Eviction Date Set!

So, if this little one does not decide to come on his or her own, we will start the eviction process Tuesday May 18th - either at midnight or 6:30 am depending on how things look before that. Today, was just a standard doc appt with weight, BP, measurements and heart beat. Baby's heart beat was mid 150's today. The doc was stuck at the surgery center and I had the girls with me, so I saw the PA. We skipped the internal this week (my choice). No need for added questions from the kidlets. So, 5 days until my birthday, 10 days until Mother's Day, 16 days until my due date, 19 days until baby's eviction and 30 days until our 6 year anniversary. Looks like a busy month ahead of us!

2 for 2 asleep!

Of course, what is Mommy doing? Blogging! :o) I actually hit the treadmill for my mile and a half walk too. I found out that I have to return to the church this afternoon that we have Moms Club events at to retrieve my daughter's beloved baby Cinderella doll.... So with dinner at MIL's about 4:45 - I doubt with these late nappers I will have time to get outside in windy ND for a walk.

17 days...

So what does a Mama do when she has 2.5 weeks left until her due date (and probably 3 weeks left until her induction date)?

This morning, I have washed 2 loads of clothes (I hate dirty clothes sitting around). I loaded the dishwasher and ran it. I love my new dishwasher. I can take a sink full of dishes and even baked on pans and throw them in and they come clean! I gave the girls a bath... I have to run and exchange a printer cartridge before I do lunch with girlfriends. Then this afternoon will be nap/quiet time and a walk and park time. We had FIL's birthday party last night, so we are invited to MIL's tonight for supper to eat leftovers. I am just estatic that I do not have to cook two nights in a row! :o) I took the girls on my standard 1.5 mi walk yesterday, but had so many contractions and pressure that it was almost unbearable. I am thinking of increasing this to 2.6 mi today to hit a different park than yesterday.... this may change with how I am feeling and how long the Tater Tot naps.

Tomorrow is the doc and I am turning down being violated so I can bring the girlies with me.

19 days... what's left?

Well, today is a rare rainy day that we have no plans. We are going to run to the grocery store to get brownie and cake mix before the sale ends... but that is it. I already started laundry and ran vinegar through the coffee pots after I fixed mine. Alex, who gets vinegar for being naughty thought I should get in trouble for having the vinegar out - and told me, "Daddy doesn't like the smell of that." Well, that is why I did it at 7:30 and Daddy won't be home for 12 hours! :o) Maybe it will diffuse the scent of bacon from yesterday though!

As far as the baby front, I am still walking at least 1.5 mi a day - somedays 2.5-3 but doubtfully with the rain since I am not that big of a treadmill fan. Nothing is happening... I go back to the doc Thursday and will not be checked because I am taking the girls with me. So, the 6th or the 13th I can hope for progression and then will have my membranes stripped. If I have no luck on my own, we will go to the hospital at midnight on the 19th to begin the fun of my 3rd induction! I washed baby clothes, packed my hospital bag and the girls Gma bag... I just need to install the car seat in the van. I also have to go grocery shopping this week and think about it as stocking up so I don't have to run out with a 1-2 week old. I do need to take recycling to the recycling center as well.....

22 days and so many thoughts...

Well, today the H was home and I got to take a walk by myself. I lengthened my normal walk of 1.45 mi - and walked about 2.3 miles in about 50 minutes. Of course, beyond swelling like a balloon in the heat of 68 degrees there is nothing notable beyond pelvic pressure, contractions and good tunes. I wish I knew how to get this baby to engage in my pelvis, how to control swelling and how to avoid another induction. This weekend I need to pack my hospital bag and the girls "Grandma" bag. I also need to install the car seat into the van, just so we are ready. I washed some baby onsies that I had been given (that still had tags on). I am pretty much ready, just waiting for my body to progress.... I hate to say it but I feel great. I have very few aches and pains and I have a fair amount of energy. Once I can get to sleep, I sleep great. (Though 3 days this week I heard the newspaper delivery guys come.) I have 30 meals in the freezer waiting for after baby to arrive.... I don't know what else I can do.... 22 days and counting....

