It's a Christmas Miracle.

From the time I walked into the hospital last Thursday until late this Thursday afternoon, everyone told me I wouldn't go home. They told me I would have a baby no later than 34 weeks. They told me to prepare for a preemie.

I just took a long shower, with great water pressure, and finished it off with a plush, full sized towel. In my bathroom. That's right, meanie midwife who assured me through my tears that I would not go home still pregnant, I'm home. And I'm still pregnant.

Friday morning we had an appointment with the High Risk doctors, and we were prepared to plead our case for heading home. There was no need. The same doctor who told me it would be extremely rare for my tear to seal over was the same one to tell me to go home for Christmas- my tear had sealed over. Oh, the power of prayer.

We did a boogie woogie breakdance in the exam room. 

And by 10:00am, we were headed home to our rabbit. 

Another Christmas miracle? We named our baby boy. 

Jacob Collins Guffey

We are hoping Jake will hang out for at least 6 more weeks. And there's plenty of room for that. In the last week I have doubled in size. Maybe tripled. That's what I get for laying around for a week eating nothing but chocolate all day. Oops. 

So happy to be home, so thankful for answered prayer. 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

What's the Plan, Stan?

It's a lousy day. Weather-wise. It's rainy and cold (from what I can tell). It's really pretty to watch from my window, but I'm actually glad I'm not outside today.

It fits my mood. The one I don't like to be in. I've seen ten different doctors since walking in here last Thursday (yes, I counted) and I have heard about four or five different things about my next few weeks. It's overwhelming. I've decided to give up on any of them and not try to know what's going to happen, and just let it happen. If you know me, you know that's a feat. I'm a black and white kind of gal. Make a decision and stick with it. Make plans. Don't change them. Do whatever it takes to keep the path. Weigh the options and make a list of pros and cons. Then decide. And have. a. plan.

We don't have a plan. We simply can't. And more than the back pain and the hospital food, that's the worst part of this for me. This not having a plan business. Who does that.

So, while we wait for a more definitive answer to my black and white questions, we wait.
And, while we wait, we are blessed.

K's Nannie might be the most thoughtful person in the world. Wait, I think she definitely is.
Last night we received a large envelope from her. Filled with two weeks worth of more envelopes:

A letter for every day. Who does that? Nannie does. 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

Thanks on Tuesday

I'm thankful for a lot, always. Here's what's on my mind today:

Thankful for a new room with a nice view.

A friend who sends me good quotes. 

Every day.

Celebrity crosswords. I can actually do these!

A techy husband who hooks Netflix up to the big screen. 

Parenthood? Yes.

A brother and sister in law who, are not only sacrificing a week of vacay to keep our rabbit, but also bought mattress pads for us to be more comfortable here. 

It's been a rough day, but a good one. I don't want y'all to get the idea that I'm humming Christmas carols and tapping my toes in my hospital bed all day. I get frustrated. I pout, sometimes I cry and I move on. Because I am thankful. Each day is one day closer to a full term baby. And that is awesome. 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

 

Dancing Queen

What's making me smile today? 

This is what my doctors walked into this morning at 8am. 

Yike.

This video of my little Ophie. 

Check out the grand finale, and die with me. 

Diversionary Activity? None. 

My "friends" taking screen shots of me while we FaceTime. 

Then making fun of me and sending me the shots.

My leg pumps. 

A bunny in my bed.

My family.

Why are you smiling? 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

  

Love is... What I got

I got a tree.
My friend Allison brought me a Christmas tree for my room yesterday, and it is awesome.
I got my friends.
K brought in our Christmas cards and hung them by the tree.
I got my own room.
It's got a pretty sweet view of the building right next to me.
I got chocolate.
Seriously. Pounds on pounds. My peeps know what I like.
I got to see my bittiest niece.
It was like bringing sunshine into this place. No, really. She wore her bright yellow overalls and smiled so big. those teeth. I die.  Sun. Shine.
I got family.
Lots of it, and I got to see so many of them this weekend.
I got a fridge.
In my room.
I got my Mimi's quilt.
It smells like home.
I got time.
So many people don't.
I got quiet.
K has the bunny tonight, so it's me, Netflix and Ambien.
I got a fly in my room.
It's. killing. me. It just landed in between my eyes. Where is the hidden camera.
I got kisses.
Cham's kisses. "Mwwwwaaaaaa"
I got lucky.
My husband is the best one. Don't even argue.
HA. I just killed it. Karate kid style.
I got split ends.
And plenty of time to pick them all out while I'm here.
I got 3 weeks to go until they say I'll deliver.
Hopefully I hold out a little longer.
I got snuggles.
Today I got good ones.

Until Next TIme,
The Guff

Life is Good.

Here I sit.

