38 1/2 weeks (pain, names, turning 40, etc.)!

Well, I'm half way through my 39th week, and I never thought I'd make it this far! Also, I'm turning 40 tomorrow- boooo hoooo!!!! I can't believe today is my last day in my 30's (and I can't even have margaritas)! :)

I've had a rather rough week- I've been in lots of pain. Last Thursday, I woke up feeling very strange and very emotional. I slept a good part of the day (since I cannot sleep at night anymore), and then I started having contractions that night. They started at around 10 minutes apart and got down to 5 minutes apart. They stayed that way for a few hours, so I thought I was for sure in labor. I finished packing most of my things and eventually fell asleep. I slept off and on that night and woke up feeling pain, but no more contractions. Since then, my entire body seems to ache, and whether they are Braxton Hicks or regular contractions, I seem to have a lot of them (but not in a rhythmic fashion like Thursday night). I also get these shooting pains down low- maybe it's the kitten dropping down? It scares me that my uterus is so ultra-sensitive... if it hurts this much now, what is real labor going to be like? I must admit that I am getting nervous and a bit scared. The worst part though, is knowing that I'll have to spend at least one night in the hospital away from my kids. I've never been away overnight before, and although I know Ollie will be okay, Sophie is such a Mama's girl- I almost cry just thinking of a night away from her. So no matter what, I can NOT end up with a C-section. I can't stay in the hospital that long...

I had to cancel my OB appt. last week, but I did have one yesterday. She said my fluid is at a level 10 which is good, and that the kitten weighs 7 pounds 7 ounces (20% margin of error either way). She also briefly and very gently checked me. She said though I'm not yet dilated, I'm 50% effaced, and I could go into labor at any time. She's had patients who have been 0% dilated and not effaced who have gone into labor the next day; and she's also had patients who were already 3cm dilated who went into labor a week later. So we really don't know anything, but somehow I feel better knowing that all that contracting I experienced was productive! My OB has a very calm and reassuring way about her- I always feel that whatever I complain about is within the realm of being normal (which is very comforting to me because I'm a worrier)! I see her again next Wednesday morning, and then she goes out of town for 3 days (and the very next day is my due date (9/08). So, so far so good!

So, since I've been so uncomfortable, I haven't gotten anything done! I know some want to see the kitten's nursery, but it's not done yet. Actually, Ollie is still sleeping in there, so the room is half tiffany blue/lavender/light pink and still half blue/green ocean life themed. It's pretty funny actually. We moved Ollie to his new room with his bid boy bed a couple months ago, so I could finish the kitten's room; but we just can't get Ollie to stay in his bed. He just kept getting out and running around, playing, etc. He sleeps much better in the crib, so since the kitten will be in our room for a long while (maybe she'll be like Sophie Lu and never use her crib, lol), we decided to just move him back to the nursery for a while. When I do get it finished, I will post photos, but it's not going to be too much different from Sophie's nursery before I changed it for Ollie.

Now, regarding names again... I'm sure most everyone knows by now (I just found out last week), that one of Barack Obama's daughters is named Sasha. This really bums me out! Not so much because I'm republican (no mean comments, please), but because if he becomes president, I can already hear people saying, "Oh, Sasha- like Sasha Obama?" And that will send me straight to the Social Security office to change her name. (I have friends with daughters named Chelsea- and they still get this.) Plus, I know that if he is elected, the name Sasha will become much too popular. This is one of those times I really really need a crystal ball. If I only knew for sure that he wouldn't win, then Sasha it would (probably) be- because I really do like that name. As for Annalisa, I'm think I'm really over that name. I'm not quite sure why- but I just don't like it anymore. So Lili is looking better and better to me. People always ask what Michael likes- well, he doesn't really care- he just wants me to decide... but he does like the name Lili (pronounced like Lily). I also still like Tiffany (which was the very first name I thought of), but most of my friends really don't like it and keep telling me that it reminds them of the 80's singer and/or a stuck-up cheerleader from high school. I know I shouldn't care what others think (and I kind of really don't), but I do worry how the kitten's name will affect how people perceive her... In any case, I still like Tiffany Li, and I'm working on middle names for Lili. Maybe Lili Frances (insert Chinese middle name). I love the name Frances (not for her first name though), and it was also my grandmother's middle name. And I know people say I will know her name when she arrives, but I'm just not sure I will! I am very bad at making this kind of decision- its just so permanent! So I need a good working list of possibilities before she comes.

Only 10 days until my official due date; and in any case, I will be having a baby very soon! Still, I just can't imagine it!

Now, I'm off to figure out how I'm going to spend my very last day in my 30's (my guess is that it will involve a nice long nap)! :)