Bun's still in the oven; the oven's now in bed

After two trips to the hospital in as many days, I am now officially on strict bed rest at home. Yesterday, we were being overly cautious about whether things were "starting"; they weren't, so we were sent home. Today, Mom went with me to my weekly doctor's appointment and my old reliable, high blood pressure, was rearing its ugly head. So, she sent us to L&D again. I actually was prepping myself for induction today, but after awhile (and laying on my side), BP went down. Since I was responding to lying down, I am now on strict bed rest (potty breaks only, the rest of the time in bed). We'll do this for a week and go in for induction at 37 weeks....hoping to keep him in as long as possible! Also, we're tired of false alarms and sitting around the hospital!

So. I'd love to hear about anyone else's bed rest experiences. Besides movies, books, TV, and potty breaks....any advice on fun things to do?

Dropped, locked and loaded!

Getting closer, in so many ways! So many things to be thankful for this year!

The house has been mainly moved over....now we just need to unpack. Thank goodness we can stay with my parents for a few nights. Thank goodness we have so many wonderful friends and family who are helping us in every way imaginable right now.

We had a doctor's appointment this morning and we got some unexpected and exciting news! The baby is FULLY dropped into my pelvis (nowhere to go but out), I am 3-4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. She said if I was 2 weeks further along, she would have broken my water and we would have had a baby today. As it is, we have very strict instructions to follow and things to watch--she's concerned that it's going to be a *VERYFAST* labor when I do start up due to his position and how I'm progressing, and she wants me to be able to get an epidural. I could have the baby anytime from tonight until two weeks from now. If we do end up inducing, she is very pleased that my body is starting things naturally--apparently it's much better that way. It was such an encouraging appointment and I am truly overjoyed to make it to 35 weeks with everyone healthy and happy so far.

I'm going to try to relax as much as possible and keep him in a little longer (wimpy white boys and all that), and also try to enjoy my last few moments/days of being pregnant for what is most likely the very last time.

Everyone have a wonderful holiday tomorrow and I will keep you updated as soon as I can. There will be news soon, that's for certain!

Holding pattern

We are prepping to move on Wednesday--we've packed up a lot and the movers come in and do the rest starting tomorrow. We're spending a couple of nights with my parents and then settling in over the weekend. I will not be online (as) much or blogging in the meantime, but hope to update early next week....when I might have a LOT of time to be online, considering how high the BP has shot up in the past couple of days. We went in today and confirmed our home kit isn't "off," that my BP was really skyrocketing. My OB wasn't in, but we talked with the nurse at length (after 2 tests) and she said to take it really, really easy (no more packing or moving for me) and also has me doing some, ahem, additional monitoring that isn't particularly pleasant, so I'll spare you the details. We go in and meet w/ our OB on Wednesday--I have a feeling she'll officially put me on bed rest at that point. But I'm going to go ahead and mainly do just that anyway. The numbers we're getting coupled with my all-night -long headaches are convincing me that I need to slow it down.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Have a wonderful and safe holiday.

Update: no news is good news!

Here we are, trucking through week 33....we had a little scare at the doc's office this week--I thought we might be heading off to the hospital for a short while and then was pretty sure she'd put me on bed rest, which didn't end up happening. Yet. But the BP is creeping back up, so we're keeping an eye on it. I am officially off all carbs so we can monitor my "puffiness" (technical, eh?) and have been to ordered to slow down and rest more. Which is only kinda sorta happening. Except for today--R got sick overnight and coughing turned into vomiting, so we are laying very low today. Poor girl!

Before all this, we went to Kiddie Acres park for a spur-of-the-moment visit last weekend with the Shiflets. I didn't snap any pics, so I'm stealing Cord's. Also, our camera officially kicked the bucket, so we don't really have any recent pics....hopefully we'll get a new one soon. Anyway, Kiddie Acres = awesome old school fun. And you can do all the rides (which basically all consist of some version of going around and around in a circle) in about 45 minutes.

The carousel!


The airplane (R's favorite)!

Wind in their hair....


The pony ride!


The boats!


(Check out the equipment! David asked if they got their tetanus shots after their visit...)

