Last Day!

Today is my last day at work...YAY!

Just to let you all know out there in blogland...I usually blog from work. That's why you usually get an entry Monday-Friday. However, the blog schedule will change. First of all, I'll try to blog from the hospital, but that's only if Jon gets his laptop from work in time (they've been promising him one since MAY). Otherwise, those of you (most of you) are on an e-mail list and will get news of the baby that way. I will blog from home over the next 12 weeks as much as I can, but you know I'll be busy.

So, hope you all are happy and healthy, and if you don't have it, here's my e-mail....
cganas107@comcast.net

Peace out!

Baby Update

Ok, so in the excitement of the Phillies victory last night, I neglected to update you on the doctor visit from yesterday.

Basically, all is normal. Baby checked out fine. Mommy checked out fine (not dilating yet). However, something odd happened right after. The baby has definitely descended further south. Everything all of a sudden feels VERY different. Each move she makes almost takes my breath away. I think she knows it's a matter of days now.

Also, last night as I was watching all of the Phillies hoopla I started getting contractions. Not painful ones, just the annoying braxton hicks ones. They were fairly frequent so I decided to time them. They had some regularity for a while, but then they slowed down. I came VERY close to heading to the hospital. This all happened at about 10:30 last night which would have put it at the exact WORST time for me to call Jon and say "honey...guess what." Anyway, since they slowed, I decided to stay home. Good thing. I think they were just brought on by excitement for the PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a huge parade on Broad Street on Friday...I can't wait! Just kidding....I'm not going :-)

WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!!!!!!

Countdown is On!

T-minus 5 days until the big day. O...M...G! We are so excited!

I'm just hoping that she stays put until then so that daddy can finish up his work obligations with the Phillies :-)

I have another doctor appointment after work today. I'm not expecting much to happen, but I'll still post what happens tomorrow.

Weather or Not

Ugh. What a crappy night last night. Basically, what started off as a "chance" for drizzle to light rain turned into a wind-driven deluge at the ball park last night causing MLB to postpone game 5 of the World Series for the first time in HISTORY! Leave it to Philadelphia.

This morning, it's worse. Windy, rainy and several inches of snow in the Pocono Mountains. The rest of the nation's weather today? Perfect...

It's just not fair.

Oh yeah...and all, and I mean ALL of the meteorologists in this city missed this storm by a MILE (myself included), so we're all wearing a lot of egg on our faces this morning. I hate that feeling, but at least everyone else missed it. Misery loves company.

Great Weekend

We had a great weekend. It just POURED on Saturday from the afternoon until late into the evening. The Phillies World Series game was delayed. I, however, loved it. We ran errands and got home around 5 and we were soaked. I took a hot shower, got into my PJs and took a nap. Then gathered all of the pillows in the house and stacked them on the couch where we ordered in pizza by delivery and watched football. What a great night! I was out by 11. Jon, however, stayed up to watch the Phillies win game 3 at almost 2 a.m.! They took game 4 last night and could clinch the series tonight....GO PHILS! What an exciting time to be in Philadelphia!

Oh, and I just realized something. Today is the last Monday I'll have to work for 13 blissful weeks! YAY!

Hitting the Wall

It's official: I've hit the wall.

I am not comfortable in ANY position, sitting, standing or lying in bed. Getting up for work sucks, and actually doing make-up and hair? Well, that sucks more than getting up for work. Our poor daughter is very cramped inside mommy and mommy feels really badly for that and well, badly because of that. So, we're both miserable I'm sure.

Since I can't find a comfortable position sleeping, I've been up since 10 last night and am counting the minutes until I can go home and sleep the rest of the day away. Sure I have lots of things to do, but sleep....sweet beautiful sleep will take precedence over anything else.

I've also noticed lots of other changes in my body in the last 5 days. I drink LOTS of water and hardly ever have to pee. Instead, everything I drink winds up in my ankles and lower legs. Let me tell you, it looks smokin' hot!

