Aside form her getting bigger, she is ALREADY GETTING TEETH!
Isn't she the cutest???
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Here she is... GROWING UP!
Goodness she is getting big fast. It's hard to believe she is only JUST going to be 4 months old.
Aside form her getting bigger, she is ALREADY GETTING TEETH!
Isn't she the cutest???
Aside form her getting bigger, she is ALREADY GETTING TEETH!
Isn't she the cutest???
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Feeling Great!
So it's been a week and I feel so good. I went to the chiro 2 days postpartum. That helped soooo much. I highly recommend it to anyone about to have a baby and following the birth. I was so out of alignment from the birth.
I had my 1 week pp visit with the midwife yesterday and she was just amazed at how quickly I am recovering. My uterus is already the size of a peach. In just another week or so I would guess it will be impossible to find.
A lot of you have emailed to ask how I am feeling... mentally... well truth is I feel great! Mia is with wonderful and caring parents, she is nursing like a champ and has a big sister who totally adores her. What's not to be thrilled about the way this ended? I talked to Candace today and they had a decent trip home. A few things could have been better, like a cleaner train but all in all they were at least comfortable. The second train they were on was better than the first she said. Her mom and dad met them at the station with a limo for their ride home. She shared some pictures from the trip home. They are up on a website. It's amazing how much Mia's face has changed in just a week. Today is fathers day and I am just thrilled to death that Alex has his little girl in his hands to celebrate the day. I swear I couldn't have done this for a more deserving and amazing couple and I am just so unbelievably happy with how things turned out.
I am also pumping milk for my kids now too and am so happy with how much I am getting for them. I have decided to keep pumping and am trying to get my hands on a PIS advance to help facilitate pumping for them. Lance is really loving my milk and I think I want to keep this up for as long as he wants to have the milk. I am up to almost 30 ounces a day and now Lance is drinking more breast milk than cows milk again which makes me happy.
let's see... oh I have already shed 21 lbs. Kyra says my belly is no longer floppy(like how it is the first days after birth) and my bleeding is down to a trickle. I am already back into my size 10's. YAY!!! Although I want to tone up my mid section nicely. I am going to start microdermabrasion to help with the hyper-pigmentation I have had to deal with because of pregnancy. I go for my first treatment early in July. I have to do some other skin lightening treatment before starting the mda so that is why the wait.
Next week I turn 34 and I feel like I am exactly where I belong in my life.
I had my 1 week pp visit with the midwife yesterday and she was just amazed at how quickly I am recovering. My uterus is already the size of a peach. In just another week or so I would guess it will be impossible to find.
A lot of you have emailed to ask how I am feeling... mentally... well truth is I feel great! Mia is with wonderful and caring parents, she is nursing like a champ and has a big sister who totally adores her. What's not to be thrilled about the way this ended? I talked to Candace today and they had a decent trip home. A few things could have been better, like a cleaner train but all in all they were at least comfortable. The second train they were on was better than the first she said. Her mom and dad met them at the station with a limo for their ride home. She shared some pictures from the trip home. They are up on a website. It's amazing how much Mia's face has changed in just a week. Today is fathers day and I am just thrilled to death that Alex has his little girl in his hands to celebrate the day. I swear I couldn't have done this for a more deserving and amazing couple and I am just so unbelievably happy with how things turned out.
I am also pumping milk for my kids now too and am so happy with how much I am getting for them. I have decided to keep pumping and am trying to get my hands on a PIS advance to help facilitate pumping for them. Lance is really loving my milk and I think I want to keep this up for as long as he wants to have the milk. I am up to almost 30 ounces a day and now Lance is drinking more breast milk than cows milk again which makes me happy.
let's see... oh I have already shed 21 lbs. Kyra says my belly is no longer floppy(like how it is the first days after birth) and my bleeding is down to a trickle. I am already back into my size 10's. YAY!!! Although I want to tone up my mid section nicely. I am going to start microdermabrasion to help with the hyper-pigmentation I have had to deal with because of pregnancy. I go for my first treatment early in July. I have to do some other skin lightening treatment before starting the mda so that is why the wait.
