Daily Adorable

Baby Update

Almost three weeks old now, how strange is that? Time flies when you're having fun! Kaylee is doing pretty good at sleeping in three hour stretches. Galen discovered that she really really likes looking at bright lights. I used this to my advantage last night (this morning?) by walking in the kitchen with both lights on and she zonked out in two minutes flat. Strange huh? But neat! I'm glad he figured it out. The cloth diapers are working just fine with the bonus (for winter) that she stays extra warm in them. Having your bum wrapped in fleece will do that! They look so big on her it's kinda funny, but I'm hoping we won't have issues in the summer with overheating.

I'm happy to say I haven't been hit with any postpartum depression, yet. It was a big concern for me given the issues I've had in the past. Granted there have been the hard nights, but that's to be expected with a newborn. Galen has been very helpful and we have a pretty good routine going so that we both get some sleep. If I go too far into sleep dep I tend to fall apart at the seams. I was also at the doctor yesterday and learned that I'm only six pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight! Yes ladies and gents, I've lost 32 pounds in under three weeks. Granted nine of that was Kaylee, but hot dang! I'm one happy camper.

And in case you haven't heard, Galen's sister Naomi is having a baby! She's due in August, which I do not envy. Is there ever a good month to be nine months pregnant in? I dunno, hehe. This is wonderful timing, if unplanned, so that the cousins will be close in age to play! Congrats Naomi and Mason, I'm sure you two will make wonderful and loving parents.

jamie

Bath Time

Yay another bath, and poofy hair ta boot! Daddy had to hold her head up a bit for the picture, because she's so sleepy! I've washed my first load of the cloth diapers and they cleaned up just fine. Now if only I would remember to wash my own laundry...

jamie

Snow

Are we sick of the snow yet? Oyii. Thank goodness it's going to start to melt! At least it made for a pretty Christmas. I'm waiting on mom and sister to get pictures.

jamie

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! I will have pictures tomorrow I'm sure :)

jamie

Bit by Bit

Make sure to check the picture link often, I try and add more every few days as I take them. This was taken today. Galen had been jiggling her for going on two hours while I was attempting to sleep. Then Kaylee decided she was hungry and fussed until I fed her again. Then we bathed her. Just now she's gone to sleep and been awake for... four hours? Something like that. She should sleep good for awhile now!

jamie

Tree!

I've been working 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there putting up decorations on our Christmas tree. Finally it's done! I didn't put up the larger generic colored balls, but just the unique ones and the little red balls. It still looks fine to me, and would be very crowded if I used the bigger decorations. Yay for some holiday cheer! Now I have presents to wrap, but not before I get a bit more sleep. Galen is lucky that he can get his sleep in one large chunk, mine is 1-2 hours at a time. At least I can function.

Yay tree!

jamie

Cuddles

Pictures

Yes I know, no update. Can ya blame me? A little busy! At least I've got pictures in the album now. That's rather mindless and doesn't require the thinking of typing out a post. So I'll share my most recent favorite picture, which should entice you to go look at the rest!

We're Home!

Yes we're finally home! And tired, and trying to get some sleep. When I find time that I'm awake and Kaylee is asleep, I'll tell the tale! Until then, sleeeeeep....

jamie

Aches Take Two

Update: Why does my back have to hurt so much? Ugh. I can't sit anywhere and be comfortable! -8:30pm

Last night wasn't fun. I think I finally crawled into bed at 2am. My back ached in two lines straight down from my shoulder blades, like it was in my ribs. I had lots of BH contractions that I could feel in my chest, just a tight feeling, along with cramps. And the pressure! Kiddo was having a rockin' time though, stretching into my aching sides to taunt me. When I did finally lay down to sleep I had some more serious feeling contractions that shot up my side and across my belly. Lasted maybe 20 seconds each for two of them before I rolled over. I figured if they were still hurting after I rolled over, might be the real thing. If they stopped, then it was just more BH. Of course they stopped. Drat. Is it just wishful thinking for me to want to go into labor naturally? I hope not.

jamie

Aches

Why is it when I ache the most, this little darling gets the most active? My right side hurts from her feet, I'm crampy across the middle and the BH contractions make my chest ache. No fair! She's sure happy to wiggle away though. Figures.

jamie

Predictions

Predictions are flying left and right, with all sorts of guesses slowly eaten up by time. Yup, that one little thing that never stops, time. At least now I have a deadline so I know for sure that if nothing happens between now and the 11th, I'll at least see my baby girl by the 12th. I go in at midnight on the 11th to start the induction process, but I would rather have her sooner if she'll let me! I've been having BH contractions off and on all day now (and yesterday), nothing painful just a tight feeling. I'm waiting for that moment when I get socked in the stomach with pain and go "oh". Will it be at night? Will I even be at home? Ugh, the waiting!

'Tis the season, and I want a Christmas tree this year. I'm afraid if we wait too long (like, next weekend) we won't get one. I love the holidays and all the lights, it's the cheery spot in a usually gloomy rainy weather. Around here though, you wouldn't know it was winter with all the sunshine. I do wish we would have some snow, Christmas is always better with some snowflakes. Not a lot! It doesn't need to be a lot, but just enough to be pretty. Hehe, guess that can go on my wishlist.

jamie

Taste the Rainbow!

*giggle*

38 Weeks

I've never had so much activity out of this little one then I have in the last week. She moves every time I wake up to use the bathroom in the night, every time I eat during the day, and just whenever she feels like it. There's also more movement below my belly button then I'm used to, and it's kinda strange feeling. At my last fetal monitoring the nurse said that her hands were in fists, an indication of good muscle tone, but I also feel them!

Last night during dinner I had my worst round of cramps, toe curling good actually. I was stuck on the couch unable to get up, and through the whole thing she had hiccups! It didn't help. These cramps were also different, in that it was about ten minutes of constant low level pain, with waves of very sharp pain that came and went pretty fast, all low in my belly like menstrual cramps. I managed to get up between one of these waves and as soon as I was able to walk around for a few seconds it went away. Much to my relief.

Apparently the level of pain from being induced is quite a bit higher then a naturally occurring labor. It has to do with not being fully dilated but having baby bear down on you anyway because of the induction. According to my OB, the vast majority of women that get induced also have an epidural because of these more intense contractions. I'm inclined to take her advice on the matter.

38 weeks and I'm ready to have this child! Of course, not until after lunch on Friday, wouldn't want to miss that. But seriously... anytime will do. Please? Labor dust!!

jamie

Cramps

Cramps suck.
That is all.

Blog About it She Says...

Dinner's cooking so now I have time. Sorry if this wasn't sooner for you sister! Oh wait.. beeper just went off. HA!

Now I have to babysit the meat, so I'll update after dinner.

After dinner it is! I had my OB appointment today as well as fetal monitoring. My blood pressure is up again, 140/80, so I had blood drawn to test for pre-eclampsia. The nurse at L&D said that if the results come back with something bad, they'd call. Otherwise I'm in the clear. So far, no call. I also had an EKG for the heart palpitations, which was normal. My OB said that I can pick a date to be induced if I wish, that falls between 39 and 40 weeks, so that I know she will be there to deliver. It's looking like the 11th may be the day, provided our little darling doesn't show up sooner then that. All throughout my fetal monitoring I was having cramps/contractions, though they didn't hurt. I've had them all day today actually. While I was monitored, they were pretty close together, from 3-5 min apart. It just feels like a tightening across my belly, uncomfortable but not painful. Friday I starting having cramps at night, and I have every night since but today is the first that I've had them during the day. We'll see!

jamie

Yes I'm Awake

...and it's 3am, I know. I just wasn't hungry last night and couldn't choke down much dinner, but I did wake up hungry, imagine that! So yeah. Anyway, this made me giggle like nothing else and I know I've seen some of the clips in it before, but some are new! Enjoy.

