Post Christmas/Pre New Years

Greetings all - just a quick update to let you all know that we had a wonderful Christmas and are now back in Edmonton. We spent about five days in Calgary mostly with the family, eating and sleeping and relaxing as much as possible. Mom went way above and beyond with the food prep, and there was MUCH great feasting and visiting. We had a lovely time, but since coming home have already spent four hours in the emergency department - not for me or baby but for Geoffrey, who has developed a terrible throat infection that progressed to a high fever and chills late last night. We went in to the hospital at about 11:45, and spent until almost 4 in the morning getting him looked at and re-hydrated with some IV fluids. His fever broke while we were there, and we came home and got some much needed sleep. He is a little better today, but still fighting a terribly painful throat. SO, we are grateful that Baby Pagel is not making an early "New Years" appearance - we need a little time to get daddy feeling better so he will be well enough to coach me through MY hospital time!
I saw the Dr. yeasterday, and she let me know that I am still "closed" at this point, so my due date is still looking like it might be pretty accurate. Time will tell - I wouldn't be sorry to be wrong and to get this little boy out as soon as possible - I just want so much to meet him and hold him and enjoy being mom to him. The best Christmas present that is still to come...!!!

3 weeks to go!

This post has been a LONG time coming...our home computer has not be plugged in for about a month as we did our renovations to the baby's room, and we are JUST getting back to normal. Therefore, an actual tummy picture for the "tummy tales" has not emerged until now. It has changed a little...we think we have a future NFL linebacker or "Baby Beckham" soccer player in my belly - he is feeling rather HUGE! And I am looking rather huge, too, but mostly happily so! I have had a few issues of late - some upper abdominal and back pain that comes out at night and makes me very nauseous and mimics a flu-like feeling. They are checking me for gallbladder problems that are likely being exacerbated by the extra squishing that this little guy is doing to all my internal organs. I get very short of breath - playing the trumpet lately has been disappointing as I cannot for the life of me take a deep breath and sustain any long or high notes! (You wind players out there will understand my frustration). Continued swelling of my feet and ankles and legs goes on, I find time every day with my legs up in the air to alleviate this, but they are mostly in a perpetual state of "puffy". SO attractive!

School is now finished for me, and I know it will be difficult to stay away. However, I know once the baby is here that it will probably be the furthest place from my mind as I get to spend my days with him at home. In this weather, I will be glad to stay in - I can't imagine taking a little one outside in these horribly cold temperatures anyways. I can barely get MYSELF to get dressed and out the door!

Geoffrey worked his heart out to finish the baby's room, and I have to commend him on a job well done. But for a couple of finishing touches, we should have a very "zen" place for our little man. There is a crib waiting for us in Calgary that we hope will get here to Edmonton in the next week or so - not sure how or when, but we'll get it here sometime soon. It will really feel like it is "time" once that final piece of furniture is in place. Geoffrey's parents are coming for a visit at the end of January - they found an excellent seat sale and will be here for a little over a week. We can't wait to have them here! My mom is planning to drop everything and drive to Edmonton once I go into labour, so she may be with us when he is born (though not in the room - some things are sacred even to moms!) So, we'll have some good help and advice in the early days when I am sure to be a little overwhelmed. Nothing like grandparents to ease the transition!

I am on weekly Dr. visits, and will probably follow this up MUCH more regularly, so check back for more emerging news. I really think he is a good three weeks away yet - but we are still hoping he might come just a LITTLE early. We'll try all the old wives tale tricks to see what we can "encourage", but it really comes down to him!

Our little man!!!

There he is, the sleeping little man! We were SO thrilled to finally get the 3D ultrasound done yesterday, and here is the result. I cannot get over the clarity that you can see, it's just amazing!

The "little" man is weighing in about 5lbs 5ozs (!) already, which puts him a week earlier that his due date (not that you can count on that, but I suspect an early delivery myself...) So he really might be a New Years Baby after all!

