Baby Quilt Done

So, here's Reagan's new baby quilt, compliments of Renata! I love it!!!! Thanks so much Renata!!

32 Weeks

OK - the people comparing babies to vegetables have much more sophisticated diets than I do. Today's veggie is a large jicama. I have absolutely no idea what that is, but apparently it must weight 3.75 pounds or so, because that's what the baby is supposed to weigh. My "sources" say I'm to be gaining a pound a week, but according to the doctor that's supposed to level off now, so... who to believe? I'm choosing my doctor, because I hope she's right. The BABY is supposed to be gaining a half pound a week these days, and I have plenty of "extra" for her to draw on. I felt good yesterday, very calm "uterus wise", and was able to go to a birthday party where I did nothing but sit. So far today, all is calm as well. These are good things! Our little girl is becoming a very vigorous exerciser (must take after her dad), and I feel her flip-flopping regularly. I had a dream about platform diving last night, and I wonder if it's because I felt that that's what this child was doing inside me! Half pike, double twist... with a kick!

7 weeks to stay quiet. We'll do our best. I'm pretty sure we'll make it til November. Just how "fun" it will be in the meantime is the big question!

De Ja Vu....

Spent Friday ALLL DAY at Portage Hospital Resort and Spa, lounging in an oh-so-comfortable hospital bed, receiving acupuncture (also called "IV pokes" and "shots") to relieve the stress of pregnancy, (also known as "pre-term labor"). Talk about the ultimate in relaxation. Even a tube attached to me so that I didn't have to get up to use the restroom. THAT'S pampering. Caught up on 6 months worth of People Magazine, so now can recite who is dating who, who has the cutest baby, and which are the best and worst dressed stars of summer. These are things that I just don't get to spend time finding out when working and raising small children. The contractions stopped after the third "line of defense", for which I am grateful, as the fourth line of defense was a trip to a hopsital with a NICU 2 hours away. NOT in my agenda at the moment. I am now officially to "take it easy" for the remainder of the pregnancy, although not on official bed rest - a fact for which I am also truly thankful. The doctor was explicit that this means NO housework (I should've gotten that in writing), and cutting my work hours by half (that part IS in writing). It also means no more volunteering in the pre-school classroom. Unfortunately, I signed up for LOTS of volunteer time in October, because I knew once the baby was born my time would be limited. Anyone want to fill-in on the bus? I'm on a new cardiac med to keep contractions at bay, and so far today (apart from a stint of 3- minute spaced contractions last night from 2-4 am) all is well. The doctor said we HAVE to make it at least another 4 weeks, to avoid a NICU stay, and my mom said that we HAVE to make it another 7 weeks so that she doesn't miss the birth of yet another grandchild. Such pressure to stay in the womb! The baby, by all accounts, is doing very well -- except for frequent hiccups, which caused last night's contractions. If only I could slip her a paper bag to blow into, maybe we could keep things calm!

Here we go again...

I volunteered today in the boys' preschool classroom. An hour and a half on the bus, buckling in small squirmy children, 3.5 hours bending over small tables, and sitting on miniature chairs, and another hour on the bus delivering the children back home. The result? Contractions 3-5 minutes apart for at least the last 10 hours. Great. Here we go again. I called the doctor's office, but refused to come in to get monitored, as I was just checked over by my physician YESTERDAY, but I really want these uncomfortable things to let up a little so I can rest. They called in a prescription for the same medication I was on for 3 months last pregnancy. So far, 2.5 hours later, it has slowed the contractions to 7 minutes apart, but not gotten rid of them. I just doubled the dose. Let's hope they go aways sometime during the night. I have 8 weeks to go, and things are too early to be "moving along" in this manner already....

31 Week prenatal Visit

Prenatal visits increase to every other week after this one. I have gained 1 pound over the past month, for a total of 12 pounds per official record (and, as you all know, quite a bit more than that by unofficial record). The doctor always seems so surprised when I mention how much I gained in those first 7 weeks. I think the twin pregnancy just REALLY wreaked havoc with my hormones (TWO doses of girl-baby-produced estrogen in the system). Thank goodness the following 24 weeks have slowed that weight gain down considerably. If I average a pound a month from here on out, with 2 months left... I can handle that. To celebrate, I ate some chocolate :). Blood pressure good, sugar good, no swelling, not anemic... another short, uneventful visit. My doctor did do a fibro-dingin0-thingy-mabob test, as I've been having alot of contractions - at times 9-10 minutes apart for several hours. This seems to be very much activity related; once it happened while I was cleaning house, and the other time it happened while at work. Both times eventually stopped with a glass of water and time supine. I think the contractions are pretty harmless - they don't appear to be causing any dilation or anything, just uncomfortable and annoying. I can hack uncomfortable and annoying, as long as I know I'm not giving birth while playing on a swing with a two year old at work. Otherwise, feeling pregnant, but standard pregnant, with all the typical complaints (tired all the time, hard to bend over, pelvis feeling like it has become two separate entities). I feel those are all GOOD things, though, because it means that things are "normal", and "normal" is exactly where I want to be at this point!

