Here He is!!!---Baby "No Name"

***The Stats*** 8 pounds, 14 oz., and 21 inches long. C-Section Baby! Head too big!!!

My friend Wendy took this pictures at the hospital on Friday. She is so talented! He looks like a baby doll! I have hardly any time to post anything b/c they are bringing the baby to me any second now for a feeding. He has some jaundice, so he's been under the heater lamps in the nursery. Poor baby. I had a great couple of first days in the hospital, and then yesterday was a complete disaster until the end of the day. I had my lovely postpartum blues breakdown! I suppose it was a combination of nerves, worry, medications, pain, and just everything. Wow. Glad that is mostly over...well I hope so, anyways! Thanks to everyone who has been calling and sending their congrats. Sorry to those who I haven't spoken to yet. It is much more chaotic at the hospital than I thought, and with the little "down time" I have to return calls, etc., I am usually using that to catch up on some "Zs." I hope to speak to everyone soon, though!

Oh, our latest name attempts are Halston Jack or Halston Jase. Any thoughts? I also really like Jase Owen. We are getting close to naming this poor fella!

The Last Doctor's Appointment

I had to wait a while, but I got in today by noon. She started taking measurements of the baby on the ultrasound, and they were reflecting between 9 lb and a 9lb 11oz baby. WHOA. But of course this could be off since it's an estimate. Anyways, she checked my cervix and it looks like I'm 2+cm and 80% effaced. Finally, some progress! She told me as she was checking my cervix that she would go ahead and "strip my membranes," which basically means she separates the bag of waters from my uterus (I think). Let me tell you how great that felt--not! My stomach immediately cramped up right when she finished. It could cause me to start having more contractions, or it could do nothing at all. That was around 1pm today, and now it's 10pm and I haven't had one contraction. Hmm.

So anyways, she asked me if I wanted to be induced if I didn't go into labor on my own by Thursday (due date). I did not expect her to ask me--I thought she'd be making all the decisions! Captain Indecisivo (that's me) cannot make decisions like that! So Roob pipes up and said, "Yeah we should do it by Thursday!" Heh heh. So she told me that sometimes it takes a few days to get a scheduled induction at the hospital, so she went out of the room and called to see if I could get in on Thursday. She came back and said they'd be calling me Wednesday evening to tell me what time to show up on Thursday. I think I just sat there in total shock!

It's funny b/c I have been going crazy not knowing when the baby would come, and now that I know they will be starting me on Thursday, I think it is WORSE knowing the "end," so to speak. I can't win! :) I feel like I have one day left of "freedom," and what should I do with it? (Though I did manage to score a haircut & highlight appt. tomorrow). Roob and I went to get sandwiches after the appt and I totally started crying my head off in the restaurant. I have been feeling a bit of panic creeping up my spine all day. I am so nervous! I hope being induced will go smoothly and is a good decision. Ultimately, I am making it b/c I think I will have a better chance of avoiding a c-section if they get the baby out before he gains another pound! Well, soon, we will all know how it all went down. And I'll have a new little guy to take care of. Oh boy!

Some Final Thoughts...

Well, I'm due this Thursday, which is only 3 or 4 days away (depending upon if you count Thursday or not). Tomorrow morning I have to call the Women's Clinic and beg to be squeezed in to see my midwife during the day. I usually have my appts on Monday, but last week when I tried to schedule one they told me she was booked. HUH? Lame-ola. So, my official appt is scheduled for Wednesday. Anyways, I have still felt basically the same. I have had some kind of cramping (every once in a blue moon) in my stomach, but who knows if those are contractions or not? A friend of mine said that she thinks they are. But they are completely inconsistent. I am wondering if I have even progressed at all since my appt a week ago.

I have a feeling they may want to induce me if I don't have the baby on my own by Thursday. My first instinct is "ok let's do it!" but then I wonder if that is a bad idea if my body isn't "ready" on its own. I have heard both opinions for and against induction. Some say it makes things go quickly, others say the opposite--that labor could be dragged out for twice as long and the baby could get stressed. So I guess for now I'll just see what the midwife says and go from there. The only thing I am worried about is the baby getting too big and making delivery a bit difficult. Last Tuesday he weighed in at 8 lbs, 7 oz. That should put him over 9 lbs by his due date.

We still don't have a solid name. Not even close. That is crazy! I'm hoping when we see his face a light goes off and it just comes to me. But knowing how I am with decisions, especially big ones--I'm in trouble!

