So far, so good.....

Well it's 9:30 am on Friday and we are here at the hospital. I am starting to feel some contractions and gain a true appreciation for when I am NOT having one. Here's what's happened so far.

We got to Labor and Delivery last night around 4:45 pm. They inserted the Cervadil almost immediatly. Basically, that is just used to ripen the cervix so it was pretty uneventful. It had to stay in for 12 hours, they were going to come wake me up at 5 this morning to take it out but when I went pee last night it came out which was apparently no big deal. Oh yeah, before they could give me the Cervadil I needed to have an IV access put in. I hat needles already but really despised them after it took 4, yes 4 stabs to finally get a vain. The nurse tried once then called the IV team and it took her 3 more tries. Finally they got it on the back of my left hand. I am treating it like its broken still, afraid to move it and the IV will wiggle, but thank God I have mt right hand still to type with....lol.

So after the IV and Cervadil, I was informed that I would not be getting dinner, doctors orders. Also told they wanted to start me on liquids through the IV right away. Ummmm, not the plan. I hadn't eaten since lunch and I didn't want to be confined to my bed all night so I called the doc in and talked to her. I must have looked or sounded hungry cause it didn't take much convincing for her to agree to let me have dinner. John went home to get it, neither of us were interested in eating hospital food. He also needed to go home to get a sweater, I had the set at 68 and apparently he was finding that a little chilly. He got back around 7:45, I had my dinner and laid in bed till 9. Then we got up and went for a walk from 9-9:30, came back and laid down, I sat on the phone for awhile, then we went to bed. It was a bit emotional for me before bed, so many feelings and thoughs going through my head, but I am so glad I had John there laying beside me and got to talk to my sisters before I went to sleep. They were all so comforting. I didn't sleep all that well, but well enough that they had to wake us up this AM to get ready for 8, when the doc would be at the hospital and they would begin to administer the pictocin.

We called the house to say hello and let everyone know we were okay shortly after they hooked me up. Then I called Alice, the doula, to let her know I would call her when I needed her. She was going to come in at 9 or 10 but I didn't want the extra head in the room till it was necessary. Plus, I have a great nurse who cane in at 7 am, Lynn, and she will be here all day. Alice is an hour away I told her I would call her when I thought I would need her in an hour, and to be by her phone for if I had any questions.

This morning when they checked me I was 1-2 cm and 70-80% effaced. Dr. Kleban wanted to break my water as soon as she got in at 8, I asked for a little more time. She wasn't impressed, but we finally agreed that she would come back at noon and break it. It's 10:15 am now, I have been on pictocin for about 2 hours and feeling some pretty regular but manageable contractions. I mean, I have been able to continue typing through most of them, a few I have had to stop and take a breather. So I have almost two hours till they come break my water, and hopefully that will really get things going. I may not post again till after she is here, but wanted to journal this for myself and let you all know how I am doing. Thanks for reading guys!

The Plan

So tomorrow I will be 41 weeks pregnant. That's 7 days overdue. And according to my doctors, that's as long as they would like to see me be pregnant. Although I feel fabulous and healthy, I am starting to agree with them. I am starting to wonder if she will ever come out on her own. I am still only one cm dialated. According to the perinatoligst at the ultrasound yesterday, she may not even be dropped all the way down yet (she could still get some pretty good images of her face). I have not had any contractions, not even Braxton Hicks. There is no indication that this little girl is planning an arrival for the near future, and it's just not safe for me to wait and see when she decides to arrive. Some might say, maybe the due date calculated was wrong? Nope. My LMP was September 4th, with would actually give me a due date of June 11th. Now I don't know a date of conception, but bottom line, we are DEFINITELY overdue. Thank God she is measuring average in size, last week was 7 lbs 11 oz, I forgot to ask the Doc today what she measured. Oh well, i will find out soon enough.

They told me today they want to induce me tomorrow night. I knew before I got to the appointment that's what the doctor was going to say. She had actually scheduled me for an induction LAST Wednesday night and I cancelled it last minute, hoping and praying that postponing things one more week would give me an opportunity to go into labour on my own. We tried everything possible. I have been walking everyday for 6 weeks with John, now that my mom is here sometimes it's been twice a day. I ate lots of eggplant. We drove on a few bumpy roads, had sex as much as humanly possible in my condition, ate mexican food, hot oil pizza, and "labour" salad. Ladies and Gentleman, I TRIED CASTOR OIL FOR PETE'S SAKE! Though I found a great new way to "clean myself out", let's just say none of these old wives tales worked for me and I am still one very pregnant lady.

