2/26/09 Ultrasound Appointment

He's a cookin'! Weighing in at 5lbs and 5oz, baby boy Ploff is falling into the 55th percentile. He's in the head-down ready position, but shows no signs of wanting to make an early appearance. The Placenta has finally moved away from the Cervix, so were good to go!

Our ultrasound technician told us that it's policy for no video to be taken while she does her thing. It's funny how we've been to the exact same office several times before and were not told this! So because of our meanie technician, all I have for you is a couple pictures. Enjoy!

One Class Down, Two to Go!

This morning was our first childbirth class and with pillows and blankets in arm, we were ready to go. Our class is being held in a conference room at a building near the hospital. The room was large and very overheated. I always wonder why they make places where pregnant women are going to be so hot.

Our instructor introduced herself and we began to learn about the female body and all of the changes that it is going through. She showed us posters of what our bodies looked like before we were pregnant, and then what they will look like at full term. It is amazing that there is so much room in there! We were treated to a video of a birth where the mother had no medication. She was surprisingly calm and collected despite the fact that she was pushing something out that was the size of a watermelon. I can't say that it inspired me to go natural, but it did make me think that I should be able to handle the pain for awhile.....I may take this back when I am actually in labor!

After our discussions and videos, we took our pillows and blankets and settled on the floor for some relaxation exercises. Our instructor showed us how to relieve lower back pain and had our partners help us as well. She also had us listen to a relaxation tape that was supposed to help us relax our entire bodies. Of course, the entire time I was just thinking that it wasn't comfortable to lay on the hard floor and that my leg was falling asleep. I have to get better at relaxing....it must run in the family!

I was unaware that we would have homework in our class. As a teacher I take this very seriously and will make sure that Leigh follows through with his assignments. For next week, we should have our bag packed for the hospital, and the husband's were told that they must take their wives out to dinner somewhere with a table cloth once a week, take us out to lunch for the next three Saturdays, and buy us jewels after the baby is born. This is homework that I can stand behind! We will see what she assigns us for the next week.

Busy Busy Busy

Who would have thought that the impending arrival of a tiny baby could involve so much preparation! We are t-minus 53 days (give or take a day or two) and counting and still have so much to do!

• We still must find a pediatrician whom we trust to help us make the right health-related decisions and guide us through our baby boy's development. We now have some referrals from the OB, so we just need to make some appointments to do some interviews.
• We continue to look for acceptable childcare for when Miri goes back to work in the fall. This is tough on many levels. We first must find a place we feel comfortable having watch over our baby boy for 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. Secondly, we will have to go on a waiting list and hope/pray a spot becomes available by the time we need it. Thirdly, we need to figure out how we can incur a new monthly expense that amounts to basically paying a second mortgage. In other words, the right childcare is very difficult to find in this area.
• We have to find a mohle for the bris. I (Leigh, obviously) just got some chills. Repressed memory perhaps?
• Beginning on Saturday (2/21) and including the following 2 Saturdays, we will be attending our childbirth classes at the hospital. I think we are actually both looking forward to these classes, as it makes us feel as though we are getting closer to the big day!
• On February 26th, we have another ultrasound appointment, so hopefully I'll have some 4-D video of our baby boy to post on the blog.
• The weekend of 3/7, I hope to move everything out of what currently is the guest room so that I can paint the nursery. As most of you have seen, we have decided on a pale yellow color aptly named "Cuddle".
• On 3/14 we have an appointment to have our carseat installed by the County/Fire Department into the Murano. Boy won't that be weird to look in the rear view mirror and see a carseat?
• On 3/15, I (Leigh) will be taking an Infant CPR class at the hospital in the morning, and we (Miri and Leigh) have our Maternity Floor tour at the hospital in the afternoon.

So there you have it. We have much to do. Did I say 53 days and counting? Yikes!