37 week update...

37 weeks was interesting...it started with a bang...more like a whack!

-Monday on my way to pick up Philip I fell...yes, before all of the snow and ice hit. (I don't need obstructions to kill myself!) Thankfully my friend Tiffany was with me and went and got Phil while I sat on my rump assessing the situation. I gave myself 20 minutes to feel 'better' and contractions started so I called the Dr's office and they told me to come to L&D. So, Brent came home...and off we went...

10 hours and 2 rooms later we got discharged but not with out an IV, tests, those stretchy bands for the monitors that they didn't design for a 'bigger' momma and the best of all...pelvic exam! We had a great nurse though, she was awesome! I must write her a note. I hope she's working when we are there. And my doc was on call, so that was nice. We started out in a Labor room then because of all of the mommies that were in 'labor' and waiting the pending result that could have caused us to have the baby then they moved us to a recovery room, reason: it was 10 feet away from the OR. Down side, NOT a hospital bed, but a gurney! OUCH! I had contractions all thru the night but they didn't seem to bother the staff as much as they did me and Anthony who was moving around enough to make me nauseated, which resulted in drugs...and due to the pain from the contractions the 'new nurse' (yes we were there for 3 shifts) thought I was complaining about my pain from the fall...I also got some Vicodin. So, needless to say, I was flying high...still nauseated, feeling the pressure and getting kicked...oh, and STARVING! I was put on NPO status, also, bedrest until Wednesday at my appointment, then we'd go from there. Brent was great the entire time, poor guy refused to eat.

-(Tuesday)So, upon leaving we went to the 24 hour McDonald's drive thru...fyi...they have a limited menu that does not include a simple plain hamburger! That's nice...tell a VERY pregnant woman who hadn't eaten in 15 hours that the one thing she wants isn't available! So, we came home went to bed, Brent stayed home with us and wouldn't let me do anything...I went from the bed when I couldn't stand to lay down anymore to the couch. And of course the snow and ice hit...so Philip wound up coming home early Tuesday and there was no school Wednesday.

-Wednesday's appointment, I was moving slow...but all checked out good. Heart rate good, blood pressure great, measurements right on track, still only 5 pounds gained...and the funnest...for some reason either I didn't do it (don't know why) or they lost the results but my inital blood panel didn't exisit so I had to visit the Vampires. And in the continuing saga to locate my medical records, we faxed the 'right' form to hopefully get them so the doc can review my surgical notes.

-Thursday, Brent came home early, Philip got to go to school. We were going to have pictures taken Monday but had to cancel, so this was the other day we could go. We got Philip's 5th, Michael's 3rd and Preggo Pics. Brent was super sweet and OK'd a trip to CheeseCake Factory but when we got there it was a 15-30 minute wait they couldn't say which...so we got cheese cake and went somewhere else.

-Friday, Philip's school had a day off...Teacher work day. Brent took the day off I wouldn't be able to handle the kids...they are trying to put me into labor! I slept most of the day...in the afternoon I got a call from the Drs office...the "National archives" that should have my records do not infact have them...they are at Leavenworth! WHAT! So, Monday Brent has to make some calls and hopefully they can get my records to the doc in 9 days! Cynamon came over in the evening to help me with one of the bigger projects. The washing & folding & rearranging of the baby clothes. We also made up the crib, for some reason the bumper doesn't fit like it did before...but we made it work. So 4 loads and 2 baskets full of clothes we finished around midnight! I'm starting to panic...Mom & Mia will be here in a week...Phil's party is next Saturday...I'm still organizing the house and trying to get things in order, but slowly...and I get tired so fast! But the baby will come, and it won't matter if I didn't get everything done, I just don't feel that way at this point...I want to get as much as I can done! Oh, well, one more week!

Here are some of the preggo pics *Warning they are belly shots....dun dun dun....

