6 day old - 3, parents - 1

Shortly after midnight on the 19th, my water broke and I went into labor.

Shortly before noon on the 19th, William Sage was born!

I'm sure one of these days I'll write about the experience, but for now - the babe!

9 pounds, 4 ounces

22 1/2 inches

11:41am, July 19, 2008

Cool jive collar, eh?

Despite a couple of mellow days in the hospital, the kid seems to be winning.

Not that we're keeping track.

Some tips for first time mothers - keep the kid and you awake during feedings - otherwise they'll use you like a human pacifier.

Don't worry about pooh. Yes, they want the kid to pooh and pee, and they don't as much as you would like them to. Don't worry - the kid will have a massive explosive blowout the minute he's back on track. It will get all over the diaper, the outfit, the car seat and everything. Then you can stop worrying about pooh.

Don't be a fingernail chicken. You have to clip or file or bite. otherwise your kid will be wearing mittens until age five or have scratches all over their face. (Clipping is a small victory - celebrate!)

Think ahead. Feeding takes a while and has you in one place. Line up a drink, snack, your cell phone, a watch or timer, and book or magazine (if you can read, instead of having to jostle the kid every thiry seconds) all in reaching distance.

Still smilin' on this end, but mornings have been better than afternoons!

41w

Still preggers.
Weird dream last night though.
Was in current condition and gambling with my mother at a roulette wheel.
She bet on 18, I didn't want to repeat her bet so I took the two numbers above 18.
It came up on 18 and she won - the spin before that was 18 too, on which I won.
Weird.

40w6d

Surprise, still preggers.

Plenty of Amniotic Fluid - thriving child - uncooperative contractions.
Husband is open to idea of more sex with beached whale looking wife to get things moving.
Option to strip membranes (not half as sexy as stripping) was approached today.
Will probably opt for that on Monday - induction appointment set for next Thursday's appointment.
When the doc called in for the appointment he called and asked to speak to someone about "THE BOOK". I thought it was hilarious.
Found out that the only doctor in the practice that is mediocre (in my mind) is no longer taking deliveries or surgery. Whew. Funny doc from today is on call for the morning of induction, one of the ladies is on call after that.
Doc today tried to convince me that Pitocin isn't half bad - just quicker than natural.
I think I need a little bit of build-up instead of being kicked in the head to start meaningful labor. Hence the Monday stripping of membranes decision. Hopefully it'll work (stats from him were 50% within 24hrs). Friend in Scotland said his wife had it done twice with no result and a 2 wk late child. Called it something more pleasant tho - membrane sweeping.

Anyway - wish me luck - kid by next weekend.
A week late tomorrow.
Joy!

40w5d

Still preggers - and no child on great-great grandma's (mom's mom's mom) b-day! I think that was the last of the milestone days for the mama's side (4th - great g-ma b-day, 11th - parents engaged, 15th g-g-g-ma's bday) - the only milestone left is kel's parents anniversary - a distinct possibility being on the 21st (pls. let this child arrive before then!)

The cat seems to be less limpy (or at least he's getting faster at limping?!?) and turned into a little demon spawn at the vet appointment yesterday - all hissy and scratchy and devil like. He is now up to date on Rabies and must have been given some good pain meds. Either that or he growled it out to the vet tech. The interesting challenge will be giving the rest of the pain meds to him once a day for the next 4 days.

Lunch went well, got to see Malia and cutie Marissa. And I'm in the know for Kel's benefits -hopefully we'll have a chance to discuss during the next few days before enrollment closes.
That of course was the jist of my day yesterday and today will just be an errand running day - Whooo hooo - the ultimate holding pattern.

40w4d

So a laid back 4 days overdue has turned into a day that actually has plans!
Lunch at 11:45 with Malia and Marissa, Vet appointment with a newly limping Chil-E at 2 and webinar at 4 to see what Kel's new healthplans are before open enrollment starts tomorrow.

Good thing I have no idea what day of the week it is - I'm counting things in overdueness now.
I also look at expiration dates and think, I should have a kid by then. It is kind of weird.
Kid should be hear before the milk and yogurt expires, but we should finish that cheese before the grand entrance.

As for now, still in the pregnancy holding pattern - movement from the kid, no contractions, and water still intact. When/if something happens, it is going to catch me off guard.

