It's my due date!

Happy Due Date! :) Not much to say here except yes, I'm still pregnant. I'm actually doing okay and it's not so hot today, which helps tremendously. We're just hanging out and waiting for him to make his appearance!

TTFN... :)

Back!

We're back from our doctor's appointment and it went okay. :( Kind of disappointing, but not entirely. I'm still not making any progress as far as dilating or effacing, but my cervix has softened quite a bit and moved forward. The doctor seems really optomistic that I will go naturally and soon, just going by how many contractions I'm having (and that they are getting stronger) and that my cervix is doing something. So we have an appointment for next week but hoping we don't have to keep it! If I do make it to next week then we start talking induction, and I did want to avoid that. But we'll do what's best for this baby and go from there!

I'm not entirely disappointed because I did see a girl from lamaze class in Walmart, and she just had her baby 5 days ago. He was 2 days overdue and she was only 1 cm at her last appointment and went into labor naturally the next day. I have heard lots of stories like this before, but this one just came at the right time and then of course I got to see the baby - he was adorable!

Hope you're staying cool - it's getting tough to do that around here. I'm going to go take a nap in the air conditioned bedroom! I don't know if it's the heat or simply being 9 months pregnant, but I'm feeling very flu-ish and sick. (Please nobody say this is a sign of labor!...I've given up on all these "signs" all together. You'll go into labor when you go. That's it.)

TTFN. :)

Guesses...

Still here. Still pregnant. Still uncomfortable!! :) I have my appointment today at 3:10 so I will be sure to update after that.

Regarding all the guesses - here's a breakdown:

Due Date:

June 23: Julie - passed
June 25: me - passed
June 28: Jeremy - ???
June 29: Tami
June 30: Steph
July 1: Darcie
July 2: Nana, Lori B.
July 3: Erin G., Bjorn & Sveta, Rachael

Weight:

6 lbs 8 oz: Rachael
6 lbs 11 oz: Lori B.
7 lbs 3 oz: Erin G.
7 lbs 7 oz: Nana
7 lbs 8 oz: Jeremy
7 lbs 12 oz: me
7 lbs 14 oz: Darcie, Julie
7 lbs 14.5 oz: Bjorn & Sveta
8 lbs 1 oz: Tami
8 lbs 2 oz: Steph

Length:

17 3/4": Darcie
18": Nana
18 1/2": Steph
19": Jeremy, Erin G
19 1/2": me
20": Julie
20 1/2": Bjorn & Sveta
21": Tami, Rachael
22": Lori B.

Names:

Oliver Bjorn
Dakota
Hunter
Ian Robert
Ethan
David
William
Cole
Aiden
Carson
Talor
Riley
Kale
Phillip

Going by the most number of votes, our baby's stats will be:

Born: July 3, 2005
Weight: 7 lbs 4 oz
Length: 19" or 21"
Name: Yet to be decided :) but Oliver Bjorn was hinted at twice

TTFN! I will update later after the appointment...

Tired...

of being pregnant! I really am ready for this to end. I broke out in spontaneous tears yesterday morning before the alarm even went off, simply because I was in so much pain. My hips hurt, my shoulders hurt, and my collar bones hurt from sleeping only on my sides in the night. I am using 4 pillows in various places to try to shift the pressure, but it only helps so much. I'm down to I think 3 pairs of pants/shorts that actually fit, and I'm really sick and tired of rotating them! I am also sick of the Braxton-Hicks contractions, which seem to plague me nearly everyday for hours. Then we go through the whole timing of them, is this labor...oh my mind is tired from wondering that. Some of them really HURT. My doctor is encouraged by that and says this should shorten the actual labor, but I'd really just like that actual labor to start!

Sorry to sit and complain - I'm really not trying to do that. I'm just extremely pregnant and ready to meet my little boy! I know it will be over soon - I keep telling myself that. If I can find things to keep myself busy or get my mind off of it, that helps.

Hope you all had a great weekend! I can't believe it's almost the 4th of July - crazy. I also can't believe I won't be in Park River this year!! :( That will be very weird - but apparently they've got a lot going on out here at the lake too so we're looking forward to taking part in that.

Talk to you soon... :) ...TTFN.

39 weeks!

Here we are...one week away from the due date. Well actually 6 days now as it is after midnight, but close nonetheless. And...being 9 months pregnant, today just *had* to be the hottest day Rhinelander has seen since summer of 2002. It was very hot to say the least, but from what I hear it was hot pretty much everywhere. We luckily had the lake and thus the hilarious picture below! A swimsuit at 9 months pregnant isn't the prettiest thing in the world, but the lake felt great!!

