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It seems things are happening!!!

MUCH going on here!

At about 2:00a this morning Kathy woke up to a few strong contractions.  Through the night she rotated between warm showers, naps and more contractions -which came every few hours or so.

Through the day, the contractions progressed, getting more frequent, and a bit more in consistent.  We’ve had fun today relaxing and trying not to the the anticipation overwhelm us. Kathy who had been nauseous most of the day got a craving for McDonald’s –so we took a little road trip and got some.   Good Fun!

Now at 6:00 this evening, the contractions are coming at the pace of about every 15 to 20 minutes. We’re going to go to the hospital and check-in soon.  This is very exciting!!!  At this point it seems the baby is doing it’s own thing and (perhaps?) won’t need any encouragement -we’ll see

Wish us luck and fun!

OH, here is a video that Kathy made for Ciara very early this afteroon -you’ll see she’s doing GREAT -and continues to do so as we post this.

We had forgot about this picture ....and came across it after Grace's birth -This picture was taken not many hours before Kathy's first contraction -It seems a little stroll under the Reno Arch may have played a part in getting things going!?
We had forgot about this picture ....and came across it after Grace's birth -This picture was taken not many hours before Kathy's first contraction -It seems a little stroll under the Reno Arch may have played a part in getting things going!?
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“Re-Schedule” …uhhh, the wait continues

Well, today is the day that the induction was to start.

But after consultation with the doctor -and? factoring in many things including Kathy’s case of the common cold, the baby still not showing any signs that it is eager to come into the real world etc ……

We are now re-scheduled for Sunday (March8).   Like many of you, who thought this would be happening this evening, we are too a tad disappointed.  But we very much believe this choice is for the best. And who knows, perhaps the baby will make a move on it’s own in the next day(s?)

So, unless the baby makes it’s own schedule, the current plan is for us to check into the hospital on Sunday, with the induced birth and labor most likely on Monday. This will be 11 days past the original ‘due-date’ -but many are now questioning if the original date was maybe off by a bit(?)

stop-watch-clipart16The watch continues to tick, but mom and baby are both still doing great and nothing to do but enjoy life and wait!

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40week Doctor Visit ….when is the baby going to come out?

Another great doctor visit …just a couple days from due date and no sign that this baby is ready to bust loose. Instead, it seems that baby is content to stay where it is.

Next week will be 41weeks and at that time Dr. Omar will induce labor. In fact, everything is already in place with the hospital etc etc. Should the baby come before then, –>that would be great, but at this point nothing is suggesting that scenario.

So, from here we’re waiting for the baby to make the break-out move on it’s own.  If that doesn’t happen before a week from today (Tuesday March3) we meet with Dr. Omar again. And Wednesday evening we’ll go to the hospital where they’ll start to induce labor for a probably Thursday March 5th birth.

So, nothing to do but wait and see what happens!

40weeks -Dr. Omar says no sign that the baby is ready to break out
40weeks -Dr. Omar says no sign that the baby is ready to break-out.
.....Back Home a 40week Tummy Picture!
.....Back Home a 40week Tummy Picture!
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39+ weeks and still waiting ….

Not much new -except that we’re getting more and more excited.

John was away for a couple of days on a business trip and we were a little anxious about the timing ..but it all worked out great and the baby got a new piece of clothing from Dad’s trip to Arizona:

Baby's new shirt from Arizona
Baby's new shirt from Arizona

A leisurely weekend here as we double check everything, knowing it could be any day

….The baby’s room is not yet gender-specific as we don’t know whether boy or girl yet …but Kathy has plans and fabric in place for either. We’ll find out which way the room will be customized after the baby arrives!

Kathy’s friend has already volunteered to do all the sewing (for all you who know that Kathy is no Martha Stewart)

Fabric ready --if the baby is a boy
Fabric ready --if the baby is a boy
Ditto if the baby is a girl!
Ditto if the baby is a girl!

And the baby? is well equipped with everything from clothes, to diapers to everything imaginable, the drawers and closet are to the top! A very luck baby -and much thanks owed to the generosity of family and friends

All clothes are already pre-washed and ready to go. At this pace the baby will need a full walk-in closet by 6mos.
All clothes are already pre-washed and ready to go. At this pace the baby will need a full walk-in (crawl-in?) closet by 6mos.
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A Little Afternoon Jaunt …Sierras

With the baby a bit over a week away (which means any time now) …we don’t always know what to do with ourselves and this afternoon was an example.

So, we jumped in the car and took a little drive and had some fun …up into the Sierras, over Mt. Rose then lunch at Kings Beach (Lake Tahoe) and then home. Just a few hours, but it was nice to get out.

Kathy at 39weeks at the Mt. Rose Sumit
Kathy at 39weeks at the Mt. Rose Summit
Kathy at 39weeks enjoying lunch at Kings Beach (Lake Tahoe) and looking GREAT!
Kathy at 39weeks enjoying lunch at Kings Beach (Lake Tahoe) and looking GREAT!

More Pics of this impromptu afternoon can be seen here(clicky)

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Car Seat Inspection, Peg’s, Tummy Pics etc……

The local ambulance company “Remsa” occasionally has car seat inspections -so we figured we’d have our recent install inspected. They say 90% are installed incorrectly.

