Less than 3 weeks to go!

It's been a long time and for that I'm sorry. Life is quite busy these days, well when isn't it? Last week Tuesday my appointment went well. I was measuring big the week before, hence the ultrasound, but last week I measured back at 37 weeks. I lost a little bit of weight or I ate too much before my last appointment, but she wasn't concerned about that. Everything else looked good, heartbeat was good.

Gary's Grandpa Tidd passed away on Saturday September 15. He was physically in good health for the most part, but hasn't wanted to be around for quite awhile. So everything finally caught up to him and he passed away peacefully in his sleep that night. So we were busy visiting out of town family and attending the viewing and funeral on Thursday and Friday.

Friday night after dinner and dessert with Gary's family, we headed out to Chicago for the weekend. Saturday morning was my baby shower with my side of the family. We had it at Blueberry Fields in the loft where we played a lovely game of guess the melted chocolate bar in the diaper. What a waste of good chocolate. Hehe. :) Then we had breakfast and opened gifts. We got a lot of great stuff to get us going for this new baby from a Diaper Genie, lots of bath stuff, blankets, books and so much more. It was great to see everyone again! I'm thankful for my step mom, sisters and aunts for putting it together for me, it meant a lot to me.

We also had to say goodbye to our pseudo grandparents, the DeYoungs. They've lived in the neighborhood and next door way before we moved there and they've been apart of our lives since 1988. So many memories with them and to not know if we'll see them again is sad. They moved to Virginia to be closer to their son as Mrs. DeYoung is dealing with alzheimers. We'll miss them!

We had a great time with all the siblings being home, playing bags, talking and just having a great time. I know Dad and Martha were happy to have us all there, but probably ready for us to all leave too. :) On Sunday, we had a big picture taken with my great grandma VanNoort and all her kids. We also had smaller family pictures taken too. It's crazy to think I'm the oldest of the great grandkids and we're going to have great grandma's first great great grandchild! We also got to visit Grandma and Grandpa Boss before heading out. This would be the last time we're in Chicago without a baby! That's what's crazy to me.

On Monday, I had my pre-registration at the hospital. That went well, got some free stuff, got paperwork filled out and everything for me and the baby to get there. With that, I met with the anthesiologist and with great joy I'd like to say I'm able to have an epideral. :) My dosage is low enough to where it won't matter when I've had my last shot. So he went through how it works and I'm signed up for that. :) Yay!

Today is my 37 week appointment. So all should go well there. I'll update the blog when I'm done at some point. I'm starting to get very slow, sore and my feet are swelling up now. It's been a really good pregnancy but now that I'm really feeling the aches and pains of it, I'm ready for it to be done.

Keep praying for us as we're nearing the end and that God will provide the proper employment for Gary. We are still patiently waiting for word on a few jobs that he's had a couple interviews with. Gentex said today that they are still interested in him and will get back to him with a final decision in the next week or 2. Patience. :) Until then, we continue to follow up, apply and interview until GFS is done. God has been good to us so far and we'll continue to feel that way. If Mr. Mom is the title, so be it. I think it's awesome and from there, we'll figure things out.

Well off to lunch as I'm starving!

Love,
Gary & Christie

5 Weeks Left!

It's crazy when I think about when I started this blog back when it was snowing, Gary was still in school and we were still living at the apartment. Now we have 5 weeks left till this little person changes our lives forever. It's a completely welcomed change and one we've been waiting for for quite some time now.

Last week's ultrasound came back today (finally) and said everything looked good and still checked out for October 16. From now on, I'll have an appointment weekly until the baby arrives. Next one is Tuesday. I think next week we'll have to go in to do a pre-registration at the hospital so when I get there when the big day comes, we're ready to rock. I'll be meeting with that person and also with the anesthesiologist in regards to whether an epideral is an option and what other things we need to keep in mind. Hopefully I can, otherwise the baby will get here somehow, whether it's natural, c-section or I get completely knocked out. I'm open to whatever needs to be done, as long as we both come out healthy in the end.

The baby's room is still at the same point of needing flowers, some bees and a Bible verse. We get so busy that I can't seem to find the time to finish it up. I will have it done this weekend and Gary will clear coat it next week. :) That's my goal. Then we can put the crib together, start putting the baby stuff in there and we'll be that much closer! We also got our stroller/car seat set up. It's the Cadillac of stollers/car seat set ups we've been told. It only took us 40 minutes to put together (my dear father in law keeps adding time on as he was thoroughly entertained by Gary and I last Sunday). We'll get that fitted properly in the car before the baby comes. We also received yet another generous gift of clothes and bath time stuff from my mother in law's friend Carol. She's too good to us and we greatly appreciate it!

