Birth and Baby Class

Josh and I took our "Birth and Baby" class this weekend. My insurance company has this healthy pregnancy/birth program where you have to take 3 free classes (a pregnancy class, birth and baby class and a breastfeeding class(all of which the public has to pay for) and then all of the prenatal OB and delivery of the baby only costs $100! We joke that little guy is our "clearance baby", because we are saving thousands of dollars with this program. I am glad that we "have" to take the classes, but I am not sure I could convince Josh to go otherwise. One of my friends/coworkers, Beka, is due about a month after me, so we signed up for all the classes together. I think that the boys really appreciated this, having someone to goof off with. Our instructor used a lot of humor, so the four of us laughed our way through. Josh was traumatized just a little bit with all of the information he learned and the videos he watched.

Beka and I learning baby care
(gender appropriate babies of course)

Josh getting comfortable with some basic skills like diapering, swaddling, bathing and position changes.

Chris and Josh and the boys

This was a face I got a lot as Josh learned about the messy birth experience and "fun" things to come after!

So that's what the pillows are for!
We got a letter in the mail telling us to bring 2 pillows, Josh asked "What do we need pillows for?", I haven't ever done this before either so I said "I can only imagine from what I have seen in the movies". The pillows were used for propping so WE could practice breathing and relaxation when WE are in labor!

Just funny

Josh, Leigh Anne, Beka and Chris

Josh's Bday

Papa and Vicki came over from Raleigh for Josh's 29th birthday. We went to the Melting Pot for dinner on Saturday and then Sunday we went to Cafe' Carolina for lunch after church. We really enjoyed their company but they had to get back.

So for the rest of the day, Josh was able to do exactly what he wanted:

Chicago Bears game(WIN!)

Party Pizza

Cold Stone Ice Cream Cake

I have been having a lot of awake time in the middle of the night now. And of course, Saturday night was no different. I woke up at 2:30am Sunday morning, Josh's actual bday...and couldnt sleep so what is a girl to do but give him his bday gift! I bought his gift several months ago and have been dying to give it to him, but I waited. I guess I just couldn't wait any longer! Josh loves camping gear, so his bday present was just that. I found a camping chair that is a high chair. Its very cute....I mean rugged! Josh was such a good sport, awake a 2:30am putting together his new gear with a screwdriver!

33 week update

While I was at work on Tuesday night, I started contracting. One of my doctors was there so, I went into an empty L&D room(had I not been a nurse there, I would have had to go to triage and get registered and all that jazz) and got on the monitor-the same kind for the NST to see how often I was contracting and see how little guy was doing with the contractions, she checked my cervix(still closed, which it should be since I am only 33 weeks) and did a FFN(fetal fibronectin) lab test. If that test is positive it means nothing, if it is negative it means 97% chance that you won't deliver in 2 weeks. Mine was negative, so even thought I was contracting it is not really doing much. She just encouraged me to drink lots of fluids...which sounds like no big deal, but that means I was in the bathroom all night-not a fan!

I had my regular doctors appointment the next day on Wednesday. Weight gain and baby's heartbeat were good. I am measuring 37 weeks now, my doctor said "no wonder you are starting to contract, your body thinks your term". We have scheduled another ultrasound to check little guy's growth for Friday, October 2nd. Yeah, for another ultrasound! Then we are looking at possibly inducing labor at 37 weeks, the real 37 weeks-not the I-am-measuring-37weeks(which would be the week of October 11th). We are still doing the NSTs every week, and they are going great.

Oh, and I have been meaning to ask my doctor to "special" me since I found out I was pregnant but havent for one reason or another. I am pretty sure she knew it was coming but I finally did it yesterday! She quickly agreed! For her to "special" me, means that she will be my doctor and delivery me even is she is not on call. This is just one of the benefits of being a L&D nurse! Now...which nurse do I want to special me....

