Preparing for Ian

Wow I am totally being a slacker. Go figure, this is the end of my first week with Jocelyn in daycare fulltime and I didn't blog once. I've been super busy running around last minute for things for Ian, paying bills ahead of time, filing our taxes, grocery shopping, etc. I am so ready for him to be here. I have prepared in every way possible. Besides coming to grips that Ian is going to be full term or only 1 week early and I'm kinda nervous about having most likely around a 7lb baby vs. a 4 lb baby. I know I can do it, women have 9 and 10lb babies, but seriously I'm still nervous. And being induced vs. most likely going into labor on my own is a whole new experience also. Everything happens twice as fast supposedly with the second child...but that still means I have 9 hours of labor to get to the hospital and have an epidural. LOL Oh BTW how come nobody told me that Braxton Hicks contractions can last all day and be 5 minutes apart and painful? Oh my dear lord. The other day was pretty hellatious here in the Smith Household.

It went as follows: I had contractions all day starting around 3am about 20 mins apart-uncomfortable enough to wake me up from a dead sleep.

Around 12pm they were about 5-10 minutes apart-some huuuuuurt and some were just annoying.

12pm-6pm they were every 3-5 minutes and quite painful but still only a 4 or 5 on the pain scale. The entire time Jeff is like "Just go in, the worse they can do is send you home." My answer, "My fat ass isn't moving off the couch til my water breaks. Screw L&D."

I decided if they got stronger I would go in obviously but I really really really didn't want to sit up there w/ false labor for 2 hours when I could be at home.
7pm - I'm going to eat dinner and drink a crap ton of water and rest. If they don't stop I'll go. Didn't stop.
8pm- I'm going to take a long shower (I don't do bath's) and if they don't stop I'll go in. Didn't stop.
9pm- I'm going to try to fall asleep and if I do I'm not going in. 3am-9pm of contractions did me in and I slept like a baby because I was so exhausted.

All I have to say is I give you girls big props for making it to full-term. 38 weeks is so different than just going to 34 weeks. I had it way too easy the first time. Well, enough baby making talk.

I'm really excited for next Sunday. Yay Superbowl! My friend, Jaime, and I have decided to spoil our men with our fantastic cooking abilities along with about 10 other guys that are invited over to her boyfriends house. I really like entertaining people and barely ever get to do it. Screw the game...I just wanna make food, clean, and setup for the party. If Ian arrives before Sunday, he'll be sporting a handmade puffy paint Steelers onsie...and if not I told Jeff I was going to paint my belly along with my face in Steelers colors just to embarrass the shit outta him. HAHA I'm kidding on that though. It would be priceless to see his reaction but I don't think I can muster up the courage to let Ian's home hang out, painted and all, for everyone to see.

A bit of drama on the workfront...since I don't work at all for these next two weeks...my dad has requested that I am left at home without a vehicle. Reason: The business is very bad and my Durango is old (aka been on the lot for too long) so Jeff has to drive it in everyday and if I want to run errands I have to get up, get ready, get Jocelyn ready, and go in at 9am. Then if he wants to come home for lunch, pick him up...then get out at 530 to get him from work...then get Jocelyn...then come home. I really don't see the point of not letting me keep the Durango at home. It's gone all day with me anyway. Granted I don't run errands every day but still...the whole reason behind me stopping work (besides the fact my legs swell so bad sitting in my desk chair) was to ELIMINATE running around. And stress. And worry of OMG am I going to be late getting Jocelyn? Where is my appointment today? It's rediculous. We don't have the money to go out and buy a vehicle. And my dad has this brilliant idea of OUR TAX REFUND MONEY buying me a beater car (I'm talking like a 93 Toyota with 1xx,xxx miles, pray to God everytime you try to start it). WTF. So, Jeff and I are left with only 1 car until we figure out something. Thank God we are both in good standing with CP Federal and they are starting a car leasing program. Basically, instead of having a loan on a 9k car...you would have payments for 24 months on the difference between CP's trade in value on the car say it was 5K and the asking price at my dad's dealership...9K. So you would have a 4K loan payment vs. a 9k loan payment. Then at the end of 24 months you would either give the car back or have the option to buy it outright. CP is sending someone over this week to explain and set it up. Jeff and I are thinking we'll be the first to try it out. And if I have my own car that means I can find a job elsewhere (like a big car dealership) where I would be making what I deserve in Payroll/Accounts Receivable (around 17-22 an hr vs 10) with benefits/401k/vacation time. I've been offered a few jobs but since I'm pregnant I've turned them down. Plus I have 6 months still left of my "maternity leave" at the dealership...so why not use it up? :)

Strike a pose, baby!

