Cayson's BIG Arrival (coming soon!)

Finally a new update. I know that all of you have been waiting on pins and needles to find out about Cayson. So let me fill you in on the past 3 days.

Wednesday morning:
I went for another ultrasound at about 9:00. This makes 5, I think. Doc just wanted to see how big Cayson has gotten. Well, he's very healthy, I must say. 9 pounds and 1 ounce!!! Yes, you read it right! At 37 weeks! Now, keep in mind that my doc had already said he wouldn't let him get that big, but I guess Cayson thought otherwise!!! Dr. Wharton hadn't come into the clinic yet, so they promised to tell him as soon as he got there about our little man. See, Shaun was supposed to leave after my ultrasound to go back to Lavaca. But I didn't want him to leave if Doc decided to induce or something. So, as we were leaving, he is pulling in. So Shaun just pulls around to the employees' parking lot (acting like we were turning around) and Doc spots us. He came over to the car and asked how it went. He was very surprised, I think, to hear how big Cayson has gotten. So he told me to come in Thursday at noon and he wanted to check me again. Then Shaun dropped me off at my grandmother's house (everyone is afraid to leave me by myself!) and he left for home.

Thursday:
Shaun got back into town at about 11:20 and met me at my grandma's house. We then we to my appointment. Didn't have to wait long either. They checked my vitals and everything looked good. When he checked me I had dilated to 1 and a half centimeters. This was pretty exciting for me. I just knew that he would send me back to the hospital and induce. This was not to be the case, however. He asked me what I thought about C-sections. This isn't my first choice, but I want what's best for me and the baby. He decided that he would give me a couple of steroid shots to help make sure Cayson's lungs are fully developed and if nothing happened this weekend, he would induce. I was pretty disappointed about that, mainly because Shaun has to go back to Lavaca on Saturday, unless we have the baby before then. This will make the 3rd trip in a week. However, I do want the best for Cayson, so I agreed.

Mom decided I needed to walk so we went to Wal-mart that afternoon to get some groceries and eat at Amecca. As we were walking around Wal-mart, I started having contractions. At first, they were coming about 10 minutes apart, pretty regularly. I thought, this is it! But after we finished our shopping and went to the cars to drive to Amecca, I felt better when I sat down. Then at Amecca, they started again. Still about 10 minutes apart. I couldn't even eat hardly anything. After we finished there, me and mom went outside and walked around and they actually started feeling better. Then we had to go back to Wal-mart because Shaun's sister needed some freeon (sp?) for her car. So back we went. And they started again. But this time pretty irregular. They would go from 10 minutes to 5 to 3 to 10 again. Then while Shaun was fixing Kelly's car, they completely stopped. My back was still hurting a little, but mostly I felt a lot better. So as tired as we were we decided to go back to my parents' house and rest and see if anything else would happen. Once we got to the house I was feeling much better, but completely exhausted. (Oh, I forgot to mention that on the way back, our car battery decided to die. So we ended up staying in Monticello until 10:30.) As tired as I was, I couldn't sleep. I finally got some decent rest from 5:30 to 8:10.

Friday Morning:
This morning we had to be back at the doctor's office to get another steroid shot. We were supposed to be there at 9, but that was just a tentative time, since it was just for a shot. Or so I thought. We woke up late, at 8:10, and we would have had to leave at 8:30 to make it there on time. I jumped in the shower and got ready quickly, but I had a hard time getting Shaun up. These trips to Lavaca and back are wearing him out!

We finally get to the clinic at 9:30 and they call me back fairly quickly. But they took my vitals again. I wasn't expecting that since they had just done it yesterday and I was only getting a shot today. I wasn't even supposed to see the doctor. However, they led me to an examining room and informed me that he wanted to see me since I'd had contractions last night! I hadn't even mentioned that! Apparently, my loving, meddling mother had seen him at the hospital (she works there) and he asked about me so she told him about the contractions. He checked me again and there was no change since yesterday. He told me to get dressed and he'd come back and talke to us. He said that he'd changed his mind about inducing me. That I would probably have a long hard labor and it would still end up in a C-section. So he just wants to go ahead with the section. Monday morning. Unless, of course, something happens this weekend. But it cannot. I have lectured Cayson that he has to stay put now until Monday, or at least late Sunday night. See, Shaun has to go back home AGAIN. Saturday morning. The good news is, they aren't going to make him stick around for the Sunday night service. So everyone pray that Cayson will stay put until Shaun gets back! Plus, I really do want to make sure his lungs are fully developed. So, the officialy report right now is I have to be at the hospital at 6 am Monday morning and they will probably do the section at around 9. I'm excited to finally have something set, but I'm pretty nervous about the section, too. This will be the most major surgery I've ever had. So be in prayer for all us this weekend and Monday. That I will calm my nerves and be able to get some sleep, that Shaun will have a safe trip home and back, and that Cayson will be born without any complications.

