October 2006 Mommies: 3rd Trimester

[jeant]

MichelleRenee About birthing classes -- it is really hard to find one that covers everything. Most hospital birthing classes cover relaxation techniques, but not very in-depth. For that you would want Bradley classes. I did a lot of research and they are the best classes for teaching effective relaxation techniques. They emphasize natural childbirth -- but I figure I will take the classes, use the techniques, and if I still get an epidural, so be it. Just because the classes push natural childbirth doesn't mean I won't do what I want when the time comes!

I think the techniques will be super-useful even for a non-natural birth, since you can't get the epidural until later and it often works best to labor at home as long as possible. If you go to the hospital too early, your labor can freeze up because most women don't like hospitals (I sure don't, and you might be even more likely to have this reaction with your history of panic attacks). If you go later, your labor is often far along enough that it will just keep going even if you get nervous.

Plus my hospital puts in the IV as soon as you get there & only lets you drink clear liquids. I have no idea how long I'll make it at home, but those two things sound so uncomfortable I am going to try to make it at home as long as I can!

[Ericka_Jarett]

jeant - I've heard that regular detergents can be sometimes be to harsh on a new baby's skin. If you use regular detergent, make sure to get dye and fragrance free though. Chemicals and such can irritate the baby's skin

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/basics/laundry.html

[Mommy2ml]

jeant- Maybe nothing would happen, but more than likely they could get some prtty bad rashes and irritations from the regular, harsher detergents. Also, Regular detergents don't have the softeness of Dreft and similar, at least not without adding fabric softeners which can poorly afect the flame retardency that is built into most infant clothing, leaving baby at increased risk if s/he should be in the vicinity of a fire. It also smells nicer (IMHO) and has a good track record for me anyway with removing poop and formula stains.. regular detergent cna be good on grease and grime, most babies don't ever get exposed to grease or grime, but poop happens and most "adult" detergents don't handle it as well as the baby detergents seems to fo rthe most part. :) Also formula stains (if you plan to or wind up using any, can be particularly nasty and can easily discolor any clothes it comes in contact with. dreft really takes a good chunk out of the number of stains and severity of the stains that get left behind from what I recall...

also keep in mind that all clothes should be prewashed befor ethey touch baby. Almost all new clothes have excess dyes and chemicals on them that need to be removed before they touch any skin, nevermind a newborn's. I started pre-washing most of my own clothes when I read about that :P

[Mommy2ml]

question for ROs - How did you or are you getting your older one(s) prepared for a new baby coming?

[Ericka_Jarett]

I also wash our own new clothes before we ever wear them, for the same reason I have washed the baby clothes already. Get the excess dye off and with adult clothes they could have been tried on so don't want someones odors or whatever on me.

[MichelleRenee]

jeant, thanks for the input. I really don't know how I will react to the birthing center. It is at the hospital, but set up to not look or feel like a hospital. The rooms are wallpapered in warm colors with wood furniture and just have a homey feel to them. (Virtual Tour (http://www.medinahospital.org/ContentStore/FBCVirtualTour4-Taken7-00.MPG)) The rooms are LDRP's. I just don't know if I will feel tense/anxious when I get there, or calm and excited about the baby coming.


I read a little about the Bradley Method and it just seemed so intense. I have definitely found a lot of options in my area, which is nice, but a lot of them are very pricey.

From babycenter.com


The program lasts 12 weeks, and is more intensive than other childbirth education classes. The Bradley philosophy says that it takes months to prepare for childbirth and parenting — mentally, physically, and emotionally — and prides itself on addressing all aspects of natural childbirth, as well as many pregnancy and postpartum issues.

It just sounds like a program for someone who is 100% committed to that method and I'm just not sure if I am.

Also from babycenter.com


According to Lamaze International, the goal of Lamaze classes is to "increase women's confidence in their ability to give birth." Toward that end, women learn various simple coping strategies, of which breathing is only one. The classes aim to help women "learn how to respond to pain in ways that both facilitate labor and increase comfort."

So that almost makes it sound like I am looking for something more like Lamaze than Bradley.

I was planning on heading to the library tonight to read up on this stuff. Any book recommendations?

[Mommy2ml]

good point Erika, I think it's so gross to think what could be on things just bought :P

[Mommy2ml]

michellerenee If you want, you could simply read about the bradley method, attend Lamaze classes, and adapt some of Bradley for use with it. That way you could take what you like, leave the rest and not spend 12 weeks trying to sort out one from the other. The LAmaze clases help with relaxation - at least they helped me last time - and they give some good ideas on meditations and focusing techniques. They also teach about the different options that go along with different types of births, which I really liked... and you learn the general progression of events for a "normal" course of Labor, so you know generally what they're talking about when you hear them talking about station, effacement, etc.... HTH :)

[jbemommy]

jeant You certainly don't have to use a specific baby detergent. We always use dye and scent free anyway b/c we don't like all that fragrance. I wash DD's clothes in Woolite b/c I wash her clothes on the delicate cycle. No problems with rashes or getting out stains for her. Obviously some babies will be more sensitive. But really Dreft is pretty expensive and not *necessary* in most cases.

mommy2ml We talk about the baby in mommy's belly a lot. I found a book called "I'm a Big Sister" that she likes to read. I can't play on the floor with her anymore, it just makes me hurt too much.

I passed my 3 hr GTT! I rewarded myself with a Krispy Kreme. :p That's such a big relief to me--I have a huge sweet tooth and can't imagine losing my desserts.

[She-Ra]

Mommy2ml: Yeah-I don't carry him very often, but DH was gone & I think we were having a pre-bed meltdown & I needed to get him upstais quickly.

Baby talk to DC:DS is almost 28 months. We have talked about babies, and my stomach, trying to correlate everything.

He "gets" there is a "baby" in my belly, and will want to see it, kiss it, pat it. He looks in my belly button & says "Wake up!" However, he also will pat his belly & say "My baby in here." One of his friends at school just had a baby sister & he when you ask what mommy is having he says. "Mine is NOT baby sister, but baby brother." So, who knows what he really understands!

One of my friends had a 2 month old over & he wanted to touch, hold & kiss the baby. I loved all sweet he was, but it also scared me! How much is he going to want to "help" & accidentally hurt baby brother!?

[Pamela]

I rewarded myself with a Krispy Kreme. :p

Good for you, I would have done the same thing! After my appointment last week I rewarded myself with a blizzard from dairy queen.

I had such a good appointment last week, my doc said I was the most 'normal' she had ever seen me. But apparently my stupid uterus overheard that. And then my cervix decided to get in on the fun too. I went back in this morning because I've been getting really dizzy lately (probably need more iron and/or water), but I've been contracting a lot more than usual too. Baby girl has settled her head nice and low in my pelvis, and I'm 20% effaced. I'm actually not worried about it, I'm more annoyed that I'm to be back off my feet again until my appointment next week. I had a lot I wanted to do this weekend, and I was planning to go visit my Gramma in a couple of weeks but now it looks like I won't be able to do any travelling.

Travelling, probably won't be doing any now.

Detergents, Dreft, ect., I washed my receiving blankets, baby towels and washcloths etc. with it and they seem nice and soft with no strong scent. I felt a little silly buying a special baby degergent when I already use fragrance/dye free stuff, but I think I'll keep doing it.

Emotions, I'm moody by nature, but pregnancy definately exacerbates it sometimes!

[MichelleRenee]

She-Ra: Your DC#1 sounds a lot like my nephew. He was almost 3 when my sister had her second baby and he seemed to understand pretty well through her pregnancy that there was a baby in her belly. When the baby was born my nephew knew that it was the baby that was in her belly. Now that I am pregnant he says he has a baby in his belly too. In fact, for the past couple months he has claimed to have 4 babies in his belly. If I say the baby in my belly is making my tummy hurt he says the 4 babies in his belly is making his tummy hurt too. So it seems that he understands, for the most part, what we mean when we say there is a baby in my belly. He just doesn't understand that there is NOT a baby in his belly.

[lawgirl4]

well, regardless of how you define it, it looks like I am in the 3rd trimester without a doubt today! Exciting :) 84 days left, according to my babystyle registry!

****************

pamela - goodness, I hope you're able to take it easy... your little girl certainly is eager to meet mom and dad!! :)

she-ra - your son sounds so cute... my 3 yr old nephew was over a month or so ago, and a baby outfit I had ordered came in the mail - he pointed to it and said "maybe that's for your baby!" I'm sure as your son gets used to his new brother he'll be fine!

****************

Emotions - I have definitely noticed a surge in emotional instability over the past 2 weeks! I feel like I get teary over *anything*!!!

Birth Announcements - I actually have my own stationery business, and have done baby stationery (announcements, thank yous) for a number of clients. For our baby's announcements I definitely want to do letterpress, but since I will be dealing with a newborn, I will either design my own and have someone else do the printing, or I will go with a letterpress design from some of my favorite designers. We will probably include a photo with the announcement, but I don't want to do a photo announcement - I love the look and feel of paper & letterpress on its own!

[Quartercentury]

I was wondering about the detergent thing, too... We use ecover laundry powder (http://www.ecover.com/us/en/Products/Laundry/Laundry+Powder.htm) for our own things, which is dye/fragrance free, so hopefully it will work for the baby, too! I don't even think they have Dreft in the UK, but I will scope out the laundry aisle the next time I am at the store...

Similarly (maybe?), I was wondering about sterilizing baby things... When we were en route to Greece, there was this family travelling with a huge electric sterilizer, and I was thinking, "Thank goodness my baby will be breastfed and we won't have to lug that kind of stuff with us every time we travel!" I had been thinking "breastfed baby = no need to worry about 'equipment' for feeding." But of course, eventually I will have to go back to work, which means we might need sterilizing stuff...

So my question is, how long are you supposed to sterilize baby bottles, etc? Four months? Six months? A year? At some point, they can just eat/drink from regular washed and dried bottles/dishes/cups like us, right? If you're not bottle feeding very much (a few half days per week, say), is a sterilizer a useful investment (as opposed to just using the dishwasher, for example)?

TM: I made a reformatted/updated belly collage (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/quartercentury/October%202006%20Pumpkin/collagehorizontalto26weekscopy.png), as requested, but it came out way tiny! I am still trying to get my head around Photoshop... Will try again this evening.

[MichelleRenee]

You guys have all got me thinking about the detergent thing now too. I remembered that my sister used Dreft when her first baby was born so I bought a bottle as my "small baby purchase of the week" a few weeks ago. But I have no idea how long she used it or if she used it for her second. I think we probably won't buy anymore and will probably just switch our laundry detergent to something dye/fragrance free because I honestly don't see myself washing baby clothes separate from our clothes.

Sterilizing baby things: I think this is one of those "what you are comfortable with" type of things. I've known people who sterlized bottles for the first week and I've known people who only sterilized them when they first bought them. I've never known someone who continued sterilizing them more than I'd say a month or so. For us, we will have a separate small tub that I will wash bottles and stuff in. (just a plastic tub that fits inside the sink) This is due to my own paranoia about how dirty kitchen sinks are. (damn microbiology class) That small tub will be used for bottles only, so the bottles will never be washed in a sink that has had dishes that touched raw meat and other bacteria covered stuff in it. I will probably sterilize the bottles when I first bring them home by boiling them and then just wash them thereafter.

ETA: I almost forgot, re: Emotions: I am always emotional, but I have noticed a change in how funny I think things are over the past couple weeks. When I think something is funny I will laugh and laugh so hard until my belly hurts and it usually isn't that funny. Mike sometimes thinks I might be losing it because of the stupid things that crack me up up these days.

[Ericka_Jarett]

QC - not sure how they treat their water in the UK, but this was listed about the US.

http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bnutrition/0,,b11b,00.html
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/752.html

I will just boil the parts after I take them from the packages, since I know there is usually a slippery sort of substance on the nipples usually. After that will just run the bottles in the dishwasher (we are planning on using Playtex bottles if we use any) My ex-boss never had problems with putting them top rack of the dishwasher.

I know Avent sells a special sterilizer for their bottles, saw it on one of the baby shows, it's pricey though and looks to be meant for their bottles only. I hear many people have leaking problems with those bottles though, so I am staying away from them, I have one I got from Motherhood last year, but that's all.

[Rippy1010]

Hello! Updated belly shot ...

http://images1.snapfish.com/34766%3B896%7Ffp339%3Enu%3D3258%3E%3A%3C4%3E567%3E WSNRCG%3D323396%3B%3B%3B3%3B%3B3nu0mrj


Hope everyone is doing well this morning! :D

[Rippy1010]

Just received this email from my friend, so I thought I would pass it on ...


I just found this great website for diapers, wipes, formula. It is 1800diapers.com. There is free shipping and when you sign up you will get coupons. I don't have all of the mom's email address so if you guys could pass it along to whoever I missed that would be great.

[Mommy2ml]

sterilizing- at the very least needed before the first time you ise a bottle, nipple, paci, etc. Also needed for breast pump parts and accessories if you plan to pump.

Last time we kept on sterilizing through the first year, but after a couple of months we only sterilized the nipples and binkies (pacis) but it was because everytime we stopped sterilizing, she got sick :P so we kept sterilizing. When they're sick it's important to sterilize to get full rid of any germs so they don't get sick again from using the same binkies or nipples, etc. A lot of Drs though are saying if you put things in the dishwasher sterilizing is not necessary, but our idshwasher used to leave a film on some things, so we kept doing it anyway.

We had the Avent microwave steam sterilizer and loved it! This time I am going to try those microwave steam bags for companies like Medela. You put pump parts or nipples, bottles, etc, into the ziplock type bag and add an ammount of water (I think they tell you in the instructions how mich) then you seal them up and stick the thing in the microwave for an amount of time (also in the instructions) and then the things come out sterilized. Seems easy enough to me an dthe bags can be reused several times before tossing. So you can really just bring the sterilized parts in the sealed bag and use the parts to pump at work, then wash the parts, put them back in the bag with a little water and pop the bag in the microwave (if there's one at work) and you have sterile pump pieces each time :) Also good for traveling since bringing zip bags is much easier than a big plastic tub :)

I do know people who decided not to sterilize at all, but their kids got thrush at least once... so I am pretty sure sterilizing is the way to go.

washing baby clothes We washed Mackie's stuff all seperate from ours fo rthe first year or so. Not just for the sep. detergent, but since she was not really getting out in the mud and dirt or being exposed to what our clothes can be exposed to every day. I did not want to risk "contaminating" her clothes with our everyday dirt and grime while she was still in that new and clean and not even smelly sweat yet stage kwim? So even when we went to the same detergent, we washed her stuff seperately from ours. PLUS baby clothes can usually just be washed all together, not necessary to sort them out really, so we just made one load out of all her stuff each time we did laundry... made it easier for the sort and fold part since all her stuff was together already :)
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TGIF!!!!!!

I am almost to the end of the initial laundry! :) I will still need to get more receiving blankets and the bedding and such and will do those at the laundromat, plus when my dipes come in I will bring those to the laundry as well, plus the car seat padding and such needs a good wash after sitting in storage for 3 years+ and a couple of other things thta we need to get still I am sure... but wow! I can see the end of laundry (for about a week) in sight! LOL

[bunnybeth]

jbemommy Nice to hear you passed, less stuff to deal with during pregnancy is a good thing.

Pamela Sorry to hear you're back off your feet again. Hope everything goes well at your next appointment, so you can get back to getting stuff done.

Rippy Cute belly, getting really round now. And, I love the top you're wearing.

announcements I'm planning on designing my own. If we print them ourselves, we're definitely going to need a new printer, but I may ask a friend to help with that part. It's a good thing being a graphic designer with other designer friends.

labor stuff At my appointment, my OB gave me a list of their practice's policies for labor and delivery. Most of the things were pretty typical, I think, but I noticed they do not allow anything other than ice chips (not even clear liquids!) once active labor starts. I looked up "active labor" which begins at 4cm. So, that seems to be a potentially very *long* time without food OR drink. I'll have to discuss at what point I should go to the hospital, but this makes me want to stay home as long as possible.

sterilizing Obviously, you'd wash after every use, but how often do you sterilize bottles, nipples, etc? Every day, every week? Is it the same for pump parts?

----

Last night, DH and I went to the infant CPR and safety class. There were only 3 other people there, so we got lots of "watching over" from the nurse who was leading the class. We didn't get certified by the AHA or anything, but now I feel reasonably confident that I could help an infant who has stopped breathing or is choking. Next up, the big Prepared Childbirth class in just over a week.

Otherwise, I started getting this really weird thing last night. There's a small spot on my hip that will get a warm sensation that lasts for a couple of seconds and goes away. It doesn't feel warm to the touch, and isn't painful. I suspect it's a nerve/circulation thing. I think I'll mention it to the nurses today.

[Mommy2ml]

bunnybeth It depends what peditrician you ask about when and what to sterilize. We did it after each wash after each use. After a few months we went to just doing that for the nipples and binkies. I did not pump last time, so I am not sure about pump parts, but I do know it should say in the pump instructions, and you should be able to ask the LC in the hospital too.

As for L&D rules of nothing by mouth except ice chips... it seems to be a wide spread thing at most hospitals I think. There's a couple of reasons....

1. in transition, many women get nauseus and even puke - I for one, puked all over DH, myself and got the oxygen mask, BP cuff, blankets, sheets, etc... big yuck :P and I did that after having been there from 3cm and only having ice chips... imagine that on a full meal? :p
2. if you need an emergency c/s they need to do anesthesia and you need an empty stomache for it. Everyone reacts to anesthesia differently, but if you have stuff in your stomache it can affect the absorption of the drugs and it could take longer to get you numb or knocked out depending on what they need to do.

That's what they told me when I asked last time anyway, perhaps they came up with different reasons this time LOL Birthing centers seems to take a more relaxed view of this since they don't see L&D as a great big series of medical procedures... but docs seem to take it that way and act "accordingly".

HTH! :)

[Jenzen01]

Morning, all.

I had a nice day yesterday. I took off the day to go shopping with my mom and sister, and sent little Gabe to daycare with his daddy. My birthday is in a couple of weeks, so I got to spend some money from my mom. We had lunch and stopped at a coffee shop ... exactly what I needed. My favorite purchase was a soft-as-heaven expensive robe that I've been eyeing up for years! That made my day.

I'll try to answer some of the QOTDs:

Preparing siblings - I tell Gabe that there's a baby in my tummy, and he gets that part ... sort of. He'll give my belly kisses and whatnot, but I don't think he completely understands because he thinks DH has a baby in his belly, too. Whenever I'm folding baby clothes, I tell Gabe that they are for the baby. I also talk to him about the baby coming to our house. So, hopefully, it won't be too much of shocker for him. We just visited his new cousin, and he was really interested in the baby, so that was encouraging.

Sterilizing - I only sterilized once after I bought something. Otherwise, I washed in either the dishwasher or the sink. Oh, I did end up sterilizing things when Gabe and I got thrush ... that was not fun, and it was very difficult to get rid of.

Stain removers - Aside from washing clothes, I was on a war path to remove stains. BF babies have squishy, leaky poopy diapers that stain, and I tried so many things to get the stains out. Finally settled on Oxyclean for babies as a soaker and Fels Naptha (not sure on the spelling) to treat the stain. Fels Naptha is an old-fashioned bar soap that works wonders on stains.

[bunnybeth]

Mommy2ml Thanks, I can understand those reasons for no food, definitely. One of my friends had the nausea/vomiting problem during labor. I just can't imagine going that long without any water. I always carry a bottle with me these days, I feel like I'm constantly thirsty. Oh, and I wanted to bring my Preggie Pops as well. Those really worked for me during m/s and I have some left.

[She-Ra]

MichelleRenee: 4 Babies! That is way cute.

Lawgirl: Thanks-I sure think he is cute! Maybe I'll post a pic sometime. He'll probably be ignoring the baby soon enough.

Quartercentury: We sterilized everything by boiling on the stove until about 6 months or so, and hand washed. We always washed the nipples by hand (I pumped) b/c I didn't trust the dishwasher on getting those as well as we could. We started putting bottles in the dishwasher about 9 months. We might be more prone to sterilizing everything but the nipples in the dishwasher or in the medela microwave bags this time around.

[Mommy2ml]

bunnybeth - you very likely won't be thinking of it much at the time... iirc for me I was neither hungry nor thirsty, my mouth would get dry or I would feel weird and have some ice chips and feel better. Food did not even cross my mond till a few hours later... at that point once I was settled in my room for the night and things had all calmed down, I felt like I had not eaten in a month and could devour anything! LOL

[TaterBaby]

Just returned from my OB appointment. It was my first two week appointment and I gained 2 lbs since last time. Everything looked fine except I had some sugar in my urine and I had to confess to eating a piece of cake for breakfast. :eek: Ooops. She said that's never happened before and my glucose test results weren't even close to being borderline, so no concerns. I just have to remember not to do that again before my next appointment! It's August 4th.

And here is my 29 week belly shot:
http://images1.snapfish.com/347673292%7Ffp345%3Enu%3D3233%3E869%3E594%3E232486 9685956ot1lsi

Oh, my lyme disease is cured. I finished the antibiotics last week, but I still have a large purple spot on my ankle. It looks 100 times better, but is still noticeable, so I asked if I needed more antibiotics. She said I was treated and cured, and the skin would just have to fade on its own. Thank goodness that is dealt with and over!

