Daycare....Oh my goodness

Daycare in Tuscaloosa....Oh me oh my. Because of the 5 destroyed by the tornado in April, waiting lists are backed with INSANE numbers for the year-round preschools. That tornado STILL has a grip, even with the fantastic progress. Now would be a fabulous time to set up shop in T-Town if you've ever thought of entering the child care world.... After checking a wait list they finally let me in on why the outrageous waiting list system. FBC (and others) combined or took in the displaced kids and teachers in April, filling up to capacity and then some. Plus other businesses (restaurants and retail) gobbled up the available space that daycares/preschools could have filled. There are a few new ones coming into town where we would have a better shot, but they are all way north. 50 minutes or so and the complete opposite end of town from our house and John's work. (As a girl who is good at being late, that ain't gonna work. We need somewhat convenient, but we may not have a choice.) We really need year round, and it's just posing a slight problemo.

I have my top picks - and there's one I REALLY want....Or one I think I want, until someone tells me otherwise. I'm still feeling like a Tuscaloosa transplant, so this daycare thing is a little new to me. Full year, school year, every day, or school system schedule + summer. Licensed or church....cameras and ratios.  Who knows! SO much to consider! I thought I would be worried about labor, epidurals and nurseries...but this daycare thing is about as rough as it gets. As a mama who will work, I  want my child to be at what I consider the best.  It's the only way I can justify working, if we both feel confident and comfortable with our pick. After working at CLC and coming with an educational background, I'm picky. (There, I said it.) So, my prayer warrior friends, I need a little help with finding/getting a spot at the perfect year round care...preferably in a church. And, to anyone considering a baby, get your name on the list now!

Otherwise, Arleigh and I are doing great! I'm starting to be a little uncomfortable, especially at night. My only real complaints are the constant dry mouth (especially at night, even with the humidifier) and the never ending congestion. That's been from the get-go. We have passed all our glucose tests, so we should be done with that yuckiness. In other good news, I've only gained 3 pounds, which - being a big girl, is fabulous at the 26 week point. I'm hoping to keep it under 12 by the end. Blood pressure still looks great, but I'm starting to have a little swelling, especially in my hands.  Her heart rate has stayed around 152 from the beginning.  Her kicks and wiggles are out of this world. Especially during football games - TV or radio, it doesn't matter. I think it's the manly voices, cheering, or the cowbells. She's just like her daddy. Loves some ESPN! :-)

We have another ultrasound coming up to see if the placenta has migrated up so we can get off the placenta previa list. That would be FANTASTIC. We haven't had any bleeding yet, which is great. It's not good with placenta previa and can lead to bed rest. I've been taking it very easy as directed - typically going home after work, eating whatever my sweet hubs cooks for supper, and going to lay down. There's something about the prone position that is way more comfortable for me. No lifting, no hanky panky with pelvic rest...blah blah blah.  I hope she decides to move up as well. She's laying from one side to the other about as low as you can go.Only good part is the extra ultrasounds to see my Miss Priss.

Our OB, Dr. R, has cancer. We are pretty upset, because he is FABULOUS. About as fabulous as you could wish for in a doctor.  He's started treatment and will be out for up to a year, so we have a new doctor. Our prayers are with him and his family. I'm not sure we'll get another doctor that draws me diagrams with bows on Arleigh's stick figure head in utero, but we'll make do. I just hope he gets better! We've switched to Dr. E, who delivered Libby and Millie. 

She officially has nursery furniture, if the elves get it finished by Christmas. Papa, Poppy and Nano have a lot to do! :-) We are very thankful for their help! Nano is coming over this weekend to help with the curtains. I thought I could do them, but with the splurge for Amy Butler fabrics I think I need a supervisor.

Papa hung the chandelier Sunday for us. (Yep, we will need less wattage on the bulbs for sure!)

Swayze helped us pick out lots of her clothes for Arleigh, so she is getting all set! We've started organizing. We're getting ready to move it all into her new room soon! Hopefully by Christmas we'll be DONE.

I'm really thankful for online shopping. I'm almost done - waiting on the USPS. Woop, woop! It's like Christmas every day. With everything I have ordered off Etsy for Skeeter and all the presents for under my (non-existent) tree, I love going home and opening boxes. (You heard that right. I'm not having any trees this year. I'll put up our nativity, but that will be it. John has been so good and helpful with everything else, I'm not about to ask him to put up all my Christmas!)


Happy Thursday!

