38 Weeks and Holding Steady

The 38 week mark has come, and gone, with no progress whatsoever. As it stands now, if nothing happens we'll discuss induction at 40 weeks, which will be Tuesday, March 11. No dilating, no effacing, and the little booger hasn't even dropped...on top of which, they're not 100% certain he isn't sideways again. 

The good news in all of this is that today is Jenny's last day to work. She's planning on having some lunch dates with friends next week, and catching up on her scrapbooking. 

Anybody know the whereabouts of the Breast Pump?

Okay, so this is hilarious. At least it is to us...

Somewhere around the first of the year, and a few days after we had registered at Target, Babies-r-Us, The Toggery, All Thu the House, and The Stork Stop, we began discussing what type of breast pump we might need.

We consulted some of our friends, three to be exact, and asked the moms what brand of pump they bought (for those of you who are new to the concept, as I was, the price range in pumps is staggering...). We asked three different new moms - one who works full time, one who is in grad school full time, and one who is a full-time stay at home mom - and the consensus was unanimous...if you have to buy a pump, you get the good one.

So, we immediately logged onto our Target registry and Babies-r-Us registry, and added the Medela Pump InStyle to our lists.

Within a few days, it was marked as fulfilled...

Now who, might I ask, would buy someone a breast pump?

Initially we thought it was Grammy Bunch. But we checked, and she said no.

Then we thought, it must have been Pippi (Granny Tidball). "No," Pippi insisted, "Not me."

Hmmh. Maybe the hostesses to one of our showers...an extravagant shower gift, and a little odd, but maybe...

So, two out of three showers pass by, and no pump. Lots of terrific gifts for sure, but no pump.

So, my curiousity gets the better of me. Thinking that I might have inadvertantly marked the item as fulfilled in our Target registry, I call the 800-number for the Target Registry Hotline. I thought maybe if they could give me a date as to when it was purchased or marked as fulfilled, I could figure something out...

They couldn't give me a date. All they could do was tell me that it was purchased in West Little Rock.

WEIRD!

So, here we are, nearing d-day, and no pump. We're eternally greatful to anyone who might have bought it, but we're also about to go and buy another one since we haven't received it.

So, to whoever bought it, what on earth are you waiting for???

Maybe one of our scatterbrained grandparents purchased it, and will one day stumble across it, hidden high in a closet. Until then, drop it by the house if you have it!

School Shower

Well, Jenny ended her next-to-last week of work on a high point...a baby shower for little Ben.

She received lots of essentials...burp cloths, receiving blankets, lots of washcloths, bottles galore, outfits, diapers, and wipes.

Later that night, our friends Kim and Steve came by and gave us the bathtub, bottles, and the dishwasher basket and drying rack. I installed the car seat that afternoon, and now all that remains is washing all of his clothes, and packing Jenny's bag for the hospital.

Dad didn't get to come to the shower, but luckily they

sent some cake home for him.

For her to have only taught at the school this year,

they know her well. Pregnant or not,

always give her a place to sit!

A few of her coworkers.

37 Week OB Visit

So we have made it to 37 weeks. The official word is that if he arrives at any time from here out he will be fully developed and should be healthy. Our visit was lengthy due to our Doc having to head out the back door and across to the hospital to deliver two babies while we waited. After a long wait in an insanely overheated exam room, the nurse practitioner paid us a visit.

Ben is measuring 36 weeks even though we're 37, so the fact that his daddy was 9lbs and 13 oz and 23 inches long may not be a factor...he may be a little guy. I really hope that he is little, because I'm enormous and don't want to have people look at me and say, "No Wonder..."

We don't go back until next Thursday...Jenny can only schedule OB appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays since she goes to Physical Therapy every Monday/Wednesday/Friday. Next Tuesday, when we should be going, the Princess has a haircut and color scheduled. And Lord knows, we don't mess with THAT.

She has a shower tomorrow at work, and then next Friday (the 29th) will be her last day to work, if all goes as planned.

More developments as they happen...