I have been given privileges to walk myself to the bathroom, and to take a shower on my own. Sitting in a chair. Life is good. I keep thinking about what my brother told me Thursday- "At least this happened now and not at 20 weeks" and my sister, "Babies born at this gestation have the same survival rate as babies born at 40 weeks." My sis-in-law sent me this verse that I've already memorized, and have been basically chanting my my head since last night, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, my ways are higher than your ways. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9. 
All of these are comforting. Still I worry.

He's not ready. I'm not ready.  


I think I am fine and I need to go home to my teething baby girl. I think I left laundry in the washer. I think it was a one-time leak and as long as I'm careful, no harm will come. The refrigerator is empty. I think I'm being a drama queen and these people are wasting a room on me. Why did I not clean the house before my water broke. Geez. But my ways and thoughts are not important. There's a proven scientific method here, and it causes babies to live. Strong. Healthy. I'm struggling with trusting in that, and maybe that's why I'm here. To learn to trust a little more. And let a little bit more slip through the cracks. Life is good. 

It's not ideal to spend Christmas in a sterile room with no tree or fire. It's not ideal to be hooked up to monitors and IVs. Nor is it ideal to be sitting in a bed instead of dancing to Christmas music with my bunny and her daddy. It's not ideal to spend a family holiday with strangers in lab coats. It's not ideal, but it's worth it for our little boy. Life is good. 


I'm learning to crochet today. I'm going to see how big of a blanket I can make for our little man before he comes. Lovie or Comforter? We'll see. I'm hoping for somewhere in the middle.

Here we are on our 30 minute wheelchair ride through the hospital. Doctor's orders.

Life is good. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff

It's December, Remember?

Well, it started out like any other day. 


That's not entirely true. Cham had a rough night last night. She woke up twice and ended up snuggled tight in our bed with us. She's got 4 molars coming in at once, and what looks like 2 bottom teeth as well, for good measure. She's having quite the time with these beasts, often calling out, "Mecine, mouf" = translate= "Medicine for my mouth". It's so pitiful. So, this morning we were both groggy and I opted for milk and sesame street instead of a real breakfast and playing outside in our 70 degree weather. (It's December, remember? What is this, Santa Barbara?) So we snuggled up and sang the ABC's a few times. Then she napped. As did I.

I slept for a long, long time. It was nice. I got up and checked on the bunny. Out like a light. I decided to shower while I had the chance and even dried my hair. After all, we had a Christmas party to go to tonight. 


Then my water broke. I felt it happen and kind of just stood there for a minute. Furrowed brow. Staring into space. 'Space' being the water running down my legs. Hm. I called K. He told me to call the doctor. I called my mom, instead. Then my sister. Then my doctor. The doctor told me to come in, of course. And when I did, they told me they were admitting me to the hospital. My water was definitely broken and they needed to monitor me and baby. For a couple of weeks.

A couple weeks of monitoring has since turned into "you're not going home again without a baby." Which is wonderful and terrifying all in one Christmas stocking. I left the house this afternoon in a t-shirt thinking I would be sent home on bed rest, most likely, for the weekend. Now I will be returning home, in said t-shirt, with our baby boy in my arms. And a good ol' fashioned case of cabin fever.

There's a lot going on and a lot riding on... well, a lot. Right now we are living on prayers and counting our blessings- only hours into this journey- for the incredible friends and family that have been placed around us. It's amazing how blessed we are for the friendships we share. We feel loved.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Give a Dog a Bone

Well, it never fails. Fried chicken= fire department gets called. I can always tell when it's about to happen. It's that quick moment between "everything's fine" and "the kitchen is filled with smoke". Happens in a second. One day I'll get it right... one day...

We have been pretty busy around here. Projects for baby, for the house, for Christmas. The place is a wreck, but I have one more gift to buy and one more gift to make and then I am all done with this year's gifting. Tomorrow. Let's hope for tomorrow. 


This year K and I stole an idea from my brother and his wife (among others) and are celebrating Christmas with gifts in categories of Want, Need, Wear and Read. I've found it makes shopping easier and a little more fun. We never make lists of things that we want (need, wear, or read for that matter) so it's always a big surprise on Christmas morning. This is the first year in several that we haven't opted to just do stockings. We just aren't big on gifts. We like the food and the time most.

I went ridiculously, insanely, she-is-only-one overboard on Cham. I think I went appropriate on baby boy. Poor dogs. Their stockings aren't even up this year. I'll get 'em a bone.

Cham has been a busy little bee. Gets bigger and heavier every single day. I LOVE, l-o-v-e, looove this age. She's getting her big personality and it's awesome. I love her so, so, much.

I've been telling her that there's a baby in my tummy and sometimes she will walk up to me, pat my belly, and say "baby". It's precious. Last week, however, she thought the baby lived somewhere else. And proceeded to pat that somewhere else nonstop as we walked through the aisles of Marshall's.

See for yourself:

I could. not. stop. laughing. And she would. not. stop. doing it.