[Pamela]

I'm liking Dreft more and more, it smells so nice, like baby powder or something (I've got a load of crib sheets washing at the moment). Good to hear all the info about cleaning bottles and whatnot.

lawgirl, I don't think my kiddo is going to be making her grand entrance any time soon, she just likes a bit of drama :p

Rippy, you look great!

Jenzen, a supersoft new robe sounds so nice!

Taterbaby, great pic! I miss the days of eating cake and other yummy baked goods for breakfast (I've been very cruelly depriving myself of so much yummy junk food during pregnancy).

[Quartercentury]

labor stuff At my appointment, my OB gave me a list of their practice's policies for labor and delivery. Most of the things were pretty typical, I think, but I noticed they do not allow anything other than ice chips (not even clear liquids!) once active labor starts. I looked up "active labor" which begins at 4cm. So, that seems to be a potentially very *long* time without food OR drink. I'll have to discuss at what point I should go to the hospital, but this makes me want to stay home as long as possible.

I would suggest that you read the discussion of this in The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. I mean, maybe when it comes to it, you won't want to eat in labor, but can you imagine trying to run a marathon, for example, with only ice chips to sustain you? There's nothing harmful about throwing up in labor if that's what your body needs to do and I think it was in the same book that I read that any anesthesiologist who knows what they're doing isn't going to allow you to suffocate on your own vomit (on the rare chance that you have to have an emergency cesarean under general anesthesia and you are one of those people who reacts to anesthesia by throwing up - which is why a lot of hospitals don't like women to eat/drink in labor). I think this is a ridiculous policy . If you're working hard, you might get hungry and want to eat! If this were the policy at my hospital (which is isn't), I would stay home as long as possible and definitely be smuggling snacks into the delivery room just in case I needed an energy boost.

[Ericka_Jarett]

When I was in labor, I couldn't stand the thought of food. After I delivered the baby at 6:39pm I didn't get hungry until around 10pm, so the nurse got me something to eat. I had last eaten half an apple at about 2 pm. Of course I was a bit different as I was emotional after the birth, didn't even know I was in labor starting at 2, but thinking of food just made me feel sicker. I was famished at about 10pm though and ate all most all they gave me. At least our hospital food wasn't too bad.

[KimberDK]

Hi everyone-
I am hoping you all will be willing to welcome someone who is so late to this party. I am due October 12th with my first and my first five months were rough so I really didn't interact with anyone. By the time I came out of hibernation and was ready to start discussing all the baby stuff...I just felt like you all had been here with each other for so long and that I was too late. But the closer we all come to October, the more I really feel that I want to be a part of this group. I have lurked for a while and I feel like I really know what's going on with some of you but I was hoping to actually join in.

What do you think? Can I play too?

[MichelleRenee]

Weelllll, you'll have to go through the ceremonial hazing first......;)

Welcome to October Mommies! Do you know if you are having a boy or a girl?

[She-Ra]

Rippy & TaterBaby:Those are really great belly shots!

Food: I made DH pull into the Wendys next to the hospital b/c I knew I wouldn't be eating anytime soon. He questioned me, and got the look, which he became quite familiar with the rest of that day. My water broke before lunch at 11 am, and I hadn't eaten anything but a fruit bar that morning. I was not in active labor yet & was starving. No way I was going to last that long without something.

[Rippy1010]

WELCOME, KimberDK!!!

Did you used to be on WC and friends with tgoody? I could be wrong ... but your user name sounded familiar, so I just thought I'd ask.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!!

[KimberDK]

Hi Michelle, thanks for the quick affirmation!
I'm having a girl, although for some reason I can't shake the thought that they make mistakes and I keep thinking maybe they just keep missing it...and all this pink stuff I'm getting is wrong!

I have all the stuff like belly shots and nursery pics and whatever, but I don't know how you guys are doing this. Do you just post them whenever, or do you have a system?

And responses to a few recent QOTDs:

Weather: I am in South Florida and it's pretty crazy hot and humid. But whenever people tell me they feel sorry for me being pregnant in this heat, I just think how happy I'll be that she's born right when the weather is getting beautiful, and it will be so nice to be out walking with her then. If I'd had her in the spring, I would never want to take her out for walks in this heat. So I'm deciding that it's worth being pg in the hot weather because it will be better when she's here.

Heartburn: only in my first trimester, and luckily I have not had any since about the third month (fingers crossed!!)

Grandparents: My parents think they want to be Grandma and Grandpa, and my husband's (Dan) parents say they don't care. They live in Peru and barely speak English, so I'm guessing they might wind up being Abuela and Abuelo. But we are Jewish, so they might go the Bubbie and Zaidie route. My mom says she doesn't feel like a "Bubbie", so she chose Grandma.

Touching the belly: Not one single person has touched mine without asking. Maybe I give off an unapprochable vibe?? I think my mom touches, but she's my mom and I don't even notice if she does it. And of course my DH does, but he's more likely to kiss it than to just rub it. Other than that, a couple of people (very close friends) have asked and that's it.

ETA because you guys are fast!

Oct06Moms:
DH: Dan, 33
Married: July 15, 2004 (just had our two-year this past weekend!)
EDD: October 12th (or 14th, depending who I ask)
ADD: What is ADD?
NAME: Baby's name? Her first name is Mia. Middle name we had agreed on London, but DH is siddenly having cold feet about that part, so it's up in the air. I still really want Mia London.
Gender: girl!

Rippy:
Yes! Good memory! I am definitely still friends with Tammie (TGoody), are you in touch with her? If so then you know she's pg too (due around Labor Day)!

[Michelle]

Welcome KimberDK! :) It's never too late to join! Glad to have you!

- - - - - - - - - - -

We had our hospital tour last night. I'm getting really excited! It was surreal to be in the place where we are going to deliver our baby. It's really nice. Definitely not what I expected for a place where I am going to give birth.

Our final class is next Thursday. It's the newborn care class. I'm looking forward to practicing with diapers, car seats, etc. Hopefully I won't be so scared if I start practicing on a doll before I have to take care of Madison for real!

Can you guys believe how fast time is going? October is going to be here before we know it! :)

Have a great weekend everybody!

[maplekitty]

Welcome Kimber!!! It's never too late to join us! Jump right in, we want to see belly pics and nursery pics!! :D

[Rippy1010]

Rippy:
Yes! Good memory! I am definitely still friends with Tammie (TGoody), are you in touch with her? If so then you know she's pg too (due around Labor Day)!

I thought that was you!!! You did a photo montage for my "signature" once. :D Yes, I am keeping in touch with her. She's been in and out of my journal on here, plus we email.

I have no idea what ADD is. But, none of us answered it on the first page. So, I'm thinking it is "actual date of delivery". It's the only thing I can think of.

Oh, and I love the name Mia London!

[hmdelf]

Welcome Kimber! Glad to see new members coming in still.

Sterilizing-I sterilized everything when I got it and then once a week or so after DS turned 2 months. I used the boiling water method on the stove for the initial and then I used those Medella micro bags. They worked well. The only pump stuff I sterilized after the initial was the "guns" and nozzels.

As for eating-I ate a piece of toast around 2 centi's(9:00am) and then didn't want anything (including ice) until well well after delivery( 4:08pm). I didn't even touch my dinner until after 11:00pm. I was not interested in food (which is very rare for me)

great belly shots ladies!!!!!!

[jbemommy]

Sterilizing We boiled everything before using it the first time, and never again after that. We put everything in the dishwasher after that. DD was very healthy and never had thrush. If you have a medela pump, don't boil the tubing! It makes it cloudy, and it's really really hard to get the water out of it (personal experience here). The tubing doesn't touch your milk anyway, so you don't need to.

Eating during labor I honestly don't remember eating or being hungry during labor. I was induced for PIH, and I think they might have let me have breakfast when they started pitocin in the morning, but I really don't remember being hungry till after she was born (6 pm).

[Sua]

Welcome Kimber !!

Gosh, everyone looks so great! Such cute belly shots, Oct Moms! And cute maternity tops too. I am such a fan of summer maternity clothing compared to the winter stuff I wore last time!

I havent posted in forever. I've been following along though. I havent felt very well, so I just figured I'd lurk and keep my complaints and surly disposition to myself. (Well, not to myself, I do "share" the surly part with my husband. ;) )

Sterilizing baby stuff - I never did. I think I bought a pump for occasional use when my son was about three mos. So, I used few bottles, etc. I just threw everything in the dishwasher to get them clean. Sometimes if a paci hit the floor (for more than 5 seconds, haha), I'd give them a thorough hot, hot hand wash if we werent due to run the dishwasher for a while.

Detergent - Second slacker mom reply in a row, I just used the same stuff we used. I think early on, we used Tide. Now, we use Method or Seventh Generation, so those are free of harsh chemicals, etc. I think Method has a baby detergent, maybe I'll consider that if I remember and see it at the store.

Eating/drinking during labor - I packed snacks last time. None of them stayed with me for long, but I was hungry and thirsty. Honestly (and probably too gross to mention), vomiting a little snack was no worse then the dry heaves when my stomach was empty.

Preparing my son - He's almost 2.5 yrs, so he gets it as much as he can. He talks to my belly and sometimes offers bites of cheese to my belly button for the baby. Recently he caught me by surprise and threw a heavy toy at my middle and yelled, "Catch Baby!" He has a newborn cousin that he likes to look at for about four seconds before he gets bored and takes off.

Travels - I have a short trip planned in a few weeks. My doctor is fine with it. I'll be 31 weeks. Speaking of that trip, we have a couple of Chicago Mommas in here, I think, anyone have a good restaurant rec. they'd like to pm me? (We have some reservations at some of DH's and my old date spots, but it might be fun to try something new.) Or the name of their downtown hospital? (I guess at 31 weeks I should have an emergency plan) We are staying on the Loop.

She-ra - I am laughing at "the look" you shot your husband when he questioned a stop at Wendy's. Mine got the same look a number of times when I was in labor too. I didnt need to waste any energy on screaming. ;) I've had to break out "the look" a little early this time. :D

I had an u/s this week to take a look at the placenta previa they spotted at my 20w u/s. It has partially resolved itself, but not enough to consider a vag. delivery. So, at my appt next week, I'll probably get to pick baby brother's birthday. Not the ideal situation, but it is out of my control. I guess the good news is that we'll have a plan all worked out for my son while we're in the hospital.

Take care all! :D

[She-Ra]

SUA: You know he's gotten that look a lot lately as well!
I'm glad you have come to terms with the C-section as best you can. That is a great point about being able to plan for where DS will be while baby brother is born. Our plan for DS depends on what day of the week it is, and then it is still a bit vague.

[SlvSpring]

Hello everyone! I havent been online in about a week because we were moving! As of Wednesday, FINALLY everything is in our new place but it will definitely be a long while before everything is in its place. Im not even going to try to lie..... moving was horrible! It was hot and exhausting I couldn't do most of the stuff that I planned to do. It was realy stressful. And I think now, as a result, I have gotten sick. I've got some kind of sinus/sore throat thing going on so I am home and trying to rest. It is so hard to be home and see all this stuff that needs to be organized and put away but I am too sick to do it. Oh well....I have time.

I will just have to start over here...I am too far behind to do individual responses and answer qotd's. Hope all you ladies are doing well and staying COOL!:)

[Quartercentury]

A new belly progression!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/quartercentury/October%202006%20Pumpkin/collagehorizontalto26weekscopy.jpg

Welcome to Kimber!

I hope everyone has a nice weekend!!

[KimberDK]

Thank you for all the welcomes!

It is amazing to look at all our belly shots isn't it? We're all just about equally far along, yet there is such a range in how everyone carries. I wish I could choose how I carry...but I'll live. If it was up to me, I think I'd like QuarterCentury's belly...

This was taken on our anniversary, at 28 weeks:
http://www.kdkdesign.com/images/72_071506b.jpg

And the progression:
http://www.kdkdesign.com/images/12_16_22_26.jpg

I am at a point where I am feeling kind of "gross" about myself these days. I think I miss being more stylish, like how I used to wear so many different cute outfits. I am trying to buy mostly "plain" maternity clothes because I want to maximize their wearability, but that means I am always dressing very plain. Almost all my tops are just solid, one-color tees, which is good cause they go with all the bottoms I have. But I am getting sick of plain tees. At the same time, I just don't want to go buy a bunch of really cute tops that I will wear only a couple of times each. Anybody have any solutions to this? What are you doing about feeling like you have some variety in your wardrobe?

[maplekitty]

here's my latest!
I'm in my bathingsuit, which I pretty much live in these days since it's so hot!!!

http://images1.snapfish.com/347676586%7Ffp345%3Enu%3D3266%3E%3A7%3B%3E274%3EWS NRCG%3D323396%3C5%3A%3A57%3Cnu0mrj

Kimber - now that I see your face, I remember you from WC too! :)

re: clothing - yah, I have 6 Old Navy long line ribbed tanks that are basically the staples of my wardrobe! in pink, turquoise, aqua, navy, black and olive green!! ;)

[Pamela]

Here's my 29 week pic

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/MrsPamela/Baby/29weeks3days.jpg

I was comparing my pics from the last few weeks, and my belly is definately looking lower this week. I ought to make a progression-pic of that.

Great belly pics everyone! I'm jealous of those of you in bikinis/bathing suits! I have long since outgrown my bikini top (and no way am I wearing just the bottom half, lol!) and never did find a replacement that fit. But we're not going anywhere that I would need one, so oh well.

Clothes, I didn't buy too many maternity clothes, just a pair of pants, a pair of jeans and about 6 tops (mostly t-shirts). My regular shorts still fit fine, and I've got a few regular t-shirts that are still (amazingly) fine and actually fit quite well. I'm not planning on buying any more maternity stuff unless I outgrow what I currently have. I really really really miss my regular clothes though! I think I'd rather be pregnant in the winter so I wouldn't have to miss out on my much more fun and cute summer wardrobe.

[Rippy1010]

Re: Clothing QOTD

I HEAR YA!! I miss wearing cute outfits in the summer. Lately I feel really gross and plain ... and feel like I'm dressing like an "old maid". :rolleyes: :(

I haven't figured out a way to combat it, actually. I have been able to supplement some of last year's shorts since they sit below the waist. That surprised me that I could wear anything from last summer. Also, some of my tank tops I'll still wear (but only around the house, I'll admit) ... they look really strange on me now since they have to stretch around my bulging belly. Thankfully, my DH thinks I look cute in the tops. I just think I look like a huge whale. :rolleyes:

Remember last year the smocked tunic styles were really popular? Especially the ones that were elastic in the bodice, and then kind of a-lined from there? Like these:
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/prodpri/V237725_RCN94.jpg
A lot of those shirts from last summer still look really cute ... whether they're stylish or not at this point, I have no idea. I feel like I'm totally out of touch with "fashion" these days.

[Ericka_Jarett]

Rippy - I have one of those shirts, I am not big into showing my arms, but like it just the same.

[jbemommy]

We just got back from our monthly trip to the mall (we live in a small town 1.5 hours from a mall). I went ahead and bought nursing bras--I don't think my size will change much till I actually start nursing. Anyway--they are 38D!!! I was a 34B before I got pregnant with DD. I'm in shock.

[KimberDK]

I did a kind of bad thing today. I guess when I posted earlier, I was feeling yucky and frumpy and fed up with looking blah. So far, I have been comitted to buying only inexpensive maternity stuff - I think every single item I have was from Old Navy or Target, and even then a lot of it was on sale. I can wear just about NOTHING from pre-pregnancy at this point. Some of my tops worked ok until month 6, but my boobs are just crazy and none of my normal tops would work anymore. And, as I said earlier, the plain t-shirt thing has gotten old. Anyway, I went into Mimi Maternity today and bought a bunch of really cute clothes. I just started trying on, and it was so much fun to be putting on things that were decent quality again, things in nice fabrics that were well-cut and actually looked nice. And then, I just bought a whole bunch of it. I don't know what I was thinking except I do love all the things I got. But...I spent more at Mimi today than I spent on my crib.:eek:

Rippy: I love those tops - if I had any I would totally be wearing them. Sadly, my boobs were too big for them before getting pregnant and now it would just be ridiculous. The smocked portion ends partway down my boobs! Plus, I cannot go braless (they're big and real), and I'd have no shot of finding a strapless bra that would fit now. I was 34DD before; now I am....36H!! It is so not fun.

[Rippy1010]

Rippy: I love those tops - if I had any I would totally be wearing them. Sadly, my boobs were too big for them before getting pregnant and now it would just be ridiculous.

I know it's not funny, because my older sis has this problem, too and she is always irritated with the way she is fitting (or not fitting) into everything. But, I had to laugh because I am the exact opposite side of the spectrum. I am soooo flat-chested (IMO). And, everyone told me "just wait until your pregnant ... they'll get so much bigger". Well ... I'm still waiting. I was a 36-A :eek: :o pre-pregnancy. See ... told ya! Totally flat-chested. And, now at 30w2d I am a 36-B ... maybe borderline 38-B because the bras are getting a little tighter. So, with those shirts LAST YEAR I had to wear a push-up just to hold them up for the totally opposite reason. :rolleyes:

ETA: Sorry about your little guilty-pleasure shopping trip. At least you'll have cute stuff for the rest of the pregnancy, though. Right?! ;) Here's a thought ... leave the tags on them and ponder them for a few days ... then return whatever you really DO want, and wasn't an impulse? Actually, I don't know Mimi's return policy. I know that at Motherhood Maternity you have 30 days to return items.

[KimberDK]

MapleKitty
I missed your post yesterday sorry. Your screen name does not ring a bell to me, was it the same on WC? Did we ever talk on WC, or did you just see me around the boards? I'm sorry I don't remember more details but I'm trying to put you in context...

Rippy
I never really minded having boobs on the big-end before, because at least they were still normal enough that I could buy most things I wanted. I probably would prefer to be at least a cup size smaller (DD is just unnecessary), but I never really gave them a whole lot of thought either. But as soon as I outgrew DD, everything changed and they took over my life. Suddenly I could not buy bras in normal stores (even maternity stores don't go above DD - they carry E, but that is the same thing as DD, it's just a different sizing system). And most clothes were simply not going to work at all. Most non-maternity tops made me look like a porn star, and maternity tops that have like the empire waist or something would have that seam hitting me halfway down my boobs. This is why my spree was so exciting: I found all these really cute things that FIT how they were supposed to. Mimi gives you 10 days, but exchange only - so it's not like I'd have any option of getting my money back, I could just use it for other things. Mimi is owned by the same company as Motherhood and Pea in the Pod, so if I exchanged anything, I could use the store credit at any of the three stores. Unfortunately, nothing in Motherhood ever fits me and Pea in the Pod is at least as expensive as Mimi, so if I did return anything I guess I'd be trading one spluge for another. But it's ok. I tried stuff on for my husband last night and he did agree that everything was really nice and looked far better than what I've been wearing lately. He had dropped me off at the mall yesterday on his way to work out, and picked me up after. When I got in the car, I told him right away what I had done and he kind of put on a shocked face but he also had a smile at the same time, and he said "Well, I guess I should have known better than to take a girl to the mall when she's feeling down". So I guess he's not that upset about it... If I made it a habit, we might have a problem, though!

[MidwesternGal]

KimberDK--Welcome! I hear ya on the whole big boobs issue. Mine were a 36DD before pregnancy, and now I'm a whopping 38/40G! I found a few through JCPenny's, if that helps. Still have to get nursing bras though!

Belly Shots are all looking fabulous!!!
_______________________
Nothing more to report here. It's going to be a looooooooong Sunday afternoon. We had a slight break in heat, and even though it's not supposed to be nearly as hot this week, it's still going to be pretty warm (90's). I'll probably spend today lounging around, and do some cleaning. I should do my YogaMama DVD. . . but. . . . I hate yoga. Why can't they make kickboxing for preggos?? LOL, just kidding!

I've had a pain in my butt (literally!) the last couple days. In the center of my right butt cheek. It hurts to walk and sometimes stand with it. It's kinda weird. DH thinks that the baby is sitting on a nerve. I've also started sleeping on the futon because I can be on my side and have back support, which is really nice these days!!

That's about it. I suppose I should go do something productive to burn off those 4 cookies I ate a little bit ago. . . :o

[KimberDK]

Midwestern: Thanks for the tip on the bras. I'll check JCPenney. The pain in your butt is porbably your sciatic nerve. At my prenatal yoga class, we have circle time where we talk about our symtoms and the sciatic pain is extremely common. The yoga teacher guides us through certain moves that are supposed to reduce pressure on it, so maybe you should do that yoga dvd after all! I was having a lot of sciatic pain until a few weeks ago. I have no idea if the yoga classes have helped or if it would have gone away anyway.

__________________________________________________ ___________

Still getting up caught up with the group... here are some nursery pics:

Crib and shelving:
http://www.kdkdesign.com/images/72_crib.jpg

Closeup of Tinkerbell detail:
http://www.kdkdesign.com/images/72_nursery_tink1.jpg

Closeup of bedding detail. I have the matching quilt, that I plan to put over the back of the rocker, when it finally gets delivered:
http://www.kdkdesign.com/images/72_bedding.jpg

Changing table and window:
http://www.kdkdesign.com/images/72_changing.jpg

Closeup of drapes (pink silk on front, cream/gold stripe on back):
http://www.kdkdesign.com/images/72_nursery_drapes3.jpg

Toy storage area:
http://www.kdkdesign.com/images/nursery_bear.jpg

With all this girliness, I am REALLY hoping she is a girl after all and that they didn't mess up on that. I have had 6 ultrasounds so far, and every time she's looked like a girl, so I think it looks pretty certain.

