30 weeks! Hello 30's!!

Hello 30's! What an achievement we have made to pass the 30 week mark! I do not think anyone thought we would get this far, but we did. My doctor stresses to me that I am doing everything right and he is very proud of me. He is shocked every time I see him and his chin drops at every appointment which is quickly followed with a high five! He is so awesome. I am going to be sad for the time when we leave Grand Forks because I know I cannot doctor 5 hours away. He has taken such good care of us, and truly has become a friend.

We had another ultrasound (which we hadn't anticipated needing because we didn't think we'd make it to 30) and it was great to see our little man again. Elliott is still hanging out very very very low, pushing very hard down there. Pressure was relieved down on my cervix for about 2 weeks, but now is back. I am hanging out dilated at about a 2 now and I feel contractions every so often. They are becoming more noticeable and slightly irritating. They are not yet painful luckily, but it will come sooner than later I know. Elliott was moving all over the place as he usually does so we were unable to get any good shots of the little guy. His head is so far into my pelvis that we had no hope. His little feeties is what has been kicking me up high and his little hands is what has been using my bladder as a punching bag. It's so cool to officially know that now because I literally can feel a foot or the length of a leg pass over my stomach. It is such a surreal feeling. I can't see a foot pushing into my stomach but I know exactly where he is laying mostly at all times. It's so funny to see the right side of my belly huge and high and the left is no where to be found! He makes me look so deformed! Hahaha! Elliott's measurements estimated him to be about 3 lbs. 6 oz.! He is packing on the pounds! (and so is Mommy!) I asked the doctor about the echogenic bowel and he didn't say it was still there but he also didn't say that it was gone. He pretty much said everything is looking good! He would definitely tell us if something was up so its comforting to know it is one less thing to worry about! I completely forgot to ask about how long Elliott was measuring but one of my websites tells me he could be anywhere between 15-17 inches long! So cool!

I have been having more rough days then good lately. I am still able to do some work for the salon at home which I LOVE doing because it's keeping me busy. I am creating "Blasts" which are weekly newsletters for the salon giving repeat clients the "in's" about upcoming products and sales. It is getting my mind back working creatively and it is one of those things that when I start it, I cannot put it down because it consumes me! I really enjoy doing things like that so I am happy I have the opportunity too.
Emotionally, I am doing okay. I am starting to struggle with being alone the majority of the day and the emotions are starting to overwhelm me. I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to just run upstairs and take a shower myself, or run out the door and take a walk, or hop in the car and run to the store. Being confined to this bed is becoming torture. I know I have made it this far, and I only have, at most, 10 weeks to go, but this is excruciating. I would never wish this on anyone. I know, I know...This sounds horrible, right? Well, I can't help what I feel and I wouldn't have it any other way, but it really wears you down. Physically, emotionally, and mentally. I know my little boy is benefiting from this and it is all the matters, it is just really hard.

Not much has changed for Evan. He is still working hard at work, working hard and school, and working hard around the house. It's stressful for him I can tell. It would be so much easier to live closer to our families but alas...we are alone. I hate that everything has fallen on him, and it kills me I cannot even help unload the dishwasher. He is managing. He try's to get errands done after work so he can just relax on the weekends. I don't blame him. I'd try and do the same if I were him.

I just caught the UPS guy outside my door delivering a very exciting package! Our travel system came!!! I saw him pull up and so I got up as quickly as I could and managed to catch him before he left, asking if he could just set it inside for me. He was very nice and did! I cannot wait to open it and see it!!! It's the first big thing for Elliott we have gotten. Thank you to Nana V, Papa Tim, and Peggy for the wonderful and much needed travel system. After reading and going through all of our hospital paperwork, it was carseat this, carseat that...and of course I freaked out and just wanted to have the thing ready no matter what. I know that even if he came early we wouldn't need it right away because he'd be living in the NICU but its just nice to have. Plus, I haven't been able to get ANYTHING for baby so to feel unprepared is an understatement.

My mom is coming back up in exactly one week, for about 2 weeks. She will be driving me to my doctors appointments relieving Evan of this task. It is very helpful because now that I have to see the doctor twice a week, we are eating into Ev's vacation time which steals away time that he will get to spend with his son in the first couple days after he is born. I am excited to have someone here with me during the days too. Being able to talk, and just have some additional help is just awesome. My dad also might be able to sneak up here for a weekend if it works out. We ended up changing all of our nursery furniture choices to more affordable and better reviewed pieces. The only problem is, is that with us being in ND which has pretty much no stores for baby...everything is back home. We are going to try to work it out to have my Dad pick some things up for us, take the Commander home and get our new tires put on and then drive up with all of Elliott's nursery stuff! Evan's goal is to have Elliott's nursery done before or on Labor Day weekend. We will be 33 weeks that week and we might be taken off the Nifedipine at 34 weeks. We just think it will be easier to have the nursery completed before he arrives even if he wont be using it until months after he is born. It is one thing to keep us busy during this waiting game, and also one less thing to complete once he is here. We are going to be so busy after he comes because we hop right into holiday seasons. That means a lot of going home to Minnesota and not being home in ND to get things done. There will also be less cargo room for things because we will have all of E's cargo! It's just better to get it done now! When my mom arrives...we are going to see what the doctor says and see if he thinks it would be okay to have me sit and drive myself around some stores in the little motorized cart! That way, my mom and I can grab some of the essentials Elliott will need right after he comes home. I am just excited to get out of this house, back in to public and buying some things for my baby! I cannot wait to meet him. As the time starts getting shorter and shorter my excitement grows along with my fear. Holy cow! He is coming! He could be here at anytime!

Well, I am off to watch some more TV. I am watching a baby story on TLC right now and I cry whenever a baby is born. Haha! I am pathetic. I might have some belly pictures to put up later, or in the next 2 weeks for sure. Lets hope we can make it 2 more weeks and hit 32!

Have a wonderful week everyone! Talk soon...

-Rachel

p.s: Elliott says Hi!