Monday, May 11, 2009

Day 379

I'm sorry I've been a little scarce around here, I'm trying to get everything ready for our precious baby boy! 45 days, today. Can you believe it? Given Rebekah's pre-eclampsia and low amniotic fluid levels, I'm freaked out that I'm going to get the call that she's headed to the hospital, and we're not ready!

Only one way to remedy the situation...I spent the weekend getting baby boy packed (it was so much fun!!). My sweet, bloggy friend, Holly, sent me a detailed list of what she packed/used/didn't use/wished she had, for their interstate adoption (they, too, were out of state for a couple of weeks).

I treated that list as gold! There were so many items on it that I would have never thought of and some that I had to Google....because I had never heard of them before! I realized just how out of my element I was, when I had no idea what should be packed in the diaper bag for the hospital...Holy Cow I'm going to be a Mom and I don't even know what my baby needs...However, after some quick research and a few phone calls, I feel a little more confident [dare I use that word?].

I'm going to start on Ben's and my stuff, this week. I figure I'll just buy brand new toiletry items so those can be ready to go and then I'll make a list of everything else. I don't know if you're like me, but when I'm rushed, I always forget important items...and believe me, I'll be in big time freak out mode when we get that call! (You'll be glad to know that "Update the Blog" is on the to-do list, before we jump in the car!)

Everything is really coming together! We bought our cross-country map, have directions printed, the hospital and nearest hotel (if needed) mapped out. I also found us a small cottage to rent once we bring baby "home" from the hospital. Our hospital call list is ready, pediatrician chosen, important contact information typed out, and birth announcement supplies purchased.

My plan all along has been to be packed and ready by June 1st. Any time after that day is reserved for date nights with Ben, long, indulgent naps, and fun with friends and family! So far the plan is working beautifully...baby boy just has to keep cooking for a few more weeks!

I, of course, can't close this post without mentioning Mother's Day. It was the first time in years that my heart didn't bleed from heartache...

A few of the highlights:
  1. I talked to Rebekah's 11 year old daughter on the phone and she told me that she had send me a Mother's Day card and she wanted me to call her as soon as I opened it...I didn't end up getting it in time, but her thoughtfulness reduced me to tears.
  2. Rebekah wished me a happy Mother's Day and sent me a note telling me that she was thinking about me...I choked back more tears and thanked her for making me a mom-to-be. I still can't believe she's doing this for me.
  3. We took Ben's mom to a Mother's Day brunch and when the waitress brought her flowers to the table, his dad said, "We have another mom at the table, today..." A few minutes later I had flowers in hand (after, of course, explaining why I looked so good for being 8 months pregnant!).
  4. A blog friend blessed us with $150 toward our adoption fund. This has been quite a week with a lot of surprises (not the good kind)...this generous gift was exactly what we needed, at exactly the right time.
I am indebted to the kindness of others; my heart is so full.

15 comments:

  1. Your preparation just makes me laugh out loud! I love it! We were so unprepared with R. I was freaked out because when the hospital discharged her they gave us a piece of paper that said "feed every 2-3 hours" on it, and that is it!! I have been around lots of babies so I knew lots of stuff, but it was still so overwhelming!

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  2. Ahh What an amazing Mothers Day!
    I'm so happy for you, your little baby boy will be here before you know it.

    :)r.

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  3. This is a Mother's Day post by an adoptive Mom who I am happy to call a friend... I thought of my two favorite Rebekahs! It made me bawl my eyes out: http://allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/2009/05/mothers-no-one-will-be-talking-about_09.html

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  4. would you be willing to share that list? sounds really helpful! We're still ages away from bringing home baby (we've JUST picked our agency), but... it's good to be prepared!

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  5. I love your preparedness! I am that way, but not nearly as much as you! When we only had 24 hrs to get ready for baby, I was surprised that I didn't freak out. I just did what I had to do, then freaked out later! I'm so excited for you and Ben! You will be great parents! Happy Mother's Day!!

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  6. I'm so excited for you and can't wait until you get to meet baby boy for the first time!

    Given the similarities of our situations, I have to agree with Bri...your lists and running around had me chuckling a little! I have also been around babies A LOT, but there is nothing quite like YOUR OWN...it's kind of scary to realize YOU are the one completely responsible for their entire well being. Overwhelming to an extent, no matter how prepared you are.

    Rest assured, if you forget something, it won't be the end of the world! :)

    Hugs,

    Melba

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  7. I'm so excited for you! This is an excellent countdown! I hope R's condition will remain stable enough to keep kiddo in the oven! The longer the better! I'll be praying!

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  8. Bri and Melba can laugh all they want, but they weren't living in a hotel with no friends/family nearby with a newborn - it is crazy!! When you have to pack for being away for who knows HOW long, there are so many things you can't forget. I'm glad my list is helping you out! Cook, baby, cook!

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  9. Glad you had a nice mother's day! Dont worry....you aren't the only new mom who has to google items! ;)

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  10. Rebekah!!!!!!!!! Your gonna be a mom in 45 days!!!!!!!!!AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! This is sooo exciting!
    cindie bass

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  11. Well, that last post wasnt anonymous. So sorry about that. I am sure you will delete it, the message was for you not everyone else anyway. LOL Sorry.

    Love,
    me

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  12. I too would love it if you could post the list!!!

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  13. so happy that your day on sunday didn't hold the sadness that others have, rebekah...thought of you.
    jamie and matt had to be prepared as they were so far from home also.....it tends to be a bit overwhelming....thinking of what you will need...and to be prepared..when the timeframe is so uncertain......very helpful for holly to provide a list to compare to.....we are counting down with you!

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  14. LOL! I think every new momma-to-be feels flustered and has no clue what to buy/do. The nurses at the hospital should be helpful (ASK any questions!).

    Here's a little tip that I didn't know. When newborns sneeze, it is not because they have a cold! It's because newborns can only breathe through their nose (not their mouths just yet) so any dust or strong perfume that gets in their little nostrils will make them sneeze.

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  15. oh my gosh joy, that's so funny you mention that! when sofia would sneeze as a newborn, her daddy was convinced every time that she was getting sick. i would just smile at him. they sneeze ALL the time and it doesn't mean anything. he still says the same thing when she sneezes, 9 months later :)

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