I’m not quite back in action yet, so blogging for now will probably be sporadic (at best) and completely non-existent (at worst).

(I should be sleeping now, but don’t tell Mark, heh, heh.) I did want to let you know that we do now have a middle name after MANY MANY hours of painful middle name searching….and if you don’t like it, don’t tell me, because it’s too late to change it. Besides, I really like it (Obviously, I lost the first name vote, so give me a little bit of joy, would you?).

His full name is now officially……(drums….)

Luke Abraham Dishman.

We are all doing well here. I can post more details later, but Daddy Darth is monitoring my activities. Thanks to everyone for your kind comments. And thanks to brother David for posting those pictures. Over and out for now!

Holding Luke.

Kissing Luke.

Admiring Luke.

Watching Darth Markie Hold Luke.

That’s pretty much it.

Oh, I guess she’s also been “giving birth” to Luke!

I skipped my weekly post on Wednesday because I was just too derned depressed about my doctor visit. I’m not so upset because the baby is not out yet, it’s more that (at least in my mind) the “progress” should match up with the pain and “progress” is just not happening here. I’m beginning to think my body is broken. Like, maybe I’ve flipped one too many switches too many times or perhaps a spring or two has sprung. I’m in the market for a new and improved body, but there is still something left in this one that I need to get out (i.e., this baby). Then again, maybe it’s something like the time-lock safe that every Taco Bell drive-thru window sticker boasts about…

OK, now I’m really starting to scare myself.

Countdown = 10 days

I’m still here and still rotund….

My Sunday afternoon adventure was quite an adventure indeed! All morning long at church, I was feeling really awful. I guess I sorta knew *something* was up. Anyway, by 1pm, I started timing contractions and within an hour, they were every 5 minutes, sometimes lasting 3 or 4 minutes at a time. I really thought my time had come!

We made the decision to go to the hospital to get things checked out. The first nurse did the “checking” while the second asked me all the questions ever asked of a pregnant woman. Like, “Do you smoke?” or “Do you want an epidural?” or “Visa or Mastercard?” Once hooked up to the monitor in the hospital, the contractions were almost on top of each other and the epidural option was starting to look really good to me. Mark amused himself with the Nascar race on TV (at my insistence), while I tried to distract myself from the pain with the sounds of race cars. I was on the monitor for about 3 hours and then the nurse checked me again. No change. None. All that pain for nothing.

The nurse called my doctor with her findings and he sent me home, but not before I got a shot of Terbutaline with instructions to take the oral terb pills continuously until my appointment this Wednesday and to drink 12 to 14 glasses of water per day (dehydration might have played a part in the false labor). Mark was trying his best to drive home, I know, but the car ride was definitely the worst, bumpiest, most painful car ride I have ever endured!!

The contractions finally decreased about 930pm or so and I was able to go to sleep by 11 or so, but not before the Bird of Affliction, who lives across the street (more about this in another post), serenaded us in a rousing tweeting chorus.

Anyway, I haven’t had any contractions whatsoever today, so I think I’m good. Floating from all that water, but doing well. (Did you know that 12 to 14 glasses of water in one day feels almost lethal?!) Since I had no progression of any kind, they called it “false” labor-though, let me tell you it felt painfully real to me!

There is definitely one bright spot in all this. On Saturday, I hadn’t felt a lot of movement from The Boy, so I was a little worried. Mark and I prayed about it and asked for some reassurance of the baby’s health. Well, my time spent in the hospital Sunday was definitely reassuring. One of the monitors measured his heartbeat and it was beating away and I was really feeling his movements more than ever! The nurses even commented that whatever was going on with me, the baby was completely fine. That was a blessing to have confirmation of this little life that exists.

Many of you may know that my two previous labors ended quite quickly. After the water broke (both times naturally), each baby came within about 2 hours. After hearing my history, the nurse who discharged me asked, “How far away do you live?” I told her about 20 minutes. That’s when she turned to Mark and said, “Do you drive fast?!”

Thanks again for all the prayers said on my behalf. If you’re looking for a specific prayer request, please pray for complete clarity and discernment in knowing what is the “real” situation. Thanks!

So that’s my tale of the Sunday adventure that almost was the end of pregnancy. Well, stick around, friends. I have a feeling it’s not over yet!

Wednesday, I had my weekly appointment with the doctor. He has declared to me that my situation has not changed (Read anything you want to into that). He has also decided that since the baby is in the 97th percentile for size, he has scheduled an induction for May 17th. So one way or another, I will have this baby within 2 1/2 weeks.

I have had lots of contractions, but obviously none which have done much to help my case. At 36.5 weeks now, I’m not eager to kick the baby out just yet (only for my comfort, of course). I think he still needs a little time to “cook”. Things seem to be progressing forward (at least time is if nothing else), so that is a positive.

On to the second thing…..(you’re probably reading these backwards. Ah, well.)

Anyway, I made it past both previous pregnancy delivery dates, as far as length of pregnancies go, so now I guess it’s just a waiting game. A boring waiting game. If born now, I think he would still be considered (at least) slightly premature (at almost 36 weeks). I’m really not “into” having to deal with the NICU again (though they are nice people).

So here I am, just sitting on my nest and waiting for the party to begin. In the meantime, if I can think of something witty or even of marginal status to post, I will post it, but I don’t think you should be holding your breath for that!

In other news, this week is shaping up to be a busy week. (And by “busy”, I mean, “not as boring as all the previous weeks”) Tomorrow is my Mom’s birthday, and Susanna’s is on Thursday. And, of course, sometime in there, the Baby Brother could make his appearance, but it could also be next week or the week after that. Oh, that my life schedule did not revolve around someone so small that I have not yet met!

