37 week appointment

2 centimeters dilated. I guess that's good, but I really feel like saying "That's it?". Ive had a few contractions, but nothing consistent and none (yet) that Ive been doubled over in pain. I was hoping my Dr would tell me that now is the time and were heading to the hospital. In which case, I was fully prepared and had the car packed. Nope, no such luck. I have an ultrasound next Thursday to check his size, and at that point my Dr will determine weather to induce me or not. Keep your fingers crossed I go on my own before then!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

Well, Christmas and Birthday are over. My baby is now 11! Ugh! Where does the time go? We had a great day. Zachary even said it was the best day of his life! We were up at 6:00 am. Steve and I actually got up first, to let the dog out and pee. Zachary was awake in his bed quietly playing his PSP when I went to check on him. He said he has been up since 4 am, but was just waiting because he told us he would wake us up at 7:00! How considerate! When I was a kid, most years Suzie and I used to wake my parents up long before 4 am! Z of course had already gone down stairs and scoped out the presents in the wee hours of the night, but that's to be expected. He was so cute, instead of tearing through his presents upon first look, he immediately searches for the gifts he has gotten us to open first. Such a thoughtful kid we got lots of really cool gifts from him. He even bought the baby a snow globe that plays "Away in the manger" and his first stocking. It took about an hour and a half to open all the presents! He was most excited about the quad sitting in our backyard. However, he only owns 49%. Steve owns the other 51% and there for has controlling interest! Smart man! The boys were busy riding that around our backyard for a few hours. Zachary moved on to other new toys to play with as Steve and I cleaned up to get ready for the 6pm birthday party. It was chaotic as usual, but well worth the hub bub. He was floored when he opened his new ipod nano from Crystal. He was hoping for that in the worst way. He kept saying all day how lucky he was, and I kept telling him to remember that next time he calls me crabby! Guests were gone by about 9pm. I was exhausted, only running on 3 hours of sleep as it was. I turned in early and FINALLY got some rest. YEAH! We let Zachary stay up late and to our surprise, he still did the dishes for us and made us coffee for the morning. What a great kid! Hope your holidays were great!

Lordy Lordy Judy's ??

Happy Birthday Jude- hope its a good one!

2 Thumbs Up

Went to see "Night at the Museum" last night. It was fabulous. You gotta see it. I don't think baby enjoyed all the loud noises, he sucker punched me from the inside out the entire time. I really thought he was going to break my water!

So frusterating!

The other day, I get a 300.00 bill from a creditor that says I have an outstanding balance from Johnson Memorial Hospital from 2001! 6 years ago? Are you freaking kidding? Im just getting a bill now? Ive never gotten a bill or a phone call or anything! I dont even know what its for. All the bill says is that there are 4 different accounts and it lists the dates of service. So I call the number (which is the creditor, not the hospital) and speak to a supervisor (Dan) and he basically tell me theres no one I can call at the hospital as its out of their hands once they send it to a creditor. All he can tell me is that they (the creditor) just got my account from a different creditor (although they cant even tell me what creditor) as of Dec 7th so that's why I'm just getting it now from them. They said it was balances from Dr. George, and there are 4 different accounts, 3 of them with small balances like $30.00 so it appears like it may have been something that insurance didn't cover or co pays or something. That was 2 insurance company's ago! Its not like I can even track it that way or dispute it through my old insurance company! All they can do is send me an itemized bill with the dates of service. Ok Dan, send me the itemized receipt and then I'm going to call you back and tell you that I'm not paying this because even when I get it, how the hell am I supposed to remember if I was in the office June 12th, 2001 and what it was for? Or if these bills are even valid. He tells me that the insurance company would have sent me an explanation of benefits and I should have known if something didn't get covered. Are you freaking serious? Does anyone save there explanation of benefits for that long? Where were you Dan on the night of June 12th 2001? Seems a little odd to me that someone wants my credit card for $300.00 and they cant tell me exactly what its for, but there certain its from 6 years ago and I was there and its a valid claim. How do I know this isnt a scam just to get my CC number? Dan tells me he doubts the hospital would go through so much trouble as to make up false account numbers.. Yeah, ok Dan, except I havnt ever heard from the hospital, or the Dr's office your claiming I owe, or even the previous creditor your saying you got my account from! And again, need I remind you this is six years ago?! I just got my credit completely cleared up when we were trying to by a house earlier this year. Theres nothing outstanding on it. Wouldn't you think that something like this would have been reported to my credit report long before now? It hasn't. And wouldn't you think I would have known about it by now? Nope, had no idea. So now, I really don't feel that I should have to pay this money or suffer the consequences given that no one has ever contacted me about this in the last 6 years. But, If I don't pay it there going to harass me by phone and mail, report it against my credit report, and they could actually sue me for the money. Any suggestions? As much as I love JMH, this isn't the first time Ive had a problem with their billing. And now I'm set to deliver this baby there any day! Should I save my receipts and explanation of benefits until the kid is 10, just in case? This is absolutely ridiculous!

