Somewhere along the way, my intuition must have lost it’s signal.

From full bars to none, in the last nine months I feel as if I’ve exhausted my energy trying to get by.  I gaze outside, searching for something recognizable, a connection that will lead me to a familiar place.  Like a freeway off-ramp to a different town, but must surely be the one that leads you to where you want to go.

Or so it seems.

Back in July, I somehow tested positive on a pregnancy test after a final round of Clomid.

After a year of trying to conceive, endless medical tests, and medication side effects, I had had little hope that month.  But a stroke of luck proved me wrong.

I never imagined this path would be straight or evenly paved.   Especially since this is not my first time down this road.  Albeit 5 years since my last pregnancy, I figured I would recognize, perhaps even anticipate, some of the twists and turns along the way.

The lack of morning sickness, carrying low, a lower fetal heart rate, all pointed in the direction of a boy.  All unfamiliar from when I had my girl.

Alas, I was wrong again.  The sonographer saw a taco, not a hot dog.

As early as 18 weeks pregnant, I already began having contractions.  None of them strong or too alarming, but contractions nonetheless.  In my previous pregnancy I began preterm labor at 25 weeks and was placed on bed rest until I gave birth at 38 weeks.

This time around, due to the earlier contractions, I had high hopes that this baby would be our first sign of spring after a long, bizarre weathered winter.

But today, at 39 weeks pregnant, there is still little indication of this baby vacating the premises anytime soon.  Birthing Babisodes at 38 weeks was incredibly difficult due to her size, and I worry that if this child cooks for much longer, they may need to go in and get her.

I feel as if I’ve driven past the right exit-ramp a dozen times now, but every time, a barricade is blocking the path.

Perhaps this little one takes after me and wants to make sure all signs of winter are gone before making her exit.  Or maybe she lost her GPS signal as well.

Either way, I hope this detour isn’t much longer.

I washed and put away most of our winter gear today.  Just in case.