Sunday, August 31, 2008

We are going in...

Well, we are to report at the hospital tonight at 8:00!!! Just thought I would let everyone know. If you want updates call my mom or one of my sisters!! Next time I will have pictures of a sweet baby to post!! Hopefully, he is cute!

Changing our Blog Title

Two things are definitely not going to be true after Monday. There will be more than 2 of us and it is going to happen in September...

An induction seems inevitable...

Well, it is 3:30 in the morning and I woke up thirsty and hot. I have no desire to check this for grammar mistakes. I apologize in advance. My induction is tomorrow and I still haven't had any contractions or anything. I had two visits to the perinatal assessment center to make sure the little guy was okay this week and was hoping he would still decide to come on his own. I guess I didn't have that luxury. Maybe I am being pessimistic since it is 3:30 in the morning the night before the scheduled labor jumpstart. I really really didn't want to have an induction. I am scared that I may have an increased chance of a c-section and of all the complications that could occur because of it. I also really wanted to go naturally. Laugh if you want to but it was my ideal. Now I am not so sure I will be able to do it although Jonathan still thinks I can... It is going to have to depend on a lot of things. I should probably still be hoping to but I don't know...I don't know what to expect. I am extremely grateful that the baby is still happy and healthy in there whether he wanted to come out or not. My belly can't get any bigger. I think it has reached full capacity.

The waiting is finally over and I get to see my little guy very soon. This was my last night home with Jonathan before our life changes forever... it still doesn't seem real...I can't believe that I am going to be a mom within the next 72 hours. Yet, I know it is going to happen.

We went to the football game today. Michigan lost 23 to 25 to Utah! We had great seats. We were 11 rows back from the south end zone. We bought tickets from someone in Jonathan's program. It was a last minute decision last night. I was bugged because we didn't feel like we should go to the cabin on lake Michigan with my family for the weekend just in case something happened. I didn't want to be 2--3 hours away from the hospital if something did happen. I needed something to do. It is hard walking up and down the bleachers when you are 42 weeks pregnant with the constant thought that your water could break at any time. I don't know how many people bumped into my stomach. The poor guy in front of me...if he leaned back at all he would accidentally hit my belly. I was amazed at how still he was for the first 3 quarters. I was a little nervous when he wasn't moving and the decibel level was so high. Then, when things got exciting in the 4th he woke up. He gave a whopping kick at the exact same time as a kick off. It was hilarious because everyone was making that reving noise before the kick... all 108,000 of the people in the stadium... and WHAM! It was hilarious. He still didn't want to come out after all of that walking and standing. OH well, I gave it one last good faith effort.

I am planning on going to church in the morning. It is the first time that I don't really want to. I don't want people to ask me any questions or talk about how I am being induced etc...I know that I will go anyway. I want to take the sacrament and feel at peace. I won't be able to take the sacrament for probably 2 weeks or so after the baby is born. I don't know how long you are supposed to wait before you go back.

Baby boys: One last thought. I have been in love with little boys lately. Baby boys and toddler boys. They are so sweet. My friend Sarah Smith has a little boy named Josh who just had his 2 year birthday this Thursday. She and I decorated a truck cake for him. It resembled a truck well enough for him to recognize it so we considered it a success. He loves cars and trucks!! He is adorable and is at the stage of the vocabulary spurt and just barely putting 2 words together. I have heard him say a 4 word sentence...but I digress. I can't keep my eyes off of him. I can't believe that I was so upset in the beginning to have a boy. Now I can't wait. He is so sweet and kind. Then, there are all of Jonathan's friends from the business program. There are about 4-5 couples that are starting the program who are LDS and we have been associating with despite Jonathan's deferment to start his MBA next year. They all have baby boys. It is funny that everyone has boys. Today, however, I couldn't keep my eyes off of them. They were all so sweet.
So, despite all the past worries and concerns of not being able to raise a little boy...or missing out on cute dresses and everything I am comfortable with (coming from a family with 5 sisters) I am getting really excited to use all the blue that is hanging in the closet and hold my sweet son. I can't wait for him to come.

I feel so blessed that everything has gone so well during my pregnancy and that he is healthy. I don't know if he is going to be happy with the upcoming forceful entry into the world and sudden change of environment but hopefully he will like his mommy from the outside as much as he did while inside.

PS I am sure we will decide on a name eventually...we still have time...right? :)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Still Waiting...

Yes, we are still waiting around for him to come. I have been to the hospital to receive non-stress tests to make sure he is okay. He is doing great. He has all the amniotic fluid he needs and is moving around. As far as he is concerned...life is grand. I go back to do the same tests on Thursday and then...inevitably will most likely start being induced on Sunday night...

