This Is It!

I'm headed to the hospital!

Because of my high blood pressure earlier today, my Dr. ran some blood tests. Well my liver and red blood cell counts came back high, indicating pre-eclampsia. So they want me to come in right away and start the induction. I have been having regular contractions for the past 4 hours, every 6 minutes apart. So hopefully things will progress naturally, otherwise I might need Pitocin.

Only problem is that Kaiser Hayward is full.....so we'll be going to a different hospital.

Please pray for me!

Maybe Baby Soon?

I had a very eventful Dr. appt this morning!

First up was the dreaded weigh-in. I gained 7 lbs in 7 days. What? Yes you read that correctly. My Dr. said that this is caused by my fluid retention, which has gotten pretty bad this week. My legs, ankles, feet and hands are all very swollen.

So then they checked my blood pressure, which was 139/88. Once it reaches 140/90 they start to worry about pre-eclampsia. She checked it again 15 minutes later and it was 135/80, which she said she was more comfortable with.

Baby still has a good amount of fluid to move around in, but when I mentioned I wasn't feeling the baby move as much, my Dr. had me do an NST. (Non-Stress Test) Basically they strapped a monitor onto my belly for 20 minutes and monitored the baby's heartrate (which looked great) as well as me, to check for any contractions. I was having mild contractions every 6-8 minutes or so, but nothing too painful. It's an achy, crampy feeling I've been having off and on for the past week. I got to watch on the monitor, and I noticed that whenever I had that feeling, the line went up to about a 3. The chart maxed out somewhere around 12-14, so I'm guessing the little "3's" I've been feeling are nothing compared to real contraction pain!

I am now 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced, which is good progress! My Dr. thinks I will go into labor very soon, probably within the next 1-2 days. But because my blood pressure was high and my water retention is getting worse, she went ahead and scheduled an induction for this Sunday morning. Now I just need to make sure I go into labor before then, because I really don't want to be induced! My Dr. suggested I start walking as much as possible to bring on contractions. Too bad it's pouring rain outside right now. Guess I'll have to walk in circles around my family room.

I can't believe this is finally happening! I will try to post again if anything major happens.

Dear Baby Nullmeyer

Dear Baby Nullmeyer,

I know I've been telling you every day for the past month not to come early. You have been a very good boy and listened well to your Mommy! You gave Mommy and Daddy a chance to move into our new house and get settled. You even waited until week 39 to really start making me uncomfortable. I just know you're going to be a sweet, well-behaved baby.

But now your due date has come and gone. So I am officially letting you know that you can come at anytime. You don't need to stay in Mommy's belly anymore! There are so many people waiting to meet you out here. So come out and join the world!

If you're really not ready, then don't worry. I won't rush you. But my doctor might feel differently at my appointment tomorrow. She might even mention the horrible "P" word. Pitocin. You wouldn't want Mommy to have to be induced, now would you? Inducing with pitocin would bring Mommy lots of extra pain during labor. We don't want that. So come out soon, ok? Good boy. =)

Love,
Mommy

DUE DATE

Our barbeque last night was a success!

Having this baby by his due date....not so much.

Seriously, I think this little baby has settled in and gotten nice and comfy. As far as I can tell, he has no plans for coming out any time soon. And today is officially my due date! At least I have plenty of projects to do to keep me busy as I wait. Our house still needs lots of organizing done, but it's definitely looking better! Here is our sparsely furnished family room. That couch will go into our living room once we buy a new couch for the main family room.

I am in love with my kitchen! We bought a movable island and Adam put it together for me the other night. Doesn't it look nice?

Our master bedroom is done, just needs some decorations on the wall now. Bassinet is ready and waiting!

I will post again tomorrow. If I don't, you know where I am!!

We're Having a Baby......or a BBQ!

That's right....our house is a mess, I am 39 weeks and 6 days pregnant, and we have no couch. But we're having a BBQ today at 5pm! We figured now is our only chance to do something like this before the baby comes. And the weather is gorgeous today......so come on over if you don't have any plans!

Uncomfortable

That is the only word to describe how I feel. Hey, at least I'm not in pain yet!

Here I am at 39 weeks and 4 days pregnant.

Don't let the smile fool you. This pregnancy is finally getting to me.