Maternity Pictures

Photos by: Rebecca
www.hollandphotographyofgreensboro.blogspot.com

Podcasts

As many of you know, I am a podcasting junkie. Some of the podcasts I am currently listening to are:

Stand to Reason-an apologetics podcast challenging your worldview

American Conservative University-various thought provoking podcasts from folks like Michelle Malkin, Dennis Prager, and others

Rabbi Daniel Lapin-like he says: everyone needs a rabbi

Hardcore History-Dan Carlin's history podcast...one of the best I've ever heard

Speaking of Strange-I really only listen to him because he's from North Carolina

North Point Ministries- Andy Stanley's podcast that challenges me on a daily basis

The History Podcast-pretty interesting roundtable of folks talking history

Reasonable Faith-the smartest man alive, Bill Craig, engages the culture from a philosophical, spiritual, and scientific worldview...yes, all three are compatible.

Wallbuilders-David Barton's passion for US history is amazing

Paranormal Podcast-cheesy podcast where the host typically says "Oh My!"

Inspiring Words of Encouragement-If Zig says it, it must be true!

Do you have a podcast that I might be interested in? If so, drop a line and let me know.

Susan's Pics from the baby shower

Here are some cute pictures from the baby shower we had in July in Georgia. Thanks Susan for sending them!

No boys allowed except to set up, thanks Uncle Z!

Fredricka and Aunt Elsie

Nana getting some more practice with Baby Camden

Denise and Grandma

How cute is this sippy cup?

Alex helping manage all the loot!

My bestest friend EVER, Jenn and her daughter, Lilly!

Thanks again Susan for an awesome shower!

Nana with her bestest friend EVER, Susan!

Ocean Isle

We went to Ocean Isle Beach with 3 other couples for Labor Day weekend. It was really fun to get away with friends. There was us- 32 weeks pregnant, Jennifer and Jason with 2 month old Russell, Devon and Chad with 3 month old Parker, and Amy and Ryan with 1 year old Isaac! It was definitely a full house with lots of laughter(from the adults) and tears(from the babies).

The Dads were on baby duty while the girls soaked up some sun and chatted.

Amy, Devon, Jennifer and LA

Can you see the cute surfer dude in the background?

Josh had his much needed play time in the ocean with the boogey board.
Remember our last beach trip, he wasn't allowed to swim due to the rip current.

I have begged Josh for 2 weekends of beach trips to make a a gut pit, so I could lay on my belly. He finally surrendered and agreed to it.

He even did it with a smile!
By the way, he lost his sunglasses in the ocean, so he is wearing an old pair of mine!

I was giddy!
The gut pit was perfect on the first try. He must really know my gut!

31 weeks and Counting

At 27 weeks, when we had our last ultrasound, I was measuring 2 weeks ahead. This week the doctor measured me at 4 weeks ahead. So the question is then, is it all fluid or is he growing appropriately? So we were scheduled for a repeat ultrasound. The ultrasound tech was looking over his anatomy and measuring to determine size when she came across this good profile, so she quickly switched over to the 4D scan so she could get a good face picture. While she was switching over, she was saying "Don't move baby, Don't move!"

He was still long enough for her to get a couple of good pictures! Look at the cute little guy! This picture even impressed the nurses and staff in the office! We were proud parents today. He even has a little grin on his face.

Under his chin is part of the umbilical cord, which by the way....is not around his neck like it was last time! Praise God!
Here is a picture of his foot(across the top, toes to the right). I asked her to try to get a picture of his foot because we didn't have one of those but this is as good as it gets. I think he had them hiding under my ribs too much to get a good picture.

The amniotic fluid level was 26, the same as last time. The polyhydramnios is not worsening, Praise God again! A 31 weeker should weigh 3.5 lbs but little guys weighs 4 lbs 9 oz! He has grown almost 2 lbs in 4 weeks...if he keeps that up we are definitely looking at a 9 pounder!

New Furniture

Finally, we have furniture that we can sit on. I apologize to those folks who have visited and had to sit on the old stuff (it was not comfortable at all). I literally would get headaches from sitting on the old stuff. In fact, here I am in a "comfortable" position:

Now, here's our new stuff:...and just for fun, this is how our living room used to look...