35 Weeks!

In just 5 days, Nadia's EDD will be exactly one month away. YAHOO! She's getting really close to being considered "full term." The definitions of full term seem to vary as some places define it as the start of the 37th week, tothers the start of the 38th week, and still others the start of the 39th week. Everyone seems to agree anything past 42 weeks is "postterm." Well I'm hoping she'll stay inside at least two more weeks. Now if she wants to be born anytime after she hits 37w, that's fine with me! :-)

Yesterday, Paul got an email from his advisor, who is in Boston for a few days, asking Paul to email him the PowerPoint presentation Paul gave on Wednesday. His advisor wants to use some of it in a presentation he's giving at Harvard. Paul was pretty excited at the thought that his data is being presented at Harvard. :-) Paul's advisor earned his PhD from MIT and did his postdoc at Harvard.

In addition to cooking dinner for the guests we are having this evening, I also plan to cook at least one meal to store in the freezer. I also am going to ask Paul to install the car seat base in my car today. I'm trying to get ready just in case Nadia decides to come early like her Mommy did (or like her cousin Susie did).

Preeclampsia?

Yesterday my shoes really hurt - they were making marks on my feet (since they were swollen). Today I mostly have been on the couch with my feet propped up and yet I still have swollen ankles, feet, and calves. I put on a different pair of sandals that are usually rather loose, and I could barely get them on. Do pg women have to buy "maternity shoes" also, LOL? So I decided to call the OB. I wasn't sure if I should, but I figured they would tell me if it was no big deal. They said I should come right in and be seen by the midwife since the OBs were all booked up this afternoon. Well my urine sample showed that #1 I am dehydrated and #2 the amount of protein in my urine keeps going up every time I come in. The swelling and protein can be signs of preeclampsia. I don't have the other symptoms (headaches, vision problems, and high b/p). My b/p is still nice and low. I gained more than 1 lb (but less than 2 lbs) in the last week. I think a lot of it is water retention since my hands, legs, and feet are swollen. So she told me to eat more protein, drink more water (even though the ladies were laughing at me last week when I drank 3 glasses of water at dinner), and eat as little salt as possible. My urine specimen was sent to the lab to see if I have another UTI, I had a bunch of bloodwork done, and I get the fun experience of collecting my urine in a jug for 24 hours. I am to start it Friday morning and end it Saturday morning which means this jug will be in our frig when we have company over tomorrow night. How embarassing! I will be seen by an OB on Monday afternoon who will review the results of the bloodwork and 24 hour urine collection test. I guess that means my next appt with Dr. O for Wed has been cancelled, LOL. I am not sure if they'll do the strep B test on Monday or just wait for my next appt (whenever that will be). She doesn't think I have preeclampsia in light of my low b/p, but in light of the protein level continuing to rise, she wants the thorough testing to be done to be sure. I had thought I'd spend all day at home today, but I ended up with an expected trip to the OB and then to a lab.

Today I got a baby shower card and check in the mail from my Dad's cousin in NY which was really nice. I will use it for my baby shopping trip (see post below). I appreciate the input thus far on my shopping list. I do have a temporal themometer. I had never seen one until a few months ago when I was with my nieces and nephews and thought it was quite an amazing invention especially since they are more accurate than the ear kind. I was given one at my choir shower, and I am sure I'll put it to good use (although hopefully not too often as I don't want Nadia to have too many fevers!).

Shopping List

This photo was taken just before I was about to go to bed last night at 34w5d pg. I am happy to say that my heartburn was better the last two days. I discovered another food to avoid - cheddar cheese. In my attempt to eat more protein and less sugar, I had purchased things like reduced fat cheese nips (crackers) and such. It turns out the cheese gives me heartburn. Peanut butter on crackers is fine, but cheese on crackers is not! Paul's mom's chemo treatment went very well yesterday; it was her fastest treatment yet! That's three down and three to go.

