Somethings Happening!!!!!!!

Well, several things have been happening since the last time I wrote an update on here. My last appointment with Merrie was last Thursday. At the time, things were looking very good and normal. The baby was moving well and sounding great and I was not dilated at all, but had effaced quite a bit. A day or two after my appointment, I began to have contractions. They were not bad, but they were consistent. I had them 15 minutes apart for about 4 hours one night and then the next day I had contractions 5-10 minutes apart for about 8 hours. That night, I called Merrie to inform her that I was having quite a bit of action although I did not feel that I was in labor yet. Merrie thought it was a good idea for her to come over and assess the situation, so she came over on Saturday night around 10:00. After an exam, she determined that I was making some progress. I was about 95% effaced and 2 centimeters dilated. That was good news. She told me she wouldn't be surprised if the baby came over the weekend. Well, I continued to have contractions. Things were never completely consistent. It was more like I'd have contractions for a few hours and then nothing for a few more hours and then the contractions would come back. I was in contact with Merrie every day so she knew what was going on. I talked to her last night after having contractions for awhile and she thought it was a good idea to move my prenatal appointment for this week up from Wednesday to Tuesday. So, Merrie came over today and did another exam. I am about 3 1/2 cm dilated and completely effaced. Merrie said that usually once someone gets to 4 cm, they will be in labor, so assuming that theory holds true for me I only have 1/2 cm left to go before I am in real labor!!! She thought that one more bought of contractions and I'd probably go into labor. The baby is sounding really good and moving well still. I had been having contractions at night and feeling really anxious so Joel and I were only getting about 3 hours of sleep. Merrie said the best cure for that was a wine cooler before bed. I tried it last night and it worked. I slept like a baby!!!! Merrie didn't schedule another appointment for me for next week because she didn't think we'd need one. That is very good news for me!! She is thinking this baby will come in the next week. She told me to stick close to home because she is pretty sure that once things get going, my labor will go really quickly. More good news for me!!!!! So, hopefully we will have this baby in the next couple of days! I will keep you posted on any new progress that I am making ..... hopefully, things will happen in the next couple of days and instead of telling you how dilated I am, I can tell you that I have a beautiful baby boy!!