Merry Post-Christmas Post

So what do you do with Christmas presents when you are too pregnant to care about putting up a tree and don't yet have a baby to put in his crib?

Well, whatever works, I guess. 

Not much going on here but bed rest, cleaning up the baby's room multiple times as we keep adding stuff to it, and the mister did some maternity pictures yesterday.  I'll post some of them on here as soon as he is finished editing and resizing them.  We do have some with the baby's name in them so they will have to wait. 

I don't see the doctor again until next Wednesday so I may know then when my little man is coming.  I am getting anxious and now that I'm at home all the time, I am just waiting and waiting. 

We got the baby's swing put together and put it in the living room today to get the dogs used to it.  They barked for a little bit and then just ignored it.  Just don't know how well they will do when it is occupied with their little brother.

Upcoming events:
January 4th:  Next Doctor's Appointment
January 15th:  Due Date

One more month until D-Day!

That's right only one more month until Little Man's due date!  It seems so close and so far away at the same time.  If that makes any sense at all.  I have washed clothes and some blankets (the handmade blankets will need to be hand-washed so that hasn't happened yet) and started to put things away in his room.  I have ordered the swing which should come in today or tomorrow,

his bedding set which will probably come in one day next week,

and a few things from Target including a baby bath tub, changing pad, changing pad covers, mattress pad cover and a breathable bumper. 

My parents ordered me a glider for the baby's room too.  It'll take another three weeks to come in but it is SOOOO comfortable.  I picked it out last week after my doctor's appointment when they started talking about taking me off of work.  The salesman was busy and I just sat in the chair, rocked and cried (no one else was around).  I guess I've already bonded with it.

Everything is starting to come together and I'm excited about that!

However, I'm not excited about being taken off of work due to having high blood pressure.  I have started my maternity leave today (I was kinda supposed to have done it yesterday but when I left the doctor's office I had too many loose ends to tie up at work that I stayed there until 1:30.).  I am supposed to mainly be lying down but I'm not the type of person that can do that all day and all night, so I lie down for awhile, get up and do a few things around the house, sit in my recliner, do a few more things around the house, then lie back down for awhile, then repeat the sequence.  I am not doing major things around the house, just enough to feel somewhat productive.  I am trying not to think about work.  That's hard when you've been working for so long (don't know how retired people do it!).  I am so attached to my patients and their families so they are on my mind a lot.  I know they will be in good hands. 

So from here on out, it's just one day at a time and keep that baby baking as long as he needs to!

Update (almost 31 weeks)

At my 29 week ultrasound appointment, the doctor discovered that Baby's umbilical cord is wrapped around his neck with his arm in between the neck and the cord.  Good news is that he's small enough he can still wiggle out of this position.  Bad news is we can't just do another ultrasound, him be out of the position and know that he won't get back into this position. So I am monitoring his movement at home and doing weekly OB visits to be hooked up to a non-stress test to monitor movement there.  So basically, I can just worry about it. 
I went to my 30 week appointment on Monday to do the non-stress test.  It wasn't a big deal.  They just hooked me up and I laid there.  They said it will usually take 30 minutes to an hour.  Plan for next week:  bring a pillow and a book.  Also my blood pressure was running a little high.  It has been somewhat high on past visits.  I think trying to work while exhausted has something to do with it.  I have been monitoring it all week with a nurse at the office and it's been pretty good. 
Had my baby shower last Sunday at church.  The ladies there are so sweet and pass along good advice as well as wonderful gifts.  I mainly got clothes for Boudreaux.  Which is good because at the first shower, people did not know the gender and I got more of the necessities and less clothes.  That will be my advice for anyone having multiple showers:  Reveal the gender after the first one so you can get things you need other than clothing.  The ladies where Brad work also want to do a shower for us.  There hasn't been any talk about one where I work, but I would be shocked if they didn't do one there. 

Here are some pictures from the shower at church:

Ok the pictures are tiny.  If I try to make them bigger on here, they get all blurry.  I will try to get bigger ones later and add them.  If I can figure out how...

