Monday, April 16, 2012

38 Weeks!

Happy Birthday to Our Huckleberry Blue!
Hudson Thomas Poulos [or "Huck," as we are calling him around here] was born on 
4.12.12
Weighing 7.7lbs.
20.75 Inches.



Thursday, April 12th, Matt and I were 
blessed with the gift we have been waiting for
over these past nine and a half months.

I can not begin to tell you about the journey tonight.
In fact, I will have to fight the hormones
and tears
when I talk of Hudson's birth story. 

Matt and I plan to blog about it here, later this week.

Until then, we are decompressing at home...
Husband, the Boy, and Me.
And enjoying the last few days we have with Daddy, 
before he leaves for tour again.


Thank you so much for all of your
love
support
thoughts
prayers.

-The Poulos Family-




Monday, April 9, 2012

37 Weeks!

Dear Baby,
I love you. 
But good lord, you are making me really uncomfortable.
If you could come out any day now, that would be great.
Thanks.

You guessed it. 
I am ready to have this baby.
Though I spent all of this week praying baby would stay in,

This past week [week 37] has been a battle.
A count down to Matt's home coming [for 29 hours].
A hope that baby would stay in for one more week - until the band made it to Florida.
A midwife appointment, where I was hoping drastic change would have taken place.
The last full week of work; working Easter Sunday.

I was fortunate to have my in-laws come stay with me this weekend, 
while my sister was out of town, and it was fantastic.
My advice for those of you who are pregnant and have not reached the end yet:
When the time comes, 
Stay occupied.
Keep loved ones around.
Go out to eat.
Do anything but think about how you wish baby was already born.

I did just that, this 37th week.
Dinner Date with my Sister! 
Mexican food and Frozen Yogurt.

Walked around FSU's campus with my in-laws (the Alumni).


Now, for the most idiotic quote of the week:

Man: "Hey Mama!"
Me: "Good morning!"
Man: "How are you two feeling this morning?"
Me: "Pregnant! Ready for this baby to be born!"
Man: "Yeah, your face is all swollen and puffy. Getting Close!!"
Me: [Glaring behind man's back at my co-worker, mouthing the words: 
'What the hell?!']
Thanks for the words of encouragement??

Here she blows, 
37 Weeks.
My Pregnancy This Week
Hello from BabyCenter!
Your baby is now considered full term, even though your due date is still three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. He weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.
>> Read more about this week
Your baby at 37 weeks
Picture of your developing baby
Your baby is full term!



     Week 37

01  
pregnancy calendarYour Baby:
  • Weighs about six and a half pounds, and is 21 inches long — quite possibly the same length he or she will be at birth.
  • Is packing on close to a half-pound of pure, unadulterated baby chub every week.
You:
  • Are probably dismayed to realize you are STILL outgrowing your maternity clothes. Your shirts ride up to reveal a couple inches of belly (or elastic waistbands), your pants might bulge and pucker weirdly as your uterus drops lower, and some tops might feel especially tight as your ribcage expands to handle all your pushed-up organs.
  • Might be having serious trouble getting a good night’s sleep thanks to your size (my limbs keep falling asleep under my body’s crushing weight), your baby’s jolt-you-awake-caliber kicks, bladder calls, Braxton-Hicks contractions, and your brain’s constant buzz of excitement and anxiety and massive to-do lists.



How far along?: 37 Weeks; 6 Days
Total weight gain/loss: +29 pounds.
Maternity clothes?: Ehhh. 
Stretch marks?: None-zo!
Sleep: I sleep in a wind tunnel, with my fans on full blast, because I am so hot.
Best moment this week: Spending time with my in-laws; working through
Easter Sunday (that was my goal). 
Miss Anything?: Sitting without back pain.
Movement: Lots and lots!! Baby has moved down to "Zero Station."
Food cravings: Grapefruit and Lemon, Luigi Italian Ices.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing, really.
Have you started to show yet: Let's hope so.
Gender: Sweet Bitty Baby Boy.
Labor Signs: Increased Braxton Hicks. Dilated 2.5 CM! Cervix is 90% effaced. 
Back Pain.
Belly Button in or out?: Gone. Just plain gone. 
Wedding rings on or off?: On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. Still tired of people making 
idiotic comments.
Looking forward to: Matt coming home tomorrow!!!
----------------------------------
Still working?: Yes - this was my last official week!
----------------------------------

Still Running?: Walking only this week.
How many days this week?: 5 Days
Total Mileage: 20 Miles


Until Next Time,
LP

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Waiting Game.


Things are ready around this house home.
Ready for baby's arrival.



His door is decorated for a happy homecoming.
Party flags adorn the nursery windows.


The stroller is set up.
The changing table is stocked.


Things are put away.
Clothes are washed.
Books are stacked, ready to be read.
And the armoire mirror has been cleaned over and over.


We have a new mobile
for baby to see
exactly who Mom and Dad are.


The bed has a new duvet.
[since baby would notice the previous one was old]
The bathroom has been scrubbed and disinfected from top to bottom.
A new shower curtain has even made its way up.


