To update, or not to update...

..that is the question.

Here is the answer. I'm updating. Again.

We went to the doc again this morning to find some good news. This might be TMI for some, exciting for others. But, my cervix is completely soft (sorry Melissa, I know you waited to hear those words for weeks) and I'm slightly dilated. He said the baby's head has dropped a little lower, but not too far yet.

He reminded me that the baby was big (so nice of hime to remind me!). So he highly recommends to start the induction on the 5th, the due date. That's next Wednesday! That's so soon! That's so scary! If things go as planned, there will hopefully be a baby Thursday evening sometime. All a waiting game though.

I have been cramping most of the morning so that might mean something is starting up and I could deliver early. Or it could mean I'm fooling myself and I will deliver a linebacker next week. Either way, I trust my doctor and trust he knows what he's doing. He's been doing it for over 30 years, I'm sure he's learned a few things along the way. But, I feel good about his decisions. As long as the end result is a nice healthy baby (preferably 6 lbs...not gonna happen!).

We have a few last things to pick up today. I think other than that, we're ready to have a baby join us to make us a family. We feel very lucky. A bit nervous, but very lucky.

Update

I thought it would be good to post a picture here of the growing belly. But, I also thought it would be embarrassing to post a picture of me in the same outfit again, on a different day. Very few things are fitting me now. The shirts are too short, as are the pants. So, I'm forced to wear the same things over and over again. I have one pair of shoes that fit now. And I'll add that I am indeed wearing socks with sandals. No, not a cute look, but they fit. And no, not cute sandals either. But, I knew I saved my Birkenstock's for something. I'm doing my best to pair them black on black for disguise. Oh well, it's almost over.

Yep, it is. I went to the doctor again today. Erik was working so I was lucky enough to have my Mom join me. It turned out to be more eventful than expected. He did the usual measurements, everything is going well. Grandma got to hear the baby's heart beat. It was very sweet. He felt around a little and finally agreed that the baby seemed to be measuring big (duh!). His main concern was I had to much amniotic fluid so he wanted to do an ultrasound to check the fluid levels. It was a fun surprise for us to see the little(big) body again. We weren't expecting another ultrasound.

Turns out the fluid levels are normal and everything seems to be in place. Especially the baby. I mean, especially the BIG baby making itself comfortable in there. Which, in turn, is making me uncomfortable out here. The doc told me he wasn't sure, but at this point he was guessing it was about 9 pounds. 9POUNDS!!! Ouch.

We see him again on Friday...if not sooner. For now, just fighting a bad cold (it's fighting me too, ugh), getting the last of things ready, and trying to save some energy for the "marathon" I enrolled myself in about 9 months ago. Took more training than I thought!

Are you for real?

White Trash Fishing.

I took Obi on a walk just now and it was going well....until.....

It started fine. The weather is overcast and it even sprinkled on us a little so that made it nice. I'm having really bad sciatic nerve pain on my right side so not only am I waddling, but I'm limping too. So I look like a gimp walking around. But, if that helps move things along, I'll do it.

I'm rounding my last corner and the crazy neighbor ladies are out watering the lawn (remember it's raining a little). We met them when we had out garage sale and it only takes a second to know they are not going to be your buddies.

One wanted to pet Obi so she crosses the street. No big deal. Until...she decided to tell me a pregnant joke. She tells me that to "get the full affect, I needed to take my hat off". It's too late to get out of this one. So, I release my greasy hair and wait to hear the joke that I know is coming. It's the one where the baby comes out asking who his daddy is and when he finds him, the baby knocks him on the head and says "How does that feel?" Sorta like the V-8 commercials. It was funny the first time I heard it but that was probably the 65th time, and I didn't like her so I wanted to kick her in the knee and run.

To top it off, she nailed me in the forehead!!! SERIOUSLY!!! She hit me. With the palm of her hand. Hard. She told me when I told my husband that I could do it harder so he knew what it was like. What? I just got hit in the forehead by my white trash neighbor. Who does that?

Sherious Schwellin'

I had my appointment on Friday and not much has changed except my weight. The doc thinks it's all water weight at this point. I think it's a 30 pound baby. No exciting news though. It was a let down of an appointment. I'll show him.

Walking (among other things...ahem...) have increased and we're keeping our fingers crossed that this little creature makes it's appearance sooner rather than later. I'm becoming incredibly uncomfortable, but surviving. All sorts of pains and such are making this more difficult. But, thankfully I am now off work and can lay down whenever needed. That's the easy part though...getting up is tough!

While I've been off work, I've come across a few interesting people. I've always liked seeing "grandma's" in public because they always smile at you. it's that warm, comforting smile that only a mother can give. I sometimes have to hold myself back from running up to them and cuddling myself into their arms.

I also like seeing younger mom's dealing with their own kiddo's while in public. Today, while at Costco, we passed a cute family several times and the younger of the two boys was acting, well, like a young boy. The older brother was walking nicely and rolling his eyes. And their sweet Mom started talking to the younger boy (trying to jump out of the cart at this point) saying, "Honey, please behave around the pregnant lady...we don't want to scare her." It was cute. Little does she know I have 7 nephews!

Then there is always the "special" people. I was sung to in the bathroom today about why this young lady's feet could not reach the floor. A few days ago I was approached by an employee at Marshall's (yes, I went there) asking to touch my belly. She was nice about it so I let her. But, I had to pull back some when I realized her eyes were going every way but straight and her hands had no control. I was pretty close to being felt up and when she asked where the head was I just said, "Um. It's low." And stepped back in fear of contact with the nether regions.

Creepy.

I'll post some real pictures when I get a chance.

**Edited**
Creepy poeple mean that I needed to remove the funny picture. Sorry to those who missed it!

Big Mama

So, here it is. I'm 36 weeks in this picture. I'm big and uncomfortable. Friday's appointment went well, things are going smoothly. Except for my feet. Can you say SWOLLEN????? Holy cow! (literally). By the end of the night my feet look like there are little sausages poking out of a water balloon. Last night I could barely get my wide shoes on. I did find my old pair of Birkenstock's (stop laughing) so that may be the shoe of choice from here on out. I have been advised to keep off my feet as much as possible, meaning laying down with them elevated. It's harder then it sounds. When my feet are up, my focus turns into being able to breathe...hard to do with a bowling ball attached to your gut.

I haven't "dropped" yet. Or maybe I have and this ginormous mini Juli and Erik is just plain huge. It's head is down according to my doc and he feels it is staying put. Apparently that is what I want. But, when a man tells a woman that is "what she wants", regardless of his profession, you begin to hate them.

Overall I have been very lucky with this pregnancy and I feel very fortunate to be able to do it. I complain that it is uncomfortable, but it is. And it will pass. What is important is in less then a month I will be a Mom. That is when all the real work starts!

30 days and counting

Do you realize what today is????? It's November 5th. That day may not mean much to you, but to us it means the official countdown begins! Baby Mrazek is due in 1 MONTH!!!! Check the ticker at the bottom of the page. Sorta freaking out over here...

I start meeting with my doctor once a week now and will know more after this Friday. It's strange that it's so close. I don't have a picture right now, but will post one of how HUGE I have become. I walked past a window downtown this weekend and my mouth dropped.

I'm still so amazed at what the human body can do.