38 weeks...HE'S HERE!!!

Delivery Room...stayed here 4-5 hrs after the birth...
Delivery location...the cloth rope hanging by my head was put to good use.
Rorek getting weighed and measured 1hour after birth (looks quite chubby here, but this doesn't look like him to me).
Daddy

October 16, 2008
Rorek Kent Giere
1:15pm (1315)
8lbs 4oz (3750g)
20 inches (51cm)
38 weeks

We got to the hospital at 10:45am-ish, and Rorek was born by 1:15pm. Too quick for any pain meds, which in turn Ingrid has felt alert and rearing to go. Delivering in a German hospital will forever be remembered. We will post with pics soon.

36.5 weeks

if you can't tell, this is a profile of the baby's head
36 weeks, and still expanding ;)

i'm not a fan of my doctor anymore...he still says "he's big", and im pretty sure he didnt like the fact the hospital told me differently, they didnt seem to think being a week or so bigger was a big deal...now i wonder if one is measuring poorly or not...grrr!!!

according to my regular doctor...7.35lbs...12 days bigger than he should be

20 inches

heart beat is good

blood pressure is good

no contractions yet

will continue pricking my finger and injecting insulin until the babe is born

weigh a lot more than i have ever weighed in my lifetime ;)

i will go to the hospital nov 2 if the babe hasnt decided to come out on his own...

my appts will now be once a week, not much else to update...same ole stuff

Week 35- C section: to be or not to be

Today, I took the day off for a doctor appointment with the "new" doctor at the hospital where I will deliver. I got there at 940 to check in for my 10am appt....I didn't see a doctor until 1110am. I'm guessing someone was in the process of delivering, but I was not very happy with the wait.
I went to discuss the "much needed c section, and the size of our baby". My doctor of the day, said, " why were you told you needed a c section?" I replied with, " my baby is too big." She totallly disagreed with that statement and told me there is no reason for me to have a c section. The baby is at 35 weeks, but 36 week size, which is no problem (6.2 lbs). The same size he was 2 wks ago.....She then proceeded to say, do you want one? We can schedule one....So, I have scheduled a c section because I figured it would be easier to schedule one in person with the language issues, than try to do it over the phone, BUT I plan to cancel it after my next "old" doctor appointment (oct 8) if the baby is still not HUGE. My body is meant to deliver a baby and not go through a major surgery. If we go with the c section it would be Oct 21, which is during 38.5wks. So, I also figure he could come naturally before this and if not he would be induced at 40 wks due to the diabetes.....

So, in the next few days I will contemplate when I want to cancel my appt....I'd like to do it right now to get it all out of my head and my constant thoughts, BUT also like it as a back up until I hear how big he is in two weeks. All in all, I could do a natural birth but end up with a c section if things don't go well. AHHH!!! Who wants to make the decisions for me!!???

Work/Friend Shower

The Dad-to-be looks thrilled !?!? He definitely wants to attend another shower :)

Our very LARGE, YUMMY cake...if you look closely you will see our last name is now spelled with a "C" in the middle. My friend told me it was spelled wrong because we won't share the babies name.

Diapers Diapers Diapers...and I say that with great excitement!!!

We had our final shower today (semi surprise), at the school I work at. It was combined with my "friend shower" to make it easier. We had a great turnout, about 38 people attended or contributed to our baby's gifts. Plus Andrew was able to attend, which was a bonus for me since he is usually away during activities. We received a LOT of great presents: exersaucer, mobile, diapers, clothes, boppy, diapers, wipes, books etc, plus some nice gift cards for the PX and JcPenney. I hope to use the PX ones on more diapers or a few Step2 products (big plastic slide, car, picnic table, sand/water table). We will figure that out at a later date, well after the baby is born. Our son is definitely going to be spoiled by all of the wonderful things we received. I never thought so many people would contribute to the support of our child. It's unbelievable. We are very very fortunate.

PS the cake was the best cake I have had in a long time :) We got to bring it home, and we froze part of it so I can eat it after the baby is born...plus my coworkers brought appetizers to share that were also extremely good :)...I really do like food, and I admit I broke the carb rules for a bit...

