Okay, slacker...

You've been on the couch / stuck in the house on bedrest for two weeks, and we've only gotten two posts?  Slacker!  What I did realize is that there's not a whole lot to write about with no one around all day.  I've watched a hundred movies, (Don't bother with 'Knowing' -- worst of the bunch) read four books, taken a billion naps and now I just count down how many days until we meet Danny. 

Last appointment, my blood pressure was down (phew) which I figured meant that I would be released, when in fact Karen's prediction of 'The bedrest is working, keep it up' was correct.  My doctor also said that we'll likely induce in the 39th week, so that means we're looking at the week before Christmas.  Nothing like cutting a whole week off an already short, four-week countdown.  It's starting to sink in now that we'll have him home soon.  The crib is up, the clothes and blankets and sheets (oh, my) are all washed, and we have everything we should need for his arrival and the week or two after as we adjust.  So excited!  Moxy and Phoebe have begun to think that this is their new play area, which is funny since they didn't bother with it once until we put the new sheets in. 

Thanksgiving was very nice in KarenSusanLand.  We visited my family on Thursday and Karen's on Friday, and came away with enough leftovers to eat all weekend.  I even made turkey noodle soup yesterday -- I really miss our cooking Sundays, but I might've overdone it a little, because my back was killing me by 6pm.  I won't be surprised if my recent lack of weight gain is no longer lacking after all that food.   

I've been watching baby shows on Discovery Health for weeks, and here and there Karen watches with me.  Saturday, we were folding clothes and watching a typical episode where the father was helping deliver the baby.  I asked if she would be interested in being that hands-on, and she said it depends on whether she can get past the blood and guts of it all.  I paused the TV and said (innocently) that you have to look past it, and not think of it as blood or guts.  She tentatively agreed, and we unpaused...  That very moment, the baby onscreen was born, and it was the most graphic birth I think I've ever seen.  Amniotic fluid and blood and all nine pounds of baby were placed on the mother's stomach, and we both LOST IT.  I haven't laughed that hard in ages, and I don't think it did much to help convince Karen that she wants to help deliver Danny.  :)

More to come...

another week and some mandated couch time

We had an amazing weekend of shower fun starting on Saturday night.  Lots of fun costumes and great food, along with a houseful of good friends made for a terrific night. 

Sunday we had a family shower with more people, more fun and more gifts...  Our friends and family have been so generous, it's been unbelievable.  We're lucky to have such great people in our lives!

This week I felt a little run down and figured I did too much over the weekend, but when I called my doctor with my symptoms yesterday, she recommended I go to Labor & Delivery triage at the hospital...  Not my idea of a good time, but I survived.  They released me late yesterday and put me on modified bedrest, which means that I get to stand up to fix myself food and that's about it.  To quote Karen, if you'd told me that I could have a week off to watch TV a few weeks ago, I'd have gladly taken it.  Now that it means that I can't really do much, I'm freaking out a little bit.  I have another OB appointment on Thursday of next week, so I'll know more then.  Until then, I have already signed up for a free Netflix trial and have set the DVR to record any B-movie that's on in the next week.  At least the cats seem to like the company.  :)

so much to update on. so little time -- bullet-style

*Friday night: ate fries for dinner, which I heartily regretted a few hours later.

*Saturday was our labor and delivery class, which was informative and pretty much what I figured it would be. We signed up for the express version of a Prepared Childbirth class, which means we were mailed a thirty page booklet that walked us through the basics, and also gave us a code that allowed us access to an online library of videos and information sheets. The class itself was only three hours long, which was less expensive and less time-intensive, perfect for us (read: me). We learned a little about how to breathe and a little about what drug options there would be. AKA: Susan gets drugs early and often, and no one gets hurt. Interesting tidbit: the birthing coach recommended a code word, so that the partners know to clear the room of people for a bit. I like that we’re close enough with our fams that we can just say ‘Um, we really need to be alone for a few’ instead of making up a code system. 

*Sunday we decided to walk to breakfast in our neighborhood, which would’ve been a great idea a) had I not been 8 months pregnant, b) had the first two places we tried been less swamped and c) had the third place where we actually ate had a kitchen staff at all. We finally ate, and were treated very well, but my 10am idea for breakfast turned into a noon brunch.  We ended up at a local pub, that serves beers with breakfast...  While we waited for our food (probably took about an hour or so) Karen had a few beers, and by the time we walked out, she was (rather innocently) a little buzzed.  Ah, the fun of being the designated driver at 1pm on a Sunday.

*Tuesday a few of our friends at work threw a shower for us, which was incredibly sweet. Lots of people joined us to celebrate Danny, and we got lots of generous help and some awfully cute gifts to boot. Karen’s parents joined us, which was quite a nice surprise, and the hour flew by. We’re very lucky to work with such kind people, and we couldn’t have had a better time.

*Today I had an OB appointment, where everything went fine. My doctor confirmed that he’s a big boy (never saw THAT coming) and assured me that we don’t need to worry about him getting too big. I’ll take her word for it. Good news for me today: I’ve only gained a pound since my last appointment… Shocking, since he’s gaining about half a pound a week now. By my (horrible) estimation, that will put him right around the eight pound mark when he’s due. We’ll see how that pans out. My OB appointments will be bi-weekly for a bit, and then weekly. We’re getting closer to the end every time I check. We’re fifty days from our EDD, and can’t believe we’re so close.

*This weekend, we have non-stop action: a dinner with friends Friday, Saturday we shop for costumes for our co-ed costume party / shower which is Saturday night. Sunday is our family shower… PHEW. Nothing like packing it all into one weekend!

*Karen has a game she plays with Danny, where she pushes in on my belly and he pushes out, usually just after dinner when he’s very active. It’s an awful lot of fun, and I love that they get to interact even before they officially meet.

*Updated symptoms: heartburn, back pain, scary swollen ankles and fingers, still sleeping pretty well, definitely waddling, generally looking like a house like a sea lion very pregnant.  I also drop foods/beverages on my belly daily now.  It's a good look for me.

*Size at this point: 5 lbs, and about eighteen inches long. Roughly, the size of a small baby. :)