Time to nest

Im officially on maternity leave. Yahoo! I was planning on making Saturday my last day but I was up peeing last night every 1/2 hour to every hour and Im just exhausted all the damn time. So, Im cooked. Im done. Hopefully I wont be going back to work until May.

35 1/2 week Dr appt

Went to the Dr today. First time Ive seen her since my ultrasound last Monday. See my prior post for the details of that appointment. Since he is already so big, I was hoping she would move my due date up or schedule me to be induced or something. Nope, no such luck. Apparently in the state of CT in order to be induced and or schedule a C- section before 38 weeks, you have to have an amniocenteses to make sure babys lungs are fully developed. So I basicly have to wait it out as that is not an ideal situation. She scheduled me another ultrasound just to check his size, at exactly 38 weeks, which happens to fall on Jan 4th. Just great. So now im going to pray I go early and that he is healthy and I dont have a 10lb baby!

Holy Crap!

So long Frank Barone. You've given us many laughs over the years. We will miss you.

Update on Little Levine

Had my ultrasound today. Little Levine is going to be a big baby. He's already between 6lbs 5oz and 6lbs 10oz (approx) and I'm only 34 1/2 weeks! Since babies gain about 1/2 lb a week in the last month alone, that's estimating this kid to be around 10 lbs! So I'm told to take it easy, and not to over do it, and avoid stress so not to induce early labor. They were doing a good job reassuring me that everything is ok, but there going to keep an eye on his size. Even though he is big at this point his lungs may not be fully developed yet. So they still want him to cook a little longer. I'm now measuring a full 2 weeks ahead of schedule due to his size. I delivered Zachary at 36 weeks, and he was 6lbs 10oz. Im 34 weeks and he's already that big! They said this baby's head is the biggest part of him and there concerned that if he gets too big he may not fit without having a C-section. Kinda scary. And that big head has lots of hair. God help me if he has his daddys shoulders! They were going to forward the results to my Dr today, but I don't see her till next Monday. Ive had a feeling all along that I was going to go early, but Im not ready for this early! Then again, Im guessing that its not up to me at all. This time, he's calling all the shots!

Sudafed

This cold is kicking my ass! Its been 3 or 4 days now. I called my Dr yesterday and she said I can take ONE Sudafed, not to exceed 4 in 24 hrs. And, Im told, use it sparingly. Does it get anymore sparingly than that? Normal dose is 2 every 4-6 hrs. Dont get me wrong, I will do whatever is best for the baby. If thats all I can take, so be it. So I go to Rite Aid to get my Sudafed, and apparently now just to buy Sudafed these days, its kept behind the pharmacy counter so you have to ask for it. So Im waiting in line at the pharmacy, my eyes watering, make up smeared all over my face, blowing my nose and sneezing I get my turn and the lady says "Can I help you?" and I reply "I just need some Sudafed". So shes now giving me the once over to see if I look like a drug dealer, and sends me to the pick up line. Apparently I passed. As if this process isnt ridiculous enough I had to show my licence where my address, and licence number and name were copied on a paper and I had to print and sign in order to get it! Geesh! I have now taken my one Sudafed, once yesterday and once this morning, and as I suspected, its not doing a damn thing. Id rather eat a sweet tart, it would probably be as effective and it would probably taste better going down! As if I wasnt tired enough, now I have absolutely zero energy and its making me pretty crabby. Grrrrrr.

Ive offically begun to crack......

