Lucky 7s - 77 days left!

29 weeks!!!!!!!!!! With each passing day I get more and more excited!! I talk and rub my belly more and more (in the privacy of my own home). However, panic is also starting to settle in. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I thought it might make me feel better to write down all the stuff that is jumbled in my head.

1. I started filling out the FMLA paperwork this week. This whole pregnancy I have been tra-la-la-ing that I was going to take the rest of 2010 off regardless of if the baby came before or after his or her due date of 8/31. Then the paperwork came. I carry the benefits for both myself and my husband and the baby will be added onto my benefits. I still am unsure if my benefits will be applicable after the guaranteed 12 weeks of FMLA since my work does not give benefits to non full time people. If I can't maintain the benefits, then it looks like my maternity leave will only be 12 weeks instead of 16+ I was planning. Keep your fingers crossed that they will still let me have them so I don't have to go back to work until January 2010.

2. Full time? Part time? Yep - still haven't decided this and am NOT deciding it until Baby S arrives and I have spent time with him/her. I feel like I will know what to do better when I actually have a baby rather than now just guessing. Luckily my boss is awesome and I don't have to decide this. I can even go part time for a little bit, and then full time. I can start back full time and if it doesn't work, reduce my hours. LUCKY LUCKY. This does get tricky with the benefits situation which is one BIG reason that I am going to start back full time, I think. AS mentioned in #1, I carry the benefits for the fam at a very reasonable cost. The benefits offered by my husband's employer aren't bad, they aren't as good, but they are MUCH more expensive. I just wish my employer would offer benefits to part timers. ARGH.

3. Day care. I had not been thinking about this for a while but of course it lends itself to #1 and #2. We have decided NOT to use a formal daycare and instead want to get a nanny with a combo of family help. Of course, this is pretty nebulous and you can't really look for a nanny this early so it remains in the To-Figure out List. Can't every day just be bring your baby to work day?!

4. I was actually convinced that my excitement for labor outweighed my nervousness about it. I was able to read the labor and delivery chapters now without feeling faint. Until a work meeting this morning - which happened to be in a community classroom that our hospital operates. THE community classroom that the birthing classes are in. Complete with pictures. I saw a very detailed picture of the head just about to poke out and I almost tossed my cookies. Ok, yes, I am excited but the nerves are still there!

5. The baby has taken to body slamming. Seriously, some moves I think would knock me over if I was standing up!

As for my cold, it's still large and in charge. I ended up going with Robitussin DM. The ingredients in Mucinex DM are the same, but Mucinex is stronger so I thought I'd start out with the gentler medicine and see if it worked. I started taking it last night and already my coughs are more productive. I also got much better sleep last night. I still sound like Kathleen Turner when I talk and my coughs resemble seal barks. I think my baby might be wondering where his mommy went - seriously, I wonder if he/she is confused by my major voice change?!