A Whole Weekend In a Day

  Wow, it is amazing to have so many friends and family in one place at one time.  I am just not used to juggling the fun!  I got to have a girls lunch baby shower with Erika and Stephanie.  It was so great to have girl talk and baby talk with those that have been there.  I miss hanging with the girls and have not done so in a very long time.  The day was beautiful and the sunshine could not have been better.  The colors were not quite peak, but still pretty.  I am grateful for caring and positive people such as these girls to be in my life.

  The Tea Room had great tea, I had the apple cider, great food and fun hats for all.  I am happy the girls could make it and enjoy such an occasion together.  The celebration of a baby to come soon into the world and just catching up on life.  I really appreciate the baby shower presents also.  Any help I can get to raise this baby, I am grateful for.  I am excited to share this experience with them and the baby too.  I only hope we can get together after the baby is born also.

  I over-did it with the driving and walking yesterday.  My belly was tight and hard and the baby did not move much yesterday.  There were two occasions of back muscle spasms that were painful and uncomfortable.  Today I want to sit and rest more, but the day of excitement was better than missing out.  That is for sure.  I am excited for the possibilities today.  We are going out to the property to enjoy Steve & Jamie's company and to share some treats we got yesterday.  Erika brought us a raspberry Belgium chocolate cake from Gopher's.  SO delicious, it will be great to share.  (The baby likes when I sit at the computer.  He kicks and punches a great deal.  Puts on a real show usually, like now.)

  I love Fall, but this year is going by SO fast.  October already?!  Oh man, I wish I could have another Halloween party!  I do not want to plan something and then have to cancel or suffer through the preparation for it.  Although, I think Christmas this year will be so fun.  I have been weening off of presents in the past.  Now I have an excuse to give to the baby and not so much for myself.  I wonder what I will look like by Christmas.  Still swollen face and double chins?  Who knows.  I think the Christmas picture this year may be a professional one or at least from further away.

  So allergic.  I am hoping to go get some fresh air and hydrate myself so I can have a good day hanging out.  I get nothing done, like reading the books I want to read prior to the baby coming, but it is worth every second to spend in memories with those I care about.  I know Tony lives to spend time out at the lake and with family.  It is the best.  Maybe we can have a campfire today.  That would be great!

Sleep & Teen Advice

 
  Teenagers feel invincible and that they know everything.  It is hard to impress upon them that to survive out in the world they have to listen to others to understand how things work.  It seems like everything goes in one ear and out the other, but they sometime will either listen and follow or say you were right sometime in the future.  It would be better if they learned the first time, but that is a difficult task for anyone.  I only want to help, be a teacher, be instructive and authoritative as well as a guide to independence and common sense.  I hope to live up to that, but stumbling along the way will be instructive in and of itself.  Oh, the fun begins.
 
  I finally slept for 7 consecutive hours last night!  I still awoke to hip muscle spasms.  I think stretching makes all the difference.  I went and stretched again today so I'm hoping that I will have another good night.  I want to be able to normally exercise SO bad. I want some fun and I am ready to see friends and family this weekend.  The Fall colors are gorgeous and I want to see them and relax.  I know busy time and changes are coming.  I want to relax but this is so uncomfortable that it is difficult right now.

  Changing table has arrived and is assembled!  That is the last piece of furniture for the nursery.  Now for the cleaning out of the canvases and art is the last to go.  It is exciting and this last week just flew by. I cannot believe I am 35 weeks along!  Crazy how fast these last weeks will go despite the kicking, punching, sharp pains and muscle cramps.  I want to document, document, document this experience.  I thought I may never get this experience.  I am appreciative of every minute.  I hope I can say the same after labor. I appreciate that I can carry the baby around easily today without so much baggage.  They grow so fast.  They are not even born yet.  Hah.  I'm such an over-thinker, planner.  Sleepy, sleepy time. (Yawn)

New OB-GYN doctor and Birth Plan

  I met the new OB-GYN doctor at Portage Hospital.  Dr. Baudoin, pronounced Beau-deen, was very nice, thorough and seemed on top of it.  She is enjoying the pace and Copper Country so far.  I would feel comfortable if she had to birth my baby.  She has been called in 5 out of 7 days that she has been on call.  I feel better having met her now.  I am glad to meet anyone I may encounter when I go into labor prior to the big day.  She may not know the area, nor the history of the family in this area, but she's ready to jump in.  I like that.

