The first CONTRACTION happened just after 2am on Monday morning; it woke me up violently and without warning.
I spent most of the morning alternating between restless sleep – the sort of sleep that you have any time you know that tomorrow your life will change – and doing the bare-ass-naked-under-the-ceiling-fan thing. It’s just, you know, I’m really good at hanging out naked and we all like to do what we’re good at.
By 10am, Donald and I knew that THIS WAS IT. We walked Hank to my folks’ place, where he will be hanging out during our hospital stay, and then we came home. I did some more of the bare-ass-naked-under-the-ceiling-fan thing.
I am writing this mid-day Monday. We will be heading to the hospital shortly. Right now, the contractions are 7-10 minutes apart and last for 60-100 seconds a pop. They are strong and unyielding. The strongest of them are accompanied by bleeding and unfathomable bouts of diarrhea. I have Crohn’s disease, people, so I know diarrhea. This diarrhea is in a class unto its own.
These are the last photographs of my pregnant belly outside of the hospital. We took them Sunday evening.
At 40 weeks and 6 days, I kicked off the week by going into labor. Just to humor you, here are my pregnancy stats:
- 34 pound total weight gain.
- No stretch marks on my belly.
- Varicose cluster on my left breast.
- Nipples the size of Manhattan.
- Feet that could crush King Kong. They are THAT swollen.
- I had four contractions trying to write this.
Please keep your fingers crossed for a healthy baby and a speedy delivery! =)
(71) -
YAY! I hope all is well, and you have a speedy healthy delivery! now we have 2 more weeks for my sister’s due date! So happy for you and Donald!
-
Oh, I’m so excited for you!!!! (And I kind of hate you for escaping stretch marks- how’d you do that?!)
-
How exciting! Congratulations on making it to active labor. You are almost there! Can’t wait to here about how your little one made it into this world, finally! Best of luck to all!
-
—>Best of luck! I hope all goes well and your baby comes out easily and in good health. I can’t wait to hear if I’m an aunt or uncle and the name.
Ha! -
So exciting!
Thinking of you and can’t wait to read all about it.
Good luck!
-
Woo-hoo! I hope it all goes smoothly.
-
Good luck! Break a leg! On second thought, don’t break a leg. That would suck. PUSH!
-
Can’t wait to find out if it’s a boy or a girl! Good luck!
-
OMGoodness! Good luck Sarah! I am so excited to see your new family:)
-
Oohhh, I’m so happy for you guys!!!!
Hooray! I hope the delivery is speedy and easy.
Is it a girl?
Is it a boy?
God, what is it?????
If it’s a girl, name her after me: Dutch Donut Girl :)
Keeping my fingers and toes crossed that y’all can go home soon!I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it.
I’m about to lose control and I think I like it. -
Congrats! I’m so excited for you!!!
-
I cannot believe you are BLOGGING DURING LABOR. I think you’re my hero.
Can’t wait to meet the whippersnapper; here’s to a quick, healthy, pain-free and soon-recovered-from delivery! -
SO EXCITING. Can’t wait to hear.
-
yay! anxiously awaiting the next update! and pictures!!!
-
Congratulations! I hope you have a quick easy delivery! Keep us posted! Although, perhaps you will be a bit busy..
-
Congratulations!! I’m happy as a clam for you guys - Enjoy your little “bunble of love”, and we’ll be looking forward to meeting them when you get home and relaxed.
Take care of yourself!
(P.S. WaltzInExile, I, too, blogged during labor. At 8 cm dilated, with the epidural wearing off.. I think I may have been insane at the time. Wait, no, definitely insane.)
-
Yeah!!! Good luck and I can’t wait to hear the news!!
-
Congratulations! It’s about time! Hope all goes well and fast, can’t wait to see pics!
-
Oh I’m so excited I can’t wait!!!
-
Woohoo! :) I’m so excited for you! :)
-
YAAAY YAAAY YAAAY YAAAAAAAYYYY!!! So exciting! We can’t wait for the details!
-
it’s happening !! finally !! you made it there !!
i am keeping my fingers crossed for you and i can’t waiiiit to read your next post. you will be a mom then !!! -
I’ll be thinking about all three of you today! Good luck and get the epidural!! Fingers crossed :)
-
oh wow! how exciting (finally :) wishing you a speedy delivery and a happy, healthy baby!! Cant wait to hear news!
-
Woooot!
I’m sending lots of happy healthy baby and safe delivery vibes your way.I can’t wait to hear how it goes and if its a girl or boy and you know stats and such.
Good luck!!!!!!
-
Excited!!!!!! Good luck and, though you won’t read this, my advice is just to “relax all those down-there muscles when you contract”.. it helps HUGELY!
-
thrilled for you! Just try to enjoy the whole process yeah? hey, i’m kinda qualified to say it.
-
Yay!!! Congratulations, and good luck!!
-
Good Luck!!! Can’t wait to meet your baby. Hope all goes well!
-
YAY! Good luck Sarah. I’ll be thinking about you and your husband and little baby today, and hoping all goes well.
-
Good luck! We are thinking of you! :)
-
Good luck!
-
oh yeah!! So excited for you two… as much as you have been anticipating this little bundle… no doubt the actualy event will be as wonderful as you have imagined.
Can’t wait to ‘hear’ the news :)
-
Wooohoo!!! Hope all is well and you are holding a beautiful baby right now.