I know, soon enough….. And someday you will click here and there will be something fun and exciting to read! Let’s hope so!

A. I’m dilated to 2, but this is apparently common for third babies.
B. I’m currently at 35 weeks exactly.
C. If I make it to Saturday, I will have been pregnant with this baby the longest of the three.

So far, I have avoided the whole bedrest rigamarole (yeah!). The doc even said this morning that if I were to go into labor at this point, he would only take minor steps to stop it. If I make it to next Wednesday (36 weeks), he would do nothing to stop it. So now I’m on to thinking of the actual birth experience. In one way, I know what to expect, so I’m looking forward to meeting this little person who has been pulverizing my innards for the last few months. On the other hand, I know what to expect, and I’m having mental images of pain and suffering. It is then that I am reminded of Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” So I think that will be my theme verse for the next few weeks and hopefully will prompt me to action.

Thanks to all of you who are praying for me and the “cooperation of my body”! (and thanks also to those who have graciously been my “suppliers” or who have offered to be–you know who you are!) So while I’m still trying to avoid another preemie/NICU experience, it looks like it won’t be long now, while at the same time, it feels like this is taking forever!

I awakened early this morning to the lively chatter of children (mine, luckily) in the hallway, as usual, but the “feeling”, if you will, in my lower back brought to mind a few too many memories. Ah, yes, contractions! They started out low and in the back, but not hard at all, more like twinges, really. Within an hour of timing them, some had moved around to my sides, but were still not very strong. I tried many different techniques to stop them, i.e., changing positions, drinking a full glass of water, stuff like that, but they were still uncomfortable. Of course, I called the doctor and left a message with his nurse, Wendy (who is one of the nicest and calmest people on the earth), who as it turns out, was extremely busy, but trying her best to get back with me. After another fifteen minutes, I decided to call the OB nurse, who said, “I’m with a patient right now, but can I call you back in 15 minutes?”
Me: Well, I’m having contractions.
OB Nurse (voice a noticeable notch higher): OOOOHHHH! You’re having contractions?!!!
Me: And I’m only 32 weeks pregnant.
OB Nurse (voice definitely rising in pitch): OOOHHHH! You’re ONLY 32 WEEKS??!!
Me: And I have a history of preterm labor.
OB Nurse (voice now NOT calm, a definitely higher pitch): OOO! Hold on! I’m going to transfer your call to Wendy’s desk and I will go get her!!!!
Me (calm, and almost laughing): Ok.
Seconds later…
OB Nurse (winded): Wendy…will…be with you…in just a second!
Another nurse (picking up Wendy’s phone and saying very calmly): Hey, Angie, this is Cathy, how about if you just come on in?!

Turns out, Wendy was about to dial my number to return my phone calls when she was called into a patient room to do some blood work for a patient. Anyway, Wendy is my favorite nurse at my OB’s office, because she has ALWAYS shown herself to be calm and professional, and at the same time, very caring and interested in my condition, personable and someone I would want on my side if something dreadful were to happen. She’s, you know, a really good nurse. I don’t know the OB Nurse very well. I think she must be new, because the OB Nurse I saw in the beginning of this pregnancy was a gal named Megan and this girl is not Megan. She seemed a little flustered when I revealed to her the nature of my call. Honestly, I was envisioning a Keystone Cop-type of routine going on, with nurses running into each other and knocking each other down. And all I had to do was say the magic sentence: “I’m having contractions!” It really cracked me up! Seriously, I chuckled about it most of the way to the office.

Mark, of course, did NOT think it was all that funny. When things get stressful, he goes into “plan, check, do, act” mode and doesn’t mess around, which is fine. He’s a rock. It’s just another difference in our personalities.

In the end, the doctor has decided that since the contractions did not intensify and I had not dilated since last week, he sent me home (not for bedrest yet!! yay!!) with a prescription for contraction-stopping meds and told me to take it easy. I’m sure Mark will help to remind me of what that means, if I seem to be forgetting.

So that’s the excitement here for today. I’ve been wanting to post some of the things the girls have been saying, but I just haven’t yet. I’ll get to that soon!

One thing I must add on here: FIFTY BA-JILLION THANK YOUS and a GREAT BIG PAT ON THE BACK go to Mark Peck , who, in God’s Providence, was working from home today and graciously offered to watch the girls while Mark and I went to the doctor’s office. We love you, man!

As you may or may not know yet, I have been placed on husband-manadated bedrest (much like prison) until Wednesday morning, when I have my next doctors appointment/ultrasound. I’m sure the husband is only being this cautious (read: horribly suffocating) because of my previous history with pregnancies. But it is driving me absolutely nutso.

Here is the set-up:
I have my trusty laptop (with which to continue the ever-enchanting Quicken battle, and of course, ==cue trumpets== TAXES!! Lucky me.) and 2 or 3 baby name books to keep me company (yes, we are still in deliberations). The only plus side is that he is doing all the laundry. And putting it away (which is the “plus side” part). Now, I know some of you might be thinking, ‘Hey, bedrest! Even husband-mandated bedrest would be great! How relaxing!’ Think again, mateys! I will have to post something more later on the Perks and Perils of Bedrest, but for now, you can believe that I am not thrilled. Suffice to say…He won’t even let me have chocolate.

Cry for me. Sound the trumpets. Write your congressman (should that be “congressperson”?). More later….I will certainly be here.