waiting is the hardest part

Apologies for the time between posts...there's no really good excuse except we've not had too much news in these parts. I wish I could tell you that we've been all wrapped up in our new little bundle of boy...but here we are no babe in our arms yet. Am I a tad depressed about the situation...perhaps depressed is too strong, disappointed is better...so yes, a tad disappointed right about now. Here's why:

Not that I believed it was all pinpoint accuracy, but they give you a due date when you find out you're pregnant. I've actually been given two due dates...at a 7-week ultrasound they told me January 10th and then at the subsequent ultrasounds they all said January 6th. So I'm either 9 days overdue or 5 days overdue depending on who you want to go by. Either way, I have spent nearly 10 months with this "finish line" floating like a little carrot in my mind. Not that I expected Peter to arrive punctually on the day...but I guess I expected SOMETHING to happen. A twinge, a sign, one of the (rather icky descriptive) signs...water breaking, mucus plug, bloody show, contractions. We really should come up with different set of names for these because, ew. Anyway, nothing happened. Both days came and went as if it were just any other day. Talk about anti-climactic. 10 months people...that's a long time.

We also missed shared birthdays (grandpa is 1/3, cousin Jacob is 1/15) and cool birthdates (01/01/10, 01/10/10, 01/11/10). And, okay, that was a little disappointing too.

Now here we are on the 15th. I've tried a lot of things...taken a lot of long walks...eaten spicy food...watched suspenseful action movies...drank a lot of raspberry leaf tea...had two acupuncture sessions...and other tricks and tips that people have suggested. We're closing in on the day when my midwife will send me away with a 4oz bottle of caster oil to chug with results following anywhere from 2-12 hours...and there's the membrane separation (another all-too-descriptively named procedure), additional ultrasounds and probably some other things that we haven't needed to broach as yet.

The prayer that I have, and that I would ask you to join me in, is that Peter would decide to come between now and the 20th. The 20th is the 2-week past due point for the January 6th due date and the day which will make me pretty nervous. I've been looking forward to being able to deliver in the warm, inviting environment of our awesome birth center, under the loving care of our beloved midwives. When we pass the 20th there is only a short window of opportunity before I would be considered too far overdue and therefore no longer low risk...that means my care would be transferred to an OB that I don't know and I will be stuck in a sterile and cold hospital (yes, I know they are far homier than in the past, but they are no birth center) with the real possibility of the "cascade of interventions" leading to the much dreaded c-section. I've never had a surgery in my life...I really would rather not have our birth experience be my introduction.

Anyway, I would appreciate all of the prayers that we are able to get. Thank you, in advance, for adding to the storming of heaven. If you like, it would be nice to ask Sts. Peter, Augustine, Francis Xavier Cabrini, Margaret, Michael and our own little Mary Grace for their intercession.

God bless each of you.

xoxo