Okay Kiddo...

Updatex2: I had a nice round of BH contractions when I laid down for my nap this afternoon. Maybe five of them, some lasting longer then 30 seconds. I tried to count. They were all strung together in about a 30 minute stretch and were on the upper middle part of my tummy. Nice sharp lancing pains. Funs! I think the timer is just about ready to buzz, hehe.

Update: Okay, you're just spiteful kid. Three rounds of hiccups in three hours? That's not nice! It's the holidays! Be nice to your mommy! *grumble grump*

I appreciate the light cramps last night, that was very kind of you compared to previous nights, but what's with the hiccups at 4am? Hmm? The full body going nuts on you hiccups?! I mean really, couldn't you have waited another hour or two? Because you kept me awake for a good ten minutes, and then I got hungry. Which means I had to get up, eat "breakfast" and now I want to go back to bed. Are you going to let me? Please? It's up to you, but I may bounce around a bit for some revenge if you keep rabbit kicking my side.

jamie

Cake in a Mug, Take Two

Okay so I tired it, but had to improvise. I used chocolate cake mix from the box, 4 tablespoons. Sugar, 1 rounded tablespoon. 1 egg. Milk, 3 tablespoons. Veg. oil, 1 tablespoon. And a splash of vanilla. This took much trial and error, mostly cutting down on the oil and adding in the sugar. I like my cake sweet and with no frosting I think it needs the extra. But it works! I also only cook for 2 1/2 minutes, since our microwave turned a 3 min mug into a brick. Anyway, this works wonders for my sweet tooth! And I know I know, it's horrible and I shouldn't, yada yada... but at least I'm not spending money on candy and using what I already have! So there. Humph.

jamie

A Day Out

Today I went out to the Portland Holiday Bazaar with mom, grandma and sister. We went last year and it was still fun this year to see all the pretty stuff I'd never buy, hehe. I just wish I had more oomph to look longer! Unfortunately my hips started hurting and I got shooting pains across my butt, along with heart palpitations from not being able to breathe well enough (had to deep breathe through my mouth and not nose to stop it from happening). I'd love to go back and look more, I was hoping to find a Christmas present for any of the three boys that have me stumped. They might all just get something eatable this year. This doesn't mean I didn't find something! But I can't tell, they might peek. I got some lavender spritz for me, I put it on my numerous pillows since lavender is supposed to help you sleep. If my nap this afternoon was the trial run, it works great! But I think I was just tuckered out.

YAY Lynnette finally updated her blog! Time for the Christmas theme! Wheee! It's almost Christmas! Can you believe it? We're going to have to find a little tree this year, not much room here for one. I wonder if we'll get a tree before or after Kaylee is here... *pokes belly* Whatcha think kiddo?

jamie

Cramping

This is the second night in a row I've had cramps. They hurt just enough to make me cranky and be annoying. Last night didn't act up until I was in bed, tonight started a bit earlier along with some back pain. I guess this is a good thing? Ugh.

jamie

Cake in a Mug?

I'm so tempted, it sounds so good. Someone try it and tell me if it's as good as it sounds!


Dangerous Chocolate Cake-in-a-Mug

1 - coffee mug (microwave-safe)

4 T. - cake flour (plain, not self-rising)

4 T. - sugar

2 T. - cocoa

1 - egg

3 T. - milk

3 T. - oil

1 - splash of vanilla

3 T. - chocolate chips


Add dry ingredients to the mug; mix well with a fork. Add egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in milk, oil, and vanilla, and mix well. Add chips, if using.

Put mug in the microwave, and cook for three minutes at 1,000 watts. Cake will rise over the top of the mug -- do not be alarmed. When finished, carefully remove mug from microwave and allow to cool a little. Tip onto a small plate prior to serving, if desired. Yields one generous serving or two "more virtuous" servings.

37 Weeks

So it's getting hard to take my morning/night shots around my belly. *giggle* I gotta scoot and pull and lean and huff... yeah tickles my funny bone. My insulin requirements have gone up a lot and it's kinda frightening compared to what I started out at. Even more so when I have to figure out what dose to take after Kaylee is here. More trial and error, more annoyances and possible frightening moments to add to this wonderful time! Yay! *sigh*

Grandma Fish brought up a good point though, where exactly am I giving birth at? So here ya go:
http://www.swmedicalcenter.com/body.cfm?id=1423
I'll be in the Family Birth Center and there's a nurse's station right when you walk in. You'll need to ask for me by name and they can give you the room. The parking lot is huuuge, but I know from experience that you may still have to park way out in the boonies. (Right now) I'm more then happy to have visitors come see Kaylee while I'm there, but during the actual labor I'll probably scream at you to get out :)

On Tuesday I had another round of fetal monitoring at the FBC, then an ultrasound and a visit with Dr. Griffith. Whew! It was wonderful!! My dad got to come see the ultrasound! It was my last one, and I'm so glad he was there. He also got to feel her bump around while we were in the waiting room. Makes me grin just thinking about it. Dr. Griffith checked to see if I was dilated yet, which I'm not, but I have started to thin out. Which apparently is the normal "first stage". Kaylee also weighs in at 6 lbs. 15 oz. So basically 7 lbs. No wonder I have a hard time seeing around my belly!

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!

jamie

Ultrasounds

So I finally scanned in all my ultrasound pictures and then put the actual pictures in a photoalbum so I can take it over to dinner tomorrow for family to see. But I have three cute ones I'll share here. They have dates in the upper right corner, so the top one is "oldest" and the bottom "youngest". Gotta love that extra chubby baby leg! Enjoy! (You can actually tell what they are!)

jamie

Hey! Hey!

Update: Okay, I found out the culprit, with a good excuse. You're off the hook!

Who changed their vote? Huh? Who I ask! Who?! *squinty eyed look*

Mah Belly Be Movin'!

...and I don't even feel it! The weirdest thing ever! I can sit here all nice and reclined in my computer chair and watch my belly move up and down. Not a lot mind you, but even when I hold my breath, it moves. I think it's her practicing her breathing actually. It doesn't happen all the time, but enough that I've noticed this morning.

jamie

*giggle*

Gotta Love Those Sales

So I wasn't sure if I would like the Cottonelle bath tissue or not, but given that it was $0.50 for a pack of 4, I gave it the benefit of the doubt. After getting my first round at Freds on Friday, I had to test! And yes, it's fine. So I braved the crowds again today and grabbed another four packs of them. Now we're stocked! And the strange thing? I think I like it more then the MD that I've been buying for the last six years. Whodda thunk it? Hehe! Spices are also on sale for 40% off so I was able to get my whole cloves for the crockpot wassail I'm making for Thanksgiving. Galen is making a greenbean casserole. I dunno if he realizes that he is making it or not, I should probably tell him. I do plan on coming over early to set up my wassail to heat. It would just be too awkward to transport a crockpot full of liquid I think. Hope that's okay mom!

jamie

Kitties Take Two

These two definitely know something is up. The last week or so Susie has turned into some adorable kittenish fiend that chases ribbons, meows for attention and stares holes into my back. She has also climbed under the covers with me when I'm napping and crawled all the way down to my hips to curl up against my belly. Twice. And pawed at the sheets to be let under! It's a tad unnerving when she used to just curl up by my shoulders. And Tux! My little shadow. He always follows and sleeps with me when I nap and at night, then when I wake up and am at the computer, he sleeps against my purse on the floor beside me. I thought it was dogs that had a nose for things like this, not cats! I mean, yes they were loving and slept with me before, but not at this constant rate. I hope they don't have attention withdrawals when Kaylee gets here and become destructive.

jamie

36 Weeks

So this is the home stretch right? Please? Pretty please? *whines* On the bright side my carpel tunnel is better, and I'm able to type right now with minimal pain. Didn't even have to ice my wrist yesterday! I've been getting the random twinge and strange ache around my belly though, and some mild cramp like feelings. That was yesterday. This morning, nada. Even Kaylee is quiet this morning. It's really weird actually, how quiet she's been. When I had my fetal monitoring she was even quiet. Before there were at least seven spikes of activity and last time I think we got three that actually counted. She had a few other small ones (yay she just bumped me) but they were too small to count. I feel your pain darlin', we're both runnin' outta room!