Life for me on the other hand is filled with a little bit of worry and anxiety...are those the same thing? However, despite these feelings I am really enjoying myself. Grandma and Grandpa Unsicker came from Utah to help with the baby. Grandma and I have been planning this since Alicia first announced she was pregnant over a year and a half ago.

Well, since there is no baby to take care of we have been making food, cleaning my house, and playing a lot. Grandma and I have beat Jonathan and Grandpa at Pinochle 8 out of 9 times!! Needless to say, the boys don't want to play us anymore.

Example of my hormone levels going crazy...

I got another really great hand and Grandma was able to compliment my "meld" with a run. So following a "Cheeks cheats" from Gramps Jonathan says, "Abby, I am not talking to you for the rest of the night." I completely broke down. I was bawling and it was really not a big deal under normal circumstances. So I cried through about 3 tricks and then when the boys gave up, I started to cry again... It was quite hilarious.

Monday, I was a week overdue and this is what happened...(Note: I was also canning peaches and making peach/blackberry jam throughout all of these events. It was a very long and busy day.)

Background: I don't like talking on the phone or dealing with strangers. It is really hard for me.

Jonathan and I needed to sell one of our couches on Craigslist because it wouldn't fit in our apartment and Emily, who had the couh for almost two years, was moving from Ann Arbor. I took the initiative to put it on Craigslist to get things going. Then, I was the one "put in charge" of organizing the mass amounts of response emails and scheduling. Normally, this wouldn't have been that difficult if the couch was at my house. But I had to schedule around Emily's tenant who I didn't know, could'nt contact, and didn't speak English!! Thankfully, I had some loyal requesters who waited since last Thursday to finally see the couch on Monday.

After Jonathan and I came back from the hospital we went to Emily's apartment to show the couch. Yes, we finally got in by asking a maintenance man. The people wanted it!!! It wouldn't fit in their car so Em offered the use of Mom's Durango. Jonathan helped load it, drive it over to their apartment and attempt to get it into the elevator. It didn't fit. I was waiting in the car and when I saw Jonathan next it looked like someone struck his face with a 2x4. It was all red/bloody and swollen on his right side. The guy he was helping had a hard time controlling the couch and whacked it into Jonathan's face. So, not only did it not fit in the elevator or fit in the stairwell up to the 7th floor...my husband looked like he got into a fight. After a moment of concern my first thought was..."good thing the baby is content I want Jonathan's face to heal before he is born or else I am only going to be able to take profile pictures of him holding the baby!!" It is healing well...

Back to the couch. Jonathan had to go to his golf lesson. (Yes, he is taking golf lessons so that he can learn and be a good shmoozer in the business world...consider it "professional development"). So, we left the couch in a random apartment lobby without the cushions with a sign that said, "Moving, please don't touch." The couple ended up not wanting the couch. Which I think was really rude after we donated our time and gas to move it to their place. They should have taken responsibility for it. It wasn't my fault he didn't measure things beforehand. So, Jonathan was really frustrated and in a bad mood which had a huge effect on me because he is never like that. I wasn't mad that he was upset...I just didn't really know how to deal with it. It had an effect on me and my mood as well. So, I needed to try again to get someone to buy my couch that day and meet me at a random apartment lobby...

We found someone who wanted to come look at it and was willing to pay close to the asking price. Now, I had to contact the couple who didn't want the couch in the first place to get the cushions before I could show it. Grandma, Grandpa, and I (with a deck of 5 crowns) went over in the evening to go get everything organized with the cushions and wait for the prospective buyers. We were supposed to meet the couple at 6:30 but they never came or called to tell us that they were running late. So, starving by this point, Grandpa and I left Grandma and went to go get Chinese take out. When we came back nothing had happened. So we sat around the bolted down coffee table on the floor and ate our Chinese in a random apartment lobby because the bolted down couch wouldn't move closer!! What a sight we were!! Finally over an hour later the couple returned and eventually the prospective buyer came to look at the couch...she was over an hour late as well!! It turned out that we had a couch buying triangle. The couple had gone to get our prospective couch buyers couch after they couldn't have ours and the prospective couple ended up buying ours. She wanted it for $20 less. Which, by this point, I was happy to do. Then when she went to get the cash she didn't have enough. She was $4 dollars short. She offered to go to an ATM, probably expecting us to say, "no, it's only 4 dollars" when Grandma said, " Okay, we will follow you." So we followed this girl in a truck half way across the city to get 4 dollars because of the "principle of the thing." "People are always trying to nickel and dime you"-according to Grandma. Well, after being offered a ten dollar bill at the ATM I mentioned that I hadn't received the rest of the money and the prospective buyer swore she gave it to me. She had to look into her purse and realize that she hadn't!! I couldn't believe it. Then, not wanting to offend her, I didn't count the money in front of her. When I got to the car I realized that she had given me $136 instead of the $130. I felt really bad and wanted to call her but by this point in the evening I didn't have the ambition to deal with people anymore.

