We are completely infatuated with little Miss Phoebe Opal, born on 11/12/13. She’s so perfect.  More to come!

Week 38 (or what feels like Year 2) has come and will be gone as of tomorrow when I officially hit 39 weeks. My health is pretty much unchanged except my PUPPS remedies seem to not be working as well anymore for whatever reason. Oh well, just a little longer.  Surely I can deal with the itching for another week or so… or less.  Ack… sometimes I wish I just knew when she was going to arrive as surprises drive me crazy and I much prefer to plan things.

As for Baby Girl, she is doing good.  Strong heartbeat and all of that good stuff. I had one semi-paranoid moment this past week where she wasn’t moving much, so I called the midwives just to be on the safe side.  They asked me to come in right away, so I did, and of course that was when she started moving and perking up again.  They still did a non stress test, but it was of course all fine and dandy.  So… we just keep waiting and try to be prepared as possible each day.  I’m okay if she waits a few more days, though, as Enzo’s cough isn’t any better.  We’re nebulizing him again because it sounds like he’s getting a wheeze and if he’s sick the pediatrician says we shouldn’t let him near Baby Girl when she’s born, and I think that stresses me out more than anything. I don’t want things to start out with him being kept out of arm’s reach of mama and his new sister, so perhaps she’s picking up on that and is patiently waiting until she has the all clear. 😉

Thanks to some good ‘ole nesting, I think we got all the major things done around the house that we needed to this week.  Car seats, check. Co-Sleeper, check.  Hospital bags packed, well… almost. I still need to make a playlist of music and prep Enzo’s stuff as he will most likely be staying with his aunt and uncle and cousin when we head to the hospital.

Most importantly, though, we’ve picked movies to watch.  At first I didn’t think we’d use them when I grabbed movies to watch while waiting for Enzo, but they came in really handy with him.  Now I can fondly recall watching ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ while laboring in the tub.  Plus it was nice afterwards when it was just Josh and I and we needed a distraction while Enzo was in Special Care, which I’m hoping doesn’t happen again with Baby Girl.  I would love to have fewer people in the room this time around and would love to get to spend time with her rather than having her rushed away so soon after.

Anyhoo, as for the PUPPS – I think all of my remedies are actually working!  The itchiness is vastly improved and the rash itself has started to disappear, and while it’s not gone entirely, it’s fantastic to not feel like I want to rip my own skin off!

Also, if the midwives are right, then Baby Girl is around 7 pounds right now and that could mean if she waits for her due date she could be even bigger than Enzo was, but for sure at least 8 pounds.  Josh thinks she just feels bigger because she’s going to have long limbs like her mama – time will tell!

It’s been a pretty busy week as we continue to get things ready for Baby Girl’s arrival. I finally got all of her clothes away and we put together the swing and bouncy chair as well. Next we’ll probably set up the co-sleeper and most importantly make sure the car seat is installed and ready to go.  It’ll be good for Enzo to get used to seeing it in the car anyway.

As for me… the PUPPPS is becoming more manageable.  My midwife gave me a prescription for an antihistamine that is supposed to help me sleep, and it does… slightly.  I’ve also upped my dose of dandelion root and have started using Tea Tree Oil as well as Aveeno Eczema lotion and oatmeal baths.  I’ve only been doing all of these together for a few days now, so I do get hit with really nasty itching spells, but dare I say it? I think it might be working. I’ve also been drinking V8 juice every day since some people said that combined with other remedies helped.  I’m so desperate for relief, I’ll try anything.  The biggest thing is just remembering to do everything every day.  I ran out of the house this morning without the dandelion root, so it looks like I need to keep a stash at home and at work so I never miss a dose.  I just really need the last few weeks (if that) to go smoothly without horribly distracting itching getting in the way.

Only 5 weeks to go!!  I finally went to see a chiropractor this past week and wish I had done so sooner.  Now I just need to be better about doing my stretches daily and prepping myself for the big day.  They say the last month is the hardest, and I’d have to agree.  I just feel heavy and tired and the belly can be a tad cumbersome.

Don’t get me wrong, though – I’m just as nervous this time around as the first.  I do have a better idea of what to expect during labor, however, I also know that you can plan for nothing, so I really can only prepare so much as anything could happen. I could be in for another long delivery, or Baby Girl could decide to come fast and furiously.  While I’m not as nervous about becoming a parent again, I am nervous about having two kiddos. I remember how exhausting a newborn can be both physically and mentally, and now we’ll have a toddler who has his own routines and is used to being the center of attention, if you will.  I guess all we can do is prepare for the adjustment period and do our best to take it one day at a time as we create new routines and get used to becoming a family of four.  As of tomorrow only 4 weeks until our due date, which also means she could come at any time.  Let’s hope she at least waits until we get her room finished.  😉