Today was my 39 week doctor's appointment. I was still not quite 3 centimeters, which was a little discouraging since I spent the entire weekend walking, trying to get things going. I had started having contractions on Sunday, but they were very sporadic and not very timeable- 10 minutes, 30 minutes, then back to 10 minutes. After I went to bed, they didn't really come back. So then at the doctor's office, he measured my belly and I was measuring a little smaller than last week, so he decided that we are going to go ahead and induce.
So tomorrow morning at 6 o'clock I have to call the hospital and make sure they have a bed for me, then we are off to have our little girl. Dr Bruner didn't think they would have an opening for induction until early next week, but he went to call the hospital and then the nurse came in and said, "Tomorrow morning, 6 o'clock!" I was shocked- like, "No, wait, you said next week. I need time to prepare myself! I'm not ready yet!" But ready or not, here she comes.
It is very nerve wracking, exciting, intimidating.... there are so many emotions I cannot even explain. I just cannot believe that sometime in the next 24 to 36 hours we're going to have our daughter! We'll most likely be home sometime Friday and will try to get some pictures posted, because I know people are as anxious to see her as we are!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
An End in Sight...
Sunday, February 26, 2006
You know your feet are swollen when...
.... you go for a walk to help progress signs of labor and discover that your husband's sneakers fit better than your own. In fact, your feet won't even go in your sneakers, never mind lace them up.
Oh, how I am looking forward to my body being my own again!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Another week gone by
Here I sit at 38 weeks pregnant, wondering what is going to happen. Brad is down in Tampa- the bar exam is today and tomorrow. I am praying that Savannah holds off one more day. Brad's been gone for over a week now and she's waited thus far, so my spirits are good. I had another internal exam today; I am now almost 3 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced. I know she'll come when she is ready, but I am starting to get a little anxious!
My mom was in town this weekend, acting as a stand-in birthing coach in case things went against the plan. It was so much fun to be able to hang around with her and my sister- the last girls weekend when it's just the 3 of us! I'll definitely miss these days.
My plan from here on out is to lay down, watch a movie and just take it easy. No walking or anything else that could induce labor!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Big News!
Our prayers have been answered... Brad has been offered a job as an associate in Sarasota, Fl! He had an interview on Friday and met with Chris Smith, who has his own firm down there. As of right now, Chris is the only attorney and he is just swamped with work, so he was desperately in need of an associate. He took Brad to lunch and they sat and talked for 2 hours. He is young, just 30 years old and newly married. They have a lot of similar interests and got along really well and Brad is so excited for this opportunity. All Brad has to do is pass the bar exam and he has the job! I couldn't believe he was offered the job basically on the spot- I figured we'd be sitting around waiting to hear for at least a few days!
This really could not be a better position for us to be in right now. Being in the Sarasota/Bradenton area would put us just 2 hours away from his family in Ocala, and bring us to just an hour and a half from my family! After being in Jacksonville for 2 years, which is 6 hours from my parents, we are so fortunate to be able to be almost exactly in the middle of the two families. Not to mention being back to living near the beach, one of my favorite places in the world!
Brad has been working so hard and I am just so happy that all that work is finally paying off for him. So now that we know where we will be living, the fun part starts.... house hunting!!
Friday, February 17, 2006
It's a Boy!
A big congratulations to our cousins, Eric and Jen Estes, who welcomed their son Benjamin Matthew into the world on February 17 at 1:31 am. He's a beautiful bundle and we could not be more excited!!
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Progress
Yesterday marked the start of my 37th week of pregnancy- at the end of this week I will be considered full term. I celebrated the start of this week with another doctor's appointment this morning. It was my first internal exam and I was a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect. Dr. Bruner informed me that I am currently about 1.5 centimeters dilated, but that he may have stretched it to 2 cm when he was checking. I asked if I was effacing yet, and he said it's not anything that he can put a number to right now, but there is definitely progress being made. Savannah is head down and in the right position- he said he could feel her head right where it is supposed to be.
It was a bit of a nerve-wracking experience, really. In our birthing classes, they told us when we should go to the hospital. At my appointment this morning, Dr Bruner told me that if my water breaks, or if I start having contractions 4 minutes apart, to head over to labor and delivery. These were the exact same instructions we were given in class, but it really put things into perspective when it was my ob/gyn telling me personally- meaning that things could really start happening very soon.
How exciting to think, that really at any time we could have our little girl!!
Thursday, February 02, 2006
4.5 weeks to go
On Monday I started my 36th week of pregnancy. I had an appointment with Dr Bruner on Tuesday and now I start going once a week. He'll also be checking for any signs of dilation starting then, which really put it into my head that this baby is coming, and soon.
The past few days have been somewhat challenging. Savannah is head down now and is working herself into position to be delivered, leaving me with severe pelvic pressure. I found myself waddling up and down the aisles of Publix yesterday afternoon, as it was uncomfortable to walk standing up straight. Luckily, it was mid-afternoon and I only garnered a few odd looks.
I find my mind wandering more and more often to this little baby still warm inside my womb. Several times a day I think about what she will look like- what characteristics will she take from her father, and which from me? It is enough of a surprise in itself.
I was rereading old blog posts last week and came across one from early on, when Brad and I were deciding whether or not we wanted to find out the sex of our baby. Katie McDonnell posted, saying that after finding out with both her babies, it was still the most wonderful moment in the delivery room when that baby emerged and they saw for the first time who had been growing inside. I am starting to feel wonderfully nervous about meeting our little girl, to finally see the life God has been stitching together for the past 35 weeks.
I think I am ready. Now I am just waiting on her.
