Today's Home Inspection

Today I was present while Jim Duggan, Senior Inspector for RIA Solutions, inspected the Condo we intend to purchase with a fine tooth comb.

He was very pleasant and let me know what he was looking for while he was checking things out.  He found minor issues, but nothing that would prevent us from moving forward with our purchase.  I am not sure if Aaron would want the Seller to fix any of these things before we take ownership.

Jim checked the attic, the Heating and Cooling system, the water heater, all the Kitchen Appliances, the washer and dryer, all of the outlets, all the windows, the walls and ceilings, the faucets, drains, shower heads, toilets, and fireplace.

Most of the "issues" he noted are due to the age of the property.  They are not what is standard or "up to code" these days -- but are grandfathered in because of the age of the property.

We cannot fix many of them -- so oh well.


Some of his other recommendations we will act on once the place is ours like:

• Get a new over-the range microwave and have it installed to code.
• Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GCFI) outlets in "wet" areas.
• Put a C-Clamp on the Fireplace Damper to make sure it always stays partially open to avoid a build-up of carbon monoxide.
• Replace the bare bulb in the closet with a globe fixture, just so the bulb does not break if hit.
• Pour liquid plumber down the slow drain in the Master bathtub.

There are a few other things that Aaron and I want to do with the place too -- but again that is just our preference.  Nothing that is wrong with the place.

Aaron has his heart set on getting new super fancy High-Efficiency washer/dryer set.

This one:

Since he does all the laundry I am totally cool with him getting the set. :)

OFFER ACCEPTED!!!!!!!!!!

The Seller agreed to our price AND to cover the closing costs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

 OMG! OMG! OMG!  We got a home!

We'll be riding double with our Apartment  until the lease is expired, but we really don't care and can afford to do it for a bit.

Yea!

Made an offer for our first home purchase.

Aaron and I put an offer in for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo yesterday.

It was listed at 84,500 and we offered 80,000 plus asked the seller to pick up closing costs.  We also included a $2000 Earnest Money deposit to express we are sincerely interested.

Hopefully we will have an answer back later today if our offer is accepted or countered.

We'll see.

Here is a link to details and photos of the property:

http://www.trulia.com/property/3051739555-604-Dunbar-Dr-Dunwoody-GA-30338

It is 1314 sq. ft.  The estimated mortgage plus the community HOA fee is about $700.

Currently we are in a 960 sq. ft. 1 bed 1 bath apartment and pay $930 plus an additional bill for monthly water, sewage and trash removal.

Those costs are in our HOA.

We'd have an extra $200 a month for BABY!



UPDATE!!!!  When I go to my Agents website it says the property is no longer on the market...  That is either a good thing (did they accept!!!?!?!?) or a bad thing (someone beat us to it...)

The fact that it is suddenly no longer on the market the day after our offer was made should be a good thing right?

If we don't get it, we're back to looking and looking.

Baby has a COUSIN on the way!

This morning Aaron's middle brother, Michael and his wife, Amy annouced that they are 12 weeks along with their first baby!!!!!!!!

I am so happy for them because I know they had been trying for some time!!

Our baby has a cousin on the way!  Yea!


Today we had an ultrasound to see how our baby is growing.  Our baby is 33 weeks old and is in the 45th percentile for size, just a bit small, but not too small to be worried.   Who wants to give birth to a huge baby?!


We also were very lucky to get a 4-D image of the baby's face!

Thumbsucking

If you cannot see the baby here is an edited picture to help you see:

I have to go in every week to measure the baby to make sure it is not growing out of control due to the gestational diabetes.

I am so excited!!

Pregnancy Shape

There are less than 8 weeks before my due date and I thought by now I would FINALLY have the perfectly round buddah belly... but I don't.  My old ROLLS are still on my belly! :-( 

But as a bonus, I have not had any issue with strech marks because my skin can handle this size.

Baby Shower'ed

What a great time!  It was great to see everyone and it was a lot of fun!!!  I will be sending out Thank Yous soon!

My sister hired a great Karaoke DJ to provided entertainment for the "Jess-tival" when I was home over the weekend.  It was so much fun!  I can't wait for the pictures to be posted.
I remeber singing the following, but there were more:

• Carly Simon - Nobody Does it Better (the theme from the James Bond film The spy who loved me)
• Nancy Sinatra - These boots are made for walking
• Rihanna  - Only Girl in the World
• Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
• B-52s - Love Shack
• Don Williams - Some Broken Hearts Never Mend
• Eminem & Rihanna - Love the Way you Lie
• Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
• Katy Perry - Last Friday Night

My family and friends also sang.  I should have taken videos with my phone!  By the end of the day my feet were so SORE but it was so much fun.  I slept like a baby in the hotel bed that was so uncomfortable the night before.


The party was wonderful and our baby now has lots of great books and some very imporatant basics. 


Aaron's co-workers are throwing us another shower on Friday at his work.  My co-workers will likely follow suit in a few weeks, and our friends down here have expressed a desire to throw a shower too.  So hopefully the baby will be pretty set to join the outside world.

