Congratulations

Congrats to our friends Rich and Eileen who gave birth to a baby girl last night. Eileen was due three days before me.

UPDATE
The baby's name is Sophia Elizabeth and she was 6lbs 10oz and 20 inches long.

37 Weeks

We are in the home stretch. Well it feels like the baby has been there awhile with all that pressure on my pelvis. So I head to the doctor to get checked to see "how things are." Well it was no surprise that Baby Quinn is positioned nice and low in my pelvis and things look great as my doctor said but I was only dialated a fingertip. Same as a few weeks ago. So she asked me about induction in two weeks. Hmmm I thought.... I still have 3 weeks until my due date, why should I be induced at 39 weeks? Won't the baby just come sooner or later? It isn't going to stay there forever right? I really couldn't get an explanation of why she wants to induce me other that on some Davis scale I scored really high and my cervix is fabulous (can a cervix really be fabulous?) so I would be a perfect candidate for induction. She made it clear right away I didn't have to make a decision right there that I should talk to Paul about it but she went on and on how great it would be and I just kept thinking that this is not what I learned in birthing class. Inductions are for medical reasons only not because I would be a good candidate since my cervix is in perfect shape and the baby is positioned so well. Then unbeknownst to me she did a little procedure while checking my cervix to "sweep" my membranes. I asked what the purpose of that was she answered "stirring up the pot." It is a natural way to stimulate the cervix into dialating.

By the end of the appointment I was overwhelmed, intimidated and I felt bullied. She had gone ahead and checked her schedule for my Week 39 which is Jan 12th and was ready to pencil me in for an induction but of course I could always cancel. I wouldn't want to lose the spot. I would have to go to the hospital the night before and get some meds to fully open my cervix if it wasn't already. She already had an induction and a C-section scheduled for that day but I could be put on also. I chose not to be penciled in that I wanted the baby to come on its own even though knowing when would be convenient. I really felt like crap for the rest of the day. That little procedure I had causes some nice cramping which lasted all day and evening. I do notice more contractions now- nothing regular but I guess the pot was stirred.

I did make a phone call to the Birthing Educator later on that day who is also a nurse, lactation consultant and doula and explained what happened. She was so proud of me to not have given in since induction is not part of my birth plan unless medically necessary. She did say that sometimes doctors think that they are doing women a favor by allowing them to be induced the 39th week so it is more convenient for the patient and they are more ready for labor than if it was spontaneous. A lot of people ask to be induced or to have an elected C-section. Thank you but not for me. So Baby Quinn will not be making a grand entrance on the 12th unless of course it just happens naturally.

So now we wait.

Christmas

Although Christmas Eve was not what I planned due to a really icky stomach bug, I was able to salvage some of Christmas. I slept in while Paul went to my in laws. I couldn't risk going and getting anyone else there sick and I wasn't even sure how I felt at that point so off he went and was able to spend the morning with his parents, brothers and Keri. He then went and picked up Paul Jr (who also was sick and couldn't go to his grandparents) and headed back home. I was so grateful that he prepared everything for Christmas dinner the night before when I was unconscious to the world. He did all the shopping and cooking and last minute cleaning. Christmas would not have been as nice, decorative or yummy had it not been for him. I was ready for the Chinese take out and my parents wouldn't have minded a bit.

So the drama began around 3:30 when Paul Jr went to make Onion dip. I gave him the stuff and went off to do something when he asked me if it was supposed to be "soupy." Upon looking at the bowl of onion dip soup and the smell we decided that it must not have been refrigerated in the store. So we open another container and same thing. We frantically call my dad to ask him to pick up sour cream and there was none to be found. Ok so a party can survive without dip but then my dad realizes his wallet is missing. He runs out like a crazy man trying to find it. An hour later we hear from him that it is found. It was home in his bag he uses with Smartie when he goes to the nursing home. (They had a visit earlier that day.)

My dad arrives back and we are able to eat in peace and open all of our gifts. (We hadn't opened anything yet so it took quite awhile for everyone to open all the gifts.) Poor Tom was so upset with all the paper ripping and flying and boxes and people passing things- he is so sensitive. He likes his routine- just wait till the baby comes! He will learn to adjust. He spent the whole time trying to climb in my lap or Paul's.

