Things change quickly around here. I go from 20-something days straight down to just a few. On Monday, Jeff and I went in for an ultrasound and my regular 36-week doctor's appointment. The ultrasound was good. Everything is still looking fine and they guessed that George weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces. Not too shabby. Then we went in to see the doc. The first thing they do is take your weight and blood pressure. Ugh. My blood pressure was BAD - 150s over 80s. They asked me to lay down for a while and they'd come try again. It did go down - into the 120s - while I was resting, but it was back into the 130s before we left the office.

The doctor asked us to head to the hospital for a few hours of monitoring While I was laying down my blood pressure was FINE - in the 115s or so. They checked some lab work too - blood and urine and all that was perfectly normal. They sent me home. The doctor wants me to try to "cook" until George is 37 weeks. That's tomorrow - Sat. I have an appt on Monday - my regular 37 week appt. Our expectation is that my blood pressure will still be high and then we'll go ahead and do a c-section Monday afternoon.

I was already given pre-operative instructions - like no food after 8 am. I'm not supposed to take my blood thinner on Monday morning. Etc. Next time you hear from me, George may be here!!

XOX
Liz

25 days to go! Well, at least I think. This week, my good friend (and future nanny sharing friend), Gwen, had her baby!! This was CRAZY news because she was due the same week as me. Mason Walker came FOUR WEEKS early!! That really gave Jeff and me a little reality check. George could come ANY DAY really. And we're ready for him, so that wouldn't be so bad. Hey, at least then I would be able to feel my fingers again. I HATE typing. Maybe that's why these posts are getting less often. Anyway, Mason is GORGEOUS and perfectly healthy. We met him Wednesday night and we'll be back to visit him tomorrow we hope.

Other baby developments this week . . . we got the car seat installed. We bought a few extra car seat bases so Jeff and Judi will have one permanently in their cars. I picked up a few more sleeper outfits from Babies R Us. I worked a little more on packing my bag of stuff to take to the hospital. Jeff went to Daddy Boot Camp this week.

Tonight we're going out for a NICE dinner. We've got plans to do that once a week until George comes. The plan between now and George . . . fancy dinners, movies, and lots of sleep (if possible).

I head to the doctor again on Monday for a major ultrasound and my 36 week check-up. Appointments will now be weekly and they'll be checking my cervix now for dilation! Maybe we won't have to wait 25 more days after all. I could use some relief in my right hand - that's for sure!

XOX
Liz

The swelling is getting unbearable. I may talk to the doctor about taking her up on her offer to refer me to a hand doctor. I can barely type. I need Jeff to cut my food. It's pretty pathetic. I am feeling more and more huge. I have 29 days to go, assuming all remains well.

We got the floor lamp for George's room today, so that wraps up the nursery preparations. Now the only thing I think we "need" is some more sleepers/PJs and some pants. I am waiting for the hand-me-downs from AJ before I take to the stores. We had a financial hiccup this past week as the nation's economy continues to show signs of weakening. So, while we can certainly still afford baby clothes, I'd like to see what my other options are first. Avoiding the stores is good for now.

I worked on packing for the hospital today. I still need to get a thing or two, but I am almost set there. Bring it on!! The sooner he comes, the sooner I will have feeling in my fingers again.

XOX
Liz

32 days and counting! I was thinking yesterday about what kinds of things I could share here - that our little George will read later in his life - that will be interesting or fascinating or a "sign of the times."

During the 30 days before or after George's birth, some big stuff is planned. Let's start with the biggest. Last night on TV Jeff and I watched George W. Bush give his farewell address. Bush's presidency began with the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil and ends with the worst economic collapse since the 1930s. The 43rd President will leave office next week and we will swear in the first African American president in history. Barack Obama will accept the job on the wings of vast optimism. He has promised a LOT of reform, so everyone is anxious to see what he'll actually be able to accomplish. I am sure Jeff will have a lot more to tell you about this topic, as he's very interested in the state of US politics.

In other national news, on your anticipated birthday, February 17, 2009, all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels. So, now more than ever, you will be born into a digital world.

Jeff will be THRILLED to know that if you indeed are born on February 17th you will share a birthday with Jim Brown, an American football legend. Other famous people whose birthday you'll share include Michael Jordan, a great basketball player for UNC and then the Chicago Bulls, and Paris Hilton, a celebrity wanna-be and Hilton Hotel heiress.

We'll save the cover of the Denver Post on your birthday so we can see the headlines. But, we'll just have to wait a few decades to see how the next generation shapes up!

XOX
Liz

He hasn't turned. He's still sunny side up, and I think I'm glad. He's measuring BIG. I'm 34 weeks and from the surface he's measuring 37.5 weeks along. At my next appt (Jan 26th) they'll do another ultrasound to more accurately check his size. All the ultrasounds are fun. I just hope he's OK. The doc thinks he's already over 5 pounds.

If he's as big as we think and he stays breached, then George will join our family on February 17th via c-section.

The swelling is bad, but there's still not a whole lot they can do about it. My blood pressure is still good. It was 110/70 today, and that's about what I was in the first trimester as well, so that's "normal."

Sooooo . . . unless something changes, that's 36 days to go!

XOX
Liz

The snow won't stop coming down! It's gorgeous, but it's slow moving today. I have a doctor's appointment in about an hour. My WONDERFUL husband is worried about me driving in these conditions. He called shortly after he left for work and he's turning around to come back and get me to take me to the doctors for my appointment. Soooooooo nice. I think we'll be a little late, but we're gonna just show up anyway. I am anxious to see whether or not George has turned southbound. I also want to talk to the doc some more about the swelling/numbness in my hands and feet. It'll be good to have Jeff there to hear it all as well.