Im about ready for my meltdown. Ive been so good this whole pregnancy. I really havnt been moody, or hormonal or anything. Steve will even attest to that. That is, until now. In a few short hours it will be December. DECEMBER! How did that sneak up on me so fast! That means, Im due NEXT MONTH. Which, in my world means baby could come at anytime. Im not worried about bringing the baby home, Im worried that Im not going to have everything done in time. Im trying so hard to be prepared this time. Is my Christmas shopping going to get done? How can it when I have zero energy to do it, and Steve has zero time. Do I have everything I need for the baby? What am I going to need at the hospital and what am I going to forget? Overnight bags need to be packed for all of us. Whos going to take out the dogs and feed the zoo? How long should I stay at work? All these things are now running through my mind. Although he would never admit it, Im starting to become the bitchy wife who has a honey do list. Car Seats and strollers need to be assembled and put in my car and swing needs to be put together. Shelves in the babys room need to be hung. Poor Steve, I dont know how he puts up with me! Like every mother, I just want a good night sleep, everything done, the house clean and for me to just be home waiting to go into labor, maybe sometime in the late morning after my (decaf) coffee and shower. Ha, I crack myself up- thats never going to happen! Especially the sleep part. Who can sleep when your up every damn hour (or two if Im lucky) to pee! Im playing the "what if" game a lot. And I hate that game! What if I my water breaks at work? What if go into labor and Im by myself, should I drive myself to Steve who will be closer to the hospital? What if Zacharys at school? Im trying to come up with a solution to all these different scenarios and its driving me mad! AGGGGGHHHHHH!

Go put on something pretty!

Wow. What a fabulous day I had Sunday. It started off unusual- Steve and I home at the same time with no alarms being set and no one rushing off to work. Priceless. We both got to sleep in. So we all get up and after a while I start to get hungry and Im about to cook breakfast for myself and "Little Levine" when Zachary tells me to go take a shower and "put on something pretty". So I say "Why would I do that? Im hungry!". He tells me he will make me breakfast and tells me its the day of my baby shower! He repeats so I not forget, "Now go put on something pretty!" Im so glad he was on the ball with that one, considering at my first baby shower I was wearing a Marlboro sweatshirt and Im not even sure I had showed that day! So I take my shower, and I put on something pretty and Zachary has made me scrambled eggs, sausage and a clementine. The clementine pieces were arranged in a decorative circle around my eggs and sausage. So creative that Zachary! Now he says he wants to be a chef! Anyway, without a doubt, the best darn eggs Ive ever had. Meanwhile, in true "Mom" form, Steve is taking a picture of my breakfast. He must have been channeling her. Anyone remember when she took a picture of me eating breakfast the morning I voted in my first election? Ha!
The day was really nice. A calm 60 degrees, not a speck or rain, snow, or wind. Steve and Zachary drive me to my baby shower at Barbara's house. I cant even believe the amount of cars. As Im walking up, Im saying things like "look, Patti's here- see thats her car with no hubcaps!" and "Susan keeps driving by the house Steve- go stand in the middle of the road so she sees you!"
I was so excited so see everyone. It was a perfect weekend to have the shower, when so many could make it because they were home for Thanksgiving. It was good to see everyone especially so many that I dont get to see very often. I even got to meet little Noah. (So So Sorry I mistook Missy for Mary!) There were people that couldnt make it, Cousin Sharon and Aunt Rose who are on a cruise and Sue, Heather and Nana in Florida. It warms my heart to know that Sue considered coming up here. Its the thought that counts!
The amount of gifts were unbelievable. I was unwrapping for well over an hour. We got so many nice things. Even though baby makes his presence known all the time- especially at night when mom cant seem to get comfortable, now that we have all this baby stuff its starting to feel like were really having a baby! Although at times Steve still cant believe it and wants me to take another pregnancy test - "just to be sure".
Some highlights from the shower..Uncle Bills cake -the duck with the pink afro and belt. Loved it. Now thats a story that we will be telling for a long time. Judy's creativity- I dont know how she does it! Ashlee telling me she got me a present but "its not like fancy or anything like the other presents" ( It was a gift card and it was FABULOUS!). And the Bomber jacket from Alicea and the cowboy boots from Crystal are 2 of the darn cutest things I think Ive ever seen!
Now, I dont often get sappy with you people but I will take a minute to say this. Huge thanks to Suzie, Barb and Mandy who did such a fabulous job planning this. I really had a great time and everything was just perfect. You guys really put a lot of time and love into it and it showed. I appreaciate all you did and all you continue to do. I love you guys! And thanks to everyone else who had a hand in helping out in one way or another -Alicea, Judy, Rosemary and Erin. And to those who came to the shower to celebrate with us and support our family. It meant so much to me that you came. Steve and I are so fortunate to have such a wonderful family and friends. The only thing missing was our moms and my 2 special aunts. But only from the shower, not from our hearts. Ok. Enough sap, Im highly hormonal as it is.
The fun doesn't stop there. We get home- cant believe we only had to make one trip with all our goodies, but it filled up the entire truck, backseat, bed and all. It was all in the kitchen and it took me till dinnertime just to show my guys everything we got for the baby. I still had one more prize waiting for me. A new rocking chair and ottoman from my wonderful father in law(with the a little help from above). What a nice surprise! I cant wait till baby comes and we can snuggle together in it! Zachary (with Kaila's help) has already put together our new baby bouncer from Liz and he cant wait to put more things together. Good thing Ive got him , cuz Im just good at putting on the stickers!
Now Im trying to sort through and find a place for everything. We got so many clothes for baby that Im now on my 3rd load of laundry (just baby clothes) in our over sized washing machine and you know how small baby clothes are! At least this time, they will be washed before I go into labor! Now all we need is the baby!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Turkey Day everyone! This year with the wind and the rain reminds me of the year that Mom, Suzie and I went to NY to see the Macy's parade. I want to say it was 1992, but I could be wrong. Mom was festive as usual and her so so excited self only made Suzie and I more miserable to be standing in the rain. I wish I had appreaciated her back then. We attempted to see the Statue of Liberty but there was too much fog, the ferry was closed. Still to this day I have never seen her. Every time I'm on a plane, I'm on the wrong side and I miss it, even from overhead!
Steve and I were watching the news this morning, and I was a little disturbed to see the new sport of "Turkey Bowling". Apparently a big enough event that Miss Ohio was present. Now, I'm by no means a vegetarian, but I think there's something off color about a poor turkey dying only to be used as a bowling ball. It was in a regular package, but I cant imagine they are really going to then cook it up and eat it after its been sliding across some gross floor for hours. Are they? I love thanksgiving and I love turkey but I just don't want to think about the actual animal before I'm eating it. That goes for any meat I eat. But every year just before Thanksgiving, the news crews go to a turkey farm and do a story from their "death row". Or there's others who make it a point to say how many turkeys were killed this year. I understand the food chain, but I just find that so disturbing!
Anyway, lets get back to the real meaning of Thanksgiving, which is being thankful for what we have.

