Holding back the years

I remember the days when New Years Eve was a huge occasion for me. All of my friends would congregate at the house of our friend with the "cool parents" - you know, the ones who were okay with underage drinking - get blitzed, and just be merry (the "cool parents" at least had the state of mind to take our car keys). This went on throughout my college years, where we were no longer underage drinkers, until we all started to go our separate ways. Each year after that became a challenge to come up with something new to do. Always the type of person who lives in the past, I did my best to keep the tradition alive each year, as marriages and children affected the yearly attedance. Last year we were down to two, the Barron and I spent the evening at home together watching Anderson Cooper ring in 2008 with Kathy Griffin.

Tonight, I am sitting in a hospital room in my pajamas with a sore abdomen, swollen breasts, and cracked nipples. The couple sharing my room has their entire extended Italian family up to watch the ball drop past visiting hours, and they are trying in vain to get away with it (I'll keep you posed). The Barron is sitting on a cheap faux leather recliner to my right and next to me, my perfect son is rousing from sleep. I can't believe how fortunate I am. After all the fun times and great memories, there is nothing more I could want than this. We will ring in 2009 with a glass of sparkling cider and a nice buzz from my percoset. I hope all of you get everything you wish for in 2009 - here's to a great year.

The best cheesecake around!

Gavin James
8 lbs, 10oz
12/29/08

More to come

Today's the day

Only 5 hours till baby! Eeek! Nervous about surgery, but ecstatic about baby. I'll fill ya'll in as soon as I can.

Monday, Monday

So, it's gonna be Monday. Cheesecake's head is still high and not in my pelvis, so at 3:30 PM EST on Monday, 12/29, he/she will be forceably removed from my body. I have made peace with the fact that I will not be pushing my child out on my own, as it appears that this will be the safest alternative for both the baby and myself (size is creating a bit of an issue). Happily, at the same time, Cheesecake is thriving - it appears that my uterus is an ideal home, and that it has no desire to leave. I hope this isn't the case when my child is 18. I can see it now:

CK: "Mom, I'm going to live here forever"
Me: "Get out"
CK: "But Mo-om, I love it here"
Me: "Get out"

:)

So, the Barron and I are spending this weekend tying up loose ends and getting the house in order. I should be in the hospital for about 4 days, but will do my best to get word to ya'll ASAP. Thanks so much for all of the well wishes and support. I can't believe that in a little more than 48 hours, I'll be a Mommy!

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to send Holiday Wishes to all of you out there. I hope this Christmas season brings you everything you've wished for and all the best in the New Year as well.

As for me, I'm still here - scheduled for a c-section on 12/29, and I think that's going to be the case, as baby seems to be quite content where he/she is for now. Oh well - guess I'll just have to celebrate my last Christmas as a non-parent. :)

40w 2days

....Still here, still pregnant. Just thought you'd like to know :)

D-Day

Well, today is D-Day. Delivery Day, Due Date, etc....and I'm going nowhere fast. NST and BPP all went well - baby is thriving and is perfectly happy where it is. However, there's one catch...

It's big.

Bigger than we expected anyway. I'm carrying relatively small, but they're projecting Cheesecake to be over 8lbs at this point. Eeeek! So, now the plan is to give it a week, and if nothing happens, I have a scheduled C-section on the 29th. I'm kinda bummed about it, but whatever gets baby here in the safest way possible is fine with me. If we could do it today, I would, but they want to give me a shot at a vaginal delivery.

So, basically, we're not just looking at a plain ol Cheesecake....It's one of those super dooper deluxe Cheeesckake-Factory concoctions:

Mmmmm....now I'm hungry.

0 Days

Counter says "0", but that doesn't seem to make a difference to Cheesecake. Oh well. Keeping myself busy with Christmas errands. Not much to do for work since I've pretty much passed everything off to others, so I guess I'll keep puttering around the house. NST and BPP tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Staying Put

So, it looks like most of my due date compatriots have had their babies, but mine appears to be going nowhere fast.

Had a checkup this morning. cervix is still closed and high. I am now scheduled for three NST's - one on Friday (my actual due date), one the following Monday and one on the 26th - Merry Christmas to me. If baby is still not here by then, I will be induced on the 28th.

I really don't want to have to be induced. And I really want this baby out, like yesterday. Sooo, needless to say, I will be exercising, taking bumpy car rides, eating spicy food and someone will probably be happy to know that he'll be getting lucky a few times this week. Although, I can't guarantee that it'll be any good with the beached whale that I've become.

Otherwise, I guess I'll just wrap Christmas gifts and keep working as usual. Doctor said to "try not to think about it too much". HAHAHAHA! ugh.

10 Days....seriously?

Holy crap. My ticker says 10 days. Freaking out. Although, I still wouldn't mind if it were sooner. Had a checkup today, complete with internal. Cheesecake is sitting pretty up by my belly button, so not low enough to go anywhere yet (although to look at me, you'd think he/she were ready to pop right on out)...still only 1 cm and cervix is "soft". Blech. I was hoping for more progress.

I did however, gain 3 pounds. Yeesh. I went from gaining no weight last week to 3 pounds this week. Bringing me up to 21 lbs in total. Not too terrible, but I'm really starting to feel like a sea cow, and can't wait to start exercising again. Going to be taking lots of long walks with this kid once he/she gets here.

Well, if Cheesecake isn't going anywhere for a while, I guess I'll finish up my Christmas shopping and wrapping so I'm all set. Sigh.

Ungh!

This cold is kicking my ass. I have already used up about 3 full boxes of tissues, my nose is red and raw, and there's NOTHING I can take...oh, right 25 mg of Benadryl. That's it. Thanks. Ungh. Cheesecake, no need to come now...give mommy a few days to feel better first...thanks!

Ah - CHOO!

Well, I knew it was bound to happen. I made it this far without getting sick, and then 3 weeks until my due date...BAM! The common cold strikes. My throat is killing me, I can't stop sneezing and pretty much feel all together lousy. Ah, my kingdom for some NyQuil!

Oh well, guess I'll just have to tough it out. Hopefully Cheesecake doesn't show until after I've shaken it so I don't have to worry about passing it around.

In other news, I had a checkup this morning and am officially 1cm dilated. Now, I know that's pretty much nothing at this point, but still, it means the process is somewhat underway. Yay! So, now, I'm scrambling to get so much done ...Christmas cards, finish shopping, wrapping, etc....Oh, yeah...and get all of my work in order as well. Fun.

I still can't get over the fact that by this time next month (hopefully by then!) I'll be someone's mom. Eeek! This is so huge. I'm freaking out and excited at the same time.