Madelyn Frances Riker

She is finally here! Sometimes I still can't believe it...all that time spent anxiously awaiting her arrival, but now there is no more waiting. She is finally here to love on and hold in my arms, which in fact she is doing right now. So here is her story of her birthday....

Her due date was Wednesday, July 27th, but of course she couldn't be early to the party. We made sure she wasn't too late and had the induction scheduled for Friday, July 29th. Even though I've had contractions for the last couple of months it was very infrequent and never more than just a couple at a time, at best a couple times a week. So that Tuesday when I woke up at 3am with "cramps" and still had them when Michael got up for work at 5am, I thought that this was really going to happen that day. Nope, of course not. I had contractions for 7 hours and then they just stopped. I was feeling contractions when I went in to the hospital on Friday, but nothing regular or very strong. When I was hooked up to the machine they showed up and even the nurse thought that this was going to be a quick labor (she had joked that maybe just sniffing the pitocin might be enough). I thought it would be quicker than Nate's labor, since she was my second and I was already starting at 3cm.

The pitocin was started at 8:30am. It was slow moving after that. I was only 3.5cm by 11:15am. Very disappointing. So the doctor decided to break my water and hopefully that would help get things moving along. At 12:30 I was only 4cm which was depressing, because by this time my contractions were very strong and I thought I would be making real progress. So no surprise that I opted for the epidural, which of course helped a lot. At 2:25 I was 5cm and we were all thinking that it might be a longer night than we had thought. BUT, not even an hour later (3:15) I was feeling some pressure and so the nurse checked me and sure enough, I was at 10cm and the head was right there! I pushed through 5 contractions and Miss Madelyn was born at 3:27pm.

It was amazing! We did skin to skin, so right after she was born they laid her on my chest. She instantly stopped crying. I was overjoyed to finally have my baby girl here. The rest of the afternoon/evening is a blur. Michael's parents came up to the hospital and Michael went and got Nate so he could meet his little sister. She was given a bath and I was given dinner (food finally!) and after everyone left it was just the three of us. The beginning of long nights with no sleep has begun! But we are so happy to have her here with us, after all this waiting, it was worth it. She is precious as can be. And although the first day was rough (a lot of crying) things have smoothed out and she is a very good baby.

8lbs 13oz, 21 inches long

40 Weeks

Normally I'm a very patient person, but for whatever reason, that has not been me this week. Maybe because I was tricked into thinking I was going to have her yesterday. We took a long walk in the evening and by the time I went to bed at 10pm I was starting feel some cramping. It was light and I wasn't too hopeful, thinking it was probably just being out in the heat. I woke up around midnight and was still having cramps but they were light enough that I fell back asleep. But when I woke up at 3am, the pain was sharp enough to keep me up. So I got up and played around on the computer and did some laundry. I was continuing to have contractions by the time Michael got up at 5am and so I really thought this was the real thing. I never timed them because they seemed to be very irregular. Some were closer than others and then there would be a gap in time before the next one came. The contractions were sharp and getting stronger and then around 10am they stopped. Just stopped. I kept hoping they would come back--who hopes for pain, right? but they never did. I had a doctor's appointment that afternoon. I am now 3cm dilated and 60% effaced. Progress. The doctor said it was encouraging. I should be happy with that, which I am in a way. It would have been devastating to go in and still be 1.5cm, but all I could think is I had contractions for 7 hours and not only am I not holding my baby in my arms today but I am only at 3cm. Having contractions on and off for the last 2 months and then 7 hours of it yesterday, I feel like this is the longest labor ever. I know, I'm dramatic. This is nothing. But again, this is my impatience speaking. So I guess I just need to sit back and relax and wait. If I don't have her by Friday and I have to get induced then that's what will happen and it will be okay. I know this. But it doesn't hurt to keep walking and trying, right?

39 Weeks

I'm really hoping this is the last pregnancy update. Really hoping. There were no changes at my last doctor's appointment; I'm still 1.5cm and 50%. I'm just very ready for many reasons but this heat and being as big as a whale is not a good combination. That, and I think we're both ready to meet this little girl and hold her in our arms. We have the induction scheduled for next Friday, which will be 2 days past my due date. They were willing to induce me this week, but I want to at least give her time to come out on her own, just not too much time. :) I'm still in high hopes that I won't make it one more week, but we shall see.