A pretty funny picture to share. Jocelyn has learned that she can pose for the camera. Usually it's a smile and "cheeeeese" but this one was "Momma, I'm gonna scrunch my nose!" LOL (Oh, and don't worry, Jocelyn does have other clothes...she just loves that sweatsuit NayNay and PaPa got her)

Big sister and her newly decorated room

Making sure her babies are safe and fed well. She is so excited to be a big sister/little momma.

Jocelyn's side of the room...under the sea :)

Milk jug fish...not reccomended with acrylic paint. That was a good 4 coats. I think I'll try something that sprays next time.

Yarn octupus.

And all her fish. The wood ones are from JoAnn's and the foam ones/seaweed are made.

Ian's side of the room.

I live at the hospital...

Or so it feels like. Update today: my blood pressure is still high. But down from yesterday. My legs look like tree trunks and I'm spilling some protein. "But not enough to be worried about",according to Dr. Farhat. But it was enough to go in for a NST. Which Ian and I passed with flying colors b/c he is a super active baby and loooooves to raise his heart rate up. I was done in like 10 minutes. Go figure all last night I was having crazy contractions (damn those 36 week cultures) and then at the hospital today I didn't have one even blip of a Braxton Hicks while I was there. haha. Anyway, I get to go back to see Dr. Farhat tomorrow afternoon for one more blood pressure check and protein check.

I've gotta say, I'm quite fed up with this whole on a daily basis waiting game, go to Allegiance (which BTW HAS NO PARKING WHATSOEVER), then come back home to just go back again the next day. Either let me wait at home in peace or induce me already. Sheesh. 36 weeks and 4 days is plenty long enough to cook my child. NICU babies just sleep all the time when they come home. Believe me, another angel like Jocelyn would be greatly appreciated on my behalf. :)

P.S. Jeff painted her room and I hung her fishies up. So I will take pictures tonight when I get home and post them up.

Update

I went to see Dr. Farhat today. My blood pressure was high, I gained 5 lbs in one week, and I'm seeing spots so....get to go in tomorrow and if my blood pressure is still high I will be induced. Ah, nice and nervous.

Priceless

Me: "C'mon Jocelyn, it's time for bed. Let's get our jammies on."

Joss: "Hold on one second, momma. I'm doing my hair."

She walked over to her vanity, combed what little hair she has while looking longingly into her mirror, then walked into her room and climbed in bed.

She is so my child. :)

I need help finding my mind...

I've completely lost it. My class at Baker starts tomorrow. Please send good vibes my way, I always get really nervous before they start for some reason. It's not like it's anything hard, just ENG102, but I have a feeling we will be writing and writing and writing some more. And I'm very pregnant. Plus it doesn't end until after Ian will be born. That is why I said "I've lost my mind." As if I won't be busy enough giving birth and having a 2 year old and a newborn. Let's tack on a college course!

In other news, here is my OB appointment update. My blood work is normal. I gained a pound this week. My feet are swollen. Ian is a very healthy boy, bpm is 151 and he is always on the move. Oh and my belly is large, go figure.

Today I went to Penney's and had my hair cut. I haven't had a haircut in like 9 months so it was all grown out in a weird way. It's nice to have it back in a style, on an angle and layered like usual. I think I will try something more daring after I have Ian. But right now my face is slightly chubbier than usual so I don't want a face faming/shorter cut and be all weepy because my "face looks fat" (I know everyone is laughing and nodding in agreement of how you've been in my situation too, haha)

"I really hope you don't feel ALL of those contractions"

I guess I'm joining the crowd of Wednesday OB appointments. 36 week appointment will be tomorrow at 1130. I feel like I have been having contractions for a million years but really it's only been since Christmas Eve that they have really been bothering me. I completely understand, this is my second child. I will have Braxton Hicks contractions. They don't hurt. These ones make me sit down if I'm standing. They aren't enough to go up to L and D, obviously, but on the other hand they hurrrrrrrt. I'm also pretty sure everyone who reads this knows how many tattoos I have and how big they are. I have a very high pain tolerance. So I am no bitch that whines with the best of them when the baby just moves slightly to the right.

There are so many people I know that are pregnant or just had a baby within the last 6-8 months. Can anyone tell me if there is anything I can do about my hips hurting? I'm not talking a small ache...I'm talking I can't get off the couch without very slow moving help. Wearing pants hurts. Weird, I know. Getting out of bed is awful. And don't even tell me to squat, lift up a leg to get it into my pants, or anything of hip spreading nature because you will promptly get my middle finger. LOL Tylenol has been my best friend for 3 weeks. Even that doesn't help anymore. I'm going to ask Dr. Farhat tomorrow what I can do but I really don't like asking him anything. He makes me feel like one of those "Complain about everything" preggo girls that he just rolls his eyes at. Is that his demeanor or am I really emotional? haha. I would probably guess a bit of both. Anyway, I called his office today because I had two days of light spotting and some pretty wicked contractions along with it. I asked to speak to Lisa, his nurse, but the appointment setter asked my symptoms and told me GO TO L&D NOW. Wtf. I then called up there and asked if I really had to come...guess if your OB's office staff tells you yes, the nurses can't tell you no. Needless to say I spend 2 hours up there today, hanging out with Beth my nurse. She ever so nicely asked me if I was feeling all the contractions I was having. She was probably scared I may bite her head off at that question. Yes, I feel about 98% of them. Hence the reason my body hurts so bad. But I guess anybody's would if they were having 25 second contractions every 15-20 minutes all day. She told me I was a trooper, which made my trip to Allegiance worth it. (Said very sarcastically)

