Forty Days

The countdown continues and the improvements to the house continue, as well! M spent the entire weekend putting up the entertainment center we got during the I.kea death march and I think it looks great! Now, we get to mess everything up again by moving all of the stuff out of the baby's room and tearing up the carpet, etc... I feel so helpless since I can't really lend a hand, so I am trying to do things like cook, clean and do laundry so that M can concentrate on the house projects.

I had my 34 week appointment yesterday and everything is fine. Dr. T took a strep B swab "in case you go into labor." Aaaaagh! That freaked me out! I wanted to yell, "No, not yet! We have too much to do!" Does anyone ever really feel ready? I mean, we have been emotionally ready for a long time, but the physical aspects are different.

I calm myself down by saying that it doesn't matter. We have the P.ack-n-Play and two car seats, so if he does make an early appearance, we have a place for him to sleep and a way to get him home. Also, I don't think he has turned, yet. I still feel kicks in the same spots as always. They are going to do a quick ultrasound to check on him at 36 weeks. "I really want to see him head down at 36 weeks," is what Dr. T said. She has no idea how stubborn my husband's family is. This could be trouble. We go to see the pediatrician today. I know you are supposed to interview more than one, but this Doctor is also my friend MP's Doctor and we see eye to eye on so many things. I think we'll be ok.

There must be something special about 40 Days. Jesus spent 40 days in the desert and 40 days after Easter, Christians celebrate Pentecost. In the Muslim faith, they observe 40 days of mourning after someone passes away. In Kundalini yoga, it is said that after practicing a certain meditation exercise for 40 days you will be transformed. I looked over at my ticker today and see that I have 40 days until my due date. Of course, I admit that after hearing that I now weigh more than my husband, I hope that it will be less than 40 days. Still, it humbles me to think that in 40 days or less my life will change forever.

This and That

The shower was wonderful! I spent the entire day nearly in tears over the fact that a) we got to have a shower and b) the generosity of our friends. My three friends who threw me the shower really went all out and I am so grateful to them for all of their hard work. There was a ton of food and we opened gifts when the Packer's game came on so that people could choose. Surprisingly, a lot of people watched the gift opening. That was always the part that was hardest for me. We got a lot of great stuff and really only have a few more things to get before we're all set. It was a wonderful, wonderful day.

The painters finished and the house looks really great. We went on an IKEA death march last night to get a new entertainment center and some storage cabinets. When we finally got our stuff it was already 9pm and by the time we managed to barely squeeze everything we got into our vehicle it was already 9:30. Once we get that put together, we can move the stuff out of the baby's room and rip up the carpet, etc... M is going on a ski trip in late January/early February and when he gets back I will be 36 weeks, so we're working against the clock. The countdown will begin! Luckily, this weekend is a holiday weekend, so we will have some extra time to work on everything.

I am once again afraid to see what the scale will say at my next Dr.'s appointment. I haven't been pigging out every night, but I haven't been as strict with my diet, either. I can really feel the slowdown beginning as I enter my 8th month. I feel like gravity is winning the battle, but doesn't it always?

A Call to Arms

Many of you have already seen this, probably, but if you haven't, please go here and put in your opinion. In brief, Tyra Banks is planning on doing a show at some point on women who are "obsessed with becoming a mom". I wrote in and asked her if she would do a show on women who are "Obsessed with beating cancer". Please go and make you voice heard. This kind of ignorance is why it is so hard to get insurance companies and our own government to recognize infertility as a legitimate medical condition.

Procrastination Station

Well, there's nothing like waiting until you're 8 months pregnant to start fixing up your house, right? My husband met with some painters and we found out last week that they could come in and do the work this week. We said yes, of course, and they have been doing sheet rock repair and painting all week. We have been staying at our friend's house since all of our stuff was packed away and moved over the bedrooms and the paint fumes aren't my idea of a great potpourri. After that is done, it's off to I.KEA for new shelving and we call another company to put new carpet in the baby's room. Whew! Are you tired, yet? I am! I'm just glad it's getting done. I was starting to prepare myself for the possibility that the room would not be ready in time for the baby.

Our baby shower is this Saturday and we are really looking forward to it. Three good friends are throwing it for us and I appreciate so much what they are doing. It really means a lot. As I said before, it's going to be more like a regular party with lots of food, beer, wine and just hanging out and catching up with people. No games will be played and if people would rather not watch me open gifts, that is just fine with me.

We had our 32 week appointment today with an ultrasound - yay! The baby looks great and everything looked healthy and normal. He was measuring at 33 weeks and 1 day and weighs 4 lbs, 9 oz. They adjusted my due date slightly to Feb. 25th, possibly, because of his size. He's almost 5 lbs! He's going to be a big boy, I guess. He is still breech, which didn't worry Dr. T since 50% of babies are breech at this stage. He also had his foot in front of his face so we were poking at him so that he would move it and she technician was able to get a picture of most of his face. It looks like he is going to take after my husband! Anyway, here he is:

You can see his little toes in front of his left eye and his hand up above. He's running out of room! It was great seeing him and now I really can't wait to see him in person.

Cibele had a great scan this week - go over and congratulate her!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone! The holidays were good until I went to the doctor on the 27th and was told that I gained seven pounds......in two weeks!! A little too much food, maybe?? Geez. Other than that, it was very uneventful, but nice. My mother rescued a kitten a few weeks ago and she turned out to be a very cute little white calico. We kept going back and forth on names, but then the neighbor's son suggested "Puffalina". We thought it was so great that she is now officially Puffalina, or Puff, for short. Here she is:
Isn't she cute? She really made Christmas a lot of fun. I have one more week until my 32 weeks ultrasound and I cannot wait! The last time we saw the baby was at 17 weeks, so this will be quite a change. Hopefully, they will sneak in a few 3D pictures, as well. I just want to make sure that he's ok in there and that we're still on track to have a healthy baby boy. Sometimes, if I let myself think about it, it seems like all of this is happening to someone else. I feel so blessed. I wish all of those blessings and more for everyone in 2008.