So after all the food, gifts and desserts (yum) everyone headed home and we were putting away the food and you would never believe what we found- two good containers of sour cream I forgot I bought a couple of weeks ago. Oh well New Year's Eve dip.

SICK AS COULD BE......

Ok so I wake up on Christmas Eve morning at 1:00am feeling kind of yucky. The kind of yuck that you want a bucket at your feet and to lock your self in the bathroom kind of yucky. So I thought back to the evening before. Hmmmm was I out partying and slugged back a few too many at the doggie Christmas party? NOT likely since I am 36+ weeks pregnant. Could it have been something I ate? No, I ate mostly veggies, dip a few cookies and a piece of fried chicken- that shouldn't have made me sick. That meal right there is probably the healthiest I ate in months. What then? Who knows, but I was sick and sick and sick and more sick the entire night. I resorted to living in the bathroom with my pillow and the tall kitchen garbage pail attached to me. By 6:00am five hours into the ordeal I finally decided I needed to go to the hospital. Not only because I was severely dehydrated but because throwing up with a watermelon sized uterus smashing into your ribs at every upheaval was very, very uncomfortable. At one point I thought the baby might be delivered this way.

So off we go through the horrific icy roads to the hospital with a NO WAIT ER and arrive around 7am! Gotta love that. I am seen immediately, they rehydrate me with some saline, give me some nausea meds and immodium and send someone to do some fetal monitoring on me. The baby is good, some contractions but nothing to be concerned about. They let me sleep for awhile, give me some more meds, tell me to stay as long as I like and that this bug will be around for at least the next 24-48 hours. I felt like I was beaten with a baseball bat. Everything ached so I slept on and off until one when I decided I wanted to go home to my own bed. We got home around 2 and Paul tucked me in and went to get my prescriptions. I slept on and off for the rest of the day. I was so disappointed I missed the yummy Christmas Eve Italian Fish Dinner with Marianne and Domenick at Dom's parents Farm Stand. Lobsters were calling my name but I couldn't move. I felt paralyzed. I think I finally woke up and felt well enough to stand up and move about around 4:45 am on Christmas. I napped on and off until later that morning when we had to get ready for Christmas.

I really thought I felt better on Christmas so I ate some real food and drinks other than white bread, pound cake and ginger ale. Christmas will be posted later. It was good although I missed going to Paul's parents for breakfast since I was not in great health and didn't want to get my father in law sick. He is still on the mend from some bronchitis etc. I even decided to go with my mom and Jeanine shopping on Dec 26th. I think I should've stayed home. I was not able to really enjoy myself because I started feeling that yucky feeling again- not nearly as bad thank goodness. I also had my meds that I took with me at the last moment "just in case!" I shopped a little and even took a nice nap in the cushy chairs at Roosevelt Field. I was thrilled though to have one last shopping hurrah without child in tow (on the outside-because technically I towed that baby all over the place today.) I am pretty big so everyone looked at me like I was a freak show. (That is how I felt.) But I am happy to be home now and do not plan to do anything remotely strenuous for the next nine days I am off from work.

Abbie's Photo Shoot

My dad keeping Abbie in her pose

Well Abbie Einstein went on her first modeling job last week for Hill's Science Diet. She will be appearing on Treat boxes in the next few months. Keep an eye out for them. It was hard work for both Abbie and my dad. Maybe now she can buy Tom, Jerry and Smartie some snacks with her earnings!

Here are some pics courtesy of Peg Munves Amanda (photographer), Abbie and my dad

Abbie

Snow Snow and more Snow

Sunday Night Football anyone?

Well I thought we got a lot on Friday somewhere between 7 and 9 inches, but today we just got dumped on again. We got another 5 inches. The dogs were loving it. All they want to do is go out in the snow and play "find it." Maybe they want to try tracking. Every time we threw the football it would sink into the snow and they would charge out into the yard and start digging through the snow for it. They literally folowed Paul around all day when we were in the house to take them to play and then they would come back in and follow him around until he took them out again. They would even follow him as he snowblowed the driveway. Enjoy the pics of their fun in the snow.

