Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Fun Surprises Lead to Nesting Overdrive

Since we've been back from vacation, my goal has been to get the nursery ready. So, the weekend after we were back, we started to tackle this project. Ever since we moved Brett into his new room, the nursery has been a place for storage, so the first thing was to move everything out and pitch a bunch of stuff. Then, washing EVERYTHING. I am a stickler for having every little thing that comes close to baby girl's skin be super clean so every piece (including the bedskirt) of nursery bedding and all of the covers to like the bouncy seat and swing went into a load of laundry with some Dreft. Everything else that couldn't be thrown into the washing machine got scrubbed down with warm water and soap. So, even though it was time consuming, we were fortunate that we have the foresite (well, I guess we dumb lucked into it) that we had decorated the nursery with a gender neutral theme (beige and sage with teddy bears) so no redecoration or buying new bedding was necessary. Also, accessories like the swing and bouncy seat, etc. were also gender neutral so no worries with those either.

Anyway, we took care of alot of the preparation over the course of that weekend and I was feeling pretty mellow about having things ready.

Flashforward to last Friday. I woke up at 5 a.m. with back pains. Now, I've been having back pains, so it's no big deal, but these were kind of pulsing and wrapping around my belly. Nonetheless I fell back asleep. However they returned as I dropped Brett off at my mother's house a little stronger and I started to time them. But then they went away after about an hour. No big deal. Until I had been to work for a couple of hours and they came on even STRONGER. Okay, I left work and decided to go home and call Steve. Yeah, I couldn't reach my husband for an HOUR (not an uncommon occurrence by the way). This makes me truly worried for when the real event actually happens. I decided to lay down on my left side to see if they would stop. Nope. Finally I got ahold of my hubby and he convinced me to call the doctor...they wanted me to go to the hospital. Great.....

So, about an hour later Steve arrived home and we took off for the hospital where they hooked me up to a monitor and realized I was definitely contracting and having pre-term labor. However, I wasn't dilated, which was a good sign. Anyway, they gave me a shot to stop the contractions. Since I was only 34 weeks, they didn't really want me to deliver quite yet. We spent probably about 3 hours in the hospital, but when they sent me home, I was feeling better for sure.

Well, the next day was Saturday, and you can be sure I was in full on nesting overdrive. So, this past weekend we cleaned up the carseats, I took my car to be cleaned inside and out and moved Brett's carseat and also installed the infant seat. I washed a bunch of new baby clothes and towels and blankets just to be ready and the most important thing...I packed the hospital bag. Now we are TOTALLY ready for baby girl...however my nesting is starting to steer me toward cleaning the house (which is a good thing...it's needed to be done for awhile. I just haven't had the energy to do it), so as long as I am still pregnant this coming weekend, I sense a total house cleaning.

I've been continuing to contract on and off (which I know is normal, but knowing I'm not dilated, I'm not worrying too much, even though they are usually WAY more than 6 an hour). Nothing's been as bad as Friday though, so that's good. I hope baby girl stays in for a little while longer, but if she wants to pop out early, I'm READY. She just needs to wait until at least the first week of August is over...during that week my niece, my brother, my sister-in-law, my brother-in-law all have birthdays, AND my parents have their wedding anniversary. You hear that, baby girl? :). However, as unpleasant as this pregnancy has been, she may very well decide to make her debut that week just to spite me!!!!!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Thankful for Amazing Friends

What a great blog post this could be if I only had taken pictures! Oh well, you'll just have to use your imagination :).

Well, directly after my ultrasound/ob appointment last week, I had a visitor. Or, 2 to be more accurate. Tina, who I have talked about numerous times on this blog, who is 3 weeks behind me in her pregnancy, made the trip all the way down from Chicagoland to spend a couple of days with me and B! She brought her son Evan so that he and Brett could play while we spent time catching up.

Tina, is currently expecting another sweet little bundle of boy joy, so I have already betrothed baby girl to him. We plan on having a big fat Greek wedding one day for the two of them :).

