37 Weeks Update

So, the ultra sound tech said he is over 8 lbs and is about 19 1/2 inches long right now. If he grows 1/2 ounce a day for the next 2 weeks he is going to be a big baby. I have my regular scheduled appointment with my doctor tomorrow for a regular check up, we'll see when I talk to him if he opts to move the c-section up a week or not. I don't think there is a problem delivering during week 38 as long as he's healthy.

After our appointment this morning Mike, Zachary and I went to meet Ben's new babysitter. She is wonderful and she has a great set up. I am really excited for her to watch Ben. He will only be there 3 maybe 4 days a week and then Grandma Smith, aka 'Memaw' will pick him up and watch him in the afternoon along with his cousins Allie and Kyle. I think it's great that she spends so much time with the kids, I know as they are older they will be able to look back on the time spent at Memaw's and Pepaw's. It's going to be different this fall because Zachary will be in kindergarten all day, so it will only be the three younger kids. Zachary will be there on his days off from school, but it won't be as often. I am sure he's going to miss his cousins and his grandparents, it's a big change for everyone.

We didn't do much this weekend, well I didn't do much. I thought I was going to have to have Mike take me to the hospital on Saturday night, I was having some really strong contractions and a lot of pain. But after a warm shower and laying down they eventually got weaker and I was able to sleep them off. I think I might have over done it a little bit earlier in the evening, Mike, Zachary and I went to Wal-Mart to get a few items I needed to complete packing for the hospital. On Sunday I stayed home while Mike took Zachary to two separate birthday parties. Our friends Brandon and Valerie had a combined party for their two girls, their youngest turned 1 and the oldest turned 4 after that they went to Mike's friend's Bob's little girls birthday party, Lakyn turned 3. Zachary had a great time at all of the parties. I stayed home and finished reading one of my Mary Higgins Clark books that Mike's mom gave me. I have 3 books to return to her now. I'm hoping to have at least one more done before the little man arrives.

We are pretty much finished at the house for now with the exception of basic cleaning. We need to get the car seat and base in our car and get the bassinet brought down stairs but other than that we are ready for Ben to come home! I have a list of house hold chores we are working on and crossing them off as they are finished. I really want to get our room reorganized and was hoping I could do it next week when I start maternity leave, we'll see.

Please say a prayer for Mike's uncle. He's in the ICU in Columbus and is not doing well. We found out last week that he has had cancer for some time, I am not sure what type. But over the past few years he has basically been stuck at home due to problems with his lungs. The type of cancer he has slowly progresses but I think it's has finally taken a toll on him along with the rest of his heatlh. Mike's parents just spent their vacation in Columbus a few weeks ago and were able to spend quite a bit of time with him and were able to help him get some things in order for him to feel more comfortable.

Back to work, well I'm back to pretending to work :-D Three more days and I'm off! Yippee!!!

36 Week Doctors Appointment Update

I had my 36 week doctor appointment today. It was painless and didn't last long. My doctor wants me to have an ultrasound on Monday to determine size, he says he thinks the baby is rather large and would like to get an approx size because if he is big we will take other actions and might not wait until July 15th for the c-section. I have a follow up appointment on Tuesday to discuss the ultrasound and to do a cervix check.

Other than that it was painless and I was in and out in about 1/2 hr. This week at work has been strange. It's my last full week, I only work until Thursday next week. I have been using a makeshift office and bringing my own laptop into the office to get work done. The person covering my position has taken over full time. The part time person we hired about a month ago to fill the vacant p/t permanent position left by my friend Dawn announced to us yesterday she is going back to her old job but is in no rush to do so. So....with out my assistance they are looking to for someone to work 20 hrs a week to fill her spot. I am really hating work right now and praying I find something else to go to when I am done with maternity leave. I have a few leads and waiting to hear back from some interviews.

