The Wait is Over
Posted by Derek on Thursday, July 3, 2008 04:01 pm
We have a bouncing baby boy! His name is Trevor and he's doing great (and Momma is too). More details to come later as we take a page out of Andrea's book and lock the site down a bit. I'm going to be revamping the site using Joomla over the next few days/weeks. Birth of a son, re-birth of a website...could there be some kind of correlation?
Yeah, yeah...I feel sorry for the kid too. At least he's going to have a normal mother!
I got stimulated
Posted by Derek on Monday, June 30, 2008 09:51 pm
Or not. The IRS apparently has a twisted sense of humor. Here I have been anxiously walking out to the mailbox every day now since early May thinking, "My gosh, today could be the day. The day that I am stimulated!".
Until today, each and every trip started out with so much joy and anticipation, just to be crushed like a little boy (who had been so very good all year long) finding nothing but coal in his stocking. Oh, the humanity!
But then today, I opened the mailbox, and there it was...my equivalent of the golden ticket to the Chocolate Factory. That's right boys and girls, a big fat envelope from the IRS! Right on the back, in big red letters, it clearly states "STIMULUS PAYMENT". Woohoo! It's finally here! I oh so cautiously rip open the envelope and scramble to find the check...but alas, it is nowhere to be found! How can this be? What can it mean? Did they screw up (does the IRS screw up?)? After calming down, I actually read the contents which, of course, very logically explain what this is all about. We are going to get a STIMULUS PAYMENT, but it will arrive sometime in the next six weeks (Six Weeks!), but definitely by July 5th (doesn't give them much time now). Okay, so I got a letter to tell me something I already knew from countless newscasts and me checking the IRS website to see when I was going to get it.
I think our government could have increased my STIMULUS PAYMENT by another 42 cents and saved me some high blood pressure. Could have bought another 1/10th gallon of gas.
"Party in my playpen"
Posted by Jennifer on Saturday, June 28, 2008 05:59 pm
My gal pals from work threw me a lovely baby shower this last Thursday at Froggy Bottom Pub. It was so nice...so many people showed up and everyone was so generous. I'm surprised I didn't cry. We never go out as a whole group so it was just really fun to see everyone outside of work.
I hope having a baby shower in a pub is not going to influence my child to grow into a wild party animal. I received a cute little onesie that said "Party in my playpen" and thought, how appropriate.
A big thank you to everyone!
Derek is mean.
Posted by Jennifer on Saturday, June 28, 2008 10:44 am
I like Diet Pepsi but have given up all diet and caffeinated soda since I found out I was preggers. I am 39 weeks as of today. With one week left he brings home a bottle of Diet Pepsi and tells me I can't have it. "One more week, honey." Who does that?
P.S. I'm sure it was a complimentary beverage somewhere and...well...you know Derek and free stuff. I'm also sure it will taste great next week so, thanks, I guess.
P.P.S. In all honesty, I am laughing about it and really not craving it that badly.
no news
Posted by Jennifer on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 07:21 pm
After the OB appointment today I am still 80% effaced and 1 cm dilated. I thought for sure with all my contractions that I'd made a little progress. The heart rate was 145 and the baby has been especially active the last few days. She definitely likes to kick me on the left side and stick her butt out on the right...sometimes at the same time, like she's stretching. And last night I could really feel her little hands moving around my lower abdomen. I'm going to miss these feelings so much.
I also made the decision on the pediatrician. I really don't think there is a right or wrong choice but I went with the first pediatrician. I think the biggest deciding factor was the small size of the practice. My initial perception was that the setting is more intimate and that the care will be more personal. I called to let them know I'd chosen them and spent a few minutes chatting with the doctor about the upcoming delivery. It was a nice conversation and I feel really good about the decision.
Happy Birthday, Tamra!
Posted by Jennifer on Saturday, June 21, 2008 10:23 pm
Derek's little sister turns 23 today. She was hoping for a niece or nephew for her birthday but I'm running out of time to "deliver." Ha, ha, I'm so punny. We're too cheap anyway...I mean that's one expensive birthday gift.
