Self-inducing 101

(not a bad view for getting things started, huh?)

Soooo...we're officially 2 weeks away from our due date (woooohooo!!). I had a doctor's appointment this morning and they did an ultra sound to check his size - they're guessing between 6 and 6 1/2 lbs right now. She gave us full permission to help jump start the process along! So, that's what we're doing :) I know some people are not into self-inducing and think that when the baby is ready - he'll come. I couldn't agree more. BUT...I've been pregnant for almost two years now and couldn't be more ready to get this show on the road! We're also fully aware that no matter what we do, it is ultimately out of our control. If he's not ready - no measure of self-inducing will budge him. So...we're self-inducing AND asking God to get this party started. Haha. We'll see what happens.

So what are we doing, you ask? Well...some of the methods are, well, ahem...top secret. But I can tell you that I climbed stairs at the local city college today...that was after a 2 1/2 hour nap. We'll see if it gets anything moving. If anything, it can be my head start into getting back in shape. It could be today or it could be in two weeks...either way, I'm just excited he's coming!!! Thanks for the prayers...we'll keep you informed. :)

37 weeks...

37 weeks tomorrow :) I made it to my goal and am more than excited to start getting out and walking again. Phew...no more laying low...I don't know if I can handle any more of that! Thankfully, the weather has been cloudy for the most part...making it a lot easier. I did go to the beach with Joseph to watch him surf one day, what a treat! Just look at that belly...my gosh, this little guy has to be ready!

I had another appointment on Monday that proved to be a bit frustrating again. I spent the whole last week focused on eating more and doing NOTHING so that all my calories would go to River. I got on the scale 100% positive that I had gained at least a couple pounds...only to find that I LOST a couple pounds again. Man, what's the deal!? I think I'm probably just losing all my muscle mass from having to lay low for so long...that's my only explanation. I even did a calorie count with my mom (I don't know the first thing about counting calories, but my mom's generation sure seems to have it down!). I'm eating the right amount of calories every day...so I don't know. Anyway, River is considered full term now so if my body wants to go into labor, I'm all for it.

Nothing more to say really. Just thankful to have a healthy, kicking little boy in me...and ready to finally have him in our arms. The anticipation is growing, our bags are packed for the hospital (well, River's bag...still have to put stuff together for Joseph and I) and we're more excited than ever. I still have a hard time believing that we'll have a child soon. Joseph was telling me the other day that he's been a bit nervous about giving birth. Last time we made the journey to the hospital to give birth, it resulted in empty arms and an extremely painful journey of losing our daughter. He said he has to remind himself that there will actually be a positive outcome from all the pain of labor this time around. It feels surreal to me as well. Not until he's in our arms will we fully believe that he's coming to stay...or that he's even coming at all. It's been a long two years of being pregnant...

Thanks for your prayers and for walking with us through this journey. I know Sarah will be full of joy, looking down on her little brother. We can hardly wait to share her with him...

Hopefully there will be pictures posted here of River very soon :) Keep praying for a healthy and quick delivery....I would SO appreciate that!

The countdown is on!

Sooooo, great news - our little guy has officially flipped and has his head deep in my pelvis (yes, this is very comfortable...especially having to get up 5 times at night to pee)! I had a feeling it happened about a week ago, but I was still feeling such strong movement all over and wasn't sure where the heck he was. I'm definitely not one of those moms who can tell the arm from the leg from the butt...the only time I can really identify anything is when he gets his nightly case of the hickups and I can feel his little back moving up and down with each hickup.

The doctor's appointment was pretty entertaining - mostly because Joseph was there with me. We met with the PA instead of our doctor...and let me just say...this PA is not my favorite person in the world. She's freaked out on me on numerous occasions because I'm too small or too tall or this or that. It doesn't seem to matter how great the pregnancy is going, there's always something she can find to gripe about with me. Maybe I'm not her favorite person either. Or maybe she just lives in A LOT of fear.

