mY FeiLdTRip - a FeW hOuRs Out and AbOuT

Today I got venture out away from my bed and couch!!!!!!!!! Wahoo!!!! OK, So, it really wasn't for FuN. It was a necessity - to the hospital I went. Yes, I was having a scare. Increased pressure and contractions. I called my doctors office and they said go now. Being truly blessed, I already had someone here that was able to stay with the kids and I left. As I drove to the hospital I was wondering if I would be able to leave. I saw people out driving and walking, living a "normal" life. I wondered if my life was going to be changed again over the course of the next few hours. It made the reality of the unknown that much more.

I love St. Joe's, but I must tell you that whoever designed the new Women's Center in conjunction with the new Parking Garage didn't do a very good job. Sure assuming someone is taking you, you get dropped off nice and close, right outside. Now, if by chance, you know for some odd reason you have to head in on your own - you are forced to park in the parking garage - on the opposite side of the garage since all of the closer spots are already taken, walk clear to the other side to the elevator, walk across the walk way to the front of the hospital and then walk all the way to the back of the hospital. It was crazy. I was feeling a tremendous amount of pressure as I walked along. Man it was intense. By the time I got to the front desk to even ask how to get back to the Women's Center I must have been a sight. I had a couple of people ask if I needed a wheel chair. Was something that bad really written across my face? Who knows?

At Labor and Delivery Triage they hooked me up to the monitors, did some kind of fetal something a ruther swab test to see if my body is already producing the proteins that show whether I will be having a baby in the next two weeks, then checked me. The doctor will have the results of the swab test tomorrow. I was told I would only get a call if it tested positive or they had other reason for concern. Here's hoping that I don't hear from them. There was very little change from Monday to today - still just over 1 cm dilated and about 15% effaced. I have to say that one bit of information was so comforting to hear. I suddenly felt less tense and more relaxed. I am now back in the comfort of my own home, on my own bed and/or couch - surrounded by my family and friends who check on me.

The miracles, service, and love keep coming. We are so blessed to be surrounded by such great people in our lives. I still don't have words enough to express my thanks to all of these people. Knowing that my kids have been well taken care of this whole week, meals brought in every day, treats and snacks dropped off, my house cleaned, laundry completed, shopping done for me, etc have been such a load off of my mind and a wonderful thing. I know it has also relieved some of the overwhelming burden my dear husband has been faced with this week.

Many, many thanks to everyone of you who have helped us!!!!!

PS - I ordered our car seat on Tuesday. Gotta love a $50 sale and free shipping on Amazon.com. LOVE IT!!!!! The seat gets delivered in appx 9 business days from order day. Please baby girl, don't come before then!!! Then on top of that a little birdie replaced the swing that I mentioned had been sold and even sent an added gift of a bouncer (BTW - I didn't mention it to have that person replace it, but they insisted and surprised us with the added gift - again so blessed in our lives). The dresser is all that we have left. I am calling on one tomorrow that I just found on Craig's list for $20. Hopefully it is still available. Assuming it is and Josh can go get on Friday or Saturday we can start pulling out the bins of other baby things to start getting ready (and when I say "we" I mean Josh and friends since I am a little incapacitated right now) . Yippee. I feel like we are finally making some progress in preparing. So now it is just a matter of staying down and staying pregnant (bet you don't hear that very often).