The weekly report

This has been a week of many emotions, it started with surprise, moved to nervousness, then came disappointment and some embarrassment and guilt, moved on to frustration, and has ended with confusion and great expectations.

Early Sunday morning (we're talking 2am) I went over to the hospital to get checked out for some unusual spotting. I knew I had been having contractions most of the day, however they weren't painful and I hadn't paid too much attention to them. When I checked in they hooked me up to the monitor to watch the baby's heart rate and see my contractions. Sometime around 6am the doctor came in to check me out, and measured me 5cm dilated and 50% effaced. He also checked on the contractions I had been having throughout the night, and labeled me in labor. He told me to get ready because this baby was coming that very day. (That's where the surprise, and then nervousness first kicked in).

It was decided to set me up with 2 rounds of antibiotic, and then they would break my water around noon. We made the appropriate calls to friends and family, made arrangements for Lexi, and Katie (my mother-in-law) got a flight out to Austin. A few hours later they came back and noticed my contractions had slowed considerably. They also must have finally found my regular chart and realized I was only 35 weeks, and that they could and would not break my water. The doctor still held firm that I was more than likely going to have the baby that day on my own.

Throughout that day and night my contractions came and went, and I didn't progress past a 5, however I did make it to 80% effacement. After 36 hrs of the same stats, they decided to go ahead and send me home. I was disappointed, and also felt embarrassed and totally guilty that we had Katie fly all the way out here, and there was nothing to show for it.

I spent the week on my feet, walking a lot, and willing the contractions to come so that Katie's trip would not be in vain, alas she returned home this afternoon and little Brooklynn is still kicking around in my tummy. Odds are I'll go into labor tonight, right? I've had lots of contractions throughout the week, however they always go away sooner or later. That's been a little frustrating. I've looked at several websites and have been able to check off every sign that labor is imminent, however nothing substantial is happening with these contractions. And I'm finding myself rather confused about the whole situation, however we're excited and expecting this baby soon...perhaps.

We did have a fun week and are much better prepared for the baby's arrival, whenever that may be. Our freezer is stocked with yummy dinners, Lexi and I spent some quality time with Grammi, and we even have diapers ready for Brooklynn. I can't thank you enough Katie for coming and being helpful and supportive regardless of the situations!

I'll hit 37 weeks on Sunday so should those contractions never return, we'll discuss induction in just a few weeks. We'll keep you posted and will certainly be posting many pictures when the time arrives!