On Wednesday, April 19, my work friends threw me a Surprise Baby Shower.  Surprise it was, I was totally clueless!  In fact, I didn't actually "get it" until about 10 minutes after my arrival. 

Chuck and Pete, the 2 guys I work with, arranged a dinner "meeting" with the supervisors of the program we're running, meeting at a restaurant called Shield's at 5:30 PM.  No big deal, we work lots of later afternoons and sometimes evening hours, I wasn't thinking anything out of the ordinary.  Pete and I arrived at the restaurant to see if the supervisors had arrived yet, looked around some and didn't see them.  We then went into the back, and I saw a whole bunch of people from work sitting at a long table, all staring at me and smiling.  At first, I was thinking, 'oh what a coincidence that they're here having dinner too' (I don't know, maybe they were all having drinks - it was a nice sunny spring day in the middle of the work week?!), and I looked at Pete, who started laughing and said "Happy Surprise Baby Shower!"

I couldn't believe it, and am still having a hard time believing it to this day.  It was wonderful!  They had balloons, a cake, and brought us gifts - I was totally blown away.  I've never had a surprise party in my life, as far as I can remember anyway, it was so much fun!  They even tried to set it up so that Tim and Heidi (my best friend and Pete's wife) could come meet us, but Tim had school and Heidi had to work late. 

Tim and I are truly blessed daily by so many people in our lives; thank you ALL so much for your love and support!  We could not do this without you....

I saw Dr. Hakim yesterday, a very nice man and doctor, I must say!  I would feel extremely comfortable if I went into labor and he was on call.  Everything with Baby and Me looks great - BP was 120/70, weight gain = 2 lbs.  He said we were measuring "perfectly" and heartbeat sounds great.  He said Baby's head is still down.  I mentioned how my feet and ankles have been swelling recently, but he was not concerned.  He basically said that Spring and Summer are tough months to be pregnant due to the warmer weather = water retention!  But as long as the swelling is not associated with increase BP or protein in the urine, we shouldn't be too alarmed. 

Next appts: Thursday 4/27/06 for 3rd ultrasound & Friday 5/5/06 with Dr. Otteman (continuing to rotate the docs) for my last 2 week check up.  Then we're on to weekly, YEAH!!  We're making progress....

Thanks for checking in on us, we'll certainly keep you posted following the u/s!  Love to you all.

Well, the nursery is almost complete!  This past week, Tim took 2 days off to finish the moulding and hang the closet doors, but felt like he made little to no progress.  On Saturday, April 15, both my parents and Tim's parents said they wanted to stop by to see the nursery.  Sure, no problem.   My parents were there for a few hours to begin with, and started helping add finishing touches.  Then Tim's parents showed up, while Tim was in the process of putting together the dresser.  All of a sudden, everyone just went to work (except me, somehow!)  and the nursery just started coming together.  The dresser was finished, the crib was assembled (by Daddy, and Grandpa & Grandma Sissz), the blinds and valences were hung (by Grandpa & Grandma Stein), the windows were washed, the bedding was washed and put on the mattress, the floor was vacuumed and the new rug was rolled out.  The nursery is complete (with the exception of finished moulding in the closet and hanging of closet doors, as well as hanging some pictures and getting a few more things on the walls) - but soon!  I know that Tim and I were very grateful for all of the wonderful help, as it was much more fun and a lot less overwhelming.  Plus I know all 4 of the Gram's and Gramp's enjoyed it just as much as we did. 

It is a beautiful room, very serene.  I spent some time washing some towels and washcloths, and carefully folding them and putting them away.  Tim & I were relaxing in the nursery on Saturday night, and Sidney (our dog) came to join us, laying in the middle of the room on the rug.  What fun!  Since then, I have been able to enjoy lots of time in there, rocking in the glider, rubbing my belly, and picturing what life will be like in a few short weeks.....

We are so blessed.  That's all I can say!  God provides so much on a daily basis for us, that often times we take things for granted. 

This past weekend was the first of 2 baby showers for this Little One.  It was amazing and wonderful!  Our friends and family continue to amaze us with their generosity, kindness, and love.  We stand in awe of it all - we are so blessed! 

Tim is at home today and tomorrow, working hard on completing the nursery.  Hopefully SOON we will be able to put together the dresser so that I can wash a few things and put them away!  I keep staring at the little onesies in wonder - my little baby will be able to (hopefully) fit in those 0-3 month things not very long from now!!!!   WOW....

Tim and I were talking earlier this week, and came to the conclusion that we have 6 weeks OR LESS until this Baby joins us (again, that is IF we have to have a C-section, if not, it could be more like 8 weeks or so).  Woa....reality check, again!  I have been having some Braxton Hicks contractions, mixed in with a few (mild) but real nonetheless, contractions.  I was reluctant to share this with Tim, as I knew he would immediately ask me a million questions and worry that much more.  I have such an amazing husband - I truly cannot wait to see him as a father :)  Again...I am so blessed!

