Friday, September 28, 2007

Here We Go

I just called the hospital, and they will take me at 7:00 this morning. If all goes well, we'll have a new baby by 3 or 4 this afternoon. GULP! Now, I don't feel so ready...

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

38 Weeks and 2 Days

I had my final doctor's appointment today. I waited over an hour to be called back, then more time for the ultrasound room. I'm glad she's busy, but I could have done something else with my time.

Anyway, I've lost a pound, and according to the ultrasound, Zoe weighs between 8 and 9 pounds. Those things always overestimate the weight, so we'll see...my vote is 7 pounds, 6 ounces. I have dilated enough for the doctor to be able to break my water, and she is still in position.

Now, for the not-so-certain news: I have an appointment with the hospital on Friday. I am #1 on their list. I have to call at 5:30 Friday morning, and they will let me know if I can go in immediately. If there is no room, I have to sit around and wait on Friday for an empty bed, and they will take me as late as 5:00 Friday evening. The control freak planner in me does not like this plan AT ALL. I want to know that I am having her on Friday, and that everything will run smoothly. My doctor is very optimistic that there will be room, but if not, they will try to get me in this weekend. Don't they understand that my sister is flying in for the weekend, and Darren has taken time off from work? I guess not. I just have to hope for the best, and keep telling myself that it will happen Friday. If not, I will be one miserable pregnant lady.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Week 38

We're in the home stretch now, and it feels great! Friday was my last day of work, and it was so weird to walk out of my classroom that day. Everything was ready to go, and my substitute came and met with me that afternoon. I hope she does a good job with the kids, but that's about the only part of the equation that I can't control. I really don't want to hear about what's going on in there for a while.

We had a nice weekend. I can't remember what, if anything we did Friday night. Saturday, we woke up early and went shopping. We bought the dog a new bed so whoever ends up sleeping on the couch won't hear his nails hitting the plastic bottom of the cage during the night. We also went down to Super Target and spent some of the gift card money. That was fun, but I don't think Darren enjoyed it as much as I did. I bought formula, toys, a dishwasher basket, and some other things I felt were essentials. Then, we went to Babies R Us to exchange some duplicate things I had gotten, and I bought a cool shopping cart/highchair cover for later, along with an Ultimate Crib Sheet. That will be so nice for when she wets the crib in the middle of the night!

Saturday evening, we went to a swimming party for a neighbor. Being in the water was really nice, and Zach did a great job of swimming. I got really tired at the end, though, so we left a few minutes early. I found that I am able to eat pizza again; I guess the baby moving down has taken some of the pressure off my gall bladder. I sure am enjoying getting to experience more of a variety of food! I am actually interested in eating again. My friend Jen came over Saturday night with a birthday present for me, and brought her new man for us to meet. I really like him, and hope that they work out.

Yesterday, I cooked breakfast while Darren worked in the yard, then made room in the kitchen cabinets for bottles. They are all ready to go now! We went and picked up our desktop computer at the Apple store, then hit the grocery store. That is one task that I really hate, because of having to stand still in line to check out. I don't mind walking around, but once I stop, my body is ready to lie down.

Today is my 33rd birthday. Yippie. I really don't care either way about it, but I guess it's part of life. It was weird not having to get up and go to work, and I accomplished a lot today. I finished thank-you notes from my first shower, finished laundry, had lunch with Zach, took a nap, picked Zach up from school, finished a book, installed the baby's car seat, cleaned out the nursery, and started baby laundry. Darren took us out to eat Japanese tonight, and now he is watching the Saints play Tennessee. I just can't get into football anymore. It's nice to have on as background noise, but I can't imagine sitting down and doing nothing besides watching the game.

I think I was going to fold laundry and clean the kitchen before I sat down at the computer. I guess I'd better get to that. Four more days!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

9 Days to Go!

I think the tired thing isn't going to go away anytime soon, unfortunately. After working a 12-hour day yesterday (because of Open House), I considered taking today off, but since the kids were going to read all day, I went to work. I finished lesson plans through Christmas, grades are done and entered in the computer, and I have practically written a novel of instructions for my substitute. I may be over-prepared, but I want everything to continue running smoothly in my classroom while I'm gone. I have a great group of kids this year, and I want them to stay that way. I think they're pretty much trained to know where everything is, which is wonderful. One kid asked me today if I had the baby yet, which was kind of insulting. I sure hope I look better after I have her!

