Test results tomorrow

I'm taking tomorrow off from work. My doctor's appointment is at 10:45am, right smack in the middle of my day. I have the most flexible boss on the planet so I'll just make up the day next month.

I'm supposed to have between July 10th and August 6th off, but I never actually get my full summer break. There is always a project that they pay me extra for. The project hasn't truly started just yet so I might as well work the day in a week or two and save them the money.

Hopefully I'll find that I passed my glucose tolerance test. I don't see a specific reason why I shouldn't, except maybe the history of diabetes that runs hot and heavy on my mother's side. My body type leans more toward my paternal side though.

I'm starting to get antsy about nursery preparations. DH has not been very energetic when it comes to starting any of the projects that need starting. Unfortunately he's a very "into pressure" person. When pushed... he pushes back with a vengeance. So, I have to be creative about bringing things up, and making him think its his idea. He never feels the same sense of urgency about anything as I do.

Ultimately, the LO will sleep next to our bed for a month or two anyway, so in the grand scheme a 100% completed nursery is not a big deal. Except it feels like it is! When would we have time after she's here anyway? 87 days... so long and so short all at the same time.

3rd Trimester Slump

I think I'm hitting the 3rd trimester slump a week early. I've been clumsy and easily tired all weekend. Though the recent increase in heat probably plays a role too. I did manage to get some weeding, watering, and shopping done, though on a typical weekend I'd have done twice as much.

Another supposed symptom: my crafting drive has been revived. I bought some double pointed needles and circular needles and yarn today (yay, gift card!). My ambitions include legwarmers, socks, and if I'm REALLY motivated, some rudimentary cables. :)

I also find myself desperately desiring a sewing machine. I'm hoping I can get one handed down from a friend, or fish for one on freecycle. My ambitions include hemming my own clothes, sewing a simple curtain, and a rudimentary slipcover for an unuphulstered rocking chair.

Though a tiny voice in the back of my head is nagging me about a crosstitch project I never finished, and a dresser that needs sanding. Shhhh. Learning something new and playing with new toys is much more fun.

Wednesday I get the results of my glucose test. It was not nearly as horrible as I imagined. I did not get a choice of flavors, but the liquid was clear and cold and not as thick as I'd feared. I read my book and listened to the radio for an hour then she brought me back to take my blood. The phlebotomist was as sweet as the drink she gave me. She was also much more skilled than the last woman about finding my vein and causing little to no pain (note to self, left arm is best). I didn't even bruise! Of course it was only 2 vials this time instead of 6.

This next week calls for another belly shot.

Now, back to the title of this post... ZZzzZZzZzzz....

I saw her

or should I say I saw me? Or, I saw her moving my midsection?

It was nothing definite, no shape, no contour. She almost certainly had the hiccoughs, and my belly jumped with her spasm. Even DH noticed. :)

Here are some unedited images of the baby shower that exploded in the junk room that shall become nursery. First, a small selection of that which was showered upon me. Second, the travel system, third, the loving handicraft of a dear friend.

Make way for belly

I think I had my first random stranger notice and comment last week, a cashier. She asked me when I was due. But, my O'Douls purchase did act as supporting evidence. :p

This weekend I will write all of my thank-yous and sort baby stuff. Twill be fun. I will also hang out with an old friend at some point. We were inseperable from kindergarten to 5th grade, but slowly drifted apart after I moved to the other side of town. We've been trying to get back in touch off and on for a couple of years. She's been busy with school and is graduating this weekend, I think she's going on to grad school.

She had a necessary operation as a teen and will never have biological children. When I told her I was pg, I was being super sensitive. But, she has shrugged off my concerns for the most part, and responded only with great enthusiasm. I guess she's had a couple of decades to process it. I still want to be thoughtful though.

Open heart, insert joy

I'm in an exceedingly good place right now. I know I've said this before, but I half expect some dramatic tragedy to befall at any moment just because everything is going so perfectly. If you want to read about overwhelming joy and good fortune in the life of someone who has done nothing special to deserve it, you've come to the right blog.

