Update

So, I'm 37.5 weeks pregnant. Last Wednesday, April Fool's Day, I started contracting every 5-6 minutes or so...and rather uncomfortably (I had been able to deal with them up til then), so I called into work and came up to Peoria to see my mom in the office.

She put me on the monitor for a few hours (cuz I had nothing else to do and no where else to go) and sure enough, I was every 6 minutes...just pumping these contractions out like a pro. So, she checked me. I was 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced...a change of 1cm, 50% efface 4 days earlier. Wow - looks like I might be headed into LABOR!

So, she pulled me from work (I had 5, 12hr shifts left) and put me on "Pekin arrest" - basically, I was to live with them until Miss Emerson Jo arrived. Now, mind you, this was the original plan...only, beginning the 12th, because our induction date was set for the 18th (and still is).

I received a dose of beatmathazone to help Emerson's lungs mature a little quicker - just incase I delivered before 37 weeks. But once we reached the 4th, we knew we were safe. Not to mention, I had been contracting since about week 25 with your typical Braxton Hick's contractions, so her lungs were probably more than fine from the get-go.

I had planned on coming up to my parents for a few days anyways that week as I was to take my state boards on the 3rd. Well...we waited until late, late Wednesday night to decide that these contractions really meant something, and that I should probably unschedule...something I couldn't do past 8am on Thursday morning...so I did. I have yet to actually reschedule the date.

So...Mom did her best to get me either into labor, or to fizzle the contractions out on Wednesday - she dragged my pregnant butt all over the mall...and made it worth my while (and Emerson's too!). But after a couple of hours, we headed back to the house because HER feet hurt.

Dad was excited, but convinced this was all an April Fool's joke. Not. Then his concern fell for Matt - who was still in Champaign!!

I hadn't packed my bag. Which, at 36 weeks, should have been done, but in my defense, seeing as I was being induced at 39 weeks, and coming up to Pekin at 38 weeks, I thought I had plenty of time. I wanted to pack 1 big bag for the entire trip, then, once in Pekin, repack the bag or a different bag for the hospital. Made sense to me! But, not to my husband, who simply told me "told ya so" when I called and told him that I was now on "Pekin arrest" and would not be returning to Champaign...and only had enough clothes for the 2 days I had planned on being there! Luckily, I made those clothes last and Matt was able to make it up on Saturday to bring me everything else - or most other things. After he left on Sunday, I realized, the clothes I had him bring...were for AFTER the baby was born. God, I'm dumb.

So, I've been contracting up a storm for the last week. I'm not sleeping at night, almost not at all, as this seems to be when they get really bad. They're finally moving south (I feel them really bad in my hips and butt) - which is a good sign of impending labor. I went up with mom to the hospital last night (can't be left alone, either!) for one of her deliveries. When we got there, I started contracting really close together and she checked me and through me on the monitor for a bit while she checked on her patient. I was impressing the nurses with the fact that I was contracting every 3-4 minutes and had progressed to "a good 3cm, still 80%" and my cervix was no longer posterior and Emerson's head was way low and my membranes buldged with every contraction. My mom is now convinced that it is HIGHLY unlikely that I will even make it past this weekend.

I was lucky enough to spend Monday and Tuesday with dad...he was off. You can tell he's anxious and excited. Constantly asking me how I'm doing and everything. On Thursday and Friday of last week, while I was home and he was at work, he would call or text me on an hourly basis to make sure I was doing ok. Then, he tells me Friday, "You know, this would be a great weekend to have a baby." I replied "oh yea? Why's that?" And his response? "Cuz I'm off Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues!!" Thanks, Dad - I'll get right on that!

So...still hanging in there. Wishing she would come. But I think our friend Megan said it best - "You can tell she's a Pontifex/Goff already - doing things her own way!" And yes. She certainly is!