Uh Oh …
Pic of the Day ~ The Belly at 36.5 Weeks ~
We had an OB appointment this morning. However, before I tell you the news I want to share a few things with you.
First off, last night I was knitting on the couch. I have been a tad crampy, my ligaments in my pelvic area are sore and tender, so I know things are working. Well I was feeling uncomfortable so I stood up to walk it off … I made it a few steps when I had like BAD pain, so being an avid reader, I tried to change what I was doing as the books suggested when experiencing a Braxton Hicks contraction. Well the pain pretty much took me down like a tranquilized elephant.
So there I am writhing on the floor in the living room, crying and laughing at the same time. J comes out of the bathroom (where Becca is taking a bath), to try to figure out what the commotion is all about. He figured the kids outside where yelling. He looks for me but cannot see me on the floor behind the chair … I felt like such a dork lying there laughing, tears streaming down my face … So J assumes I fell and gets all worried and I am trying to tell him that I went down I did not fall down …. Only me I swear … The pain subsided and all was well the rest of the evening!
J booked a flight last night for NEXT week. He will be flying to New Mexico for a job interview for a second post-doc position at the National Lab there. Since he is a foreign national (hehe what they call him) there are particular security issues at play so the window of opportunity is a small one. Therefore it was necessary to go next week. He was unable to purchase insurance for cancellation due to the fact that it is so close to my due date.
At the OB appointment today, our doctor did an internal exam ….
Last week I was 25% effaced (no big really) …..
This week …. 50% effaced and TWO centimeters dilated … the colour drained from J’s face … Now to be fair that is still not like I am delivering anytime soon, heck I could stay at 2 cm till well past my due date, however even the doctor was surprised to see how far my body had progressed.
We do have a back up plan. My friend Marina is willing to come be my labour coach if J is out of state when I go into labour. Our friends Erin and Adam will take care of Becca and Holly said she would come get Becca for a playdate to relieve some of the burden on Erin. In the meantime, my Mother-in-law is on call and well, I guess the worse case scenario is that J misses the birth of his son!
So I am excited that my body is working like it should and that all is well with Ethan. I am nervous that things will progress faster than we would like, yet I am anxious to meet our little boy. However waiting till the due date is ok with me too….Egads! I should pack the bag eh?
I finally posted some photos and a post on my Knitting Blog and Flickr!
Yikes!!!! here he comes!!!
I hope he gets here after J comes back…But if he comes before…that would be nice too…
I love that you were laughing and crying all at the same time…
Hugs!!!!
omg! i hope for J’s sake that little Ethan holds on just a wee bit longer but I think it’s incredible that you already have a back up plan!
Yes you should pack a bag now LOL That is great that your body is doing what it should be and getting ready for labor. Sending prayers that Ethan either makes his appearance before or after J’s flight and not while he’s gone!
I’m so excited for you! I too hope little Ethan waits until his daddy gets back.
Chelle, this baby might be coming before you realize. With my second son I was 1cm dialated, and he was delivered 10 hours later… I hope he holds on until J returns - but I’m thinking it’s possible that you might have him before J even leaves….
Oh, nervous! Hope the timing works together and everything goes well.
Pack that bag baby!
GREAT that you have a back up plan. Now make sure you have phone #s for everyone and can reach them at ANY time. If J is away, make sure to have someone take pics/video. I know it will be hard if he’s not there (my hub missed our 1st born son), but keep in mind the big picture. You are going to have this baby no matter what. You can do it no matter what. It will be harder on J to be away, but he’s trying to secure your family’s future.
I am so excited for you guys!!
Seriously though, pack your bag. Both of mine were early: Ben 2 weeks, Sophia 4 weeks.
How exciting! Jamie’s really fun inside toy: scheduled to be delivered tomorrow, book club questions: I can handle it. O.k., I’m ready. Now, is your bag packed? Will you let me know when you’re ready for Helping Hands?
Babies seem to know when you are ready and if J is destined to be at the birth of Ethan, he will be. Mr E will probably come before he has to go or after he comes back but either way, you shouldn`t stress about it as it sounds like you have a great back-up plan. As you know, I was recently present at my friend`s birth as her husband couldn`t get away from work on time and she has since said that it might actually have worked out for the best because I was able to help her more than her husband would have. Sounds like your body us getting ready though, I will no doubt get overly excited every time I check my bloglines and see that you haven`t updated yet that day! LOL!