38 Weeks

As it gets closer and closer I will try and keep you all updated as best I can on here. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. I am still 1.5 cm dilated but am now 50% effaced. He did strip my membranes, but there's no guarantee that will do anything. He said if they do it each time I come in, it has the chance of moving up the date by 6 days. I'll take it! My preference would be anytime after this Sunday, since Michael and I have a date night planned. I am still feeling pretty good and she (surprisingly) is still pretty active. We have reached some pretty high temps this week with heat advisories, yet another reason I am ready to have her!

37 Weeks

Super quick update: baby is still doing well, heartbeat sounds good and still measuring on time. Dilated to 1.5 cm, so a half of a centimeter in a week, not much. I was having pretty good contractions on Monday (thought I might have a 4th of July baby!) but just the pains without producing much! And as the doctor puts it, I'm still pretty thick (hope he's talking about my cervix!). I am now at the point where I am officially ready to have her. Up until now, I thought the longer she stayed in the better. Much easier to take of Nate while she is in my womb, but now I feel like she is going to be here and I will have a toddler and newborn and so we might as well get this adventure started! Although I would like her to wait until at least 38 1/2 weeks. I will be done with everything by then. ;)

36 Weeks

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. Everything is going well and measuring right on track. I think she will be smaller than Nate. I haven't gained as much weight and he was always measuring a week or two ahead. If so, it will be good to have a smaller baby! :) I'm officially in my last month! I'm anxious and excited and also very ready to be done, but then again I'm not so ready for newborn + Nate. We'll get through it but it might be a little rough at the start. A lot of people look at me and say there is no way I'm going to make it to the end. I don't think I look that big! Ha! Feel it? Yes! I am 1cm dilated but not thinned out much. I was 1cm for a month with Nate so I don't think it means much. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens!

Pregnancy Dreams

Up to this point, I haven't had any dreams about the baby or anything pregnancy related, which is weird, because I had a ton with Nate (eg. giving birth to a dog that looked like Benny and then proceeding to breastfeed it or having the baby push so hard against my stomach wall that he pushed through it like a balloon; probably a couple of the most memorable). I think last night I made up for it, having a gazillion dreams of either having the baby, being pregnant, or things I need to do after she comes. I can't really even remember what the dreams were specifically about, I just know that they were baby related, a multitude of them, and I got no sleep. I would wake up after each dream and then have trouble falling back to sleep again. Once I did, I would have another short dream and then wake up. Sooo tired today!

So while this was the first time I really dreamt about anything baby related, I have had a couple of recurring dreams this entire pregnancy. First, I have had a few zombie dreams, which is weird because I don't really watch zombie movies and don't know where they are coming from. I usually wake up scared but the last time I finally got caught, turned into a zombie myself, and then it wasn't so scary anymore. Second, I have had many variations of the same dream. I dream that I am in high school again and cannot find my locker or my classroom or it is near the end of the semester and I suddenly realize I have been missing a class the entire time and need to make up all the work. It's the strangest thing and each time the dream leaves me feeling very panicked.

I'm no dream interpreter, but it seems to me that the school dream is somewhat related to the anxiety I feel about having another baby. Don't get me wrong, I am super excited to have her, but I don't think I would be normal if I wasn't at least a bit worried. I feel like there's so much to do before she comes and I don't have enough time. And I also think when she is here I will not have any time to get anything done. It will be much different this time around, already having Nate, who to me is still a baby. I know that once I have Maddie and we get through the rough, getting used to something new part, it will eventually smooth out. Now if I could just tell my brain that when I'm sleeping. :)

Oh, and if anyone has any ideas about why I'm having zombie dreams, I'd like to hear them!

Baby Shower

Today I had amazing friends and family gather together to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Madelyn. Jaime was the hostess with the mostess for the baby shower and did a great job! We had lots of yummy food to munch on, played some fun games, and everyone was too generous with the gift giving. It was a really great afternoon. And of course I've already looked through all the absolutely adorable clothing and will probably do it several more times before it gets tucked away before she comes. I must say girl outfits are so cute and having a little girl is going to be so much fun! Even Michael thought the clothes were adorable and he could really care less (or at least he pretends to) about things like that.

The guests playing some games

opening gifts...one of the many adorable outfits

me and Jaime (here's a belly shot for all of you wanting to see the belly!)

30 Weeks

I'm now 30 weeks along. Can you believe that after this week, it will be single digits? How is this pregnancy going so fast?