Next week I turn 34 and I feel like I am exactly where I belong in my life.
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Birth
For the days leading up to the birth of this little miracle I had been just trying to make plans to keep myself busy during the day and resting really well at night. So Saturday my sister and I went out to Grapevine to the Winery to pick up a case of mead for Scott and then to GermanDeli.com to do some much needed german foods shopping (we Germans gotta have some of our faves and all.) We walked around historic downtown Grapevine for a little while and were invited to crash the candy favors line at a wedding they were having down there (by the mother of the bride.) We stopped at this little bakery and I picked up a scrumptious almond cressont and then headed home.
After we got home I called Candace and Alex to see what they had been doing all day and see if they wanted to come over to rest and relax and grill out with us, but they had been in the sun all day already and were pretty much spent so they were going to just run to the grocery store and take an easy night. I reminded Candace of some stuff she needed to pick up for the birth. And we decided to get together on Sunday for a nice chill day.
My sister cooked dinner for me and my family instead and she went to the bookstore. All day she had been having a terrible backache and I told her it was sympathy pains. She said I was going to be having Mia that day, because she couldn't handle the pain lol. It was kind of a running joke with us all day. Anyhow when she came home from the bookstore it was about 9pm and I was laying down with the kiddos and falling asleep. Lance and Kyra were watching the Herculiods (one of their favorite old cartoons.) Susanne came in to use the tub in the master bathroom(it's got jets and all, great for a backache.) Lance had been bugging me and I rolled over and told him he needed to be quiet and watch his show and go to sleep. I was right on the verge of falling over that sleeping edge by that point andI suddenly felt my bag of waters pop. It was very slow motion, like I could feel inside my vagina the actual membranes of the bag sweep through the area as the water rushed around and filled the canal and flowed out. It was the largest gush of waters I have ever had and the bed was soaked.
I got up and walked into the bathroom where my sister was standing as her much needed bath was filling up (so sorry you didn't get that bath Susanne.) She looked at me funny and I said, "my water broke." I had been wondering how this labor was going to announce itself and if I would even know I was in labor when it finally started, but true to form for me it was announced in a way you just can't doubt with that sudden rush of waters.
She saw that I was leaking all over the floor and told me to get into the tub. Lance jumped up out of the bed too to find out what I was doing so I asked him to bring me the phone and I made all the necessary phone calls. I wasn't contracting at that point so no one needed to rush over.
My wonderful and amazing husband and sister jumped into action and got the house prepared. Scott pumped up the pool and started filling it up while my sister cleaned the bathtub and got the water redy in the crock pot and cleaned the floors and oh heck 101 other little things they thought needed to be done. By then Kyra was already completely out but Lance was still needing to go to sleep so I laid down with him to rest a little more and put him to sleep. By 10:30 the house was quiet finally and everyone was just waiting for me to start contracting. I had started but didn't think they were anything. They were slowly building and I was timing them while talking to my dear friend Sherry on the phone. They were mild but coming frequently and I knew that they would pick up soon as the time between them was ripe for me to kick it in gear at anytime, so I called Bonnie back and told her I needed her there for my sanity. I just know that when I go I am going to hit the floor running, I just needed to get to that established labor point, the magical 4 cms and it would be all over. I called Candace back and told her that things would be picking up soon. I just wanted to make sure everyone was here and in place before things got heated.
