I'm at work today - the first time I have been at work since the 20th of January. I've only been in the building for approximately an hour and I'm ready to go home already! I've only taken one call so it's not like I am overwhelmed (yet), but I just hate this place. I despise what I do and some of the people I work with and the way things are run here. Blah. I almost wish I would go into labor just so I could go home.

So I was a little miffed when I got to the doctor's office this morning because I found out they changed the GBS test until next week (because now they want it to be AFTER 36 weeks) and no internal exam so I was like well this is a waste of my time! I drove in heavy snow that was still coming down hard, sliding all over the roads just to pee in a cup, have my belly measured and pay my co-pay.

Well, it turned out to be a more eventful visit than I thought. The doctor measured my belly and said I was measuring small - only 33 weeks instead of 36 weeks - so he told me I needed to get an ultrasound to check the baby's growth. Luckily the ultrasound tech got me in right away so I didn't have to schedule an appointment and go back. She took her time and was very thorough and said the baby is measuring right on track. She weighs 5 pounds 13 ounces and it was confirmed that she is still a girl. The ultrasound tech said my belly is probably measuring smaller because the baby is very low. She is also still head down in the "ready" position so that is great news too.

I set up my weekly appointments that take me up to my due date. The doctor said he will start internal exams next week at my 37 week appointment. Oh, and I have gained 29 pounds total so far. Not bad.

Here is my 36 week belly picture:

And a profile picture of baby Elizabeth from today's ultrasound:

Only thirty days until this baby girl is due. I have my 36 week appointment tomorrow and then an appointment every week until she arrives. I may only have about 3 weeks of work left! I will update after my appointment and post a 36 week belly picture - which I will take with my brand new camera.

I'm still pregnant.. nothing has changed there. I just haven't felt like writing much lately.

Going to eat lunch now.

Here I am at 34.5 weeks pregnant:

I have been feeling lots of pressure lately and have had to go to the bathroom a LOT the past few days. I'm starting to wonder if she is going to make an early appearance. Hopefully not too early - even though I'm sick of being pregnant. I've got my hospital bag partially packed and newborn clothes washed and ready to go... just in case.

Here's what's going on at this point in my pregnancy:

The "average" baby weighs about five pounds or so and is about 19 inches in length. It is during the last few weeks of pregnancy that your baby will put on most of his or her weight. In general, babies gain about one-half pound per week in the last month of pregnancy.

I have actually been feeling motivated the past two days. My husband and I cleaned the house all yesterday morning and then I started packing my hospital bag. I know I don't need it for several weeks, but I threw a few things in there that I won't need between now and then and I feel better knowing it's at least partially packed.

Of course, having children means the house was a mess again by this morning so I cleaned again while my husband went to my parents house to snow blow (after the 5 additional inches of snow we got between yesterday and this morning).

I'm happy that I don't have to work tomorrow. I know I've been off work for five days already, but any day that I don't have to go to work at this point in my pregnancy is a good day. I was looking at the calendar yesterday and realized that when I go back to work on Tuesday, there will only be a week and four days left of this month.. then we move into February and I can say, "the baby is due this month."

I am having a really rough day! I am just tired of being pregnant. I'm so uncomfortable and so unhappy that I still have 6 weeks until my due date! I'm hoping it's just a blah day and that I don't feel like this every day until I go into labor. I won't be able to stand myself if I feel like this the rest of the pregnancy (and neither will my husband).

Well, it looks like I am going to have an extra long weekend. I've been home sick the past few days. I think I have a stomach bug or something. I can't even eat without it tearing up my stomach. I have a wonderfully painful headache to go along with it. So, the last time I was at work was Tuesday and I won't go back until Tuesday because we have Monday off for MLK day. It's a shame that I don't feel good while getting a break from work.

