Slipping into the realm of miserable

So I am 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant... at least 3 days past when I thought I might possibly no longer be pregnant. I can finally say that I am starting to be miserable...not necessarily from being "huge" or anything, but just the waiting factor. We were so pumped up that we would probably be having the baby this past weekend, and nope, no baby yet. We are hanging out, jumping at every little contraction or sign that might mean possible labor. Unfortunately, in my reading, it is possible to continue to efface and not dilate, as it is that you can do both without any serious contractions.

Last night, I started having contractions 8 minutes apart, but unfortunately after sleeping through the night, they are gone. I've been trying to clean the house up from the company we've had over the weekend and hoping that by vacuuming or doing some laundry, it might encourage her along. Nathan's parents came up last Thursday, but they headed back this morning since baby girl hasn't decided to make her entrance yet. There are still loose ends in Mississippi to tend to, and hopefully when they come back, she will be on her way.

It's hard not to sit around and feel discouraged by this whole situation, especially as I am now no longer working and having quite as much to keep my mind off of the concrete pillow still attached to my abdomen. The weather is also quite a bit cooler, which is super nice because I am usually pretty warm, but not as nice because I don't really have any maternity clothes for cooler weather and my closed toed shoes no longer fit. Every single pair of closed toed shoes do not fit...hopefully my feet will go back to their normal shape after pregnancy, although I've heard they may not...

I have another doctor appointment scheduled for Thursday. I would not be surprised to hear her say that she will induce me (as that was kind of the original plan, but I convinced her to try to let me go naturally) if the baby hasn't arrived yet. Sitting at 3cm dilated and 75% effaced and her full patient load (not to mention delivering me at a different hospital) might change some things. I have no idea what to expect at this moment.

So, that's my 38 week update. Keep us in your prayers that things will happen soon and that we will all stay healthy and sane in the process. Have a great rest of the week.

New update

So Wednesday morning I woke up about 5am having contractions about 7 minutes apart. I called the doctor's office and they had me come in to get checked. I had progressed to 3cm and 75% effaced. I went back to the doctor Thursday and my cervix hadn't changed any more, but I was still having some moderate contractions. I think they have lessened up some since then, but I do continue to have some contractions. The doctor said that I am in kind of a "latent early labor" and it is just a matter of a few hours or days before I would go into active labor. She said that she is pretty sure that I won't be pregnant by my appointment next Thursday. Sounds hopeful!

They want me to watch out for my water to break, but said that the baby's head is really bearing down on my cervix so I probably wouldn't notice a huge "gush" if it does break. With the baby's head where it is and me still having contractions, it could be any time. I'm hoping she will just hold out maybe one more day (at least) until my parents are back in town. Nathan's parents got here yesterday evening and are anxiously awaiting any changes.

The doctor told me to go ahead and "tie up loose ends" at work, so I went in yesterday and chatted with the therapist covering my leave and finished up some paperwork. I guess I am officially done working until after my maternity leave is up.

I feel so much pressure now that some of this has started...like I should go into labor just to make it all real. I don't think that they thought I was in false labor because I had too many symptoms consistent with real labor, but that I was just in that early latent labor. I am kind of struggling with being patient for all this to happen, and still trying to rest so things don't happen prematurely. I am so excited and nervous that I can hardly stand it! I really can't wait to see her little face and touch her fingers and toes. Should be any day now!

Full term!

I am 37 weeks pregnant today and considered full term! The baby should be able to come any time now with the expectation to "thrive." What a milestone for us mentally... to know that unless something really out of the ordinary happened that we should be meeting our little girl any time!
The nursery is finally finished! She will stay in the bassinet in our room for a little while, but she now officially has a home/room to come home to! I feel so much more relaxed knowing that I don't just have a ton of stuff left to do! Her laundry is done, diaper bag packed, and everything put away in its place.
This is my 37 week belly picture. You can definitely tell she is dropping. Some people even think I've lost some weight because my belly is starting to be shaped differently as she moves down.
This is catch up... 36 week belly picture.
Aunt Jill and Bryce came over yesterday and helped me clean house. We got all the bathrooms cleaned, the floors mopped, the stairs vacuumed, kitchen cleaned, and strollers put together. We even had time for some down time and visiting, which was a wonderful mental break! Aunt Jennifer is coming next week and hopefully we will be able to vacuum/spot clean the carpet and wash the windows. I am going to try to get my car cleaned and set up the car seat this week. I need to try to finish my thank you notes from last week's shower this week too. The fridge and freezer are stocked and ready! I am almost ready! My bag is packed... let me get a few more things done this week and let my parents get back safely, and I'm ready for her to make her entrance!

