I posted these pics on Facebook a few weeks ago, but forget that some of you aren't on there. I think it was a 35 week Baby Bump. Yippee, though, because we're in the home stretch! Just three weeks left until we're holding sweet little John Paul in our arms! The c-section is scheduled for Friday, June 18th at 7:45am. We'll be arriving at the hospital by 5:30am that morning to be "prepped" for surgery. I'm finally at peace with another c-section, and just thankful the outcome has always been a healthy baby and healthy me to care for all these sweet men in my life...even if it takes a little longer to get back on my feet than if I were to have been able to go more naturally!
The boys have definitely caught on that something BIG is about to happen and have BOTH been super-clingy to mommy lately! I say that emphatically because up until this year, James really could have cared less if I was in the room. He's always preferred Aaron (or his Pops) to me, and I have to admit I've kind of liked the favoritism a little bit these days...but I'm definitely running out of room on my lap for all these precious baby boys! They both tried to climb on my stomach tonight while we were reading our Bible story, and it was pretty much a failed attempt. James got to sit, while Noah just stood there climbing my arm and crying as I tried to read.
I'm still much smaller than I was with either of the other two, but John Paul is following suit and coming in big during his weekly measurements. I was losing weight for a few weeks, but had a little growth spurt at my 36 week check-up on Tuesday and had gained 2 1/2 pounds. It's all baby, though, because he was once again measuring two weeks ahead at 38 weeks! Most people think I've dropped, but I don't feel it. I think he's taking up every inch of space he has in my short torso, and it's really starting to hurt a little!
It also seems that he's going to be stubborn like Noah was, because nothing is happening...if you know what I mean! Dr. K said if I had my babies naturally, I'd probably be one of those poor women who at 44 weeks would still be waiting it out just hoping and praying! That sounds about right, seeing as my mom had everyone of us on or after our due dates (with the exception of sweet Katie who was her only c-section baby three days early!) Mark was the longest wait arriving a full week late, but he made it in time for the official New Year's Eve tax cut! (It was 10pm at night and like 5 others before him, he was born at home. We called everyone we knew before midnight to make sure there were plenty of witnesses to be approved for that beloved tax cut!)
Once again, everything is ready long before the due date, so now we just sit and wait. Bags are packed. Check. Nursery is clean and freshened up with a new monogram painting by my mom. Check. Car seat, baby swing, all baby clothes, and pumping equipment have been washed, sterilized and put in place. Check, check, check, and check. Diapers are in baskets ready for those 10 or so daily changes (and that doesn't even include the other 10 split between James & Noah!) Check. Grocery/Coupon clipping/shopping and stock-piling are complete (even got a new deep freeze for the garage!) Housekeeper and summer sitter are hired (and are fabulous!) Double check!! (P.S. We saved for both of those way back in December when we woke up from the shock of being pregnant with our 3rd in less than three years, and had a panic moment of reality knowing both our families lived out-of-town!)
Okay, so I'm a little OCD and overly-prepared (you should have seen the email I sent out to family and a few close friends about the birth weekend! I'm sure they think I'm crazy!) BUT, that's what makes me feel like we can do this! Of course, I fully realize that none of this is possible without God's guidance and overall control in every area of our lives...especially this (and yes, I am fully aware that we're still in for an incredible ride!) I'm still praying that the activity inside my womb bears no indication of this sweet baby's personality (ere I say, busyness...) on the outside! He's NEVER stopped moving, and I never dreamed it possible that any child could possess more energy that that of his older brother Noah!
...let the countdown begin!!!!!
I took a picture of the recycling truck in our neighborhood a few days ago. “Transforming waste to resources,” reads the sign on the side. It reminds me so much of Jesus.