Racing to the Finish Line

Unbeknownst to Brigit, she was nearly woken from a nap by Henderson police on Monday.

I was driving back from Annandale (where my office is) and, as usual, called to tell her I was on my way. She did not answer and I left her a voice mail asking her to return my call when she got my message.

Brigit is rarely without her phone and prompt about calling me back when she sees I’ve called so I became mildly agitated when I did not hear back from her within ten minutes. After twenty minutes I was pretty concerned. After half an hour I was worried.

The drive from Annandale to Henderson typically takes between 70 and 80 minutes and consists of 60.7 miles of mostly county roads which are posted at 55 mph.

So, here’s a math problem for you: A 2005 Ford F150 leaves point A traveling at 55 mph. After traveling 30 minutes the speed has steadily increased to 70 mph and why the hell is EVERY BUICK DRIVING BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT AND WHY ISN’T SHE ANSWERING THE DAMN PHONE?!?!

By Hamburg(19.75 miles from home) I had already called our friends the Radfords in New Prague (20 minutes from Henderson) to see if they were actively driving Brigit to a hospital. I’d tried to remember ANYONE’S last name in our new community, considered calling the police, fire department, and ambulance. I was slowing to 80 mph in the long curves between corn fields, reviewing what I remembered of CPR from summer swimming lessons, and calling Brigit continually.

Brigit answered the phone and immediately apologized after I’d passed Green Isle (14.75 miles from Henderson). She was asleep on the couch with her phone upstairs. I requested that she please, please keep her phone nearby until the baby arrives which she promised to do. I slowed to 55 mph which seemed like a crawl.

We both went to Brigit’s midwife appointment today. The ultrasound tech estimated Ziggy’s weight at 8 pounds 10 ounces and, unfortunately for Brigit, appears to take after dad who has a hard time finding hats big enough to fit.

The midwife is having us back on Friday and may want to discuss inducing. But, Brigit did have some contractions this morning (though not regular or sustained) so we are hoping Ziggy is nearly ready to make a grand entrance. We will keep you updated.

And Brigit will have her phone at hand.

Ciao.
Joe & Brigit

Counting down!

We're on the home stretch! I'm 37weeks/4days, 30% effaced, and not dilated quite yet, but working on it.

I had another midwife appointment today with an ultrasound and watched Ziggy roll and stretch and nap (we had to push him/her around a bit to wake him/her so we could measure the right movements). And of course, 10 minutes later as I waited to see the midwife Ziggy was dancing all over the place. Just another sign that this child has a mind of its own!

Plans are all in place at work for both Joe and I, the hospital bag is all packed and in the car, the dogsitter is lined up, the nursery is set and waiting with clean sheets and stocked changing table, and I am sufficiently uncomfortable and ready to face this thing called labor.

I think it's a cruel joke that the last month and a half I've already been so sleep-deprived. I think I make it to about 1.5/2 hours of sleep and then I have to pee and something hurts, usually my back or hips. And changing positions requires 14 sets of muscles from the outer lying body parts to leverage, lift, shift and turn!

I laugh at myself when I think, "Gee, I can't wait to be able to sleep again..." When will that be? 2 years from now? This is truly going to be an adventure.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Joe just has a few more days of tradeshows, but of course they are in places like Superior, WI. I hope his patience and his heart hold out (it starts pounding everytime his cell phone rings)!

Hoping for another post, with Ziggy's arrival pics, soon!

Bye bye toes...see ya in the spring

(5 weeks, 15 weeks, 25 weeks, 34 weeks!)

I can no longer see my toes unless I really go looking for them. It is truly amazing how the body can adapt and change and grow. Each time I feel like I'm totally stuffed and stretched to the max, Ziggy has another growing and stretching spurt and I have one less outfit in my closet that fits me!

I truly and honestly cannot even begin to count how many times I've worn my Minnesota sweatshirt and black track pants. And I've got six weeks to go...I hope they make it.


We've moved into our new home, the parsonage at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Henderson, MN. I had my first Sunday of preaching and leading worship this past week. Joe commented when we got home that it's a good thing those preaching robes are big and roomy...and that's where the sentence ended. It's a good thing I love him!


Ziggy's been very active every day and puts on a show for daddy too. We can watch now, not just feel, as Ziggy rolls around from side to side and does her/his daily stretching routines. I think I will miss those times once s/he's on the outside. It's kind of creepy and weird, sometimes feels like I might spontaneously pee myself or throw up, but at the same time it is awfully cool.

At only 6 weeks left to go, we've begun to count down a bit. Showers are coming up, shopping still needs to be finished for the nursery, and the suitcase isn't quite packed yet for the hospital...but soon. It's very very exciting!