The tides are turning and things are good! :)

First of all, everyone is finally healthy around here (relatively, at least!) and things are getting back to normal in our house.  Yay! 

Second, I was able to reschedule my ultrasound.  It's still scheduled for Thursday, November 10th but they had a 3pm opening so Evan and I are thrilled to have grabbed that time slot.  I'm hoping there is enough time for Evan to pick up Oakes from daycare to bring him along so he can see Wren one more time, but I'm not sure if Evan's schedule will mash with that. 

I checked out Oakes' daycare schedule the other day and it looks like they are still open on Friday the 11th (Veteran's Day) which is a day that Evan and I have off.  And since Evan and I have been trying to figure out a good day / a good way to hit Ikea, we may just try to drop off Oakes at daycare that day, then make a quick jaunt down to Charlotte to finish out the nursery.  But, that's still in the air.  I haven't had any leg swelling since our last road trip to Charleston (which is a 3.5-4 hour drive) so I'm a little nervous about getting in a car for a longer car ride (2 hours each way), especially if we're having to go there and then drive back all in one day (along with walking around a huge store like Ikea all day). 

Also, my "drop-in" shower at school has been scheduled for early December.  There's another teacher at school also expecting her second child a few weeks after me, so we're doing a shower together and the super-nice thing is that the school has decided to do a "supply" shower for us.  So tonight I'm putting together a list of a bunch of the smaller things ranging from socks to diapers that we need.  It's funny that eventhough I'm able to reuse so much from Oakes, there are still so many little things that I need.  Case in point: all of the baby socks and baby hats we have are boy themed or neutral so while I'm okay with Wren wearing those around the house, I'd like to have at least a few things that show the general public that she's a girl if we go out on an errand.  :)

So that's our turn of events.  Last week stunk, and this week looks a whole lot better!  Yippee!

busy bees!

Evan stayed home with Oakes yesterday (Friday) and the two of them finished the frame for Wren's nursery and hung it up.  It was a great surprise to come home to and it really motivated us to put in some time on the rest of the nursery today!

Before I start in on the nursery, I should update you on some doctor news.  I had two voicemails (ummm... I never check our home voicemail so these have been on the phone all week.  Oops!) from the doctor that I listened to tonight.  The first one stated that my thyroid test from a few weeks ago came back normal, but my iron level was slightly low (normal is 11.5, mine was 11.1).  The nurse suggested I add an iron supplement, but since my prenatals are already iron supplemented, I figure I'll just step it up on my leafy greens intake, which I love anyway.  Also, we have an appointment set for our ultrasound, but I'm going to try to change it to later in the day.  Currently, we're scheduled to go on November 10th at 9:15am which is smack in the middle of our school day and is just a really bad time for both Evan and myself.  I'll let you all know if/when I get it changed.

Nursery Updates (with photos)!!!!
We ended up getting the nursery set-up enough so that if Wren makes her entrance way early, we'll be ready for her!  I also went through her dresser and put clothes in drawers and extra clothes for her later months in boxes under the port-a-crib. 

The original artwork was just the ironwork and we both felt that it needed something to make it heftier.  So Evan built the frame around it to beef it up.  He ended up doing a wash of white paint on the wood, then wiping it off which left the white in the grain and looks fabulous. 

The dresser is packed with clothes and the top will turn in to our changing table.  The plan is to add some white floating shelves above the dresser for some extra storage and to display some of her cutesy things.  The port-a-crib is temporary; Wren will get Oakes' crib as soon as he transitions to a big boy bed so we figure she'll only be using the port-a-crib until she's about 5 or 6 months old.

 

Here is our view from the double bed (this bed will go in Oakes' room eventually).  You can see the white storage bench on the right as well as the hanging peg thing that I made this summer under the window (Evan's idea to hang it low so that Wren can actually use it.  How cute is he?)

And now a view from the window seat.  Again, the bed is only in here temporarily and eventually the futon couch - in Oakes' room now - will replace it (which makes me second guess getting a duvet cover styled for Wren's room -- shouldn't I just buy one that will work for Oakes instead?).  We still need something on the wall over the bed and we need to buy the rug to cover the unfinished pieces of floor next to the bed.  Also, I feel pretty strongly about having a bookshelf in her room so we'll probably get some sort of bookshelf to put to the right of the nightstand.