Brother is practicing his guardian role.


And this girl asks me every day when she will be getting 
a new brother.


I am thinking baby and labor thoughts,
wishing and hoping this baby comes next week.
Dad is ready.
Mom is ready.

We are ready.



Monday, April 2, 2012

36 Weeks!

36 down... 4 more to go.
4. more. to. go.
[fingers are crossed that it is more like 2 weeks... but, eh - "potato, pototo"]

I am going to be honest with you.
I'm getting a little stir crazy.
Hormones are all weird.
I have no amount of patience whatsoever.
And due to the lack of running 
[since I am trying to keep baby in until Dad is in FL], 
quite honestly I have gone a little nuts.

No running.
My midwife advised that I slow it down a bit since things are progressing quickly.
This has limited me to long walks [which I love] and lots of naps.

Sleep?
Forget it. 
With the amount that I wake up at night to go to the bathroom, I might as well not even go to sleep.

Food?
I can not get enough grapefruit. 
Seriously, I have eaten 7 in the past 3 days.
Oh. And the occasional burger has not been bumming me out either.

--------------------------------
A little snippet of my day...
So, I work in a bakery/restaurant where people act like that have no normal source of human interaction. I also deal with customers all day long and their special requests for pastries, pies, and everything lovely.

Customer [Man]: "Gosh. Everything looks so good here."
Me: "Yes sir. Do you know what you would like to order?"
Man: "One of everything!! HA! Just kidding, then I would look like you."
Me: [insert the most unenthused face you can imagine]
Man: [Awkward Silence]

Are you kidding me? 
You are talking to a 36 and 6 days pregnant person and that's what you are going to say?
[For future reference, in case you have a run-in with a pregger, it is not funny. It does not humor me, nor any other ready to pop pregnant lady. Keep the asinine comments in your head, if you want the best outcome.]

Also. Comments like
"You're huge!" 
"Man, are you going to work up until you pop?"
"Woah! Look at that belly"
"Are you in a bad mood because of the pregnancy hormones?"
Are completely counter productive. In fact, they make my blood boil.
My friend Lesley was right when she said "you will hate everyone by the end of your pregnancy."
Its almost like I want to respond with "Oh good. I am so glad you informed me of how big I am. I didn't notice when I couldn't get comfortable enough to fall asleep last night, or when I realized my husband's large t-shirts are so tight, they show the bottom of my belly. Thanks for the heads up a-hole."
--------------------------------


Okay, enough with the complaining. 

Here she is: 
Week 36
My Pregnancy This Week

Hello from BabyCenter!
Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.>> Read more about this week

Your baby at 36 weeks
Picture of your developing baby
Weight gain (about an ounce a day) is your baby's top priority.
>> See the big picture: 36 weeks


      Week 36

24


pregnancy calendarYour Baby:
  • Is six pounds. SIX. POUNDS. You probably have clothes in your house that already fit a six-pound baby.
  • Is still not fully cooked yet, even though MOST babies born at this point will do just fine. But the lungs are better off with a couple more weeks of maturity.
  • The size of your baby will start displacing amniotic fluid over the final few weeks. As the fluid gets reabsorbed into your body, you may notice that your baby’s movements feel “different.” You might not feel as many kicks as you used to, or the sensations are just…well, “different.” It’s mostly because of the cramped quarters in there and less fluid.
You:
  • Are not done yet. I am sorry.
  • Have gained 25 to 30 pounds, according to the books, which also say that it’s “not unusual” for your weight to remain unchanged between weekly OB appointments. Say it with me: SHUT UP, BOOKS.

Poor photo quality.
Had to do some book stacking on a stool and set my comp up since no one is home to take the pic.
How far along?: 36 Weeks; 6 Days
Total weight gain/loss: +29 pounds.
Maternity clothes?: Yes. I hate them.
Stretch marks?: No, thankfully I still have that going for me.
Sleep: The worse. Can not get comfortable no matter what! Day time naps save me.
Best moment this week: Finishing the work week and realizing I:
A) have 2 days off until more work
B) am 37 weeks tomorrow
Miss Anything?: Husband
Movement: Yes, they are getting more interesting and more painful.
Food cravings: Fruit and Burgers?!
Anything making you queasy or sick: The smell of certain perfumes. 
Have you started to show yet: Yep.
Gender: Male.
Labor Signs: Lots of Braxton Hicks. Dilated 2 CM! Cervix is 80% effaced!
Belly Button in or out?: Outty. 
Wedding rings on or off?: On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Hmm. How do I answer this honestly?
Moody, for sure. Sad that Matt is gone. Happy and blessed that baby is healthy and
almost in my arms.
Looking forward to: Matt being in Florida (8 Days). Meeting our sweetie. Fitting
in to my skinny jeans one day.
----------------------------------
Still working?: Yes
----------------------------------

Still Running?: Walking only this week.
How many days this week?: 5 Days
Total Mileage: 20 Miles


Until Next Time,
LP