Quick update

I know I haven't done my weekly update, but things have been hectic this week! I am 36 weeks and 5 days pregnant as of today. At today's doctor appointment, she said that I am almost 3 cm dilated and progressing well. I told her I was a little nervous that both of my parents going to be out of state in different places this next week, but she was optimistic that it wouldn't be this week, because the baby is still mildly high (but getting lower every day... as I can tell by my increasing sciatica!).

Sunday I had my shower in Marion. There were probably at least 75 people there and the amount of gifts was absolutely overwhelming! We got some really nice things and some of our bigger things too. I really enjoyed myself. My dad had to bring the gifts to our house in his trailer because there was so much! I was so overwhelmed with everything that my mom helped me put things away for 6 hours on Tuesday. Whew!

We are pretty much ready for her when she comes now. The doctor said it is now up to her whenever she decides to make her entrance. Sunday I will officially be full term! Wow!

I promise to post some pictures this weekend in my 37 week post!

News!

I had my doctor's appointment today and I am 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced! The only thing is I won't be full term for another 1 1/2 weeks, so she really needs to stay put a little longer. If I went into labor in that time, she said they would probably try to stop the labor if possible. She said it could be a week or four...who knows?! They will check me again next Thursday and then Dr. Hoover might be able to give me a better idea as to what the plan might be.

Wow! It's almost time! Please say some prayers that she will be healthy no matter when she comes!

The end is in sight...and so is the beginning

In the last week, I felt pretty decent for the most part. Yesterday, we went to Marion Airport with our friends, the Blackabys, to the "Fly in Cruise in" and got to see a whole bunch of planes and cars, as well as have an all-we-could-eat pancake breakfast. It was wonderful and the weather was perfect! Then we went to Upland to the town rummage sales and walked around for another few hours and topped the day off with some Ivanhoes. Yum! Needless to say, I was really worn out when I got home and ended up napping for a few hours. I woke up with some serious nausea and a crick in my neck. No fun!
35 weeks...only 5 weeks (or less?!) left to go! My next shower is coming up next Sunday, so hopefully I'll have everything laundered and things put up on the walls in another week or two in the nursery. We should also be getting our glider delivered this week and her room will almost be complete! I've started packing my hospital bag with a few things, but it's not ready yet.

This week, I have been battling a cold that one of my patients so gracefully passed on to me. We were standing almost face to face and he coughed right in my face. I have been really congested and extra achy so that hasn't been super fun. Then on Wednesday, I have a patient try to sit before she was instructed and I ended up having to catch her from falling and force her back into a standing position. It took three of us to get her in her chair after that. She was fine, but unfortunately, I was not... I have been dealing with a little back strain and some extra sciatica down both legs (occasionally) since then.

We have a beast of a week ahead of us at work with the holiday tomorrow and a lack of coverage for several that will be gone this week. We unfortunately found out that a coworker's parents were in a terrible car accident, and both of her parents ended up dying a few days apart from each other. My heart and prayers go out to her and her family. I guess if it is a little busier this week, it is the least we can do to help her out as she is mourning with her family.

I am looking forward to our last family get-together tomorrow before the baby arrives. I can't believe our next big outing she will be with us, Lord willing! Thursday, I have my next doctor's appointment where I will get my group B strep screen and be checked for dilation. Wow... it's almost time!

I can't believe in just a few short weeks that we will be meeting our little girl. Please keep us in your prayers over the next several weeks! Enjoy your Labor day.