On the bright side, I have made it to 36 weeks and now I know she will come out fine. All her little bones are fully formed and she's at least six pounds. I'm really curious to see how long she'll be, since I've had some kicks now waaaaay out on my side that caught me off guard. Her hiccups are amazingly low now so I know she's dropped down some.

Lets aim for after Thanksgiving, okay darling? Momma wants her turkey'n'cranberry!

jamie

Ha!

Can't you just see Tux doing this? hehe!

Update

Another doctor appointment today. Got the first round of bills for the fetal monitoring, and thank goodness for insurance. $304 for each if we didn't! Just under $20 out of pocket for us. Each. It adds up fast still since I've been getting one every week now, today will be my fifth. She has hiccups right now btw.

My pregnancy induced carpel tunnel is actually (dare I hope) better today. I can half type with my left hand. I still plan on keeping it wrapped up but I'm so relieved that it's doing better. Taking a shower is still difficult though, but mainly because lifting my arms up to wash seems to make me see spots, get dizzy and breathless. It's weird. I used to take 10-15 min in the shower, now it's at least 20 since I have to go so slow. I'm darn near exhausted when finished. I also get this (now) almost constant ache at the top arch of my tummy. I've found myself unconsciously tightening the muscles there while sitting up at the computer, eating, in the car, you name it. Not sure why yet, but it's also the same muscles that help me get up from sitting/laying down. I think the poor thing is just overworked and stretched thin.

If you haven't heard yet, Galen's Fred Meyer is having it's grand reopening this weekend. Fri-Sun there is free food at noon-2pm as well as tons of amazing sales. Like a 5 lb. bag of FM sugar for $1. Come for the food, come for the sales, don't matter cuz the store is pretty now! I know Galen will be so relieved to have the construction workers out of his hair.

Today is the 18th, if you haven't noticed. Not only is turkey day almost here, but one month from now I may be holding a little girl instead of writing blog updates every day. I'm almost at that point where I just want to get this all over with. Gimmie another week or two and I'm sure I'll be there!

I've also added links to the side of websites I check over almost every day. All of them either have a bunch of frugal ideas to help save money around the house, or have very yummy recipes. Pioneer Woman cracks me up in her cooking section. Well worth reading through some of her step by step cooking instructions just to giggle at her sass.

jamie

ps: Susie was doing somersaults after the ribbon this morning. She'd take off down the hall and come charging back flying through the air and rolling around. It's funny as all heck to watch. :)

Kitties

Stretching aborted, start sleep cycle .


You'd never know I was 9, I swears I can fly after dat ribbon! But you'll never be quick enough to take the picture pregger lady!

The Best Cat Toys

Are free! A broken spaghetti noodle, a bug, and most recently a ribbon from baby clothes. Susie is disgustingly cute with it. Also I'm typing this one handed because that wrist thing has gotten worse in my left, but my right is fine. If I wasn't preggers I'd think I sprained it pretty bad. My guess is it's swollen carpel tunnel something. Either way, it's wrapped up and a pain in the ass. *sigh*

jamie


more animals

35 Weeks

more animals

I woke up with both my wrists hurting this morning. Weird. Pregnancy is full of weird stuff. Like I can't reach my toenails well enough to clip them anymore. Taking a shower is like running a marathon. I can't think of anything else new right now but trust me, it's there.

The little darling is running out of room, so her vicious kicks have turned into a tale of squirms and wiggles. No longer does she have at it when I lay down for bed at night, but instead wiggles when she wants to throughout the day, usually more so when I eat. Was kinda cute this morning actually. I woke up, waddled out to the kitchen, took my blood sugar and she started to 'wake up'. As I was fixing my breakfast she squirmed more and proceeded to let me know she was awake all through breakfast. Supposedly she's up to 6 pounds now, and I'd believe it. Mah belly be heavy mon! OH! OH! And I finally, after 35 weeks, figured out the secret to rolling over in bed! I got it! I'm so excited! I can roll over now without it being some huge event! Eee! Aren't you excited too? Aren't you! You have to be, because it's a huge thing for me. It was such a pain to roll over, and I have to if I'm going to fall asleep. See I start on my left side, then roll over to my right after 20-30 min and then I can sleep. So wanna know the secret? Do ya? It's the best. Really, it is. Here goes: silk underwear. Can you believe it? I dunno why I put on a pair yesterday but when I rolled over last night and my butt just slid across the sheets so easy like, I was astonished. I was flabbergasted. I was amazed and delighted. It's wonderful.

jamie

Limits

Sometimes you figure out your limits the intelligent way, sometimes you gotta learn the hard way. I've learned the hard way today apparently. I had a couple of errands I wanted to run before my doctor appointments this afternoon. Four different stops, four times in and out of the car, four different walks into and out of a store. By my second stop, Target, one of the clerks asked if I was okay and needed to sit down. I didn't realize the pain showed so much on my face. Round ligament pain actually, nasty stuff when it's a constant ache. Even worse when it's so bad you gimp, and makes each step hurt like wildfire. It's the lifting your leg to take a step that hurts, not the actual movement. I figured things out when it stabbed hard enough to almost send me on my face, well, I figured it out the second time at least, hehe. I had to have Galen drive me to the doctors so he could drop me off at the door and I wouldn't have to walk through the parking lot. Tylenol doesn't touch this pain btw, I tried.

So now that I've been home for five hours, slept for two and kept my butt on some sort of surface, I'm fine. This means no more "errand" days for me, no more long grocery trips, nada that requires me getting up and down alot or walking around for any extended period of time. I'll be frank and say that the pain had me in tears a few times. This isn't something I am eager to repeat. Lesson learned!

On a different note, why is it when you're late to a doctor's appointment by say, ten minutes, they get all pissy at you, but when they make you wait 45 minutes before the doctor even shows her pretty face there are no excuses? That was the case today. A 2:15pm OB appointment followed by a 3pm fetal monitoring appointment. 45 minutes should be more then enough to check me in, see the nurse, see the doc and drive one block around the corner to the next appointment. HA! When 3pm rolled around and I was still waiting in the little room after the nurse assured me the doc will "be right in" I left. Smiled at the nurses, waved at the doctor as she was standing right there and said I was late for my next appointment. See ya. Yeah I was a little ticked, but the pain made me pissy. Gosh, a pissy preggers woman? Unheard of! hehe...