So tomorrow night John and I go to the hospital between 4 and 5, where they will give me an insert called Cervadil (used to ripen the cervix) and I will sleep with that in all night. Friday morning they will start me on a Pictocin drip and hopefully soon after that our daughter will be born. I say hopefully because in many ways the odds are stacked against me. Because my body is not progressing at all naturally, it makes an induction a lot more difficult for me and the baby. The rate of C-Sections are almost 1 in 2 of first time moms with failed inductions. At this point, a c-section is pretty much my worst fear and what I have wanted to avoid at all costs. I am praying this will not be the case for me. Also, I was really hoping to deliver this baby unmedicated and completely natural. Well the pictocin makes that more difficult as it brings on stronger, faster, harder contractions that are basically unnatural. Therefore, the natural endorphins your body produces to manage the pain of childbirth are not near enough. I have been told by a few people that and induced but unmedicated childbirth IS POSSIBLE, however, NOT enjoyable (obviously). John and I are going to go ahead with our plans with our eyes open to these facts and our minds open to anything can happen.

I am pretty bummed about the whole thing to be perfectly honest. I really wanted to go into labour naturally and experience it in a more unplanned way. But I have been reminded time and time again this week that at the end of this all the main goal is a healthy mommy and a healthy baby, and as the day approaches and I now have something in stone to look forward to, I am just trying to embrace that attitude as well. I am sad it won't go as I had planned, but I also know it will still be more than I could have ever imagined. And the moment I get to hold her in my arms and look into her eyes, this will all be little worries of the past. Wow, we are going to meet this little miracle in less than 48 hours. What a journey, I feel so blessed to have made it this far with a beautiful and perfect pregnancy. I am so ready to meet her, in any circumstance.

So John and I are going out for our last diner tonight as just the two of us. *sniff* Probably sushi, our favorite. Yipee! Tomorrow I will spend with my mom relaxing and doing last minute things to prepare for Baby's arrival. Tomorrow night I will be in the hospital, I may or may not post another update, depending on how the day and evening goes. Chances are, the next posting will be pictures of Sweet Baby Coppola along with a birth announcement from a very excited Mommy!

Family and friends, I ask that you say a prayer for John and I as we embark on this journey of parenting. Please pray for the safety of the baby and myself during labour, and for a natural, fast and safe childbirth. I would ask that you pray for it to be pain free, but I know that's stretching it a little. Just please keep us in your thoughts on Friday, it will be the most amazing day for us and we appreciate knowing you are all thinking of us and wishing us well! For those of you who have been supporting me on this journey with prayer, positive thoughts, words of encouragement and amazing friendship (you know who you are) I love you and appreciate all of it. This pregnancy has set a whole new standard for me of what a true friend is and I strive to be a better one everyday because of you all. Thanks Guys!

Due Date- Schmoo Date

Well today was my due date. It came and went with no action whatsoever (baby action, that is). So I am now officially "overdue". All along we really thought she would be early, but apparently this little girl has other plans. Honestly, there hasn't even been a lot of indications that she will be making an appearance soon except the fact that we know she cannot stay in there forever. I was dilated to 1 cm at my OB appt on Monday, which is basically nothing. At the perinatologist on Tuesday, they did a growth scan ultrasound and got an average measurement of 7 pounds and 11 ounces, which is right in the 50th percentile. Those can be off by a pound (or even more) sometimes, but she took three measurements and averaged them all, that was the number she came up with. My OB actually wanted to induce me on Wednesday, but I asked for one more week to try and let my body do this on it's own. I am hoping an induction will not be necessary, but my OB says if nothing has happened by my appointment next Wed that they will schedule something for shortly after then. I think Thursday at the latest. So regardless, by this time next week, if I do not have a baby already, I will be at the hospital having one! Crazy!

It's hard to know at this point if we are ready for all of it. I mean, all the stuff is ready. Her clothes are washed, stroller ready, carseat empty. But knowing that this enormous change is going to occur in our lives that is absolutely going to change the world as we know it is so hard to imagine. A friend of mine explained to me that "from the first moment you see her, you will forget what it was like to have ever lived without her." As a first time parent, it's all so unfathomable. I cannot wait to hold her at this point, and I know John feels the exact same way. We just want to see her, count her fingers and toes, and hug and kiss her. I feel like I could just stare at her for hours, and yet I have never even seen her. The other night we went out for my birthday, my mom and dad and John's family. I wished she was there so badly. I can't wait to see John interact with her and the three of us become the family that we have been waiting for for the last 9 months. And there's not much more waiting to be done, in a week she will be here regardless. Eeeeek!

So we are all playing the waiting game now. My dad flew in Monday night and my mom has been here since last Wednesday, June 13th. All the grandparents are anxiously awaiting her arrival but no one could be more excited than John and I. Hurry up little one!!!!! I love you so much already!

A few pics of us today. Me at 40 weeks pregnant. The next post on here could very well be a posting about the arrival of our little girl. Stay tuned!

