The Game Plan...

Okay so I was thinking it would be fun to do a photo blog type thing on here for the nursery we're creating for our baby this summer. We are transforming the over-cluttered, single-path-to-dressers nook in our bedroom into the baby's own personal space. I have a pretty specific picture in my head of how I want this cozy 7.4' x 5' space to look.
We've already bought 2 decor items, but you'll probably see those in June when we hang them. Here's the first pictures... and you thought your home was a mess *nervous laugh*
In my defense, the rest of the house is presentable... unless my mother comes to visit, Ahhh!
I guess that's what will make the transformation all the more amazing, right?


First off, "The Nook". I've already cleared out the middle 3 drawers of my own dresser for Gracie's clothes. The top drawer is already full. If you look in the lower right-hand corner of this first picture, you can catch a glimpse of a night stand. I cleaned that out a few weeks ago & put all of her receiving blankets in it. She has a lamp from my office (I'd like to replace the shade with a cuter one), and board books from her Nana (my mom) on top.:




The crib will go under the window. We will be replacing the blinds and hanging a valance. The changing table will go where the giant CD rack is. The CD rack belongs to my brother-in-law who has been living with us since last July.





The game plan for the first week of may... go through 1 brown box a day, May 1 - May 9.

Check Up

Today was the closest I've come to getting really emotional & crying in my entire pregnancy. I saw her face.
We had a check up this morning with perinatalogy. Grace is healthy and active. I mentioned Friday's spotting to the doctor, and she said it was probably a ruptured cervical vessel. Yay... relief, just a pregnancy hiccup. The technician did run back in after the initial ultrasound to ask if I was in pain. I said no, and was alarmed. Was something wrong? If you ever become a doctor, don't ask a high risk pregnancy woman if she's in pain right after reviewing an ultrasound. The doctor said the hospital had just started a new pain scale policy where they have to ask everyone that question. *rolls eyes*
So everything looked really good on the scan. Our little girl is a plump 3.3 pounds at 28 weeks (about 1/2 pound ahead of what's "normal") but they said she was on track, in the 60th percentile. Not sure what that means. I was a little disappointed at the scans they printed out for us. They got her foot and her "uni" (girl equipment). We already have shots of those. I would've loved to have the one of her face. She turned her head right toward the camera and I could see her so clearly for just a moment. I could see her eyelids, her little stubby nose, and fat puffy cheeks. She looks similar to my baby picture, only a little rounder. I will try to hold on to this picture in my head, even though my thoughts become a little fuzzier every day & I often can't remember what I said or did seconds ago.

Afrighted

You ever have one of those days that just makes you worry all day long? Yesterday was one of those days. I woke up to 3 small blood spots in my undies. I was very alarmed. I haven't had any other discharge at all down there, just those 3 pinhead-sized spots. It's just not normal when you're 7 months pregnant. I think I could've handled losing the baby a few months ago, but not when she's so very close to being here. I only mentioned this abnormality to my husband, as I didn't want any rumors spreading around our community/church. I was even more concerned when Grace spent the morning being very quiet and inactive. Borrowing from my grandmother's vocabulary, I was "afrighted". I was able to get my mind off of it a little by going out with my friend and her kids for the day, followed by a trip to the hospital for my Rh shot. I have Rh incompatibility. No one tells you this is not your average shot. I was expecting it in the arm. How cute and naive I was! Yeah, it goes in your BUTT! Ah! Anyway, I mentioned the spotting to the nurse, and she said to keep an eye on it. I have a check up with perinatalogy on Monday, and will mention it to them as well. Grace has since gotten more active and even give me a couple of good strong pops. Let's hope this was just a pregnancy hiccup...

