5000 words

already

So, tonight while we were changing Rachael's diaper we found her umbilical stump. It fell off. Already. I guess nothing is static, even for a few days. When I get a little more sleep I will post more pictures of our sweet baby girl.

Say Hello!

Everyone say hello to the newest member of the Gunerud family.

Name: Rachael Kae Gunerud
Born: May 6th 2009 @ 4:55pm
Weight: 7 pounds 10 ounces
Length: 20 inches

Playing Hard-to-Get

Rachael, it seems, is playing hard-to-get. We had a small false alarm last Friday: about 6-7 contractions 10 minutes apart...that stopped as soon as I got up to go to the bathroom. The doctor checked me yesterday: 3 cm, 50% effaced. Well, this morning a little before 2 a.m. it started. I had painful contractions regularly every 10-12 minutes until about 8 or so, even with me getting up every hour for the bathroom. Then, to my dismay, they started spreading out until by 1:30 we were pretty much done. I went to the doctor to get checked again, and also because I've come down with a cold in the last day and wanted to see what it would be ok to take for the sinus pressure, headache, sore throat etc. So today, I am still at 3 cm (after all those contractions even) and 70% effaced. The doctor stripped my membranes--between the lines that means "hurt me"--and sent us home again.

Please come Rachael! We want to meet you.

P.S. On a lighter note, Patrick worked from home today so we could go if we needed to. This is how he kept track of my contractions...

What a nerd: an excel file. I love him.

Place your bets

Ok, the time has come for some good speculation (i.e. not the kind that has undermined our nation's economy and dominated the news for the last year or so). Rachael is officially due on May 5th. We want to see who can guess the closest to when she'll actually be born. Write in the day at least, and the time if you want to make it more specific. Good luck! (and may the guess closest to today win...oh, yeah I'm not supposed to be biased).

Update

As of 11:45 a.m.

• dilated 2 cm
• 50% effaced
• mood swings like crazy
• super tired
• irritated that no one told me how much just getting checked hurt (ie. I did not know they shove their whole hand up there)
• double irritated that I'm apparently a wuss.

Thanksgiving

Ok. Yes I am posting about Thanksgiving in April. There is a reason. After last November, I took my film (3 rolls) to good old Walmart. I got back 3 packets of pictures and picture cds. Well, all the cds were good, but one of the packets had someone elses negatives and pictures. :( So Walmart sent the cd back to Fujifilm to see if they could find the right pictures. About 2 months went by and then I got 3 letters from Fuji in about 4 weeks time. The first 2 stated that they were looking hard for my pictures. The last one said that the chances of them finding the pictures after that length of time was slim and here's a coupon for free film developing (like I'd use them again). So I called Fujifilm to see if they'd at least send the cd back. After being on hold for 15 minutes the first time the line was disconnected. The second time the lady said she talked to another lady who might know where it was and they'd call me back. Right. That was the end of February. Last week, out of the clear blue Fuji actually called me to say they'd found the pictures. Sure enough I picked them up today from Walmart (free of charge) and there were the pictures, negatives, and cd reunited once again. Woo hoo.

I'm mostly excited because of this picture taken of my nephew Daniel on our way down to Thanksgiving after we stopped for cheese curds and ice cream in Beaver. It is classic.

swollen

I'm so swollen. There are only a few pairs of shoes I can get on and fewer that don't drive me crazy. My feet and ankles are in a state of permanent pitting edema. There's no way I'll ever be able to get my wedding ring off. (I did try taking it off a few weeks ago, but it felt so weird not to wear it that I put it back on knowing it would only get worse.)
To add to the loveliness, there was protein in my urine on Thursday's appointment. Which means I am technically toxemic. Everything is fine as long as my blood pressure doesn't go up as well. If it does, then they will probably induce me, which is not too big a problem since we'll be considered term if we make it one more day.
I'm sorry for the complaining. I've been trying to do less of that, but this has understandably been on my mind. One fabulous thing about this little drama has been the wonderful feeling of calm Heavenly Father has given me ever since the initial upset. It helps so much. I am grateful.