28 weeks

In less than 3 months I could be holding my baby.  That statement makes me happy and terrifies me all at the same time.  Brad stays scared and there are times I think "Can I handle this?"  I just keep reading my books and try to soak in all the knowledge I can.  I am also blessed with people in my life that I can ask dumb questions to and not care if I feel like an idiot.  It's going to be fine.  I keep telling myself this.

On another note, I am getting more and more tired and more and more bigger.  As I get more uncomfortable, I keep thinking "Baby is getting bigger which means he will be born more healthy."  I try not to get too stressed at work so that he will stay put until he is fully baked.  Speaking of work, it has been keeping me extra busy.  Which I am grateful for since it helps pass the time along.  I am just so worn out at the end of the day.  One night this past week, I could not even remember which patients I saw that same day.  On Friday me and three others at work did a group interview for my replacement while I'm on maternity leave.  She is really bubbly and has lots of experience working as a social worker in hospice.  I know that my patients will be in good hands.  However, I think she's more qualified for my job than I am.  Hope I still have my job when I need it back after my leave. 

After re-reading this post, I think it sounds pretty negative.  I'm really not in a bad mood, just tired.  Good things are happening too.  I took down the pink butterfly border from the baby's room.  Just didn't seem to suit my little boy.  Brad bought the paint and plans to do that soon.  Green walls will look a little more masculine than pink and brown.  My mom is coming next weekend and I'll get to show her all of my stuff that I have already gotten for Baby.  Baby's furniture is also on the way.  Not sure how much longer it will be until it arrives, but should be in plenty of time (if Baby stays put like I've told him to until he is ready). 
The next three weeks should be pretty busy too.

Upcoming events:
October 24th: 28 week appointment
October 31st: Ultrasound with OB and Mom here
November 6th: Baby shower at church

And soon I will start doctor's visits every other week.  Busy busy busy!

26 weeks

Big event of the week:  Brad felt the baby kick.  Baby's been kicking for awhile but would stop when I put my hand on my belly to see if I could feel it on the outside.  Now he keeps going.   I was told this will only be fun until he wakes me up in the middle of the night kicking. 

Brad is trying to come up with different photography ideas for Baby as he is also planning on some family photos for a woman he works with. 

Still have a lot to do for Baby so I'm glad I still have time.  He does not have the furniture here yet, sheets, car seat and several other things but he will before he arrives.  14 more weeks (give or take).

Brad did take some new pictures this past week.

Upcoming Events:
October 23rd: Beginning of third trimester
October 24th: 28 week appointment
October 31st: Ultrasound with doctor
November 6th:  Baby shower at church

25 Weeks

Time is moving on.  25 down.  15 to go.  We ordered the Baby furniture last Saturday. 

We are getting the crib and the short dresser.  Should arrive in 4-6 weeks.  Another step closer.  We also enjoyed spending time with my parents and friends Trish and Walter.  Everyone is passing on child-rearing advice.  Hopefully we will remember some of it when Boudreaux gets here.

Upcoming events:  Brad will paint the room before furniture arrives.
                             October 24th is my 28 week appointment
                             October 31st is the next ultrasound at 29 weeks.  After that, I will start having appointments every other week. 

Still discussing baby names.  We maaaaay be getting close to figuring out the name.  But no information will be given out at this time.

24 Weeks

Hm....What's new?  Well, back pain for one.  Going to talk to the Nurse Practitioner about this tomorrow at my appointment.  Maybe she'll just send me home with a prescription for a nightly back massage.

I bought some clothes for Baby Boudreaux.

We looked at some furniture at a new store in Tupelo yesterday and plan to look at some more next Saturday while we're in Missouri.
Also got 21 of my Thank You cards sent from my shower in Houma.  Still need to send 10 more but have to wait on getting addresses from my mother-in-law. 

Other than this, not much going on around here.  Maybe I'll have more news for next week.  Have a great week!

In 4 months...

