3 weeks and no changes

My weekly appointment with the doctor was yesterday.  After sitting in the lobby for an hour, I finally got called back, and for what, nothing! No changes....I am still 1 cm and about 50% effaced. Granted, I don't really want to go early. I actually want to go 3 days late. I want to have Dylan on May 11th, Mother's day, as I think that would be the coolest Mother's day present ever. However, a little piece of me would like to see some kind of progress.  My doctor said she could thin my membranes if I wanted her to, to speed up labor, but I told her no thanks. She said, you could go any day now. I then told her that I would see her next Monday. I am convinced that he's not coming early.  

All that said, my friend, Jill, is on her way to the hospital as I type.  Jill, you may remember, is a friend of mine who's due date was May 12th. However, she's going to be induced tomorrow.  Her baby, Cole, has been measuring small, and they did another ultrasound on him today and he was about 5 1/2 lbs, so they thought it best to induce. Please say some prayers for her.

Now, our other friend, Dana, has a due date of May 12th as well. She's been at 3 cm for 2 weeks and she has her next appointment tomorrow. I cannot wait to find out if she has made any progression. This is her second child, so she's going to go faster than us rookies. Who knows, her and Jill can be in the hospital at the same time.  

I guess I could too, in all actuality, but I do not want to go tomorrow. I have signed up to sub for the middle school and it would be quite embarrassing to have my water break in front of an 8th grade class. Talk about sex education. I thought today was going to be last day to work, but I couldn't resist, so I signed up for more.  The other teachers think I am begging to go early teaching for 8th grade. Let's pray I don't get "hormonal" on them.  The class I had Friday, that was so bad, told the teacher that I was pregnant and hormonal. Funny they were the only class of the day that I was hormonal with....the other classes were perfect. 

Things that make you go hmmm...

Just a fun little post on some things for you to ponder.

• Can you cry under water?
• How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
• Why do you have to "put your two cents in".. But it's only a "penny for your thoughts"
• Where's that extra penny going to?
• Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?
• Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
• What disease did cured ham actually have?
• How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
• Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours?
• If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
• Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?
• Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
• Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.
• Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?
• Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
• If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?
• Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane ?
• If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?
• Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!
• If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME stuff, why didn't he just buy dinner?
• If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?
• If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
• Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
• Why did you just try singing the two songs above?
• Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?
• Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Front Door, Back Door

This is a photography meme. I was tagged by Angel. The rules are listed below and I thought it would be a lot of fun to see all of the different views! Hope you will play, whether I tag you or not!
1. Step out of your front door and take a picture.
2. Step out of your back door and take a picture.
3. Put them on your blog, along with the rules.
4. If there are things in the photos that you particularly like or dislike, you can point them out, or just explain what we are seeing. Maybe changes over the seasons or some junk in your neighbor's yard that drives you nuts.
5. Tag as many or as few people as you like. Preferably at least one.

This is the image out my front door.

I can't say that there is much that I like other than our green grass and the size of our yard. Now for I what I don't like:

• I don't like that our street is used as a cut through to other neighborhoods and people speed down our street. The speed limit is 20, but I have seen people doing 40 easily. If I am outside or walking the dogs, I yell at these people or act like I am going to step out in front of them. I have even thought about slinging the dog's poop bag at them or throwing nails under their tires.
• Secondly, I don't like the big dirt hill that's behind the house across the street. This is where they are building more town homes and right now it's a playground for kids. Every after noon the boys and maybe even the girls go hang out on the dirt hill, which causes Sophie to bark at them.
• Lastly, my neighbors across the street...not so much that I don't like them, but I don't even know them. We have lived here for almost 3 years, and I haven't even met the neighbor whose full house is in the pic. However, I do know all about him (that's another post another day, maybe). The neighbors on the right side of the pic, are always out of the country and are very rarely at home. I have spoken to them once when I found a dog in the neighborhood. The neighbors on the far left side, I met when I first moved in and have had encounters with, but needless to say we don't mesh with them. Let's just say bad dog owners, and you know how I love my dogs.

This is the view out the back door.

• I love that the sun sets in the west and our back yard is shaded in the afternoon.
• I love that we have a covered deck. I often go out here, sit and read since a cool wind blows through this area.
• I love our big back yard which allows the dogs to run around with each other and chase rabbits that trickle in our yard.
• I love all our trees, especially our red maples in the fall.
• I love our neighbors behind us, whose house is the first on the left (it's the one that's somewhat cut off). You can't really tell, but there's a creek between our yard and the people behind us, so we have to find a good jumping spot to get over there unless we want to walk all the way around.

Now for what I don't like...

• Notice how I have pointed out all the playscapes. There are 4 in my immediate view. I don't mind that they are there, but what I do mind is when I am enjoying a good book or doing my bible study, and the kids are running around screaming at the top of their lungs. This is totally unnecessary.
• The house on the far right has a sweet mastiff, but is usually outside. I hate that...I want to go steal him and love on him. Poor pooch. If you are familiar with mastiffs, they like to be around people.
• Oh yea, you can't really see it, but the house with the bushes lining the back yard (far left), it's in foreclosure so their yard hasn't been mowed in forever. No telling what is living over there, not to mention the seeds from the weeds blowing everywhere.

I tag Ashley since I want to see what she say's about the same views :)

They are in!!

I am so excited. Keri, my photographer, dropped my CD off today. I love the pics! They turned out great if I do say so, but I supplied the canvas, she was the artist. I already booked our newborn session with her. If you are interested in seeing more of her work (other than maternity) check out her website. http://www.kerikayphotography.com

I will share a few more pics with you. Also, if you look at her website, you'll see Damien and I in her portfolio there as well.

