PIE!!!!!!!

Ohhh... how I love my husband....

He went with me to my super boring early morning Non Stress Test today (Kat is doing great) just like he does every week just to keep me company- at 8 in the morning (which is unheard of for a man who likes to sleep this much...

Then he took me to a local Coney for French Toast and Bacon *drools happily*.... a craving I've been having forever...

Then he took me to the mall and walked nice and slow with me and looked at all the baby stuff with me...

THEN!!!! He took me to Kroger and bought me my own Pumpkin Pie! PIE!!!! ZOMG!! I've been crying over pumpkin pie for a month... I got a pie, and apple cider (which I also had been craving...) and Cool Whip.... *I totally stared at the pie all the way home while he laughed*

Oooohhh the pie.... it beckons me...

We actually found Pasteuerized Apple Cider.... much yummyness!

A slice of Pumpkin Flavored, Cinnamon Sprinkled Heaven!!!

This slice of pie doesn't know that it is about to be eaten, so sad for the pie, so happy for me!!!

And of course he kept taking pictures.... this is my Happy Pie Face...

It was SOOOO worth it!!

There is nothing in the world happier than a pregnant woman with a satisfied craving... compare it to a cat purring in a sunny window... or a fat kid with his cake...

And now this man (who I'm ready to nominate for Sainthood) is going to me going with me tonight to our Parenting Classes....

I love him!!!!

I love my husband... and my life!

Here by Rascal Flatts

There's a place I've been lookin' for
That took me in and out of buildings
Behind windows, walls and doors
And I thought I found it
Couple times, even settled down
And I'd hang around just long enough
To find my way back out
I know now the place that I was trying to reach
Was you, right here in front of me


And I wouldn't change a thing
I'd walk right back through the rain
Back to every broken heart
On the day that it was breakin'
And I'd retrieve all the years
And be thankful for the tears
I've cried with every stumbled step
That led to you and got me here, right here

It's amazing what I let my heart go through
To get me where it got me
In this moment here with you
And it passed me by
God knows how many times
You're now right Here
I was so caught up in holding
What I never thought I'd find
I know now, there's a million roads
I had to take
To get me in your arms that way

In a love I never thought I'd get to get to here
And if that's the road
God made me take to be with you

And I'd retrieve all the years
And be thankful for all the tears
I've cried with every stumbled step
That led to you and got me here, right here
Oh, baby-OooOh, got me here

Good news!

She grew! Woohoo! Kat's last ultrasound showed no growth at all (at a time when she should be growing like gangbusters), and had we had another ultrasound today saying no growth Kat would've had a September birthday... we've been worried, but didn't want to panic everyone in case it was nothing, and in this case- it was! Yay for nothing!

She gained more than a pound between last Wednesday and today :o) She must've been saving up all that growing! Kat now weighs 5lbs 9oz and is doing very very well. She is measuring at 35 weeks, which is almost a full week ahead of where I am, which is also good.

They are still hoping for me to make it to 39 weeks before induction, and it's looking like I should be able to do that. I am 1cm dialated, but apparently that means nothing and can go back to no dialation at all or just hang out like that for a month. I am having regular contractions, but not very close together and not productive so we're pretty confident it's just my body 'warming up'. So at this point, it's still looking like induction the last week of October though the doc says they likely won't induce on a Friday because the hospital doesn't like to schedule anything on the weekends if they can help it. She may not have a Halloween birthday, but it'll likely be mighty close.

There's the update for this week :o) It's nice to have good news!

Ugh... the joys of pregnancy...

Current Mood: Ugh.... (yeah it's a mood, I swear! It's like a cross between sore, tired, uncomfortable, and hippo)

Sooo... I think this little stinker enjoys keeping me up nights (which doesn't bode so well for my immediate future) about 4am this morning, she decided it would be SUPER fun to put her foot directly into my left lung and kick repeatedly.

I laid there in severe pain, not being able to take a deep breath for almost an hour before I called Tim at work to complain- hey he's up, I'm up... figured we could chat while I groaned.

So Tim says... try rolling over or changing positions, so I rolled over and the Little One decides that she'd be more comfy in this new position if she pushed her foot even farther up into my lung. At this point I am panting because I can only take shallow breaths without crying... so talking is outta the question... I let poor Tim off the phone...