The Wall-E invitations

So, Philip's party this year is a Wall-E theme...we are going with a 'green' space party with Wall-E. I looked for an invite that I liked but didn't find one...so I made one! It's a paper piecing made out of the new Creative Memories card stock. I freehand made and cut the yellow around the eyes, the neck is the personal trimmer, the grey in the eyes are the large heart punch cut in half and rounded, the black in the eyes is the smallest circle of the mini circle punch, and the whites are from the bubble punch. The stars are the small ones from the star punch and the '5' was printed from a font I found online and cut from the smallest circle in the patterns. I think they turned out ok. Will be posting more about the party and planning.

36 weeks...and counting

This was the 34 week pic...I'm quite uncomfortable. My hips do not like me anymore!

Michael spending some quality time with 'Anphoney' as he says. He refuses to touch my stomach unless he can feel my skin. So, there you go!

A new concept for me....Nesting. I did not do this with Philip or Michael. I mostly slept with them but I find myself waking up at 5ish wide awake and doing laundry! But not just laundry, folding and putting away, which is a task for a preggo to walk upstairs. We had bought a bassinette earlier this fall and I was looking at buying a few more sheets, they wanted $7 for 1!! So I waited for a sale at JoAnns and bought enough for 7 for the price of less than 2. And I may have enough left over to make a little blanket as well. But that is on hold until I finish Philip's quilt (another post) Not only am I doing laundry, I'm planning Philip's birthday party, making stuff for his grab bags, organizing the house, getting things in order, making the guest room ready for all of our guests...

Yes, I'm 35 weeks here....and I'm now only wearing 'stretchy pants'. Mia always refers to me a Nacho Libre...Thanks Mia! Someday she'll have to wear stretchy pants too!

36 Week appointment....yesterday...the count is still 5 lbs gained (no more), blood pressure is great, there is no swelling (my rings can still slide off, nearly fall off when I'm outside), heart rate is perfect, Anthony is head down and getting ready. Even though it won't matter which way he is it's nice to know that he's doing what he should be. I had a slew of questions for the doc yesterday and he was great and anwsered them all! I found out that I will not get taken to the other side of the hospital to recover but just in the other room and the baby and Brent will not leave me! This is nice, since after the boys I went one way & Brent went with the baby the other and I didn't get to hold or see them for 2-3 hours. We are counting down the days until c-day...17 and a wake up.

2008 in review!

January- New Year! I got to go to the Kennedy Center to see My Fair Lady! We had a little bit of a snow day with some sledding! 'Cube' decided to go back up to heaven, 'he' was with us 9 weeks.

February- Miranda's 28th birthday, Mom comes to visit. SuperBowl-Pats & Giants (w), Andrew West (nephew) is born! Philip's 4th birthday & party! Mia & Patrick come for a visit. Valentine's day, Miranda & Ruth's sleep over Birthday Party!

March- Miranda makes a trip to Wisconsin to visit Samantha & to meet Bryan & Andrew! Got to see Mom & Dad for an afternoon before flying back. Road trip to NJ for Abby's 16th birthday! Tried cheese steak w/ fries pizza... Easter with the Wilsons & Patricks

April- A new member of the family- Holly Golightly (the sweet baby cat) Guess Who's Coming to Dinner with the church. Redecorating of the Masterbed room.

May- Nicholas Wilson joins our church family! Mother/Son golf outing Philip & I go have a great time. Diego's birthday party, more golfing! Andrews air show. Preschool graduation! Memorial Day picnic at Allen Pond. Brent leaves for NCO academy in Alabama for the summer.

June- Melissa moves in while Brent is gone. Daina comes to visit. We find out that we are expecting again! Mom (Cathy) comes to visit. We all go see Wall-E

July- We take mom to DC for the day. Brent & Miranda's 9th wedding Anniversary, not the best day of the year... 4th of July spent at the mall. Mid-July Brent comes home! The morning sickness attacks!

August- Road trip to NJ to visit the Harrisons. Miranda & DeAnna go to New York for the Breaking Dawn concert series! We meet Stephanie Meyer and stay for the midnight book sale! The obsession with Guitar Hero begins... The WE Partee in Kansas City. Philip's 1st day of school- Pre-K (all day 5 days a week)

September- Softball season starts. Daddy's elbow & shoulder surgery. Brent's 30th birthday! Ultrasound- It's a BOY!

