Okay, so no update on dilation, but confirmation of 50% effacement.  My blood pressure was still up so now I’m scheduled for an ultrasound on Monday morning.  Ella’s heart rate is perfect, but they want to be sure they aren’t missing anything they can’t see.  I’m excited to get to see my baby girl so close to her arrival in this world!  For now, doctor’s orders are to stay chill.  I am allowed to complete my last two days at work, but I’m supposed to be taking it easy while home.  I don’t have to cancel any plans for the weekend, but even going to Jay & Mo’s party requires me to sit on my rear and not play cornhole.  Oh well…

Trudy keeps joking me that I’ll just be admitted when I go on Monday.  Maybe I’ll install the carseat and pack my suitcase this weekend just in case.

Today is 38 weeks.  I’ll get a photo tomorrow in my halloween t-shirt and post it.  Other than that – Happy Halloween weekend!!!

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So I went to the Doctor yesterday.  I am 1/2 centimeter dilated (still have 9.5 to go before Ella makes her mark on this world).  I am effacing – I think she said I was 50% effaced (which is a lot).  If that continues, then the dilation will speed up.

Dr. Powers is not predicting a baby this week, but isn’t saying it won’t be next week.  I asked if I could aim for 11/4 since that is Aunt Evie’s birthday (what better bday gift?) and she said Not if I want her to deliver Ella.  No, I don’t WANT to have my kid on election day – Aunt Evie’s bday just happens to fall on election day.  I would still get to the polls before heading to the hospital!!!

Actually 11/4 is Dr. Powers’ daughter’s birthday and they are taking 20-some-odd pre-teen girls to see High School Musical 3.  Oh my!  What Jeff has to look forward to!

My blood pressure was elevated (though the top number had come down a bit before I left) so I’m headed back to the doctor tomorrow for a BP check.  They’ll keep a close eye on that now so that I do not have complications.

I am in quite a bit of discomfort because Ella has dropped down between my pelvic bones and is starting to push on the “door” out.  Walking is not fun!!!  She is still as squirmy as ever.  All those things you read that says that you’ll notice a “decrease” in movement as the baby runs out of room are LIES!  Kidding – everyone is different and I’m carrying a cheerleader, or soccer player, or acrobat – take your pick.

I’ll update again later this week.  Thursday will be my 38 week mark!!!

I’ll actually post words later, but wanted to go ahead and put the photo up.  So, come back and read the post later!

Photos are up on my Photo Album Site!

So, I am now 36 weeks:

Here’s what is up with me:
I am TIRED and officially ready to be unpregnant.  It took me longer than other moms-to-be to get to this point, but as of this week I’m there.  Matter fact, today I called my doctor’s office in tears because I was experiencing actual pain in my lower abdomen & back.  I was convinced I was starting labor, but after answering a series of questions (all of which I had to answer “no”) it was determined that I needed to take two tylenol, lay down with a heating pad, and chill.  Now, three hours later, I am feeling a little better.  Mo is on her way over to help me with the nursery so we’ll see how I’m feeling shortly.  The craft show at church starts in a hour and we’re going to pop by to see what Jeff’s mom is selling & to get hot dogs for dinner.  After that, we’ll be turning what is now an empty room into a nursery ready (or close to ready) for Ella.  Here is where I am now:

Yep – we have a lot to do tonight. 
I’ve yet to find the little bookshelf I want that will go by the rocking chair that Jeff’s aunt is bringing me tonight.  Now let’s hope that I can get through tonight without the pain starting (or getting worse).

Tomorrow is Baby Class (Confident Childbirth) #1 (of 2).  I’ve heard a lot of “why are you doing that?” from several friends with babies.  Apparently I am now a pregnancy geek for actually doing one of the classes.  Oh well – such is my life.  I go back to the Doctor on Tuesday and she’ll see if Ella has dropped & turned.  Looking at my picture – I’ve definitely dropped.  My tummy is no longer sticking straight out.  I’ve included what Baby Center tells me about Ella at 36 weeks, but one thing is wrong for me.  If Ella is breech or transverse (or not head down in any way), I get a scheduled c-section.  I am too small to try to turn her (called “external cephalic version” below) so instead of hurting me trying, I’ll schedule my c-section and be all good.  As for birthdates, I am actually hoping for November 4 (late enough that I get to vote in the morning).  If I get a scheduled c-section, this is the date I’ll aim for.  Why?  Because I’m so political?  No way!  11/4 is my Great-Aunt Evelyn’s birthday.  So, Miss Ella, if you come naturally, aim for 11/4 (but let’s not get too intense until after mommy votes).