I've been achy and crampy off an on since yesterday. I feel it all around my lower abdomen and back, and it seems to come and go. I seriously doubt they are actual contractions, but maybe some sort of early labor?

Makes me excited to meet Baby Nullmeyer soon!

No Baby Yet

Quick update.....comcast is being installed at my house as I type, so I'm stealing internet at my parents' house.

No baby yet, but I think I'm getting close! At my 39 week appt a few days ago, I had progressed to about 2 cm dilated. Not a lot of progress, but some! I've had a backache all week and am generally just feeling achy and uncomfortable. My total weight gain as of 39 weeks is 29 lbs. Blood pressure was pretty good, but my water retention has gotten worse. My fingers are starting to look like little sausages! If I'm on my feet for too long I start feeling really swollen. Hopefully the end is in sight!

Baby Nullmeyer is still moving around, although not nearly as much. He's running out of room! Sometimes I feel him sticking out his bottom or feet, and suddenly one side of my tummy will bulge out. It's so strange to look at! I can't wait to meet this little guy and see what he looks like. I'm guessing he will be just over 7 lbs. Any guesses out there?

Our house progress is slowly coming along. Adam fixed our clogged garbage disposal and also put together the stroller and car seat last night. On today's agenda is getting some blinds for our windows, as we have absolutely no window coverings right now. We need some privacy from our neighbors! Yesterday I finished organizing everything in the baby's room. All of his little clothes, blankets, diapers, bibs, etc are organized in bins below his changing table. We don't have a crib yet, but we plan on having him sleep in his bassinet by our bed for the first few months.

I also alphabetized our spices in the kitchen. Perhaps my nesting instincts are kicking in?

Stay tuned for more updates!

Overwhelmed but Blessed

No baby yet! I've been away from the computer for a few days because we still do not have internet at our new house, and won't until Thursday. I'm living in the dark ages until then!

The past few days have been a whirlwind of moving and getting settled. There is still soooo much to do at our new house. Right now it is a complete mess and I have no idea where anything is. Our clothes are in the baby's closet and we're basically living out of unpacked boxes. Adam got sick and threw up yesterday at work, and then our garbage disposal got plugged today and it threw up on Adam. Poor guy. I still need to go out and buy sheets for the bassinet, and there are currently ceiling fan parts sitting on the baby's changing table. Yes, life is a bit crazy and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.

But at the same time, I am incredibly blessed and at peace. I have a wonderful husband, supportive and loving family and friends, a healthy baby growing inside of me, and a roof over my head. My joy does not come from my circumstances in life. It comes from knowing God is watching over me. He loves me and knows what my future holds. I can trust in Him despite the chaos around me. That is why I have peace.

BIG DAY

Today is the big day! I need to make this quick because I'm supposed to be doing some last minute packing. I will try to take a lot of pictures today of our big move, but I'll probably be pretty busy. I can't wait to sleep at my new house tonight!

For now, I just wanted to say that Now and Laters are evil candy. Do not eat them because you may or may not chip your front tooth on one. Oops.

And no, I did not eat a Now and Later for breakfast. I ate it last night. Breakfast this morning included a brownie. Duh.

We Have Floors

Yesterday was a big day at our new house....the flooring is now about 90% complete! We had carpet installed in all 3 bedrooms, the hallway, and the small living room. I will post before and after pictures later. While that was being done, Adam and I finally went out and bought the hardwood (laminate) flooring for our giant family room!

This is what 1,000 lbs and 60 boxes of flooring looks like. Adam was anxious to get started.

Adam started installing around 3pm with his mom's help.....

By about 8:30 things had slowed down. That's Adam's brother, Sean, laying on the floor. They got a lot done!

Isn't it nice? We were originally going to go with a lighter floor color, but since our wall color turned out lighter than expected, we decided the dark contrast would be nice. I think it looks very rich. Or at least a lot more expensive than its actual price!

38-Week Abs

You too could have a 6-pack like mine in just 38 short weeks! All you have to do is get pregnant. =)

Ignore those weird little lines in the 3rd picture. I was leaning against my desk and it dented my skin. I swear they aren't stretch marks!

So there you go, bare belly shots! I figure at 38 weeks pregnant all modesty about my stomach has gone out the window.