So here's my summer project: the "door-knob-coat-rack-hanging-thing" (I've seriously got no better name than that).  Evan cut the backs of the screws off of it and we mounted it just under the window so Wren could access it.

That's it for now.  We've still got a few small things to finish off but again, if Wren arrives tomorrow we'll be ready for her.  Speaking of which... we've started talking about packing our hospital bag and are beginning to gather things for that.  There are still many weeks before I plan on Wren arriving, but it's best to play it safe, right? 

Updates...

I went in for my bloodwork today and got to speak to both the nurse and to the newer doctor whom I met last week.  My nurse mentioned that Dr. Ramsey had called someone about high-risk pregnancies and they recommended 2 bloodtests so that they could compare the bloodwork and see if I currently have HFM or if all is good (most likely).  They also recommend that I go in for an ultrasound in 3 weeks to just take a look at the baby's heart and make sure everything is good in that department.  In the meantime, we just continue to wash hands like crazy and not share any drinks or meals! ;)

So... I will go back in for bloodwork in 2 weeks (and also for my 34 week appointment with Dr. Ramsey).  Our nurse is faxing my paperwork to MAHEC and they will set-up my ultrasound (my doctor's office doesn't have the fancy high-tech ultrasound machines that MAHEC has).

It doesn't sound like we have anything to worry about.  Everything they are doing is precautionary and as Evan and I discussed this afternoon, if they were truly concerned about something then the ultrasound would be scheduled sooner rather than later.  So please don't worry about this (Mom!) but you are welcome to keep us in your prayers.

As for Oakes, he's definitely not feeling well, but he's being a trooper.  I'm staying home with him tomorrow and if needed, Evan will stay home with him on Friday.  So let's hope he improves a bit!

When It Rains, It Pours

Evan got a call from Oakes' daycare today that he had to come pick him up: Oakes might possibly have Hand, Foot, and Mouth (HFM) Disease.  Sure enough, the doctor confirmed it without a blood test -- just by looking at our poor guy.  And it also turns out that Oakes still has that ear infection from a week and a half ago.  So tomorrow he'll stay with my cousin and then on Thursday I'll stay home with him.  Unfortunately, it's highly contagious and isn't a great thing for pregnant women to be around so I go to my doctor tomorrow afternoon for a bloodtest to make sure I don't have it.  If I do have it, I assume that just means they'll keep a close eye on me and I will probably have an extra ultrasound or two.  If I don't have it, I'll just have to stay vigilant around Oakes and wash my hands constantly to keep from getting it.  My doctor said I've probably had it at some point in my life already though, so the chances of me having it again are pretty slim.  In the meantime, he's on some sort of amoxycillan antibiotic and we're just trying to keep him comfy (I say this as he's woken up twice already since going to bed less than 2 hours ago... it's going to be a long night).  He'll go back to the doctor on November 1st for a follow-up on the ear infection/HFM.

Seriously though... can we get a break here?  Oakes' doctor told Evan that she'd read a study that said a kid would get sick 11 times in their first year of daycare.  Well, Oakes has had that tummy bug, an ear infection, pink eye, and now HFM and another ear infection.  Looks like we're well on our way to supporting that study.  I feel like we're paying an awful lot of money to be staying home from daycare once every two weeks with our sick boy.  And want to hear the cherry on top?  Oakes will have to miss his school pictures!!! :(  I'm super-sad about this as there aren't any make-ups.  The school said I could probably call the photo company (who has a place in the mall) and they'd probably let me bring him in without paying a sitting fee or anything but it's not quite the same.  And if Oakes misses school on Friday, he'll miss his Halloween party, too!  Ugh. 

31.5 Weeks

Our doctor appointment from last week was rescheduled as they had some sort of training to attend, so rather than having a 30-week update, you all get a 31.5-week update!

Things have been crazy since my last post: Oakes turned 2 and we had a successful non-clingy birthday party.  He also had his 2 year-old check-up which was not so fun as he threw quite the temper tantrum.  Then a few days later he got pink eye and an ear infection so we've been recovering from that this weekend!  Overall, he's been incredibly pleasant through all of this (except the tantrum), so that's a plus.