Dr visit

Just got back from the Dr. Little Levine has a good strong heart beat! Right now I will be 32 weeks on Thursday. But Im still measuring about a week ahead of schedule. Not enough for them to change my due date, but thats been consistent of all my ultrasounds since the first one at 7 weeks. Im kinda glad there not changing the due date. I like being due on Papa Bucks birthday, even though the chances of him being born on that particular day are probably slim. I remember being pregnant with Zachary and having a conversation with Papa about having the baby on his birthday. Anyway, I dont think I will make it that far anyway. My guess is that I will be early (again). I think I will go a few weeks early, but I will at least make it to January. Theres other cool dates it could fall on. Nana August birthday, Uncle Johns birthday. New Years day might be cool. Having a Christmas and a New Years baby- that might be a record! Im hoping he doesnt come on the 4th, but I wont be picky. As long as he is healthy!

Michael Jackson?

Well, so much for any more meaningful dreams. Last night I dreampt I was at Michael Jacksons wedding! Have no idea who he was marrying, or if the bride was even of legal age or if it was really a bride and not 2 grooms, but it was a very small intimate ceramony of only like 20 people. So glad he thought of me! Hope I didnt spend too much on a present!

Dreams part 2

I got to thinking about the dream thing. Jen brought up a good point, maybe its the pregnancy thats leaving me dreaming so vividly. Heres my Aunt Lois dream. It was from 8/2/06. I immediatly wrote it down so I wouldnt forget..I knew it was important.Here goes: ...Zachary and I are fighting with something. Im not sure what but I think its a dog that were trying to get away from. So we go to the local sports supply store and were buying boxing gloves to fend off whatever it is. Theres a woman in the store who looks a lot like mom, clearly not her but could be a relative, and shes talking about the King family (My great grandmothers family. Since I didnt know who she was, I didnt say anything, So I get my boxing gloves and stick my hand inside and theres a note inside. - almost like a reciept thats dated 1970 and on the back its handwritten. Not sure exactly what it says but its talking about Harold August (my grandfather) and Grandpa King (my great grandfather whom Ive never met). So I go outside the store, (Z still in) cuz I want to call Steve and tell him about it. Instead I somehow get AUnt Lois' answering machine (Not that she ever had one) and I was thinking that I must still had her on my speed dial and how sad, that the machine is still there, but that is was good to hear her voice. Next thing I know, Im talking to her! Im not sure if she picked up the phone or called my cell phone. Anyway, it was all present time. I knew she was dead. I was fully aware that this is some mystery to be talking to a person from heaven on my cell phone, but instead of questioning it, I just talked to her. So I say "Aunt Lois, the weirdest thing just happened!" And I tell her all about the reciept in the boxing glove. She tells me it was left for me to find 30 years after I was born. Then I told her about the woman who looked like mom that was talking about the King family. And she said "Who is she?" I said I didnt know but I was going to find out. So the woman is now sitting outside the store on a park bench and I go sit next to her, still on the phone with Aunt Lois. So I say to the woman "Hi, Im Ellen Buck's daughter" expecting she would recognize the name but she didnt. I tell her I heard her talking about the King family andI mention "Ellen August" and she vaguley remembers her, but seems to know the older generation like Nana and Grandma King. Not personally, because the woman is about only in her 40's or 50's. So Im really unclear as to who she is, but I know she is related somehow. So I go around the back of the building to a parking lot to get some privacy and to her Aunt Lois better. And I tell her how much I miss her and Im crying as Im talking to her ans she says " O know, I miss you too" and I asked about mom and she says she is good. I tell her about the baby and she said "Oh?" like she used to say with a question in her voice. Then she said "you must be so excited!" and I say yes that Steve is over the moon and I told her all about how Z came home from school with a list of