The other crazy thing is that I feel like this is all a joke and that I'm never going to really have a baby, much less feel like this child is actually MY CHILD. It's so surreal and strange! I hardly feel pregnant! (except for leaning over and turning over in bed) Heh heh. I'm sure as impatient as I am now for him to come and get all this labor business over with, as soon as he gets here I'll probably be like, "put him back! put him back!" Guess we'll have to wait and see!

Maternity Pics Preview

Alrighty then! Here are a couple of the photos my friend (Wendy) sent to me this morning for a little "sneak preview." I think they look super cool! She hooked up some cool lighting or something in Photoshop, b/c I am still in amazement that that is actually a picture of ME! I think they are cool, and I am so glad I did it now. I never even would have thought to take pics of myself like this if it weren't for Miss Wendy! She does a good job. I will post more when I get some from her.

Baby & Mom Stats 10.16.07

Well, I'll be 39 weeks complete this Thursday and I had one of my last doctor's appointments today. My midwife is out of town, so I saw a different one today. She was younger, and a tad bit of a "granola" chick (you know the ones that don't tweeze their eyebrows or wear any makeup), and really energetic and funny. She said I'm exactly the same dilation and effacement as the previous week (shocking, not!). So that is a bit lame, but at least this week I didn't have my hopes up. The baby is approximately 8 lbs and 7 ounces right now. He'll be at least another half pound bigger if I make it until next Thursday. We tried to get a good picture of his face on the ultrasound, but that, as always, is a challenge! Sorry. Looks like he is making us wait until he is born to really see what he is going to look like! Stinker! The funny thing is that I actually LOST a couple pounds this week! What the?? I think it is b/c last week I had on heavier clothing...but I'm not complaining!

A good friend of mine came over tonight and took a bunch of pictures of me. She loves photography and it was so sweet of her to spend that time and take pics so that I can remember what I looked like pregnant. The only cruddy thing was that it was late in the evening, so we didn't have any daylight to work with. But she is going to work her magic and then let me see the pictures. I will have to post a couple on here when they are all done.

My sprained foot is still bothering me, but it has improved a ton since I first injured it. Thank goodness. I can walk around (with a limp), but by the end of the day my foot is nice and sore. I'm just glad it is getting better and not worse.

So I realized today about 100 more things I need to get done in this last week before the baby comes. The list is never-ending. Ugh. It really can be quite overwhelming. I also want to squeeze in a haircut b/c I know once the baby comes it will be FOREVER until that happens again. Heh heh.

10 days until I'm DUE!

Ok, I really think I look like I'm on some serious drugs in this picture (you'll have to click on the pic to really appreciate what I'm saying), but I am the one who made Roob take them during one of the final baseball games (bad idea)...and so when I begged for a re-take I lost that argument. Heh heh. So this will have to do for now so you can see what I look like. Do you think my stomach looks big? Or just right?
Here's one from the side, but the face was even WORSE than the first pic, so I had to crop it out! Lately I get these little electric jolts really low in my stomach, like the baby's head is pounding on my cervix. I'm pretty sure that is what it is, actually. It hurts! But only for a second!
This is a picture of my changing table with the newly purchased changing table pad (very important for baby's comfort) and changing pad cover. I love the fuzzy dots on it.
Roob's newest project! He put in shelves!!! It is genius b/c really this area of the room was just wasted space. I think we will also put in a clothes hanging rod underneath the top two shelves so I can hang baby clothes there if I want to. Shelves will also be good for storage, toys, pictures, TV... you name it!
We put our baby stroller together and we needed a test subject. Who better than our little Goosie Bug? She was so funny! She totally let us push her around the house in it. I thought it was so cute, so I had to take a pic so I wouldn't forget.

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!

Yes, it is true. I was carrying too much stuff out of the car last night and I dropped something. I went to pick it up off the driveway and my laptop bag threw me off balance and I went flying. Somehow managed to sprain my foot in the process! OUCH. So I'm laying out on the driveway when Roob comes out the back door b/c he heard me yelling. I am sure I scared him half to death! We iced down my foot and I went to bed. This morning when I got up, I could not put ANY weight on it at all. It was terrible! I had to crawl around in the house and scoot myself down the stairs on my bum! So pathetic! Went to doctor to get it checked out. She couldn't xray my foot b/c I am pregnant, so she felt it and did what docs do, and she felt pretty confident that I just hyper extended all the tendons on top of my left foot. So she had me try on a plastic "sock boot" which enabled me to put some weight on my foot, so I could at least WALK on it somewhat--even if it were very slowly. I was just thrilled that I didn't need crutches! Can you imagine a big pregnant woman on crutches? Not funny! Anyways, the sock boot pretty much reminds me of a snowboarding or skiing boot. It's huge, but it is my new friend! Without it, I can barely walk at all! I guess the pain could remain for a few weeks, depending on my body. So right now I'm wearing a pressure wrap on it to help keep the swelling down...yet the top half of my foot and my toes look like sausages. Ugh.