Here is what Baby Center Says:
How your baby’s growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She’s shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she’s in a head-down position. But if she isn’t, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an “external cephalic version,” which is a fancy way of saying she’ll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

So, here is my 35 week picture.  I took it last Friday night (10/10), but haven’t had time to actually blog yet.

Since I will be 36 weeks preggers in just two days, I thought that maybe I’d post this one before it got too late.

Notice the bump drop – yes, my tummy has gotten lower in just five days.  I go back to the Dr. on Tuesday for my Strep B test & for her to check and see if I have started to dialate yet.

Yesterday was 1 month until my actual due date.  Yesterday was also the first day I’ve been sick of being pregnant.  I haven’t had that feeling before, but if the doctor had called and said, “Hey, come in and have that baby today” I would’ve been in my car in a heartbeat.

Taken Sunday, Oct 5 at the State Fair:

Ignore the not-so-pretty face…the sun was in my eyes.

If you look closely, you can see my belly (and Jerry’s reaction to it).  Gabe took this with his camera phone, so it isn’t the best quality, but it is a funny picture & you can definitely tell why everyone is predicting that I’ll have this baby EARLY!

So…34 weeks…the countdown begins!
I am getting excited.  The nursery is painted.  We are going to Home Depot tonight to reserve the sander for tomorrow or Sunday when Jeff will sand the floor (Tomorrow I will have plenty to keep me busy organizing the office and on Sunday I already have plans to be away from the house all day).  Then, sometime during the week or next weekend, he’ll poly the floor.  Then, on the 17th, Mo & I will officially decorate.  Of course, I still don’t have the changing table from my dad-in-law or the dresser/bookcase combo from the garage (that needs to be sanded and repainted)…but I’ll have the crib and everything we are putting on the walls.

I have felt very run down this week and actually worked from home Wednesday & Thursday.  Yesterday I actually was sick.  I probably pushed myself too hard by working from home Wednesday, but going to the fair Wednesday night (hence the above photo).  I just figured that if I saved my energy throughout the day, I’d feel better that night.  I’d been having trouble with my asthma all day (why I stayed home in the first place), but felt okay by the time we left for the fair.  It was just probably too much.  But it was also the only night we could go with Gabe, Jerry & Kristen.  Best part – I got my fried twinkie.  With another visit tomorrow & yet another on Sunday, I’ll get my fried oreos and my fried candy bar.  Yummy!!!  Ella is liking that!  Good think I don’t have gestational diabetes.  I’d be in tears!

Ella is getting to be a big girl & is running out of room in my tummy.  There are times when she moves that it actually hurts.  I may have mentioned this before, but with each passing week it gets worse.  Still, I am not complaining – I have had an EASY pregnancy!  She still doesn’t keep me (or wake me) up at night so I’m hoping that is a good omen of what is to come.  Perhaps she’ll be a great baby who starts sleeping through the night early.  I go back to the doctor on Tuesday.  Pretty soon I’ll be going every week.  Dr. Powers did say that if she felt that Ella was too big for me to push through OR if Ella is not in the correct head-down position, I will get a c-section.  I am very comfortable with that decision.  The last thing I want is to put Ella under undue stress because she gets stuck.

Funny – I have not yet had complete strangers come up and touch my belly.  Not at all.  I thank all the pregnant ladies before me who have made this clear that it is NOT okay if you do not know the pregnant mom.  Instead, strangers who I pass feel it completely okay to give me medical advice or predict what I am having (or when I will go into labor).  Most often the conversation goes, “Oh congratulations!  When are you due?”  To which I reply with the number of weeks left.  Then the stranger says, “Oh, dear, I do not think you’re going to make it that long.”  Thank you…
The best so far was two guys at the Fair Wednesday night.  We were walking through the expo building where lots of people/companies come to sell their crap – jewelry, pins, hot tubs, pet stuff, candy, your horoscope…you know what I’m talking about.  Jeff and I were looking at one vendor’s goodies when these two guys in another booth (like 15-20 feet away) start talking to each other about me.  We never could here guy #2’s responses, but here is Guy #1’s side of the conversation:
Guy #1: Yo – that girl is having twins!  Look at her!
pause a moment
Guy #1: Seriously – and at least one is a boy…look at how her stomach sticks way out…he’s just standing up!
pause
Guy #1: Man, for real, look at her…she is definitely having twins…like any day now!

Thanks, buddy.  Good thing I’m not a really self-conscious person.  If so, I would have been freaking out.

Oh well…that is my update for now.  I’m sure we’ll take another picture this weekend at the fair during the day with a regular camera.  I’ll post that one when we do.  Have a great weekend and MAY ALL YOUR DAYS BE FAIR DAYS!!!

OH! That reminds me!  Ella gets to go to the circus with me this year!!!!!