Ok - so I'm charging us all with pregnancy brain - it's August 5th & this hasn't been started yet!!! LOL

Good point -- it is August! And I should know it's August because my baby should be here by now!

I'm getting nervous but also VERY excited about the birth. Chances are he'll wait until the induction Thursday, but he could surprise me today or tomorrow, which would be wonderful. I go in tomorrow for blood work and to answer a million questions to prepare for Thursday. Then I hope my husband and I can go out for a decent dinner. I'm thinking I should carbo-load or something, like I'm running a marathon the next day!!

Sounds like everyone's working on their baby rooms these days. We waited pretty late -- in fact, we put the finishing touches on it today. We finished putting up the Winnie-the-Pooh border (I had to order more because we didn't have enough) and put up some WtP wall appliques. We didn't do too much with the room because we couldn't really afford it. My in-laws gave us a brand new crib (which we haven't put together yet!), we're using a really old dresser that has always been in that room, some friends gave us an old changing table (we weren't going to get one, and we still don't know how we'll fit this one in the room so it's not even in there yet), and a friend gave me a rocker/glider as my shower gift (which was lovely of her). We put up the border, a few stickers and wall hangings, a valance, and a matching hamper. It looks really cute, though. We didn't get the crib bedding set, because we thought that even though it's cute it was kind of pointless. You can't put anything in the crib with the baby anyway, and they say bumpers can be dangerous as well, so we didn't think we should spend $150 on useless bedding. A crib sheet and a swaddled baby -- that's all that will be in there!

Some of you are talking about swelling. It's interesting -- I really didn't have that at all (except the one instance with my previously broken ankle). I'm wondering if it's because my body has already known what it's like to carry even more weight than this (and it carried it for a looooong time). I really didn't have the swelling and backaches that a lot of women get from carrying around pregnancy weight, even though I've gained more than most pregnant women do. I'm still not up to the 275 I used to weigh, so my body's like "bring it on -- I can handle it!" I brought too much on, though -- that's for sure!! I'll have lots of work to do post-partum to get rid of all this. I'm dreading trying to run, but I'm looking forward to it too.

Hope you guys are doing well. I'll try to get back here to post about the birth as soon as I can!

Good luck Lisa!!!!! Best wishes for the labor and birth. When you get a sec, let us know all about Henry.

I thought I was going to pull my hair out by the roots yesterday. DH and I got a crib and changing table set from my parents that they used with their 2 youngest kids. It's been lent out twice but it's still in good shape... so we thought. We go to put the crib together yesterday and after an hour realize that there are 2 extremely vital pieces missing (the ones that hold the mattress up.) They never got the pieces back from the lady they last lent it to and, knowing her like I do, they will never be seen again. Rendering the crib completely useless.

There was one fantastic silver lining to all of this, something I can only see as a great blessing. After realizing that we really DON'T have a crib I got onto craigslist.org to see what I could find. Since the one where we live sucks I started looking where my SIL lives (and DH and I used to live)... she said she'd go pick one up for me and store it until we get up there if need be. So, I'm cruising for cribs and find a 3-in-1 convertible crib for $45, I couldn't believe it! Turns out they were really needing to make space and need to get rid of it ASAP, thus the extremely LOW price. So, I email the lady asking if it's still for sale (not holding my breath since it was such a great deal) and get an email back from a very good friend of mine saying "Did you mail me about my crib on Craigslist? You're not the first but you have seniority so it's yours if you want it!" I am so excited! There's nothing on the website to indicate a seller's identity, I just "happened" to pick out the one crib from hundreds that my friend was selling. What an incredible blessing!

So, we're getting a convertible crib, which I've always wanted, for really cheap and I know who's had it and what kind of care has been taken with it. Our crib woe turned out to be a great thing!

Gale - what a strange coincidence. I love things like that. I'm glad you found a crib you're happy with.