October- International Festival- fried oreos! Navy Day Ball. Camp WAMAVA church retreat Brent re-enlists in DC. Miranda begins the quilt project. Ultrasound-to see what they didn't see the last time. Have to go back in a few weeks. Halloween- the Lion & the Pirate!

November- Election day! Packing party for Operation Christmas Child- the church/school gathered 99 boxes! Daddy's other elbow & shoulder surgery. Veteran's day dinner. Michael gets the mother of all rashes! TWILIGHT!!! Thanksgiving!

December- Miranda throws out her back! Craft fair at school. Last Ultrasound- Everything looks perfect! Still a boy! Squadron Christmas Party and cake contest- Homemade Carrot Cake made and lost! Air Force Christmas party at Mimms, lots of fun as always! The making of lots of presents & wrapping of even more presents! Visits to Santa. Christmas Eve with Wilsons, Uptons, Roberts, Melissa & Edwin! Christmas! Wii & Guitar Hero...Trip to L&D with contractions, but they go away. Michael's 3rd Birthday! New Years Eve with Ashley & Kyle (I made it to midnight!)

It was an over all good year, there were some heart aches and straight up heart breaks, with losing 'Cube' and the break up of Mom & Dad and Daddy & Judy. Those were the worst of the year. But they are all out of my control... Philip & Michael are growing, happy healthy little boys and there was great joy this year as well, Andrew was born! And we were blessed with another suprise, Anthony Paul! Here's to 2009 and all that will happen!

34 Week, Baby update...

I had my appointment today...we are measuring at 34cm (right on schedule) and I have gained a total of 5 pounds. (1 pound over the 2 weeks that is Christmas & New Years) We have had a few bumps along the way since the last appointment, the Saturday after Christmas I wound up in L&D with contractions, but I was dehydrated so they pushed fluids and after 10 hours of contractions about every 10-15 minutes they slowed down enough for them to send me home. With that I'm always carrying water around with me now...
I have also been having terrible charlie horse cramps in my lower legs that wake me up in screaming pain. I was told I didn't have enough calcium, so now I'm eating tums everyday since milk isn't one of my favorite things. I'm also running low on iron....so I'm on iron once again.

Upon mashing on my belly the midwife told me why I am also having a hard time sleeping at night...Anthony is laying cross ways, side to side in my belly. Basicly when I lay down on one side I'm on his head and when I get so uncomfortable to move I'm on his rump. It also explains why I get kicks on both sides at once (leg & arm). He hopefully will turn head down in the next few weeks. It doesn't really matter since we are a c-section but I would be a little more comfortable.

A Rockin 3rd Birthday!

This year it was hard to come up with something that Michael loves, he really doesn't have a 'favorite character' he loves them all equally. But the one thing he loves above all is MUSIC! Brent and Michael will sit at the computer and listen to all kinds of music and watch videos for hours. Santa even brought him a Guitar this year! So, when I finally came up with the theme it all flowed out! I designed the cake and got the idea to make microphone cupcake cones.

The food buffet was inspired by the research of rockstar back stage demands. Apparently it started with Van Halen not wanting brown M&Ms at all, so someone took them all out! We went the extra mile and seperated all of the colors. The Jonas brothers apparently ask for 24 pieces of sushi each, not really liking sushi I made fake sushi. Of course there was pizza, a mountain of chicken nuggets, since it's frowned on to serve bubbly to minors and Cristal is $200 a bottle...we did sparkling grape juice and glass bottles of Avian water along with "Green Room" punch.

The invites were concert tickets that I designed and the kids got upon entry an 'All Access Pass' and the adults got 'Press Passes' It was a great time! We ate, played a little Guitar Hero, there was some Karaoke, opened presents and had cake! Michael had a great smile the entire time and is still talking about it!

Happy Birthday Michael!