Wordless Wednesday

The Last Bumpdate 38 Weeks, 3 Days

• Size of baby: 8+ lbs.
• Symptoms: Pain. Some contractions. Frightening levels of Amniotic fluid
• Fetal Movement: I can watch my stomach move as she practices her breathing.
• Sleep: Restless,
• Cravings: Burger King
• Best Scariest Moment this Week: Explaining to K what's going to be happening the next couple of days....
• What I Look Forward To: Tomorrow.

This is my last bumpdate ladies and imaginary gentleman (like men read anything, let alone this, pff). I have an induction scheduled for tonight at 8PM PST. I am not going to be having my natural, labor at home, go to the hospital 5 minutes away birth. I will be driving to a much bigger hospital an hour away for my second induction.

Today I had my bi-weekly NST, my weekly AFI and my weekly check in with the doctor. The non-stress test went great! S was back to her active ways. AFI (where they measure amniotic fluid) was not okay. My numbers are up even further, to the 30 range. So the doctor scheduled me for an induction tonight. Yeah. Totally not freaking out or anything- don't worry.

That's total BS. I'm flipping my lid every five seconds. I do not want another induction. I do not like risking a C-Section, and I am not ready to be a mommy of two.

But I'm not the dealer at this card table, I just play the hand that's dealt. So right now roughly 3 hours before I leave for my induction, I'm about to quadruple check my bags, clean my house and try to remember to breathe. I have a post scheduled for later this week, and will hopefully have a new baby to show off come wordless wednesday (and the time and energy to post it). Please keep my little family and our quickly approaching transition in your prayers!!

The Hospital Bag

I have this giant Andy Warhol tote that I adore. It's been perfect as a emergency gym bag, as a day trip bag, beach bag and even a camping bag. But my favorite use for it thus far has been as my Hospital Bag. I used it when K was born, it held my laptop, my lucky pj pants, a going home outfit for me, a pair of Uggs, two going home outfits for K, and her blanket, my shower kit, my hand held breast pump and a bunch of other random things I never used.

I can't even remember now the other stuff I packed. Except for socks and my robe. I bought special socks for this special occasion that matched a special robe that I bought for the special occasion. I packed the super fluffy robe and special socks. I never once took them out or used them. I remember looking at them post birth, while sweating away 15 lbs, wondering why in the hell I'd want to layer up at a time like this. It was also mid December, in the middle of a cold snap.

Funny how those little things are over looked when talking to soon to be moms. No one mentioned to me that I'd be sweating hard enough after birth that one could assume I was practically going through menopause in the Sahara.  

PSA: Hormonal detox is nothing to just skip over ladies. Do your part, and fully inform the next generation of the entire birthing process. Moms don't let new Moms freak out unnecessarily for to long, no matter how funny it is.

Anyways, now with some experience under my belt here's my list. Now bare in mind I'm you're favorite neurotic mama, so realize how hard it is for me to not plan for every contingency, but keep it to simple necessities.

The "Pretty Me" Stuff: 
It's all contained in this pretty green and purple make up bag, because I'm all about organization remember? Going counter clockwise:

• Arbonne Face Kit: Scrub, toner, wash and face lotion
• Tooth Brush & Tooth Paste
• Hair Stuffs: Comb, Bobby Pins, Head Band, Hair Tie, "Clippy"
• Chapstick: EOS brand, lemon flavored. LOVE this stuff, better than crack- not that I would know.
• Jewelry pouch: So I can easily keep track of my rings and necklace! 
• XL-With-Wings-Overnight-Pads: For the trip home, in case this new hospital has crap not worth hijacking. 
• Shower stuffs: Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Deodorant, Loofa and Lotion

The "Dress Me" Stuff:
When packing I've been taught to keep with a consistent color code so it's easier to mix and match as needed. This is basically it, minus one more tank top and a pair of maternity jeans.

