36 Weeks

I'm a little late in putting up this pic since I'm now 37 weeks. An informative blog post should be up later this week.

Lots going on -
Tuesday  - meet and greet at Chapel Hill Pediatrics & UNC M Soccer v. Campbell
Wednesday - cardio appointment at Duke
Thursday - either Daren's church softball game or UNC W Soccer at NC State
Friday - ultrasound at UNC & UNC Volleyball at dook
Saturday - UNC Football v. NC State
Sunday - UNC W Soccer v Virginia in the first round of ACC's (fingers crossed Thursday night goes well)

Roy Williams Fast Break Against Cancer

This past Friday was the eigthth annual Roy Williams Fast Break Against Cancer. Proceeds raised from the event benefit the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center.  Total monies raised as of last year was 1.2 million.  This was my seventh year volunteering with the event, which is held on the same day as the first practice opportunity of the year for the Men's Basketball team.

It is hard to find someone who has not been personally affected by cancer. Daren and I both lost our father's to cancer far too early.  My father passed away on March 22, 2003 after an eight month battle with prostate cancer.  Daren's father passed away on August 3, 2005 from lung cancer after an off and on battle which lasted a few years. Neither of us met our father-in-laws.

Because this event is a breakfast, I had to be at the Smith Center at 630am.  Even on the weekends I am up by 6am. I don't know why. Heck, this would be considered sleeping in compared to when I used to get up for opening shifts with Cafe Carolina. So back to this Friday...the alarm went off around 515 or so. It was not easy to get up.  I also felt the need to take a bit of extra time and care with my hair and makeup. Well, this morning also became my first experience with Braxton Hicks. Not good timing. While getting ready I felt extreme tightness in my stomach. I thought going to the bathroom would relieve this pressure but it didn't. I'm not even sure how to explain how I felt. I will say that this was the worst I've felt during this entire pregnancy and the timing was awful. My role for the breakfast was to greet the guests and show them to their tables. I was trying to ignore the uncomfortableness/pain as I made my numerous trips across the floor of the Smith Center. I was finally able to sit down a little after 8am once the event began. I think it was shortly after the start of Coach Williams' speech that I realized I finally felt normal.

The breakfast was a huge success. I think a large reason the tickets were sold out because of Coach Williams' recent cancer scare.  We also had an amazing guest speaker in two time cancer survivor, George Karl. The silent auction and the live auction brought in additional money for cancer research. I even put in a bid on a Nascar experience for Daren and neighbor Larry to enjoy. I didn't realize how passionate Tar Heels fans are about Nascar. I didn't even come close to winning with my one bid.

One new thing this year was the addition of a Roy Williams' signed basketball on each of the tables. The idea was for the 10-16 people at the table to bid on the ball in the same manner as the silent auction. I was assigned three tables as my focus tables to inform them of this new feature. As I was talking with my tables, the Michael Jordan Nissan car dealership motioned for my attention. They wanted to have a second basketball available for their table on which to bid. I scrambled and ended up snagging the basketball from the UNC Baseball table.

The event ended around 9am and I had to head back to the office to take care of my coaches.  As I was leaving the building I came upon some of the guys from the Michael Jordan Nissan car dealership. They thanked me for getting them the second ball.  What happened next really surprised me. The gentleman said, "Here, take the ball as a gift for your baby." I tried to refuse informing him that he had bought the ball, but he was persistent and insisted that I have the ball. So, I eventually graciously accepted.

Now I need to find a place for Bean's basketball. I hope the Carolina blue fits in with the gray and yellow.  I'm writing this on Sunday and so far Friday was my only episode with Braxton Hicks. Will I be so lucky to make it these last three weeks without anymore? I would love that.

34 weeks

We are now counting the weeks on one hand. That is a text sent to me by my good friend Layna. My little sister sent me a post via Facebook on September 28th "only 39 more sleeps until Bean is here!"