WARNING: TMI (too much information) ALERT!
Another sign the baby is getting bigger and pressing on everything inside? Well, let's just say that I've increased my fiber intake. Sheesh. I've NEVER had a problem in that department before! So, this morning I had a double fiber muffin made by my friend Sue. Then for my big breakfast, I had a brown rice, spinach and egg scramble that I made here at work. I added a pinch of cheese and some salsa and it was slammin'! We'll see if I can fix my "little problem" with that. Ugh.

Finally, the Phillies lost in game 2 of the World Series. Sad, but it's a 7 game series. I hope they can pull it off! And...for all of the family out there, please understand this next statement...GO BUCKS! Yes, I am cheering for OSU this weekend. They are playing Penn State and I detest the dumb Nittany Lions more than I can say. If Michigan can't get it done this year against the Lions, somebody has to. They can't have an undefeated season...they just can't. So, tomorrow night, we're getting a pizza, staying home, and watching the game while flipping during commercials to see the Phillies score. Again, GO BUCKS!

Poor Little Thing

Poor thing...the baby seems to be trying DESPERATELY to move into the head-down position. She is trying so hard to make her mommy happy, and she just can't move. Yesterday I was sitting on the couch (which, by the way is NOT comfortable at ALL) and she brought her head all the way down my side and was kicking her little feet like mad, just trying to do what's natural...trying to get in that head-down position. She just can't. Something is keeping her from totally turning and I feel so badly that she's trying so hard and just can't do it. So, I told her that it was o.k. Mommy is fine with getting an operation to get her out, so she can just relax and try to be comfortable these last 10 days. She's got to be so cramped in there.

Man, I can't believe it was just a week ago that we found out that she is breech. I've really come around emotionally, and I have two people to thank for starting me on the road to feeling better...my aunt and uncle (Phyllis and Preston). Last Wednesday, while visiting their son (my cousin) Ben in New York City (they live in California), they took the train to Philly just to have lunch with me and to see the baby's room. How nice was that?! It was so nice to have close family members there to talk to about this news as soon as I heard it. Poor Jon wanted to help, but had to go to work (he has to save his days), so it was so nice to not be alone during the day and to talk to people whom I love. Thanks, you two. You helped soooo much!

On a funny note: I decided this morning on the way to work that since I have only 10 days left of pregnancy, I can really milk this pregnant thing. That philosophy really came in handy as I got pulled over for blowing a stop sign at the top of the exit ramp off the highway. The kind officer followed me into the work parking lot before he actually turned his lights on. I parked my car and got out and he rolled down his window and you should've seen his face when he noticed the pregnant belly. I said "I'm so sorry, officer...I know I blew that stop sign...I'm just in a hurry to get inside because I'm 9 months pregnant and I really have to pee." He just smiled and told me to go ahead, and just to please remember to stop next time. Tee hee!

Never Again

Never again will I wear pregnancy stockings. Never.

We got dressed up for Jon's birthday dinner on Saturday, and I decided to ditch my flip-flops for some tall boots. Soooo, I had to buy some maternity tights. I never even thought that they would be hard to put on. Let's just say it took about ten minutes with both of us trying, and me crying.

We got them on, and then Jon had to zip my tall boots (which he could barely do) because my ankles were so swollen.

Needless to say, we were a tad late for our reservation, but it was worth it...we had a nice night out....

And I'll never wear stockings pregnant again. NEVER!

The Girls

I'm slowly getting over the fact that I'm going to have a C-section, in fact I'm feeling better and better about it each day. Maybe it's because our little girl keeps moving inside me reminding me that she is the prize...not just the way she gets to us.

As usual, Jon has been amazing and so very understanding with my feelings and he even agrees that he'd rather have me go through things naturally, but this is just the way it is.

With that said, I have to shout out "the girls" for this blog. See, there's a group of about 8 girls whom I've gotten to know quite well from the gym. We all kickbox together every Saturday and have become friends. They were all at the shower. Well, Saturday morning, I really didn't feel like going to kickboxing (yes, two weeks from delivery, I'm still kickboxing)...but I went anyway. I told them before class and within seconds, they all surrounded me with love and support and all had words of wisdom to share (they've all had their babies). I didn't feel so alone and it was so nice to share my feelings with women who have been through this before. So, Denise, Bonnie, Robin, Wendy, Stephie, Donna and Sue...this blog is for you.