 
I was thinking of updating our Baby Registry on Amazon.com to just have the items we really need, like cloth diapers, cloth wipes, onesies, and sleepers.   I put lots of cute things on the registry, but when it comes right down to it, THE BABY NEEDS TO HAVE DIAPERS... not a Green Bay Packers footed sleeper.  (But it is SO CUTE, I still want it!!!)



(Cute right?!)

Again, Aaron and I greatly appreciate all the wonderful gifts we have received already and I will be sending out personalized thank you cards soon!!!

Baby and I are okay after a scary weekend

On Sunday I fell.

Aaron and I were walking across a parking lot to our car, and my shoe slipped.  I tried to catch my balance, but I knew I was doomed to have let gravity have its way.

I started to fall face first to the asphalt.  Instinctively, I turned so my right side would impact before baby.
I tore up my right hand pretty good, right wrist sprained, right shoulder bruised and bloody, right knee and the top of my right foot both scraped up too, and the smallest injury was to my right cheek.

But what about the baby?!?!?!

At first I just laid there my mind freaking out. Aaron was right there.  He and a woman who saw me fall helped me get up.  I knew I wanted to get to a hospital to make sure the baby was okay, but I was also covered in sandy dirt and blood.

I went in and washed up, then Aaron drove me to the ER.  When we got to the ER they sent us to Labor and Delivery.  L&D sent us to Labor Holding where they hooked me up to contraction and fetal monitors.  We then spent 4 hours waiting to see if I would go into labor.

Being stuck in a bed hooked up to stuff was SO BORING, but Aaron was amazing.  He did his best to entertain me and just be silly. It was so nice to have him there to distract me from my injuries and worry.

Baby was active, with a steady heartbeat, and after 4 hours of monitoring -- there was no sign of pre-term labor!  Since I was 28 weeks and 4 days at the time of the accident, our baby would have a high chance of survival with intensive neo-natal care, but I am glad that the baby did not show up on Labor Day!

Last Trimester!

My due date is less than 12 weeks away now.  Soon we will get to meet this brand new person Aaron and I created together!

In two weeks we'll fly back to Wisconsin for the shower.  I am pretty sure that the flight will be fine.  I am SO GLAD Aaron will be with to help support me.  

I meet with my doctors again next week on Wednesday and Friday, so I can get the green light to take to the skies!

My blood sugar has been right on target, so things are going fine with that.

Aaron and I are studying up for our baby's Birth Day online, although I should take the tour of the Hospital... but I also work for the Hospital where I will have our baby... so I might just ask someone to take me.

I Have Gestational Diabetes

On Monday I got that call that my test came back positive for Gestational Diabetes.

On Wednesday I was in a half-day class learning about Diabetes and how to eat to control my blood sugar and help the baby too.

I want to stress that baby and I are doing FINE, but I do have to check my Blood Sugar 4 times a day and test for Ketones in the morning.

When I think about the baby, it makes all this okay. 

My co-workers laughed and said that my pregnancy is doing a great job of preparing me for motherhood. Just one thing after another and making my life a hassle already. ;)

It's 96 days before my due date.  I am so excited.   In less than 100 days I will be a mom, I will have a baby and know if it is a boy or a girl!


We want the gender to be a surprise.

We have the names picked in no particular order:

For a Girl we like:  Alexandria Ruth
For a Boy we like:  Roger Joseph

Both names have lots of family significance.

Ordered to Eat 3 Candy Bars a Day

My blood sugar was high on my Gestational Diabetes screening test, so now I have to take the full blown glucose tolerance test.



Here are the instructions to prepare for this test:

YOU ARE TO DO A CARB LOAD FOR 3 DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR TEST YOU ARE TO ADD TO YOUR DIET, 3 CANDY BARS OR 6 SLICES OF BREAD FOR 3 DAYS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO CANDY ALL 3 DAYS OR BREAD ALL 3 DAYS YOU MAY.

YOU ARE TO HAVE NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK AFTER MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR TEST. YOU ARE NOT TO HAVE ANY WATER AFTER MIDNIGHT IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT, THE TEST WILL BE RESCHEDULED.

PLEASE SIGN BELOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND FAX BACK TO THE OFFICE.

Yes. I have to eat 3 candy bars or half a dozen piece of bread EXTRA for the next 3 days...

Then nothing by mouth after midnight -- not even water.

When I go in for the test they will give me a sugary drink.

They will then draw my blood every hour for three hours.

Then I will finally be able to DRINK WATER and have some breakfast.


I will find out next week if I truly have Gestational Diabetes.


This is happening on Friday.   

Also on Friday we go back in for our third Ultrasound with the Fetal Specialists.

This is the thrid attempt to see if the baby has a neural tube defect.  There is one view they just cannot seem to get because the baby's head is not in a good spot to image.

I'll let you know more when I do!

Jess