Valentine's Day

Well, Valentine's Day was as romantic as it could possibly be with an uncomfortable wife who is 36 weeks and 3 days pregnant. It wasn't a surprise to either of them, but my buddy Jonathan and I gave the wives 1 hour massages at Caracalla - Lauren got a regular massage and Jenny a prenatal - while Jonathan and I cooked dinner for them here at our house. 

It was a fun night...just hanging out and eating and talking. Jenny and Lauren both asked us for massages every day for the remainder of their lives. 

Jenny did have one surprise, though. The baby bedding is finished and was in place by the time she came home. We're really pleased with the look and detail that went into it. Our seamstress was really great, and even made us a pillow (that we are going to have monogrammed) as a gift to us. Here's a picture of how it looks. And another cool thing...she made the crib skirt in sections and attached velcro strips to the body of it so it can be moved up as the crib is lowered...who would have thought?

I'll spend some time and take more pictures in a few days when we have the room completely finished. Right now our changing table is piled up with stuff. 

Worn Out...Short Post

Well, Jenny is STILL not back to normal. After almost a week of fever, headache, chest congestion, and sleepless nights, she is slowly improving. She's not going to work on Tuesday, but hopefully she will be back on Wednesday. In the six and a half years we have been together, I have never seen her this sick and run down.

However, a bit of excitement...Benjamin has turned into head-down position. The doctor told us today that there is no dilating or effacing happening yet, so we're looking good at this point. Four more weeks. 

More later when I am not thoroughly exhausted. 

She's Sick...I'm Tired

Well, the flu has struck Casa de Bunch. At least 50% of the residents of the Casa...

Jenny awoke Wednesday morning at 1 AM shivering and complaining of being cold. Instantly, I knew. She hasn't been cold in eight months...why start now. 

I opened the night stand drawer and pulled out our thermometer. Temp was 98.6. I put my hand on her head, and knew very, very well that our thermometer was malfunctioning. 

So, 1 AM, need a thermometer...need a thermometer...need a thermometer...A HA! We received a digital thermometer set last Saturday at a baby shower. Sorry, Benjamin. You don't get to be the first person to use your gift. A few moments later, the thermometer was unwrapped, the temperature was taken, and Jenny was 102 degrees. 

During the next 24 hours, he fever was up and down...as high as 103.7 and as low as 100.0. No medicine you can take other than Tylenol, so we were all miserable. Benjamin apparently enjoyed the extra warmth and napped all day, because he didn't move a lot. He was his old, active self today, though. Jenny says he has not stopped moving all day. 

Her fever broke around 1 AM this morning, but the rest of the symptoms are settling in. She goes to the G.P. tomorrow to see if she needs an antibiotic. We had to cancel today's appointment at the OB, but we'll go on Monday for a work-in. 

Bailey has had a stomach issue for a week or so...passing the most insanely offensive waves of flatus to ever be emitted from a living organism. So far, Annabelle and I have avoided this infectious cloud of plague that has settled over # 10 Beverly Place. Pray that it stays that way!

35 weeks and three days...it's getting close!

If April Showers Bring May Flowers, What Do Baby Showers Bring?

Gifts. And lots of them. 

Jenny had her second shower this weekend, and loved seeing lots of her high school, college, and family friends. Thanks to Auntie Suzanne (Bartolomei) for taking charge of the camera and capturing all of the fun. 

5 out of 6 Fruities...Sarah Stockdale Nagel, Hillary Russell, Jenny, Katie White Rowe, and Suzanne Duncan Bartolomei.

Punch was served out of sippie cups. 

Jenny's Aunt Carolyn knitted Benjamin a blanket. 

Sarah Gore Rushing's mother-in-law embroidered 

Benjamin's name on a teddy bear. 

Benjamin's first gift from a friend...complete with NJ's (Doss) handprint.

Suzanne demonstrates the Bend and Snap...

The Hostesses show off their Hostess Gifts

Jenny and Katie.

OBU Friends Jill (Fodge) Brannon, Sarah (Gore) Rushing, 

and Sarah (Stockdale) Nagel.