Here we sit like birds in the wilderness...

...Waiting for the stork to come.

Today is the day that we were thinking of coming to Cedar to stay.

We would've made it.

It's kind of frustrating to have spent the time and money to be here for the past five days, but we're just trying to follow Dr.'s orders.

I hope my Mom is scoring some big points in heaven for her service.

So far we've:

*Eaten at the Japanese steakhouse (Todd's favorite)

*Walked...and walked...and walked

*Rented three Redbox movies

*Made a desperate wish while throwing a penny into a fountain

*Attended a random ward's sacrament meeting

*Jogged (sort of) through the cemetery (not a pretty sight)

*Went to see "Dinner for Shmucks" (can't recommend it)

*Watched "A Baby Story" on the big screen TV (much to Todd's dismay)

*Climbed a 10 foot rocky embankment (still no baby)

*Watched dumb cowboy shows (much to my dismay)

*Found a walking trail and walked some more...

*Visited Tai Pan, a scrapbook store, a stitchery shop, a fabric shop, and an antique mall (Todd's a good man)

*Visited Cal-Ranch, IFA, and Ace Hardware...haven't made it to Home Depot yet.

*Non-G rated stuff...check.

*Tried to look up my Dad's cousin to go visit

*Got a smoothie with echinacea in it (supposedly it can induce labor??)

*Sent a million e-cards to the kids

*Prayer and more prayer

We see the doctor tomorrow, but of course I'm hoping my water breaks first...

Waiting...

We're still waiting. This morning I really thought something would happen today, but my contractions died off.

We feel priviledged and humbled to be staying in the Jubilee house next to the hospital. It was built entirely from donations after Dr. Ellsworth (a dermatologist who serviced our area) and his staff, were killed in a plane crash in 2008.

Todd actually had an appt. scheduled with Dr. Ellworth that was supposed to take place just days after the accident. We then found out that Todd's Mom works for a dentist who went to medical school with Dr. Ellsworth. They were friends.

The home is available to patients who have a medical need at the hospital here, but live too far away to make a daily trip. It is mostly used by cancer patients who are receiving chemo, but my doctor uses it quite often as well, since he travels twice a month to see patients in several remote area's of the state.

It is a very nice place to stay, and so far we're the only one's here, so we've had the entire house to ourselves. There are four bedrooms, and a shared livingroom/kitchen. Each bedroom has a private bath, as well as it's own fridge and microwave.

Because of private donations, the cost to stay here is only $25 a night.

The "welcome package" in our bathroom had a lot more than they give you at a Holiday Inn. It had shampoo, lotion, hairspray, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, hand sanitizer, body wash, chapstick, gum, popcorn, and hot chocolate.

It really does feel more like an anniversary get-away than a trip to the hospital.

The house is landscaped with this waterfall, and brick path. For a $100 donation, you get your name engraved on one of the bricks.

As I said before, I feel humbled and priviledged to be staying here. I hope that one day we can give back to a cause like this. There is a book on the coffee table for people to write their "story" in while staying here. This home has already been a blessing to many people.

Hurry up and wait.

Ever since I found out I was pregnant, we planned to go to Cedar City a few days before my due date, just to be closer to the hospital.

At my appt. yesterday, The doctor asked if we could do that, and we told him we were planning on it, and asked when we should come.

He said, "Now."

So...after lots of phone calls, three plans formed and two scrapped, and a fair amount of stress, Grandma is on her way (tomorrow) to be here with the kids while Todd and I leave town to "hurry up and wait" in a house next to the hospital.

I am on the induction list for Aug. 9th if I don't go into labor before then. I sure hope (for my Mom's sake now, as well as my own) that it doesn't take that long. I know of two people who shared my due date. Both of them had their babies today.

I can't deny how much more relaxed I feel with this plan in place. Hopefully, Todd and I will get a couple days alone to celebrate our anniversary (a few weeks early), and then we'll go into labor, have this baby, and get home in time to spend a few days with Grandma's help before she has to leave to get her house ready for my cousin's wedding reception.

We're so thankful for all our family and friends who have been willing to jump in and help us out. Thank you Melece, for watching Sam and Livi so Mom can leave earlier than expected (plan C). I'm sorry, Char, that your plans got interrupted because of ours. Thank you Michael and Becky for being willing to drive to Provo to meet Todd (plan A). Thank you Linda for being willing to help us with a rental car (plan A), Thank you Erin and Nate for watching our kids overnight (plan C). Thank you Andrea for being willing to make a special trip to Provo with our kids so Todd wouldn't have to (plan B), and for watching our kids (plan C). Thank you to all of Todd's co-workers who are taking on his students for the next couple of weeks. Thank you Vanessa for the 10:30 AM Dr. Pepper...it was perfect timing. Thanks to all those in the ward who offered to come over in the middle of the night if needed.