• Striped "Lucky" PJ Pants 
• Blue Dress: With K I wore a dress over some yoga pants home. I plan on doing the same with maternity jeans, unless it's exceptionally hot or I have a C-Section.
• 4 Tank Tops: 2 with built in bras, and 2 thicker ones to throw on in case of company. Don't want to put an eye out.
• XL Panties: For going home. Nuff said.
• Socks: Because this time, I very well may change my mind. 
• Not pictured: A sweater and shoes! I'll hopefully be wearing some slip ons when I go in, in case they're to tight or ruined (ick amniotic fluid) I'll have a pair of flip flops packed, and if I'm as swollen as I was last time, I always have the option of sending someone to my home for slippers! Basically the same applies for a sweater. 

The "K2" Stuff:  First, I know that is not a real boppy, but it's the same concept, except more comfortable, I love it. Second, no that is not going int the bag, obviously it will not fit. 

•  S's going home outfit(s) One in newborn and one in preemie sizes. K came home swimming in a newborn outfit, we had to go out the next day and buy her some clothes to wear for those first two weeks! Also included are Hats and Booties
• "Boppy"
• Formula some people will tell you to not even let formula into your house if you plan on breast feeding. To each their own. But based on my decision and my experience, I rather have it on hand. With K she lost so much weight the first few days that they simply stuck a bottle in her mouth without asking, if S is going to be bottle fed I rather start her off with the exact bottle and formula I wish to use, rather then having to adjust her to it a few days later.
• Not shown: Blanket, Car Seat, Bottle. Blanket and car seat are to be kept in the car until time to go. Bottle isn't in there because, well, I haven't bought any yet! 

The "Last Minute" Stuff: Basically the stuff I use to consistently to pack away already. There's no picture because I'm using it. Some of it as we speak!

• Laptop & Charger
• Phone Charger 

Along with these things I'll have a towel and a trash bag set out next to my bag just in case my water breaks and I end up having some one random driving me to the hospital. I may put a spare dress with that stuff too, so I can change into something dry before the drive.

Well there you have it folks, my hospital bag. Want to know the best part? It all fits very nicely with plenty of space to spare. Space that is perfect for stealing all those hospital goodies you hear about.

Tell me, what's in your bag? And what do you plan on leaving room for?

Oh and this just in now you can Follow my blog with Bloglovin!

Little Less List-less

About a week and a half ago, I checked in with a neurotic list of lists that I still had yet to make (and then of course accomplish) for S's imminent arrival. I've been working on the lists themselves, and accomplishing them but still feeling incredibly inefficient! So I'm returning to my original list of lists to do a sort of inventory on my accomplishments in the past ten days (ten? Already??):

• Hospital Bag Checklist- List is finished, bag is almost packed. All that's left to do is put everything in the car, and have what needs to be grabbed last minute in an orderly area.
• K's Overnight Bag Checklist- The list has been made, but the packing has yet to be accomplished. This weekend I plan on cleaning the bag, and packing up the appropriate items, then printing the clothing list and keeping it by her bedroom door so I can toss it together last minute if need be. Grandpa will also have a copy of the list along with a copy of the house keys so he can toss it together if push comes to shove. For simplicities sake I need to organize the drawer into outfits so no one has to do much thinking when the time comes. Just grab and go.
• Diaper Bag Checklist- Another one where the list has been made, but the bag has yet to be packed. But seeing as I won't have my dream bag in my hands until the second of June, I can totally blame this lack of advancement on that. 
• Things That Still Need to be Washed Checklist- Another one that I can't really accomplish until after the baby shower. Everything that can be washed though, has by now.
• Important Paperwork Checklist- Basically this was just Emergency Care Authorizations and copies of insurance information for all of K's possible sitters for the next couple of months.
• Bill Pay Checklist- Knowing my luck I'll go into labor on the second, and all my bills are due on the third. Just in case I can't pay them myself, I've written down all the explicit instructions, pins and pass codes to my bill pay information and handed them over to my father. Now as long as I don't go into labor on the 3rd, we should be alright. If I do, I think I'll pay my bills before going to the hospital....
• Important Purchases Before S Comes Checklist- The list is made (and ever changing) and slowly being accomplished.
• Important Things to do Before S Comes Checklist- Another list that is ever changing, but made and being accomplished, the majority of what's left will be accomplished this weekend in fact! 

