Happy Turkey Day and Hospital Visit #1

No better way than to spend Turkey Day from 1:30 in the morning to 3:30 in the morning at the hospital. That's right....Hospital Visit #1 down....how many more to go? When do they finally keep you with the pains you are having? After 1 1/2 hours of laying in bed with contractions 2 minutes apart, they could not tell if it was early labor or labor or what it was for that matter so they sent me on my way. My doctor was the one on call so I was secretly hoping that it would have been this morning that Rylee made her apperance, but doc must have been having a pre-Thanksgiving party because he sure sounded tired on the phone and was making no effort of coming in for a c-section at 3 in the morning. Now the other doctor of the group (that I am not too fond of) is on call and I don't know when they switch again!

This is probably all due to the fact that I did TWO things yesterday that are "suppose" to induce labor. Waxing and a pedicure! Maybe Rylee will be coming early....but the nurses will not be talking about how I don't have cute toes! Check them out....HOW CUTE ARE THEY!?!....I just LOVE them! Let's not concentrate on the SIZE of the toes...but more of the paint ON the toes!

One Contraction Down....

....Many more to come!!
Yesterday was my 37 week check-up at the doctor's office. While driving there, I experienced the most PAINFUL side cramp EVER!! I really thought I wasn't going to be able to get out of the car and walk into the office. But I managed to get myself there and walk in and tell the receptionist that I had the most painful feeling in my side. She looked at me like I was nuts and this was normal. She then asked me if I had an appointment. (No lady...I thought my best bet was to drive straight here with my pain.) She then proceeded to spend 5 minutes (it felt like 5) to find the nurse and the doctor and then come back and tell me to take a seat and wait, they should be with me shortly! I know I still have 2 more weeks (13 days to be exact!) and I know that I am not the only pregnant lady to feel this pain but they obviously don't know me and pain. Well the pain went away by the time the doctor came in, I haven't dilated anymore and was sent on my way. On the way out he said, call me if you feel anymore of those! I replied, "Oh I will be calling you, don't you worry!" Ugh! I should have just scheduled this C-Section earlier! She would eventually learn to deal with sharing a birthday with Thanksgiving every 10 years or so! :o)

U.S. Citizen

On November 19, 2008, Paul became a U.S. Citizen. The ceremony was held at University of Phoenix Stadium since there were SO many people becoming citizens along with him. 2,178 people from 117 different countries gathered together to become citizens of our great country, the U.S.A. Considering there were so many people, the pictures are very limited and you can barely see him but we tracked him down and got one good one.

Yay and Congratulations to Paul!! He was SO excited.

We are READY!!!

After a long day of working yesterday, mostly Paul, but with some assistance from me, Rylee's room is finally ready!!! YAY! We didn't even leave the house once, ALL DAY! Here are some before and after shots of her room.

The room all cleaned out, ready to go. New carpet and all....

A shot of the room from the doorway.

Changing table and wall decals.

Her crib and name on the wall.

Crib and wardrobe.

Thanks to my sister and Tyler for some of the greatest furniture ever! Now we just wait for Rylee Rose to come home and use it all! Only 17 more days.....

20 more days to go....

We had our 36 week appointment yesterday and we are moving right along. Only 20 more days (or less) to go and we are ready! (I think we are ready....) The doctor said I am already dilated to a 1 and if I have any contractions to call him. I had a talk with Rylee and told her if she stays in there until after Thanksgiving it would really benefit her in the long run because if she comes out early then all she gets to drink is milk. But if she stays in there until after Thanksgiving, she gets to have turkey, potatoes, apple pie.....oh the list goes on!! And of course I will get to have all that too....in the comfort of my grandparents house...not a hospital bed.

I had to add a picture of the feet from yesterdays post....so you could all see that I was not exaggerating. (One lady at work who had twins, saw my feet and said "Oh my Gosh!" You know it's bad when she didn't even have feet this size while she was pregnant with twins!)

My Big Feet. As you will notice, the flip flops have so much room on top of my toes because the flops don't fit all the way on the foot.