I am going to eat that camera when you aren't looking!

Stop taking pictures and throw the ball already!

Santa Visit

My dad and I took the dogs to see Santa- yes you heard right Santa as in Claus. It is a yearly tradition of bringing four dogs into a tiny crowded place with tons of unruly dogs and obnoxious owners and some good ones and then we expect our dogs to cozy up next to someone unfamiliar and ALL pose for a pose for a picture. Well at least this year everyone was actually mature enough that we did not have to tie them to Santa. We also changed locations this year so all of our $ that was collected went to the Putnam Humane Society. And I have to say this is the best picture we have ever gotten under these circumstances! The Putnam Humane Society was thrilled and I wouldn't be surprised if they use our picture for next year's advertisement. It even turned out to be my parents Holiday card. Enjoy!

35 Week Update

Well Baby Quinn is growing like a weed. Everything is going well. The baby is still head down so that is good. I will post the pics from the last growth scan soon. (just pure laziness and craziness with all that is going on here.) I have pitting edema in my calves, ankles and feet so that is pretty uncomfortable. That is when you take your thumb and push into my leg, ankle or foot and it doesn't just spring back. It leaves a nice hole until it feels like coming back to normal. My shoes and boots don't fit and even the loosest of socks leave a terrible ring around my ankle. Paul spends about 45 minutes a night massaging the fluid back up my legs which hurts even more but relieves some of the retention so it isn't stretching the skin so much it burns. I have also entered the stage of exhaustion. I can nap numerous times a day and then sleep all night with frequent bathroom calls since I am technically dehydrated even though all the water is in my legs that I have to drink a gallon of water a day! But this is all for a good cause- maybe baby Quinn will make an early debut and end the pains in my feet. We will have to see, however my two furbabies are settling right into baby's room and already protecting baby's crib. Here is a pic of them waiting for baby! I don't think they are going to let anyone near the baby hehe. I hope they can help feed and change diapers!

Happy Holidays 2008 Card

I am so disappointed. I always make our holiday card but this year with everything else going on I ordered them from Staples. I still took the picture which I thought came out great (and so did the passing neighbors) but when I uploaded it to Staples and they printed them out on their template at the store, the card looked bad. It wasn't the picture that looked bad at all. It was their template that looked horrible. It looked like their snowman and text were blurry as if they were scanned poorly. I was so upset and I think the clerk saw how sad I was and offered to redo them but I had to email her the photo so she could play around with it. She really like the photo and said to come back later in the week and pick up the new ones. I don't think they will look as fabulous as I hoped and won't use Staples again but they were cheap and I should have known better. At least the clerk tried to help. So I am apologizing advance for a not so nice looking card as usual. Next year should be a real treat trying to coerce a baby into cooperating with my two well behaved children- ahem dogs!

Enjoy this year's photo at least!

Nesting!

Our home is in the middle of renovations and updating and what better time then right before the baby comes! Talk about stress! Anyway we replaced our gutters in the summer and all of our windows in the Fall (before the frost) and our basement is days away from being complete. The nursery is painted but the mural is not even started however at least the furniture is here waiting in the garage. The new baseboard heaters had to be installed in the nursery and our bedroom and should be done by tomorrow. Hopefully the taper and good Uncle Billy will come and finish the basement taping and painting on Thursday and all the furniture that belongs in the basement can start to move there. Then maybe I won't trip, fall and almost kill myself on all the stuff around. As I type my toenail is hanging off and ooze is coming from beneath because I didn't see or remember the crate "o" crap in the hall that has been sitting there for weeks now and I walked full speed into it. I should just hang a handicap sticker from my neck and go from there.

Here are some pics to show some of the work going on.

Here are some shots of the basement room. Check out the windows and the heaters and notice no beam in the middle of the room anymore!

Paul wired this room for anything and everything. It has more wire sticking out of the walls for the computer, television, high def, Fios when it finally becomes available, speakers, phones, and any other electronic wire needing device!

Here are the pictures of the old windows and then the new ones. I hate the top of the bay window but there wasn't much else they could do with our roof the way it is.

Before

After