Olivia's Big Day!

Thursday morning came and we were up at 4:30a preparing for the big day. Nana got in the night before and Aidan was excited as ever to see her. So, as they slept, we got our bag, kissed Aidan goodbye, and drove off to the hospital. As we walked up to the entrance, I could feel the butterflies going big time. (Being up at the crack of dawn didn't help either.) They got even stronger as I was escorted back to a labor and delivery room to get ready. Nurses, doctors, and anesthesiologists all paraded in and out, each with their little spiels for me. Everyone was really nice and very reassuring. I'm very glad the anesthesiologist was so upfront about what complications I could encounter and that there were ways to remedy them. More on that in a minute. So after I had my IV started and signed my paperwork, they gave Julien his scrubs to change into. (He looked so cute. Although he said so himself which wasn't as cute. :) ) I was led back to the OR without him to get prepped. Good thing too, I don't think the Dads should be there for the first 5 minutes, they are the most intense in my opinion. They sat me on the table and gave me the spinal which starts working immediately. Holy Cow! By the time I was laid down I couldn't feel my legs. Then they put up the drapes and get you all set. Except I started feeling weird. Remember those things they said may happen? I started feeling dizzy and nauseous. Then I felt like I couldn't breathe even though I could. The medicine comes far enough up the chest that it messes with a few muscles there and you start to feel panic, even though you are breathing fine. They gave me a couple injections into my IV for the nausea and to help my blood pressure and helped talk me through it. Soon enough I felt fine again. That's when Julien was brought in and the show started. Soon enough I felt tugging and pulling. I could hear the docs talking and hear some suctioning but before I knew it, she was out. I felt immediately lighter. And then she let out quite the cry! Boy can she be loud. I watched her get cleaned and checked. She was 8lbs 4oz, 21 inches, just one ounce off my prediction. Julien even got to cut the cord this time. They stitched me up and let hold her. She even rode with me when they wheeled me to recovery. The nursery nurse gave her a quick sponge bath and gave us our matching bracelets. We tried nursing right away and she seemed to take to it. I was so excited. I was so hoping. So off we were shipped to our postpartum room and by about 10a we were all settled. It made the day seem so long since we got there SO early. We kept trying to nurse and changed a lot of poopy diapers. We made all our phone calls and since the hospital had wifi, even posted pics of her. By the end of that day, they helped me sit in a chair to get out of bed. It actually did feel good. Especially to get out of those stupid compression leg wraps. They help circulate the blood in your legs to prevent blood clots. A little annoying after the first day. Morning of the second day, the took out the catheter (thank god!) and had me walk to the bathroom. That day I kept trying to get out of bed and walk a little. I even took a shower and that wore me out. I had a lot of visitors. Our neighbors the Walters came up twice to see us. Four of my friends from playgroup came and brought us presents. Grandpa Tim arrived Friday night and was able to come visit before visiting hours were over. With Aidan we only had a couple people come by, so it was nice that so many of our friends wanted to come wish us well. Anyway, I tried to keep moving like they said to. Everyday the pain of the incision and bruising got better. And with a lot of help, it seemed that nursing was going well. In fact, I felt good enough to go home on Sunday instead of Monday. The pediatrician was pleased with Olivia as she had gained back an ounce from the weight she had lost. (She went down to 7 lb 10 oz and went back up to 7lb 11oz) I had met with the lactation consultant twice that morning and I was feeling confident. (Of course everything changes when you go home, but that's another post.) So off we went. It felt so good to be home. I couldn't believe that I had spent three days in the hospital, had my first major surgery, and now I had two kids instead of just one. So much change in such little time. Now the hard part begins.

The End of the Journey

Here we are, my last day of pregnancy. Where did the last 40 weeks go? It's incredible how fast the time has gone. I'm ready for tomorrow and, at the same time, very nervous. I'm horribly uncomfortable, unable to sleep well at night, and very slow moving when I'm awake. I'll be glad to say goodbye to all that. Although, I'm trading those things for not sleeping through the night even though I'll have the ability, constant fatigue, and lots of soreness as I heal. So, it' s an even trade. :) I know in the end it will be worth it. I'll be so glad to see her face tomorrow and start learning about who she is and what kind of baby she'll be. But, as a second time mom, I don't have that luxury of ignorance about the first few weeks that lie ahead. I know exactly what I'm in for. I remember how much the recovery hurt, how hard breastfeeding was, and how little sleep I will be getting. So, as excited as I am, I also have asked myself, 'Am I really doing this again?' And the answer is, of course I am doing it again. I will survive just like last time. You secretly hope things will be easier the second time around. Even so, I know I will be so amazed by the wonderful little baby that I'm bringing home that I will gladly tend to her every need. But part of me is still looking forward to 3 mos and on. LOL! :) Aidan seems excited about his sister. He asked me this morning if his baby sister was coming out of my tummy today. I reminded him that was tomorrow and Nana is coming today. I'm amazed by how much he seems to understand, especially at his age. He knows I'm going to "the hospital place" and that his baby sister has to come out of my tummy. He also knows now that if she "breaks" my tummy the doctor will fix it and give me a band aid. He seems to know that I won't be home right away but I'm not sure that's really sunk in. And when I come home, I will bring Olivia with me. She'll be loud and cry and need lots of help. But, he's already had practice with our friends' baby and loves to help with him and play with him. (He even shared Tigger with him the other day. I know! That's big.) It's going to a big change for all of us, as much for me as it will be for him. It will be a big adjustment to manage caring for two instead of one. I've been told that I will think that one was pretty easy after having two, which I can totally see. Aidan's a pretty easy child to care for, all things considered. I've been very lucky with him. I hope my luck holds out for the newest member of our family. It was weird to hang out with Aidan this morning, knowing it would the last time we'd be together just the two of us. I know there will be times when I just have him, but it's the last time I will be known as Aidan's Mommy and only his mommy. I worry about how our relationship will change. I really don't like the idea of leaving him for four days and not being there for him. I don't like being away from him for too long or too often. I hope that we will still be close and he will still know that Mommy loves him and he has a special place in Mommy's heart. (Your first always holds a special place. Not that you love them more. I guess it's one of those things that if you have kids, you understand.) I know all these things will work themselves out in the end and it will be all right. You can't help but worry though.