So, I'm going to share the most pressing problems in my life right now. It sounds odd but they best illustrate how amazing everything really is.

My biggest problem now is how and when to write dozens and dozens of thank-you cards. First, I need to thank everyone who took the time to nominate me for an award at work, and donated their money for gift cards. I've been recognized by the school board and that's just plain awesome. I know I work hard, but I LOVE what I do. The recognition has been over the top! Over 60 people nominated me, I'm still in awe. I'm about halfway through thank-yous. I'm personalizing them as best I can, but it is tough with so many to get through. I REALLY must find something special to do for my boss. I wouldn't be where I am without him, he's the one that has seen my potential, and given me enough challenge and opportunity to thrive as well as setting up this award and keeping it a big fat secret. No matter how I thank him, I'm forever indebted.

Then, when I have that problem solved, there's the matter of the thank you cards for the baby shower last Tuesday. It boiled down to an assembly-line of gift opening. One of my coworkers described it as being "Like Christmas, for Everyone!" Highlights included the exact travel system (carseat/stroller) DH and I had picked out, and a lovingly crocheted sweater, hat, and blanket which I intend to make heirlooms out of. There was also a wardrobe of outfits, and various toys and necessities. Last but definitely not least, gift cards which I can use to buy some breast-related accessories. :) DH was overwhelmed as he helped me unpack the car. Now, Gift Mountain sits in our living room, a very pressing reminder that the nursery needs to be cleaned out as of LAST week. *insert more awe here*

I really should take some pictures. But, thank you cards take precedence. I'm under the gun as the last day of school is the 17th. I hope to have the first batch done this weekend, and the second done next week. DH is supposed to help with the nursery. Something tells me the yard/garden will be suffering a bit...

More good stuff: I had a doctor's appointment Thursday and the word "perfect" was tossed around quite a bit. There was heartbeat-hearing (never get enough of that) and belly measuring, and handing out of freebees. I now have my pre-registration paperwork for the hospital (OMG, already?) and I've signed us up for prepared childbirth classes to begin next month. I need to have my glucose test done before my next appointment.

I feel the little one kicking and moving several times a day (like right now). Its become a reassuring background process, almost like breathing though more intermittent. I don't drop everything to take notice every time, it is frequent enough that I'd never get anything done! But, I do take several belly breaks. I've also started singing and talking to baby (usually at night and while driving to work). DH occasionally talks to my belly, but not often. He has felt her move several times.

Speaking of driving to work, I love my car too. I've used the AC a couple of times now. I used to think such things luxuries, its almost sad how quickly they become necessities.

I'm definitely at the top of a roller coaster.

Drive-by update

Belly pics, circa 4 weeks ago:



The coworkers are throwing me a shower tomorrow. I can't wait. I sure hope we REALLY have a girl, because I suspect 90% of what I'm showered with will be some shade of pink. DH wanted to keep things as gender neutral as possible, and I did mention lavender as our primary color, but I get the sense that the surrogate grandmothers at work (a couple dozen of them) have been thrilled about buying girly items. It is cute to see them so excited and to be the reason behind it.

Besides that, things at work have been pretty dismal lately. Layoff notices, a forced move a new office, scattering employees, uncertainty galore. Hence, the shower is being held quite early (I'm not quite 6 months). School is almost out and we won't all be together in the fall. :( So, for now, any cause for celebration has been quite welcome. I'm honored to share the joy, and hope everyone has fun.

I ordered my hostess gifts for the 2 hostesses, personalized post-it notes that I found online. They are both secretaries so I think they will like them. I know I always loved that kind of stuff.

I'll try to be a better blogger now that I've repaired my CPU cooler. I had to temporarily remove the motherboard to do it, but I'm very happy with the results. It even has a blue LED that I can see through my clear case. At a glance, I can tell the fan is still spinning. My computer hasn't overheated or crashed once! I even reinstalled XP, and everything feels clean and nice and fast. :)