The Last Three Months

This was the last ultrasound of baby Adeline, taken about 9 weeks ago. It seems like so long ago that we got to sneak a peek of her! And to think that we get to see her in person next week has the butterflies all a stir again. Seven days to go! April 27 (at high noon) is D-day.

I do have gestational thrombocytopenia (a blood disorder causing low platelets) again, but it doesn't appear to be as severe this time. My platelet count actually went up by 6K over the last two weeks, which is excellent news! My carpal tunnel syndrome has continued to worsen, no doubt exaggerated by swelling in my hands and arms. The tips of my middle fingers are constantly numb and I have almost constant pain in my arms that feels like my they are submerged in ice water. At times when I stretch an arm out or grasp something quickly I have sharp or "electrical shock" pains that shoot through my arms and hands. Otherwise things are going well. The other concerns the doctors had were dismissed when the last ultrasound showed things had developed in our favor.

38 weeks

In reality the last three months have gone by quickly. It really is inevitable when there's so much to do. While I can't wait to hold our newest baby in my arms and am totally over being pregnant at this stage, I also wish I had a couple extra free days to just get things done. Boys are due for dental and well-child exams, and if we could just get a little farther ahead with school work that would be great. I've given up the hope of getting my hair cut before the hospital stay. Warm weather projects are also beginning to line up. Yesterday Eli picked up a pair of clothesline poles so I'll be able to hang clothes out this summer!

We have gotten quite a bit done despite the flying clock hands. In February we had a tree cut down, so over the last couple months we've been working on splitting and stacking all the wood from it. The boys have been huge helps with this.

We also decided to finally say good-bye to our fish after eight years. The tank and all four fish are now happily living with a family who have three little girls to help take care of them.

The wall where the fish tank was has become a collecting area for Adeline's stuff. Eventually I'd like to put another bookcase there. (Eli doesn't know this yet!)

In March Ian was officially potty trained! It took two days of sticking to no diapers. That was it. I can't believe how incredibly easy it was and wish I had pushed it harder sooner. This is the first time in 10 years I've had no one in diapers during the day!

I finally got the old blinds taken down in the bathroom. I wanted to be able to see out the window and open it in the summer while retaining privacy. I used frosty window cling on the bottom sash for privacy while the top sash lets in light and can be pulled down in the summer to let in the breeze. (Thankfully the house right behind us has not been lived in since we've lived here.) I looked for curtains that fit and matched the bathroom decor for months with no success. I finally bought the same shower curtain we have hanging over the shower and cut it in half to make two panels. I then hemmed the raw sides and sewed a pocket at the top for the curtain rod. I'm happy how it turned out!

One of the biggest milestones this year is Gavin receiving his First Holy Communion. He had been excitedly awaiting the day for many months. While I didn't get all the photos I was hoping to, I did snap a few before and after. I'll have to get better ones from my Dad later.

We got the garden ready this week and six rows of onions planted! The boys helped pick rocks, broken glass, and metal trash out of the soil as Eli worked it up. There's so much more I want to do...I just can't right now. I just stare at all the places I want to dig up and plant flowers. We'll get there. It's just going to take some time.

With only a week left before the newborn days are upon us again, I feel fairly confident we're ready. I got all the baby girl clothes washed, folded, and tucked into her dresser drawers several weeks ago.

My nesting has not been too bad. The worst impulse I've had was a slight panic to get Adeline's room cleaned out and put together. It's irrational considering she won't use the room for probably quite some time. It has been used as storage and a dark room for Eli to sleep in when he's on overnights. This is the room before.

And after the nesting passed:

Since this photo, the pile of blankets sitting on the butterfly chair in the corner has been moved into the cedar chest. (No project is ever totally finished, right?)

It's not even close to being done, but at least it's not such a cluttered mess. Only the clothes totes remain along one wall. Eli hung up shelves in the attic room allowing me to move most of the totes into the space that was actually intended for storage.

I can't help but feel anxious as the time ticks away till this baby's birth. It occasionally crosses my mind that we may be in for the surprise of our lives...there may have been a major mistake and baby is actually a boy. Or, baby may have health issues that need special care. I refused the tests that are supposed to determine such things early. Either way, we will love this baby with all our hearts, and pray that we be the parents this little soul needs. Lastly, all sorts of things may happen during c-sections, especially this being the 5th. Please pray for me!