35/36 Weeks!

Hello Everyone!

We have made it to 36 weeks! MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!!

I apologize for not having a new update for last week. I was in the hospital twice between 34-36 weeks because I started contracting again and luckily was sent home again both times. It was a slightly stressful week and I just couldn't make myself get upstairs to blog...

Today we had our 36 week appointment! I got the Strep B test again (I had already gotten one I believe at the 30/31 week hospital visit when Dr. Trottier was convinced Elliott was coming) and should know the results I think in 2 days? Shoot. Now I can't remember...Oh well. As far as today's appointment goes...it was good! I lost 3 pounds (normally wouldn't be good in pregnancy, but this can symbolize the end) My blood pressure actually was normal for once (after weeks of being low thanks to the Nifedipine). Nifedipine is DONE!!!! HOORAY NO MORE MEDS!!!!! and lastly, I am dilated to a 5. I am both excited and saddened by this. Elliott can come now...he will be okay if he comes(at least he should be) and it is just weird that I am already dilated to a 5 when some women struggle to get to a 2. Dr. Trottier also said that if I start contracting regularly or my water breaks baby is coming! I get to meet my little man oh so soon!!! I feel this sense of relief right now knowing that I am now a "normal" pregnancy (not really, but we can kind of look at it this way) thanks to reaching the 36 week mark. If I make it to 37 I have held out to have a full term baby boy. MIRACULOUS!

Elliott's heart beat is always hanging out in the 130's, and those little hearttones are music to my ears! Today, it was a little funny because I have been having fairly strong contractions all day and started having some right as my appointment started...of course I was having one as Dr. Trottier was checking for the heartbeat and he was struggling to find babies heartbeat because of the contraction! Then after about a minute or so my uterus relaxed and baby was right there... :)

I think I feel ready to be done. I have come so far. Evan and I were talking about this earlier...We initially were in the hospital 11-12 weeks ago almost having our little peanut. I have endured nearly 4 months of bed rest (which I no longer have to remain on...in fact, I was told to "go walk that baby out!". Aside from the fact that Elliott wanted to come early, I have to say this pregnancy has been enjoyable. I never got sick, I rarely got heartburn...and I am feeling the most uncomfortable now being the biggest I've been. Sleep is pretty much non existent because I can't seem to get comfy but that's okay...I can sleep when I am dead! I am just so thankful that we have made it this far.

I have been having much stronger contractions over the weekend and through today...I am monitoring as best as I can. There is a general rule of 5-1-1, that my hospital and doctor like to go by. Contractions are 5 minutes apart or less, last for one minute, and the pattern is consistent for one hour...I am trying to stick by that as best as I can...Now that I have experienced some pretty strong ones, I use those to tell me okay, lets start watching these...I just wonder if my water will actually break or if it will be broken in the hospital and I just have contractions. Only baby will know!

To know that we are not going to stop labor if Elliott decides its time is awesome. I am ready. I am ready to have my little boy in my arms...I am ready to enjoy the fruits of all this hard work that my husband and I have endured the past 4 months. I am ready to gain my normalcy(I know its not going to be back to the normal I once knew...). I am ready for baby to meet his family. I am READY!

I want to thank you all for your kind words of support throughout this journey. It's so nice to hear words of encouragement and I don't believe we could have ever gotten here without them. THANK YOU!

Love to you all,

Rachel and Elliott

-I wanted to have some documentation of my pregnancy including Evan...I forced my mom to take some maternity shots of us outside our house. I think they turned out pretty awesome! :) Enjoy!