This past weekend, in addition to going to a birthday party and shower, I put away the shower gifts, worked on thank-yous, and sterilized bottles. I also bought a great new digital SLR camera, which is my birthday present. My bag is almost packed, and I still need to put the car seat in my car, and wash the rest of the clothes. That's what next week is for, along with a hair cut, pedicure, and lunch with Zach at his school.

I went to the doctor today, and not much has changed. I haven't dilated more, but did gain three pounds since last week. I am having lots of contractions, but nothing regular. It hurts to walk, and I have a lot of pressure. We're scheduled at the hospital for next Friday. I can't sleep more than an hour at a time without Ambien right now, and it was starting to hurt to lie in bed. I got this great new wedge pillow to put under my belly, which made a big difference. I'll pass it on to my sister when I'm done with it.

I guess that's about it for now. Tomorrow is going to be a LONG day, so I hope I make it without curling up in the corner and rocking. We have an 8:00 faculty meeting, I have four classes of students to present a project (while I grade it), a fire drill, a parent conference, a baby shower after school, and our first Cub Scout meeting tomorrow night. Thank God there's nothing going on Friday!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

36 and a Half Weeks

Tired. Extremely tired. Everything hurts. Belly is huge. Stayed home today to sleep. Will work until next Friday. Doctor yesterday. Have lost three pounds (so 7 pounds total gain). One centimeter, 70% effaced, plenty of amniotic fluid, placenta mature. Still being induced on the 28th.

Had shower Saturday. Got lots of cool and useful presents. Have lots of thank-you notes that I will take too long to write. Weird that some friends and family members didn't come or call. Oh, well.

Still need to wash baby clothes and sterilize bottles and pack suitcase. Can't get motivated to do that, because it involves multiple trips up and down the stairs. Too tired to do that.

Way too many commitments in the next week, but can't forgo any of them. Zach's Open House Thursday. Birthday party Saturday. Baby shower for a friend Sunday. My Open House next Tuesday, which means a 12-hour work day for me. Shower after school next Thursday. Cub Scout meeting next Thursday. Birthday party next Saturday. Too much!

Going nap now while I can.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Week 35

After a relaxing weekend, I went back to work yesterday, and I'm tired already. Of course, I seem to be tired 90% of the time now, so I guess that's nothing new...

We took Zach fishing for the first time Saturday, and had a ball. It was a tournament for kids at a park near our house, and the pond had been stocked with catfish. Zach has a little Tweety bird fishing pole that he was given before he was born, and we took it out of the package for this occasion. Bait was provided for us, and we tried to catch a fish for over two and a half hours. We had several nibbles, but didn't catch anything. We had fun anyway, and Zach earned his fishing belt loop for Cub Scouts.

We did some shopping this weekend, and some laundry, and that was about it. I enjoyed not having any big plans. I did spend quite a bit of time doing school work Monday, so I felt prepared when I got to work yesterday. Now, if only those many weeks of lesson plans for while I am out would just write themselves...

I started having some contractions last night, and now my belly just feels tight. It's nothing serious, and I figure I will know when it's time to go to the hospital, right? I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon, and I still haven't gained any weight. In fact, I haven't gained anything since August 14th. I guess I need to have Darren write a note saying that I really am eating! I don't know where it's all going. I have barely started to dilate, and the doctor could feel the baby's head, but she's not engaged yet. She says she wouldn't be surprised if I had her in the next week, but I really don't think it's going to happen that soon. I'll probably make it to the 28th. If I can just manage to work until the 21st, I'll be lucky. I'd love to take a day off to sleep, but I don't want to waste a paid day off right now. Twelve more days of work. If the air conditioner would work better in my classroom, it would make it so much nicer right now. I have always had the coldest classroom in the school, but not this year. I almost kidnapped the repair man today. He said it was 75 degrees in my classroom, but I'd like it to be 65.

I have a shower this weekend, and I am excited to see everyone. It sounds like there will be quite a few people there, so it should be fun. Darren is going to ride in a breast cancer awareness bike ride this weekend; I don't envy him! I guess we need to start raising money for it, but I don't think he's registered yet. I'd love to be able to worry as little about things as he can.

More details later. I'm going put my feet up.