So we had our ultrasound on Thursday and I am just now getting around to posting the results.  Audrey has been given the official medical diagnoses of "healthy", "kind of long", and "rather squirmy."  Her weight was estimated at 7 lb. 9 oz., which I was told makes her about a week ahead in weight.  We could not see her face - she was face down head down, just like she is supposed to be.  I have repeatedly explained to Audrey that she can just take her head off of my bladder, out of torpedo position, because it really isn't necessary - and yet she ignores me.  I have gained 25 pounds overall. 

Today begins my 38th week of pregnancy; I will not achieve Week 39 because this kiddo is getting REMOVED on FRIDAY!!!!  It's very surreal to think that Paul and I will awaken Friday morning, take showers, fight traffic, struggle with our luggage, sign lots of papers, I'll get some tubes and medicine put in me, and then VOILA!  Some doctors I know and some I don't will slice me open and take out a daughter.  There's a whole bizarre un-natural-ness to this business.  But I can definitely see the perks.

1. It's convenient.  "Hey, grandparents, I'll be giving birth on April 27 at 10:30 am, so could you please come a day earlier?  Thanks, that'd be great."
2. It doesn't take very long.  "You can bring Katelyn to meet the baby around lunchtime."
3. It's safer for me and Audrey.  I just wasn't built for childbirth, apparently.

Truth be told, I AM nervous about the C-section, because it is surgery, and there are risks associated with that.  And the recovery will be tough.  And we are taking Audrey about 10 days early.  And the last one was so traumatic for me (although I know that had more to do with the gazillion hours of labor that preceded it.)  Still, I know this is the best decision and I am thankful for such a great support system that will get us through it.  God is awesome.  I think that if I lived in times when there was not so much medical intervention, I would not have been able to conceive or birth a baby at all.  I can't even imagine the world without Katelyn anymore, and in 5 days, I will have forgotten the pre-Audrey world as well.

I couldn't believe this happened, so up goes the video onto YouTube. I could not duplicate this shot if I tried all day long.

We were really just getting some pictures and video of Kate sitting in a tree, but the she counted up to ten, then, very excitedly, back down. Priceless.

Hill Country has posted some more videos from music specials - there is one of me and my friend Dee singing "Take Me There".  We did this last fall; you'll notice that I don't really look that pregnant!  Click here and then on the song name.  Other highlights include "Alive Forever" and "Mighty to Save" from Easter, featuring our friend Rick Trevino.  Enjoy!

P.S.  Only 9 days left!!!!!!

It's true, the nesting thing.  Not a myth.  Add to that the relief from no longer wearing a sling, and here's what I've been up to in the past week:

• Cleaned the back porch.  Even had Kate "scrubbing" the back steps with a brush and soap.  Scrubbed the porch swing for the first time ever.
• Packing the hospital bag.
• Laundry galore - washing everything of Audrey's, even what has been previously washed.  Washing and returning all borrowed maternity clothes, since almost NOTHING fits anymore anyways.  Washing various clothing items that will probably fit me after birth.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  Not even nesting motivates me to use the iron.  Sorry, Paul.
• Organization of baby related medical receipts.
• Cleaning my office.  Those of you who have seen my office realize this is a pretty big deal and must be hormonally motivated.
• Knitting mania.  Finished Amanda's baby present (hopefully she is having that baby RIGHT NOW), Audrey's sweater (link to come soon, haven't taken the picture), and working on Kelly's baby present.
• Shopping.  Buying up all of the stuff we still need for Audrey.  And stockpiling yarn.
• Even got Paul in on the nesting - "we" cleaned out our cars and set up the new car seat and bases.  Once again, those who have seen my car realize that cleaning it must also be hormonally motivated.  And by "we" I mean that I occasionally pulled out trash within my limited reach, and mostly drew fancy doodles on the driveway with Kate's chalk, while Paul sweated up a storm doing the rest.  What a guy. 
• And of course, we finished the taxes.  Not completely to Paul's satisfaction; he has found a few extra bucks that we can legally squeeze out of the government, so he will probably amend the return in the next few days.  I personally don't really care, I'm just glad it is done.

