38 weeks

Really?!?!  38 weeks already?!?!  When did that happen?  It has been such an easy, wonderful pregnancy!  I am truly blessed and lucky!!  I did have quite the cold for about 10 days but if that's the worst I've felt over the past 9 months I really can't complain. 

Lucky is doing great.  I had a ultrasound and biophysical profile (bpp) done on February 3 and he/she passed the test with flying colors!  Basically the baby needs to do 30 seconds of breathing and a number of movements/stretches within 30 minutes...well our genius baby had them all accomplished within 15 minutes!  Then they did a weight/growth check and estimated Lucky to be 6 lbs 2 oz. - which was a little alarming to Walleye and myself as we were only 34w 2d! 

Then the next two weeks they did a non-stress test (nst)on Lucky...and wouldn't you know he/she totally takes after his/her father and made it hard for the poor nurses to get a good read.  Lucky didn't want anyone up in his/her business and would move every time the heartbeat monitor would pick up the heartbeat.  Walleye is such a private person and it seems as though Lucky is following in his footsteps.  The second nst I felt so bad for the nurse because it took three nurses and the OB an hour to finally get the monitor at the right spot...

Monday we had another u/s and bpp with weight/growth scan.  And once again our genius baby passed the test with flying colors in about 15 minutes!  The weight/growth scan estimates the baby at 7 lbs 4 oz.  I was more than a little relieved.  I thought for sure Lucky was going to be over 8 lbs with two more weeks to go!  Granted these weights can be off (plus or minus) by 1 to 1.5 lbs so we could still have a 9+ pounder!  Either way if this baby is huge I am blaming it all on Walleye as he was the one who the entire pregnancy kept saying he was hoping for a 10 pounder.  He says he was only joking but I am not completely convinced.

I also had my first cervical check on Monday.  Why or why didn't anyone tell me how painful those were!  It was seriously sooo much worse than a typical pap smear.  It was horrible.  Unfortunately it was all for not....not dilated and no effacement.  :( 
The OB did talk to us about the real possibility that Lucky very well might come late.  For some reason that was really hard on me.  I don't know why because I am feeling good and still enjoying being pregnant but I for some reason really had my hopes up that we would have this baby sooner rather than later...  In the end I don't really care when it is so long as baby is healthy and I just need to keep telling myself that! 

Nursery! (with pics!)

We are officially 32 weeks 1 day!  I continue to be extremely lucky in having a relatively easy pregnancy without much for problems/symptoms.  So hard to believe that in 8 weeks (give or take) we'll have a little one to sleep in the room below....

With Walleye being an avid fisherman and hunter I fell in love with these darling deer the minute I saw them!  Even before we were expecting I knew I wanted this as our nursery theme.  (And yes, it did cross my mind that maybe Walleye would see how cute they are and not want to shoot deer any more...but no such luck! He thinks he needs to get a huge buck to hang as decoration in the deer themed nursery...eek!)

Walleye and my FIL painted the room one week end when I was chillaxin' with a "deer" girlfriend in the cities.  They did three walls green and one wall brown.  We added faux wood blinds and just the valance to dress up the window.

The crib - not sure I like the cherry with the brown but I really wanted cherry furniture and this set so am just going to deal with it!  The crib will convert to a toddler bed and then to a full size bed!  So it will grow with Lucky!  My parents bought the crib for us!

We had two of these glider chairs and ottomans in our living room - gave one to my parents and kept the other for the nursery.  They are surprisingly comfortable.  That blanket is the softest, fuzzy blanket!  And too dang cute!

This will be the changing table/dresser.  I didn't want just a changing table as what would we do with it after Lucky is out of that stage and this dresser matches the crib!  (We'll put a changing pad on the lower portion but haven't gotten it yet - registered for it so hoping we get it at one of our showers.)  My in laws bought the dresser for us and will be something Lucky can use all growing up!  Here you can see the brown wall!

The set up - not sure about the placement of the chair but for now it works.  (Yes, I know we can't have the pillow or blanket in the crib with Lucky but for now it's just too dang cute to not display!)

Walleye worked really hard on the nursery and was so cute about making sure it was done by Thanksgiving so my family could see it when they were up.  He's rearranged the furniture in there a few times.  It's just too cute! 

Lucky is moving a ton! And I am enjoying every single kick, punch, squirm, somersault, etc.  Walleye is feeling it more and more - even the "lighter" ones.  And the other day when my stomach was moving I set my cell phone on it and he just watched in awe as it moved up and down with it. 