The bright spot to this whole story would be Kaylee passing her testing with flying colors once again. When the nurse first started, she was already 'breathing' (the hard part of the test) and continued to do so throughout the rest of it. So while my health seems to be sliding, my little darling is doing fine. But I think that's how things are supposed to be.

And yes, she says bump bump.

jamie

Thirty Something

Did you see my ticker? I'm down to thirty something days left! It's amazing that time flew so fast but I'm definitely feeling it now. I'll never go without my nap again, I don't want a repeat of yesterday! Today was leaps and bounds better in comparison. I do have an ache high up on my belly that doesn't really go away, but it only started after I started washing baby clothes, so I think it's from all the leaning over to fold and hanging stuff up.

Speaking of baby clothes, you have no idea how utterly adorable it was to open the washer and see it full of PINK. Little pink. Tiny itty bitty sleeves and pants and hats and and and... *squee* I have the majority put away now, and I know we're set through six months. There are so many onesies! As well as a generous amount of outfits thanks to a smart sister and the baby shower. I have three sleeper "bags", that makes me giggle, as well as two fleece jammies in newborn size and two others that are bigger. How many jammies would I need to get through winter? Would the sleeper bags and the few fleece ones be enough? I guess we'll find out soon.

I know Grandma Fish has volunteered to come up here in the first few weeks to help things get settled, and having an extra set of hands around will sure be useful. But things are almost starting to look crowded! All this baby stuff, while adorable, takes up space. It's all the Craig's List stuff as well, and general clutter left over from moving. Thankfully Galen has the paperwork done for his family leave, so he's set for six weeks after the big day (please let it just be one "day" and not take more then 24 hours). It will make a huge difference having him here in the beginning then say, only for a week or two before he has to head back to work. I'm glad now that he'll be here, but I can't help but wonder if after the first two or three weeks go by, that he won't start to go stir crazy. He's so used to being mister busy busy at work, that once we get any sort of pattern established here he'll be bored. Yes I know a new baby will never allow things to be boring, but looking objectively, I still worry about him. I guess that's where family and friends come in for a nice distraction!

Kaylee says bump bump, btw. She's been bumping up high on my belly during the day now, and lower when I lay down to sleep. She still gets hiccups twice a day too. Tomorrow I go in for my weekly doctor visit and fetal monitoring. I hope she's a good girl like last time and passes her tests super quick.

jamie

Baby Crib is Here

Today has been an interesting mix. I went to bed last night with my feet hurting, and woke up the same way. Not sure what's up with them other then a bad day, but dang. It hurts to walk even a few steps, and I've been off them as much as I could today. At least I got Galen to rub them for me! That is pure heaven. This evening my back decided to act up as well and now aches something awful. On top of that I've had a few spells of light headedness. I attribute all of this to not getting my naps today.

The bright side is this morning Galen and I went and got the crib! Yay! It's all set up now and I took pictures of a grumpy Galen putting it together. At least he was smiling by the end of it. Mom and Lynnette stopped by and helped me set up the nursery with decorations. I've washed my first load of baby clothes too. *squee* Adorable! This kid has more clothes then I've ever owned all my life! She's set through three months for sure, maybe even six. I just wish my body felt as good as my mood. Stupid body!

Baby Shower!

Oh girl! Baby stuff! Pink stuff! Eeee!

Okay, it's outta my system, for at least ten minutes. hehe. I can't believe how generous everyone was. I mean really, wow. I won't have to buy any clothes until Kaylee is at least four months, and I'm set for blankets. All the Pooh stuff! Yay! I'm dragging Galen to Target tomorrow so we can get the crib. He has game, but I'm hoping we can go early enough that he will set it up before he leaves. Oh, and Tux thinks all the boxes are a gift for him. He's running around meowing his little head off and dashing between the packages. Lynnette should have pictures up tomorrow. Well, she better!

jamie

34 Weeks

Update: Desk is sold and gone! Yay! So far Craig's List has been good to us.

Eight and a half months. Almost show time! This Saturday is my baby shower and I'm looking forward to all the cute stuff. Even more, I'm looking forward to having a crib! Even if I don't get one on Saturday you can bet your bottom dollar I'll drag Galen out Sunday to get it. And watch him set it up. More like stare vigorously until he does. My little darling has been head down for a few weeks now and seems comfortable staying that way. But dang, when she stuffs that head low it's all I can do to keep walking! Watermelon my ass, it's a bowling ball stuffed down there.

It's getting increasingly difficult to lace up my tennis shoes as well. And not just because my feet are swollen. Thankfully my height has allowed me to continue to lace my own shoes, but I'm not sure for how much longer. Another perk to being tall is my ribs have been left alone. I guess I'll have to wait until Lynnette is pregnant to know just how painful that can be. *grin* When I went into my OB these last two times, I've put on exactly one pound for each visit. That's all baby, baby! I'm so happy I haven't completely exploded, even if I am up 30 pounds, it could have been a lot worse. I just wish there was room in the living room to put my exercise bike. I plan on getting back on that puppy as soon as I'm able. I think I may be stuck with it in our bedroom though.

And thanks to you, sister dear, for showing me where the adorable backgrounds are for blogs. Loves yous!

jamie

Orkin

Well the bug person was here today. There weren't any flea "bombs" per say, but a spray that was put on the carpet and let sit for three hours. We're supposed to vacuum every day for the next few, and give it 2-3 weeks to kill off the fleas. Here's hoping.

In the interim, we had the cats boxed up in the car with us for awhile, went out to lunch, and came back to an amusing escape attempt by Tux. A picture's worth a thousand words. Hehe.



jamie

Success!

more animals

This was just too adorable not to share, hehe! Did you realize it's November already? That means it's fair game for Christmas music! I actually woke up this morning with a Christmas song in my head. And the dreams! Dear lord save me, I think it's a fear of losing those closest to me because of the baby. So far I've had dreams where either something bad happens, or they die, about Lynnette, Galen and my dad. Two about my dad actually, but the second was just something bad. The first... yeah, I don't like to remember those screams. Strange how dreams can be so vivid and stick with you weeks, months, even years after. I did have one really neat dream a few weeks back were I was a super hero chasing after bad guys. Made me sad to wake up, I love flying in dreams. Used to have them all the time as a kid.

Anyway! Success! I made my first official sale from Craig's list, and am $16 richer. We have a ton of VHS movies, and I put them up for $1 each (since we no longer have a VHS player). I also have two more sales lined up for this week to be picked up. YAY! I'm just stuffing the cash in our change jar and Galen agreed it can be our Christmas money. *happy dance* Now if only I could figure out what to get people. I swear it's so hard to buy for parents! So mom, I"ll take some ideas any time you wanna toss 'em out.

jamie

Bugs, Ew!

more animals

Tux has managed to scratch off a quarter sized spot between his shoulders completely of hair. Down to his skin! Poor baby, but now I'm itching too. Seems the fleas weren't just on the cats, but they did come with the new apartment. I woke up this morning with two bites on a hand, one on my belly and a new one on my leg. I have many many bites on my legs. Itchy icky! So Galen spoke to the gal at the office and they'll get someone out here to deal with the fleas. Just makes me sick thinking that there will be a baby here in just over a month, but we don't want an itchy baby either. I spoke to the people at our vet about the fleas, and possibly getting more treatments for the cats, but was told that the fleas are more than likely in the baseboards and not the carpet (since it's brand new carpet) and to wait to treat our cats again until the house is treated.

