Progress?

Well the floor is 2/3 of the way done. It's going to take a trip to the hardware store tomorrow and maybe wally world... but I can still finish it this weekend. I've got to say... laying laminate flooring is WORK. My knees and my fingers hurt. :-( Little guy though is getting a bit crabby with me doing so much. Unfortunately we figured out that I'm the only one who can lay this stuff though. I'm not looking forward to laying it in two more bedrooms and a hall way. I will try to get the hall done before the c-section and let the rest wait till I recover. I think I'll still get the paining done in all three bedrooms. I think even just getting the rooms painted will make a difference.

The flower beds though... will be waiting for spring at this rate. There's just not enough spare time, not enough energy. I tried to enlist help but it's a lot of work that doesn't pay.

My programming homework has been ignored all weekend too and I've got to work on it sometime today/tomorrow. There's only two weeks left till my final.

Tuesday is back to work, Friday back to the doctor... Time is passing faster than I can keep up. Good thing babies really don't care what's done and what isn't. They just want to be fed, kept clean, dry, warm, safe and loved. I know I've got that covered.

Happy weekend!!!!

The grass is finally mowed. (still looks like it's going to rain any minute too). In all honesty it's been put off due to weather for the last um... three, maybe four weeks. It was looking a bit more than rough. It's much better now. The flower beds still need weeding but they can wait, yes?

And the big news... We have a miter saw!!!!!!!! :-) It's shiny new with a nifty dual laser guide and molding guide... but the most important thing - it will cut the laminate like... butter (think Barbara Striesand saying 'butter' or Mike Myers :-D ).

So the grass might sit for weeks on end, but my baby's floor should be done this weekend!!! Can you tell I'm excited?

Nursery/House Update

Walls... I did it. I went back to the store and got a different shade of green... It's mostly painted now and I'm glad I did it. I still need to paint the trim and the doors, do a bit of touch-up and that sort of thing, but overall I'm very happy with it. The border is not really mounted yet - painter's tape is a beautiful thing. It's the general idea though.

Floors... I did get the flooring purchased, at least for the nursery. I still need to get more for the hallway and the other two bedrooms.


I am in market for a saw now. I found one I think will just do the trick for both the flooring and the trim and future projects as well. I have a table saw that I've got my eye on as well, however this is more what I need for this particular project and the table saw would be for the next one. We'll have to see what the budget allows though.

I've got to put the remodel on hold for the day though and focus on programming homework. I'd rather be painting.

Nursery Progress Report

Well... in typical ' me' fashion, I'm working on the nursery. I've pulled up the carpet, the carpet pad, tack strips, and baseboard. I am now sitting for a bit. Just while quite literally the dust settles. :-)

I painted a swatch on one wall of the two colors we are using. I love the blue. I'm on the fence on the green. It's just off from the green of his stroller, car seat, and swing... and not quite the color of his mini crib bedding. I guess you could say - it's right in between the two greens. How goofy is it that I want the color 'just right'? How wrong is it to go back to the store for new paint????

We bought his flooring this morning. My first Home Depot purchase. (I usually shop at Lowe's) but they do not carry this particular brand of flooring. I went in to 'look' and walked out with a lot less money in the bank. The funniest thing happened at the register though. I swiped my debit card, put in my pin and nothing. It kept rolling back to swipe card. Now I just got paid a few days ago and I knew there was money in there so I'm looking at the evil little card in my hand that won't let me buy my baby's new floor and what do you know - it's not my card. I looked over at Matthew, gave him the evil eye and asked "can I have my debit card back now?" He looked at me funny and then looked at the debit card I was holding out for exchange and he starts patting his pockets. Once I had my card, all was good and we were off to Wally World for a few things before heading home.

He's off with my Jeep to run a few more errands. I hope to have everything ready to begin painting before he gets back. Pending breathable air of course.

Photos of my progress to come... if you are patient... and I get something accomplished that I manage to photograph. So no real promises or anything, just babble it seems.

Baby News

We've got a delivery date in October now. It will be a Friday :-) It's one day before the U/S due date and 9 days before the LMP due date... all for the sake of school. I'll take one final the day before he's supposed to be born and a week later I start a web programming class. If he decides to arrive earlier than that - it's entirely up to him and school will need to work around it.