So I have two cats,  Jersey & Jaxon, well they have decided that the body pillow I sleep with is not really mine but rather theirs and this weekend Jersey was curled up sleeping on it next to my stomach and Lucky gave a pretty hard kick and Jersey must have felt it as her head snapped up, she looked at me with this attitude like "what was that for and why on earth are you disturbing my nap" and then got up moved a few inches away from and curled up with her back to me!  I couldn't help but laugh!!!

This & That

Real creative, catchy title huh!  All my creativity has been sucked dry...which is not a good thing when there is a long list of fliers, posters, brochures, etc to create at work!

It is a 3-day weekend for both Walleye and I!  We were going to take the weekend to go ice fishing with his permanent fish house but the closest lake he feels is safe enough for the truck and fish house is 4 hours away and the thought of being in the middle of a frozen lake, 4 hours away doesn't exactly excite me.  We might try to go out locally but we will see.  I am hoping as I think this may be my only weekend this ice fishing season to go!

I was rather enjoying the warm winter we were having and hate that it is now so cold that my nose hurts just walking outside.  And I think I am just days away from popping the buttons off the only winter coat I own that still fits!  EEK!  Maybe some shopping is in order for this weekend.

My MIL had surgery on Tuesday - on the same sore as last August.  The surgeon said he ended up taking out of 3 times as much sore under the skin as was showing on top of the skin.  They also found she was being prescribed 5, yes FIVE, times the amount of steroids she should have been taking. Hoping the surgery and adjustment to meds will help heal this sore.

My sister and my dear cousin/like a sister/best friend are throwing me a baby shower in two weeks!  And two of my besties are throwing me one the weekend after that!  We are truly blessed!  I ordered my hostess thank you gifts yesterday and am so excited about them!  I got each of the hostesses monogrammed umbrellas from 31 Gifts.

We have FINALLY decided on a daycare.  We sign the contract on Tuesday - I am so ready for this search to be done.  It's not at the center I was hoping for but it is a home daycare where she'll only have one infant at a time and only 4 other kids at a time so that makes me feel a little better.  She has a degree in elementary education, which I really like!  And she's less than 5 minutes from my work!

Lucky has been more and more active lately - well except for today - it took me until 9 am to feel 10 kicks and the last few days I've had them within 30 minutes but I did get up at a different time so maybe that's why or maybe Lucky was just tired.  It's been fun seeing my belly move more and more and that Walleye can now see it and has no trouble feeling kicks. 

We are meeting with Father next week to discuss baptism!  I am looking forward to it.  I think we have to meet with him twice - so for the second meeting I think we'll invite him over for supper some night.

Not much else new and I should probably try to get a few things done in the last two hours before the weekend begins!

3/4 done!

This past Wednesday marked 30 weeks!  We are 3/4 done!  I can't hardly believe it!

Today I had my 3 hour glucose test and I passed with flying colors.  I honestly wasn't too worried - not near as worried as my husband was.  The drink wasn't so bad and even the three hours spent there went by quickly (even without the use of my iPad - which I found out after I got there that the touch screen isn't working and I had only a few chapters of "Heaven is for real" left!).

I think the worst part of the whole deal was not being able to eat anything for 15 hours!  (12 hour fast plus 3 hour test).  No, the worst thing was 2 hours into my fast last night Walleye decided it was the perfect time to finish up the last bit of ice cream we had left in the house - complete with hot fudge on it.  Seriously?!?!  Right in front of me!!! 

I had an OB appointment between hour 2 and 3.  It went fine.  I am measuring right on target.  I mentioned the pain I get in my groin/leg and he thinks it's just round ligament paint but I really think it's SPD - he said we will continue to monitor it.  I go again at 32 and 34 weeks. 

Starting at 35 weeks we will being weekly appointments including a weekly non-stress test.  Every two weeks I will have an ultrasound.  He said given my age (even though I am a few years away from 40) combined with my PCOS/medical history and the fact that I was a bit over weight at conception he wants to monitor a little more closely towards the end.  He reinforced numerous times that he really has no specific concerns and everything is fine but that he'd rather err on the side of caution.  I am surprisingly not worried or anxious over this.  I feel rather calm about the whole thing. 

I know and appreciate how blessed I am and thank God every day for this miracle (and the relatively easy pregnancy).

I have been sending up lots of prayers lately for my brother, Duckie, and my MIL. 