I had my 34 week appointment this morning and all is well. I've gained 25 pounds total with 6 weeks to go. That may sound like a lot to some, but I'm happy with it because, for one.. the ideal weight gain is 35 pounds and two.. I gained 55 with my other kids. I guess being glued to the bathroom with my head in the toilet for the first 5 months this time around really paid off. =)

The baby is in the head down position so that is another relief. Mothers-to-be always worry when (and sometimes if) the baby will get in the "ready" position because more than likely if the baby doesn't turn you end up with a c-section. I am praying that after 3 vaginal births I won't have to deal with my worst fear of getting sliced open.

And last, but not least, her heart beat is perfect - in the 150's. I go back in 2 weeks for my next appointment and then every week after that until she is here! As far away as it seems (because I am the pregnant one) it is so close!

It's been a while since I participated in WW so I thought I would post some belly pictures today.

33.5 weeks:

Belly kisses from big sister, Gabrielle:

Sisterly love:

More Wordless Wednesday here

I had my first sleep issue so far this pregnancy. I went to bed at 1 am and woke up at 4:51 am unable to go back to sleep. I hadn't really had any issues sleeping until now. I woke up after having a bad dream, realized how bad I had to pee and had massive heart burn to the point that I wanted to vomit. I have also been feeling extremely anxious lately. Almost like anxiety attacks. I'm not digging it at all. Sometimes I don't want to leave the house because I'm feeling so much anxiety. I can't wait until this baby gets here so this can all end. I have my 34 week doctor visit today. I'm sure it will be uneventful - weight check, pee in a cup, listen to baby's heart beat, measure my belly and send me on my way. I hope to find out if she's head down now. I think she is.

I just spent the last 20 minutes looking for places that offer prenatal massage. I've found 3 good places in my immediate area that offer them. I've never even considered getting a massage (except from my husband) when pregnant, but someone on my message board that is also due next month said she had one recently. Sounds like a slice of heaven to me. Even if it's only 30 minutes of relief from the aches of pains of being 8 months pregnant... I'm all for it.

... something I no longer have. I'm not the nicest person in the world to deal with when I'm not pregnant, but these days I just want to rip the head off of every customer that I have to deal with. Not to say that I am a mean, horrible bitch on a normal basis, but I simply don't have a lot of patience with stupid people (something you need when you are a customer service rep) and it's just my luck that most people I talk to are at the top of the list of absolute morons. I wish I had more FMLA time available without ruining my maternity leave because I would love to just take the next month off work. It would probably be in everyone's best interest if I did.

I am so stinking tired of being pregnant. Why does it go so freaking slow near the end? I feel like time has stopped moving and I'm going to be like this forever. People say, "oh.. I can't believe you're due next month! Your pregnancy has just flown by!" Yeah.. maybe for them because they're not the one that's pregnant. I know.. I'm being bitchy and I shouldn't be, but hey.. I'm hormonal, feeling huge and uncomfortable so I am entitled to be a little bitchy from time to time.

My wonderful husband bought me an iPod Touch. It should be here sometime this week. I can't wait to get my hands on it! Have you seen this thing? It's the most beautiful gadget I've ever seen. Watch the guided tour. You too will fall in love. I promise.

I have become a Facebook addict. I don't know when this happened. I've had a Facebook account for over a year and rarely ever did anything with it. Now I can't stay off it.

This is my husband very soon after the birth of our daughter, Gabrielle.. November 5, 2006. Apparently he was pooped. Heh. Actually, this was around 6am Sunday morning and we had both been up since early Saturday morning so I don't blame him for passing out.

With 48 days remaining until my due date... I have to look for some humor in all of this.

My parents are leaving to go back to Florida today for the rest of the winter. Well, my mom is going to come back the end of next month when I'm ready to give birth to her next granddaughter, but I'm still sad that they're leaving. I love my parents and I love having them close by. We live less than 2 miles from each other in the same city. At least I get to take them to the airport (since I took another mental health day) and give them lots of hugs before they go.

