So close

We went to see Dr. Moore this week for our 39th week visit and the first thing he asked was "So, you're still pregnant?!". Ha! I never would have thought that I'd make it full term, but here we are... I've been feeling ALOT!!!! of pressure and some pretty nasty Braxton-Hicks, so Dr. Moore examined me to check my progress. I've been dilated 2cm for several weeks, but this week we learned that I'm still only 2 cm, but I'm 100% effaced and the baby is at zero station. Zero station means that the baby's head is at the cervix and ready to come out. Dr. Moore offered to do something to the membrane to get me started in natural labor, but when I turned to Lou for his opinion his face was white as a ghost. It was by far the funniest thing I'd ever seen. He's been waiting and wanting to meet his first born for months, but facing the automatic thought of meeting him within a few hours threw him for a little loop. We decided to give it another week and if he hasn't come by the next appointment then we'll do the membrane thing. Dr. Moore said that since I'm at the stage that I'm at that I shouldn't have a long labor, which sounds good to me. Of course, we'll see if the baby has other plans for Mommy.

The baby's room has been relocated to the 3rd floor to be by us and it is turning out to be the cutest room ever! We went to Ikea and bought a few stand up closets since there isn't any closet space in that open room. We also got a huge palm leaf canopy to put over the baby's bed to help cast off some of the bright morning sunshine that comes through his windows. We still have some things to do, but all in all his room is ready for his arrival.

Waiting

No baby yet. We've had a few false starts over the last few days, but we're still short of the real deal. Of course, Lou goes back to work this week, so it should be this week since it is the most inconvenient. Being pregnant for 9 months really isn't as bad as the last few weeks of anticipation. Plus, this baby is getting huge and has run out of room. At any given moment I have a chubby little leg poking out of my side or a little foot shoved on top of my rib cage. Ouch! If Lou or I try to reposition him he just gets mad and kicks. We can tell already that breeding a Lawrence to a Carlson has resulted in one hard headed kid with a heck of a kick.
My Dad is still in the hospital, but seems to be doing much better. The problem appears to be with his Coumadin. He was taking too much which resulted in causing his kidney tumor to bleed into his bladder. The docs plan to go in and cut off the blood supply to his tumor, which worked before (I use the word worked very loosely since obviously it didn't really work). I know it's my Dad's right and decision to continue his care in Pasadena, but wish he would move to the medical center. He's been in the hospital all week because the docs can't get their act together and get him in surgery to do the basic procedures that could have been done in a day or two down here in the med center. Lou and I were joking because one of his nurses was talking to us and she couldn't pronounce basic medical terms correctly, which just proves my sad little point that the brightest bulbs don't work at Bayshore. I do have to give my Dad's doc a little credit though because when he was diagnosed he was only given 6 months to live, which was 3 1/2 years ago. So, we're hoping that he'll be out of the hospital when his 9th grandson is born!
Our little dog Izzy Belle is doing MUCH better as well. She's almost 100%. She growls and barks and is generally a little brat, which means she's almost totally back to herself!
2009 is here and we are so happy. The only good thing about 2008 was getting pregnant. We're very hopeful about 2009. My Dad is doing better and the docs are trying to put together a new plan to combat his advancing cancer, our doggie is better, we're getting showings on our house, and we'll have a beautiful little boy in a few days. I'm hopeful that at some point I'll get a job too! I'm off to go do some more sitting on the big butt.