  Today, I am writing out my birth plan.  I am writing it in pencil first so I can think about it and then will fill it in with pen.  I am packing as much as I can for the hospital so Tony has less to think about when the time comes.  There are a great number of things to remember and I am glad I am doing this early.  So many things I do not want to think about last minute.  Feels good to get ready even if the end date may be between 2-8 weeks away.  I hope for 4-6 weeks to go into labor, but I will take whatever I get.  I am not ready today, but in 2 weeks we will definitely be closer.

  This is my favorite card from my baby showers.  LOVE the balloon theme.  My favorite book of all time has a balloon page with similar drawings inside of it.  So cute.  Gives me a good vibe of nostalgia too.  Time to load the recyclables, change out the laundry, write my birth plan, take my vitamins and make returns now.  There may be a stop in the office as well.  We will see.  Gorgeous fall day out- need to take some pics today as well.  Fun!

34 weeks 4 days

Camry Sold & Baking

  The banana bread is almost gone.  The house warming party last night at Josh's house was laid back and good to relax around those people.  Quite the characters.  I did not bring a gift, but they had plenty of beer and food to go around.  Tonight I made Rice Krispie treats.  Have not had those in a very long time.  Years I would say.  Comfort food all around as we had broccoli chicken casserole for dinner.  I went grocery shopping and am finally in the mood for cooking.  Tony must be thrilled for real food and not fast food dinner.

  The Camry sold without any fanfare today.  I was at the State Wide office fielding real estate phone calls.  Tony gave over the papers of title and receipts for work done in the past.  The keys- in total, were given over as well as the CD player face case.  My baby will always have a special place in my heart.  She never failed me, only needs a new alternator in the end.  Cheap price for a teenager to now have his own set of wheels.  End of an era.  Time for truly new beginnings and letting go.  I am a fan of change, some easier than others.

Not my Camry, but same style and color

  I have been putting off painting and sewing.  Now is the time.  Man, I wish I could get a cleaning service in here.  Some to dust, sweep, mop and vacuum.  Some to remove the recyclables, do my dishes, take the laundry upstairs and to clean my refrigerator.  I am ready to nest, but can only stand for so long before my feet and back start aching.  My neck is still out of whack and apparently, I have been told, I have taken to deep and loud breathing when I do actually fall asleep.  I think I will be on the couch tonight.

Acupuncture Is A Life Saver!

  I have been having shooting pains up the back of my neck the last 3 days.  I know my vertebrae are rotated.  I called the chiropractor right before my doctor's appointment yesterday and they got me in later that day.  It was as I suspected, the muscles were so tight, the chiropractor could not get them to budge for an adjustment.  I did get a little relief, but it was short lived.  I ended up getting little sleep last night because I could not find a comfortable position for my neck or hips.  I feel bad for Tony with all of my tossing and turning.  I actually slept in a squat position for a while last night.

  Today, I went to the acupuncturist and I feel as good as I can feel right now after seeing her.  She really whips me into shape with some no nonsense treatment.  She tells me how it is and we can laugh about those things you can do nothing about.  Pregnancy is all about rolling with the punches and never get knocked onto your butt because getting back up is exponentially more difficult than maintaining your footing from the beginning.  I have started getting dizzy if I sit up or go to walk from a laying position these days.  I have had to lay back down twice in the last 2 days because my head was throbbing and spinning too much.  Once I lay back down and slowly rise, I feel better and can keep going.  I wish I could see the acupuncturist every week, but she is a popular and busy girl.  I know why, but it does not stop me from dreaming I could see her.  Worth every penny to see her despite insurance not covering any of my treatments.