Duckie is about half way through his three times a week shots to continue to fight off the cancer but for the past few months has been experiencing horrible back pain.  He has a slipped disc and they are trying 6 weeks of PT and if that doesn't work will have to do surgery.  Apparently the PT is rather painful, which the physical therapist said is not common.  (I sure hope that doesn't mean there is more to it than just a slipped disc).  He is at a point where he mentally and financially can not afford surgery.  One of the side effects of the shots is depression and I can see he is having a hard time battling it - which I think is also made worse by the back problems. 

My MIL is having surgery on Tuesday because the sore they operated on back in August still hasn't healed and isn't getting any better.  We take solace in the fact that it wasn't an emergency surgery but with her medical condition surgery is never easy and carries more risk factors and a harder recovery than for most people. 

Because I don't want to end the post on a negative note...I met with HR yesterday and I have enough PTO saved up to take the full 12 weeks off with FULL pay!  I am thrilled!  Now if only we could find a daycare we liked....

Bad, bad (and undeserving) blogger

Has it really been a month since my last post?  It can't be!  I read blogs every day so how could I not have posted at least once or twice in there?  I'd like to blame it on it being a busy time of year or that work has been overly busy, which both is true but not so true as I didn't have any spare time to blog!

I am also an undeserving blogger as I notice Morgan has awarded me an award - so very sweet and nice of her but since it's taken me almost a month to acknowledge it and all the bloggers I would award it to have already received it (once, twice or more) I am going graciously say Thank You and unfortunately not follow through on it.  (How was that for a super long, rambling sentence!).  Thank You Morgan!!!  You are too sweet and I appreciate both your reading and your giving me an award. 

We are now 29 weeks 2 days and things are still going really well.  I am truly blessed and lucky!  I really only have three main complaints/side effects:
1. carpal tunnel in my left hand has roared it's ugly head - and bad!  Last week I could barely write it was so bad.  I just wish in April when I had my right hand done my left would have been bad enough to warrant insurance covering it. 
2. I think I might have SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction) and will ask my Dr next Friday at my appointment (going every two weeks now - craziness!).  But basically after sitting at my desk or table for long periods of time when I get up I get an agonizing shooting pain in my groin - almost like I pulled a muscle.  It gets better with walking but it can be paralyzing at times. 
3. I failed my 1 hour glucose test last Friday and have to do my 3 hour next Friday.  Praying and hoping I pass that dang test. 

The nursery is about done - Walleye is putting up curtains as I type (or at least I think that's what he's doing with his last day of vacation) so I can FINALLY take a picture to post.  I am in love with the nursery!  And my dear sista has taken the nursery theme and pulled it into the theme of my baby shower!  The invites are the cutest things I have ever seen.  My Mom saw them and jumped at the chance to make coordinating Thank You cards for it! 

I am feeling Lucky move more and more and have noticed a pattern - or somewhat of a pattern.  He/she is most active around 8 pm and 4 am.  I am sure during the day he/she is active but work keeps be busy and I don't make as much of a mental note as to what time and for how long.  Walleye finally got to fee Lucky move - I had been waiting and waiting for that!

Work has been rather crazy - even though students and faculty are gone I have had more than enough to keep me busy...not that I have been all that productive this week.  It's hard when a. there's no one around and b. Walleye is home all week (his company shuts down the week between Christmas and New Years). 

We still haven't found a day care - we thought we had and even had a verbal agreement with her but it fell through and I was devastated and haven't been able to find one I've liked even half as much since.  We need to make a decision soon though!

No where closer to a name for this baby...girl names I think we are fine on but man-oh-man are we having a time with boy names.  I just know because of that we are going to have a boy and that poor child will probably be weeks old before he's named! 

Well I should try to finish up a few things here at work before squeaking out early for the weekend.  What a random post huh! 

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year!

Names, names, names

We are 25 weeks today!  As of Friday Lucky weighed 1 lb 10 oz – which is so strange to me.  That seems enormous but my OB said it’s within average (which the baby websites I read said 1 ½ lbs is average for 25 weeks so we aren’t too much above average). 

So 25 weeks means we only have 15 left – eek!  105 days!  (Obviously depending upon when Lucky decides to make his/her entrance!!!)  As excited as I am about that I am also a little freaked out by it.  I don’t feel we are really ready.  We have the nursery done, for the most part, and a pack of diapers and wipes, a few burp clothes, a blanket or two but that’s about it.  Granted I did ask for baby stuff for Christmas and we have two showers coming up but it’s still a little unnerving. 

