Weigh in

Well - I think this will just be a quick post, it is harder then I thought it would be to get on here to make posts!? Other things are just more important and take priority over blogging! ;)

So we gave Jacob his first bath at home, it went fairly well - better then the one at the hospital, he seemed to like our bath better ? I am having a good time bonding with Jacob and Dad is helping out lots too. We've gone on quite a few ventures already, I went to the registry place to apply for his birth certificate, I applied for my EI, took Jacob for a few visits and shopping trips. I am trying to fill out his baby book as things happen but I can see how the book might get forgotten about. Maybe next week I will attempt to work on the scrapbook!?

I weighed my self this morning - I'm down 23lbs!! Not bad - more then half of what I gained lost in 10 days! Jacob also got weighed today too and is now above his birth weight, weighing in at 7lbs 6oz. I feel like my head is full of numbers, everything is numbers now - when did he eat last, how many ounces (he's up to about 3oz per feeding now), when did he fall asleep, how long do I have till he wakes up. I'm constantly checking the time, so much that hubby put a clock up in the living room. The cloth diapers are a little more challenging then I thought, it's not the fact that I have to do some form of laundry everyday (whether it be diapers or our clothes) - I think the most frustrating part is that they aren't that absorbent and it seems like he is a peeing machine!! I thought I peed lots, this kid can soak through a diaper and not even 10 minutes later soak through another. And because he is too small for the rubber pants not only do I have to change a diaper every hour I need to change his outfit! I have now started to use disposables at bedtime just so I don't have to change his outfit in the middle of the night and I must admit I am a little envious of how easy the disposables are but I will stick to the cloth ones during the day. Even though I complain about how he is a peeing machine it makes me feel good that he has a healthy bladder and I can count wet diapers easier in cloth then in disposables.

That's really about all so far, I feel pretty good, not too tired and I usually try to have one nap a day - I start feeling tired around 3:30pm. I have had a couple emotional moments but I'm sure it's just hormones, they usually don't last long. I'm hoping to bring Jacob to the track tomorrow night to show him off (just a quick visit) but we will see how the day goes.

It's a BOY !!!

Well I guess Friday the 13th was my last day at work, as predicted baby was born Monday, June 16th!

Jacob Karl

7lbs, 19 inches

born June 16th @ 7:48am

The weekend itself went fairly well, I did feel a little different on Saturday morning but still headed out to work at the track. I think I started having contractions around noon but they seemed to be very irregular - coming every hour or so, sometimes twice an hour then nothing for a few hours. Sunday morning was pretty much the same feeling all day and I planned to only work at the track until 7ish and then head home. I mostly wanted to go home cause I thought that the dog would need to be let out by then. The races went a little longer then expected but I decided to stick around till the end cause it was only about another hour or so. Off and on all day I would time my contractions to see if they were getting more regular or consistent but they weren't until 8:39pm, this contraction seemed different then the rest of them so I noted the time and waited. Five minutes later there was another one ... hmmm interesting .... five minutes later ...another!! Finally the races were over at 9:00 and I waited for hubby to tell him we should go. He of course was busy with putting things away so I waited, then when he finally saw me waiting I told him that we should go. So he says - ok, bye ... see you at home. And I say ... no - I think you should drive and we need to go now! ;) It didn't take him long to catch on to what I was talking about so off we went. We had to stop at home to let the dog out and grab my bags, then I needed to decide if I wanted to go to the close hospital or if I could make it to the hospital that my doctor could deliver at (about 30 minutes away). I decided to head to the further hospital just to make sure that I wasn't in false labor, your suppose to wait an hour with consistent contractions before going to the hospital so this would make sure that I was over the hour mark.

