36 Weeks

Wow! I can hardly believe that I am actually 36 weeks pregnant. I am so excited and happy for making it this far in my pregnancy. We have definitely had our ups and downs. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of this precious baby that God has graciously blessed us with. After having 2 NICU babies, I am looking forward to holding the baby after recovery. I will not be told that I can only hold my baby for 5 minutes at a time (only after the baby is 3 days old). I will not be told that I am being discharged, but will have to leave my baby in the hands of the nurses at the hospital. I will not have to "scrub down and suit up" everytime I want to see my baby. I will be able to hold my baby. My baby will be allowed to stay in the room with me. The baby will be able to come home with me. I am really looking forward to doing everything the way that it should be.

We are scheduled to have our C-Section at 8:30 on Monday, June 11, 2007. I am still 50% efaced and have now dilated to 1 cm. The doctor is now performing 2 NST (non-stress tests) on me a week. I will be able to stop taking the Brethine next Friday (I can hardly wait)!

Joshua and Abby Kate are getting so excited about the baby. They have started telling me that the baby will "cry a lot" and "scream". I know that they will be a great big brother and big sister. We are just all so excited and can hardly wait for the baby to get here!

To The Couple Waiting Ever So Impatiently In Line Behind Me at Marble Slab

There are 8 other people in line in front of me.

You are beginning to invade my personal space.

If the person in front of me scoots up closer to the person in front of him, I am under no obligation to move 2 steps forward to be on his heels.

I can hear you talking about me not moving forward.

There are only 2 workers getting everyone's orders.

You can look up at the menu to see the flavors of ice cream that Marble Slab is offering tonight (you don't have to crain your neck around my body to see what is being offered).

I could care less that you are in a "fruity" mood.

Yes, two people checked out, I still don't have to move forward. What's the point? It's not like we are going anywhere anytime soon.

(To the guy out on the date) Please do us all a favor and invest in a bottle of deodorant. If I can smell your body odor, so can your date.

Please give me my personal space!!!!

Confessions of My Obsession

I have a confession to make...

I am obsessed with my pillow!
When I was in the fourth grade, my family built a new house and we moved in before the school year began. My grandmother bought my new bedroom furniture and linens. One of the things that she bought with the bed linens was a new pillow. I did not realize it, but this was no ordinary pillow. It was a latex, foam pillow. I fell in love with my new pillow and became very possessive. This pillow lasted me through my elementary, junior high, high school and college years. My pillow even made it through 5 years of marriage.

I did not realize that I had a problem with my pillow until I took it away with me to college. One thing that my roommates and I loved doing was hanging out in the dorm room talking. To them, there were no boundaries. They would sit on my bed (with their shoes on) or even lay their heads down on my pillow. I quickly realized that I had a problem! I could not stand for them to touch my pillow, let alone lay their heads on it. I found myself changing my pillow cases frequently and they soon caught on! From that point forward, they knew what pushed my buttons. Somehow I survived and they began leaving my pillow alone!

When Jason and I got married, we each had our own pillows (that we brought into the marriage). One day Jason decided that he would snuggle up beside me and he put his head on my pillow. (Now, I know that this sounds romantic and all, but I could not get past the fact that he had his head on my pillow.) Little did he know what this would do to me. Over the years, we have worked out the pillow issue and he knows to let me be.

A couple of years ago, I was watching Oprah and she aired a segment on dust mites and unseen creatures that live in our beds and even our pillows. (For those of you that do not know, I am an extreme germophob.) I was totally grossed out and knew that I needed to get rid of the pillow that I had been treasuring for 15+ years. I threw away my pillow and was stuck buying the cheap pillows from Walmart for the next few years. I could not find another latex foam pillow and my heart and head ached for a replacement.

That is until...

The other day, Abby Kate and I were headed back home from a birthday party and I decided to run into Linens 'n Things and take a look around (I have been looking for some new curtain rods). Abby Kate pushed her little buggy through the store and followed me back to the pillows. I decided that it was time to find another cheap pillow that would not give me the support I was looking for. I noticed the pillows that were on sale and became somewhat interested. Before making my final decision, I took a look at the other pillows. I could not believe what I saw in front of me! A Simmons Latex Foam Pillow! This was a dream come true. I did not care that I was about to spend $35 on a pillow! Abby Kate and I made our way to the checkout lane and I purchased my new pillow.

I love my new pillow! I am still very protective of my pillows, but this new one will be carefully guarded!

New Baby Pic!

The other day Jason and I had a 33 week ultrasound. We were so happy about getting to see this little bundle of joy. (We really did not enjoy the last ultrasound since we were so anxious about the genetic screening and counseling). Our baby is thriving and growing quickly. The ultrasound measurement was right on 33 weeks gestation and it calculated the baby's weight at 4# 9oz. We were thrilled! At this same point in my pregnancy last time, Abby Kate's weight was 5#3oz and Joshua's weight was 3# (of course, that is a little more than what they actaully weighed in at birth). This little baby has hair and chubby cheeks. We were able to really see the mouth and nose (I think that this baby has Jason's big plump lips). The baby had its foot over its head (I don't see how that can be really comfortable). Dr. Bailey told us that next week we should be able to schedule our C-Section.

On Friday, I will be 34 weeks along in this pregnancy. Abby Kate and Joshua made it to 33 weeks and 2 days gestation. This is uncharted territory for us. We are so pleased with the progress that we have made in this pregnancy. Dr. Bailey was so proud of me for making it this far. Our time to meet this little baby is getting closer each and every day. We are so excited about this little life that God has blessed us with. Joshua and Abby Kate love talking about the baby in mommy's belly button. I'm sure that they will be a great big brother and big sister!