As for the kickboxing, provided the doctor says it's o.k., I'm going to kickbox even up until the 1st of November! It's too much fun and WAY to social to miss!

And I'm The One Complaining

About five minutes ago, our live reporter interviewed a woman at the starting line of the Philadelphia Breast Cancer 3-day walk. She is 30 years old. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 24. She was in perfect health. She went through numerous surgeries, chemo and radiation treatments and made it to her five year mark. She then learned that the cancer had spread into her sternum and is now in her liver. She was out there with a smile on her face as she was the leading fund-raiser for this event. She alone raised over $17,000. She has no idea if she'll even survive, but there she was surrounded by loving family and friends with a huge smile on her face. She had an amazing positive attitude.

Then I thought of how I've been feeling because my perfect and healthy baby created with love with my amazing husband has to be delivered via c-section.

I have nothing to complain about.

Mind of Her Own

Our daughter has a mind of her own. We knew this was the case, but it was confirmed yesterday (so was the fact that she is indeed a girl).

Yesterday was the big ultrasound to confirm her position for birth, check her fluid, estimate her weight, etc. We learned she is breech. Many people have different reactions to this but this is my blog and I'd like to express how I feel.

First of all, let me express how lucky we are to have a healthy baby. She is doing fine and really, when you think of it, of ALL of the problems that can happen during pregnancy, if this is the only one we'll face, well that's pretty darn great. Some women go into labor at 20 weeks and need to be on bedrest for the duration of pregnancy...and some women never even get the chance to get this far. I know I am lucky to have a healthy and active little girl.

There's a flip side to all of this feeling lucky, though...I am very, very upset about this. I was very much looking forward to the uncertainty of going into labor. That excitement felt with the first contraction or the water breaking was to me, an entrance into a part of womanhood that I was excited to join. I wanted to arrive at the hospital in a panic and have Jon coach me on to what would be the greatest thing I could ever do as a woman. I wanted to earn this baby, and now, with a planned C-section, I feel like she'll just be given to me. I know I went through nine months of growing and loving her and believe me, I know that was work. But I wanted the sweat and tears that went along with a vaginal birth. I wanted to prove to myself that I could bring a human into the world using my body. I just feel like I've failed in some way.

I'm also not too happy about recovering from this major abdominal surgery. Will I get to have skin to skin contact with the baby right after birth? Will I get to breast feed in recovery? These are all questions I'll have until it happens. It is so important to me to do those things right away, I just hope they will happen.

On a much lighter note...the baby is anything but light. She tipped the scales yesterday at an estimated 7 1/2 pounds putting her in the 90th percentile for this stage in pregnancy. The doctor said that even if she wasn't breech, he'd have talked to me about a C-section just based on her potential weight at 40 weeks alone...which he said could be nearing 9 pounds! I told him that I would have still liked to try.

Now to the basics of this whole situation: provided I don't go into labor before, the C-section has been scheduled for November 3 at noon. Yes, the day before election day. No worries, I have already voted absentee. For Jon, it's not the best timing for work, but he is not even considering that right now...his thoughts are about me and the baby. A couple of things could happen between now and then. First, the baby could still flip on her own. They will do an ultrasound the day of the C-section to make sure she's still breech. If she's flipped to head down, they will send me home and I can wait for labor. Also, like I said above, I could go into labor naturally before the 3rd. This would prompt an emergency C-section...a situation nobody wants including me. That is why they are scheduling the procedure for a week before her due date.

There is a procedure called an external version where the doctor physically turns the baby from the outside. This is a risky procedure and has a high chance of leading to an emergency C-section and/or harming the baby. I feel that if I chose to do this, it would be for selfish reasons...and not in the best interest of the baby...just so I could have my vaginal birth. So we've elected not to try that method. And oh yeah, my doctor doesn't do those because of the risks anyway.