We made it to the hospital in fairly good time, after checking in at the admin desk it was 10:15pm - I went into the observation room and the nurse did all her checks. I was already at 5cm -- needless to say, I would be staying and probably be having a baby fairly quick~! By 2am I was already at 7cm and I felt like I was dealing with the pain fairly good, the nurses kept asking if I wanted anything for the pain so I asked the nurses how long they thought I would be at that stage for? Which I know is pretty hard to say cause everyone is different but the general idea was that since this was my first pregnancy and my water had not broke yet that I could be at this stage for at least a few more hours! So - since I had been up since 6:30am I thought that maybe a little sleep would be a good idea but I wasn't in that much pain for a epi so I decided to ask for the morphine/ gravol that I hoped would reduce the discomfort enough for me to catch a few hours of rest before the real work began!

The morphine was almost a complete waste of time, all it really did was make me extra sleepy but didn't seem to do anything for my contractions. I think I did manage to get about an hour of sleep but at 5:30am the contractions started again and this time were twice as strong as before. They checked me again and I was at 8cm, now too far along to get the epi so I was on my own!! I think at around 7am they checked me once more to find out that I was 9cm and this time offered laughing gas, I accepted because it was the only thing that I could have and I thought it would be better then nothing!? Then time kinda flew by, my water still had not broke yet and they were going to do it for me but there was another lady giving birth so they decided to wait. Well baby had other plans and before I knew it my water had broke, they still thought that I would be in labor for a while and wanted to check me again, I didn't really want them too this time cause I was so uncomfortable and I think they realized why when they checked .... baby was almost here!

Well I'll leave out most of the messy stuff but I must say that hubby did a excellent job at coaching me, didn't pass out once (although he did stay above the waist), Jacob was born at 7:48am and hubby even cut the cord!! I can't believe how fast the last hour flew by and even after he was born I seemed to be in awe about what had just happened and the fact that he was finally here!! We stayed in the hospital until Tuesday afternoon and then finally headed home. As most of you already know... no the room was not finished yet but by the time the Capital Health lady came by for her visit on Wed - the room was done! Here are some pics of the room, I will try to post more pics of Jacob soon but as most of you know finding the time to get on the computer can be a little hard at first!? Hope to write soon! :)

Friday the 13th!

So far things seem to be going fairly well, I'm no more uncomfortable now then I was last week and I don't really feel any different - I don't think anything will be happening any time soon!? Which kinda sucks cause technically next week would be a perfect time for baby to make their big appearance. My MIL has said from almost day one that June 17th will be the day, I'm not sure how she picked this day but I would be OK with having a baby on that day. More likely though I will be a week late and baby won't be making any appearance until July 2nd (ish). I have noticed my appetite is not as big as before, I guess that means that baby is done growing? I forgot to mention yesterday that I feel like I am right on track with the weight gain, so far I have gained just over 40lbs which is exactly where I thought I would be. I am surprised that my belly button has stayed put and has not popped out and I never did get that line down my belly? I guess some women don't get it and I'm definitely not disappointed that my button has stayed in (I think that would feel really uncomfortable - virgin skin rubbing on my clothes all the time!).

I stopped at hubbies aunts house yesterday (finally), to drop off some more flannel for the diapers she is making. Apparently we never cut enough large white flannel diapers, so we had a short visit and she gave me the four dozen large diapers that she has already made and said she would get to the other dozen in a few weeks. I don't think there is a big panic for the large diapers yet, the small ones should fit for a few months (I hope?).

I love getting off work early, I feel like I hubby gets so much done!! ;) We have been having dinner early and then usually relax for an hour and then he usually gets to work. Yesterday he did lots, he installed the floor (it went in quick and only took about an hour), then vacuumed the carpet. OK so maybe now that I write it down it was only two things but it felt like we did lots!? he he I got to sweep the new floor (so at least I feel like I helped) and I did a few loads of laundry, then made banana bread! Friends of ours came over last night too for a short visit, it was nice to see them again - they live kinda far away so we don't get to visit as often as I would like.