34 Weeks

Friday was another ultrasound and visit with Dr. Vora. Everything is looking good.  No changes in regards to the omphalocele. Bean is measuring around 3 pounds 9 ounces. I've also had two non-stress tests (NST). These tests are a breeze. I will continue going in once a week for an NST and visit with Dr. Vora. I'm not sure if there will be another u/s prior to the c-section. We are becoming regulars at the hospital. I'm getting to the point where I don't need to repeat my DOB or address when checking in for appointments. We say lots of hellos and goodbyes as we pass people in the hallway. The folks at UNC are just good stuff.

Pre-pregnancy, the doctors said I would need to have an echo done on my heart to make sure everything is good with my aorta. I've done all of my cardio doctoring at Duke Hospital since moving to NC. I asked if I could just have Duke send over the scans versus having UNC run the exact same tests.

Yes folks, this kid will be here soon. The nursery is mostly furnished and undecorated. I realize this kid won't care if the nursery is complete. This baby will be focused on eating, sleeping, and pooping. The wall decal arrived from Etsy earlier this week. I think we are going to enlist the help of some experienced decal-putter-uppers. We have a few living next door. I am going to to try and tackle making a mobile. Daren just needs to keep hanging stuff on walls. He does very well with taking directions. 

My stint as a part-time employee with Williams Sonoma has ended. I was there almost three years and loved every minute of it. The discount was also a good reason to stay. One of my managers is super talented when it comes to decorating cookies and cakes. Monte made the cookies we sent to family and friends when we announced the pregnancy. Sadly, I didn't take a picture of the beautiful cookies. Anyway, Monte had a present waiting for me on my last shift. Once again the man amazes me. I don't even know where he comes up with his creations. The pictures don't translate the amazingness of an elephant riding a diaper motorcycle. 

Concern versus Worry

I thoroughly enjoy attending Crosspointe Church in Cary. The sermons are user friendly. The nugget I pulled from Sunday's sermon was about concern versus worry.  Jonathon, our head pastor, spoke of the difference between the two and moved on to the rest of the message. I wanted to know more.

I'm not going to act like these are my words or thoughts. Google is your friend. I found the text below from Ascent Advising.

Have you ever found yourself repeatedly going over a problem in your head? Have you ever found that in so doing you have done little to actually address the problem? This, I would suggest, is worry. Worry is ruminating about an issue that is plaguing us without actually making substantive progress in addressing the issue.

This is in contrast to concern. Concern, I would offer, is solution oriented. Concern focuses on solving the problem, addressing the issue. It isn’t going over the same points over and over without adding value to the thought. It is coming up with options, setting priorities, drawing conclusions.

If we find ourselves spending more than just a few moments worrying about something, hashing over a problem, then rehashing it, we are wasting our valuable time to no avail.

When considering the differences between worry and concern, consider these distinctions:

• Worry distracts us; Concern focuses us.
• Worry disables planning; Concern helps us plan.
• Worry blurs our vision; Concern clarifies our purpose.
• Worry tends to give up; Concern perseveres.
• Worry exaggerates; Concern pinpoints problems.
• Worry focuses on self; Concern cares for others.

One of the most difficult things to do is to control what we think or how we think. Yet it is one of the most important tools we can possess. Control your thoughts by ridding yourself of worry, and focusing yourself on concern.

With six weeks to go in this pregnancy, I feel like Daren and I are securely in the concern category. I know those first weeks after the 18 week anatomy scan I was consumed by worry. The worry nearly destroyed me. I think our worry shifted to concern because of some big factors - all of the chromosome testing came back negative, finding supportive forums and blogs of others struggles and successes with omphaloceles, sharing the news with friends and family, lots of appointments with the great doctors of UNC.

Last Friday I had my first non-stress test for the baby. I was told to drink something cold and eat something sugary before the test. I went for a big ol' glass of pink lemonade. This might be my new favorite kind of test. I get to sit in a recliner for twenty minutes with belts strapped to my stomach. One belt measures fetal heart rate while the other measures contractions. Bean and I passed with flying colors. My next appointment is this Friday and I get another 20 minutes of relaxation.






