False Alarm-Praise the Lord

**The above picture has nothing to do with this post, I just think its cute and that is her silly face.

Nothing like a little excitement on a Thursday night, right? This past Thursday was great. Ruthie and I had a great day at home, nothing exciting, just playing and enjoying the beautiful weather. Joel got home and we had so much fun playing, etc. It was a great night. We put Ruthie to bed, and about 7:30pm, they started.

They being real contractions...the kind that hurt.

And they continued, every 3-4 minutes for the next 2 hours. At this point, we kind of went into freak out mode. I was exactly 36 weeks on Thursday and that was too soon for us (like we have any say in it :-). I refused to say we needed to go because that made it real and I'm pretty sure Joel felt the same way.

I called the doctor and we headed to the hospital. The doctor (which is the one I really like) said they'd give me fluids and in an hour or so if it is false labor, they will usually subside and not be regular. Fast forward and hour and the contractions instead of disorganizing, became completely organized and like clockwork and I also had dilated to 3cm.

At that point, they made the decision to admit us and start the antibiotics for group b strep. We pretty much believed at that point this was it and she was coming (she also told me I could get the epidural the next time they checked me). I made it very clear to everyone who came in our room that we were not wanting her to come now and didn't want her to be early (again, because I really had a say in it ;-).

The contractions were painful but I had a few minute break in between them and that made a huge difference. I felt normal in between them (which was not how it was with Ruthie). About 5:30am, I closed my eyes after a contraction and didn't wake up for an hour. Praise the Lord, the contractions stopped. Well, they didn't stop, but they stopped hurting and I could sleep.

The doctor came in around 8:00am and I hadn't dilated anymore and since the contractions subsided we got to go home. I can't tell you how excited and thankful we were. Multiple people kept saying to me how strange it was I wanted to go home and most people were begging to not be pregnant anymore. I know I'm weird.

I know 36 weeks is a good point for a baby to be born, but we really want her to be full term and as big and healthy as possible. It was a pretty good wake up call for us (hello...time to pack a bag), and I think I said, I'm not ready for this 6,000 times. Our goal now is to make it to next Thursday when she will be 37 weeks (although my goal is to make it to Nov. they told us that is pretty unlikely).

This weekend I'm taking advantage of Joel being home and pretty much laying around continuously. I'm not on bedrest, just limited activity (which is really easy with a 17 month old), but they told me the more I lay down the less likely I am to go back into labor.

They also told us if I start having regular contractions (esp. if they're painful) to come right in because it probably won't be long, so hopefully it won't happen for another few weeks!

On the good side, from this hospital stay we got a really expensive insulated mug ;-). A huge thank you to our fantastic neighbor Debbi, for coming over and staying here until 2am when my parents arrived. Another huge thank you to Gigi and Papa for coming to our rescue in the middle of the night to take care of Ruthie. Not having to worry about her is priceless. Thank you Mosts!

We're asking for you to pray that we make it to as least next Thursday (and preferably until at least 39 weeks) before she comes. I can't wait to hold our sweet new baby, but she needs a few more weeks!! Thank you!!