40w3d

Holding pattern - the semi-good kind.
I'm still just over 1cm (the doctor mentioned 1.5, and then 2, but really was straining on the 2 probably because the chart has said one for the last 5 visits and she wanted to make it sound like I've been making progress).
All went well with non-stress test number 1. The kid cooperated and moved fairly regularly. The monitor and hookups recorded as they are supposed to - maybe a little too well - The only thing that didn't read well were the contractions. There were NONE. Not even a flicker of one. Flatline if I ever did see one.
All went well with Fluid Measurement Ultrasound too. Enough to keep the little bugger floating until the next round. Also confirmed that the kid is still a boy, and that his head is still down.
Why is this good? Because I'm still on the natural route. At least until the big three (water break, an hour of contractions @5 mins or a low kick count) happen or Thursday when the next round of tests go down. This I can smile about.

And now for the no wonder I'm tired today part of the blog in two parts.
Part One: So my husband always wakes up tired in the mornings. No matter what time he goes to bed, he will tap the snooze bar more than once if I'm still in bed. It kind of makes up for me being a morning person and hitting the wall around 10-10:30 at night. If I'm not still in bed - you know having to check out the large truck noises (see part two) or filling the cat's food bowl (the little snot of a cat has been walking on us and staring us down until he gets an ample amount of food - not realizing that the queen of the household needs beauty sleep and the king of the house doesn't wake up for shit), he shuts the whole alarm system off (including my alarm, if there is one set).
It must be because he is chasing rabbits - or communicating with the unborn child using morse code in a semi-unconscious state.
How does that work you ask? So whenever I get up to pee (every 2.5-4 hours during the night these days), Kel moves into a position that enables snuggling when I get back. I don't think he knows he does this. Sometimes it's so I can spoon him from the back, sometimes it is so he can spoon me, sometimes it is so I can get the nook of his arm, etc. So at pee interval #2 he snuggles me from the back, and puts his arm around the ever growing belly. In about five minutes the kid is kicking away (who hoo - empty bladder, more room to kick, let's kick, I also have no regard for time, whooo hooooo!) and Kel starts tapping back. Being somewhat ready to go back to sleep, I'm like that is cute and all, but really - it is some ungodly early hour and I would like to go back to sleep. And it keeps going on - and on - then I realize, the Kel is asleep and doesn't realize he is tapping back at the kid. I think he'll be mildly surprised tonight when I tell him what he was doing.

Part Two: Why am I hearing a large truck outside at 6:37 in the morning? And still at 6:43, and 6:51? I'm not so good at just laying in bed - so finally at 6:53 I check it out - nobody should be active that early in the morning. I put on scrubby clothes and peek out the front door - A FIRETRUCK?!?!?! Before I have a chance to question, it pulls away - there goes my sleep for the morning.

Nap time might just come early today - the rain isn't helping.

40w2d

This kid owes 20 cents in fines already and it looks like he'll hit the $2.00 max, way to start out in the hole!
In the meantime, I ran errands this morning, trying to accomplish and all (for the most part, getting out of the house so Kel can accomplish stuff too). This afternoon's activities are a little bit more sedate and consist of sleeping for 3 hours and growing the worlds largest pair of cankles.
No regular contractions, no water breakage. Why should 2 days past due be any different from the rest of pregnancy?

Due Date, Plus One (40.1)

Yesterday, on the due date appointment (or as I refer to it: the fifth stinkin' appointment at 1cm), the discussion turned to what happens next. I didn't have to plead for the two weeks, instead was given the option of waiting for either 1 or 2 weeks for the induction process. Of course, like the birthplan, this is all up in the air. I chose 2.
Here's what can happen - at any time in the next two weeks (come on kiddo - ) the call goes in if contractions happen at a regular rate, more than the one a day I've been getting or my water breaks.
Nightly kick counts (7x movement per 2 hour period - hasn't taken longer than 10 minutes ever). Phone call to the office if kick count isn't there, then trip to hospital to get the kid out.
Monday (14th) and Thursday (17th) non-stress tests and ultrasounds to check baby wellness and amniotic fluid levels. Check to see if dialation has progressed. Instant trip next door if baby isn't thriving or fluid levels are low.
Thursday (17th) - appointment made for the 24th for ripening and then induction on 25th.
Monday (21st) and Thursday (24th) NST and US like the week before.
Joy Joy!

Go day! Kind of fruitless thus far.

Now if a due date actually meant something.