So I decided to wake up officially since sleep wasn't going to happen, and literally wandered the house for 3 hours until I fell asleep on the couch...

I'm so tired, and I keep having all these lovely 'practice contractions' as the OB likes to call them... I'm hungry and can't eat any GOOD food... I have yet another Doctor's appointment tomorrow, and everytime they touch my belly I wanna yell because the skin hurts... I also can't get up off the couch without making x-rated sounding noises...

So I'm just Ugh... and ready for October to be here already!

Guess I better go clean the *bleeping* house now....

Sorry- just needed to rant!

OMGoodness, everything makes me cry...

The newest culprit: The new Darius Rucker song about a daddy and his little girl... called "It won't be like this for long"

Check it out, it's gorgeous, here are the lyrics! *sniffle*

He didnt have to wake up

He'd been up all night

Lay'n there in bed listen'n

To his new born baby cry

He makes a pot of coffee

He splashes water on his face

His wife gives him a kiss and says

It gonna be OK

It wont be like this for long

One day soon we'll look back laugh'n

At the week we brought her home

This phase is gonna fly by

So baby just hold on

It wont be like this for long

Four years later bout four thirty

She's crawling in there bed

And when he drops her off at preschool

She's clinging to his leg

The teacher peels her off of him

He says what can I do

She says now dont you worry

This will only last a week or two

It wont be like this for long

One day soon we'll drop her off

And she wont even know your gone

This phase is gonna fly by

If you can just hold on

It wont be like this for long

One day soon she'll be a teenager

And at times you'll think she hates him

Then he'll walk her down the aisle

And he'll raise her veil

But right now she's up and cry'n

And the truth is that he dont mind

As he kisses her good night

And she says her prayers

He lays down there beside her

Till her eyes are finally closed

And just watch'n her it breaks his heart

Cause he already knows

It wont be like this for long

One day soon that little girl is gonna be All grown up and gone

Yeah this phase is gonna fly by

He's try'n to hold on

It wont be like this for long

It wont be like this for long

Feels like....

Fall has come to Michigan....

Cool crisp days, nice chilly nights... smells like woodsmoke all the time... the leaves haven't started changing yet, but they will soon I think!

It just reminds me that she's coming soon... sooner than I think we're realizing we'll have WeeKat here in person, not just in the tummy kicking my bladder. :) I have contractions almost every day now, though not in any productive way... according to the doc they're 'practice contractions', basically the muscles that push the baby out are bulking up for the big day. Not all women get them this much, but according to the doc and my baby book, the ones who do tend to have shorter labors- here's to hoping!

I've got a body builder for a uterus LOL...

I admit it's starting to feel a tad scary, not that we'll have a baby- that's the part that SHOULD scare me, and absolutely doesn't. I'm just worried about getting her here, healthy and safe. The pain part is a little scary, but I'm more worried right now that everyone is happy and healthy before and after.

At this point I think we're looking at 4-5 more weeks. Tim and I have a bet going... I think I'm going to go into labor before they get around to inducing me, he thinks I'll make it until the end of October and induction. We've bet a movie on it... doesn't sound like much but I think Tim is going to use it as a torture device... I heard him muttering something about 'Killer Clowns from Space'...

Eeeek!

In the meantime, toss a few prayers our way that she decides to stay in at least 3 more weeks. It's important to get her lungs developed a little more before the big day to avoid a stay in the NICU. The doc is watching me closely, but we're not sure when I'm going to go, we're hoping full term- but I'm having so many other symptoms there's no guarantees!

Seriously?? A bit on the eewww side...

Okay I read this article that was passed to me by one of my November Expecting Club Buddies... and I think it's more than a little gross...

That being said, if someone wants to eat it, and is willing to pay for it... as long as I don't have to eat it I'm fine. This isn't to say I think Breastmilk is gross in any way... I just think I'd rather not consume random people's breastmilk in a restaurant...

Swiss restaurant to serve meals cooked with human breast milk

A Swiss gastronomist has stirred a controversy in the tranquil Alpine republic after announcing that he will serve meals cooked with human breast milk.

Last Updated: 3:16PM BST 18 Sep 2008


The owner of
the Storchen restaurant in the exclusive Winterthur resort will improve his menu
with local specialities such as meat stew and various soups and sauces
containing at least 75 per cent of mother's milk.

