My Point is This: If There's a Plan, We Should Stick To It.....Or, Not. That's OK Too. I Think.

12/21/2011:
"If your fluid is still low tomorrow, we'll just deliver him," the doctor says with a calm, certain, nonchalant face.

WHAT?!

"....deliver him?!"  You can't "deliver him" now - it's not time.  I'm not 37 weeks (4 days away) and we didn't install the car seat yet!  Plus, we scheduled his little breech behind for a c-section on 1/11/12, so that's the plan.  OK?  Good.  I mean, who's running this workplan?  Finishing ahead of schedule is typically a good thing.....with a few exceptions - like birth.  I had about a few 100 people tell me that I wouldn't be able to control this part....boy, were they right.

In the mean time, I'll hang out at the hospital with an IV because you guys (the doctors) think I'm dehydrated.  Turns out?  Not so much....I'm just "naturally low on fluids."  Jack loves to be on the monitor though -- he starts his kick boxing routine and rebounds nicely from contractions and pushes on my belly.  He's only 6lbs, 10 ounces right now, but he's tough little dude.

12/22/11:
After 4 bags of IV fluids and enough water to float the Titanic, the amniotic fluid surrounding Jackson is still low....so I will go back tomorrow (12/23) to be re-checked.  If it's still low...or lower, they will probably deliver him.  Yeah.  I know, but he's full term on Sunday....so he's got that going for him.  Plus, no one's gonna love him like we will - so, it's alright if he wants to make his appearance early! :)

Then again, my fluid could be back up tomorrow....and he stays put for a couple more weeks!

Rest assured, that my AAAAHHHHMMMMAZING husband has us ready to go with bouncers and swings and pack n plays and a nursery fit for a wee little caterpillar to thrive in.  We even have a car seat and a stroller....and DIAPERS....and little butt cream....and all sorts of other things we don't know how or when to use!

We are ready to go.  Bring it, Jack.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas....or, How Can We Already Be 8.5 Months Pregnant?!

There's so much to do....SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much to do.  I just mopped the floors, but I swear they need it again.  I also think the baseboards could use a good wipe down.  I'm told this is normal...."nesting"....cleaning....OCDing....but I already had a severe case before pregnancy, so now - it's WAY out of control.

Luckily, Matt is here full time now and can help me stay calm about the "to do" list...which is mostly a "honey do" list.  We have managed to start the nursery...and it's mostly done.  We have some finishing touches, then we'll post some photos.  Let's just say that damn little caterpillar is EVERYWHERE.  I hope Jack isn't afraid of caterpillars.  Here's a sneak preview:

Oh yeah?  We decided on the name....Jackson James Schneider.  We'll call him Jack.

James is a family name on both sides of our families, so we couldn't pass up the chance to honor so many people at once.  I'm hoping that people don't call him JJ....while realizing that's not the worst thing people will probably call him.  HA!

For a while, at least he'll be riding in style....

Baby Jack's Bugaboo Donkey stroller, courtesy of some very, very nice people!

At 34 weeks, the little fella is 5lbs and breech....and he's starting to run out of time - and room - to flip, especially since I am apparently a bit low on amniotic fluid.  So low, in fact, that I spent a night in the hospital due to dehydration causing contractions.  Imagine my meltdown when they told me that they may need to induce labor at 33 weeks.  WHAT!?  All I could think about wast the fact that he was too small to be out in this germy world...and that we didn't have a mattress or any diapers for him.

Needless to say, I drowned myself in water....stayed in the hospital....and little Jack decided to stay in the belly.  

Crisis averted.

He IS still breech though and I've started my weekly appointments so I get to check on him once a week.  Hooray!!  

Here's his latest ultrasound picture with his little nose and lips:

Since he's breech, it's really hard to get a good profile or a face picture.  He just happened to turn his head and she caught his little nose and lips!

And, here's me at 34 weeks:

Lots of Events to Review:

We hit up Chicago on the weekend of Nov 12 for a friend's wedding:

LOVE this City....

Christine, Jamie and Mary threw us the cutest golf themed shower...here are some pics!  

They have the nicest friends ever, so I met a lot of really great people...and little Jack got so many great things!  He even has a book collection now thanks to Christine's idea of having the guests bring a book along with their gift.

Matt and I also took out last flight together as a childless couple.  We went to my parents house for Thanksgiving.  

Matt shooting guns in the country with Donald!

And he just HAD to drive the John Deere tractor....I'm surprised Donald let him.  He loves that thing!

While all of the travels and events have been exciting, nothing was more entertaining than watching Matt in our Breastfeeding class.  I thought his head may actually fly off his shoulders.  Holy SMOKES.  Let's just say that there was a LOT of information in that class....even for me.  

And, honestly?  There seem to be a lot of rules (i.e., don't use pacifiers, use pacifiers in this instance only, never use a bottle, use a bottle only after 4 weeks, never hold the baby "this way" - only "this way")

However, like my favorite "baby's first year" book says "use some common sense and you'll b fine."  

Amen, brother.

Let's just focus on getting food into the baby, getting the baby to sleep, changing the baby and not dropping the baby.  If that involves a pacifier, then so be it.

Next up?  Labor and Delivery Class!