Today is the due date appointment (10:45a), where we discuss options and the next two weeks (please little one, decide to come out before then). If I were a gamblin' girl, I would say that the appointment for induction will be set either on the 24th or 25th (because I'm going to convince the doctor to wait as long as possible) and then will go into labor at a completely inconvenient time during week 41. So mama's prediction: labor 3am, hospital 10a on the 17th, delivery early on the 18th.

Over the last day and a half, the little joker has decided that he wants to travel in what I can only assume is the right direction, creating an interesting sleep and walking experience for what has been (up until now) a great pregnancy. He is starting to head down it putting a not-so-fun amount of pressure on my pelvis. It isn't too bad once I'm in a comfortable position, but turning over and getting up is just a battle. A battle that involves a lot of UMPH noises.
That and last night was some sort of tumble-thon olympics. If I knew better, I would say he probably flipped into breech just to spite me. Not even a week old and the kid is messing with me. I'm in for it the next 18 or so years.

We'll keep you posted, but right now, the kid is staying put - happy due date!

Week 39.5

Whew! A nap does a body good. I've been a little bit more tired lately, but then again, the kitchen at work was super hot today too so that didn't help any either.

The "welcome to the world" pedicure is complete (fuzzy pic, sorry). I got out early yesterday (totally shocking, since the pastry chef was back after a week of vacation and she just piles work on when it isn't necessarily needed), and figured I am at the point where clipping my toenails is more of a circus act, so lets get a little pampering in. I think it is the same lighter than light blue that I wore for the wedding. A little swollen, yes, but mostly the fat feet that have come down through the generations.

We still haven't trained the grandparents not to ask if there is a baby yet. Do you think we would let it slip our minds or something? Whoops! Kelly what are we going to do, we forgot to tell our parents!!! The Paternal grandparents don't even say hi when they call any more - it starts right into "IS THERE A BABY YET?" The Maternal grandparents at least say "hi" or "what are you up to" before laying into the baby talk.

I have started to pack a hospital bag - sort of - more realisticly I have piled three things on the computer desk that will go into a hospital bag when I finally get my butt in gear enough to do it.

It is just one of those things where you can't pack it all because you need shampoo on a daily basis at home instead of in a bag destined for the hospital.

The only thing I really want to know is: Is it like the doctors appointments? Where once it is packed you get worked up and ready to go, only to be at one centimeter for the 4th week in a row? or does having a bag packed automatically send you straight into labor?

A new to us sofa made its appearance in the living room while I was at work on Saturday.

It doesn't look like there is much going on in this picture - but trust me there is plenty. Not only is it a double reclining awesome leather sofa, see the nice pretty brown boxes at the end? The one on the bottom reinstituted my faith in mail order after a month long, pulled the pregnancy card, whining on the phone, get my racks to me before my child is born, all out customer service war with Ikea. That bottom box you see is an order that was placed with EFaucet.com yesterday at around 2:30 pm. It was shipped GROUND by UPS and got here just before three today. Yes people, there is a customer service department somewhere on the planet that knows how to get shit done. (Okay - Zappos is awesome too). Of course it is with a company that I won't have to use again for a while, but then again, I know where I'm going back if I need another faucet anytime soon.

In knitting news - I just finished felting my first felted project. And am almost finished with the felted baby soakers from Lionbrand freebie patterns (first project for the child). Just have to get a little velcro sewn in and I'll be good to go. I have to say - this pattern sucked. The counts were off, the instructions were incomplete and it was just kind of a cluster all around. Luckily I faked my way through it and came up with something decent.....

Last but not least, the only redeeming thing about the ikea racks are that they are now installed. Bringing the kitchen one step closer to done....

Weak 39

It really is weak 39.
Still 1cm, baby's heartbeat is strong, the kid is kickin' up a storm and is faking me out - hanging low during the day and coming back up to say hi to my ribs at night.
Since the shower, I have been feeling a constant pang of hurry up and be born already - but have yet to pack a bag for the hospital. This feeling is exacerbated by everyone asking if I'm in labor yet. My ankles decided to loosen up and hurt this week too just to add to the fun (normal).
I'm still working, the head pastry chef is on vacation this week. Luckily, she totally overprepped us for this week, so we have been getting out early every day. Although, I have to work tomorrow, I gave the intern off and only have to proof and bake baguette. Might make a round of souffle as well. but that is about it!