The Waiting Game

So.  Grammy came out.  Quatro was on track.  What's happened since then?  Well....

We frequented the gas station for cool treats

James and I started Friday afternoon "Mom & James time."  A little something to highlight him and give him some one on one time with me to just talk about whatever he feels like.  This particular day we talked about Halloween coming up.

We played outside a lot.  The temps are falling and the kids are responding.  

Our little Isabel is an artist!  She loves to draw stick people and give them names.  Usually their names are "mom" or "dad" or "Manny."  Each person is carefully drawn in the favorite color of the actual model and then labeled for the world to admire.  She is SUCH a cute girl!

Meanwhile, her brother drives over her older drawings.

What do you do with an empty feed sack?  Race in it, of course!

Wyatt chose to roll around in it...

 All was progressing until Sept 12th.  Early that morning, I started having really bad contractions - only they were in my back!  I got pretty sick during the night and was feeling a lot of pressure in my abdomen.  The pain didn't stop by morning, so I decided I better go in for contractions and possible labor.  Course, when I got there, I only contracted for another 10 minutes before they told me to "go home."

Looking back - I should have been a bit more persistant and insisted on speaking to my dr instead of just the l&d nurse.  But, what did I know?  I figured it must have just been false labor.  I hung my head for mistaking the signs (this is my 4th, afterall!)  and left the hospital embarrassed.  My sweet family took me to lunch at my favorite restaurant to cheer me up, but I was still upset about it even a couple days later.

Turns out, I should have trusted my body a little bit more.  Little Quatro had spent that night flipping around on me.  Still head down - but face up instead of face down.  How could something that sounds so innocent be such a big deal?  Well - it put baby's spine right up against mine and thus caused the contractions to move into my back.  Did any of that info cross the l&d nurses mind?  Nope.  Did any of the info I was telling her make it to my Dr.'s ears?  Nope.  I only found out a week later when I saw my Dr. for my 39 week checkup.  Yup - that's right:  39 weeks!!!!  She knew in about 5 seconds what had happened.  Immediately she scheduled me to be induced.

HOORAY!  Induction!  That was something I had planned to beg her for during that checkup.  Turns out, I didn't need to.  She recognized the need and put me down for the first available.  I was scheduled for 9/25 at 6am, but was put on a waiting list for anything else that might pop up.

The next day (Friday) - I was moved up to Monday 9/24 at 7am.  I'll take it!  So....  the waiting game then switched to "what do I want to get done two days before baby gets here?"  Really - life went on as normal.  The only difference was I knew I had an end date in sight.  That improved my mood 110%!

Saturday came.  Usual chores:

(2 days prior to labor)  Here I am driving the tractor.  Yes - my tummy DOES touch the steering wheel!  I'm playing taxi while JL rides around marking the dead trees on the ranch.  We counted upwards of 35 that have died in the last 2 summers. :(

And here's all my muckles (including the pup!) hitching a ride in my wagon.

Later that day - JL loaded up THE MOST hay we have bought at one time.  We wanted to stock up so we wouldn't have to buy it for a while after Quatro arrived.

And there it is!

That same day, we went out for dinner at a quaint little local spot we've been wanting to visit for a while.  Good burgers and atmosphere.  Not the best burgers - but decent.

They had a stage!

Grammy and Izzy getting down with their bad selves.

Soon everyone joined in!

Decent band!  We enjoyed the music for quite some time.

 Sunday came:  I was able to attend the primary program I had been working so hard on at church for my calling.  Something I NEVER thought I'd see when the date of Sept 23rd was set way back in July. But I was so grateful to be there!  My little Isabel sang out her little heart!  I could hear her (and so could people 5 to 6 rows behind me!) above all the other little voices.  And she was just beaming!  She was thrilled to be singing for me and Grammy and everyone.  It brought tears to my eyes to see her so happy.  James did his best to sing a few words here and there.  He's too boy to sing too much ;-)

I was also able to relax a LOT and eat well.  It was such a different feeling knowing that I was going to have a baby the next day.  In a way, I was glad to know... but in a bigger way it was kinda weird.  I had never going to the hospital without having a reason.  Usually I was IN LABOR and IN PAIN when I showed up.  This time - I was feeling just fine, and yet I had this huge task looming over me.  It was really odd.

I was grateful to my family for pampering me though.  I went into the evening feeling rested and relaxed.  But more than anything - I was super excited!  Finally!  Little Quatro was going to show up and join our family!

(1 day prior to labor)  Grammy and James making me homemade ravioli!  Yes, I am totally spoiled!

Izzy joining in to help boil the noodles.

(12 hrs prior to labor) Wow!  Look at that huge belly!  I tell ya - that sucker was heavy to carry around.  How is it that a person can stretch that far?  

Last family photo of just the 5 of us!

Here's to Induction day!  Bring it on!