1.5 / 80 / -1 to 0

I had my last scheduled OB appointment this morning. Dr. Eaton was very happy, as the baby is "presenting well!" His head is "well applied" to my cervix and we are already 1.5cms dilated. I know that this means nothing (and we made 2 more office visits and appointments next week for a non stress test and ultrasound) but I am happy to know that he is dropping. I can feel him "bumping" me way up high under my right rib... and was worried about why he wasn't coming down. Turns out, that even as he has been head down for a while and i can feel him high, he actually has come into my cervix! I am at a -1 to 0 station, and my cervix is already thinning. We were at about 80% effacement today... So, all in all it looks good! Our Dr. was happy to note that he is making his way, and is still posterior.

Monday will be officially 40 weeks, so after that point we will have a few routine tests done to make sure things are still going ok, then assuming we have not delivered I'd like to wait until after 41 full weeks before we start talking induction. Knowing that he is dropped, and my cervix is changing has me hopeful though! I have my fingers crossed for a delivery sooner rather than later- and the kids are anxious to miss some school. So in the next day or two would be great! I am pretty "crampy" today- nothing major, but a bit of a different feeling than I have had lately. I am glad I did the exam, I am happy to stop worrying about his position... he must be really tall to be so low, and yet to be so active up this high! Come on baby, we are ready for you!

Girl Scout Shower

Last night at our Girl Scout meeting, my girls and their families surprised me with a baby shower! It was so sweet of them, and totally unexpected (I can't believe Savanna didn't breathe a word of it!! She is not know for being too good with secrets) The girls were really adorable, and I wished I had my camera. My phone doesn't take quality pictures... especially in low light with crazy moving targets!

The parents and one of my co-leaders had set up a bunch of games for the girls to play and organized some treats to eat! The activities were so fun to watch- the girls were having a blast. I love my Girl "sprouts" and have really enjoyed being their Leader- they are all very excited for the baby, and it was so sweet to see them celebrating his birth! I am blessed to have such good families in my troop, they really were too kind! I'm so glad to have them in my community, we are all really lucky to have each other! I know I am going to be busy, but I can't wait to take the baby to meetings- I am going to have so many little helpers! Being busy was the theme for one game... they had to hold a telephone receiver and a baby doll and then relay race each other hanging up baby laundry on a clothes line with old fashioned wooden clothes pins! It was hysterical to watch. They also did a matching game with baby socks, a relay race with a straw in their mouths where they passed a pacifier with no hands, an ice cube game with little baby's frozen in the ice, a feeding baby game where they were blindfolded and had to "feed" cotton balls to each other without dropping them, and a cute game looking for small diaper pins in a big bowl of rice. They also used fabric pens to decorate burp cloths which I got to take home.

I got more fun gifts, and we had some yummy snacks! I even baked chocolate chip cookies for my shower... I had no idea what we were doing for the meeting, and felt like I needed to bring something- I was so out of the loop for the planning it felt odd. But, now I know why they kept me out of it- what a surprise!

39 weeks

Well, here we are, another week down! I am getting really excited to hold this little one in my arms... and not my belly! I'm glad to have made it this far, and will not complain about the pregnancy at all... but I will say it will be nice to have my body back! We were talking about it at PT today, and I will be interested to see who much of a difference delivering makes in how I feel about my mobility and such! I have Wednesday and Friday appointments booked with them... with the knowledge that if I don't show- they will know where I'm at! Being in the 7 day countdown is exciting... as long as I don't think too long about going overdue!

We had a productive weekend finishing up last minute baby stuff. We had to de-Christmas... always a sad time for me! I love the holiday so much, and even though I didn't play a huge roll in decorations and such this year- I was sad to see it all go! Once we got the tree out, we could set up the pack-n-play in the living room, and also the big swing. I was able to clear out all of my stuff from the linen closet in the bathroom, (where it ended up while I was stuck up here) and get all the clothes I know won't fit right away packed up so my maternity stuff could go back in the dresser. Once I had the closet cleaned I could bring up the diaper stuff for up here, and get his little area established! It feels good to have the house clean and his things ready!

My bag is packed, and so is his. The car seat is ready to get installed in the car (waiting for the last second, as we already have fights over who sits where in the car!) we have typed up our "birth preferences" and now we are just waiting... We have plenty of toilet paper, the oil tank is full, the freezer is stocked, my laundry caught up... I do need to place a grain delivery order for Friday but other than that we should be good to go! A few weeks back Bill requested that I not let the car get down past 1/2 a tank of gas and I have been good about keeping it pretty full, so we should be set to run if we need to! The weather looks clear, no major storms on the horizon (a concern of mine.... laboring and stuck in a snow storm!) Auntie Anna should be ready to come at the drop of a hat, and we are blessed to have her on-call for the kids and animals!

