Friday, October 30, 2009

38 week appointment

I had my 38 weeks appointment this morning. A lot of the pressure I'm feeling is normal, the midwife assured me. I also have normal (but low) iron levels, so I'm just watching that. She made sure the baby's head was down and then she did check me (upon my request).

I'm already 2 cm dilated. It really doesn't mean much as far as when the baby will be born but I am glad to know that those 20 minutes of contractions the other night already got me to a 2. That's nice! :)

Abigail has a snotty nose and cough still but didn't run a fever at all. She was still a little cranky at times and is whining in her crib right now (bedtime) so we'll see if she goes to sleep soon. Her nap time was still pretty short today (1 hour). I tell you, this girl knows when it is her momma at home with her and just won't nap for any good length of time. She's taken a 4 hour nap before at the sitters house.

I did manage to sleep about 20 minutes while she was asleep. I'm hoping for a little longer rest time tomorrow.

I keep wondering how long I'll be able to do things (like grocery shop, pick up Abigail, etc) but I'm still going. I managed to get several things done around the house today. I took out some trash, cleaned up our room, did the dishes, grocery shopped, made beef enchiladas for dinner, and did some laundry. All in all it wasn't a bad day.

I'm going to see if there is any wiggle room in our budget from October. If so, I am seriously considering hiring someone to come clean, just for a hour. It would make a big difference!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sickness Update

Abigail thankfully still had no fever at bedtime. She is terribly snot ridden and cannot go a minute (it seems) without coughing. She had a very short nap but then wanted to play outside, so we did for an hour.

My main concern is that she's not eating much. I think it is due to her coughing but still, a few bites of things won't fill her belly. Maybe this will improve tomorrow.

We ended up putting her to bed around 6:30 pm because she was so tired. It's been a while since she's been in bed that early. She fell asleep easily and has been asleep since then. Yeah! (I'm off to bed very soon).

I'm contemplating making this the first night EVER that I leave the baby monitor on Andrew's side of the bed. He said he doesn't mind getting up. I wonder if I can really do it!

We'll see!

Ironic! I want my mom!

After I wrote last night's post, I woke up at 11:30 pm with terrible contractions. They lasted until about 12:30 am when I took a bath. I was still up for a while after that, just waiting for my body to relax.

On top of this, it would seem that my precious 1st born is now sick. She was coughing a little on the way home yesterday, then more in the evening, then she woke up at 10 pm coughing. I gave her water, Vicks, honey, and held her in my lap (not an easy thing to do these days) in the easy chair so she could sit up. The coughing eventually subsided.

Until . . .

2 am. I'm still awake from my bout with the contractions and I hear her coughing . . . a lot. I go and wake her up, give her whatever I can to soothe the cough and put her back to bed. She laid there and coughed for another 30 minutes or so but they seemed to be tapering off, so I let her sleep.

I woke again at 5 am with her coughing. I went down and checked on her but she was asleep so I left her that way.

I mean . . . seriously! Why this week does my child get sick? She had a slightly runny nose this morning, which could have been from the coughing, but no fever to speak of. Her temp was 99.1 and then 98.5 so it wasn't much.

So, if you're the praying sort, please pray that the #2 child will wait just a while to come out (so we can gather ourselves and be ready and healthy) and that #1 child will recover very quickly (and that it's nothing serious). Oh, and it would be very nice indeed for me and Andrew to stay well so that we can attend to the matter of giving birth to another child!

Yikes!

I want my mommy! (How am I almost a mother of 2? Impossible.)

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Busy!

I haven't blogged lately because I've been busy!! People at work are realizing that my last day is one week from tomorrow (yikes) so I am up to my eyeballs in tons of projects. I've been trying to take it easy but still working a bit from home on them.

I'm also taking care of myself by making sure to be in bed by 9 pm each night (although it's 9:15 pm now). I'm not usually sleep until 10 but that gives me time to read, relax, and put my feet up.

It's getting quite difficult for me to get around these days. The hardest time is in the mornings. I have been late to work everyday, I think. By the time I get myself up, showered, ready, dressed, breakfast made (which I eat in the car), I'm late getting Abigail up and dressed. Thankfully she eats breakfast elsewhere, or we'd really be in trouble. She loves to take her time in the mornings and play a bit. Unfortunately, at 7:15 am, when we have to leave by 7:20 am, that's not the best thing!

I'm beginning to have just a touch of swelling in my feet so I'm really trying to take it easy. I don't want them to freak out at the midwives office and put me on bedrest (with a 21 month old - that would be BAD news).