Thank you so much for your support during this time. This blogging adventure has made dealing with my doubts and fears and excitement so much easier to experience. And, if you read my blog and pregnancy does not interest you at all, I'm SO SORRY!!! It will be over soon!

Baby Update

I went to the doctor today for my weekly check-up. I was really, really hoping that he would tell me that I was thinned out and dilated and we were ready to have a baby, but, alas, that didn't happen. He did say that everything looked good, as usual, and that I had started thinning out. So maybe it will happen soon. He wants to do an ultrasound sometime this upcoming week to see how big Cayson has gotten and because my fundal height is not matching up with my due date. So Shaun had to go back to Cow town tonight (Lavaca) and I'm here with my family. I was very sad to see him leave. It's hard to be separated from your husband anytime, but in the 9th month of pregnancy it's horrible. I'm so afraid that I will go into labor and he won't be here and then he'll drive like a maniac to get here on time. Ok, there I go worrying again. At least I don't have to worry about going into labor in Lavaca and having to get to Warren to have the baby. For that I'm very relieved. Just keep us in your prayers, as always!

Just to let you know

If I don't post as often in the upcoming days (pray it's not weeks!!!) it's because my parents have dial-up. (Oh the horror of it all! LOL) They live in the country and their phone company only has a certain number of people who can have DSL, or something like that. So, just pray that this baby comes soon! (And I fully realize that after the baby comes it is very likely that I won't have time to post a lot anyway!) Oh, and I was just wondering, how many of you have or know women who gave birth very soon after having a baby shower? It seems like the majority of women I know have told me that they had their baby shower one day and a few days later went into labor. (I realize this is not a scientific thing, but it is interesting.) I say this because I have a baby shower on Friday...

Sad/Excited

I'm a little sad tonight. It set in while I was at church that the possibility is there that I might not be back here for 4 weeks. Or maybe more. There is so much going on that I don't want to miss out on. Like, on Saturday we are throwing a back-to-school luau for the students. And the next Saturday we are having Christmas in August for the choir members in order to introduce our Christmas Cantata. And we are learning some really awesome songs in choir rehearsal that will be ready to sing soon. And we have some really great friends that we hang out with a lot. So I'm a little sad tonight.

I'm also excited. I get to spend a lot of time with my family. Also, I will probably get to see people I haven't seen in a while. And I will probably get to worship in my home church again. And the best thing is I will soon get to meet my son! So that alone makes up for what I will miss.

Another cause for my sadness tonight is a very good friend of ours from church, Miranda, had another seizure tonight. That makes 3 in a year, I think. She's a year younger than me (22) and it really gets her down when this happens. For good reason. So please remember her in your prayers.

Feeling Fresh

Today, I woke up feeling much better, as far as worrying goes. I still have some back pain, though. But it's not as bad as normal. So it's all good. I'm actually getting things accomplished around the house. And since I felt better, i thought I'd freshen up my blog a little too.

Tomorrow I will be 36 weeks. The time has flown by. Hopefully one day my posts will have a little more direction. Right now most of my mind is consumed with thoughts of becoming a mother. Last night I dreamed about being in labor! It was pretty crazy.

Well, I guess that's really it. I just wanted to let everyone know that for now, my panic has subsided. Just keep us in your prayers!

Oh, I almost forgot, if you need something to watch on tv tonight, check out the Miss Teen USA pageant on NBC. The young lady that is Miss Arkansas was in our youth group in Pine Bluff. She's a sweet girl!

Newsflash

I got some news this afternoon. My mom works at the hospital in Warren, so she sees my doctor a lot. Apparently she saw him this morning and they got to talking about me. She told him that my dad was really hoping the he would tell me that I have to stay in Warren last weekend. And my doc replied, "I thought she was already staying." Of course, I'm not. I'm back in Lavaca. So he said I better come prepared to stay this weekend! So now I'm trying to get everything in order at my house so I won't worry about anything while I'm gone. Plus, Shaun is going to have to come back to cow town to be here for church Sunday. And then he'll come back Monday. This makes me nervous. I'm so afraid that I will go into labor while he's gone, or that he'll have an accident or something. Be in prayer for me this week that I will just give this up to God and let Him take care of us.

