So we managed to de-fur our room. We kicked the cats out and they weren’t too happy. All night long they scratched at the door. We’re gonna try to buy them a cat condo of sorts as a bribe, it probably won’t work, but it’s worth a shot.

My belly is growing and I can’t find a comfortable position, but I’m in the final countdown and that’s exciting and scary all in one. Peter is really helping me out and I do appreciate his help. Currently we are just trying to get the house ready for Peli….they call it the nesting period. Hahhaha.

In other news, our friends are throwing us a shower this weekend and we’ll watch the Saints win the Superbowl (crossing fingers). I always said if the Saints made it to the Superbowl I’d fly home to watch the game, well I can’t fly anywhere right now. Oh well…

I’m finishing up my website updates, application for a PHD program and some freelance this week. Oh and trying to get stuff squared away at work. Seems like everyone is quitting all at once. It’s like a mass exodus, but I’m still there, until baby Peli decides to introduce herself to the world.

So I’ve been a little slow updating the blog.

The Saints are in the Superbowl, one of my goals before I die has been met. Woo Hoo….Peter says I better not go into labor during the Superbowl…hahahha.

This week has been more manageable. I’ve figured out how to reduce my back pain. My weekly doctor’s visit brought up some interesting things. Apparently I have a heart shaped uterus, but it’s only a dip and shouldn’t be an issue. But reading online didn’t bring up anything reassuring about it, but my doc says I’m fine so I’m ignoring everything I read online. Although one thing to note less than .1% of the population has this issue. Also, at the doc’s office Peli’s heart rate was low so I had to go and do a non stress test, NST. She was fine, apparently I have an “aggravated uterus” whatever that means and I’m having practice contractions all the time, so they took her heart rate while one of the contractions was happening. The doc said, “Wow you have an active baby.” This is the fourth time I’m hearing stuff like this, so I guess it’s inevitable that we will have an active child

In other news I’m trying to get things together to apply for a PHD program. Almost done.

Geaux Saints!

So Sunday I spiked fevers again and I had to go back to the hospital. They did more tests and can’t really find anything. Peli is looking good, but my uterus was irritated. Whatever that means. They let us go and then I spiked temps all night and into the next day. At least Tylenol works. I thought this virus was suppose to get better not worse? I just want to feel ok, so we’ll see how this week goes. Right now I can’t do much. Typing this is a big step for me this week….hahhah. I’m gonna have to lay down after writing this.

At least now we’re in week 34, so the closer we get to Peli’s due date the better. Again she’s fine through all of this. I feel her move like normal. We also packed a bag.

Maybe I can get Peter to post a pic of my belly this week, although it will consist of me laying on the couch….my other bed.

Peter will have to add a pretty picture here, I just don’t have the energy.

I’ve been sick all week fighting a virus. My temp has gone up and down and Wednesday night (Jan. 13th) I spiked a temp that caused contractions so I had to go the hospital. I had no idea I was having contractions. Luckily Peter remembered the signs from class and made me call.

At the hospital they gave me two shots to stop the contractions and took a ton of tests to make sure everything was ok including no infections. Peli was looking good. The worse test they did was an Amniocentesis. They had to do it twice since Peli kicked the needle around on the first try. I tried not to look, but the look on Peter’s face told me it wasn’t pleasant from where he stood. The Amniocentesis caused my tummy to cramp up for hours and then I was so sore for two days after. Here’s a pic of what the Amniocentesis is.

Good thing she didn’t come we’re not ready yet Peli!

Happy 2010! This year will def. be different for everyone. Here’s to a New Year and a year full of wonderful changes.

We had a small gathering at our house to ring in the new year and played drinking games. I chugged a lot of water

My belly is getting larger as you can see below. Wow….call me big momma! Peli gets hiccups everyday and sometimes twice a day. I’m starting to get some back pain because I’m not quite as limber anymore and I’m having to work with my body differently. Peli has hijacked my body, but the countdown is almost upon us. We’re continuing with out labor classes and we’re learning some interesting ways to cope with pain….oh boy I can’t wait. I think Peter will be an excellent co-partner in the process.

In other news I’m trying to get tons of projects finished this month without causing too much stress and I’m craving king cake!

Tonight it’s off to play Beatles rock band at my co-worker’s place.

Christmas in Seattle and New Orleans was a whirlwind, but we had a blast. Too much to talk about so you can view the photos here.

Highlights…

This was the first Christmas Peter and I didn’t split up, so it was special for us. We sported a Christmas outfit on Christmas day….not many people got to see this and it was only briefly.

There was a serious game of ping pong and beer pong on Christmas Eve. All the presents rocked. Dad got his chime back and Sarah got her teddy bear back (I wonder if she found it). Played with the nephews, hung with Ryan and Mike briefly before they left on Christmas Eve for Denver, saw Mom’s side of the family and ate a lot of good food. Ate too much.

Sara threw us a baby shower with the help of Christina, Terry and Dad….that was fun and Peli has lots of really cute new things. She’ll be the best dressed kid for at least a year (heehee).

Got to see a few friends, watched the Saints game and then flew back.