It was around midnight when Bonnie arrived (I didn't realize it was so late) and I had her check me. I was only 3cms, but again I wasn't really contracting that much. I walked around some more to help get things going. I am not exactly sure when it started but I knew I had finally moved past the point and got into the pool. Reminding myself that what I was feeling at that point was nothing. Scott sat next to me (we were in the dining room) while everyone else chatted in the living room. At some point I asked Bonnie to check me again and I was finally at a 4. I guess that had to be around 1:45. She called her apprentice to come in as Kim (the other midwife) was at another birth. Right after that I had a few really strong contractions and one extremely long and intense contraction. At which point Bonnie texted the apprentice to hurry up. I asked Bonnie to check me again and told her that if she told me I was only a 6 I was going to DIE! Of course being the person I am she knew she could reply with some funny retort and she said everyone would surely miss me. She checked me and announced that I was 8 and she wasn't kidding. Everything was just a rush and blur at that point because she knew and I knew that it was going to be completely over with very soon. I was screaming for someone to give me some serious counter pressure and I could hear Bonnie rushing around, getting Alex to do the recordings of the details as the apprentice hadn't yet arrived to do that part.
I told them I needed to push but not yet I was almost there, asked Bonnie to see what was holding me back, she said a small lip, I knew any second I would be allowed to push and I would feel better. Now? not yet, and finally Bonnie said ok and I pushed and wondered why the hell it still hurt so bad. PUSH.... I could feel her moving down and though "HOLY SHIT she is bigger than Lance!" They could see her head already. PUSH....man it burned like a MF'er (yes I said that outloud, then quickly apologized to Abby who was sitting in the living room). She was so good! PUSH... she was at a full crown (oh the apprentice had arrived sometime before the pushing began but I don't recall any of that). I was just shocked at how much this hurt and was very confused, there was just no way she was that big. PUSH PUSH PUSH her head was out and I was pushing with all I had but they were asking for more. She seemed stuck but why? I could hear in my midwifes voice that she was concerned, Scott and Susanne had to hold me down because I was coming out of the water. Finally Bonnie said "Stand her up" and told me to push really hard, she could see why I was struggling getting her out now. Her hand was up by her face, and Bonnie tried to push it in but instead Mia forced her elbow out. What a stinker! BUt standing up I could finally get the leverage I needed to get Mia out and at 2:47am there she was, Candace was there to catch her little girl... I reached down too instinctively because the cord was so short and I could feel it tugging... Hurry someone bring her a towel the baby is cold, I could see her lip quivering. We were supposed to be in the warm water but weren't. I looked at Candace and was like "wow it's your little girl... hold her wrap her up... The cord was just too short though for her to hold her long...I told Candace that her cord was too short that she would have to give her to me for a moment(this is all in a matter of seconds really). I stepped out of the pool and started walking back to the bedroom so they could collect the cord blood. We were supposed to wait to deliver the placenta before we cut the cord but the cord was so short that we couldn't facilitate the cord blood retrieval right with it like that so Alex cut the cord and I could finally hand her over to her mommy. Bonnie collected the blood and then we delivered the placenta and she collected some more. It was an odd placental delivery as some of my bag of waters was coming out after the placenta. I could finally clean up a little and get my wet top off and put on something a little more modest(yeah).
My children slowly woke up at that point and all came out to meet the baby. Lance was the first :) Then he went to wake up Kyra and Erick after he had some time with the baby lol.
I bled a lot more than normal. I decided I needed to get the pump on but it only produced some small contractions that didn't seem to help too much at that time. At some point in the night I just knew Bonnie was going to need to massage my uterus and so I asked her to at which she got a large fist sized blood clot out. Finally my bleeding was slowing. I was so tired. Everyone had already moved out of the bedroom at that point to give me some down time and I think it was around 6am when Candace, Alex, Abby and Mia got to go back to the hotel for some much needed rest.
After we got home I called Candace and Alex to see what they had been doing all day and see if they wanted to come over to rest and relax and grill out with us, but they had been in the sun all day already and were pretty much spent so they were going to just run to the grocery store and take an easy night. I reminded Candace of some stuff she needed to pick up for the birth. And we decided to get together on Sunday for a nice chill day.
My sister cooked dinner for me and my family instead and she went to the bookstore. All day she had been having a terrible backache and I told her it was sympathy pains. She said I was going to be having Mia that day, because she couldn't handle the pain lol. It was kind of a running joke with us all day. Anyhow when she came home from the bookstore it was about 9pm and I was laying down with the kiddos and falling asleep. Lance and Kyra were watching the Herculiods (one of their favorite old cartoons.) Susanne came in to use the tub in the master bathroom(it's got jets and all, great for a backache.) Lance had been bugging me and I rolled over and told him he needed to be quiet and watch his show and go to sleep. I was right on the verge of falling over that sleeping edge by that point andI suddenly felt my bag of waters pop. It was very slow motion, like I could feel inside my vagina the actual membranes of the bag sweep through the area as the water rushed around and filled the canal and flowed out. It was the largest gush of waters I have ever had and the bed was soaked.
I got up and walked into the bathroom where my sister was standing as her much needed bath was filling up (so sorry you didn't get that bath Susanne.) She looked at me funny and I said, "my water broke." I had been wondering how this labor was going to announce itself and if I would even know I was in labor when it finally started, but true to form for me it was announced in a way you just can't doubt with that sudden rush of waters.
She saw that I was leaking all over the floor and told me to get into the tub. Lance jumped up out of the bed too to find out what I was doing so I asked him to bring me the phone and I made all the necessary phone calls. I wasn't contracting at that point so no one needed to rush over.
My wonderful and amazing husband and sister jumped into action and got the house prepared. Scott pumped up the pool and started filling it up while my sister cleaned the bathtub and got the water redy in the crock pot and cleaned the floors and oh heck 101 other little things they thought needed to be done. By then Kyra was already completely out but Lance was still needing to go to sleep so I laid down with him to rest a little more and put him to sleep. By 10:30 the house was quiet finally and everyone was just waiting for me to start contracting. I had started but didn't think they were anything. They were slowly building and I was timing them while talking to my dear friend Sherry on the phone. They were mild but coming frequently and I knew that they would pick up soon as the time between them was ripe for me to kick it in gear at anytime, so I called Bonnie back and told her I needed her there for my sanity. I just know that when I go I am going to hit the floor running, I just needed to get to that established labor point, the magical 4 cms and it would be all over. I called Candace back and told her that things would be picking up soon. I just wanted to make sure everyone was here and in place before things got heated.
It was around midnight when Bonnie arrived (I didn't realize it was so late) and I had her check me. I was only 3cms, but again I wasn't really contracting that much. I walked around some more to help get things going. I am not exactly sure when it started but I knew I had finally moved past the point and got into the pool. Reminding myself that what I was feeling at that point was nothing. Scott sat next to me (we were in the dining room) while everyone else chatted in the living room. At some point I asked Bonnie to check me again and I was finally at a 4. I guess that had to be around 1:45. She called her apprentice to come in as Kim (the other midwife) was at another birth. Right after that I had a few really strong contractions and one extremely long and intense contraction. At which point Bonnie texted the apprentice to hurry up. I asked Bonnie to check me again and told her that if she told me I was only a 6 I was going to DIE! Of course being the person I am she knew she could reply with some funny retort and she said everyone would surely miss me. She checked me and announced that I was 8 and she wasn't kidding. Everything was just a rush and blur at that point because she knew and I knew that it was going to be completely over with very soon. I was screaming for someone to give me some serious counter pressure and I could hear Bonnie rushing around, getting Alex to do the recordings of the details as the apprentice hadn't yet arrived to do that part.