Home Again

Well, after 4 hours on the road, we're home again. This was a pretty good weekend. We got to spend more time with my family than usual. My doctors appointment went great. It was the shortest appointment ever. From the time I walked in the door it took 20 minutes and we were gone. He said my blood pressure was good, my weight was good, baby's heart rate was good. Everything looked good! Next week he's going to start checking my cervix.

Oh, we also went and saw World Trade Center with my parents. It was really good, but it made me cry. A lot! Especially with these pg hormones! I hope everyone else had a great weekend and that you have a great Sunday!

Much Better

Sorry about all the complaining yesterday. I guess 8 months of pg just caught up with me. This whole time the only person who's really heard me complain has been Shaun. And I really haven't done much except the past few weeks. But I guess yesterday something just snapped. All those pg hormones, I guess.

Church was pretty good last night. We had a good turnout for youth and choir practice. And after choir, the choir members surpised us with a diaper pounding! It was a huge surprise since we just had a shower on Sunday. They decorated so cute, too. And we had cute baseball sugar cookies.

I started working on the baby's bag last night. We decided that since we're going every week now for check-ups, we'd better be prepared. Now, I've just got to wash all the new clothes. This is hard because I can't seem to get caught up on our own laundry! Maybe today...

Pray that we will have safe travel today!

I know, I know

Again, it's been a while. This has been a hard 2 or 3 weeks for me. The hardest of the whole pregnancy so far. I haven't even been on the internet since my last post. Which is unusual for me, because I'm usually on there several times a day. First of all, we had VBS last week, which took up a lot of time. I had to rest all day so that I would be up for it at night. Then Friday morning we left to go to Warren. Then Saturday we came right back after my dr's appointment. And my family came back with us so they could go to my baby shower on Sunday. Speaking of Sunday, it was incredibly busy. We had church, my shower, Shaun had a meeting, and then VBS family night. On Monday, we went to Rogers to return some VBS decorations to First Baptist. And we ate at Copeland's. Which is wonderful, by the way. And yesterday I stayed in bed all day.

To add to all of that chaos, I now have 3 different kinds of back pain. There's the normal pain, which is just caused by so much added weight. Then there's the sciatica. Which hurts. A lot. Sometimes it makes my whole leg feel numb. And then on Saturday a new pain was added. I really don't know how to describe it. Just that it's the worst. My doctor said I was probably just experiencing some Braxton Hicks in my back.

To add to that pain, I have injured my shoulder somehow. I thought I slept on it wrong, because it went away after a couple of days. But then it came back. Add to that some minor swelling and occasional Braxton Hicks (other than the ones in my back) and you have my life for the last couple of weeks. This makes it incredibly hard to sleep, as well. Oh well, it will be over soon. I'm sorry about all the complaining, but I needed to get it out. I know my husband gets tired of hearing it, even though he never says so. He's been so supportive throughout this whole thing. And it wouldn't be too bad, except I have so much that needs to be done and I just don't feel like doing it.

Ok, enough complaining. There have been some positive things. First of all, my appointment went great. I have to start going every week now and next week he's going to do another ultrasound and start checking me. Also, it was wonderful having my family up here for church and my shower. And speaking of my shower, it was wonderful!!! And VBS was a huge success! We averaged about 77 kids every night and at least 1 accepted Christ. She was baptized Sunday night. And today I am 35 weeks which means I'm almost there! Just pray for me in these last weeks. I'm so ready to meet my baby! Well, I guess that's it for now. Thanks for bearing with me!

It's been a while

I hadn't posted in a little while, so I feel need to let the world know what's going on in my life. Crazy, I know. Anyway, we're in VBS this week. It has been awesome! We've averaged about 75 kids every night. Last year, the most they had was about 65. And the neat thing is, almost half of these kids are bus ministry kids. That don't go to church anywhere. Last night, Russ, our pastor, talked to the older kids about salvation. We haven't heard for sure how many made decisions yet. I hope to find out tonight. Also, in the last week we've had 2 families want more information about joining the church. And another lady who is interested in visiting this Sunday. So, all in all, it's been a great week. Oh, our children's coordinator just walked in and said that her niece got saved last night. We thought she did, but we were waiting for her to tell someone. How awesome! Well, I've got stuff I've got to finish up for tonight. Please keep praying for tonight and tomorrow night!