Oh my goodness! I’ll be keeping you in my prayers!
Let me know if you want a sure-fire way to bring on labor - if you decide to deliver BEFORE J leaves!
how exciting. I’m 31 weeks, not too long for the both of us. I don’t know about you but I’m ready for this kid to come already. The pain of BH contractions for me is so annoying and the swollen feet….don’t get me started. Good luck on the delivery which should be soon.
How exciting!!! And then there were two …………. how exciting!
On the one hand, I sure hope things work out, you might have this fella before “daddy” even leaves…on the other hand, I walked around 4 cm and more than 50% effaced for almost the entire last 8 weeks of my first son and 3 weeks with son #2….my kiddo’s, they just needed more room I think, maybe Ethan will do what he is suppose to do.
I was stuck at 3 cm for weeks with my son.
Go pack your bags anyway, chickie! Woohoo!!
boooo! about the job in New Mexico
Just being selfish here, seriously, good luck J!
Woo hoo, Ethan will be here soon!! I’m sooo sooo excited!!! I can’t wait!!!!
OMG I’m nervous! I think he’ll hang on and come as soon as J gets back.
Get packed though, dude. If you’re ready, he won’t come!
Any interviews in Canada?
That must have been a scare for J. Glad you are a-ok. Hope your baby can wait for J to come back as I’m pretty sure the daddy wants to be there for both of you
I hope all goes well for you and your labor and delivery. It sounds like you have Plan B in place. I hope your sweetie gets to be with you through it and that you have all the support you need. I’ve had 4 babies and every time I would get contractions earlier in the pregnancy and of course get more nervous…. but everything always worked out. Ok, I had different scares with each child… there’s always a story to be told, right? With my last baby I drove myself to the hospital and my husband was working in a remote area where his phone/pager and radio wouldn’t work. But he had a “feeling” and ended up arriving to the hospital in time. Good luck and I’ll be pulling for you!
How exciting!! I hope that little Ethan comes when his dad is home to see it.
Oh, I love your picture of the day!
Okay little Ethan, wait until your daddy gets back from his job interview to make your grand entrance, okay?
You are the first pregnant mom I’ve ever heard wanting for her baby to not come out yet, but instead wait! haha.
I hope J is there for the delivery, and that all the timing stuff works out perfectly. If it doesn’t though, it isn’t the end of the world, and he will return to a beautiful, soft and cuddly babe.
Still, I’m sending slow, patient, baby-waiting vibes your way.
New Mexico huh? hmmm…..
No Canadian job interviews?
Wow…2 cm…that’s awesome! I do hope J makes it home in time for Ethan’s arrival! And good luck to him on the job interview!
I’m seeing ten days early on April 9th. Don’t worry I’m always wrong about these things.
Wouldn’t it be strange if he is born on your birthday? That is totally possible. I’m so excited for you. I can hardly contain myself. My younger brother was born one day after my mom’s birthday. By the way I picked April 9th before I looked at your calendar. That’s even more strange.
Oooh, things are getting exciting! We’ve got three babies due at out work soon too! I really hope J doesn’t miss out on the birth - that would be a real shame!
oh goodness! I hope he doesn’t miss it!! I will pray that you at least hold out till he gets back!
I sure hope that J can make it to the birth of his son! Take care!
Stay in there little man!! Oh good luck honey. I hope everyone is where they are suppose to be. And wish the big man good luck on his interview. I do love New Mexico.
Oh I hope he stays in there a bit longer!
My hubby wasn’t there when our son was born.
He was allowed to stay a week longer from work but the little man wanted to stay cooking for longer then that! One of my friends went with me and my Mom lived close by too so she was there right after he was born.
Wow, this is great! Some of the work of labor (labour for you) will already be done when you get to the hospital! Sounds like you have backups to your backup plans, you’re so organized! Hope everything goes right and you have a quick, painless labor (labour)!
oh my! wow… i hope the timing works out!