Baby Update!

Hello! We had our final ultrasound today. Baby is now measuring 7 lbs, 3 oz and is adorable! We got to see him/her stick its tongue out as well as try to put his/her hand in its mouth. I did ask to try to see a gender, but baby had its butt up and legs closed, so it remains a mystery! We have the option of doing an induction May 10th, or waiting until the 19th and right now I am leaning towards the 19th if nothing happens on its own before then. By then, baby is estimated to weigh about 9.5 lbs give or take. My due date is May 15th - only 23 days from today! Attached is a picture of baby's profile from today - so cute!


If you have not yet taken a guess as to what our baby is, when he'she will arrive, the weight and length, join the game at www.expectnet.com and enter the game name: ourbabynumber3.

Baby turned!

So last night, my fears of a breach baby disappeared when I woke at 2:30 am to rib kicks. They never felt so good! Baby has been his/her active self this morning giving me a bunch of kicks to watch!!!

Breach baby?

So, here is it less than a month before my due date and the baby has flipped. I am fairly certain that after having baby head down for the past two months, he/she has turned and is hanging out head up or transverse. I woke last night to pee and was up for 2 hours having my cervix kicked. I am really hoping and praying that this baby turns so I can avoid a C-section. The very thought scares me. I am NOT a homebody and not being able to do my usual outings will drive me stir crazy. I really don't realize how much I pick up the girls, but at 36 weeks pregnant, I still pick them both up. I am a Mom and I cannot help it! I pick up Taylor and carry her more, but she is only two and is only 27 pounds. I do pick up Alex to help her into the chair to sit with me, put her on her bunk occasionally and help her on the swing at the park. I am really trying hard not to think about it, but I know my doc and I know that if the u/s does not show a head down baby on Thursday, she will schedule a section. Hopefully if that happens, baby will turn before the date and we will not need that. I also believe that I heard that my doc's surgery day is on Tuesdays (could be wrong), so if it is.... she would either want to do it on my B-day (May 4th - 38 weeks, 3 days) or my sister's B-day (May 11th - 39w, 3d).
This thought scares me. Do not ask me why, but I would rather know I will have stitches down a little farther than a doctor cutting my stellar abs! :o)

I also need to say that last Thursday was the 3rd day I have taken off from walking in the past 4.5 weeks. I did not walk because I grocery shopped in the morning and it was a cool, windy day. I finished up my freezer meals that day. I made 4 more meals and 2 snacks. I have 30 or 31 meals total plus 6 loaves of bread (5 garlic, 1 amish), and 1 fruit salad that can be breakfast or a snack and wonderful PB bars that I will have to post the recipe!! So, bring on the baby, I am ready!!!

36 weeks!

Holy Baby Belly! Seriously, how much bigger can this thing get?

Most of my shirts okay, ALL of my shirts are are now too short. I am carrying so much lower than I did with my girls... I guess things that are made as dresses (yet bearly cover my rear) is my only option!

I enjoy feeling baby move and I look forward to holding our baby. I could live without heartburn/reflux and pelvic pressure (really, I NEVER felt this w/ the girls!).
Plus my girls are probably looking forward to me holding them on my lap as opposed to the side of the chair....

I'm so anxious!

I have 4.5 weeks of pregnancy left but I am so anxious to get it over with. However, I know that the longer the baby stays in, the better. Taylor was induced at 37 weeks, 5 days and I still believe to this day that her severe reflux was because she was early. Though, no doc will confirm that it makes me wonder if she had stayed in a week or two longer. All I can think about is meeting baby and trying to go into labor on my own (after 2 inductions)! It doesn't help that I have heartburn and reflux so I feel terrible when I attempt to lay down to sleep at night - and have been waking up at 4-5 am and not being able to get back to sleep..... I have been walking daily and little one is active - so I guess that is the main importance that we are both healthy. Anyone want to occupy me to help this last 4-5 weeks go quicker? I may need strength to help me avoid an induction and hold out....

Stock the Freezer!

I am so proud of myself!!!