Our baby is due.  He may come earlier or later.  Either way I want him to come when he's ready.  I have several things that he will need in his room.  We picked out a paint sample last night at Lowe's.  We still need to paint the room (by "we" I mean "Brad").  I hope to be able to order his furniture in a couple of weeks, which may take up to 8 weeks for it to ship.  We got giftcards for Target to buy a car seat--we just have to pick one out.  A lady Brad works with wants to sell us a highchair they used for their daughter and a baby swing they never used.  This week I ordered a few items from Old Navy's Baby Sale.  We still do not have a name for Baby Boudreaux.  I enjoy planning.  I love making lists and marking off items.  There is so much to do before Baby arrives but I am proud of what we've achieved.  I look forward to each step along the way.

Baby Boudreaux's First Party!

I was surprised this past weekend by a Dr. Suess baby shower!  I knew the shower was taking place.  I just didn't know the theme.  It was a lot of fun and Boudreaux got some very nice things!

Dr. Suess was a big part of my childhood.  My parents would joke around in rhymes and would read his books to me.  I wanted the ABC Book read to me so many times, my parents had to memorize it and just tell me when to turn the pages.  They can still quote it!  I plan to read these books to Baby when he arrives and let him enjoy the fun goofiness.

But, back to the shower my sister-in-law and mother-in-law threw for me. 

Fun treats...

Good books...

Great gifts!

My opinion may be a little skewed but I think they throw a great shower!  Baby is so spoiled already!

21 Weeks

Well, well.  What a busy week last week!  Didn't find out baby's gender at the doctor's appointment Tuesday but we did go to a private ultrasound place in Thibodaux.  It was a great place!  The owner was very nice and allowed as many family and friends as you want to go with you.  So I brought the mister, his mother, brother, sister-in-law, neice and nephew.  So there was a lot of love in the room for Baby Boudreaux when we found out he's a boy!  So exciting!  Now I can say "he" or "him" or "his" or "baby boy" or "my son"!
Also we had the first baby shower with Brad's side of the family and friends.  I was impressed with the turn-out since it was a holiday weekend and there was a tropical storm going on.  I will try to go a post on just the baby shower later this week when the pictures are ready from the photographer (aka Baby Daddy).
Now we're back home and I'm exhausted.  We were busy all weekend and I have to go back to work tomorrow.  Whew! 

20 weeks

So I waited until today to do my 20 weeks post so that I could announce Baby's gender.  Boudreaux had something else in mind.  He/she wants to teach Mommy patience.  That's not nice.  Oh well, try again in two weeks. 
Baby shower is still Saturday so that's exciting.  Just two more days of work and then off for a loooong weekend.  This will be our last long trip before Baby gets here.  Then we'll spend weekends getting the room ready, picking out furniture and doing other baby shopping when we know gender. 
Well, nothing else to report now.  Hopefully I can post some pictures of the baby shower next week.

19 weeks

Well, this past week I had a wonderful milestone experience:  I'm pretty sure I felt Baby move.  This happened on Friday and hasn't happened since.  I was in a hospice patient's home talking with the famiy and suddenly felt something similar to a muscle jumping or twitching in the baby area.  It did this for a few minutes and that was it.  I'm just waiting for the next time it happens.  Hopefully it will be some place where I can focus on it more.  It's not too appropriate to be talking with a family about death and dying and say "Oh, I think my baby just kicked."  Despite the situation, I still really enjoyed feeling Baby say "Hi.  I'm still in here doing good, Mommy."
Brad and I had more baby name discussion this week.  We both kinda feel like Baby is a boy (but of course we don't know for sure).  And Brad knows how much I like last names as first names...so now he's calling Baby Boudreaux.  Of course, we would NEVER name our baby Boudreaux Kebodeaux, but it's fun nickname until we decide (and announce) Baby's actual name.  So now I may refer to Baby as Boudreaux in my posts.  Depends on how long it takes to get old.
Another major thing this week is that we (FINALLY) donated several items from our home to the local Salvation Army.  I chose the Salvation Army because their social worker has helped out some home health patients of mine in the past by giving them a walker or shower chair that was much needed but the patient didn't have insurance for it and could not afford it.  We also donated a lot of clothing to the church which will be sent to Africa soon.  We got all of this stuff together while cleaning out Boudreaux's room.  That room has been used as storage since we've moved in, but now we've cleaned out closets for extra room for storage.  We probably have one more weekend's worth of work to do and we'll be done with that project.  Then Brad will have to paint. 
Every step is a step closer to reality of my baby being here.  I love it!

