False Alarm

So Brad and I had a practice run this past Friday (July 11th). After speaking with my doctor's nurse (about my symptoms) at 11:30am, Brad and I were strongly encouraged to head to the hospital to have an outpatient exam performed to assess if I was on the cusp of active labor. Brad and I rushed home from work, loaded our bags into my car and headed to McDonalds (no - not the hospital yet!!) - it was 12:45pm and neither one of us had had an official lunch. Nothing like a strawberry milkshake and a box of chicken nuggets to get you ready for a potentially long day at the hospital!! Once checked into the hospital we were escorted into a pre-labor room and I was strapped to two monitors - one to monitor Carter's heart beat and another to monitor the frequency and intensity of my contractions. After 2 1/2 hours and two cervical exams, Brad and I were released from the hospital. According to the nurse, I was having contractions every 3 to 7 minutes but the intensity was not progressing nor was my cervix (dilation), so they released us so I could "labor" in a more comfortable environment.

So what did Brad and I do with the rest of our Friday? We took a nap, went to Sam's Club, ate at Buffalo Wild Wings, went to Walmart and came home to clean the house, mow the grass and walk Murphy - anything to keep our minds busy and see if my contractions progressed any further. Needless to say - nothing progressed. Shortly after 10pm on Friday my contractions had diminished and I was left with a sore tummy and an anxious/disappointed husband - but a clean house and a freshly-cut yard!!