I woke up about 3:30 am because I was feeling crampy...and it's not that the cramps hurt or anything, it's just uncomfortable. Well, they do hurt...but I'm still so confused about this whole contraction thing. I mean, from what I heard and described to the doctor, they do sound like contractions...but I was thinking they would hurt more like some sort of unbearable pain. These just feel like uncomfortable period cramping and I don't know of those are contractions or not. I wish there was a hot button or something that flashed when you were having a contraction so you would know for us in-the-dark, first-time preggo women. Ugh...SO CONFUSED.

I still have so much stuff to do too. If I don't feel so incredibly shitty that I can't do anything today, I'm going to just throw everything that was in my trunk that I wanted to keep (we ended up throwing it in the back seat of my car) and bagging it up in the big 30 gallon garbage bags...haul it inside and go through it later. I absolutely have to make sure that the baby has his seat in the car so if I do actually go into labor these next few days, we can actually take the little guy home. I'm so lazy that I've not even gotten that done yet...and with all this fucking snow we've been having, it's really hard to actually do anything outside to get it cleaned up. It's depressing...

Still need to pack my overnight bag for the hospital (YES, I know...why am I doing that right now? I'm LAZY!!!)...

Found a good list of what things that I probably should pack.

LIST, listed below:

• Your birth plan (I don't have one...whatever happens, happens)
• Your insurance card and any hospital paperwork you need (already checked into the hospital, so I don't need to do anything of this)
• Your eyeglasses, if you need any. Even if you usually wear contacts, you'll probably need or want to take them out at some point during your stay. (check...I'm blind without them, so they'll be on my face at all times)
• A hair band and barrettes, if you think you might want them (yes, my hair pisses me off anyway, so it's in a ponytail most of the time now)
• Lip moisturizer (got that...use it daily as it is - dry, winter weather)
• A bathrobe, nightgown, slippers, and a couple of pairs of socks.(got a pair of pajamas and whatnot that I want to wear after I have the baby, have two pairs of slippers because my feet get cold, and I have a long, fleece bathrobe...I'll be wearing this! Hospitals are cold!!!)
• Something to read, if you're so inclined (I might bring a magazine with puzzles to do to hold me over...they've got a TV with a DVD player and all that, so I might just watch TV and a movie instead of reading...reading takes too much thought and I suppose I'll be in a lot of pain)
• Massage oils or lotions, music, an extra pillow, whatever you need to help you relax. (I don't think I'll be bringing any of this...the only thing that I'm bringing to help me relax is a stuffed kangaroo that used to be Brian's when he was younger and it'll keep me focussed...I'm all about the stuffed animals)
• Talismans, a picture of someone or something you love, anything you find reassuring. (I'm going to bring the picture of my dog and whatnot that I have next to my bed...at least make it feel a bit like home for the time being - I'll probably grab the picture of me and my dad too because he won't be able to be here and I'm crossing my fingers that my mom will physically get to be here when it's all happening...if not, I'll bring a picture of her too)
• Money for parking and change for vending machines. (They gave us free parking passes...and honestly, if you get there and leave late enough, it's free anyway because the little booth closes down)
• A few basic toiletries, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant.(A MUST HAVE...I will definitely want to take a shower or something after the baby is born...after I sleep a little bit)
• Some snacks and something to read during the early stages. (Me, I can't have anything at all once I'm admitted to the hospital during the whole labor thing because I'll automatically be on an IV, but possibly for Brian...and anyone else. They'll want something)
• A camera/video camera and film or tape or a memory card and batteries. (Check...need to charge my camera though, but other than that...the camera is good to go)
• A bathing suit. If your partner wants to take a bath or shower during labor, you may want to jump in with her. (haha...Brian doesn't need a bathing suit...I might like the idea of going in the bathtub, but he doesn't have to go in there with me...hehe...he can just sit on the side...it's a jacuzzi!)
• A nursing bra, breast pads, and maternity underwear, if you'd prefer not to wear the net panties they'll give you at the hospital. (Got that...having trouble finding a nursing bra, but then again, I haven't really been looking...I'm sure whatever I have will do for now until I can get a legitimate one)
• Your address book and prepaid phone card or cell phone. After the baby's born you'll want to call family and friends to let them know the good news. (Most of this is stored into my cell phone...the important people I would want to call anyway and my mom's got her phone book in her purse, so she'll call everyone)
• A going-home outfit. Bring something roomy and easy to get into (Check...need something to wear home from the hospital...they say to wear something you could have worn when you were 6 months pregnant and since I was wearing the same clothes, I don't think that should be a problem...I've only gained 15 pounds this entire time)
• An infant car seat. You can't drive your baby home without one! (THIS WILL BE IN THE CAR BY TODAY...I PROMISE)
• A going-home outfit (one-piece stretchy outfits are easiest) and a snowsuit if it's very cold (Got that...He's got a little snow suit and he's got a big nightgown type snow suit that's all fleece (it sort of looks like a bunting bag) - I need to find an outfit I want him to wear when he goes home...I washed all the clothes, so it shouldn't be that hard)
• A receiving blanket (a heavy one if the weather's cold) (Yup...bringing a receiving blanket to swaddle him up anyway and then I've got about 10 fleece blankets to choose from since it's been about 20 degrees here)
• A pair of socks or booties (got that...I figured he'd need socks because it is REALLY cold outside...and I'm bringing him little mittens too. I don't want his hands to freeze right away...if I'm wearing gloves, he's gonna wear gloves)
• A cap (although they'll usually give you one at the hospital)(Got this too...hat is very important here in Denver with the cold COLD weather...Brian and I about burned our faces and ears standing out in the cold wind yesterday because we weren't wearing hats or earmuffs)
• Baby nail clippers or emery board.(I don't know if these are necessary if I just make him wear mittens at the hospital...he won't scratch his face if his hands are covered)

