There's been a lot happening since my last post, and I tend to get a bit wordy so my goal is to keep it short and sweet here.
For my last post, Nic and I had decided to deliver Audra in San Antonio so that he would for sure be able to attend her birth. The plan at that time was for me to join him in S.A. after school got out, then get acquainted with the hospital and things at that time. ...The hospital in S.A. had other thoughts. We made the decision to deliver there on a Friday, and the OB clinic was closed for the weekend. Nic worked a night shift Sunday into Monday morning, so after he got off work on Monday he stopped in the clinic to talk with someone to give them a heads up on our situation and see if there was anything further we needed to do. They basically told him that me arriving that close to my due date was not enough time for me to establish care within their system. They said if I wanted to deliver there then I needed to get myself there ASAP. (You and I both know that they can't legally deny care, but the fact that it wouldn't be optimal was enough for me to go along with it.) Cue the start of my whirlwind week: Monday I talked with my principals (who were AMAZINGLY supportive of me doing what I needed to do), Tuesday I talked with HR (who was also AMAZINGLY supportive, making Tuesday my last day of school (!!!!)), Wednesday I packed up everything I'd need for birth, new baby, and living in S.A. for a month, Thursday I had my last Lubbock OB appt and then hit the road! I arrived Thursday evening and have been in San Antonio ever since.
I was able to establish care here within their system, have had a few appointments, and have basically just been hanging out and tying up any and every loose end before she arrives. Her due date was actually YESTERDAY but still, we have no baby. :-( I am really really really REALLY hoping she comes on her own (with the help of everything we're trying), otherwise they'll schedule an induction toward the beginning of next week. We're thinking the induction would be either Sunday the 10th, Monday or Tuesday. We'll just see when they're able to schedule it. But AGAIN, I've always had this goal of doing the whole thing naturally so I really REALLY don't want to induce.
My mom also had an AMAZINGLY supportive workplace, who allowed her to come join me here for the arrival of our little bundle. Mom arrived here in San Antonio about a week after I did, and has been here ever since. We've shown her the way to the hospital and Labor & Delivery, and we've all gotten quite settled in a nice little routine. She's able to work from here, which is nice, so she's gotten a lot accomplished while I sleep in or Nic and I busy ourselves on days when he's off. It's been so nice to have some mother-daughter time!
Here's the LAST pregnancy update. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?
How far along: 40 weeks & 1 day
How big is baby: She should be about 7.5-8 lbs right now (though Nic is convinced that she's not quite that big since neither of us were)
Labor Status: We went into the hospital on Friday (not due to contractions, but more b/c we wanted to know the progress of dilation), and I was still only dilated to a 1 (same as 3 weeks prior when my Lubbock OB had checked). But that was 4 days ago, and apparently a lot can be happening in a small amount of time, so we'll see how it goes.
Belly position: She's dropped a TON! I can really tell she's getting ready for her debut! It's been a relief to be able to breathe again with her off of my lungs. Her head is down, her little booty is against my belly-button area, and her legs are stretched up toward my ribs. I can actually feel her little feet and can tell how cute and tiny they are. I love it!
Movement: She's a little mover! It's pretty cool that I can tell what actual parts of her body she's moving, versus just feeling the movement as a whole. For example, I can tell she's stretching her back and pushing her bottom out, or I can tell she's stretching her legs and her feet are pushing out, or that she's having hiccups, or that she's moving her head around. I love knowing her orientation and being able to picture her moving in there.
Part of me thinks I'll really REALLY miss feeling her little movements in there. It's so comforting to know my baby's safe and sound and growing inside of me. Nic and I took a walk a few days ago and I was saying how sad it has to make mommies knowing that their little babies make unsafe decisions or put themselves in harm's way. I wish I could ensure that she'd be safe and warm forever. But I guess that's the start of letting them live life.
Exercise: EVERYTHING feels like exercise now. My body is in serious baby-concentration mode. Going to the store and going on walks is about all the exercise I get. I've been trying to walk every day, to help with dilation, and at the end of the day I am absolutely exhausted. In fact, Nic wakes up around 5:00 for work, works a 12 and then is ready for bed relatively early. I sleep in until anywhere between 9 & 11 and am still quite ready for bed when he is. I'm SO THANKFUL to be getting caught up on sleep before Audra's arrival!
What I'm loving: Knowing I'm going to get to lay eyes on her ANY DAY now!!! I think about her all the time! What will she look like? What will her cry sound like? Will she be a good eater? Will she latch correctly? Will she have hair? I just can't wait!!!
I'm also loving all the relaxing I'm able to be doing. I've been making Father's Day gifts (for Nic and both our dads), hanging out with mom, enjoying life with a baby on the inside. :)
What I'm NOT loving: The anticipation! It's killing me!
What I miss: Home. Living for a month away from your home is not the same. We're in a pretty nice Extended Stay hotel here. It's got everything we need: living room area, kitchen, queen-sized bed, plenty of bathroom space, room for Audra's bassinet, swing and other things... but it's just not the same as being home. However, my heart is here-- with Nic-- so as the saying goes, doesn't that make THIS my home? ;) I'll be happy when our whole little family makes it back safely.
Well, say your prayers that we don't have to induce! My next post will probably be introducing our little angel and telling you our birth story. Thanks for reading!
