I've made it to my due date, now what?

November 29, 2011 I made it! Now I'm not sure how to feel. The last month of this pregnancy, my last pregnancy, has been a roller coaster. I've felt good, I've been tired. I've been anxious, impatient and nervous. I never thought I'd see my due date while still being pregnant. I just new I would deliver early. This is my 4th baby...why wouldn't I go early just like the other 3???

As my due date has gotten closer and closer I've gotten more and more nervous for this natural childbirth that I've raved about for the last 20+ weeks. The last week I have been worn out and this has made me nervous that I wouldn't have the will power and stamina to stick to my guns and work through an unmedicated birth. Lucky for me, today I feel FANTASTIC! Let's go back to yesterday, shall we...

Yesterday I went ahead and started my maternity leave. I had my 40 week check up, was only a day away from my due date and didn't really have anything to lose. At my 40 week appointment, although I was only 39 weeks 6 days the doc could stretch me to 4 cm, also equal to the cracker a few pics below (meaning I wasn't fully dilated to 4 cm but by stretching my cervix while checking me I could reach 4 cm), and 80% effaced. He went ahead and stripped my membranes (meaning he stirred things up hoping I would progress a little faster). He did this without asking me if I wanted it done and I'm glad he did. I was wavering back and forth on whether I wanted to stir the pot or let it play out on its own. Then I headed to Walmart to shop/walk myself along. I should also mention that Sunday night I was up timing contractions until 2am. I got very little sleep which lead to a really crappy Monday evening. My back was aching, I was exhausted, and I was not feeling too positive that I would make it through an unmedicated childbirth if things had progressed like I just knew they would. I didn't have contractions the rest of the day Monday but was uncomfortable with back aches and fatigue. I lounged on the couch until I eventually fell asleep and the hubs woke me up to go to bed at 10:15pm. I assumed I would wake up in the middle of the night to time contractions again, and hoped that I would feel better when this all set in. Instead, I woke up when my alarm went off this morning...still pregnant!

I got the kids on the bus, the hubs left for work, I showered, started laundry and sulked while watching TV because I felt perfectly normal and fine...no contractions or back aches. After a couple of hours of being crabby and down for feeling normal my mood picked up. I now feel great, wonderful, cheery and all around pleasant. I'm rocking out to my playlist of favorites while updating my blog and eating hotdogs for lunch. Before long I'll head out to the wonderful world that is Walmart, to walk myself into labor, HOPEFULLY! If I can keep up this fantastic mood I'm in while successfully starting my labor I will be pumped to face unmedicated childbirth head-on!!! What do you think ladies, could this be the calm before the storm???

Here's to a wonderful due date!

P.S. I'd like to note that, so far, I've gained the least amount of weight with this pregnancy...~25lbs!

A day to be thankful for...

Although I am very thankful for many many things, my family, our health, our safety, and all the blessings God had provided us, I would be so extremely thankful to make the biggest spectacle I could at Thanksgiving dinner by having my water break or massive contractions set in right in the middle of it. I'm even setting myself up for such a challenge:

• I'm wearing un-natural looking green sparkly eyeliner for those "look I just had a baby" pics


• I'm leaving the house a disaster-dishes, clothes, toys everywhere, bed unmade


• I'm not taking the hospital bag with me


• And to put the icing on the cake I'm tempted to drive until the gas light comes on...there is nothing I hate more than the stress of "will I or won't I run out of gas?"

HERE GOES NOTHING!

Every pregnancy is different indeed

Here I sit, 39 weeks 1 day pregnant, never thinking I would have made it this far. I always thought each baby came earlier and faster...my babies have proven the opposite. My first was born at 38 weeks, my second at 38 weeks 1 day and my third at 38 weeks 3 days. Each labor and delivery was a tad bit longer than the previous too.

At this point I really have no idea when this baby will decide to make his appearance. After my check up Monday, when I found out he was finally engaged and I was at 2cm and 50% effaced, I really thought he was coming Tuesday or today (at the moment that only leaves 4 hours for him to arrive today still). Yesterday my hips and back hurt, so I of course thought that was the day. Today I've felt nothing. No inclination that this baby will ever come out.

I'm also convinced of 2 things: 1) I am a quite habitable environment and 2) He can hear the outside world around him and is terrified to join this crazy clan we call our family!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving...of course there's been a million and a half people say, "oh, you may have a Thanksgiving baby!" Yea, great, wonderful, I could care less. I don't care what his birthday is, as long as it comes soon!

Weekly Update

I'm still fat. I'm 38 weeks 1 day today. I've progressed only slightly in the way of my cervix thinning. I'm trying to remind myself that I have to thin before I can dilate. I was really hoping for more though. I was also shocked to find that I had lost 2 lbs since last week. The way I see it, that is less work I'll have to do after the baby arrives. Although, I ate A LOT of chocolate yesterday and very likely gained it right back.

Every day is a struggle to not be overly impatient. I'm an extremely impatient person in general. I like plans. I like to know when things are going to happen and how they are going to happen. This is driving me nuts! I am fully aware that Mr. Hogan will grace us with his presence when he is ready...and I'm trying to be ok with that. I really thought I would have had him by today...but who knows, perhaps today is the day!

