A little treat regarding our recent additions. Her initials spell ZERK, so she will be deemd the Zerker. Introducing my little glow worm….:)

I saw my doctor yesterday. I am still surprised at his gentleness compared to the other doctors. He didn’t measure my belly or poke me until it hurt – I guess the other two weren’t that familiar with me. He checked my cervix and there was no more progress in the dialation. So…..

da da da-da

I am scheduled for an induction beginning tomorrow (Thursday) evening.
I am supposed to go in at 7:30 pm to begin cytotec application for softening of the cervix. Then I suppose we will see where it goes.
I have heard that for some, that is all it takes to get things started. That would be cool – since I have heard pitocen can cause some crazy pain…like labor isn’t crazy pain anyways…I guess women who have experienced both natural and induced would be able to explain the difference – but it seems to me like every birth is different so it would be hard to completely contribute it to the drug.

They won’t break my water until sometime on Friday. I assume she will be here on Friday.

So her birthday will probably be 01/09/2009. Not bad. I had been hoping for an even date, but this one has a ring to it.

I put her birth date into a numerology calculator and this is what it said….

9 January 2009
Your date of conception was on or about 18 April 2008 which was a Friday.

You were born on a Friday
under the astrological sign Capricorn.
Your Life path number is 3.

Your fortune cookie reads:
Love always and deeply.

Life Path Compatibility:
You are most compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 3, 6 & 9.
You should get along well with those with the Life Path numbers 1, 2, 5 & 11.
You are least compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 4, 7, 8 & 22.

The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2454840.5.
The golden number for 2009 is 15.
The epact number for 2009 is 3.
The year 2009 is not a leap year.

Your Native American Zodiac sign is Goose; your plant is Bramble.

You were born in the Egyptian month of Famenoth, the third month of the season of Poret (Emergence – Fertile soil).

Your date of birth on the Hebrew calendar is 13 Tevet 5769.
Or if you were born after sundown then the date is 14 Tevet 5769.

The Mayan Calendar long count date of your birthday is 12.19.15.17.16 which is
12 baktun 19 katun 15 tun 17 uinal 16 kin

The Hijra (Islamic Calendar) date of your birth is Friday, 12 Muharram 1430 (1430-1-12).

Celebrities who share your birthday:
A.J. McLean (1978) Dave Matthews (1967) Crystal Gayle (1951)
Jimmy Page (1944) Joan Baez (1941) Susannah York (1941)
Bob Denver (1935) Richard Nixon (1913) Gracie Fields (1898)

Your lucky day is Saturday.
Your lucky number is 8.
Your ruling planet(s) is Saturn & Uranus.
Your lucky dates are 8th, 17th, 26th.
Your opposition sign is Cancer.
Your opposition number(s) is 2 & 7.

There are 2 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 0 candles.

Those 0 candles produce 0 BTUs,
or 0 calories of heat (that’s only 0.0000 food Calories!) .
You can boil 0.00 US ounces of water with that many candles.

Your birthstone is Garnet

The Mystical properties of Garnet

Garnet is used as a power stone
Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources)

Emerald, Rose Quartz

Your birth tree is

Fir Tree, the Mysterious
Extraordinary taste, dignity, cultivated airs, loves anything beautiful, moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those close to it,rather modest, very ambitious, talented, industrious uncontent lover, many friends, many foes, very reliable.

Looking at that ticker, and knowing it says ‘1′ is pretty amazing.

I have been quiet around here, mostly because there is little to report on the baby front and I have been trying to absorb as much time with the family as possible.

My husband went back to work on Friday. He did have the weekend off, but now he is off to the daily grind while I sit at home and wait for something to happen.

Last friday I had my 39 week checkup. They put me on the NST for a while and everything seemed fine. I am not having any contractions (well i mean there are a few here and there and there is very very small actions happening, but nothing of any importance). I am dialated to about 1cm.