So what, you ask, could POSSIBLY be left to do?  Here's what the nesting fairy keeps shouting in my ear:

• Hang Audrey's name on the wall in her room.  (Paul)
• Clean the carpets in the house, they are disgusting.  Ideally we'd just replace them, but what is the point?  (Paul)
• De-pile my bedroom dresser.  I am not sure how it collects so much stuff.
• Sterilize all of the bottles and pacis and various thingies that can be sterilized.
• Make ridiculously detailed instructions for the grandparents on How To Take Care Of The Kate.  They will, of course, patiently smile, nod, and read it through for my benefit, all the while restraining themselves from rolling their eyes at me.  As soon as I am out of sight they will go about handling Kate in their own way and she will be just fine.  It's like they have done this parenting thing before or something.  It must be their great love for me that causes them to humor me so.  And yet I can't help myself, I'm so neurotic, if I don't make a list I will feel like I've just abandoned her.  Motherly guilt is a strange and powerful thing.
• I'm sure the nesting fairy will come up with other bizarre things for me to do as soon as anything of real consequence is done.

So now, for your springtime enjoyment, a glimpse of MY Easter basket:

A new 27-second (well, almost) stock pitch video for Exelixis (EXEL). Don't forget to vote "Love It!" if you like it. The contest winner takes away $5000!

Happy Easter, everyone!  We put up some pictures on Flickr.  Just go to the main page and you can view what we put up today.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/selzhanik/  Or go to the 2007 Mar - Apr set.

We went to church last night, and this morning we slept in and had a big breakfast.  Since it was freakishly cold outside, we did a little egg hunt in the living room.  Kate was so cute and excited!  And then later she "played" Guitar Hero with Daddy.  It's been a fun and relaxing day.  The best part is knowing that Jesus is risen!

There it is, in all its home-made glory.  It's a contest, so vote if you like it!

35 1/2 weeks.  Which means that if Audrey comes on the 27th as planned, that is only 3 weeks and 2 days away.  It is time to get the ducks in a row.  I have liberated my arm from the sling COMPLETELY (the orthopedist will tell me tomorrow if that was a good idea or not).  It doesn't hurt that much.  It sure improves my mood!  I just have to be really careful not to lift anything more than a couple of pounds or do things with my arm at certain angles.  I figure that the pain is a good indicator whether or not I should be doing something in particular.

Now that I am off of so many medications, Audrey is back to her normal perky self.  And by that I mean her judo-jabbing, rib-kicking, hiccuping, somersaulting self.  Motherly guilt has me wondering what kind of damage I did to her with all of that medicine.  But I don't really know what else I could have done, I have to breathe, right?  And the OB will tell me tomorrow how she is really doing.  Our ultrasound is bound to be soon, but it is not this week.

Here's a picture of my gargantuan belly:

Isn't that so attractive?  Shamu called me for a date the other day.  And no, that is not a trendy, one-sleeved maternity top, it's me in the sling.  What I find completely fascinating is that belly size-wise, I am about the same as with Kate at this point.  But I am a good *25* pounds lighter.  Yes, 25!  I don't have water retention in my legs and face and fingers and earlobes and every part of my body.  You know, if I had been retaining water like that, then when I fell, I might have just bounced!  Anyways, the "normal" sized ankles and feet have been a real perk this time.  THANK GOD.  He knew I needed a perk in the last trimester, what with all of this other stuff to deal with.

Today Katelyn and I went with some friends to take some pictures in the bluebonnets.  You can see them all at http://www.flickr.com/gp/40127326@N00/JrU0U7

Here's a highlight:

And the apology part...I ranted a bit in a post the other day because I was frustrated about my current situation (busted/coughing/in pain/hormonal).  It was a bit on the rude side so I just deleted it (I think - it's hard for me to tell sometimes.  So blog-challenged!)  Sorry to all who were exposed.  Must.  Focus.  On.  Positive.  And there is plenty to be positive about.  (See photo above for example.)  God is good ALL THE TIME!