Today is my Gpa Dub's birthday, tomorrow is our dear friend Josh's birthday, next Wednesday is my Uncle Monte's and Great-Uncle Jim's birthdays, next Thursday is my dear friend Kristin's birthday, then there's always Thanksgiving.

I don't even know what else I can say at this point. I'm due in 13 days. I assume I could go any day now. Sometimes the baby is very still and sometimes he is kicking a lot. Sometimes I am exhausted and sometimes I feel great. I nested this weekend and got my whole house clean and laundry caught back up. Yesterday my face kept getting hot...not like a hot flash but just a flushed feeling. One of the med students I work with said it was because I was vasodilating. He predicted the baby wasn't coming yesterday but soon. I just pray I don't go over...I don't think my sanity could take it...

Things to note today:

Yes, I'm not due for another 18 days, but my babies tend to arrive about 2 weeks early and they come out healthy and ready to take on the world...so I'm not really worried about my baby arriving early. Here are some interesting things to note on why today has already proven to be and will hopefully continue to be a fantastic day:

• Last night was a full moon


• 11-11-11, this would mean both my boys would share the 11th as their bdays and both my girls already share the 9th as their bdays (Scotland 1/9, Paislee 6/9, Sully 4/11, Hogan???)


• The hubs surprised me with a GIANT Hershey's Chocolate Bar in my purse this morning

• Work is having a baby shower for me today


• The med school applicant I am interviewing today is the first I've had to have such an interest in natural childbirth and has even shadowed a midwife


• I'm taking the stairs all day and avoiding elevators as much as I can

Coincidence? We'll just have to wait and see what the rest of the day has in store for this pregnant momma and baby!

Now it is a game of patience

Wow, a little bit of lip gloss would have gone a long way.

The game is on...can I keep my cool? We'll just have to wait and see. As soon as I know the wheels are in motion I get so anxious for labor and delivery. I know, I'm crazy. I just absolutely love it. So as soon as my doc tells me that I've started dilating and effacing I'm all about it. Of course, I wake up each morning and think, "maybe today is the day." Every time something happens I secretly think it could be the start of something. Luckily, I am able to keep the majority of these thoughts to myself so people don't think I've lost my mind. I've been fortunate enough to keep my cool long enough to know when the real deal is taking place. I've never ended up in L&D only to be sent home because I'm not in labor yet....keep your fingers crossed that I keep the streak alive! In all reality, I still have 3 more weeks til I'm due, so I'm not trying to rush him too much...Lord knows he'll come when he's ready. You know how on Sunday evenings you prep for the week ahead? I'm assuming I'm not the only one who does this. I try to make sure the house is picked up, I paint any finger/toe nails that need to be done, and any other task that I feel will help me be more prepared for the busy week getting ready to start. Well, now each Sunday evening I'm thinking about "what if the baby comes this week?" At this point I'm also trying to prep the launch pad for inspection each Monday (my weekly OB appt) and hoping that the coming couple of days will be THE DAY! At this point it is a challenge to keep the launch pad in tip-top shape. The hubs may have to start assisting before too long.

Monday was my last check-up, and as you can see in the pic (from the writing on the chalkboard-obviously you can't see my cervix in the pic, duh), I was 1-2 cm dilated and ~20% effaced. Hopefully when I go back Monday I'll be even further along. Or, maybe I'll have a plump, healthy baby boy before then...with family coming in town this weekend it might a good time to have a baby (after all the guys tag their champion bucks, of course!!)

I'm more dilated than a cheerio but not as much as a slice of banana

I just told my brother-in-law, Eric (who is coming in town with his family), that if he wanted his name used as the baby's middle name he would have to be my doula if I went into labor while they were visiting. His response was "what in the hell is a doula?" After I explained it was a birth coach he stated, "I got this!"...this could get interesting.

Only 4 more weeks...

Yep, those are Superman jammie pants...can't get much more white-trash than that! I do apologize, they are comfy.

4 weeks left, can you believe it?! I can't. This pregnancy has gone by so fast. I'm trying my best to soak it all in and enjoy it, but it is so hard to keep from getting overly anxious for Hogan's arrival. Last week was a rough week of fatigue and discomfort. This week has proven to be better. I caught myself nesting at work today...it was short lived and followed by exhaustion. At least my office is now slightly neater in case the baby were to come early.

It has been so long since I had a good post. I'll have to go back and check to see what I really talked about last. It seems like there's been a lot going on to talk about, I've just been lazy and only done the weekly pregnancy update (if that).

I'm really hoping for a productive weekend. Mom has committed to helping me finish some of my projects. I want to finish painting our family room (the room with the chalk board wall) and paint the hallway. I'm pretty stoked as I want to do 12-18 inch white and gray horizontal stripes in my hallway...the only problem is the stairs and slant of the wall...I'm hoping my mom can help me get them straight relatively easily, as I know my patience will wear thin rather quickly!!!

There are only 4 more weekends left until I'm due...and that doesn't factor in that I've gone 2 weeks early with each of the other 3 kids...we could only be talking about 2 weekends. I need to get my painting done, carpets shampooed and yard cleaned up! How I'll manage all of this I have no idea.

Here are some of the topics I have yet to post on (I believe):

• our week in Chicago


• a 7th anniversary, a 50th birthday, a half marathon, and a full marathon


• Halloween

You will hopefully be seeing posts on these soon...