Due Date

For those of you who dont know it...today is my due date. I am still here...obviously...My mom says its because Brayden is waiting on Gigi, but I think I've made it just a hair too comfy in my tummy, so as of today I am beginning to poke and prod him more than usual. He seems to have noticed since he has taken to kicking and stretching in response. I think we're gonna have a character on our hands when he gets out!

On a more serious note...today it hit me that I'm going to be a mommy to someone. Someone will soon look to me to take care of their every need and will, for a time, find me to be all knowing and wise (you may laugh now if you like...I find that fact hilarious myself). When I said this to Luke over dinner he just nodded and looked pensive...he was probably thinking about his own role in all of this. Its scary to think that a little life has been entrusted to you. Its like a test and a gift all wrapped up into one tiny little package. If I had to be honest, and I'm sure Luke will agree with me, there is a lot a solace in knowing that not only did we have great role models in how to raise children in our own parents, but that we still have that guidance from them along with lots of love and helping hands from family and friends. It helps to know that you have a whole cheering section behind you rooting you on this journey you're starting. It gives us peace knowing we really arent alone in this.

So this is update on my uterus and my deep thought for the day...maybe even the week depending on how things go in the next few days. Oh...dont I just wish!

Alrighty...

I just got back from my appt with my doctor and things "look perfect" as they always do, thank you very much. That is the good news. The bad news is that not a whole lot has changed since my last appointment. He did some more digging in there, talked to me about what to do if my water breaks or I start having contractions, and then went to make some phone calls to put my induction date on the calendar...just in case (Luke leaves for the field on the 9th of July and wont be home til the 20th, so we'd really like to have the little guy here before then for obvious reasons). My doctor doesnt seem to think I'll need an induction date, but he scheduled us for the 5th of July if the need arises.

We will try to keep our loyal readers up to speed in the coming days, and you may even get lucky and have a post informing you of our departure to the hospital. That post will probably be from Luke...

Keep your fingers crossed!!!

Still...

Here! Thats really all that runs through your head when you're in the week leading up to you due date. You wake up everyday and think..."Well, I'm still here..." Dont get me wrong...I'm fine still being "here" but then I wake up on days like today...at 4am...to a baby fighting with my insides for space. This in and of itself is not a rare occurance. The rarity is the fact that it didnt let up until well after Luke left for work...or at least until I was finally able to fall back to sleep through the maylay. The good news is, the fighting has stopped for now. The bad news is that I fear all my internal organs will soon go on strike for being severly mauled once again, and for me just laying there doing nothing. I think they're tired of losing...and I'm tired of their griping! All I can do is continue to remind Brayden that there is MUCH more room out here with Mommy and Daddy. Problem is...I think he's content to keep fighting it out for a bit longer. *Sigh*

On a brighter note...I have another appt tomorrow to find out if any of the wriggling and stretching has brought us any closer to seeing our little guy. I'm not holding my breath that my doctor will be good for much concrete info (as I explained in my last appt update), but for anyone whose ever been pregnant you know that there's just something about getting to hear how your baby is doing from someone who seems to know what they're talking about. So I will anxiously go in tomorrow, probably be poked and prodded in ways unimaginable (and frankly a bit inhumane), and come home and promptly update my loyal public of my progress, if any.

Until then!

38.5 Week Appt.

So today we were finally able to have that appointment. Things went fine as expected. I am still 2 cm and 50% effaced so he dug around in there to see if he could help me along...ouch! We'll have to let you know if there was any progress gained from the discomfort at a later date...maybe it will even send me into labor (commence holding breath). But other than that Brayden and I are fine. My doctor says things look good and that I should deliver on my due date...give or take about 5 days or so (he's a riot I tell ya!)

Lukey took the pictures today for everyone's enjoyment! As you can see, things are progressing nicely as I like to put it. I think I spend half my day on my exercise ball bouncing to relieve the pressure and to hopefully encourage a quicker descent than has recently been occuring. If nothing else I hope to be making Brayden very sea sick. That'll teach him to dig his head into my pelvis, right?!

We're Still Here

For those of you out there who were wondering if we made it through the weekend, the answer is yes...we did. We have had a nice relaxing weekend followed, I hope, by a good "first" Father's Day for Lukey. I suppose there is still time to have a real Father's Day, but the chances grow slimmer by the minute. Oh well...I guess there will always be next year. In the meantime we have made it to see another appointment (hopefully) set for tomorrow. We will keep you in the loop when we know anything else...exciting or not.

The Appt. That Wasnt...

For the faithful readers who are wondering how my appt. went today...it didnt. Since many of you are not familiar with government health care, I will just say that while it is free it is not hassle free. Tricare had only approved me for visits until June 6, so when I got there today I was not authorized for any more visits. Makes no sense, I know, since I'm due the end of June...but like I said...NOT hassle-free. Its an easy fix, and hopefully I will be all set for my rescheduled appointment Monday at 3. I'll be sure to let you know what progress (or lack thereof) that we've made when the time comes. Until then you're just stuck with me and my mindless ramblings. Night!

Here's the scoop

So today I have another OB/GYN appt. at 2:45. I know it will tell me everything is fine...but I guess now Luke and I look forward to them because we can see if I've progressed any this past week. He's the optomist. He thinks I will be a 4 or something even better...thats why I love him...ever thinking positive. Me? I'm hedging my bets that things will be pretty much the same as they were last week. I think Brayden is still pretty comfy in there...squirmy but comfy. So, I guess all you news hungry readers will find out in our next post later on today what the scoop is. Stay Tuned!!!

Attempt At Labor Induction

So last week I made a new step in my life...Luke taught me how to use our lawnmower and I even gave it a whirl by mowing the front yard all by myself (mostly). I was sweaty and very winded and as I was giving the mower to Luke to finish I got a brilliant idea. I decided that next time, I would mow the whole yard myself to maybe try to speed the arrival of Brayden along a bit. So, today I did just that. It was hot and I was once again sweaty, but I did it. And since I'm blogging about it you can infer how well it worked...not a thing happened! Oh well...there's always next week!!!

36.5 Week Dr's Appt.

Yesterday we had the "big" appointment. It was big because it marked the beginning of weekly visits to my doctor as well as the appointment where I was checked to see if I've made "progress" so to speak. It's a nice way to say my cervix was checked (sorry guys...). I had the option of waiting til next week, but I've been feeling crampy/pressure down there for a while now, especially the past week or so. So I told him I was curious and he did his thing and to my suprise (and to the Doctor's...I think since this is my first pregnancy he didnt expect a whole lot) I was 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I know that means nothing to some of you, but mommy's who read this will know. I'm not in labor, nor will Brayden be sticking his hand out waving at anybody in the near future. It just means that my body has already begun the process of getting ready for the little guy to come out. And I guess it means labor had technically started. It also means I have less progress to make before they will admit me to the hospital when I do go into actual active labor (at our hospital I have to be 4 cm and have contractions 5 mins apart at least). It could be that I'm close...or it could be I have a while left to wait...which I'm finding out is true with all pregnant women. You can be dilated and have made lots of progress at your appointments but still deliver late, or you could have made no progress and deliver early. It seems like this childbirth thing is just a crapshoot really. And Brayden is in total control...but that doesnt stop me from asking him several times daily, "Dont you want to come out and see Mommy????" The answer so far has been "No, but thank you for asking..."

So...in a minute after I publish this post I will be going on a brisk walk...up LOTS of hills! Can't hurt, right???

36 Week Belly Shot

This is another installment in the chronicle of the ever growing Brayden Edward Sanders (and by default...me). Enjoy!