first check up and pics

Elijah had his first checkup today...here's his current stats (and old ones for comparison):

11/17/06 (His birthday!) : 7 lbs, 10.4 ozs and 18.5 inches long

11/21/06 (we came home) : 7 lbs even and 18.5 inches long

11/29/06 (today) : 7 lbs, 6 ozs and 19.5 inches long

As his Dad so nicely pointed out, at this rate he'll be taller than his Mom in no time! We have to go back for a weigh-in next Friday since he's not back to his birth weight just yet. Of course, this makes me a little worried. I know this child is eating FREQUENTLY enough...I think he'd allow himself a permanent hook-up if I'd let him! But I just hope the QUANTITY is enough. I need to know that I'm providing him with enough! I think an inadequate milk supply might be too much for my crazy hormonal state....

Let's see...what else? Dr. Milonas (that's Elijah's doc!) sort of laughed at us when we told him that Elijah hates his crib. He said that's just because Adam and I are too nice. Maybe...but the other night, we reluctantly decided to try to let him cry himself to sleep. I laid awake for the hour and a half it took him to stop crying...and I felt like the worst mother on the face of the planet. Ugh...I wonder who this will be harder on? But I do know that he can't sleep in bed with us forever; and I know that I need to spend more nights in my bed than on the couch! Plus, I think Adam will feel so much better once he knows I'm getting some decent sleep.

Pretty much, Dr. Milonas said he's healthy and doing well. I have to say I'm pleased with our pediatrician. He's very easy to talk to and I have felt comfortable with him since the beginning. And Elijah seems to like him (at least until the shots start coming, I'm sure!). PLUS, he milked our son today. Yes, you read that right! He was explaining to us how Elijah is getting all of my hormones right now and babies go through this sort of "newborn puberty" and we shouldn't be alarmed by some of the effects...like we may see baby acne or we may see a drop or two of milk on his nipples -- then he squeezed one of them and sure enough, there was milk! I was stunned and slightly amused...Adam wasn't looking at the time and he said he's glad he didn't see it because that's crazy!

Anyway, here are some pictures!


This is Elijah trying to escape his changing table prior to his first bath at home...he hates so much to be naked!

This was afterwards...in his hooded frog towel. He looks a little happier, hey?

Elijah and Dad, all dressed after his bath. This is one of Dad's favorite outfits (it says "All Star" on the front).

This one is especially for Grandma and Grandpa Guenther...you got us these socks for my baby shower and this may be one of the last times he wears them! Either his feet are getting longer or those bird toes are!

And this one is especially for Grandma Bright...sorry about my finger on the left (I am a terrible photographer!). We got this outfit from you for my baby shower and I've been telling Adam ever since then that I couldn't wait for him to be big enough to wear it. It's still quite big (notice those HUGE cuffs on the sleeves!) but that's OK because he'll be able to wear if for awhile.

One of the quieter moments...he's a good snuggler!

quick update

This is just a quickie for everyone...

Thank you all for your prayers over the past week...it's been, well, just crazy. I guess I've never dealt well with things deviating from my "careful planning". I learned the hard way that all the careful planning in the world means nothing when God has a different plan in mind. I can safely say that since last Thursday morning, not ONE thing went according to my plan! All in all, it's OK because everything turned out OK. But quite honestly, I think my mood is a little down, partially due to all of this.

However, all moodiness aside, I am very happy to be home and continuing to recover. I have to remind myself to take it slow...I sometimes expect myself to just jump back in and feel "normal" but I'm finding that doesn't happen right away. Thank God for Adam...not only is he great with Elijah but he reminds me to slow down and relax.

bed rest sucks

I am bored...so bored...

I have actually started feeling contractions now...nothing serious however. Nothing but random contractions...but at least they are there and I know what they are. These aren't those "painless tightening feelings" that people talk about...I don't even think I felt those, although the fetal monitor said I was having them! No, these are real. I just wish they'd get closer together, and stronger. Sometimes I think I'm crazy because I'll be laying down or watching TV and I start to wait for them and look forward to them...and then when it happens, I almost WISH it would hurt! I'm not a masochist...I'm just really looking forward to some productive contractions now! But I am so thankful that at least there is some progress...

I just realized that I write with way too much of this: " blah blah blah...blah blah blah...and something something something..." I am just a big run on sentence sometimes and I think I excuse it by saying "BUT THE THREE LITTLE DOTS, YOU KNOW!"

**The above paragraph can be chalked up like a comercial: "This is your already crazy pregnant brain on bedrest...any questions??"

I have decided as well that I am glad I am due in November and not anytime between May and September. For the most part, even in Wisconsin, the weather is much too nice and I think if I had been stuck inside during that time, I might be more cranky than I already am. At least now, it's cold and cloudy. The weather men are calling for rain/snow mix late tonight and into early tomorrow. So at least I can snuggle up with the cats under some blankets and shut out early winter.