Then we’d treat ourselves to breakfast. ? Along the way we took a few tummy pics etc -as we’re testing out a new compact camera.

?

Car Seat Inspection
Car Seat Inspection
These young ladies gave us an A+ ...plus some good suggestions to improve our installation :-)
These young ladies gave us an A+ ...plus some good suggestions to improve our installation 🙂

Then off to our favorite breakfast spot: Peg’s Glorified Ham & Eggs!! This place is the best!!

Best Breakfast spot anywhere ~Pegs Glorified Ham & Eggs~
Best Breakfast spot anywhere ~Pegs Glorified Ham & Eggs~
Best Breakfast spot anywhere ~Pegs Glorified Ham & Eggs~
A Tummy Pic downtown Reno while waiting for our table
Best Breakfast spot anywhere ~Peg's Glorified Ham & Eggs~
Best Breakfast spot anywhere ~Peg's Glorified Ham & Eggs~

Then a short walk and a few pictures in front of this frozen pond

Kathy showing off that great tummy in front of a semi-frozen pond
Kathy showing off that great tummy in front of a semi-frozen pond
Kathy showing off that great tummy in front of a semi-frozen pond
Kathy showing off that great tummy in front of a semi-frozen pond

…and a quick stop downtown Reno to watch the skaters enjoying the ice rink.

Ice skating rink downtown Reno
Ice skating rink downtown Reno
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Installing New Car Seat

Today we installed the fancy new Baby seat for the car. More of an undertaking than you might imagine. The base mounts semi-permanently in the car and the “seat” is designed to click-in-and-out of of the base.

John Installing the car seat
John Installing the car seat
John Installing the car seat
John Installing the car seat
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Baby-care class

Well tonight was our baby-care class. This is where we’d learn all the important things that we’d need to know when we bring our new baby home with us.

There was a long sign up list for this class, we did that many months ago and had to prepay as well.

Kathy had just finished 3 tough nights of work, then went in to the office for a meeting this afternoon. John had a long day at work and this was our first ‘qualityl’ time together for many days. We drove to class together -and we started catching up on the week and trading stories.

…then about 3 blocks from where the class was being held, we drove by a new restaurant -A rib joint called “Texas Roadhouse”. It got our attention as we were both hungry.

Well, like a couple of juvenile delinquents, –we decided to cut class and go have dinner!!

Somehow we’ll have to figure out how to care for this new person who will coming into our lives soon. …..and we may never know what we didn’t learn.

What we do know: Dinner was really good!!!

We cut class and went to dinner here. Shame on us!
We cut class and went to dinner here. Shame on us!
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“White Trash” baby shower

Yep, yet another baby shower, …and this one was something unique!!

The ‘Intensive Care Nursery’ (ICN) folks had teamed together to put on a baby shower. ? They felt strongly that I needed a “WHITE TRASH BABY SHOWER” …and boy is that what happened.

To start out, everyone brought food: Tater-Tot casserole (tater-tots, ground-beef, weird soup and fake cheese –but surprisingly good!); Hot Dog casserole (cheap hot dogs, macaroni, tomato soup); Lettuce (one head); saltine crackers; Pork Grinds; grape cool-aid; Twinkies, Ding Dongs and of course: Ho-Ho’s

!!WHAT A MEAL!!

And then for the presents, -some of which are pictured below:

– Patchwork quilt made with duct tape and fingers of surgical gloves around the edges for design as well as functionality. The functionality is to use them as condoms to keep off the next kid.

– A torn and stained hospital gown wich is to be used as lingerie (watch out Victoria’s Secret)

– A knitted baby hat for a very pointed-head baby, -and a stained Wal-Mart shirt.

– An “IOU” for a nice manicure

Some of the Items from the "White Trash" baby shower
Some of the Items from the "White Trash" baby shower

These folks on the ICN unit are all great! -and obviously a lot of fun. !!Thanks everyone!!

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Assembling the new stroller and portable crib

Well, we know things are getting close, so we decided to assemble some of the things that baby will need.

First off, we teamed up to tackle the portable crib.  This thing is fancy, but we were able to figure it out 🙂

We teamed up and put together the portable crib
We teamed up and put together the portable crib

Then we put together the very fancy stroller!!   ….and then a tiny test drive around the kitchen

We teamed up and put together the new stroller
We teamed up and put together the new stroller
Kathy taking the just-assembled stroller for spin around the kitchen
Kathy taking the just-assembled stroller for spin around the kitchen
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A big week!!

This has been a big week. First, we took some maternity pictures that we hope to be able to post here in a week or two.  Professionally done by a local lady here in Reno.  She’s also likely going to be the one to do our baby pictures.

Then shortly after: Another A+ appointment with Dr. Omar. Things continue to track well and she says she doesn’t see any indications that this baby might be coming early.  Of course, no one knows for sure when things will happen.  Coming up on 37weeks!

And to top off the week. We met with our potential pediatrician for an interview.  The interview went both ways! End result is that he likes us and we really like him.  He also comes highly recommended by the Pediatric staff at the hospital -so that is a good sign. OH, and his name is Dr. Daniel Columbo.