I have had some mild swelling in the feet and ankles, mainly from being on them too much.  I am attempting to elevate them each night (or whenever I can) as well as drink lots of water, as to not have to do any of this by Dr's orders (aka BEDREST!)  I am also *lucky enough* to have a Registered Nurse for a mother, and one, at that who worked in OB/Gyn for many, many years.  She is a great resource, but also likes to instill fear into me :) Love you, Mom!

Other than that, not too much happening.  Baby is constantly on the move, and loves my ribcage as well as hipbones.  Those little jabs used to be cute, but now they just downright HURT!  Of course, I wouldn't trade anything about this pregnancy for the world....I am SO in love with this little person whom I've yet to meet!

Hope this finds everyone well.  Happy Easter! 

Love to all!!!!!!!!  

So yesterday, Dr. Lacoste asks us what we were doing on Friday, May 26th.....my answer: we have no plans that day!

We had another 2-week appointment with her yesterday, regularly scheduled and also a follow up from our ultrasound last week.  Dr. L seems to think that because the placenta has only shifted 50% in the last 13 weeks, that there is much less of a chance that it will move the other 50% it needs to in the next 7-8 weeks.  Also, she mentioned that the placenta is in the posterior position (or located at the back of the uterus) and coming down across the cervix that way (vs. being in front and covering from top down, meaning that it would be more likely that it would move up as the baby grows bigger).  All of this information she discussed with us yesterday basically means that my chances of having to have a C-section are pretty high.  We will, of course, have a 3rd ultrasound at 36 weeks (April 27th) to check the position of the placenta one last time.  If it hasn't moved, we will be scheduled for a C-section around 39 weeks - thus leading to Dr. L's question, "How does May 26th work to have a baby?"  She was looking at her on-call book, and she is scheduled to be on that day.  What a reality check.  I was thinking in my head "couldn't we continue to keep this more hypothetical?  Not something we need to necessarily set in stone!".  LOL.  Of course, until April 27th, this is NOT set in stone, so we just have to wait and see!

Part of me continues to be disappointed in the prospect of a C-section, especially this being my first baby.  (Dr. L says that Placenta Previa is less common in first-time mommies.) Part of me was looking forward to going into labor - timing contractions, my water breaking, calling people on the way to the hospital, checking in, breathing techniques, the final push to bring this Baby into the world, etc....I feel kinda "jipped" (for lack of a better term) because I might miss all of that.  Then my mind continues to run - what are my chances of a VBAC for the next pregnancy?    And on and on....I'm anxious, can you tell?!

But hey, it might still happen!   

There is another part of me that is a little less anxious about birth because of the possibility of a scheduled C-section.  I would know more of what to expect, when exactly to take time off work, and to more or less be able to "plan everything out" - at least have a time frame and an "end" in sight.  With natural labor, I would not have all that. 

There are 2 sides to the coin, and the end result for both is this: one beautiful, healthy, wonderful, tiny human being.  Our child.  I could not ask for anything more.   God has blessed us (and continues to do so) with this child, it matters not how he or she enters this world!

On a lighter note, this Baby is a mover!  He/she continues to comfort me and make me laugh at all times of the day (and sometimes night!) - with rolls and punches (okay, those do hurt!  Especially my left hipbone - ouch, Baby!).  We are certainly running out of room in there....Dr. L says that Baby's measurements (according to the u/s) are perfect - in the 50th percentile, meaning an average size Baby (~7.5 lbs - works for me!)  My fundal height is measuring 32 cm, and according to her I'm 33 weeks instead of 32.  Okay then!  What's one less week?  My BP was perfect (120/70) and I gained 3 lbs in the last 2 weeks - all great things.  Dr. L said she could feel the head in the "down" position and told me where to feel Baby's butt.  Ha, ha, what a fun game!  So that's definitely a hand or a foot in my hipbone :)

Next appts: 4/20/06 with Dr. Hakim (I'm now rotating docs, in case I get a different doc that's on-call when I go into labor) and 4/27 for the 3rd ultrasound.

Tim and his dad are going to work on putting in the moulding in the nursery tonight.  Hopefully we'll get to hanging the light fixtures and putting blinds back up too, then we can move on to closet doors and finally assembling the crib and dresser!  YEAH! 

My first Baby Shower is this weekend.   My Aunt Cindy, Cousin Kelly, and Grandma Truda are coming into town from Chicago and Florida, respectively.  My college roommate, Amanda, is coming in from Grand Rapids.  What fun!  I cannot wait to see everyone for a weekend visit!  I will be praying for safe travels for everyone ~

Thank you, God, for all that you have provided and continue to provide to this growing family.  We are looking forward, with great anticipation, to the birth of this child.  I pray, Father, that you would release any anxieties and fears from me, Tim, and my family.  Give us peace that surpasses all understanding, that only You provide.  We know that we are in Your hands always.  We are so greatful for that.  Amen!

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