Today's problem was that I didn't gain weight again (although by looking at the above picture it would sure appear so!) and that I'm still measuring too small for how far along we are. I asked if it could be because he's dropped, which means my uterus has dropped...which means the uterus could measure small. She didn't like my theory - I thought it sounded legit! Sooooo, she took it upon herself to play doctor and did an ultra sound to make sure there was enough amniotic fluid in there. I tried to crack a joke at this point, thought it might lighten the mood...she definitely wasn't into my joke. This is where the whole Joseph/entertaining thing comes along. He was sitting behind her making faces and doing little dances...definitely keeping a smile on my face :)

Anyway...ALL that to say, I feel bad for the lady. So thankful I know the peace of God, I can't imagine walking in such fear and anxiety all day long. I'm also thankful that she took it upon herself to do an ultra sound because it confirmed that the countdown really is here! It also confirmed why my ribs have been so banged up again...his little butt is pushed up right against them...I love this guy. I'm ready to meet him :)

The Sun, by Mary Oliver

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful

than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone--
and how it slides again

out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance--
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love--
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure

that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you

as you stand there,
empty-handed--
or have you too
turned from this world--

or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things?

Quick Note...

Just a quick note. I didn't know that only Blogger users could leave comments and no one else. Soooo...I changed that and now everyone can leave comments :) Hope to hear from you! I also added some of my favorite blogs/sites on the right hand column if you want to check them out. All for now...

Patience

(River and I at Farmer's Market)

Patience. Definitely something I could use some more of right about now. I'm 35 weeks pregnant - officially in new territory since Sarah only made it to 34 weeks before we gave birth. I've also been on "bed rest" (aka - lay low and don't do anything mode) for the last week because my body seems to want to go into labor NOW. Bored you ask? Yes. Ready to have this little guy in your arms? YES. Tired of being pregnant for what seems like FOREVER? Why, yes...thank you for asking!

We're on a 37 week plan...just trying to make it to the 37 mark (I guess if they're born before 37 weeks they automatically have to go to the NICU for observation - and we'd like to avoid a baby stuck in an incubator...we had enough drama the last time around!) So two more weeks of laying low. Two more weeks of waiting. Then its free game and anything can happen! Since my body is so eager to get going with this whole process (I can't lie, I am too....and I think I can speak for River as well, he seems a bit restless in there), I think once I hit 37 weeks I'm going to start going for long walks and help it out. Seeing how I can't even sneeze right now without sending my body into "contraction city", I think a long walk everyday should get the process going. Who knows...maybe my body isn't ready at all and I'll carry the full 40 weeks (or beyond, God help us)...but if my instincts are right I think he'll be coming sooner rather than later :)

I've also found myself needing tons of extra patience for those hours when he has slowed down in movement. I'm pretty sure he's dropped (yes, my bladder is confirming that fact right now) and I've heard babies slow down once they drop. All I know is that it freaks me out. It brings back memories of Sarah's movements stopping and all the emotions that came with losing our little girl. I simply can't go through that again. How weird that I even feel like its a possibility?! I mean...I know its real and it can happen...but I have felt so much peace (overall) in this pregnancy knowing that our little River will be delivered healthy and into our arms. I guess part of me still doesn't believe that yet. That part of me seems to come alive when he stops moving - and let me tell you - its not fun trying to fight those thoughts.

On a brighter note, we are officially ready here at the Dalton house! The crib is set. Dresser/changing table all packed with diapers and clothes (washed and organized by size of course!). We had the car seat bases put in each car today. I have a bag packed with the basics for the hospital. We also found a cool glider/rocking chair on craigslist for $20! Can't beat craigslist :) Thanks to everyone who has given gifts and helped us celebrate in this way...it has been pure joy for me - I'm in serious nesting mode! If only you knew how much these little steps have healed my heart!! Things that I was never able to do with Sarah. We have a big bag of pink clothes tucked away in the closet up above River's crib...I like to call them my Hope Clothes. I wasn't about to lose hope and not get her stuff, but the reality was we really knew we couldn't do more than that. Someday we'll have a sweet little girl to fill them all in :)

All that to say...I'm ready! Patience is needed. And we're so unbelievable thankful that sometimes I can hardly stand it and want to just scream at the top of my lungs!!! Thanks for everyone's prayers and support...keep praying that this little guy stays in a few more days (and if you want to pray an added bonus prayer, that he keeps moving frequently for his momma's sanity!)

More to come soon...