Rane Malise Albretsen

Here are my 2 favorite pictures of our new little one! These were taken on Monday June 27 at only 3 days old

Rane Malise Albretsen (65 photos), by Brynn Gilbreath

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waiting game

Well, we have made it past the "critical stage" on the whole bed rest thing! At this point, whenever our little one decides to arrive, the Dr will go ahead with it rather than try to stop it. Today is also my dad's 62nd birthday! Selfishly, I have been hoping that I would go into labor today and they would go ahead and deliver b/c I think it would be really special for them to share a birthday! I have a doctors appointment at 2pm today. Who knows, maybe I will be dilated enough for that to actually happen. She said if I dilate to 4cm she will go ahead and deliver, although last Thurs I wasn't dilated at all, so chances are SLIM! Oh well. It is a really strange feeling because I know that the longer she is able to "cook" the better, but I also want her to be born today. Its weird...I almost feel like, if she doesn't come today, then I'd just as soon wait until the 6th when we are scheduled. The only thing I was thinking would be neat with respect to her delivery date would be if if were on Dad's bday OR on/before Father's day (which is this coming Sunday). As of right now though, there are no real physical signs that anything will happen today (unless when we go to the Dr, my blood pressure is really high or I am dilated)
SO WE WAIT~! God is really trying to teach me patience with this child already...especially with the bed rest!!!
The last few days though have been really good! I woke up with TONS of energy on Saturday and it has maintained itself even today. Saturday and Monday were by far the most energetic days though! Its crazy! I haven't done any of the "scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush" type nesting things, but I did shop vac the basement, boil and prepare all of the bottles/nipples, did a little shopping and got a lot done at work yesterday! I have felt REALLY productive although I realize, it hasn't been really "restful"..but then again, I haven't felt that I have needed the rest! I have been resting since May 19!
Anyway...after all of that rambling, I am excited to see what the doctor says today! Hopefully there is either enough progress that we will be watching for an "any day now" delivery OR things are stable enough that I can be taken off bed rest and be allowed to resume my life! :-)

Better late than never...8 months Preggo!

So what's the cure for boredom?

Well, we are about 2 weeks in to this "modified bedrest" thing and I am trying to keep from going insane. I have tackled all the thank you notes for gifts recieved at showers, balanced the checkbook, paid the bills, put together those last few baby items including putting in batteries for anything that needs it, packed my hospital bag, completed a 1000 piece Thomas Kinkade puzzle and taken quite a few naps. I have gotten an education on Blood Diamonds, Revolutionary War, The REAL Robin Hood, The Boston Tea Party, and several other things thanks to the history channel and I think I have memorized most of the political ads on TV...."How's that working out for you?" happens to be the most annoying tag line at the end of one said commercial!

The past 2 days or so have been a little crazy and I havent followed Drs orders but I have been able to be involved at work. For those who arent familiar with my work...the end/beginning of the month is always CRAZY. So on top of the normal inventory, paperwork, accounting, payroll, etc that goes into month end, we are also rolling out a brand new product at Chick-fil-A...The SPICY chicken sandwich. Normally I am THRILLED with new product launches. Dont get me wrong, this sandwich is AMAZING (and if you havent tried it, you will be able to purchase one on Monday June 7,) but its exhausting trying to add one more thing into my life/schedule right now...and to top it off...HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!! Additionally, the manager that usually helps out with month end every month is on vacation in Alaska for 2.5 weeks. WHAT WAS I THINKING? At least he will be back before NEXT month end.
And if that didnt all stress me out enough, I have 7-8 people who are all on vacation next week, and 2 that will be in their 2nd week of their 2 week notice! AND IM ON BEDREST AND CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!
Thankfully I do have a GREAT General Manager who is handling all of this with almost effortless ease and a husband who is picking up my slack with little to no complaint!
So the baby's room is done, clothes are folded/hung, and I have a small list of things that I have to purchase before she arrives which is on my list of things to do on Sunday! Otherwise, we are ready to go. I am 34 weeks as of now and I go to the Dr tomorrow. My C-section is still scheduled for July 6 which is exactly 5 weeks away. The Dr. is hoping that my blood pressure stays normal and that my water doesnt break before 37 weeks. If I go into labor before June 15 they will try to stop it, otherwise...whenever RMA decides to try to come they will just go with it.
For those of you who know me well, you know that I like to PLAN things. Its a little unnerving to know that sometime between 15-36 days from now (if all goes according to plan) I will be a mom to this little person that loves to kick my ribs and dance on my bladder. I don't even handle the 4 hour window given by the cable company well...and you want to give me a 21 day window? UGH! Everyone just keeps telling me that its good practice to get used to things NOT going as I plan, especially once the baby actually gets here.
I keep trying to think of more things that I can plan...like having a grocery list already ready with cash or credit card so mom or someone can have the house stocked for when I get home from the hospital, having the house cleaned, Drs appointments made, etc etc. I think I am driving Mike a little nuts but how is a Type A person supposed to cope under these circumstances? I keep telling people...I DON'T DO DOWN TIME!
When the highlight of your day is going to the bank, post office, and voting site....that's pretty sad! For those of you who are able to get up, go to work, work in the yard, clean the house, drive around, play with your pets, etc....CONSIDER YOURSELF BLESSED! When you are told NOT to do all of those things...you really start to realize and appreciate the VALUE of feeling productive and useful!