Hellobee Boards

@luckypenny: sorry that you're sick again, and also that things are stressful with dh, that's no fun! I hate when dh and I are bickering.

@preggomeggo82: I haven't had a prenatal massage, but that sounds amazing! I'm thinking of getting one and/or a pedicure sometime soon...

@megz06: owww I'm sooo not looking forward to cervical checks!

@LovelyPlum: that's annoying that you haven't met all the dr's yet! In my practice, there are only 3 drs but they deliberately rotate around at the end so that you have an appointment with each other dr once. But still, I'd waaaay rather have my own dr!

I had another appointment yesterday at the hospital to keep monitoring my fluid levels. The numbers were stable; I was hoping they'd increase, but apparently stable is good too. It looks like they want me to keep coming every week. I'm supposed to keep hydrating and taking it easy. DH is out of town this week which really sucks, especially since I'm not really supposed to be walking the dogs that much, and nursery set up is on hold--I need him to do some heavy lifting, plus we're still waiting on our furniture to be delivered. But in happier updates, I just got amazing news--we got a spot in one of the child care centers we applied to for care starting next Sept!!!! I am so, so excited and relieved! I was afraid to pick favorites before we got into any, but this one was our fave I'm pretty sure (though also the most expensive, sigh!)!

@nana87: so glad your fluid levels are stable. and that's great news about child care for fall!!

@LovelyPlum: Unfortunately, they will be doing cervix checks every week now. I am finding my delivery doctor and hospital to be way my thorough with exams and appointments than my doctor and nurses were at the clinic, as sad as it is to say that. So I am not going to complain too much about being poked and prodded. It hurts, and it isn't fun, but it is nice to know where I am at and how everything is progressing.

@nana87: Awesome about the child care center! And hopefully your fluid levels say consistent (even better if they can rise).

@jhd: It really is great. I LOVED my doctor throughout all these weeks, but it feels so different now. I know when my appointments are, what to expect, and everything. They don't seem to keep me as much in the dark. Honestly, if I did have Wedding or Hello Bee, I wouldn't have known anything about when a gender scan takes place, glucose testing, shots, nothing. It would have all been a big surprise, and my delivery doctor and his staff have already been amazing at making sure I'm informed about the weeks to come.

@luckypenny: You are a rockstar for being "friendly" with your husband at all in that way because honestly? Sorry to be so TMI, but if I had to handle him right now, I'd probably cry during the whole ordeal, lol. If I can't handle a few fingers how the heck can I handle DH?!!! That's why we quit last trimester, sad to say. Luckily we can make up for it, but it does suck. I hope that doesn't last too long after I am cleared after the birth!

@luckypenny: @megz06: My poor DH. It's been really uncomfortable for months now, so he's pretty much left to his own devices. I feel like a terrible wife.

@preggomeggo82: Aww, yeah, my husband is in the same boat. We still do other stuff, but with this exhaustion, it is few and far between. He's so good about it though. Luckily we have understanding husbands!

@LovelyPlum: Ooo scary and not comfortable!

Proof that there's more to do: I've edited that post 3 times to add to my list. GAH!

@jill_a55: lol, my new standard answer to "how are you feeling?" is "oh, you know....hanging in there..." It seems more PC than the real answer, which is:

I'm sleep deprived and that my hips are killing me. My immune system is run down, because I have had at least 4 cold sores in the last two weeks. My ankles are swollen, my feet hurt, and this carpal tunnel is driving me completely insane. I'm also completely overwhelmed with school and the things left to do on our list. I feel overworked everywhere and overstretched, and I really, really don't want to have to ask for help six million times. Alas, I do, and it annoys me.

So, there's that.

Also, I'm having contractions about every half an hour, and they are freaking me out. I'm not sure what a mucous plug is, but I've had thick green discharge for days. So, pretty much every time I have to pee, I worry if I'm going to find evidence that labor is near.

I know that in the end, if 95% of this stuff doesn't get done before baby comes, it's not a big deal. But, I would like to try to get it situated as much as possible before I become even more of a sleep-deprived zombie (if that's even possible). I'm hoping that this weekend/next week are really productive. I don't have school, so I can get some things done!

@luckypenny: hooray for DD sleeping through the night!! That is great news, because I'm sure what you both need is SLEEP! As for BH vs. real contractions, I'm not 100% sure. Some might be strong BH, but some are really quite painful. They're not always regular, so that's good. My doctor knows they're happening, and he told me to keep an eye on them and call if they intensify and/or get closer together. DH and I have been playing the "One hour" game for about two weeks (if they're worse or still like this in an hour, we'll call and/or go in), which my doctor seems to think is a good way to handle it. So far, haven't had to go in again, thank goodness! I think they make DH more nervous than they make me. I just constantly make contingency plans in my head!

@jill_a55: oh honey, that work environment does not sound fun. I haven't stopped working either, and it is brutal. I think I've recently joined in on the lightening fun as well-holy crap, that hurts. And I figured it was part of the plug, but I'm hopeful it doesn't mean much yet. We've got stuff to do!

i haven't been posting much but still keeping up with all you ladies!

congrats to those who have hit the 36 week mark (or more). i hit 36 weeks tomorrow and it's getting pretty unreal. to be completely honest, just this week i had moments of severe anxiety and feeling overwhelmed, where i literally felt like running away or wanting to stop time. for the longest time i was pretty good about just "checking things off the list" and blocking out the reality and gravity of what's to come, but this week it started to sink in. i think i was putting it off - actually considering how life will be so very different in a few weeks. it felt downright awful (i know, not what you want to hear...) but after letting it out and talking to a few close friends about my honest feelings about things, i am feeling much better. back to being oblivious.

love the to-do list! i've also been preparing a mental to-do list and there's still so much to do with only 3-4 weeks left. started packing my hospital bag and it was so surreal.

hope everyone is feeling excited, energized, etc. it's okay to be completely anxious too! we're almost there...

