progress?

The baby is finally dropping. And my virus, although still slightly morphing, is starting to fade.

Hooray!

Mom is coming for the weekend. I think we're going to hit up the orchard for the last weekend of U-pick.

On Sunday I'll be singing with 120 others, from four choirs, in a choral concert of various sacred works and the Faure Requiem - with a mini-orchestra. It's happening at 3:00 at our church, St. Christopher. I'm pretty pumped! Especially that I've been able to hang in since rehearsals began in the summer. I was fully expecting to have to drop out at the beginning of October because of the pregnancy. So far the only complication is swollen feet and ankles from standing so long - but I get those every day anyways.

Happy Halloween, and Happy (almost) Weekend!

sick and itchy

I've had a terrific pregnancy...until the last few days.

My skin started itching late last week, and my throat started hurting Sunday night. The itching has gotten progressively worse and I'm now sporting a rash on my legs. At the OB appointment on Monday, he wanted to run a blood test to make sure the itching wasn't something  bad (this was just at the start of the rash), and I got to sit for 30 minutes for a nonstress test. I just sat in a chair with a heart rate monitor on my stomach picking up the baby's heartrate. That test showed that the baby is doing very well. I even had some contractions during it (that I didn't feel!).

The blood test came back normal today.

On Tuesday morning, I woke up with my throat hurting even worse and some severe congestion. I went to the doctor's and got a strep test - negative. Just a viral infection - that is totally kicking my butt. I had to take today off of  work again after spending less than 40 minutes at a time sleeping last night, waking up 9 times between 11 and 8. My napping has been similarly nonproductive.

I'm just waiting out this virus ending.

In the meantime, I get to deal with the itching. I've discovered that it is most likely PUPPP, a pregnancy-induced itchy rash that doesn't go away until after giving birth. It feels like it's starting to spread to my arms, and there's nothing that really takes it away. Relief can be found with a couple of herbal-ish soaps/lotions according to some popular pregnancy sites. If it's going to be a problem and it's early in the pregnancy, doctors might prescribe steroids.

Luckily, I don't have to deal with this for much longer, but it's making me truly hope that this baby comes early. If not, my skin is going to be quite unhappy.

I'm not dialated at all according to my Monday appointment...so please pray that I make some progress asap!

shower at the silvers

I'm having trouble uploading photos of the present un-wrapping...they're coming in at a huge size, so here are some tiny tiny thumbnails. Sorry.

I had a truly terrific time seeing family friends, my mom's family and both sides of Dennis' family.

Special special thanks to Ellorie, Cheryl (Ell's mother-in-law) and my mom for hosting the shower - Cheryl especially for making so many delectable treats.

Dennis and I had a great time hanging out for the weekend. We got to play a  little Rock Band with Jane and Morgan, had breakfast with Cheryl and Lew and stopped by Ikea to get the baby's dresser (seen earlier in the blog).

recap, baby shower #1

Some images from the first baby shower, held in Michigan for my dad's side of the family. Hosted by my Aunt Nancy.

weekend escapades

We went to Michigan last weekend for baby shower #2, for my mom's family, both sides of Dennis' family, and family friends that all live in Michigan.

I did an abysmal job of taking photos. Really. 

Here we are on the way up.

I took no pictures at the shower...so I'll post some when I get them from others.

We bought a dresser for the baby's room while we were up there. I love Ikea!

Assembly went well. We only dinged the dresser in one place - it was my fault, and, unfortunately, it was right on the front. Oh well. I'm sure the dresser will see much more action to come.

We also got drawer organizers at Ikea and another Spoka light. Here they are together.

The lights turn on and off when you push on their head. And they're portable like a flashlight, but they recharge when you plug them into the wall. Amazing! 

AND - they match the curtains!

Dandy decided that the dresser was just a stair for him to get onto a new windowsill.

That's all for now!

AHHHH!

My stomach itches! It just gets worse and worse and worse.

ARGH!

more nursery photos

New photos of the baby's room are here! I finished hanging the owl prints tonight.

the cats had a visitor

A friend came to see the cats the other morning. We've seen this one around the neighborhood. Once, I actually called Dennis after leaving for work to make sure that Mister Bungle hadn't gotten out after seeing this cat.

The neighbor cat was sitting about 4 inches away from our sliding glass door (outside). Dandy was chatting away, and Mister Bungle came into the bedroom to see what was going on. He went crazy and kept pawing at the glass.

weekly visits begin soon

We had another doctor appointment today. The baby is measuring right on date, and the heartbeat was a steady, and very strong, 130.

Next appointment is Monday, October 20 - the beginning of the weekly appointments. That will probably make it seem like the baby is REALLY coming. Right now I think we're still in the "sometime soon" state of mind...not really comprehending just how soon "soon" is.

We also had the tour of the hospital yesterday. There were 5 other couples with us. We started the tour on the labor/delivery/recovery floor (floor 6 for those who are counting). That floor also houses the NICU. The whole floor very much had a hospital smell to it. I'm going to see about bringing in some sort of non-offensive, not-too-strong, good-smelling thing. I just can't imagine smelling like that, and having all of my things smell like that...yuck!

We then moved up a floor (floor 7) to the postpartum area. I thought that we would be staying in the same room the whole time, so I was caught off guard and bummed when the nurse said that we would be moved to this other area 1-2 hours after delivering. However, the rooms were equally nice and less clinical. Also, floor 7 doesn't smell hospital-y. There are larger rooms that are first delivered-first served. I'm hoping for one of those as they have a larger pull-out bed and additional chairs, a table and generally more room to have visitors during visiting hours (10-10).

More on baby's room and applesauce soon!

a day of adventure

After I was done at work and Dennis finished band practice, we headed out to the apple orchard. We first went to the corner store, where I chose a stellar pumpkin. We grabbed two baby ones, too...and a peck of Honeycrisp apples that were already picked.


Then we headed over to the U-Pick area to get some Jonathan and Jonagold apples.


Yum!





We left the orchard with all of our spoils.


Then we went to Kohl's. At Kohl's we checked to see if we had a balance on a gift card. We didn't, so we went to JoAnn etc. to get some envelopes for thank you cards. (That was boring, so I didn't take any pictures).

Then we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner, utilizing another gift card. While waiting to be seated, we stood next to the cheesecake case.
"This is what's wrong with America" - Dennis


"too many cheesecakes" - Kate


Dinner was satisfying...to the point that we didn't have room for dessert.

Then we headed home and were greeted by the cats.




Here is a picture of our new computer desk for good measure. It formerly occupied Ellorie's den.


Here is a picture of our neighbors, baby raccoons, climbing up onto our neighbors' roof. They look slightly demonic with the glowing eyes...but I assure you, they are quite adorable and the objects of our cats' affection.


Stay tuned for more adventures, probably having to do with applesauce-making and haircuts.