Oh, and I also became an aunt again!!!!  Tina had baby Eva on Friday night around 8:15pm.  She was induced the night before as her blood pressure had been through the roof for two days in a row and the labor was long, but once things began, they progressed quickly.  Unfortunately, she had some major issues after the delivery and it was an incredibly stressful and scary time for my parents, who were in the birthing room with her the whole time.  But Tina and Eva are happy and healthy now and while it will take her a bit longer to recover, I have no doubt she'll be 100% in a few weeks!  Go Tina!!!!  We are headed to Charleston this weekend to meet Eva and spend some quality time with Tina.

As far as Wren goes, she's been happy and aside from giving a few crazy-hard kicks (I was bruised from one of them!), she's been doing great.  I've still had a few braxton-hicks contractions, but these go hand-in-hand with the amount of water I drink so I know the cause and I know the cure.  And... the ankle swelling has decreased!  So I'm definitely attributing it to the hot weather I got to experience in Charleston and am hoping that the heat and the swelling stays away for a good long while.  (please. please. please.) 

Evan, Oakes, and I participated in a 10k walk on Saturday and while I only completed half of it (let's be honest, this was a good amount for me and with how often I have to use the restroom, I'm surprised I made it that far!), we had a great time and the fall weather was gorgeous.  I have a field trip tomorrow which will also involve a lot of walking so I'm hoping that I feel just as good as I did at the 10k.

We went to Evan's school's Fall Festival this past Friday and ran into a bunch of his too-cute room moms who let me know that they are going to plan a baby shower for him and his students.  This meant that we have to register for some stuff, which is easier said than done.  I hopped on Target's website the other night and started a registry, but I think I'll actually have to go in there and zap items with the gun as the website is a pain in the rear to navigate.  So yes, we've got a registry started finally, but it's nothing to go and visit just yet. 

I also cleaned up Wren's room quite a bit on Sunday while Oakes went to play at my cousin's house.  The dresser is mostly organized and aside from some of the goods we have to go buy at Ikea, the room is more or less getting there.  Evan spent Sunday morning working on the frame for the artwork we bought.  He got the wood cut and the finish on it, now he just has to cut off the original metal latches for hanging it and get it attached to the frame.  Yippee! :)  He's come down with something nasty (strep?) over the past few days so this project is on hold until next week, most likely.  I promise to post pics of the nursery once things find their place in there.

Alright, now for the anticipated belly shot and doctor's office update:

Blood Pressure: 124/72

Weight: +4 (total weight gain = +7 pounds)

Heartrate: 142bpm
* Got my flu shot today!

I've felt pretty miserable today, waking with almost a pulled muscle in the right side of my belly.  The doctor did a pelvic exam (no worries, the cervix is still closed and very thick) and said it was most likely round ligament pain.  Ouch... it's made me miserable today.  Next visit is in 2 weeks, though I forgot my calendar so I'll have to call and schedule an appointment tomorrow.

Two belly shots, both taken at 31 weeks, 2 days.  The shirt-up is to prove that it's not just a basketball under my shirt and to let you know this hugeness that Evan is witnessing each day.











Baby Pool!

Since we did the name bracket thing with Oakes and haven't involved any sort of game-like idea for Wren, we figured we'd start an online baby pool.  It's free to participate, though Evan and I thought it might be fun to set up a paypal account and let you choose to put some $$ on the guess for a 50/50 style pool 1/2 for the winner, 1/2 for diapers and baby stuff.  We've yet to iron out all of these details, though.  Even if we don't do the pay pool, it's still a fun way gamble on a baby. :)

Winner will be determined primarily on birth date, with secondary consideration going to weight and third tie breaker would go to length.  Winner will get bragging rights and a few shout outs on facebook, and will also get some cash (if we do the $).

Here's the baby pool site: http://www.expectnet.com/games/BebeWren

Obviously, Wren is a girl so make sure you guess girl as the gender.  But you'll also have to guess weight, length, and birthday.  I've added a few notes to the greeting on the site and figured I'd let you all know about them here, too:

1. The due date is December 12th.
2. Oakes was born 2 days prior to his due date (but this was because he was under stress).
3. There is a full moon on December 10th.
4. Evan thinks that I'm huge (in the most flattering way) now, at 31 weeks, and can't fathom how I will make it a full 40 weeks.
5. I have high hopes of making it past my due date.

So... have fun and please play along.  If you've got any thoughts on whether you want to make this a pay-for pool (or want to show us how to set it up) let us know in the comments!