40 weeks. We're there.

40 weeks on Thursday. Her due date has arrived. Nothing new though.

Although, her due date was my last day at work so it felt good to be able to finish that out.

Next time you hear from us, there will hopefully be a baby girl! And you'll finally get to know her name too! Pray that she comes soon!

I am finally going to post something

I had planned on being a more frequent contributor to this blog back when Bethany and I decided we would do this.  I thought it would be a great way to keep family and friends updated on what is going on in our lives.  I thought a blog would be fun so as to not flood my facebook with baby stuff.  But then classes and work caught up with me and I did not feel like updating this too much.
Well today I went homes sick from work and Bethany is not home yet to tell me to rest, so I decided I can give out my view on this pregnancy.
Impatient.  I think that is the first word that comes to mind for me lately when I think about this pregnancy.  We found out on New Years Eve that Bethany was pregnant.  It seems like an entire life ago.  Back then we were in the middle of the warmest winter in a while, thought that Rick Santorum might be the Republican Nomination, used Carpe Diem, had no idea how hot this summer would be, we were excited to go to the movie theaters, I had never driven a Maserati, and Bethany and I lived in University City.
But now most of us lost 5 pounds this summer just by stepping outside and sweating, are trying to figure out if Paul Ryan is good or bad for the USA, see the stupid YOLO everywhere on FB, and Bethany and I now live in the exciting town of Clayton.  And I have driven a Maserati, a few times in fact.
The point is, we are both ready for her to be born.  I can only describe it like this.  Its like finding out in April what your Christmas gift is, seeing it under the tree, and not being able to play with it yet.  I just want her to be born so that I can see if she is as cute as her mom (for her sake, lets hope she gets Bethany's smile).  I want to play with her and talk with her and hold her and teach her some many things.
I know the baby is safer in Bethany right now then she would be out here.  And trust me, as I see the rampant news stories of guns, drought, disease, and politics, I am a little terrified to have her enter this world.  But I know that God, Bethany, and I will take care of her.  I just cannot wait for her to be born. 
-Garet-

Past full term

Picture is at 37 weeks!

Okay, so she may not look much different in this picture than the last, but I can definitely tell... she has dropped down quite a bit. My belly isn't significantly bigger, but she is much more uncomfortable for me to carry around. Today, the baby is 37 weeks and 3 days along. I look forward to each passing day because it's getting me closer to her birthday!

We are both ready for Baby Girl Ellis to arrive. The baby room is complete. My bag is packed. Work is pretty much to the point where I am actually prepared to go off on maternity leave, but I have this feeling that she is going to wait until her 40 weeks are up to make an appearance. It's just a feeling. I get that the longer she spends inside, the healthier she will be out here, but she's at least full-term now.

Dreading going to work because of the stress and the crap I have to deal with there when I don't feel up to it isn't much fun. I complain a lot to Garet about not feeling well at work, but I know full well that the longer I stay at work now, the more money we have later. And I realize that I would basically not being doing anything at home anyways... cleaning maybe? That's kind of it though... not a lot to be done so I might as well be at work.

We're starting to do weekly doctor's appointments now. We go in, wait forever uncomfortable in the room, they ask us for questions, which we often only have one of and takes 2 seconds to answer, and she "checks" me for any progress. Of course, the doctor reminds me that even if I have progressed it doesn't mean anything. This is the part Garet and I don't like. They tell us that I could have all the signs of giving birth soon, but that I could go another 3 or 4 weeks. So what's the point of going in to the doctors' every week? I'm not sure yet... maybe the doctor will catch me when something weird is going on. I'm not sure.I'm just going along with it... they've all had babies and gone to school for many years to deliver others' babies so I am putting my trust in them.

I've been told that when I have contractions I know they are real contractions. I've have braxton hicks and lately I've hoped that they turn into something more, but no luck there. While I am not hoping that my water breaks at work... it would at least mean that I am moving towards labor so I'm all for it at this point. It will be interesting if it does happen at work though. Let's just say my clients mostly have mental illnesses that prevent them from appropriately caring for or understanding another being and would expect me to go on with the session or task.  When I would refuse to do so this would make keeping a therapeutic rapport difficult as I would tell them I am leaving immediately and another case manager will be contacting them soon. I've thought about it. I don't care if I am in the middle of a store or community agency I am leaving the client there and having another case manager pick them up. My job ends there. Period.

As far as making it back from work to the hospital... my car has two new tires (got a flat the other day) so I can make it back to St Louis in a jiffy. The car seat is installed in the Sonata (the car Garet usually drives) so we don't have the leave the hospital to get it once we are there. Garet and I have talked about various scenarios of how to contact each other and make sure we get to the hospital on time. Ultimately, I just hope it happens when we are home together. Garet is working day shifts now that he is off of school for a few weeks so maybe she'll decide to come in the evening or night. I'll give baby the memo. .

About 2 and half weeks til the due date and 3 and a half until the latest date she will be allowed to arrive (they won't let me go past 41 weeks)! I won't work past my due date as I have 3 personal days I have to use before my anniversary date at work (which is my 41 week mark exactly) so that feels a bit better.

Please pray that all goes well!

36 Weeks- almost ready!

Picture at 35 weeks and 6 days. A week and a day until the baby is officially full-term. I am pretty okay with Baby Ellis being born anytime after 37 weeks... she's making life a little too uncomfortable.

If I feel good at work I feel like doing nothing at home and vice versa so I just can't win. I only get energy and comfort for a few hours a day. At least when Baby Ellis is born I won't be working. Thank God. Everything at work isn't complete set up for me to leave, but if I left any day now, I have confidence that the team can handle it... they get things thrown at them all day anyways... haha. Poor coworkers.

We took a tour of the maternity ward and met with our Pediatrician so we know what to do when I go into labor and how to get our baby checked out at least.

The baby room is pretty much ready!!! Everything is put together and clothes and diapers and are ready to be used. I am just a bit anxious about not having enough newborn clothes if she is a really small baby, but if she is born 8 lbs we will be good. Either way, we have enough support around here that someone (had one volunteer already) will run out and grab what we need. Thank God. I have a few more things I need to get on Saturday so as long as baby waits until after that I am good. If she doesn't wait, then oh well... I'll deal.

Overall, I am tired. I could fall asleep right now and it's just after 7 pm. I have had some more braxton hicks, but nothing that lasts too long... just uncomfortable.  I am trying to take care of myself by eating well (as I have tried for the last 9 months) and getting enough sleep so hopefully baby will be super healthy too!