Derek had a rough day today. He chargrilled our hamburgers to tiny little burnt crisps which were basically inedible. We ran to Costco for more burger (they turned out fine the second time around) but I wanted a toasty bun and it ended up blackened. When he tried to stir the sour cream it wound up all over him and the floor. We installed the car seat today and he broke a knob on it. He hit his shin on the shopping cart and it hurt for a little bit. He's feeling discouraged and I'm scared to ask him to do anything.
Also, we have been noticing that many of the plastic containers outside in our recyclables bin have holes in them. Are there plastic-eating bugs out there? What else could be doing it?
For those of you with little boys
Posted by Derek on Friday, June 20, 2008 08:34 pm
Here is a coupon for a free Thomas Train from Toys 'R' Us. We don't yet know what we're having, but I figure even a little girl plays with trains once in a while, right?
wake up call
Posted by Jennifer on Friday, June 20, 2008 07:37 am
I had a long afternoon at work on Wednesday--I did a lot of running around and didn't have a chance to drink, snack or rest like I should have. So as soon as I sat down on the Metro I started having contractions every four minutes with low back and pelvic pain. We timed them every 3.5-5 minutes for 2 hours and after the first hour were beginning to think, this is it.
Towards the end of the two hours though the pain started subsiding. The contractions continued regularly for a while and, though they're now back to the painless, sporadic Braxton Hicks of old, have still been stronger and longer than in the past. I think that once I got home and ate, drank and rested they decided to go away--a true indication that they were indeed false.
We finally went to bed that night feeling a little disappointed. We thought we were about to meet our little one.
Ready or not...
Posted by Jennifer on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 07:35 pm
Had an OB appointment today and things are progressing. The heart rate was 140s-150s, nice and strong. I am still dilated 1 cm and am now effaced 80%. My pre-labor contractions are coming all the time and seem to be a little stronger and lasting longer. I hope that means the baby will be here soon.
This doctor predicted that if I delivered today the baby would maybe be 6 lbs. and that if I go full term probably add about a pound. That's two different doctors predicting a 6 1/2-7 lb. baby at term.
I'm coming to terms with the nearing end of my pregnancy. I'm still sad to give up this intimate connection with our baby but am so excited to be so close to meeting him/her. I get all misty eyed thinking about touching her skin with my fingers and looking in her eyes and watching her sleep--I could go on and on.
Derek surprised me by coming home really early today, 10:30ish. I was actually just leaving the house to run some errands when I saw him on the other side of the road. I'm not the most observant person so it was quite amazing that I noticed a silver Corolla and without really even seeing the driver (I thought I saw a flash of blue but it turned out Derek was wearing tan) thought it might have been my husband. Derek was surprised when I called and asked if he was almost home. I guess it was a wife's intuition.
It was great to have him for the day. I got an errand-buddy out of the deal and then he treated me to a movie in the theater. We'd both been wanting to see Indiana Jones on the big screen. It was entertaining. Far-fetched to be sure but we decided the first three were a little out there as well. I enjoyed it and say if you're an Indy fan, it's worth seeing.
Hope you're enjoying your summer!
Baby Stuff Everywhere
Posted by Derek on Saturday, June 14, 2008 06:05 pm
Okay, so here we are, about three weeks away from D-Day* here on the East coast and it seems like everywhere I look there are signs.
1. Yet another pregnant lady at the gym this morning. It's as if they're breeding or something.
2. Van with license plate "MLK WGN" (there was a sign on the side for a lactation consulting company).
3. Baby coupons in the mail. Yep, we're on the list now.
4. I walked by the baby shoes in Walmart today, but should note that none of them fit.
5. I find myself doing google image searches for the words 'baby' and anything else that comes to mind (i.e. 'funny' or 'messy')
6. They. Are. Everywhere.
Besides, Jennifer is technically full term as of today or tomorrow, so that little critter could come popping out at any time. Don't worry, I'm not freaking out, just making a few observations. The freaking out won't happen until we're actually in the hospital room waiting to catch it (without a video camera, of course).
