The countdown is on...

I was woken up at like 12:30am, 1:45am, and 3:30am with my first real contraction pain...this pain woke me up from a deep sleep each time. Now, I see why women get an epidural. Those suckers HURT enough that my groan woke Crosby up too. I was convinced this was the start of labor but nope, not really. When I did wake up at 5:15, I was in a sheer state of panic because Erik was in Johnstown for the day and I was here and had a semi-packed but not ready hospital bag. I, of course, spent the next 15 minutes gathering way too many items of clothing that I know I won't wear because I'll probably just want to stay in the comfy hospital gown or sweats. I packed up my toiletries, grabbed Brooklyn's already-packed hospital-to-be-turned-into-diaper bag, and made sure I at least had the car seat in my car. Now, Brooklyn, she must take after her mother (probably because her mother packed her bag) already because she has more outfits for the hospital than she could possibly wear in 48 hours; she also has some stylish burp cloths (thanks Kisa) and blankets so she can spit up in style.

Off to work for a nice light day then I had my appointment in the afternoon with Dr. Seiavitch. The cervix had made some progress from closed/25%/-1 to 1/50%/0...so cervix starting it's dilation and continuing it's softening and Brooklyn continues to descend a little lower which is why her little knobby knees and tiny feet protrusions keep lowering in my belly.

I feel her shoulders up against my right > left iliac wing. Her butt is in the upper right side of my abdomen and her feet/knees protrude on the upper left side of my abdomen. It took me a while to figure out that the rhythmic thumping that would occur in 5 minute spurts was probably her hiccoughs as opposed to her attempt at being "Million Dollar Baby" with routine, rhythmic punching of my bladder, intestines, colon, etc. I guess I'll chalk that up to it being the first time pregnancy as I probably felt those around 20 weeks or so but I just thought it was her movement...then in the ICU while sitting at the computer typing up yet another admit note, I would feel those what-I-thought-were punches. Thus, she earned the nickname "Thumper." However, in retrospect, after all the reading I did, those probably were just the hiccough fits so common in utero. It'll be cute to see if she continues with the hiccoughs ex utero.

Thankfully, given my 5'9"-5'10" height or the outward protrusion of my abdomen, I never had true rib kicking because she never made it up that high...however, I did get some liver and plenty of stomach kicks. Acid reflux and GERD have been the bane of this pregnancy and really my only complaints. I am so looking forward to getting rid of this GERD once she comes and my lower esophageal sphincter tone can reset itself after withdrawal of the pressure and progesterone influence.

Back to the appointment, as I've encountered Drs. Simmonds, Corey and Seiavitch almost equally, I love Dr. Seiavitch's humerous personality. At the appointment, Dr. S did mention that he didn't think i would make it to the 24th. Even though many primes go late, I don't think I've ever known a resident to go late (chalk it up to our constantly being on our feet and moving and thinking anything less than a 10-hr work day is an early day). I mentioned the possibility of induction at the due date (this is more for my comfort levels and the fact that I will still officially go back to work on January 4th but may go back one day on December 21st just to reset the "work" time frame with regard to time owed since I'm taking about a week of vacation and utilizing the departments generosity with holiday time to minimize my vacation time usage so my 5 days of vacation should translate to about 2 full weeks off....and people think that I don't "plan" my life down to the exact science). So, since he's on next Friday, we discussed coming in at midnight/1am on 10/23 for induction then proceeding from there so hopefully baby by mid-afternoon NEXT FRIDAY.

Holy sh*t, NEXT FRIDAY. That's like 10 days from now...um, yeah, our lives will be turned upside down and we'll be parents of the humankind. This just about took my breath away. So, when I got home tonight after lecture and our resident education meeting, Erik arrived home about 5 minutes after me. Once I told him of this news, I think a combination of excitement and sheer terror set in and we went into full-speed ahead mode...heck, at this rate, 10 days from now or 10 minutes from now, either way, it was a reality check. We finished our must-grab list such as all the things we (or Erik, in case something happens while I'm already here at work) need to grab on the way out the door (including cameras, toothbrushes, contacts, glasses, snacks, pillows, etc). Erik packed his hospital bag and then installed the car seat (of course the silver one that complements the interior decor of his car) into his Benz. Erik was a little frustrated that it wouldn't fit behind his seat so we have it behind the passenger seat but the passenger seat has to be moved forward a bit to accommodate the seat. We then installed the other base in my SUV. We took some time last night to just relax as the two of us.

I know we're hoping she doesn't arrive until next week. It would give us this weekend by ourselves to enjoy a few moments of peace, quiet and togetherness before we embark on this journey of parenthood together (that and I have my next manicure and pedicure scheduled on Friday...it's the little things, ya know). But, alas, we are ready to go should she decide that she wants to arrive a bit early.