The girl who cried 'wolf'

I thought for sure I was in labor Friday morning. Contractions were coming regularly every 4-6 minutes...but they weren't super intense. I called the nurse and they wanted me to get checked out since they were coming close together. So I called Joe home from work and we went to the hospital. They hooked me up to the monitors and checked me out...and then sent me home. They said they were almost sure they'd see me back later that night but since it was my first baby and the contractions were irregular(they stopped pretty much once i got to L&D), I should labor at home.
I had an appt later that day with my doctor anyways, so they said keep the appt and see if i was progressing. went to the appt. the doctor was apparently at the hospital delivering another baby. they were surprised to see me at the appt b/c they'd been told i was at the hospital- so no one called to cancel the appt. This made me break down a bit, I got in the car and just started sobbing. Not only was I not having my baby, but my doctor was delivering someone else's baby and forgot to cancel my appt! I was rescheduled for Saturday morning though, so I was able to calm down pretty quickly.

Saturday- the contractions are gone all together. and i've had no progress since my check at the hospital. It seems like baby Noah is content to occupy my uterus for awhile longer. But- the doctor's don't want him to stay too long, so I have an induction scheduled for Friday May 2nd. He has a few more days to come on his own, then they're evicting him. Joe and I spent the rest of the day just chilling out and cleaning up around the house, hoping the activity would bring the contractions back. No such luck, but I did get to have a yummy snow cone :-)

I'm on maternity leave now until the end of July though, my doctor didn't want me working this week b/c she thinks he could come at any time. I've been having stronger contractions today. They hurt, but they're not coming at regular times at all yet. I've spent most of the day in pajamas curled up in bed b/c I'm all kinds of crampy and just irritable. I feel huge and I just want to meet my baby already. I'm really hoping he comes on his own without the induction, but at this point I'm not sure it'll happen.

At least I have all week to get the house really clean and just relaxing for awhile.

39 weeks 6 days

Tomorrow is my due date! I can't believe it came so fast, and I can't believe how long it's taken to get here. Yes, I know that's contradictory.
I've been having contractions off and on for about a week now. Twice they've gotten to be about 8 minutes apart and I *thought* it was the real thing. Now, I'm just chilled out. It'll happen when it happens, and in the meantime, I still get to have Noah all to myself for a few more days.

I have a doctor's appt on Friday, and they said if he hasn't come by then they'd like to talk induction. So, there's a good chance he'll be here by the end of the month either way. I have a feeling he'll come on his own without induction, but that could be wishful thinking on my part.

Today was *probably* my last day at work. I say probably b/c if I haven't had him by Sunday, I'll probably go back to work. I'd rather wait to start my leave until he comes so I don't miss any time with Noah. But, I told my supervisor I was waiting until Friday after my appt to make a final decision. If they decide to induce early next week, I'll just take the few days by myself to rest. If they decide not to induce and there's a possibility I can go 2 weeks past my due date, then I'll keep working. I still feel really good, I'm just really swollen.

Joe is making dinner for me now, then we'll watch American Idol Results and settle back to see what/if anything happens tonight. I'm having some contractions but they're not regular and they're only mildly uncomfortable right now. I think it would be pretty neat if I had him on my actual due date- that's not very common.

what time is it?

12:02 am. *sigh*. I have to get up for work at 5 am, so why am I still up you might ask? b/c nature apparently wants me to get used to having no sleep, so it's started waking me up in the middle of the night and laughing at me. Tonight- heartburn- severe severe heartburn, the likes of which i've never known before.

so now i'm rambling since i'm tired and delirious. I had several people tell me they were certain I was going to have the baby this past weekend. They were wrong, I'm still pregnant. and it's getting to the point where I think I'll be pregnant forever. I haven't had any contractions really since the Friday where I was in false labor. My belly is super tight and uncomfortable, as is everything else on my body right now, but no contractions. I'm anxious to see what they say at my doctor's appt on Thursday.