So far it's been a good third trimester, although ask me again in 5 weeks; it is really only the beginning of this last leg. I have had an increase in heartburn. With Nate I think I could count the amount of times I had heartburn on one hand. Granted, it was HORRIBLE when I got it (like I thought I was having a heart attack the first time kind of bad) but still, not that often. I haven't had it recently, but a couple of weeks ago it was flaring up every few days. Tums and I became good friends. I also feel myself getting a bit more tired by midday. Now, I'm not sure if that's because I'm getting farther into the pregnancy, if it's the weather, or if it's because Michael's been gone at school for almost 2 weeks. Maybe it's all of them. I even took a couple naps when Nate did last week. I just could not make it through the day.

Maddie (yes, her name is now official--Madelyn Frances) is quite the active little girl. I don't remember Nate being quite this active. In fact, I even had a non-stress test done because he didn't move a whole lot. But she always seems to be on the go. So maybe she will be my calm child since Nate is always in overdrive. And her movements are getting much stronger too. Sometimes she'll pop the shirt right off my belly.

The other big thing (besides my belly, haha) that has changed recently is my balance. We have a baby gate in the front room that separates the entry way from the room so that Nate can't go up the stairs. I was putting my scrapbooking tote away on Saturday, and as I crossed over the gate I lost my balance and crashed. Luckily I didn't fall to the floor. The closet door was open and so the tote hit that and I fell against that. The gate also helped catch my fall because I broke the wood and the splintered piece caught my shirt (a piece of my leg too, but nothing a little band aid couldn't take care of). It was scary more than anything, and I was very lucky I didn't crash belly first on the ground. So now I am very careful when crossing over the gate, holding onto the wall and not carrying anything over.

We're Having a Girl!

My ultrasound appointment was yesterday morning. I couldn't sleep at all the night before, like a kid before Christmas. So many things running through my mind, but top were the sex and the health. I don't worry too much about the baby's health, but before this appointment I do. I don't opt for every blood test to check for things, so this is the first chance I have to hear if something might be wrong. Second, the gender of the baby. This is something that we have been wanting to know for, well, from the beginning. And every week that goes by makes it harder and harder not to know. With Nate, I found out at 18 weeks, so having to wait until I was almost 22 weeks pregnant made it feel like a lifetime.

Michael asked me the night before what I really wanted. A girl, of course! I've always wanted a little girl--to do her hair, and dress her up, color and draw, and play with dolls. To have her hate me when she's a teenager and love me again when she's an adult. But a boy? But I would love to have another little boy. I would have a house filled with blues and cars, wrestling and pee splattered toilets. Nate would have a little brother and they would share a room and be best friends. It sounded all so wonderful that I thought maybe I rather have a boy. But, I really want a girl too. So, I guess it really could have gone either way and I truly would have been thrilled.

So I got up on the table, the tech squirted the gel on my belly and it seemed like within seconds she was using the word "her". I was in shock and disbelief (still kind of am really). I couldn't believe we were really having a little girl. So of course I cried and I'm actually getting a little teary eyed now just writing this. Now we will have one of each and it all just seems so perfect. And she's healthy! Well as far as checking for the things that they can on an ultrasound, which is a huge relief for me.

When I was 9 years old I got a little brother that I wanted to be my little sister so badly that I would dress him up and put make up on him. I am finally getting my chance to have that little girl and I am so excited. The challenge now will be not to buy every adorable outfit I see.

20 Weeks

Halfway done! Not much to report. I think the baby is a banana now. :) I feel movements but nothing real strong yet. I'm getting bigger and my belly button has already popped out, which is so disappointing. It didn't pop out until almost the end with Nate and I hate the preggo belly button! Oh well. Otherwise, things are going smoothly. I feel good and even if I get tired a little more easily (carrying and chasing Nate around) I still am full of energy (most days). Nate thinks it's funny when I lift up my shirt and show him my belly. He likes to poke at it. And then of course he has to show me his belly (they look similar!). We are anxiously awaiting the ultrasound, scheduled for the 22nd. I cannot wait to see this little baby, make sure that he/she is healthy and strong, and find out if it is a he or she! I had a dream last night that it was a little girl. Wishful thinking? Maybe. I guess we will see in about 10 days.

