[BeckyM]

Okay, let's see/hear those updates from our preggos, our new mamas, etc. How's everyone feeling? Latest appointments? How are the LO's growing? Pictures please!

Happy Monday ladies! I hope you all are doing well & had a great weekend. Ours was okay. We did get quite a bit of snow over the weekend. My longest ruler was 15 inches, and the snow was over the ruler. That's a lot for our area. I'll have to upload the pics I took with my cell phone and post them on photobucket.

But here's a belly pic from this weekend. and I now accept this is a baby belly and not just me being "fluffy". The flash didn't go off, but I kind of liked how it turned out with the shadow.

[Counting our Blessings]

I love the baby belly! And your right, the shadow is cute. You are to hard on yourself, you are a beautiful lady. I'll be back more later, it's snack and storytime and the kids will starve without a snack!

[*SamF*]

Aww Becky you look great!!!
I got our bedroom set up last night for the baby, so his hammock/bassinet and changing station are all set up. I feel much better about that. So now two rooms are fully ready for his arrival. My cat though thinks the changing pad in the bedroom is his new bed, so gotta figure that one out.
Had my 37 week appt today. C.J. is weighing in at a little over 7 pounds, so maybe, just maybe I will avoid the family curse of huge babies!! He was good and bouncy after we prodded him awake with some cold water. Best part is that I lost a pound!! WOO-HOO after a week of holiday goodies!! My doctor is hoping labor will start at anytime spontaneously, I'm refusing cervical checks, so we are just waiting for something to happen. I had one good contraction while on the NST, but no big deal.

[CaseyM]

Sam - yeah for CJ not being a large baby. Glad you got everything set up for the baby. My cat seems to think that the top of the toy box is her bed, but she stays away from the crib, bas, and changing table...

Becky - love the pic!! You look great!

afm - Matt is still not feeling great, but seems to be starting to get better. I did reschedule his u/s for his hip to next week because I don't want to take him out quite yet until the stuffiness is better, although he sounds a lot better today! Had my appt with my PCP to talk about my BP issues. He doesn't seem concerned about my swelling. My BP is still the same, and I wasn't feeling well, so he lowered my dose back to 400/day. He did an EKG because he thought that he heard some skipping. But that was fine. He did an UA and some bloodwork and wants the results from the OB's bloodwork they did. I'm going to call tomorrow and ask them to send a note to work putting me out a few more weeks, as I'm not feeling ready to go back and my STD is up today...

[Jessica C]

Hi everybody! Yes.....I'm still here As of Thursday I was only 1/2cm dilated so doc was unable to strip membranes. Had some tough contractions over the weekend.....nothing really regular until late yesterday (they were about 15 mins apart for close to 2 hours) but then they went away when I went to bed. I have a doc appointment in a few hours and I am going to MAKE them do something. I am soooo swollen it hurts to walk, and yet walking is about the only things that helps the pain in my hands.....which is 24/7 now (I'm dying typing this). Over the last week I'm not only having acid refulx but also regurge every night! If I'm not open enough to strip membranes I'm going to ask for a c/s. When DH got up this morning I told him what I was thinking and he started laughing because he had a dream that he got PO'd at the doc later and said that if they don't do anything we'll do it ourselves and he produced a kitchen knife To top everything off....the longer Bug takes to make her arrrival the less time off I'll get as I HAVE to work both the 29th and 30th.....yes, sometimes having your own business isn't very cooperative. I will be able to take a little bit more time off after that, but having to work two days next week after what may only be a few days recovery is not very appealing.

I'm sorry I'm not going to mention anybody by name.....but please know that you are all in my thoughts!

[*Tonya*]

Hi ladies!

Becky - You look great in this pic!

Sam - Sounds like you have everything in order. Now you just need your little bundle of joy...

Casey - I hope you and little Matt get to feeling better real soon.

Jessica - you sound like you are just miserable. I hope you can start progressing soon.

as for me - the dr. called and asked to reschedule my amnio that I was supposed to have today. It is now scheduled for January 5th. Sucks because I was so ready to get that over with. Oh well, now I have another two weeks to sike myself up for it. Other than that, I am feeling pretty good.

[MomtoKatieB]

We are going to NC on Saturday for two wonderful weeks so I might be sort of MIA. Hopefully I will return with lots of smiling Katie pics. She smiles but I can never catch it on film.

Jessica~ Hope Bug arrives soon so you can recuperate a bit.
Sam~ I understand about big babies. Hope CJ arrives before he gets too big.
Tonya~ Best of luck on the amnio.
Becky~ Cute baby belly.
Casey~ Hope Matthew is feeling better.
Mari~ Hope you, DH and the children are doing wonderfully.

[BeckyM]

Hi, ladies! Thanks for all the compliments. I really liked how the picture turned out, and was surprised to see that I DO have a baby belly. That was also a clingy t-shirt, so I'm sure that helped it show to. DH says I look like I'm carrying a soccer ball as I'm carrying so high right now. I reminded him that I'm not that tall and there's not much room for little Mark so my belly will have to stick out to make room for growing babe. Too funny.

Beth - I hope you have a wonderful time in NC!!! And can't wait to see more pics when you get back.

Mari - I hope you fed those children of yours yesterday. We can't have starving little ones around here.

