Current List of Favorites - March 2008

I think I'm due for another CLoF (Current List of Favorites. Or was it LoCF: List of Current Favorites?). I didn't include obvious things, just the new stuff!

~ www.Songza.com. This is a fun music website. I've made a great play list that is saved under my account name, so it can be pulled up on any computer (work, home, etc). Plus it's free, and fun to browse!
~ Joe Purdy. He wrote the catchy tune that plays on the Kia commercials, "Can't Get It Right Today". His music is so laid back, I love his acoustic style! My favorite song of his so far is "Blue In The Sky". I would have linked them to songza, but it doesn't work that way. You'll see what I mean if you check songza out. Come on!!!
~ Crunchy Taco Supremes from Taco Bell ~ also knows as Fourthmeal! MMmm. How can something that's not very good for you taste so good?! Sad to say, I'm addicted.
~ Flip Flops
~ The color GREEN ~ mostly referring to spring and green starting to come back into nature. I think if I had an item of clothing that was green and fit me big belly and all, I'd definitely enjoy wearing it!
~ Nertz! The best card game. Ever. Period. Somehow my shrunken pregnant brain still functions while playing Nertz. It's one of the last functions my shrunken pregnant brain can perform.
~ Sleep, and a break from work! I start my maternity leave on Monday of this coming week. Since I haven't been sleeping well during the night, I'm hoping I can manage to sleep in and take a few naps during the day on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. My poor body needs to be as rested as possible before venturing into the world of taking care of a newborn, recovering from major surgery, and completely readjusting my insulin regime among other things!

Spring is in the air!

Finally. The last snow of winter is melting, the sun is shining brilliantly, little green shoots are coming up through the soil, and the smell of spring is in the air. Dawn transforms the night sky into a radiant sunrise, greeted by cheerful birds and a cool breeze. There is something that awakens in one's heart as spring is ushered in. The long, gloomy winter months are gone!

Spring can also bring things like rain, which magically transforms our backyard into what we not-so-affectionately call "The Lake":

But, Spring does make the snow melt. YAY! (cell phone quality picture ~ sorry)

In other news, Gabby & Sasha are the cutest puppies ever, and sneaky little pillow stealers.

Cell phone quality pictures again... gah!

I will post again soon as our birthing adventure draws near. 9 more days! Enjoy the beautiful day, Mid-Westerners!

A Post-Pregnancy List

It occurred to me this weekend that there are some things I am looking forward to, post-pregnancy. Why not make a list out of it, since lists are fun bloggy type things? :D

I am looking forward to....

~ Holding Audrey and seeing what she looks like after feeling her move inside of me for so long.
~ Watching her personality bloom as she grows. It will be wildly entertaining if she is anything like Eric and I, which I certainly hope she will be! :D
~ Seeing my feet again. Also, getting a much needed pedicure after not really being able to bend down and do my toenails!
~ Reaching the faucet at the kitchen sink.
~ Taking long walks with Audrey in the warmth of the spring sunshine.
~ Sleeping better. Notice I did not say sleeping for longer or more often, but simply sleeping in a physically comfortable position for the 1-2 hour periods I will have it. :)
~ Watching Audrey interact with the dogs, and growing up with them.
~ Bending over to do things like put my shoes on comfortably.
~ Watching God mold Eric & I into the parents He wants us to be. I have a lot to learn!
~ Having a big cup of coffee every morning.
~ Wearing high heels again.
~ Having my normal body temperature back. I look forward to not being roasting hot all the time!
~ Getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Or better! :D

The Big Day Approaches

We got a call from my doctor this afternoon. Because Audrey is measuring so big (7 lbs. 9 oz. a week ago), my amniocentesis and C-Section have been scheduled. The amniocentesis is a test that determines whether or not the baby's lungs are mature and ready for birth. That test is scheduled for early morning on Thursday, April 3rd.... providing her lungs are ready to go (we'll know by the end of the day on the 3rd), the C-Section will happen early Friday morning, April 4th. I will be 37 weeks on that day. Her body parts are all measuring on schedule, except that her abdomen is measuring large. They include the shoulders in the abdomen measurement, and they don't want to risk having her shoulders get stuck in a vaginal birth. (Lovely thought, isn't it?!) One thing to keep in mind is that these growth scans are often not completely correct, so Audrey may be smaller than they think. However because she goes by the result of the growth scan ultra sound, my doctor is doing what she feels is safest for everyone in scheduling the C-Section.

