The VBAC Blog

I had mild to severe cramping from early yesterday afternoon until 4:30 this morning and could even time some of the cramps. However, they eased up after 4:30 and I finally got some sleep.

I woke up this morning and am already having some mild cramping so maybe Mason has finally sent the signal to my body that he’s ready. Now, if only my body would do what it’s supposed to do and get down to some serious contracting instead of this whimpy cramping!

After our wonderful day in Bar Harbor on Friday, it was hard to get any work done on Saturday. However, I got caught up and turned off the computer for the weekend.

I took the children shopping for Father’s Day gifts on Saturday afternoon. Got lots of walking in, but it didn’t spur labor to begin. We went to the candy store and I got a 1 lb. box of chocolates (all my favorites). The caffeine didn’t cause labor to begin, either. We bought Max a kiddie pool (it’s actually pretty big for a kiddie pool) and I sat in the shade of one of our maple trees and watched him swim all afternoon. Richard joined me after it had cooled off a bit. We took Max inside when we noticed his lips were starting to turn blue.

On Sunday, Father’s Day, we woke up to Ali cooking breakfast tacos for Richard for Father’s Day breakfast. We then headed back outside because Max was having kiddie pool withdrawals. He stayed in there until early afternoon. We then had pizza for lunch and tried to get Max to take a nap with us. Ha ha. That never works. But, we did get some quiet time in before he was begging to go back outside to his pool.

We all went to Olive Garden for dinner, including Matt, who works for us, and his girlfriend, Aubrey. Zach’s girlfriend came, too, so we had quite a group (9 total) at dinner and had a very festive time. We then came home, lit the tiki torches and the outdoor fireplace by the deck and watched the sky darken over the river. It was very relaxing and the best Father’s Day ever. Woulda been even better if I’d had that baby!!

Yes, I’M STILL PREGNANT!!!

If you detect some desperation in my typing, it’s because I’m starting to get nervous. The baby is already too big and I’m terrified that, if I don’t go into labor naturally by Thursday, the doctor will recommend something drastic, like a c-section. I can’t be induced with drugs because, due to my previous c-section, that would greatly increase my chances of uterine rupture. I’m not sure what choices I have other than artificial rupture of the membranes or a c-section. I guess we’ll find out by Thursday if Mason hasn’t arrived by then. The closer we get to Thursday, the better that Castor Oil is looking. Ick and yuck and groooooooss!!!

As I noted yesterday, I had a burst of energy yesterday and suggested we all throw work to the wind, hit the road, and head for the coast (ah, being self-employed does have its perks!!). The family was thrilled with the suggestion and we all piled in the van and drove to Bar Harbor.

We ate lunch in an outdoor restaurant overlooking the ocean. Right next to our table was a railing and, on the other side, passengers were coming in from a cruise ship and going back out to the cruise ship via the little shuttle boat. They each had to show their passport. The cruise line was Holland America. I think most of the passengers were American but we heard lots of different languages being spoken. That was really interesting. I ate lobster (it’s supposed to induce labor – it did NOT), oysters (yes, they were cooked), stone crab, clams and shrimp. I also drank a virgin blueberry daquiri. That was delicious!

We then walked up a very big hill (it was tiring, but it also did NOT induce labor) and walked into lots of little shops. Max bought some chocolate rocks (they look like little pebbles) and a little train. Frank bought some gems for his collection, and Ali bought some shorts. I bought two books of memoirs about Maine long ago. Richard just enjoyed sitting on the benches outside of the shops and following us around. Unlike the rest of us, he’s not a big shopper but he loves to meander and enjoy the outdoors.

We stopped for ice cream, ate it outside, and then went back to the van to head up Cadillac Mountain. We took one wrong turn and ended up coming back down the mountain too early so we had to start over again. We eventually made it to the top and we sat on some granite blocks, staring in awe at the piercing blue Atlantic Ocean, dotted with islands off the coast. Frank took a little hike along the trail while Max (age 4) made friends with a seagull, even telling it, “I love you!”

We then drove back down the mountain (the views on that drive are spectacular, like you’ve jumped into a postcard), and headed back toward Bangor. All the gravity on the mountain also did NOT induce labor.

On the way back, we smelled something funny in the van. I said, “Smells like a horse farm in here!” Richard thought it was something in the area, like all the lobster boil stands.

We kept driving and, several miles later, we smelled it again. Max was in the backseat sniffing really, REALLY long and loud. I thought he was going to hyperventilate. It was hilarious.

Richard said something didn’t feel right and he pulled over. He couldn’t find anything wrong so we got back on the road. Then the van started shaking a bit and Richard said it was hard to control. We pulled over immediately and Richard called AAA while I pulled out my cellphone and started trying to find a rental car. It was an annoyance but our day had been SO great and carefree that nothing could put a damper on it. We kept smiling and laughing. About 30 minutes later, the tow truck and the rental car driver pulled up at the exact same moment. The rental car driver laughed when he saw we had everything in the van we needed in case I went into labor, including suitcases and even the new baby’s car seat. We loaded it all into the rental car shuttle van.

We had the van towed to a dealership in Ellsworth, the same place we rented the car. They were already technically closed but they stayed open for us.

Before we knew it, we were in the rental car and on the way to Bangor. It was about dinner time so we ate at a new restaurant in Orono. I had a big jalapeno burger, complete with salsa. That, too, did NOT induce labor.

I still have a smile on my face from all the fun we had yesterday. Clear, blue skies, a nice sea breeze, lobster and ice cream, the hustle and bustle of tourist season…what more could anybody want on a beautiful summer day in Maine?

Last night, Richard said it was good the van broke down when it did. Maybe God was looking out for us. Can you imagine if it broke down in the middle of the night on the way to the hospital instead? If that happened, Richard would truly have a heart attack and they’d have to call two ambulances instead of one.

I’m all caught up with my work and I think I’m nesting. I have a burst of energy. For most women that means they want to clean. However, it makes me want to get out of here. So, I’ve asked Richard if we can drive to the coast for a lobster lunch and some shopping this afternoon. Maybe if I order a spicy lobster I’ll finally go into labor!! Or maybe if we drive up Cadillac Mountain, the pull of gravity will make me go into labor. Or, I’ve heard the ice cream store there has jalapeno ice cream. Maybe THAT will work!!

I’ll get back online tonight to check my mail…unless the lobster, mountain or ice cream does the trick. If that happens, I’ll be in the labor and deliver ward and will have to wait to check my email until Sunday.

The only update is I lost my mucus plug last night! The good news is that means I’m dilating. The bad news is labor could still be days away (sigh…).

When I told the older kids, their responses ranged from “Gross!” to “I’m outta here…”

I also had one HUGE contraction last night that rendered me senseless…but I once again had only ONE.

UPDATE:

It is now Thursday night and nothing is happening. I worked all day but was also extremely restless and bored. I was so bored that we went out to dinner for the second time this week…and I haven’t felt like going ANYWHERE in the past month. Now, I can’t stand to sit around at home.

I’m not supposed to be eating much (okay…any) sugar but I asked Ali to fix me some Chocolate Soup for dessert. Maybe a caffeine kick will get Mason stirred up enough to come out and play!

Richard’s working on Mason’s blog, which he’ll be sending to our friends and family email list when I go into labor. He must be having fun with it because he’s sitting over there laughing up a storm. Should be very cute.

If you’re not yet on the email list and want a shout when I go into labor (Ali and Richard will be posting updates while I’m hollering and pushing), click HERE.