4 weeks and counting

well, it is official. i am 9 months pregnant.

at the end of this week, i will be considered full-term, which basically means after that if i have the baby, everything will be ok. up until then, the baby's lungs are still developing. i have a feeling that i'm not going to last all 4 weeks...but i have nothing to base that on, just a hunch. i wouldn't mind having the baby next week! i've been feeling pretty good up to now. the only thing that has really been bothering me lately is the pregnancy swelling. my hands are retaining so much water that i now have carpal tunnel in my right hand. it is getting very frustrating. i'm able to type right now, but writing is almost out. my hand starts getting numb and tingly and is painful. i have 2 braces, one for night and one for day. they help a little, icing it before i sleep is good too. i told dave, i've been able to handle all the aches and pains, all the other little things that have become harder and harder to do, but this is almost too much. it's limiting me tremendously. i had to have dave cut my chicken the other night! i felt like a little kid, "can you cut my meat? please???" all the daily things you do, opening doors, blowing drying your hair, even reading a paper have become painful. so in that sense, i can't wait for the baby to come! it will all go away! i only have to wait 1 more week before baby can come! there is hope!

other than my sob story, things are going well around the house. i do not have pictures yet, but will soon! having david home every day has been a huge blessing! i have been spoiled, but i know it is God's blessing on me to have my husband around 24/7 to help. we have finished the baby's room (hallelujah!!!!). those of you who have been to our house know that that room was the storage/everything room. well, i am proud to say that we have eliminated all the clutter and sorted through many piles and it is now the baby/study. and that is how it will stay! we also were able to finally get a washer and dryer, and God was good to us there as well. we were having trouble finding what we wanted and needed in our price range and a friend from church who works at Home Depot called us one day and told us there was a Maytag washer and dryer on scratch and dent. it was exactly what we were looking for and we got about $200 off! plus we opened a Home Depot credit card and got 10% off with no interest until next february. we can save all year to pay it off all at once. we were able to buy the extended warranty on both of them, so they both have 3 yrs. warranty instead of 1. we have them installed and i have been using them all week! i may be weird, but i love doing laundry! and now it is SO convenient! (for the last 2 yrs, we have been doing laundry every friday night at my parents house, a 1/2 hr. away) they are hooked up in our kitchen and look great! pictures will be coming...stay tuned.

so all in all, we could have the baby tonight and be ready. all the other little things are not necessary before delivery. i think i can finally say, we are ready and prepared for this baby.