I've been working on a shopping list lately. Mostly I've been going through the registries and deciding of the things not purchased what I should buy. I was given a $100 gift card to BRU from my colleagues at work and one of the choir shower gifts was $45 cash so I have at least $145 to spend on Nadia, and I imagine I'll spend more than that. It will be fun to go shopping for her! Anyhow I am trying to determine needs vs. wants. Of course some things that are in the "want" category are making it onto my list such as another roll of wallpaper border. It hit me that no matter what house we buy - 30 feet of border isn't going to be enough to go around 4 walls of a bedroom. I plan to go shopping the next week or two so if you have any input as far as my list goes, I am all ears! I have been eliminating things that won't be needed in the next 5 months as I figure I can put those items on a Christmas wish list for my family (such as toys, a second front facing car seat, etc.). I plan on waiting on buying more clothes until I see exactly what size she is when she's born.

Here's what's on my list at the moment: small boom box (we've been given CD's for her but don't own something to play them on), sheet savers, waterproof pads (those things to lay her on if I want to change her diaper on the floor), socks (she doesn't own anything for her feet yet!), Johnny jump up, 2nd car seat base, milk storage bags, cloth diapers (for spit ups etc.), hooded towel, travel chair, bath toys, kick toy (for her gym), baby spoons, sunshades for the car, microwave sterilizer (we usually only run the dishwasher about once a week so I figure I can use this to clean the pump and bottles daily), mat for under the highchair, and a bathtub storage basket (for bath toys). One thing I purchased for her this week (using a bday gift certificate for Amazon.com from my brother) was a baby food kit (cheaper than buying it at BRU) as I plan to make her baby food (the kit included a cookbook, trays for freezing the food, etc.).

One other item that I am contemplating purchasing that I would appreciate feedback on in particular the BebeSounds nasal aspirator. I am not sure if this is one of those really helpful things like the temporal thermometer or if the old fashioned aspirator works just as well. I know babies aren't really fond of having their noses cleaned out so I thought maybe this was a good item to buy.

When we go shopping at BRU, I also plan to stop at a party store and buy the plates & napkins for Paul's graduation party (Aug 2). I am trying to plan ahead as I figure I'll be very sleep deprived at that point! Yesterday I bought paper for the invitations, and I plan to mail those out next week. If it had been my choice, I would have thrown him the party before Nadia's arrival, but he really didn't want to have the party until after his thesis defense (only thing he has left to accomplish to complete this 2 year master's degree in chemistry). The upside of having it on August 2 is that will probably be the first time some friends and family get to meet Nadia. :-)

Pediatrician?

I recently requested the form from human resources that I need to submit within 30 days of Nadia's birth so that she will have health insurance. It was the first time I wrote down her name on a form. :-) I filled it out except for two blocks - date of birth and who will be her doctor. I was hoping we'd move before I needed to pick a pediatrician, but Paul suggested I pick one near where I work so it might not be necessary to change that once we move (whenever that happens to be given no one has even looked at our home since April 27). There's a clinic very close to my university which has quite a few doctors of which 5 are pediatricians. So how do I pick between these 5? The information I have on each doctor includes their gender, whether they are an MD or DO, and where/when they graduated from medical school. I have it narrowed down to 3 and am struggling to know how to pick between those three - a female DO who graduated in 1998, a female DO who graduated in 1994, or a male MD who graduated in 1966. If I had friends with young children who had a doctor in this town that would be a helpeful place to get info, but I don't think I know anyone who fits that descriptin. Hmmmmm.....

Yesterday I definitely bought more groceries at one time than ever before. I spent almost $150 on one trip! Although it all fit in one cart (barely) before I went to the checkout, the cashier used two carts for all the bagged groceries. The next step will be to start cooking and freezing a few meals. We do have a freezer in the garage that my parents gave us (that they didn't want any more) which we have never used. I am not sure whether I can squeeze everything into the freezer section of our refrigerator, or if we'll plug in the freezer in the garage and use that for the first time. I had a bit of a panic as our power was off for 7 hours (7pm to 2am), but nothing sees to have melted. :-)

It turns out Paul's mom's 3rd chemo treatment is today (not Monday like I thought it was). Praying that goes well for her! Also I am praying for Kelli who had a FET last Wed. She got a (light) bfp by a FRER hpt on Monday night (5 days past transfer) and Tuesday morning. This is VERY exciting! I am praying this is a super sticky BFP! Kelli & Kyle have ttc for almost 6 years. Two embies didn't survive the thawing process so it took thawing 4 embies for them to transfer 2, but it seems she is now pg!!!! They also still have 4 more frozen embies.

