Make up your mind, baby!

Well, this weekend was Crab Feed, we had friends up and we went Saturday night to enjoy some delicious crab and the band, the King Pins! We had a good time, but being 9 months pregnant, I was tired and Drew and I went home around 11:00 that night. Trust me, grumpy and fat are NOT pretty dancing to "Pretty Woman". We've been teased for the last month that the baby was going to come on Crab Feed. As we were leaving, my awesome brother-in-law whispers to the belly, "I'll see you tomorrow, Hadley." I laughed him off....he was drunk after all.

At about 1:00 in the morning, I started having contractions that were about 2-3 min apart. It took awhile to realize that it really was contractions and after about 1 and 1/2 hours, and Drew's persistent prodding, we called the hospital and they suggested that I come in to be checked. We got to the hospital at about 3:45 and was hooked up to the monitors. It showed that I was indeed having contractions every 2-3 min. The nurse checked me and said I was already at 3 cm and 50% effaced. She said to walk around and she'd check me again in an hour. After that hour I was almost 4cm and about 70% effaced. It was a busy night at the hospital and women in labor kept coming in. The nurse said she wanted to make sure I was really in labor, so she wanted to check me again in another hour. In an hour, I was about 4 1/2 cm and 80% effaced.

The nurse talked to the doctor, and I was admitted to the hospital for labor. I was only 36 weeks and 2 days pregnant. So, they weren't going to stop the labor, but they also weren't going to do anything to help it along. Because I was so early, my regular doctor didn't have a chance to do the test for Group B Strep (about 20-30% of pregnant women have this, and it can make baby very sick if not treated with antibiotics). They decided to treat me with antibiotics "just in case". The first nurse tried to start an IV on me twice...FAIL. Do I have bad karma with needles or something?? The second nurse finally was able to get one in, and I had my first dose of penicillin..."I hope you're not allergic," the nurse said. Uh...me too. I would get these antibiotics every 4 hours until birth.

The whole day was about the same. I continued to contract every 3 min. or so, but they weren't getting any stronger. Drew and I walked the halls and stairs...A LOT. At about 5:00 p.m., the nurse checked me again...no change after doing this ALLL day. Drew and I were exhausted, neither of us had slept in almost 48 hours. I decided that I could contract and make NO progress just as easily at home as I could in the hospital. The doctor said we could go, but he wanted us to stay in Lewiston for the night. We got a hotel and finally was able to get some sleep. The contractions finally petered out, and we decided to go home the next morning.

Monday, at home I felt contractions on and off, but nothing consistent or strong. We spent the day getting baby things together...just in case. Drew even installed the car seat :) I had a regular OB appt. Tuesday and when the Dr. checked me, still no change. I could go any time, or I could walk around for a couple more weeks like this.....grrrr. So frustrating! I feel a bit like a watched pot. Anytime I move or breathe, I get, "Is this it? Is it time? Do we need to go now?"

I'm fine with the baby staying in there and baking a little longer, I just hate the waiting and not knowing!

Nursery Progress!

We finally have some progress on the nursery! I LOVE it. Thanks so much to my wonderful husband, who has spent many hours and lots of frustration getting this ready.

This is a shot of the whole room, complete with my clearance $35 potterybarn rug...yeah, I'm thrifty:)

This is the beginning, sheet rock installed, new lighting, new window, and new french doors in.

Round #2, floors completed. Soooo pretty. Worth tearing up the first round.

Window trimmed out, and backer board up for the wainscoting.

And we have FURNITURE! The beautiful crib (thanks Grandma Millie and Grandpa Tom!) Changing table from Ikea and changing pad...it's soooo soft. Drew mentioned he wished he was a baby so he could lay on it....yeah, kinda weird.

Armoire from Ikea (I painted it white). And a cute little tutu, I can't wait to put her in it (Thanks Nycci!).

You can see the wood flooring that now extends into the master. We get great light from the window, we just need to hang the curtains now...maybe today.