[lawgirl4]

midwesterngal - a bunch of us were posting about that same kind of "deep within the butt cheek" pain a couple of weeks ago... my OB said she had the same thing while PG, not to be alarmed, etc... I have found that mine has subsided a bit lately - I tried cushioning my hips better in bed at night and I think that helped.

kimberdk - welcome! your nursery looks great :) I feel the same way about the whole "I really hope the u/s was right and it is indeed a girl" - though we haven't gone quite as pink with our decor! ;) Oh, and I love your drapes!

************************************

We've accomplished a ton of baby-related preparations this week - our furniture was delivered on thursday, and after a bit of drama with the delivery company, it all looks great!

We bought our crib mattress today - the Simmons Baby Beautyrest Back Care VII. Ultimately, I just wanted a good, firm mattress - and this was the firmest one we encountered. And we also bought a bassinet.

I have my next dr's appointment on Tuesday - looking forward to it!

[marathongirl]

Well, less than 10 weeks to go until my EDD! We were in upstate NY all weekend so I missed a lot.

Welcome KimberDK!

Hope everyone is doing well!

[Rippy1010]

I have to say ... I've been miserable lately. Cranky, emotional, moody, irrational. Cranky, cranky, cranky. I can't find a good way to sleep at night, I get out of breath from just SITTING, and then I don't feel like getting out of bed in the morning. I hurt everywhere.

Okay ... I'm done now. I had to vent to someone. :)

I'll try to be more chipper now that I got that out of my system. ;)

[hmdelf]

Kimber
I loveth enursery. DId you do the Tink and Minnie and Mickey yourself?
I love the PBK Shelves also not to mention the curtains. A perfect room for a little princess.

Rippy- I have been so cranky too! Mostly with DH. I have very little patience left and sleep terribly. Well, only 12 weeks left (or so).

Midwesterngal-I too started 36DD. Now I don't know where I am at because my bras don't fit anymore. I have that great boobybubble over the top of the cup. I am looking for new bras today!

I hope everyone is feeling good! hang in there. We are in the home stretch!

[Jenzen01]

Hi all,

Another day, another dollar ....

DH is off on a business trip, so it's just DS and me. Boy, was I tired last night! That extra set of hands sure makes a difference. Not sure what I'm going to do when DH leaves for a fishing trip in Sept. I'll be about 35 weeks then, and I'll have Gabe by myself for a whole week. Ugh. Really not the best timing.

Deep butt pain - I'm going to the physical therapist this week, so I'll let you all know of any tips I get.

Pamela - Where are you hiding that baby? :) You're so tiny ... can't believe you're almost 30 weeks.

I started painting DS's new room this weekend. I seriously have the nesting bug ... I have to get this stuff done!!

Oh, Gabe had to give the baby a drink of water last night. He put his sippy cup on my belly button and gave it a drink. :)

Jen

[Ericka_Jarett]

Ladies,

There are 3 April EDD mommies already. Thread should be starting anytime.

Wednesday starts the 10 week countdown. Right now I am thinking about 7 weeks left, we will see what the doctor has to say tomorrow. I get any u/s done, will find out hopefully what his weight and length are so far. Played a lot of hookie from bedrest since we had VBS last week and today just packed up all the stuff I have to send back.

Wish I would get some shower info so I know if we have to get our travel system soon, or if we will have a shower before the baby comes. That is the main thing we need at this point so if we get an early appearance we are able to bring him home.

[Mommy2ml]

Kimber-welcome, I love the nursery! :) We were feeling similarly with DD, we hoped that they were right cause we had a ton of pink and lavender and frills and lace, etc LOL this time circumstances had us having an amnio, and they said definitely boy, so we're pretty content in our blue and greens :) LOL

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

u/s today right form work - leaving at 3 a half hour early to get there, too. This time they said 3-4 weeks, so it's been 3.5 wks I have a feeling we're headed to every 2-3 weeks soon enough! :P If I could get them done at the doc's office it would be so much less the pita it is now. Everytime i go I have to pay the parking for the garage at the hospital and it is so annoying to take 20min to find a spot, and then have to walk that huge distance, and then still yet have to PAY when I am done for an hour or 2 of parking :P But it's nice to get that update that everything's still looking better and he's growing and all right on track. :)

I'm really feeling the tired lately, but that's normal I know.

Quick question... I never had this with DD, but now I am wondering if I might be gettting a little bit of Pups? I am itchy in some places - like my face, upper arms and shoulders, parts of my back. My belly sometimes, but not so much. I don't see anything in the areas of itch except the ocassional redness from scratching though... I am trying to moisturiaze more, thining maybe dry skin, but the itch keeps coming just in those certain areas. Any ideas? I suppose I can ask the peri today at the hosp or my dic next week at me reg appt. But if you have any ideas to get rid of the itch I am all ears!

I do recall being itchy on my belly last time, but that's not relly happening much this time for whatever reason...

I am wondering how your baby's movements are feeling now... Logan seems to be flipping a bit less, pressing out a lot more... I cannot stand waitbands, even the ones with good give, caus ehe keeps pushing at them and making them feel quite uncomfy. I have been able to ID a head, a butt and either a foot or hand so far... maybe even a leg possibly.... :)

[KimberDK]

hmdelf Thanks, yeah I did the Tinkerbell and Mickey and Minnie. I really did the Mickey and Minnie just to "warm up" before I went right to the wall, because I hadn't painted anything in a while. But then I figured I may as well hang them. I made the curtains too, and I have used the curtain fabric for other little details, like the bow on the big bear. Can you tell I have some time on my hands? ;)

rippy Feel better from venting? :) Not sleeping well can ruin your whole day. I was having a rough time and I just got some new pillows that do wonders. Maybe trying some different pillows will help you get more comfortable? I have found that I need a lot more support now, so bigger, firmer pillows and more of them has made a big difference. There is also a particular all-natural sleep aid that several girls in my prenatal yoga class absolutely swear by. I forget the name, but I ask them if you want to try it.

ETA
mommy2ml It is scary to keep doing a really girly room and know that they just might have been wrong, right? Well, amnio is pretty certain, so you have no worries. Plus, I do think a girl can fit better into blue room than a boy can fit into a pink room. Each time I did another major thing in the room, I got another scan cause I would panic! Painted the walls pink...went for a scan. Did the princess drapes...went for a scan. After the 6 scans, I am thinking she's either really a girl, or my son is reeeeaaaally not very well-endowed. ;)

[Ericka_Jarett]

mommy2ml - there is a thread over in Pregnancy that talks about PUPPS, they may have some ideas of what will work for the itching.

[Mommy2ml]

LOL Kimber:)

Thanks Erika, I am not even sure if it is PUPPS though, as I do not seem to have a rash... I will have to go over and see if maybe the ladies there can offer some advice on the itch though...

I gotta say one thing for pregnancy... it's one of the few things you can actually be sure will show you something different each time! :) This time of my pg with DD I was still full with energy most of the time and glowing with excitement and such... this time I just feel like going home and oging to bed :p LOL

[dzmattie]

Hey Ladies

Kinder - Welcome! Love the room for your little girl!

Mommytoml - I had PUPPS with DS - what you are describing doesn't sound like what I had but you never know...def ask your doc. From the research I had done back when - it doesn't typically appear on your face, hands or feet and is typically a red bumpy rash - I am sure there are variations....good luck with your u/s

Rippy - Vent away! I have felt like that for the last week and half - I hope it is just hormones and will lighten up - I didn't feel this way with DS - I was actually more chipper than normal with him....

Lawgirl - I am pretty sure that that is the mattress we have for DS - always seemed nice for us so I am sure your little one will be happy!

Sua - you seem to be doing well with having to have a c-section - my doc at my last appt is considering it for me b/c of my severe back pain and hip issues. He said that since my hip pain is so bad and the joints are not staying where they should - it may be impossible for me to birth the baby vaginally. I am still hoping to avoid the c-section but I know in these cases there isn't anything we can do - right?

jbemommy - So glad you passed the 3 hour - that must be a relief!

------------
Showers - since I am a RO - we won't be having one but I am dying to hear about all of your showers - make sure you post pics of your decorations, gifts, etc! I love it! Erika - I hope yours is soon! 7 weeks seems close!!! Wow!!

Belly shots - great!! I actually haven't taken one yet!! Slacker!! I need to make sure I have at least one picture of me during this pregnancy!! :o

[Mommy2ml]

I forgot to mention, my palms itch too, weird huh? No rash anywhere, just itchy....

Anyway, I am so wishing this day would go by faster, kwim? Just sitting here trying to work and not being able to concentrate is driving me nuts LOL

Should I just assume that since I have heard nothing at all about a shower and I am 7-10wks away from giving birth and a RO tthat I am just not having one? I would like to get on with buying the necessities, but want to leave some stuff for friends and family to buy, but ssdon't want to be stuck buying anything higher ticket during a time when we're going to be getting used to having a lesser income in the house... kwim? Rather do it now than later, but don't want to prevent someone from buying off the registries in the next couple of months either.

On that note, still have not received the co-sleeper! :eek: it's been 3 weeks since she shipped it and I have yet to receive it. So if I have not gotten it by Thursday I will have to file an item not received thing with Paypal and eBay. This sucks, I was SO looking forward to getting it and setting it up and knowing Logan has a nice spot to sleep right there next to me... It is driving me nuts I might really have to pay more at the last minute to get a new one too. :P

[Michelle]

Rippy - I agree, vent away. This is the perfect place to do it! :)

Kimber - Love the nursery!

Three April moms already? Yikes! That's crazy! I was reading the August thread last night and it hit me. I'm going to read the August thread, then the September and then there's no thread for me to read because it will be us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes! It's really starting to sink in! We are really getting close.

We've been having a heat wave here. It's been miserable. Usually when it is hot here, it cools down at night to make sleeping pleasant. Not the last few days. It's been miserable. I'm just not used to this weather. Not to mention that having central air in Washington is pointless because we don't get that many hot days but I'm wishing I had it now! I think we're going to have to reconsider!

I hope that everybody had a good weekend and is having a good Monday!

[Ericka_Jarett]

Michelle - I know what you mean, I check those 2 threads as well.

Mommy2ml - It's rare that I have seen RO get another shower. They had one for our Pastor's wife but it was with her 5th child, she was given one for her 1st and than the 5th. You may get somethins from siblings or parents, possibly a friend or 2 that didn't make it to your shower the first time.

I really wanted a shower at 30-31 weeks, but doesn't look like that is happening since Wed I am 30 weeks. I am fine with having one after the baby comes, since we will be moving around the same time as he is delivered. I just would like to know ASAP if I am having one before or after since I need my car seat. We have the 2nd base, but without the seat that is not much help. We have small clothes and a place for him to sleep, as well as a bouncy seat. My mom when I went to see her hadn't heard of a shower yet, if she had she would have told me, she even told me that.

[Jenzen01]

mommy2ml - I'm not expecting a shower, either. Everyone around here pretty much only has one for the first baby. My mom actually brought up having a shower, which I was uncomfortable with, and we decided to maybe do a "meet the baby" party after she's born. I really don't need much ... I'd rather people just come over to see baby and socialize later on. Maybe a diaper shower, if we did go that route.

Off topic QOTD - Why do delis put so much dressing on pasta salads? Yuck. I stopped at the grocery store deli for lunch and I got the most disgusting ham and pasta salad. I swear, all I could taste was Mayo. Blegh!!!! Makes me shiver just thinking about it.

OK, and then I went to the ice cream stand because I wanted a slushie because it's so dang hot here. It's gross, too!! I asked for cherry, and this sure ain't cherry. Sigh .... just not having a good food day here.

[Mommy2ml]

Erika, I kwym... I just want to know for sure so I can get on planning... we're going to a BBQ pooll party at my uncle's house a week from this coming Saturday... it's on our 5th anniversary and that whole side of the fmaily is due to be there... I am guessing if they're gonna do something, they might do it then, or at the very least if people are going to get me stuff, they'd likely bring it thee to save on shipping or showing up on my doorstep LOL (Our place is so small we really do not have much in the way of gtg at our house. I would love to, but space, time and energy levels are just not there right now LOL)

Jenzen... I know what you mean - a meet the baby party would be cool too, I just want to know sooner rather than later so I can plan out what we need to buy now, what to wait on, etc... :)

[MichelleRenee]

Just checking in. I hope everyone had a good weekend. It cooled down quite a bit here on Saturday which was a relief.

We close on our house tomorrow and get the keys sometimes between then and thursday. Our apartment is a maze of boxes so I can't wait to get moved!

A bunch of people have RSVP'd for the shower, which is exciting. I've had my registry done for awhile now but we may have changed our mind on the travel system we want. We are trying to decide between 2.

We originally wanted this travel system:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000BHN8L0.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg

Now we might want this one instead:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000BM4OGS.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg

It is frustrating because even though both are sold in stores I can't find a Target that actually has the second one available to see/feel. I have seen the first one and even used that stroller so I know what it is like. If anyone has the second (Evenflo Aura, I think) and has any input just let me know!

[Mommy2ml]

michellerenee One thing I would keep in mind... black absorbs heat... so in the summer, you could be looking at quite the hot seat with the second system. We have car seats with the black cloth padding and covers and Mackie complains if it's too hot that the seta is hot too. Just something to consider...

[Rippy1010]

Re: Showers ... Since this is our first, I was assuming that my family might throw one. But, I haven't heard a single thing, nor suspected anything in the works. I wish I could know for sure, so I knew if I needed to start buying up the necessities or not. So, I'm with ya on the not knowing, and really needing to know for sure. :(

MichelleRenee ~ I agree with Mommy2ml that the black might get really hot.

Jenzen ~ I KNOW!!! I hate getting pasta salad out anywhere, because it is drenched in the dressing!!!

[bunnybeth]

Mommy2ml That's good to know, I'd hate to be frustrated at not getting water when I wanted it, but I guess my mind will be on other things. I've just been thinking it'll be like those months I got bad AF cramping (only worse pain) since I have nothing else to compare it to at this point.

Tater I'm sure you're glad the lyme disease is all gone now, that's great to hear! LOL on eating cake for breakfast, I could totally see myself doing that one day. (Honestly, not much different than a doughnut, right?)

QC Thanks for the book suggestion, I'm making a note of that and will look into it. I've been under general anesthesia before and it gave me zero nausea- in fact, we stopped for a milkshake on the way home and I was just fine.

Kimber Welcome to the group, and congrats on your girl. Mia is a really cute, pretty name. Love the nursery- especially the shelves and the windows/drapes. Very pretty and unique.

Michelle Great to hear you like the hospital, and I agree- time is just flying!

SlvSpring Sorry to hear you're feeling sick. Rest up now, and you'll be better in plenty of time to continue the organization.

clothing For outfit variety, I just bought a couple of new tops at Gap.com the other week, they have some summer styles on clearance, so at least I wasn't paying a lot of money for it.

----

Started Saturday by finally getting to take a prenatal exercise class. It was actually the week for stationary bikes. But, going from no exercise to a full hour wasn't the greatest idea- my legs were so sore in the afternoon/evening. I'm going to try to do some exercising on my own at home now because I won't be able to get back to the class for at least 3 weeks.

[Nigellas]

Hey everyone, Sorry I haven't posted in a while - I've been reading along, it's just difficult to type when I'm reclined. :) I think I’m going to take my 1hr Glucose test tomorrow. My Dr gave me the juice at my last apt and I can go to the lab any day to get tested. I thought I'd go tomorrow to break up the week a little since I’m not seeing my Dr this week. Pretty sad that I'm actually looking forward to my glucose test so I have something to do, eh? haha

In more exciting news, I got my virtual shower gift today! It's a cover for my boppy! Thank you so much Erica! (Lawgirl14)
http://trus.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-2787494reg.jpg

[KimberDK]

Thanks so much everyone for the welcomes and comments on my nursery. You have all been so friendly, if I do individual SO's I'll just be naming all of you...so thanks everyone!

momm2ml - I would guess you would have heard about your shower by now. That's not to say that individual people won't want to get you gifts (I give gifts when any of my friends has a baby, wheteher they are an RO or not), but they may be more like outfits and stuff than registry items. I guess if I were you, I'd probably go ahead and get the stuff you want to make sure you have.

[Ericka_Jarett]

MichelleRenee - we were looking at a black stroller system last year, changed out mind to at least gray, since it would get hot. We are now going with a much lighter color this year the Grace Passage in Clover. Also I haven't read many good thing about the Evenflo systems, the Graco is one of the safest infant seats around from all the reviews I have read.

Nigellas - that's great you got your gift already. slipcovers are always handy, since washing the whole pillow would be a pain to have to do constantly due to spit ups and such.

[lawgirl4]

you're welcome, nigellas! (I'm actually lawgirl4, not 14 - a lot of people make that mistake :) ). use it in good health!

***********

mommy2ml - back when I was suffering from a terrible rash I did a lot of reading on itchy pregnancy conditions - you should mention it to your doctor as I recall that itchy palms/soles can sometimes indicate Cholestasis, which is very dangerous. not wanting to be alarmist here, just want to urge you to get it checked out!

[Tika]

Hello ladies!

I know that my presence here have been scarce, but I have been reading when I get a chance. Sorry, but I will not attempt to do individual S/O today. As for me, things are going OK. My fibroids are getting worse. They are so swollen at times that I can see a big bump on my lower abs and it hurts to move. I just pray that I make it to the end of September for when my c-section will most likely be scheduled.

I had my OB appt last week and the little munchkin was doing OK with a HR of 135. His head was down for some reason, but I think he moved since. Unfortunately, he was measuring behind by 1 week (26w5d vs. 27w5d). Dr. E. told me that there is no reason to worry and that they will measure him again in three weeks at my next appt on 8/8. I just hope that he starts to catch up soon! I also had my 1-hr GTT and passed!!

Old QOTDs:

Shower: I just found out today from hubby that my cousin and friend are planning my shower. I was starting to think that I will not have one. I think that it will be on Sept. 9. And I know that my work one will be sometimes at the end of August.

Travel: Now that are babymoon is behind us (we went to St. Lucia and had a relaxing time), I am in NYC for a business trip this week and then I will be done with travel. Well, with the exception of a wedding in August which should only be a 2-hr drive from our house. I had another business trip scheduled for August, but I decided not to tempt faith; a colleague will be doing it for me. Even though my OB initially told me that I could travel until 35 weeks, I don’t want to take any chances--- especially when those fibroids may cause preterm labor.

I don’t remember anything else that I was going to respond to. Ratts!

Oh, Kimber welcome to the October group and love the nursery!

I think that I need to go to bed now.

[maplekitty]

tika - oooh a trip to St Lucia!?!? Lucky girl....you must be so nice and relaxed now!

[Mommy2ml]

Lawgirl-Thanks! I have heard of Coleststasis... saw it on one of those "Babies:Special Delivery" shows I need to stop watching. I had not thought of it in relation to my itching, but will let my doc know just in case.

--------
Had the u/s yesterday, all went well. BAby measures at about 2.5lbs at this point. I forget, do they gain about half a pound per week the last 2-3 months? I know it's something like that I think... So he'll likely be around similar size to what Mackie was when she was born. She was 6lbs 10oz and a week late though.. .I think this guy should be around that if he's a week early, though there's no definite way to tell before he arrives.

Still no sign of the co-sleeper in the mail. I am so ticked at this point!!! why would you send an item of that value via parcel post with no insurance and no tracking number? Now I will likely have to get started with procedings through Paypal and EBay. The woman I bought it from keeps saying just be patient, it'll get there... it's been 3 WEEKS she mailed it out (I had thought 7/5) on 7/3. So even with the holiday right then we're talking a good 17 days! So right now including shipping I am out a good $100 that my parents GAVE us for this baby gift! Had I bought it through a regular store I would not be getting the additional sheets, I would have had to pay an additional $50-80 or so, but I would HAVE it and not be having to file claim to get my $$ back and still have no place for my baby to sleep!!!! ARGH

Anyway, once we get the co-sleeper and my parents give us my old toy chest (needs to be retrofitted with new hinges obviously, but then it's fine) for linen and toy storage, we then have to wash the lining of the infant seat from Mackie and we'll need to do a linen wash, buy the swing and wash that cushioning and liner and then we should be all set for the initial time home with the baby! :)

[She-Ra]

Welcome KimberDK!

Tika:Totally jealous of your vacation! We cancelled ours this year since we bought the new house, and haven't yet sold the condo.

Mommy2ml: It sounds like she just shipped it later than she said, since she seems so confident it will arrive, and to "be patient." That does stink.

Nigellas: Good to hear from you. I think about you & Ericka both a lot, and am so glad with each passing week that those babies are listening to Dr's orders & staying put!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All is normal here. Just superhungry all the time, and so not looking foward to the scale this time! I have my glucose test this week, and will probably get the Rhogam shot orders. The hospital is right across the street from the hospital, so I'll probably just go after my appt.

I need to pick up the nursery paint so we can get started on the nursery. Unfortunately DS has become scared of "monsters" & the dark in the past week, so I'm afraid to move him out of his crib right now.

[Mommy2ml]

She-ra- interesting... had not thought of that, perhaps I should email her again with the threat of a complaint against her and see if she admits to that. I would not mind if I knew it's coming for sure, but it's starting to look hopeless.

