It's time...

Well, tomorrow is the big day. At 6 am we will be checking into L&D to be induced. I was 3 cm and 100% effaced on Monday. I predict I will be 4 cm along since my body has been doing things all week that tell me I have dilated some more. My doctor can't believe I have made so much progress without my water breaking and without contractions that have gotten any stronger or closer together. I am so uncomfortable! I can't remember what it was like to NOT be pregnant.

Today has been bittersweet. It's the last day we have together just us. It makes me want to burst into tears (part of that is all the hormones hehe). Matt and I have been "Matt and Katie" for such a long time...( tomorrow is our 10 year dating anniversary) it's weird to add someone else to the mix. It's the end of an era for Matt and I but the beginning of something even more special...we will now be a real family. We have always wanted children and now that it's starring us in the face...it's kinda scary and exciting and strange and wonderful at the same time. Thank you Lord for this blessing.

Counting down the Days

Well, it's Wednesday the 21st and I'm one week from my due date! As of Monday I was 3cm dilated and 100% effaced. My doc can't believe the progress I am making! I am having some contractions but nothing to get excited about quite yet.

The nursery is done, we've gone grocery shopping and the car seat is in the car!!! I'm done with work until January and am so glad for that. I needed a break from that kind of work; I know it won't be a "vacation" per say but to me, being at home with my baby is a nice change.

37 Weeks and 5 Days

Dr. Westerholm had such great things to tell me today! She said Addison looks perfect and weighs about 7 lbs 2 oz right now. She said she is guessing she will weigh around 8 lb around the time she is born if she is born closer to my actual due date. I weighed 7 lbs 10 oz so we might be around the same weight!!

She also told me that I'm already dilated 1-2 cm and almost completely effacted!! (75%). Addison's head is at a -2 station which is why I have really been able to feel her so low in my pelvis and on my bladder!!! I am so ready and excited! She said my water could break anytime and that I am farther along then some people who are having contractions and at their due date! Crazy!

FYI: Station = how far the head has descended into the pelvis

Effacement= how thin the cervix is getting (0% to 100%)

Dilation 1-10 cm

-4

-3

-2 (this is me right now!)

-1

0 (engagement)

+1

+2

+3

+4 (head is crowning)

I am so glad everything looks normal and that hopefully her birthday is just around the corner! NEXT week is my LAST week of work and I am soooo glad for that. I am going to try and keep walking around and stay active so I dilate some more. My next appt is on Monday! Can't wait! Thank you Lord for a healthy pregnancy and a cute baby (as far as I know from the 3D Ultrasound,,,hehe)

2 and a half more weeks

We just got back from our 8 hour "Lamaze" Class. I was sorta hoping it was more of a general "birthing" class but instead it was more of them teaching us how to get through labor using breathing exercises and different positioning techniques. Ya right. Nothing can take the place of the blessed epidural!!!!!! I want to remember the birth of my first child has as a positive experience and not one of yelling profanities at my husband. I figured since I don't live in the dark ages and I actually have a choice in the matter, why not?

I looked up the main signs of labor on the intranet so I can check them off as they happen. Sorry if this is TMI for some of you. I don't know any men who read my blog so I don't feel as bad for posting details.

1. Nesting Instinct.... Check!

2. Braxton Hicks Contractions....Check!

3. Dropping/Lightening....Check!

4. Changes in Cervix....Maybe, we find out on Monday

5. Increased vaginal Discharge/loosing mucus plug.....Check! (as of 9/5)

6. Rupture of Membranes.....Nope

7. Labor Contractions....Nope

This Monday is a very important drs appt for us. We get to see Addy on ultrasound for the last time to see what her position is and what they think her weight is. They will check me for dilatation for the first time as well. I am excited to hear what all progress I've made (if any).

At about 35 weeks everyone asked me if I was ready. I was nervous and felt unprepared. I didn't feel ready at all. But now, the nursery is done, I've had all my showers and have been to my birthing class (not that i learned anything amazing). So.... I feel a lot more ready now that I'm almost 38 weeks. Weird how much a few extra weeks/days can make a difference in your attitude.

I'll keep you all updated!!!

37 Weeks

I am so proud of myself!!! My nails are finally growing out at the END of my pregnancy. I love the way it feels to have nice nails that are not fake! They are super hard now and not paper thin like they were before I was pregnant. WooHoo!

I keep feeling little extremities poking out and think it's maybe a fist or a foot.

I have been thinking lately about what she's gonna look like. I really want her to have dimples but thats not a trait that is passed down. We will see! I can't wait!!!

Sept 28

So today is exactly 1 month till she is SUPPOSED to make her arrival. I wouldn't mind if she felt like appearing a week early though. In one week (37 weeks) I have a very important doctors appt. During that time is my last ultrasound before she gets here. The U/S will tell a lot about her weight, position and how my placenta and fluid level is doing. I can't wait!!! We will know a lot about when she will get here after that appt. Today I stayed home from work. I hate doing that but it's the first time I've called in this entire pregnancy. Im not sleeping very well now and my lower back has been hurting along with some cramping in my abdomen that I can only assume is Braxton Hicks. It's hard to do surgery with all that going on so I decided to take a day off and rest. If I had a desk job it would probably be easier to get away with it at work but since I'm on my feet running around and constantly busy this was a better idea. Matt made me an awesome breakfast and has put together the stroller and pack n play that we got at our shower yesterday. Its weird to see them in our house. The only sign around the house of a baby coming is in the nursery and we usually have to keep the door shut cause the dogs love to play with her toys. But now, we have baby stuff out in the living room and all over! It's weird. Its just now starting to feel real.

Flipping and Sorts

Addison flipped!! She is no longer breech! I have no idea when. She has been moving a lot lately so I guessed she just slowly wiggled her way upside down! My ultrasound friend at work took an ultrasound before I went to my appt today. I expected to see Addison's head under my ribs like it was last week but nope!!! To my surprise (and to the surprise of the ultrasound tech) she did a complete 180!!! Thank you Lord!

I bought some special detergent to wash Addison's new clothes in called Dreft. I'm glad some friends told me I needed to wash her clothes in special detergent because I had already washed everything in my usual Tide. The things you learn!!! Too bad we don't have anywhere to put the clean clothes! We still need a dresser and a crib, basically all our furniture. Also, we need a stroller and car seat. Basically the most important things to have when you have a baby haha. We have a ton of clothes and bath stuff though. Enough baby shampoo to last an entire year! I am so thankful for all the stuff we have gotten so far and how generous friends and family have been! Whatever we don't get at the shower we will buy ourselves and I will be so glad to finally have our nursery done!!! We are cutting it kind of close since I'll be considered "ok for take-off" the week after next at 37 weeks.

Matt and I have been trying out a new church lately. I have been going to the same church for 23 years so it seems really weird to be going to a different church for about a month now. We just tried out our first small group bible study with a few other couples this week from the new church. It was fun. The people are more our age and are in more of our same stage of life as Matt and I. Most of our friends at my old church were friends of my parents whom I've grown up with (in their 40 and 50's). It's nice to hang out with people at church that are your age and are just starting to grow their family. I think fellowship with people your age is very important. I know my parents miss seeing me every Sunday but they understand which is great.