In the homestretch

Well, in 4 more days the baby bump will be no more. We will finally get to meet the last and final G: Ms. Gracen Aya. I am very excited to meet this stubborn sweet little baby. Who will she look like? Who will she act like? Which sister will she aggravate more? How big will she be?

Well, I'm off for a lunch date with hubby; probably the last for a long time to come.

36 weeks...

Okay, so here we are: 36 weeks, my stomach feels like it will pop at any moment. The child now weighs 7 pounds. Monday the doctor measure her ever present foot during the ultra sound. 2 3/4 inches long! I haven't been to sleep since yesterday. I usually sleep on the couch. Honey was complaining about sleeping alone. Heck, I was in the bed and he still slept alone-he was the only one sleeping.

I remember looking at the clock at 4:20 thinking I really want to go to Denny's. Then my mind was convinced that I should have a vodka sunrise and it would be okay. Don't know where these thoughts came from. Of course, I never moved from my uncomfortable perch in the bed. But that's what I was thinking.

Why is the child being so stubborn? Everyone else came without warning or prompting.

Still Going Strong

So, I am now in the middle of the 35th week and nothing has happened. I went to the ER Monday morning in a lot of pain. Of course, that stopped once they strapped the monitors on my tummy. Only 4 contractions. Then had my regular appt on Tuesday, still not dialating. Sigh.

The girls are very ready for their new baby to come home. I'm ready for Gracie to vacate my body. In the meantime, the girls want to play outside all the time and blow bubbles. I'm doing ALL I can do to just be. Thankfully, June 12th is not too far away.

It's Almost Time to Meet the 3rd G

Okay, so I have really been MIA for the last month. I am now 35 weeks pregnant! I've never gotten that far. Gabi was born at 34 weeks but she was in such great distress. This time, Gracen is doing perfectly wonderful! The last ultrasound was Monday and she is over 6 pounds (wow) breathing on her own, and I am so very ready. Of course this is a big deal to us because Gabi weighed 4 pounds and 3 ounces, GiGi weighed 4 lbs 2 oz.

I'm a nervous wreck because I am at great risk for uterine rupture and I dont need that at all. I have 2 other kids and a husband to live for. Therefore, the doctor and I will be having a definite conversation on Tuesday at my next appointment. The girls are very excited and so is everyone else. Ready for the baby to get here. Looks like this time, we're bringing one home with us!

Things are getting quite interesting around here. GiGi is excited to an extent. She wants to see the baby, but she knows that she is going to lose a lot of attention and that makes her very angry. She is and always has been aggressive. Gabi is older but much smaller and she doesn't realize her own strength, so imagine my fears for putting an infant in the backseat between the two of them.

So Much To Do, So Little Time

I've been away for quite sometime. Gabi has been complaining of neck and shoulder pain. We finally got in to see her neurosurgeon who just wasn't convinced it was anything serious. Whatever! You just don't go from Happy Happy Joy Joy to ow I hurt everyday and nothing is wrong. In addition to Tylenol, I am trying non medication remedies like heating pads and therapeutic bath soaks. They seem to be giving her relief. In the meantime, I am waiting for an MRI to be scheduled.

I had an appointment with my OB. I was originally scheduled for June 19th for Gracie's arrival but now it seems like we will be altering our plans to bring her a bit earlier. She and I are going to have a long talk, because I make the plans. The girls have big doctor's appointments on June 10 and I like to be present at all of them.

I had me 3rd vendor booth this past weekend. This weekend was the annual Blues on the River and since I am still trying to market my business and get my name out, I sat outside on the banks of the Arkansas river AGAIN selling my wares. This time I had candles, body scrubs, and gift baskets. We were next to people with purses, clothes, and jewelry. Business was slow for everyone most of the evening, but around 9 p.m. a man from the store next to my daughter's daycare came up and started shopping. I am on my way to sign him up as a recruit. He wants to retail the candles in his shop!!! Whoo Hoo for me!

I've Been MIA for a week

Happy Easter! It's been week since my last post, but so much has gone on. Gabi's God-father died of a heart attack while preaching. So yesterday we went to Fayetteville for the funeral. It was a bitersweet reunion for my husband who got to see lots of former teammates.

We've had lots of severe weather this week, which I can say has really interfered with my book club activity (how rude of me to say that). We're reading the Black Door by Velvet and OMG! it is so good. It's an online book club and we discuss the book through and open chat forum on Cafe Mom (love that site). Of course we were only supposed to read the first 10 chapters and discuss them. I've already finished the book, and posted questions for those chapters. And cant wait to read the 2nd book in the series.

We've been to therapy all week. Gabi is complaining of neck and leg pain. I hope that her symptoms from the Chiari aren't starting up again. And then we had the all important Violin lessons. She was NOT going to let anyone have a moment's peace until we got to the class for lessons. Now our issue is finding a violin small enough for her. We had a 1/8 and now we are going to have to search high and low to have her sized for a 1/16 or 1/32 and you know that is going to stress me out for the week, because the next class is Friday!

Baby Gracie is growing like a week, and I have the tummy to prove it. The kicks and punches make me think I am carrying Jean Claude Van Dam. 10 weeks to go! Whoo Hoo! I'd post pictures, but one of the lovely G's broke the camera. Gotta get it fixed this week. I'm missing out on too much! Enjoy your Easter and your family!

On The Preschool Hunt

Gabi and GiGi have been inseperable since January 2007. At first, they went to 2 different daycares because the center Gabi went to in Texas did not enroll children under 6 months. They ended up together at GiGi's home day care. Then I left the classroom to be home with them full time. Since moving to Arkansas, they've been at the same center and for the last year, in the same class. So now, they are 4 and almost 3 y.o. and it is time to put them in a preschool program. Of course, I need to find one that has onsite therapy (PT/OT/Speech and be able to provide her with tube feedings) but ideally one that is very child centered and fun.
Today, we went on the first of what I hope will a short list of tours of preschool centers. We visited the Easter Seals preschool that provides childcare/preschool services for children 6 months to 5 years of age. Beautiful place. The teachers each have dual certification- Early Childhood and Special Ed. The therapists are on site. There is a certified teacher and 2 aides per classroom and everything is beautiful. They work with regular ed and special needs children.
Why oh Why did Gabi start crying 'don't leave me, don't leave me'? That was the most upsetting thing in the world. GiGi had already walked off and made her way to EVERY center in the classrooms. Of course Gabi's answer to that was to walk into the room, grab GiGi's hand and say, "let's go!"
Of course, if I could have my way, they would go to a Montesorri school next year. But, Montessori's do not provide services. All this and I am still trying to figure out my next move as far as Gracie and will I go back to work next year.
I'm learning about network marketing slowly but surely, but I am unable to grow my business like I want to with 2 little people and one on the way. Hope to figure it out soon.