Cohen's Corner

So, I am pretty sure Cohen will be here before his dresser drawer is, so I have given up on waiting until we get it to post pictures!  Cohen's nursery theme is puppies and my sister, Jennifer, and my mom did all of the painting.  I am so thankful for all of their help! I could not have done it without them. So, without further ado, here are pictures!

Aunt Jen painted the tree, puppy and sign! (Please ignore the gaping hole in the dresser!)

 

Aunt Jen made this as a shower gift

My mom made the curtains

Aunt Jen also painted his hanging letters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed the little tour!  We have a few more finishing touches to do eventually.  But, we hope the nursery will have a new little tenant soon!

It Won't Be Long Now....

This is a brief update on Cohen!  This has been a fairly difficult week, so we were ready for some good news.  We had our fourth BPP yesterday. It is hard to believe that if we make it to April 11th, we have only three appointments left! The sonogram went really well and we were able to get Cohen to cooperate enough to get some adorable 4D pictures!

Can you see his face next to his little arm?

 Is that not the cutest baby ever?  We can't wait to meet him.  They guesstimate that he weighs 6 pounds 7 ounces right now and my doctor said by April 11th he will most likely weigh around 8 pounds 4 ounces. I can do that, right? I hope so!  Anyway, he passed his BPP with flying colors and we even saw him stick his tongue out!  We had an earlier appointment time than usual, so our wait time was less.  Chris behaved until we were waiting in the exam room and his restlessness resulted in doing all sorts of stretches.  He then devised a plan to hide in the "changing room" in the exam room and when the doctor expressed his surprise at not seeing Chris at our appointment, he would jump out and scare him!  Wow. I never know what he will come up with, but I think his ideas are escalating! Good thing we have only a few appointments left. 
I feel better since the doctor said we would really be fine to deliver any time now.  We spent most of the appointment discussing the logistics of switching my blood thinner shots from once a day to twice a day so things will be more in control if I go into labor.  Yikes! Cohen is coming soon and I am still avoiding thoughts of exactly how that will happen.  We appreciate everyone's prayers through this time and still covet them as there are so many unknowns through birth and delivery. We could not feel more blessed to be where we are after such a rough start.  And thanks to amazing family and friends we feel ready with the things we need when Cohen arrives!

Me with my good friends Tina and Lindsey at the shower they threw for me

P.S. I promise nursery pictures are coming soon! I just need to get my dresser drawer mailed to me and it will be complete. (One drawer was damaged and they are sending me a new one, hopefully soon!)

So, You're Saying I Can't Sanitize My Baby With A Clorox Wipe???

Don't be alarmed. I wouldn't really do this. It's just that I've generally been able to wipe away my ocd fear of germs with a Clorox wipe before.  I haven't even cleaned my dogs with a wipe, despite strong urges. You see, I have a problem. If you know me at all, you probably know I am a little obsessive-compulsive about germs.  I think I hide it or the extent of it well, though.  Chris may not agree.  He will reluctantly admit that this is one of our biggest relationship struggles. But no matter how crazy he thinks I am, he will sigh and wash his hands one more time or change his clothes or wipe down the car seats if I ask. I think my problem may have started at the end of high school or beginning of college. I am not sure what triggered it but when I did a research paper on it, I read some where that there may be a link between childhood strep and ocd. I had strep as a child. Alot. Anyway, I also think I use it as a coping mechanism when other things in my life get out of control.  The last several years have been difficult and trying at times so my personality is to try and control what I can.  Not the right thing to do since in reality, I control nothing and must trust God.  But, I still have these odd little rituals I must perform so I can survive.  Let me say, I am not crazy like those people who arrange carpet fringe for hours or eat my eyebrows (thank goodness!).  I really don't think I will divulge the extent of my problem, but I do wash my hands frequently, always have anti-bac, have a problem sitting in a doctor's office or even going to a hospital and never fail to open a public rest room door with a paper towel. I think everyone should follow these protocols for their life, as well.  But, Chris assures me this is not normal and won't let me watch those shows that reveal what germs grow where and the places "dirtier than a toilet seat", anymore. 
I bring all of this up to say I think having a baby will be the best behavioral and cognitive therapy there is.  I already know I cannot keep a baby completely clean and out of germs' way. Plus, they need to build up some immunity. My doctor must have picked up on some of my tendencies and that is why he said having a boy will be good for me and mellow me out a little.  I shudder at the thought of the stories other parents have told me about what their little boys have done.  I am the mom with the baby in the bubble in that commercial.  That can't be a good thing! I need to find that middle ground. Compromise.  I don't want Cohen to be the only preschooler with antibac hanging from his backpack!
This will definitely be a learning and growing experience as God uses Cohen to help me let go of this ridiculous mental challenge I have struggled with for years.  I will not win this, and defeat is inevitable. But it will be a good defeat.  So, here's to dirt and mud and poop and bugs and crawling all over the floor and not washing hands every thirty minutes!