My doctor has been on vacation for my last two appointments, and I sort of feel like I am a woman without a plan. He said previously was he didn’t think he would let me go much past the first of the year. It is January 5th. Tomorrow is my due date. I have an NST scheduled tomorrow morning and an appointment later in the day. I am going to finish packing up my bag with all of my hospital needs and little Zs first outfits. I am putting that suitcase in my car and taking it to my appointment. Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but I would not mind one bit for him to send me directly to Labor and Delivery for an induction after my appointment. Otherwise I am hoping he schedules the induction for later in the week.

I am getting worried about her size and how big her head is. I know you never can really tell, and if a vaginal delivery doesn’t work out they are very experienced with heading toward the c-section in time. I am trying not to read about all of the things that can go wrong. I can make all that stuff up on my own – so there is no point in making a bigger deal about it.

In other news, we bought a new car for the DH this past week. A 2009 Honda Civic Sedan. It is Atomic blue – and it is beautiful. I am so happy for him. He has had a no frills Dodge Neon in which the lock on the driver side door didn’t work for ages. We kept putting money into it until we decided to take advantage of the year end financing options they have out now that made it hard to pass up. Plus – I don’t see how we could do wrong with a Civic. It is always great to mention to people about your new car and get stories of how they know people who drove theirs without problems for 200,000 to 300,000 plus miles.

We thought about trading in my car too and getting a new Honda Fit or Toyota Matrix. I test drove the Fit, and while it would have been a great car for the 25 year old Beth, the 31 year old didn’t like it enough to trade in my current car. I have a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. I didn’t realize how much I love my car until I considered getting rid of it, and I liked it too much to chuck it to the curb for fancy dancy newness.

Since I didn’t get a new car I did get a bonus…I got my car detailed. Ziebart was having a year end special of half price on interior detailing. It looks amazing! Like a brand new car! I have to admit my car was just disgusting. We have two long-haired dogs – the type of hair that just doesn’t come up with those car-wash vacuums. And I had let it get out of hand. I am not making excuses. I commute 45+minutes to work every day (or at least I do when I am not on leave) and at times it feels like I live in that car. Since Z will be here soon, and I didn’t feel comfortable installing the carseat in that dirty back seat, I talked DH into letting me get it done. Like I said they had a special, but they still charged me extra and needed more time because my car was just THAT dirty. (I know I should be ashamed.) Now I am all excited to go for a drive in my fresh smelling like-new car!

Needless to say, the dogs will be relagated to the cargo back and OUT of the back seat from now on. And I am going to seriously work on keeping my car clean.

I leave you with a few pictures.

On Christmas Eve we went to a party at my brother’s house. Here is a picture of my immediate family – parent’s down…well all but one sister who couldn’t make it in from Florirda for the holiday…yes – I am the youngest of nine, so there are eight siblings and two parents in this photo…

Here is a belly picture at 39 Weeks – 5 days (Saturday). It is important – because it is the last time I will wear my Bob Sanders jersey while pregnant with Z. And, while it is sad that the Colts lost their first playoff game, I am personally ready to move on to something a little more important – like being a mom. (If you knew how obsessed with the Colts I have been in the past, you might surprised at that statement- probably not). Saturday evening was a somber time in our house, but it is much easier for DH and I to get over with the anticipation of Little Z.

This is just a quick post to note how freaking crazy it is to look at that baby ticker and see it in the single digits.
I said to DH that I will miss her being inside me. She is my pal…we hang together…he said well she will be even more of my pal….and I said oh yes, but she will be much more noisy and perhaps won’t like the same music as me!

Christmas was wonderful.

We probably have to get a new car for DH this week.

I may get one too.

He is probably going to get a new civic – and I am looking at the matrix (although I still love my car – a pontiac vibe and the only real benefit would be newness and a moonroof…so we will see – i mean childcare and diapers are coming too – so perhaps i should wait…oh the tantilization! and there are such good financing options out there right now…)
alas – we will see what will happens…

I am so creative with the titles, eh?