My husband is starting college in two weeks. His first two semesters can be done online - which is mighty handy since he's a stay-at-home-dad while he's doing it and I can continue working. In the Fall I plan to start school as well. I figure he will be able to get a job in the next 2 years in his field - Computer Information Systems with several concentrations: programming, networking and security.

In the next few years I am hoping to be the one at home - at least until I finish school and the girls are both in school. So, I'm looking into programs that I actually find interesting. I am thirty-five years old and have been working in Accounting since I was 19 years old. Yes, right now, and for the past couple of years, I am working as a licensed Insurance Agent because I thought it would be a good change, but it's still not my cup of tea. I want to do something different and why shouldn't I if my husband is making enough money to support us while I go to school? After going through all of the programs available I have narrowed it down to three things I am interested in. Here they are:

01. Mortuary Science: I would start with an Associates in Pre-Mortuary Science at our community college which is designed to fall right into the Mortuary Science program at Wayne State University - the only school in Michigan that offers it.

02. Criminal Justice along with Forensic Photography

03. Computer Information Systems with a concentration in Master Website Design

I can't believe how horrible work has been lately. We are STILL having computer issues. It makes me wonder if the entire IT department got hired after simply reading IT for Dummies. This is beyond ridiculous. I am taking the next day (or three) off. I have been sick to my stomach for the last half of this day because of the amount of stress here. I don't need this shit. And since our vacation time just started over for the new year I think I'm entitled to a few mental health days - especially because I'm pregnant.

My children:

My 32.5 week belly:

Just over 7 weeks to go! Here is my prediction for this baby's arrival/stats:

Date of Birth: 02/28/09 (due date is 02/27/09)
Time of Birth: 4:23 AM
Weight: 7 lbs 9 ounces
Length: 22 inches

My 1st (and 2nd) meme of 2009! My lovely friend, Lydia, over at On The Verge tagged me twice because.. well, she was tagged twice.

The first tag is to open my photo folder to you all. Here are the official rules:

1. Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.
2. Go to the 6th Folder and then pick the 6th Picture.
3. Post it on your bloggy and tell the story that goes with the picture.
4. Tag 5 other glorious peoples to do the same thing and leave a comment on their bloggy tellin’ them ’bout it.

Gabrielle, my beautiful 2 year old daughter, showing off her birthday gift from another toddler on my November 2006 birth board (yes, I am still very good friends with all of the ladies and the babies after nearly 3 years). We had a 2nd birthday exchange and this is one of the gifts she got from her friend on the board. She loves that Dora Doodle Pro!

In the second meme, Lydia wants me to share 7 random things about myself. Here they are:

1) I despise my job even though we live fairly comfortably on my salary
(and I should just be happy I have a damn job with the way things are)

2) I am considering buying a Sangria Red Sony Vaio (even though I'm a Mac girl)

3) I am addicted to shoes, handbags and purchasing candles from Partylite

4) I am thirty-five years old and have never been stung by a bee
(or wasp or hornet or any other freaky flying thing)

5) I'm excited for my husband to start school this month!

6) I'm eating a Yoplait Light Fat Free Boston Cream Pie yogurt for breakfast

7) I crave Peppermint Mocha Twist Latte's from Starbucks on a daily basis

Ok, so I am going to pass both of these on to the following:

01. Uncle Vito
02. Kara
03. Jill
04. Scary Mommy
05. Meesh

I am exhausted! It's been nothing but back to back calls all day long. It's 5 pm and the calls are finally slowing down. Hopefully it's fairly quiet the rest of the evening. Of course nothing is working correctly today either. It's been a shit work week. I hope these issues get fixed soon because I can't take much more of this.

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all had a fun and safe night last night. We didn't do much of anything. We transferred all of my files (pictures, music, documents, etc) to my husband's computer because I was actually running out of space and my computer was acting really funky so we reformatted my hard drive, reinstalled Mac OS X 10.4.11, ran updates, reinstalled a bunch of programs that I had on here and downloaded some new ones. My computer is happy now and so am I.