Hanging By A Moment

Well this is certainly an interesting time in life, to say the least. The last few days of "un-parenthood". Waiting for the little one to arrive with such anticipation, yet trying to cherish our last few days alone. It is now to the point where everything we do I constantly find myself thinking, "this will be the last time we/I do this before she arrives." Things as simple as trips to Target or sushi dinners with John. Me and Maria went to the city last weekend to see a Broadway play and have some Pinkberry, I wondered when I would ever do that again. Yes, I confess, as I am about to have the largest door life has to open opened for me, I am feeling a little emotional about the door that is about to close. I think at this point I just have too much time on my hands, and the waiting game is getting the best of me. I have nothing better to do than sit around and wait for her arrival. And wait. And wait.

My mom flew in from Calgary on Wednesday night and that has helped tremendously. She took me for a pedicure on Wednesday and a little (baby)retail therapy, some lunch and some baby chat. Today was basically the same thing, minus the pedicure and add in a wonderful sushi dinner with John. It's fun to be around all the excited family, everyone is waiting so patiently for this little one to arrive but the excitement is killing us all. Maybe she is waiting for my Dad to arrive? he flies in Monday night from Calgary. Or maybe she is waiting for Father's Day? That would be such a special treat for John. All I know is John and I are ready as we will ever be, and cannot mention her without grinning with anticipation. There are a million questions. How will it happen? When? Where will I be? Who does she look like? *sigh* I really can't wait.....

But I have no choice, and thus, the first lesson in parenting has been learned. It is in God's hands, and not in our control. And in his perfect timing she will arrive and will have been worth every second of the wait. Until then, I am a daydreaming mommy-to-be, teetering on the verge of the greatest journey I will ever know.

I will try and post here if anything actually happens, but just for the record, nothing so far. I am not dialated, effaced, or contracting at all. Looks like she is comfy cozy in there and probably planning a sneak attack. I should go to be, so I am well rested. Need to be in tip top shape for whenever she *decides* she'd like to make an appearance. I'll let you all know if anything happens.

Happy Anniversary John!

To My Love,

Well it's hard to believe but it was a year ago today that I married my best friend. How time flies when you are having the time of your life, and it has been a blur since the day I met you. I wanted to post a picture of our anniversary, a memory of the day and how it was spent, or something representative of our year together. A wedding photo, a honeymoon pic, the photo of a positive pregnancy test, another belly shot. But when I looked over at you laying beside me sleeping I couldn't resist taking a snap and adding it to my collection of all the beautiful memories we have made in the past year. It's this photo, tonight, that fills me to the brim with love and emotions. Now it's quite possible that some of the weepy emotions are due in part to the fact that I am almost 38 weeks pregnant, but I would like to think that it is just days like today that remind me of how I am busting at the seams with love for you. And not just the posing you in the tux, or the smiling you on the beach, or the loving and caring you holding my belly. The you that rests so peacefully beside me at the end of each and every day is the fondest mental snapshot that I hold most dear to my heart, and thats the one that I choose to represent the last year of my life with you. That is the man I love more than anything.

You know, before the wedding I had very few fears about going though with it. I had that peace that surpasses all understanding, in spite of any concerns that may have came about. But the last year has shown me that although some of my concerns were normal, I had nothing to worry about. Some of the things I feared the most became some of the ways that I have felt loved the deepest by you. My worries about becoming bored of or with eachother were replaced by the joys of feeling completely content in your arms alone. The fear of not knowing what lies ahead has lead to many dreams fulfilled already, and a family and house and all that life has to offer just around the corner. A concern about feeling like an old married lady is now anticipation of becoming that "old lady" with you by my side, and all that life will bring along the way. Wondering if the day-to-day repetition of a marriage would ruin the life and zest of our relationship is over now that I have experienced the joys of a routine and life with you that need not be the least bit exciting to be just as full of love as the majestic "honeymoon stage". Who knew that a trip to Costco was romantic? Or a take out salad and parking down by the marina was better than a fancy restaurant? Who knew an episode of Dirty Jobs can be just as entertaining as a trip to the theatre? I sure didn't, and maybe you didn't either. But God did, and I thank him every day for you and this beautiful marriage he has given us. I thank him for turning my fears into little revelations about the quality of man and husband you are, and the constant reminders that I made no mistake, rather, the best choice I could have possibly made in choosing a mate.

And I thank you, My Love, for becoming that man, for being that man, and for remaining that man that I married a year ago today. You truly amaze me. I cannot wait to spend up all my years loving you and our family that we are about to create. I am more in love with you everyday. Thank you for the most beautiful year of my life, and the promise by your actions that this year was just the beginning of a lifetime of wonderful years to come. I am the luckiest girl John. I love you.

Sleep tight. Happy Anniversary.

Christa

Some Maternity Shots......

So John and I finally went last weekend and had our maternity shots taken together. A good friend of mine and professional photographer, Michelle Longo ( www.belle-photos.com ), did them for us. I think they turned out beautifully! I just got the CD and these are the unedited ones but they still look great, I thought I would share a few. Thanks Michelle!