Stubborn Babies

I've felt the baby move, but the feelings have been so slight and quick, that sometimes I still question whether it is really the baby or just gas. It's still early in the pregnancy (almost 18 weeks) but it feels different than it did when I was pregnant with Nate. Around this time, it felt like he was lightly brushing up against the inside of my belly. The feelings now are difficult to describe, but more like a light tap against my belly. So I was very anxious for my doctor appointment and when the doctor was having difficulty finding the heartbeat, I was instantly concerned. Of course she made it seem like it was the baby not cooperating, stating that it must be a boy because he's being so stubborn and moving around so much that she can't get a good listen of his heart. But all I could think was that something was wrong, and was really worried when after trying for awhile she told me that we were going to run across the hall to do an ultrasound. My worries were instantly relieved, though, because the baby's heartbeat popped right up, nice and strong. The reason it was so difficult to hear it with the regular doppler was because the baby is facing head forward, with the feet towards my spine. The doctor said of course it was difficult to hear the heartbeat through a skull! I don't know why I worry but I always do and probably will continue to until the baby is big enough for me to feel movements more often.

Are boys more stubborn than girls? I don't know, but Nate is pretty stubborn. He continues to throw his fits when he does not get his way. For the most part, I am letting him throw his fits. It's hard not to give in, but I know it will be worth it in the end. And I know sometimes he is just frustrated because he can't tell us what he wants. I am trying to teach him to sign or say words for things that he wants. He has been whining (eh-eh-eh) whenever he wants something. I've been working on it and today for the first time he started signing "more" for more crackers. Hopefully the talking thing won't be far to follow and he will have less frustrations when communicating with us. He says baba for baby, baba, and ball (ball ball) but I usually can which one he means. He said cookie the other day, which sounded more like coo, but I think he's on his way. His favorite expression is still uh-oh, which he uses a million times a day. He has started playing with cars, pushing them around and making little motor sounds. I think it has to be the cutest thing I've ever seen. So stubborn? Yes. Adorable? Yes. I'll take it.

First Trimester Recap

When I was pregnant with Nate, I was constantly updating my blog on all the changes. Now I can't believe an entire trimester has gone by and I don't think I've said anything about the pregnancy except to announce it. The last couple of months are a slight blur, but I cannot be happier that they are done. I can some up the first trimester with one word: miserable.

I found out I was pregnant the first week of December, taking a test because I wasn't feeling well. It just got worse from there. On top of the morning sickness, which really can be called all-day sickness, I had a cold that developed into a severe sinus infection. So most of the month was spend blowing my nose and throwing up. I was completely exhausted and felt like death. The worst of it came during Christmas weekend, which was spent, for the most part, at home on the couch or in bed.

Through January I have had morning sickness, but about a week ago it start to subside. I still feel a bit sick if I go too long without eating and so I have to snack throughout the day. This is where the pregnancy weight comes on. I still feel tired but that is probably a combination of being pregnant and running after Nate. He is into everything! But I'll save that for another post. :)

As for changes, my belly is the good and chunky, but I'm not really big enough for maternity clothes yet. I live in sweatpants, unless I have to go somewhere and then the pants are left unbuttoned. And even though this is the second time around, it amazes me the developments that are made in the first months. It's crazy that the baby is the size of a lemon but is fully developed--even has little tiny fingernails! Truly a miracle!

H-H-Here We Go Again

The beginning of December I started feeling kind of icky and extremely tired. I thought it might be the onset of the flu, but decided to buy a pregnancy test...just in case. I had this little feeling that this ickiness and exhaustion were strangely familiar. Although, for months I've been joking that I'm going to start a show as a spin off of the "I didn't know I was pregnant" show and call mine "I think I'm pregnant but I'm not". I would have gas and it would be the baby kicking; or one of the many other multitudes of symptoms that can occur during pregnancy. So when I took the test I was almost positive that it would be negative. It wasn't. At all. That second little line popped right up in the window. Michael was downstairs preparing his breakfast before going to work. I told him I took the test and showed it to him. I think we were both in such disbelief we didn't know how to act. Once it settled in that this is real, we were happy and excited...and a little scared. Oh no, what did we do? Two kids under two? But we wanted our kids close in age and it really only happened a few months before we thought it would.

Since I haven't had a period since February 2009 (pregnancy and breastfeeding), I had no clue how far along I was. I was excited to go to the doctor and find out. And to make certain I was actually pregnant. It's funny that the 3 home pregnancy tests I took would not confirm it for me. Or the fact that the nurse said that if the test was positive, then I really was pregnant. It wasn't until the ultrasound and hearing the tiny little heartbeat (at 7 weeks! if you can believe that) that it all became so real. I am now 10 weeks along and the due date is July 27, 2011. I've kept the news to family and some friends until this point. I was going to wait until after the first trimester and I knew things were safe, but it's really hard to wait that long. So here I go! Now you all know my business. :)

It has been a really rough month of exhaustion and morning sickness. It is like the first one, and so I'm thinking it's another boy. Which I think would be so great for Nate to have a little brother to play with. But I think it would be so great to have a little girl too. So, either way will be exciting. Michael keeps asking if we're still going to have 3 kids. I told him that he can't ask me during the first trimester. Wait until I'm feeling better and then ask, because right now I would have stopped at one.

