38 Weeks and Dreading Sleep

So I've been told by several people that at a certain point in the pregnancy, I'll feel done with being pregnant and will want labor and delivery to begin....well, apparently that is oh so true and it hit at the 38 week point! I officially feel like a small hippo, am beginning to have contractions although not regular ones, and have discovered the uncomfortable truth that I am just not meant to get solid sleep from here on out. And now that I'm considered full term, the only thing that I can think of is how to get this little one out and into my arms!

Last Tuesday was probably the worst, with steady contractions and cramping happening during the evening while I was trying to relax and watch some TV. When I went to bed, things didn't get any better. I'm not sure if I was cramping in the middle of the night and the actual pain made its way into my dreams, or if because I was so focused on the pain before going to sleep, that the pain traveled into my dreams, but either way, Tuesday's dreams were filled with painful contractions and me thinking "this is it. We have to go to the hospital." I woke up two different times to go to the bathroom (that's also becoming much more regular in the middle of the night), and had such a difficult time going back to sleep. Getting up that next morning to face my teenagers was not pretty to say the least. I've now discovered a new way of sleeping, although it reminds me of a bowling alley with the kiddie bumpers up! ha :) I have my body pillow on the edge of the bed to my one side and another pillow in the middle of the bed on my other side, this way I am protected by pillows and do not turn as much during the night. The turning and flipping sides was beginning to hurt as it took so much effort just to flip from left side to right side and back again. Felt like I was straining some ligament or muscle. Now I only flip sides after I get up for the bathroom and return to sleep. Jason's being really supportive of this whole bed accommodation thing and isn't complaining....although I'm a bit nervous that if too much time passes, he'll be pushed off the bed and sleeping on the floor in no time! If anybody has any tips or suggestions on how to survive these last few weeks, I'd love to hear them!!

Me at 38 weeks in front of my newly planted sunflower garden