This past weekend my mom's side of the family threw us a baby shower - 3 showers! We are so lucky to have the wonderful family and friends we have. We have a TON of diapers, so many I might have to trade some of the size ones for size 2's! I have gone through all of his clothes and they are all organized and put into different bins according to sizes. We are all ready at home for his arrival. I still need to pack my bag and we need to put the car seat in the van but other than that we are more than ready and are anxiously awaiting his arrival!

Time to get Zachary in the shower and off to bed. I'll catch up more later.

Surprise!

So the surprise was on ME! My wonderful family threw me a surprise baby shower this past weekend. I had no clue, and it's really hard to keep secrets from me. I thought I was going to my grandma's birthday party and even arrived with her gift. Then I walk in and they all yell "Surprise" my cousin Joe is pointing a camera at me and Angie is pointing a camcorder at me, it still didn't really register until I read the cake "Welcome Benjamin". I cried.

Everyone was there with exception to my grandma who the night before was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia in both lungs. I didn't know she was in the hospital until I got to "her birthday party" and they told me. :-( I spoke with my dad and he said she is doing better.

We are all set for Ben (Benny or Benjamin, whatever you choose) to arrive. We still have a few loads of laundry to do to get all of his stuff washed and I am going to pick up storage containers tomorrow night so I can sort his clothes according to size. But other than that we have EVERYTHING thanks to my wonderful co-workers, friends and family. I'm over the moon thrilled for him to get here. Especially after this weekend, it seems so much more real (not like the huge ass belly, waddle, swelling, and constant rib pain doesn't make it feel real). I am ready to hold him in my arms and to introduce him to his big brother Zachary.

I have a few pictures I can post, I will do that later right now I have to finish up at work and thought I'd post a quick update.

35 weeks!!! And 28 days until our scheduled c-section! WOO-HOO!!!!!

34 Weeks 0 days

34 weeks = 35 days until July 15 = DELIVERY DAY!

I can't believe we have officially started the countdown. I only have 18 days left of work before I start my maternity leave. Keeping my fingers crossed I'll still be able to work until July 3rd.

I had a doctors appointment last week just a regular check up. Good news I found out is my gallbladder is just fine. The bad news is the baby is lodged under my right rib which is why I am having so much pain and also why I am constantly trying to catch my breath. Until the little booger decides to move, which I doubt he will since he's been laying on my right side for this entire pregnancy or until he starts to drop there is nothing I can do about the pain. It hurts like hell but I will deal with it and am thrilled to know I won't have to have gallbladder surgery.

Other than that my appointment was quick and painless. I lost 3lbs which is great, my doctor wasn't upset at all. I go back on June 17 and at that time we'll schedule my next ultrasound and I also have to do the strep b testing and some other blood work I think. After that appointment I'll be into WEEKLY appointments.

I have started a list of what I'll need to take to the hospital for me and for the baby. I've also started a list of what I'll personally need at home for when I return. After I had Zachary no one told me, or I guess I just didn't realize that I'd bleed for several weeks so I was unprepared at home and didn't have pads. This time I am going to make sure I have the kind I want to use and that I have plenty of them. The same goes for nursing pads, I don't know how many bras and shirts I soaked through at first because I didn't realize my breasts would leak! Making the lists really made things seem so "real".

My cousins Joe and Angie dropped off a box of clothes from their son Rylan to me at work on Friday. I also got a chance to steal a few hugs and kisses from him when they were here. He's 7 months old and has the most adorable little dimples and smile! Friday night Mike brought the box inside and we went through everything -OMG! I think we are set as far as onesies and outfits until he's out of the 3-6 month sizes. Which with Zachary was around 3 months since he loved to eat!

We still have so much to do around the house to get ready and I have defiantly entered into the nesting stage. I wrote out so many "Honey Do" lists over the weekend and even added dates for the tasks to be completed. I want not to have to worry about the house the week before he's here and also not to have to worry about a bunch of household chores the week after he arrives.

I am going to make a prediction now - I have a feeling Ben is going to be smaller than Zachary was. My prediction is he will weigh 7.8oz and will be 19 1/2 inches long. Zachary was 8.14lbs and 20 inches long.