Finally, I am happy to pass on the GOOD news that Paul passed his comprehensive exam in physical chemistry. YAHOOO! I was expecting him to pass, but still it is a relief to have it be official!

Stocking up!

Well after ladies Bible study this morning, I plan to do a BIG shopping trip. First, I need to buy some stuff for dinner this Friday night as I have invited a colleague of mine and his family over for dinner, and they have relatives staying with them so actually there will be 4 kids (2 young ones plus 2 middle schoolers) and 5 adults including Paul & I. I am meeting them at Knoebels first, and then they are coming back to our house for dinner. The kids have never been to Knoebels; I think they will have fun! However, the main reason I plan to buy more food than usual is that I am trying to stock up. First, I plan to stock up on the nonperishables that Paul often uses for breakfast and lunch (Raisin Bran, cans of tuna, chicken noodle soup, etc.). I'm trying to make the grocery shopping simpler for the month of July. Second, I am planning to cook some meals this month and store them in the freezer. I've never done that before, but I think it will come in handy to have some meals that can be defrosted and reheated after Nadia is born. At the minimum I am going to freeze a pan of lasagna, pan of tuna noodle casserole, and a pan of a chicken casserole. Paul likes to have pizza almost every week so I am sure he'll be glad to go pick up pizza for us during the time I am in the sleep deprived stage of motherhood. :-)

39 Days!

Oh how I hope the remaining weeks just FLY by! I can't wait to hold her in my arms. :-) I also am really looking forward to lying down without having intense hip pain and also can't wait to be done with the nonstop heartburn which lately has been really bad. She's a very active little girl, and many times when she moves not only can I feel it but now also can watch my belly move. Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on the car seat question. I appreciate it!

Tonight I am giving my students their midterm exam. The class is already 1/2 over! After tonight's class, there will be only 5 classes left. Today Paul's mom has her 3rd chemo treatment; I am hoping it goes as well as her 2nd one did. After this treatment she's halfway done! Today is also the day that my sister and her family fly back to Turkey. I am praying for them to have a safe trip and also for a smooth adjustment (time zones, etc.) back home as they have been in the US for about 5 1/2 months. They will come back in about a year for their year long furlough.

Car seat question

3+ years ago I purchased a car seat and also a travel system (which included an infant carrier, base, and stroller). I am trying to decide whether or not to purchase a 2nd base for the carrier (costs about $25) for Paul's car. When we are together we use my car, so the only time she would be in his car would be when she's just with Daddy. I will definitely put the first base in my car. I am just not sure whether we should put the other car seat in his car (rear facing of course!), or if it would be worth it to buy a 2nd base and use the infant carrier no matter which car she is in (until she outgrows it anyhow). I would appreciate the input of you mothers who have 2 vehicles. Thanks!

Boy are we having a heat wave! The heat and humidity was so bad even at 9 am yesterday that I didn't even walk the full 1.3 miles. Paul did part with me and then he finished the 3.4 mile route. We installed the window a/c units yesterday. I felt badly as I wasn't able to be as much help to him as usual, and the living room one in particular is cumbersome and very heavy. Thank goodness for a/c though! I think I'd be dying this weekend without it especially while pg.

SURPRISE!

For a couple of months I had been looking forward to having dinner at Cracker Barrel on June 6 as I was going to see friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in years. These ladies were teachers at the school where I was principal from 1996-2003. At one point there were 7 of us planning to attend, but one didn't show up last night (not sure why) and the other had to cancel a couple of weeks ago as her daughter (in Indiana) had surgery and so Kay needed to go out and help with her grandchildren during her daughter's recovery. Others were invited but were unable to attend for various reasons. Well the ladies brought gifts for Nadia and paid for my dinner. It was a very special evening just to spend time with these ladies, and then it was also wonderful to open some baby gifts! :-)

Tammy gave me an umbrella stroller, links, a rattle, and a teether. Roxy knitted Nadia a very soft pink blanket. Kay sent a CD and a photo album. Della gave three pretty outfits - one in newborn, one size 3 months, and one size 6 months. Rosalie, a fellow Steeler fan, gave me a Steeler knit hat for Nadia as well as three bibs and a diaper bag. Thank you SO much, ladies!!!