So there you have it. This is it. My total raw feelings holding nothing back. Do other women feel this way with the same news? I'm not sure, but this is how I feel and I thank you for listening.

Exciting Day!

Today's the day we've been waiting for...no...not birthing day, but we do get to see the baby today!!!

Jon is meeting me here at work and then we're off to the hospital (which is REALLY close to my work) for the ultrasound. They are going to check three things: the baby's position (they've been telling me she's head down, but just to make sure they check), the level of amniotic fluid (to make sure she's got enough in the pool to keep swimming for a couple more weeks) and finally (and most important to me) an estimate of her birth weight.

Then I head down the hall and the doctor will examine me to see if I have started to dilate. Wow. It's all really happening! Some days I feel like I'm going to be pregnant forever, but then appointments like today's make me realize that it's about to end.

On a comfort scale I'm about a 9 out of 10 which isn't bad. I've started to have some pretty significant foot pain which I learned is another symptom of "lightening" (baby dropping). No pair of shoes is comfortable and barefoot stinks too (no pun intended). I just need a permanent foot massage dude to follow me around all day and I'll be all set. Other than that, I'm feeling pretty good despite the slight swelling in my sore little (big) feet.

And just think: as of Saturday, I'll be full term! That's right...37 weeks!

Productive Weekend!

Well, we're all set for the baby. Now, we just wait.

The bags are packed and in the car. The car seat is installed in my car (complete with a bear so the seat doesn't look so sad and empty). The stroller is assembled, the swing put together and the pack-n-play is all set and ready to go.

I still have a feeling that the baby will come early. I'm pretty sure she's started her drop as I've explained in other posts. This weekend, it was pretty evident as more and more pressure is being felt on my pelvic floor and my bladder. The books (and my doctors) all say that this dropping is happening right on time and she could very well spend up to three weeks in her current position, so no need to open the champagne yet...just make sure it's chilling.

Speaking of booze...the dude who sells our beer is a friend. See, here in Pennsylvania, you can only buy beer by the case and only at a distributor...so....the owner is cool and he set aside a case for me earlier in the summer of Bell's Oberon (a Michigan beer only available in the summer). On Saturday, he told me that it was for me for after the baby, and since I'm so close, we got it Saturday. Soooo cool! I can't wait to have one! It's now just sitting in the garage fridge looking at me. Torture. Pure torture...but well worth it!

Let the Discomfort Begin

For 99.99% of this pregnancy, I have felt great. I've been very lucky to not have had most of the bad pregnancy symptoms. However, last night I was truly uncomfortable. I woke up twice to go to the potty, and the second time was about 9 p.m. My lower back was throbbing and when I went back to bed, I just couldn't get comfortable. Every time I tried to roll from one side to the other, I'd have a braxton-hicks contraction, and then the baby would press on my bladder. Needless to say, I've been up since then. Normally, I'd get to leave work in 45 minutes and be done for the day, but not today: today I have to do the noon for CBS, so no sleep for me until at least 1. Awesome.

Oh well, at least the Phillies won last night! Yay! Go Phills!

Move, Shake, Now Drop

This is too funny...but there is a song by DJLaz Feat Pitbull (yo yo) that is played in kickboxing every week that TOTALLY describes our little peanut...take a listen...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUC66G5qmg4&feature=related.

No, I'm not a DJLaz Feat Pitbull fan, in fact I had to look them up on the internet this morning...but the song is hilarious. The words go: "I wanna see you move move, shake shake now drop what yo mama said..." which is just what the baby is doing. See since about week 2o, she's been doing the move move, shake shake part, and now, according to the doctor yesterday, she's starting to drop. So, an appropriate song indeed!

I went yesterday, and everything checks out fine so far. The doctor said she's beginning to drop and I can totally tell. She just feels a lot lower in my tummy. Cool! He did a routine test for Strep B which I won't describe but it was AW-FUL and then he told me he wants to see the baby again on an ultrasound...COOL! They just want to check her amniotic fluid level, make sure she's facing the way they say she is, and finally predict her birth weight. Apparently the ultrasound tech they have at the hospital has a very good track record in predicting birth weight, so he says her prediction should be fairly accurate. This will be such fun! I'm trying to get in Friday, but may have to wait until Wednesday...either way, I'm soooo excited!

