Checking things of the list

With this baby scheduled to arrive in less then a week, we are busy checking things off the to do list before baby arrives

-Final night out tonight with friends for dinner & movie before our time of hibernation/sleeplessness nights set in
-Moved the boys seats around in the van
-Installed base & infant car seat, which I hope & pray is still up to code from 6 years ago
-Put together a borrowed crib from a dear friend, since Camers is still in our crib & I refuse to move him as he is as happy as a clam in there
-Stocked up on newborn/1st stage diapers, I forget how many newborns plow threw in the beginning
-Pulled out the dreaded breast pump for a cleaning & sanitizing
-Finally settling on a name

I hope I am not forgetting anything. Its seems like its been a long & anxiety filled pregnancy, so I am ready to get this show on the road and meet this new little one who will be blessing our lives!

Could be worse....

After a lengthy visit with the Pediatric Orthopedic doctor & additional x-rays today, Cameron picked a bright neon green, waterproof mind you, cast that has to be on for 2 weeks. The good news is that nothing is fractured or broken, but he does have an injury to his elbow. Therefore, they gave us the choice of having a cast put on or using a Velcro splint for 2 weeks. I decided trying to convince a two year old to take a splint on & off for two straight weeks sounded like way too much work and opted for a cast.

He was real brave during the whole visit sitting on my Mom's lap, as my big ol' belly gets in the way of him being able to sit comfortably, and was cooperative allowing the nurses to put it on. Both the doctor & the nurses stated was "an amazing cooperative 2 year old he was." If only I could say the same for him at home!

Cameron

We had our first trip to Urgent Care last night for a bodily injury, which is not bad considering Zach is almost 6.

Unfortunately, things are not boding so well for Cameron at the young age of 2 1/2. We aren't actually sure what happened, but somehow he fell at the same time his arm got caught/wrapped up in the spindles of the stairs, this took place while he was supposed to be quietly sitting in time out, mind you.

After about 30 minutes straight of crying (being the second kid, he normally bounces back pretty quickly after an injury) & his left arm being completely lifeless and him not moving it, we decided it was time to get it checked out.

Long story short, his arm is bandaged up, in a sling, and we have an appointment with Pediatric Orthopaedic to determine if its sprained or he has a hairline fracture. Either way, the timing really couldn't be worse for me as he now needs extra help with most gross motor tasks. He also seems to be in a great deal of pain and cries anytime I get even close to his arm. Keep him & us in your thoughts & prayers as we manage his pain & hope for a speedy recovery! Poor little guy....

Here it is

I'm not usually a big fan of posting pictures of myself, but due to popular demand, well, okay, two friends have asked that I post a picture myself in my full term pregnancy bliss.
Although, I'm not sure if you can have pregnancy bliss 3rd time around?

So here I am, in all my glory.... swollen, extremely pale, puffy, large & in charge, the list could go on and on...
I think since about Christmas my body has officially given up on having me enjoy my final few months. I have consistently been suffering from several challenging ailments, one being constant congestion & cough despite 2 rounds of antibiotics, & other ailments that I just can not share over the internet nor do my readers/supporters want to know.

But we are plugging along day to day and I am trying to not be a total crab as I am THRILLED that we are down to less then 3 weeks. My doctor says everything looks good, as over the last few weeks we have had an ultrasound & non-stress test to make sure baby is doing well. I didn't have either of these my last two pregnancies, not sure if its my age or what, as I'm getting close to that scary 35 :-(
He think that this baby is on pace to be about 8 1/2 plus pounds, as Zach was 7 plus & Camers 8 plus and its my 3rd. So I am happy that we will be having a scheduled c-section given the size this baby could be. But who knows? How accurate are their predictions anyway?

So, stay tuned as the official countdown is on. We can't wait to meet this new peanut & can only hope & pray for a safe delivery & healthy baby.
However, you heard it here first (no, we don't know despite "the envelope") my million dollar bet is on another boy....

in the potty throws

Just because I have nothing better to do with 3 plus weeks left to go of this pregnancy & just felt like being stuck at home, Cameron decided the other night he was ready to start with potty training.

Of course I realize the benefits in the long run & need to follow his lead and initiation, and that this is great as it means I will only have 1 in diapers instead of 2, but its just so MUCH WORK! He is doing great & I am very proud of him, so I am rolling with it & trying to appreciate the fact he only wants to wear big boy underwear.

But sitting in the bathroom with him for 20-30 minute stretches coaxing him to pee, which I have done 7 times already today and its not even 1pm, is slaying me!
My full term pregnancy body can only handle so much!!

Chicago's Childrens Museum

Last weekend we went downtown to Chicago's Childrens Museum and meet up with college friends, Duke & Kristin, although I didn't take any pictures of them or their 2 girls.

We had a great time exploring the museum and participating in all it has to offer. I am a big fan of this museum as were the boys.
We also managed to squeeze in a pub lunch with Duke & Kris before it was time to head back home.

We are trying to pack in some activities before we are a family of 5 which is less then a month away!

Zach digging for dinosaur bones in their new (new to us anyway) Dinosaur Exhibit.





Cam driving the bus



Zach about to climb the rope

bowling

New Years Day bowling...

Our New Years plans were a bust as everyone we had plans with were either sick or had sick kids! It was such a bummer, but so is life with kids. What can you do?


Since we were in bed on time, we spent New Years Eve day at the bowling alley. I wasn't sure how it was going go with Cameron, as this was his first trip to the alley, but with the help of bumpers & this contraption that allowed him just to place the ball & push it down the ramp, he bowled a 150! Pretty impressive for a 2 1/2 year old.