Also, apparently this was a banner year for big spiders around our new place. Yeah, fun. I had one dash across my desk a few days back... haven't screamed like that in awhile. Scared Galen! Hehe, at least he was here to catch it for me. Susie has been finding the random bug here and there on our kitchen floor and stalking them. Never actually catching anything mind you, but she watches them for hours. Cheap entertainment.

Craig's List stuff is doing well, I have quite a few inquiries now and if those turn into sales, we may be up $100. Woo! Christmas money!

jamie

update: Thanks for the info Sidney! Ew. We'll be getting the place treated asap, and then see how the cats do. I wonder if there are any outward signs of the cats having worms, or would we just have to take them in and get tested? Oyii... more money.

Craig's List

After our move we (*cough* I) found out that there is an excess of nicknacks in our house. Mostly, you guessed it, mine. They gathered a lovely amount of dust on bookshelves, our entertainment center, dvd shelf and my desk. After going through all of them, along with a handful of other oddities, I posted 23 items for sale on Craig's List today. Yup, 23. Here's hoping we get some extra Christmas money!

jamie

update: Mahahaha! Sold Galen's old desk for $10 already. Woo!

Okay I Fibbed

...pie is not all. I made Pumpkin Spice cookies today. I didn't use the frosting in the recipe, but cream cheese frosting from the can. Boy oh boy are those goooooood... dangerously good. I'm gonna send some with Galen to work just to save myself from eating them.

Mmm...

...homemade pumpkin pie. That is all.

/drool

Adorable

They keep him company when he reads in bed, so why not on the couch? Adorable!

ps: yes yes, the pants are wet, but that's because he was being nice and doing dishes for me!

Belly

If you didn't see it on my sister's blog, here's the picture she took of me and me belly.

Happy Halloween! Frightful picture included! hehe

jamie

33 Weeks

Only a few weeks left to go, thank goodness. Wow am I tired today. It might have something to do with using my brand new vacuum this morning. Yay! But dang, so tired. I actually got dizzy just taking a shower I'm so tired. And to think that I got more sleep last night then usual, which is eight instead of six or less hours. I still need to go pick up a few groceries, and then head out to my folks for some pumpkin slaughtering. I want to try making pumpkin pies from fresh pumpkin puree, and mom's growing some. Wheeee... I hope I survive.

I had my second fetal monitoring yesterday and once again Kaylee doesn't like it at all. Apparently this is rather common according to the nurse, it's the straps around my belly that does it. Not sure how, as that it isn't uncomfortable for me but sure makes me laugh hearing her kick and the monitor go WOOSH all loud with it.

jamie

update: So I was laying down with Tux for an hour and Kaylee decides it's time to play. She's been stretching lately and it's kinda funny. More so to see my belly jiggle about. I called Galen in to feel and he poked where she was poking. Sure enough, there was this pause and then a huge kick right under his hand. Made us both laugh :)

Burr!

There's a chill in the air. What's this? Almost November? Aaahhh!

Ultrasound

I had an ultrasound this morning that Lynnette and Galen went to. Everything is just dandy with our darlin', she's 4 pounds 11 ounces which puts her in the 53rd percentile for her 'age'. She's still head down and appears to be staying that way. Her little lungs practice breathing while her footies practice belly dancing, only with my belly. I've been having fun the last two days or so watching my belly move. Both after breakfast and after dinner have proven quite entertaining. Thankfully she's given me a break at bedtime again, and instead has taken to going banunus when I take my nap in the afternoon. I'll take that switch. I'm fine by it. Now if only I wouldn't wake up hungry at 2am, things really would be looking up.

jamie

Swollen

Yesterday was my first experience with truly swollen feet. When I walked, the tops of them hurt because the skin was pulled so tight. When I tried to stand up, my ankles hurt from the pinched skin of swollen fat rolls. I used to have ankles, really I did. Today I made sure that I got my nap, which puts my feet level for two hours. Yesterday I didn't. It made huge difference. Also having Galen rub them for a good 30 minutes helps too ;)

I've been able to watch my belly move with Kaylee a few times now. Boy is that weird. At times I can poke her and she pokes back! Hard to believe that it's almost November, boy does time fly. Tomorrow I have yet another ultrasound, and I'm curious if she's still head down or not. During my nap today there was some serious stretching/kicking going on, and I'm not sure if she shifted. We'll see!

jamie

Music!

So I've had a craving for listening to Shawn Mullins lately, which means I dug out the old CD I have and subjected Galen to a few hours of it yesterday. Then I got this bright idea... of Christmas music! I love it. I mean, I can listen to it non stop from now until new years and be happy. Unfortunately it drives Galen absolutely bonkers. *giggle* I wonder what his reaction will be coming home to blaring happy holiday stuffs?

Hopefully we are going to get our couch today. I found a blue microfiber one on craig's list that I like for $200. I'll know by this evening if we have it or not, cuz it'll be in our living room!

Oh, and when Galen doesn't come home until after 11am or so, Susie slowly goes crazy. She cries and meows, bugs me as much as a cat only can, and basically makes a nuisance of herself until he gets home. Sweet kitty love.

jamie

UPDATE: We got the couch! It's very squishy and comfortable microfiber type. I've been looking at a lot in this style, but the majority were of lighter colors. While a lighter color couch would have been nice to keep the room bright, I figured a bit darker tone would cover up anything "baby" that ended up on it. Thanks George for helping move it, and thanks dad for helping buy it!

Rack 'em & Stack 'em!

32 Weeks

Attention passengers, we have officially made the connection flight to eight months. Unfortunately the plane is now so heavy we can no longer fly and must proceed on the ground. Ugh. I wonder if I qualify for disability now, for how much I gimp around. The nice thing is, almost done cookin'!

Kaylee has been head down for awhile now, and seems to be staying that way. When ever I go out anyway and am walking for even the smallest amount, she sees fit to stuff her head down low and make me waddle that much more. Yes it's uncomfortable, but kinda funny that she always does it.

"In the latest womb reports, your amazing baby has now developed sensitivity to temperature. Thanks to their recently matured lungs and a remarkably strong immune system, over 90% of babies born in their 32nd week, survive premature births. So it’s pretty much a done deal."

While it is comforting to know that she will be fine now, I think the stress/worry of the actual labor is catching up with me. I was planning on using the birthday money that Grandma gave me to be used for my vacuum, but now it will just end up being for comfort measures. Go go hormones!

jamie

Bunz!

I have Fuzzi Bunz! YAY! They were waiting for me when I came home from the doctor today. I got to get hooked up to a fetal monitor and all that jazz. The nurse first did an ultrasound and rated some basic physical stuffs. A physical before she's born! hehe! The "hardest" part (for the baby) was to see if her ribs moved, that she's practicing breathing, for a full 30 seconds. Which she did with flying colors. Everything that the nurse checked was just perfect. Yay! I got to sit around and watch her heartbeat for twenty minutes, the point of which was to record accelerations in the heartbeat. The nurse said that they wanted two in twenty minutes. I saw the counter go from 140 to 170 beats a few times, so everything is good. Usually she sits around 150. I'll be going in every week from now until delivery to get monitored. The things they do these days! It is kinda neat to watch, and apparently the nurse was able to see on the graph that I had a small BH contraction, which I never felt in the least.

After I was unhooked from the monitors, I swear my belly was lopsided with her little bunz poking out high on my right side, avoiding the monitors (which were just little round disks that watched her heartbeat and movement on this graph thingy). Sure enough, when I pushed on the bump, it was solid. Adorable!