So I will trying to enjoy my last night and relax. I'll hang out with Aidan and just enjoy playing. I'll finish the loose ends like packing and getting the seat in the car. I'll try to keep Julien calm. I probably won't sleep at all tonight and will be off very early in the morning to the hospital. Hopefully soon I will have time to write about the delivery and all about Olivia Paige. Oh and pictures too. Wish us luck!

My Last OB Appointment

Today was my last OB appointment. (Ever!) Weirdly enough, it was my quickest too. Everything looks good and I'm all set for the c section in a few days. I'm very uncomfortable and have some swelling in my hands and feet. I've reached the point where I am ready to be done. I'm hoping that feeling will outweigh my nerves about the surgery. I've gained about 35 pounds. So I actually gained a couple more pounds than I did with Aidan. Oddly enough, I've had more compliments about how I look this time though. I must wear it well or distribute it a flattering way. :) Julien told me that they are taking bets on the size of the baby at work. He's guessing 8lb 10oz. I'm down for 8lbs 3oz. (Feel free to leave your guesses too. :) ) I've been very tired lately. Although today I've had a boost of energy. I think it's that surge you get in the final push. Her room is all ready. I finished the last of the little touches for the decor today. I had Aidan painting and playing today. He was really good today, a very good listener and followed directions. At one point I thought to myself, who are you and what have you done with my child? I think a morning at home was in order for both of us, as much as I hated to miss my last opportunity to meet with our playgroup for a while. But, I need to conserve my energy and get the last little things done. It won't be long now until we meet little Miss Olivia.

Down to the Wire

As my time has been winding down, I've frantically been trying to get to everything on my to-do list. I've noticed, though, that with each passing day I seem to move slower and slower. This week was actually quite productive despite my slowing speed. We were able to stock the freezer with a bunch of essentials that will come in handy after Olivia's arrival. I made a ton of cookies. 6 dozen, give or take a few. Julien was able to get to the yard and finish the hand digging left over from his huge yard project. I was able to get to the bathrooms upstairs today, which was a big accomplishment. I celebrated by taking an hour long nap afterwards. Hey, it was a lot of work. :) I'm getting to the end of my list and hoping that when I do, I will feel the sense of relief and preparedness that I'm hoping for. We'll see. I'm also trying to make sure that Aidan stays busy and that we get to do some fun things together before I'm home bound. We went to see Ice Age 3 this week. That was a lot of fun. The theater was pretty empty so it was nice to have a whole row to ourselves. Aidan liked the dinosaurs in the movie. We are about to finish gymnastics class, which I don't think we will be taking again. Not a big hit. However, we start swimming lessons next weekend and I think that will be much more fun for him. And it's a Daddy and Aidan project. I figure if he's going to learn the basics of swimming, he should be with someone who can actually swim and isn't afraid to dunk his head. It might make the lessons more successful.

Well, we have playgroup this week as well as an OB appointment. It'll be the last minute dash to finish nesting. And trying to get some rest here and there too. Wish me luck. :) I'll keep you updated.

Yet Another Pregnancy Update! A Date Has Been Set!

