Progress

Today was my 37 week visit and my worst fear was the doctor was going to say "no change". However, he said I'm dialated to a 4 and should have the baby in the next couple of days. This is just an estimate of course, and I still could go for weeks and weeks, but I'm going to take the optimistic road and hope I have a baby here soon.

Things are finally starting to get a little less crazy around here, so I guess it's a good time to have a baby. Ella finally got over her "leprosy" and is looking so much better. Ben caught the same virus on Sunday (although he didn't break out in a rash) and is finally feeling a little better today too. I'm so relieved because I really didn't want to drive myself to the hospital and do it all alone. How did women in the 50's survive?

The only down side is our anniversary is on Sunday, so it looks like I will either be in the hospital, home really sore, or worst case scenario STILL PREGNANT. We were kind of hoping he'd come before now so we didn't have to juggle 2 birthdays, an anniversary and mother's day all in one month, but I think at this point all I can think about is having this baby and not being pregnant anymore.

The Chicken Pox Imposter

I had a real scare today when I was helping Ella out of her pj's and saw that she was covered head to toe in red bumps. My first thought was it was a really bad rash, but then I remembered that she had had a fever just a few days ago and began to worry it was chicken pox. She seriously looked like a red and white giraffe.

II immediately called Ben and the doctor and paced around the house for an hour until I heard the verdict. I started to wonder if this was what Job felt like. I'm about to have a baby any day and if Ella had the chicken pox I wouldn't have anyone to watch the kids and I wouldn't be able to bring the baby home. I was trying not to let the panic settle in, but pregnancy tends to bring out the crazy in women.

Ben finally did call and to my relief it wasn't chicken pox. Ella had a virus, and her body was just reacting weird to that type of virus. Fortunately, that meant that Hyrum was still able to go to pre-school and after a few days Ella would probably be just fine.

It's been a long couple of days with contractions coming and going and no baby and I was starting to feel really frustrated, not to mention I was in so much pain since my muscles haven't done anything for 3 weeks. (I seriously felt like I ran a marathon!) However, the doctor said something that made me feel very grateful that this baby hasn't followed the usual pattern. He mentioned that if I had the baby right now we'd have to be a little careful for a day or two, but no real harm. If I already had a newborn at home, then he could of been in danger of contracting the virus when it was strongest. So I guess like Job, our trials can sometimes be our blessings.

36 Weeks!

Free! I'm free to get up off the couch and do whatever I want. I made it to 36 weeks, which means I don't have to have a million restrictions. After three weeks of bed rest you can imagine what my house looks like. Ben's actually done a really great job, but let's face it, he's at work all day, then comes home to take care of two kids and a whiney pregnant wife. He usually doesn't go to bed until midnight or later. He's been working really hard, but still he's just one person and parts of the house were in some real need of help.

So what have I done with all this freedom? Clean! I've been fighting the nesting instinct to get things ready for three weeks now, all I want to do is fold laundry, do dishes, and dust. I tell you pregnancy is a sick, sick thing.

I also had my 36 week visit today and I figured I would be at least at a 4 since I've been having contractions constantly for about a week now. Nope. I'm still between a 2 and 3 and 75-80% effaced. AUGH! I actually wouldn't mind not having the baby for another week or two, if I didn't have these contractions. Every night around 5 o'clock I'm in absolute agony until about midnight. We are talking 5 minutes apart contractions so bad that I can't stand up.

Now it's the waiting game. I wish my body would just make up it's mind. I think if I am having contractions, then I should be entitled to a baby. Right? I just keep telling myself that Logan must not be ready to come yet and God must have some supreme reason for keeping him in. Now if He could just keep the contractions too.

The Inevitable

Today was my 33 week visit to the doctor and unfortunately it didn't go quite as I had hoped. Apparently I'm still 70% effaced, but I've dialated to a 2 and the baby has moved to a +1 station. The doctor informed me if I had any plans this month, I don't anymore because I'm on total bed rest.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised since I was on bed rest at 28 weeks with Ella, but since I was doing so much better I was hopeful that I might be able to avoid it with this one. So, now I have to figure out what to do with my other two darling children, while I spend my time laying on a couch staring at the wall. I've contacted the relief society president in our ward, so hopefully they'll be able to help. It's times like these that I really wish I had some family nearby.

So, please keep me in your prayers. If the baby comes before 36 weeks it means time in the NICU. My safe day (36 weeks) is April 22nd, so let the countdown begin. 20 more days!