  I am loving apple cider right now.  That and Kashi Autumn Harvest cereal.  I think fall likes me and agrees with me too.  I plan to drive around drinking my cider this weekend while enjoying the colors alongside the road.  Cannot wait for that road trip.  It will be a short one, but long enough for me to enjoy.  Right now I think I will read my sewing surger manual and see if I can figure out how it works in order to test it out before the return date passes.  Then I have to go into the office and see if I can straighten out this mess of a property deal I am entangled in.  I know it will not be figured out today, but I want to be present when they have questions so I can answer them straight away.  Good stuff.  I am going to make this dessert this week, as well as my banana bread.  Tony likes Chocolate Cream Pie...

Rough Day Yesterday, Gloomy Today

  Yesterday was an emotionally exhausting day.  It kind of came out of nowhere.  It may be that I am getting sad about selling my Camry of 15 years.  It may just be pregnancy hormones.  Either way, I was not productive and really was in a bad mood.  It did not help that the day was overcast, rainy and overall gloomy.  Today the weather is not any different, but I am in the office and have appointments to attend for distracting my mind from dwelling. 

  Tony is really a life saver in that he took the time yesterday to cheer me up.  Some quality time is just what I needed.  I am so happy that he could cheer me up.  He had a rough day too and I think together, we were able to soothe our souls to survive another day.  He really keeps me sane and as even keeled as I can get.  This is why I married him and why he is so good for me.  He is a great provider and takes care of me the way I need to be taken care of.  He is such a good guy.

The Saga Continues...

  I showed some houses today.  Showings went as well as I expected, tempered excitement and no paperwork signed.  Future sales all over the place, but nothing hot on the fires right now.  I'm absorbed in my own property sale.  It's ok, it is how the world goes right now.  I am ok with slow learning and preparation.  I think you go with the little fish that will lead me to bigger fish.  Or at least interested fish that are ready to go.  I have a date with the assessor tomorrow to get some action going.  We will see what happens.

  Gorgeous colors starting on the way to Bootjack.  I cannot wait for for colors to explode.  I think this year will be great.  I want to go and take pictures with all those leaves surrounding me.  I am torn as to go back to the studio for more pictures, but I do not think Tony can get the job done.  A photographer would be nice that can direct me into good lighting, flattering angles and fun settings.  

  I was having major pressure on my bladder for 5 days, then sharp shooting pain that I thought might be an infection.  I tested negative for an infection so I looked into different causes. I started doing pelvic tilts (propping up my pelvis with pillows for 10-30 min) to get the  baby to move more upwards.  It worked and the pain went away.  Now I have to do the tilts daily or the pain comes back.  I did not think I could make it another 4-6 weeks with constant sharp pain like that.  I am glad I could find a solution without going to a physician.  We were in away from home at seminar away from the doctor anyway.  The saga continues...

Presque Isle 9-18-2011

   I have a generous cousin that gave me her breast pump so I could get new attachments and use it.  It turns out it was barely used.  I think there was a reason for that.  I thought it was an Ameda, but it turns out it is an Evenflo.  This cheap pump gets terrible reviews and does not seem like something I want to risk in using.  I think I may want to bite the bullet and just buy a good pump.  It may be the case that this is you get what you pay for type of thing.  I want to get this right the first time.  Should I buy new parts and try it or not waste my time and just purchase a new, good one?  Hmm... decisions, decisions.

  The nursery is coming along.  Tony discovered the border is too high to fit above the picture rail so he decided to paint above the picture rail and put the border a few inches below the picture rail.  We chose a dinosaur border to go with our safari themed drapes.  They do not really go together, but I love the dinosaur border.  I will do dinosaur drapes in the future.  Right now, I will stick with the drapes I already sewed. Love the border.  Tony did three coats to cover up the existing border.  What a worker that guy is.  So great.  I hope the rain holds off so he can finish the dresser soon.

34 Weeks tomorrow!  40 days to go 'till my due date :)