Good Stuff

Had a wonderful bi-weekly visit at the OBGYN yesterday. Everything is looking good, just about 34 weeks prego. I finally broke down and asked the doctor about a possible induction after Christmas if Jack isn't born yet (which, with my luck, he won't be). The doctor told me as long as everything looked good, they had no problem inducing me at 39 weeks....MUSIC TO MY EARS! It's reduced my countdown from about 6 weeks to about 5 weeks to go! It also means that there's a greater chance that my brother, who is only in town once a year at Christmas time, will get to be home to meet Jack. That tax credit wouldn't hurt either :) It also guarantees my full maternity leave at work AND it's one less week of misery. I am a happy camper.

Upcoming events/recent news includes:

• Max had his two year check up today - still a big boy at 30.5 lbs and 36 inches :) He certainly charmed everyone in the doctor's office. We have an appointment with the ENT at the beginning of December to determine if he will need tubes for his ears or not. He hasn't had an ear infection in almost a month now, which is awesome! I'm crossing my fingers that he won't need the tubes and will grow out of this!
• Work is getting harder and harder. I can't stand for very long periods of time, due to all the pressure on my legs as well as the pressure Jack has been putting on my bladder lately....I might just pee my pants! Not to mention my back....I'm not even going to go there. So....I have to sit at my desk a lot and instruct from there sometimes, which I hate. I feel lazy and uneffective. Luckily, my students have been pretty cool about it and will bring their work up to my desk to let me help them out from my comfy chair. My two paraprofessionals that work in my room with me have really been great as well. They have no problem running errands around the school for me and taking the class over when I need a quick break. They'll be getting awesome Christmas presents :)
• My mind is almost gone. The other day, I wore two different shoes on my feet to work...and didn't even notice it until about 2:00pm! My students and I had a good laugh....and of course I had to point it out to everyone at work as well as anyone I could call and tell. I could blame my ever expanding stomach and not being able to see, but whatever, I'll just blame my disappearing mind instead!
• This weekend marks the start of our crazy holiday season! This weekend we are celebrating Thanksgiving with Mark's family at our house....then next week is Thanksgiving at my parent's house...then the second week in December we have my grandma's Christmas party and are also hosting my family's "cousins Christmas party" at our house...the following weekend we are celebrating Christmas with Mark's family at our house....and the following weekend is Christmas Eve and Day at my parents house! Not to mention my brother and his girlfriend will be coming in town around then for Christmas and hopefully the birth of Jack! WHEW! Makes me tired and excited just thinking about it all....we will certainly be busy, which will hopefully make time fly!
• Mark and I are taking a full day in a few weeks to dedicate to making sure everything is ready for Jack, hospital bags are packed and to get our Christmas shopping done. My parents will be taking Max overnight so we can go on probably one of our last dates together before Jack is born and try to get SOME sleep....then the next day, we plan to make a list of last minute Jack items....clean out my car and put the infant car seat in....then do all of our Christmas shopping. I'm taking a personal day from work for it and I couldn't be more excited :)

We've started putting up our Christmas decorations inside the house...hopefully we'll finish the inside and get the outside done as well before December madness hits :) Well, that's all I've got for now....hope everyone is gearing up for a fun holiday season as well!

7 week countdown

I've hit the 33 week mark in my pregnancy, which means I have roughly 7 more weeks to go. I'm going to be honest....I'm doing everything in my power to reduce that number and have this baby a little early. Safe early, but still, early. Along with chasing and carrying around a 30 lb. two year old on a daily basis, I'm working full time and keeping myself quite busy. My classroom is on the second floor of my school, and I'm always running up and down the stairs to go to the office, library, copy room or other classrooms. People tell me to take the elevator because I look and sound like I might die after climbing those freaking stairs....but heck no, if it'll help me go into labor a little sooner, I'm all for it. I won't continue to go into detail and complain about my pregnancy, but just in case you were wondering, I'll highlight some of the current glorious details:

• My back is RIDICULOUS. It was bad from the start, and I knew it was only going to get worse with the added pressure and weight, but OMG. I seriously feel crippled. Hand me a handicap sign for my car now, please. It is excruciating and just plain annoying to feel so restricted. It takes me 5 minutes to turn over in bed. 10 minutes in the morning to be able to really walk. I cannot WAIT to not have this terrible pain anymore, it's becoming unbearable. I feel so bad for Mark....since I can barely move once in bed at night or it takes forever for me to be able to move, if Max wakes up, he has to go get him back to sleep. He knows I'm miserable and would rather do that than be in such pain, but I still feel worthless because of it.
• My groin muscles/thighs are beginning to ache as well. I'm hoping that's a sign that Jack is possibly "dropping" into position and is adding extra pressure to that area, but who knows. Could just be another extra "joy" of pregnancy.
• Acid Reflux. Seriously? For some reason, when I'm laying in bed already miserable and uncomfortable, my body decides it's the perfect time for some acid reflux to kick in. So, I lay there feeling woozy and even more like crap until I fall asleep for an hour or so.
• I sleep in about hour increments. After that amount of time, I have to take 5 minutes like a beached whale to turn to my other side to attempt to sleep for another hour. This involves moving all 5 pillows I have surrounding me to a new position as well. It's quite the process....sometimes all the shoveling and groaning coming from the pain of moving wakes Mark up, which again, makes me feel bad.
• My nerves are getting short. I can feel myself getting frustrated easier with everyone and everything.
• People feel the need to tell me I'm getting big and really popping. Thank you, captain obvious. I am eight months pregnant, and after about 6 months of you telling me you couldn't even tell I was pregnant (and apparently thought I just walked around with a round gut?), I had to start showing at some point before the kid is born.

Okay, enough ranting on the pregnancy. I've been trying to use the upcoming holiday season as a distraction. Tonight, Mark and I began to decorate for Christmas since the holidays will be hectic trying to celebrate with both families plus the possibility of Jack coming at any point. It put me in a better mood....and Max and I get to go get a few more Christmas things tomorrow :) Well, I hadn't blogged in awhile, so I guess this was my lame attempt at showing yes, I'm still hanging in there....barely :) I hope everyone else is having a nice time gearing up for the holidays as well! I'm trying not to be a bah humbug over here!

To Infinity and Beyond!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Max was his current favorite, Buzz Lightyear, and he had so much fun! This was his first Halloween where he could really take part in all the fun. He did a great job trick or treating, running up to houses and taking his candy with a smile. He even attempted to tell people "trick or treat" in his own way :) Seeing Max so excited and happy really helped lift my spirits, which have been so down lately from all the physical pain this pregnancy has brought on. Max is awesome like that - one laugh, smile or "mama" from him, and I seem to forget about the pain in that moment. It also reminds me, "this is what you're going to gain from this pain." I know how much I love Max and how much joy he brings to my and my family's life....and if Jack does even a quarter of that for me and my family, then that makes this pain all worth it. It still sucks in the meantime, but it's pain with a purpose. Max is going to be an amazing big brother, and I've grown a little weepy lately that Max isn't going to be the baby anymore....he's the big boy! Max is growing up so fast and he's so amazing....I am truly blessed to be his "mama!". I'm growing a little nervous about having two kids....what is Max feels slighted? What if he feels jealous? Will I still have enough time to devote to just Max (or just Jack) to show him he's special and loved? I'm hoping this transition goes well for my family and for my big boy....Max :)