So the plan for the next few days is .... doctor appointment today (which I'm pretty excited about -- I will probably never say that again!?), then racing tonight (if it doesn't rain?). Tomorrow is a big "Father's Day Funny Car Show" at the track, it will be an all day all night event so I hope I can get through it OK? I'm a little concerned about the show, these cars are loud, fast and give off a vibration when they are full throttle so I'm a little worried that they might induce something but if that happens at least there is a ambulance on hand if needed! Sunday is the same show but since it is Fathers Day it will be free admission so it should be a full house! Hopefully by Monday hubby can paint the floor boards/ chair rail and Monday night he can put it in the room and install the closet organizer. Then all that is left to do is set up the crib and put all the clothes away! :)

15 days ... give or take! ?

So things have been going fairly well lately, it sure doesn't take much to piss me off lately or make me grumpy!! I remember in the beginning of this pregnancy everyone was talking about how people feel the need to invade your space and feel your belly!? Of course without asking first - you would just be talking away and next thing you know there is some strangers hand on your belly. I feel I have been fortunate in this aspect and have not in countered too many belly touchers!? Instead I get the stares, you would think that by now I would be used to people staring at me but it is different this time. Before people would stare cause I was over weight and they would whisper, it bothered me and was probably one of the reasons why I decided to loose the weight. Then when I was thinner and lost 80lbs, people stared again but this time they would let me know what they thought or ask questions (instead of whispering) - I suppose this was better but after awhile I did get tired of the looks even though they were good looks. And now people stare and compare, some will mention how "I look bigger then the last time they saw me" or compare my belly to a friend, tell me I'm "huge" or say I'm "small". I can feel their eyes go from my face to my feet, giving me the once over and then make their comment. I hate it - and even though I did it in baby class and wanted to compare my belly to other bellies it still makes me feel awkward. But I also believe it is different for two pregnant ladies to stare and compare then a perfect stranger telling me how I look (like I don't already know?).

I am also surprised that I really haven't had any strong cravings in this pregnancy. Once and awhile I would go on a certain kick - like slurpies one month then toast with peanut butter the next month. It seemed like my cravings would change by the hour, I'd see a commercial for a burger and would want one, then I would see a popcorn ad and would think that was a great idea too!! ;) But I didn't really crave one thing that I had to send dear hubby out in the middle of the night for, nothing that I would dream about and cry over if I couldn't have it!?

I still have not experienced this "nesting" thing, I think about it, like yesterday on the way home I was determined to paint the baseboards. I planned on laying them out on saw horses in the basement and planned to get them all painted, how hard could it be! ? But then I mentioned this to hubby and was shot down, I was forbidden (well not really but he didn't like the idea very much). So instead he said that he would rip out the carpet, what he didn't know was that the original carpet that was in the house had a rubber backing so underneath the underlay was rubber that he had to scrap off making the job twice as long/ hard, but now the rug is out and the room already looks better with just the sub floor there!! :) Today he made lots of plans that I kinda doubt will all get done but he said he would vacuum, paint the baseboards and install the floor tonight!! :o Plus work on the stuff he needs to finish in the garage to make money!! So we will see if it all gets done!?

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th and I thought might be my last day at work but now I'm thinking that I will probably still be here next week !? I have my 38 week appointment tomorrow and this time there better be a internal exam cause I'm curious to know what's going on down there!? So she should be able to tell me more tomorrow and that will determine how much longer I work for. Plus I didn't really want Friday the 13th to be my last day!? ;)

Braxton Hicks

I've been having lots of braxton hicks lately, which I suppose is only expected, your body is supposedly preparing itself for the real deal - although these one's don't hurt!?

We went shopping again last night and got everything we need now to finish the babies room. Now we just have to find the time to do it! Hubby says if it doesn't rain today then he will paint the baseboards/ doors but we probably won't install anything till next week!? I'm just getting tired of the clutter, everything is spread out over the house, baby clothes in a tote in the office, lamp that matches the sheets and mobile are in the kitchen, along with the stroller and now we have laminate in the hallway! :P I know it won't be much longer now before everything is in it's place but it doesn't help that the basement is still a disaster too so it seems like everywhere I go in my house is a mess! I can only live in clutter for so long before it starts to bug me!