So......bust out the drum roll please.....Jeff and MacKenzie have decided on a name. This name will be used as long as our little dude looks like the one we chose. If not, we have a back up that we like almost as much. Ian James Smith you will be evicted ~with love~ in 30 days at the latest. Your momma would really like you to come soon because she can't WAIT to have a snuggly baby, a loving big sister, her cute shirts she bought at Birch Run, stilettos, Buckle Jeans, the tanner, and the gym membership her husband is oh-so-lovingly getting for her ASAP.

36 Weeks on Thursday

I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone. When I first found out I was pregnant and saw Dr. Farhat for the first time, he told me that he was "shooting for" 36 weeks. That's in 3 days. OMG. I have my 36 week appointment on Wednesday so we'll see what he says. I think the 36 week mark was because I had Jocelyn at 34 weeks and he felt the baby would be quite healthy if I needed to be induced at 36 weeks.

Anyway, he pretty much has me on lock down. I have been seeing him every week since 32 weeks. And I have a weekly blood work session with my favorite ladies at the Diagnostic Center on Spring Arbor Road. So far I haven't had any signs of pre-eclampsia, isn't that strange? I was so swollen and so sick with Jocelyn that I thought for sure this baby was gonna be the same way and I would wake up every morning, check my feet and hands for swelling, step on the scale for a rapid weight gain...but none of it happened. Thank God.

Right now I'm at 135lbs up from 115lbs pre-pregnancy weight. I am all baby, booty, and boobs. LOL I have constant baby feet in my ribs to the point where my ribs are sore 24/7 and he has dropped so my hips hurt just as bad. Other than those two little whines and just feeling overall stuffed to the maximum capacity, I'm doing quite well.

My last day at work was on Friday. It's nice to have a reason to not be there now. Everyone is hurting for money, especially my parents, and that makes people very very unpleasant to see all day long. Work used to be my sanity, don't get me wrong I love being at home with Jocelyn but when you aren't allowed to pick up more than 10lbs, can't get on the floor because if you do manage it you're stuck there, and can't drive because you're down to one car for the family....staying at home sucks. Going to work and having my lunch hour to do whatever/go eat with Jeff and just normal adult conversations was really nice. Now, not so much.

All you out there in blogland, I'm always game to hang out. "Errands" to Target? Sitting at home watching Sprout TV? Let me know! I'll gladly join. I'm very skilled at organizing, decorating, or just doing nothing! Haha So on that note I will leave you with a picture of my cutie pie. And one of my plump self. KIDDING!

2009

I vow to consistantly blog this year. I can do it. I know I can. I just get discouraged sometimes reading everyone else's blogs and saying "Wow that was really awesome. My life sounds so boring when I post on my blog." But it's not going to get me down this time. I know once the still nameless baby boy gets here I will be posting pictures and little things that are happening.

I tried my share of scrapbooking, if I had endless amounts of money for it and took better than normal pictures I'm sure I would be more gun-ho. But I don't....and I'm not. I was thinking about getting one of the leather bound photo books done at Meijer. My friend did one for his tattoo work portfolio and they are really nice looking. Then for each picture if I wanted to write a comment or something I could. Because Lord knows I have a million pictures on my computer of Jocelyn and having them in book form would be really nice....just not nice enough to scrapbook myself.

So, I'm making blogging my hobby. Along with working out as SOON as I'm allowed. Now I just need to make an effort to become more than acquaintances with girls that I know, go on "dates" again with Jeff (movies at home don't count anymore!), and get Jocelyn potty trained. That will make 2009 a great year.

Project

Here are before pictures of Jocelyn/the baby's room. On Thursday, Jeff is buying paint from Sherwin Williams. We're going with a blue called Notable Hue. Jocelyn's part of the room will be an underwater theme. She is in love with fish and sea horses. And the blue matches one of the polka dots in the baby's bedding also.

So far I've completed a few projects for Jocelyn's decor. She has her wooden letters for her name, which will be above her bed after we paint. I've also made a yarn octupus, two actually and her tie comforter. The busier I stay the less I realize how uncomfortably pregnant I am! :)

I'm pretty sure we will be painting this weekend...or should I say Jeff will be painting and I will be supervising then I will have after pictures to show the finished project! I'm excited.