37 Week Art

Yeah, we reached full-term 37 weeks! Now baby is definitely ready for the world. The midwife thinks it's around 6 pounds. Now it's just a waiting game for real labor to start. I'm totally free to return to normal activities. Though I took a short walk to the grocery store yesterday and found myself completely exhausted when I returned. They checked my blood iron level yesterday to see if I need supplements, I haven't heard the results yet. But being tired in third trimester is also normal. I've been sleeping pretty well, thanks to a lavendar sachet my doula made for me. I still wake between 3-4am most every night, but can fall asleep again afterwards.

BearHunter used my belly for a pregnancy art palette. It's supposed to be a rabbit drawing, but looks more like a cat to me!

Bear Hunt

So there's finally a bear-hunting story. Unfortunately, BearHunter didn't happen to go! On Saturday one of our staff went out to test his new scope, and ended up on a bearhunting excursion. He and his friend found themselves perched just 30 yards above a two year old black bear. So they shot it and hauled it out. They donated the meat to the base and are getting the hide tanned. As cook, I now have the chance to use bearmeat in various recipes instead of moose or beef. I think it will work fine for fajitas or sloppy joes or stews. :) BearHunter and the staff who helped get the bear were the only two available to cut up the meat. Though he was bummed to miss the opportunity to go, BearHunter enjoyed cutting up the meat (with his new knife) and doing a taste test. Apparently younger bear tastes much better than older ones, and less likely to taste fishy. This little guy, which weighed around 200 pounds, tasted just fine, not gamey at all.

36 Week Milestone

Today we reached 36 weeks gestation. Praise God. Thank you, friends, for your prayers. Now if we have the little one, it's not so risky. Of course, the midwives still want us to reach full term, 37 weeks, for the best outcome.

I'm off of bed rest now, though still not allowed to be on my feet for long periods of time, or to hike or jog, etc. But last night I had a lot of contractions after being up more than I should have, so I'm not eager to jump into a full schedule. I'm blessed to live on a YWAM base where other people can fill in for me, and take care of me. I don't have to start my cooking work again until I feel ready. Everyone is very gracious and wants us to have a healthy baby. Our friend, two doors down, was just inventorying in his mind whether he has the tools he'd need to deliver my baby IN CASE it came really fast and we gave birth here at the base. He's delivered a few babies in his firefighting career. He said he does have what he'd need, not that he's wanting to have to do that!

BearHunter is hoping to do bearhunting this weekend. Just as an observer, he doesn't have a local hunting license yet. We'll see if that opportunity pans out. He tried his hand at chasing pheasants the other day, but he didn't get any on his first attempt. He was out there with his buffalo horn slingshot from Thailand (I think). The pheasants are seen frequently now walking around peoples' properties. Still see girl moose around, too.

Today BearHunter is working on installing a deck with the other staff here, for a local pastor. He's learning a lot from that process and loves being outside working hard. It doesn't hurt that the ladies bake cookes for them while they work! Now I wish I was over there!

Bed Resting

I went into the hospital twice this week for some fetal monitoring. Apparently I had started to dilate already and was having frequent contractions. After drinking lots of juice and water, I did better. After my second time there, they had some lab results ready that indicated my risk for an immediate birth was low. So I got to go home again to more bed rest. I may be on this modified bed rest for 2 to 3 weeks. We'll see tomorrow what they say at my regular prenatal appointment.

Baby has gotten really active again, pushing a lot on my tummy. The head is already engaging to zero station (moving into the pelvis). And the body is now on my left side, but facing forward and upside down. So all the hand and leg movements are felt on my right, and on my bladder. It's fun to watch my tummy move with baby. I get winded easily from small effort and am often tired. But now I get to nap as much as I want. I get to read and watch movies now and have some down time. The others living here have picked up the cooking duties. I still work the menu and make the grocery list.

By the way, I watched Facing the Giants over the weekend. It was a really good movie; well made and I cried a few times and laughed.

So it's unusual for a first time mom to be 80% effaced already (meaning my cervix has really thinned out) and I'm likely to have an early delivery. I'm almost 35 weeks along. Possibly it'll be a May baby, instead of June 7. I pray that the baby's not born until it's fully developed and ready, closer to 36 or 37 weeks if not later than that.
-CallaLily

Spring photos

First picture is of the two students on my kitchen crew for the past three months. They were great. Now they are in Outreach Phase in Saint Lawrence Island.

Second photo was taken at a neighbor's house where I happily housesat for a week recently. Amazing view of the moutains out the living room, eh? I sat and read and napped many hours by that window that week. It's not always so clear and sunshiny, but that week everything was beautiful.

-CallaLily