Maybe it's TMI, but I lost my mucus plug Friday evening (grossing both Bill and my Mom out considerably! What, doesn't everyone take a picture and e-mail their Mom at the OB unit for consultation?! Just be glad I didn't post the pic here!) so I'm hopeful that things may start to happen sooner than later! We have out last scheduled OB appointment Wednesday, and I may opt for the cervical exam to see if she can tell his position, I still don't feel like he has "dropped" and that bothers me. Is there a reason he isn't coming down? Is he going to be still a few weeks away? It he going to be a drop and come sort of guy not giving me much notice?! I am tired and maybe somewhat "crampy" but nothing that makes me think delivery is eminent! I know it's on the horizon... I'd just love to know when he is going to make his big debut! Please don't let him be 2 weeks late!

Outdoor Odds and Ends

Yesterday I was home alone all day. Bill was shipping a horse from Ny, the kids were at school and I was just hanging out. It was beautiful and sunny, the temps hit 30 degrees and even though I knew it wasn't maybe the safest or best of ideas, I snuck out to the barn! I walked the long way around- on the plowed drive and kept my cell in my pocket the whole time! Poke was the only one who seemed really glad to see me. They were all pretty happy to have a lunchtime flake, but he left his hay pile and strode right up to say hello the moment I went in the gate. I love my old man!

I'm sure Beau is a little miffed- we were spending quite a bit of time together there for a while, and then 'poof' I disappeared! I tried to explain it to him, but gave up as he clearly just wanted me to move over and let him lunch! I took off his blanket and did a quick groom, I wanted to get my hands on him. His weight looks great, and the left hind seems tight and there is no tenderness that I could find. He is terribly scurfy- needs a REAL good grooming, but mostly just wanted lunch- thank you very much! I miss my boy- we will have to get started with some ground work etc. once the baby is born and I get a little steadier on my feet! Walking on the uneven snow and packed trails was pretty tough, and I ended up just sort of standing by and watching them munch their hay.

Squeeke also had her blanket on, and was more interested in hay than me. Silly little girl! The two of them both had halters left on, not something I typically do, but I guess it does make it easier for the girls who have been a huge help with horse care. In fact, Olivia does evening feed solo just about every night now, she is really getting to be down right useful! I was a bit shocked at the barn- hay chafe and twine everywhere... a huge pile of empty grain bags... blankets on the floor... and "gasp" stall cleaning is certainly not up to my standards... but I really shouldn't complain. They are doing a good job- everyone was happy and had plenty of weight on them. I was glad to make the trek, even though I knew it was maybe not the safest thing for me to be doing. I spent about 1/2 an hour saying hello and such, then figured I'd better call it good! I just wanted to touch base and pat noses, check weight and coats and have some fresh air. Like all of you I'm sure, my animals are so therapeutic! I knew I needed a horse fix, and snuck in the chance to say "hi" to them. Hopefully I can sneak back out there soon- I sure do miss my horses!

On the way back to the house, I found this cute little scene- not sure if you can see it well- you may have to click to enlarge it... but there was this most adorable little set of critter tracks in the snow, that ended up heading down a little hole...right into the "gas tank" of the little Fred Flinstone car that got left out in the snow! I was tickled at the idea of some little mouse or mole or whatnot seeking refuge in the kids play toy! Cute- but don't let the cats know!

Crisis Averted

Ok, maybe that's a tad bit of an over reaction, but I sure ended up having a long day today! I had a follow up with the orthopedic surgeon this morning... no big deal right?! Well, he was pretty unhappy with the amount of swelling I have in the leg and expressed some concern that one thing that might be causing the issues could be a blood clot. Great. My Mom was quite worried about blood clots when I was stuck in my chair so long, but nobody else seemed to be concerned about it then; and now, when I'm up and around they start to worry?! It didn't make much sense to me, but clearly if he was concerned... maybe I should be too?

The cardiac lab, where I would need to go for an ultrasound to check the veins in my leg did not have an opening until 4:30 this afternoon! The Dr. didn't want me to wait another day (seriously, after this long, what one more day Doc?!) so I had to take that appointment. It was 11:30am. Humm. It really didn't seem logical to drive the 45mins home for a few hours then drive all the way back later in the day. So, I opted to mill about my old haunt and kill the time! I had a nice slice of pizza for lunch, then hit the outlet stores! I struck out at the Children's Place... despite the signs saying they were having "monster" sales. I did find a few cute, and very discounted items at Old Navy before my Mom called to say she was home. I popped over there to hang with her and my Mom-Mom for a bit. I did a bit of online shopping, finishing out my cloth diaper stash then finally it was time to head back to the hospital. Mom had to work tonight, so we had a quick coffee in the cafeteria- then off for testing.