As for monsters and the dark fears... try "monster spray" works like a charm for us :) Just take any spray bottle stuff... we use a room spray with a nice scent, some people use water in an atomizer, and label it "monster spray" Before bed include a spray of it in with the bedtime routine. Make sure he knows it lasts all night long and no monsters will ever come to the room it's sprayed in because they can't stand the smell and it makes them sick. So iut guarantees a monster free room all night long and during nap time the next day :) Just one spray ever night = monster-free room all day and night. LOL Believe it or not, DD went for it right away and now goes right off to sleep, whereas she had been waking up scared during the night before, if she wakes now, she just goes potty and then back to sleep on her own and rarely wakes us anymore. I figure we can try teaching her later on there's really no such thing as monsters... I don;t think they wquite get it till they're closer to 5 or 6 years old... HTH!

[She-Ra]

mommy2mlThat's a good idea. I read about that somewhere, but forgot all about it! Yeah, we tried the "There are no monsters." route & he said "Cookie Monster!" Can't argue with that logic.

[Jenzen01]

she-ra and mommy2ml - Gotta love toddlers, huh? That's pretty cute about the monster spray. And yeah, Cookie Monster is real. Very logical .... :)

Fun night at our house. DS pooped in the tub for the first time. Yuckiness! Only good note was that I grabbed him and put him on the potty and he finished there while I cleaned up the mess. DH is so lucky he was out of town for that one!

Baby is pretty quiet today. She was super active last night, so maybe she just needs some rest.

I just found out about a 25-cent sale at the baby consignment shop this weekend. So guess where I'll be? .... :)

Jen

[Mommy2ml]

yeah, we even went so far as to try cookie monster and elmo live on sesame street in the tv, they are pretend, etc... they just cannot grasp it this young I think. I was very skeptical about the monster spray, but it really has worked quite well for us. Definitely at least worth a try, IMO. :)

Jenzen You lasted this long without a poop in the tub! G-d bless you! We had to get a new baby tub at one point our kid was a little pooper for the longest time! Nasty stuff to clean up too :p

[jeant]

Always so behind!! I am really hoping things will settle down by Aug. and I will be able to get in here more.

MichelleRenee I forget who suggested doing the Lamaze classes and reading about Bradley, but that's a good idea. Just realize that some of the breathing they teach you about in Lamaze is kind of unnatural. But you can probably learn & practice the Bradley relaxation techniques from the book (I have it -- it's called Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. It's great & as a bonus has funny pictures of very tan people. I finally figured out they were taken in Hawaii in the 70s). And it's not really that the Bradley method is intense, just that you spend a lot of time in the classes. (Though most teachers now do 8 weeks, not 12). I figure more learning never hurt, even if I do get the epidural in the end.

eating& drinking in labor I know the discussion has moved on from this, but I just have to chime in with QC. The emergency c-section thing doesn't apply, because you only have to have an empty stomach for *general* ana., not the local they give you for a c. And so what if you barf? My hospital has an "only clear liquids" rule, which is at least better than ice chips (that is truly stupid -- how healthy can it possibly be to go without water when you are basically exercising very hard??) Anyway, I am going to try to stay at home as long as possible partially because of this (and the equally stupid "we'll hook you up to an IV whether you need it or not" rule. IVs are no fun at all.) And we will bring snacks "for my DH." If I stuff one into my mouth when no one is looking, so be it. Even pre-pg I got really dizzy and weak if I didn't eat when I was hungry. Sure, I might not be hungry during labor -- I hope that is true. If it's not, I am going to be a social deviant at the hospital. :)

And thanks to everyone for the thoughts on detergent! Maybe I'll try Tide Free or something like that first. It's just so hard to tell which "baby stuff" you really need, and which is silly. Even with detergent!

[Quartercentury]

Can we talk a bit about strollers?

Those of you that already have one picked out, what is it? What do you like about it? If you've already used one for an older kiddo, would you recommend it?

We haven't really been thinking about strollers, and are planning to wear/carry the baby as much as we can in the early months, but the ILs want to buy us one... I suppose I would want said stroller to be lightweight and easily collapsible (we don't have a car, but we'd be using on the bus a fair bit). And we're both taller-than-average (5'10") and live in a city with very bumpy sidewalks. Suggestions? Ideas?

[Mommy2ml]

Jeant-There are definitely times when a general anesthetic is used during c/s. Plus, who wants to puke while laying flat on your back unable to roll to your side :P If you don't already have an epidural set-up an dthey need to get the baby out ASAP they WILL sedate you the old fashioned way for the sake of baby's life/health.

Something also to consider about eating during labor - how much do you wanna poop on the table/bed/birthing tub? Gross, but true, you do and will poop while pushing if you push correctly (my MW told me this back when I was pushing out Mackie :P) so how much do you really want going straight through your system and land on the table for them to clean up, cause you're not digesting anything solid at that point.

Another tidbit I recall from my MW - Since ice IS water, it helps you feel like you're eating something when you chew it, keeps your mouth from getting dry and by the time it gets down your throat it is water, you're just not able to gulp it and get a similar reaction as if you gulped water while running a marathon...

Don't mean to be contrary, but I ate before I left for the hospital to have Mackie and I regretted it when I found out where it went (and it was not all puke) :P Just wanted to warn you :)

strollers- I had about 4 of them for MAckie... I loved the carrier holder - that frame that folds up and you sit the infant carseat on it, has a basket and cup holder... But if you want something for after baby starts sitting up... I tried the Eddie Bauer lightweight, the Chicco Cady, a lightweight Graco, and a Jeep umbrella stroller. Liked and hated each one :P I have the sit n stand now, have yet to test it out. DD can sit on the back or stand on the back an dthe infant seat or baby can just go in the front part that is like a stroller.

Things to look for in a convenience stroller:
lightweight, easy and compact fold, large sunshade/canopy, a full recline and fll sit-up (a lot of them recline fully then have baby at a slant all the time, and it's horrible for posture and back support!), padded seat where the padding can be removed and washed, dried and then put back on (in case of leaky dipe or spit up, or later on juice or food incidents) a 5-pt harness that can turn to a 3 (optional but DD went through a phase she wanted nothing to do with the arm straps of the 5-pt but sat quite nicely in the 3-pt part) a child snack tray or bar to which one can be attached when or if needed, but said bar or tray should be removable for quick and easy diaper changes, cup holder or holders for parent, along with parent organizer or tray at least, decent basket or some sort of storage for diper stuff, toys, blankets, and when you go out you can always stuff coats unde rthere too LOL

HTH!

[She-Ra]

QC: We have the Inglesina Zippy (2004 Version). It is under 15lbs, folds with 1 hand, and the wheels are great on bumpy paths.

No extras like snack tray, cupholder, etc., but those just make the stroller heavier & bulkier.

The basket is small, but that is fine for us. We just hang our bags off the back, and use the basket for a blanket, sunscreen, etc.

I really hate that they don't make it in a double.

I've also heard great things about the Mountain Buggy Urban for city living.

[lawgirl4]

she-ra - what a smart kid your son is for bringing up cookie monster! that's both adorable and brilliant. :) I love mommy2ml's monster spray idea... I'm filing that one away!

jenzen - lucky you for having to deal with the "bathtub as toilet" incident... :rolleyes: DH owes you one!

***************************

strollers - we have the Bugaboo Cameleon... We live in a city and getting the stroller in and out of the car is less of an issue for us. I would recommend going to a store and trying strollers out in person since they all feel so different (and handle bumps, steering, etc... so differently!).

Off to my monthly OB appointment in 15 minutes! Back later to update!

[maplekitty]

re: Strollers - we are getting the Phil & Ted's E3 jogger in Apple green! :D

http://images1.snapfish.com/3476%3A8982%7Ffp343%3Enu%3D3266%3E%3A7%3B%3E274%3E WSNRCG%3D323398825539%3Bnu0mrj

[MichelleRenee]

We're going with this one:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000BHN8L0.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg

Thanks for the input, everyone!

Things got so messed up with the closing of our house yesterday. The whole story is in my journal and I certainly don't have the energy to type it again. Well today was supposed to be our closing and for awhile we weren't sure if we'd get to close at all, but we have a new appointment for tomorrow. Fingers crossed....

I've been having a new kind of butt pain. It is a dull achy pain and it is pretty concentrated in one little spot. I think it is just my joints loosening/widening. It only hurts when I walk. Unfortunately that means cutting my nightly walks a little short.

Other than that, nothing new to report. I still have heartburn, reflux and my stomach has been a little upset due to stress over house issues, but overall I am feeling pretty normal.

[Rippy1010]

MichelleRenee ~ That's the same stroller that we registered for. :) Good luck with the closing!!!

[KimberDK]

The stroller issue gets me all worked up for some reason. I have gone to the store several times, fully intent to just choose one and buy it, and then I get overwhelmed and decide I have to come back another time. I am usually not like this, so I don't know what it is about strollers that does this to me.

I think I have settled on the Peg Perego Pliko P3. I also liked the Inglessina Zippy, but it does not go with a snap-in car seat (if you want to put the car seat in the stroller, you need to buckle it in) and I *think* I want to have that snap-in feature. The Zippy does fold easier. Both P3 and Zippy fold way smaller than most other full-size strollers - they collapse front to back and sideways (like an umbrella stroller), while most others only fold front to back. Does that make any sense? P3 and Zippy are by far the lightest full-size (fully reclinable, comfortable, strong enough to support a diaper bag on the handles wothout tipping, etc) - P3 weighs 17 lbs compared to 25 - 30 of most others. I think Zippy weighs 18. I pretty much narrowed it don to P3 and Zippy, and then swung over to P3 because of the snap-in car seat and I preferred the colors.

BUT...now I have a new development. My cousin just told me she wants to buy me my travel system. And she specifically said "I know you are thinking of the P3 system, but I do not want price to be a factor for you at all, so if you like something else more but you thought it was too expensive or something, I want you to choose that instead". I think all things considered, I still want the P3. But if money were no object, what would you guys go for? I did look at the Chameleon in the store and I couldn't understand it for some reason...it just seemed complicated to make sense of. But there must be a reason people adore it? Does anyone know if it's really fantastic?

Tika: That is great news that you are getting a shower. If I hadn't heard anything by now, I'd be thinking I wasn't getting one. That's exciting to suddenly find out that you are!

Mommy2ml: I am getting frustrated on your behalf about the cosleeper. This is enough!!

[Nigellas]

Ack! BRU is redirecting to Amazon again, except since BRU isn't on Amazon anymore it takes you to a non-related page... Anyone know what's going on? :(

[lawgirl4]

all was well at my appointment! measuring on track, and weight gain is totally fine as well according to my OB. Baby's heartrate was in the 140s. I'm now going every 2 weeks, and starting with these next 2 appts I'll be rotating among the other doctors in the practice. I love my OB and we really hope she'll deliver the baby, but it's all dependent on when I go into labor!

so my next 2 appointments are August 7th and 22nd.

Kimberdk, I like the Cameleon because it is so versatile. It can be configured in *so* many ways, and it is extremely light and easily maneuverable - important to me because I am petite. We also live in a city filled with terrible sidewalks and uneven paving, so we needed a "city" stroller above all. Obviously, everyone has an opinion on these things, and I doubt I'd ever be able to find something I love 100%, but I've heard overwhelmingly good things about it, so I'm sure we'll be happy with it!

[SlvSpring]

Kimber- Welcome!!:) Glad to have you here. Your nursery looks awesome!

Michellerenee- I have read some not so good reviews of the evenflo infant seats. A lot of people said that the handle is not strong and will bend and crack as the baby gets bigger. Like Ericka, I have heard great things about graco infant seats. Hope everything goes okay with your house purchase!

Tika-Sounds like a great vacation! Sorry you are so swollen!! I hope you are able to make it until the end of September as well.

Mommy2ml-Sorry about your e-bay hassles! I hope it gets sorted out soon. Did you ever figure out your insurance issues?

strollers- We have decided on a Maclaren Stroller. I think they are very city friendly. Super lightweight, but strong and fold up small to be stored in a smaller place. They cannot be used until the baby is 3 months old, but that was okay with us. We both have small cars, walk alot and wanted something compact and sturdy and felt this was it. www.maclarenbaby.com

nigellas-I have no idea about the babies r us website! it has been crazy lately with all the changes! I will have to go check it out

ericka jarrett-I have been thinking about you today. Did you have your peri appt today? How did it go?

_____________________
I am feeling SO much better this week. My cold/congestion seems to be gone and my energy is back! I just wish the weather would cool down, we have been breaking records for our high temperatues this week. I had my last 4 week doc appt today. Everything was great, so the n.p. said. Our little boy's heartrate was 150, same as last time. Everything was measuring appropriately. My next appt is August 8th

I also registered for out childbirth classes today. They will be evenings Aug 7th, 14th and 21st. I also decided to sign us up for newborn baby care classes which will be Aug 2nd in the evening and a breastfeeding class on August 16th. I am excited and nervous! We have lots of supplies (it seems) that are needed for the baby care class, (diapers, sleeping gown, undershirt, swaddling blanket, towel and washcloth) I will have to go shopping this weekend!!

qotd-does anyone feel their baby kicking (or maybe pushing his head??) downwards, like towards your cervix? OUCH! My little guy tends to do this and boy is it painful!!

wow, for ONCE, I feel caught up! :D have a great night all!

[maplekitty]

I have read some not so good reviews of the evenflo infant seats. A lot of people said that the handle is not strong and will bend and crack as the baby gets bigger.




uhoh...really!??!
We've registered for the Evenflo bucket seat because I like the bent handle and it's the only one out there has it!!

[Nigellas]

Weird, weird, weird! BRU is back up now. Huh...

Strollers: We registered for the Peg Perego Aria, but if we get it we may end up returning it and moving up to a P3. I just couldn't stomach putting a $300 stroller on my registry!

QOTD- I can definitely feel when the babe is hitting my cervix. Definitely not comfortable!

MichelleR- Good luck with your house!

Mommy2ml- I cannot believe your Ebay issue! That totally sucks.

[Ericka_Jarett]

Please pray for Ericka and the baby.

We were sent to Univ Penn hospital (not the one were planned for) early tuesday morning by our perinatalogost after some bad signs on an ultrasound.
In erickas earlier exam here at the hospital she was 1cm dialated and the machines were showing contractions but she couldn't feel them. The doctors want to keep her in the hospital a few days to monitor for more contractions, and give a round of Steroid shots to try to develop the baby's lungs. The steroid shots are quite uncomfortable and mess up her bloodsugar so she isn't allowed to eat anything

Right now (approx 9:30pm tues night ) Ericka is feeling fine, and the baby's heartbeat is fine. Please pray for miraculous health and comfort upon Ericka and the baby, and that God may bless us with a few more weeks of growth before delivery. I will send more info when I get it.

She was put on 500mg flagil, an antibiotic as well.

-- jarett

[MichelleRenee]

Prayers for Ericka and baby!!!!

[maplekitty]

oh my gosh!!!!

You guys are definitely in my prayers!!!!

[Tika]

Thanks for letting us know. I pray that Ericka and the baby continue to be OK!

[SlvSpring]

Thanks for the info Jarrett. All 3 of you will be in my thoughts!! Stay put little boy and keep growing!

[bijouparvin]

A November mommy checking in to send healthy stay-put thoughts for Ericka and her little one.

[Tika]

Maplekitty--- The trip was wonderful!:D

Mommy2ml--- I hope you get your co-sleeper soon!

She-RA--- I can totally see why you had to cancel your trip! We had so many trips planned for the fall and winter (family wedding in Jamaica, friend’s wedding in Italy and cousin’s birthday celebration in Hon Kong) that we had to cancel due to the baby, so we figured we take a trip anyway--- just for us. St. Lucia was always a place that I wanted to visit, so we went for it.

Jenzen01--- You must have had quite a time cleaning up! The same thing happened to my friend; her DH was away as well and she was not a happy camper!

Strollers--- Like Lawgirl4, we went with the Bugaboo, but the Frog. (BTW Lawgirl, the Gecko looks so cheap in person that we opted to go with the Frog since we did not need the option of handle adjustment and customize color.) I like the versatility of it as well. My sister has one and loves it! We got lucky; we had planned to purchase it in the next couple weeks, but this weekend my MIL said that she will get it for us since we already got the nursery furniture. One less thing for us to get!:)

MichelleRenee--- Good luck with the closing!

Kimber--- Even though I figured that they would have a shower for me, I was starting to wonder! I was happy to hear that it was in the work though! Now I don’t have to say “I have no idea” when people ask me about a shower.

SlvSpring--- It was a great vacation indeed! St. Lucia is so pretty! I’m glad that you are feeling better. As for me, I hope that I make it to the end of Sept as well. So far it’s been just the pain and discomfort and I think that if I can handle that, I will be OK. My cervix has been closed and all tests are negative, so let’s pray it stays that way.

You just reminded me that my classes start in August as well. I am taking the babycare and the breastfeeding ones. No birthing class for me as I will be getting the c-section. I guess I need to check and see what I need for the baby care class. I did not even pay attention to the directions!

[SlvSpring]

maplekitty-yes, I am sorry I did read that about that seat. Darn it now I am trying to remember where it was that I read those reviews......If I remember I will let you know.

[Michelle]

Oh my gosh! Ericka, I'm thinking about you and the baby!

Thank you for the update Jarett! Keep us posted!

[amyinlosangeles]

Ericka
delurking to say I hope baby stays put and I'm keeping you & your family in my thoughts.

[marathongirl]

ericka - sending all kinds of positive thoughts and prayers to you!

[hmdelf]

Ericka, Jarrett & Baby, our thoughts & prayers are with you and your family!!!

[Rippy1010]

Ericka ~ My thoughts are with you and the baby. Stay put little man!!! Many prayers!!

[She-Ra]

Ericka:Constant thoughts & prayers being sent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kimber: We never had to buckle the car seat into the Zippy. Actually DH cut the buckle off b/c it was useless. The snugride fit in quite well, facing us.

[Jenzen01]

Ericka,

I'm thinking of you, DH and baby today.

Jen

[jbemommy]

Erika, Thinking of you today and praying your baby stays put!

I'm so excited to reach the 30-week mark. As a pediatrician, this is my personal definition of "good viability", meaning much less risk of serious permanent damage if the baby is born now. Obviously I don't want to deliver now, but feel much more relaxed when I make it to this point in pregnancy.

I am having some serious pubic bone pain. Whenever I'm not sitting straight up, my bones start aching. Last night I could hardly turn over in bed it hurt so much. They actually feel sore if I push on them, too.

[Rippy1010]

They actually feel sore if I push on them, too.
I have a bone in my foot that is really sore, too ... and when I push on it, it actually hurts like it's internally bruised. Wondering if it just couldn't take all of the "pressure" of the added weight, or something?

I, too, am starting to get pains when I try to turn over in bed. It's like an act of congress to actually GET turned over at night this past week. Thank goodness DH has been on midnight shift this week, so he hasn't had to deal with the oohs, owws, and grunts involved in me trying to switch sleeping positions. :o :rolleyes:

[MichelleRenee]

Um, I've been having trouble turning over in bed for a couple months now.:o It's not so much pain as it is just uncomfortable and I feel like if I move too fast the baby gets stuck in kind of a weird position. Am I just crazy?

New butt pain continues today. I just feel really sore from the middle of my butt cheeks almost halfway up my back. It feels like I spent a day skiing or something. My doctor said that with my "extremely tilted uterus/backwards cervix" I would probably have more back labor. I am wondering if it also means more back pain in general?

I think my biggest annoyance right now is my appetite. I go from starving to not hungry/ not hungry to starving in literally seconds and I only crave foods that give me heartburn or upset my stomach.

One thing I have experienced a few times since getting PG is the shakes. I get really jittery like I have low blood sugar. So far when it happens I just try to eat something ASAP and I will try to drink a pop or something because the sugar seems to help. Well the other day I got the same jittery feeling while dealing with our lender but I wasn't hungry. It was from the stress/anger over the situation. So now I am wondering if these are more like "modified panic attacks" and not really food related at all. Maybe eating/drinking sugar has had a "placebo effect" on me because I am convinced that I am jittery because I am hungry. Who knows.... It's nothing I am concerned or worried about as it is really just a discomfort and not a problem. I just hate when it happens. (i.e. it hit right as I was pulling into my dentists office the other day. I certainly don't want to be shaking when having my teeth cleaned, but I also didn't want to eat moments before either)

Still thinking about and praying for Ericka and baby. I am optimistic that everything is going to be fine. Stay put just a little longer, baby!

[maplekitty]

Ha, Michelle, I could have written your post exactly!

Havn't been able to turn over easy in bed for months now...and every time I do it's usually a three...or four point turn with lots of groans. My butt pain is bad - I'm asking DH to rub my "bum-back" every night!! And my appetitie is totally on the fritz...One minute I'm starved, the next nothing is appetizing. Unfortunately these days all I crave is cheese and McD's flurries - SO BAD!!! :(

Conitnued thoughts and prayers for Ericka! I'm sitting here all anxious until we hear from Jarret again!!

[bunnybeth]

Ericka, Jarett & baby, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Stay in your mommy as long as possible, little one!

Mommy2ml Very annoying about the cosleeper. Just be careful not to wait too long to report it, if needed. Ebay and Paypal both have a certain amount of time in which you can dispute/report something.