I think I am loosing or lost my mucus plug this morning!? I'm really not all that sure though, in a way I wish they had a pic of what one looked like in a book but then I'm not so sure if I would want to see someone elses plug!? All I know is that people say "you will know when you've lost it"?! If I have then I think that means things are progressing good but if it's not then I might have to mention it to my doctor on Friday!?

I think I am going to book my pedicure for this week sometime, since I have been leaving work early lately I can just stop on my way home. Then my feet will be nice for sandles!! ;) I would really like to get them done before baby comes cause I know I won't care too much after!! Other then that, there really isn't too much else new... I've noticed my dog has become more of a suck lately then before - maybe she knows something I don't!? ;)

Another week at work

Well my doctor appointment went well on Friday, she was running late as usual and I had to sit in that tiny room for like 20 minutes waiting for her (I almost laid down for a nap!!). Every time she sees me now she asks if I'm tired, I think I just look extra tired from being bored but yes ... I am more tired now then before. She never did do a internal, probably cause she thought I was still only 36 weeks along?! She is a really nice doctor and all but sometimes I wish she would maybe look at my file before seeing me!? But even though she didn't do an internal she seems to think that I still have another 4 weeks to go!! :o In a way I hope not, I'm very un-comfy but in a way it would be OK - more time to get things put in place!! So this Friday might not be my last day, I don't want to sit at home too long waiting - I think I would go stir crazy! ;) O - on a plus note, I asked about my GBS test and she said it came back negative so I don't need a IV for that, only if I choose a epi.

After my doctor appointment I headed home for a very quick power purr, then headed out to the track just to find out that it was raining out there. After two hours of trying to dry the track we were ready to race .... just in time for it to start raining again!! We never did get any cars to go down the track, called the race and headed home! But of course it now too late to go shopping or even work on baby room. Saturday we headed out to the track and I would have put money on the fact that we would be home by noon, due to rain, but no - it never did rain and there wasn't very many cars there so I thought at least we would get out of there early!? But no - that didn't happen either, the very last car oiled down the track and hubby had to stay and clean it up! However this didn't stop me from taking him shopping still, even though he was "tired"!! Too bad - we are going shopping!! ;) We bought almost everything for babies room except the baseboards, chair rail and flooring. These items we found in a flyer for a good price at Timbertown that is only open on weekdays so we will go buy them tonight. And the blind machine thing at Home Depot was out of order so we couldn't get the blind.

Sunday we were back at the track only until noon though cause we were rained out. After four hours of the guys working on the track to get it race ready they decided to call the race cause the track just wasn't drying!? When we got home I let hubby relax for a couple hours then put him to work installing the ceiling fan and new decor plugs/ switch's. Unfortunately we forgot to buy a bulb for the fan so we couldn't see what it looked like lite up. I hung some pics on the wall (using the old holes that were in the wall already) and took the tape off the wall, I actually think the room looks awesome even though it's not done yet! I can hardly wait till it's finished!! :) However hubby is a little stressed about it, he over booked himself with projects this week and needs to finish a few things for customers by Thursday so my plan and his plan don't really work together!! I was hopping that tonight we go shopping, tomorrow he can paint the baseboards etc., and then on Wed we can put it all together (install the floor, closet organizer and chair rail etc.). Then Thursday put the crib together and I could put everything in it's place!! But I don't think hubby will have the time to do all that this week, he agreed to go shopping but said he has to finish these projects so he might not have time to paint or install the floor till next week!! :o Nothing like leaving things to the last minute!?

37 weeks !! Officially at term!