The Whole Commercial

Last night we went to see the movie, Penelope (which is totally cute by the way). After a Taco Bell dinner, we stopped by Shopko for goodies. Yes, we are naughty & sneak candy into the theater like any other patriotic American. On our way to the candy aisle, we passed the mattress pad aisle. They were having a 60% off sale. I have been saying I'd like to try a foam padding under the sheets to help me sleep & have some extra cushioning, but I was thinking more along the lines of $30 egg crate style. These were fancy memory foam pads. The queen size one was like $289... on sale for $111. Andy argued the point that a high quality memory foam pad would be more conducive to reducing the pressure on my hips & shoulders than a egg crate foam pad that might not last as long. So we got that... saved ourselves almost $180. I don't think we could've afforded it otherwise. So after we got home from the movie, we get around to deciding to put the pad on rather than let it air out like the directions suggest. This meant stripping down the bed to the mattress...
Does anyone know how to keep a mattress clean? We keep this protector thing over it, but the mattress was really grody & had like lint and junk in the little depressions. Eww.
So guess what we did.
We vacuumed the mattress.
Yeah, that was interesting.
After we vacuumed, I febreezed the darn thing. Wow... when did "febreezed" become a verb? Maybe the same time, or shortly after, "googled" did.
So we get the pad on there & remake the bed. I'm a little skeptical, but I make my little pillow nest & we eventually get to sleep around midnight. I was up at 1:30, ready to get to get up and face the day... but it's only 1:30, so I went back to sleep. 3:30 I get up to pee, then go back to bed & sleep till Andy gets up for work at 5. So the pad helped me sleep twice as long as I normally do. I have been waking up every hour for the last few weeks, usually sore and not a happy camper. With the pad I tossed & turned less. I guess I'll keep giving it a try to see how it works out.
So now that I've written a really cheesy review of memory foam mattress pads, I should note that I completely forgot to take my insulin before bed last night. This morning I was dreading my sugar, thinking it would be sky high after all the candy I ate at the movie & the slice of pizza I had when I got home. My sugar was 96 this morning. AMAZING! I'm thrilled.
Now to take my insulin...

Retail Therapy

Dear Grace,

Daddy & I went to Babies R Us today to look at the clearance rack. Daddy went crazy and bought an entire outfit get up for your Christmas pictures, and to wear on Christmas day. Daddy loves Winnie The Pooh and got you a little ivory courderoy dress with Pooh Bear on it and red snowflakes. He also got you a red onesie, a red jacket with Pooh Bear on it with Christmas trim, and let mommy get you some Pooh Bear Christmas socks and a dumb santa hat (and one with a reindeer on it). Between that & the onesies we found for you before we knew who you were, you'll be all decked out for the holidays. After that, we went to the mall. When you are older, you will appreciate that Daddy seems to enjoy shopping as much as any of your aunties. I even teased him that he'd probably kidnap you just to take you shopping and dress you up so I can have 10 minutes to myself. I know he wants a boy, but I think he's having fun buying pretty things for his little princess... not that he's excited or anything ;)

Can YOU Can-Can?

So yesterday we had our ultrasound. It went well and Grace passed all of the doctors tests. We also caught her in a bizarre position. Andy couldn't stop laughing. Check out this babe & her long, gorgeous gams. Also if you look closely, you'll see her holding her chin (as well as beautiful little fingernails-- eeee!). The pose suggests "Hmm... I got into this position, now how the heck do I get out?"



Too funny. I tell you, this is one goofy kid. Andy suggested she was contemplating her foot as I often do.

Furthermore, Clarene said my sugar is fine. My hA1c was 5.7. I thought it was going to be a lot higher. She said if my sugar continues to spike, that I can increase my insulin dosage to 4. So we'll see how that goes in the next few weeks. I feel like my sugar is low now, but dinner will be done soon.

Well, just wanted to share this picture of Grace. We're almost 6 months along, and she's 1 lb 14 oz. The doctors FINALLY settled on July 16 as my due date, even though Grace is measuring a week ahead of schedule, which just reaffirms the dreams I've been having that she'll arrive on June 26.

Take care till next time!