Yes, Yes I Am

Out of bed, that is.  It has come to my attention that many people who see me out and about are surprised.  It is confusing and difficult to explain.  To see me out it would be easy to assume that I am a normal, functioning, waddling pregnant person that goes anywhere the breeze blows me.  However,  I am still very limited in what I do.  The doctor has officially given me a little freedom to get up and out for awhile, but has been very cautionary.  I do fairly well if I am just going to go somewhere and sit. But, if I do go to the grocery store or to do a few errands, I find myself exhausted and ready to recuperate at home for a few days.  I think that is because I am so accustomed to being sedentary.  I have not been on "complete bed rest" since some time in December.  And really, things have been going pretty well and I have adjusted to being limited in what I do with a peace that only comes from God.  The first day I was in tears, but after that I just came to accept what I needed to do (or not do) to get our baby here safely.  Chris has had the difficult part of picking up all the slack.  This has definitely been a "growing" stage of our relationship where we have learned to communicate better, be more understanding, and define what our different standards of "clean" are. Let's just say one of us is more partial to speed over quality!  In all seriousness, Chris has learned all of the household chores, perfected the grocery shopping, taken on all sorts of errands, and is a huge help with cooking and dishes.  It will be interesting to see where everything falls when Cohen is here and our world is turned upside down again (in a good way!).

We had our second bpp yesterday.  Cohen passed quickly, but they only do measurements every other week. We were disappointed when he turned his head and we couldn't get a good shot for our first 3D picture. Oh well, there is always next week.  The sonograms go so quickly, then we wait an eternity in the waiting room for our follow-up appointment with the doctor. Luckily, a friend came in and also had to wait quite a while so we were able to catch up with her.  Needless to say, Chris didn't fall asleep this time! I wish he would come up with a question for once for the doctor, though. As it is, I am the only one interacting with the doctor while Chris gives him the "I'm so sorry my wife is a question nut/worry wart." I always turn to him and ask if he has any questions and he just shakes his head. Thanks a lot.   This wouldn't be so bad if he would at least pay attention to integral parts of the appointment and exam. Example: "Chris, what did I measure today?" Answer: "I don't know."  He also struggles to repeat key information as the doctor answers my questions.  I asked him yesterday what he did notice and he replied, "The doctor was wearing Nikes today and his student doctor must be outdoorsy based on her shoes."  So helpful.  I think I will hand off some of my questions to Chris from now on. Balance it out.  Therefore earning the reputation of the "inquisitive couple" not just "inquisitive Jacque".  And since the doctor usually doesn't mention what I am measuring, I will encourage Chris to notice as it is difficult and obvious to lift my head to peer over my ever-unfamiliar, expanding belly to strain my eyes and mentally take note.

I think I will go for now.  However, I hope to reveal the nursery pictures soon!  Final touches are going on.  So that is something to look forward to!