Monday I went back to the OB and told her my decision to go forward with the c section. She seemed visibly relieved. Which made me feel that I had made the right choice, if not for medical reasons then, maybe she wasn't the right doctor to have if I tried to do things naturally again. (Not everyone is my hero Dr. Esposito.) So, that day, after several phone calls and a little confusion, my section was finally scheduled for my 39th week. (I feel a little weird about posting the date here for anyone to see, so I will email it out to everyone.) I have to be at the hospital at 5:30a and the surgery is set to start at 7:30a. Boy, is that early! Julien is not looking forward to that. Although, if that's the hardest part of his day then I have little sympathy for him. :) I'm hoping that I feel good enough that day for Aidan to come see me and Olivia once we are out of recovery. I really hope that Julien stays that night too. He said he might the first night but will probably go home the other nights. He had a bad experience when Aidan was born. The room was really cold, the fold out chair was uncomfortable, and they didn't have enough blankets for him. By the end of the stay he had a head cold and was miserable. I told him this time around that I was ok with him going home as long as he was there during the day and maybe stayed the first night. That's when I will really need him. I'm not sure what to expect as far as pain goes. I know how hard it was to get in and out of bed after Aidan. It was like torture! Julien was very good about getting up and getting Aidan for me. I know I will be very sore but in a different way than last time. Only time will tell to what extent it will slow me down. I'm a little nervous about being in the hospital so long too. I hate to be away from Aidan that long. I'm sure once I'm there and have nurses and lacation consultants to help me, I'll want to stay there. :) For now, I'm in that mad rush to get my to do list done before I go to the hospital. I'm trying to fill the little chest freezer that we got this weekend. I've already made a ton of pancakes. I'm open to donations too. ;) Also any suggestions for dinners that freeze well are welcome too! I'm trying to be as prepared as possible. We'll see how much I get around to before the big day. Julien got some good news at work. He called HR to discuss his options for taking leave for the birth. During that call he explained that he needed to be home to care for me cause of the c section. Well, once they heard that they said he can take 40 hrs paid for free (not counting against his vacation) as sort of a paternity leave. Well, that would've been nice to know! Apparently they don't advertise this as Julien had never heard of it in the 5 years he's been there and not even when he took time off for Aidan. I guess if you tell people about it, they'll want to take it. So, I'll be taking some paperwork in to the OB and he'll be getting a free week off. Which is what employers should do at the very least in my opinion.

So that's the news for now! Everything looks good with the baby. We just try to get ready for the big day!

Decisions, Decisions

Monday was my weekly OB appointment. I was a little anxious about this one, as I knew we would discuss the ultrasound and how to proceed. The doctor told me that she knew I had expressed the desire to avoid a c section and that she would support me as much as she could but, she could make no guarantee. In fact, she must have said about 4 or 5 times "as long as you are aware of the risks." The concern she has is another 4th degree tear and there is no way to know for sure how my body will compensate during labor and delivery this time around. She said if I was too tear that way again I could be facing long term consequences such as fecal incontinence. Let me tell you, those two words scare the bejesus out of me. (Sorry if this is TMI. But, these are the technical medical terms. :) ) So, she said it was up to me in the end. I could have a wonderful vaginal delivery and have no problems. Or I could have what I had last time. So, she sent me home to think about it. I talked to a few friends to get some ideas. Unfortunately, I don't know many people who have had the experience I've had. At least, not that have had subsequent pregnancies and deliveries. I looked at some message boards online to see what other women have experienced. Some decided to err on the side of caution and some went for it. I didn't see anything that really made me feel like 'yeah this is totally doable. I'll be just fine.' If anything, the posts I read just made me worry that people would think that I took the easy way out. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about what was the right thing to do and not many people who had objective opinions. I don't know why I'm always worried about what other moms think but, I'd be lying if I said I didn't care. Then, I had a friend tell me not to see a c section as the easy way out, neither way is easy. And she's right. Neither way is easy and the decision itself is not easy. So I know that, in the end after careful consideration, I will make the best decision for me and baby and anyone who feels justified in judging my decision can just keep it to themselves. One friend also reminded me that I have remember to look after me too. That I will be caring for a newborn and a toddler and that I have to think of my recovery as it will effect the way I care for them. That is very true and I was grateful for the reminder. It's always awesome when your friends give you perspective and remind you of what's really important. What good am I to them if I'm not healthy? So, all that being said, I have made my decision. (I did include Julien in the decision making process by the way. I just realized I forgot to mention him. He's been of the same opinion for a while so he didn't want to unduly influence me and let me make the decision on my own really. ) I will be scheduling a c section this time around. I will end delivering in my 39th week. I return to see the OB early next week and should have everything scheduled then. Until then, there's a lot to get done in preparation. I just hope I can get everything ready in time.

Pregnancy Update (pt 2)