"We have all been raised
on it. Why should we not include it into our diet?" Hans Locher, who has become Switzerland most controversial restaurant owner, said. Mr Locher attracted the attention of the leading media of the German-speaking world this week after he posted ads looking for women donors, who will receive just over three pounds for 14 ounces of their milk.

He said: "I first experimented with breast milk when my daughter was born.
"One can cook really delicious things with it. However, it always needs to be mixed with a bit of whipped cream, in order to
keep the consistency."

The food control authority in Switzerland was initially confused by the apparent loophole in local legislation regulating the use of human milk and it was not clear whether Mr Locher could actually be banned from serving his specialities.
"Humans as producers of milk are simply not envisaged in the legislation.
"They are not on the list of approved species such as cows and sheep, but they are also not on the list of the banned species such as apes and primates," Rolf Etter of the Zurich food control laboratory said.

(almost) 33 weeks... stuff and updates!

Helllllooooo all!

So what's going on with us, I know you've all been on the edges of your seat- just anxiously awaiting our next update---- well the waiting can end now, here's your fix! (ROFLMAO)
Under the WTF? Category:

Yesterday was our first Non Stress test... and the belts couldn't hold the little sensors tight enough and poor Tim had to work on his isometric exercises and hold them there for the requisite 30 minutes... so the nurse comes in halfway to check on us (since WeeKat had been especially shy about letting them have her heartbeat for more than a minute before squirming away) and looks at the long sheet of paper coming out of the machine...

So she is showing it to Tim and explaining, because all the medical stuff fascinates him and he wants to know what every number means... and he looks at the bottom and says- "What's that?" the nurse looks and goes, "Oh my goodness those are a bunch of contractions!" looks mildly panicked for a minute and says "Let me get your chart, I'll be right back!" Since I'm stuck on the bed staring at the ceiling tiles, and he's holding all the sensors on, we're stranded and looking at each other going "Wha...?".... Finally the nurse comes back in and says, "You're only 32 weeks aren't you?" I say yes... and Tim asks "Is that bad that she's having contractions?" and the nurse says: "Well how early did you guys plan on having this baby?" Then she laughs and says she'll be back to check on us at the end...

Umm.... seriously? When she comes back in Tim is totally quizzing her asking if that's bad, does that mean that we're going into labor soon... etc etc... she basically says she doesn't know, but that the doctor looked over the papers and said the baby looks good, slaps us on the arse and sends us home with no answers... WTF??? I don't get to see the actual doctor until next Thursday, so looks like we'll have to wait for answers... this means 1 of 2 things:

Thing 1: I'm going to be having this baby sooner than anyone thinks... or
Thing 2: The nurse had no clue what she was doing, this is normal, and the doc will confirm that next Thursday.

Stay tuned....

Under the Everything Else Category:

Busy busy busy... Everything is coming together- we finally got everything we needed for the most part, and I'm working around the house today cleaning and getting everything organized and ready. I've mucked out 3 closets and reorganized them all so that we have more room and so that Kat can have her own closet! We've got the hospital bags packed, just missing a few things we need to run out and get... and I'm running Tim around making him carry stuff today. Luckily I'm cute, so he has no choice.

I feel great! Aside from being hippo like, and having lots of contractions. WeeKat is just be-bopping away in there, I think she may have invited friends over and could- in fact- be having a large rave complete with glo sticks in there....

So that's the update with stuff, and crap, and all that good stuff... Back to organizing and cleaning!

Cravings and Insane Urges...

Cravings:
-Pumpkin Cheesecake, though anything with Pumpkin in it would satisfy me!
-Candy Corn with Peanuts mixed in... *drool*
-Pickles and Cream Cheese, creamy and tangy and YUM!
-Cinnabon... *sigh*
-Chai Tea Latte... with extra cinnamon and whipped cream!
-Thanksgiving Turkey with Mashed Potatoes, Corn, and Pumpkin Pie!
-Overflowing never ending bowls of Zuppa Toscana from Olive Garden...
-Bottomless bowls of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.

