplies for tomorrow morning. Celine starts school, and man, does she need a ton of crap! I remember thinking about what I needed (for some reason, I don't remember having a pre-printed list from the school...) and being able to decide: Trapper Keeper or individual folders? mechanical pencils or regular? spirals or marble notebooks?

Here, it's all laid out for you, and the list is an entire page long. It's taking us a backpack, a Target bag and a Sterlite container just to get it all to school!! On the up side, I am actually really glad to simply be told what to get and not have to guess what her particular teacher might prefer.

YAY for school starting! (This also means that for the remaining time until Jensen gets here, I have the house to myself 5 days a week for 6 hours a day!!)

Have a great first day, everybody! (Or, you know, like, great second week for those of you in TX)