When I review this, I realize that really I've done basically all I can do for now. Which explains why I'm so obsessed with what I'm currently unable to do, like purchasing a car seat.

Yes, despite all my planning I do not have a car seat. I planned on reusing K's infant carrier, but being the worrier that I am, I went ahead and checked for recalls and yes, it had in fact been recalled. Of course I didn't check until half way through this month when immediately replacing it was financially impossible. I decided I'd use the time between checks to thoroughly research which car seat would be best for us, and I really think I found the perfect one. But I can't justify spending that much on a car seat!

So instead I began plotting how to replace the previous carrier in an affordable fashion and I came down to 2 courses of action. I could wait until Babies R Us had their semi annual trade in event, where I could use the old carrier to get 25% off the new one (and simultaneously get rid of the old one!), I could wait until after my baby shower, and then return all of the excess for store credit to use on the carrier.

Unfortunately both plans contain my Kryptonite: Waiting. When you look over my list of lists (and the lists with in it) you may notice that half of them involve some amount of waiting still. A lot of things are dependent on my baby shower being over, and as my baby shower is only a few days before my newest due date*, that leaves me with very little time to get quite a bit done. So, yeah I'm stressed!

I had been combing Craigslist in the even that I would come across a carrier that I liked better, for a better price. Then it just became about a better price, because the peace of mind of having one now is well worth not getting exactly what I want. And I'm happy to say I found one! I found a great one, for a great price. I've been emailing the owner and at this point the only concern is if it's expired. The brand's website says their carriers expire five years after the date manufactured. The owner was surprised that they do expire, and doesn't remember what year she bought it, both of which aren't particularly positive signs. She said she'll check and let me know.  So again I wait.

Seems like lately I can't catch a break!

K's Overnight Bag

K will be away from me for 2 whole nights minimum when S is born. She'll be spending the time at her Grandpa's but, being the Nervous Nelly that I am, I've planned for the possibility that it may be up to 5 nights.

If it does come to that, K may not be able to spend the whole time with her Grandpa (well the man has a job and life of his own!) and may have to go spend time with one of her Grandmas or Aunties. So there are actually 6 copies of the Emergency Care Authorizations, 6 copies of the Basic Care Instructions, and 6 copies of her insurance/medical information. Neurotic? Possibly. Strangely Calming? Certainly.

The Overnight Bag
    To Pack Ahead of Time:

• Bath Stuff Bodywash/shampoo, wash cloth, towel, detangler, spare comb, spare nail clippers, lotion, Q-tips.
  
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Jacket
• Socks
• 4 Shirts, 2 pairs of pants.
• PJs 
• Copies of Emergency Care Authorizations.

     To Add Last Minute:

• Sound Machine
• Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste
• Medications, Tylenol. 
• Basic Care Instructions. 

List-less

I'm so busy tonight, so overwhelmed. My brother is visiting so we spent the evening with him, then came home and Miss K went to bed and I began to nest. Except I'm on limited bed rest technically so most the nesting was done on the computer. I typed up the emergency care authorization forms and baby sitter instructions for Miss K when I'm in labor with Miss S. Then I checked on the status of our infant carrier, something I have been dreading. And yes, it has expired. So after much research I added a new one to my registry and am now anxiously awaiting BRU's next safety trade in special.

To wrap the whole night up I made a list of the lists I still need to make:

• Hospital Bag Checklist
• K's Overnight Bag Checklist
• Diaper Bag Checklist
• Things That Still Need to be Washed Checklist
• Important Paperwork Checklist
• Bill Pay Checklist
• Important Purchases Before S Comes Checklist
• Important Things to do Before S Comes Checklist

And I'm probably forgetting something. Oh well. I'll link up to those lists once I've finished making them, and posting about them! Until then this Mama of 1.5 needs some sleep!