[madmatriarch]

yes that' s me having number 8 .didn't set out in life to have that many but life's like that isnt it! lol.
anyway j-lo summed up pretty much the advise i was going to add except i'll add 2 more-sleep when baby sleeps and put a sign on your front door telling people to not disturb as mother and baby sleeping,hopefully that will deter those 'well meaning' visitors that just wont stay away(there's always someone) and also don't try and be superwoman-i know we all like a clean and tidy house but when you are tired you aren't much good to anyone and if any visitors don't like it tell them to either pick up the vacuum or go away. oh and one more thing don't do too much after the birth-like rearranging the furniture,everything is still very soft etc and you will injure yourself-i'm sure the the physio's have said something to that effect before you said goodbye to the hospital!
some wondered who would be the first in may-it should be me but unless i go during the night not looking promising-although the u/s woman did say she was getting the 2nd!! either way i'll have baby by the 10th-i went over last time by 6 days i think (first time ever) so what will be will be they cant stay there forever.
and yes even i have someone checking up on me. between 9:30 and 10 my mother either rings or turns up! i actually told her the other day watched pots don't boil. she tried to deny thats what she was doing (i'm really not that stupid).she was going away over easter (which was a surprise in itself) and as she was leaving said to me 'you will ring and let me know if it comes while i'm away?' mind you she was only going to be about an hour away anyway.but do people thing they are going to miss out on something? i wish i'd lied about my due date to avoid all the inevitable 'watching',you'd think i would have learned by now!

[frazzled101]

Oh the phone calls! I was a week over with DS2 - hated answering the phone - 'has anything happened yet?' NO - don't you think we will call you (especially to MIL - I know she means well but really, we will call you when the baby arrives). And another reason I haven't really said much on Facebook. Don't want to be 'stalked'. I will put up some nice photos and announce it when we get home.

Congrats to all the new babies! Sorry, been too long since I posted to remember names.

OB appt on Thursday. He gave me an internal which stirred up bubs for the rest of the afternoon and also said he is not coming anytime soon which is good in a way. I'd think I'd rather pregnant than have a newborn at the funeral.

Pop's funeral will be on Friday. We've also had to deal with putting Nanna into hospital as her dementia is so bad she can't be left alone. So been helping Mum deal with her family. I have now made plans to fill my days this week and kind of hope bubs waits until after next weekend! But it does feel like I will be one of the last in the group to have him!

Another long weekend here in Qld and there is a big May Day celebration on Monday so taking the boys to watch the parade which should be good fun!

[gisses]

K&S-hoping41- Great photos and beautiful nursery! Funny story about scaring hubby. I cant even call mine without him asking if everything is okay! Normally I am just calling to ask him to pick up something on his way home from work...

Speshelle- Sorry about your cat. Pets become such special members of our families and I am sure you will honour her with the perfect memorial.

Runnybabbit- LOVE the photos of your little man- he is just adorable!

J-Lo/madmatriarch- Thanks for the advice. There will be soooo much to take in after bubs is born, but it is good to know that we can come here also for advice from those who have been/are going through the same things.

jessie t- Keep us posted on everything!

frazzled101- It sounds like you have had a pretty hectic time this past week. Hopefully things settle down for you between now and Friday.

Here is a pic of our nursery:




And one of me at 39 weeks, 2 days!
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I havent had too many calls/messages from people but am sure they will come thick and fast when we near our due date of the 5th.

In the meantime I am still SOOOOO bored! I have cleaned every inch of my house, made enough meals to completely fill the freezer, read all my baby (and other) books, read all my magazines, taken the dog for her (sometimes twice) daily walk and watched every TiVoed program I have saved over the past few weeks. Today I had to get out of the house so I went to the shops just to buy toiletpaper!

In the end I called my dad and stepmum- they are my saviours and suggested that we meet for lunch tomorrow at a local cafe. I cant wait. I know hubby is concerned and wants pip and I to be safe and well at home but I feel like a caged animal and have been getting really sh*tty. I still want pip to come when she is good and ready but I also want to at least be doing SOMETHING while I wait!

Vent over, going to eat more easter eggs now!

[WaffleGrrrl]

I can't believe it's nearly May - when did that happen?!

Loving the baby updates and pics, it's all starting to feel very real now. Hope everyone who is still waiting is feeling well and all those with new bubs are getting lots of newborn cuddles (and sleep!).

AFM - I had been really well up until last Thursday's OB appointment, where I woke up feeling nauseous and hot, and when OB took my BP it had officially gone high. So that led to 20 minutes of CTG monitoring, where bubs was a little too quiet for their liking (I suspect because I was unwell and hadn't had my precious morning coffee, bubs was as asleep as I was). So they sent me away to have some blood tests and then some lunch and some juice, came back and sure enough the food and drink did the trick - bubs was then so active they couldn't get a baseline reading!

