Worth every second of discomfort and waiting

Not sure how this post will look, as it is being crafted via Blackberry, but the newest Dubya has arrived and he is perfect.

At 8lbs 8oz and 21 inches, I now understand why he was able to get up under my ribs and make me pee simultaneously.

The Big Dubya's got a photo up on his site - I'm not sure I can figure out how to link to it from here...

Anyway, thanks for all the support

Mother Nature? Mother Fuc%ing Bitch is more like it

Yeah, so some random thoughts on the end of pregnancy......

I've decided that I'm not leaving the house again until it's time to go to the hospital..... I just don't like being laughed at..... and then pitied.

Yes, I know I look ridiculous...... all my weight has shifted forward and is concentrated on the front of my body -- I'm a big belly with legs. But, do people really have to look at me like I'm an over-ripe piece of fruit.... ready to fall off the tree at any moment? I'm serious, people see me and they laugh out loud - they don't even try to hide it..... sometimes I get the sympathetic head tilt afterward -- but that doesn't erase the emotional scars all that laughter is leaving on me... anybody know a good therapist?

We are starting to make some name progress -- the Big Dubya was emailing me some candidates this morning and I was blackberrying him back from BJs...... yes, this is how we are naming our child..... Dubya's at work and I'm in the frozen food section of BJs.

Still no baby, but we did have a false alarm yesterday -- but after a few hours, I was sent home to wait a little longer -- they did promise that it won't be long now though....

And, lastly....... to be filed under the "reaction every wife dreams of":

Mrs Big Dubya: Honey ,I think I might be leaking amniotic fluid
Mr Big Dubya: That doesn't sound good -- what's it mean?
Mrs Big Dubya: According to the internet, it means labor is imminent
Mr Big Dubya: What does imminent mean?
Mrs Big Dubya: Oh, it could be hours..... or days
Mr Big Dubya: So, I've got time to go golf 9 holes, right?
Mrs Big Dubya: Yeah, go ahead

And, so we wait........

Think you could help me out and have the baby today?

Yeah, so..... as if I needed incentive, my brother called me on Friday


RoRo: Hey sis, had the baby yet?
Mrs Big Dubya: Nope, still waiting
RoRo: Think you could take care of that today? It would really help me out
Mrs Big Dubya: Yeah, I really wish I could...... but..... it's kind of out of my hands -- why, what's so special about today?
RoRo: Oh, I went to the Celtics last night and got all banged up -- really need an excuse to blow off this bachelor party tonight -- a baby would do the job nicely
Mrs Big Dubya: Yeah...... wish I could help you out dude, really -- anything I can do to help your social calendar.

Anyway, 8:40pm on Monday night..... still no baby

You know you are really largely pregnant when....

Some random woman in Marshall's says "ouch" when she sees you and then follows it up with a chuckle and an "I'm sorry"

For those keeping track..... this is officially the most pregnant I've ever been..... I know I'm still not due (or overdue) but when your first baby is 6 weeks early and your second is 3 weeks early.... you just assume.... you know in your gut..... that your third will also be early......

Rest assured -- the newborn clothes have been laundered (in Dreft of course), the bassinet has been washed and made up, now it's just waiting for it's future occupant, the car seat has also been washed and is just waiting for the Big Dubya to install it.

I went through boxes of the 'lil Dubya & 'lil Dubyette's baby things this morning -- as I went through the first box of the 'lil man's things..... I got all choked up and thought..... gee, I hope it's a boy so that we can use all these again. Then I went through the 'lil lady's things and thought..... gee, I can't imagine not seeing another baby wear these.... I hope it's a girl.

In honesty, I'll be happy with whatever we have -- and I've got clothes for either occasion.

We still have no name, but..... I'm sure that'll come eventually, right?

Do you think....

Do you think the baby's refusing to be born because we still have no name selected?

I guess even voo-doo practicing witch doctors are wrong sometimes

So, no baby yesterday..... despite the prediction made on Friday.

It did give me a kick in the butt and now the bassinet, bedding, car seat pad, swing pad and baby seat pad have all been washed. Granted, they were put away clean (and not that very long ago) -- but I like to give them a good freshening up just to be sure.

And so now we wait......

A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y

'Lil Dubyette: (upon examining her new Princess Disney sneakers) -- Ariel?
Mr Big Dubya: No sweetie these ones don't have Ariel, they are Princess sneakers...... honey, is
Ariel considered a princess?
Mrs Big Dubya: Sometimes they group her with the princesses..... sure.
Mr Big Dubya: So, she's kinda like Y
Mrs Big Dubya: (cracking up) yeah, just like Y

PS -- Nope, no baby yet

Just another manic...... Friday?