I'm SO frustrated with my sleep right now. I'm getting restless legs really bad at night. I've had this before but now it's escalated to the point that whenever I'm sitting or lying down I get these violent, jerks in my legs - so if I'm not quite asleep it wakes me up. I'm not a good sleeper to start with so disturbances to my sleep really throw me for a loop.

I've literally been up the entire night 3 times in the last week. Last night I slept 10:30-12:00, woke up to pee & then was up until 7:00 this morning. UGH!!!

I'm going to try to force myself to the gym this afternoon to hopefully help reset things.

Lifeguard,
I'm sorry you're having such a hard time sleeping, that stinks. I find (and this may just be me) that my restless legs are worse when I'm not getting enough calcium. My Dr. put me on a supplement for leg cramps and it seemed to have taken care of the restlessness as well. Of course, you want to check with your Dr. since too much calcium can give you kidney stones, and that's the LAST thing you want during pregnancy. I hope you can get it figured out soon!


So, I got all of my maternity clothes today and, miraculously, they all fit! I am pretty much starting to feel like a whale these days but I don't feel like I look pregnant. I feel like I just look fatter, but instead of a pear shape fat with a little waist (like I've always had) I'm an apple shaped fat with big hips! And, to boot, if my scale is to be believed I've gained 5 lbs in the last 3 weeks. I've not been very good at all with my eating, lots of french fries in my life the last month or so. I need to get back on track, SOON! I'm still 25 lbs from my high weight and I'd really, really like to stay under that. If I'm going to, I have to eat better and walk more. Otherwise I'm going to start gaining really fast. I must remember that even though I'm pg I STILL can't process 3000 calories per day. "It's not a license to eat whatever I want. It's not a license to eat whatever I want. It's not a license to eat whatever I want. It's not a license to eat whatever I want." Maybe if I repeat this to myself 5 times an hour I'll remember it.

Lisa - good luck with everything, hope it all went well and that you'll be back soon to tell us all about it.

Gale - That 5 lbs could be fluid, I know I have gained a lot in the past few weeks and I am positive that my eating has not changed so it is definately fluid. I am so swollen everywhere, my hands, feet, legs, even my abdomen! Still you are right about the 3000 calories!

Lifeguard - I've been having insomina too on and off for the past few weeks though not from restless legs. Definately the calcium could be a factor. Are you taking a prenatal vitamin and getting in 2-3 servings of milk or milk products daily? It might help.

Saw my dr yesterday. She is a bit concerned about my blood pressure, it is up and all the swelling. She sent me for some blood work just to make sure this isn't the beginning of pre-eclampsia or toxemia. I might have to go in early if things get worse. Frankly that'd suit me fine, I'm done with this pregnancy. I have less than 3 weeks to go for my planned c-section and we are all certain the baby is big enough. She wants me to hang in there until at least I'm 37 weeks which will be another 9 days. It feels like it is going to be forever at this rate!

The baby's room is almost done. Almost all the painting is done, it's just the carpet that needs to be fixed and the blinds and curtains to go up and of course the furniture moved in. Can hardly wait to get everything in there and organized, will give me a big pick me up.

Take care all!

I'm jealous you girls are so close!

I slept Thursday night pretty well & thought maybe I had fixed things but then didn't sleep last night.

Then today I fell down the stairs. Somehow I managed to grab the banister & keep myself from landing hard but also managed to scrap the tops of my feet & my knees pretty badly. DH & I are both rather confused how I did that going down the stairs but my gawd does it hurt. Our stairs are very rough concrete & I look like I have road rash. It'll be nothing but flip flops for me for awhile now.

This thread hasn't been too active the last few days -- I hope everyone's doing ok.

I had my little Henry Clay (the fourth) on Thursday at 5:31pm. He's 8 lb, 8 oz and 21 1/2 inches long. I'm madly in love with him and completely exhausted. He's healthy but he's having trouble pooping and he's crying a LOT and breastfeeding is very difficult (though my milk hasn't come in yet). I don't have a nursing bra that fits (advice: buy the most enormous one you can find, because nothing else will fit, and I'm not even engorged yet).

