Hospital Bag.... ding ding round 2

I made a hospital bag list last time when I had Henry and I was interested to see what I had actually packed because I know I didn't need a lot of it and there were a few things I wish I had brought with me that I will bring along this time. This is what I have in my bag so far

Momma's bag-( just my medium size vera bradley weekender duffle bag)

• my own pillows (last time I only brought one, not enough.)
• a comfy outfit to go home in- probably leggings and a shirt of some maternity shirt/ hoodie
• a comfy sleep nursing bra
• a few nursing cami's. I lived in these and robes last time in the hospital. Easy access to breastfeed and I felt I still looked decent.
• my two thin t-shirt material robes to go over nursing cami's for visitors. My maternity jammie sets shrunk in the wash after last go around so I cant wear the pants because they look ridiculous like high waters and the tanks were horrible. DO NOT BUY THE CUTE MATERNITY SET. Get some comfy PJ pants, nursing tanks and a robe of your own.
• a few pairs of maternity lounge pants.
• a zip up sweatshirt- (in case I get cold) to go over nursing cami's during the day when visitors come, I'd like to look a little more put together.
• my makeup- yes I want to at least look okay if I feel like crap, there will be lots of pictures and visitors so sue me. I'm glad I brought it last time and I'll be glad I brought it again, pictures people, lots of pictures. And visitors.
• my hair dryer- same as above.
• toiletries (I packed shampoo, conditioner, body wash, a new small loofa, face wash, tooth paste and tooth brush, chapstick BIG TIME IMPORTANT on the chapstick).
• hard candies- to suck on in labor when I'm NPO (nothing by mouth).
• soft fuzzy socks with grippy bottoms.
• flip flops- for the shower or walking around my room.
• a few walmart sacks-for dirty clothing.
• Insurance card
• photo ID
• An extension cord! Last time my phone charger wouldn't reach from the wall to my bed which was annoying because I was setting my alarm to get up to nurse my sleepy baby and trying to text people who wanted to visit and take pictures and play on it when I was in labor and couldn't move.

Baby' stuff (which will all go in my bag)

• a going home outfit or two (so I can change my mind or in case she doesn't fit in the one I had planned).
• a few pairs of scratch mittens.
• a cute hat or two and some headbands
• car seat.
• a blanket to go over him in his carseat.

Daddy's stuff

• snacks, yes this is first important for him (things like granola bars, snack mix bags, a few small bags of chips, gum, candy).  He thanked me last time and I thanked myself when my hospital food wasn't great.
• a few pairs of lounge pants.
• a few t-shirts.
• a few pairs of underwear.
• a sweatshirt.
• some socks.
• some jeans and some shirts for going home or daytime wear.
• a toiletry bag (I packed him shampoo, conditioner, face wash, disposable razor, toothbrush/paste) Just in case he decides to shower at the hospital and not go home.
• flip flops to wear around and take off easily.
• pillow and blanket for his poor sleep chair.

Tech bag (just my camera bag)

• Camera.
• Battery charger.
• video camera- no I will not video tape the birth, just maybe little snippets of her first days and visitors.
• cell phones.
• cell phone chargers.
• maybe our laptop and charger in case Taylor gets bored.

And this time all of this fits in my bag. I made sure to do that on purpose. The only things that wont fit are my camera bag and our bedding, the rest is all packed in there tight. I did put an Ikea bag in the back of my car to carry extra stuff out and the gift for Henry to get from his baby sister when he meets her for the first time.

The things I did not need...

•  many nursing bras (I only wore one on the way home from the hospital that's it),
• expensive maternity PJ set- see above
• underwear of any kind (wear the awesome mesh granny panties they give you at the hospital, ask for a pack to take home too. They're sexy!
• baby socks (his feet were just fine swaddled up)
• extra memory card for my camera (one was plenty who was I kidding)
• any other baby clothes (they wear the little white shirt and diaper for easy skin to skin time and nursing and that's just fine). I did keep cute hats/ headbands in my list because that's fun.
• your own blankets, baby items like diapers, wipes, bulb syringe, diaper bag etc. The hospital provides all of that. I knew that and didn't pack it anyway but it's important for some to know that wouldn't already.
• too much clothing for you or daddy. You will only be there for 2-3 days, don't pack for a month.
• drinks, I put several in the snack bag for Taylor but he got cold ones from the vending machines and the cafeteria and the nurses instead. No need for our own warm ones.