Unfortunately she's back to her old tricks and kicking up a storm when I lay down for bed. The nurse said that it's very common for babies to be highly active from 10pm-2am, and that many women will go into labor at that time. Of course this has to do with the fact that I'm no longer moving, and once things go quiet baby wonders why. There's no more personal bouncer to lull her to sleep.

jamie

A Good Night for the Cat

Susie had fun last night. She ate the cord to my cellphone charger, not yet a month old, and the cord to my headphones. Thanks cat. I'm pissed enough I don't even want her in the room. GAH!

jamie

Where did...

...my ankles go?

Banunus Take Two!

For the last week or more, my evenings have been rather quiet as far as Kaylee is concerned. The hardest part about me getting any sleep is the round ligament pain. I've found stuffing a pillow between my legs helps for the most part. Usually. But last night, oh my. She started going at dinner time and didn't stop. I had some alarming pains in my lower abdomen that makes me think she was shifting around, along with some hard kicking. By 11pm she calmed down enough I was able to sleep, but this morning she's back at it again! I suppose she could only be quiet for so long, hehe. It's fun to sit here and feel her kick, but when she gets going this much I wish I had a way to soothe and quiet her. I'll have my first round of fetal monitoring on Wednesday after my OB appointment. I've also started a basic kick count, where if she starts kicking during the day, I count until I get ten. The idea is to make sure she's moving enough in a two hour period, sometime in the stretch of a day. So far it's the least of my concerns.

jamie

Fleas!

I'm so grossed out right now. I went to snuggle with Tux on the bed and saw this strange black spot on the white of his face. After poking it, and finding out that it moved I've been spastic itchy knowing my kitties have fleas! I've been wondering why they were itching the last two days, but I thought it was something to do with the new carpet. Guess again! Gross gross gross. Anything to do with little bugs crawling all over you just pushes my icky button. Now I'm going to have to keep the sheets crazy clean since the cats sleep on the bed all the time, as well as hope that we caught it early enough that some Advantage or Frontline (thanks mom) will take care of it quickly. Never never have my cats had fleas before, so the little buggers had to have been waiting for us when we moved in. Eww! On the bright side, Tux is being cute after I tossed him off the bed.

31 Weeks

Are we feeling it yet? Hmm? I now get that horrifying round ligament pain when I lay down, and have added yet another pillow to my sleeping. I'm afraid I'm going to crowd Galen out here shortly. I also think I have Grandma and Mom's flat feet, because I have to wear my slippers all the time now, or I can't be standing more then five minutes in the kitchen without them throbbing. Day by day I find out just how genetically inferior I really am. All Galen has is the no milk bit, so hopefully Kaylee takes more after him then me!

I can really tell when Kaylee is head down, because when I'm walking around there is just this heavy pressure on my bladder that I cannot begin to describe. Yesterday was an OB appointment, and my darling seems to know it. The doctor was able to feel my belly and make a good guess where her head and bottom were, along with her back and limbs. Once that was determined, it seemed simple to find her heartbeat. Nope! That kiddo turned over and squirmed about doing her best to avoid the whole thing. It was weird to feel her twisting about like that, but she is head down right now, and usually having her back on my right side which explains why I feel all those kicks on my left. I do get bumps now and again above my bellybutton, but as she runs out of room those little feeties won't be able to stretch about and kick as much. Or at least, I hope so... I want my sleep before she gets here!

jamie

The Chair

Tux is finally comfortable enough to be lazy in the living room. Of course, he took over my new chair to do so. Isn't he cute? Isn't the chair nice? Yay!


Galen and I went shopping yet again today, after finishing all the cleaning of the old apartment. We got a new floor lamp and trash can. Oh boy. We're trying to find a dvd rack that's horizontal so we can put it on the shelf over the fireplace. Galen suggested we finally go look at the Ikea store for it, which we might end up doing. As it turns out, we only have enough room for a couch that's 72" or so (six feet). Makes looking for one on Craig's list that much harder, oyii. Maybe Ikea will have a couch that will work? I don't want anything ghastly "modern" style, no futons, and no leather of any type. Any floral patterns I've seen on Craig's list have been icky too. Guess I'm picky! But if we're going to be stuck with it for the next five years, or more if we buy it brand new, I want it to be what I like. Let the hunt continue!

jamie

Home Sweet Home

We've moved! Our beautiful new apartment is such a vast improvement, there is no way to compare. Saturday we had lots of help from friends and family, making the move quite easy. Sunday I did a little unpacking, but mostly is was a rest day since Galen had his gaming group. Monday, oh Monday you were busy. Galen didn't get home until 1:30pm from work, but I did get the kitchen more organized and a couple loads of laundry done. The spin cycle on our new washer is hideously loud, but it can hold much more then our old one. Our dishwasher is also louder then the old one, and a tad smaller. Just means that we can't watch the tv while either one is running.

Mom came over with some house warming gifts, two of which are already in the kitchen. I have a turn table for my spices and a space saver rack to hold and organize my 'cooking' cupboard (sugars, dry beans, baking stuffs). The strangest thing though, when I emptied the cupboard to set it up, here were these little bugs in it. I've never seen them before, so I can only assume they were already here. Tiny beetle things, but apparently they can fly. I caught six or so and flushed 'em. Hopefully no more show up.

Galen and I went back to the old apartment and packed the car with more left over stuff; blankets, sheets, stuffed animals and the like. As well as Goodwill stuffs. We need to make one more trip today for the rest of it, and then clean it a tad.

Tux has had a hard time adjusting to the new place. He's never known any home but our old apartment, while Susie has moved homes at least four times. She was fine, just lounged on our bed until things were quiet when Galen went to work Monday morning. Poor Tux hid under the bed and would only come out after I talked him into it, and then only eat when I was standing beside him in the kitchen. I was worried that he'd potty in a corner somewhere, so I regularly talked him out to his food/box to make sure he was okay. I believe he's finally relaxed now, but both cats will still get jumpy if the upstairs neighbors make a lot of noise. Which is rare, thankfully. It's not much worse then the noise I heard from our downstairs neighbors at the old apartment.

At 6:46pm last night I was handing up our kitchen calender and saw that we had our Labor&Birth class at 7pm. So Galen and I ran out the door to attend. We watched another birth video and toured the Family Birth Center at SWWMC. It's comforting to know what to expect, and how the room is set up. They have really neat transformer type beds, hehe.

We got home about 9:30pm and Galen put together my glider chair (thanks grandma!). It took him until 11pm to finish, with a break for dinner in the middle. The chair is wonderful, but a tiny bit of a squeeze for me to get my pregger thighs in it. Just one more reason to stick to healthy eating and loosing my baby weight once Kaylee is here.

There was quite the phone call trying to get Galen's computer hooked up to the internet, but so far no dice. It's either or router or the cables, or something... he isn't sure. Hopefully we can figure that out soon. Also! We're searching for a new couch, since we don't have one right now (sent our old one to the dump, it was icky). I've found two on Craig's list that could work, but Galen is leaning towards getting a brand new one. We'll see! I'm just happy that I can order my Fuzzi Bunz now. Yay baby stuffs!

jamie

Offline

With moving day tomorrow, I will be offline until sometime Monday. We got to see the new place and I took some pictures of it. Strangely enough there is a fireplace and it messed up all my furniture placing! The gal at the office said there wasn't in our unit. Unfortunately it's a ghetto gas one with fake wood in it. Oyii. I wonder if it would be cheaper to use it to heat the living room then the heater on the wall? Hmm...