*D-Day = Delivery Day
Choosing a pediatrician
Posted by Jennifer on Friday, June 13, 2008 03:40 pm
My latest dilemma is choosing our pediatrician. We have a friend who is an RN and a certified lactation consultant but who is currently working as a pharmaceutical rep for some pediatric medications. She is familiar with most of the offices in the area and with her experience I trust the recommendations she's given us. I've met with both of the doctors now and like different things about each.
One office is very small with one pediatrician and two RNs as support staff. I like that the support staff are well-trained with a lot of pediatric inpatient, outpatient and emergency experience. I also like that all after hours calls and emergencies go directly to the doctor's cell phone. It's also nice to know that in the event of a sick visit, I will always see the same doctor. The facility is very small and old but appeared clean and adequate.
The other office is much larger with 2 physicians and 3 nurse practitioners. I'm able to schedule my well-child visits with the doctor/NP of my choice but sick visits will be with whoever is available. After hours calls go through a nurse triage system and are forwarded to the MDs if necessary or are taken by the NPs. The support staff consist of medical assistants and 1 LPN. The facilities are new, large, spacious and very nice.
Both expressed the same philosophy of making decisions appropriate to the individual needs of the child and involving the parents in that decision-making process when appropriate.
Based on office dynamics alone I like the small office with the very accessible pediatrician. But judging by personality I liked the second doctor a little bit more--just a little more personable and easy to interact with.
Which do I base my decision on?
Just my two cents.
Names and more
Posted by Jennifer on Thursday, June 12, 2008 09:23 pm
Ok, I wasn't sure if I wanted to post our name choices out here because it seems so anti-climactic but we've been telling people if they ask, so what's the difference?
Depending on the gender (obviously):
Trevor Dean or
Aubrey Marie
The first names have no significance other than the fact that we like them. The middle names are family names. Dean is Derek's dad's middle name and Marie is my and my mother's middle name (it was my Grandpa Kapke's mother's name). So that's that.
At our OB appointment today everything looked great. The baby's head is down and I am dilated 1 cm which our doctor (from Gibbon, NE) said is normal at this point in the pregnancy. We discussed the birth plan and I got some questions answered. I packed up the baby's hospital bag this last weekend and other than buying a pair of pajamas (so I can be tres chic and comfortable on the post-partum ward) I'm good to go. "Bring it on!"
36 weeks
Posted by Jennifer on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 03:21 pm
I can't believe we're at 36 weeks. In 1.5 weeks I will be considered full term--and then I say bring it on! Chances are I'll carry the baby another 4 weeks--but I'll be saying, "Bring it on!" Not that I don't want to be pregnant anymore. I've really enjoyed carrying our baby and feeling him/her inside of me. And the anticipation is so exciting. But I am so ready to meet our child (and to know, of the many outfits my mother has given us, which to keep and which to pack up and store for a child of the opposite sex).
We've recently wavered on our name choice for a daughter. We settled on it a few months ago and all along Derek has been wishy-washy on the name. He says he's ok with it but isn't really sold on it. He can't come up with anything he likes better (or that we like better) so we've stuck with it. I did some name searching this last week and discovered another name we both liked. We pondered over both of them and now he seems to be set on the one we'd already chosen.
prenatal hiccups
Posted by Jennifer on Sunday, June 8, 2008 03:24 pm
Baby kept me entertained throughout the sermon this morning. I thought he/she was rhythmically punching me until Derek wondered aloud if she was hiccuping. And the lightbulb went on. She's been getting the hiccups a lot all of a sudden. It's pretty cute but I feel bad for her. I mean they'll go on for ten minutes or longer. That's gotta be annoying--or maybe she's having fun trying out her new little trick.
I've read they can actually be soothing to a prenate and help to relieve a variety of pressures on their growing lungs and organs. Whatever they say.
What to do?
Posted by Derek on Sunday, June 8, 2008 02:54 pm
Okay, so I'm really glad that I built this website and I learned a lot along the way. It's been fun, but now that I have been playing with Joomla!, I'm kinda thinking that maybe now would be a good time to get this thing out of the 90's and into the 21st century. It's incredible how easy Joomla! is to use, and how many really, really cool features there are for plugins and extra content.
This will be an internal debate for a while, but Jennifer and I are seriously considering scrapping this version of the site and giving it a major make-over.