By the way, 9 days until another chance at seeing Boudreaux's goods and 13 days until his/her first shower! 

18 Weeks

Well, I had a great time shopping with my mom and got some new clothes at good prices.  Got five shirts, four undershirts, two jackets, earrings and a necklace.   Lots of fun!
Now I am looking forward to seeing my little Wiggleworm in two weeks and hoping to see Baby's gender.  Also I have my first baby shower in 18 days!  Each step makes Baby seem so real!

Well, the mister was able to do a little photo shoot for me.  Here are the best ones.

I hope to have more to post next week!

17 Weeks...and a few days

Well, the mister attempted to do some fancy picture last Sunday but his plan didn't work out.  So now he says we'll start at 18 weeks.  We'll see...
Exciting things this week?  Well, today Jessica went back to the gym!  It's been awhile since I've harkened those doors.  I went for a few weeks at the beginning of the pregnancy but then I got SOOOOO tired and was ready to fall asleep before I left work each evening.  I was going to start back last week but the 100 degree temperatures changed my mind.  I only did 20 minutes on the elliptical today but I'll work my way up soon.  I'm not trying to lose weight at this point.  I just want to have some good muscles in my legs and keep a little more healthy. 
Also I am looking foward to going shopping Saturday with Mom.  She takes me every year for my birthday (Yeah....birthday was in January) and we're a little behind.  But that's ok.  At least now we can shop for some maternity clothes for me!  Got some good coupons too!  $30 off at Old Navy from my Visa rewards and $35 off from JCPenney with Mom's and my coupons.  Hoping for some more maternity tops.  I am wear the same clothes over and over to work.

Wiggle Worm

Well, I haven't posted about finding out the gender of Baby.  That's because Baby is evidently a little wiggle worm.  He/she moved around during the entire ultrasound.  Brad took video of it which we've been watching over and over.  The Nurse Practitioner did guess that Baby may be a boy but wasn't sure.  I keep watching the video thinking that I'll magically be able to tell.  Of course I can't but it's still pretty cool watching Baby move.  I go for another ultrasound on August 30th which is the Tuesday before my first baby shower that Saturday.  Hopefully, little Wiggle Worm will stay still enough for us to find out. 
My most recent obsessive planning worry is that Baby doesn't have a name.  I don't know why this is bothering me so bad.  We don't even know the baby's gender and I am freaked out about not having a name.  We also don't have all of the storage out of Baby's room and need to paint in there but for some reason, I'm not as worried about that as not having a name.  I guess this is normal. 
I was also hoping for a 16 week belly bump picture but Brad kept putting it off and now it's almost 17 weeks.  Maybe I can talk him into starting at 17 weeks.

16 Weeks!

I wanted to start this blog awhile back but I ended up just making those posts private.  I guess to start off the public blog, I should say that the mister and I are expecting our first baby in January.  Of course we're both scared and aprehensive of everything.  I have been reading a ton of books so that I can have a least a little knowledge before Baby gets here.  I also have been asking my friend from back home and my sister-in-law a million questions of what to expect.
Speaking of that, I went to New Orleans last week for a hospice convention and met up with my sister-in-law.  We went to Target to add several items to my registry.  So much fun to look at all of the cute baby stuff!  I also received Baby's first gifts from his/her aunt, uncle and cousins.

I am starting to get some of my energy back as I have been falling asleep by 6:00 or 7:00 each night.  No morning sickness at all.  I really have been blessed thus far. 
I have an appointment with the Nurse Practitioner Tuesday at 3:30. She is going to do a quick ultrasound and I will see if she will try to check for gender.  I know it's kinda early but I know others who have found out this early or earlier.  Brad is going with me and will take pictures of the ultrasound screen (the machine doesn't print pictures).