She got a little confused, but don't get it twisted. She's a genius. I gave her scrap pieces of crepe paper today and she sorted them by color. After she got them really, really flat. That's right. Genius.

I hit 30 weeks and promptly lost the ability to sleep through the night. I'm still holding out on maternity pants. I've got 2 pairs of normal jeans that still fit and I am trying my best to wash them as little as possible. Can't have those babies shrinking. So if you see me wearing the same pants 4 days in a row, just turn a blind eye, ok? 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

You Had To Be There

I feel terrible. I fear that I led you all on.

You see, something really funny did happen in my house today. So I posted about how I couldn't wait to blog about it on Facebook. I mostly posted that because I was bored at a red light. Then people got interested. I think it got a little bit of a build up, and now here I am to deliver. And to certainly let you down.

I don't think you'll think it's as funny as I do. Which is the case most of the time in my life. I get a big kick out of small things. I'll tell the story, anyway. Even though it doesn't involve explosive diarrhea, my stove and the fire department or anything unusual at all.

K was on his way upstairs to change Cham's stinky poo diaper. (hey, maybe there is a bit of diarrhea involved, after all) I was on my way out the door to paradise Target. All by myself. Like I said, paradise.
After we swapped goodbyes, I decided to sit at the table to make a list. Like a list matters when you're going to Target. I did it anyway. The duo came back downstairs and Cham ran over to me and I gave her a smooch and a hello. K walked straight into the living room.

Now. If you've been to our home you know that sitting at the kitchen table you see directly into the living room. So there I sat, looking at him. Standing there. 8 feet away. My phone starts to ring. It's him.
Oh, he's pocket dialing me. I glance up. Nope. He's legit calling me.

I answer. "Hey"
"Hey, has Cham had her medicine?"
"No, it's out. I have to get some while I'm out."
still sitting 8 feet away. staring at him. 
"Oh, ok. Thanks"
"Ok, bye"
"Bye"


After we hung up I wasn't sure what to do next. So I stared for a second. Perplexed.
He sat down on the couch.

I got up and called out to him. He looked confused.
I couldn't stop laughing. Weird. 

And..... that's it. I guess you had to be there. It was really funny. Trust me. Hilarious. I'm still laughing about it. Surprised?


I should've listened to my sister. She heard the story. She said to wait until something crazy really happened in my house and blog about that. 'Cuz you know something will happen. And soon. 


Let's wait for that. 


Until Next Time,
 The Guff

30/70

I bit off Chamblee's toenail tonight. That's right. Not only do I pick her boogers and wipe her butt, I also bite her toenails off for her. She kept grabbing at her toe and crying. We couldn't find a darn thing wrong with her other than the fact that her toenail looked to be a little long. Maybe she was getting it snagged on the carpet or something. A hangnail. Who knows. We seem to have misplaced the baby clippers so I just bit it off.

Turns out she was just tired. Ready for nite nite. Now she can have sweet dreams with a trimmed big toenail.

Big shout out to everyone who told me their version of how to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Wow. I had no idea there were so many ways to make that sandwich. So many ways, in fact, that I think if anyone else ever had that problem I could throw in my recipe as a serious option. I think I will. Not that any other 20-something will feel the need to ask how to make a grilled cheese anytime soon, but still. Maybe to Cham's kindergarten class. 


What else is going on. Let's see.

I pretty much finalized all of my Christmas shopping today. Both sides of our family are doing 'kids only' presents this year, and I love it. I love shopping for kids. As I was wrapping presents today I realized that Chamblee has about 10 presents under the tree. So far. From "us". Isn't that insane? For a 1 year old? I say "us" lightly. Sure, the tag is from mama & daddy... but really. There are things I have been hoarding all year. Things that I couldn't resist at the time- so I bought and stashed away "for Christmas". Now it's absurd. I also realized that I have no size perception. (is that a real thing?) Things that were for her stocking and are now painfully. obviously. not going to fit. What a joke. So they became presents. And I had to go buy stocking stuffers. Lunatic. Don't even get me started on the baby boy's presents...


I'm having about 100 Braxton Hicks contractions a day. And eating Tums like I was eating Oreos. Boo hiss. But yay for a baby with potential for a head full of hair! Sweet little man.

30 weeks tomorrow. 70 days to go. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Say Cheese

So maybe I didn't know how to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Sue me. You didn't either at some point, and I'm guessing it was when you were four. Age aside, today I learned. Kind of. 