I had my 38-week Dr. Appt yesterday, and going in to it, I was hoping for no signs of progress. I keep saying this baby needs to hold off until after we move, so I was hoping she'd check me and say "OH you've still got a ways to go". However, that was not the case.

I am 1 cm dilated, 50% effaced, and according to my Dr., my cervix has completely softened. What does all of this mean? Basically my body is beginning to prepare for labor. It doesn't mean anything will happen this week, but my body is changing in preparation for the big day. So while the numbers don't actually indicate when I'll go into labor, they still got me excited! I'm not ready for the baby to come today, but I'm glad that my body is doing what it's supposed to be doing. 1 cm down, 9 to go!

I still have not had any contractions. Not even Braxton-Hicks, which I've heard do not hurt, but just feel like your stomach is tightening. I kind of wish I could experience at least a couple "practice" contractions so that I'd have SOME kind of idea of what labor will feel like! Oh well, I guess I really can't complain about a lack of contractions.

A less exciting number was my weight gain. Up another 2 lbs, for a total of 28 lbs as of 38 weeks. Not terrible, I guess. The baby's heartbeat was a very loud and strong 150 bpm! My Dr. is estimating him at 6 and 3/4 lbs right now. He is growing quickly! (As if you couldn't tell by my belly shots)

WOW I can't believe things are moving so quickly. One of my goals for today is to pack my hospital bag. It's probably a good idea to have it all ready to go, just in case something happens this week. Any suggestions from moms out there of what to pack in my bag?

Adam

Adam is my wonderful husband who turned 29 yesterday! Unfortunately his birthday this year was not really celebrated due to the fact that we're moving in 5 days and having a baby in 2 weeks! But he never once complained about it.

Adam is a hard worker who lately has really been showing me what he can accomplish when he is determined. And he sure is determined to get this house ready for his wife and baby! I really appreciate the long hours he has been putting in. He is working full time and spending his spare time working on our new house. When Adam sets out to work on a project, he doesn't just do it half-way. He puts all his energy in to it until the job is done.

So I just want to let everyone know how special my husband is to me. I told him we'll have to have a real birthday celebration for him next year, when he turns the big 3-0! This year, I bought him a Chipotle burrito for his birthday dinner. And you know what? It made him really happy. =)

I Love You Adam!

More House Progress

Things are really coming along over at our new house! There was so much going on yesterday that I didn't think to take pictures until the very end of the day. Here is a blurry shot of me and Riley, being useful.

Adam got all of our appliances into the kitchen, with the help of his brother and Jon. Only problem is that because we did not buy a counter-depth refrigerator, it sticks out just far enough to prevent us from opening a few drawers. I'm not sure what we're going to do about this. Luckily this is the only "issue" we've had so far. It is frustrating, though, because I need all the cupboard space I can get! We might have to look into exchanging this one for a counter-depth version.

Jon, trying to run away with one of my refrigerator doors.

Jon also helped Adam install recessed lighting in our family room and kitchen. It looks really good! Plus, all the wall texturing and painting is finally finished, with the exception of a few touch-ups that need to be done. Once that is complete our house will feel like a brand new home! I will take pictures of the paint colors next time I'm there. I'm really happy with how they turned out.

Here is my washer and dryer, just waiting to wash some dirty diapers.

Ceiling fans will hopefully be installed today (after we actually buy them). Carpet is being installed Thursday, which means we may be able to start moving in on Friday! I am beyond excited. I am not going to feel "ready" for Baby Nullmeyer to come until after next weekend. Once we move in, he can come any time he wants to! Until then, he needs to stay put.

FED UP

OK time to complain. I am so fed up with my neighbor!! (Idiot condo neighbor, not new house neighbor. Whew!)

He is trying to make us miserable each and every day. I'm not going to go into the entire story here, but he is basically a stinky mean guy who sits around all day trying to make things as uncomfortable as possible for us. I was rudely awakened by him this morning, pounding on his bedroom ceiling at me. All it did was make me really angry, but poor Riley just about had a seizure he was so frightened. I don't think I have ever wanted to punch someone so badly in my life.

I have not only called our security company on him multiple times, but I have also written complaints, complained to the owner and even called the police. I once got into a shouting match with him last year, but all that did was confirm to me how unreasonable this man is.