And most of all, thanks to my Mom, who has already re-arranged half of her summer for us, and has to drive on the freeway by herself (which is way out of her comfort zone) to be here. I feel so much better knowing that my kids can keep up their regular routine during all this chaos. It is especially helpful for Brayden who thrives on consistency, and Dillon who is already nervous about missing me while I'm gone. I know they'll love having you here.

I told the boys this morning that the house rules were up to Grandma and they needed to do what she says. Dillon replied, "Mom, dwamma mostly says 'yes'."

Lucky boys.

Dead End (or numb bum)

My dear Aunt Hollie just posted this comment on my previous post:

"We want to pray for your early delivery, BUT then we would miss out on more of the flip-side of your wit which warms our hearts."

Perhaps I should put things into perspective, and maybe you will pray for an early delivery for Todd's sake.

I'm trying really hard to find the humor in my situation (can you tell?) because I know that I am truly blessed to be a mother, and to be carrying this baby to term.

But...(or should I say butt?) My rear-end is killing me, and I am convinced that this baby is never coming out. So, if you'll please pray for an early delivery, I promise to do my best to be witty after his arrival.

In my quest to find a reason to smile today, I have prepared a multiple choice pop quiz, to help any men out there who may end up in Todd's position.

(by the way, Todd took the live version, and failed. I hope you do better)

1. When your wife is 37-38 weeks pregnant, and she was up all night having contractions that didn't do anything, and then she couldn't nap in the daytime because of heartburn/reflux, and the pain in her nether quarters causes her to waddle like a duck (at the speed of a snail), and 42 people have recently asked her "How much longer?", and in despair she says to you, "I can't do this for two more weeks." you:

(a) remind her that she doesn't have any choice, and the baby isn't ready yet.

(b) correct her by saying that she actually has three weeks to go, not two.

(c) explain that it's really better if the baby comes on it's due date because it will make things more convenient for you at work.

(d) tell her that she is not rational.

(e) realize that she is not rational, but ignore that fact and gently brush her hair with your hand and tell her you're sorry she is hurting and ask what you can do to help.

I think you can probably figure out the right answer. Just know that if you get it wrong, you may end up hearing a few not-so-choice words.

Seriously. You'd think a therapist would know better...

*For those who are curious...Todd chose all of the above, but didn't get around to (e) until he had first tried a, b, c, and d, and heard a few of those not-so-choice words.

Pillows

When I made our bed today, I just had to stand back and laugh.

Todd has two pillows.

I have five.

And one more that's not even on the bed.

My gall bladder functions so slowly that it takes me 3-4 times longer than normal to digest. I've figured out that if I sleep sitting up, and NEVER on my right side, I can avoid most attacks.

But poor Todd has to sleep in a bed full of pillows. He HATES beds full of pillows. Have you seen that episode of Everybody Loves Raymond? That's us.

I just thought it should be documented. He's a good man.

We have an air conditioner in our bedroom window for the summer, and it has been a lifesaver. Most nights it's on high, and I sometimes bother to pull up my sheet, but most of the time I go without covers.

Todd sleeps with our bedspread doubled and stays bundled up to keep warm.

Ah, pregnancy.

Forgot the baby...

My sister reminded me that I forgot to give the baby his Greek God status.

Justin is Nexius, the God of heartburn.

Oh, and Sandra, yes we liked the movie. It is a stretch for me since I usually don't care for fantasy or science fiction, but I made it through for my boys' sake...which is more than I can say for Star Wars.

Graves Mythology

I mentioned in my last post that we are all about Greek Mythology at our house. Grandma let Brayden borrow the Percy Jackson series while we were visiting for Memorial Day. The size of the books was overwhelming to him, but he started anyway.

He read them all by June, and now Caleb is reading them as well.

We rented the movie a few days after it came out, and watched it as a family.

The next day, I asked the boys what their name would be if they were Greek God's. This is what we came up with for our family:

Todd- Therapes, the God of Mental Illness

Using his Sigmund Freud Magic 8 ball, he'll either fix your head, or give you Schizophrenia.

Felicia- Prozacia or Celexia, the Goddess of Hormones

Using my slingshot and pills, I'll make the men pregnant...

Brayden- Intelligon, the God of Knowledge and Facts

Using nothing more than words, he'll make you feel like you should go back to school.

(Fact: There are over 1000 species of bats. Fruit bats pollinate...)

(Here Jackie, I drew you a picture of a Vampire Squid.)

Caleb- Empathes, the God of Friendship

By sharing and playing fair, he'll make friends with anyone. Should you choose not to play fair, he'll attack by whining that will require the patience of Job.

Dillon- Hershius, the God of...Chocolate

Using his laserlike puppy dog eyes, he'll melt every vegetable on the planet into chocolate.