You know... there are many ways a person can save money, but when it absolutely, positively has to get there overnight, don't settle for anything less than the best. That is what we have learned this week. Why oh why did I ever think those Sandhill cranes would be able to get the goods here on time is beyond me. Well, it's too late now. You get what you pay for I suppose. Now we have to just sit, wait and hope that they don't mishandle or lose our package. Elena and I were so looking forward to opening the box yesterday too. I should have known something was wrong when they told me on the phone that they could not provide me with a tracking number because they don't use them. Something about cutting corners to save money. What incompetance I tell you!

Anyway, Elena has reached maximum capacity and is swollen in her hands and ankles. She has not been able to get a full nights rest all week and wakes up exhausted. We went to the Dr. on Wednesday and still no change. I suppose when the effacement and dilation start it will happen all at once. Elena's blood pressure was a little high on this visit so we were asked to come back two days later to take her blood pressure to make sure things were nominal. They were.

Up until now Elena and I never really thought about the scenario we are now in. Namely, what to do if Emma should run long. There are several factors to consider this late in the game. Each week Emma stays in her Mommy's tummy she gains another half of a pound. If we keep her in there too long she may be as big as Jorge jokingly suggested (13 lbs) at her time of delivery. This would not be good physically for mother or child and would almost certainly guarantee a c-section. Additionally, the life-sustaining placenta has begun to deteriorate as of week 38. That means that Emma's food, oxygen, and waste management system are already running less than optimally and will perform worse and worse as the days progress. Furthermore, the chances for Emma to poop inside her little amniotic sac increase as her normal systems begin to kick in (Up until now all waste products have been carried out through the umbilical cord and filtered through the placenta). As amniotic fluid is constantly being ingested through her mouth and lungs the tar like substance known as meconium can be fatal if it enters into the lungs. We are not too keen on the prospect of induction because of all the chemicals it involves, but given all these factors to consider we will ultimately have to make a cut-off. In the mean time, Elena and I are looking online for natural induction techniques and trying all of them. From walking, to lobster, spicy mexican, pineapple, bouncing on the exercise ball, foot massages, etc.

Elena's Aunt Araceli and Grandmother Sarita spent a couple of days at our house this week to look after Elena while I was at work in the event that Emma decided to make her debut. But Emma has her own plans. At least they were able to spend some quality time together.