The Sun Will Come Up

Tomorrow will be the 14th day of our little labor adventure and as of yet, it seems that I will still be nurturing my sweet boy inside my tummy. Which is not such a bad thing because Lucas has come down with a nasty stomach virus today. He is sick...sick...sick. Please God, don't let any of the rest of us get sick. And help him to heal quickly of course.

A Visit with Good Ol' Doc

Well, folks. Our little visitor has not yet visited. He's still nestled tightly in my ginormous ever growing belly. The doc says that sometimes this happens and by the way I had entered Active Labor and returned to Early Labor, but yes I am still in labor. Who makes up these rules anyway? As for what we're going to do about it all. Wait. And probably wait some more. The baby is still large, but my body seems to be handling things ok so far. I have an appointment for Friday of next week at which point the doctor will do something to "scare the baby out". And...that's all folks.

O Baby

Yup, there's still a baby in my belly. Some great things about this baby: It is still moving...a lot. It has quiet times where it seems to be resting (Dean didn't). He has a fun name and some really cute announcements. He has some little bitty feet and toes. I can feel them through the skin on my tummy. Toes people!

I've started my 10th day of labor, though this one seems less eventful than others because things have really slowed down in my body. My poor mother drove down the night of Day 1 because we thought surely the doc's diagnosis of true labor contractions meant that I'd be having the baby ANY MINUTE. She's still here. Her work office is still wondering when she'll return. I'm still calling my office every day and humiliating myself with the news of still no baby, sorry I left in such a rush 10 DAYS AGO, I just really didn't want to face another day with those cute little third graders.

We have tried some goofy things to get the labor progressing and "just in case". We've made multiple trips to the local drug store for things like jolly ranchers for the hard core labor, baby safe q-tips, raspberry leaf tea (to promote labor, and which we have yet to find), etc. We've been shopping for DAYS looking for Christmas presents my mom needs to buy anyway and crafty Christmas needlework, which we also have yet to find. We've walked, and walked, and walked. We've push pressure points you're not supposed to push. We've eaten spicy foods, gotten pedicures, sat for hours on birthing balls, cleaned, nested, etc. Our baby announcements are all crafty, cute, and ready for us to put the important things on them. You know, like the date of birth and the picture. I very carefully made a sample announcement first complete with the date of the 7th. The 7th came and went, so I changed it to the 9th...AND PRINTED it again. As you can tell, that didn't help things along either.

The funniest part of all of this...

My due date is this coming Saturday. Yes, ladies and gentlemen I have been waiting impatiently for almost 2 weeks for a baby that isn't due anyway. I would not be impatient, and could care less how quickly he comes...except did I mention that I've been having the really strong take my breath away cramps that cause a lot of aching and pain in my nether regions called CONTRACTIONS. I always knew God would teach me patience one day. I hope he is successful this time because I really don't want another lesson like this.

Well my little one. Today would be a great birth day. I know a wonderful person who was born today. She is witty, hilarious, crafty, gentle, creative, soothing, and a great mother. If that doesn't work for you, tomorrow would also be a great day. I know someone (her daughter) who was born on that day. She is spunky, crazy, funny, energetic, always coming up with new ideas, and sees the world through eyes that bring joy and laughter to those around her.

The Waiting Game

Ok, so this isn't a very interesting post, but rather a quick update. I am still pregnant, exhausted, sore, and ready to meet the little one. My contractions have really slowed down today. We'll be at the doctor's on Thursday at which point I guess I might learn more. Or not. Anyway, sorry to have gotten everyone so excited last week with the beginnings of a long labor.

Frustration Sets In

Last night I really thought I was going to have the baby. I had contractions every 3 to 5 minutes starting at 8:30 p.m. and they HURT. Lucas and I went to the birthing center while mom watched Dean. I wasn't making any more progress since my exam on Thursday, so they sent me home to get some rest until it got "more intense". About 4:30 this morning, it got less intense. Now I'm back to 6 minute contractions that take my breath away, but aren't painful. The wait continues...

Labor

I am still pregnant. Still in labor. Still waiting to see those little tiny feet. When I went to the doctor yesterday, he decided not to induce because well, I am already in labor. A long, slow, tiring, labor. So I wait for God to decide and hope that time is before my momma's two weeks with me.

In the mean time, we've been walking, shopping, hopping up and down on birthing balls, and designing an oh so cute birth announcement.

Natal

I am no longer prenatal, nor am I post natal. Does that make me natal?

I've been having strong contractions 10 minutes apart for over a minute each. For. Two. Days. Yup ladies and gentlemen, two days of early labor. What fun! Mom came down to help out Monday night and we've been waiting and passing the time together since then. We've walked the malls and neighborhood. We've driven quickly over bumpy roads. Not much has changed, but we know the baby is working its way into the world. I'll introduce him when we next have a moment and he's no longer relaxing in my cushy tummy, but rather in my comforting arms.