We have a plan!

First of all let me say a very important HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my husband of two years!  I can't imagine my life without him and I wouldn't want to think about being on this crazy baby journey with anyone else!  You are my very best friend and I love you, Ja!

Now, onto our baby saga:
This morning I went to turn in yet another 24 hour urine collection.  (By the way, go ahead and take a second and be thankful for the convenience of being able to just pee into a toilet and flush it.  After peeing into a plastic 'hat' and dumping it into a jug that stays in our fridge for the duration of the 24 hour period, it makes me very thankful for this modern convenience.)  While I was there I checked to see if they had any openings earlier than 4:20.  I had originally set the appointment so that Ja could work, but he said he was probably only going to work a half day so that we didn't have to wait ALL day for the appointment.  Luckily we were able to slip in at 2pm with the doctor we had seen the last several times.

With our bags packed, we rolled up to the doctor's office with the hopes that we wouldn't be going back home any time soon.  We got called back and when they checked my blood pressure, it was 162/110.  So, not only was the bedrest not helping it go down, it was still rising.  I then did the routine urine sample (these people are all about the pee!) and went back to the room where I was to lay down on the table and relax for a bit with the light off to see if my blood pressure would come down.  The doctor soon knocked and came in and asked about contractions and all that good stuff.  I told him that I had a few (maybe 3 to 4 a day), but nothing major.  He checked my fundal height and listened to the heartbeat.  Everything looked and sounded good.  He then told me that my urine results were back and that my protein levels had gone down to 217 (if they are above 300, that means preeclampsia has set in).  Normally, this would be great news, but I had a feeling that would mean no baby soon.  He then checked me and I was only 50-60% effaced and 1 cm dilated.  Not much had happened the past few days as far as labor is concerned.  Caroline has moved down a little bit, but not a lot.  So then he told us that since my proteins were good, he would have me do another 24 hour urine sample, bring it in Friday morning and then come back for another check up on Friday.  That would mean that I would just be sitting for the rest of this week, eating up leave, and not having a baby.  I wanted to talk, but I was afraid that I was going to break down and make it awkward for everyone.  Luckily Ja was there to step in.  He let him know that we were frustrated because we were eating my leave and also that I was on bedrest and it wasn't doing anything to help my blood pressure.  It was also frustrating to hear that Monday would be the day, only to get here and nothing was going to happen.  Ja also told him that we were by no means trying to rush the process if she wasn't ready, but he just wanted to share our frustrations.  About that time, the nurse put the blood pressure cuff on me and started to take my blood pressure again.  This time it was 140s/110.  Even though I don't have preeclampsia, luckily for us, high blood pressure is not good for her or me.  So the plan then changed quickly from a check on Friday to going to call the hospital and see when they would have a bed open for induction.  A nurse came back in a few minutes later and let us know that we were going to check in at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon into antepartum and they would go ahead and hook me up with Cervidil to soften my cervix and help it get ready for the induction.  Then Wednesday morning, they would hook up the Pitocin and start the induction!  So, by the weekend, we will have a baby!!

To: Caroline
From:  Your Mommy and Daddy

We hate to do this to you because you are obviously really comfortable, but as of Wednesday, March 2nd, you are officially being evicted from your current residence.  We would be glad for you to reside in our home with us for the next 18 or so years, but you are going to have to go ahead and get out of Mommy's belly.

Thanks!
Love you!