38 weeks

How far along? 38 weeks, the size of a watermelon. Yep that about sums it up.

Total weight gain:  23 pounds now. Still not swollen at all which is incredible considering today I am 39 weeks.

Maternity clothes? Comfy anything.

Sleep: I still am not sleeping great. I've got some insomnia even though I am physically exhausted. I just lay awake and think about things and unfortunately my anxiety is really high and I'm emotional so that's not condusive to sleep. Once I fall asleep, I'm usually good for several hours until I have to pee and I suprisingly can nap daily still.

Best moment this week: Getting to see my doctor and discuss our sono results and getting the go ahead to get this baby out.

Miss Anything? Sleeping and moving like normal. I'm ready to get my body back.

Movement: Just lots of squirming and wiggling but not much rolling anymore. I think she continues to scoot further and further down.

Food cravings: ICE and peach slushies from sonic. Sushi.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing :)

Gender: GIRL

Symptoms: Braxton hicks and pelvic pressure/ pain. Some cramping and back ache intermittently.

Belly Button in or out? flat, completely. It's weird.
Wedding rings on or off? still on! Even on nights I'm swollen at work I can put it on in the morning when I leave.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Emotional.
Looking forward to:
HAVING THIS BABY!!! I met with my doctor on wednesday and we talked in depth about my growth scan from last week vs. the one at 32 weeks. She mapped it out on a growth curve to show me that she probably is not quite as big as they are saying she was last week. My doctor doesn't think she was 9lbs 4oz then, more like high 8's but pushing 9lbs now. She can't do anything to help me until I hit 39 weeks which is today so we agreed the risk of a c-section because of an induction is probably far less than the risk of a c-section because baby is too big for me to get out. I told my doctor that I trust her 100% and that I am ready to have this baby but she can make the call. She and I both agreed that a slow patient induction with no rash decisions would be best. She wants to make sure I can get her out without going to the OR and I appreciate that. So.... I am going in tomorrow night to be induced. Woo! Come on baby Eleanor.

What we did this week:
We had a great weekend, on Sunday we wanted to spoil Henry and make him feel special since we didn't know when little girl was going to show up. We took him to get his hair cut which is so stinkin' cute. Then we took him to Fritz's for lunch and he could not stop watching the trains long enough to take some bites of food. We literally had to feed him all of it because he was so distracted and in awe. It was so cute. Then we went home and let him nap and took him to the aquarium. He loved watching the "shish" and "sharks". We took him to my parents to say hi on the way home too and I started having contractions on the way home every 2 minutes or so. I started counting and tracking them and they went from 4:30pm-midnight every 1.5-5 minutes and were starting to get stronger. I went home, showered, got things ready just in case, bounced on my birth ball, changed positions, drank a ton of water and they didn't slow down until I went to bed. I had a couple of bad ones that woke me up but nothing consistent. I've had them quite a bit through the week but nothing consistent unless I was working. She has made it clear she's not going to come unless we force her out. So force her out we will. One more day little girl, one more day.

 

 I caught my shadow in the fountain and started laughing at how big my belly looks.

 Cora the freak dog was by my side all day sunday. She slept by my side the entire night saturday night while her cozy bed is on Taylor's side. She has literally never done that before. She was acting super weird and being super clingy to me. I had heard dogs can sense changes from storms and from babies coming too and I was hoping I was going to go into labor, that is the night I had all the contractions. Look at her watching my belly.

 and this was the next day. Freak dog.

 sleeping by my side again.

 Henry on the left, Eleanor on the right.

32 weeks

How far along? 32 weeks, baby is the size of a jicama (which is apparently about 3.75lbs....Eleanor however is apparently much larger, read further).

Total weight gain: 16 lbs still.