So let me hear it! I want to hear your stories about horrible neighbors you have lived near. Maybe it will make my situation seem a little more laughable. At least we're moving out soon. One week. One week. One week. One week. One week. One week.

My Week in Numbers

5 = Number of cigarette butts our lovely neighbor has left on our doorstep or next to my car in the last 24 hours. Isn't he sweet?

5 = Trips I have made to Home Depot in the last 24 hours. If I never have to go back to this store again, it will still be too soon.

10 = Boxes I have packed so far. I better pick up the pace!

17 = Days until Baby Nullmeyer's due date!

29 = Years of age Adam will turn on April 11th.

31 = Gallons of paint we have purchased this week.

155 = Number of e-mails I received at work during my first week of Maternity Leave.

480 = Linear feet of baseboard we have purchased this week.

Insomnia and 10,000 Calories

So here I am at 37 weeks + 1 day pregnant and I've developed 2 new symptoms just in the past week.

The first is insomnia. I just can't sleep anymore! I've been blessed for the past 36 weeks in that I've been getting great, quality sleep each night. Generally 8+ hours if I go to bed at a reasonable time. But ever since I went on Maternity Leave, I can no longer sleep. I fall asleep quickly but then wake up a couple hours later and just lay there! It's really frustrating because I think it's more a mental thing than an actual pregnancy symptom. Everything that has to be done on our new house runs through my head at night: paint, texturing, bathroom fixtures, cable setup, furniture, carpeting.....the list goes on and on. It's like I can't shut off my mind at night. I know logically everything will get done. Probably not before the baby comes, but that's not the end of the world. So why can't my mind understand this and just relax at night?

Secondly, I am hungry all the time. I know I've said this before during my pregnancy, but my hunger was never really out of control. Just a few days here and there when I was extra hungry. But ever since week 36 I feel like I could eat a horse! I will finish a meal and then think "OK that was good. When is my next meal?". Case in point: I ate breakfast about 45 minutes ago, and I'm already hungry again. And trust me, it was a substantial breakfast! I really hope all these extra calories are going to the baby and not me. He is supposedly gaining a 1/2 lb each week from here on out. That totally justifies mommy eating 10,000 calories per day, right??

Progress

If our house were a pregnant woman, I'd estimate her to be about 3 months along. A whole lot going on inside, but nothing really visible yet to show the progress. But what is happening inside is very important! This weekend our walls continued to be textured, and then the painting will begin this week.

Our messy kitchen.

Our appliances were delivered today, but can't be installed yet.

Jon, our electrician friend, stopped by to help. Sorry ladies, he's taken.

I helped my Dad out with some weeding in the backyard. Not sure how much help I actually was......

Christian patching compound?

Yes, that is a chair holding up our fence.

Early 37 Week Appointment

I had my 37 week appointment today, a few days early. Nothing too exciting, just a regular weight and blood pressure check, along with a belly measurement.

I lost 1 lb this week, bringing my total gain so far down to 26 lbs. My blood pressure was 138/78.

Baby Nullmeyer is measuring at approximately 6 lbs. She checked his heartbeat and it was really loud this time. I remember in the beginning we almost had to strain to hear it, but now it sounds like a marching band! My Dr. was very pleased with this, and said his heart sounds healthy and strong. Overall an uneventful but great appointment!

Preparing for Baby

Today was another busy day preparing for the baby! I went through all the cute baby clothes and blankets I received at my baby shower.

Next I sorted them into piles based on the age. It soon became apparent to me that we need to buy more 0-3 month clothes. Right now we have 4 onesies and one jacket for that size. I definitely see some baby clothes shopping in my future! But I don't want to spend a ton of money on clothes Baby Nullmeyer will likely grow out of in just a few short months. Any suggestions on where to find affordable baby clothes? So far my only idea is Target. Tomorrow I plan on washing everything with Dreft so that they are ready for the baby to wear.

Later in the morning I took Riley for a walk in our new neighborhood, and came across this:

Mobile Pet Grooming!

Have you ever heard of this? It's a little van thing that apparently comes out to your home and bathes your pet for you. I'm guessing it's good for elderly people who can't leave their home easily. But for someone my age? I would feel really lazy if I had to call this company to come give Riley a bath. I actually just washed and trimmed him myself yesterday. Who knew he had such a cute face under all that fur?