Thursday was presumably our last ultrasound. This time we had it in the doctor's office instead of at the hospital. The technician works at Wash U here in S. Louis, as well as working for my OB's office one night a week, so I was pretty confident in her. No 3D ultrasound this time though but, that's ok. This was the first time we have had an ultrasound this late in pregnancy so to see the difference between 20 weeks and now was amazing. First thing we saw was her head, which filled the screen. (Which I think she has her brother's big noggin. ) They measured her all over. You could see her femur in detail. It was cool. She measured the fluid level, which was fine. She even checked to make sure she was still a girl. (I just needed to make sure. It's a nightmare of mine.) And she said, "Oh yeah, that's 100% a girl. So I felt relieved. In the end, the tech said her weight is estimated at 6 lbs and 3 oz and she's 60th percentile. So, if that's truly where she is right now, she will weigh around 8 lbs 3 oz at birth. To some that may sound like a lot but I was relieved to hear that. It's over a pound lighter than Aidan was at birth. I was a little scared that she would end up being bigger than he was. If she can stay right around 8 pounds, I think I have a shot at avoiding the c section, which is my hope at this point. It'll be interesting to hear what my OB thinks when I go back this week. I'm hoping she will be as positive as I am but, we'll see. I have a lot of questions for her and I'm hoping to get satisfactory answers so I can make a decision. I have also been doing a lot of research on the Internet about delivery after a 4th degree tear. A lot of it has to be taken with a grain of salt because it is, after all, the Internet and also, a lot of what I read were personal experiences shared on message boards. I have yet to read a post where a mom had the exact same experience the second time around, which was encouraging. However, reading what the risks are with the type of tear I had are made me think more about the c section. Boy, was I lucky that I had such a fantastic doctor who had the experience to deal with the situation. I have had relatively no lasting complications from it, especially compared to some of the women who posted. I can't even imagine going through what they went through. I won't go into detail but, it required a lot of follow care and even surgery to fix. No where near what I had to put up with. Mainly, I had to deal with a lot of pain for about a month or so and my bladder falling some. (Sorry if this is TMI for some of you out there. But better to be honest about it. There's nothing to be embarrassed about in my opinion.) I really hope by the end of next week I will have pretty much made my choice and be able to plan from there. I hope to have the ultrasound pics scanned and up soon. It'll be a busy weekend so we'll see. I did more baby shopping today as the ultrasound kind of put me in the mood. And I had a 10% coupon and gift cards for Target. So I went to Old Navy, Babies R Us and Target and came back with a bunch of stuff. I got some summery sleep sacks finally. A couple pairs of shorts, more burp cloths, sleepers, socks, desitin, wipes, aquaphor, hats, and other things I needed more of. Still trying to find more sun hats. I found one with a nice wide brim. I'd like a couple more. If you see any, let me know. I still have a couple things left to get. I want to pick up a boppy cover, some more shorts or pants, another mattress pad, and maybe a couple other little things. I have lots of clothes now! Holy cow! She will be well dressed. :) It's still hard to believe she will be here soon. I'll need to install the car seat before you know it. Her room is almost completely finished. I'll post pics once that happens too. I'll be relieved and able to relax when her room is all done, bags are all packed, and I can just wait for her to arrive. It won't be long now.

Pregnancy Update This Week (Pt. 1)

Tomorrow is my ultrasound. I'm excited to see what she looks like now. I've never had an ultrasound this late but I've heard they are really cool to see. The whole reason we are doing it is to check on her weight and growth. As everyone knows, Aidan was a huge baby. His delivery wasn't necessarily hard but, the recovery for me was. Hence the ultrasound now. Hopefully we will be able to gain some new information in order to make a decision about how to proceed with the delivery. So I'm excited and, at the same time, I'm nervous too. I'm really hoping they will tell me she's small or average. Although Julien keeps saying, "She's big. She's big." (That's hon. Can't I dream?) At my OB appointment this week, the doctor felt my stomach and thought that she didn't feel big. However, she said that there's no guarantee that even if she's small that I won't have tearing of some kind. She's starting to give me the vibe that she wants me to have a c section but isn't saying it. I understand that she can't guarantee anything. Heck, you can end up with a c section in the middle of labor for a lot of different reasons that have nothing to do with the baby's size. But, give me some kind of information to work with. This is a big decision so give me some facts please. We'll see what happens after the ultrasound. At least my old OB gave me some guidelines to use the last time I saw her. If there's a big growth or weight gain on my part in the last couple weeks, we can repeat the ultrasound at 39 weeks. Either way, this baby will be here in just a few weeks. It's hard to believe. Where has the time gone? I hope I get everything ready in time, including being ready mentally for this big event and big change. I'm glad we are having our neighborhood block party this weekend. One last big party before the big day.

Baby Update

I had my OB appointment today. Again, I'm amused by how Aidan likes my doctor. He looks forward to helping her. Today he held the measuring tape for the duration of the appointment. I've gained some more weight. Actually, I was a little surprised by the number on the scale today. And I'm measuring at 31 weeks, instead of a week behind. So I've had a growth spurt, so to speak. Talked about pre-registering at the hospital and options for delivery. We scheduled my last ultrasound for the beginning of July and will more seriously discuss the options then. I'm still trying to avoid the C-section. I don't want to be out of comission that long. However, if I have a similar delivery to last time, my recovery could be about the same as a c-section. So, we will see what the ultrasound shows and go from there. Hard to believe we are getting to that point.

Last night our friend from Maryland and her family stayed with us for the night. They are on their way to Utah for vacation and stopped here for a night. I really give them credit, traveling with 3 kids, 4years and under, 2 adults and a dog. I think they enjoyed having room to play and new toys to play with. It was so much fun to see how the kids have grown and catch up. Hard to believe that it's been a year since we visited Maryland last. I hope we get to go for a visit again soon. It's easier for Julien who has business trips to DC. But, I hope our friends have a safe trip and enjoy their vacation!

