Labor? Flu? Waiting?

OK...I left off my last blog with going to the Labor & Delivery.

NOW...I didn't really think I was in labor, but I was super concerned I was getting a horrible flu.  The last thing I'd ever want is to get a horrible flu and make him sick!  The minute you go to L&D everyone assumes you are going into labor.  I didn't honestly think that.  I was having contractions, but I just assumed they were Braxton Hicks.  I get them all the time, so I wasn't that concerned.  I WAS concerned with having taken two Tylenol and still feeling like I had a fever.  I mean...was I having a stroke?  Was my blood pressure sky rocketing?  Was Stanley hot?  My face was as red as a beet.  My whole body ached as if I were some 105-year-old grandma.  I was pretty sure I was getting some flu.

I get checked into L&D.  I get my gown on and hooked up to a fetal monitor and a monitor to track my contractions.  They checked my blood pressure and constantly monitor my pulse.  My blood pressure was a little higher than that morning, but it was still very normal.  My baby seemed to be doing just fine...heartbeat 150bpm.  Stanley constantly kicked the monitors on my belly.  His kicks are so accurate...it's like he can see through my stomach.  And... tracking my contractions would take awhile.  The nurse immediately asked me if I was nervous.  I said, "why?"  Apparently, my heart rate was in the 120's.  I thought I was pretty calm, but I guess I was wrong.  It went down to 101 at some point, but it would shoot back up when I would freak out over something.  AND... I didn't have a fever.  So... 15 minutes into my L&D trip, I had found out zero about my flu!

So, there I was....hanging out in Labor & Delivery.  Brian was texting my mother, who was all in a tizzy thinking she was going to miss the big moment.  If she doesn't see her grandson 5 minutes after he leaves my body, she'd never forgive herself.  I kept telling Brian I wasn't going to have the baby, and he kept getting excited at the thought I was going into labor.  He was monitoring my contractions, and I was more concerned with the thought that I was getting a horrible flu.  My mind started going crazy.  Brian picked up the paper tracking my contractions, and he was pretty sure I was having my baby soon.  I hadn't really paid much attention to it, but I looked over and those damn contractions had definitely started a pattern.  It was as clear as day.  I thought we could be mistaken though.  The nurse came in and the eyebrows went up.  She said, "Well, you're definitely having contractions."  I said, "Well, yeah, but they are Braxton Hicks and all over the place, right?"  She said, "Umm...no..  they have started a pattern, and they are real contractions."  I immediately freaked out.  Was I ready to have my baby right then?  I mean... I started getting a little teary-eyed.  My OB scheduled my induction on the 17th...which I had found out earlier from my mother that it was kind of a special day.  That was my grandparents wedding anniversary.  Since they are no longer here, I thought it would be kind of cool that he arrived on that day. 

The nurse checked to see if I had dilated any since that morning at my OB appointment.  AND....nope!  I was still the same.  She called my OB, and he suggested I go home and take an ambien.  She said that even if I was getting a flu they couldn't really do anything.  They just let it run its course.  So, I was a little relieved.  I wasn't exactly mentally prepared to have my baby at that moment...especially since I wasn't really there for labor....just a flu!?  I called my mom and updated her on my condition.  She booked a flight for the next morning.  She decided she wasn't going to miss this....any of it.

So, here we are...5 days later.  My body aches finally went away yesterday evening.  I did eventually get a fever, but I was able to keep it down.  The chills would come just as easy as the fevers.... hot and cold for days!! BUT... that has gone away.  The mild headache is gone.  However....My back aches are still hanging out in full force.  And...let's just say I have one more issue that HAS NOT gone away...but since guys read this... I am not going to get into that.  ;)  You're welcome, men!  So.... do I have the flu?  My OB didn't think so...he thought this was just my body entering the first stage of labor.  I still think I have the flu.  Regardless, my little boy is still super active.  He loves stretching those feet and leaving them out for the world to see.  His legs and arms are sooo strong.  It's to the point where I can't walk when he's awake....he flails his limbs everywhere, and I double over from the punches.  My mucus plug is gone so I'm thinking that is a pretty good sign.  AND...if you don't know what a mucus plug is, I would implore you to NOT look that up. 

So... baby watch 2012 is still happening.  He will be here soon.  I hope I feel better when I actually have to go through labor, but we can't pick and choose these things.  At this point, I'm extremely happy my mom came in town.  It has become very difficult to get around and just make food for myself.  Since Brian is at work all day, she gets to do all that fun stuff.  She is probably bored out of her mind, but I can't help being a fat, sick blob. 

I don't know....maybe I will feel better tomorrow.... maybe my water will break... or maybe it will be just another boring day on the couch.  Waiting is not my forte.