One Last Hurrah!

So, I figure things could happen any day now, and one final thing that I really wanted to do before baby #2 arrives is go to the ocean for a day and really be able to play with Kaden before I'm kind of occupied with a newborn. It was roasty toasty today, so we loaded up and just drove about an hour away to the nearest beach in Jersey - Ocean Grove. Oh my - it was so very glorious! We swam, we caught sand crabs, we ate outside at a little sandwich shop, and - in the words of Kaden, it was just "super fun!" I was a good girl and rested for awhile on a blanket while Kev and Kaden played, and now I plan to be good for the rest of the night. My blood pressure is up a wee bit because of our day.....but mister man....it was worth it! From here on out, though, I do solemnly swear to be obedient to the orders of my midwife.

Here's the Deal-io...

So, I'm 38 weeks on Sunday - the time where I was induced with Kaden three years ago, and my body seems to REALLY be wanting to repeat that same scenario. However, this girl is fighting it! All of my tests are right in the elevated zone - just a smidgen below the "danger" zone. As long as I can keep squeaking by, my midwives are fine to let my body just go. I'm on "modified" bed rest - laying down on my left side one hour in the morning, one hour in the afternoon, and then anytime that I am resting - (What? When does that take place during the day?). I need to take my blood pressure three times as day, as well. As long as I can keep it in a certain range - I'm golden. As soon as it goes ABOVE a certain range - to the hospital I go to be induced. So....it's kind of a day by day induction wait! Good times.

Only Three More Days Until......

Well, I had my 36 week appointment yesterday. This is about the time when I was pregnant with Kaden when all you-know-what broke loose with my preclampia (or however you spell that dumb word). Anyway, I'll be 37 weeks on Sunday, and my midwife says that anytime after that, she is fine should I deliver. At this appointment yesterday, first the first time ever in this pregnancy, my blood pressure was elevated. Not in the danger zone yet, but not where she wants it, either. So, we're going to watch it for a week and see what happens. It's a bit frustrating because I feel like I've done everything I could with this pregnancy to do what's right - including drinking a VERY pricey supplement that supposedly helps most women. However, she said that some women are just predisposed to this condition, no matter what. So, if you would, please pray that all stays okay until the end. I would truly love to be able to let my body go completely naturally this time and not have to be induced with all that junk. I would really love to be able to stay home for a long time this time, too, but the Lord knows, and either way we'll have our baby soon - and his or her health is what is most important. So, I'm just trying to be positive and content.

In three more days, I plan to run a marathon and get this show on the road! Just kidding....kinda.

Funny Story.....Kinda'

For those of you who know us, you know that we do not drink. We actually don't have issues with it, we just have not chosen to partake ourselves for various reasons......until yesterday......by complete accident!

Kev and Kaden took me to Olive Garden for Mother's Day, and at the conclusion of our meal, we decided to get the yummy "Frozen Tiramisu" which was available with or without "spirits." When our waitress came by, Kev asked her if it tasted the same either way, and she said, "Oh yes, some people just like it with the alcohol, but it tastes exactly the same." Thinking she would understand that we wanted a non-alcoholic version, seeing an OBVIOUSLY pregnant wife and three year old little boy, Kev merely said, "O.k., we'll all split one to go."

Well, somehow there was a breakdown in communication, and here is where it happened. The waitress said, "Oh, we're really not supposed to make them to go." (Because they don't want people drinking and driving, I guess). I was thinking of how it would be much easier to just drink it in the restaurant anyway, so I simply said, "Oh, that's fine. We'll just drink it here." A couple of minutes later she brings us our bill AND the drink in a to go cup with a parting comment, "I just put it in a to go cup anyway, even though I wasn't supposed to."

THAT should have clued us in. But, nope, the naive Bookers sat happily in the middle of the restaurant sucking back on our yummy alcoholic Tiramisu. At first Kaden kept saying, "Oh! This is a yummy special treat!" But, the further he got to the bottom, he began saying, "OOOh! I don't like this - it's toooo strong!" I agreed with him and said that I didn't particularly like the flavor either, so we let Kev finish off the last little bit.

On our way out to the car, as we got to thinking about it, Kev said, "You know, I'm just going to run back inside to check with her and make sure that she made it without alcohol." Sure enough - she made it the regular way! Kev assured her it wasn't really a big deal, but he just wanted to know because his 8 month pregnant wife and three old little boy drank just as much as he did! She was horrified and felt so bad! We just about died laughing. No big deal really, but not the ideal after dinner treat for a prego and a little boy! Goodness knows, he's already been introduced to coffee and is addicted at a VERY young age - he needs no other vice! :0)

Well, what can I say? Hey - if we're going to try alcohol for the first time we might as well make it a family occasion! Good grief! Only us........

Home Again

Oh man - what an awesome time we had on our little family camping trip! I don't think I've EVER had a more relaxing family vacation. We went with some dear friends who have a new baby, Kaden doesn't remember the last time he's been camping, and I am eight months pregnant, so we really had NO expectations for how this trip would go. We all just wanted a little R & R in God's creation away from the buses, trains, airplanes, yelling, and occasional gun shots!! And man oh man - did we ever get it!

Aside from it getting down below freezing our first night there, we could not have asked for better weather. The men caught fish, Kaden caught bugs, peed in the woods, played in the water, slept in a tent, had an awesome third birthday party, stayed up late, got to eat icecream, and had Mommy and Daddy's undivided attention for three days. He was in his element!

Hubby literally did ALL of the setup and take down work. The only things that I did the entire time that could even remotely be classified as work was wash the dishes on two different occasions. Other than that, I vegged, soaked in the sun, played with Kaden, visited with my friend, filled my face, and just relaxed to the MAX!!!

It was a glorious, fabulous, wonderful, last hurrah before the arrival of sweet baby #2! SUCH a fun family vacation, and a much needed step away from the hubbub of life! Now for the joy of the unpacking and cleanup....

It's That Time of Year Again!

Oh yes, my friends! It is the week-end of Graduation when all of the college kids throw away their treasures. You would not believe the stash of things that we poor married's find when we go dumpster diving! No kidding. Take tonight for example.....For myself, we found some cool clothes, a cute purse, a Gap bag, tons of unopened food, some UGG shoes!, jewelry, paper goods, and tons of unopened candy! Kev found the greatest treasures, though. He found a three CD disc changer, a DVD player, a toaster oven, and two flashlights, among other odds and ends. And this is only the beginning! Tomorrow is Graduation and everyone has to have their dorms completely emptied. So, do you know what these kids do? Rather than take these things home with them - they simply throw them away! Ahhh - got to get some good sleep tonight. This eight month prego is going Dumpster Diving in the morning! Let the good times roll!

35 Weeks and All is Well!

I had my 35 week checkup today. Good times! We're going camping for three nights this coming week with some friends up in the Poconos. I was a little worried about what my midwife might say, but she said everything looks great, so we are off to conquer from Sunday until Wednesday! Yay! We're going to celebrate Kaden's birthday early, just in case baby #2 should come at the end of May. I don't want his big day overlooked. So, he is totally pumped to sleep in a tent, go fishing, have campfires, and unwrap his presents at a campsite! Fun times! And should anything crazy happen, I have full faith that between Kev and my friends - they will do just fine delivering in the great outdoors!!!....On the other hand, they don't seem so sure......:0)