I think this list is a good place to start. I think one thing the list didn't say was changes of clothes for at the hospital. If I'm there for a two days or so, they said that we could dress the baby in whatever we'd like as the hospital is only required to send the baby home in a diaper (WOW...even in the middle of the winter, only a diaper)...and I mean, if we want him to look cute in the hospital, he can wear his own clothes and all (before he grows out of them right away)...SO, I might pack him a few nightgowns or something just in case.

Other than that...I'm a little chilled at the moment. It's only 5:15am and I had shut the heat off in the house because it was a blazing inferno...now it's a frigid 65 probably...my feeties are freezing off!

Wow.. Long list... I hope you have everything prepared.. And, all the best..

Well.. thanks.... I improvised a bit from a recipe I got from a friend of mine...
» Xboyz on 2007-01-07 07:40:37

Yeah...
good luck to you guys on pulling that off again hehehehe
» etheracide on 2007-01-07 09:52:31

the first time I was stuck out of Denver because of the snow. Then I went skiing and I was on the other side of the divide, where it wasn't snowing, so I was stuck out of Denver again, and then I came back finally and left for the east coast, and right after I left it started snowing like mad again. I don't think I was ever in Denver when it was actually snowing!!!

Well I am SO excited about your baby. You will have to post soo many pictures. I hope your mom gets there in time and everything goes well. I bet she could describe for you how contractions feel so that you'd know if these were contractions or not. good luck!!
» Zanzibar on 2007-01-07 02:52:02

Jeez that's a lot of stuff.

Hope you feel better.
» randomjunk on 2007-01-07 06:11:12

wow, that's some list. seeing and hearing {I guess reading would be appropriate, but whatever} all the stuff you have to go through makes me even more sure that I don't want kids. But who knows, maybe one day, much later in the future, after I've found and been with that one special person. . .
Anywho, thanx for the get well wishes. I hope you're cramps/contractions ... uhm... well, I hope you don't suffer too much. I don't want to have them go away cuz that would mean something is wrong right? So I just hope you feel better soon. :)
» LostSoul13 on 2007-01-07 08:36:49

A lotta stuff and they're all logical except the shower/tub part...ah-wha?! 0.0 But aside from that, GOOD LUCK! XD Can't wait to see the little darling~~!
Oh, and Lunar New Year is Chinese New Year--according to Lunar calendar. ;)
» Silver-dot- on 2007-01-07 08:54:49

Then maybe I should move there! XD I'll get to play with your little baby~~!
» Silver-dot- on 2007-01-07 09:06:16

Uh oh! Time for the serious countdown! If it gets really bad, I hear TONS of garlic will help... aside from leaving you smelly :p
» ikimashokie on 2007-01-07 09:24:24

That's a lot of things to bring!! Wow... the snow must be really bad there. A hot water bottle will help the cramps or anything hot, to help blood circulation.
» Nuttz on 2007-01-08 01:59:16

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