Sam - yay for being so organized!! And glad CJ is not that big & hope he arrives before he gets too big.

Tonya - **hugs** I hate waiting and when docs reschedule appointments. At least with the holidays, you'll have lots to distract yourself with while you're waiting for the appt.

Casey - I hope Matthew is feeling better. **hugs** It's no fun when LOs are sick. I hope the meds start working for you & you also start feeling better soon.

Jess update - Between Lara (her Due Date buddy) & me, we'll definitely keep everyone updated when she has little Bug. Yesterday's appointment was so disappointing to her. The poor dear. She's still only at 1 cm, 60% effaced. The doctor attempted to do a membrane sweep, but there wasn't much room. Her next appt is Wednesday. Hopefully Bug will cooperate and come out soon. Jess is so miserable right now. Big hugs sweetie!!!!

[Counting our Blessings]

I was just popping on to check on Jess. I was hoping she would have had a better time yesterday. I'll be thinking of her tomorrow as she goes back in. I'm sorry you are so miserable Jess. I'm hoping Bug decides to come on her own today. It would be a great day for a birthday! Hang in there Jess!

[trainermom]

Hey all!

Jess - Big hugs, hun! I'm so sorry that things aren't happening. Hang in there!
Sam - CJ is a great size! Can't wait to hear when he makes his arrival!
Becky - you look so cute -love the baby belly!
Casey - I sure hope that get to feeling better soon and I hope you are able to get a little more time off to recover! Hugs!
Beth - have a wonderful trip! I know the feeling, it is hard to catch those precious smiles on the camera. It'll get easier pretty soon, though!
Tonya - sorry that you have to wait until after the holidays for your amnio -hang in there!

AFM - Carson slept last night from 7:30p to 7:30a, waking only once to eat at 4a! This is huge! I have been putting him down earlier at night with the hopes that he would sleep more and it is working -yay!

[mum74]

Jess.

I have had a quick read of everyone's updates but sorry, don't have time to write as it's my working part of the week and tonight is packing the family and dog up to leave for Christmas at the beach (we leave early tomorrow morning). Will be gone til about 2nd Jan - no internet.

Have a great week everyone and hopefully I"ll get to check up on Jess's news before I go!!

[Jessica C]

Thanks for updating for me, Becky!! I have a feeling the sweep didn't work. My next appointment is Wednesday morning and I think they will be sending me in for an induction. What really ticks me off is they were telling me that I have a greater risk of having a c/s because of age, first child, past date and induction.....so WHY have they just not sent me in for at least the induction, even if it leads to a c/s if I'm practically "destined" for one anyway??? Since I have to work a couple of days next week (Tuesday and Wednesday) you'd think that they would want to do that to give me an extra day or two of recovery.

[mum74]

Becky you look great - definitely a preggo belly!

Sam, are you hoping labour comes on now or were still wanting a bit more time?

Casey hope you get your dr's note to keep you off work and that Matt is starting to feel better.

Tashely - what a pain...all psyched up to get that amnio out of the way and now having to wait another couple of weeks!

Beth have a great holiday and Heather, woo hoo for getting a bit more sleep!!

Jess hope they go forward with your induction on Wednesday..

AFM - all good. Just the usual acid reflux issues. My 4yo felt the baby kick for the first time and he was SO excited - very sweet!

[BeckyM]

Lenore - that is so sweet that your 4 year old got to feel the LO kick. I hope you have a wonderful holiday & take lots of pics please!!!!

As for Jess - I do have an update and will do a separate post.

For me - I just got up for a wonderful nap. Awwww, that felt so good. I had a 6:00am appt (yes, I do mean 6:00am) to have our car at the dealership and then I braved the stores for some shopping. Then I came home & napped with my kitty. I didn't want to get up, but guess I should have dinner waiting on DH since I'm at home today. That would be what a nice wife would do, right???

[CaseyM]

Finally went shopping today and got almost everything done for Christmas. Just one more present to get tomorrow. I'm going to be an idiot and go to the mall and try to get Matt's pic taken with Santa. We really wanted this but where he was sick this weekend, we didn't take him out anyplace. Since he is feeling better, I'm going to go tomorrow and give it to DH for Christmas. My MIL came over and dropped off Matt's presents. I now have no room in my living room. I asked her what I should tell others that want to get him something since she won't tell me what she bought him and she said to tell people "to just skip the baby aisle at Toys-r-Us cause she got it all." Oh well....1st grandchild....so should be an interesting Christmas! My Dad sent us some money so I went out to Carter's (bad idea) and bought some cute clothes for Matt from me and I'll wrap them and put them under the tree from Santa and DH won't know what's going on....

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas...Will be very busy the next couple of days, but will look for Jess updates....night all....

[BeckyM]

Casey - I can't wait to see pics of Matt with Santa. And I'm sure Matt will be thoroughly spoiled with his 1st Christmas.

I kept my cell phone close all last night, but didn't get any more texts from Jess. Hopefully we'll hear something soon and can meet her LO.

As for us, DH & I are both working part of the day today. Should be leaving work @ 12:30 and then heading home to pick up the car and head out to Ohio to spend Christmas with MIL & BIL & his family. Hopefully we have good traveling and that the roads aren't too busy.