37 Weeks

Funny how this pregnancy suddenly feels anticlimactic! We waited and watched for so long to prevent this baby from coming, and now it is staying put. So, we are trying to be patient and wait it out.

I know most women are barely worried about delivery at this point in a pregnancy. I totally get that, but when you fight for so long to make it to a certain point it really starts to stink when you pass it and nothing is happening. Literally, contractions have almost disappeared unless I get up and move around a lot. Even then, when I sit or lay down they go away.

So, now I am trying to busy myself with my sketchbook and other odd jobs. Maybe I will even get a wrap to carry the baby in made this week. We will see...

Personally I am fine with waiting until next week, I have never had to deliver with an on-call doc, my doc is out of town. 

Anyway, that is the update for now. When I went to submit my portfolio to the Illustration program I found out that they have switched to an online system and I can only submit 10 images. I had many more than that ready, so here are a few:

The 2 above are two of my favorites and actually made the portfolio cut!

**UPDATE: No news to report. Saw the nurse today and everything is the same, except I am now measuring 40 cm. This little critter is in for the long haul I suppose! I think it knew I had plans for things to do in April and decided to mess them all up. Lol!

Dr. will be back Wednesday and I guess then we can start talking about when an induction becomes the option. I would still really like to avoid that, but as I huff and puff with every step I am becoming more and more ready...

Cleaning House

My kids have chores that they are supposed to do everyday. Lately with homework and other activities they are doing a weeks worth of chore every Friday. However, they are not so happy, because I am more mobile and able to check up on the success of their work.

Today I was checking a few areas they did yesterday and was not satisfied with their performance. They claimed I have never shown them how to clean those area, as if! It was just being ignored while I was out of commission.

Mike decided to take the lesson a step further, he helped M vacuum upstairs with Grandma's Rainbo vac. Then he let the kids see what was in the water tank. Funny how that little lesson could go so far. Suddenly it was as if a light went on for them and they understood what all of this effort is for. I am so grateful that we had this lesson now, before the baby arrives. Perhaps it will help them to understand when I get a little neurotic over how the house is kept while the baby is small.

Grandma Wasden

My Grandma Wasden passed away in February of 2000. It took me a long time to grieve her loss, I was pregnant with C at the time and really excited that all 4 of my grandparents were still alive to greet my first child (Mike only had one grandma alive at that point.) However, Grandma got very sick and went to heaven before C came. I was not angry with her, because I knew she was aware of my child and there to help us both through the delivery.

As I sit today thinking about her I realized that it is her birthday. She would be 86. I am sure she is happy and perfect in heaven, but I still miss her!

 I am so grateful for her presence around me so often. After I took the time to grieve a few years ago I started to feel her presence around me more often. I think I thought if I held out on the grieving I would not feel the loss in my life. Funny how that did not work. In fact, I think it was the opposite. After I took the time and pain to acknowledge the loss I was blessed with the comfort of feeling her love for me, and knowing she is there with me when times get hard.

On thegiftofgivinglife.com today one of the bloggers talks about her family (birth) history. She has taken the time to go through the family histories she has to glean as much about her ancestors' birth experiences as possible. I wish now that I had some of those experiences from Grandma. She was a nurse, so I think if I had asked I might have heard some choice stories. Her mother was a midwife in Heber, Utah and I'm sure the stories she could have told were exceptional.

 Anyway, the whole point of this post is that I am grateful for my heritage. For a legacy of women who have stood the test of time and faith to help me reach this point. I am grateful to know that they are holding the hand of my new little one and will surround us with love as we go through the fire that is the birthing process. I am so grateful for their courage that buoys me up.

The picture is of a piece I created 2 years ago at SUU. I don't remember the whole point behind the assignment but the piece is titled "Goddess of my Heritage." It was huge part of my grieving process, I am so thankful that I was able to spend so much time visiting my grandmother's image. It really helped me to renew the bond that I had let slip, to let go of the pain and to draw strength from the knowledge that she is still aware of me and rooting for my welfare.

The photo I used did not have the braids or the hat, those were my representations of her Swedish roots, but I felt like they added just the right touch to keep perspective on the fact that we are a sum of the heritage that comes before us. We can fight it all we want, but we are tied to those who paved the way.

I am so grateful for my heritage. I am truly blessed to have grown-up with all of my grandparents surrounding me with love and support!

Happy Birthday Grandma! Thanks for being a part of my heritage!

36 Weeks

Who knew we would ever make it this far?

We are happy with every day this baby is staying in, but I am to the point of utter exhaustion! I have been having good solid contractions since last Wednesday. We even visited L&D Wednesday night because I was up to 3-5 minute contractions and had been for 3 hours. Of course, as soon as they had me lay down the contractions stopped reading, because they were mostly in my back. So at 2 a.m. they sent us home. I keep hoping we can figure out a way to labor mostly at home, and avoid anymore of these experiences. The real problem is that I am paranoid! With both kids I went from a 4 to a 10 in 30 minutes, so I think I am rightfully paranoid.