With anything in life, you go on a rollercoaster of emotions, feelings, doubts, and joys. We've been on that rollercoaster with Gary's job search. Just when we feel we've run out of options or feel like we've lost patience in the process, God brings us back up and provides more opportunity. Gary is currently on his 2nd round internview at Gentex (with only 1 left), has another interview at Zeeland Hospital tomorrow and had a few more replies on his applications. We're praying that something works out soon, but if it's not where God wants Gary, then we'll keep looking. Gary and the baby have a pact that it can't come until he gets a job. Hehe. It's so cute how he talks to it everyday. It might know daddy better than mommy when it gets here!

Otherwise we're doing good. Wednesday we went to a Whitecaps game with friends and family, visiting friends tonight, the races on Friday night with Grandpa Tiemens and a GVSU football game on Saturday night with Gary's family. Busy weekend, but fun! Then next weekend we'll be heading home for the shower, a big family picture and visiting with family as we haven't been home in awhile. On top of that, keeping up the house, getting things ready for the baby and just relaxing a bit.

Until Tuesday, have a great and cool weekend (pictures to come soon for this post)!
Love,
Gary & Christie

It's getting closer....

Time is going by a little quicker now. I had my 34 week appointment on Tuesday. Everything looked and sounded good, but I was measuring at about 38 weeks instead of 34 weeks. I had been measuring about 2cm bigger than I should the last month or so, but that could be the baby's position, me or it's just going to be a big baby. So they scheduled me for an Ultrasound to take measurements of the baby on Thursday. The technician said by the machine that everything seemed to be aligned with my due date, so we'll see what the doctor says on Monday about the actual results. In the meantime, we did get to see the baby again. It doesn't all fit in one picture anymore but we got a few more cute shots of the baby. No, we still didn't find out what it was. :) It is about 5 pounds 6 ounces or so, should be around 17" in length. Heartbeat was a good 142 (too close to the 140 mark to think it's a boy or a girl).

Today, we took our all day "New Parents Birthing Class" at Zeeland Hospital. We are much more informed as to the stages of labor, different types of births, breathing techniques and a lot more. I feel more prepared now and feel that whatever I have to do, I can do it. We took a tour of the birthing center. It's a beautiful new hospital and each person gets their own birthing suite. You can comfortably fit 25 people in the room standing up and still have room around the bed (don't get any ideas people, Gary only until after the baby is here). It's very quiet and not terribly busy, only about 2-3 births a day they average. So it was a good experience today, seemed like it would be a long day, but it went by quickly.

The baby's room is about 85% done. We have the flower/rock garden, cattails and verse to put up yet and then we can clear coat the room. The crib should be here, if it's not already, soon and we're anxious to put it up. I'm ready to fill the room up with the baby's stuff and prepare it for what's left to get.

We spent Labor Day weekend with family and friends. Saturday, Gary, Alex and I went up to Silver Lake to spend the day with our aunt and uncle at the dunes. Alex and Gary even pulled up the dune so I could hang out with the rest of them. This was the first time I swam all summer too, that was nice. Sunday we had Gary's family over for dinner. Monday we went to our friends Joe and Diane's parents house on Fremont Lake for the afternoon/evening. We mostly relaxed, ate and took a boat ride. It was a busy, but nice weekend.

Gary's work at GFS is going well. He's able to stay there until the end of October if need be. He's still actively looking for a job, doing follow ups with other interviews and patiently waiting to see where God wants him. We know he has a plan for us, we just have to be patient. My work is going fine, just preparing the office and staff with much needed organization before I head out for awhile. It'll be interesting there, but they'll manage. :) We're working on a few side work projects, so that keeps us busy.

Otherwise, we're into the full swing of baby season as Kathi is due tomorrow. A couple other high school friends are due in a couple weeks, then it's on to my roommate, an old friend and myself in October. It's fun to think that we're all going to have kids the same age. My Chicago shower is on the 22nd. That should be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Just keep us in your prayers as we get into the last month of the pregnancy, that the right job for Gary will come through and that everyone else has a good rest of the pregnancy and delivery.

I'll put an update up after I hear back from the doctor on the Ultrasound. Baby Tidd could make it's way here a little earlier or as a plump little thing!

Love to you all,

Gary & Christie