Still Waiting

Yep! That's right! It's been a week now since we first moved to the birth city and we're still waiting. We went to the doctor yesterday and Ella and I are healthy. The doctor said that she's never seen anyone have so many contractions that aren't doing anything. Anyway, we thought you might want to play the When Will Ella Arrive Guessing Game along with us and our doctor. We have decided that one of the most impossible things in the world is to accurately say when a baby will come but we will share with you the things we know to help you with your guesses...

1. According to the Mayo Clinic Guide to Pregnancy Ella's due date is July 10th.
2. According to the doctor Ella's due date is July 9th.
3. According to Ella's 12-week sonogram her due date is July 12th.
4. I am 1.5 cm dilated (and have been for a week) and my cervix is beginning to soften.
5. I have been having false labor contractions on a daily basis for a week.
6. Ella "dropped" three weeks ago.
7. Three weeks ago the doctor said she had a "feeling" Ella would arrive on June 30th.
8. Last Wednesday the doctor said she expected Ella to come within 48 hours.
9. Last Friday the doctor said she expected Ella to come within the week.
10. Yesterday the doctor was mysteriously silent on when Ella would arrive. Instead she said that we should enjoy all the good Western food in this city.

So let us know your guess!

Waiting in Birth City

It has been a roller coaster week for us! It started on Wednesday when A began having contractions every ten minutes and thought Elizabeth might be on her way. We called the doctor and she told us to move up our next appointment and come to the hospital. Within a few hours we were able to quickly pack up a few days worth of clothes and were on a train. When we arrived the doctor thought that within 24-48 hours A would be in full labor. Elizabeth is now full-term and the doctor said it would be safe for her to come early. For the last two days A has continued to have contractions (12 hours yesterday, five hours today), but today when we went in to see the doctor again she said that it is definitely false labor contractions. The doctor still feels that labor is imminent, but is less sure exactly when that will be. Right now she feels like it would be unwise for A to go back home.

These last few days of waiting and contractions have been both physically and emotionally tiring. Since the due date is still weeks away we would love to be able to go back home and feel a bit overwhelmed at the possibility of a longer stay than we were originally anticipating in this city. Waiting for a child to be born always requires patience but it does seem much harder since we are away from the comforts of home and living out of a suitcase. Tonight some friends had been planning a baby shower for us and missing this while we sit here and twiddle our thumbs is rough.

Please ask with us that at this point she would either come quickly or that we would have peace about returning home for a bit longer. Right now we definitely need an extra portion of peace, wisdom and patience! Our current plan to wait in this city until she is born but L will go back home tomorrow morning to pack a few more things for us and will then return tomorrow night.

-L and A

Baby Belly @ 8 Months

At this point I'm in serious countdown mode (5 weeks to go!) although I'm trying to remember that there is no guarantee Ella will arrive around her due date. Today I had a doctor's appointment so I left on a train at 8 this morning and returned home at 8 tonight. It's been a long day, and I'm pretty tired but mainly I'm just thankful that things went smoothly on my first little trip without L (he had to work...he's been in the lab lately working to finish up some experiments before she arrives). The doctor says that Ella has grown in the last month and has already dropped into position. I was pretty sure that she had though because last Friday when I woke up I realized that I could actually breathe again! My next appointment is on Thursday, June 19th.

~A

Today's Baby Shower

Today our fellowship gave us a baby shower. We met in a hotel banquet room and the shower was in the karaoke hall next door. When we first walked in there was a group filming some tango dancers, but after they left the ladies hosting the shower quickly decorated for the shower.Here's all the food! And, yes! Men were invited to this shower. I was extremely proud of L for entering this new territory!

The shower was for three couples since we are all due within two weeks of each other. Ella will have so many new friends in the nursery because by the end of this year our fellowship will have seven new babies! Three babies have already been born and there is another woman who is due in November. It has been so much fun for me to have so many other pregnant women/new mothers to compare notes with. In the picture above you can see the three dads playing a game where they had to race to diaper a "baby" (balloon). L won the game so he got the #1 Dad award.Here's the moms playing a game where we had to race to diaper a baby doll, pack a diaper bag, and answer the phone. I won!Opening presents! Ella is one blessed and loved little girl!

Shower in Dallas

When we were home in February some family friends hosted a baby shower for me and I realized that I had never posted pictures from it. We had found out on Thursday evening that we were having a girl and by Saturday these ladies were able to pull everything together so that we could celebrate with lots of pink! It was so much fun for me (and incredibly impressive that they had been able to do it all so quickly)! I especially loved getting all of the little shoes. This is going to be one stylish little girl. But, most of all it was just special to celebrate with so many friends and family members from home. It is always hardest for us to live so far away when we miss out on family celebrations so being able to have a shower with people who in some cases have known me since I was a baby has made this pregnancy so much easier.

~A