Hiking at 9 months pregnant...

My mom and dad on Serpents Trail with the Grand Valley and Bookcliff mountains in the background.

9 months, 3 days pregnant and feeling pretty good

After an intense rain/hail storm in GJ yesterday afternoon, we decided to drive to the Monument to enjoy a cool evening hike. Since I was three days past my due date, I didn't make it very far. (Our trail was all uphill until we turned around.) I was hoping to get my labor going with this walk, but once again my activity made no difference. I have concluded that you can try all the home induction methods in the world, but labor will not begin until the body is ready. It's better to just accept it, move on, and next time schedule all visitors to arrive at least a week or two after the due date.

We've had a good day today despite knowing we're quickly approaching my parents' departure. We found some steals at the REI "garage sale," hung out at Main St. Bagels and enjoyed live music, and then we took Elise to her first movie (Up). I think she was impressed by the huge screen and loud sound, but I'm sure she liked the large bag of popcorn Papa bought her even more than the movie itself. Tonight we'll just BBQ at the house and relax. Of course, I still have 10 or so hours to go into labor and deliver this baby... so maybe the night isn't as predictable as I think? :) Actually, at this point I hope I keep hanging on until at least Thursday when Toby's parents arrive. I would hate to be laboring as my parents are boarding their plane.

Whatever. I am completely at the mercy of my own uterus.

Time to get the grill going. I hope everyone's having a great weekend.

Our almost family of four...

GJ farmer's market, 6/25/09

It's 4:30am and I'm wide awake. I wish I could say that contractions were keeping me awake. But, the truth is... it's NOT having contractions that is keeping me awake. A couple of days ago I felt like my body was gearing up for birth and now I feel way too comfortable. I'm left wondering if contractions will slowly pick up and gradually lead to labor (a week from now?) or if real labor will come on suddenly (tomorrow?). Wonder. Wait. Wonder. Wait... Wish I had more control!

According to the Baby Ticker to the left on my blog, I have completed 40 weeks and 3 days of pregnancy with 3 more days to go! (???) It seems that every day after I reached my due date, it adds one more day until I'm "due." Yesterday it said that I was two days away; today it's three. Tomorrow it will read four. NOT funny! :)

My parents leave for the airport in 48 hours. I know it's still possible that they will meet their grandchild before they leave, but I am also trying to accept that they won't. I keep thinking of my Grandma Orange who after leaving Germany with her new American husband and baby boy then had six more children in the U.S. It wasn't until 15 years after her arrival that she was finally able to go back home to visit her family in Germany, alone. Tonight on the patio my mom recalled meeting her German grandmother for the first time when she was in her mid-twenties and six months pregnant with me. Unable to even speak the same language, they sat on the couch together, my great-grandmother repeating, "Cyndi kaputt (tired)?" My mom had the strange understanding that, not only was this the first time she would meet her grandmother, but also probably the last. And it was. I also think of our friend Martha from Kenya who recently had a baby boy and hasn't seen her family in over five years and so far any plans for her mother to visit have not worked out. So, who am I to complain?!

We've had a wonderful week together... hiking, talking, eating, laughing, playing with three precious girls. Another precious little one will join our family soon enough. I will be patient. I will be thankful. I will not dwell on what I cannot change. Maybe I have more control afterall...

Overdue

My mom and I enjoying our pedicures yesterday. What a treat! :)

After many weeks of thinking I was going to deliver before my due date, I now find myself on the other side of June 23rd. I am so thankful that Baby Long will not be born premature and I'm optimistic that this little one will be a much better eater and sleeper than his/her big sister was when she was born three weeks early. Time will tell.

But time does not seem to be on my side! My OB leaves town in 48 hours, my brother's family leaves for NY the next day, my parents are schedule to fly to Michigan on Sunday, and Toby's vacation ends Sunday night. I thought I was heading into real labor last night, but after hours of strong contractions 8-10 minutes apart, they suddenly stopped when at 4:45am Elise fell out of her bed and her cries woke us up. I ran to her room to find her in a upside-down hand-stand position off the edge of her bed. I scooped her up by her ankles, held her tight, and finally calmed her down. And that was the end of the contractions. I suppose my body's response to a hurting and scared Elise stopped any labor progress I might have otherwise experienced. Or maybe it wasn't going to happen last night regardless. Hard to say.

I know this baby will come, and I am so excited to meet him or her and share the news with everyone. It can't be much longer now. Patience. Patience. Patience.

Elise has requested a song the past few nights with these words from Psalm 27:14. These words have been echoing in my mind today...

Trust the Lord! Trust, trust the Lord! Be strong and take heart, and wait on the Lord.

June Update

I've been distracted lately by thinking I would be having a baby, so I have neglected the blog a bit. But now (one day away from my due date and STILL pregnant) I'm beginning to believe this baby has taken up permanent residence in my uterus. So... I've decided to stop putting certain things on hold. :)

Here are some photos from the past few weeks...

The wonderful Grand Junction downtown farmer's market started a couple of weeks ago. We met up with some other residence to enjoy the sights, food, music and fun.

Last Sunday afternoon we met up with Carson and his girls at the Long Family Memorial Park (on of the best parks in town) for some play time and kite flying.

Our latest Craigslist find... Elise's new bike seat.

On Friday the 19th we attended the graduation picnic for the residency. The highlight for Elise was dessert.

All the pregnant ladies at the picnic, minus Joh who had her baby (Wyatt) a few weeks ago. I also just found out that Shayna (3rd from the right) had her baby girl two days ago! So glad to know she and baby are doing well, but amazed that ANOTHER friend delivered BEFORE me. C'mon baby... we were suppose to be first! I better call Laura (standing next to me, wearing a hat) and make sure she hasn't also beaten me to the OB deck!!!

Taken last week, 39 weeks pregnant.

My mom and dad arrived in Junction on Saturday. Yesterday we did a Father's Day hike near the Colorado National Monument. At 39 weeks, 5 days pregnant I think I kept up pretty well. I was hoping the hike would jump start some good contractions but all it did was make my cankles and swollen feet even bigger. Then we came home, had dinner, and I slept a solid 8 hours without one noticeable contraction. Grrrr...

Enjoying time together despite the waiting game. :)

ballet

Ever since Elise saw Avery's dance recital a week ago, she has enjoyed performing her own "program" for us at home.  I have to say, she's one cute ballerina!