You can actually see the indentation marks that the flip flops are leaving on my feet! When did flip flops become tight!? I don't know what else I would wear besides slippers....

Blogs to come: Rylee's Room soon to be finished! Paul's Oath Ceremony to become a U.S. Citizen!! Wahoo!

Ankles? What ankles?

Oh I wish I had a camera right now! My feet look like JUMBO feet. They are SO huge!! They have doubled in size, I don't have ankles on either sides of my feet, and my flip flops (which are the only shoes that fit me right now) have let indentation marks on my feet!! Thank goodness for a laid back dress code at my school because I can't imagine going and buying new shoes for three more weeks. That's right....3 more weeks to the day! That is the ONLY thing putting a smile on my face right now!

Weekend Blog

So I didn't make it!! I didn't blog everyday during the month of November. I could have just sat down this morning, made up four different blogs and dated them all the different days...but truthfully, I guess Paul and I aren't that exciting because I wouldn't even have four different things to blog about! I will just wrap all my weekend adventures into one "Weekend Blog" and call it a day. I will get back on track and maybe make it to the end of November.

We started off our weekend with Jackson's Fun Run from his preschool. Jackson and Tyler got to run in a "race" while we all stood and cheered! They both did an awesome job!!

Ty Ty running on the left.

Jackson's action shot that Paul loves! Look at his hair flying in the wind!

Then it was off to celebrate Paul's 40th birthday. Yes, there was suppose to be a big 80's themed party and we were going all out for his 40th but I didn't plan it. You get to be 8 months pregnant, with a baby shower, a wedding shower, a wedding and parent/teacher conferences....you get a VERY overwhelmed person. So sorry to all those who were looking forward to dressing up 80's style....maybe another time. I know I was disappointed, especially after seeing that they sell leg warmers in the store now!! So there is one picture of Paul at his family birthday party bowling. (Camera died right after this picture!)

Then on Sunday, we were off to IKEA to get the rest of Rylee's furniture for her room. So nursery pictures should be coming very shortly. Depending on how hard this furniture is to put together. (Hopefully not very hard!!) Then the rest of the day was spent celebrating Pat's birthday with lots of football watching. Not a fan of Fantasy Football right now....

Do doctors make house calls?

Being 36 weeks along in my pregnancy I thought that I would research what to bring with you to the hospital. I used the site that I get weekly updates from regarding my pregnancy so I thought that I would stick with them. This is what they suggest.....(my comments are in red next to them)

You may want to pack two small bags for the hospital or birth center: one for the items you'll need during labor and another for items that you won't need until after you give birth. Here's a list of things that experienced moms recommend packing. You may also want to ask your caregiver, childbirth educator, or doula for tips on what to bring.

For labor
• Your birth plan. (The plan is to get the baby out!!)
• Your insurance card and any hospital paperwork you need. (Isn't that why we PRE-register?)
• Your eyeglasses, if you need any. Even if you usually wear contacts, you'll probably need or want to take them out at some point during your stay.
• Toiletries. Include items you might want during labor and your postpartum stay, such as lip balm, a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, a brush and comb, and makeup, if it's important to you. Hospitals will have soap, shampoo, and lotion, but you might prefer your own brands. Don't forget a hair band and barrettes, if you think you might want them.
• A bathrobe, nightgown, slippers, and a couple of pairs of socks. Hospitals provide gowns for you to use during labor and afterward, but most will allow you to wear your own clothes if you prefer. Choose something loose and comfortable that you don't mind getting ruined.You'll need to wear a gown instead of pants so that your practitioner can check your cervix. Choose one that's either sleeveless or has short, loose sleeves so your blood pressure can be checked easily and so you can slip the gown off without difficulty if you want to change and have an IV in place.You might also want to bring your own slippers and robe for walking around during the early stages of labor. If you don't want to risk soiling your robe, you can ask for a second hospital gown to wear as a robe to cover your backside. (I was already told not to bring my own hospital gown by my sister-in-law. I had mentioned I had seen Tori Spelling wear a REALLY cute one while delivering Baby Stella....but the suggestion was shot down.) :o)
• Something light to read, if you're so inclined. (This might be especially helpful if you're heading to the hospital to be induced and might be there quite a while before you have any serious contractions to deal with.) (I really don't think that's what people are doing while waiting for their baby to come....pulling out the latest book on Oprah's Book Club List and reading.)
• Massage oils or lotions, music, an extra pillow, whatever you need to help you relax. (If you do bring your own pillow, be sure to use a patterned or colorful pillowcase so it doesn't get mixed up with the hospital's.) Consider bringing tennis balls or a rolling pin in case you have back labor and need them for massage. (I don't think that me, trying to remember a rolling pin on our way out the door, is going to make me relaxed...)
• Talismans, a picture of someone or something you love, anything you find reassuring. (Isn't your husband suppose to be the reassuring part? Or is this the time when you want to kill him? So I have heard....)