@nana87: I think when you finally get that furniture, you need to have a celebratory dinner or something...what an ordeal!

@SupernovaJ: hey there! We've missed you around here! No shame in the anxiety, lady. I know I've felt it-at least twice in the last few days, I've thought, "maybe baby should just stay inside, that would be easier." I'm so not ready for this, but then again, is anyone? And I think there's still a part of me that doesn't 100% believe that pregnancies end in babies, just heartbreak. But we're so close now, and generally when I feel that way, a good swift baby kick will make me smile. // Do I remember you saying you're going to SAH with this baby? How's that transition going?

@LovelyPlum: I'm with you there on the part about heartbreak. I can't deny it, there's a small part of me that believes in that too. I guess when you're still on the other side peering in, you can think of all sorts of scenarios - both good and bad. But like you said, the baby is strong and healthy and letting you know that he or she is there.

It's still up in there air as to whether or not I'll be a SAH. I don't think I can come back to my current position though because it'll be too much time spent away from the baby and family. I'll probably go back to work at some point, maybe even later this year, but most likely not right after my mat leave is over.

I just did the same thing too - I was browsing to see if you were Team Green or not and started flipping through from the beginning pages. Time has really, really flown by. I'm still in awe of the miracle that we've all conceived and in a few weeks, we'll have babies!!

@luckypenny: wow, i can only imagine that kind of fear. it's a very real fear and concern to have, completely justified. i'll probably feel something really similar when i'm in your position. i guess once that baby is in your arms though (like with the first), it'll all make sense and those fears will wash away.

i can't remember but are you an only child? i come from a family of three and we are all extremely close. growing up together was such an adventure and i think about my childhood constantly - i feel richly blessed because i had siblings. i have an older sister and we are close in age - she is my best friend, truly my EVERYTHING. baby #2 is so so lucky she'll have a big sis. we also have a younger brother with a bigger age gap and we just adore him and baby him to death, even though he's well into adulthood...

You are gonna be an awesome mama with two little ones! DD is going to thank you everyday for giving her a little sis - I'm pretty sure that's how my sister feels too...haha

@LovelyPlum: Yeah, It's probably not the best place to be! Most days I can get others to do it/ have other people tell me not to do things, but there are some occasions where I am definitely doing things that would not be approved of! The last few hours of my shift every day I am not a pleasant person... and look like I can't walk. yaaaaaaayyyy

That lightning business literally stops me in my tracks. What the hell!!!

@luckypenny: oh thank you, I'm glad I am not the only one who has NO CLUE about a name!! I keep telling my husband that I refuse to go to the hospital until we decide on a name. lol We went on the hospital tour and the lady mentioned that there is a 7 day period after birth for thinking of a name... NO thanks!!! I don't want my DH getting any ideas!

Hi all!

I had my 34-week appointment yesterday and it went so well! Head down, good heart rate, measuring perfectly. My weight and BP look good. My next appt is at 36 weeks and the dreaded internals begin. And weekly visits! I can't believe how close it is!

Speaking of to-do lists, we need to...
install car seat bases/get them inspected
finish organizing shower gifts
hang nursery decor and bookshelves
finish itty bitty laundry
buy a few more hospital bag and postpartum items
finish packing hospital bag
call short term disability people
finish transitioning work projects to coverage people
make a few more freezer meals
schedule house cleaning just before EDD and then a few weeks after

I am sure there's more, but that's all I can think of

@preggomeggo82: what kind of freezer meals are you planning to make? i'm eager for ideas because nausea is back which just makes me want to eat unhealthy things like chicken nuggets and muffins.

I'll come back and respond to everyone later, but I just have to say:

@jhd: my registry STRESSED ME OUT to no end! In the end, only 2 (TWO!) people ended up buying from it, and I spent the night before the shower freaking out, because we were never going to have what we needed for baby, and that we were never going to be able to afford it, and what was I thinking, and....you get the picture. Then I felt horrible and greedy for basically saying, "how dare you not gift me what I want???" It was a rough couple of days, to say the least.

BUT, I will say, I'm in a much better place now. We did get some genuinely cute and useful things at the shower that were off-registry. We also got some on registry things that will help a lot. I do have some things to take back, because they are either duplicates or just not that helpful, and we'll use the store credit there to get some more things off the registry. Then, completely out of the blue, we got a gift card to Target which will allow us to do a last minute stock up of toiletries, bottles, onesies, etc.

I'm also coming to the realization that if we don't have every single thing on the day that this baby comes, it will be OK. I sat down with my registry and tried to prioritize what we would need now vs what would be nice now, but we could really get later. After having done that, I'm feeling a lot, lot better, and much more prepared.

It will be OK. Babies don't know any better

@LovelyPlum: thanks for your encouragement we have a car seat, stroller, crib, and diapers/wipes. really at the end of the day the other stuff probably isn't essential!!

Our preadmission visit & tour went really well. We had to wait a long time because the person before us showed up super late so that was a little frustrating but once we finally got to talk with everyone it was great. We both feel better knowing exactly where to go and the staff couldn't have been more friendly or kind.