Cham won't eat anything with color lately. Don't call DFACS, her doctor said it's normal. So I ambitiously decided to try and make her a grilled cheese sandwich today for lunch. With white cheese, of course. When I got out the bread and cheese I realized I didn't know what to do next. I mean, I figured I should just put it in the pan, but that didn't sound right. Do I need an egg? Nah. So I got the butter out. Always go with butter. But do I put the butter on the bread or on the pan? No clue. So I did both. It still burned. Mind you, I was making this janky grilled cheese on a hamburger bun because we ran out of bread yesterday and I forgot to take the other loaf out of the freezer. Deduct 10 mommy points. You shoulda seen me pressing that hamburger bun down like nobody's business. I squished it good and flat. Come to think of it, maybe that's why it burned. 
This is what I ended up serving the bunny:

(the good side)

Kinda looks like a pancake. It's not- I don't even know where to begin to make those. I used 3 slices of cheese. Is that a lot? It seemed right at the time, but afterwards there was a LOT. of cheese. Kind of like a cheese sandwich with burned grilled bread. She loved it, so I don't care what y'all say. I might make another one tomorrow. Doubt it, but I might. Practice makes perfect. {PS- seriously, does the butter go on the pan or on the bread?}


Today I'm 29 weeks, 2 days... 75 days to go!

I couldn't find a circular squash like The Bump shows, but I figured this was more accurate for shape, anyway. Can't believe he's that big already. Can't believe in 2.5 months he'll be here. For real. Like, here. in our house. Makin' a ruckus. Makin' hearts bigger. What a rascal. I can't wait. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff

What's Happenin' Sweet Thang

This happened:
K: "Did you already get a shower?"
Me: "No, why?"
K: "Oh. Your hair looks wet."
Me: The look.

How does this happen: 
I say, 'I love you' to Chamblee on average 1000 times a day. She never rarely says it back. I miss one turn, say 'Crap!', and what do I hear? "Cap Cap Cap" all the way home.

This shouldn't have happened: 
K just promised little boy that we would have a name for him by the time he got here.

Just so happens:
I've gained 7 pounds in 28 (almost 29!) weeks of pregnancy. My doctor told me this morning that I needed to gain more weight. And to do that I should eat lots of protein and vegetables. Less carbs and sugar. Doesn't that seem backwards? And doesn't he know it's the holidays? 


Currently happening:
Parenthood marathon. Obsessed.

Fun Fact: I really really love it when people say, "That just happened."

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Say It With Me: So What!

I know, today's Thursday. Whatev.

So What If...

I almost just started crying because I couldn't lay on my stomach and write this blog.

I walked into the wrong apartment last night for Bible Study. Straight up opened the door, walked in.

My bra size horrifies me right now. Horrifies. 

I think taking a bath is nasty. Yeah, I said it, all you bath lovers. You either bleach the white out of your tub right before you do it, or you're sitting where all the dirt from the week has settled. If you do bleach it out, you're still sitting in a tub of {after 10 minutes} luke warm water filled with your sweat and dead skin cells. Just sitting in it. I don't understand.

It took me a for real two to three minutes to get my socks and shoes on tonight. Only perk of being pregnant in the summer? Flip flops.

I don't whisk. What does it mean, anyway? When I see a recipe that calls for whisking, let me tell you exactly what happens. I dump in whatever I'm supposed to whisk in, and stir. With a wisk, of course.

Kohl's has me hooked. They need to stop sending me all these crazy coupons.

I have a favorite dog. His name is Bailey.

I'd rather not take a shower at all than have to be rushed through the whole shower-dry my hair-makeup- find something that fits process.

I want Cam from Modern Family to be my best friend forever and ever.

Here's my sweet teething girl. 

So what if some days I just cry looking at her. 

She's my best little friend. Forever and ever. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Green Theme

I think it's safe to say that Cham's favorite color is green. Let me tell you why.

If she had a blog herself, well, it would be hilarious. Maybe I'll let her do that one day. And if she had a blog, she would post about her favorite things, I'm sure. And this is what they would be:

Her favorite puzzle piece. 

Carries. Him. Everywhere. 

I usually find him in her shopping cart or in an attempted-to-be-closed book.

See how she's worn this guy out? 

Her favorite mini book. 'Panda'. 

All about green grass and bamboo. And pandas. 

Busy Barb. 

A playing card from 'Old Maid' that she adopted as her favorite.

As you can see by all the bends and creases, she carries Busy Barb everywhere. 

Tucks her in the cushions of the couch and under the rug. 

Loves Busy Barb. 

Oh, the letter E. 

A long-time front runner. 

This fits in everything she plays with: tupperwares, her push car glove box, her socks. 

Most importantly, when she sets it just right on Bailey's back it usually stays. 

Sometimes even when he walks away. 

See a theme here? All green. 

Not convinced? I've got one more. 

Out of all of the dinosaurs that K bought her at Cracker Barrel, 

she is only baking the green ones in her oven. 

{yes, out of all the toys at CB he bought her dinosaurs. 

This dude needs a boy. Stat.}

See them baking so nicely in there? 

Oh, and do a double take and check out the green letter 'I' chillin' in the fridge. 

Just sayin'. 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff