Today is our 2nd day home, and I finally have some free time to post a few pictures of our beautiful, smart and absolutely amazing little boy, Marco!

My baby boy is here! He was born last night at 9:27pm, and he measures 21 1/2 inches long! He weighed in at 8lbs 6.4oz – a much bigger boy than was expecting! We don’t have our pictures uploaded yet, but I will post them later today. Marco is so beautiful…I have never seen a more gorgeous baby boy. I spent a good part of last night staring at him, and listening to him breathe; I am so exhausted but I couldn’t sleep, I was too keyed up.

I will post pictures and deets on the labor later. Off to stare at Marco some more!

Blogging from my iPhone, what won’t they think of next? Just sitting in the hospital bed, waiting for the next round of Cytotec. Monday’s attempt did not go according to our expectations, so, here we are! The Cytotec did bring about some very strong contractions for several hours, but then they tapered off, and there was no cervical change. I am at 90% effacement and 1cm dilated (at last check, Monday afternoon).

Whoops! Here’s the pill, down the hatch!! Now I am stuck lying down for 2 hours. After that, I can get up and walk around, see if the contractions stick around. It did seem like the piece of Cytotec they gave me today was much bigger, so maybe this larger dose. Typically, a Cytotec is cut into fourths, and doled out accordingly. I think today I was given a half.

Wish me luck, guys!

How far along? 38 weeks, 6 days

Total weight gain/loss: +22 lbs 

Maternity clothes?  Yes

Stretch marks? nope

Sleep: Averaging 4-5 hours at night, no naps during the day. Last night I did manage almost 6 hours, thank goodness!

Best moment this week: My wedding anniversary with Timmy, and receiving my beautiful ring!  

Movement:  same

Food cravings: Watermelon – A LOT of it.

Gender: boy

Labor Signs: See previous postings. More contractions today but still not close together.

Belly Button in or out? no change here

What I miss: Flat stomach.

What I am looking forward to:  See above. Also, I am looking forward to my semi-induction tomorrow. I am nervous and a little anxious; hoping that it works!!

Weekly Wisdom: Nothing to offer as far as pregnancy wisdom. Sorry, folks!

Milestones:  I’ve been married to Tim for 5 years and 2 days.

Today has been equal parts rough and flippin’ amazing. Weird how that works, eh?

First, the rough part: I was sent to the hospital by my midwife today for some observations. I had called her this morning because my contractions had inexplicably stopped for almost 5 hours between late last night and early this morning! I also wanted to find out that they were for SURE inducing me on Monday if Marco hadn’t made his debut this weekend. I’m simply too miserable to make it much further, and I’ll be 39 weeks then. Anyway, during the NST and ultrasound, they said everything with Marco looks good, but they don’t know why my contractions had slowed down. They are DEFINITELY stronger, and are measuring in the triple digits on their tension monitor; but they are nowhere near as close together as they have been in the past month. I was also told that I hadn’t dilated or effaced anymore than I was on Wednesday (1 cm and 50%), but Marco is dropping. Because I’m not dilating, they don’t want to do a full-on inducement, and they don’t think he’ll come in the next few days. On Wednesday I’d been told just the opposite! It certaintly made things difficult, and I kind of broke down in the hospital.

I talked to my doctor, and we’re embarking on a middle-ground approach. On Monday I will be going into the hospital and given a pill (I don’t remember the name of it, but it’s less harsh than Pitocin). I will then be monitored for 4 hours to see if it brings about the contractions, hopefully 4-5 minutes apart, which will then ripen my cervix. If this works, then I could be a day or two from delivery. If, after the 4 hour period, it has not done its job, I will go home, rest, and come back on Wednesday to try again. This approach is less stressful on my body, and will not require me to stay the night at the hospital unless I am actually in labor. I hope that it works; I know that with Pitocin there is a higher chance of C-section, which I would like to avoid (if possible).

On the amazing side, we have the fact that it’s my 5 year wedding anniversary! Yay for Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Dickson. Tim always gives me the best cards, and writes things that make my heart ache; I love receiving cards from him. This year, however, he also did something so awesome and lover-ly that I can’t stop smiling:

UMM YEAH. This ring is the most beautiful ring in the entire world. Tim and I had talked about a ring upgrade for the future, and this ring and wedding band set is exactly the way I’d always imagined my ring to look: a little art-deco and vintage-y. We’d looked at it several times in the past at Napa Valley Jewelers, and I’d half-jokingly mentioned he should get it for me for a ‘push present’. We hadn’t talked about it since things started to get crazy with my pregnancy, so I was definitely surprised! Last night, before we went to sleep he told me that he got it for me; tonight, he made a beautiful dessert presentation (complete with flowers and a fruit tart)! I am truly the luckiest wife in the world, to have such a wonderful and loving husband.

As my readers have probably learned by now, I’m almost never completely certain of anything. Every situation sparks 2000 questions – sometimes even the most mundane, simple-sounding scenario has the potential to cause a presidential-scale debate in my head.

There is something, however, that I’ve never questioned: the amazingness that is my husband. I’ve had plenty of other questions over the years, and there have been some comparisons to Hugh Laurie (ha ha). But I have never had a moment’s doubt as to how intelligent, kind, loving and wonderful a person he is. I’ve always known it. I know that I am probably the luckiest person alive, because he loves me. Tim Dickson loves me me me. That fact continues to astound me (and probably others, as well), and here we are, 7 years into our relationship and 5 years into our marriage (as of tomorrow!). Holy crap, he still loves me. I’ve been told countless times (in the past two days alone, nevermind the number of times he’s said it over the years!) that he’ll love me for as long as he’s breathing and even after. YEAH – YOU KNOW YOU”RE JEALOUS. I’m jealous of myself!

Further, as much as I worry about my abilities as a mother, I don’t have a doubt as to how well Tim will perform as a father. He’ll always find time to cuddle with Marco. Marco will never want for food, shelter, clothes or books. Tim will tell him every single day how much he loves him, and will teach him everything he knows. If Marco decides he wants to be an artist, Tim would make him an easel (it might lean a little, but it’ll stand up). Tim will make him grilled cheese sandwiches EXACTLY the way Marco likes them, and if by chance it has burned edges, he’ll make him another one. When Tim comes home from a hectic day at work, he won’t be too tired to wrestle or play hide-and-seek with Marco (Stabler can vouch for him on this one).

My excitement level for this baby to arrive has been, quite honestly, very low… I want him be here, but mostly because I am tired of being pregnant. I admit, though, I cannot wait to see Tim hold Marco for the first time. That is something I look forward to, and hope that it will be soon.

I love you, Timothy Ryan Dickson.

THIS lady

  and THIS lady

I love you both to a million itty-bitty pieces. Reese’s Pieces, even – and you know I love peanut butter.

Tone of the blog very somber yesterday, so let’s take a minute for a smile:

Comment received today at 2:09pm from ‘Megan’:
You are such a drama queen about this pregnancy, I’d hate for when your precious baby comes you still have this type of outlook since a newborn is 100x’s more work than a slightly rough pregnancy.

My reply, which I have also emailed (I expect she’s given a phony address):

Megan,

I just received notification of your comment.

First, I’d like to point out that we probably do not know each other, and you are not my doctor or midwife. My pregnancy has been a far cry from ‘slightly rough’, and reading my previous postings would have told you that. I’ve been to the hospital on 3 separate occasions, given numerous prescriptions, and had many different people checking my body, trying to understand the uncommon symptoms that I’ve been having. I’ve read countless books and spoken to friends, family and other bloggers regarding their pregnancy experiences, and therefore know that most of what I’ve gone through is not common, nor is it ‘slightly rough’.

Second, it is quite cruel of you to have commented in such a way, if for no other reason than the fact that I am having a hard time dealing with the mental and physical aspects of pregnancy; comments like this do nothing to help, and honestly, make you look like a terrible person.

Please refrain from posting on my site, and I advise you to consider the effect your judgemental outlook has on others, especially strangers.

I’d also like to point out to anyone else thinking of commenting in a similar manner, that OBVIOUSLY I know that a baby will be harder than even my worst days pregnant; why do you think I am so worried, stressed, freaked out?! I still have the labor itself to deal with, and then I’ll be responsible for a life. I’m not just dwelling on the here and now;  my mind has already jumped ahead to the things to come, and THAT is what’s keeping me up at night.

Yesterday was my second baby shower. It was put together by Debi, one of Marco’s grandmas! She did such a wonderful job with everything. The house was decorated beautifully, and the food was delicious! Most of the guests were friends of Tim’s parents, and even the few ladies I hadn’t met before gave Tim and I some lovely gifts. I was touched that so many people wanted to celebrate Marco. Tim spent the day with his Dad and little brother, while us females snacked on pasta, salad, lemon cupcakes, baklava and other assorted goodies.

I was in some pain during the day, and had a lot of strong contractions near the end. We left a little earlier than originally planned, because they were coming so close together. I wanted to be near our hospital, just in case!  Between 5pm and 7 pm, I had 31 strong contractions (!!), averaging 4 minutes apart; but then it started to slow down to the usual number (8 or so), until finally they were about 20 minutes apart. SO DAMN FRUSTRATING.

Anyway, here are some pictures from the day:

I’m still waiting on the pics from the first baby shower, but will post them when I have them!