It's official, I'm full term today and could potentially have a healthy baby any day now!! The other night I was sterilizing nipples and soothers and hubby walked by and asked "you're doing that already?" - now I'm not sure if he was trying to be funny or if he seriously doesn't realize just how close we are to having a baby!? I just gave him a look and he walked away! ;)

My boss has been letting me leave early the past few days, usually around 3ish, which is nice cause I'm so tired around 2pm - especially yesterday cause I didn't sleep so well the night before. Speaking of sleep, my crazy pregnancy dreams are back! I sometimes like to remember my dreams but some of the dreams I have been having aren't very nice ones and I really would rather not remember them!? I will be leaving extra early today cause I have my 37 week doctor appointment at 2pm and probably won't be coming back to work after. I think I get an internal today so I'm curious to see how close I really am to giving birth!? Then next week I think I will only be working till 1ish, depending on how busy we are - it seems like the busy we are the easier the day is but when we are slow I get very sleepy!! Then Friday the 13th will probably be my last day!? Even though I'm kinda superstitious and don't really like the idea of leaving on Friday the 13th~!?

On my way home yesterday I stopped in at the diaper service store and picked up my diaper pail, then after a quick nap and supper hubby finished painting the babies room. It looks pretty good so far, now we just need to finish it!! I feel so helpless, if only I could help hubby with the room it would probably go faster but instead I made muffins! ;) We have quite the list of things we still need for the room so I'm seriously hoping it rains all weekend (or at least in the morning, just enough to cancel the races then get nice again!). We need to still buy baseboards, chair rail, a vent, plug-ins/ covers, shelves, ceiling fan/ light, a heavy blind, flooring and some white paint!! :o It's suppose to rain but it was also suppose to rain yesterday and never did so keep doing that rain dance (at least in the morning) ! ;)

I also packed my bag last night, so I guess I'm kinda ready now!? Hopefully I remembered everything, if not I'm sure we can pick it up at a store or it's not really needed!? I do still have a few things I need to pick up, like a nursing bra, nursing pads and a change table cover but hopefully if it rains I will have lots of time to go shopping while hubby works on the bedroom.

Happy Hump Day! ;)

When I got home yesterday after work I was beat, I was not interested in supper and all I could think about was going for a nap! But instead we did have dinner and then I went grocery shopping and hubby stayed home to paint the babies room. By the time I got home he was almost finished, it looks really good so far - still needs one more coat of paint and we have to buy the chair rail and baseboards. I think he can finish painting tonight and if the forecast is right it is suppose to rain all weekend so maybe we won't have to work at the track and can get lots done on the room! ? Just keep doing that rain dance!! ;)

I ended up buying two bottles last night at the grocery store (just in case I need them) they are the liner type which is suppose to be BPA (?) free. I also bought some Lanolin cream (for breastfeeding mothers) that of course didn't ring through the till and I was worried that they would page for a price check on breast cream on isle 4!! :o But he never, he just sold it to me for $5, which I thought was fare? I also picked up some baby wipes, which I know my Mom has already bought for me but I forgot them at her house last time I was there. So now - I just need to pick up a dirty diaper pail, nursing bra and some nursing pads. I was wondering too, since we are using cloth diapers do you think it is weird to use the diaper pail as a laundry hamper as well or should I just put the dirty diapers in there and have a separate laundry hamper for clothes?

I have turned into such a sloppy eater!! I can barely get through a meal without slopping on myself! I used to be able to wear my mat shirts for more then one day cause it's not like I work hard in them and work up a sweat but now I almost have to wear two shirts a day or at least pack a spare shirt with me in case I slop on myself! Maybe I'm preparing myself for the spit up and baby drool!? I still can't believe that there is only about 23 days left, I must say it did go by fast but I think I liked it that way. I told my boss today that next week I don't think I can work full days anymore, next week I think I will leave around 2ish? Then the week after I will leave at noon and the week after that I won't even be here. I was just to tired yesterday I could barely do anything, hubby had to help me to bed at 8:30!! And even though I was up every two hours to pee I do feel a bit better today but still tired, it's like I don't get a deep sleep they are just little power purrs to get me through the day.