Thanks, Mom.

I was talking to my mom today about the boys' first day of school.
"They're just growing up so fast!" I said.
She replied "Oh, honey, you're not that fat. Just very very pregnant."
UHHHHH. "I said FAST not FAT."
But thank you very much.

31 Weeks

This is baby Reagan's crib quilt, made lovingly (and incredibly fast) by my friend Renata!! For some reason, it's making it very real to me that our little girl will be here in 8 weeks! That's not long!!! And there's so much left to do! She's about 16 inches now, and 3.3 pounds (the equivalent of 4 navel oranges). This week, the boys and I read a book about what to "expect" with a new baby sister. It was a surprisingly accurate book... it talked about how mommy's belly grew bigger and bigger, and mommy had to sleep in the afternoon's like the little boy character, and then grandma came to visit and picked the boy up from school to take him to the hospital to meet his baby sister! That is precisely our "plan", if all goes according to "plan".

This past week, Colby and I also picked out a "birthday cake" for Reagan. IF I am organized enough, I would like to freeze a bday cake ahead of time for the boys to bring to the hospital when she's born, so #1)they understand what birthdays are really all about, and #2)it builds the excitement a little. We'll see how good I am about that. Now that the boys will be starting school, I am planning to use my mornings for "preparations". I've got the nursery to finish, a crib and dresser to build, baby clothes to wash and go through, and baby "equipment" to locate from the basement and clean up. That should take me 8 weeks or so:).

Next prenatal visit - Wednesday!

30 Weeks

We're into single digits in terms of weeks left now!!! 9 weeks, 1 day until delivery!! I have a feeling that will go VERY quickly. She's supposed to be close to 3 pounds now (same as a head of cabbage), and almost 16 inches long. Colby was 17 inches and 4 pounds at birth, so that gives me a good basis for comparison. I have been REALLY tired lately, and having several Braxton Hicks contractions every day. Sleeping has been very sporadic. Maybe that's good practice for me for once our baby arrives, but I AM getting tired of people telling me how "wiped out" I look first thing in the morning. I know. Not looking fabulous and perky these days :). Working on the floor is getting more and more difficult. I do it, but it's extremely awkward!

from the mouths of babes

I was working with a little 7 year old boy the other day, when a ball we were playing with rolled under the table. I asked him to go get it, because it was so hard for me to bend over.
"Why is it hard for you to bend over?" he asked.
"Because I have a baby in my belly."
"YOU DO?????? My grandma SAID you were getting fat!"

I laughed the rest of the day.

29 Weeks

Vegetable comparison this week... a butternut squash. Little girl is about 2 1/2 pounds and 15 inches long. Quinn and Colby were only two inches taller than that when they were born, so ... wow! We're getting close! Well, maybe not SO close, given that we have 10 weeks left until B-day. I've been getting braxton hicks contractions a few times a day lately, so things are "gearing up". And I have been TIRED (note the all capital letters. I MEAN it). It doesn't take much. I get breathless getting up to answer the phone! Still able to work my full 12 hour shifts, though, so pretty proud about that. I mentioned to a friend today that I was "almost done", and she just smiled and said "ooooohhhh no. It's just BEGINNING." Does this mean the worst is yet to come??? Shaving six weeks off of full term last pregnancy, and spending ALL of that supine in bed makes me realize that I have not FULLY experienced all that the third trimester can and will be. As of this moment, I am scheduled to work my last 12 hour shift 3 days before I deliver. Will I make it? It's already hard getting up and down off the floor, but I manage in a waddling, penguin sort of way. I have had a very short temper lately, and an easily-pushed "cry" button. Songs, images, thoughts... I cry at the drop of a hat. Embarassing hormones.

I repaired the nursery this weekend after Quinn and Colby so helpfully tried to redecorate it. The crib has arrived (we'll wait to set it up), and the dresser is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. I am 3/4 of the way done crocheting the baby blanket, and have purchased all the sundry "girly" things to decorate the nursery walls with. The crib quilt is currently in process of being custom-made by a friend. The fact that there will be a new baby soon STILL doesn't seem real, though. It's more that I have a large stomach tumor that I insist on preparing a room for. She will make herself known and real all too soon, however, I have no doubt. Sometimes I wonder how, since I struggle on a daily basis with TWO children, will I ever handle THREE???? But we are adaptable creatures, we mothers, and this baby is soooooo wanted and longed for, I am sure we will manage somehow.

Another First

First Braxton Hicks contraction (well, that I've noticed) at 6:30 am today!

Meeting the cousin

Today, at a picnic at Grandma LaVerne's and Grandpa Al's in honor of Labor Day, my 3-year old niece Becky decided she wanted to meet baby Reagan. She lifted my shirt, looked my belly button straight in the eye, gave me a pat and said "Hello Baby!" I asked her if the baby said hello back, but she said no. I'll have to teach our little girl better manners once she decides to leave the womb.