A REALLY long week!

My dear boy, you have put your Daddy and I through quite a lot this week!  It started out on Monday morning.  Daddy was at work with me because he didn't have to work that day, and I started bleeding.  Not too terribly, but enough that we were a little worried and left work early so that I could call the Dr. and see if I needed to go in.  Well, I had an appt. set up already for that afternoon so they said that unless it gets worse, they'd just see me then.  Turns out it is not a concern, and actually a good sign of progression, but we were still only 1 cm dilated and about 80% effaced.  So, back home for more waiting.

That night I started contracting a bit before bed, but nothing too regular so I went to sleep.  I remember waking up with contractions throughout the night, but could still sleep relatively well in between.  By morning, however, I was contracting enough to start timing them.  They came every 5-10 min or so until about 2 in the afternoon, when they took a bit of a break, slowing to only two or three an hour.  They stayed that way until evening when they started to pick up again.  By 2 am, I hadn't been able to fall asleep yet and they were coming pretty regularly 5-7 min apart.  That loveliness lasted all night.  Finally around 6 am I got up and showered.  I was totally exhausted!  After texting your Auntie Dayna, I called into the Dr. on call to see what I should do.  She said to wait a bit longer and see if they got to 3-5 min apart and then call back.  That was about 6:40 and by 8 am they were coming anywhere between 2-5 min.  We were excited, nervous and ready to see our boy!

After another call to the Dr. we were on our way to the Hospital!  Of course I noticed on the drive (about 15 min) that I only had 2 contractions and began to worry that they were slowing down.  Well, we got there and Dayna was working at check in with some of her friends that we know, so it was nice to see the familiar faces.  They got us into a room and by this point I was hardly contracting at all!  To make it short, two and a half hours later, we were headed back home, only dilated to a 2 1/2 and 90% effaced.  Not to mention I began regular 5 min apart contractions again before we were even home!  The nurses were very nice, and gave me some meds so that I could relax enough to hopefully get some rest, because my body was too exhausted to face labor at that point.  I was able to sleep a few hours on the meds, but still woke frequently with contractions (I wasn't timing them).  When I did get up later it was the same story.  They occasionally came 4 min apart, but usually it was about 5-7.  I tried watching TV and playing games with Daddy to distract myself, but I was quickly becoming quite exhausted again.

That (last night) was very similar to the one before, contracting all night with a little dozing in between.  I did find that as a was breathing through the contractions if I breathed in by your Scentsy Buddy stuffed lion and took in the lavender scent it would help me through the pain.  So I slept with your lion last night :) He was very cozy and took good care of your mama! This morning I was having a really hard time.  I had been contracting for about 2 days and my body couldn't take anymore!  At one point I just started to cry.  I asked Daddy to pray for me and he said he just had.  Soon after, the contractions slowed to about 20 min in between and I was able to sleep for about an hour and a half.  When I got up after that I decided to take a warm bath.  This really helped to slow the contractions down a lot!  I slept again after that for another 2 hours until lunch.  The contractions were there, but weren't troublesome enough to keep me up.  After lunch, we watched an old classic musical on tv and decided to go for a walk.  It's been really hot this summer and we were lucky to get out right after a good rain which helped to cool things off.  I could only do about a mile and had to stop for the worst contractions, but it was still nice to get out!  We got back about 5 and guess what Mommy did??  That's right, I crashed again!  I slept for another 1 1/2 hours!  I hope that you are feeling ok with all that contracting, cuz it sure took a lot out of mommy!  The contractions are still coming and going, but seem so much more bearable now that I've gotten some sleep!  I still wish there was a way to just make it all happen now so that we can hold you and see you and know that you are all right!  We love you so much little Noah!  You have no idea how excited we both are to finally meet you!  Hopefully it will be soon, but even if we have to wait another week, it'll be worth it!  I just hope it isn't a week like the last! :-)

Well, an induction date has been set if Noah doesn't come by 41 weeks (still crossing my fingers that he does!!) We will be induced at 8 am on August 1st, the same day as his cousin Greyson's mommy is to be induced for him!  Greyson's Daddy, Paul is Ryan's little brother who happens to share a birthday with him.  We think it would be great if the two son's also share a birthday. :-)

We had a "false alarm" you could say this past Sunday.  I was contracting for about 2 1/2 hours, but it never got regular and began to slow down after about 2 hrs.  I was bummed, but hopefully we are getting closer.  Noah is measuring quite large for little me, and C-section has been very seriously discussed, but we are going to try to deliver vaginally still.  We, and the Doctor and staff of course, will just watch the labor very carefully for any signs that he isn't fitting well.  I don't want C-section, but it helps that I can prepare myself now for that possibility.

There have been many signs that labor is coming in the past couple weeks, and even more so the past few days, but still no little man.  As long as he is safe, I try not to be too impatient, but it is definitely hard!  I want to hold my little boy! :-)  I have been contracting daily and am dilated 1 cm, and was 80% thinned at our appt. yesterday.  The dilation has been that way for a couple weeks now, though the effacement is progressing with each visit.  He was nice and low at 36 weeks, but has unfortunately moved up again.  This is most likely because he's growing so much and there was less room lower down, so he moved back up.

I have been working still, but much less than I am used to, so I go a little stir crazy!  We did have one fun project last week to distract me though.  We made a Belly Cast and painted it to match the starry night theme in his room.  It was really fun to do, and it's a unique way to remember the pregnancy.  We have it hanging on his wall right now and when he comes, I am going to write his birthing info on the inside.  Here are some pics of the process...

Well, hopefully it will be soon that I am posting pictures of our beautiful boy, but until then I will try to keep ya'll updated on anything interesting that happens!

Baby Boy

Little hands and little toes,

chubby cheeks and a tiny nose.

Will I hold you in my arms tonight?

Every day I pray for you,

Angels to watch over you,

Til the day my dreams come true

And you're here with me.

All my life I've waited for my angel from above,

A little child to call my own, to give all my love.

And now the Lord has sent you here,

My bundle full of joy!

A miracle, God's greatest gift,

My perfect baby boy!

Anxiously we wait for you,

Your mommy and your daddy too.

Waiting arms to carry you and hold you tight.

We'll sing to you and play with you,

Wipe your tears when you are blue.

There is nothing we won't do to give our love!

All our lives we've waited for our angel from above,

A little child to call our own, to give all our love.

And now the Lord has sent you here,

Our bundle full of joy!

A miracle, God's greatest gift,

Our perfect baby boy!