They didn't find anything, as I thought... but it feels good to know for sure that I am not in any danger that way! I asked the tech to maybe accidentally swipe the ultrasound wand over my belly for a quick shot of the little one, but she just laughed! I begged her to check him and give me a weight estimate, but she wasn't game! Can you blame a girl for trying?! It was after 5 by the time I got out of there... so much for a double lasagna bake off tonight. Oh well. I cruised home and when I got here, I was surprised to find not 1, but 2 packages! We got a sweet gift from the kiddo's Aunt Keri and her family, and Bill's Mom also sent a hat she just finished knitting! It is a super cute little strawberry cap, I can't wait to try it on him! Plus, yesterday one of my favorite of the teachers from Billy's school sent home a lovely gift for me too! A few board books and a Pooh outfit- how nice of her! So, with the new clothes I had bought, a few things my Mom had picked up, and THREE new presents to put away, I had fun unwinding in the "nursery!"

When I got home, I also had a voicemail that insurance approved 12 more PT visits, which is great since I know they can sometimes be sticky about how much they will cover and it really does help! After discussion with the Dr. today I will also need to go back for another set of x-rays on the ankle, but we agreed to wait until after the baby is born... tomorrow will be a day of catch up around here- as I was gone ALL day today... and we have Christmas with my Mom-Mom! Yipee. More presents!

38 weeks

I played with the timer function on my new camera today... here I am 38 weeks pregnant! I certainly feel pregnant now! I am slowing down in terms of what I can hope to accomplish in a day. My goal is to have a goal each day and try to accomplish one significant thing each day. Today's goal was food. I shuffled my way thru the grocery store to stock the pantry and freezer... one of my main goals for the week is to make dinners that can be doubled and frozen. I did a double batch of meatballs one night last week, and made a second set of twice baked potatoes too- so I have a start. One of my main objectives is to get a little stash of dinners made so once the baby arrives I won't have to worry about cooking too much (and we won't have to eat take out too often!) With my ankle being still iffy, I have been stretching the time between trips, so today was a pretty major grocery run- one of the largest I can remember... thankfully I timed it well so Bill was home for lunch and could carry all the bags in for me! Yipee. I did have to sort and put it all away, so it made it quite a chore! But now my pantry and freezer are full, and I have a ton of stuff to cook with this week! I also stashed some extra school snack items away too, in case I need to pull them out later to stretch a grocery shopping trip after the baby is born. Tonight I'm doing chicken pot-pie; YUM!! I'm glad it's winter, as casseroles and such do so well in the freezer!


My main goals for tomorrow are prep for my Girl Scout meeting and my Drs. appointment. I have my weekly OB appointment in the afternoon and our troop meeting after dinner. At the Drs. I hope for the results of my group b strep- which they took last week. I have a few questions/concerns to chat about, and I think I will once again decline a cervical exam. I had sort of thought about having her check this week- but on Mom's suggestion I'll skip... no need for cramping and discomfort when it really means nothing... but there is part of me that is curious to see if we have any changes "down there!" I am pretty uncomfortable these days, I can't really find many positions where I am happy for long. The heartburn is killer, my ankle is so-so and makes moving around pretty difficult, my feet themselves hurt and I have pretty much lost the ability to sleep! I was up at 4 today, after going to bed at 11:30 and tossing for quite a while. I had to get up to pee at 3 something... sigh. Don't get me wrong... I wouldn't trade this experience for anything... but I'm guessing that at this point most women must be feel pretty uncomfortable... I know I can manage a few weeks more. But, I sure hope we don't go 2 weeks late...

Baby Shower Thank You Cards?

I have been having a heck of a time trying to come up with a Baby Shower Thank You card... I am hopeful that with the ankle, and the holidays that people will understand... but I MUST get these cards done and out to all the amazing people who gave us gifts at the shower! This is today's attempt. I like this one the best so far, I don't even like any of the others enough to put them out here!

I really wanted to come up with something that kept within the "forest friends" theme, but really found myself challenged to come up with something that looked baby enough... I guess I've lost my mojo~ cards have been hard lately. I just can't seem to create right now-

The template came from Lauren Meader's blog- I can't get it to link here. Sorry! The cute little skunk is from a SU! set Pun Fun, and the sentiment is from short and sweet. I colored him in bashful blue, barely banana and certainly celery. A few soft subtle eyelets, some scalloped circle accents, and done! My Mom did one last night, and is going to post it on her blog, I'll choose one and make it a real priority to get them done this weekend! If you want to see hers: http://bethscards.blogspot.com/