For your partner/labor coach
• Money for parking and change for vending machines. (A quick stop at the ATM on the way..)
• A few basic toiletries, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant.
• A change of clothes. (Who is going to care what he is wearing anyway...)
• Some snacks and something to read during the early stages. (If I can't eat...he sure as hell isn't eating anything!!!)
• A camera/video camera with memory card and batteries (or film or tape). Someone has to document the big event! (Note: Not all hospitals allow videotaping of the birth itself, but there's usually no rule against taping during labor or after the birth.) (There will be NO taping of anything going on down there!)
• A bathing suit. If your partner wants to take a bath or shower during labor, you may want to jump in with her. (This one just kills me! This is not the time for them to be taking a shower and I highly doubt I would want to jump in too!!)

Postpartum
• A fresh nightgown, if you prefer to wear your own. (Nope, those hospital ones will be comfy enough for me....) NOT! I will be there for 4 days...I think I will want to be comfortable. I wonder if you can bring your own mattress too....hmmm...
• Snacks! After many hours of labor, you're likely to be pretty hungry, and you don't want to have to rely on the hospital's food. So bring your own — crackers, fresh or dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, or whatever you think you'll enjoy. A bottle of nonalcoholic champagne might be fun for celebrating, too. (If I am going to go through the trouble of buying ANY champagne, it is going to have alcohol in it...trust me!)
• A nursing bra, breast pads, and maternity underwear. Chances are, whatever underwear you do wear the first few days will get stained, even with sanitary pads (which the hospital provides). (Something to look forward to....)
• Your address book and prepaid phone card or cell phone. After the baby's born you'll want to call family and friends to let them know the good news. Some hospitals don't allow cell phones to be used in the labor and delivery area, so you may want to ask about it ahead of time. (An address book....what a novel idea...just the time I would want to sit down and start addressing some envelopes!)
• A going-home outfit. Bring something roomy and easy to get into (believe it or not, you'll probably still look 5 or 6 months pregnant ) — along with a pair of flat shoes. The last thing you'll be worrying about when you go home is whether your outfit is fashionable. (At last...a sensible suggestion from them!)

For your baby
• An infant car seat. You can't drive your baby home without one! In fact, you'll want to have the seat properly installed ahead of time, and you'll want to know exactly how to correctly buckle in your baby.
• A going-home outfit (one-piece stretchy outfits are easiest) and a snowsuit if it's very cold. Include a pair of socks or booties if the outfit doesn't have feet.
• A receiving blanket (a heavy one if the weather's cold) (What do they consider "cold"? Arizona in December cold....or Chicago in December cold?)
• A cap (although they'll usually give you one at the hospital) (Because those are stylish hats...every baby is wearing the SAME one!)
• Baby nail clippers or emery board. (Never a better time for Rylee's first mani and pedi!)

What not to bring
• Jewelry (Not like it fits anymore anyway..)
• Lots of cash, credit cards, or any other valuables (Who has lots of cash anymore anyway...)
• Work. Yes, we actually know fast-track types who have sent business e-mails from the hospital room, made work-related phone calls, and reviewed spreadsheets. But we don't recommend it. (Dang...I told my principal that I would be able to send lesson plans while I was in the hospital...Guess I will have to tell her that Babycenter told me not too....)