Hospital Tour

So we had our hospital tour last night, hubby took the Anthony Henday to get there and I timed it .... 40 minutes!! :o He better pick up the pace when it is "time", 40 minutes will seem like a long time when I'm in the middle of a contraction!! Or we need to try a different route cause it wasn't even rush hour! The tour went fairly well, I wasn't as impressed as I thought I was going to be? The nurse wasn't half as humorous either! ;) Maybe I just feel more comfortable at the hospital by our house cause I've been there so much? I was surprised to find out that the St.Albert hospital now has two maternity wards, one on the main floor and one on the second floor. The main floor mat ward isn't quite fully functioning yet (due to staff shortages) and she said they use it mostly for c-section recoveries (the rooms were about half the size as the ones upstairs). Then the rooms upstairs are for labor/ delivery/ recovery (normal vaginal births - no complications). Both wards seems to be quite empty!? And I was also surprised to see that the beds they have in the LDR rooms look like they are original from when the hospital was opened!?!!? It looked like some ancient Chinese torture device!!! :o The beds at the hospital by my house have twice as thick of a mattress and look much newer, not all used and abused!! So now I'm not too sure if I'm looking forward to going to that hospital? Not only is it really far away, which kinda worries me but it really wasn't as nice as I remember it being? The only benefit is that you are guaranteed a private room for no extra cost. O - and I was also surprised to see that the fee for circumcision (if we have a boy) is $231.00 plus your doctor fee and at the hospital by our house it was only $180ish. That would make up the $40 fee for the private room!? So as it stands right now I think hubby and I have decided that we aren't going to panic about getting to St.Albert and if I am having a hard time with pain/ labor then we will just go to the hospital by our house, it's not like they can refuse me and it's not like my doctor really does anything (if she even makes it there on time)? At both hospitals they even said that your doctor just sneaks in at last minute to catch the baby and then leaves again!? The nurse at this hospital also recommended that we have our bags packed - so I guess I should really get on that! I think I will have to also pack the name book cause we still have no name!! :o

So far so good!

I am almost 37 weeks and almost everyone I have run into says I "look bigger" then I did last week - like lots bigger! They all think that baby will be coming soon, I do have to agree with them, I feel bigger and I am having some ligament pain again so I'm thinking that baby is dropping. It is way harder now to bend and get up off the couch/ out of bed, my shoe lace came undone on the weekend and I could barely tie it back up and after I did I was huffin and puffin! ;) I would like to get one more belly pic done before baby is here so I'm thinking I should do that this week.

I feel like I am more emotional now then I have been all pregnancy, it sure doesn't take much to upset me or piss me off!! The arm drop thing went fairly well for the most part, it seemed really disorganized with quite a bit of "down time" where there were no cars to race but I think most people had a good time!!? You could tell that by Sat the staff were getting tired and snappy, the track manager who is usually kinda grumpy and snappy on a good day was more grumpy and snappy then usual - which really sucked! She yelled at me, which really wasn't anything new cause she tends to blow her gasket a lot and I know usually means nothing by it but this time I lost it. It really upset me, I was in tears and told hubby what had happened and he was so mad he was about to run upstairs and hand in his radio and walk out!! But we never, she eventually said sorry and we carried on with the show - I'm sure it was just my hormones that made me so upset. Then on Sun, hubby left early to get stuff ready at the track and I tried calling him to ask a question on his cell but he never answered. I tried three times, normally this wouldn't be a big deal I would just figure he was busy and couldn't hear his phone but it really pissed me off this time! What if I was having labor pains!!? What if there was something wrong!?! Of course there wasn't, I just had to ask a simple question but when I got to the track I told him that if he doesn't answer his phone out there then he can no longer work out there!! He seemed to think I was over reacting at first until I said something to him about how I would never let him live it down if he missed his only child's delivery!! Anything could happen now - there is only 3 weeks left!!

Other then racing we really didn't do too much on the weekend, tonight is our hospital tour - at the hospital I want to deliver at. And tomorrow is grocery day, I will probably go by myself cause I want hubby to paint. Then on Wed I would like to go shopping for hardwood and hopefully rip the rug out on Thursday, then install the wood next week - unless the races get rained out this weekend then we can do that on the weekend!! So maybe everyone should do a little rain dance for me? ? Just don't tell my hubby! he he