The end, almost

Everything looked good with the babe this week. The new doctor was actually enjoyable to talk to. I didn't even mind the GBS test. He said this cyst is a rare thing and that if it comes to a surgery, hospitals will want us to come to their facility. He recommended getting a few opinions before we do anything. He also said, "Don't be afraid to rattle some cages if necessary." He also said that he would do more research, but from what he knew, it should not be a problem. So good news from another source.

He asked if I wanted a c-section or vaginal delivery. Then he asked if I wanted to be induced or start on my own. He said he would recommend induction at 39 weeks. So, next appt. I will be scheduled. We go to the specialist next week to have the cysts measured. Of course it would be nice if they were nearly gone. I am still feeling fine, hitting the gym, walking without a waddle. Last night I felt flu-ish and I thought maybe something was going on, but it never turned into consistent contractions for an hour.

Lulu has been asking me in the mornings if the baby came yet. I push out my belly and ask her if he came. She just says no and runs off. She is excited right now, hopefully she will be excited when he actually comes.

Still no name.

Heaven is...

• Sleeping all night without having to take a potty break.
• Taking a Sunday afternoon nap.
• Serve yourself Chocolate chip/PB M&M cookies for dinner.
• Seeing a nephew get baptized.
• Enjoying a baby blessing.
• Teaching a lesson on Fast Sunday with a built in snack time.
• Telling people the baby is coming this week (only in my dreams).
• Going to the gym and sweating.
• Prayers together at night.
• Still being able to tie my shoes and shave my legs.
• Getting to see the babe every week.
• Seeing that our insurance really is paying a lot of the bills.
• 3 yr old still saying "Happy Valentine's Day" and blowing kisses.
• Reading books with the girls.
• Coloring and painting.
• Free toothpaste.
• Cartoons that we can stand to watch all together.
• 8 o'clock bedtime.

Other news

Mimi finished her swim lessons at TCCC. She is a good swimmer, but still can't do the flip turn or dive in well. We are taking a break this session, but will probably sign her up for the May session. She is working on her multiplication tables at school and reading the rest of her little house on the prairie set. She still takes a 30 minute shower when I tell her to hurry. I think she took a 20 minute one once. She got a 4 inch haircut, but it looks like 6 with her curls. Perfect for the warmer weather we will hopefully start having soon.

Lulu is being bribed to sleep through the night. She gets a handful of change when she is successful. She wants to buy the elephant game with her $. She has been telling me some of her dreams lately. Today she said we were having a party and everyone was at our house. Earlier in the week she said she had a giant pink teddy bear. We might be able to make some of her dreams come true. She has been congested for 3 weeks, but doesn't really act like it is bothering her. She is a champion nose-blower. I think she says mom over a hundred times a day. I have found if I want some peace, I have to let her take a shower with her barbies. One day she took 3 showers. I was really tired that day.

We did our taxes and refinanced the house. This is good timing for all of the new baby expenses.

Mr. got back from Dubai and Kuwait. It took him 4 days to get over his jet lag. He brought back some sand and a stuffed camel for the girls. He is good at getting them fun things from his journeys.

I had an appt yesterday with a different DR. He said my weight looked good and that female sterilization is not painful. Then he gave me a pamphlet and said, "It's the bomb!" Next week I see another DR. I think they might do a cervical check. Nice to meet you.

Same as before with a silver lining

I have been going to APW for my OB care. This week was the 3rd week in a row that I had to wait for more than an hour to see the Dr. I already knew that the baby had scored an 8/8 on the BPP. I was leary about getting weighed and then I had to wait.

The Dr. finally came in and he said, "I know you feel like strangling someone by now, I'm sorry." At least there was some sincerity in his voice. The truth is I was fine waiting. I just felt bad for my friend that was watching Lulu. It was an early morning appointment, so I told her there was no way I would have to wait too long. I was wrong. Then he tapped on the computer for 1o minutes and finally told me that everything looked good and that I was a go to have the baby at anytime. I guess as a "high risk" patient, the babe is allowed to come at 34 weeks. That is the silver lining to my 3 hour doctor visit. I am not expecting it, but that would be exciting to have the baby by mid-march.

I bought some diapers and got some little boy clothes from my sister. I guess we are ready enough for this baby without a name.

Another week, another ultrasound

This week, I went to the specialist. They said everything looks good, as good as it can. I got the approval to deliver at Kadlec so long as things stay the same. The cysts have gotten a little smaller again, but not significantly so. He is weighing 4 lbs 8 oz. and looks bigger than he did 4 days ago. I guess that's what happens, but most people don't get to see it from the inside.

I get to wait 4 weeks this time before I go back to the specialist, so that is good. Still have the weekly BPP at the clinic. Last week they said things looked good, but I had to wait an hour for them to tell me that. In fact, things looked so good that the Dr. had to throw in some bad news. She said I was too fat. I have tried to tell people that I have gained a lot of weight, even though my belly and face don't show it yet. She confirmed it and was not so gentle about it--she told me no white bread, no whole milk (I don't eat those regularly anyway), eat whole grains (check), decrease refined sugar (that is true--halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, and v-day), and exercise more. I would gladly exercise more, but 3 weeks ago, they told me to decrease exercise. Then she said if you exercise you need to increase your food intake. What? I am sure she didn't really read my chart. I fought her every suggestion and told her that I was not gluttonous. 27 lbs at 32 weeks is not extreme weight gain. Ask anyone, except this Dr.

Oh, and she said my baby was breech and they would look at turning him at 34-35 weeks. Everything I have ever read says the baby should be turned by 36 weeks and some turn on their own even later than that. She told me that it was more urgent than I thought and that I was lucky my last one turned at 36 weeks. So that was friday and yesterday he had turned head down according to ultrasound. Not sure he will stay there, but this little guy is a real mover. Take that Dr.

Did you know you could text to Dubai and it would go through on a local number? I didn't until I got a message back saying it was a 12 hour time difference, which meant that I beeped him at 3 in the morning. Oops.

Keeping it interesting

My last pregnancy was uneventful. I was hoping for the same, but sometimes things don't go like you think they will. We have been having serial ultrasounds to watch some cysts that are on the babe's lung. It hasn't grown and is expected to shrink or can be removed surgically. I now have to go in weekly for a biophysical profile and every 2 weeks to the OB and every 3 weeks to the specialist. I was wondering why I had been having to refill the gas tank more frequently.

The babe is finally getting chubby--3 lbs +. They are watching his growth pattern as well. Just to make sure he is still getting all the nutrients he needs. I am sure the Drs. are tired of me because, honestly, I am tired of them. We don't feel worried. Just annoyed.

Thanks to all of my wonderful babysitters for taking care of the girls.

Team Meeting

As a mom, I think I felt like I was doing everything for everyone. Which is an exaggeration, but when you do and do and don't get much help yourself, it feels that way sometimes. When we got home from church this week, I asked Mimi to help put away the dishes. She got mad at me and said, "Why should I?" I tried to explain to her that she can learn now to help and then when she is a mom she can teach her kids to help. Then she won't feel like a servant or maid all the time.

Later, I called a team meeting. We talked about what a team was--a group of people doing something together. They try to win. They play football and get a trophy (per Lulu). We decided we can watch 1 show together in the evening. The rest of the time we will draw, play games, read, or bake together. At 8, we do a mess pick-up and then have prayers and go to bed. It has worked great. I feel better and everyone is contributing.

Last night we colored, made cupcakes, and mopped the floor together. We made some messes that led to the mopping. Everyone pitched in and enjoyed the fruits of our labors. This new schedule feels so much better. Now the challenge is keeping it up. Why did this take me so long to figure out?