Pack Up Day (Day 72)

Wow, tomorrow's the big day. And I doubt I'll have time to post before Spartacus is born. I have to be packed and ready to go at about 6:30 in the morning. So today Byron and the girls will be up this afternoon to take down all of the months of artwork, colorings and notes they've made for me. My room is already looking so plain. Byron took home mountains of gifts, books, movies etc. the other night.
Dr. Lovelace came in this morning and went over the final plan for tomorrow. What I should eat (toast), what to expect and how we'll proceed. As I mentioned before, he'll induce me and we'll find out pretty soon if Spartacus can handle the labor. If not, I'll most likely be given a general anesthesia, get knocked out and he can get the baby out in about 3 minutes. That's amazing-- the 3 minute part. I'd like to avoid the C-section-- but if it happens, it happens. When I first was pregnant, started having problems and was told if things didn't clear up (Placenta Previa), I should plan on a C-section. Wouldn't you know, that night I had a horrible nightmare where I dreamt the anesthesia did not work and I could feel the cutting, pulling etc. Eeek.
Since this is my last full day in here, my friend suggested I make a list of what I won't miss. So (deep breath) here goes!
1. The hospital bed
2. My ordered lack of mobility and therefore the loss of Spring and Summer (except through my window) and the loss of every ounce of muscle
3. The same hospital menu
4. Leaking, leaking, leaking (or as I like to refer to it, practicing for incontinence when I'm elderly)
5. No privacy and my loss of all dignity
6. Ever try and get decent sleep in a hospital (need I say more?)
7. Showers on a bench
8. Dried goopy gel left on my belly from daily multiple monitoring of Spartacus' heartbeat and my contractions.
9. Cheap toilet paper
10. 10 and 1/2 weeks of consecutive bad hair days

Okay, there are a few things I've left out. But I really don't want to come across as a whiner. I've been so well taken care of in here. The nurses and doctors and even the cleaning ladies have all been amazing. I have been spoiled beyond words-- I feel as if I'll be spending the rest of my life writing thank you notes and telling all of you thank you for the countless and repeated acts of love and support for myself and my family. I have never felt so loved , so prayed for and so cherished. And I don't know where to begin to thank all of you. I just hope someday I'll be able to serve each of you (of course, I don't wish this upon you-- but maybe I can help you in some other way). Thank you again and in advance for the prayers I know you'll be saying tomorrow as Spartacus makes his way into this world. I'm in awe of all of you.
P.S. Stacy will be posting for me tomorrow.