LOTS of contractions tonight, but they're not going anywhere yet so my hopes are not up. It may be a while...

TTFN! :)

Dr. appointment today

It went well! Unfortunately, nothing *too* exciting to write, but not completely discouraging either. Everything is pretty much the same as far as dilation, but I have thinned out more and am 60% effaced. Baby's head is still very low, zero station, and he's so funny because the last 2 appointments he doesn't expect it to be there, but it's right there and he always hits it and goes "OH! There's the head!" Yeah I felt that!! :) He ended it with that he wouldn't be surprised to see me at my scheduled appointment next week, but he also wouldn't be surprised to NOT see me at my appointment next week. (That pretty much tells me nothing...but it wasn't the worst thing in the world to hear!)

Baby is doing well and I've lost 2 pounds - the weight thing is so funny. I'm flucuating a little more than others he said, but not to the point where it concerns him.

That's pretty much it. It's been a really quiet few days so not much else to say, but hopefully news will pick up here in the next few days!!

TTFN. :)

Went...

swimming in the lake today! I just couldn't resist. It's actually the 2nd time we've gone but oh today it was so needed, it was 85 degrees! My doctor didn't seem to think it was a big deal at our last visit and I don't really either. (Some say the lake water is full of bad stuff....which it probably is but I'm not worried...because you're also not supposed to stand within 3 feet of a working microwave or have deli sandwich meat. C'mon - you still have to live a little.) It felt SO good to be weightless, even for a few minutes. These last few days have been a little more hard with getting around. My belly really is in the way now and makes getting out of a car, chair, nearly anything very difficult. Still no swelling though, so I'm very blessed in that department. Today would've been extra impossible if I was swollen.

We have our next Dr.'s appointment tomorrow and I'll write as soon as I get home. I'm still having contractions - wondering if this is 'prodomal' labor. I just learned about it today, it's basically the labor before "early" labor, (active labor), the process that is started and not stopped. Prodomal labor can be irregular, start and stop, and often lasts for days. I think I'm pulling at straws here :) . A girl can dream...

TTFN. :)

Labor!?!? Nope.

Last night was very interesting!! We had our last lamaze class, during all of which I felt some pretty good contractions. Started timing them there, at 6:30 p.m., and they were about 10-11 minutes apart. By 8:30 p.m. they were about 6-7 minutes apart, which is pretty normal for me. We went home and did all the things we usually do to get them to stop - drink lots of water, lay down, and empty the bladder continuously. They were only getting stronger and closer together! I was really starting to think this might be it! We decided to go for a walk to see what that did. OUCH. This made the contractions one on top of eachother and quite painful - now I was SURE this was it. It is now about midnight and they are coming every 4-5 minutes. WOO HOO! Called my mom at about 12:15 to give her a heads up but told her not to get up, that I would call again. 1 a.m. came and suddenly, one set was 7 minutes apart. What?? And slowly, over the next 2 hours, they got further and further apart. Less and less intense. By 3 a.m. it sunk in - THIS is why so many people run to the hospital in false labor. Because you really can't tell the difference until you've been through it at least once, and even then I would think you would still have a hard time distinguishing this from the real thing. I just COULD NOT believe I didn't actually have my baby. It was painful, uncomfortable, it was all happening like it was supposed to!! And then it just stopped. :(

So here we are! Still pregnant! It actually is okay - I'm really trying to enjoy these last few days of being pregnant and relaxing...lots of naps and hanging out down at the beach. It's been a really good week.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Keep the guesses coming in!!

TTFN. :)

Oh come on!

C'mon you guys!! Are you scared of leaving a comment?? :) Out of 10 visits today, (as of 7 pm), only 3 left guesses!!

Goodness...

FIVE pounds in one week?!?!? How is this possible? :) At least I feel better about being extra tired, feeling extra heavy, and having zero energy - because I really did put on five pounds in one week. The first thing the doctor asked was to see my ankles - and nope - ZERO swelling. None of it is water retention. I haven't swelled this entire pregnancy. I should've seen this coming. This child has had a pattern of being quiet during a growth spurt for 1-2 days, and then being especially active after that for 2-3 days. He did that this week but I didn't think anything of it. Well, then combine that with it getting harder to breathe again and heartburn returning, he definitely has grown! He dropped and gave himself extra space and then just took a week and filled it all up!! :) That's great though, means he is doing great and that's really what's important. I progressed some - still not dilating much but he said my cervix has definitely thinned out and moved anterior. Baby's head is at zero station, which is pretty low. So all in all, we're looking pretty good but he (Dr. Abrams) still doesn't think I'll go before my due date. I may not after all. But really the closer that gets, it doesn't seem like all that long to wait. That's only really 2 weeks! I can handle that...