MichelleRenee Hope your closing wraps up today. Very strange about the shakes. Pregnancy really messes with circulation (I've had tons of weird problems myself from dizziness to leg cramps) so that's probably at least part of it. It may be exaggerated in your case because of your history of panic attacks. I find sitting down and concentrating on my breathing helps a little with my dizzy spells.

stroller We decided on the P3. I was also interested in the Zippy, but couldn't find it in stores around here to test out, and we really liked the P3 we got to try out at the store.

QOTD Not often, but when he kicks/hits the cervix, not very fun. Same with the bladder.

[Jenzen01]

OK, I forgot to post my tips from the physical therapist regarding the butt pain. She suggested the following:

- Heat or ice the area ... depending on what works for you
- Water exercise. Get in the pool and walk or stretch in the water. It'll take pressure off the joint.
- While sitting at desk, elevate feet a little to help correct posture and take pressure off area.
- Change positions frequently. Get up and walk around every hour so the pressure doesn't accumulate throughout the day.
- Stretch. Pull your knee up to your chest (as best as you can) to stretch the muscles. Also can try crossing leg over chest/thigh.

I think I might try the water approach this week. I've got an hour off for lunch, so I might get in the community pool for about 20 minutes.

michellerenee - I've felt the shakes several times, too. It's usually when I don't eat.

[Pamela]

Ericka, Sending good thoughts your way!

Strollers, we have the Peg Perego Pliko P3. So far we've just pushed it around the driveway a bit, but it seems to handle really well, and it folds up easily. I think we'll be happy with it.

QOTD, this kiddo is really low in my pelvis these days so I feel her head pushing/bumping downwards a lot and sometimes she just rolls it back and forth over my bladder :rolleyes: She also likes to stretch her legs waaay out and dig her toes into my stomach. Lucky for her I think pretty much everything she does is funny.

[KimberDK]

Erica - thinking of you and the baby and wishing, wishing, wishing that everything is fine.

She-Ra - So you just stick the sungride in the zippy and it stays put? That's very interesting...I didn't realize that you could do that securely. Zippy really is a great stroller, my only real reservation was inconvenience using it with an infant seat. But if you can just stick the seat right in there...that's pretty good.

Tika - I know what you mean about having to tell people you have no idea about your shower. Right when I got pregnant, my aunt jumped in and said she insisted on doing the shower and to tell anyone else who might say anything that she was doing it. She then called and told me she was planning it for April 15th because that was the only time that was convenient for her. I told her I didn't mean to be ungrateful, but no way in the world was I having a shower when I was 3 months pregnant - what the heck is THAT. So she backed up and said ok, she still wanted to do it and she would do it later. Except that she never again brought it up and got really weird about it if the topic ever came up again, so I had no idea if she still planned to do it or not, and if so when. Finally my best friend just said "Enough is enough. I don't care if she said she wants to be the one to do it...she isn't doing anything, so screw it", and she went ahead and started planning it. It is so lame to call "dibs" on making a shower and then not do it. Anyway, sorry to ramble. I'm glad we both are having showers!!

[Bubeleh]

Erika You and your family are in our thoughts. Tell that little guy to hang in there!

Too busy for replies. I'm training my new assistant who will cover most of my duties in Oct/Nov, so she sits with me all day leaving no time for CC :(

Hope all the aches and pains you are experiencing are soon gone.

[Mommy2ml]

kimber- Have you tried the strollers out with weight in them? I cannot tell yu how many times I have tried a strolelr in the store, loved it, then added some weight (like books or Mackie depending on when it was) and then found it near impossible to maneuver. I think if you try your faves out with around 10-15lbs of books in them, an dthen with the same books in the infant seat on them, you might find the decision made for you :) I once had to return a dstrolle rto the store that I bought without doing that... we got home, put it together, took Mackie for a walk in it, and it felt like we were pushing like 100lbs or more it moved so sluggishly :P

cosleeper-I really should complain now... I keep feeling like, what if I complain today and then there it is waiting for me at home tonight? I guess if that does happen, I can always retract the complaint, yes?

slvspring-as far as insurance issues go... we're gonna have to pay to have baby on mine until the Child Health Plus kicks in. However ther really tough part is that once I am no longer getting disability, I lose my insurance - like I have to pay COBRA or get my insuranc eelsewhere or have no insurance at all :P That is really gonna suck :P

qotd-Cervical kicks and bumps... I do get some every day.. the ones to my bladder really still bother me more though LOL

mapplekitty-Evenflo has had several recalls on their infant seats in the past. The best reviews have tended to be for the Graco Snug Ride as far as Consumer Reports goes.

Erika-You guys are definitely in my thoughts and prayers that all goes well and baby stays put a while longer!

jbemommy-I have to wake and pee and change sides at least 1-2 times per night now, sometimes more. It gets to be a real pain in the hip and pelvis, and sometimes even numbness :P

------------------
Going quite stir crazy... not wanting to work or do much of anything too. I have a longer day today... I came in late so I could stay a bit later to take a conference call. If all goes well it means a hefty commission... but I still would rather be home resting and getting stuff doen for baby :)

A week from today is my next dr appt and I have a bunch of questions all lined up... just need to write them down and remember to ask LOL

My next u/s is 8/21

I should be getting my hospital registration packet next week - they've been out of them and had them on order.

My DD is taking her sibling class 9/12 and that's the same date as my BFing class. Hers is the afternoon and mine is in the evening. That does in fact mean twice the parking fees, but I would be paying them anyway if the classes were 2 different days, so why not right?

All still seems to be doing well with baby, they are continuing to monitor his size, but are seeing a good enough improvement on the bowel that they keep telling me "If we scanned you today for the first time we would not think anything was wrong at all" so I guess that is good.

Funny story - I went with friends to Wendy;s for lunch... they told me it would be a 2 min wait for the spicy chicken, so I said ok... then they came and told me it turned out they had just put up the spicy chickens and it would be 10min, would I like something else? So they gave me a reg chicken sandwhich and some free mandarin oranges. Then the woman came ou with a spicy chicken in a bag and said I should take it home with me... So I got a free sandwhich and free mandarin oranges LOL too bad I have no room for them in my stomach at all! They;ll hit tthe fridge and maybe be lunch tomorrow.

Any ideas on making clothes hang dry faster? I cannot stand waiting 24-48hrs for clothes to dry hanging on the drying rack in the bathroom :P We cannot get a dryer... I think the only ther alternative is if I bring things to the laundromat and just dry them there after they've hung through the day or night or whatever... but I hate the idea of doing that and spending extra.. granted a couple of quarters is not much, but that's a couple of dollars a week and eventually would add up to money spent better elsewhere kwim? But maybe it is worth it for sanity....

More later...

[KimberDK]

Mommy2ml - Oooh, would you share the benefit of your research? Which ones did you find to be difficult to maneuver with weight in them? Which one did you return?

[Mommy2ml]

I did most of my research like 4 years ago unfortunately.. the more recent stuff has been on the double strollers LOL However I can say that the higher end strollers tended to handle better than the cheapos.

the one I bought a year or 2 ago and had to return I think was a cheapo GRaco... not a convenience strolelr, one that's specifically lighter weight and smaller. The thing was like dead weight - forget about even simpla curbs :P

The best thing to do is what I mentioned... take some books (or grab some from the store you're in) and take it for a test drive with some real weight in them. A coupel of time while checking out strolelrs for Mackie I saw pg people looking and checking out strollers and I offered to let them try it out with Mackie in them LOL Seems weird, but one actually thankedme and took me up in it... sounds weird, but someone did offer that to me when I was looking at strollers and pg with Mackie... and the woman who helped me register gave me the books idea.... she went and got books from the other side of the store and put em in for me too.

I wish I could help more... I can say that the ones I tried recently were Peg, Combi and Mac and I was really liking the Combi personally... but like I said, those were the double SBS ones.

Personally, I also cannot fathom spending a ton on a stroller... maybe it's just me, but as cool as some of those extra high-end stroller look, I just canot wrap my head around spendin like that on somethingthat will be puked and pooped on , have food mashed into and be splashed through mud and worse... I would freak out if the thing got dirty and that'd be a near every day occurance once they hit like 3-6mo old an dstart grabbing things and putting things in their mouths.

Oh, one other thing to consider... I found that Mackie hated, and still hates, the stroller rain covers. so having a great big sun shade came in handy to sheild her from the brunt of the rain and snow at those times she utterly refused to have the plastic on the thing. Every baby has a different personality.

Another thing... I found the stroller frame thingy that you can click your seat into and go invaluable... like if you use one of those at first, you can then chose a stroller later on that your baby likes too and try it out with your baby in it. BUT then you have to buy the stroller yourself na dnot get it as a gift for a shower or when baby is first born...

Sorry so long...

[TaterBaby]

Ericka, Sending good thoughts your way!

I have a meeting with my boss tomorrow to discuss my maternity leave. Not one word has been mentioned about it thus far. I've really been waiting until after my yearly review and raise to bring it up, but my boss wants to do my review tomorrow and talk about my leave.

Typically it's 6 weeks off here with 100% pay. Little does she know that I'm about to ask for 12 weeks off. Whether weeks 6-12 are at 100% pay if I were to work from home some, or short term disability pay, which is 66%, or no pay at all is to be determined tomorrow. I really don't see the point in returning to work the week of Thanksgiving and then having only 4 weeks until Christmas vacation especially when it's our slow time anyway. Plus, we'll have so much family to visit during that time. So hopefully I'll be off from the beginning of October until Jan 1!

[Jenzen01]

How you know you have baby on the brain ...

When writing out a check at the grocery store, I started to write my due date at the top instead of today's date. :D Wishful thinking, huh?

[Michelle]

How you know you have baby on the brain ...

When writing out a check at the grocery store, I started to write my due date at the top instead of today's date. :D Wishful thinking, huh?

That's great! :) Before you know it, you're going to be writing dates after your due date because time is going by so fast!

[Rippy1010]

How you know you have baby on the brain ...

When writing out a check at the grocery store, I started to write my due date at the top instead of today's date. :D Wishful thinking, huh?
LMAO!!!!

[Ericka_Jarett]

Ericka just had her second steroid shot, in the thigh. They will have her here another night to make sure she doesn't have any contractions as a result.

Her sugars have been around 170s, but they have let her go on a real food diet today.

Our peri came and checked in on us this morning. He was happy with how things are going, and not too worried with the dialation at this point. He said Erickas cervix was completely thinned.
Also, the hospital neonatal specialist came and talked to her about the NICU, procedures, and what we can expect if we deliver before 35 weeks.

She will have another exam before she is released. Hopefully early am, so we can get home, and I have time to do some work so I can save as much vacation time as possible.
Once home, its back to bedrest. So we need to find friends to check on her and help her out with lunch when I'm at work... or have her mother come stay a few weeks, but I doubt that's the favorable option.

I'll update more later or Ericka will post her journal tommorrow when home. (Im on my cellphone posting this.)
-- Jarett

[Mommy2ml]

Jenzen LMAO! :)

Ericka and JArrett Glad to hear things are going better! Will continue thinking hiping and praying all goes well and baby stays put several more weeks! Are they going to do a regular cerclage? Or just leave the ring in there at this point?

[Michelle]

Thanks for the updates Jarrett! We really appreciate them! Glad to hear that things are going better.

[maplekitty]

thanks fo the update Jarret!!

[MichelleRenee]

Thanks for the update, Jarett. Sounds promising!

[She-Ra]

Jarett,
Glad for a positive update. Thanks!

Kimber: Yep-it just fit right in there quite securely. I used it that way all the time until he was about 8 or 9 months & went into the marathon seat.

[Tika]

Tika - I know what you mean about having to tell people you have no idea about your shower. Right when I got pregnant, my aunt jumped in and said she insisted on doing the shower and to tell anyone else who might say anything that she was doing it. She then called and told me she was planning it for April 15th because that was the only time that was convenient for her. I told her I didn't mean to be ungrateful, but no way in the world was I having a shower when I was 3 months pregnant - what the heck is THAT. So she backed up and said ok, she still wanted to do it and she would do it later. Except that she never again brought it up and got really weird about it if the topic ever came up again, so I had no idea if she still planned to do it or not, and if so when. Finally my best friend just said "Enough is enough. I don't care if she said she wants to be the one to do it...she isn't doing anything, so screw it", and she went ahead and started planning it. It is so lame to call "dibs" on making a shower and then not do it. Anyway, sorry to ramble. I'm glad we both are having showers!!

That was kind of sucky! She should have just told you that she couldn't do it anymore. I'm glad that your BF took over. I actually found out today from hubby that MIL wants to have a separate shower for me on Sept 2nd. I went from not knowing if I was having one to getting 3 of them within 2 weeks. Won't complain though! :D

[Tika]

Taterbaby--- good luck with the meeting with your manager. Lucky you for getting 6 weeks paid leave. Although I am taking 4 months, it’s all from my saved vacation and sick leave before taking leave without pay.

Jenzen--- I got a good laugh at you writing your due date instead of today’s date! LOL!

Jarett--- Thanks for the update. Sending you guys good vibes!

[Quartercentury]

Glad to hear things are looking better for Ericka and her baby boy! Thanks to Jarett for keeping us updated.

Taterbaby, I hope your discussions of maternity leave went well. It's such a relief to have all that set out, isn't it? I had my plans for leave/return meeting a couple of weeks ago, and it was just really reassuring to hear that everything is flexible... Although now it looks like I will be able to afford more leave as FH is going to be working, too (as opposed to being the PhD student I have known and loved these past five years!).

Thanks for all your input on strollers! :) I am really liking the idea of Quinnys and Maclarens, since they seem to fold up easily. But I think this will require a trip to the baby store to test drive!

[Rippy1010]

I finally found out last night that I am having a shower, too. I couldn't take it anymore and had to call my mom to ask for certain. :o I felt bad asking, but really needed to know. Good thing she told me!!! They were planning it for Saturday, Sept. 9 ... the day of my childbirth classes that goes from 8:00 to 4:00!!! :eek: So, she said she guesses they'll plan it for Sept. 10th.

[MichelleRenee]

I noticed my first BH contractions last night. Over the past few weeks I've had this occasional funny feeling in my belly, like the baby was suddenly too big for my uterus. It was just a very uncomfortable feeling, like he needed to be repositioned. Well yesterday my sister asked me if I had any BH yet and I said I didn't know. She said anytime my belly felt funny or different to feel it to see if it is hard. So I did that last night and it felt like a rock! It wasn't painful for my belly, but it did make my achy back ache more.

It was funny. I said to Mike "I think I am having a contraction right now" and he jumped out of bed like he was having a heart attack or something. I forget that just because I read up on it and know this stuff is normal doesn't mean he knows it is normal. Plus our friend, who is due in mid-September, thought she was having BH all last week and it was actually pre-term labor.

The word of the week for me is "uncomfortable." I just feel bigger and stretchier and achier all over. Way to start the third trimester, eh? Mike is being very, very overprotective and has recruited about 8 people to help us move so I don't have to lift a finger. I'm going to feel pretty useless watching everyone else work, but I know how easily I get sore and exhausted so what can I do about it?

We did *officially* close on the house last night.:D We should get the keys by this afternoon. It was such a great feeling to sign the last papers and be done with the ordeal. Time to get started on that nursery!!

[Mommy2ml]

quick update...
I am exhausted. I got great news yesterday evening - my friend's neice who was sick with menningistis has nearly fully recovered andis going back to camp next week and can walk and talk again! :)

BUT then I got home and was laying downto sleep and Rob goes and says "Oh yeah, your Dad called. Your mom's in the hospital, they think she might have had a stroke..." :eek:
I practically lept out of bed! I calledmy dad's cell and he told me a little more of what's happening...

My prents are on vacation. They drove down to FL to visit my Grandpa - who is turning 90 next month - and then on the way back they like to visit different cities and states they have not seen before. They were in Savannah GA From Monday, then yesterday they were going to move on. But my mom started feeling sick - dizzy, and herright side got numb/weak. My dad called an ambulence and they got her to the hospital. When she got there her BP was something like 280/something, but by the time I spoke with them it was down to around 180-something over something. Still high, but better. They were keeping her overnight obviously, and have been doing a ton of tests, though they have no concusions yet. I don'tknow what to do at this point... I don't think we could scrape the money togetherfor a flight down there, assuming my doc would even allow me to fly... I was up most of the nightn the bathroom, my stomach killing me,and got maybe 4hrs sllep total. Taking today off...

Please keep my mom in your thoughts and prayers!

[MichelleRenee]

picture not working...

[Ericka_Jarett]

Hi ladies,

Thanks so much for the thoughts and prayers. I was released this morning from the hospital. They did all my vitals and had me on the monitors for the baby's heart for about 30 mins. Everything was perfect and beautiful the nurse said. The doctor had come in about 30 mins earlier and he checked my cervix, said that there was less pressure than when I first got there and was between a fingertip and 1cm dilated and asked when I was seeing a doctor next, told him I see my OB next Tuesday and he said great. We will get you discharged to leave as soon as your done breakfast and dressed. While I ate the nurse had the monitors on and so as soon as I was done and she disconnected me from the monitors and got the IV out of my arm (it was only capped with no bag since yesterday morning) I was free to dress and get heading home. Nurse didn't want me to have to wait 1 hour for an escort so she let us just walk out instead of being wheeled. I got my discharge orders and will talk to my peri on Tuesday since his office is right next to the OB's. I will have weekly appts to check the progress and hopefully make it at least another 5 weeks. If I have to deliver before 32 weeks it will be at University of Penn (best NICU department in the region), if after 32 weeks they said it could be my original hospital.

I have more of what went on in my journal, didn't want to flood in here with my info. It's great to be back on the net and especially at home, since last night I was in a shared room and a lot of drama was going on with my roommate (that's in my journal)

Thanks again for all your care and concerns. This weekend will probably be getting the carseat so it can be installed and getting the hospital bag packed up and ready, along with a preemie/newborn outfit to come home in. Although he will most likely just be in a onesie (which Jarett brought with him to the hospital, just in case) and a receiving blanket.

[She-Ra]

Mommy2ml:Goodness-I hope you find out more about your mom soon & all is OK.

I had a sucky Dr. appt today.
-Up 16 lbs total.
-Need iron supplements.
-Failed the 1 hour GTT by a lot. I passed by a long shot with DS, so the MW was suprised, especially when I told her I had nothing sweet in 48 hours.
-Got orders for my rhogam shot, so I just went straight to the hospital b/c it is right across the street. Waited forever for blood work to be done & then the shot in my butt.

We didn't do a hospital tour this time, so the fun part was seeing all of the preggos in labor walking around. I forgot to peek in the nursery though.


ETA: We cross posted Ericka-so glad to hear from you personally, and that you were released!

[Quartercentury]

She-Ra, I don't think I've mentioned this before, but GD testing is not routine in the UK. You can read about why here (http://www.rcog.org.uk/resources/Public/pdf/Antenatal_Care.pdf) (discussion of GD and GD testing begins on page 96). If I remember correctly, this report says that the false positive rate for the one hour fasting GTT is more than 50%. I wouldn't sweat the 'failure.'

[Ericka_Jarett]

She-ra - Thanks. Sorry to hear you failed the GTT. I know the 3 hour stinks, so make sure to take a good book or something to do to pass the time. It could have been too many carbs in a short time period. I didn't realize what they classified as carbs until I got onto the GD diet. Most people don't fail the test because of sweets it's usually from the other things. (chips, corn, beans, breads, pasta, potatos, fruit even) You will probably pass the 3 hour no problem. And even if you didn't for some reason, you may just be able to control it with diet, which is what I have been doing since I was diagnosed at 8 weeks. If you have questions I will do my best to help you out.

[She-Ra]

QuarterCentury: Wow. Very interesting. Thanks for that link, it does make me feel better. I also skimmed through a lot of the document to seek out any more "guideline" differences & saw that alcohol consumption is limited to 1 unit a day in the UK. Makes me feel completely not guilty about my 2x/month glass of wine. :)

Ericka: You are very sweet. I didn't have a lot of carbs around dinner, but I did in the morning/lunch yesterday. My MW suggested the book also. Maybe I'll take DS's DVD player also. It is pretty small.

[lawgirl4]

ericka - glad to hear from you - and glad that all is well. take it easy and let's hope baby can stick it out in there for 5 more weeks!

mommy2ml - *really* hope your mom is okay, and doing better. let us know how things are going.

[Bubeleh]

Erika Glad to hear you are doing well and are home! What drama with your roommate. If she only knew you had been in her shoes before.

Shower My sister is throwing me a shower on 9/9, I'm so excited. She send me a mock-up of the invitiation (she's a matha stuart in training) and they are so cute. Its shapped like a ball and each layer has a different page of info.

Appt Had my 30 -week today. Everything is great, up 1 more lb, bp low and urine is clean. She said I'm a boring patient, but that's a good thing. Heartbeat was pounding away, and she gave us a recommendation for a pediatrician. I'm not on the every 2-weeks plan so next appts are 8/10, 8/24 & 9/7

Its seeming very real now!

[marathongirl]

ericka - so glad you're home!!! I hope your little guy stays put for a bit longer!

*****

I am so far behind it's not even funny! My sister, DD, and I had an all girls' sleepover last night at my parents house and I finally brought my new sewing machine home today. I've actually been in sewing classes the last 3 days, which is a nice break for me.

Hope everyone is doing well! I'll catch up eventually :rolleyes: .

[Sua]

Ericka - Glad to hear you are resting comfortably at home. I hope all continues to improve and the little guy stays put for a while!

Mommy2ml - I hope your mom is doing better! Thinking positive thoughts for her speedy recovery.