I've been reading here and there about ways to save on heating costs this winter, since it seems everyone is jacking up their prices. The easiest thing? Invest in a thick comforter for your bed and wear socks and a sweater in the house. It's much easier to turn the temp down at night while you're snug in bed to save a few bucks.

I also managed to trip over Susie today and majorly jerk around my lower back. Thanks cat, you have great timing for the move! I just hope that my new glider chair (thanks grandma!) can be put together tomorrow so I'll have somewhere comfy to sit while everyone else plays Earth Dawn.

jamie

Fall is Here

Fall is here and it's cold outside! Burr! There were many places that saw the first frost of the season this morning, but we only got down to 42F or so. I hope mom's tomatoes are okay!

Today we sign the paperwork and get the keys to our new apartment. I'm about to bounce out of my chair writing this I'm so excited. Galen is supposed to be home around 10am, that's only two hours away! We still have to pack up the kitchen, but that's it. It's weird to sit in the second bedroom surrounded by boxes with my desk utterly bare. We will be taking our couch, a broken glider chair, Max's old desk and Galen's current computer desk to the dump tomorrow along with the general move. It'll be the last thing though, I hope it all fits in the pickup for one trip. I bet the boys can just take a sledgehammer to Galen's desk and reduce it to kindling. Hehe, now isn't that a fun mental picture?

Speaking of pictures, I plan on taking some of our new place today, before there are any boxes. Then once our old apartment is empty I'll take pictures of it so we can all have a lovely comparison.

On a side note, I slept very well compared to recent nights. I'm a little surprised I was able to given how excited I've been, but no complaints! I love my sleep. Thank you for coming back to me sleep, I've missed you.

jamie

30 Weeks

Well I've joined the "sleeping shouldn’t be this tough when I’m this tired" club. I woke up this morning at 5am with both, count 'em, both of my hips cramping at the same time. Now that's a good way to practice my breathing exercises! There's no way to rub out the pain, so I get to lay there and wait for it to go away. Typically, I wake up at 6am, have my breakfast and watch the news, toodle around on my computer a bit and go back to bed by 7:30am to sleep for two more hours. This is mostly do to the fact that while I do go to bed at 10pm, I usually see the clock say midnight before I fall asleep. Thankfully I cleared with my OB that it is okay to take one Tylenol before bed to help my hips.

According to the two websites that I check, this week "She's close to having a fully functioning nervous system that regulates the body, and her nerve fibers are now encased in myelin, which allows impulses to travel faster." I've finally felt some good kicks above my belly button, though the majority are still very very low. It's a fluttery feeling that's rather constant at times, and always makes me grin when she throws in something harder. She did manage to wallop Lynnette pretty good on my birthday, even if it was against her hand and not her head.

Galen and I have the house about 2/3rds packed right now. We're going to finish up today I believe. The biggest project left is the kitchen. There's a little bit left above the washer/dryer and the tiny closet in the second bedroom. On Friday I plan on packing up our clothes and extra bedding/towels that isn't used to pack dishes. Moving day is so close now! Even the weather is being nice for us and no rain all weekend. It's like some sort of dream come true to have a new home, even if it isn't an actual house. Did you know that when we moved into our current apartment almost six years ago, it had a 'D' rating? Like a report card. And that was six years ago. The price was right for back then, but I'm sure glad we can live someplace nicer now.

jamie

Of Birthday Gifts and a Priest

Mom made a very yummy dinner last night of roast pork, mashed potatoes and gravy and carrots. We all watched the presidential debate and I'm starting to lean towards McCain. We'll just have to wait and see what the third debate brings. Lynnette and George gave me Sleeping Beauty on dvd, yay! I was in the store debating on buying it or not, since we never had it as kids to watch, and I wanted my girl to. I'm a huge Disney fan of all the old classics. We already have Robin Hood and The Lion King on dvd. The collection starts! Mom and Dad gave me the most wonderful gift. A knife sharpener. See, this way my kitchen knives get sharpened, and it puts Galen to work doing it. Perfect I say. They also provided some funds for the new vacuum that I want. I will get one, I swears!

This morning I woke from my second peaceful dream that sent me into tears. Usually nightmares make you wake all shaking with your heart racing, but not these. This one is more fragmented then the first, but oh well. I can still hear the lullaby in the background, repeating in my head. It's so soft, but says "tender.. tender.. joy joy tender.." I couldn't hum it for the life of me, but it does have a tune. We were kids, Lynnette and I, but there seemed to be more of an age difference with her much younger. We were running around outside this church playing in a garden. Then we were inside being lead to a room by a priest, and I was looking at all these handmade scrolls, cloth like. They told a story about a girl that gave up her life for the good of the people. The priest had a closet full of clothes, one piece from each girl. It was all very peaceful, I sat on a bed unrolling each scroll and looking at them, while the priest said that at one time, it was supposed to be me, but I got too old. He pulled out a maroon sweater that, strangely, I do remember from highschool. Then I was kneeling on the ground beside Lynnette and she had changed from a little girl to grown up and in her wedding dress. I was holding her head saying "Think of Georgie think of Georgie" and she was so beautiful laying there. She only smiled at me and closed her eyes with a little sigh. Then I woke up. I can't get the lullaby out of my head. Wow that was hard to write out without having fits.

Ode to the joys of pregnancy.

jamie

Birthday!

This is your birthday song, it isn't very long, heeeey!

Yup that's right, I'm (counts fingers) 27 today. I need to go into the DMV to renew my drivers license as well. I'm stuck with my preggers face for the next five years tho. *sigh* Great. At least I was able to sleep through most of last night. Only woke up twice! A vast improvement. Probably has something to do with taking one Tylenol before bed. A little preventive medicine so I could wake up happy on my birthday, hehe. Mom is going to make me dinner tonight, yum yum! Nothing quite like a meal made by mom. The second presidential debate is tonight as well, and I really want to watch it. I'm still in that "undecided" category like many others, and need to hear those two duke it out a bit more. So a birthday dinner with politics. At least we'll have something to talk about!

jamie

Fatigue and Ghost Stories

Fatigue how I loathe thee, let me count the ways... Not only is it impossible to sleep through the night now, when I try and nap in the afternoon chances are 50/50 if I can fall asleep. Let me rant a moment. Either my feet have RLS symptoms, aka painful prickling, poking, jerking, cramping or I can't get my heart rate/breathing to slow down. Both of which will plague me when I go to sleep at night as well. The heart rate/breathing bit is new though. Exactly like I can't catch my breath, even if I'm doing nothing but laying there. I know I know, it's all to prepare me for the baby. I wake up every two hours in the night anyway, isn't that enough? Can't I sleep for 45 min now and then? And if you think it's lack of exercise guess again. I was out at a doctor's appointment today in downtown with mom, and went to the store before lunch with Galen.

I think I really may be worthless for this move after all. Feels like someone steamrolled me right now, and that's after laying down for an hour trying to sleep. At least we're slowly packing things up, and have our car full of empty boxes waiting to be filled. I'm looking forward to a new home so much, it's beyond words.

Along with all the griping about no sleep, at least I know I get some REM because I remember my dreams more. Last night is a good example. We went to bed at 10pm. I was up until 11pm giggling over how much Kaylee was kicking. Then I was hungry. 12am I climb back into bed thinking I'd be sleepy enough to actually, you know, sleep. 2am I wake up from a dream. It really was the neatest dream. I was some kind of ghost running around playing pranks on people. I remember running through doors and holding my hands up to my face not looking, because it was so weird being able to pass through the door. Then I was following Galen around and we were talking as he was opening presents. I think it was Christmas. He opened this gift with some weird fruit cutter in it. Actually, there were two. It was then that I realized that we weren't really talking to each other, but me responding to what he was saying to himself. He couldn't see me, because I was a ghost. I starting saying over and over "I don't want to be dead I don't want to be dead" in the dream because I wanted to be with Galen. That's when I woke up. Talk about a tear jerker! Go go hormones.