His crib is all assembled for whenever he does arrive. He's got a little one for when he first comes home - that's in our room. His full size crib is at his grandma's for now. Matthew put it together the night before the baby shower and it's just beautiful. His great-grandparents went in together to get it for him. We ordered the matching changing table yesterday. I'd meant to get it local, but the best laid plans and all that.... We do still need to pick out a mattress for the full size crib. I think I've got it covered. :-)

It's probably considered taboo for us to have had a shower for the baby, but there were a million factors in play and I will not feel guilty for not adhering to some etiquette rule, long out dated, and not really the be all or end all of life. I'd never had one before and it was the most wonderful afternoon.

We should begin painting next weekend. I'd have preferred this weekend, but there's a lot going on already. I've about driven Matthew crazy with color swatches and what-if's. I know he'll be glad when it's all done. We will start with the nursery, but continue on from their to get the other two bedrooms on that side of the house.... and hey, while we're at it, we'll paint the hallway and the family bath. Eventually there's colors chosen for the living room and the dining room (currently being used as an office). Then if we can fit it in the budget... replacing the carpet. Finger's crossed and high-hopes. I don't think the little guy's going to notice the floor for a few months any way.

So I'm thinking...

...and that can be dangerous.

We are supposed to choose the baby's birthday next doctor's visit. I'm not sure about this. There's a couple thoughts running through my head.

First - my doctor has gotten on my last pregnant nerve. We had our ultrasound June 12th, waited until July 3rd for a review and we got... 'looks normal'.

Nice... um, details please. Baby measured bigger than expected... knew that from the u/s I saw it on the screen. Doc glossed over and had to be prompted to read it chart again. Would he tell us approximately how big the baby was the day of the u/s? No. I didn't get so much as placenta is high, low, good place... no mention of good amniotic fluid level. Just.... everything looks normal.

Hi... remember me? I'm the patient paying 4k for prenatal care. Could I have some care please? He's not the attentive doctor he was some 12 years ago or even the same as what I saw two years ago.

Then he says, we'll schedule the delivery next visit, but remind him because he might forget. (What, can't write it in the chart?) If I don't remind him will they tell me I can't have the little guy because the doc's schedule is full?

So now, I'm thinking.

And you know, I could pick a date that is 'open on the doc's calendar' and the little guy could choose his own birthday.... like normal babies. hmmmmm?

Week 24 and we are so very blessed.

Goodness it's July already... and we are at 24 weeks. It's basically the threshold for viability among other things. The fears of losing the baby you've never even met are lessened, though not completely gone. Surviving premature delivery is possible from here forward.

I'm set to go back to the doctor today. I'm hoping for a review of the ultrasound from June and a schedule for the next batch of tests. I really wish we had a set schedule for the rest of my doctor visits but who asked me?

The little guy seems to move around a lot these days and he's pretty picky about what I can eat or do without irritating him. He's got a personality already.

Every day I realize just how lucky we are.

First because we can even have a baby, then because he's still inside. Infertility and premature delivery seem to be all too common. I read two blogs daily that remind me... every moment pregnant is precious and I'm not in a rush to be done with it any time soon.

Beyond that... the best friend I've ever had, who's been there for me through thick and thin for the last 24 years, who was matron of honor at my wedding, and the most amazing person I know... has wanted a baby for years. She's been married for 15+ years and still no little person has brightened her life. She is a person who holds more love in her heart than you can imagine. I'm always humbled when I think about what she would do for anyone and especially the people in her life... family and friends are dear and none of us have any doubt about it.

She mentioned I am quite the 'fertile myrtle' the other day and I thought to the three miscarriages I've had between the four munchkins already here and the baby due in just a few months... I suppose I am rather fertile, not always successful at carrying to term, but definitely fertile.

This baby will be the last of course. I don't think I could manage this again even if I wanted to. Just getting to week 24 is stressful and my age being what it is... we know we've been blessed and we have enough...

Those who would say we have too many - please keep it to your self unless you have none and have tried.

If you are or have dealt with infertility - please feel free to rant and rave at me all day. I too think it's not fair and I understand as much as I can... and then rant at me for not being able to understand what you've gone through not even being able to conceive.