It is crazy to look at that baby floating around on the blog and see that it says 13 days until the due date.

It is also fricking fantastic. I am so content that she is hanging out in my gut long enough to ensure that her teeny lungs are prepared to deal with the world! All that worry about pre-term labor! Ha! I should have worried about more important things – like whether I would win my Fantasy football league (I am totally kidding…oh but I DID beat DH this week in the championship game of my family fantasy football league! WOO HOO!)

No sign of the girlet. I mean I have vague nausea and some slowing down of the whole digestive system, but no contractions – not even a lot of braxton hicks. I don’t think she will be here until next year. My OB said he would NOT induce until after the first of the year. No worries. She will come when she is ready – or he will force the issue when he thinks he should. I, on the other hand, have no say in this! (Sort of sucky – huh? I mean it is my body! LOL)

I haven’t sent my sugar levels to the endocrinologist since last week because – um I am not at work and I don’t have easy access to the fax machine. I wish they would give me an email address. What are they gonna do? Come here and beat me up? It is christmas for bejeasus sake and I am 38 weeks pregnant! My sugar levels are fine and it really all seems like a bunch of over-concern.

I am not really that uncomfortable. My next OB appt is friday. I have to see a different doc because of course scheduling a week in advance on a holiday week gives you a very low percentage of getting an appt with your actual doctor. It isn’t a big deal. Actually, I thought we were supposed to have visits with other doctors in the practice anyways in case they were the ones on call when you were ready to deliver – so it is probably a good thing. It will give me a chance to meet at least one more and shake hands before that doc ends up with their head peering at my hooha and making major decisions in the birth of our child.

Current worries and prayer wishes:
1. That I am near the hospital and don’t get stuck in some bad weather when I go into labor.
2. That girlet is too big to fit through my hooha and I have to have an emergency c-section. I almost wish she had measured larger so there would be no question.
3. Complications in birth – oh it is so scary! We should have more control over this!

Christmas Eve is and has always been probably the biggest deal in my family since before I was born. We ALWAYS have a big party at my childhood home (my brother and his family live there now). It is a log cabin in the woods (hence the being a way from the hospital and going in to labor fear). It is probably one of my favorite days of the year. I am excited – even if I can’t drink it up with my cousins this year – I am so happy to get together with everyone and have a great time! One of the highlights of the night is all of the kids and women dancing and singing ‘Must Be Santa!’- a song from the Sing Along with Mitch Christmas album….

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Today I turn 31! I also am 37 weeks pregnant! Full term! Yay!

I can’t think of a better gift!

I had my 36 week appt today along with the measurement u/s…and the results are in.

She is weighing in at 6lbs 9ozs. Right on schedule. Her belly is a little fat, and her legs are short. The fluid levels are ok and all is well.

Looks like I won’t be needing to schedule a C-Section. I am glad about that.

Oh and I had that swab strep test. No biggie. (Still -yuck)

And I am about 25% effaced. No dialation. Some thinning of the lining.

I didn’t gain any weight. I guess that is normal for this time period.

I go to weekly appts now.

Now is when the patience comes. It reminds me again of this…

This may sound silly – because who really thinks I have control over how this happens….but I was at a point where I really wanted to force the issue…I wanted to be induced at the earliest sign that my Doctor was ok with it. I figured the insurance issues and all that would be a nightmare.

Then I reached a point of calmness. And after today’s appointment I feel better about it all. I will not induce unless necessary (you can ask me again at 40 weeks – I may have a different point of view and I am ok with that). I want to wait until Z is ready. She will be here soon. And, then we are on to a different world.

OK I know the title isn’t that witty….

Saturday was my family and friends baby shower. As I posted on Saturday before everyone came, it was at my house and it was snowing!

A few people couldn’t make it because of the weather, but there were just enough people there so that no one had to sit on the floor and everyone could fit around the living room for games!