So that is my random update for now...wish I had something exciting to share but at this time, all I can say is something random with some "..." at the end!

bed rest - day 2

I am doing my best to keep a positive outlook and remain sane during this time...

I will admit it was nice to know that I didn't have to leave at 7:30am to go to work for 10 hours today...it's about 35 degrees outside! It's just very difficult to try to sit still! I'm behaving, though. It's given me a chance to have a heart-to-heart discussion with Elijah, too...it's time for him to at least START something here! If I go to my appointment on Monday and the doctor tells me again that I'm not dilated at all, I'm going to be pretty frustrated . While I was hooked up to the fetal monitor for the non-stress test, the tech and Adam both asked if I felt any contractions. Nope...and obviously if I'm having them, they're not very productive! So I told this little child of ours that it's time for him to make a decision to start working his way down. I haven't even dropped yet! Come on, Elijah! At least do that for me! I'm thinking that's what is making this whole "bed rest" thing a little trying for me...I still feel like I've got SO much time because nothing has happened so far. It's actually kinda freaky...I keep thinking I'll end up being one of those crazy talk show people who tells her story of how she didn't even know she was in labor until she was delivering her baby in the shower, on the toilet, in the car, in her sleep...no thanks! We need to leave that for the professionals! I don't think the cats would be very good nurses, either...they shed too much.

When I see my doctor on Monday, I'm telling him that it's his fault...he left town on the 4th and his first day back is Monday. I told him NOT to leave! Ok, I know it's not his fault but right now that doesn't matter to me.

I just spilled Kool-Aid on my shirt...red Tropical Punch on my white t-shirt...oh wait, it's Adam's white t-shirt! Good job, Sandy. I sure do miss having that washer and dryer in our last apartment! Oh well...maybe I'll just let the stain set in and keep it as a reminder of my journey through bed rest!

OK, I ate some lunch and now the baby's moving more. I feel better now...and a little sleepy. This is the ONE positive thing I have found about my "no work" order...I have been getting so tired about noon or 1pm every day for the past month. When I'm at work, I can't very well take a nap! So I think I will take a nap now...and everyone can wait in anticipation for my next entry. I have a little extra time on my hands so I'll keep you all updated on my progress...if not PHYSICAL progress, I can at least tell you about my progress toward the crazy lady ward of the hospital!

update from dr

OK, doctor's appointment was today at 9:30am...another non-stress test at 10:15am. I have some good news and some not-so-good news.

9:30am : nurse takes my blood pressure and it is 120 over 70. *big sigh of relief* I guess the whole bedrest thing paid off... It's been hard to stay so inactive but I was thankful that it helped. Then the doctor came in and said I am now 1 cm dilated...yay! Finally we have some progress . He did another ultrasound and said Elijah is fine but he's still face forward. That just means the potential for painful back labor...let's hope this little guy decides to flip around!

10:15am : so I make my way over to the lab for the NST. I'm all comfy in their recliner chair, drinking my water and listening to Elijah's heartbeat...and the nurse mentions how swollen my right leg looks. I looked down and said "Oh that's nothing...you should have seen it on Friday!" Seriously...my leg was about the same size from my ankle to my knee...it was creepy! So she takes my first blood pressure reading...are you ready for this one? 140 over 100! . I just kind of sat there stupified...the nurse says "Just relax here for a bit and we'll take two more before you go". So yeah, we poke Elijah a little and wake him up so we can watch his heart rate increase...he's doing JUST fine. He just likes to sleep! (Gets that from his dad!) 2nd blood pressure reading: 135 over 90...hmmm...not too much better. Is it really possible it jumped that much just from walking from the doctor's office to the lab? Sheesh...well anyway, the third one was 130 over 80. I was not very happy about all this...I felt so good after my appointment and then this...so the nurse tells me to just stay put while she takes the results of the NST to my doctor. It isn't more than about 2 minutes when I hear Dr. Pae's voice coming into the lab with the nurse. He says "I don't really like those numbers, Sandy" ... duh...I should hope not! So here's where it gets "not so good" in my mind. I have to go back for another NST on Thursday...if my blood pressure is above 130 over 80, I'm getting induced on Friday morning. I know, I know...I have to think clearly and do what's best for Elijah and for me but still...this isn't how I hoped and planned. Dr. Pae said he really doesn't want to induce with Elijah face forward either because his experience with that is failed inductions and then a C-section. *huge sigh of disappointment*

**OH AND GET THIS! If they induce me on Friday, it's set up for 5:30am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm just falling asleep at that time most of the time!**