Lots coming up for us this month! I'm planning Aidan and my last trip up to see my folks until the baby comes. We also have a Ross family reunion later this month. Not to mention our birthdays and Father's Day. Going to be lots to do as always. :)

So much to do, so little time....

I've been a little grouchy this week. I've been really tired and sore. Hence, I have less patience. Hence, my son has listened less and tested me more. I know he feels my stress and I always feel horribly guilty about this. Luckily, yesterday things seemed to get better. My energy improved and my back didn't hurt as much. I think I'm been having some Braxton Hicks already. Either that or lots of round ligament pain. Either way, it had made me an unhappy camper but, things are getting better as the week passes. There's a lot to do and I need to be able to get it done. In fact, I feel a little overwhelmed with all that needs to be done in the next 10 weeks or less. We have friends from Maryland stopping by next week. We're the first stop on their drive to Utah. We're really excited to see them and how big their kids are getting. So, there's getting ready for that. Then the dresser for the baby's room isn't in yet, which is very frustrating considering I ordered it at the end of February. I guess that's why I ordered so early. I need to get to the rest of the baby stuff I need so garage sales, here I come! I'm going to breastfeeding class in July. I need to take the hospital tour and pre-register with the hospital. I need to get the house in order before I go out of commission. I have lined up our neighbors to take Aidan, at any time of day- they're awesome people, when I go into labor. But they leave on Aug. 4 for vacation so hopefully I have popped by then. If I really want to, I think I can get the doctor to make sure that happens. I want to take one more trip to my parent's before too much longer. We also have a family reunion at the end of June to go to. Julien wants to get in a float trip two weeks before my due date. We'll see about that one. (He's trying to figure out how to waterproof his phone and not lose it in the river.) And next week I'm registering Aidan for swimming lessons too. I know it doesn't seem like much, but I constantly have a list of things to do in my head. Most are daily kind of things around the house. Some are more time consuming, like the minivan needs to have it's maintanence check. Then there are the big things. Like Julien doing the grading and drainage work in the yard this weekend. Yes, he's finally doing it! It's going to be a big project but I know he will do a great job. He called Digg Rite, reserved the trencher, ordered the fill dirt and rock, and all this without any help from me. That's what impresses me the most. Usually I get roped into make phone calls or something but, this time this is really his project. I will be glad when it's done. No more worrying about damaging the foundation with really bad grading and no more standing water on the other side of the house. It's the little things. :) I told him my dad would be so proud that he's doing it and not hiring out for it. (Besides, we can't afford to hire out for it. It would be around $3K for that much work.) Julien's become quite handy in the last two years. Just wait till you see the shelving he's working on in the basement.

The summer's going to fly by. The baby will be here before I know it and there's lots to do. I better get started.

My Boys are Back

Aidan and Julien made it home safely Monday afternoon. It was good to see them! Aidan seemed a little more grown to me. Don't know if it was caring for a baby all day Monday or just the time apart. But, Aidan had a great time at Nana's house. We've been busy since he got home. We had three playdates this week and an OB appointment. Lots going on! And I'm beat already. We went to a nature center and took a hike on Tuesday, went to a friend's house for playing in the pool on Wednesday, and then went to the Magic House today. Aidan has had a great time and had some great naps this week as a result. :) My OB appointment was Tueday. It went well. Found out that I'm anemic and need an iron supplement. On the whole scale of things, I can definitely deal with that one. I hope I see a difference in my energy level. Aidan went with to this appointment. He really likes my new OB for some reason. When we were called back he started yelling "Doctor, where are you?" Very cute. Then when he saw her, he tried to follow her into her office. But she let him hold the measuring tape and the dopler for her during my appointment. He was very excited about that. As long as he's behaved during my appointments, that's all that matters. :) My back has started hurting often. I won't miss that part of pregnancy. Other than that, I actually feel pretty good. Just tired as normal.

Welcome to the Third Trimester!

Today I made the realization that I'm in my third trimester. Third!! How did that happen?? For some reason it hit me like a ton of bricks. I can't believe that I have been pregnant for 7 mos already. And at the same time, 7 mos feels like a long time. It's an interesting feeling. It's exciting to know that soon I will meet the little person that has been busy growing in my belly and that I will get to hold her and see her. It's incredibly exciting to know that soon Aidan will meet her and soon form a bond with her that will last their lifetimes. (I have great hopes that they will be friends.) I was watching Baby Story today on TV and when the mom delivered and saw her crying baby for the first time, I started crying. That and asking myself, "Why am I watching this? I know better." :) But it made me remember when I delivered Aidan and how I bawled. I was so happy and overcome when I saw him for the first time. This time, I know what to expect and it made me emotional to see this woman go through the same kind of experience. Up to this point, I've been pretty laid back about this pregnancy. Partly due to the fact that I am so busy with Aidan that I don't have the time to dwell on it like when I was pregnant the first time. So, now I'm getting to that excited and slightly antsy stage. I'm starting to find myself thinking about delivery and seeing her and bringing her home. All the clothes I've been getting from friends has helped fuel that excitement too. (Thanks Jamie, Samantha, and Jen W.) The other side of the coin has been feeling a little sad and nostalgic. This is my last pregnancy. I know, I know....everyone says "yeah right." But I really have no intention of having another one. Two has always been the plan. So, with everyone milestone I pass, I feel little sad knowing that I won't do it again. Except for the bloodwork. I will not miss any of that. :) But, everytime I look at my belly in the mirror I try to enjoy it knowing I will not be this size again. (Although I must say, watching my weight gain this time around has helped a lot. It's easier to get around and get things done. I think it's helped with my energy level too. Although keeping pace with a toddler doesn't hurt either.) This is my last time for maternity clothes and belly buttons that pop out. It's my last time to feel a baby move or kick. It's a little sad. I've entered the final stage. We are coming to the end of the road quickly. I'm sure in another month or so, I will feel more ready to be done and less nostalgic.