Insane Urges:
-Go shopping... as broke as we are, this is actually insane... but mostly I just want to go buy the things Tim is going to need for his hospital bag. And a diaper pail... and baby meds...
-In line with that- finish getting Tim's bag together (it's becoming a completely manic urge, and he is refusing to do it! I'm gonna pack it when he's not looking!!!!)
-Get nekkid and go play outside in the rain.... but I'd rather not scare the h*** out of my drunken neighbors who watch our house all day long!
-Carve a pumpkin (totally not time for that yet, but I wanna!!)
-Go buy myself a Cinnabon and Chai Tea Latte and say SCREW my Gestational Diabetes LOL
-Reorganize Kat's clothes for the umpteenth millionth time!


Instead I'm going to go curl up on my couch, listen to the rain, and work on making more Christmas Presents for everyone, and hope that a Pumpkin Pie mysteriously shows up in my fridge when I'm not looking!

32 Week appointment update...

Hey all!

Just got back from my ultrasound and Dr's appointment today. The last 2 days have been really rough and I've been having contractions on and off with a lot of rather severe pain at random times so we have been pretty concerned, but didn't want to freak everyone out until we'd seen the doc.

According to my doctor, I need to start spending more time laying down during the day and cut back on my work load around the house as much as possible. I've been over exerting myself, and was warned that if I don't cut it out and spend more time relaxing that she's going to order me on Bed Rest and that could mean WeeKat showing up earlier than she really should.

Apparently Kat gained a pound and I lost 3 pounds... Doc said losing weight in the 3rd trimester is not good at all, and if she needed any more proof that I wasn't taking it easy that it was right there. Sooo... the one time in my life I've been ordered by a doctor to put my feet up and not lose any more weight, and I'm feeling too cranky and in too much pain to really enjoy it!

Kat still isn't showing any real effects from the Gestational Diabetes, she's still measuring 2 weeks ahead of where I am, but the doc said she's been doing that the whole time so they aren't worried about it. She checked over my blood sugar stuff, and basically it's all really great other than my morning numbers being a hair over the line, so I may need to start taking some oral meds before bed if the numbers don't even out a bit more.

As for the WeeKat: She's officially 4 1/2lbs and measuring in at 34 weeks 2 days. She slept through this ultrasound (first time she's ever done that) but she was sucking her thumb and sleeping with her other hand tucked under her chin (I've always slept like that, so that's actually kinda cool- well sans the thumb sucking part) She was doing her little practice breathing as well, so they're pretty confident that her lungs (the part we really want to make sure develops well between now and L-day) are growing nice and strong. I got to see a face shot of her, and it wasn't just bones, you could really see the outline of her little cheeks and nose and lips... she's got super chubby cheeks and a tiny little button for a nose. You could see the little 'O' of her lips because she was sucking her thumb... I think we're going to have one cute little girl!

So now what? I officially get to go back twice a week to the office, once for a test that checks her environment and how well she's moving around, and then another visit to see the doctor and get an ultrasound to check on how Her Royal Chubbiness is growing.

Things that keep me sane...

It seems like my entire world is about waiting right now.... waiting for Tim to come home from work, waiting for my next Doctor's appointment so I can see the WeeKat and make sure she's healthy, waiting for the next kick from this alien baby in my belly to reassure me, waiting for our first Childbirth class and wondering what that'll be like, and finally: Waiting for Kat to make her Grand Appearance....

I know that I shouldn't be getting too impatient yet, because it's definitely not time. It's like when a horse has been on a very long ride, and he finally gets the scent of home at the end of the road and hits a burst of energy that no one thought he'd had in him just to GET there... I'm feeling the burst and there's nowhere for it to go!

So thankfully there are some things keeping me sane right now:

1~ Sugar Free Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches- feels like I'm cheating my diet, but I'm SO not, thank the Gods for fake sugars!

2~ My dog Freya, getting to chill in her world even for a few minutes when nothing is more important than WHEN momma is gonna throw the ball again seems to keep me more zen than anything else!

3~ My iVillage message board, spending time with all those ladies every day who are going through the same thing, and sometimes worse, seems to really keep my head level and not feel so alien-like. Misery loves company LOL

4~ The internet- oh bless that wonderful tool, I'd really lose it if I lost it. I keep in touch with the world and all my friends there anymore...