I'm really excited to go through this journey. It's not new like the first time, but this time I know what to expect, so I can just relax and enjoy and marvel in the miracle that is a baby.

Nathan Michael Riker

I'm finally going to get a minute to update this blog! Hopefully I'll be able to finish it all in one sitting. Michael ran up the to store and Nathan is sleeping. Yes, my little baby Nate is here. Let me start from the beginning...

We got to the hospital and checked in on Monday at 7:30am. They gave me the pitocin at 8:30am, and labor had officially began. Jaime came up that morning and brought the dogs to the kennel and then headed up to the hospital. Labor seemed to progress slowly, and I was becoming discouraged each time I was checked and only changed by a centimeter, if that. We spent the morning watching tv and scrapbooking. Sometime in the afternoon the doctor broke my water and I was given my epidural. After he broke my water the contractions really kicked up and I was ready for my epidural. I was checked again in the afternoon and was only to 4.5cm. The doctor said I had several more hours ahead and so I didn't think I would have him until late evening. I was getting a little worried that things weren't going to progress like they should. Although it wasn't too much later and I started getting the shakes. I didn't feel cold but they put warm blankets on me, which felt nice and the extra weight was good. The nurse said I could be shaking from the increase in hormones. My body must have been shooting out the hormones because I was shaking and a couple hours of that I started feeling this pressure, like I needed to go to the bathroom. It was different than the regular contractions that felt like menstrual cramps in my lower abdomen. I felt the need to push. Michael called the nurse in and she checked me and said, are you ready to have a baby? I couldn't believe it. Hours had gone by with not much result and then in the last couple of hours I went from 4.5cm to 9.5cm. I couldn't believe it was actually happening. I pushed for 45 minutes and then heard the most beautiful sound I have ever heard in my entire life, the sound of my son crying. I still get emotional thinking about the moment I held him for the first time. Michael cut the cord and gave him his first bath. All I could think is he is here, finally, and the most precious baby I have ever seen. He weighed 8lbs 6oz and was 21" long.

He is now almost a week old. Things are falling into place more each day. We had some difficulties with his eating at first, but that has smoothed out. He sleeps and eats most of the time. I feel like a milking machine. And as exhausted as I am right now, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love him to pieces, could stare at him forever, and couldn't imagine not having him. Everyone is right, having a child changes everything, but is completely worth it.

**Note-I didn't get this finished in one sitting...welcome to parenthood, huh!?!

39 Weeks

Hopefully my last post about pregnancy! I went to the doctor today. I little more weight gain but under the usual 2lbs so I don't care. At this point, I really don't care about much except having this baby. The doctor checked me and I'm at 1.5cm, so not really much of a change from last week, but I am 75% effaced. She stripped my membranes to hopefully "encourage" labor, so we'll see if that helps. Since it's raining we're going to do some window shopping today and hopefully all the walking around will really help too. If not, then we are scheduled for an induction on Monday, the original due date.

38 Weeks

Since Nathan is ready to come out there is really no new developments this week. Just growing a bit each day. They say 6.8lbs and just over 19 1/2 inches long. I guess we'll be finding out soon enough how big he really is.

The power went out shortly after I got to the doctor's office. They had flashlights set up everywhere--they were very prepared! And unfortunately the scale is battery operated so they could still weigh me--yay! Which my weight was about the only thing that changed from last week. Another 2 pounds! I can't believe it! So this means I'm officially over the 190 mark, which I never thought I would hit at the beginning, but now it looks like not only am I going to hit it, but probably pass it up by next week. I've been okay with my weight gain up to this point and it's a good thing there's only a couple weeks left or it might really depress me. So my weight went up but I'm still at 1cm and not effaced at all. I have my next appointment on Monday and we'll see where I'm at at that time and talk about induction. Crazy how real this is all getting.

I was up last night again with horrendous heartburn. The pain was so bad it felt like it was going straight through my body to my back and into the bed. Must have been the darn broccoli at dinner! That's all I can think of. And I guess taking it moderately easy is working, just until Michael comes home in about a week. Then I'm going to do whatever it takes to bring labor on. Although the closer to the end it gets, the more I'm relishing the pregnancy. Weird, right? I just want to remember his little movements and hiccups and stuff. We've been so close for so long it's going to be weird not to have him inside me anymore and to feel all his little movements. Yes, I must be going crazy---can't wait to have him and already missing him before he's born!

