Ante-natal Appointment

Hello everyone! Just got home from another visit to Daisy Hill Hospital and everything is going smoothly. The baby has stayed in the head down position and has started moving further and further down. I'm just over 38 weeks today. The doctor did another scan (the norm over here is to have a scan each visit from now on) and measured the baby's head. It's measuring at 34 cm around (yikes!) and about 7 lbs 10 oz. I know these measurements aren't always that accurate, but my goodness!!! I still have another 2-4 weeks left! He also said the baby has a mop of hair which, according to the wive's tale, is why I've been dealing with heartburn whenever I eat a meal. :) He also asked me if I wanted to know the sex of the baby, and being the good wife that I am, I said no. I should get a medal for that or something! John wasn't even at this appointment, and I had the opportunity to find out and I resisted!!!! I did take a peak down there though, and I have my guess. The doc was also able to use a doppler to measure the flow of blood going through the umbilical cord to the baby and was pleased with the results. So all in all, everything is good. The baby continues to kick and is taking up LOTS of space now, but it's healthy and going in the right direction, so we are very happy. :)

Getting closer

Does this mean the house or the baby? Both!! The house is really coming along and I will get some more pictures posted, but with only 2.5 weeks (17 days!!!) left 'till the baby's due date, it has definately been on my mind a lot more. I can't wait to post the first pic of the baby on here, and I'm sure you'll probably find it more interesting than pictures of a house anyway. Until then, you'll just have to make due with pics of the growing belly.

We went to Daisy Hill, the hospital we are having the baby at, yesterday for a tour. I'm not gonna lie; seeing all the equipment and gear has made me a bit nervous. I just assumed it had this effect on everyone, but when I asked John if he was feeling nervous, he said "No, I don't have to do anything but be there with you." It just made it all so real. Thank goodness there were no women in actual labour while we were there or John would have found me hiding on the floor of the car, legs pinned together, crying and wondering how I was gonna get out of this one.

40 - 36 = 4 weeks!!!!!!

I cannot believe we've only got four weeks left, well, that's if the baby decides to come on time. It may only have ONE SPEED (Dad), and not come out 'till it absolutely has to. :) I had another check up today and the consultant says everything is looking great (besides the cracked ribs I have suffered from all the kicking). John's sister says the baby is just getting it's footing as a push-off point. With the measurements she took from the scan today, she says the baby is weighing in around 6 pounds. If it gains a half pound every week, like the books say it will, that means......well, let's just not get into it. I prefer to stick to my theory that it's going to be a slight tummy ache and then the baby will just be here. I turned my head when she took the measurements of the baby's head; why torture myself with worry?

I finally just told John I couldn't stick it any longer. I had to buy some things for the baby. I was very good and only bought essentials (mostly). Diapers, cream, nail clippers, nose bulb syringe (aka torture device), those sorts of things, and a few things for myself (not fun things). And I bought a diaper bag today to put it all into :) We have to have all these things when the baby is born as the hospital doesn't supply anything (no diapers, wipes, creams, sleepers, hats). This seems strange to me as all the appointments and scans and any medication one might need, etc are totally free, but better this way than the opposite.

So, now all we have to do is wait. John is working away like a madman and still doing bits and pieces to the house. We would really like to have all that done before the baby comes, but I suppose that's not really up to us anymore as the baby could come anytime, but we are trying. I'm still working at the ice cream cafe 3 nights a week and sorting out all the paperwork for my maternity allowance and getting all the other stuff lined up for after the baby is born. We still haven't gotten word on how my visa application is coming on, but we are hoping for it to be returned in a timely manner so we can register the baby and make our plans to come home for Christmas.

Everything is going well over here, and since my pleading post, I have heard from you guys over there a lot more. Thanks and please keep it up. I love hearing from you. Here's another pic of the bump. It's hard to tell from the picture, but along with growing out towards the front, I am now also growing out width-wise!

6 weeks left!

We had another scan today - a placental recheck scan- as my last scan showed the placenta lying really low. They told me at the time that it wasn't too much of a concern as it usually grows upward as the baby and uteras grow (sorry if this is too much information?), but that it would have to be re-checked at 34 weeks. So off Mary and I went this morning as John had to work. The doctor said everything looked great, it was right where it should be at this time and that the baby is measuring just right for my dates. The little one was waving away and moving it's tiny little lips too. So cute. I caught the measurment the doctor did on the scan of the baby's head, he never brought it to my attention, but I was watching very closely. 13 cm. www.freakingout.com!!!!!!

Three Quarters!

Okay, so I came over to Jim and Mary's today to update this post with more info on the house, and I can do that, but I realized as I signed in that I haven't taken any new pictures. So you get an update but no photos to show exactly how great it looks. Oops!!
We got the third side of the house plastered and only have one side left. YEAH!!! As soon as John moves the scaffolding around to the front, he will be able to scratch it himself. You probably all know this routine by heart now, as well as I do, cuz I think I go through it every time, but it helps me get things in order and keep John motivated. (He sometimes refers to me by a very cruel name that I will not mention here because he says I am always pushing him to do more and do it faster.) But anyway, once he has the front scratched the plasterer will come for a few hours one day to put the bands around the windows. When these have time to dry, he will come back again and put on the dash. As soon as the dash is finished, we have a man coming to finish the stonework on the porch. When that's done, we will hire a digger to come and clean up around the property. Guess what's next?! FOR SALE!!!!!!!
We are planning to put it up for sale with a few different places hoping it will catch someone's eye. Without bragging, I must say it is in a really good location with some great views and the family to live there will be really lucky. If it were possible, or should I say feasible, we would move the whole thing to Indiana and live in it ourselves. I don't know how I could ever keep it clean though. I think we are going to stick to something small whenever we do get there. Bigger isn't always better.