Well, we thought we were going in for a C-section tomorrow, 5/23/06 at 9:30 AM.  However, we have moved on to "Plan B".  We had our 4th ultrasound today, and I no longer have Placenta Previa - in fact, that placenta has moved out of the way enough to be considered "normal" and will allow me to have a natural birth.  What timing!

This is certainly an answer to prayer; it's what I've longed for in the depths of my heart this whole time, too, and God knows it.  He has answered my prayer with a big fat YES!!!  There is certainly power in prayer - so thank you for all keeping us in yours! 

So now the waiting game begins.  I will see Dr. Lacoste on Wed. 5/24 at 11:45 AM.  Our next steps are to return to work tomorrow, 5/23 (and field about 2 zillion questions from everyone) because I don't have enough paid time off & I don't want to sit around doing nothing - that in itself would drive me nuts.  My acutal due date isn't until 5/26, so I imagine Dr. L won't let me go much past 1 week past that.  Plus, I technically could go into labor at any time (Tim thinks I will  go tonight - I don't know if he's joking or not?!)

I'll keep everyone posted on anything that happens, and as often as I can.

Thanks again for continuing to ride this roller coaster with us --- it certainly has been a WILD RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beth & Co.

JUST ONE WEEK UNTIL WE MEET OUR PRECIOUS BABY!!!!!!!!!!

I am still finding it hard to believe that I have such a short amount of time until my world is turned completely upside down.  I cannot wait!  What a journey this has been, I am waiting in eager anticipation of how it "ends".....although I know it is only the beginning.  God has been so gracious to us in giving us this child - what an amazing and precious gift.

I really can't complain these days - other than terrible heartburn pretty much all day long, and occasional sleeplessness & feeling exhausted, I really am still feeling pretty great.  Baby is moving quite a bit, despite not having much room to move in, and I am enjoying every minute of it.  I know that at this time next week, I will no longer feel those movements inside of me!  I will admit there is a teeny party of me that will miss that - but not enough to wish it to last longer! 

Thank you for continuing your prayers, support & love for us -

Beth, Tim and Baby S                                                                 

Okay, so my last entry was "I think we're ready..." (notice the hesitation and pause!).  Things have changed in the last few days.  We're ready.  Definitely ready for this Baby to make his or her appearance!  I love being pregnant, but I'm ready to be a Mom! 

I'm ready to be able to sleep on my back or tummy and not feel guilty or uncomfortable; I'm ready for my clothes to fit better and not have to wear the same 3 outfits in a "mix-n-match" style.  I'm ready for sweet Baby smells and soft coos, and ready for an occupant to take over the bedroom next to us.  I'm ready to meet the arms, hands, feet, legs, and knees that have recently been hammering my insides from my ribcage down to my cervix!  I'm ready to be able to wear shoes other than flip flops or tennis shoes and for my feet and ankles not to puff up like marshmallows.  I'm ready to kiss backaches and heartburn goodbye; I'm ready to do the same with stretchmarks!  I am certainly ready to be done with people I don't know very well asking to touch my belly, and then touching my belly, and also giving me opinions on how "big" or "small" I am;  I am READY!!!!!!!! 

We had a weekly appt yesterday; everything is right on track.  We are still scheduled for a C-Section May 23, 2006 at 9:30 AM.  Pray that we don't get bumped from the O.R. by emergencies - apparently this can happen all day long.  Dr. Lacoste informed us that Tuesdays are her normal day off, and that she is coming in for us specially, but "has to be able to pick her kids up from school by 3:30 PM that day" - she was laughing when she told us this, but I think she was being serious too! 

My last day of work is May 19.  Tim and I will both have May 22 off together - a day to spend relaxing and enjoying our last hours of "coupledom"!  We will go out for a "Last Supper" together and everything.  We even get to have a fourth and final ultrasound on that day!  Chances of the placenta having moved are very very slim, per Dr. Lacoste, but they want to check it out one more time, just to be safe. 

We are anxiously awaiting May 23....it's only 12 days away, yet sometimes it feels like FOREVER!  I'm glad we have a few things planned to do every day; it makes the time go faster. 

Okay, next appt (and LAST appt!!!!!) is May 17.  Then it's on to Delivery Day~ 

we'll keep you posted if anything comes up before then.....

LOVE TO YOU ALL! 

I think we're ready.....

We went to Target and Babies R Us this past weekend to get the things left on our registries.  We got everything we needed, except a few things we forgot - like little baby hangers and a new changing table pad.  But those are minor details in the long run! 

If Baby S made his or her entrance today (though we would rather not have to have an emergency c-section, May 23 works for us, thanks!) we'd be more or less physically ready. 

We have hospital bags packed (Tim still has to pack his, but that's easy!), we have the carseat de-tagged and ready to put into the car.  We have a relatively organized nursery, that is now cleaned thanks to my early-morning overwhelming desire to vacuum!  We have diapers, clean clothes, bottles, and burp cloths - I guess we just need a Baby! 

Yesterday we took a hospital tour of L & D and the Birthing Unit.  Wow, that makes it a whole lot more real too!  I think it was good for Tim to be able to visualize not only the drive and where to park, but the other essentials to "being in charge" the day of delivery!  I know he's nervous and I don't blame him; if I were in his shoes, I'd be very protective of my wife and soon-to-be newborn child!  But I know he's going to be great, he's going to be a fantastic Dad!  I know too that he will be a wonderful and amazing support to not only me, but also the rest of our families!  (those nervous Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles & Friends!)  I love my husband so much, and I truly cannot wait to make him father.  What an absolutely amazing gift. 

I have an appointment with Dr. Lacoste on Wednesday this week - I'll be asking a few more questions, but from there on out, I guess we'll more or less just "wing it".  I find it easier for me not to have too many expectations, that way we're much less likely to feel out-of-control and/or disappointed in any way.

I simply cannot wait to meet this Little Life!