Her name looks so pretty on the wall. We still need to finish the boxes on the wainscoting, but Home Depot was "out of it" for the time being. So, when they get more in, we'll finish that part. We still need door handles for the french doors, and the regular door, curtains up, chair and chandelier in. But, we are getting close! Only 27 days 'til baby's here, we're so excited!

Slowly but Surely!

This was taken at 34 weeks, getting closer! On the good news front, the Dr. said that she probably wouldn't let me go past my due date if at all possible, due to the gestational diabetes. I guess that's one good thing that comes from that particularly crappy diagnosis. She said this last month, she would start checking my cervix, and if it looks "favorable" we would talk about induction.

I was also able to take another peek at the baby by ultrasound at about 33 weeks. We didn't get any pictures, but she does have chubby little cheeks! She weighed about 4 1/2 lbs. The ultrasound tech said that most babies will gain about 1/2 lb. per week from this point to delivery, so we figured if I make it to full term, the baby should weigh about 7 1/2 to 8 pounds. Not tiny, but it could be a lot worse!

How far along? 34 weeks

Total weight gain: dear sweet baby jesus in a manger...18 pounds (ouch).

Maternity Clothes? Uh, yeah.

Stretch marks: Two. I'm sure they'll be completely unnoticeable after birth *she tells herself in denial*

Sleep: total crap. I wake up every morning between 3 and 4 a.m.

Best moment this week: paint on the nursery walls, beautiful!

Movement: yup.

Food cravings: I'm really diggin' potatoes.

Gender: Still a girl (confirmed yet again at 33 week ultrasound).

Labor signs: more pressure, occasional contractions.

Belly button in or out? Still in.

What I miss: Walking up a flight of stairs without getting breathless.

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the nursery, and seeing friends for Crab Feed.

Weekly Wisdom: Level out the concrete floor PRIOR to laying laminate. It's easier than having to tear it all up again....

Milestones: If baby were born now, there's a 99% chance of ZERO complications. Woohoo!

Baby Shower

Pics from the baby shower back in November. This is a generational picture of the family including grandmas, mom, sister, and cousin.

Ripping into the loot...great stuff!

26 weeks....I thought I was huge then, if only I knew....

The hot dog game....yeah it's sexy.

Going in for the kill.

The BE-A-U-TIFUL cake from Lovin' Oven. Thank you!

The moby wrap...can't wait to use it in real life! Thanks Bon Bon!

Christmas!

This is the gorgeous cradle my dad made for Haddie....I LOVE it! We are currently in the process of staining and sealing it. Pics of the finished product are soon to come.

Christmas morning at my parents' house...he gets so excited for presents ;)

Drew playing Santa on Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house. Cousin Anna looks concerned...

Sitting with my "stash", getting ready to start opening.

Oooooh....this is a nice look. Thanks, mom. Have officially updated my status from "cow" to "beached whale". But, I will say that was a freaking awesome recliner.

Friiiickk!

Official diagnosis: Gestational Diabetes.

Still feel very irritated about this. No family history of diabetes...AT ALL. I have not gained an absurd amount of weight, I work out, I try to eat fairly healthy, in general, I'm a healthy person! This is soooo not fair!

So, now I get to poke my finger SIX times a day, and there's a special diet to follow if needed. However, so far I have been eating like I normally do and my sugars stay within a normal range....maybe I'm just a bad test taker?

I even got my very own glucometer...and it has a pretty pink cover (per my request :). Of course, to add insult to injury, it's right during Christmas....and all the yummy goodness that comes with the holidays....and, to top it off, my fingers hurt!

Grrr....so frustrated, but I'll do whatever I have to for a healthy baby (she'd better appreciate this later ;)

Oh Crap

Yeah......so much for hoping I don't have to go back for the 3 hour glucose test. Got a call from the Dr. today, she said I failed the 1 hour test miserably. The three hour test is scheduled for next Tuesday, and as an added perk, I get to be poked before I start and then every hour on the hour for the remaining 3 hours....AWESOME. Just looking forward to it because it went so well the first time.