Crawling

Time is literally crawling. A very slow and tired sort of crawl.

We are crawling to the finish line here. We are tired. We are nervous. We are running out of time to prepare, but just barely mustering up the energy to do so. I'm only 37 weeks along, but I feel like I've been pregnant for at least a billion weeks. I'm sure all pregnant people feel this way. There is always fear, concern, exhaustion, excitement- the works. But boy, this sure has been a LONG 17 weeks, and a REALLY LONG 10 days since we've picked a date to deliver Ms. Nora.

I realize I'm cheating. I'm getting out of the last three weeks of pregnancy, the very three weeks every woman I've ever met describes as miserable. You gain lots of weight, you ache a lot, and it's possible you never sleep. Also, that's when most people get those fancy stretch marks. I'm so pumped to say goodbye to pregnancy. I'm not one of those that love it. It inhibits me from doing some of the things I love most- and no, I don't mean drinking wine. I miss running and hot yoga and skiing and goodness gracious I could really use some sushi right now! I'm not even a little bit sad to say goodbye to an itching belly, ever-widening hips, kicks in my ribs, hormonal mood swings, acne, sleeping with a billion pillows, and my sister telling me about my chubbier-than-ever cheeks. And I haven't even had those final three weeks that all women loathe. So, it's possible my unending desire for this pregnancy to be over as soon as possible is sort of annoying to all those women out there that endured for 40, 41 and 42 weeks. Sorry, not sorry.  I need to be done immediately.  The truth is, there are only so many times you can get scary information, hear the word stillbirth or hold your breath for a heartbeat before time just starts slowing down. Time flies when you're having fun- not when you're waiting. But the waiting is nearly done now!

At our final doctor appointment (thank goodness!) that doctor said, "WOW. I cannot believe that you are at 36 weeks and 6 days. That's incredible. You've made it! Isn't that just wonderful!?" 

Turns out she was worried, too? I'm glad this particular doctor didn't share that worry with me until Tuesday- we had enough other doctors letting us know that. 

So, we've made it!

Every single week has been a celebration for me. Even before "all the things" I was fearful. Each week has given me a little more trust and a little less worry. Every day that this little one has squirmed around has gotten me one step closer to today! And it has been such a blessing to make it here!

I'm grateful for each and every one of you that has celebrated with me. Even the students and staff at school celebrated with me, sometimes unknowingly. A dear friend, and fellow teacher at school has sent me a little note congratulating me on a new week every Wednesday since we received our diagnosis. Each one contains a little note of congratulations, and each one was delivered by a cute little first grade student, at first terrified to enter the big kids classroom, now a new friend that never leaves without a few hugs from those big kids.  It's been so wonderful to have everyone rooting for us!

Thanks, Melissa!

As we close this chapter...No, let's call it a book. Book I, if you will. There were far too many dramatic twists and turns to call it simply a chapter. As we close this book and move on to the next let's not stop cheering, praying, hoping, dancing, drinking, whatever strikes your fancy. This little lady has made it so far, but we aren't there yet. 

We finished Book I with a happy ending. We did so many of the things we set out to do. We created a nursery, we celebrated Christmas, we rang in the New Year, we ate lots of Walrus Ice Cream, and I certainly had my fair share of popcorn. We enjoyed time with so many family members and friends, we ran races, we played in the snow and enjoyed life so very much. See! Look:

Graduation! (34 Weeks!)

Ugly Sweat Christmas Parties (34 Weeks!)

Playing Mystery Baby Food games with, Kev (I won, by the way!)

Visiting many friends!!

We've been to the doctor a bajillion times and hooked up to this machine over and over again. 

Celebrating my coat still zipping at 37 weeks! (I won this bet, too!)

Ringing in the New Year!

Running the Pumpkin Pie 5K- eating pie! (30 weeks!)

Fort Collins Turkey Trot (32 weeks!)

Feeling a little large (30 Weeks- this is nothing compared to now!)

Snowshoeing with the pups! (33 weeks?)

Now, we are off and away to find out what Book II has in store. We are going to enjoy the day together, eat some yummy food, enjoy a good movie, and then check in to Children's Hospital (with a fancy pants delivery center might I add!) to get the show on the road. 

The goal is to deliver this little lady by daylight tomorrow (January 2). They think the lung surgery can wait for now, and the heart surgery will be a few days after delivery. We aren't holding our breath on anything, but we are hoping and praying for the very best! Help us out? 

So many people have asked us how we will communicate all the happenings, when they can come down and visit, and how they can help. Despite my need to plan all the things in my life pretty extensively- I've not planned any of this. 

I have no idea how to plan for this one. We are just going to go with the flow. So, we've grabbed our cameras, packed our bags, and will just take it as it comes!

A good place to get information will be right here on this blog- we'll post her arrival and all the things to come. But, we don't know when or how visitation will look just yet, and we don't know how quickly we'll be able to let everyone know what's happening. We don't know how long she'll be in the hospital, or how we'll manage all of the time there. Likely with help from all of you! :)

We do know this: no parties in the waiting room, folks. I can't thank you all enough for wanting to come and join us as we learn all the things there are to learn about Ms. Nora in life, rather than utero, but visitation is slightly limited and there are too many variables right now. So, cheer for us from afar and we'll let you know when visitors can come. There are only 4 people allowed per patient at a time, except in the NICU (and possibly the CICU as well?) there are only 3 people allowed at a time. This includes Kevin and I. Also, no children under the age of 13 are allowed in the room with any patients. Though I do think that children can come to the waiting rooms, they just can't enter the patient rooms. Also, I think all visitors may have a health screen of sorts before they are allowed to enter the rooms at all. 

We will do our very best to keep you all posted. After all, it's thanks to all of you that we've made it this far- we'll for sure need your prayers and support in the weeks to come!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Here we are, ready to go and feeling like this:

And also a little like this...

Wish us luck! :)