Trying to keep laughing

. . . so I don't start crying. Here are some of the hilarious things my OB Dr. has said over the course of this pregnancy. And of course they are always said with the straightest of faces!

1. "Oh, have you not heard? Now that Obama is president, you have to wait until 42 weeks gestation and 12 cm dilation before you can push."
2. I believe at my 38 week appointment, when my cervix was still too posterior to check: "Maybe we should take a pregnancy test. What if we're barking up the wrong tree?"
3. In response to my question on trying things to turn the baby from his breech position: "Have Dad sing to him, talk to him down there. And make sure you put out a bowl of M&M's, babies really seem to go for those."
4. As he pulls out the measuring tape for my fundal measurements: "And the new world record . . ."
5. When I entered my 3rd trimester: "Now it's the other one's turn to grow (alluding to twins).
   
6. During another posterior check: "I'm going up after him."
   

I know there have been many more randomly dry statements. I come home from every appointment with at least one to share. I'm sure his nurses grow weary of listening to the same jokes over and over again, but it has helped to make the waiting a little more enjoyable. Or at least a little less intense.

From the mouths of babes!

From the mouths of babes, He will ordain praise! I'm hoping that one way God will gain praise is by answering Ethan's frequently shared prayer requests.

On Sunday with his Super Church class:
"Pray for my mommy, cause she's ready to push the baby out!"

Last night at family prayer time:
"For baby to dig down into that hole so he can get out." (Disclaimer: he doesn't know what the hole is, but imagines it to be a tunnel out of Mommy's belly!)

And for an example of his perceptive little spirit, this is his family portrait from Super Church. He captures Daddy in a K-State ball cap; Elli with curly hair; and Mommy with her belly way out to there. Ethan was apparently away at school!

For those waiting with us!

Just in case you are checking in frequently hoping for pictures of a little chubby newborn . . . we are still waiting!

I went to the Dr. last Thursday for my 41 week 3 day/40 week appointment (depending on which due date you are tracking with). Grandma Vickie was in town and watched the kiddos so that Austin could come with me. I'm so glad he was there, as during our pre-appointment sonogram we found out our little guy is breech. Technically he is transverse, lying sideways in my uterus, and footling breech, with his two feet as the most presenting part to be delivered. Sure helps me understand why we haven't made much progress, there's nothing pushing down to help change happen.

And I'm so glad that I didn't do the castor oil. Had it started up labor, we would have ended with a c-section, as this baby isn't in position to meet the world, yet.

Please pray with us that he'll move head down!!! Baby scored 8/8 on his test, so he's healthy and Dr. is willing to wait for him to turn. I've gone to a chiropractor who does a technique (Webster technique) to help in turning the baby. And will probably go for several more adjustments next week.

So the marathon of pregnancy continues. Thanks for checking in. Next Thursday afternoon we go back in for another sonogram and appointment. I'm definitely in the days of perseverance building character.

Considering various options!

I'm still pregnant. Tomorrow is "my" due date. September 13th, which is long come and gone, was the due date my Dr. has been working off of. And when you're Dr. talks a certain date, 10 days later than another, it's hard not to let it change how you think and hope!

So I've been considering various options for bringing this little guy as soon as possible. Castor oil and the moving benefits it could bring has been one option I've thought about.

But instead, today I went and had a 30 minute foot massage concentrating mainly on the pressure points in my ankles. It was AMAZING!!! It relaxed my whole body, made my head tingle and put me to sleep. We'll see if it will bring labor on. I'm glad I made this choice. Much more enjoyable than hours running back and forth from the bathroom!

serious case of the sickies!

Our family seems to be under a thick cloud of "the sickies!"

Ethan has been running a fever of 101.5-102.5 since Friday. He's coughing an awful barky cough that makes it hard for anyone else in the family to sleep. He's also thrown-up at least once, daily!

Austin is either fighting a mean case of allergies or some kind of nasty cold/sinus infection. Daily wake up times of 3:30 a.m. with Ethan without being able to return to sleep hasn't seem to help him kick it.

Jenni is sick of being pregnant!!! My muscles are starting to complain with all the stretching and added work. I'm ready to get this show on the road.

Elli is sick of everyone else being sick and not having the energy to keep up with her!!!

I'd appreciate your prayers for our family!!! For full recovery and a our baby's soon and safe arrival!!!

Mom's Day Out

Today was Elli's first day at Mom's Day Out. If you've followed our journey for very long you'll remember that this has been a long-time dream for Mommy and I think we've lived it up enough over the past months, that Elli was excited too! I'm really excited about the little place she's going; once a week, from 9:30-1:30. The Word is integrated throughout the time and she gets some fun playtime with kids her age. She eats lunch at "school" and then comes home ready for a nap! :)

When she's willing to pose, she doesn't hold back!


Ethan didn't have school today, so it was fun to have him join in the celebration,
just like we had on his first day!

Proud of her lunch bag filled with all her favorite goodies!

In the van ride home, Elli told us stories of her day; all about her 2 teachers; the boys and girls in her class; and songs she had learned. A GREAT first day!

Signs you're ready to have a baby!

1. You've developed a natural shelf for your ice cream bowl and use it without shame and quite often!

2. Your toddler sits on her "birth ball" to do mommy jobs around the house.

It seems ALL of us are ready, except for baby!