Overdue...

I'm officially 5 days over due. Cue induction.

At the doctor's office I turned into a big sobbing mess. I feel like a failure because the baby won't come out on its own.

While my blood pressure was fine, the fluid level is way down and the placenta is still deteriorating.

My doctor isn't one to suggest this unless its important, but I still can't help the way I feel. I was already frustrated enough that I'm still pregnant. Suggesting an induction just sent me over the edge.

So, I spent the day trying every single method I could to try and get labor started naturally. And sobbing. I can now confirm that crying does not bring on labor.

I actually made my piece with the induction until I talked to a nurse at the hospital.

I asked if I wold get to eat anything, but nope. Even though the process takes 24-36 hours, I can't eat anything in case I vomit. Now, I'm fully aware I will probably not want to eat once things get going, but I hate being told I'm supposed to birth a human without a snack even if I want one. Its just in case I need a c-section (oh and don't get me started on the likelihood of c-section from failed induction).

The second question I had was if I would be able to walk around. Guess what...that's a big fat no too. Once I'm hooked up to my IV I have to be continuously monitored, so I can't move more than 2 feet from the bed. And the only time I'm allowed to walk father is to go to the bathroom.

That just upset me all over again.

Anyways, my doctor's office called me at the end of the day to see if I was still certain. Well, no I wasn't. So doc called me back right away and I turned into a big blubbering mess for the thousandth time. So, compromise. Still going into the hospital tomorrow night, but only for monitoring and IV fluids. Then after we take readings for a while I get to choose if I continue with an induction.

So, after a roller coaster day, I feeling A LOT better. And I'm still hoping baby decides to come out on her own.

Ding! Baby's Done.

Well...today marks the start of the week baby should arrive.

I had a doctors appt. on Friday. Dr. announced this baby is done and just needs to decide to come on out. My blood pressure has been a tad high when I'm stilling in their blood pressure chair. I have no idea why. The last couple times I've had appts. I just feel so anxious. As soon as I was laying down in the exam room my blood pressure dropped right back to normal. So I've been given permission to lay down as much as I like. Oh darn.

Apparently the placenta is also calcifying. From what I can tell its okay. If I were only 6 months pregnant, that would be a problem, but considering I'm due, the calcifying is okay. Dr. didn't mention it, but I have a feeling he'll want to talk induction at my next appt. (Friday) if I make it there.

Anyways, as you can see I've finished most of my to do list. Plus my Dad cleaned our carpets today, so we are totally ready for her to arrive.

So I'm moving on to all those natural ways to get labor going.

Take a long walk everyday
Eat pineapple
Drink Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

Stuff along those lines. Anyone have any suggestions?

Also, we're on Leap Day baby watch. Are you coming on Wednesday little one?

Maternity Leave To-Do List

Things to do before the baby arrives.

1. Install car seat. DONE Also drive around with Dottie in the car so she can get used to it. DONE and it was hilarious
2. Build pack and play. Baby should *probably* have a place to sleep when she comes home.
3. Wash baby clothes. DONE
4. Finish packing hospital bag. DONE
5. Take Dottie to the vet to get her vaccines updated and her nails clipped. DONE
6. Get nursery furniture arranged and decorate.
7. Buy more dog food for Dottie. DONE Make a little overnight bag for her in case she needs it.
8. Figure out disability paperwork and get it turned in.  (Hmmm....maybe this should be #1) DONE
9. Sleep. OH YEAH
10. Knit before my hands and brain are turned to mush by a newborn. WIP

Anything else someone recommends?

Oh, just remembered...get a haircut DONE and pedicure DONE.

I'm so done with work.

Only 2.5 more days left of working before I'm on maternity leave and I'm SO happy about it.

Don't get me wrong. I really like my job. I never dread getting up and heading into the office. But commuting and working 40 hours a week is getting a little harder when my brain is focused on baby, baby, and more baby.