Kudos to Ikea

I gotta say, I'm pretty impressed with Ikea. See, when you buy something there and you have to put it together, most would be discouraged by looking at their wordless directions. I was too...at first. But, the drawings are so detailed that it really isn't that tough to put things together.

Imagine my relief then yesterday when I opened the box to our Graco infant swing. The directions had WORDS! I thought for sure it would be a snap to put together. Nope. See, Graco needs to take drawing lessons from Ikea. Despite the fact that there are words (albeit very few) on the directions, the tiny and un-detailed drawings made putting the swing together a very LONG and frustrating task. I finally (after about 2 and a half hours) got it together and have just the mobile that attaches to the top to do.

Good thing Jon is putting together the rest of the stuff. I'll keep a stock of his favorite beer on hand for the weekend when he attempts it all. Heh heh heh!

TMI

This post is going to be TMI...but it's my blog and I want to write about it, so if you don't want to read TMI, then don't go any further.

Yesterday, I took the plunge into the world of granny panties. I had to buy them for after the baby is born and I want to wear something comfortable. They're lovely, let me tell you. I also bought a nursing bra. What a clever contraption...I must say. I've been told to buy only one now and then wait to see what "the girls" do after the baby is born. So wait I will, although I can't imagine them bigger....eee gads!

Finally, I had to buy breast pads. They're like maxi pads for your boobs. Kinda gross if you ask me, but apparently, sometimes milk just wants to come out. Ewww. Anyway, why is it that when you go to a store (Motherhood Maternity) to buy something specific (breast pads only) does the clerk think you are there to buy the ENTIRE store? I walked in yesterday and picked up the box of pads and the clerk asked..."is this your first baby?" Dumb me said yes. She then asked (in a very condescending tone, I might add) if I had my nursing bras. Pleased that I was prepared with a well-researched answer, I told her I bought one for the reason stated above. She then said..."well, do you have your sleep bra? How about nipple cream." O.k. wait a minute. Some total stranger is trying to sell me cream for my nipples? First of all, I don't even know what the hell that crap is, second...I don't even know if I'll need such a product. She then went on (in her still condescending tone) to tell me basically that I would have nothing I needed if I didn't buy it all right now. I ignored her, bought the pads, ignored the offers of credit cards, joining dumb birth clubs, etc. and went on my way.

Oh yeah, I also made a vow to myself. The next time a store clerk asks me if it's my first baby, I'll say no.

Nesting...It is REAL!

For those of you skeptics out there...the nesting thing with pregnant women...IS REAL!

I am unable to function until EVERY aspect of my life is in order. Now that the baby's room is almost done, I'm tackling my file drawers and desk at work. I want everything in order for the woman who is taking over for me. There's no reason why she has to sort through papers for three months...now it's all nice and neat for her.

Next on the list: the kitchen. This weekend, I plan on cooking ALL weekend long. I'll freeze sauces, soups and other stuff for the dreaded time after my mom leaves. I've also been stocking up at the grocery store...yesterday, I bought six boxes of spaghetti...lots of chicken stock and canned tomatoes...and other staples for the pantry.

Then I'll buy the final things I still need for me for the hospital and we're packing our bags this weekend...and then we're all set.

Now watch her come tomorrow. Eeeeek!

98% Done!

It's been a VERY productive weekend, and I'm happy to report that the baby's room is 98% done. There are just a couple of little things left to do. The shot above is of course the widest shot I can get of the room, so click on my flikr link to see the rest.

On Saturday, Jon and I spent the ENTIRE day working on the room. We went to Lowe's for closet shelf hardware and to Babies R Us for little stuff we still needed. Then when we got home, Jon hung the shelves and I did what seemed like 500 loads of baby laundry. It was so fun hanging all of her little clothes and putting everything away in her new little room.