The other thing that is freaking me out a bit is our lack a name for this little blessing.  I think we have two for a girl that we both agree on.  One is first name Greta with my Dad’s first name as her middle name and the other is a combination of the first names of my Dad and Walleye’s Mom for the first name and the middle name being my middle name (which also happens to be my Mom’s middle name).  Obviously my Dad’s first name is both male and female.   We have a few others that we somewhat agree on but we (well I) keep going back to those two.  Being a Daddy’s girl I am pretty set on his name being somewhere in the name.

We are having the hardest time with a boy name.  Walleye is pretty stuck on using his first name as the baby boy’s middle name but I am pretty stuck on using my Dad’s name for the middle name.  My reasoning is the baby will already get Walleye’s last name.  Especially if it’s a boy – he’ll have Walleye’s last name forever, unlike a girl who would most likely change it if she got married.  Neither of us like my Dad’s first name well enough to use it for a first name – it’s a little feminine.  I do however like my Dad’s middle name for a first name with Walleye’s first name as the middle name. 

That combination has extra special meaning to me because my Dad’s middle name is his Godfather’s first name (my Great Uncle, whom we were really close to).  But my Great Uncle didn’t like his first name so he switched his middle name to his first name and put his original first name as the middle name.  It just so happens that the first name my great uncle went by is also the same as Walleye’s first name.  So really the baby would go by my great uncle’s birth name but still have Walleye’s name as the middle name and a tie to my Dad’s name.  Confused yet?  Let’s try it this way…hypothetically speaking:

     My Dad’s middle name is Edwin

     My Great Uncle’s birth name is Edwin Jeremy but he didn’t like that so went by Jeremy Edwin

     Walleye’s first name is Jeremy

     Proposed name for Lucky would be Edwin Jeremy but we could call him EJ   

     But Walleye isn’t too keen on Edwin, which is why I say we could call him EJ

We had originally talked about Adam for a boy – way before we had told anyone we were expecting and we both really liked it but then once we told my MIL we were expecting she started referring to Lucky as “Adam or Eve” and ever since that very first time she said “How’s little Adam or Eve doing?” I can’t stomach the name.  I’ve thought about asking her to stop referring to Lucky/the baby as Adam or Eve but it’s too late – I will always associate Adam with her calling the baby that.

We’ve both thrown out names that the other has said they don’t mind but to be honest sometimes I say I don’t mind because I don’t want to constantly be turning down Walleye’s ideas and I think he might be doing the same.  I just feel bad because I really haven’t liked any of the names he’s thrown out.   Maybe I am too set on the above scenario to really give any other names a chance.  Or maybe it’s just Walleye’s names are just to blah.  Not that I want an off the wall, crazy name. 

Who knew this would be this hard!  And knowing my luck we will have decided on a name and the baby will arrive and we’ll take one look at him or her and decide that is NOT the right name and poor Lucky will go two weeks without a name like my sister did when she was born.  My Grandpa even started a bank account for her with “Baby” as the first name and our last name as the last name. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, I know Thanksgiving isn't for a couple of days but this will be my last chance to post until next week.  (Meaning I am off until Monday and I typically only have time to post from work...mainly when I am feeling rather uninspired to get any real work done and so typing a post both sounds and looks like I am busy!)

I have so many things to be thankful for this year... (no particular order)
1. Lucky (and that this pregnancy has been so easy)
2. My wonderful, wonderful Walleye
3. The general good health of my family - granted not everyone is 100% healthy but things have been looking better the farther into 2011 we go - Duckie's treatments seem to be working and without too many adverse side effects, my Mom's health hasn't declined too drastically and my MIL seems to be not getting much worse even though not getting any better.
4. My family and friends - they are all so loving and supportive
5. That both Walleye and I have decent and stable jobs that allows us a comfortable life
6. My two furry babies - one who loves to cuddle under the covers with me on lazy Saturday mornings and one who loves to "talk" my ears off whenever given the chance
7. That my cousin, who has been deployed to Kuwait since May is able to spend two weeks with his family- including his eldest daughter's birthday and Thanksgiving.
8. That Walleye and my FIL finished painting the nursery, the crib is up and the dresser almost done - all in time for my family to see it - as they most likely won't be up after Thanksgiving until Lucky arrives!
9. We get to "see" Lucky on Friday!
10. The never ending love of our Lord

And the list could go on and on....

Happy Thanksgiving!