So here I sit...I'm on bedrest, I can't do anything really except sit here and think...think that maybe I'll have to be induced. And if that doesn't work, I'll have to have a C-section. I just talked to my older sister who said her 2nd was born face up...and he was fine except for a little bruise on his head! So I feel a little better. But you know...well...it's just a little disappointing to think that things won't go the way you hope they will. I keep telling myself that it doesn't matter how he's born as long as he's healthy...and it doesn't, but it does. I don't care, but I do. Does that make sense? I'm trying to be optimistic but sometimes it seems that the more optimistic I am about ANYTHING, the worse it gets. Oh my...now I sound like someone else I know...the world is out to get me! Not really...I'm just being difficult. Deep down, I know it won't matter in the long run, but right now, it does matter. So I am going to sit down and relax awhile and try not to think about this. Best case scenario: everything progresses on its own and I can just stop pouting! Worst case scenario: things don't go according to my plan. I guess that's OK as long as all lives at stake are taken care of. It's not really in my hands, after all...

bed rest...

Now, deep down I know that I have to do what's best for the baby and for myself, but I think it all just sunk in...

I just got off the phone with my boss and one of my managers...they're just finalizing everything for the next week since I got pulled off of work early. And it's real...it means I'm not supposed to work until after the baby is born. And for me, this is TWO distinct feelings: it's almost unreal that I am being ORDERED not to work AND it's a little disappointing. I'm not disappointed that I won't have to make tacos anymore...I'm more disappointed that I was so sure I was going to make it until the end and my "end" wound up being 8 days sooner than I had planned. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on myself...I made it 38 weeks and 6 days working 10 hour days and 50 hour weeks. And I guess this is now my time to just relax a little before everything goes crazy for awhile...but I'm feeling a little strange about it.

Ah...cope and deal, hey? I guess that's something I'll work on while I'm spending all this quality time resting .

**PS: It's 7:41pm now...I got home from the doctor at just after noon today. I am bored...oh-so-bored. I am trying to be optimistic; really, I am! But part of me is really just pouting I think...**

stuffed!

**SEE UPDATE AT BOTTOM**

I just ate WAY too many Lucky Charms...it was just a bowl full but it feels like I ate the whole box. I am too full now...

I have to really get some pictures taken soon...if I wait too much longer, there will be no pictures of me in my last few weeks. I'll make Adam play photographer when he gets home from work. Since we rearranged the living room/dining room on Wednesday, we can put up pictures of that, too! We had to get the 2nd kitty tree out of the baby's room...didn't want the cats to surprise him with a jump from the 3rd shelf of the tree into the crib some night! So now our spoiled cats have TWO kitty trees in the living room! But our apartment looks SO much bigger now.

We really need to get those baby clothes organized, too! Why is it that I keep waiting for them to fold and organize themselves? *sigh* I feel so lazy this week it's unbelievable. I woke up this morning and decided to just lay in bed and look at the ceiling for about 45 minutes because I just didn't feel like hauling my butt out of bed. I don't like feeling so lazy...and I really don't like the fact that it is already getting dark outside and it's only 4:40pm! I don't care too much for the winter months...I like the sun!

Well, Finnegan has finished drinking the remainder of my cereal milk so I must wash the bowl out now. And I think I will watch last night's Grey's Anatomy and FOLD some clothes! I'm gonna do it...I am going to get those baby clothes done TONIGHT! I now have a mission and purpose to my night off...everyone keep your fingers crossed that I accomplish this.

**UPDATE**
I DID IT! I actually got the clothes separated by size and type, into their appropriate bins and then put the "These clothes are way too big" and the "These clothes should be hung up" on hangers and into the closet. I feel so much better now. I think I'm rewarding myself with a bath, a nice cold Diet Coke and then pizza when Adam gets home. It was a good night!

update

SO, I had a doctor's appointment today...an early one at that. 9:15am is much too early when you don't get home from work until about 3:30am. And to add insult to injury, I actually got the the office early and had to wait 45 minutes. I thought doctor's offices were usually on time or ahead of schedule in the morning? Oh well...it gave me some time to almost fall back asleep and people watch. Doctor waiting rooms are the best for people watching...

Oh, so I guess the point of this post...nothing has really changed except that I continue to get fatter...and so does the baby! Doctor asked if I've had any Braxton Hicks contractions yet...I said I thought perhaps I had felt one or two yesterday but not any besides that. The exam would reveal that I am "not at all dilated and not really effaced at all"...that's encouraging, Doc...I guess Elijah is quite comfy in his womb right now! Sorry, Ki...you'll have to wait a little while before your cousin is ready to come out and play!

Well, that is my update for everyone...not too exciting. I still have stuffed sausage leg, but I'm starting to just accept it. It's not like I'm doing any runway modeling right now anyway! And if I decide I want to do that, I'm sure SOMEONE out there would pay me to photograph my sausage leg! Look out, America...the stuffed sausage billboards are coming to neighborhoods everywhere!