Baby Stats 10.08.07

Sigh. Well, I tried not to get my hopes up...but I did anyways. Found out this evening that I haven't progressed at all since last week. The only major change was that I gained another 4 pounds in one week! WHAT? That is not the kind of news I wanted to hear. Plus, she measured the baby's head on the ultrasound and it is measuring BIG, as usual. His tummy and legs are measuring normal, but I guess we've got the Macy's Day Parade Balloon head growing in there. She was talking to me and telling me some other stuff, and I couldn't even focus on what she was saying b/c I was trying so hard not to cry. She walked out the room and down came the tears. My next appointment will be with a different midwife b/c mine will be out of town for that medical conference. The earliest the hospital will allow me to be induced is at 39 weeks (Oct 18th), but even then I have to be so far progressed with my cervix and stuff. My midwife comes back on Oct 21st...so only time will tell where I'm at and what will happen. That's only a few days before my actual due date anyways. So it's not like inducing me helps that much. I am just worried he is going to be gigantic head child or something. But I am trying to not allow myself to worry about things I have no control over b/c there is nothing I can do about it but let it happen.

Nursing Bras & Nesting

Well, I went out in a panic and bought 4 different types of nursing bras. Only one of them doesn't have underwire in it. So far, I don't really like any of them. They each are uncomfy in their own way. On most of them the underwire really digs in and rubs underneath my arms (ouch!). I think I will have to continue the search for a great one. My problem is probably that none of the bras cost more than $19, so that could be it! They are too cheap! LOL. One is from JCPenny's and the rest are from Motherhood. I guess they'll have to do until I figure out where to shop for a great one. Any ideas?

Today I stayed home from work (I finally had the chance to) and the nesting has begun. The problem is, I get so tired so quickly. So that's why I'm taking a break online so my back can rest. I am finishing up washing most of my 0-3 month clothing (the bigger sizes are just going in the drawer until I need them). I also finished up some cleaning in the baby room (like wiping out the drawers, etc.) and throwing away tags, organizing diapers, wipes, bibs, rattles, etc. etc. There is so much baby stuff everywhere! The crib is set and ready to go, the bassinet is set up next to my bed w/ clean sheets, the play pen is set up in the living room, and the carseat is in the car. Now all I need is the baby! :) Oh yeah, and to clean the rest of my entire house (overwhelming alert!). I started by washing the bathtub/shower and putting up a new curtain liner. I still need to do the dishes, put away a ton of laundry, declutter everything, find places to put "stuff," and finish packing my hospital bag so I can actually put it in the car where it needs to stay. It's sort of almost done...just need some clothes for Roob and I and a few more things. But at least I started it, right?

Freaking OUT Mode

Ok, I just got some bummer news from my midwife. She is going on a medical conference in Maui from Oct 13-21. WHAT??? That is like prime time for me to have this baby. I am so bummed out. After building this rapport with her, it is very likely that some complete stranger will deliver the baby. That is some added worry that I did NOT need to my day. On a better note, she checked my cervix for the first time today and it is 70% effaced (or thinned out), and 2 cm dilated. AWESOME. I guess the baby's head is right there and since he is headed for "bigness" (currently about 7.5 lbs and I still have 3.5 wks to go until due date), it is "likely" that I could go into labor early, or at any time. Now I am PRAYING that I will go into labor before Oct 13 so that Kathy can deliver the baby and not some crazy stranger. Like I need more hospital unfamiliarity or stress. NO ThANKS. UGH. I can't believe they are sending her to Maui for 9 days! I want to scream! So I had to vent on here since NO ONE that I know is answering their phones, so I haven't been able to talk about it to anyone yet!! And anyone who knows me, knows I need to talk about it! So we got outside after the appt and I wanted to cry my eyeballs out. And this, after waiting an average of at least 1.5 hours EACH TIME to see her at all my appointments. Unbelievable. The other cruddy thing is that even if she wanted to induce me before she left, I don't think the hospital I'm having the baby at would let her due to hospital policy of having to be at least 39 weeks to do that. ARe you kidding? Okay, big breath, everything will be ok and I am not going to die of this. Calm. Calm. Calm.