I'm so very very thankful that tonight is Andrew's last class. He has been teaching a class at IWU and tonight is the last one. He's usually home in an hour so I think it's safe to say I won't go into labor while he's in class.

I haven't had any contractions to speak of at this point. The baby is heavy and so there are a few other uncomfortable issues but if labor goes like it did with Abigail, I don't think this baby will be born for a while yet. Of course, each labor and child is different.

I discovered that the birth center has WIFI and I'm toying with the idea of blogging a bit during birth. We'll see how that goes. I just want the option. It may be Andrew doing more updates than me actually writing anything other than the word "ouch" but I think it would be neat to have a record.

We'll see!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Yikes!

This YouTube video should make women think twice about "convenient" c-sections. I know many people have them because it is medically necessary however, recently I have heard quite a few stories of people having them because of unnecessary induction, because the doctor was going to be gone, or because the mom got "tired".



Just remember, there is more at stake from having a c-section than major surgery. When insurance is involved you never know what might happen!

Home

Sorry for the lack of creativity. My energy is currently being used to breathe, eat, and sleep. :) Oh yeah, I guess I can't forget clean, cook, work, grocery shop, laundry, etc.

We had a lovely weekend in Kentucky. I'm sure I'll post videos and pictures later. I am glad to be back and in my own bed, however. I slept much better last night, although still was up several times due to leg aches. I wish I had a solution for that. I'm going to try the chiropractor this week.

Well, I'd better get ready for work. I was late a few days last week and sent everyone into a panic, thinking I had gone into labor, so I guess I'd better not be late. :)

Friday, October 23, 2009

Choosing Where to Give Birth

If I had my choice of where I would give birth, I would so choose to give birth here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091023/od_afp/malaysiaairasiaairlineoffbeat

Okay, so I'm kidding. I would probably not choose to give birth on an airplane but free flights for life does make it sound quite appealing!

I preregistered to give birth at Family Beginnings this morning. I'm eligible to give birth there in one day. I'm 37 weeks pregnant tomorrow. Wow!

I definitely feel more settled having gotten all this done.

There are a few more things I'd like to do but aren't necessary to do before the baby comes (like get a haircut - make more freezer meals - etc).

My midwife appointment went very well too. I'm so thankful that some of the "problems" I had when pregnant with Abigail are no where to be found in this pregnancy. I haven't gained any weight in a month, my blood pressure is normal, I have no swelling, etc. Those were all concerns last time. I'm thrilled that I'm almost 20 pounds lighter than I was when I had Abigail (again . . . swelling issues). God has blessed me with an abundantly healthy pregnancy and I'm so thankful.

They were/are concerned with my iron levels (which I'm sure are low) so I had to have my blood drawn, but no big deal. I just need to remember to take my supplement a little more often.

Oh, last note of the day . . . the birth center has wireless internet now. I'm going to talk Andrew into taking the laptop and might attempt a blog to two during birth. Wouldn't that be neat? Of course, it might be Andrew blogging but still . . . Maybe I'd get more followers that way! :)

We're off to Shaker Village for the weekend (if we can find a dog sitter).

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Reading and Llamas

Sorry about the quality of this video. I took it last night on the way home with my phone. Abigail's "reading" outloud was SO cute that I had to get a video. I was watching the road and not where my camera was pointed so I don't always have her in the shot. Then while we were driving along, we saw a huge pack of Llamas standing by the road. I believe they had gotten out of their pen. You get to see Abigail's reaction in this video. Of course, she calls them cows first, and then horses. The girl loves her farm animals, though.

Enjoy!


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Interesting Phone Call

I just received a phone call from our daycare provider. My heart jumped a little bit when I saw her number. I expected her to say "Abigail threw up" or "she has a fever". We know a few people close to us who have the flu. I know that it's generally mild and unavoidable but being 37 weeks pregnant would not be the most opportune time for me to have that in my house. (Although probably better than after the baby comes). Anyway . . .

However, she did not say any of those things.

Do you know what she said? . . .

"Your daughter has learned to take off her pants."

This statement, in conjunction with the fact that I know my daughter HATES having a poopy diaper (it is so time to potty train!), I knew what was coming next.

"I had to give her a bath because she had poop all over her clothes, the bed, her hair, and I think she may have eaten some."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

(The child already has to wear onesies and pants everywhere so she can't get into her diaper. What is next, only overalls? Zip up, footed PJ's? Straight jacket?)

Yuck!

(To my future 16 year-old daughter, Abigail. I apologize if this embarrasses you. However, I'm still posting it because . . . it still happened!)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Stepping Out. This is faith, right?

I have to admit a few things to you today.


I'm scared out of my mind.


