38 weeks and counting!

Well, I didn't think I'd be getting any more pictures of my pregnant belly.

Sunday night I had some painful, cramping sort of contractions in the middle of the night. The pain was bearable and I just figured my body was preparing itself for my due date (which is April 8).  But the next morning I was surprised and nervous to find a lot of blood and big clots that I'd passed. We were nervous, so we went to the hospital.  I began having pretty consistent contractions and went from being dilated to a 2 to a 4.5 within about an hour. The nurses and doctors didn't seem concerned about the bleeding and there were mixed opinions as to whether I'd have the baby that day or later. Naturally, we hoped that it'd be this day.

The contractions continued all day. Painful, but bearable, but they never got any closer that 5-6 minutes. And my progression sort of stopped at being dilated to 4.5. So, a little sad, we went home that night.

Well, here I am, two days later. Still no baby. I've done a lot of walking, a lot of cleaning, I even had my brother in law try some reflexology on my feet. I'm still having contractions. A mixture of Braxton Hicks and the more painful ones...but nothing consistent enough. But I've come to terms with waiting.

This past Sunday while I was getting ready for church I was listening to BYUtv.  One of the speakers I listened to- Stanley G. Ellis, was speaking about choices we make among the unknown and the knowns of life.  Among other things, he talked about the early pioneers who were coming to Kirtland, Ohio from the east.  They didn't know how long they'd be staying in Ohio.  But in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, the Lord said to these saints-
(DC 51:16-17)
"I consecrate unto them this land for a little season, until I, the Lord, shall provide for them otherwise, and command them to go hence;
And the hour and the day is not given unto them, wherefore let them act upon this land as for years, and this shall turn unto them for their good."

The speaker went on to talk about "acting as for years" and "unpacking your bag and settling down".  "Be there until you're not", he said.  I've thought upon these principles a lot today.

I won't lie, I was pretty disappointed that this baby didn't come Monday.  Tuesday I went on 3 walks in hopes to jumpstart labor!  But I've since then become okay with waiting.  And I'm content.  "Be there until you're not."  So here I am...with my pregnant belly... enjoying my last few days with just Liam until I can't any more.

The Lord is good.  What a tender mercy from the Lord that talk turned out to be.
(Here's a link to it- The Courage to Choose Wisely)

Oh, and these pictures represent another way that I tried to 'be here until I'm not'.  I could've been on another walk or down on all fours scrubbing floors, but instead I decided to get myself ready for the day and to take some last pictures of my belly while I still can.  (Oh, and don't mind the hospital bracelet.  I hope that doesn't discredit my story about my recent change of heart.  I just keep forgetting to take it off! haha)