It was a little stressful having it at my house, and I think had I to do over again I wouldn’t have chosen that, but it was a great time!

The cake was VERY yummy. DH just threw the last few pieces out yesterday because it is too much of a temptation with Gestational Diabetes! It was simple enough – white cake/butter cream icing from Meijer (had a stork on it), but darn that was good!

The games were actually pretty fun. My sister Lisa (the one that came back from Iraq) is always good for keeping people laughing! If she wasn’t here something would have been missing! LOL

The gifts were bright and fun!

Some notable items of the day…the hooter hider! I especially tried to make sure my mom saw this, because she and I had this long discussion about whether breastfeeding in public was acceptable. My mom is a prude. She doesn’t even kiss my dad with an open mouth, and they have been married for almost 47 years! And while I don’t think breastfeeding is anything to be prudish about, I think it is funny that she has all of these notions about it. She had nine kids and didn’t breastfeed a single one. She also tells me she has been watching baby delivery tv shows, but she won’t watch the actual birth because she thinks it is completely inappropriate to show that sort of private thing on tv. It’s a different world than where she came from…she claims it was better when everything was private and somewhat shameful (not her words). I am on the fence…I would definitely prefer not having Viagra commercials on TV.

Anyways…the hooter hider (and my big belly) from my woodsie lil sis Erika (pictures also courtesy of Erika – thanks chica!)….

The diaper bag from my brother and SIL – she let me pick out the pattern from Vera Bradley and I LOVE IT! It has little owls on it….

And the last thing to show (Although, there were many wonderful things and if you are reading this and you were here or sent something THANK YOU SO MUCH for coming and for your wonderful gifts for Z!!!!) is the dollhouse bookcase…I put it together yesterday and got pastel blue, pastel green and white bins to put in it for storage…

Today is my family and friends baby shower.

It started snowing around 7am and I am hoping that all who can make it arrive safely.

The house is pretty much ready. I didn’t get everything on my list of 45 things done, but it is presentable. I just hope people don’t go snooping through our messy master bath and all my clothes that need organizing in my closet!

I still need to organize little Z’s room a bit so people can check it out.

We moved the dogs crate and the ferret into our room for the day.

I am on the verge of a head cold. I felt it coming yesterday. Now I am all snotty and my head is a bit full. All the dusting and sweeping and de-hairing of carpets and upholstery didn’t help. Having three cats, two double-coated dogs and a ferret makes for a tremendous amount of hair. Perhaps we should have put a warning for any allergic people to take their meds before they enter, because there is no way we would ever be able to get it all up.

My mom, sister and BFF are coming early to help decorate and set up the cake and stuff.

I have to give myself insulin injections after dinner because my sugars are not lowering after that meal as they do on others. I am sure I probably eat more then too, and I could limit my carb intake through that, but I am usually more hungry then so we decided to go with the injections. It seems to be going ok.

My latest fear is that my water will break and I won’t know. It is hard for me to tell – because I don’t know what is normal stuff and what is not normal. So now I am just waiting for something that seems completely out of the ordinary until my next OB appointment on Friday. It is my 36 week appt and I will have an ultrasound and a cervical check. My fear is that what if what I think is normal is not and then I get an infection or something. I just don’t want to be one of those hypochondriac preggers that think something is wrong when it isn’t. I know it is better to err on the side of caution, but then how do I know I am not over thinking it in the first place.

I had my breastfeeding class this past Wednesday. I think I can do it. I know I need to build up more confidence before she comes so that I am 110 percent ready for it. I hope my PCOS doesn’t get in the way, and I hope going back to work doesn’t become too great of a challenge. I think the benefits outweigh the obstacles, but I am a little concerned that it will be too much for me.

This next Wednesday we have our last of all the classes.
And then the week after that we will be full term.

I walk around knowing I am on the verge of a watershed moment in my life. Once the labor begins I will not be the same person. My life will never be the same.

How extraordinary.

“And how!” as Dorothy Gale would say….