Good news- I don't have any issues with my gallbladder or liver! The pain I've been having are because everything is extremely cramped right now, and my baby is pushing everything up into my ribs. The dr. said that because the pain is persistent all day long, rather than only after I eat, that I have "nothing to worry about." Well I guess that's good news... even though there's nothing I can do to make the pain go away! I suppose I'd rather be in pain all day long than receive medication for having a gallbladder or liver problem.

Today my mom and I are cooking up a storm so that my freezer will be nice and full of yummy things to eat when I come home from the hospital and don't feel like cooking. On the menu for today are: Spaghetti and meatballs (without the pasta- I"ll make that before I serve), chicken enchiladas, baked ziti, meatloaf, chicken brocolli and cheese casserole, and 15 bean soup. Lots of yummy things to eat so that I won't have to survive on Louis's cooking (aka constant take-out) until I'm back on my feet. I was rather spoiled last time when I had Jeremiah because Louis and I were (very temporarily until the tenants moved out of our house!) living with my parents, so pretty much I was waited on hand and foot by not only my loving husband but my parents and brother. My only job was to worry about recovering from my delivery and taking care of Jeremiah; all the cooking and cleaning was done by them, no questions asked =) This time around it will be our responsibility! Louis is going to take a week off of work after the baby comes and I'm so looking forward to it.

Tomorrow is 4 weeks til my due date!

Disneyland...with a two year old...by myself...one month away from my due date?!

WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING?!

Less than 10 minutes after my last post, my leg cramps, which have been absent for a few weeks, suddenly returned. Along with lots of cramps. And Braxton Hicks contractions (I think I was having false labor most of the afternoon? I had a ton of it with Jeremiah starting right around now, but he managed to stay inside me 10 days past my due date). Oh, and the crazy pain right underneath my left rib, which hasn't gone away in two months. I thought it was heartburn; it turns out I might have a gallbladder or liver issue brought on by my pregnancy. FUN! We'll find out more about that on Friday at my doctor's appointment. Oh and did I mention how low the baby is? Which makes walking around WITHOUT carrying Jeremiah harder than normal?

In short, I will NOT be taking Jeremiah to Disneyland tomorrow. No way Jose. Maybe I"ll take him to the playground this weekend. With Louis. Jeremiah isn't capable of understanding that our season pass expires next week, or that we won't be going again until the fall. With his baby sister. In other words, he'll never know what he's missing out on.

I'm so glad that Louis's only "trip" this week is a local one, not requiring him to be gone overnight.

5 more weeks

...and so much left to do to get ready for my princess. SO MUCH. My biggest concern is spending as much one on one time as possible with Jeremiah before the big day arrives, because once his little sister is here, he will not only be spending a few days away from home with his grandparents, but he will no longer have my undivided attention once he is home. How in the world am I going to manage having two small children?! I hear that the transition from having one child to two children is the hardest transition to make for any parent. Oy.

Our Disneyland pass expires on the 21st (next week). I know I said there was no way I was going to be bringing Jeremiah back there before our pass expired, but I am kind of tempted to take him for just an hour or two TOPS on Wednesday, just for one last special mommy-son outing. I would bring our lightweight umbrella stroller rather than his big, comfy (and bulky) travel system, and forego a back pack by cramming a few diapers, a munchie and small toy in my purse so I won't have that extra weight to tote around. We'd do his favorite things (It's a Small World, Dumbo, Goofy's playground, Winnie the Pooh and Pirates of the Caribbean) and head on home. If I feel up to it on Wednesday morning I think we'll do it. If not- oh, well.

Anyway, the things left on my to-do list before the Big Day are as follows:
*Organize the baby's room, which entails:
-Wash all hand-me-down clothes and blankets
-Separate clothing according to size.
-Figure out organizational system for dresser drawers
-Create an organized storage method for all clothes beyond 3 months sizes
-Sterilize Jeremiah's old infant toys (does anyone know if it is safe to put plush rattles and squeak toys in the washing machine, or will it ruin the sound effects?)
-Assemble Jeremiah's Rainforest Mobile; replace batteries and hang on her crib

*Purchase and assemble curtains for her room. Order an extra window valence that matches her crib set (it came with one; we need two)

*After all baby showers are over on January 31st (I am having three- what a blessed mama I am!), make a list of necessities that still need to be purchased and go shopping! Things I still need as of right now are fresh bibs, wash cloths, hooded towels, baby wash, nighttime bubble bath, socks, pacifiers and bottles (I'm planning on nursing as long as possible, but for those times when Grandma and Grandpa will watch her, or I feel like letting Louis take a turn at the nighttime feedings I will need new bottles. I fell in love with Sydney's Born Free and Dr. Brown's!). All of these things are standard new baby necessities that every new mama needs, no matter how many kiddos you have.

*Make lots of meals to freeze for when I come home from the hospital and don't feel like cooking. My mom is going to help me with this task this weekend =)

*Deep clean my entire house! We are considering splurging on having a housekeeper come a week before my due date because God knows I won't be up to doing this, and I don't think Louis has ever scrubbed the bathroom before.

*Stock up on basic household necessities so my grocery shopping trips will be shorter and less frequent when she arrives- lots of toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates/cups/cutlery (to minimize dishwashing the first few weeks she is home), toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, cleaning supplies, and lots of nonperishable foods- oatmeal, pasta/rice a roni, cereals, bottled water, frozen veggies, etc.

I have a doctor's appointment this Friday and I believe that I will be seeing my doctor on a weekly basis from now until my delivery! We're definitely on countdown!!