50% effaced!

Slightly freaking out. I've been having these intense lower back pains, along with what I abdominal contractions. They started Friday night and lasted all evening, but I thought that the painful back business was just part of Braxton Hicks "fake" contractions. I've also been having this crazy pain in my cervix that feels similar to when you hit your elbow funny bone, but it's not your elbow. I mentioned this to a friend of mine who is a nurse, and she seemed pretty alarmed by it and told me to call my doctor, who saw me today. Apparently I'm 50% effaced, but at least I'm not dilated (which is a GOOD thing.) She said the funny bone feeling is my cervix effacing, and that I really don't want that to happen much more for a while. The scary thing is, I've been having that quite a bit.

And I failed my "Glucose Challenge Test." (Doesn't that remind you of the P.E. tests where you had to do the presidential challenge, and a certain number of situps? I always took that so seriously, like they were going to kick me out of the country if I didn't pass the presidents health and fitness test.) Anyway, I failed the first one, which means I'm supposed to do another 3 hour test on Monday. And not eat anything from Midnight on. This seems about as difficult a test as any college final. I eat every two hours!! And if I get sick and throw up the sticky sweet drink they'll make me do it again another day!! So, please be praying for me on Monday am, that I'll not get sick, or pass out, and that I'll pass this test with flying colors and, most importantly, NOT have gestational diabetes.

My doctor also suspects that I'll have the baby around December 9th (which is week 35 for me, and about a month earlier than my due date of January 11th.) The good thing is that this puts us in major productive mode to get things done and ready for this baby ahead of time. The bad thing is that she would be a premie. Probably fine, but it's just better if they go full term. So, please pray for us and for our little one to be born when she is ready, healthy and whole, mind, body, spirit, and soul. (My friend Wendy prays this, and I think it's a great prayer.)