OK. I might, in fact, be pregnant!

I suppose I'm coming to the realization that this is indeed happening. I am in fact pregnant; and we will probably have a newborn in the house within the next week or so. Huh. I do feel a little more comfortable with the idea now that most of the to-do list is checked off. We just finished a weekend of uber-baby-set-up! I was intentionally waiting until Nate's birthday party, Easter, and Jason's surgery rotation had passed to really focus on baby-prep. We pulled out all the gear--washed the seat covers, scrubbed down the frames, set up the swings and the baby bouncers, positioned the co-sleeper (like a bassinet that pushes right up against your bed), created a diaper station, packed the hospital bags, assembled her diaper bag, picked out & washed her going-home outfit, etc. We left the guest bed in the nursery, since we're going to have company until the first week in May ("Hooray" for Moms, Dads, sisters and families!); so the crib is not set-up yet. In reality, it doesn't need to be since she'll be sleeping in the cosleeper in our room for the first few months. She now has everything she should need upon her arrival home (as far as I can remember). Now that her gear is in order and April is practically here (diamond birthstone, people!), she's free to enter this world at her leisure...minding she comes this week! ;)

I've been having Braxton-Hicks contractions since the start of the year. They've been much more regular since the beginning of this month. They are certainly increasing in frequency and duration this week, but not that much change in intensity. I actually got sick on Tuesday night. WARNING! Graphic details to follow: It was quite an experience, vomiting and having contractions at the same time!

I was not able to see Dr. Kuhl on Friday. My appointment was for 11:15. At 11:50, I was called into the back to start my vitals. While I was on the scale, Dr. Kuhl approaches us to say he has to go deliver a baby (he was on-call that day). I was a little more disappointed than I might have been because Jason was there to meet Dr. Kuhl. (He finished his big surgery test at 11:15 and showed up a few minutes later--luckily the clinic is 3 minutes from his school. He had the weekend off before he starts his pediatrics rotation tomorrow.) He has yet to meet him. After delivery, Dr. Kuhl was scheduled to go right into surgery. It would be another hour's wait to see one of the midwives; and, again, it was lunchtime and momma was hungry! Alas, I just rescheduled for today. That's when we found out Dr. Kuhl was on vacation this whole week. So, if I go into labor, he won't be there anyway. I give up.

I did have my 39-week appointment today. Like I said, Dr. Kuhl is on leave this week, so I saw one of the midwives in his office. She let Nate help with the whole appt--measuring my belly (40 cm), pouring the gel on my belly, holding the heartbeat Doppler and finding Baby's heart rate, cleaning me off, etc. He was quite proud of himself. Baby Girl is doing well inside my belly; but my cervix is still pretty high (which doesn't necessarily mean anything). I'll probably get my April baby!

So I've been having more and more "pregnancy moments" as this 9 (10) months draws to a close. Although with this pregnancy-induced insomnia waking me up at all hours of the night (giving me about 5 hours of sleep now per night), these moments of flightiness could be a result of "sleep deprivation." I showed up to a bowling alley birthday party 2 hours early--luckily I had the invitation with me so I could confirm the error of my ways. On a Monday, I brought a 50% off coupon to Michaels good for Sunday only (in BOLD print). I knew it was a one-day-only coupon; but in my head the coupon was for Monday. (Not bad by itself, but Nate was the one using the coupon to buy a Thomas bridge with his birthday money. He did not quite understand when I told him--at the check-out counter--we'd have to come back later. Jason ended up bringing the regular 40% off coupon and we threw in the extra money!) I also filled my tank with super premium the other day (instead of basic unleaded)--quite a costly mistake right now!

Then last night I had two pregnancy dreams. In the first dream, I was driving home with our brand-new, beautiful baby girl in her carseat. I was looking at her in the back of the car, happy and proud; but couldn't remember giving birth. I remembered nothing about the hospital stay. I even pulled up my shirt to see if I had a cesarean scar and had been under heavy sedation of some sort. There was no scar. This baby came out of my hoo-hoo, but I didn't remember any part of the process. Jason was nowhere to be found. I was quite distraught.

In the second dream, I brought the kids to Sea World one summer day. I put Baby Girl in the corner in her carrier so she could watch me and Nate play in the water. Nate told me he wanted to go down the waterslide, so we went. Then we remembered that the Shamu show started soon, so we went on to see the performance. Yes, forgetting all about Baby Girl in her carrier! I came back hours later and Baby was still where I'd left her, smiling. That reminds me of the "will I be a competent parent?" dreams I had while carrying Nate. In one dream, I lost him in the clothes racks at a store. I was panicking, but couldn't remember my own son's name. I was searching the store yelling, "Kid! Kid?! Where are you?!"