We arrived back in Seattle on Monday, December 28th. Spent the next day with mom. She accompanied me to my doc appointment. I gained two pounds since the last visit which is normal. I started at 115 and I now weigh 138…..eek. Peli is now in a downward position and will likely stay like that until birth. She has the hiccups daily and much of the family had fun feeling her tiny hiccups.

Peter and I started our labor, parenting and breast feeding class. It’s a lot of information to take in so far but we’re learning. You can see below that the baby’s room is coming together.

This past week was rough….in a nutshell I found out I’m anemic and started taking iron pills. Almost passed out at work (probably due to the lack of iron), had skin rashes due to the weather and hormones and had some bloody nose issues…..so yeah this week everything hit me at once. It’s now Monday, December 14th and I feel great. I even did some belly dancing around the house (it feels good on my belly for some reason).

This past weekend we worked on Peli’s room, saw Princess and the Frog (excellent movie I might add), went to a tacky Christmas party and Peter and KC bottled our wine and made a new batch of beer! Rock on! Oh yeah, and the Saints beat Atlanta moving us into 13-0 territory.

Week 29 and Peli should be about 2.5 pounds. She’s moving quite a lot. I’m getting fuller faster but that sure didn’t stop me from eating almost a pint of ice cream yesterday….egads!

Sarah, Peter’s mom, sent us a rocking chair….I posted a pic of Peter practicing for the baby with Griffy….hahahah makes me laugh looking at it.

Now in week 28 I’m starting to feel a little rough and bigger….look at that belly man!

We worked on the baby’s room this past weekend and made little progress….but at least it’s progress. The picture is posted below. Hopefully this weekend we can finish the room.

Sunday the Saints beat the Redskins….it was a close one but we’re now 12-0….woo hoo.

Sunday night was rough and I had leg cramps all night and found out I’m anemic, so I’m on iron pills and I have more energy. Peli sure has a lot of energy and I feel her all the time. I can see my belly move. Peter is fascinated

Some strange dreams I’ve had lately: Dreamed I was carrying a crocodile in my belly. I could see the croc trying to get out. The next night I dreamed I had a python in my belly with Peli and both dreams contained some anxiety about labor and everyone being too busy to help me out. Other odd dreams this week involved friends passing away and ghosts. My cousin Joey could see and speak with dead people. I’ll have to share that one with him…hahha.

One day I’ll have to get Peter to write something on here.

Thanksgiving in NYC was a blast. Peter and I stayed in Jersey city with Ryan and Mike and we met up with the family in NYC to share some memories and turkey. It was a whirlwind, but we saw two Broadway shows (Hair and Avenue Q, some saw the Toxic Avenger and Wicked, we split up in three different groups that particular night), went to the MOMA (saw an exhibit from Tim Burton that rocked), walked all over the city, went to the top of the Empire state building, rode in a limo, went out to eat a lot and spent a hell of a lot of money.

Thanksgiving dinner at the restaurant was excellent and later that night (after the Empire State building trip and limo ride) we talked and played drinking games at Aunt Mary and Uncle Joe’s place. Our friends Tommy and Dennis were in town and joined us. Also, Kristen joined us for dinner…..she’s an old friend of mine from CBS…so lots of fun guests hung out.

Odd things that happened; Uncle Joe got yelled at by some lady who asked if he spoke English…..Uncle Joe had a few words to say back and they weren’t nice. We won the lotto for Broadway tickets twice. All of us won for Hair, except for myself and Grambo, so we all got box seats for $25. I won for Wicked and got two front row tickets for $25 bucks.

We took the best family photo on top of the Empire State building…hahah it makes me laugh so hard looking at it. I posted it below. Matt is hidden behind Andy and you can see Andy is turned sideways talking to him, “What I’m not standing in front of you.” We will definitely have to take another family trip soon.

I’m in week 27 in the pregnancy and I’m getting big. Apparently the baby is the size of a small pot roast. Gross to think of her as food, but that’s what the book said. Also, my amniotic fluid has reduced in half so I should see feet and hands kicking me from within…..scary. I learned that the amniotic fluid was absorbed back into my body, I was afraid this would be coming out of me….hahahah. I felt great in NYC and this weekend….although I was a little pissed when I had to ask Peter for help tying my shoe

Seems odd I only have a few more months to go, but I hear these months will be hard.
The baby’s nerves in her ears continue to develop so she’ll respond to sounds more consistently. I guess I’ll start singing more to her.

She’s about 1.7 pounds. I can feel her and I can feel her when she has the hiccups….which has been a few times.

This weekend I had bloody nose issues which is normal for pregnant woman and my back is starting to hurt off and on. I can fix that by just paying attention to my sitting, standing and how I sleep.

In other news we bought a crib, changing table and I started the wall mural. I’ll post more pics, but the one below is from my phone. I also bought some new ugly maternity clothes. I’m noticing maternity pants tend to slide down and I’m constantly pulling them up….do they make suspenders for pregnant women?

The Saints are 10-0….woo hoo and we went to the MLS cup Sunday night and froze our butts off. Peli squirmed a lot, so I’m not sure she was digging the loud crowd noises, or maybe she was.

Off to NYC tonight for the Thanksgiving holidays.