I'm a little scared of being a mother of two. I know there will be joyful times and I know there will be struggles. We'll get through and maybe even enjoy ourselves in the process.



What I'm really scared of is . . . .



QUITTING MY JOB!




Ahhhhh!!



Hello??!!!



I have always worked. In fact most of my adult life I have had more than one job. I've never had NONE!



The sermon we heard yesterday at church did not fall on deaf ears. It was about giving and stepping out in faith. Perhaps this is not how people usually think of giving; it is real to me that I'm giving up something that makes me feel secure (a job = financial income) for something I feel God is calling me to do (raise my kids).


While talking about this in the car on the way home with my husband, I was challenged that if this is where I feel called to "give" sacrificially (or give up is a more appropriate phrase) I need to be doing so cheerfully, as the Bible instructs.


Yes it is scary - way more scary than I want to admit (I LOVE security) but this is a time in my life when I need to practice my trusting skills. I need to trust my husband to do what he can . . . and is willing to do - provide. I need to trust my God to do what He can and is willing to do . . . - provide. I also need to trust myself, my money management skills to help us out.

Yet . . . it is the actual DOING part that is hard . . . The actual trust as go.

10 days left of work (or less if the baby comes early).

Here we go!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Things I've learned . . .

These are lessons that I have learned lately. If you want to know more, you'll have to ask me in person or privately. Explainations will not go on this blog. :)


1) I cannot please everyone. Now, I just need to learn to stop trying.


2) No one is going to take care of me like I will.

Happy Monday to all!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Teeth & Plea for common sense . . .

I just wanted to put up a quick post that Abigail has her bottom 2-year molars coming in already and I believe she's working on more. She has been super slobbery and the bottom ones are through already. I think they still hurt, though. Her chin and cheeks are chapped from drool but I have been treating those with coconut oil and they seem to be better.


However:

Let me simply conclude with this - if you read this and see my daughter, please don't stick your fingers in her mouth to feel for her new teeth.

Thank you! :)

Thursday, October 15, 2009

"Pregnant" comments I have heard recently . . .

and I can't believe people would say some of these!

  • "Now, you're having twins, right?" - Umm, no.
  • My doctor said, "Wow, you have experienced substantial growth these past two weeks." (But I hadn't gained any weight).
  • "I was surprised to hear that you were pregnant but now that I see you, I can see that you are pregnant!"
  • "So, how much weight have you gained this pregnancy?"
  • "I see that your baby has dropped." - So why can't I breathe yet?!
  • "Just in this last week your belly has gone whoa."
Okay, so most of these I still find amusing but I can't believe that people comment on pregnant women at all! I am a pretty conservative person and am not a big fan of people taking particular notice of my body and pregnancy does not help that. It just invites people (how ever well intentioned they are) to just stare, comment, and ask! I was talking to one lady today who spent more time looking at my belly than my face. I mean, I understand the draw, but for a fairly self-conscious person, those things are just a touch embarrassing.

Also, my dear sweet husband keeps mentioning more kids. I warned him that if he is actually wanting to have a serious conversation about having more than two kids, he's better not mention it for a while. . . . at least the next 5 weeks and he'd probably be wise to wait 10 to 15 weeks to even say the words "more kids".

He should have landed by now at the airport (which I can see, thanks to flight tracker). It will be so good to have him home!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Today . . .

Today, 29 years ago, the man who would make me a very blessed lady, was born!


Happy Birthday to my honey. I'm very sad you are not here today. We made it through night #1 with no incidents what-so-ever. I did wake up a lot because it just felt different in here!

We'll have to have a nice little celebration this weekend.

Knowing you, however, you aren't moping or sad or even thinking anything about spending your birthday away from your family. I'm sure you are making the most of your day and enjoying every moment.

Thank you for being my inspiration (as corny as that sounds, it's true) and a wonderful father to our child (and coming child).

Hurry home!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Special Day

I wanted to acknowledge that today is a special day.

It is my mother-in-law's birthday.

Susan,
Thank you for all you do to help me. Just knowing that you are there to help (especially in the coming weeks/months) brings a peacefulness to my heart that you wouldn't imagine. I hope you have a wonderful fun day and I also sincerely hope that Abigail was a good girl today! :)

Also, it is my aunt-in-law's birthday as well.

Happy birthday, Linda. We are looking forward to seeing you at Christmas. Not long now!

Tuesday

I did end up going home to rest. It was nice. I am now thinking that I had some sort of protein or blood sugar issue that made me feel that weird. Feel fine this morning. I'm going to start the day with a hearty dose of eggs and keep some food nearby, just in case.