Back in March it seems that I left my flip flops in Florida..... so, I figured I'd run to Kohl's this morning and grab a new pair -- thinking that if (when) I go to the hospital, they'd be a little more practical than slippers.....

The 'lil lady was a perfect princess -- the 'lil man.... a perfect terror. He took off in the store and then threw himself to the floor in a full blown tantrum. Needless to say, we left the store before I was able to do any of my shopping. I must have been a site..... 9 months pregnant carrying a writhing toddler while pushing an embarrassed looking smaller toddler in a carriage.

Later, at the toddler gym -- both children's asses exploded with diarrhea and I decided that yes, this was going to be my day -- despite having a million and one things to do, I haven't left the house since.

While we were at the gym, a woman who I'll swear could moonlight as a voodoo practicing witchdoctor told me that I'd deliver on Sunday -- from her lips.....

I'll keep you posted :)

Are you kidding me? #18?

First, my update.....

I'm feeling much, much better -- although the baby is still feeling really huge, and when he/she moves it still feels like my internal organs are being ground into a very fine dust...... the baby has dropped a bit and I can breath again (most of the time) -- so that makes it all so much more bearable. BP is still elevated, but doesn't seem to be getting worse. Still no names...... but I digress.

Now, my post..... or really just my "Have you heard about this whack-job?" she and her husband just announced that they are expecting #18...... EIGHTEEN children!!!

Okay, in the interest of full disclosure (sorry honey, cover your eyes/ears) I get sad when I think about the fact that this is my last baby. I love babies and love the idea of a large family -- I also love most of pregnancy -- not the end so much, but the rest of it..... it's pretty cool. But, I also recognize that in this day-and-age..... three kids is a pretty big family and as much as I would love to think about a number four -- three is a really good number for us -- maybe not for everyone, but for us -- three is a great place to stop and count our blessings -- be thankful and get on with the next phase of our life -- the phase that doesn't involve pregnancy.

So, although I'm sure I'll have the occasional moment of weakness -- I can confidently say -- this is IT for us. So, I lie on the couch every night after the other two are in bed and I feel/watch this 'lil (or not-so-lil) one roll around and stretch and do all the things that cause me pain and discomfort and I just marvel at it all.... I find it hard to believe that it'll all be over in a few weeks.... so I just want to relish the miracle that it is (even when it causes me to use really foul language).

That being said...... this woman is about to deliver an 18th child..... 18 people, 18!

Gush!

My first child was delivered early -- my second child was also delivered early.

After yesterday's appointment -- it appears that there is actually a chance that this one may go to term....... this would normally be good news -- and of course, it is good news..... although, I'm really ready to be done.

It has, however, generated an unreasonable level of anxiety in me. See, although I have two children....... I've never done labor..... never had my water break, never had any "real" contractions....... haven't been dilated, haven't been effaced...... lightening? lightening? what's that?

So, now I'm totally convinced my water is going to break...... which from what I read on the internet only happens in advance of actual labor 15% of the time -- but yeah, I'm convinced that it's going to happen to me... and that it's going to happen any minute.

I'm not sure why I think this.... it could be that this baby has been sitting lower than my other two and has for quite some time now, it could be because this baby seems to be HUGE or maybe it's because there is just an absurd amount of pressure whenever the baby moves which is ALL THE TIME.

The Big Dubya finds this paranoia amusing...... he won't be laughing when it happens.

'lil Dubya (in a very excited voice): Look at this!
Mrs Big Dubya: What?
'lil Dubya (the excitment in his voice builds): Look at this!
Mrs Big Dubya: Buddy, I still don't see anything
'lil Dubya (more excitement): Look! on the floor!
Mrs Big Dubya: What? I don't see anything
'lil Dubya: pee pee
Mrs Big Dubya: Oh, you peed on the carpet
'lil Dubya: uh-huh
Mrs Big Dubya: Okay, I'll clean it up
'lil Dubya: Thank you Mummy

And this is my Friday.....

Miscellaneous

Let's see..... yes, I'm still pregnant -- and all of my weight is shifting forward.

Seriously -- I used to be kind of "pregnant all over" -- not anymore -- now I look like I've got a basketball ( a full-size basketball, not one of the child or women size -- no official NBA size) tucked under my shirt.

It is also as hard as a rock (the Big Dubya joked that it gives new meaning to "abs of steel"), I can't get any pants up over it and every time the baby moves it feels like my internal organs are disintegrating..... lovely.