Ok, granite I have never done this before...but seriously...can't the doctor just come to your house and do the delivery so you don't have to rent a U-haul to get to the hospital? And Paul thought I was nuts when I said I needed a Sequoia for the third row. I need it just to get to the hospital before the baby is even BORN! I am going to need a Suburban to get home from the hospital! CRAZINESS.....

P.S. I know I am going to get some comment about how you really do need one of these items that I listed as "Seriously..." But like I said before...I have never done this before.

It's only Day Four of blogging and I already ran out of things to blog about!! So sad. It doesn't help when you get home from work at 5 and then fall asleep at 7. That doesn't leave much time for anything exciting to happen to two tired people.
We went to the doctor yesterday, had our 10 minute appointment where you pee in the tiny cup, they take your blood pressure, hear the heart beat, ask "any questions?" and then you are on your way out. Starting next week, I start weekly appointments...wahoo! Rylee's heartbeat was 140 beats per minute..."she's still cooking" in there as Paul likes to say.
If only I could blog about parent/teacher conferences....that could be entertainment right there!!! 8 down...18 more to go! Oh how I wish I could drink during these days! :o)

"Good Pictures"

About a week ago, Paul wanted to take tummy pictures so I let him try to be all fancy with the camera. (He LOVES black and white pictures) They aren't too bad...so I thought after yesterdays bashing Paul's photography skills, I would post some of his good ones. Even though my tummy feels like it is getting bigger by the minute, I will still post my tummy picutes.

Good thing I let him take these last week since I feel like my tummy has doubled in size since then!

I am so glad that this National Blogging Month is November and not December because I can't even imagine doinig this while in the hospital with a newborn! Although my blogs would be MUCH more exciting!!

"Wedding Pictures"

I was in a wedding on Saturday for my friend Tricia, who I have known since grade school. I mentioned yesterday in my blog that we would have to wait until the photographer at the wedding posted the pictures for everyone to see my big belly. Well my sister decided to remind me that Paul did take pictures and I would love to share what came from this "Master of Photography" and we will all see why I wasn't going to post the pictures. The last two are probably the better of the bunch but that is because I was standing right in front of him. I don't even think the drinking had started yet....

That would be me, walking down the aisle, but you can't really tell since it's blurry. :o)

You would thing we knew the guy in the blue shirt and khaki pants, but we don't. That would be the "Master in Photography" trying to take a picture of Tricia but all we got was the veil.

I don't even know how to explain this one.

One of the "better ones"

Me at the end of the wedding!

This is not supposed to be a blog bashing Paul's photography skills, but just to prove that he really didn't take pictures of the wedding. This is all I have. November 15th isn't too far away too see the beautiful day that it was! Paul isn't a bad picture taker...just not very on top of things once the drinking starts. Notice...there are NONE from the reception! :o) I will find some good pictures that Paul has taken for a later post in November....26 more posts to go! :o)

On a good note though, Paul did make me dinner last night and it was yummy! Exactly one month until the arrival of Rylee Rose Thomson.

National Blog Posting Month

So I guess November is National Blog Posting Month and you have to blog once a day for 30 days. I am not too far behind so I thought I would give it a try. I will have to think of something to write about for the next 28 days but I am sure I can try.
I could post pictures from my baby shower but I am waiting on my sister to download them to shutterfly....
I could post pictures of Rylee's Room but it's only 80% done.......
I could post pictures from the wedding that I stood up in on Saturday but I left taking the pictures to Paul so I think there is about a total of ONE picture. (Word of advice...don't give the drunk guy the camera!!) So we will have to wait till the ones from the photographers website to be available on Nov. 15th.
So there are many things to look forward to....just none ready yet!
So for now, this is my boring blog for Monday, November 3, 2008. I will try to have a more exciting week of posting with a doctor's appointment on Wednesday and parent/teacher conferences all week...who could ask for a more exciting week!?