37 Weeks

Well, today I am officially considered full-term. So I could have this little guy and he would be all ready to enter the world. He's approximately 6 1/3 lbs. and around 19 inches long. And from here on out the only thing that will be changing will be his size. All developing is done! It's weird to think that one minute he's on the inside, making movements that from the outside are very alien-like, and the next minute he will be this little baby. And even though he's all developed, it's my plan to keep him in there until Michael gets home in a couple of weeks. Let's just hope Nate's on the same page.

My doctor's appointment went well. I gained another 4lbs, which is probably much more than I should be gaining at this point (I think it's at most a pound a week, so 4lbs in 2 weeks doubles that, but oh well). Everything else was good-blood pressure, measurement, heartbeat, etc. I'm dilated to 1cm so just a bit up from 2 weeks ago. I'm happy about that because I don't want to progress too quickly and have to worry about having this baby before Michael gets home. And while it is still a concern of mine, I feel a lot better. Now it will be not having this baby too late either! I talked about inducing with the doctor today. A lot of it will be based on my body and where I'm at. The concern is with a first pregnancy that inducing before my body is ready doubles the chance for a c-section. He would like me to be at least 50% effaced and dilated to 3cm before he induces me, but is willing to induce me at 40 1/2 weeks if I don't go into labor before then. So as soon as Michael gets home, I see a lot of long walks happening, even if the doctor says that doesn't work. Just ask my sister.

Other than that, I'm feeling pretty good. Since Nate has dropped the foot in the ribs is much less of an issue. I'm surprised at the strength of his movements though. When he really gets going I think he could knock the book or plate (or whatever else might be resting on my belly) right off. It's amazing to feel and see. I'm extremely tired and enjoy my afternoon naps almost daily. This might have something to do with my sleep, or lack thereof, at night. But I'm lucky that I can take those naps. I've been feeling a lot of anxiety over the birth and becoming a mother. I ask Jaime a million questions and I just hope that everything will fall into place when he arrives. I'm becoming more terrified of the birth, the anticipation and the unknown are probably what's making it even worse. But I know I will get through it and I am so excited for the reward I will get at the end of all of this. I cannot wait to meet my baby Nate.

36 Weeks

Baby Nate is now the size of a crenshaw melon, whatever that is. I think they've run out of fruit big enough to compare to him. He's approximately 6lbs and 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding the downy hair that covers most of his body and also the waxy layer that has protected his skin from the amniotic fluid.

I think all this means is that it's getting close, really close. I feel full, very full, like there's no more room for him and I don't know how he's going to grow anymore, but I guess he'll just keep stretching me out and finding a way. Some days he's very active and others he's not. I'm enjoying watching my belly just roll around and bump up with all the movements. He's definitely putting more pressure on my bladder. Sometimes he takes little jabs and it almost hurts a little. But it's better than wetting my pants all the time, which doesn't seem to a problem yet. Just the constant going that is.

I just got home from my hospital tour, so now all the paperwork is done. The rooms are really nice. I think they were nice before, but they changed them since the flood. Some of the hospital rules are not my favorite. Since it is cold/flu season their visitor rules have changed. Now there can only be 2 visitors in the room at one time-this includes the father, so really it's only one visitor at a time! And no one under the age of 18 is allowed up there at all. I guess it's all in the best interest of the baby, but it complicates things some. Especially since we won't be having any visitors at the house after we come home since it will just be time for us until Michael has to go back overseas again.

Up All Night

The last few days I have been sleeping through the night. Well, what I consider to be through the night anyway. I can't remember the last time I've fallen asleep and didn't wake up until morning. It seems as though I have to wake up just to roll over, that it's such a process. But last week some nights I've been waking up and then staying up. I'll get up for a couple of hours and then go back to bed. I keep joking that it's my body's way of getting me ready for baby. Well, half joking. I'm probably right.

I woke up last night around 1am with a serious case of heart burn. I couldn't sleep so I downed a couple of tums and started reading a book. Well, before I knew it, it was after 4am and I was finishing up the book. So I might be taking a little nap today. The heartburn just started kicking in again and I'm wondering if any food is safe today. I guess we will find out. I have no big plans for the weekend, just to get more stuff on my to-do list done and relax around the house. It's still gloomy and rainy and so it will probably be a perfect weekend just to sit in and relax.