Surprisingly, I'm pretty calm about everything. I'm not nervous about labor or the baby coming home, I'm just anxious since I have no clue when it will happen. Oh- and I'm jealous that while I'm stuck on the couch after midnight nursing some serious heartburn, Joe is sleeping peacefully in the bedroom and has no clue that I'm even awake. It's probably slightly mean and evil, but part of me can't wait until Noah's here b/c at least then Joe will have to get up in the middle of the night too.

I'm going to go play some online games and hope they make me so exhausted that I can catch another hour or so of sleep.

38 weeks

I had my 38 week checkup yesterday- no news really. I'm a little more effaced but no more dilation. They're still saying the baby is big. The appts are getting a little redundant now. Every week I leave hoping I'll have the baby before the next appt. Next appt is Thursday now. So far no more contractions.

We went out for crabs last night...they didn't sit well with me. I had about 4 and I was done. but after crabs, we went to Dairy Queen and I got my dipped cone :-). The weather has been getting nice, we turned off the heat and opened windows. The cats are obnoxiously jumping from one window to the next now.

I've been nesting too, so lots of cleaning has taken place. the baby's room is almost completely organized and ready- we're going out shopping today for some more supplies that I want/need.

oh- and i officially met my neighbors yesterday. They're sweet, they have 7 month old twins. and the wife was sooo nice- she said to her husband "look honey, she's due in 2 weeks and she's not big at all!" It was a nice change from everyone that tells me i'm so huge, but I guess she's comparing me to herself and she had twins. The twins were adorable, I'm glad Noah will have little playmates in the neighborhood!

mostly non-baby related

I'm another year older now, as of Monday. Of course, I don't feel any differently. I wanted it kind of low-key this year- i'm too tired to do much of anything. so Joe made me chicken quesadilla's and we watched tv while I sat on the couch with my feet up. It was good.

Tuesday we went to mom's for dinner and she made my usual birthday dinner: Shish-ka-bobs on the grill! She made me yellow rice too, and my lemon drip cake. for ice cream, she got dove bars. they were soooo yummy.

Zach got a new wheelchair and augmentative communication device last week. He looks all snazzy now, and his new device is awesome. It's called the Eco, and it's a computer and aug comm device all in one. The voice is so much nicer then his old device too. Of course, It hit me that he's going to be 16 this summer. I can't believe how fast he's grown up, and he's just so handsome and makes me so proud. Even if he is a fathead (I have to pick on my baby brother you know).

I have a dentist appt tomorrow, and my little sister will turn 16 then. I talked to her Monday night and she's doing well. Dustin is getting big, he's 20lbs now and 7 months old. She's going to school, but not liking it at all. As long as she's going, I don't really care if she likes it. I just hope she sticks with it and finishes up.

and in other news, I'm just waiting for the baby to come (hey- i said *mostly* non-baby related!). Next appt is this Friday, we'll see what they say then.

37 weeks 3 days

I had another checkup on Friday, and I'm doing well. My weight was down, my blood pressure was down, and no swelling! So- no bed rest for me :-) The last ultrasound had the baby weighing in around 6lbs 7oz. they're always a guesstimate, and the doctor is 'guessing' we're having a big baby. As for when he comes...that's up to him. I was in "false labor" all day Friday and was convinced that was going to be it. But, it stopped and I'm still pregnant.
I'm progressing with dilation so there's still a good chance that I won't make it to my due date, but there's a chance I will too. That's what's been stressing me out most right now- the fact that I just don't know. Ideally, he'll hold off until my due date. That's what we've been planning on as far as day care situations and Joe taking vacation time. If he decides to come early, we'll have to juggle things around again. Which isn't a big deal, but it's definitely not fun.

I went to a Discovery Toys party this weekend. I spent way too much money on toys, but I couldn't resist. So many things were on sale, and I just can't wait to play with Noah! Plus, some of the stuff I bought to stock away for Christmas when he'll be a little older and will actually get some use of the things.

That's about all I have for now. It's just a waiting game at this point and I'm trying to be patient.