39 Weeks

Wow! I can't believe that I am 39 weeks pregnant! Baby has been very very active the last few days. It is my hope that he is trying to search out his exit and is working his way there! I think that I may have been having some light contractions over the last few days. There is definitely stomach tightening that occurs and makes me stop and breath. Since I have never been in labor before I am not sure if this is the very beginnings of the process or if it could still be a million years before I deliver this kid. I have been very uncomfortable the last few days so whenever Baby Saeger is ready to meet us, we are ready for him! Of course, as of my last dr. appt there was no progress to speak of.

Waiting somewhat impatiently to see when we will be celebrating our baby's birthday every year...

It Should Be Illegal

...To have a stomach bug while 9.5 months pregnant, and it's Christmas. Oh well, I have been more sick in my life. Good practice for labor?

Barry and I spent a very enjoyable Christmas at my parents house. On Christmas eve we spent time with my nieces Kenzie and Madi as well as my brother Bill and his fiance Rachel. On Christmas day my brother Chris and sister Amy and their significant others were over along with my niece Aubrey. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Sophi and Caleb as they were with their dad for the holiday. We all had a great time, played some fun games, and watched a couple good movies.

I have been reflecting on how neat it is to be pregnant around Christmas time. I can relate a bit better to the Christmas story as I await the arrival of our little one, similar to Mary awaiting the arrival of Jesus.

37 Weeks

Well, I am now considered "full term". Baby is developed and just sitting around getting chunkier. However, my dr. doesn't foresee baby coming any time soon...I am not dilated or effaced at all. Not a bit. We weren't planning on baby making an appearance any time before New Year's so no worries for us. And, we are totally cleared for traveling to Albert Lea for Christmas. I did get a copy of my medical records to have with just in case.

Now, my gripe...I participate in a baby website for mother's expecting their babies with a January due date. Almost every post is about how some mom is "ready" to have the baby so is asking her dr. to strip her membranes, drinking Castor oil, or any number of "wives tales" to get their baby to come earlier. Why are people so opposed to the natural course and waiting for their baby to come on his/her own? These things aren't working for people, and they wonder why...maybe because your baby needs more time to prepare to survive/thrive alone in this world. I understand that this late in pregnancy is very uncomfortable (and am reminded of this every time I move), but wouldn't instinct make the mom want to protect the baby as long as possible, not force her out before she is ready? Ok, I am off my soapbox.

5 Down 0 to go!!!!!!!!!

I am done! For better or worse all of my assignments are in and my semester has officially ended! Now to wait for grades...

I am so excited I am not quite sure what to do with myself. There are lots of things that need to be done to prepare for baby including:
- wash baby clothes
- finish decorating baby room
- register at the hospital (I know I know this should have been done 10 weeks ago)
-continue the search for child care for March

Tonight our friends from church are throwing us a baby shower. What a great way to celebrate the baby and rejoice that I am done with school for awhile!!

I want to cry

So, I just finished my "mock" oral exam for Ethics. I did not do well. We get our scores right after and it was not pretty. If it was real I would not have passed the exam. Luckily (can I even say that?) it is only going to affect my grade and lets me know how much I need to study for the real thing. I feel so dumb. Now I have to get it together and write my take home exam, getting a perfect score so I can try to not make my GPA plummet too far with this class. At least I only have one thing left, right?

On a better note, the baby is for sure head down and engaged. We had a mini ultrasound at my last appointment to check. Now, you may have heard my story about pointing a flashlight at the bottom of my belly because babies respond to light...well, I tried this 3 nights ago. After about 2 and a half hours there seemed to be some significant movement and baby is now head down. So you can laugh if you want to but I wholeheartedly believe that little flashlight did the trick!

Well, I may get a B in a class but at least I am less likely to have a C-section...

Where are my ankles?

I recently lost my ankles and my feet have no bones in them. I guess I am lucky that I have just started to swell at 36 weeks but boy is it not so fun. I go to the doctor today to have my check up and will be going once a week from now on. Today I "get" to have a swab done to test for streb B and I am going to ask her about the position of the baby again. Hopefully he is head down now! Please pray that I don't have Strep B or I will have to be connected to an IV for antibotics during labor (rather than being able to move around freely).

Only 1 day left for school though! (well today and tomorrow). I have two projects down and 3 to go. The only one I am worried about at this point is my Ethics binder that is due tomorrow. It is a HUGE part of our grade and I am just worried it's not good enough.

Well, back to homework I guess...

Feeling Good!

I gave a presentation in my ethics class yesterday. It went well and checks off one of my 5 final projects due in the next week. I feel relieved knowing that it is out of the way. Now I just have to finish my final ethics project, write a 5 page paper, start and finish a take home exam, and study for my oral exam next Wednesday. Our ethics instructors had the great idea that we should do a "mock" oral exam to help us prepare for the oral that we take for licensure. All I have to say is that if it was really "mock" it wouldn't have a point total attached to it! I am a little obsessive about my GPA and fear what the "mock" oral exam will do to it. Most people who have already taken it got 14 out of 20...not good for a class that has a 100 point total. But, I am still relieved that I only have 4 things left and am very excited for when I email in my take home exam and call it the end of the semester!

One Week and a Day!

Apparently I love count downs...this particular one is until the end of my semester at school. I can not wait until I have my final paper in and can breath a sigh of relief, knowing that there is nothing more I can do and am finished! After the 13th I will only have work on the weekends and practicum on Mondays and Fridays. I don't know what I will do with all my extra time! I have already started making plans with friends and family to fill up my free days with fun.

My mom was here over the weekend for my baby shower and helped get the baby's room together. She and Barry put together the crib while I rearranged some closets. I was a little testy so I decided to stay away and let them put it together without my presence. Our house is back in order and little Baby Saeger has a room all of his own. If he decides to come now he will have a bed to sleep in, diapers and clothes to wear, and toys to play with.

Barry was pretty excited about some Vikings items that we received at the shower. He (baby) has a onesie in jersey material and my mom made him a blanket to match one she made for Barry a couple years ago.

35 Weeks and counting!