Otherwise, we have been busy worker bees trying to prepare for the move--overseeing the few changes we are having done, buying new furniture and other items, etc. Just not packing yet. And we move next week. Oh well! It'll happen!
At this point, we are really feeling like we are into a week-to-week schedule as far as the baby's arrival goes. We are very hopeful we can make it past TG, which will mean he's 35 weeks along and we're in the new house.
Will keep everyone posted as to any new developments that happen at this week's appointment--I'm really hoping I don't have to go to bed just yet....

The Thoughtful Thief?

Well.....someone returned Halloween cat! Wonders never cease! It would have been nice to have had the cat for HW festivities, but at least we have it for next year. So, thank you for that, high school pranksters or frat boys!!! We're glad to have the cat back. :)

Halloween '09 celebrations

Halloween 2009: let the parties begin!

Wow, this has been an eventful week!
On Thursday, Reese and I went up to the Pi house for some trick-or-treating and fun. It was wonderful: the girls had set up cookie decorating, candy apple stations, and they were all so sweet to hand out candy from their rooms. Three of my pledge sisters were there with their kiddos (plus other alums I didn't know), and it was such fun to see them and catch up!

Reese and Nico meet Ford.


Reese exuberantly loves on Nico.


No, really, Reese, you can take those hands off my adorable face now! (some of these photos courtesy of Monique--thank you!)


Making the rounds and scoring some candy...are they not the cutest cheerleader and Sleeping Beauty you have ever seen? Also, do those horizontal stripes make me look fat?


And following Ford around...


This was excellent trick-or-treating practice--R totally knew what to do last night!


Nico and her hot mama! Must say, being at the Pi house brought back memories--but so different to be there with our little ones! It was really fun.


Nico wants to interact with her paparazzi.


On Friday, R's preschool class hosted a party for the parents. David and I had a total blast! The kids were all in costume...


They sang 5 songs for us and did some dancing.



Then we ate lunch, had story time and went outside to watch them attack the pinata. What a fun party! And so wonderful to have a little glimpse into R's day at school. They are learning so much, and she seems to be having a terrific time in the process...

Which leads us to last night, the big All Hallow's Eve itself!
Reese was Sleeping Beauty again, for about 15 minutes. Then she had a change of heart, tore off her clothes and decided she wanted to be something else.


Thank goodness we had Mary Blake's darling witch costume!


Daddy had already prepared to be SB's prince, so he stuck with it. But Greta was ready to go in her coordinating witch's costume...


Here's a family shot. I am emphasizing the Buddha belly with an aptly placed pumpkin face (thank you for creating it, Becky!)....


We had the BEST time trick-or-treating...we went over to our neighbor friend's house and met up with about 3 or 4 families...then we hit the streets of RW as a big group. It was great to move as a huge group. There were 10 kids, and the big girls took the lead with R, holding her hand and ushering her from house to house as the parents just trailed along. This, my friends, is the way to trick-or-treat! It was pretty dark and my camera is crap, so my pics didn't turn out great.
Here's the group, heading out after a pizza dinner...


Reese, joining in the haunting fun!


Did you know it's not very much fun to have gestational diabetes while all this delicious HW candy is lying around? Oh, the guilt every time it passes the lips! And the annoying need for enough self-restraint to select just one (or two) pieces of chocolate at a time...
And next up, moving houses and Thanksgiving! Not sure how much I'll be blogging (and when on earth do we have a triple posting day on the Babble?? Woot woot!), but I will check back in as the big things happen!

Home Sweet (New) Home

We did it! We closed! And finally, we took R over to see the new digs.

She was so excited! We've been driving past it, wondering aloud if that house just might have a pink room in it. Finally, she started saying, "Let's go drive by our new house." I guess our subtlety isn't what we thought it was...

Walking up with Daddy. First time in the house!


Walking into the great room.


She found it! The much-discussed pink room! Can you tell she likes it?!


Trying out her new room...it passes the test!


Somersaults in the playroom!


Running around the back yard.


Playing on the swing in the front yard.



The house definitely got the Reese seal of approval. She's had a ball showing her new room and playroom to family visitors! Come by and visit us soon--we should be moving within a few weeks!