39w: No baby yet...

I was hoping that by now, we'd have met #2.  Especially because DS was 2 weeks early so as soon as it was 38w, I was anticipating labor.  Right now, my hands are puffy and my joints are sore (so fine motor skills like squeezing toothpaste are a challenge), my feet look like pillowy mini-loaves of bread and I walk like an old lady.  I also sleep horribly and am perpetually exhausted.  (Yesterday, I woke up at 8 am and took at nap at 10 am).  Didn't appreciate when last night, my BiL commented that it looked like I had two babies in me.

Didn't help either that on Tuesday, when I saw my Dr., she said I was 2.5 cm and 50% effaced, so that added to my anticipation.  I've read that women in that same position have both gone into labor right away or been in that state for weeks.  Also, very early morning on Friday, at 4:30 am-ish, I had about an hour of contractions, so that threw me off, but they were clearly irregular and temporary.  At one moment, I was like, "Darn!  Now I can't watch the Opening Ceremonies!" 

Anyway, of course, I want Baby to be fully cooked and healthy, and am very thankful to be in this position, but I'm just tired of being uncomfortable and need to gripe.  It would be nice if he came this week versus after 40weeks...

Baby -- if you can hear me, I'm ready!  We're all ready and excited to meet you and give our love to you! 

Okay, ice baths for my feet and hands await...

Home Stretch!

Technically, I'm at 37w5d.  However, DS arrived 2 weeks early.  So things could be happening any moment now.  Nursery is done.  Hospital bag is mostly packed.  Carseat is installed.  Registered at the hospital.  Most of the big things are organized, but I still have so many things I want to organize (but in reality, it's no big deal if I don't get to my recipes -- see how obsessive this nesting can get?).  I have never done the "traditional" update, so I'm doing a variation of it this time.

Total Weight Gain: At my last appointment, I held steady at 156 lbs for over a week.  Phew.  I was probably at 120 lbs during IVF... So while I'm big for me, at least I'm not quite at Mariah Carey or Jessica Simpson levels.

Sleep: I dug out some old wrist guards from old injuries and they are helping with the arm/hand numbness.  If I didn't have to pee, I can actually sleep through the night!  I was so happy to figure this out, because I was starting to dread sleep.

Movement: Not a ton, but it's there.  At my 36w u/s, the head was confirmed to be facing down.  I get twinges here and there in my lower uterus, but not BH contractions or anything. 

Symptoms: Swollen hands and feet, particularly in the morning and night.  I have taken to soaking my feet in an ice bath (using a big canning pot) and then my hands in mixing bowls.  It's quite a sight.  Does provide some relief.  Also, hanging out in the pool while DS swims/plays has been another reliever.  My feet looked normal, which was a rare sight!  The swelling also contributes to joint pain.  It's hard to use a pen or do fine motor types of things.  Another weird/annoying symptom was that my teeth/jaw felt all out of whack for a while.  Then, things got totally misaligned and eating hurt and I couldn't bite down evenly on my teeth/jaw.  Just as I made a chiro appointment, things popped back into place upon waking one morning.  Phew.  It was a bummer when one of my biggest loves (eating) caused pain.

What I miss: Being able to move around easily.  Sleeping in any position.

What I look forward to: Meeting our new little boy!  While there is no reason to think otherwise, I am still nervous about having a healthy delivery/little baby.  But no matter what, we will love him to pieces...

Okay, on my agenda today: more organizing/puttering, some baking (we are having company tonight and tomorrow -- gotta squeeze in every last bit of socializing!!)...
I probably won't update again til the little guy makes his appearance.  Unless he's late...

Have a good weekend y'all!

Voila - the Nursery!

Starting from the right side of the room, going to the left.  Painted the ceiling and the walls (after sanding off the weird stucco texture).  Removed weird old fluorescent light fixtures and dark soffits.

Befores and afters:

Before

After

Before

After

Before - we ditched a lot of crap!!  Like old electronics...

After - I made those curtains, the artwork and painted the bookshelf, which I got from Craig's List.

Before

After - IKEA crib

Today is DH's and my 10th wedding anniversary!  Fancy French food for dinner... maybe we'll take a trip next year or do something more substantial when I'm not uber-preggo.

36.5 weeks

Thought I'd write during a moment where my hands are not aching from joint pain.  I'm experiencing the full puff of swollen-ness in my hands and feet.  Even Crocs are snug on my feet.  When I wake up, I cannot make a fist.  I also wake up several times a night with no feeling in my hands and have to shake it out.  A byproduct of the swollen hands is joint pain -- I find it difficult to write, squeeze toothpaste, etc, etc.  I feel like an old lady!  When I drive, I cannot be at "10 and 2," otherwise I lose feeling in my hands.  I have to keep my hands down low.

Yesterday, I had my 36 week appointment -- had a (way too) quick ultrasound which confirmed that the baby's head is down.  Also, I now weigh 156 pounds, which is a record for me.  4 pounds in 2 weeks!  At this rate, I will definitely crack 160. 

DH has a job interview in FL coming up, not scheduled yet.  I'm deathly afraid of having to go through labor alone... When DS was arriving, he was also in FL, but came back in time (helped that my water broke but I had no contractions so things were slow).

Also went to a refresher childbirth class this week -- it was good to get some review of the stages of labor and also on breathing techniques.  It was a bit long, though, and DH was dying.  But we managed to be naughty students and crack ourselves up throughout. 

Okay, I am starving (again) -- time to get some grub!