False Alarm #2

Although I didn't head in to the hospital - a little gun shy, I guess - last night was a doozy. I slept very little again. The contractions were so painful that a few made me actually cry. I really thought it was going to happen. Apparently, she's still not ready. I'm getting closer, I know...and I know I'm not giving birth to a two-year-old. She WILL come out, but it's so hard to see that light at the end of the tunnel when you are so uncomfortable. Today has been better...but prayers are appreciated.

False Alarm & A Birthday Party

Well, it's like the doctor said..."Every time you're close to delivery, it's as if your body WANTS to go in to labor. You just can't get it done."

Without going in to ALL the sordid details, I will say that Friday night was painful and long. At about midnight (which is when I went to bed), I started contracting. At 1 AM, I was having them every 8 minutes. Chad was still up playing Tiger Woods Golf on the Wii (as he is even now...and every night). I walked out and said, "Let's go." He asked what I meant. I told him what was happening, and he said I needed to call the hospital first. I said that I would call on the way there. (After talking in the last few doctor's appointments to the nurse practitioner and to the doctor himself, he said if I had a night like that one again I should just go on in to the hospital to be checked. Better safe than sorry.)

Well, here's the bottom line. I contracted until 6 or 6:30 AM and stayed at 3 minutes apart (which is what I was when I got to the hospital) the entire time. I won't say that ALL of them were excruciating, but I will say that at least every other one could have doubled me over. They hurt! HOWEVER, I was 36 weeks and 6 days. Apparently "full term" isn't until 37 weeks. Had this happened one day later, I would have had a better chance of having him deliver Maya, but that wasn't 100% guaranteed. There was one other factor that needed to be a little more aggressive besides it needing to be one more day!!! (Again, I'm sparing you the sordid details on a public blog, here!)

So, a defeated but somewhat unsurprised me left the hospital at about 11:30 AM Saturday morning. Like I said, everytime I get close to labor, I have false alarms. It's kind of discouraging. Anyway. we made it back for the boys' flag football tournament's final half of their third game. They were upset to have lost, and I hated to miss it...but I needed to go in.

ON ANOTHER NOTE...

Gabriel had his 4th birthday party today. It went well. His actual birthday is on Tuesday, the 21st. But being the absent-minded pregnant person that I am, I took absolutely NO pictures. What kind of mother am I? I can't believe it. I thought about it once before everyone got there, but the thought obviously escaped me. So I apologize to anyone who wouldn't have enjoyed pictures - and to Gabriel for having nothing to show for it.

He enjoyed the party, though. His little "thank you's" to grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, were so innocent and pure. Cute stuff! Gotta love him!

I am predicting that Maya will share a birthday with Gabriel. Maybe it's just wishful thinking... We'll have to wait and see.

Highlights and such from this week

I've done nothing ... except contract. ICK.

The bunny died. Luke was devastated. When he found her in the process of dying, he started screaming and running and crying. It was horrifying.

Evan discovered the wonder of chapstick.

Drew listened really well last night.

Gabriel still has a black eye, loved his field trip to the pumpkin patch yesterday with preschool.

Chad started making appointments for his new job. He's already booked through next week.

Maya still continues to bake, but this is no easy bake oven. I think light bulb is about to go out.

Went to the hospital a few different times for different reasons this week (to visit Chad's dad, an EMT, and to my dr. appointment). Gabriel asked each time if Pappaw Bob was still there. Then when I explained again that he was in heaven, he asked why. I told him it was because Jesus couldn't stand for my dad to be away from him any more, so Jesus had to come and get him. How do you explain to a 3 (almost 4) year old? You do the best you can I guess.

Feeling the twinge of sadness at the thought of my dad not being there to see Maya. I've done well stifling that for a while, but yesterday and today it seems to be pressing on me. I know he'll "be there" but he won't really be there...I see pictures of people with their fathers or hear conversations between a daughter and her dad, and although they aren't daggers anymore (thank GOD), the sharp little needle pricks that sting when I realize I don't have that anymore are still there. Imagine they always will be.

I just miss him.

Poor Gabe/Pregnancy Update

Seems Gabriel had the intention to dive into his father's legs to tackle him last night. Chad just stood there, but Gabriel's aim was slightly off....he went eye-first in to the end table beside Chad. Instantly puffy and discolored. The picture won't do it justice, but it will give you some indication. Poor guy shook/shivered while he cried. He was really hurting. He even asked if when he took a bath someone would hold the ice on his eye.

Of course, Daddy's proud of the shiner. Mommy wanted the pain to go away. (Oh, and did I mention that church directory pictures are coming up? Let's hope it doesn't look like we beat our children in it.)




And now for the pregnancy update:
I'd do the cute thing and take a profile viewed picture of my humongous belly and post it...but frankly, there is nothing cute about it.

I am officially on pregnancy leave - with no baby. How not fun is that??? The only thing I can say about being on leave is that it has given me and Gabriel some great bonding time. He feels like such a big boy when he gets to sort baby clothes by size so I can launder them....and I have to admit, it helps my ego out a little when he asks every night what he's doing the next day. No matter whether my answer is "staying home with Mommy" or going to preschool, he shouts out a cute little "YAY!" We've been working on writing the letters in his name. So far G is the easiest. It looks more like a 6, but I'll take it.