I now understand what women mean when they say they can't get comfortable at night -- I never had this problem with the first two, but this one..... this one doesn't like any position I assume and if I am lucky enough to get somewhat comfortable..... it doesn't last long because I'll inevitably have to get up to pee...... awesome!

My legs are good and swollen...... oh well, that happens.

My blood pressure is still elevated, but seems to have stabilized somewhat..... I go to the doctor this afternoon, we'll see what they have to say.... there was some talk of perhaps scheduling my delivery at today's appointment, but..... I'm not sure that'll happen.

I was up watching Leno the other night..... did you know that Helen Hunt's 4-year old daughter has never watched television? never watched a movie? I'm all for limiting television/movie viewing, but this seemed a little extreme. I'm still not sure if I'm impressed or if I think she's a total nutcase....... maybe both. Will this kid be really socially awkward? or what?

The 'lil Dubya seems to have recommitted to potty training -- which is good, except he uses it to avoid the things he doesn't want to do. In the middle of dinner if he doesn't want to eat anymore he announces he wants to use the potty -- 'cause he knows it'll get him away from the table.

The 'lil Duybette seems to have a new hobby..... hair puling. Yes, she likes to pull the hair of her brother, her classmates..... just about anybody. This is no gentle pulling either, she likes to grab a hold of hair and shake the other child's head..... she ends up with a fistful of hair and a crying child. UGH!

Still no baby names..... but now people are telling me that we are having a boy (something to do with the shape the basketball has taken on) -- so, my girl theory may be out the window -- I suppose we'll know soon enough.

Apparently, I'm not alone in the baby-name-struggle.

Crazy friends and Chicky friends are grappling with this too.......

I grew up with THE most common name -- let's just say, that there were 100 girls in my class (all girls school, natch) and there were 13 of us..... yes 13 girls with the same freakin' name -- 5 in my homeroom alone.

I refuse to do that to a kid.

On the other hand, I don't want his/her name to be so obscure that nobody's ever heard of it or that it can't be pronounced by the teacher on the first day of school each year.

Why is it so hard -- a name that is pronounceable, spellable -- yet, not common or ordinary. Pressure's on kids..... HELP!!!

Happy Birthday Big Guy!

Prince/Princess Consuela Bananahammock??

So, I'm back at work......

After the fire drill last week, I took a few days to "work from home" and got my blood pressure back to normal..... well, back to just merely elevated .... and, well here we are..... back at work. I'm in week 36 now, if we have to deliver -- we can, but a couple more weeks would be better -- so..... now we wait.

This baby is sitting much lower than my other two and is very active.... so I constantly feel like my water is going to break..... although, that's never happened to me before so I'm not really sure why I think that or what it would feel like if it were to happen..... does it hurt?

I had a mini-freak out on Thursday morning -- I was supposed to go to the doctor at 9:00 but, the doctor had a delivery so I got bumped to 1:30. I decided to take the opportunity to go to Target and pick up a few little things...... while I was there I was overcome by the thought that I haven't done anything for this baby yet. With the first you do EVERYTHING ahead of time.... and then re-do it just to be sure..... with the second, you do a few things... but you know that it's okay if every article of clothing isn't boiled prior to delivery. With the third? You are so busy with the first two that you do nothing. So, I went to the baby section to see if I needed to pick up anything and I saw newborn diapers were on sale..... so I grabbed some of those.... and then I saw that the preemie size were on clearance..... and that's when I started to cry. Right there in the middle of Target. Was I going to need these? again?

No, I was not -- I put them back and pulled myself together -- why rush to the worst conclusion.

Turns out, I was right -- the doctor thinks this baby is a good size...... already over 6 lbs...... if we are already over 6lbs and have 4 weeks to go with the baby gaining between ½ and 1 pound a week...... good God how big can this child get???? and wooohooo how skinny will I be after he/she's born??? okay, let's not get crazy

And, we still have no name for the child-to-be

Every time we get to a place where we say we agree on a name(s), I see the look of relief come across the Big Dubya's face and I feel good about our decision.... but only a day or so goes by before I realize that I'm just still not happy and I ask to go back to the drawing board.

Shut Up

Yep -- yesterday, the 'lil man said his first bad word.........

I was struck by the fact that he used it, and maybe more so by the fact that he used it appropriately. It was hard not to laugh, but I really did resist and we sat down and talked about how that's not a nice way to ask someone (his sister in this case) to be quiet....

I have a feeling this is just the beginning