My office threw me a baby shower yesterday. It was really nice. People floated in and out. There was cake and a few gifts. Nothing fancy which was perfect. Plus now I have plenty of Target gift cards to use to purchase the last few things we 'need' and maybe a few other things too. Diaper covers, changing pad, waterproof mattress pads, the green rug John wants for the nursery floor, etc.

I've been spending these last few weeks watching a lot of TV, trying to organize the nursery, attempting to sleep, deciding where to put all our stuff, and knitting for me.

Here's a new picture at 38 weeks wearing the sweater I just finished for me..all for me. Its an awesome dark peach color in yarn that's 50% alpaca and 50% wool. All machine washable.

(Don't look too closely at the background. Our home is still a war zone in the name of organization.)

Next on our to do list...install the car seat. Nothing like a little last minute prep, right? 

I'm sick of Maternity Clothes

Baby is due in about one month, and all I can think about is wearing sundresses again. Dresses like this.

I officially miss my waist.

I want to wear pretty dresses that are not made of stretch fabric. Ones that do not have an empire waist. I want to wear a full skirt with heels and maybe a little button down blouse.

I want to buy new shoes without the fear of sudden swelling in my feet. (The swelling hasn't happened but I'm on a vigilant watch for it.)

But mostly I want to have my waist back so I can make myself some pretty new breast feeding friendly clothes. Because the more I think about my pre-pregnancy wardrobe, the more I realize everything is missing some all important assess to my boobage. But I don't dare assume my post-pregnancy size will be the same as my pre-pregnancy size.

How about this one...good for breast feeding and going back to work?

How long does it take to regain some sort of waist again? My heart says 'It only takes like a couple of weeks right?' But my head says 'Be ready for a long and arduous journey you crazy nut.'

Addiction

Hi! My name's Jessica and I'm addicted to knitting baby sweaters.

Plus one dress...

I have one more sweater and dress completed. They only need buttons sewn on.

I think I should stop, but they are just so darned cute and quick to work up that I can't help myself. How many hand knit sweaters does one baby need? Like 4 or 5 in each size right? Because that's where I'm headed with my obsession. Forget nesting by arranging a room or buying diapers...I'm just going to knit an entire baby wardrobe.

30 and 30

This week I turned 30 and I'm 30 weeks pregnant. Time is flying by.

Turning 30 wasn't too bad in the grand scale of birthdays. 25 was much more difficult. I was a single woman living in Los Angeles. My roommates and I were signed up for E-Harmony and trying to find love,  or at least go on a few dates. I felt like I hadn't met any of my life goals.

Now 5 years later, I'm married and pregnant with my first child. I didn't hit my career goals like I thought, but really I perfectly okay with that. Oh and back when I was turning 25, guess who I had just started dating...

Anyways, here I am in all my pregnant and 30 glory.

Belly is definitely there now. She is doing good. To celebrate my birthday we took the hospital tour. Ekkk! Made me realize I've never been a hospital patient since I was born! (I think, am I right Mom?) Since many of my family members have worked in hospitals the whole atmosphere doesn't bother me. Actually the smell reminds me of childhood. BUT...being a patient is totally different.

The Labor and Delivery rooms are like a cheap motel plus medical equipment. I know they are trying to make it seem like home, but they totally failed. The Maternity rooms are straight up hospital with horrible lighting.

Oh well, it is what it is and I'm sure when the time comes the decorations will be the least of my concerns.

Had a check up this morning and baby is doing excellent. I also passed my glucose test. Yay to no gestational diabetes! Bring on the Christmas cookies! Doctor thinks its going to be a late February baby, but we'll see. Maybe early March.

In other news, did you know Christmas is 2 days away? I've got butter softening and pie crusts defrosting in preparation.

Dottie is eagerly awaiting Santa arrival, even if she's not totally deserving.

See what she did to the yarn I was using?

But really even though she was bad, overall she was a good little girl. She even got her own stocking this year. It turned out a little bigger than I anticipated.

So...what is Dottie getting this year?

We think it will be a big hit!