 

32 Weeks

Time for another awesome picture of me standing in front of some random wall of our house. I think Daren is getting tired of these impromptu picture sessions. I told him we had to do a retake b/c he did a full body shot and included my slippers. Also, I'm not sure I like how this shirt photographs. I think it adds around 15 pounds. Approximate size of the baby is a squash. I've entered into the large fruit and vegetable time frame of the pregnancy.

The painting of the nursery will be completed tonight. Daren is currently finishing up the trim. I'm not sure I can convince him we should try and tackle putting together the crib since it is already 7pm. We have yet to eat our gourmet supper of chicken patties. Maybe we can squeeze in the crib on Saturday morning before heading to the UNC v. ECU football game.

We just booked my mom's flight to NC to come and meet the baby. Harriet will be here November 30th until December 8th. While visiting us she will take in her first UNC men's basketball game. I hope she is okay with heights because staff seats are in the nosebleed section of the Dean Dome.

This Friday I have my first nonstress test for Bean. I hope he/she cooperates and is moving and a grooving so this is a quick appointment.

30 Weeks and Odds & Ends

Friday was another ultrasound and visit with Dr Vora. No new organs have slipped outside and become a part of the omphalocele. That is very good news. Bean is measuring 2 pounds 11 ounces. Again, the tech had issues trying to get us pictures of Bean's face b/c the hands are always near the face. This kid just doesn't like to have pictures taken.

The visit with Dr Vora was short and sweet. Nothing new in the u/s meant we didn't have a whole lot to talk about. I did ask about my gestational diabetes test. I asked if no news was good news. Dr Vora said my level was 1.01 and anything under 1.4 is a pass. Good to know I can continue to have Lucky Charms and a big glass of OJ for breakfast.  We also asked about if we should be getting the flu shot. Dr Vora said we both need to get the shot (prior to the birth) and the pertussis vaccine after Bean is born.

We did ask Dr Vora about scheduling the date for the c-section. As long as Bean doesn't decide to come early, we will meet he/she on November 6th.

My next visit will be in two weeks for a non-stress test for Bean.

On to the odds and ends -

Last weekend we made a quick trip to PA for the wedding of Daren's high school and college classmate. We had a bit of a housing shuffle as Daren's mom came down with bronchitis. The wedding was a great time and Daren was able to visit with high school friends. Even rain from Isaac couldn't stop this party.

Sun Yi, named by my best friend Joell, will soon be leaving the family. I bought my 'onda Civic more nine years ago. Sun Yi has been good to me. I've put almost 155,000 miles on my car. My new ride is being built and won't be here for about eight weeks. It will be a race to see which gets here first - my car or Bean.

The nursery has a first coat of paint. The room will be daffodil yellow...and it is really yellow. Daren said this is the last room in the house he is painting. I'll give him a break for about a year before I inform him we need to paint the second bathroom upstairs.

Tomorrow is Daren and my second wedding anniversary. Today is a perfect fall day. September can be a mixed bag in NC. It can either be the start of fall or a continuation of the 90 degree heat of summer. I'm trying to remember if our wedding weekend was hot...all I remember is that rain/mist started to fall during our pictures. The ceremony was delayed about 15 minutes b/c everyone was trying to decide if the ceremony was happening inside or out. I didn't care. All I wanted to do was get married. Two years have passed and we are going strong. Thank you Dottie Davis for introducing me to my future husband.

The growing Streett family will be spending the 2012 holiday season in Cary, NC.  We were supposed to be in PA for Thanksgiving and IA for Christmas. I will finally get to see our neighborhood lit up on Christmas Eve with luminaries. I'm hoping for a white Christmas.

Nursery Update

Just checked with PBK about the status of the nursery bedding I ordered in May. It has been delayed until November.  I cancelled the order.  Bye bye yellow Harper Elephant bedding. Now we are going to go with the Taylor nursery bedding. Still elephants...but in gray. This means Daren can start painting the nursery this weekend.

Taylor Nursery Bedding - "borrowed" picture from PBK