He'll be coming 'round my cervix when he comes...

We headed back to the doctor this morning after spending some time in Kawangware with our boys. Grace is doing an AWESOME job teaching, by the way. I sat and was taught much about fractions under her :)

After I was all fractioned out Chris and I went to Aga Khan a bit early for our appointment. It's a good thing too. You see, at the hospital where Ezra will be born there is also a Doctors Plaza which is where our doctors office is. By no means is there near enough parking there. So it took Chris a good 20 minutes to park AND the guy gave us a "special" parking place b/c of my big ol' belly.

Today, after weighing me (I added yet another kg), she took my BP and it was 144/92. Then she did a "sweep". For those of you who aren't sure what that is- let me explain. It's where they separate the membranes from the cervix. It's supposed to be a more natural way of helping induce labor by the natural release of prostaglandins. If it works, I will go into labor in the next 24-48 hours. It works about 50% of the time. If my blood pressure is still up in the morning, then she will induce me tomorrow (evening I'm guessing) with a vaginal suppository that is basically prostaglandins. Unfortunately, in the states they go straight for pitocin which isn't as good for you and OUCH it hurts! So when I say "induce" I mean the suppositories. She is well aware that I want to avoid Pitocin if at all possible. I don't think she prefers to use it much any way. If my BP is okay tomorrow then we wait until Thursday night and we go in some time around 9pm. They will induce me with the tablet and I should rest for a while. They will come in and check Ez's heartrate every few hours or so. Then, hopefully by morning I'll be in labor. If not, they give me another. Then after several more hours- one more if need be. 60-70% of women go into labor at least by the 2nd and 80-98% go into labor by the 3rd. Hoping I'm not in that 2%!

So that is the skinny! WOAHZERS! WE ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE A BABY THIS WEEK!!!!

I have been thinking ahead to childbirth and actually getting excited about it... yes even the pain. I was praying and spending some QT with Jesus on Sunday and I wanted to share with you something I couldn't help but think about and write down:

Lord, thank you in advance for the first time I meet Ezra face to face. 6 years of waiting to meet him is nearly over. I can't imagine that feeling. I can only imagine how anxious Mary must have been to meet, hold, kiss, and just stare at Jesus for the first time. For THIS was the VERY son of GOD she was waiting to meet. What would he look like? How would she feel the first time she looked into his eyes after feeling him move for months? How uncomfortable she must have been riding on that donkey... possibly having contractions even. But I'm willing to bet the excitement outweighed the pain of her journey. The very thought of holding him must have made every single contraction and push a near joyful experience. I can only imagine what it was like for her to give birth to THE SAVIOR- not even caring that she wasn't in the hospital or with any kind of midwife or doctor. Just her and Joseph. Instead of the Aga Khan Hospital, she lay among animal excrement. And yet... what JOY she must have felt.

I have thought of Mary so much lately... wow. What an amazing woman... and what an AMAZING gift she was given- she gave birth to the Holy, Perfect, Savior of the world.