Update (because my lack of creativity can't come up with a better name)

I have officially had my 38 week appointment.  I am 15 days away from my due date and SO ready for her to be here.  Isn't this when most people have their babies?  Okay... in all fairness... maybe not everywhere, but at least down here in the South where doctors seem to thrive on enducing labor and/or ceasarians.  (Sidenote: Thank God for that, because I could not handle having a doctor who wasn't completely okay with my planned c-section).

Let me interrupt my thought process to explain myself for anyone judging me about my desire to have a c-section.  (No, I don't feel like I have to explain, but I'm going to for those of you who may be curious.)  I never contemplated HOW I would give birth to my future children, until July of 2008.  It was then that a sweet and precious friend of mine had her beautiful baby girl.  After a day full of labor, the doctor (my doctor) thought it might be time for a c-section.  The baby was in distress, and it had been a long day.  That night, that sweet baby girl was born via c-section.... with no pulse, not breathing, and having lost a lot of blood when the umbilical cord ruptured.  It was a picture perfect pregnancy.  No reason to think anything was wrong or out of the ordinary.  That sweet baby is full of life and one of my favorite kids now, in December of 2010, but what a scary birth day she had.  A ventilator, blood transfusion and the list goes on and on as to what she went through during her first days outside of the womb.  I don't have answers for why, but my gut is that had a c-section happened that morning (with no labor), all of the rest of that could have been avoided.

You're right, if you're telling me that I don't know that for sure.  But after being there that night, and shedding all the tears I shed, it changed me.  From that point on, I knew I would not ever go through a day of labor.  And before we ever started trying to get pregnant, I told my doctor that I needed her to assure me I could have a c-section ... or I would go straight to adoption.

From the beginning, she documented me as a case of "extreme maternal anxiety" which is very true and also reason enough for an insurance company, but now we have our new reason... I'm going to have a WHOPPER of a baby! ;)

Judge me if you will, but regardless... back to the here and now....

My doctor is currently out of town.  She wouldn't let me skip my 38-week appointment so she scheduled me with the doctor of my choice and then e-mailed her so she would know what a "special" patient I am.  Haha.  I am so grateful for a doctor who loves me and appreciates all my Type A glory. ;)

Her e-mail went something like this.... "Do not deliver this baby while I am gone.  If she goes into labor, she will have a panic attack.  Just answer any questions, talk as long as she needs to.  You'll love her."

And that is one of the many reasons I love Dr. P.

At my 36 week appointment, she checked my cervix which was still closed up tight and told me that she wouldn't check me again unless I just wanted her to.  After that experience, no, I never wanted her to again. Haha.  At week 37, we discussed the birth date I'm hoping for... 1-11-11, and she offered to do the c-section as early as 1-3-11 (her first day back).  She left it up to me and told me to call the office if I decided that the 3rd worked for me, but I'm not in love with that.  I'm sticking with the 11th.

So, my 38th week appointment (with the dr who isn't my own) went well.  She checked my cervix which hurt like a mother... and yes, I've basically been cramping since.  It's still all closed up.  My baby girl is loving her Mommy's belly. ;)  This makes me want to laugh at everyone who has been telling me for a month that I'd never make it to 2011. And when the fill-in doc leaned over to measure my belly... her comment?  "Now that is a big kid."  Yes, ma'am.  She is apparently a whopper.

I am getting slightly anxious at the possibility that my baby may never be able to wear some of the beautiful newborn outfits that she has.  I had a gut feeling that she was going to be big, but I figured she could wear newborns for a little while.  I guess we'll see.

And now for my confession... this Type A STILL hasn't packed for the hospital. ;)