Yesterday I received the crib dust ruffle I bought on eBay (GW collection). It's beautiful! I hadn't registered for the bedding collection as #1 it was outrageously expensive and #2 most of the items aren't supposed to be used according to SIDS guidelines (quilt and bumper). BRU in the US didn't sell the dust ruffle separately, and it was very expensive on the Canadian BRU website ($40!). So I kept searching and bidding on eBay and finally "won" one at a price I was willing to spend (less than 1/2 of the BRU price including s/h). So that's one item I am going to return from my registry as at the choir shower I received a pink dust ruffle. I was given a gift receipt so I'll use the store credit to get something else. :-)

34 Weeks!

It won't be long now! If Nadia cooperates, then it could be just one month from now that she's in my arms!! Starting tomorrow her EDD will be only 5 more weeks away, and on Monday the countdown to her EDD will be less than 40 days. WOOHOO! One of the ways I plan to try to bring on labor in early July is through exercise (worked for my sister). I was curious how long the route was that Paul and I have been taking the last few weeks, and it's a whopping 1.3 miles RT. What a workout, LOL! The embarassing thing is how long that takes me. Last summer I was averaging about 14 minutes a mile. My time now is almost double that, and that's with only doing a fairly flat section compared to having a VERY steep hill included in the 3.4 mile route we used to do. At least I am getting some exercise though (not sure I can say the same for Paul when he joins me, poor guy). It's definitely better than when I was under restrictions. It feels good to be at least a little more active, and after she's born I can put more effort into truly getting back into shape.

Wednesday night a friend (who works in the tech dept at my university) came by and gave me a baby gift. She gave me a bottle warmer, which I left in my office. I figure Nadia will be used to warm milk, and you're not supposed to microwave breastmilk. I thought this would keep it simple for the babysitters as I have a frig under my desk and if there is a bottle warmer in the office then they can warm the milk up without leaving the office. She also gave me 3 outfits - 2 pairs of long sleeve tops/bottoms that are pjs (size 24 months) and a short sleeve onesie with matching pants size 6-9 months. Girls clothing is just sooo cute!!! So that was a lot of fun to open that present. :-) Thanks, Kim!

Last night Paul and I went shopping at two different furniture stores. We tried out all the rocking chairs and gliders at both stores and eventually picked a glider at the second store. It's very comfy! I could definitely fall asleep in it. Our hardest decision was which fabric. We had TONS of choices. First we went through all the samples to find the one that was the softest and also was easy to clean. Then once we made that decision the hard part was picking which color as we were trying to think not just what would go in her nursery but what color would be best for whenever we move the glider to the living room or family room. We went with sage. It should be delivered in 3 weeks; so it should get here before Nadia is born. :-) Thanks, Mom & Dad!

Yesterday, I received two things for Nadia in the mail. One was a bottle (BPA free) that Playtex sent as a free sample, and the other was a Steeler boppy cover that I bought on eBay. Since I was given a 2nd boppy, I took one to my office and left the pink striped one at home. Even if I don't end up using these for nursing (I plan to try them out for that purpose), I figure they are good for tummy time and later for her to use when sitting on the floor. Since I have my office decorated in a Steeler theme I thought it would be fun to have a Steeler boppy there! :-)

OB appt

Today has been a busy day. I was out the door by 8:50am and won't get home until about 8:30pm. However there was some time for shopping in there so it's not a 12 hour work day thankfully!
I also had an OB appt today. I am happy to say I gained only 2.5 lbs in the 19 days since my last appt. So that puts my total weight gain a little under 25 lbs; so my goal of gaining no more than 30 lbs still seems possible! My b/p was good as usual as was her heartrate and also the measurement of my belly. Hopefully there wasn't protein in my urine this time. Last time it was due to having a UTI. My next appt is in 2 weeks when I'll have the group B strep test, and since I'll be 35w5d at that appt from then on my appts will be 1 week apart. When I was at the conference last week I had plenty of people I had never met before ask me questions such as "when are you due" and such so I would say that it seems most people can figure out I'm pg by looking at me.