For Tasha - please pick your top three in case one has sold when I get to the ordering.

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P.S. if your really not feeling any of these just be honest, thats why i'm asking you, i want to make sure its your style, not mine :)

2 WEEKS!!

I had my doctors appointment with the high risk obstetrician yesterday. I was pretty nervous about it because (like all doctores) i had heard very mixed opinions of him. Also because i knew that there was a strong possibility that they would want me to stay with him for the remainder of the pregnancy instead of with the obstetrician that I have been seeing the entire pregnancy (who i'm comfortable with and is female). I know lots of people were praying for me and for the appointment and man did i feel those prayers once the Dr came in! The appointment went well and I felt quite comfortable with him right away. He did an ultrasound and was pleased that baby is right on track still. He estimates baby is just over 5lbs. While I don't put much stock in their ultrasound estimates, this is a very accurate size for where I'm at when I take into consideration when my other three were born and what their sizes were. He looked over all my previous blood work and ordered a ton more. He also ordered weekly NST's (non-stress tests), and a 24 hour urine test (fun). He then told me that due to my low platelets he is planning to get baby out at 37 weeks! This really isn't shocking news to me. I have known all along that this baby would most likely be delivered between 35-37 weeks. But when the Doctor actually says "here is the plan", its like AHHHH!!! My other Dr always gently evaded giving me any answers as to what her plan was if my platelets got to low and I know the main reason is that she has never dealt with this pregnancy issue before. I know she was very eager for me to get to the high risk ob.
So I got all my blood work done yesterday, 24 hour test today and then my first NST tomorrow. I'm scheduled to see him again next wednesday. Hopefully at that appointment we can nail down a more specific day for the induction so my lovely sister in-law can book the time off to watch my kids. I'm preparing myself emotionally for him to possibly change his mind or for labor and delivery to be too busy for me to be induced. But for now, i've got 2 weeks to finish all my pre-baby lists! I've been so on top of said lists though that I don't know that I have enough stuff to do to keep me busy!! Miraculously I actually slept pretty good last night, i was expecting to have delivery/baby dreams all night but I am feeling fairly well rested this morning, very nice :) Oh my, i just cant wait to hold this new little Penner!!!

I may not need them...but i want them :)

Brown Robeez booties in the smallest size

Aiden & Anais muslin swaddle blankets

Puj Tub

L'oved Baby sleeper and hat

Nearing the end

I do remember daydreaming about when i would be this close to the end of pregnancy, now that i'm here I have to remind myself of how little time is really left. I have come to that stage of the game when its a constant battle with my attitude. Generally i'm uncomfortable (in pain is more like it), not sleeping at all, queezy, grouchy....the list goes on. I need to find my rose colored glasses and put them on :) Baby is baking very well. He/She is still constantly on the move (ouch it hurts now) and this is very encouraging. I had my dr's appointment on thursday and it went okay. Baby was perfect and the Dr confirmed my suspicions that baby dropped. My platelets are back down to 65 but at least their still above 50. My Dr politly asked me to not have any more painful contractions until i reach 37 weeks, lol. This coming monday I have my appointment with the high risk obstetrician. I know it will calm my own Dr's nerves once I have seen him and I also get a bonus in office ultrasound out of the deal. I'm hoping that after this appoinment i can get some plan of action answers from my Dr. She has carefully evaded telling me what her plan is if my platelets fall below 50 either before or after 37 weeks. I think she is avoiding answering because she has never dealt with this probelm before and wants the high risk oby's opinion. I would just like to prepare mentally for steroids or transfusions etc.
I have been getting the occasional painful contractions but there are sparse and very low on the pain scale. If I am remembering correctly this is the time when i started getting them with Noah and Lily as well so it doesn't really concern me.

I am very satisfied to have most of the pre-baby lists finished. I am done pretty much all the christmas shopping (including stocking stuffers), my deep freeze is full of prepared meals, the christmas tree is up and decorated (much to my kids delight), and baby's clothes are washed. I think we may have even decided on names (i'm not saying what just yet though). There are very few things left to buy from my baby needs lists and really most of them are wants. I just might have to do another seperate post on that front :) I'm daydreaming about holding this new baby and finding out if its a boy or a girl!

point form update..

*my platelets went down to 64 last week
*they went back up to 79 this week
*baby's favorite thing to do is push really hard on my hips
*I'm pretty much done unpacking the new house
*I've started packing baby's hospital bag
*I'm super exhausted all the time
*The kids all think its funny that they can all walk faster than me
*We still haven't chosen names for baby
*The only baby items left to get on my list are a change pad for the change table, the snowsuit, gripe water, and Ovul.
*Lily said sadly yesterday that there wasn't enough snow yet for baby to come out