Both my perinatologist (high risk doctor) and OBGYN agree that my blood sugars have not played a part in her being so big, which is a relief to me. Thank God I've been able to keep my diabetes under good control!

We had expected to hear that the C-Section would be scheduled for around 38 weeks, so it wasn't too much of a shock to hear that the doctor wanted to do it at 37 weeks. We covet your prayers and thoughts as the countdown begins... may God's peace, wisdom, and timing prevail over the entire situation and all of us involved!

How exciting. I can hardly believe we'll have a BABY in a few weeks! AHH!

Audrey's Latest Picture

Here is Audrey's 4D ultra sound picture from Friday. She is really running out of room in there, can you tell? :D It appears that she has her little face pressed up against me. That is her hand near her face... as usual. We call her Chubby Cheekers! They say she is already 7 lbs. 9 ozs, which means she will more than likely be born by C-Section. An approximate due date is between April 4th and April 11th, which is coming up so very quickly! Soon we will have REAL pictures rather than ultra sound shots. :)

Audrey's Nursery

Eric and I have been working on Audrey's nursery this weekend, and are finally close to completing it. Eric did an amazing job painting the furniture and putting it all together. He has been beyond helpful and most of the nursery wouldn't be finished if it weren't for him! A few things are still needing to be added, including lined wicker baskets for storage under the changing table and my theme (Beatrix Potter) items. I'll be framing several pages from my illustrated Peter Rabbit book and hanging them around the room, along with adding knick-knacks and other Beatrix Potter items. I also need to fix her name and how it is hanging on the wall... I can't decide what to do with it yet. I can't wait to see it totally finished... but I wanted to share what we have so far! Click for big versions.

The chair wasn't meant to look pea green, oh well!
The recliner will come in very handy.

Newborn clothes :)

Look at those little socks ~ Awww.

I know my drawer liner isn't great, but we had a ton left over from the kitchen so I decided to use that. Who is really gonna care what is on the inside of a drawer anyway!? That is what I am asking to convince myself, at least. :D

The Blizzard of '08

For the first time since moving here in 2005, we were literally snowed in this weekend in what reporters called The Blizzard of '08. Dramatic, isn't it? :D From Friday afternoon to last night (Saturday), we got at least 1.5 feet. There were level 1 to level 3 snow emergencies throughout almost the whole state of Ohio ~ level 1 being to drive very cautiously, level 2 to not drive at all unless absolutely necessary, and level 3 allowing only emergency and road clearing crews to be on the roadways. Yesterday, our county was between a level 2 and 3 snow emergency. It was almost satisfying in a way. For two years I have been of the opinion that if it's going to snow, it should REALLY snow, so that we get to stay home from work or at least enjoy making snowmen and sledding out of doors. Finally my wish came true, and we got some REAL snow! We enjoyed a completely relaxing day of staying indoors, watching Heroes, playing computer games, and taking naps.

Here are some pictures I took this morning. The snow is really beautiful as it sparkles in the sunshine. Click for big versions.


The house after Eric skillfully used the snow blower to clear the driveway. The snow blower was a gift from one of our dear neighbors from across the street. Jo recently injured her shoulder and has been unable to use the blower to clear her own driveway, so she generously gave it to us. She is one smart lady though... give the snow blower to the strong, young guy across the street, who will gladly clear her driveway anytime it needs to be done! :D

The front walk and porch before I decided to shovel...


And after! The nurse practitioner at my OB's office told me that I should help Eric shovel the snow for exercise, so if I go into preterm labor I am totally blaming her.


I look rather pleased with myself after shoveling the 3 ft. snow drift off the front porch! Not bad for my first attempt at snow shoveling, ever.


Eric cleared the driveways of 3 of our neighbors, dear elderly ladies who would have had quite a rough time doing it themselves.


Eric coming after me with the snow blower. :)


The backyard

Sasha and Molly playing in the backyard


Gabby trudging through the snow toward me


Our neighbors dogs... the Huskies are beautiful and seem to be relatively good dogs, but I think the German Shepherd is possessed. He's horribly mean, aggressive, and barks nonstop while outside.


While we were watching Molly today, she found a bird in the backyard. It was alive and didn't seem to have any injuries, but we couldn't tell what was wrong with it. Eric put it in a safe spot up in a tree, where hopefully it would recover enough from it's shock to fly away. Or, at least die in a somewhat peaceful manner rather than being crushed by a well meaning Labrador.