It was a blessing to sell our couch, the situation was horrible, but the memory of playing 5 crown and eating chinese food on the floor of some random lobby and playing cards with G and G was well worth it in the end I guess. I can deal with Jonathan's face I am sure it will heal before the baby decides to come and see us.

Grandma and Grandpa are leaving to go see my mom tomorrow. I will be home alone. I don't think the time will pass as easily now. Everyone can feel free to call me. I am not frustrated so don't feel bad calling. I would love to chat!!

Monday, August 18, 2008

The waiting game...

Well, our little guy decided not to come early or right on time! Seems like he has his own agenda! Today was the estimated due date. Eliza put it in perspective by saying, "whether you had him today or not you are going to be a mom very soon." I have tried to not get very anxious about my "due date" because so many people do, however, I realized it still affected me a little bit. So, I am glad that she reminded me that all this means is that he is coming and coming soon.

I started actually feeling discomfort during contractions today so at least some pre-labor stuff has started. We will keep you all updated!!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

SWIMMING!!!!


Okay, I have been craving a swimming pool since the beginning of the summer. Unfortunately, there aren't many places to go in downtown Detroit. So, I have taken advantage of the pool at our apartment complex. This week I stopped swimming, just in case my water breaks or something else embarrassing happens. But last week I was living the high life in my hot red maternity bathing suit!! I know, I know, who knew someone could look so good at 38 weeks pregnant!! :o)

Baby Showers!

I had two group baby showers. The ladies from my branch (small church congregation) in Detroit threw me a shower. My really good friend Lorna hosted it and she did a great job. There were lots of fun games, decorations, and delicious food. Then, a couple weeks later ladies from church and good friends threw me a shower in Saginaw. It was also a lot of fun and I am so grateful for all of the love and support that Jonathan and I have received as we have planned for our little guy. He has enough clothes for two kids, books, games, and baby gear that will keep me sane I am sure. Here are some pics from the parties!

Detroit Baby Shower


Baby Shower- Saginaw
The hostesses made homemade blueberry muffins with freshly picked blueberries! They were awesome! Also, my really good friend from high school, Krystin, was in town and came. It was so great to have her there. She just had a baby boy last fall so hopefully they will be good friends.



Thanks again to everyone for your love and support!!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

FIlling up the time?

I haven't had this much time on my hands ever...I can't remember a time when I wasn't chaotically busy or didn't have anything to do for longer than a day. Now, I am searching for things to do to fill up my day. Jonathan has been in an accounting waiver class all week from 8-4. I have found at least 1 thing to do, not including swimming everyday, until today. Cleaning, visiting with friends, having the RS presidency visit, seeing my midwife. Today there isn't anything planned...and so the search begins. I am going to go see if I can get a library card and try and apply to ASHA. The American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association.

I know I should enjoy this time before the baby comes, however, I would rather he just come so I can be busy. I am used to being busy and being overwhelmed with things to do.

We are finally here!

Well, it is Wednesday night (7/30/08) and we are finally settled into our new apartment in Ann Arbor. We packed the truck on Saturday morning around 10:30 and then by 3:00 we were moved in. We had so much help from friends, missionaries, and other graduate students who are from our new ward (church congregation). It was very overwhelming seeing all of the boxes piled up but little by little we managed to unpack them. Emily was here the whole time which was a big help. Also, Pam, Jonathan's mom, came down on Monday to help out.

It feels so good to be settled and the apartment looks fabulous. Everything fits perfectly and there is still room to spare. We couldn't exactly say that about our last apartment. There are walkways on either side of our bed now with a big area towards one side. We also have a dishwasher, washer and dryer, and 2 walk-in closets. I don't know how we ever functioned with our little closets before. I think it was 2X3 feet... However, I must say that our old apartment was wonderful. It had so much character and we loved living in the building. We will miss it along with all the wonderful friends we left behind. At least we are only 45 minutes away.

I will post pictures when we find the cord that I need to upload them. Then, you can see the apartment and the NURSERY! Yes, we finally have set it up! It has been torture storing things in boxes and never being able to set up the crib. I am still waiting on the glider that my mom got for me but it is going to be an awesome room. I think his room is bigger than the bedroom Jonathan and I had for the past 2 years! Lucky kid.