Yesterday we saw Dr. Smith. I am still at a 3. He was as surprised as we were, but is hopeful we will go in this week. The real problem is that he leaves town for a week on Monday, which means I am left with whomever is on call. That is not really a gamble I want to take, there are very few of the other docs at Alta View that I trust to support a natural labor. So, now we have a deadline... or we wait another week.

Dr. Smith also apologized that I might go full-term. He feels bad that we cannot do anything to start labor until I am truly full-term. I reassured him that I am not worried about that, if the contractions would stop this is actually the best I have ever felt while pregnant. So, there is a good chance this baby has decided to hang on until it is due, hope no one is disappointed! We will keep you updated!

Thanks for all of the prayers and support!

Still here...

I think today marks the longest I have ever been pregnant. Crazy to think that we might actually make it to 36 weeks or beyond at this point. I know with M I was so ready to be done by the time I went off the medication I was very happy to give birth the next day. With C it was a total surprise, ok not really because I felt like she was coming early, when my water broke. I felt more unprepared with her because we had not had early labor and bedrest.

This time though, I think I am hanging on a little. This may be our last hurrah, and I am finally feeling good and enjoying being pregnant just a little. Plus there is the complete trepidation at re-introducing a new born into our lives. We have become really happy with the stage we have been at with the other 2: no sleepless nights, no diapers, no toddler to drag on every errand...

But it seems like each time I go out lately I am rewarded with the sight of a beautiful toddler or tiny baby. I think the Lord is trying to help me see it will all be ok. I know that is true, and I am very excited to meet this new member of our family, but I am also ok with it waiting a few more days... as long as it is not 10 lbs!

35 Weeks!

We saw Dr. Smith yesterday and all is still about the same. I have not dilated anymore, but the doctor still thinks we will have this baby in the next week.  I am not so sure, this baby seems to have taken on the attitude, "you didn't let me out when I wanted to come so now I am staying in until forever..." Wouldn't that just be my luck? My kids are not stubborn or anything...

Anyway, that is the update for now! Hopefully the next update will be our beautiful little baby!

34 Weeks! Yippee!

 

So, a quick update for those of you that are following our progress. We saw Dr. Smith today and everything is progressing. In fact my tummy measured 38 cm. We have been measuring large for the last month, but that was a 3 cm growth since my visit 2 weeks ago. Mike joked with the doctor that maybe we would have a 10 lb. baby, and the doctor told us that yesterday he delivered a 36 week baby that was 10 lbs. 8 oz. Needless to say I was not excited about that idea!

Anyway, Dr. Smith said everything looked great and he is fine with anytime for the baby to come. That was good of him to say, especially since I have dilated more since Sunday. I am now at a 3 and 80% effaced. He had us set up an appointment for next week, but I think we all know that is probably not going to happen.

So, that is where we stand. Just so you all know, we had M within 2 hours of my water breaking and we plan on staying home at this point until things are imminent. So if you don't hear from us until it is all over that is why. We are hoping things will go quickly again and we will soon be holding our new little family member.

We are so thankful  for all of the love and support that we have been given through this process! Your prayers have buoyed us up when things were hard. Thanks again, and we will post pictures as soon as we can!

Almost 34 Weeks...

Today has been a little rough. I woke up several times during the night thinking I had to go to the bathroom (which of course I did) but would find that I was mid contraction as well. By the time I actually decided I would not go back to sleep it was 8:30 am. Before Mike woke at 9 I had already had two pretty strong contractions. Over the next hour the contractions increased to the point I was having to really focus to make sure I was breathing through each one. By 11 am I was having 6 contractions an hour. This is the point my Dr. keeps telling me I should go to Labor & Delivery, but of course I was stubborn and said, "Well I can take more medicine in and hour, so let's see how that works."

So I went to sleep for an hour (not really sleep, but I tried to pretend, but I was still having contractions) and Mike woke me at noon. I took more medicine and got down to 5 contractions an hour for a couple of hours, then they started picking up again. I called my favorite nurse at my Dr.'s office and she said if I got back to 6 I needed to go in. By 3 I was at 6 again, and had been for an hour. I decided it would be best to go in, since I could not have any more meds for 3 hours.

Needless to say, I contracted the whole time we got ready to go, I contracted in the car, I contracted standing at check-in, and even for the first 20 minutes we were in the room. However, as soon as I was hooked up to the monitor I stopped contracting. In the hour I was hooked up I had all of one contraction that registered and a few "uterine irritations."

Now, I am not complaining that the contractions stopped, in fact before we left I told Mike that is what would happen. I would like a way to scare my body without the expense of a visit to L & D. Just saying...

Oh well. Tuesday we are 34 weeks and we are pretty excited about that! Oh, and they checked me and I have not dilated any more than I was 2 weeks ago, so that is pretty great too!