Hello Friends,

Jude is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He’s shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Jude swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement. At the end of this week, Jude will be considered full-term.

I am UNCOMFORTABLE. He is still moving like crazy despite the fact that he’s huge, often making me quite uncomfortable, have difficulty breathing and eating, and sometimes even having difficulty sitting upright. Yesterday I could not sit at all and spent the day laying down on the couch or bed. Lucky for me it was not a work day! I have been taking advantage of my weekend by sleeping for a large portion of it. I am ready for him to come. Now. I am vacillating between wanting to be done with it all and amazed that it is coming so soon, this duel parenting thing. Three weeks at the most. That is amazing.

On Thursday I had a shower at work. It was quite surprising to me the amount of work that people were willing to put into gifts for the baby. I knew there was a big gift coming, that’s what they do, but my principal knitted a blanket, our secretary crocheted a blanket, and a quilting crew made a lovely quilt for the baby. They have been busy little bees! Plus, the whole staff went in together and bought a jogger so that I can get back on the track to walk and lose more weight. They didn’t say that, but I was thinking it! The generosity was unbelievable and I just felt so loved!!!

By Friday night, we were a tuckered out family! I had to stay late at work every night, for DI, then the shower, then to make props with my kids for the assembly my class is putting on for the school tomorrow (Monday). Yes, my plate has been full! Bradley didn’t feel like cooking dinner so we decided to go out to eat. Gigi’s vote was for ‘that place where you can serve yourself’. We scratched our heads then realized that she was talking about the Old Country Buffet. Apparently her favorite restaurant! We had a good laugh at that and made a date to go there with Grandma and Grandpa Kobs the next morning. For some reason, she just loves that place. However, I remember loving it there when I was a kid too. In fact, i went there for my 12th birthday I think. Man, was I looking forward to that night! We never went there as a family. Then when I got there, I understood why we didn’t go there. The food stunk!

Bradley spent Wednesday putting the nursery together. I came home to find it all complete (except the wall artwork which he is creating). The rug in place, crib put together, mobile up, shelves in… I started crying. It was just wonderful to know that we are a go in every aspect this time. When we were expecting Gigi we were remodeling the whole house and the nursery wasn’t a priority. This time it is wonderful to see this room all ready for the baby, and all done. Gigi is loving to play baby with the baby’s toys and crib. It is nice to have it all set up so she can have the environment for a little while before new baby arrives and takes it over.

A bit of sad news this week. Last year I did the Relay for Life with my friend Beth in honor of her mother who died of cancer a few years ago. While there we ran into an old friend, Mike McGourty whose wife, Christine (formerly Lamb) had just been diagnosed with a rare cancer. Sadly she passed away on February 4th leaving behind her two boys and husband. This has been stuck in my head all week and just fills me with sadness for their family. I hate that this happened to them. I am so thankful for my life and family. I am so blessed.

So now all I have to do before my leave starts is report cards. Almost there, data is collected, but I really need to get on those and have them finished early… Just in case. I don’t want to be doing them from my hospital bed!

Have a wonderful week!
Tamara


Comments are closed.