It's a girl! Arleigh Olivia Mansell

We've had two boy and two girl names picked out for what seems like ages, and we knew this one was going to be Arleigh if it was a girl.  John's granddaddy Mansell was named Arlie, but we changed the spelling for Penny Leigh. I've been called Penny Leigh by so many folks, I had to get Leigh in there somehow! Olivia is for my Mama. It doesn't need an explanation. You do know my Mama, right? You are missing out if you don't. 

We had our big ultrasound last Friday. The one where they do gender and all the other fun measurements. I was really surprised how long it took! The others were just a few minutes. This one lasted almost 30.  We were both VERY surprised when we found out Skeeter was a girl. John had been saying from the get-go it was a boy, Intelligender (a for-fun test) and I all thought boy. We were wrong, but a very happy wrong! Of course any parent will tell you they don't care. Just a healthy baby. But I was very happy. So happy I cried. Which made John happy that I was that happy.  John is gonna melt and have SUCH a daddy's girl. I can not wait!

Arleigh is gonna be a tall girl. She is measuring in the 90th percentile for height, so daddy may need to find us a basketball coach real soon. :-)

Her heartbeat was 153, which is fantastic. She's been 150-154 every visit.

This part gets a little personal, so just know I'm warning you ahead of time.

I have something called placental previa, where the placenta hasn't moved up enough in the uterus. Typically by this point the placenta should be up near the belly button, making its way to the top of the uterus as it grows. Mine is down near the cervix. Basically - at this point, it means we have to take it easy and use extra care. Particularly doctor ordered pelvic rest. (Nothing going on in the nether regions, I think you can fill in the blanks.)  Dr. R said there is no need to be alarmed now, that we'll be on pelvic rest for 10 weeks or so and have another ultrasound around 30 weeks to make sure the placenta has moved.  We have to watch out for bleeding and just take it easy.  If we have it after 30 weeks - which is rare, chances are more likely for a c-section (which from family history, we anticipate a c-section anyway).   Don't do like I did and google. It can be scary.... Google is good and bad while pregnant. Great for easing your mind on somethings, and great for freaking you out on others.

I had mentally prepared myself for the risks of being a big girl pregnant. Gestational diabetes or preeclampsia....But never other (non-related) complications. My blood pressure has been great so far. We didn't do so hot on the first diabetes test, but I didn't eat two hours before. We passed all 5 rounds of the 4 hour test. We'll have to do the two hour again at our next appointment.

I've been feeling fine. Still dealing with my out of control allergies, but that's been the case for 31 years, so I'm not sure why I thought it would ease up now. I can definitely tell  when I've been on my feet too long - and it doesn't take long.

I've just started to feel Arleigh move, and I can not wait for the real kicks and punches. The feelings are not regular yet by any means, but I can feel her little flutters and the occasional kick. It's more tickley now than anything.

Now... I guess I have to get my rear in gear on the nursery. Would it surprise you to know I haven't really done a thing? Our guest room is still the laundry sorting facility, and I have not been motivated at all. I keep hoping my nesting instincts will eventually kick into high gear. No such luck yet.

In the meantime, who wants to tackle hanging up my laundry? :-)

Monday started with a BANG - Literally

Skeeter is fine - We start this week as a turnip, and should double in size by our next appointment. (Our gender reveal appointment!) Heart rate is 154, all was well.

Not so good with me. I have to go back Thursday for more glucose screening for gestational diabetes. I've always had my sugar checked and been fine - but apparently pregnancy is pushing me over the edge. Today's reading wasn't so great. My doc is watching it early because of some issues, and I know we'll get it under control if it ends up being the culprit.

And then....At lunch, I got rear-ended.....BANG!  Only a little damage to the bumper, but enough to scare the b-ggeezez out of a first time preggo mama. My nerves are probably doing more harm to Skeeter than the actual jolt.

I called the doc's office just to let them know. They said to take tylenol and take it easy. Can do.

I've got to learn that as much as I LOVE my google habits, it's not always wise to google things like car accidents and pregnancy. That stuff is scary.

It's one of those days a good cry is just what I need! :-)

Then, about 9:30, I had a surprise visitor....BROCK! I love surprise visitors with presents...Especially my Broccoli.  :-) WHO doesn't!!  He was headed home from a trip to London. He stopped by to see us, then drove on to Tupelo. He came with treats!  Paddington Bear from Paddington Station for Skeeter, and (for me) royal china to mark the William and Kate wedding, and a Christmas ornament of Big Ben.

It was certainly enough to turn my frown upside down! :-)