We had a GREAT weekend in the mountains with our friends. For me it was a lot of lounging, hot cocoa drinking, card playing, movie watching, puzzle attempting, and cuddling with baby AJ (the only child invited on our trip). The rest of the gang snowboarded, showshoed, hot tubbed, and ate sushi. I was a content observer. I did get some quasi-sushi, but I will have to wait a few more weeks for the real thing.

This week is another busy one. I am hoping the next few weeks FLY by, and if I keep scheduling appointments for myself that just might happen! Today is my doctors appointment. Tomorrow is acupuncture. Wednesday is a massage (I really NEED them now for the circulation assistance!). Friday we meet with an estate attorney to nail down our wills and healthcare power of attorneys. We wanted to get all that done before George arrived. Saturday Jeff, Judi and I are all going to a Totsaver class, where we'll learn infant CPR, what to do if baby falls, is burned, etc. Also this weekend my friend Sabrina arrives into town. I hope to sneak a peek of her as she heads up into the mountains.

And while all that is nice . . . the highlight of TODAY . . . it's big George's birthday!! George's namesake (AKA Papa) has a big birthday today - the kind that ends in a zero. We'll be thinking about him all day and wishing him many many more happy birthdays to come, especially those that end in zeros. LOTS OF LOVE GEORGE!!

I'll report back briefly after the doctors appointment. Until then . . .

XOX
Liz

I think George may have turned!!! Who knows . . . I guess I'll find out at the doctor's office next Monday, but I think George may be head down now. Why?? I used to obviously feel his head just above my belly button. Now the hard "lump" I'm feeling up there is much larger, AND I've been feeling more uncomfortable and more pressure "down below." Hmmmm. I can't wait to see.

I am exhausted this week. He's feeling heavier and heavier by the second, my feet hurt and swell quicker, and I could probably sleep all day. We're heading to the mountains this weekend with friends. Good thing they're GOOD friends. I may be on the sofa, in sweats and slippers, with hot cocoa in hand, ALL weekend long!! They'll be skiing and I'll be napping. Ahhh, the good life.

This week we have two baby classes: a breastfeeding class (for just me) on Tuesday night and a hospital registration/paperwork session on Thursday night. Also this week I am having acupuncture, a massage, a haircut, and the house is getting cleaned. It should be a good week!

XOX
Liz

Tonight George heard his first live concert! Well, it was sort of a concert. Jeff and I have a 10-game pack to the Denver Nuggets NBA basketball games. Tonight the Nuggets played the New Orleans Hornets. We expected an exciting game as both teams are pretty good. The Nuggets got off to a GREAT start and were leading the Hornets at the half by more than 20 points. While that's a good thing, we prefer to see a closer game, so it will be more exciting.

All the excitement came at halftime. It was 80's night at the Pepsi Center (the stadium where the Nuggets play) and the halftime entertainment was . . . (drumroll) . . . Vanilla Ice. Oh yeah - Ice, Ice, Baby!! ;) Too funny! He sang about three songs. It was great!! We sent text messages to our friends and even called Matt Wise so he could hear it for himself. You gotta love the 80s.

After halftime the game got much more interesting. The Hornets came back to tie and I think even lead the game at one point. But the Nuggets held on to win 105-100. GO NUGGETS! I will tell you . . . it's VERY tough to sit in a stadium for close to three hours when you're 8 months pregnant, but it was a lot of fun tonight. We only have one more game to go to before George's due date.

In other baby news today . . . we helped JuJu put together a pack-n-play she bought for her house. This will be AWESOME so George can nap and spend the night at JuJu's house without us having to pack up too much stuff. Yeah! We also installed two shelves above George's changing table/dresser so we can put knick knacks and books and stuff up there. Now we're just waiting for the table/lamp and baby monitor to arrive (both have been ordered) and we'll be all set with the baby room.

Back to the waiting . . .
Liz

The nesting has begun. We're less than 50 days to go and it's time to get serious about being ready for George's arrival. You never know what could happen. Tomorrow I will be 33 weeks. At 34 weeks the acupuncturist is going to try to start the turning process. I'm nervous about that. Would I just rather have a c-section?? I don't know.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand - nesting! Today I am washing all the baby stuff . . . sheets, blankets, mattress pads, clothes, bibs, socks, the works! This weekend I think Jeff and I are going to tackle some clean-out of a few rooms in our house, starting with the basement storage.

OH - also important news . . . the doctor's office called this morning. All the blood work came back normal. No signs of preeclampsia - for now anyway. I still gotta watch my sodium intake, drink lots of water, and try to take it easy, but no bedrest for now.

Well, back to my laundry . . .
Liz

We can finally say we're ready! We took our Ohio baby shower gift cards to Babies R Us today and went CRAZY in there!! We racked up a $500 total bill with diapers, wipes, crib liners, a pack-n-play, a bath tub, medicine cabinet necessities, and many many other essentials. If George came today we'd be ready for him.

Orrrr . . . if I am sent to bedrest, I could rest easily knowing that we're pretty much done. My hands tonight are BAD swollen. They hurt to wiggle my fingers. What can I do?? Not a whole lot. The doctor still hasn't called back with Monday's test results. Maybe the lab was backed up because of the holiday. Who knows. I hope we'll hear on Friday, but at this point, I was saying, maybe it's good to not know.

Happy New Year!
Liz