Maternity clothes? whatever fits, comfy is the name of my game lately. Think leggings, yoga pants, t-shirts.

Sleep: Sleeping well when I crash and having to pee every 2-3 hours so I get interrupted but luckily I am able to nap anytime Henry does still so that's good. I did take a 5 hour nap on thursday while Henry was at kid's day out that I think would more appropriately be called a mini- coma. I didn't move let alone get up to pee and I had sheet crease marks all over me that were so deep they could be seen from space. God bless kid's day out.

Best moment this week: Sonograms!

Miss Anything? being able to move like I used to.

Movement: Still a ton, she rolls all over and I think she is realizing she is out of room.

Food cravings: Cereal, Peanut butter or any nut butter and pickles but most importantly, buffalo chicken dip which I made today just to satisfy myself and the babe. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing :)

Gender: GIRL

Symptoms: my pelvis and hips are super sore and my lower back too. I can tell things are getting ready for this babe.I have had a hard time lugging Henry around lately and wrestling him into his high chair and carseat. Lots of warm bubble baths for this momma lately.

Belly Button in or out? pretty flat
Wedding rings on or off? on. :)
Happy or Moody most of the time: Eh, pretty moody. I had a rough tue and wed, read further.
Looking forward to:
Taylor coming home from his business trip. He was gone all week.

What we did this week:
Saturday we went back to Peep's babies and bears to have our second 3-D sono of the package we bought when we did our gender sono. Cindy the sonographer/ owner is just so wonderful. She takes her time and lets us play with the baby by rubbing and pressing on my belly and talking to her to watch her reaction. We have all of the scan on DVD again and pictures too. Baby doll looks more like me this time than Taylor, she has big full cheeks and wasn't as grumpy looking as Henry always was. She has a ton of hair apparently too which was super exciting. 

Monday I worked, Tuesday we got ice and snow enough to close highways and Taylor didn't want me driving myself so had to cancel our sono appointment with my doctor to check Eleanor's growth and this little spot on her heart they saw at her 20 week scan. I was super bummed about not getting to have Taylor go with me because they rescheduled me to match my OB appt the following day. I had to drag Henry in and he was so good through the whole OB appt and then we had to wait for 2 hours for our sono (luckily I'm smart and brought him a full lunch to eat just in case we got held up). I was furious because I was already worried we were going to be driving home right at nap time and he would fall asleep in the car, wake up when we got home and not nap again which meant I wouldn't get a nap before my shift that night. Once they finally saw us, they went so fast that I barely got to see her at all and had to ask to see her little face. Normally they go slower, measure everything very thoroughly and explain everything they look at. And I always got 3-D pictures of Henry's face even when I went in for quick BPP scans each week at the end of my pregnancy with Henry. I was furious they rescheduled me if they didn't have time to see me, I would've come back a different day if I had known. I was mad they were making Henry late for nap, they rushed me, I don't feel like they looked at her very carefully (though they did mention she has tons of hair). They estimated her weight to be 5lbs 7oz. HOLY $h!t!!!!!! Average weight for a 32 weeker is 3.75lbs. I'm waiting to hear from my doctor to see if she feels that is right or is concerned. That is the size of a full term baby, a smaller one, but still a full term one. I had 8 weeks to go when they said that. WHAT ON EARTH!? I scheduled the rest of my appointments until my due date (which was only 5 more times). She is going to be here before we know it. 

That really got me into gear though, Taylor was out of town this week for a business trip and I had lots of time during naps and after Henry goes to bed to work on the slip cover for the chair. I have been taking pictures and will do a tutorial later on what I did. This project is much more difficult than I originally had anticipated. It's like a 3-D puzzle you have to do inside out and not screw it up. I really have to use my brain power to figure out where to pin and cut things to make it all work. I hope it turns out but I must admit, so far it looks pretty decent. I've got some time to finish but I just want it done so it's ready for whenever she shows up.  

Here is a comparison of Henry on the left and Eleanor on the right. I weighed 10 lbs more with Eleanor at this point in my pregnancy and she apparently weighs 11oz more and yet I feel like I look so much smaller. Which is good!