Here is our garage fridge freezer. Right now, this is holding 14 meals plus 7 loaves of bread. I also have 6 containers of soups and 2 freezer bags of calzones on the top shelf of the other freezer. In addition to my list I posted the other day, I made Broccoli Tater Tot Casserole, Baked Chicken, Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti, and Glazed Carrots today.

I have left on my wish list to make: hashbrown casserole (adding sausage to make it a meal), seafood lasagna, cheddar broccoli soup, taco chili, breakfast egg casserole, champagne salad (mainly fruit & cool whip), and peanut butter bars.

After it is all said and done, I will have 34 complete meals in my freezer in preparation for when the baby arrives. If I use these meals 3 days out of my husbands work week, they should last about 2.5 months.

Now I just need my husband to get the baby car seat down from the loft in the garage!!

Zoo Day!

We love Zoo Days!

Only a few more weeks until the Zoo opens full time again!

Here are some of our pics from our trip today!! Taylor's favorite, the buffalo.

(that's right, both girls walk the mile loop in order to see the buffalo!)
The girls walking the said lap...

Alex playing with the "stinky monkey's". The little one on the branch would jump on the edge of the glass to "get" her. It was really cute. Cuter if Taylor didn't run our repeatedly because, "It stinks!"

Another shot of the "stinky monkeys".

This is the Puma.

It was pretty intimidating.

It kept walking up and down the fence line watching the girls.
Lastly is the Moose.
The girls were infatuated with him though all he did was lay there...

35 weeks, 35 days left!

So, this pregnancy is really flying by...

I cannot believe that I am really 35 weeks pregnant now. Does it look it? :o) (Don't answer!) I tried to take a belly pic, but our bathroom mirror is embarrassingly dirty, so please excuse it. I will try to get a better one after my daughter wakes. How sad is that? I need my 4 year old to take a picture of me!!
I had a doc appt on Thursday and I am measuring about 5 weeks big. I gained only a pound (YEAH!) and am doing well. My next appt I get an internal and an ultrasound. Right now, my induction happy doctor says that she would let me go until my due date on my own, but not past 41 weeks. My husband is hoping for the 16th of May so that he will be off due to the baby for this. I told him then he needs to arrange for his Mom to take the girls if he is going out 4 days after I give birth!
Well, I have successfully walked 19 of the last 21 days at least a mile with 4 miles or so being the longest. Today, I think we will get our walk at the zoo. :o) I am looking forward to the girls running all over outside.

35 week pregnant baby belly (measuring 40).

So here is a slightly better pic. After my shower and taken by my 4 year old.

Pre Baby Freezer Meals

Over the past 5 weeks, I have been busy prepping our freezer for the impending arrival of our baby. Here is my list so far. I think I have counted 8 casseroles, 7 breads, 2 sides, 3 meats and 8 soups (though I may be wrong). The items that are duplicated indicate multiple dinners for that meal. (i.e two dishes of Zuppa Tuscana soup.)

Yum Yum Pork Chops
Broccoli/Rice Casserole
Pasta Fagoli Soup
Zuppa Tuscana Soup
Zuppa Tuscana Soup
Lazy Cabbage Hotdish
Chicken/Rice/Broccoli & Mushroom Casserole
Pizza Calzones
Veggie Cheese Soup
Kneophla Soup
Kneophla Soup
White Chicken Lasagna
Mini Cheddar Meatloaves
Mini Cheddar Meatloaves
White Chicken Chili
Chicken Taco Bake
Baked Corn Casserole
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread
Amish Bread
White chicken Calzones
White Chicken Chili
Sour Cream Enchaladas
Salsa Chicken
Burritos
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread
Lasagna

Happy Easter!

Here are my angelic looking kids on Easter....

Here is their fat Mama on Easter...
34 weeks pregnant doing the dishes...