So now let's start the guessing. When do you think I'll go? How much do you think he'll weigh? How long will he be?? And what will his name be??! :) Let the guessing begin!

This is getting...

tough. Boy - they aren't kidding. By the end of this thing you will do just about anything to get this child out! He dropped 2 weeks ago, which made for a great 2 weeks. My stomach had room again, the little heartburn I was dealing with was gone, and I felt pretty good overall. The last 2 days have taken pretty much all that joy away. :) He didn't stop growing you see, which is great! Really - but for me it means the sudden extra room I had no longer exists. It started two nights ago with contractions every 7 minutes - this is nothing new for me so I didn't get too excited, but in the back of your mind you're always hoping. But then the heartburn started. And it really hasn't stopped. I don't know if you remember how bad I had it at the beginning, but this is worse. Zantac 75 was what my doctor told me to take then, and it worked like a charm everytime. I have tried it twice now hoping it would do something. And it's doing NOTHING. I have been up since 3:30 a.m. (it's now 5:30) crying on the couch because my throat is on fire and there's nothing I can do about it. I took the Zantac at 3:30 and it's a 12 hour pill, so I can't try again until 3:30 this afternoon. Luckily I have an appointment today at 3:10 so I am going to ask for a prescription of something. I can't sleep - I can't eat - I am in such pain right now!

Contractions came pretty hard and fast last night, about every 7 minutes again, and then increasing to 4-5 minutes, but then back to 7, hinting that it was false labor and not the real thing. My body is definitely gearing up though and there are other signs things may be happening that are not necessarily appropriate to write. :) But we should have a baby here...hopefully SOONER rather than LATER!!

Something has gotten into the attic again and is making all sorts of sounds and noises. It is driving Samson CRAZY! He is knocking things over on the mantle trying to get to the ceiling and I don't think he slept a wink last night. We're going to get his eyes checked out at his next appointment...he's been having trouble finding his treats when we don't put them directly in front of his face and two nights ago he attempted to jump off our 2nd story deck...until he realized what he was doing and luckily Jeremy was there to grab him. :)

I'll write after the appointment - hope you're all sleeping soundly in your beds right now. :)

TTFN.

37 weeks!

We've officially reached "term!" Basically what that means is that from now until 42 weeks this baby will be considered fullterm. After that point he will be postterm. And before that he was preterm. You get the idea. :)

We're getting very excited and anxious for his arrival, and practicing our lamaze breathing at nights. I really think that will help - we've been very fortunate to have a great class and instructor. I know others have not had as positive of an experience as we have had.

Below are the latest pictures. Sorry for the lack of head shots - I just don't feel like it right now! Again, *warning* these are bare-belly pictures and if you don't like stretch marks don't look!! They personally no longer bother me. Really - I'm having a baby. Which is more important...the fact that I have stretch marks or I am being blessed with a child? When you look at it like that they just don't seem to matter anymore.

I'm definitely carrying lower by the day I think. The pressure I'm getting used to, but the charley horse sensations still are not great fun. (Round ligament pain they say ... I just say it hurts!)

We've had lots of interesting weather here the last 2 weeks - and again today. Tornadoes have been all over northern WI and Rhinelander has luckily been spared. South and north of us have not been as fortunate and even Wausau, the main city in this area, was hit downtown today. We're still waiting for word on whether there was any major damage or not, but still quite scary as Jeremy's dad was flying into Wausau at 4 today! He made it safely and they are on their way back to Grandma's in Clintonville - which also had another tornado today. Scary stuff.

The whole house situation is done and over with. Thanks for the kind words! We're just letting it go. We've reached that "Oh whatever who cares" stage and that's fine with us. God lead us to Mayville and He's not going to leave us out on the street. :)

Have a wonderful weekend! HOPEFULLY I WILL TOO!! (hint hint.)

TTFN.

SO BUMMED

First off - I'm so amazingly bummed out. We lost the house we had been looking at. Our realtor was supposed to call if any other serious offers went on, and we found out today while he was out of town for a few days the other realtor in the office went ahead and sold it without telling him first. Of course right after we get that we get the phone call saying we've been pre-approved for the loan and to go ahead and make the offer. I can't even tell you how upset I am! We have been working for 2 weeks straight with measurements, estimates, kitchen layouts, bathroom layouts, meeting with the plumber and the carpenter, losing sleep...all for nothing.

