Week 37, Day 6

It may be day 4. I'm confused on my days. Yesterday at the appointment Roswitha said I was 37 weeks and 3 days so who knows what the heck is going on!

I've had two appointments since my last post. The first was with Annabel. That was the first time Matt met her and he said, "She just seems really happy." Indeed. She is one of my favorite there.

This last appointment was with Roswitha (Matt's favorite). Like I said, this was yesterday. Oh yesterday - let me start at the beginning. So, during my 3rd class I started feeling what felt about like cramps that you get with your period. They didn't go away all during class. In fact, they got worse as the day went on. In Spanish (my last class) I was so uncomfortable! Class chairs are uncomfortable enough as it is, let alone if you are having awful cramps. After school Matt and I came home and soon had to leave for the appointment. The cramps were now being accompained by what I think are Braxton Hicks. I used to get them a lot last semester when I would walk all over campus - basically, my stomach just gets really tight and then releases after awhile. Well, anyways - so there we are with Roswitha and I tell her about the cramping and she gets really excited! She says that this is good and that it signifies progress and there are contractions working on the cervix. How interesting.

We also found out that I am positive for some bacteria which means I have to get antibiotics when I go into labor. They give them by IV and I only have to get the dose and then I can be disconected from the IV, until its time to give them again. If my water breaks I have to go in right away to get the first dose and then I can go back home and labor there for awhile. Crazy.

So, after the appointment I had to go to the grocery store - which I did. When I got home I realized that as long as I was up standing around or walking, I would get intense contractions. Matt was having man night w/the boys in the kitchen so I spent the night in the bedroom. I stayed on the bed the whole time - the cramps still going on. The braxton-hicks were also getting stronger and consistent. Well, then I started crying and called Matt because I was really nervous that I was going into labor and we aren't ready. I had school today, plus Zoe's clothes weren't washed and I just felt nervous. So Matt asked if I wanted him to call Ceci, which I did. She said it probably wasn't labor and that I should take a bath or try to sleep. I did both. I kept cramping through the night - but it didn't wake me up or anything. Being a HUGE WHALE of a person right now woke me up, and then while repositioning I would notice I still felt crampy.

I never used to understand how women could "not know" they were in labor. Like, in Father of the Bride II she goes to the hospital once or twice before its the real thing. I thought that was silly. Well, it's NOT silly because the closer you get to your due date the more you think, "what exactly am I supposed to be feeling!?" And then, when you start feeling new things/sensations/pains and they don't go away you sort of wonder, "maybe THIS is what I'm supposed to be feeling." It's very confusing.

I'm still crampy and occasionally having contractions, though they aren't painful for the most part. I'm pretty much over going to school and I would greatly appreciate being able to stay in bed and do nothing for the next however long until actual labor does start. I'm exhausted! But, I have 4 more class days and 2 finals to go. Si me puedo!

In addition, at night I have what the midwife told me are round ligament pains. Round ligament pains feel alot like being stabbed with a knife where your leg meets your pelvis. Sometimes its so intense I literally fall on one knee, or have to grab onto Matt or the wall to support me. Before in pregnancy the ligament pain I felt was dull and achy. This is intense and all of a sudden. Thankfully, it doesn't really last all that long - but it hits hard when it comes.

Zoe is still moving strong! She sits with her back to my left and her bottom and feet over to my right. A couple weeks ago she pushed out one of my ribs, also painful. Pregnancy is so crazy! I feel like at any moment anything could just start hurting and its all part of the process.

I'm getting SO excited about her being on the outside sometimes I can hardly stand it. Especially during school while I daydream during class and think that our due date is just about 2 weeks away. It's real! This is happening! Matt and I are having a baby!

So, not much else to report. Oh! Also, since the last post - everything broke. First the Toyato broke. Then the A/C in the Scion broke. And THEN the A/C in our house broke. Two nights were spent without cool air. Matt offered to take me to a hotel or go somewhere else but I'm too stubborn. I'm addicted to my bed and my pillows and my home and I didn't want to go anywhere! I was so thankful when the A/C turned back on - it's wonderful to be cold!

Well, I guess I'll update when something else happens. Our next appointment is next Friday at 11a I think. We'll see if I make it that long. Wouldn't it be fun to have a 4th of July baby!!? (We'd hate to miss the Boudreau BBQ though, of course!)