Another Pregnancy Update

I had my OB appointment this week. Aidan went with, which is always fun. :) He's not a big fan of my doctor's office for some reason. Anyway, this week I met our new doctor. She's really nice and was very friendly with Aidan. Aidan seemed to like her and even let her pick him up. He got to sit on the table with me to listen to his sister's heartbeat. One of the first questions the doctor asked me was if I was thinking of a C-section this time. The answer is not if I can help it. I think it's funny, that was one of the first things my last doctor asked. But, she was nice and seemed to listen and encouraged me to ask questions. My weight gain is on track and I'm actually measuring a week behind. No swelling anywhere. Things are good. I go back in two weeks.

Pregnancy Update!

As expected, I got the results of my weekend glucose test today. I am happy to report that I passed! Yay! Bring on the donuts! Ha! Hopefully that will be the last time I ever have to take that stinking test. But, I am always glad to get good news and things are going well for this pregnancy at this time. I see the doctor on Thursday. Hard to believe that we are approaching and just about to 7 mos and I will be going bi-weekly from now on. Time really flies. Soon I'll be desperately trying to manage two children. :) Speaking of desperately trying to manage children, we went to Grant's Farm today with the playgroup. All the kids were kind of cranky. So it was a little like herding cats. You know try to get them to do what you want but, you know you have no real control over the situation. But, Aidan had fun and loved seeing the kids. And he was exhausted when we got home so bonus! Either way, we have to get out and enjoy this playdates while we can. Soon it'll be too hard to get out a lot and then we won't be going anywhere for a while after she's here. Enjoy the chaos now before becomes a completely different kind of chaos, right?

A Dead Stop

Saturday was my latest 3 hour glucose test. It was pleasant as usual. I really hope that it was the LAST time I will EVER have to do that test. Luckily, I came away not too bruised or sore. Afterwards I darted to the Subway across the street and inhaled a sandwich and chips. I was so hungry after fasting for 13 hours. Then I came home and ate some more. :) Since I was busy at the lab, Daddy was on Aidan duty that morning. I told him our routine for potty training and encouraged him to try with Aidan before they went anywhere that day. I knew the train museum was having community helper day with fire trucks, police cars, and stuff to do. Well, Daddy never got around to putting undies on Aidan or trying at all with him. I couldn't put him in pants Saturday night as our neighbor was babysitting him while we went to a Cinco de Mayo party. So Saturday was a total wash. Sunday, he didn't wasn't really into it and Daddy was volunteering to help so I figured we would start again Monday. Well, we are back to square one again. So frustrating. On top of it, he's very whiny today and has been throwing fits a lot lately. I'm not quite sure what's up with him. I hope we get it figured out soon cause it's driving me crazy. Tomorrow we are going to Grant's Farm with playgroup so maybe tomorrow afternoon we can try again with the undies. I wish he would be a little bit interested in it. Wish me luck with my test too. My results should be back in the next day or two.

This Week's Baby Update!