All went well at my appt this week. Took the one hour GTT and checked my iron levels. I havent heard anything, so I am thinking both were okay.

We set the date for baby brother's birth. October 5th, unless he decides to make a run for the border at an earlier date. It seems so strange to have that planned!

Take care all!:D

[MidwesternGal]

Ericka--So glad to hear you are home!! I'm praying you hit 35 weeks (or more!). Thank your DH for posting for us!

Mommy2ml--Your mom is in my thoughts!
_________________________
Sorry I've been MIA. We took my sister to the airport yesterday morning. It was sad, she cried and so did my parents. I tried not to but did anyways. At least I know she'll be back for a short visit in the late winter of next year.

So funny little story (especially for you "city" girls). . . . we had a bad storm the other night. . . it knocked out my modem. . . AND lightning struck a COW in the pasture across the road!! It was so gross, because they had to leave the cow by the side of the pasture so it could be collected and checked by the vet. (I'm guessing they had insurance on them. . . cows are worth $800-1,000+ each). All the other cows and calves were standing there staring at the poor thing. It was kinda sad and gross at the same time. But only in the midwest do you hear about cows getting hit by lightning!!

I too am starting to get more uncomfortable. My stomach is huge and my boobs are starting to rest on the top (eww!). I'm starting to WADDLE!!! Acckk!!! And. . . . I had to break down and buy even BIGGER maternity clothes.

[Nigellas]

Ericka - So glad to hear you are home! How scary that must have been!

[Mommy2ml]

Erika - glad you're home and doing better!

Update on my mom - She was sounding better this afternoon, but I just spoke with her now and she got some news from the docs... She has both brain and heart damage. It seems it has been happening over time. They haven'tgone into detail about how much or how bad, but once they stabilize her BP, they'll let her come home, but she willneed tofollow up with a neurologist and cardiologist ASAP and be on some kind of intensive program. She does not know yet if she'll be allowed to go back to work,or be able to come fall (she is a prek teacher). they have her on somekind of Bet Blocker for now, thenthey willhave to switch herto maintenence meds once herBP comes down and stabillizes...

I am goingback to work tomorrow. I think I will sleep a little better havingspoken withher andknowing she's still ok mentally, but still quite worried about if she will make a full or even partial recovery or not and how soon.

[Ericka_Jarett]

Rebecca - I just noticed the question you asked about a regular cerclage. The doctor will not be doing a cerclage since I am 30 weeks already, they usually just do them up until 24 weeks. Since my cervix is already thinned out and 1 cm, no reason to get one, since it would be taken out in 4 weeks anyway, plus he doesn't want to introduce an infection to an already fragile environment. The pessary is still holding and will stay until 36 weeks unless I end up in labor before then.

Bubeleh - My roommate really was a trip, I did feel bad for her, but at least she is farther along than I was with Rebekah, even though she is not out of the woods until she finally delivers. They are nicknaming the baby Nemo (real name is Nehemiah), so when they tried the monitors yesterday her bf said that's my boy, finding Nemo. (his heartbeat was not being found on the monitors without a lot of chasing) I would mention to the nurses about my loss when they asked about history, so I am sure my roommate heard me several times. I know she has to be miserable on hospital bedrest for a week already, but her frustration doesn't help things. It is her 1st pregnancy and she is in her 20s.

I must say it's hard when the nurses or doctors meet you and ask for a little history and ask what # pregnancy this is and I have to say 2nd, and that the other was an infant loss at 24 weeks. At least I take the reassurance that I am 6 weeks beyond the time of my loss, so it makes things a little easier in that respect. Only 1 time did I feel bad about having to be there. It hit me during registration. I just thought to myself, why do I have to go through this again with another baby. I only want a healthy happy baby. I am happy though and knowing he is healthy no matter what happened, makes me feel good knowing that survival is excellent for him if he did come now. here's to 5 or more weeks.

[maplekitty]

ericka - I'm glad you're home and doing well!! You rest up and I'm thinking about you guys!

mommy2ml - im thinking about your mom too! I hope she keeps her spirits up!

[SlvSpring]

Ericka-So glad you are home! I've been thinking about you all week! I pray that your little guy will stay put for another 5 weeks. That must be painful to have to relay your "history" again and again..... I can't imagine. I'm sorry. It's good to have you back. :)

Mommy2ml- Sorry to hear about your mom. Glad to hear she will be home soon, it must be so hard to have her away from you. I hope she is able to recover and get the help she needs once at home.

She-ra-Sorry to hear about your test! Hopefully you can pass the 3 hour one and it sounds you have some realy great ideas on how to pass the time.

[Ericka_Jarett]

Thanks so much ladies. I am glad to be back, have missed reading what's been going on with everyone.

Mommy2ml - think my other post was lost. Sorry to hear about your mom, glad she is getting better though.

[Tika]

Rippy---Yay! We are having our shower the same weekend!:cool:

MichelleRenee--- Congrats on finally closing on the house. I know that it must be exciting!

Mommy2ml--- I pray that your mom will be OK. Try not to worry too much!

Ericka--- Good to see that you were released and comfortably resting a home. Take it easy!

She-Ra--- Sorry to hear about your appt. How long will you have to take the iron? I‘m sure you will get past it.

As for me, still in NYC and getting tired! I am so glad that this is my last business trip!!!!

[Delta]

I just wanted to stop by this thread and post after lurking for a while.

I'm due in early October. We are having a boy. We have another son who is 2.5. I'm considered high risk because I have a blood clotting disorder for which I must give myself heparin injections twice a day during pregnancy, and I have to get way too many ultrasounds, among other things. I had an emergency csection (under general anaesthesia) with my son so needless to say I am very eager to avoid that again and am planning a VBAC. Although, right now baby is breech so I'm hanging out on my hands and knees with my butt up in the air a lot, trying to get him to turn. I'm pretty crunchy when it comes to babies and birthing and if I had my druthers I'd be having this baby at home in my tub, but that is not to be for me with my history, unfortunately.

Anyway, that is me in a nutshell. :)

[maplekitty]

Welcome Delta - never too late to join us! :)

[Sept&Oct06Moms]

delta - nice to see another October mommy. If you would like to be added to the roster if you can post your stats we will add you right away.

username
Me: name, age
DH: name, age
Married: date
Any other children: name, b-day
EDD:
NAME:
Gender: It's A Boy

[Rippy1010]

Welcome, Delta!

[Jenzen01]

Ericka - I'm so glad you're home and all is looking up. I just know you'll keep that baby in there a little longer! Take it easy ... and thanks again for all the updates you do on this thread.

Mommy2ml - So sorry to hear about your mom, but happy to hear she's stabalized. Hang in there!

As for me, I'm having a pity-party sort of day. My clothes don't fit, and I just want to sit here and cry. Between the heat, the constant peeing, DH snoring and my sore back, I didn't sleep well last night. DS was crabby this morning. I think DH is sick of my crying. I'm just tired of everything right now ... Oh yeah, and I've gained about 25 pounds already.

Sorry for being so down today, but I just need a break ...

Jen

[Ericka_Jarett]

Thanks so much for that Jenzen. Thanks for your compliments, I really appreciate it.

[Mommy2ml]

Thank you everyone for your well wishes for my mom! I will be calling her again later today to see how things are going. Each time I call they have more info, so that;'s good. The better they know what is happening, the better they cna treat it I think. My mom told me yesterday that they better be able to treat her an dget her up and around again as she is in no way ready to "check out", she's still young (54) and has no plans to die anytime soon. I have to say I was crying after I got off the phone wfor hearing that. It has not reallly occurred to me that my parents, relatively young still, could die anytime soon or in the foreseeable fture and it just upsets me to think of it as even possible. :( Trying very hard to think positive though.

Update on me... hanging in there I guess. I got more sleep last night than the previous night. I was up some with MAckie, seems either her allergies are flaring or she has some kind of bug in her system, her coughing kept waking us both up and I spent much of the night "mommying" giving her Robitussin, rubbin gher back, giving her water, cuddling her, and more back rubbing till she was ready to flal back to sleep and told me to tuck her in and go back upstairs :) yes, she said to me "I want you to cover me" then "I want you to go upsatairs now and I go back to sleep" so cute :) Thos types of wakings I certainly do not mind, though I am missing the sleep today :) I am taking her to the peds this afternoon to be on the safe side, we have 2 playdates tomorrow and I would hate to have to cancel if she has strep or something... thwy can get her started today on antibiotics and then she'll not be contagious by tomorrow... (of course I could be by then, but hopefully I won't catch whatever it is LOL) We're going to the Long Island Children's Museum and then later on have a pool party we were invited to :) big day!

BAby Logan seems to be doing well. Lot's of big movements, I have has a lot of additional joint pain lately too, but nothing seriously debilitating or horrible. Mostly in my lower back and hips and every joint below that :P But I'll live :)

I am just tryong very hard to think and live positively as possible. Whatever might happen, I need to stay positive and remember to destress for Logan's sake at least. and I certainly do not need to end up on bedrest or hospital now myself because of stress either, so I realy need to be careful now I think.

I know I had other shout outs I wanted to do, but I just cannot remember them right now, so please forgive me

[KimberDK]

Erika - I am so happy to see you back home and doing well. You were on my mind these last few days, and the girls in my prenatal yoga class are rooting for you too! You said the most important thing: already your baby boy is extremely viable right now. I'm sure you can hang on a few more weeks, but whatever happens, things are looking pretty darn good for you. :)

Mommy2ml - I know what you mean about not ever thinking your parents could die yet. My mom had an abnormal mammogram last week and she started talking that way too, but it ended up being a cyst. Anyway, your mom is so NOT going anywhere anytime soon. She is doing fine now, and people have those minor stroke-type things all the time and just go on with their life. My husband is a neuroradiologist (most likely, the exact type of doctor that diagnosed your mom) and I know he sees these a lot. He always tells me about his day and I ask 1000 questions so I have gotten kind of familiar with a lot of the stuff he sees. I think if she's already functioning at the level she is and the stroke activity has stabilized, then she's ok. It's not like the brain damage keeps happening after the fact - if she can walk and talk and think and everything now, she will continue to do so. Her damage obviously isn't all that severe, right? Best wishes to you and her, and I am hoping that everything goes as smoothly as possible for her.

[MichelleRenee]

We got the keys to our house last night and started moving in!! Very exciting! I probably won't be online much this weekend because we will be busy.

I have been very uncomfortable lately, and while most people say it is normal pregnancy stuff others say I should be worried. Basically, any time I am on my feet I feel a ton of outward pressure on my belly and I ache all over, from my ribs to my belly to my back to my butt. I assume it is just the weight I am carrying but when some people see I am uncomfortable/in pain they ask why I'm not going to the hospital or calling my doctor. I intend to tell my doctor at my appointment on 7/7, and for now I just try to avoid being on my feet for extended amounts of time. I really thought it was just normal aches and pains of pregnancy. So if anyone knows of this not being normal, just let me know.

[Mommy2ml]

michellerenee - have you considered trying something like the Belly Bra (www.bellybra.com) I wear mine whenever I start feeling that way and it really gives some big improvement for me... My MW suggested it when I was pg with Mackie and the difference was huge then too :)

Kimber - They have not located any kind of a clot yet, I think it might already be gone or something. She is startign the regain use of her arm and get the feeling back in the foot/leg so those are all good signs. I just worry that it's taking so long to get her BP stable and am worried that this just happened so sudeenly, like could it happen again? Could it happen to my dad at some point for no apparent reason as well? Could it happen to her again only worse sometime in the future? I just am filled with all these "what if"s and worries. Plus my Nana (mom's mom) calle dme lat night to tell me how worried she is about my mom and how it's eating her up that this is happening, etc... so she vented to me and likely feels a bit better and now I get to process her stuff too :P I guess I just listen really well maybe...

Anyway, I appreciate the posiive thoughts and prayers for my mom!

Oh yeah - I go the co-sleeper yesterday! Turns out the PO was holding it after all, just never left a note saying they had it and to come and get it. The woman was all giving me a refund already, I checked with the PO one more time and they did have it, so all is well with that at least there is one less worry right? :)

[Rippy1010]

MichelleRenee ~ First ... congrats on the house!! Second ... I've had a ton of aches and pains when I stand up, or am walking around, too ... sometimes I make little faces from discomfort and my coworkers DO give me strange looks. But, I also just chalked it up to normal pregnancy soreness. I often wonder why I have more aches and pains than my coworker who is 3-4 weeks ahead of me ... but I realize that everyone carries differently. So, maybe depending on however you are carrying the weight, that is causing you the extra aches. Lately I've had much back pain, hip pain, and pubic-area pain. Also, I'm starting to have the "pitted edema" in my lower legs and feet. I was going to mention the pitted edema to my doc in passing, but hadn't really thought of mentioning the aches unless it was something that started to cause extreme pain.

Jenzen01 ~ I hear ya on the pity party. I've been having myself one of those, too. I also think that DH is sick of my crying. Poor guy ... I don't blame him. I'm sick of my crying, too. :( And, I too am just "tired of everything right now". I just had a moment of that when I went out to lunch. It occurred to me that I was being so irritable that just walking and living and hearing noise was annoying me. :o So, don't worry ... we can have a pity party together. ;)

[MidwesternGal]

Welcome Delta!

Jenzen01--You are more than welcome to have a pity party--we totally understand! I too am up around 23 pounds or so, and as I mentioned in an earlier post, I had to go out and buy even bigger maternity clothes. Every photo I get back looks likes my chest is sitting on my tummy. . . ugh! So I can totally relate. Combined with DH and work and the heat, and now we are all getting to be pretty uncomfortable, it just isn't fun anymore, is it?! So go right ahead and you know what? Cry, because it seriously just might make you feel better!!

[bunnybeth]

Mommy2ml Hope your mom is doing better soon. I'm sure it will be better for her once she stabilizes and is able to go home. Very tough stuff, you and your family are in my thoughts.

Ericka So glad to hear you're back from the hospital. It must be easier to relax at home. Here's hoping the little guy stays put for as long as possible! Though it's great to hear he has an excellent chance of survival already, I totally understand just wanting a healthy, happy baby to bring home.

She-ra Sorry to hear you failed the 1 hour, but I have heard the high false positive rate for it as well. Hope things go better with the 3 hour.

Bubeleh Sounds like really cute little invites!

Delta Welcome! Hope your little one turns soon, so you can give VBAC a try.

---

Called the OB yesterday and found out I passed the 1 hour GTT. Happy that I don't have to do the 3 hour, I have enough going on this next month! The big childbirth class is tomorrow. I'm looking forward to finding out more about all the labor/delivery and childcare stuff, but not so looking forward to waking up early (we have to leave before 8am) and being there the entire day. Wish DH could have done the 6 week class, but oh well.

[maplekitty]

here's my latest belly shot

http://images1.snapfish.com/347734376%7Ffp357%3Enu%3D3266%3E%3A7%3B%3E274%3EWS NRCG%3D3233998%3B%3C8445nu0mrj

[MichelleRenee]

Mommy2ml, yes. Someone here recommended it, and while it helps, it doesn't help 100%.

Jenzen01, if it helps I've gained over 30 already.:o

Rippy1010, I guess that's the thing is that sometimes I make a face or a sound that freaks people out and then they freak me out. I also have never had strong muscles in any part of my body, so I figure it is just harder for me to carry the extra weight. I've gained 30 pounds, which is about 30% of my original body weight. Put in that context it sounds a lot worse than it actually is!

[Quartercentury]

Welcome, Delta! :)

Mommy2ml, I'm glad your mom is doing better.

Happy weekends, ladies!

[jbemommy]

Hugs to everyone who is achy and grumpy. :p My mood is much better now that DH is done with the play and is actually home in the evenings to help with DD. I'm definitely more achy with this pregnancy than with DD. I've gained about 30 pounds, too, and had to buy a bigger pair of khaki pants yesterday. So far everything else fits. I don't know what it is with me and khaki pants--they always seem to shrink or something--they fit fine and then suddenly are too tight.

Went shopping yesterday (we live 1.5 hours from any decent shopping), and went into Babies R Us for things like breast pads and new nipples for our Avent bottles. Still managed to spend over $100, and that was avoiding the layette clothing section like the plague--one advantage to not knowing what we're having, I can't be overwhelmed by cute baby clothes yet. Anyway, I am so glad we can still use our baby stuff from DD, we just need a double stroller. I remember *several* $500 shopping trips in that store with her. I got a baby book, too. I really hope I keep it up as well as I did with DD. I always felt sorry for my younger brother, his baby book was pretty skimpy compared with mine.

[hmdelf]

Jenzgen- I am with you. I have been so grumpy lately too! You are allowed to have a pity party.
Ericka-i am so relieved to hear all is ok with you. Hang in there!
Delta-Welcome
Maplekitty- great shot
Bunny-great job passing the test. i took mine yest. and will find out Mon if I passed or not.
Mommy2ml-Finally! ThAT's great!!!
Michellerenee-Yah for the keys! Have a great time moving in, but be careful not to overexert yourself!!

[Nigellas]

Hey Delta- Welcome aboard! :)

Jenzen –I’m so there emotionally too, and I don’t have the added stress of another child on top of all the pregnancy woes. Hang in there. (((hugs)))

MichelleR – How exciting about the house! Post a picture for us when you are settled! :)

Rebecca – Yeay for finally getting the cosleeper – Booo to the stupid post office!

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

Nothing new for me, except for the huge dent in my bank account from all of the online shopping I've been doing (Gotta keep myself busy while bedresting! haha)

[Pamela]

30 week pic

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/MrsPamela/Baby/30weeks2dats.jpg

We bought the crown moulding for the nursery today (finally!). Got to paint it next, then hopefully it goes up quickly.

Mommy2ml, glad your mom is doing better!

MichelleRenee, Congrats on closing on the house!

Nigellas, bedrest + laptop = major online shopping! I entertained myself plenty of times ordering baby stuff online :p

Bunnybeth, yay for passing the 1 hour GTT!

[marathongirl]

delta - welcome!

bunnybeth - yeah for passing the 1 hour GTT!

michellerenee - hooray for house keys! Congrats!

jenzen - yup, anymore I'm Miss Crankypants too.

maplekitty and pamela - great belly shots!

ericka - how are you feeling?

nigellas - I've put a huge dent in our budget too. I gave DH permission to hide my credit cards for a bit. :rolleyes:

Hope everyone is doing well!

[Ericka_Jarett]

Sue - thanks for asking. I am feeling pretty good, baby is sitting low today so have a lot of pressure on my bladder, but otherwise going well. I am slowly catching up on my sleep that I didn't get while in the hospital that first night. We were suppose to have some company tonight but we had that storm come through and they were only 5 exits away from home on the NJ turnpike and had left almost 1 hour earlier to get here. So they called and said roads were flooded so we had to postpone until probably Sunday after they get out of church. (I won't be at church for the next at least 2 months most likely, until baby is delivered and a few weeks after that) In prep for the company Jarett moveda bunch of stuff, just needs to vacuum, so when they said they were not able to come, he said well can hold off on vacuuming now. Silly man. :)

[Sept&Oct06Moms]

Updated to Here

[Bubeleh]

Where is everyone getting baby books from. I haven't found any that I like yet!

Welcome Delta!

Michelle - Have fun moving in the weekend!

We decided to go ahead and paint the nursery and change the window treatments, so I'll be making a trip to lowe's or Home Depot this weekend! We contacted our painted, and he's going to stop by and schedule the job. Then we can buy the furniture!!!! I told myself I was going to wait until August to start doing everything in the nursery so its very exciting that its finally here.

Have a great weekend everyone!

p.s. We found our Ped this week too!

[Rippy1010]

New QOTD ~ I've been sitting on the fence about pediatrician vs. using family doctor. So, I thought I would introduce a new QOTD. Are you getting pediatricians, or are you using your family doctor? How did you decide? I can't decide ... I'm so up in the air about it.

[Ericka_Jarett]

QOTD - Right now I say we will look for a ped, but since we are moving soon after the baby comes, will probably just use the family doctor until than. I have to check with my high school friend about who she uses since she lives near where we will be moving to most likely.

[lawgirl4]

baby books - I have 2 that I really like:

1. Baby's Journal, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/lawgirl4/baby%20stuff/babyjrnl.jpg

2. My Baby's Journal, published by Ryland, Peters and Small

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/lawgirl4/baby%20stuff/babyjrnl2.jpg

and as a pregnancy journal, I've been using

3. Waiting for Baby, by Tracey Clark

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/lawgirl4/baby%20stuff/waitingforbaby.jpg

All are available on Amazon... though I bought them at Borders. I spent a LOT of time in the baby book section and liked these the most!

[MichelleRenee]

Moving is hard! Even when you aren't doing anything!

Mike set up a little "station" for me to sit at while everyone else does the moving. It is a comfy chair in the shade where I can still see/talk to everyone but can also sit and relax as needed. We are very excited to be able to finally start getting the nursery ready too. I love just standing in there imagining what that room will be like 6 months from now...:D

I hope everyone is staying hydrated in this heat. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

P.S. I sent out my virtual shower gift today.:D

I will have a pic for the front page when Tristan arrives.

[jbemommy]

I got my baby book at hallmark. It's the traditional kind with pages for pregnancy, baby shower, delivery info, and a page for each month of the first year. Also pages for pics. I intended to scrapbook, but quickly realized there's no way that's happening. But I have been really good about keeping DD's baby book and photo albums up to date.

I won't be posting a baby pic. I'd love to, but have made a decision not to post pics of my children online.

