Hospital Bag + Baby Update

Last week I finally had my first in-person OB appointment in over a month. The night before the appointment I had a minor panic that since I hadn't been examined in awhile that something would be wrong and I'd have to deliver that day.

So I packed the hospital bag that night.

The current hospital protocol is still only the partner can be present for delivery but must leave when I'm moved to recovery, so that changed some of the things I put in the bag. Here is my list:

Face/body wipes
Wet wipes - small trash bag - mask - hand sanitizer
Robe, comfortable PJs for recovery, nursing tank
Coming home outfit
3 newborn onesies
2 pacifier options
1 swaddle blanket
Book - phone charger - Kindle with movie downloaded - ear buds
Gum - Gatorade - snacks++
Toiletries
Towel - hair towel - flip flops
Wallet (ID, insurance card, healthcare proxy doc)
Cell phone

Change of clothes for Dan and some toiletries for him in case the delivery goes overnight.

I'm hoping I'll have a chance to shower before Dan has to leave since I remember that really helped me feel more put together after delivering Kip, so I brought a towel and flip flops and toiletries for that. And since I won't have anyone with me during recovery I packed extra snacks. I'll miss the nice bacon grilled cheese and coke my Dad brought me less than an hour after Kip was born and all the special treats and drinks Dan and Mandy delivered when I was in recovery. Missing those treats is a minor inconvenience during these times but I know I'll want some snack favorites while I'm alone.

This time around I know the hospital provides a whole bag of baby essentials and if I need a breast pump they'll supply that as well so I left all of that out of my bag this time. 

That night Mandy washed all the baby clothes and sheets just in case.

At the appointment I got a quick in-office ultrasound and found out that the baby is breech but otherwise everything looked good. Fortunately, no early delivery and we were able to go home.  But the bags are packed, just in case!

This morning I had my 36 week ultrasound at the hospital. I figured it would get canceled but since the baby was breech the week before they let me keep it. It was extremely unnerving to go to the hospital at this time. I had to get my temperature checked and enter the hospital next to a refrigerated truck (for the bodies). Dan wasn't allowed with me at all and I had so much anxiety walking in there. Fortunately the staff was really nice once I got to the office and the ultrasound went well. Baby girl turned herself this week so she is no longer breech! So grateful for that news. I didn't get an ultrasound picture to show Dan, however, because she had both her hands covering her face. Silly bug.

Going forward, I have weekly check-ups since we are in the final month. So far, I think I'll have all of those in person. The next one is tomorrow (Thursday). Tonight, I put together some thank you treat bags to give to the nurses and added those to my hospital bag too.

Weekending it

I suppose it's a good thing that we've had an usually cold April. Makes staying inside somewhat more tolerable, although it is hard to see other people across the country enjoying warm weather and even swimming!!

This weekend we got one nice day and one crummy day. On Saturday we went to New Jersey to check-in on Mandy's apartment and give Kip a change of scene. We got drive-thru for lunch and then went to a big abandoned movie theater parking lot to picnic and let Kip scooter around. A security van drove by us at one point and made eyes but didn't stop or say anything, so we didn't leave.

I tried to clean the inside of the car a bit and Mandy installed the infant car seat so it's ready to go.

Sunday was cold and rainy all day. We did online church and played inside...of course. Sundays seem to be the longest and most boring day of the week now. They used to be the most busy and exhausting. Funny how things have changed. I made Terri Mom's Vegetable Soup for dinner.

Weekending it

Trying my best to stay up-to-date on this blog, at the very least to document how we spent all this time in social isolation. Time is a balancing act that I feel I'm losing a grip on every single day. Thank goodness for photo documentation.

This past weekend we didn't go to New Jersey. Mandy had already done her apartment check-in and with parks closed and poor weather we just decided to have a slow Saturday. During Kip's nap I tried to do some retail spring clothes shopping on Old Navy online and it was not rewarding in the same way real shopping is. They had such a bad selection and so few sizes, felt like grocery shopping now. Can't find what you want and when you do its a banged-up bruised apple.

In the afternoon, Dan entertained Kip while Mandy and I did some nesting projects around the apartment in preparation for the baby. We updated room decor for their shared room (will share an update later). And I made a little "family" center in the hall. We took a bunch of stuff down to the storage unit and cleared some space in Kip's closet for some stacking drawers we want to get once we're allowed to go to retail stores again.

On Sunday we did an early morning walk to the local botanic garden again.

During nap time, I did a little painting project that Terri Mom had given me as a gift. All the supplies were included but the directions were not very thorough so I just did my own thing. It turned out nothing like the example but I was happy with the end result.

We had church online and then a huge group trivia event to celebrate the church's 3rd birthday. I have to say, I'm not a big fan of "socializing" online. It's hard for me.

In the evening ,our friend rode her bike 20 miles and did ride-by hellos. It was fun to see her from the window and she sent us back a photo of us in our apartment isolation.

Life is so weird right now.

Weekending it - Easter

Does anyone else feel like there is simultaneously more time and yet less time? I feel like I've gained so many added hours at home not having to commute and get "home" literally a second after "leaving" work but I'm still not accomplishing as much during the day? Where are the extra minutes going? I used to have distinct pockets of time to blog and it seems like those have entirely evaporated.

I meant to update about our Easter weekend earlier but somehow it's already Wednesday. Apologies.

Friday afternoon I left work early which is so weird to say since I didn't leave. I went with Mandy to Trader Joe's in New Jersey. They are managing crowds really well at that store and we felt very comfortable and controlled. Our cashier was pregnant as well and due at the end of the month. It felt good to interact with another soon-to-be mom dealing with all of this too.

Since we did our shopping on Friday we planned to relax more on Saturday instead of run around in search of our elusive grocery list items. We hung out at Mandy's apartment and then hoped to go for a walk. New Jersey parks are now closed so we scoped out two options in Staten Island. They were both completely overrun as if life was normal. We didn't even get out of the car. We went home and baked cupcakes instead.

Plan B for our once a week walk became to get up early on Sunday and go somewhere in Bay Ridge. We walked over to the tiny neighborhood botanic garden around 6:30 am. We only passed a few people and got to get some fresh air and saw some spots of spring arriving.

When we got home we got ready for the day and let Kip open his Easter basket.

He got a Blippi costume, a Little Blue Truck book, and a monster truck kinetic sand set. He loved all of it.

Back when Dan and I were dating I bought us a little stuffed dog named Puddles. Kip found that ragged old stuffie a few weeks ago and has taken to sleeping with it. The problem is the toy smells SO bad...like dust mites and old sweat or something. So I ordered another one online hoping to swap it out without Kip noticing. Well, apparently the one I ordered was three times larger. So Kip calls him Big Puddles but has fortunately not asked about the original since.

After virtual church during Kip's nap time, we did a little Easter egg hunt. He had seen me buy on my phone the car filled eggs a month ago and asked about "Egg Cars" nearly every day since. He had so much fun finding the eggs and a little candy we hid around. He was surprisingly good at the hunt concept right away.

The rest of the afternoon we colored and crafted, played with trains, took family photos, and Mandy made a rainbow of hearts in our bedroom window.

Mandy also made an amazing Easter dinner with ham, scalloped potatoes, salad, bread, pineapple, and cupcakes for dessert. It was a really nice and normal feeling day despite the circumstances and I was really grateful for that. Normally our church does a really big block party carnival for Easter and the church's birthday celebration. We really missed the festivities this year but are hopeful they will return better than ever next year.

Gloomy weather returned on Monday just in time for the work week.