Today I was up early again to finish what I didn't get done yesterday. I ran over to Ikea and bought (and then put together) the little table you see next to the chair. It is a perfect size...and it holds our favorite book "On the Night You Were Born." I can't get through it without bawling...which is exactly what happened this afternoon. How can you blame me? It has polar bears on it! And the book says that on the night the baby was born, the polar bears danced in celebration. Wouldn't you cry too? Jon had to bring me a whole box of kleenex.

We're all ready for you, little one. Five weeks to go!

Weekend Eve

Happy Weekend Eve....sorry I didn't blog yesterday...I've been having some trouble sleeping so I was pretty dog tired yesterday.

I did, however, want to post what my sister wrote to me for the gift. Follow this text. For each word in bold there was a coordinating gift. I'll put what she got us in parentheses:

Dear Christa and Jon,

As you prepare to have your first baby, I would like to present you with some advice. As I read, please open these bags and pull from them things that will help you during the first months of parenthood (an issue of parenting magazine) bliss.

First of all, Christa and Jon, I will start with your daughter's birth. What you are about to experience is a true miracle (a picture frame with the word miracle on the bottom). The feeling of childbirth cannot be described no matter how much you have learned or how much preparation (a tube of preparation-H) you have done. Once your daughter enters the world, everything and everyone else will pail (a diaper genie) in comparison to her beauty and the love in your heart will be filled and refilled (diaper genie refills) every moment of every day from no on.

The countless hours you have spent getting ready for your baby's arrival show that the two of you are desitined (desitin diaper cream) to be great parents. As you leave the hospital with your new Michigan Fan (a Michigan cheer leading outfit) in two, you will realize that her birth wasn't the only avent (baby bottles) you have been anticipating for nine months, so is the beginning of you life as a family of three!

Now comes the hard work! She's home, now what? Well, the keys (toy keys) to raising your daughter so that she will be successful and hopefully graduate (baby food bowls) are simple:

1. Learn her cries: Her first sweet cries will be music to your ears. After a while, though, in order to keep sane, you will need to learn to pacify (pacifiers) her and keep her happy. You will soon learn her cries and what they mean. Each different sound is her way of telling you what she needs. You really only need to know the basics for no more tears: (baby shampoo) A shout-like loud cry means I'm hungry, please feed me. An annoying continuous cry means I have a wet one (travel packs of wet ones), please get me a clean pamper (a box of diapers)! A red-faced grunting cry means gas bubble, please burp me! And a soft whimpering wine (a bottle of red wine) means I'm tired, put me to bed so I can sleep and you can unwind!

2. Love, Kindness and Affection: This one is especially for Jon. You have no idea how much a daughter loves daddy hugs (a book called Daddy Hugs)! You will melt at the sight of her and you will feel like you can't possibly hug her and love her more. The hugs Christa and I received from our dad are still with us every moment of every day. Also, Jon, you are such a loving guy, you will have no problem catering to all the needs of mom and baby (an issue of mom and baby magazine)! I have such confidence in you! Girls Rock (a bib with that saying on it), don't they?

3. Keep her Clean, Healthy and Safe: You will have fun listening to her screams as you give her a first bath and brush (a baby grooming kit) her first hair and trim her first nail. Her beauty will shine through!! She will look pretty in pink (a pink outfit) and perfect in purple a purple outfit), but I can already tell that Red and Grey (an Ohio State hat) are not her colors (so you better give this to Jon). Take care of her little sniffles and keep her updated on all of her shots (mini bottles of booze for mommy and daddy)!! Believe me, they are far worse for the parents-you'll need these when you get home from well child checks. And remember, it's always Safety First (outlet covers). You will be an expert (like our mom) at crawling around at baby level to find hazards to fix.

In conclusion Jon and Christa, I am so proud of you ! Your life is about to change and we could not be more excited to become an Aunt and Uncle (more bibs) and cousins for the first time. Thank you for that gift, finally! I hope these tips (Q-tips) will help. We are always here for you and can't wait to meet our new little niece.

Guess how much we love you? (the book by the same title)

Stacey, Dave, Erin and Emily