12.05.2014

Confessional Friday + 38 Week Bumpdate




Hey, friends! Welcome to Friday. Aren't we glad to see her?

So, my post today isn't a confession at all, but I did want to get this bumpdate up, just in case someone decides to grace us with her presence before next week! (And I'd be A-Okay with that at this point!)

You can leave links to your Confessional Posts per usual, of course!

.........................................

Weeks: 38 as of yesterday

Gender: GIRL! Stephen doesn't stand a chance against all of this estrogen : )

Name: Ainsley Catherine

Cravings: More space in my stomach so that I can eat food again without heartburn. Amen.

And nachos.

(No amount of heartburn can keep me away from nachos.)

Most looking forward to: Being not pregnant. I'm going to level with you here: the fun of this has run its course and I'm ready to feel like my body is mine again. After two years of being "with child", I honestly cannot remember what it feels like to not be pregnant. (I don't know how Michelle Duggar does it. And I do not wish to find out.)

I'm so very, very grateful that we've been given the gift of these two precious girls, and I have enjoyed both pregnancy journeys so much, each for their own reasons. Ainsley completes our family and I'm ready to have her on the outside!

Most nervous about: The C-section. Caroline's birth was a little bit scary with my epidural failing and all, so I'm praying that this time it takes. Because I can tell you first hand, a C-section without a complete epidural does not a fun experience make.

I've prayed about it a lot and now, I'm just giving it up to God.

Cheers to great drugs and a freaking fantastic anesthesiologist (!!)

I can't wait to: Start nursing a baby again. I was shocked out how much I enjoyed breastfeeding Caroline. It was such a cool bonding experience and I'm excited to share that with Ainsley, too.

Updates: We really and truly thought we were having her on my birthday. I joked with Stephen on Tuesday night that all I wanted for my birthday was to get this baby OUT. He kept saying, "Maybe Santa will give you a baby for your b-day!"

The next morning, after a night of contracting and contracting and contracting, I was eating my words. I was in pain and they were so much more intense than any of the contractions I had felt so far. These contractions started in my back and radiated all the way around to my tummy, then down into my thighs. They were the real-freaking-deal and they. sucked. big. time.

I had an appointment for a final ultrasound with our high-risk OB at 8:30 a.m. sharp, so I called ahead, told them how I was feeling and they met me there at 7:50 and got me right back before anyone else. (Thank you, Dr. C and staff!!)

They immediately began the ultrasound and I started contracting...hard. So intensely that our high-risk doc was convinced I was in labor and told me we should probably go home and get ready for the C-section! (Ainsley's head was so low that they couldn't get a measurement on it with the ultrasound...and trust me, I could/can feel it!) Even though they were intense, the contractions were all happening at really irregular intervals, (regularity = true labor), so we decided to go on home until my later appointment at 1:00 p.m.

I was feeling evvvvvvvery contraction, so I went home, packed a bag, put Ainsley's things in a bag and got my game face on.

(For concerned parties about Stephen and who packed his bag: our house is a literal two-minute drive from the hospital we're using, so Stephen will go back and forth when he needs things. And, should he require a bag, he is quite capable and willing to pack it himself ; ) I had SO many people ask me last year before Caroline's birth if I had "packed Stephen's bag yet" and we would both look at each other and laugh. {Y'all, I am serious. Granted, most of them were older/elderly women, but these folks honest-to-goodness wanted to know if and when I planned on packing his things for him.} He's a 30-year-old man who travels across the country for work on a weekly basis. I asked him if he felt cheated in some way if I let him pack his own bag for our hospital stay and he said, verbatim, "I haven't had a lady pack my bag since I went to camp when I was eight." So, there you have it.)

But back to my story...

I remember thinking, as we loaded our things into the car and headed to the appointment, that this could be it. The day the family of three became the family of four. And then The Little Drummer Boy came on the radio. And I thought about Christmas and Hallmark commercials. And puppies. And, of course, I started to get teary-eyed and happy and sappy. And then I was bawling, Bing Crosby blaring in the background and all.

Oh, hormones...

Anywhoodle, by the time we got to our 1:00 appointment with our regular O.B., the contractions were still happening, but the intensity had died down a lot. (This was a welcomed feeling because...OUCH.) After a while on the NST machine, a (super-duper fun) exam and a lot of discussion, we decided that we'd reconvene later this morning (as in today) at 8:00 a.m. and go from there.

So, who knows if we'll have a baby this afternoon, tonight, this weekend or next week...it'll be a surprise for all of us - Stephen and me, included!

   

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14 comments:

  1. Yayyy! Such an exciting time!! Prayers for it all to go seamlessly & smooth.. Whenever that may be :)

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  2. Praying that things go smoothly this time. tanti baci.

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  3. Hoping that Ainsley makes her appearance soon for you, Mama! You've handled pregnancy beautifully, but I can totally understand how you'd be ready to be done with it at this point! And definitely praying that this time around, the epidural takes and that everything goes smoothly. Can't wait to "meet" little Ainsley!

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  4. So, so exciting! Hopefully you have her home sooner rather than later!

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  5. I have NO room to talk because I'm not even pregnant and I tear up at EVERYTHING!! However, I nearly spit my tea out over you getting teary eyed over Christmas, Hallmark commercials and the Little Drummer Boy. Don't worry - I'm laughing WITH you, not AT you!!

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  6. Prayers for you that everything goes smoothly and your epidural works!! I had a spinal with my second C-section and it was SO much better than the epidural I had with the first. Can't wait to see your pretty new babydoll!

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  7. so close. How exciting, congrats, Momma!

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  8. You're SO close, momma! So, random fact... my daughter was born on 12/3 and my birthday is 12/13. Maybe you all will be the opposite of us. However, for your sake, I sincerely hope she makes her grand debut prior to next Saturday. In the meantime, I'll be sending you prayers for a painless and smooth C-section. :)

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  9. Thinking about you this morning!! Hoping that she makes her appearance soon and that all goes well!!! Wish I could be there to be your nurse :)

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  10. YAY YAY YAY! Best mom. Can't wait to see that sweet face!

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  11. Praying for you! My epidural failed during my csection so I can truly sympathize. (I also had HG the entire time so we are basically the same person in that regard.) I want more children but I am terrified of the medication failing another time if a csection is needing. I'll be praying specifically for that. Can't wait to hear that the baby's arrived!

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  12. sooo excited for you! i hope that baby comes soon and the drugs kick in fast! ! xo jillian - cornflake dreams

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  13. I'm so excited for her to get here! Good luck!

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  14. Congrats on your beautiful new baby!! My husband travels for work also, and I have had people ask if I pack his bag. I don't and never have, in fact it never even crossed my mind. I felt like a terrible wife after I was asked that though, so I am very happy and relieved to hear Stephen's response.

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