Bed Rest

Since it's been a few weeks since my last post, I decided to go ahead and do a King famiy update (again, with no pictures). Our lives have definitely not been "normal" for the past week or so! Last Friday (the 22nd), I went in for what I thought was a routine OB appointment. My blood pressure was elevated, so I did not go home after my appointment! I was wheeled across the way to the hospital for a lovely visit there. Normally I totally freak out in situations like this, but I was strangely calm. I waited until I got admitted and settled into my room, then called Andrew (still asleep from working the night before) and my mom so they could come see me and bring me some books and magazines to keep me entertained. Luckily, I was released from the hospital later that evening because we only live about 10 minutes away and Andrew's a nurse, so he could keep an eye on me once we got home. For precaution, I was instructed to remain on bedrest until my follow-up on Tuesday.
What followed was a very boring Memorial Day weekend! As Andrew put it, "I don't know what's worse: being stuck in the hospital or being stuck on bedrest at home." I think I have to say that the hospital is worse for only one reason: the beds are so darn uncomfortable! I could not get into a comfy position the entire time I was there and was dreading having to spend the night with an achy back and bottom. However, Andrew found plenty of DIY projects around the house to keep him busy, the biggest of which was starting to refinish our kitchen cabinets. Our kitchen is hideous, and a new look has been a long time coming! We're pretty excited to get a "new" kitchen.
I went back to the doctor on Tuesday and was informed that I will be on bedrest until I deliver this baby! I was also stuck two more times with what felt like GIGANTIC needles and had blood sucked out of me with no mercy. For those of you who may not know this, I am deathly afraid of needles, so this was quite the trial for me. Luckily, I have survived the ordeal and am just fine. So now I am on bedrest until "further notice." My doctor does not think I will make it to 39 weeks with my blood pressure as it is, which is terrifying because I will be 39 weeks in a mere 10 days! So it looks as though little Baby Girl King (yet to be named) will grace us with her presence a little earlier than expected.
The terrifying thing about being on bedrest is that the time flies and I have little to show for it. It amazes me that it is almost 1:30 and I have done nothing but go get blood drawn, go back to sleep, and waste a few hours on the Internet. I feel so unproductive yet I cannot help it because all I'm allowed to do is make myself a sandwich! (Which I have gotten quite creative at...) Anyway, please don't feel like I'm complaining. We are doing just fine and Andrew is adjusting well to being in charge around here. He's doing a great job taking care of things! He is quite a yummy cook and has been taking full advantage of his new toy: our propane grill.
I will give updates to when this baby will come as I am informed by my doctor! Soon our baby will be a "real," live little person who will be joining our family!

Blog Facelift

I decided it was time for our blog to get a new look. There aren't too many looks to choose from and as you all know I am not tech savvy, so here is one thing at least that I can do by myself! I think the flamingos are cute and the pink is appropriate considering that our sweet baby girl is going to join us in just about a month! I'll be 36 weeks this weekend.
Speaking of having a baby, I have been a little crazy with the mood swings lately, thanks to pregnancy hormones. Thus far, I think I have been the most "normal" acting pregnant woman ever! I never cried, was always pleasant, and hardly felt sick at all. As Andrew would say, "Wow, you're much more fun pregnant than you were before!" Lately, however, I have been suffering from moodiness and weepiness that seems to have no rhyme or reason (sorry, Andrew, the honeymoon's over). I go back and forth from being super excited to meet our new baby and being absolutely terrified about being a mom and having to endure...LABOR! Mostly I am sick of feeling so crazy and emotional and can't wait until this roller coaster is over (or is it just beginning? Hmm...).
At work, I have a long-term substitute position for a choir director (half-days), which I really enjoy. Our spring concert is coming up on Tuesday the 19th, which is also bringing out the crazies in me. I have never had to be "in charge" of a concert and concert preparations before, and there are so many things that need to happen that I would be happy not to have to deal with. Arguments with students over what to wear for the concert, arranging to have risers set up in the cafeteria, hiring an accompanist, and fighting tooth and nail to get the kids to learn the darn songs are just a few of my woes lately. I will be so much happier once this concert is over! Not to mention how ecstatic I will be once the school year is over.
We have decided to have me stay home with our baby when she is born, which makes me very relieved (how could I leave my baby all day to go to work?). I also feel so blessed and lucky because we can actually afford for me to stay home with the baby. No, it won't be a glamorous life, but we have lived on much less in our student days. I'm sure we'll manage. So once the summer comes, we will be a little poorer in terms of worldly wealth, but we will be so happy with our new baby and our little family!

Swine Flu Update

Well, my joy was very short-lived. After merely two days off, school is back in session again. Apparently, the CDC has determined that swine flu is not much more harmful than the "regular" flu and sees no need to close schools. Can't they have come to that conclusion AFTER my glorious 9-day vacation?
So, with my heart heavy and my feet dragging, it is back to school this afternoon. Sigh.

Hello, Swine Flu...

Well, the dreaded swine flu has hit Nueces County. And, as a result of that, I get almost 2 weeks off from school!!! All Corpus Christi ISD schools are closed until April 14th. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited--my excitement rivals that of my students. Today is my first swine flu vacation day and I'm kicking back and enjoying the extra time off before the baby comes.
Speaking of the baby...I got that ultrasound done a few weeks ago, along with a Biophysical Profile. She was far too scrunched up to get a good picture of her face or really anything but hands and feet. I did, however, confirm that the baby is indeed a girl. I'm pretty relieved because I had been unwrapping and washing everything that I got from my shower. So now I know that it wasn't in vain! At my last doctor's appointment, my doctor told me that the baby is in the 46th percentile for size and weight, which is "absolutely perfect" (her words, not mine). So at this time, we have a very average-sized baby. Which is great! I hope she doesn't get too much bigger...I have been having chats with her about how she needs to be nice to her mama and not get too big before she comes out.
This morning, I got really ambitious and decided to try to take our stroller and car seat out of the box and see what I could do about assembling them. Uh...needless to say, the stroller is still in pieces that I put into a heap in the corner of the baby's room. I'm sure Andrew will be less than thrilled to see this (he is still sleeping because he worked last night). I'm starting to get really excited and the nesting instinct is really strong, so I'm trying to find things to do to get ready for the baby's arrival! However, sometimes I get a little too excited and try to take on tasks that, for me, are impossible. Thank goodness for a husband who is so good at things like putting a stroller together! I don't know what we would do without his talent--we would be completely lost.