Yes, I'm still here... Here I sit, my last day of work for 8 weeks. I'm a little nervous in an excited sort of way (does that make sense?). My maternity leave starts on Monday, even though I'm still not sure if I will be induced that day or not. Either way, I feel as if, mentally and physically, I cannot handle work anymore. Not that it's such a hard job, but just because my mind is so far away. In fact, I kinda hope to have Monday to myself, there are a lot of things around the house that I can do to prepare. I think it's time to dust and vaccuum again, and my office needs some attention. But enough about that.

Christmas was wonderful. It just happened to be the best Christmas of my adult life. That is, looking at it as being the first in a long time where I was actually emotionally healthy and happily content. Christmas Eve found Mike and I in attendance at the 4:30 service at Southwood Lutheran church. We thereafter traveled to Omaha for a wonderful prime rib dinner with his family at his sister's. We awoke Christmas morning and spent a little "quality time" together in bed, afterwards opening our gifts to each other, and then making ourselves ready for Christmas with my family at mom's. It was a great day, a perfect Christmas.

But as the clock ticked past midnight that evening, I awoke for my usual trip to the bathroom and noticed my back was aching. I was kinda excited because I thought maybe I was going into labor. I spent the rest of the night tossing and turning, waiting for contractions and not sleeping. As you can imagine, when Mike suggested that we both play hookey the next day, I immediately agreed. We slept in, made a trip to Scheels for Mike to spend his Christmas money at his favorite store and went to the mall for an exchange. The mall was crazy crowded and by the time we left, I was exhausted and my back was hurting even worse. I spent the rest of the day and night with a heating pad on the couch. I did actually have two real, painful contractions, but they did not continue. Aaarrggh!

So t-minus 8 hours and counting. I'll be frreeeeee... kinda...