By the 4th time they took my BP it had also gone down slightly (I felt heaps better by this time so I think it was just up because I was slightly feverish and sick), but it does mean I have to come in for another appointment on Monday and then again Thursday just to be checked. I wish our chosen hospital and OB wasn't a 45 minute drive away!

I had a couple of period types pains Friday for the first time, and nothing today. I have a feeling this bub is going to go well overdue for some reason, just my gut feel. We shall see!

Boxerpup - thanks for maintaining and updating the lists! I think I dropped off a while back when I went MIA for a while, would you be able to re-add me if you get the chance? Due date is the 5th for this little girl bub!

Hope the rest of the weekend is kind to everyone and hoping to get more arrival updates too!

[Speshelle]

Gisses! Your nursery has so much stuff! I'm jealous. Mine is completely bare. I can't find anything suitable to hang on the walls :-( As for your belly, its as cute as a button. You're barely showing for 39 + weeks!

Here's a pic of me at 39 weeks



I just had my hair chopped short. Very refreshing :-)

[RLF2617]

Forgot to add, on the phone call thing, yup - I have been averaging 6-8 phone calls or messages a day from friends and family asking if there is news. It's starting to get a little overwhelming, like everyone is watch and I can feel the pressure building. I'm seriously tempted to give my phone to DH to field all the calls and messages for me....

[Speshelle]

ooo divert to hubby is a great idea!

[Small Potatoes]

Feeding at the moment so typing w one hand. DS1 was 12 days early (well labour started then) so Imanaged to avoid the watchedpot syndrome but w DS2 be was only 6 days early and everyone thoughtthat I would have gone sometime in my 37th week so I was constantly hounded then.

[Boxerpup]

Gisses you're tiny!!! I think I looked like that at 20 weeks. I AM huge!! So huge that DH doesn't want me behind the wheel.

Speshelle - you are also looking good. It is nice to put faces to names. I am sorry to hear about your cat. I love my puppy (not really a pup anymore but as he is a boxer (only has juvenile and senile ages - he is still juvenile) so very much - he is such a member of our family that I would be a basket case. He now seems never to leave my side and insists on even going to the bathroom with me - WEIRDO. Anyhow DH just laughs. If DH tries to give me a hug when he gets home from work, puppy wriggles between our legs and tries to snag so more pats for himself.

I think if I added GISSES and SPESHELLE's bump together you would have mine...or maybe I just feel that way. I have gained 18+ kg and at least 17.5 is right in front - "loud and proud". I am hoping only 0.5ks has made it on the thighs and hips and bum but who knows - I can't see past the belly. Haven't been able to since 2 months ago when bubs had another growth spurt and again new XL maternity clothes had to be purchased. I am safely under 100kg and won't go over 94kg but it is a big change from the 75kg 5'8" gym goer I was.

K&S-Hoping 41 - Everytime I call DH now he first asks me "is it happening" or "now?" I am really looking forward to the call where I get to say "yes - now" instead of "no, please pick up 2L of milk" :-)

LOVE THE NURSERY PICS. I really wish I was more techy so I could show mine (and the all important bump shots) but I can't seem to upload pics. If anyone wants to teach this pup a new trick (idiot proof step by step) I would be most grateful.

I love the line about watched pots don't boil. I must use it. Had SIL drop in last night and DH uncle call and ask if the baby had come and again confirm for the 4th time that we had his number and that any time day or night that we would call him. I mean really! Now have decided to let DH field the calls.

I was going to have an issue with family wanting to come into the delivery room and "watch" the birth. For geez - my "who-ha" is not "the movie of the week". MIL, SIL, Auntie x 2 all wanted in. Quite frankly - WTF. In the end, after numerous discussions with DH and discussions with MIL only DH will be in with me and if he needs to leave for a period (eat, toilet, break) then MIL will come in to hold hand and then tag out when DH is feeling better. Auntie, SIL and anyone else can wait in the waiting lobby if they want.

Has anyone else noticed that if there is nothing of TV at this time of night - EBAY is always open. I think I am becoming a bit too much of an online shopper. I keep buying things for 99cents!!! I mean I just bought a pair of overalls size 0 for bubs (obviously can't wear it for a while) for 99cents. I should have really looked at the postage before bidding - $6.30 but overall happy with the purchase.

I was so excited when I got up about 30 mins ago. I managed to sleep for 4 hours straight (with only one toilet break in between). YEAH FOR ME!!!!!!!! It has been about 2 months since I had that much in one sitting.

To all the experienced mums out there, did anyone take the pethadine for pain management or did you go epi, natural, gas, water, tens. I am trying to weigh up options and get informed prior to "game time" and wanted advice from others who had been through the same thing. Any experiences good or bad would be good to know.

[Small Potatoes]

Boxerpup Oooh yoypoor thing for notbeing able to sleep. I did water, gas then epi for pain relief w the boys however the gas made me nauseaus with DS2 - though not DS1.