33 Weeks!

All weeks, these days, are long weeks, but I've made it through another one! One more week to go and I'll have made it to 34 weeks, where most doctors officially acknowledge that you're out of the preemie woods. You'd probably still log some NICU time with a 34 weeker, but only as a short-term feeder/grower. I had a rough weekend this weekend -- some bad bouts of contractions that I had a hard time settling down. My Monday morning progesterone shot (or some other random factor) seems to have helped matters, because most of this week has been fairly smooth sailing. Some days I feel like it is only my stubborn refusal to have another preemie that is holding this baby in there. That feeling always reminds me of some lines from Rudyard Kipling's "If-":

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

Only three more weeks of bedrest! It's hard to believe that I've been on bedrest for 11 weeks now. Sheesh! It's been a long haul, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We're so thankful for all the help we've received from our families -- Max's grandmas and grandpas and aunties have been wonderful. We are so very, very grateful to all of you. Even if we don't make it all the way to term, we're still in pretty good shape -- we couldn't have done it without you. At this rate, this little girl will already have outgrown the tiny preemie onsies I bought her by the time she's born. So, I'll just keep on keeping on as long as I can manage.

Max is still learning new things every day and is totally funny. He has gone baby crazy the last few days -- "bay-bee" is his new second favorite word (right after "again," or "ah-gem" as he pronounces it). Max wants to watch slideshows of himself on the computer and he keeps bringing me magazines so I can show him baby pictures (we have much better luck when he brings me "Parents" than when he decides to bring me "Bon Appetit" or "Gourmet"). If you ask him where the baby is, he'll point it out, which is the first pointing he's done. He's also become quite the little fashionista lately -- he'll bring you his coat so you can drape it over his shoulders and bring you his snap-bead ring so you can put it on his arm, then he'll parade around and admire his reflection in the oven door. He's also discovered that it is quite fun to spin around in a circle. He'll stand in the middle of the room, spinning around and saying "Whee!" until he gets dizzy and falls down.

Max is still fascinated with my stomach -- he likes to lift up my shirt and pat my belly -- he even said belly the other day! Sometimes he'll even rest his little head on my stomach -- he doesn't seemed at all phased when baby kicks him. Max is starting to try to mimic everything you say and do. He likes it when you play "This little piggy went to market" with his toes. After you're done, he'll grab his own toes and say "piggum, piggum, piggum." Silly baby!

Once again, picture plans have been temporarily foiled by laziness and bad weather, but we'll be sure to take some in the next day or so!