Ode to the joys of pregnancy.

jamie


more animals

Cat Hair Anyone?

So this morning I changed the sheets. I've started putting extra pillows against Galen's pillow to stop Susie from sleeping on it. I don't know why, but she loves Galen's pillow. I curl up in nice fresh sheets to get some more sleep (only had 5 so far for the "night"), and wake up to Susie in my face on his pillow squished against the wall to avoid the pillow I put up for protection. Cats! Sheesh! She was singing up a storm tho, figures.

Kaylee seems to be doing some different gymnastics lately. Yesterday and today I haven't figured out what she's trying to pull. It's some sort of stretch maneuver I think, because boy does it get my attention. Not exactly hurting, but very uncomfortable. I'd guess she's trying to flip over again, but I only feel it way down low where I normally feel kicks. Maybe she's turned around and is facing my back now, instead of my tummy, and is kicking a different spot? Either way, it usually involves direct hits on my bladder and me going wide eyed in worry over if I'll make it in time.

jamie

Retirement Info

Thanks to my friends in MR for this little number:

Here's a little retirement info for you:
If you had purchased $1,000.00 of Delta Air Lines stock one year ago you
would have $49.00 left.
With Enron, you would have had $16.50 left of the original $1,000.00.
With World Com, you would have had less than $5.00 left..

But, if you had purchased $1,000.00 worth of beer one year ago, drank all of
the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling REFUND, you
would have had $214.00.
Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily
and recycle.
It's called the 401-Keg.

Sleep

What do you mean you can't sleep? That you wake up every two hours to pee? That your hips hurt so bad you can't lay on either side, and on your back you get pummeled from the inside? Tough! Means you're awake!

Dear Sleep,

I miss you.

Love,

Jamie

Black Bean Soup

So I tried my hand a second time at making black bean soup. This time, it's actually eatable. The first time around the beans weren't cooked enough. The thing is, both versions I can't eat. I don't know if it's pregnancy related, or I just can't stand the taste of black beans. Galen is okay eating the current batch, he said the flavor was mild and fine. I took three bites and felt my stomach curdle. So no more black bean soup! I'll just have to find a different bean soup I can make that's nice and cheap. Which was the whole idea behind making the soup to begin with, a cheap meal. Ah well, win some lose some.

jamie

29 Weeks

According to my reading, from now on Kaylee will be gaining a half pound a week until she's born. Ouch, no wonder my bladder felt squished today. Also, my uterus is four inches above my belly button. This can easily explain why I've had pain breathing... it's all getting squished! My energy level is easily depleted now, and unfortunately for Galen I find my temper getting shorter. So far I've held it in check.

We spent most of today on the phone canceling or moving the service of our electricity, water, sewer, garbage, phone, internet and all that jazz. We went down to the Verizon store and both got new cell phones. Now we each have our own numbers and I have peace of mind knowing that I can get a hold of Galen when he's at work at 3am. Who knows if this kid will be born the day after Thanksgiving or actually on the 18th of December? Now getting him to remember his phone as part of is daily routine might take some work, which is why it's better to get them now and have all of October to practice.

We're slowly going through all of our stuff and packing it into boxes. We've already made one Goodwill trip and donated at least four bags of clothes plus misc. stuff. I've started to tear down the knicknacks around my desk, and we already went through all our old bills. Galen had a blast shredding it all. That was three FULL bags of shredded paper. He was sad when it stopped.

My birthday is coming up shortly, and I'm seriously considering buying myself a new vacuum. Our current one comes from Galen's early bachelor days, which equates to almost 10 years old. Granted the thing still works, technically, but it doesn't pick up all the dirt off the floor. It falls under the category of nesting in a way. I just want to make sure my home is as clean as I can make it for my baby. Thankfully a new vacuum can be under $200. We'll see if I actually convince Galen or not. :)

jamie

Boxes

I swear! Put a box on the ground, and there'll be a cat in it. Even better, the box lid. Since we're slowly going through all of our stuff, there's always a box out. I think we're just leaving an extra one out now for the cats so they don't try to get in the one we're using!

jamie

Anniversary!

Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary mom and dad! Too bad we couldn't find jars for pears today, because I do have a little something for you guys. I look forward to another 30!

jamie

Reality Check

It seems that the last 28 weeks have been surreal. I didn't have morning sickness or any of the "typical" early pregnancy complaints. Sure I've switched from oral medication to insulin, but it's become so routine now that I don't think about it much (I know, she pokes herself seven times a day and doesn't think about it? Ha! But really, it isn't so bad). I have baby stuff strewn about our apartment and nailed to the walls. I finished my baby registry with Lynnette a few days ago. But my reality check has finally come.

It wasn't any one thing specifically. More a few things. First was starting the labor and birth classes. Then there was the issue with my blood sugar becoming more volatile. Then a combination of feeling Kaylee kick so vigorously at night that I giggle myself to sleep and waking up this morning and almost falling flat on my face because my right knee gave out. I gimp around like a cripple since my hips hurt all the time and my belly is finally sticking far enough out to get in the way. It's weird. I suppose I had to get some of the bad thrown in with all the good.

Want to know the strangest thing of all? Knowing that there will be a little girl to call me mommy.

jamie

Registry Complete!

Lynnette and I went out to Target today and finished off my baby registry as well as picking up baby shower cards. So exciting! I picked out three new maternity shirts as well, since I'm running out of my old shirts that fit. I've been fighting with my blood sugar all this last week, it's been too low and amazingly volatile. Here's the difference. Breakfast consists of a bagel with cheese and a 1/2 cup of cranberry juice. Normally I just have a bowl of cereal, which is a lot less carbs, so I take 12 of my insulin. It makes my blood sugar after breakfast around 100. This is good, it's what I want. So when I switch breakfasts, I stay with the same dose and adjust according to my blood sugar. New breakfast shoots me up to 180. Not good. So I increase my dose to 14 the next day. Blood sugar drop to 80. Notice the difference of only TWO points in my insulin. Yeah, go hormones. Hence the daily struggle to find a balance.

Which leads us back to Target! I didn't know if I was just tired, the day was hot, or what, but I was warm. Too warm. It could also mean my blood sugar was too low. Tiny dizzy spells lead me to believe it was my blood sugar, so I got a little candy from Lynnette and figured I'd be fine for the next 10 minutes so we could get out of the store. Whee! Instead I freak out my sister by almost falling over and blacking out. It musta been on my face or something, because I couldn't convince her I was fine for a little bit. Hehe. Love you sis! No dots, no dizzy, just eyes suddenly roll up and I start to fall. Now I had plenty of consciousness left to catch myself, and I really was fine after that. Just scary.

On the plus side, I got a cherry icie on the way out. I love those things, they turn your tongue red. Not often I get to drink pure sugar! Oh, and I checked my blood sugar when I got home. 122. This means I was probably down in the 50's since I drank that much pure sugar. 50's aren't good. 40's are worse, and 30's means you pass out. Sooo... I cross my fingers and hope it was 50's!

>.>

BABY STUFF!

Oh, and Kaylee only likes to kick Lynnette in the head. It's official. *grins*

jamie