~13 out of 15 days!~

I think this is my record for working out. Being less than 6 weeks away from my due date, my version of working out is less than it was last summer and what most people clasify as working out.... I have walked 1-1.5 miles (one day 3!) each day with the exception of the one day last week I was recovering from the stomach flu and a few days ago that we didn't have any power - and it was snowing out. I do walk at only 2.7-2.9 mph, sometimes at 1-2% incline, but sometimes none. I have been able to complete 1.5 miles in 32-33:30 minutes. Of course, I prefer walking outside to inside.... but with Easter today, I woke and couldn't sleep (Alex woke to pee, then my stomach was growling) so I decided to come walk on the treadmill before showering and getting dressed. I know I will eat entirely too much, but this is one thing I can do to try to keep my weight gain under 50 pounds! :o)

A meal my kids will eat!

So, I had a craving and decided to make it for lunch, but on the stovetop instead of the oven like the recipe calls for. I also halved the recipe...

Broccoli & Rice Casserole
2 cups cooke rice (I use brown)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I used reduced fat)
16 oz bag of frozen broccoli
2 cans cream of chicken soup (I subbed cream of mushroom)
Usually bake at 350 for 1 hour - freezes well too!

So, I halved this and added probably 1/2 cup of cooked, diced chicken to it to. The girls LOVED it.

Here is dinner:
Chicken Pot Pie
16 oz bag of frozen mixed vegetables, thawed.
leftover cooked, diced chicken ~about 1-2 cups (I am into cooking whole chickens lately)
1-2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1-2 tubes of cresent roll dough

Spray baking dish, line the pan with cresent rolls. In a bowl, mix veggies, chicken and soup. Place on cresent roll dough. Top mixture with cresent roll dough and bake.
Usually takes about 20 minutes at 350.

Peeve of the day~

We get paper and milk delivery. I realize as a courtesy to these delevery people, we should have snow removed in our driveway/walkway so that we can allow for these services. However, the H did not remove the snow yesterday before he went to work and I had NO desire to try to operate the snowblower yesterday with all the wet snow out there. I also feel bad calling neighbors to ask them for help.... so the 4-6 inches we got yesterday is still in the driveway with tire tracks from my husband going in and out to get to and home from work.

So this morning Taylor wakes me up and I see the newspaper wrapped in blue plastic laying in the said tire tracks, about 2-3 FEET from the road. Really?! Are you so lazy that you just drive down the road and drop it out the window? That is what it looked like. No attempt to even elbow it out the window, just a drop.... So, I waddled my pregnant body out there since I knew the H would more than likely drive over it.... It was slippery! The melty wet stuff we got yesterday froze hard and has a hard shell on it. I needed to put bills in the mailbox as well (which was only 2-3 steps from where the paper was).

This peeves me. Yes, I know that the snow should have been removed. It would make the newpaper carriers job easier. However, I am also tempted to call/email the paper to complain. I could through the damn newspaper closer to the door than that!

What the Friday?

I am joining the bandwagon with my girlfriend Sarah on her What the Friday?!

Okay, so I had thought of several WTF things having to do with kids... but this HAS to outweigh any of that. At least for the moment.

Here is my WT Friday?! Yes, this is the view from our front window. It is wet from snow/sleet hitting it... and my guess is that there is 4-6 inches of wet snow out there.

Because of this, we lost power about 9:30 am this morning and just got it back on about 3:30 pm this afternoon. I had to parent today! I did not have TV as a backup... I did not have radio, I did not have even a charged portable DVD player. I did listen to my Ipod for a while when Alex and I cleaned the toyroom. Yes, I was that desperate to do anything that I cleaned!

My dear husband has to drive through this to get to work and the DOT website says that two of the 3 highways to get to his plant are temporarily closed due to down powerlines. So, their plan was to take the interstate to the open highway to get to the plant. (This one had powerlines down too, but they have already been repaired.)

So, I am thankful for power. I am thankful for HEAT. I am thankful that dinner tonight will not be just sandwiches. I am thankful that my kids were good without TV.

We're expecting!

So this picture was taken a few weeks ago, 3/21 I think.

The girls got balloons from out neighbor boy's birthday party.

Alex wanted help to put it in her nightgown - and little sister follow's.

So, how long do you think they'll make it?