Insulin :(

The day has arrived....I get the joy of giving myself an insulin shot, 3 times a day. Woohoo!! Just what I have always wanted to do. Which means I have to give myself the shot in my side/belly, prick my finger, and wait 15 minutes until I can eat a meal. This does not fit into a school schedule very well. One week from today is my doctor appt with the delivery doc, so I'm hoping he will want the baby to come out sooner, so I can go back to eating and not putting holes in my body.

Week 33

So, the wee one is still growing strong...about 6.17lbs, and 19.5" if I converted correctly. I have made an appointment with the delivery doctor on September 23 to discuss C sections, circumcision, epidural, and have an exam. My regular doctor is on vacation for 4 weeks, which means I may not see him again until the baby is born. We are now looking at the middle of October (37wks) for the arrival of our little boy (maybe not little)....I'm hoping we can use a few NB items and the 0-3 month clothes. I don't want to skip to 3-6 month items :(. But will keep you updated on the ETA.
Not much else here, just growing bigger in the belly...as my coworker said "you're all baby". I have a nice big firm belly. My back has begun to hurt, my ankles swell, and a bit of pressure in the belly. Still counting carbs and pricking my fingers 7 times a day.
My coworkers are having a shower for me before I stop working and a group of friends are also having one sometime soon. Neither group will tell me when, but I'm looking forward to a little social time and seeing everyone.

Happy 28 to Me....Hospital Tour

We spent my birthday going to work, relaxing, touring the hospital we will deliver at, and eating at McDonald's (fancy i know ;) ). The hospital was interesting to say the least. If we ever deliver in the USA, it will seem like a 5 star experience. Only one of the delivery rooms has a birthing tub, chair, ball, and table...the rest are much smaller with only a table. So, I'm hoping I am the first to arrive that day, first come first serve...Also, only half of the rooms have showers. The ones without require you to walk down the hall to the shower room to shower, and also to the diaper room to change diapers. I am PRAYING for a room with a shower and diaper changing area in the room. I do not want to have to leave my room to bathe and change diapers. You also keep your baby 24-7 and wheel them to the little eating area for meals. Only lunch is served to you, which is the big main meal of the day. Breakfast is cereal, boxed milk, and yogurt. Dinner is meats and cheeses that have sat out for an extended amount of time. I also plan to pay the extra 43 euro a nite to have a room to myself, only if the hospital isn't packed. I don't think I could handle the amount of family members they tend to have visiting, and some haven't caught on to the American ways of hygiene. Natural birth requires 4-5 nites and c section requires 7. Which will require a laptop computer for movies and books for entertainment. No TVs, and if they did it would be German TV.
Going to a German hospital requires you bring a LOT more with you....towels, wash clothes, robe, slippers, 4 nightgowns, underwear, socks, spray bottle, hair dryer, shampoo etc for showering, ice packs, money for phone calls, pop, water, snacks, nursing bras, nursing pads, etc etc. Only thing you need for the baby is an outfit to go home in. They provide all the clothing for his stay. Which is a lot of layers. The layers and blankets make you feel like the baby is going to die of heat.
When you arrive at the hospital you go straight to the maternity ward. You deliver your baby, and the next day is when you check in. How do they know who I truly am if I am not checked in? Positive is we get the head of the dept to deliver due to our insurance, and they tend to give the rooms with showers to our insurance too. He is also the only doctor in the area who will perform a circumcision...that is if he is not on vacation. In that case we have to drive to Heidelberg or elsewhere to get it done. Germans don't want to do it until the child is 1yo or not at all. Most doctors say it's not medically necessary so it's not needed. Often nurses will make Americans feel guilty about it all.
After, we leave the hospital we get the joy of all of the necessary paperwork to identify our child...soc sec, passport, insurance, base id, birth certificates (2: American abroad and German)...etc etc and within a week we have to visit the on base clinic to get checked on.....stressful...
Lots and lots of fun :) more and more hoops to jump through....and that summarizes the Army and the German hospital system....until I think of something else I find dumb...
We will head to the doc again on Monday to find out how things are going. I plan to ask about length vs weight and if there is a possibility of an early delivery/c section. Will update soon.