Nursery....check

Dylan's furniture and bedding finally came in. Actually, I didn't think his furniture would be in until the end of April and the bedding, well, it was suppose to be here some time ago. However, I was told that there was a fabric delay, so I had to wait. We got the call from both stores, on the same day, saying the stuff was in. I was so elated, I told the second caller that it was a miracle. Damien and my Dad worked Saturday night putting the furniture together, and I am so happy that it's all coming together.

The hutch is kind of bare right now, but the bottom shelf may end up coming out temporarily since the changing station may be a little cramped. We shall see when he arrives, how it works out.

Sneak Peak

Last Sunday, Damien and I met with a fabulous photographer to get maternity pictures done. I loved her work on her website, and she had a stellar price. The experience was great. She sent me 3 pics today in email to give me a sneak peak. I should have all the pics on CD by next weekend. Thanks Keri!

T Minus 3 weeks

I cannot believe that I only have 3 weeks. Well, I can, but I can't. I feel like these last few weeks have gone by so slow, but the pregnancy all together has flown by.

To be honest, I am getting a little nervous about the whole experience, even the hospital stay. I was thinking yesterday, I haven't stayed overnight in a hospital since I was like 6. It's going to be an awkward feeling confined to a room. Then there's the whole labor part. I hope I can manage the pain for the most part. I would really like to go as long as I can before I get an epidural or even go without one, but let's face it, when it comes to pain, I am a wimp. I never really get sick nor do I get headaches, so when I do get sick or have a headache, I am pathetic. Then don't even get me started on the nerves behind delivery. I know it's normal to be scared, but I think it will really start hitting home when I go in for check ups and I am dilated. Terror will set in. What to do, what to do....

On another note, I have started packing my bag, in the event that I go early. My neighbor has given me some ideas on things she enjoyed taking with her, but wondering if my fellow readers have any suggestions on what I should bring to make it a better experience.

Song Sunday

OK, so there's a wordless Wednesday and a flashback Friday, so I thought what could I do on Sunday. I usually don't have time to do a post of any kind on Sunday, but maybe I could post some kind of morsel for my readers to nibble on, thus, song Sunday. On some Sundays, I will take a song and post the lyrics here. They may be songs we sing during worship at church or songs that speak to me during the week. This one came for our worship today and it's one of my favorites. (Dana, I looked at you when we started singing it as I know it's your favorite as well, but you didn't look my way. I think you were busy telling Nick that you loved the song.)

Revelation Song by Kari Jobe
Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain Holy, Holy, is He

Sing a new song, to him who sits on Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was, and is, and is to come

With all creation I sing Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder

Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be to You the only wise King

Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was, and is, and is to come

With all creation I sing Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything And I will adore You

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder At the mention of your name

Jesus your name is power Breath, and living water Such a marvelous mystery Yeah...

Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was, and is, and is to come,

yeah With all creation I sing Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything And I will adore You

Flashback Friday - Prom Style

Taking after my friend Lori, this session of flashback Friday...takes us back to school - Prom to be exact.

This is me posing in front of my car and my mom's school bus (cute huh). It was my junior prom, and I went with my friend's brother, Charlie (no romantic interest, I think we were each other's last resort to be honest.) I obviously decided to va va voom it up. I went with the red sparkle, slit up to my thigh dress and a nice up do.

We went with a group of friends to the prom. I can't recall where we ate or even where the prom was held. (I know one year, it was at the Spring House Golf Clubhouse over by Opry Mills) I guess high school was so bad to me, that I have blocked it all out.

One thing I remember about prom, we'll not so much about prom but about my dress. I rented the dress from Glitz, so it was suppose to go back to the store. Needless to say, that's it's hanging in my closet at my parent's house this very day. I was sitting on the couch and when I went to get up, my heel was on my dress, so it ripped a small hole in the lining...no biggie right...wrong. My mom was honest and told them it ripped (I wanted to return it and see if they noticed, but she had to be all honest :) Anyway, they said in most cases they would make the dress a knee length dress and cut it off, but since I had to show leg, they couldn't do it with this dress due to the slit. So maybe one day, when I am back to my normal size, I will slip it on and wear it over to a friend's house or something. I should get my money's worth after all.

This Opened my Eyes!

For everyone who loves Oprah, make sure you know what she stands for. I had no idea and this changes my mind about her. I think she's very influential and this could have repercussions.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA

April Fools!

OK, so I came up with the ultimate April Fool's joke for my mom this weekend...we would call her and let her know that we were going to the hospital as I was in labor. Seeing that she is about 4 hours away on a field trip, this would present a little pickle for her. Damien was sure she wouldn't fall for it, but I knew calling early, before anyone else tricked her and made her remember it was April Fools, was the key to pulling off the gag. Here's how it went down.

At 8:00am Damien phoned my mom. The words may not be exact but as close as I can get them...

M-Hello
D-Hey what's up? You got a second.
M-Yea, what's going on?
D-Thought I'd let you know that we are going to the hospital. Stephanie's water broke and she's packing a bag since she didn't have one ready.
M-What! This can't be happening. It's not suppose to happen.
D-We are heading that way.
M-Oh! You're making me cry. This can't be.
D&S - APRIL FOOLS!!! (now we could have kept it going, but anything further just would have been cruel, we already had her)
M-I am going to get you! That's wrong.
S - HEHEHEHEHEHEHE (that's me laughing uncontrollably)
M- You just remember there's payback.
D- That's for the old man sign in the front yard on my birthday, for the underwear at Christmas and everything else.
M- Those were funny. Yours was mean.
S - OH! This was funny. I am even crying from laughing so hard.

And that my friends is my best April Fools prank ever! Now I hope that I didn't jinx myself though as I may have to call a friend to take me to the hospital and be my coach.