38 Weeks & STILL Counting....

I wanted so badly to title this post, "38 Week & Misserable...." Ugh. That's how I'm feeling right now. Our sweet little girl is out of room, making me very uncomfortable, and I'm just beyond ready for her to be here. So is her daddy!!!

38 weeks, 5 days pregnant.
Casey and I went on a date (hoping it would be our last for a while), thanks to our amazing friends Lacie and Chris Bryant; and while there I realized I was almost done with the 38th week and needed a picture. Also there, Casey and I partook in the spiciest Thai food EVER!! We got our usual, a two and a four, and WHOA- they were both more like twelves!! That didn't stop us, though, we both devoured our plates AnD an appetizer. Woo! As we got the check I had the strongest, most intense contraction yet.... I couldn't breath it hurt so bad (in my back). I was thinking it was the real thing, but nope, of course not.... here we still sit, today, at 38 weeks and 6 days.

At our appointment today we got the news we were hoping wouldn't be true. I think I previously mentioned that 90% of people who have LEEP's do not dialate on their own. My doctor said I could be having contraction after insane contraction and still be sitting at a 2, because the scar tissue is doing its job- to keep everything tight and closed. As of last week she didn't think I would have this problem and would hopefully be part of the 10% who can completely dilate normally. Unfortunately, I am not. :( She felt the scar tissue today and said it's definitely doing what we feared- not letting my cervix contract. Boo. So what this ultimately means is that I'll be in full blown active labor, still sitting at a two, but still be 'paper thin' as she put it, and then within seconds my cervix will FINALLY give way and I'll be at a 10 like that. AH! Go from a 2 to a 10 within seconds?! YEP! So she said to have EVERYTHING ready, because we soon as this happens we will need to be at the hospital. Eek. Why can't I just do something normally?? Geez! Well, it is what it is- so we came home and packed and double packed and are ready to go whenever Isabella decides she's ready. We are beyond ready and are hoping this comes sooner than later. Wait, did I already mention we are beyond ready for her to be here? Oops. Sorry for repeating myself, but we are!!

This picture was posted in our doctor's room today... thought it was fitting and would share.

Well, my sweet husband is in the kitchen making us potato soup (my favorite) and it smells amazing! Mmmmmmm! I'm off to go devour a bowl. Or two. Hopefully our next post will be complete with pictures of Izzy. ;) 39 weeks tomorrow!!!!

* * Merrrrrry Christmas * *

Broono tucked under the tree with care... and to guard the house from Santa!

Merry Christmas Eve!! We just got in from looking at Christmas lights ~ Casey with his yummy, amazing coffee, and me with my hot chocolate!! Mmmmm!! (If you can't tell- I can't wait to have coffee again- but because it has been so long, when I have it now I'm awake for days!)

Hope you all have an amazing and blessed Christmas. This year we have been blessed more than we could ever imagine! XoXo

37 Weeks... AlMoSt there!!!

This week started off great ~ our church had the first annual 'Hideous Christmas Sweater Contest.' Thanks to momma Mobbs for the great add-ons!

My hideous Christmas sweater ~ again, thanks to momma Mobbs for mailing it to me!

Broono helping us fold laundry

All day Tuesday, Miss Isabella decided to be lazy and stop moving ~ after doing everything we could think of to make her move, we called labor and delivery and they said, "You've done everything we'd have you do, and more, so come in for monitoring." Well, within 5 minutes of being on the monitors little miss was making big fat liars out of us. HA! We couldn't believe it, but were so thankful, of course. They had me on the monitors for 20 minutes to check her heart rate and my contractions ~ her heart rate was perfect and she's getting oxygen in her blood- so it couldn't have been better... then the doctor said, "You've had several contractions while we've been monitoring you, can you feel them?" I told him I knew I'd had some off and on for days- but had no clue they were that often and close. Because I had an apt the next day (Wednesday) and wasn't so completely uncomfortable they opted not to check out dilation. They also did an ultrasound to check Izzy's fluid levels- and everything was great there, too; right where it should be.

The next day was our 37 week, 6 day appointment. There we found out I'm 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced! WoW! Those contractions have been doing something! As my doctor put it, "She's definitely doing what she can to work her way out... It could happen at any time!" (At my last apt she said because of the scar tissue I have from my LEEP that it may be near to impossible for me to dilate on my own (infact, 90% of women who have had LEEPS are unable to fully dilate on their own), but she thinks I'll be golden ~ we shall see!)

I'm getting more and more uncomfortable everyday and am soooo ready for her to be here, but am really hoping and praying it'll be sometime after Christmas!!

**Casey is out snowboarding today; I'm home drinking hot coco and watching "The Santa Clause 2 & 3" and cuddling with our sweet pups. Casey has called twice to make sure I'm okay and that 'nothing is happening just yet.' ;) 38 weeks today!!
Merrrrrry Christmas Eve Eve everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!**

36 Weeks & Bama Christmas Party

36 Weeks Pregnant ~ Not much longer!!!!

Don't you just LoVe Casey's fabulous Christmas sweater?! All the guys from M-Div wore Christmas sweaters... there were some A*MAZING ones!!!!

Tonight was the Alabama's Christmas party... we ended up having a blast (which was a surprise to us both, haha) AnD won a XBOX 360 and Kinect system!!! The 'prize' table was out for everyone to look at ~ and I joked with Casey at the very beginning of the night about how fun it would be to win the system. Well, as they were calling off names for the prizes Casey said, "That's what you said you wanted, right?" and I said, "Yeah, hahaha!" and the next thing we heard was, "And the winner is... Bolin!" Casey jumped up and cheered and ran up to get it... meanwhile, two wives on either side of me leaned over and said, "I'm so sorry!" I just laughed, because I think I wanted it more than Casey did-- Have you seen the commercials for it; it looks so cool! We have the Wii, but get so frustrated with it not picking up the remote. So cool! And it was my very favorite price ~ F-R-E-E!!

Casey has the next four days off (this is how they bribed the guys to go to the Christmas party) ~ So tomorrow (Friday) we are going with some friends to Ikea (it's all you can eat meatballs-- Grosss- but the boys are so excited). Then Saturday Casey is going snow boarding for the very first time ever!! I'm so excited for him, and really wish I could join him on the mountain; there's always next year! Hopefully I can somehow get some pictures of him to post for you all to see... I know he'll pick it up super fast (being as athletic as he is), but it'll be fun(ny) to watch him get the hang of it. ;)

35 Weeks & Our Newest Yummy Obsession

First and foremost- we are beyond obsessed with these amazing things. I don't even know the last time I've had bacon- I do know it has been YEARS, just not sure how many. PLEASE try them ASAP; pleaseeeee!! With a cherry on top... and sprinkles... and lots of chocolate fudge sauce... mmmm- that sounds yummy, too! Man, I'm totally the fat preggo lady these days, who thinks only of food. Oh well- I have less than 5 weeks to use this excuse, might as well while I still can! ;)

35 Weeks ~ Belly button sticking out in all its glory....

35 Weeks side shot (obviously)