Anyway, we had a great time commiserating about our pregnancies and just catching up on life in general, and the next morning we took our boys to the zoo. (Again, photo ops would have been great here, but I didn't take any pics even though I had my camera with me... keeping up with Brett in general is enough to exhaust me these days, let alone try taking pics of him). We got there as soon as it opened, but as it has been this summer in general, it was SWELTERING hot. In fact, I think that it was the hottest summer day thus far. We managed to stay for a couple of hours...Brett got to see his beloved cheetahs, and we got to the better animal exhibits. But by about 11, even the boys were hot and tired and ready to go, so we took off early. It worked out well...we got the boys home in time for naps (and their pregnant mommies got a nap as well!).

When, we got up, we got ready for dinner out. Tina had suggested the two of us go out for a last girls dinner before we had our babies, so we were planning on going to the Cheesecake Factory, while Steve agreed to watch the boys. So, I must say I was floored when we got there and several of our friends were there waiting for us. Tina and a bunch of our old Butler friends had come together to throw me a shower, and she had kept it all from me :). She is a great secret keeper! Baby girl managed to get lots of pink and has now started a stylish wardrobe thanks to everyone. I know some of you who were at the shower read my blog, so thank you again...you really know how to make a girl feel loved! :). Anyway, it was a great girls night out and it just made me so grateful to have such good friends!!!!

Tina and Evan took off the next day, and it was bittersweet saying goodbye. Sad to see her go, as always, but excited that next time we see each other, we'll both have our new sweet babies!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

34 Week Pregnancy Update

Well, things have picked up since I got back from vacation. I found out shortly after I arrived home that because my stubborn pregnancy hormones were not allowing my sugar levels to fall at night, I needed to be started on a dose of insulin at night before bed (for all of you adding, this is 4 blood draws a day, and now a shot I give myself at night in addition - fun!). My body did pretty well with the diet for about 3 1/2 weeks, but the doctor said that the hormones were something I couldn't just control myself.

The same day I went to my diabetes doc, I also went to my ob. She took an ultrasound to check on baby girl, due to my GD to make sure she wasn't growing too big. Steve and Brett came with me to see her. 2 realizations I made during the ultrasound...she's already got a full head of hair, and 2. She has a nice full set of lips. So cute already :).

Oh, and the ultrasound tech also re-confirmed that we were having a girl..which is good because she already has a bunch of pink stuff waiting at home for her!





I found out that she is a little larger than average (typical for GD babies)...she should have been about 4 1/2 lbs and was measuring already at 5 1/4, which already puts her in the 75th percentile. I'll have another ultrasound around 37 weeks to see how much further she's grown.

And, because I am now on insulin, I have to check in twice a week for a non stress test. Not too bad... I went to my first one Monday and they basically measured baby's heartrate, my contractions, and then I have to record every time I feel her move. This time I saw the NP, and she told me that they usually induce GD patients because they don't want babies to get too big, around 39 weeks. So, if that's the case, I am looking toward August 24th instead of August 31st. That is, of course, as long as the old pre-eclampsia doesn't get me this time, in which case, who knows when she'll be born! Anyway, the light is ever closer at the end of the tunnel :).

Anyway, another blog (hopefully, again as always, depending on my energy level) to come regarding a fun visit with my BFF and an awesome surprise baby shower :)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Long Delayed Vacation Post

About 2 weeks ago, Steve and I took off with my extended family (mom, dad, brothers and their families) for a week long trip to a resort in northern Wisconsin. Specifically, a resort on the Chippewa Flowage near Hayward, WI. It was a nice relaxing week and except for the crazy mosquitos, I think that everyone seemed to have a pretty good time.



Brett, being 2 constantly ran off with wreckless abandon. I have to thank my entire family and Steve for being good sprinters and keeping an extra eye on him. I don't move very quickly these days, and if it weren't for them, Brett would surely have made it it into the water before I could reach him. Consequently, he wore a life jacket every time he went outside, as well as several times in the cabin. Hopefully next year he develops some sense and realizes when to stop.




Also, in Hayward was the freshwater fishing hall of fame (I know, my FAVORITE stop), but Steve wanted to go, so we took Brett one day. The one cool part was the 100 foot muskie statue that you could walk into and look out his mouth. I was too tired to climb all the stairs, so I let the boys go in and I stayed behind and took pictures.




I got to read a couple of books and enjoyed a pedicure and Steve and I took in Eclipse at the local theatre, so it was all good for me since I don't enjoy fishing so much. Now, we are home and I plan to stay put until baby girl makes her arrival :)