Just a little baby update. Things are moving along. Time is flying by! I have my next glucose test this coming weekend. I opted for the 3 hour test since I have never passed the one hour. Why delay the inevitable?? So my Saturday morning will be spent at the lab, with no food for 12 hours in total, and 4 needle sticks. Fun! I return to the OB the following week for my next appointment and the results. Keep your fingers crossed. It will also be my last appointment with my OB and I will be switching to another doctor in the practice from this point on. I'm a little sad. I like my OB and I feel like she listens to me. (Not always found easily in a doctor.) I'm sure the other doctor will be nice as well and I'll receive great care. This will also be my last monthly appointment and I will start going every other week. See what I mean about time flying by??? I should find out more about when the next ultrasound will be. If I fail the glucose test it will probably be sooner rather than later to monitor weight gain. But either way, I will have another ultrasound to check the weight. I have a feeling she's big, at least as in long. I feel her move around a lot now and sometimes it seems that she's all stretched out from one side of my tummy to the other. We'll see what we find out though. Naming her has been difficult. Why are boys names so much easier? We had a boys name in about 2 seconds. We've narrowed our list at least and now are struggling with middle names. I'm sure we'll pick a good one in the end. Aidan is showing more understanding about the baby. He drew a picture of her the other day. It was very cute. He pointed out where her arms and legs were. Of course it was a bunch of squiggles but the thought was so sweet. He talks about the swing being for his baby sister when "she comes out of Mommy's tummy." And all the little clothes and things, he says are for her. He has yet to feel her kick. He isn't really into feeling my tummy. He's very into playing with his friends and being outside right now. And that's ok. I've been sore and tired lately. Aidan has been getting up early lately. I think he's excited about going out and doing stuff. So I've been getting up early naturally. It's hard to get a break and I tend to wear out quickly now. It's been hard to get to sleep as my back gets sore at the end of the day. My legs are starting to get sore too. But at least no swelling yet. My weight gain has been more conservative this time around. I've gained about 15 pounds at this point which is pretty good, and I started out weighing less than I did before I got pregnant with Aidan. I think both have helped me feel pretty good up to this point. I remember being more miserable at this point last time. I'm not hot all the time like last time. Maybe I haven't hit that point or maybe it won't be as bad as it was with Aidan. He's still a little furnace. In other news, her room is coming together. The curtains and ceiling fan are up. We have the changing table. The muralist is coming in 2 weeks to paint. (Yay!) The crib, mattress and rails are in but, not the dresser. I haven't been to get what's in yet. Hard to do it with a 2 1/2 year old when pregnant. The warehouse is over by the airport too. I just haven't gotten over there. I should have paid for delivery. :) The dresser is back ordered. Hopefully it'll come in May with their next shipment. I was a little annoyed when they couldn't tell me when they expect it to come in. Seems like a question they should anticipate. I could use the dresser too. I've gone through Aidan's old stuff and pulled out what will work for a girl. That also lead me to register. So, I know some people are traditionalist. They don't think you should get second baby showers and you shouldn't expect people to get you stuff for subsquent babies. I agree in that I don't expect anyone to get us anything. But, having a girl this time leaves us with a few things that we didn't get the first time around. Also, so things didn't make through the first time in one piece. I've had people ask if I was registering and I figured that it would make it easier for people who like to do some babyshopping so they don't have to guess what we need. We don't have a ton of stuff on our registeries and we don't expect people to get us all the stuff we asked for. We are registered at Babies R Us (which gives you 10% off any items left on your registery two weeks before your due date, score!) and Target. I've hit Craigslist for some things too. I got our changing table there. I got a sit n stand stroller this last week from there too. I saved half off the new price for it, which is always good especially if we don't end up using it a lot. So, there you have it! That's what's new with the Ross-Boons. I'll try to put up another update soon.

One of the Cutest Things Ever!

The cutest thing happened last night and I feel compelled to share. Julien and Aidan both laid with their heads on my tummy and sang to the baby. They did the ABC song twice and a couple verses of Old McDonald. Honestly, I think it was one of the cutest things I've ever seen in my life. We had Aidan tell his baby sister hello and he loved her and a kiss. She liked all the attention. :) I think he's going to be a good big brother.

Yes, Back In The Car We Go!

Well, here we are getting ready for another trip. I just can't sit still can I?? :) We're off to see my brother Brad this weekend. He's currently training at Ft. Riley for his upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. I haven't seen him since my wedding and Aidan has never met him so I'm excited. (Yes, that would be 7 years. It's hard to get all 5 of us kids together. ) The driving will be worth it. Although, at this point I could do it with my eyes closed. Julien is unable to come unfortunately. He's the only one left at work so someone has to man the helm, so to speak. Fortunately I was able to reschedule my OB appointment to today so I stay Monday too. Come to find out though, my OB doctor is moving to Cincinnati at the end of June. There are two other doctors at the practice who can see me but, it's a little disappointing since I've been seeing her the whole time. Apparently her husband is a doctor too and got an offer out there. I'm sure the other doctors we will be as nice as she is and just as good. Everything went well, other than that. The baby kicked the doplar when they checked her heart rate, spunky little thing. :) I got the order for my next glucose test. *sigh* I hope this is the last one I have to take ever! I hate those things. I oped for the three hour test, why waste time? Let's just cut to the chase. :) My friend Samantha was nice enough to agree to watch Aidan for me today, last minute and all. So he played with his friends Gabi and Joey and wore himself out. It's funny how they are starting to interact. Sam said they were actually talking to each other, working stuff out. Like one would ask for a turn or want a toy and say so, another would say 'oh you want this' or something like that. It's awesome how they are starting to really interact and be social. And the oldest is 3 so it seems early but they love to play together. Joey calls Aidan "Aidy" for some reason. It's kind of cute. Well I should go pack. Hopefully there will be another trip to pack for but, this time one for just me. :) I complained on Facebook how Julien got a vacation and not me. So a friend from HS got a crazy idea to have a little HS Moms reunion so we can have a responsibility free weekend. I hope it comes together because it sounds like so much fun! Hopefully I will have good news soon. :) Happy Easter to everyone!

Hosting Playgroup!

