4 days out - my worst fear

Induction Day is scheduled for 18 January.
Last appointment I was +23 pounds...I don't know how I keep going up and down in weight - it must be what I am wearing that day.
Last weekend, I had my maternity photo shoot and I it was COLD, but so fun!  I got a few jumps on the trampoline - finally!  And the kids definitely told the photographer that I was going to pee my pants.  They were, unfortunately, right.  I had to do an outfit change after the jumping.  Well worth it for the pics!

My doctor, Dr. Luecke, told me at my appointment about a woman who came into labor & delivery with her 4th pregnancy and she wanted her epidural, but she was already 7cm and the doctor told her too bad, it was too late.  THIS IS MY BIGGEST FEAR!

I was 3cm dilated at my last appointment and I have never really felt a contraction.  SERIOUSLY!  I haven't really even had braxton-hicks.  I am not sure if that is lucky or what...but right now I'm fearful!  It keeps me up at night.  Every weird pain or feeling, I'm not sure if it's a contraction.  What if I'm the woman who comes into the hospital 7cm and no epidural.  That would be TERRIBLE!!!  HORRIBLE!!!
I know that women do it all the time and I respect those women...but I just want my normal medicated, easy labor and delivery...why try and do it the natural way NOW!?!?  I have very fond memories of my 3 other deliveries - with Elli I was nervous, but it was great, Hank's I specifically remember it being the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy and I remember asking the anesthesiologist if we could turn the TV up so I wouldn't miss anything.  With Jake, the Redskins were on and they were actually beating up on Dallas.  So, you see, I just want my normal labor and delivery that I have had with the past 3 pregnancies.

So, yesterday, I was annoyed with the boys' bedroom set up, so I felt that I HAD to move the furniture (2 beds and a small dresser) while Jake was napping.  Hank sort of helped, but I am definitely in the mode where I am not waiting for Daniel because a) he usually falls asleep when he gets home, after he eats and b) I have ZERO patience right now, ZERO!

We are going to attempt to go to Ikea today and get some dressers for the boys' room and for Emma's room.  Her crib isn't even set up yet...but the pack and play in our room is - is this a bad sign already???  I also noticed yesterday that I have no baby clothes for her.  But, thank goodness, my cousin Lauren saved her stuff...this is my saving grace right now.  I went through all the stuff I saved for Elli, but since she was born in June, everything is short sleeved.  Like, I said, thank goodness for Lauren!  She is a life saver - Lauren, if you are reading this - THANK YOU!!!  (consider that your thank you note as I haven't written one since before June - sorry).

We are also going to try and stop and see Nana and Pop-Pop.  We haven't seen them since Christmas Eve.  So, this will probably be the last visit for a couple of weeks...because everyone knows that I hibernate in my house during this time of year and it will probably be freezing and unless I have to take a kid to school or activity, I am content at home.

Oh, I lost my mucous plug this morning - I know this doesn't mean much, bc you regrow one every 24 hours or something like that, but it was still exciting!!!

Alright, very random post today...sorry, my brain is in a million different places - nesting, organizing, TRYING to get a grip on all the toys in my house....ugh!

Also, I found a new blog obsession and this woman has been all over Facebook, but her blogs are hysterical and I find that I can totally relate to her.  And, she has an interesting name - Glennon.  If you haven't read her or heard about her, please do.  I especially like the Target blog with the sports bra and gym and also the one where she takes her kids to the doctor for various things and one time they tell her that her son's eyes look crossed because he is part-Asian.  It is really funny!!!

New obsession

Confession...I have a new obsession.

After submitting my non-entry (that's what we are going to call it because I hate to get my hopes up that I will actually get picked...because of reasons 1 and 2 from yesterdays post) to Baby Center I found another blog about feeding your baby regular (not pureed baby) food at 6 months of age.  This couple that has a regular blog on Baby Center seemed awesome and they were trying something that I had never heard of...and since my children don't have the palates for all the veggies I would like them to have, the baby led weaning (I think that is the official name) is something that I think I will try with Baby Emma.  So, after reading their success with their baby, it led me to their blog.  WOW!  They are AMAZING!!!  They have totally renovated/redecorated 2 houses.  They are still in progress of their 2nd house, but it seriously looks AMAZING!!!  I want to copy their style and all their ideas.  I LOVE Pottery Barn, and wish I could afford to decorate my house from a Pottery Barn magazine, but the reality is that I am cheap.  The Petersik's have re-designed, decorated EVERYTHING in their house.  They have done everything on a budget and they seem like such down to earth people - I'm obsessed!  AND, they live in Richmond, so we are practically neighbors. 

So, another goal of mine...after baby #4 comes along, of course, is to re-decorate or just decorate considering most if not all of our furniture is hand-me-downs (thanks to our good friends, Mike and Ellen Fergus) and do a little more decorating, painting, DIY'ing.  We'll see if I have the energy after chasing after 4 kids under 4-years-old.  Hmmm...it makes me tired just thinking about running after 4 kids. 

But, we have a lot of work to do in our house (which is only 3.5 years old).  Anyway, their blog is called, Young House Love and it is awesome!!!  They even had their wedding in their back yard!!!  AMAZING!!! 

Check it out, I'm sure you will be obsessed too!!!

Oh, we also had an exciting morning at the dentist.  Hank had a cavity (between his two front teeth, of all places) a few weeks ago when we went for our 6 month check-up.  (Insert Mother of the Year award here:)  So, this morning was the big day.  They don't do Novocaine, they do laughing gas, so this made me a little nervous....OK, A LOT nervous.  But, he did so great!  I was such a proud mama!  The tech turned on Toy Story 3 for him, he put his sun glasses on, and chose to have bubblegum (although he called it Gummy Bear) scented gas mask on and he did great.  The whole process took about 40 minutes.  I asked the doctor if she could shave a little bit of the tooth so I could actually get a piece of floss between his teeth, which she happily did after she couldn't get the floss between his teeth.  (No wonder he had a cavity there.)  And, since he wasn't numb, he could eat right away, so he wanted Dunkin Donuts munchkins after he got 3 prizes, a new toothbrush and stickers from the dentist office.  So, that was our excitement for the morning.  Phew, so glad he did so well!!!