The waiting game...

It's official...her due date has come and almost gone...no baby girl Ketteman yet!

I went to work today and intend to go again tomorrow. Still feeling great...although VERY pregnant! We had our very last prenatal visit at the Dr's office today, and things, although not "headed" in the right direction, are looking good. I have plenty of amniotic fluid in there to keep her in good condition for the next few days, and she has a happy healthy heartbeat.

So the plan...

- Work tomorrow and then have a romantic date of nice dinner and Harry Potter with the love of my life!

- Relax and finish up last minute packing and preparing on Thursday, then have some Chinese dinner with both sets of Grandparents-to-be!

- SLEEP (as much as possible)

- Friday morning: meet our baby girl!

I'm still a bit anxious about the upcoming surgery, but I know that thousands of women go through this procedure daily, and I've heard many encouraging words from friends and family who have personally gone through c-section. And on top of that...God's got us exactly where we're supposed to be. This baby has been drenched in prayer since before she was conceived!

Can't wait for everyone to meet her!!!

4 days...what?!?

So...we're down to the final count down! Such an exciting time! Matt and I feel pretty "ready" for all of this - at least as ready as anyone can be! It's actually becoming real to Matt...I think it's difficult for guys to fully internalize everything that's happening b/c it's not happening inside of them - you know?

So...we made some decisions at our last Dr's appt. on Wednesday. Here's the run-down. She's still breech (frank breech), and we have decided NOT to attempt external version (moving her around from the outside). Sometimes babies are breech for a reason unknown to us. My doctor is comfortable with us going into natural labor going into a c-section and is willing to give us a few extra days after Babe's due date to continue trying to get her to turn on her own! So...we're scheduled for a c-section next Friday unless she decides to come before that. No matter what, it looks like WE'LL BE PARENTS BY NEXT FRIDAY! My last day (at the latest) at work will be next Wednesday, and I'll be taking 12 weeks off!

Well, happy Harry Pottering to everyone today!

Less than 2 weeks!

So...we're on the final stretch of this 9-month journey we've been on. I'm both happy and sad. I'm SO stinking excited to meet, hold and kiss my precious baby girl - to meet this amazing person who is my daughter...but I know I'm going to miss the little (OK, some not so little) kicks and flutters inside my belly. She's been a part of me for 9 months now...and in just a short while, she will be her own little person in the world!

I'm still physically feeling pretty wonderful (Thank you Dr. Keen), but the last several weeks have been somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster. We found out that Babe is breech...and getting bigger (=less room to maneuver) every day. So...for the last 2 weeks, we've been doing acupressure, acupuncture, pelvic rocks, tilting myself head down, moxibustion (burning incense on my toes), swimming, playing music "down there"...you name it, we've probably tried it in order to get this baby girl on the move! It's definitely made for some great pictures and some belly-rolling laughs along the way.

Our "plan" along this journey has been to attempt natural childbirth. If Babe remains breech, we will not get the opportunity to even try. We had an ultrasound today to check out her positioning, and it looks as though we've got a little gymnist on our hands! Her head is up top with her feet on either side of her head!!! It made for a cute ultrasound...but the Dr. said that this is not the ideal turning position - obviously her feet don't have a ton of leverage to spin her around. So...next week, we will be making some tough decisions about the birth of our baby girl. We can attempt external version (moving the baby around from the outside), but that procedure comes with a set of dangers...however, if we never try, she most likely will not flip. Then there's also the decision of a scheduled c-section vs. natural labor c-section. So...all that to say...PLEASE PRAY for peace for us as things progress - no matter what the decisions. The end result is going to be a beautiful baby girl...that's all ours!

On another note...we think we have settled on a name. Don't you wish we would tell you what it is?!? We're keeping it a secret until she shows her face to the world!!! You're gonna love it though =0)

Over the past several weeks (and currently), my Life Group girls through me a wonderful shower at church - you should have seen the cake! My mom came to visit on the 4th of July, and my best friend, who is living in Sweden, is currently visiting us. This baby is going to be so loved up on!!!