baby names the day after we told him. Then it seemed that the conversation was wrapping up so I tell her not to stop sending me signsso that I know shes around. And she says she wouldnt, so I need to watch for them. And that was it, the last thing she said. The dog barked and I woke up in tears. I woke up and said to Steve "I just had a conversation with Aunt Lois". It was so real, so vivid, but what gets me is that I actually HEARD her voice as if she were really on the phone. I heard her all through my dream! And it was very detailed. Things I was aware of in this dream that I normally dont notice...The noise of the outside street making me move to q quieter place, Zacharys whereabouts when Im trying to concentrate on my phone call. I remember looking at the womans hair and thingking it was the same color, style and texture of moms. Little details like that. But its her voice that gets me the most. I cant explain it other than it was comforting to hear her and it was nice to be able to tell her about the baby but at the same time I missed her so much!

Dreams

I think I hugged Auntie Bet last night. Once in a great while I have a dream so real that I swear Im actually in between worlds. Sometimes is the whole dream and other times its just one part of the dream. I seem to dream a lot, but not of this nature. Anyway, in my dream last night it didnt start off like it was present day. It seemed as though I was back in high school or in that era somewhere. I was dreaming that I was helping Kelly move out of her parents house and theres all these things going on at the same time as Im helping Kelly move -her cat had 2 kittens that we were trying to find homes for, we are waiting for the appliances to be delivered to her new house and its delayed so were mad because we cant order her new carpet until the appliances come, because they have to match. So, its just an odd regular dream. We are in moms old honda, and we have to meet her out at the Clarks. Im mad at mom for some reason and arguing with her a bit in the driveway, almost like she had held up our moving process in some way or another. So I walk into the house, and theres Auntie Bet with her arms wide open smiling from ear to ear to see me, and she just hugs me, as she always did when I walked through the door. And half way through the hug, I realize something. Im not sure what- I realize maybe that shes really gone, or maybe that this is just a dream. Im not sure, but I did know that this isnt something Im going to get in every dream, so I just keep on hugging her for several minutes and I wont let her go.
While the rest of my dream was maybe just my subconcious scatter brain thoughts, that one part of my dream was so intensly real like we were really standing in the middle of her living room. I cant explain it. But I will tell you this...I normally have such trouble sleeping now and last night I slept like a baby for part of the night anyway. That hug left me so content. This morning I also realized that tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of her death, something I hadnt thought of till I had to look it up. I miss you terribly Auntie Bet.

My kid the genius

Zachary made honor roll! First year in middle school, first time he has gotten letter grades and he makes honors! His lowest grade was a B- and there was only one of those. I got a bumper sticker, I got a bumper sticker! Steve and I always tell him that the teacher comments are just as important as the grades. Here are a few from this report card: "Motivated to learn", "Self Motivated and Responsible", "Positive attitude", "A pleaseure to have in class", "uses class time efficiently". Im soooooo proud of you Zachary! Your hard work has paid off! We knew you could do it!

Recorder

This past week, Zachary brought home a recorder from music class. I just dont get why schools put parents through this! The sound is like nails on a chalk board! Its not that he plays it bad, its just that the recorder doeesnt even make a pleasant sound! I remember my parents covering thier ears too, so its not just me. Someone please tell me what the purpose is. I mean have you ever heard of anyone growing up to play the recorder?

New Gal on the block

Ok so Im finally getting with the times and starting my own BLOG. Sometimes I feel like I have so many things to tell everyone and no enough time to do it. So heres my solution. Check back often for updates!