5~ Everquest and World of Warcraft- yeah, I'm a HUGE nerd I know... but when I'm frustrated it's the only place I'm allowed to blow something up and have it be an accomplishment rather than a felony. It's a nice break from reality and keeps me calm...

6~ Stephenie Meyer... more specifically The Twilight Series, currently re-reading the series for the 4th time in 2 months... Edward and Bella have bigger problems than I do, and spending time in that world is keeping my mind off of this one.

7~ My old worn out quilt... you know, the one you gotta wrap yourself in on a rainy day while READING number 6.... lol.... I'm a comfort junkie.

8~ My mom, yeah normally she falls into another category, but her calls from home are my touchstone now. And mysteriously every time I start to stress about something I need that we simply can't afford a box comes from home. She's been supermom, and getting more super the closer we get. I know she can't afford it, but somehow she's spoiling me from afar, it's nice to feel so connected to a woman who normally makes me crazy! She also helps me get perspective before I inflict any crazy ideas on the rest of the world. Plus she's always on my side anyway, we all need someone like that! LOL-I can't wait to see her when Kat comes.

9~ Add Tim's Parents to the equation here too... they've been beyond fantastic. Without their help, we'd have never even gotten this far. And just when I think I'm REALLY gonna go too crazy from boredom, Tim's mom drags me out for a girls day of lunch and shopping. Spending time with both of them has really helped keep my homesickness at bay, they really feel like my parents now too and I adore them. There's not even room to LIST all the wonderful things they've done for us.... but they keep me sane and I'm grateful for them both! I won the in-law lottery!

10~ Tim... if he didn't keep me laughing, there are times I'd cry. During the times when he can't make me laugh, he puts on his 'sweet husband hat' and totally supports and coddles me.... what would we do without each other???

Just gotta stay sane for a little longer..... *twitches*

Finally got my diet!!

For those of you counting I got my Gestational Diabetes diagnosis almost 3 weeks ago, yesterday (due to delays from the insurance company/idiots at St. Joe's) I finally got in to see a dietician at the actual hospital I'm having the baby at- Crittenton.

The dieticians were super, and honestly the diet isn't very diet-y for the most part. The only thing they're limiting for me are carbs, and aside from that I can pretty much eat whatever I want, as they want to be sure I don't actually start LOSING weight at this point in the pregnancy. I honestly get a decent amount of yummy carby things too, so I think this should be totally do-able.

I've been working with a self-made diet pieced together from the little bit I know about what I should and shouldn't have, and during the 3 week period have actually been getting lower numbers and doing well, but every once in awhile they'd spike without me really understanding why. Apparently there are a few tricks of the trade I wasn't aware of... like- eating a spoonful of peanut butter (to make up for all the protein (read: Meat) I lack in my diet) or a hard boiled egg after each meal actually helps lower blood sugar even more because the protein helps the body process it better.

So here I sit, sucking on a spoonful of peanut butter (yum) and I think this is going to work just fine- at least I hope so, because I don't wanna have to go on insulin if I can help it! Either way, I just really really really want Kat to get here safe and sound. I learned some of the risks yesterday, and though a few were far fetched, it made me really glad that the doctor is monitoring my wee Peanut so closely until she's ready to arrive.

On that note, looks like we're in a real final countdown here... only about 7-8 weeks left to go! Am I the only scared one here? LOL

31 Weeks Pregnant...

Ugh.... so round.... and heavy....

7 more weeks (or less!) to go....

All that typing made me sleepy, nap time now!

Yay for Tim!

He just got his annual review back, and got scored as Excellent on every single thing... and then his supervisor pushed a merit raise through for him! Go Tim!!!!

The county cut the yearly raises for all employee's to the bone, which makes getting this merit raise even more fantastic for Tim.

He works so hard to support us, and this just shows how awesome he is! I wish I could give him a husband raise... but since I pay him in cooking and cleaning, perhaps I'll just make him a super nice dinner...

Also, the little extra we're going to be getting from the raise, including cutting back our bills as much as possible, is really going to help us do a little bit better financially. *breathes a sigh of relief*

Kat has an awesome Daddy... but I bet she already knows that!

Busted...

Eating mini-dill pickles dipped in cream cheese...

Tim totally busted me... but it was soo GOOOOD!

I'm gonna do it again *chuckle* just when no one is watching me do it!