Oh, and the real reason for the ultrasound was to see if my placenta had actually moved up - and it has, apparently, so we are all good to go as far as delivery. I see my Ob/Gyn this morning, but doubt there will be much to report. She always listens to his heartbeat, which is nice to hear. I imagine I'll be seeing her more regularly now - no more once a month, time to keep close tabs on this little one! A tummy photo is coming this week, Geoffrey says he thinks it has changed shape. All I see is BIG! : )

Greetings from preggo land...not having the best week of all time - both Geoffrey and I have been very sick with head colds/sinus infections, and I am worn OUT! I am finding that my energy is fading quickly each day, just getting showered and dressed in the morning is a real effort that tires me out. Most recently the heartburn/acid reflux is at a new high, and I find I wake up in the night from acid in my mouth - disgusting, and too much info, I know. Just ranting a little...on the up side, the baby is kicking like a mad-man, which I love as it is very reassuring that all is going well on the inside. He gets calm when his daddy talks to him, which is a good sign of who will be taking him when he screams!
Only another 4 weeks of work to go - lots to do in that short amount of time, but then I will do my best to stay away from the office and leave it in capable hands. I'm realizing just how hard that is going to be for me - who knew I was such a control freak? (Oh, all of you? Hmmm...) However, I will certainly be consumed with my new job as full time mommy, which I am really looking forward to.
Our friends Scott and Sara just had their second child this week - a daughter named Kaitlyn. We are so happy for them and can't wait to get the two babies together for some playtime in the New Year! Congrats, guys!
Photos to come - amidst the renos to the baby's room is our camera, which I have not fished out for a while. You can only imagine how big I am...but it's worth every pound! : )

New Poll!

My students are going to use my pregnancy as a fundraiser...they will ask people to pay for a vote on the date and time that the baby will be born. I thought that I should put a poll up here as well - but a free one! So watch for it and be sure to get in on the action.

Week 29

THIRD TRIMESTER!

The real countdown begins now...

How can there only be eleven weeks to go? I am shocked at how time flies! Here I am in my 29th week, wearing what had become my favorite shirt - more compliments on this one than any other. perhaps it is the vertical (if "curved") stripes! Whatever it is, it certainly doesn't hurt a pregnant woman to be told she looks good.

What's new in the 29th week? More of the same - swollen feet and ankles, load bearing pain in my lower abdomen, varicose veins popping up, fatigue, heartburn and acid reflux.But really, if that's the worst of it, I am not complaining! (Did I mention the hormones and that on days when I'm "up" there's little to no complaining...today is an "up" day. So, no complaining!)

Gearing up for a major performance with my Wind Ensemble this Friday night - should be a good'un. They had a great "moment" today that filled me with excitement. There were many other moments that were not stellar...but I'm sure they are just waiting to peak at the right moment. I'll be sure to let you know!

The Pagel clan in Denver

BRONCOS MANIA IN DENVER!!!!!!

Well, a different take on the belly...this is Baby Pagel's (and mom and dad's) first Broncos home game at Invesco Field in Denver. We brought his little jersey with us just for this photo opportunity - notice that he is Pagel #1! We had a great weekend in Denver visiting our friends Caryn and JR, and witnessing a terrible loss for our team. But we had fun! We also did some damage at the local Target and Kohl's stores...

The trip had a few ups and downs - it began with miscommunication and a bag being left at home with the passports et al inside...luckily we realized it AT the airport (duh), and had just enough time to run home and get back and through the gate. However, we had some "issues" with security - in our effort to take only carry-on luggage, we were forced to give up a few toiletry items at the first checkpoint (most of which were almost empty anyways). However, we were assured that the rest of what we had would be fine. NOT so - a security officer proceeded to yell at me for having a container over 100ml, even though it fit inside the plastic bag, and after trying to explain that it had already been approved at the first point I simply broke down in tears. Hormones, hormones, hormones...this was only 7:15 in the morning and we had already dealt with enough stress that I was DONE. A nicer security lady asked us if we wanted to report such barbaric (well, it felt that way at the time!) behaviour. As we were already close to missing our boarding time, we said no and carried on, with me wiping my tears away. It took most of the plane ride to get my emotions out of my system, as I realized on the plane that my new headphones were not charged. Sigh...woe is me. However, the trip as I said was a good one, we got to eat at several of our favorite places (Uno's Pizza, Sonic, Cheesecake Factory, Village Inn - all yum!) and had a really great time at the game, despite the VERY chilly temperature and snowflakes. Our seats were literally at the very top of the stadium, at the top of the staircase, which meant a mostly unobstructed view of the game. After the many years of college football games, I have to say I enjoyed not carrying ladders or waterbottles or videocameras, or listening to the band at close range. It was fun to be a fan!

So, baby is doing fine - I had another Dr. appt. today and his heartbeat was 140 bpm, quite strong. Lots of movement still going on, which is still entertaining for both of us. I have had some serious heartburn and acid reflux that keeps me up at night, and some pretty sore ligament pain in my lower parts, but otherwise no big complaints. Only 12 weeks to go, if you can believe that, I know I can't!

Keep us updated on your lives too - I'm never sure anyone actually reads this, but it keeps me busy in any case! Love to all!