Maya Hope's room is well on its way to being finished. There are a few finishing touches I'm waiting on. If you know anyone who wants to get rid of a glider/rocker in good condition and for little money, please let me know! I'd like one for her room. When I get it finished, I'll try to get some pictures up for the family in states that start with "M"! :)

My preganancy leave was highly suggested by my OB. There were some MINOR issues that I felt were more minor than he did, apparently. Either way, I'm resting as much as a mother of 4 (and soon 5) can.

I did have another ultrasound, and Maya STILL is just one baby, and she STILL is a girl!! Thank GOD! For those of you who keep swearing there's one hiding in there, you are wrong!!!! :)

I have contractions every day. Apparently not big enough to warrant any action from the doctor since she's still in there baking away. I have gotten to 3 - 5 minutes apart with some pretty hefty discomfort, but as the Nurse Practitioner said at my last visit, "Braxton Hicks can be deceiving..." yada yada yada...

I'm just ready to hold her. I made the mistake of watching "Baby Story" and a few other shows in that genre yesterday. It was emotional. I kept talking to her through the show. "If you just come out, I can hold you like that...See, Maya, it's not so bad on the outside..." Didn't work.

Chad's new job is headed in the right direction, although you might say a prayer or two on his behalf. He was gone for a week of training, and I was just SURE I'd head in to labor while he was gone and he'd miss it. Of course, he's home now, and she's not...He's got another short week (3 days I think) of training he has to do by the end of the year where he leaves me again. They wanted him to go November 10. Her c-section is scheduled for the 5th. So if she is not early, she could potentially have been 5 days old and he would have to leave. He told them no on that one, and he acted like they understood. Either way, she may only be a month old if he has to do it by the end of the year. It's not good timing, but I made it through a week with 4 boys, so 3 days with 5 children should be okay, right??? And I had some great friends bring me some yummy meals last week. I have to say I will dread having to cook again starting tommorrow!!

Well, I guess that is about it.

Hoping the next time I update this thing I have pics of the nursery or a baby or BOTH! :) God bless!

ER visit # 302397598039725....

Well, I got a phone call today at 10:15 from the school nurse. Drew had been playing soccer at recess (which fuel's Chad's argument for soccer being evil/stupid/insert derogatory adjective here) and he tripped over another boy's feet. He planted his face nose first into the pavement. Apparently Kindergartners play soccer on pavement and not grass.

The nurse said it never bled but was pretty banged up and that there was a protrusion on his left side. That can't be good.

I was fine letting the people know that I had to leave...for about 3 or 4 people. Then, my hormones/protective mommy feelings kicked in and in the midst of 400 4th and 5th graders who were moving after ISTEP testing, I lost it. I'm standing in the middle of the hallway among all of them crying with my friends about how I just want to get out of the hallway so I can go get my son and they haven't found a sub yet, etc. Completely hormonal, I'm sure.

All I could think about was Drew's little face all black and blue and surgery and setting the nose and blood...I know, the nurse said "no blood" but remember I'm hormonal. PLUS the last time I got a phone call about a broken nose/face was Chad's pitching debut which left him with a titanium cranium! My experience with facial injuries is not pleasant.

Anyway, I left without the sub there (too bad!) and went to rescue my son, whom I predicted needed his mommy very very badly. I drove as calmly as I could, and I really did pretty well with this. I think my top speed was 62. REALLY! When I got to the school, I went to the nurse's office where he was sitting on the cot smiling away. No blood. No tears. No trauma to say the least. The end of his nose was slightly red where it has small scratches/scrapes from the pavement. That was it. First words out of his mouth?? "I'm hungry. When are we eating?"

Instantly I felt silly for jumping to the conclusion that his hair would be shaved off from the numerous reconstructive surgeries he would need to look normal and that he would finally find a girl who would love him for the inside and not his mangled face. Ok...I exaggerate a little. Just in efforts to poke fun at myself!

Anyway, the nurse encouraged me to take him to be seen in the ER so that an xray could determine how badly he was injured because he did have that bump on one side and it was difficult for him to breathe. So, we did.

Turns out there was a small break. Must have been tiny because Drew didn't even have to have it set. The only thing the ER dr said was that if he continued having trouble breathing in a few days and the swelling had gone down (what little there was) that he should go see an ENT to determine if he needed further treatment.

I'm pretty sure that won't happen since he was playing football tonight with his dad, brothers, and cousin.

Heavenly Football

Anyone who knows me or spends time with me will realize that of all sports, football is by far my favorite. I can't wait for the boys to play. I love it! I am in two fantasy football leagues and have been known to play 4 in a year, but cut back because of the baby coming this year.

The start of school and the hoopla on the news over the new Lucas Oil Stadium gets my family excited. We're devout Bears fans and devout Colts fans. I bleed blue and orange!

Luke has been wanting to play football at recess at school. I noticed one day last week that he had been taking his football that my dad gave him to school. I didn't say anything at the time because I wanted to think it over. The opportunity presented itself a few nights later when he had it out and announced he was going to put it back in his backpack for the next day's recess. I began talking to him about the significance of that football. It was the one Pappaw Bob had to play with him. It was the one that was very special. His brothers don't have one from Pappaw, but he does. Etc. My final statement produced silence in the room (a pretty significant accomplishment in my house). "Luke, that's the last football Pappaw will ever give you. If you lose it, it will be gone."

He paused.

His reply stunned me...made me proud...choked me up...it was utterly amazing for an 8 year old boy.

"Maybe not," he said. "Maybe the next one will be gold."

I just want to go see this guy!

THIS is worship!