Anyway, here he is!

What a GORGEOUS baby, Lisa. Congratulations!!!

Congrats Lisa!!! He is wonderful, I don't blame you for loving him to bits. Nursing bras are an issue that I am having as well, trying to get prepared ahead of time but having trouble finding anything that fits. Stay with the breastfeeding if you can, I know it is rough but it can take up to 6 weeks to really get the hang of it. I know that isn't much consolation when your baby is crying non stop it seems. I gave up too quick with my first even though I pumped for 3 months. My husband was being no help at all, emotions were running high, I had no family or friends to support me so it was just easiest to start using the bottle and supplementing with formula. I'm going to give it more of a chance this time.

So how did everything else work out as far as being checked for progression etc? I know you were worried about that.

As for me, we've got the baby's room pretty much done. I just have to finish off the curtains and rearrange the room a bit. Just little stuff. I'm wiped out though. It isn't even 10am and I feel done for the day. I did my back no good from all the painting and stuff I did last week and I'm not recovering well. Feel like I am taking tylenol all the time. Oh well not much longer to go.

Hope everyone is doing well, keep on posting Lisa, we still want to know how you are doing!!

Congrats - he looks soooo peaceful in the pictures! Beautiful! Will you be giving us the birth details when you feel up to it? I don't know a soul who found breastfeeding easy to start with but they all got it eventually.

One of the top things on my list for my trip home next week is nursing bras. I'm hoping if I go up one cup size from what I am now that will be ok? It's SO depressing how huge the girls are.

Jen - it must be a relief to see your nursery coming together - it sounds like it's been so much work.

I've been sick the last couple of days. My chest & belly hurt from coughing so much & I can't remember my breathing ever being so laboured - but it seems to be improving. My foot still hurts like heck from my fall on the weekend. It must be super bruised underneath the scabbing. But I went for GD test yesterday. I have my OB appt on Thursday so I'm hoping the test results are good - I've been dreading doing this. As I have PCOS my odds are a little higher for developing GD & just don't want to have to deal with it.

:congratulations: Lisa!! He's absolutely gorgeous.
Keep on keeping on with the breastfeeding, it'll get there eventually.

As for us, there's not a whole lot new going on. I did my GD test yesterday and should have the results back in a couple of days. The baby kept me awake for 3 hours last night kicking, so I'm fairly tired today. Fortunately the house is clean and there's not much I have to do today.

Thanks, everyone! Things are getting better with breastfeeding. My milk came in (with a vengeance) but now I'm trying not to get lopsided since he favors one breast.

Lifeguard - you may need a bigger nursing bra than that. I was wearing DD when I was pregnant (single D when I lost all my weight) and I'm sitting here in an H. When my breasts are full with milk, the H is tight, and after he feeds it's loose. It's very hard to figure out what to wear. I can't go to a maternity store and get fitted for one now because I really can't leave the house yet (though I'm about to go take him for his pediatrician appointment). I haven't figured out the nursing in public thing and I haven't pumped bottles yet, nor do I want to at this point. So I ordered the H bra on the internet and I may have to order another because I've leaked all over this one and have to still wear it today (eek!) It's definitely a learning process...

I'm still terribly sleep-deprived but I shouldn't complain because little Henry only got up three times last night, and two of those were to eat!! I was thrilled. Of course, one time I thought he was finished pooping and then it shot out of his little bottom all over my leg and foot!!

OH - the whole idea of nursing bras depresses me. I'm wearing a VERY full DDD (or F depending on the sizes). And if I don't get the right ones when I'm in Canada next week I'm somewhat screwed as the selection here is terrible! We haven't tried doing anything mail order yet but I have my doubts - it takes a minimum of 4 weeks from when something is mailed to when it arrives here - sigh.

My cold is definitely getting better but every time I lie down I starting coughing & hacking.

DH leaves today for Canada. I don't leave for another week. I'm not looking forward to a week here alone - but at least I have my OB appt tomorrow. Fingers crossed on my GD test!