This past weekend was devoted to cleaning the house. Even Julien cleaned, that's how serious I was. :) It needed to be done as Aidan's cousins are coming this week and I hosted playgroup yesterday for about 5 Moms. And there was no way I was having everyone over to a dirty house! So, yesterday my house was cleaner than it's been ever maybe, and we had everyone over in the morning to play and have some snacks. Aidan was so excited to see all the kids coming. At one point he started running laps because he was so excited that he had so many kids to play with. :) He did a great job sharing his toys and taking turns. And there were 6 kids to share with. (And two infants.) It was a nice opportunity to be able to talk to the other moms. It's always easier when you can confine the kids to a couple rooms and let them go. Much easier than trying to supervise at the park or zoo and hold a conversation. In fact, three of us were having such a great conversation that the shindig didn't break up until 1pm and it started at 10am. In the end, it was worth all the cleaning and preparing. The kids liked the fruit pizza I made them and the moms were all really nice. All in all, a successful playgroup!

I tried to relax the rest of the afternoon. However, that laundry was just calling my name. After I was done folding, I made the foolish attempt of lifting the basket from the floor. I won't do that again. I pulled a muscle in my abdomen. And when I did it, I knew I had done something bad. It hurt! At my last doctor's appointment, my doctor even warned me about moving slower and being more careful about how I move as my muscles are being stretched and I can pull something. Taking a whirlpool bath last night helped and so did the tylenol but, I can still feel it a little today. I will try to move slower today. If it doesn't get done then I'll leave it for Julien to do. :)

We leave soon for our trip to pick up the girls and start our fun Cousin Weekend! Aidan can't wait! It should be fun!

Current Events in the Ross-Boon Household

Well, once again, I've neglected my blog. It's been a busy month and I'm a little tired. Aidan and I recently took a trip to visit my parents in Iowa. We had three birthdays to celebrate, my dad, my sister, and Aidan's cousin Sophie. Aidan got to attend Sophie's birthday party. It was held at her school after hours and was attended by the majority of her class. (Her teacher needs a BIG raise. Those kids are crazy!!) Aidan was a little overwhelmed at first but had a great time watching the bigger kids and joining in the fun. He and Sophie are inseparable when they play together. It's pretty funny to watch. You wouldn't necessarily think it with their 4 year age difference but, they love each other. In fact, before we left for our trip, Aidan informed me that Sophie's his best friend. :) This trip little Sarah tried to get in on the action. By the time we see her next, her walking will be so good that she will be tagging along behind the two of them for sure. They grow so quick!

We've been busy with playgroup too. The weather doesn't always cooperate as we are more than ready to go to the park and play outside for a change. We try to take advantage of every opportunity. We also have been going to the Magic House often and participating in music class (Aidan was not a fan! Go figure!) and art class (which Aidan LOVES!).

Last weekend Julien's parents were able to make it down for a quick trip. They were able to watch Aidan for us on Friday as we joined some friends for trivia night for their daycare. No, we didn't win which was disappointing and hurt my average. But I bought, through the silent auction, a package that included a $100 photo package by a professional photographer, including the proofs and a $200 wall mural. I got them for a steal! I'm so excited about the wall mural, which is going in the new nursery of course. I also got some yoga and work out DVDs which are nice. I hope to use them when I have energy again. :) Saturday, we all went to the zoo to enjoy the great weather. In fact, we took the neighbor boy Brady with us. He and Aidan had a great time and were so good together. They got the same toy in the gift shop to remember their visit by. :) Nana and Grandpa always have a great time playing with Aidan. And Aidan is a big Nana lover. I hope he can share her when the baby comes.

That leads to current baby news. So far, things are going well. No complications thus far. I haven't gained a lot of weight, only about 7 pounds so far really. I'm getting a baby bump for sure now. It's not big but I'm outgrowing my clothes. Most of my maternity gear doesn't fit yet. Luckily, my neighbor shared some of her recent maternity clothes and they seem to fit better since she is a little smaller than I am anyway. Today was our second ultrasound. It was an early morning for all of us since the appointment was at 8am. But Aidan was a good sport. I think the room made him a little nervous and bored but, he was a good boy. We got more 3D pics which we will share soon. And of course we hunted to find the answer to the "gender" question. Well, the baby really didn't want to cooperate and the legs were a little in the way. So we poked and proded and eventually the tech could make the determination that we are having a girl! Yes, a girl! Can you believe it? The doctor looked too and they are fairly confident in their determination because they saw labia and not because they couldn't find a penis. So, there are no guarantees like Aidan. He was very proud and showed it off. There was no mistaking it. But, the tech was convinced. So Aidan gets his baby sister like he wanted after all. It's still sinking in as we thought it would probably be a boy as Julien's parents had two boys. But, I know this will be fun and we will learn all the girl stuff too. :) I hope she likes boy clothes. I will have another ultrasound at some point to check the weight. They estimate she weighs 12 ounces right now, which is what Aidan weighed at this point, maybe a little less. So I think this will be another big baby, maybe not as big as Aidan. Hopefully! An exciting day. Tonight we're going out to dinner to celebrate. Now comes all the pink. Or if you can, look for purple or light blue. (purple is my favorite color and I like pink, but not that much. :) )