Also, be grateful for diarrhea BEFORE delivery. I’m just saying…
-
Oh oh oh! I am SO excited for you!
And, um, SOOOOO jealous that you have no stretch marks. On boobs OR belly.
Good luck! I hope labor isn’t the worst thing in the world ;) And I cannot WAIT to see pictures of the baby!
-
Congrats and good luck! Contractions are really something else, aren’t they? My insult-to-injury was that I had to pee every other contraction. Ugh.
-
Congratulations! We’ll all be waiting here for you when you get home. Seriously. We’re just going to be staring at the screen, maybe hitting the refresh button occasionally, until you post - so get on it, would ya?
-
Sarah—
I have been a lurker until now (I know, lame!) but I have to break my silence now. I am SO excited for you! I’ve been following your journey for several months and I must tell you, I am on pins and needles waiting to hear your story and see your gorgeous baby! :D
Amber
-
SO EXCITING!!
Can’t wait for your next post with all the details!
Hoping all goes well for you guys! -
Halla-frickin’ luljia! do have donald plop in first pix of the “late for supper” kid at hospital. your audience (well me anyway) is that nosey…
-
YAY! I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the very best for both you and baby! Hopefully everything goes as smoothly and as gently as possible!
-
I am so excited and happy and hopeful for you. I wish you all the very best and cannot wait for details and pictures later!
Thinking of you!
-
OMG I’m so excited for you!!! Happy speedy, easy delivery, happy healthy baby. I can’t wait to see pictures!
-
Oh my gosh…I am so excited for you guys! I can’t wait to see pictures of your beautiful healthy baby!!
-
You’re probably holding her now. :) Can’t wait!
-
Hey maybe the baby heard me from way up north to get the hell out already!! Hooray, we have lift off :)
In you last photo, you look a tad bit scared. I’m sure as I type this you already had him or her…..excited for both of you :) -
Woo hoo! Celebrate…well after you’re done pushing the little squirt out.
Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Best wishes to the new mama and baby!
-
Congrats! Today is hubby’s birthday, tomorrow is mine, so I can say for sure Cancer on the cusp of Leo is a FABULOUS combination.
-
Well. You’re certainly having a more exciting day than I am. Although, if I had to choose between this job and pushing a watermelon out of my vagina, I think I’d take the job. So… thanks for helping me like my job again… if at least for a brief moment.
Since technically this is a birthday (in the truest sense, really), I think we should all get cake. Don’t worry, I’ll bake.
Oh, yeah. CONGRATULATIONS! God, I can’t wait to see pictures!
-
Wow!!!! COngratulaions. I wish you well andwill pray for a speedy delivery
-
look at your curvy, pregnant body, you little hottie! I WISH I had only gained 34 pounds!
Hope your labor & delivery went well ~ can’t wait to see photos of your newest addition!
-
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck!!!! All the best!!!
So excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
So exciting! Way to go, mama! You made it!
Looking forward to seeing pictures of your new little family. Congrats to all!
-
I have refreshed 3 times now, which is truly pitiful…but, I am just THAT excited.
I hope that, at this very moment, you and Donald are enjoying your new little bundle of delicious yumminess. If not, I hope you opted for the drugs, or that your freshly baked muffin is being at least somewhat easy on your insides. ;)
Looking forward to “meeting” him or her.
Best wishes,
Mailis -
Ooh! Just got back from vacation today! By now, your little one must be here? Hoping everything is well and you are snuggling your new love.
-
I hope everything has gone beautifully and you are AT THIS MOMENT holding your brand new baby.
I gave birth to my daughter at 40w6d. It must be a magic mark or something.
-
Congrats!! I’ve been checking your blog expecting to see baby photos since Friday (does that sound creepy?). I hope you and your babe are doing well right now, all cuddles and smiles :) ..and hopefully Donald came out of the ordeal with minor bruising :)
-
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Felicitaciones! I think this is why I check my blog roll. Can’t wait to see the pics! And hear the story!
-
Woo yeah! Hope it goes well!
-
Oh gosh. How exciting!
I will be praying for a healthy baby and an easy delivery.
-
Oh!! Good luck!!! I hope it goes well and quickly. :-) Can’t wait to hear the update.
-
yeah!! Good luck! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
-
Just checking on you again! Still wishing you the best of luck!
besos! :)
-
Anxiously awaiting an update! Congratulations.
-
OMGOMGOMG! I knew it was going to be today or tomorrow, didn’t I tell you? Just had that “Sarah is in for some pain” feeling yesterday. Dying, DYING to hear the story and the name!
-
CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE LITTLE ONE! Good luck!
-
GAH I have been back a few times today hoping for the aforementioned dad blog post on yours and baby’s whereabouts, hope you are both doing fine.
-
i am a grandma to a 2yr old little girl who is soon to have a sibling. i have loved your blog although i am possibly your oldest follower. i do wish you all the best, i cant understand why i am so excited about your birth when i have never met you. guess thats the power of blogging!!!! have plenty of rest when you can.
-
I love your honesty!! I can’t wait to see your photos of the baby!!
-
Can’t wait to see pics!
By Rachelle on July 21, 2009
Hooray! Fingers crossed for a smooth and healthy delivery. Best of luck and can’t wait to see the photos!