--------------------------

Quick letter to those of your related to my dear husband who live close by:

Dear family,

My apologies in advance if I call you in the middle of the night during the next two nights. I promise I will only do so if I am dying or having a baby. Thank you for being around. That alone makes me feel better!

Love,
The lady almost ready to have the baby (but not in the next few days)

Monday, October 12, 2009

This week

I can't wait until this week is over. The reason is because my husband will be gone to New York City (on his birthday) for a business trip. Ugh!

He doesn't really have a choice. He has to go. I just want this week to be completely uneventful. Abigail is actually at the babysitters this morning. Unfortunately, I'm not feeling that great. I won't go into details (I'll spare you!) but it all started with me not sleeping well, having a crazy morning with Abigail waking up coughing (still!), etc. I think I'm just worn out.

Andrew is telling me to go home and rest. I may just do that after I finish a few things.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Crazy Weeks!

The past week has been crazy at our house. Andrew started teaching another class, our sitter (or her daughter) has been sick, car repairs, preparing for baby, and general toddler craziness. Nothing major, just little things that make life a little more hectic.

Andrew is leaving next Tuesday - Thursday for a business trip to NY city. The way I'm feeling at this point, I think it is safe to say that the baby won't come during his trip. I had contractions and other "symptoms" for a week or two before Abigail was born, so I'm counting on the same thing happening this time.

If you want to find me in the next few weeks, you can look for me in bed. I really want to rest as much as possible and to cut out all the extra stuff. It's just a few weeks! Nobody will notice I'm gone!

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Ethical People Do Exist

I have shared a little on here about our "new car" as Abigail calls it. It's used but new to us. We bought it a few weeks ago on a Saturday. By Monday the check engine light was on and it smelled hot to me after I drove it. The temperature gauge was normal, however.

Andrew refilled the antifreeze during the week and that should have been our first clue!

By the end of the week, it was in bad shape. The car was shifting funny and making some weird engine noises as well. I took it to our local trusted mechanic on that Friday.

After diagnosing the car, it was concluded that the water pump was leaking (great) and that had caused the other problems. This was six days after our initial purchase of the van. I was bummed.

The mechanic ended up not charging us as much as he originally quoted (love that!). Andrew had the great idea to contact the previous owner to see if they had any knowledge of this issue and just to let them know about it and how fishy it seemed! We weren't expecting anything.

Well, long story short (ha, like I can ever tell a short story) - they appreciated our honesty because I told them the mechanics cut the cost for us and just honestly told them the cost for parts and labor, and they have paid us for 1/2 of the repair!

In today's world this is just inspiring. Someone is willing to take responsibility to help when technically and/or legally it wasn't their responsibility. We should have had the van checked before buying it (rookie mistake) but I'm so glad we bought it from upstanding and ethical people!

Monday, October 05, 2009

Long time!

I can't believe that I haven't written anything since Wednesday! Very unintentional!

Thanks for all the ideas for food. I will see what I get around to making in the time I have left. I at least have a few meals in the freezer and that makes me feel better.

I still didn't get around to making a meal plan for this week. I have some leftover soups (yummy, yummy, homemade tomato soup - my mom's recipe. And yummy, yummy, beef and veggie soup from Grandma M. - which Abigail LOVES) so we may be having soup and sandwiches a few times this week.

I managed to get the house in semi-clean shape this weekend. Of course, with a toddler, nothing is ever like I would really like it to be. I did get the downstairs bathroom, living room, and kitchen cleaned, so that is progress! I did some straightening up of our bedroom but it needs dusted, sheets changed, and vacuumed. I think I got a lot done because Andrew was gone to a training seminar on Saturday for most of the day.

We are getting closer to having Abigail's room done. I need to get some trim painted and then I think we're done for now. I really want to put some Wall Words up in her room but they seem so expensive. I can always add them later! Our goal is to have her take a nap in there on Friday, so we'll see how far I can get this week.

I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon (seeing the doctor, not a midwife) so it will be interesting to hear what he says. I had a bit of a painful weekend with lots of pressure and a few contractions (I think they are only Braxton-Hicks) but that may have been brought on by doing a little too much around the house. Andrew and I practiced some relaxation techniques last night (finally) and I need to keep it up!

Our biggest surprise of the weekend came last night when we were all just sitting around the house. Abigail was playing, of course. She ran into the other room (her bedroom) and in a few moments I heard her panicked cry. I waddled my way in there to find her standing at the top of our step stool. She was stuck and couldn't get down. Good thing the ladder wasn't in there! I didn't have the presence of mind to grab my camera but let this serve as a record that she's following in her daddy's climbing footsteps. Oh my!