[MidwesternGal]

So funny story here. . . . you all know the Tide Pen commercial with the pregnant woman eating ice cream and scraping it off her tummy??. . . Well. . . . I was eating ice cream this afternoon, and it fell. . . and I scraped it off my tummy too!!! DH about DIED laughing!! I was like, oh boy. I am DEFINITELY pregnant!!! :p

Doctors--We will be using the same doc for delivery as we will for a family doc. She's actually a D.O. who specializes in family medicine. This way, if any of the 3 of us will be sick, we all go to the same clinic, same doc, etc. Much easier!

Baby's Book--We bought a Noah's Ark themed one from Baby Depot (in the back of Burlington Coat Factory). We got a matching photo album, and then my mom found an *almost* identical scrapbook from Hobby Lobby that comes with borders and pages! So we're definitely set. An idea for those of you starting your baby books. . . if you have a grandparent's page, have them fill it out in their own handwriting. We did this and the grandparents loved the idea, and I think our child will cherish it when they are gone.
_____________________________
Not much else to say. My furbaby is upset because I won't let her play outside (heat index of 110 today!). It's supposed to be that hot tomorrow and Monday too. Ugh! Is anyone else craving a big, FAT margarita right now??

Tonight I'm going to a "Pure Romance" party. I told the hostess that I thought DH and I pretty clearly didn't need any help in that area, considering we're preggo, but that I'd come anyway. . . I've never been to one, so it should be interesting, at the very least!

ETA: We will be posting a photo after delivery, but maybe not right away, depending on how I feel.

[Ericka_Jarett]

Baby Book - I have a Noah's Ark one that I bought for Rebekah, didn't have lots of info filled out in it, so when she was born I just made a little scrapbook up instead, since most info wouldn't be used in the book. I actually just finished filling in some info in the book as well as putting the u/s pics on scrapbook paper for the back of the book.
http://www.baby-memory-books.com//photos/CR-B2-2618-2.jpg

Midwestern - too funny about the ice cream and scraping it off.

[dzmattie]

Erika - Glad that you are doing better and praying for a few more weeks of baking for your little one! Take it easy and we will be thinking of you.

Rebecca - hope your mom is doing better!

Midwestern - that is funny! I find alot more clothes getting stains from me dropping things on my belly!! :)

Delta - welcome! I think I remember you from the thread for our 1st borns!

MichelleRenee - hope moving day went well! Sounds like you had a good setup!

----------------
We will be using a pedi for DD as we do for DS.

Erika & Michelle - I won't be posting pictures of DD when she arrives. Thanks for being so organized though!

[Ericka_Jarett]

For anyone interested, target.com has a 10% off code TCFURNMF is the code

While working on the baby book last night, I was a little down, we were invited to a grad party for a kid that just returned from a 4 month mission trip and I wasn't able to go. I ended up getting a checklist together for the hospital bag, got the tolietries packed up and now just to have hubby gather everything else up for the bag and pull our bag out of storage. Hubby came into the bedroom and said that he knows it will make him and I both feel better once we have the carseat in our hands, so within a few days we should have it. Since we are buying the travel system, he said to make sure there are other things on the registry for people to get. I added a few things I was debating on. Mostly because I didn't want to get the items when I could really use them buying me the carseat or something else important.

Thought my doctor's appt was Tuesday, but it's Thursday so we may go then or he may just get it tomorrow on his way home from work. A local woman was having a big baby sale today at her home, she has a SnugRide carseat for $10 and a hospital sale crib for $15. Wanted to see a pic, but I think we are going to pass, since she said the carseat is used, and if it's a hospital crib like I think, it's probably just a partial drop side. (we are probably going to wait on a crib until we get to our own place, we have no where to store it right now and we already have a place for him to sleep for at least a few months.)

Virtual Shower Recipient - you should have your gift no later than early next week. It's being sent now. :)

[Sept&Oct06Moms]

Changes - If anyone needs ages changed, please pm me with the info, so the change can be made. Please check the front page of due date buddies and check to see who you are matched up with and if you are going to be calling each other, pm each other your phone numbers, if you are just calling to let someone know, than no need to share phone numbers unless you want to.

Virtual Shower - Please be sure to get your gift out to your receiver by mid-August. If you need their address again please pm me. We have 16 participants I believe and so far one has received their gift.

We will probably have the baby arriving thread go until the babies are 3 months and than we will start a new thread, we will see how many posts we get in the threads and go from there.

[Quartercentury]

Midwestern, I have been dropping food on my belly a lot lately, and I'm not even that big yet!

(Note to self: new belly shot due!)

My sister gave us a baby book at my Very Early Baby Shower, published by Peter Pauper Press. I haven't seen it online... It's perhaps a bit more pastel-laden than I would have chosen, and has blank slots for things I don't plan to do (like "Mother and baby came home from the hospital on ____" and "Night feeding eliminated at ___ weeks") but it's got lots of nice space for photos and goes up through the kid's fifth birthday!

We hopefully won't be seeing a pediatrician while we're living here - in the UK, pediatrics is a pretty specialized field, and your child wouldn't normally be referred to one unless he or she was quite sick (needing to be hospitalized). We'll just be taking the baby to see one of the family doctors in the practice where FH and I are patients.

I will post a baby photo eventually and will send out my virtual shower package this week!

[Rippy1010]

I will be posting a newborn photo!

[MichelleRenee]

Hi everyone. The move went well but I have been feeling very crappy. I just wanted to see if anyone here thinks it is something that could be serious.

It started Saturday night as horrible, horrible gas pains. Every 5 minutes or so a wave of pain would just roll through my stomach. I was in tears. I would have thought I was in labor if the pain had been near my abdomen, but it was definitely my stomach. It just felt like the worst gas pains ever. In the morning I had a BM (I know, TMI) and it made me feel better, although I still had stomach cramps. My stomach hurt all day with this crampiness and I had no appetite. The lack of appetite could have been due to the heat though.

This morning it is still crampy. I am willing to bet it is just the baby growing and crowding my stomach, or the heat or both, and I don't think it warrants an unscheduled dr visit. I see him a week from today. I haven't eaten as much as I probably should since yesterday, but I am eating and keeping food down and I am drinking plenty of water. The baby has been kicking like normal, which tells me he is OK.

Does is sound reasonable that I will wait until tomorrow and see if I feel better before calling the dr?

I hope everyone else is doing OK in the heat. Hang in there!!

[Rippy1010]

MichelleRenee ~ I was going to say maybe you are dehydrated from the heat/moving/etc. But, then I read that you have been drinking plenty. I'd say definitely get back to a normal eating routine to see if the pains go away. I know that when I skip a meal, or don't eat properly, I get little pains.



I have a question for everyone as well ... has anyone developed really bad snoring since becoming pg? :o I have actually started waking myself up at night. My DH used to be the snorer in the house, and now I'm keeping HIM up. :rolleyes:

[lawgirl4]

michellerenee - I feel like you and I have had such similar pregnancies! I've had that kind of pain twice. mostly on my left side, which has led my OB to believe that it's intestinal, since the colon is on the left side. she suggested upping my fiber intake, and it's been helping... I would let your OB know about it though, just in case.

[She-Ra]

I will most likely NOT be posting a baby picture on CC.

Dr.We use a pediatrician practice with about 4/5 dr's. DS has a PCP we see for all check-ups, and we have seen some of the other Dr's & CNP's when DS is sick. They have lactation consultants on staff, and Sat hours. My sister uses a family Dr. who was our family Dr. also. He is getting older, so we wanted someone who will still be practicing when our kids are teenagers.

Rippy: At dinner with 2 other of my friends who are PG, all of our husbands(after several martinis) delighted in telling each other tales of their wives snoring. You definitely aren't the only one.

Welcome Delta!

MichelleRenee: Sounds like an intestinal thing, but I'd call your Dr.

This child is poking me with his limbs. DS got to feel him doing it & screeched in delight.

I had a pre-natal massage yesterday that I needed so badly. My shoulders & back are quite happy today. Have a good week everyone.

[Pamela]

QOTD, family doc/ped, I'm going to be using a family doctor for the baby, unless she's not accepting new patients at the moment in which case I'll use a ped.

Baby Books, don't have one, not sure what I'll be doing.

Snoring, not me.


I'm going in to work half a shift this afternoon. They need extra help on OB today, so that means I get to go and play with babies :D

edited to add I will most likely NOT be posting baby pics, definately NOT one for the front page.

[Bubeleh]

Erika - Sorry you had to miss tha party, I'm sure they understood.

Michelle - I agree w/ pp that is probably gas/intestinal related. But You can always call your Dr. to ease your mind.

Snoring - I used to be a horrible snorer, but its gotten better in the last 5 years or so. Luckily it has not reappeared with the pg.!

Dr.: We are going with a Ped because I do not use a family Dr. Do those even still exist in LA?

Baby Book - Thanks for the feedback, I never thought to look at a bookstore or hallmark, great suggestions!

Weekend: I was in stroller hell this weekend. We spent about 4 hours on Sat and another 4 hours on Sun sompletely comparing 2 strollers side by side. I'm down to Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe in Fushion or the Chicco Cortina Travel System in Ice Berg. Any thoughts? I tried to make myself like a lighter stroller but I just didn't like the way they handled or the features.

Pictures - If I ever fnid time to learn how to use the new services I'll post some pics, but I'm not sure. Sorry I can't be more difinitive

[Jenzen01]

Morning, everyone.

Michelle - Sounds like intestinal stuff to me, too. I'm so sorry you're feeling icky lately. I know you've been uncomfortable.

Dr. - We have a family dr. for me and DS. He delivered Gabe and continued on as his dr., and he'll be taking care of this baby, too. He's a D.O. It's pretty nice to have someone who knows our family and family health history.

Baby book - For Gabe, I used the Pat the Bunny baby book. I got a baby book at Barnes & Noble for this baby that looks really nice. The Pat the Bunny book only went up to 1 year, and my new one goes up to year five.

I bought baby's going home outfit this weekend. I actually got one warmer outfit and one cooler outfit because I have no idea what the weather will be like in Ocotber. It's hit or miss here ... sometimes you get Indian Summer and sometimes you get freezing cold stuff.

Ugh. I had to buy new maternity pants this weekend. I'm not happy about purchasing new clothes this late in the game, but I'm so much more comfortable today.

It's supposed to be 100 degrees today with a heat index of 105-115. Holy crap. We don't have air, either.

Jen

[TaterBaby]

Just checking in...

I will be posting a pic of DD when she arrives!

Baby book: I scrapbook, so I will be going that route instead of the traditional baby book. I have one book completely devoted to the pregnancy and will start a new book when she arrives.

Virtual shower gift: My gift shipped on the 21st, but I haven't seen my recipient around since then. I'm assuming she received it.

[MichelleRenee]

Well in my first two hours at work I chugged down 2 bottles of water and now my stomach doesn't hurt anymore. Maybe I was dehydrated. I wouldn't be surprised with how hot it is. I typically drink about 50-60 ounces of water a day and that was about what I drank yesterday. I'm sure that with the heat I should have had more. It was hard to keep track of how much I actually had.

[maplekitty]

I will be posting a picture

QOTDS

baby doc - We will be using my OB who is also a family doctor. If there are serious problems with baby she will refer us to a ped.

gas pains - I'm getting really bad indigestion pains lately and it feels like my ribs are either seperating or something because I get a stabbing pain in the side of my ribs!! OUCH!

snoring - yup CUrt says I snore a lot, especially when I roll on my back! I've also developed a lovely habit of *drooling* LMAO!!! *rolleyes*

[Rippy1010]

I've also developed a lovely habit of *drooling* LMAO!!! *rolleyes*

OMG, maplekitty!!! ME TOO!!! I have developed both the snoring habit AND the drooling habit. What is UP with that?! I am just one attractive pg lady once my eyes close. LMAO!!

[Mommy2ml]

qotd-Definitely using the same Peds that we use for Mackie. I love that I can call and ask the nurses there stuff all the time and they have tons of info for us. I also love the Sat hours. I wish they had later evenings... they do in the Fall/Winter, but have earlier hours in the summer. They have approx 6 docs on staff... 1 I have never met, 1 I don't like an dthe remaining 4 I think we see as needed and like. There is the one doc that DD sees for her check-ups, and then any given day there are usually at least 3 docs on to take sick visits, or sometimes 2 in the mornings and 2 afternoons... however they work it, I call and we can usually come in right then. They are also affiliated with the hosp I gave birth to MAckie at and the one I will be birthing at for Logan. I like that they are always up on the latest stuff pertaining to childhood diseases, what is going around the area in the schools and camps and play groups and the latest info on the vaxes, etc.

Michellerenee Glad you're feeling a bit better - I would probably call just to be on the sfae side. If it is constipation, Colace can help wonders. I recall thinking I was in Labor I had such bad cramping a few months ago, turned out I was contipated... added a colace to my nightly meds (vitamins and allergy and stomach stuff, etc) and all has been well since a couple of days after that. I have always taken fiber, so I continue with that - so I take fiber and colace daily and I just about manage to stay regular - gotta love pg :p Keep in mind there is also a spot (I forget which side) near the stomach where if it hurts or is tender it could mean pre-eclampsia, so the doc might want to take a look to be safe. If you're already feeling better I really doubt that's it, but a friend of mine told me that's what started it for her when she was diagnosed with it, so I wanted to give you a heads-up.

Drooling while you sleep? I wake with my pillow and half my face soaked most mornings... very gross :P

-----------
how are we doing? I am feeling stuffed from my just eaten Gyro lunch :) Baby has been moving all over the palce today, which makes me feel much better since the past few days he has not moved all that much... mostly just at night. So now I feel better.

My mom is going to do rehab there in Savannah before coming home. She should be starting in the next day or 2 and then they estimate about a week or so before she can leave to go home. My brother is going to fly down and meet them and fly home with my mom so she does not have to deal with the drive home with my dad. My dad is going to drive home on his own. They are very hopeful now that my mom will regain all the skills and movements she lost to the stroke, she just has to "re-learn" them

I might post 1 picture when Logan is born I am not too crazy about the idea of posting pics on the unsecure web. For those on LJ I will be posting a very large numebr of pics on my LJ scrapbooks, assuming I have timea nd patience enough :)

I really need to stop spending and start cleaning... we're spending way too much an dthe place is a stye. Maybe I can focus my shopping energies to getting rid of as much junk as possible from the apartment.... LOL

[Michelle]

My appointment went well on Friday. I took my 1 hour and my number was barely passing. I'm still wondering if they will have me take the 3 hour or not. I passed, but barely so I'm a little nervous! I guess I'll just wait and see if they call. I survived the Rhogam shot! Just like any shot, it hurt more before thinking about it than it did it than during.

Has anybody not moved on to their 2 week appointments? At my appt Friday (29 weeks), they said they would just see me at 4 weeks again because there was really no reason to see me before then so the next time I go in, I'll be 33 wks. They said call if I had any concerns or want to come in before then so I guess it's no big deal. But it still makes me a little nervous.

Here's a new u/s picture of Madison. We're still trying to figure out if she has my nose or my husbands nose! :)

http://static.flickr.com/59/202623826_ecd70b9a04_m.jpg

[Jenzen01]

michelle - I still have one monthly appointment left before I go to 2-week intervals. At my next appointment, I'll be 32 weeks, and then I'll start going every two weeks until week 37 at which point I'll go weekly.

I'll post one pic if I get Internet access after baby comes.

[lawgirl4]

threadmistress - no baby pic for me.

michelle - great 3D u/s pic!

mommy2ml - hope that your mom's recovery continues to go well. :)

michellerenee - glad to hear you are feeling better!

jenzen - would love to see the going-home outfits if you can take a pic! hope you can stay cool somehow - maybe a cold bath, or at least soak your feet in some cold water? the heat index here is supposed to go up to 109 today (!!!) in Chicago.

[Mommy2ml]

I forgot to mention... I'll be sending my present for the virtual shower in the next day or 2 at latest, it's already boxed, just need to get to the PO :)

[maplekitty]

oh Michelle - what a cutie!!!! :D I love those 3d u/s!

[Bubeleh]

Madison is so cute!

[Michelle]

Thank you guys so much for the compliments on Madison! We are still in awe that we are able to see such detail! It's really crazy to look at that picture and think that's our baby!

[SlvSpring]

I will be posting a baby photo.:)

Snoring/Drooling- Oh yes, that is me!! I don't snore every night but for some reason I only sleep with my mouth open now and maybe that is why I drool?

Ped//Family Doc Question- Not sure yet..... I have mixed feelings about vaccinations so I want someone who is compatible with my feelings about that. I actually need to start realy seriously looking into that!

Michellerenee- Moving SUCKS, especially being preganant AND in the summer...I can tell you from experience. ;) You may want to look into drinking more water each day... we are supposed to have a minimum of 64 oz and with the heat I usually have about 80.

Michelle- What an adorable picture of Madison! The detail is amazing. My doctor has scheduled me for 2 wk appts starting now at 28weeks...sorry I can't be of more help.

Jenzen- How exciting that you got the coming home outfit! Try to stay cool. When I lived in a place without A/C I used take a cold shower anad then stand naked in front of a fan right before going to bed. It was like a homemade air conditioner. (sorry if that was TMI, anyone)

Mommy2ml- I'm glad your mom will be getting some help and your brother will be there with here.

ErickaJarett- how are you doing? (hope we are not driving you crazy asking all the time)

Bubeleh- Sorry about "stroller hell"! It is so hard to make decisions on baby-related items.... I totally understand.

Midwesterngal- I had to laugh at your scraping the ice cream story. I swear I get more food on my shirt then in my mouth these days so don't feel bad.... you are not alone. :rolleyes:

[Ericka_Jarett]

Well tonight was productive. Took a little break from bedrest (felt great to get a little walking in) to go to BRU and got our carseat (travel system) We feel much better knowing it's now in our possession, probably have hubby install the base in his car and the other will go in my car later. While at BRU we picked up a preemie closed in feet gown and hat set, just so we have it for if nothing fits him, it was on clearance so it was money we were ok with spending. Most of the preemie outfits looks bigger than they were sized for. This outfit is up to 5 lbs, but still looks like it could fit an 8lb baby. Also had to get a new phone charger for hubby's phone, since it was almost dead

I have my OB appt on Thursday, thinking she may reculture me to see if the bacteria is gone. I also have to call my peri tomorrow to make an appt, probably for next Tuesday to be seen.

We are still working on figuring out the name for our son. Our daughter was easy for me, but this one is tough.

Michelle - love Madison's picture, it's so cool to see her little face.

[Quartercentury]

Michelle, my appointments will be every three weeks (28, 31, 34) before moving to every 2 weeks for the rest of the pregnancy (36, 38, 40, and then 41 and/or 42). If I weren't a first timer, they'd only have me in this week (28 weeks) and at 34 weeks before moving to every two weeks.

And a new belly collage!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/quartercentury/October%202006%20Pumpkin/collagehorizontalto28weekscopy.jpg

[She-Ra]

QC: You really popped. Very cute

Michelle: What a great picture!

I am suddenly now double stroller obsessed. This is even harder than the single one b/c they are all so damn big! The Phil & Ted e3 is quite tempting, but there are no places to try them out locally since our Right Start closed. It is such an odd stroller, I don't want to buy online untested. Baby Jogger is my next favorite, having not actually looked at any doubles in person yet. I also like my zippy so much, I need to look at the swift. Have any other RO decided on a double?

I need to get a "winter" sling also. I have the bjorn & a woven cotton ring sling, but something cozier will be nice for fall/winter & let me procrastinate my double stroller decision. :)

[Mommy2ml]

She-ra- I have a sit n stand already - bought it pretty early on off craigslist and got about half off and the thing looks like new :) I am still debating if I might need a full double stroller or not... since DD is 3.5 I think we'll stay with what we've got for now. I do wnat to see about a new snap and g type of stroller for outings with just Logan while Mackie is in school though... (we're keeping her in school 3 days a wekk caus eshe starts pre-k next year and she needs to conitnue withthe preschool and keep up with her friends, etc)

updates for us- My mom started in rehab yesterday it turns out, so she's hoping to come home next week sometime as of now.

I plan to step up efforts to do my stay at home business. Been working hard for months an dnothing has come of it yet, but hoping I can get with my mentor and get things going.

My next doc appt is tomorrow. I should also be getting my hospital registration packet tomorrow to fill out and send in so we'll be checked in that much quicker.

The heat is unbearable and is supposed to get worse. Rob is working from home today because yesterday the a/c in his building went out an dhe does not want to risk heat stroke to go in today. I have a feeling he might just do the same tomorrow. Highs are supposed to be in the hundreds. Higfher with the heat index. They are actually keeping city pools an dsprinklers going later than usual this wek to hlp beat the ehat. So perhaps we'll go to a pool later today with Mackie. Thoguh we can only have one adult per child, so perhaps I will send Rob with MAckie and stay home myself in the a/c :)

The heat could be sending our area into a blackout sitch, I have little to no faith in ConEd at this point with all the allogations going on right now. Last heat wave this past month there was an outage in one town that lasted a good week and at least 1 person died. Not as bad as what happened in CA, but the heat was "only" in the 90s and the power went out because of fires and overloads that could have been avoided if the lines were maintained and prepped properly befor ethe heat hit. At least IMO. I mean the guy in chrge of ConEd is stil in the "hot seat" and is under big fire from a lot of politicians for the company's handling of things prior to and during the outtage :P

So I have really no reason to believe we'll continue to have power or a livable home ove rhte next few days... I really HOPE we will, but I am not gonna hold my breath :P Our last blackout we went through was in '03 and we had no power for 2 days nearly. Mackie was still on formula and we had to fight through wads of traffic (no traffic lights were working) to find a store that had ice and water and powdered formula so she could eat. She was maybe 6 or 7 months old at the time. NOT fun, but atleast we were on the 1st floor apartment and had a cross breeze when the sun went down. We're upstairs now and will have some MAJOR issues if it happens again!