Had another appointment today and not much change cervix-wise, but baby has definitely dropped and is already entering the birth canal. So my doctor said he's no longer worried about whether or not the baby will fit because he's already so low. He thinks about 2-3 weeks! Very exciting...

And then I think about the house again and get all upset. I trust God's plan but this one stings quite a bit. This house had the old-house charm and character we wanted - huge windows and baseboards and the original hardwood floors. Oh I'm just so sad!!!!! We are officially moving to a place and have no where to live and there are no available apartments right now! WHAT exactly is God doing right now??!?!?

TTFN. :( :( :( :(

And the dropping continues...

There is something going on in my body and I'm not doing it and I have no control over it!! It's very weird, but exciting that my body is preparing itself for birth. Now granted I have no idea when that birth will be, probably weeks away, but things are still definitely changing. The needing to run to the bathroom every few hours has not subsided, and my appetite is still larger than before. Now he is moving less, though still moving, and I'm feeling it much lower. Braxton-Hicks contractions have increased in strength to the point where they are now taking my breath away - still not painful - well, sometimes - but definitely taking my breath away. And then starting today I woke up with pain in every single joint. I know your body releases a hormone to loosen joints (your pelvic joint) to prepare you for childbirth, but it loosens every joint, not just the pelvis. Literally - my ELBOWS hurt this morning. It was the oddest thing. And then with the pelvis separating I'm getting some really sharp pains in the groin area that almost double me over. Again, everything I read says this is normal and is just part of the process of my body preparing for birth! So very exciting even though it can get quite uncomfortable.

Here is a picture of our niece Lauren. This isn't from when she visited us, but this is the bike she rode when she was here last weekend. It's so cute! She can really cruise on this thing!! :) We all got together to celebrate Grandma Sell's birthday. It was good see everybody one last time before the baby comes. Grandma had new barn kittens that were so cute! Jeremy didn't let me touch very many of them, and of course I wanted them all home with me. But that didn't fly...

Not much else is new. It's my last week of work!! I'm getting very excited to be done and be able to be home and rest and finish getting ready for the baby. Work really takes a lot out of me - I'm so tired when I get home.

Hope you're doing well! TTFN! :)

He dropped more!

So last night we had our lamaze class (good stuff there by the way) and we talked about things that happen when the baby starts to drop...going to the bathroom more frequently, getting your appetite back, etc. etc. etc. So last night I'm super tired and decide to go to bed a little early (10-10:30ish) but have a good solid snack before. I fall asleep and hm...12:30 I wake up and have to go to the bathroom?!? I was surprised. I usually make it to 3 if not 4 for sure, and then that's my only visit. Okay - so go to the bathroom. Back to bed. 3:20....5:00....7:00...all needing to go to the bathroom! And we're talking like RIGHT NOW! So on top of that, I mentioned I had a big snack before going to bed. Well, when I got up at 3:00 I had to eat again, my stomach was just grumbling. I thought for sure I wouldn't be very hungry for breakfast in the morning. Sure enough, 7:00 rolls around and my stomach is grumbling! All this is new! And exciting! I'll eat - Sure! I just couldn't eat very much before, there wasn't much room for the stomach left. And then there's the obvious physical change - both Jeremy and I noticed I am carrying much lower.

Just had to share!....TTFN.

Dr. appointment...

Had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and it went...well. :) It went well for baby, for me it was a bit disappointing. I was checked internally for the first time and NOTHING - not even 1 cm! I am only 50% effaced but baby's head is down and the doctor could feel it. So he's definitely dropped, but he is not engaged yet. Now this really means nothing. There have been lots of women dilated 3 cm and they stay that way for 4 weeks and finally have to be induced. And then there's women like me who are told "a solid few weeks" yet but still have the baby early. So who knows! I just wanted to process to have started...and I guess it has in a small way, just not very much.

Baby is doing well otherwise, but I haven't gained any weight in 2 weeks. (I have been eating tons!) We asked the doctor and he didn't seem too worried, but said we'd keep an eye on it over the next few weeks. I know there's something with growth restriction, but I think that has to do more with the uterus not letting the baby grow than with the amount of weight gained.

Hope you're all doing well! I will post pics later on the amazing growing belly.

TTFN.