Anyway, sorry so long, just a little vent aout the weather and politics and ConEd (who wants like $300 from us at last invoice, yet does not have the funds to maintain the *&^% power grid?!!!) more on other stuff later I am sure:)

[jbemommy]

double strollers I've been following the double stroller thread and doing a lot of research. It really is tough since we don't have anywhere to try them out except Babies R Us. They only have the Combi Sport and the Peg Aria. I'm probably going to end up with a Combi Twin Savvy EX, but am debating between that and the Mac. The mac gets more consistently good reviews, but there are things I like better about the Combi.

[Mommy2ml]

jbemommy - I went to the store and test drove the Mac and the combi SBS doubles. With my DD in one side and my very heavy pocket book on the other LOL I loved both too. They both handle smooth, but I loved the extra smoothness of the Mac, yet I really liked the way the Combi folds, and the storage pack, and the stroller bars with the cup holders, etc. My DD seemed to like both too, but we picked the Combi together... though I am still likely not to get it since she'd too onldto get much use out of it LOL Fortunately she liked the Joovy SNS, I have the babytrend SNS at home but have yet to show it to her yet - I fear she'll always want to take it places even before Logan is born! LOL

Defintiely my little girl - likes almost anything "new" LOL Last time I took her yard saling she kept asking "Can we go to another Ard Sale Mommy?" LOL :p Kid knows already how to get me to spend! LOL!

[bunnybeth]

Took the childbirth class on Saturday. It was a long day, but pretty informative. I love how much the hospital encourages different laboring positions and techniques. If possible, I'd love to use the tub. :) The nurses explained it's good to learn about the positions and breathing techniques, because even if you plan to use narcotics or an epidural, those can take some time to use because you have to be well into active labor. They are also ok with clear liquids during active labor, so I think I can "sneak" some in because the OB won't be around during most of the labor, unlike the nurses. I loved how the class was really geared to the husbands, as they are supposed to be the ones who remember the stuff when we're in pain. And, I loved the part where they had to massage us to practice relaxation techniques.

Michelle She's too cute!

baby book I saw a cute Beatrix Potter one I might get when we go to pick up the crib in a couple of weeks. I wasn't sure if this was something I might get at the baby shower or not.

dr We're going ped, because my PCP is an internist and doesn't really see many children. We've started looking into it, but I want to interview a couple before we make any decision.

snoring I used to snore just when on my back, but DH assures me I'll do it all the time now. I started using Breathe Right strips a few weeks ago, and they really help me.

Virtual shower Thank you Michelle for the puppy sleep sack!
http://trus.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-2898281reg.jpg
An appropriate choice from someone with a dog in their own avatar. ;) I think it looks even cuter in person.

I am having DH ship out my own virtual shower present today, so hopefully it will be received in a few days.

I will be posting a newborn photo

http://bunnybeth.net/images/pregnancy/belly_5w27w_short.jpg

[Mommy2ml]

adorable sleep sack!

My virtual shower gift just went out today, I sent it Priority with Delivery confirmation (what with all the trouble we all know I recently had with parcel post!;) LOL) so it should be there by the end of the week! :)

HOT HOT HOT!!! The heat wave is here and nearly smacked me over when I went out to go to the PO over lunch! Heat indexes in the 100-115 range or so with actual temps around 100 if I am not mistaken! Yuck!

Stay cool everyone! I am off to take a new water from the fridge!

[marathongirl]

Hi everyone! Hope you're all staying cool!

virtual shower - my gift should have been shipped yesterday, so my person should receive it very soon!

snoring - not me. My DH takes the cake in that dept. I'm just the queen of the insomniacs.

peds - we'll be going to the same group practice that DD currently goes to. We've been happy with the docs there.

Hope everyone is doing well!

[jbemommy]

mommy2ml Thanks for the stroller input! One concern I had with the Combi is that the seats don't sit fully upright. It didn't seem to bother DD in the store, but I wonder if she'd mind it for a whole shopping trip.

[Mommy2ml]

jbemommy I honestly did not notice.. but I can say Mackie said she liked it and it was "comfy" :) LOL the one thing I dislike about the SBS strollers in general though... they don't seem to have any with a one hand fold. I know my SNS has that and it will likely be a big lifesaver at some point. In that aspect I also found the combi to be slightly ahead... Once you start it folding it's really quick and easy... though the MAc is easier than it looks too, iirc it had more steps you had to take to get it folded... either way, I think I would be getting both kids settled fully in their seats in the car before folding either one... I could picture Mackie off and running across the parking lot as I drop the stroller an d try to grab and hold onto the baby while running... my car wide open, stroller in the mud, and my pocket book who knows where.... Then again I have been having some horrible nightmares about having 2 kids lately as it is, so i think that is lending itself to my imagination, yes? It was always nice having a one hand fold though :)

[lawgirl4]

qc - Wow! what a difference these past 2 weeks have made for you!

bunnybeth - you look great!

*****************************

it's beastly out today - but apparently a cooling trend is supposed to start tomorrow. I had a lovely pedicure this afternoon - definitely a good thing for these tired preggo feet!

hope everyone is managing to stay cool...

[maplekitty]

QC - you've totally popped, jusging by the pic, I'm guessing GIRL!

bunnybeth - great belly pic too!

virtual shower - sent today (will take 8-10 business days to ship! :rolleyes: )

*********

Update for me: baby is sitting *very high* and is literally in my ribs - so uncomfotable! I'm also getting massice indigestion every day, so I'm popping TUMS like they are going out of style!

My shower is this weekend and so far 30 people are coming...woah! I'm excited!! It's going to be a co-ed shower and it's a tropical island theme :D

We've been plugging along with the nursery. The wallpaper I ordered 3 weeks ago only just shipped last friday and *might* be here by this friday. I was so angry!! they told me 7 days! I really wanted it up and ready for the shower...so now we will see. I'm going to ask the manager for a discount since it's obvious someone forgot to put in the order!

Other than that...all is well. The heat wave has subsided and it's much more managable weather now! It even rained this weekend which was great for the plants and the forrest fires around here!

[MichelleRenee]

27w2d belly shot

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/AngelyWangely/Belly%20Shots/DSC00457.jpg

[MichelleRenee]

I've started receiving baby gifts and it is exciting! An ex coworker made a beautiful quilt for Tristan and FSIL gave me a gift bag full of clothes yesterday. She has a 2 month old boy and bought outfits so the boys can match next summer.:D Now that we are settled at the house I really need to get the nursery set up and start organizing and putting baby stuff away!

maplekitty, that sucks about the wallpaper. I hate when you have to wait and wait for things like that!

bunnybeth, sounds like the class was really helpful for you! I didn't know there might be massaging involved in the class. Makes me even more anxious to go to mine!:p Your belly looks great!

[Rippy1010]

I received my first baby gifts yesterday, too. From a "long distance" friend. Items off of my registry ... bottles, bottle warmer, and the little "organizer" for use as a drying rack or dishwasher organizer.

[Ericka_Jarett]

Yeah for 31 weeks!!!!! Still have several weeks but I'm glad to finally be at this point.

Hubby asked me to get items together for the hospital bag, as long as nothing was heavy. I have the whole bag packed except for a pair of pants for both hubby and I, our laptops and camera. Bag is a bit bigger than we really need for only 1-2 days but hoping that we can just put the laptop bag and camera bag in the duffel bag along with any extra things I can get from the hospital. Yesterday I put the 2nd headrest in the carseat and even went so far as to put the little toys on the handle (just so I wouldn't have to search for them later on)

I ended up organizing 3 of my dresser drawers while pulling items, hubby has been trying but when he puts items away he doesn't always put them in the right drawer.

Jarett put the stroller together the other night. It was funny watching him put it together, because some of the parts were not going on as easy as they should. I told him too bad I didn't video tape it. Last year I had to figure out how to open and close our pack-n-play (hubby still can do it easier than I can) and also put the bouncer seat together while at my mom's. I haven't pulled the bassinet down from the closet just yet, waiting to see if we are moving before, shortly after or a while after little one arrives. Easier to move the bassinet if it's not set up (all parts come apart and the bed part just gets snapped on)

[Mommy2ml]

I feel like crud today. Money problems = marriage problems for us and we're having tons. Our anniversary is this weekend and I feel like just not doing a thing, but we already have MIL coming over to watch Mackie, so I guess we'll go out.

We faced similar issues when I was pg with Mackie and I felt just as cruddy then, maybe more so since I know we got through it last time, but I don't know. this time my parents cannot help like they did last time and my ILs seem unwilling to help (lik ethey have the $$ and just don;t want to give it, even if it means helping us as the new baby coming approaches)

It is frustrating to know we cannot make the bills no matter how hard we try, but I know we will get through it, as we always do. I think it just hits me worse when pg and completely hormonal maybe....

anyway, I have dr appt later and have to remind them to bill the insurance correctly if they want payment and that I will not pay their $450 screw-ups just because they fill out the claims wrong. What fun. I will also try to remember to mention all the itchiness... I seem to have developed a small localized rash on my lower left leg that also itches, but the hand and foot itchiness is still dricving me batty at times... add the leg and the back and my chest... yuck. I get comfy at night and have to move all over the place scratching :P

Positive things - we still have electricity (some people are without power in the tristate area from the heat), we are still all somewhat healthy, we still have a roof over our heads, we have a healthy baby boy on the way...

[Rippy1010]

Mommy2ml ~ I could have written your post exactly! We have been having major money issues, too. No matter what, the money doesn't stretch as far as we need it too. We live (barely) paycheck to paycheck right now ... and some weeks we don't make it to the next paycheck. And it is causing major marital stress also. I feel your pain. I really do. :(

[Jenzen01]

mommy2ml - I hear you on the money front. I'm currently debating which bills I can pay before the next paycheck because I sure as heck can't pay everything. It's sort of satisfying to pay the small ones and get them off my pile, but then I'm stuck with all the big ones ... daycare, credit cards, house payments. Ugh. I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment, so I definitely feel your pain.

Ericka and Nigellas - I wanted to tell both of you that I feel like saying a cheer for you as each week passes. It's so neat to see you one step closer to full term. I keep thinking "hold on, babies, hold on. it's not time yet!"

big news from Gabe - He went potty last night on the big potty and then woke up with a dry diaper this morning and went on the potty again. Could I possibly have him potty-trained before baby #2 gets here? Wow. That would be really cool.

Oh, and thank, everyone, for letting me vent the other day. I'm feeling much better this week (especially after buying new, more comfortable pants!)

Jen

[Ericka_Jarett]

Thanks Jenzen, means a lot to know others are cheering me along.

Congrats on Gabe hopefully being potty trained. When I was a nanny I had the youngest potty trained by 1.5 yrs old. It was the best.

[Mommy2ml]

Rippy- The hardest part for me right now is thinking back to how it was when I was pg with Mackie and we went through similar stuff... I really thought we were past it and now he comes next baby and we're right back where we started.. like we'll never quite win kwim?

Jenzen - yeah, for us I just try to keep the cable and lights and gas on and the d/c no less than a week behind kwim? It's just horrible when I am paying turn off notice and warning notice after another instead of being able to get them all paid befor eit gets to there. :P

Oh, as for PTing, Yay for Gabe! :) I would still keep pull ups or training pants handy though even if you do see PTing before baby gets here.... most common regression I hear of is with the PTing unfortunately.... Even Mackie (who has been PT'd for over a year now) has been having a few accidents lately :P

[MichelleRenee]

Count me in on the money troubles. There just never seems to be enough money, no matter how hard we try.

It is especially hard with a new baby on the way because I want to buy all this cute stuff but I truly have to just wait and see what I get for my shower and then try to get whatever's left ourselves. I thought we should do everything in our power to not let money affect our marriage but I realized that it will affect our marriage no matter what, and we need to try our best to let that effect be a good one and not a bad one. Right now we talk daily about the budget and major purchases coming up so that we are always on the same page as to how much we have and where our priorities are. It is really teaching us to compromise!

Ericka and Nigellas, I just want to echo Jenzen01's words.... I also say a little cheer for each week that passes for you guys!

Jenzen01, congrats on Gabe using the potty! Such a big step towards being potty trained...:D

I just finished my second Snickers bar for the day. I am such a pig. I have no self control.

[KimberDK]

Rippy, Mommy2ml, and whoever else is stressed about money: I just wanted to send out a hug of support, because I know that must be the last thing you want to be worrying about on top of normal pregnancy stuff. I have no doubt things will work out ok for all of you, because when you are intelligent, strong and responsible, you just always find a way to get yourself past whatever life throws at you. That doesn't make it any easier though, so until things look up, I just wanted to send you all my good wishes.

Jenzen: congratulations on the potty training progress!!

________________________________________

We went to our prenatal class this weekend, and I actually thought it was mostly a big waste of time. It was definitely hard to do it as an all-day marathon, but we needed to do that to accomodate my husband's work schedule. It made for a very long and exhausting day. I'm not going to say it was totally worthless because we learned a couple of things, but I really think the whole thing could have been done in about three hours instead of nine. Maybe if you are totally unprepared and uneducated about pregnancy and childbirth, as in you have read no books, asked no questions, and have no support system...maybe you'd need the whole nine hours. For most of us, I felt like it was remedial childbirth 101. I'm glad you guys seem to be enjoying yours - maybe mine just sucked compared to some others, I don't know. We did do the massaging stuff, but by that point we'd been there for 6 or 7 hours and I was beyond exhausted with a nasty headache and really only wanted a nap. Sorry to sound like such a crab, I'm really not feeling crabby at all right now...but I guess I was at the class!!

I will be having my 30-week checkup on Monday, which is my last 4-week appointment. After this one, I will go to 2-week intervals.

[marathongirl]

ericka & nigellas - yeah for the week count going up!

{{{HUGS}}} to everyone deciding which bill to pay!

jenzen - yeah for PT'ing progress with Gabe! We put Claire on her potty when she asks, which is usually only at bath time. Even then, she only pees in it about 50% of the time. I figure after K2 gets here and things settle down a bit maybe we'll try a little harder.

Hope everyone is doing well!

[MidwesternGal]

Belly Shots--Everyone looks great! QC, you've really popped!

Jenzen--Yay on the potty training! How old is Gabe again? I've always heard that boys don't usually "get it" until they are 2.5-3 years old, so you're giving me hope, with my little boy on the way!

Mommy2ml--I hear ya on the money probs. We cut it really tight every month. I make pretty much exactly what daycare would cost us, so I'm staying home. That stresses me out, but I realize it would still be a losing situation even if I did work. Ugh. Oh well. . . at least we get a little extra tax deduction for 2006, right??? That's what I keep telling myself at least!!
___________________________
So count me down and out for the heat. I ended up getting what I thought was the flu (puking, nausea, diarrhea, etc) for about 24 hours. My doc's appointment was yesterday, and she immediately sent me up for an IV--in addition to being sick, I was severely dehydrated. So I spent yesterday in OB getting fluids. I finally feel better, thank goodness. In case you're wondering, my OB says with this heat, she is telling all of her patients to drink--get this--120 oz of fluids (water mostly, with milk and a little juice) AND a Gatorade every day! I'm going to be FLOATING!! So far today, I've drank 50 oz and I'm "sloshy" all ready!!

Other than that, things here are going pretty well. ILs ordered us the bassinett and bought us the car seat, so we're "set" on all the big stuff for the baby!! I can't believe we're almost done!! Yikes!

[MichelleRenee]

120 ounces?? Everyone who is pregnant, or just those who are actually OUT in the heat? (I, for example, am in the heat only as long as it takes to walk to and from my car to my office or home a couple times a day)

After I hit about 55 ounces in one day the taste of water starts to make me gag a little and I feel like I am going to throw up. I think it is the acid reflux, only it isn't acid backing up into my throat... it is water because my belly is so full!!

**off to the vending machine to buy another bottle of water...**

[Jenzen01]

michellerenee - I agree with your water comment. Some days, I have to force it down. 120 ounces! Holy bologna!

Thanks for sharing my excitement over Gabe! I don't want to get too excited about this because I'm well aware that this is probably going to be a long road and I've know that there are a lot of changes coming his way in the next few months so I'm expecting some regression. I'm finding out that the whole potty training is so controversial! My mom kept telling me I was potty trained at 9 months, but then I know she sat in the bathroom with me for HOURS! I'm just trying to be really laid back about it, and yet how nice would it be to have him out of diapers!

midwesterngal - Gabe is 19 months. I started introducing the potty about 2 months ago. He woke up with dry diapers a few times, so I figured, "what the heck?" and put him on.

kimberdk - When we went to the birthing classes last time, I felt the same way. Seriously, they could have been half as long. We had a four-week session and the first two weeks were just boring and worthless. Oh, and they were during Packer football season. You should have seen how happy DH was during the meditation session when he was supposed to be envisioning himself on a flowerly hillside .... I knew full well he was watching the clock so he wouldn't miss kickoff. We were out of there in a flash that night!

[Mommy2ml]

yuck... I think I need to be drinking more water... I wonder what my doc is gonna tell me with how I have been feeling lately.... tired, exhausted, itchy, depressed, moody, achy.... etc.

Add to that I just figured out our basic budget - just basic what comes in and what goes out each month(or should be) and I found out we're probably in the hole each month by a good $700 or so... and I am ready to pass out right now. :P:P:P Pretty good reason why I feel all depressed about $$ recently, huh?

Jenzen- We started early with PTing MAckie too and went at her own pace.. by a little past age 2 she was pretty reliably PT'd day and night.

[Ericka_Jarett]

Kimber - my husband also said that about the childbirth class when he went with his ex-wife for the birth of their son. He said it doesn't take that many hours to learn what they talk about. We were thinking about going to a 4 week session, but with all that came up, it would have to be all of August and I really don't want to be sitting for so many hours each week with my cervix as it is (totally thinned, don't need to be doing even 1 push at this point, don't need to have a surprise happen. I have been through labor before and know enough people around me that have had kids that I can ask questions to if need be.

Hope Gabe doesn't regress on you. I know when I was nannying, I took advantage of the summer weather, he would run around outside in a onesie and no diaper.

Midwestern - holy cow on the amount of water your OB wants preggos to have. When I got released from the hospital I was told to make sure I had 10- 8oz cups of water in me by the end of the day.

Shower - well looks like I may have finally gotten to the bottom of why no shower was planned at this point for us. One of the ladies from church came by today with her hubby and kids. She said she didn't know if I emotionally wanted to wait until he came to make sure things were ok or how I wanted to handle it. I told her I am totally comfortable with having a shower and would love one before he comes since we have nothing for him, besides the little things we got ourselves. We still have big items on the registry so there is plenty of items to choose from. She said some people may have just been waiting to see how I would want to handle it. Told her I told the Pastor's wife back in April that 30-31 would be perfect and I said well I am 31 now so it's come and gone really. If we didn't have one until after he comes that is fine too, but would really like it earlier, so that I know at the shower he wouldn't be getting passed around at only a month old and it being late in the year and possiblities of colds and such. I would probably only let my mom or myself hold him at the shower, although others would want to. Plus with nursing would have to leave the room for a while, since I am sure I won't be a pro at the feeding in public deal.

Jarett gave his boss notice that sometime in the next 8 weeks he will be taking his paternity leave. He found out last year that he will get 1 week paid paternity leave, so it's going to be nice to know he is here if I need him. Plus he has lots of vacation time so he can carry over 5 of those days to next year and still has a lot to use this year. Another plus is he gets to work from home at least 1 day a week if he needs to (right now it's because of my doctor appts)

[TaterBaby]

31 weeks today!

money issues: Sorry to hear about all the money troubles! DH and I are currently working our tails off to be virtually debt free before October, meaning no debt except house and vehicles. Since we'll be adding so many new expenses, mainly with day care and medical insurance premiums, we thought we better get rid of everything we could ASAP, which makes for some very tight months. I think it's going to work and be worth it in the long run though.

New question: I can't remember if we've discussed this before, but is anyone having professional belly shots taken? I really want to and am getting close to the point where I think my belly will be "perfect" for pictures, but I need to get a move on if I'm going to do it. Any thoughts?

[Ericka_Jarett]

Congrats Tater on trying to get out of the debt. We know we have 1 debt for at least another year and the CC's will be paid off in 4-5 yrs probably. We will have apt rent, utilities and medical to pay still. Been trying to work on the budget for a few months now to work in the expense of getting our own apartment.

Pro Photos - my husband was going to do mine, not sure if we will still do some or not, since I have my baby belly but also slight split stomach still. I look bigger when I am laying down as the split is gone. We shall see.

These were from my friend's maternity shoot, she delivered 2 days later: Maternity (http://www.uglyduck.com/proof/jessica/)

[Nigellas]

Awww! Thank you guys so much for the encouragement! Bedrest is sucky, but I keep at it because I know it's what is best for this kiddo. Much as I'd love to get out, it's just not worth it. Every week that passes is such a huge relief to me. :) Thanks again for thinking of us!