I told them I needed to push but not yet I was almost there, asked Bonnie to see what was holding me back, she said a small lip, I knew any second I would be allowed to push and I would feel better. Now? not yet, and finally Bonnie said ok and I pushed and wondered why the hell it still hurt so bad. PUSH.... I could feel her moving down and though "HOLY SHIT she is bigger than Lance!" They could see her head already. PUSH....man it burned like a MF'er (yes I said that outloud, then quickly apologized to Abby who was sitting in the living room). She was so good! PUSH... she was at a full crown (oh the apprentice had arrived sometime before the pushing began but I don't recall any of that). I was just shocked at how much this hurt and was very confused, there was just no way she was that big. PUSH PUSH PUSH her head was out and I was pushing with all I had but they were asking for more. She seemed stuck but why? I could hear in my midwifes voice that she was concerned, Scott and Susanne had to hold me down because I was coming out of the water. Finally Bonnie said "Stand her up" and told me to push really hard, she could see why I was struggling getting her out now. Her hand was up by her face, and Bonnie tried to push it in but instead Mia forced her elbow out. What a stinker! BUt standing up I could finally get the leverage I needed to get Mia out and at 2:47am there she was, Candace was there to catch her little girl... I reached down too instinctively because the cord was so short and I could feel it tugging... Hurry someone bring her a towel the baby is cold, I could see her lip quivering. We were supposed to be in the warm water but weren't. I looked at Candace and was like "wow it's your little girl... hold her wrap her up... The cord was just too short though for her to hold her long...I told Candace that her cord was too short that she would have to give her to me for a moment(this is all in a matter of seconds really). I stepped out of the pool and started walking back to the bedroom so they could collect the cord blood. We were supposed to wait to deliver the placenta before we cut the cord but the cord was so short that we couldn't facilitate the cord blood retrieval right with it like that so Alex cut the cord and I could finally hand her over to her mommy. Bonnie collected the blood and then we delivered the placenta and she collected some more. It was an odd placental delivery as some of my bag of waters was coming out after the placenta. I could finally clean up a little and get my wet top off and put on something a little more modest(yeah).
My children slowly woke up at that point and all came out to meet the baby. Lance was the first :) Then he went to wake up Kyra and Erick after he had some time with the baby lol.
I bled a lot more than normal. I decided I needed to get the pump on but it only produced some small contractions that didn't seem to help too much at that time. At some point in the night I just knew Bonnie was going to need to massage my uterus and so I asked her to at which she got a large fist sized blood clot out. Finally my bleeding was slowing. I was so tired. Everyone had already moved out of the bedroom at that point to give me some down time and I think it was around 6am when Candace, Alex, Abby and Mia got to go back to the hotel for some much needed rest.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Quick Update
After 62 minutes of active labor she arrive with her hand/elbow up by her head. It was scary because she was hard to push out with her elbow up by her head. They had to quickly stand me up and I had to push with more than I knew I had. It wasn't until after she was out they explained why she was so hard to get out.
anyhow the details are 9lbs 8oz 21inches long. Even with her hand/elbow up by her head no tears.
anyhow the details are 9lbs 8oz 21inches long. Even with her hand/elbow up by her head no tears.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Still No Baby
I have had 2 appt's since my last post. 39 weeks today. I had my last appt. on Wednesday and I was 2-3 cm dilated and 60% effaced. It's anyones guess but I am blaming Alex's genetics for Mia taking her time(hehe). According to Candace, Alex was born at 42 weeks. His poor mother!
We went to the movies today. Saw Kung Fu Panda. It was a cute movie and a nice way to pass some time. Tomorrow I have plans to drive out to the Vineyard to pick up some mead for Scott. Watch I will go into labor because I have plans. I have actually started making plans almost every day so as to jinx myself but it doesn't seem to be working.
OK it's Sat morning now and still no baby. I thought something might happen last night but after I went to bed it all petered out. It was nothing strong so I knew better than to try to stay up and exhaust myself trying to jump start labor. Plus I have to get Scott his doggoned mead today.
Well I am off to shower and get my day started.
We went to the movies today. Saw Kung Fu Panda. It was a cute movie and a nice way to pass some time. Tomorrow I have plans to drive out to the Vineyard to pick up some mead for Scott. Watch I will go into labor because I have plans. I have actually started making plans almost every day so as to jinx myself but it doesn't seem to be working.
OK it's Sat morning now and still no baby. I thought something might happen last night but after I went to bed it all petered out. It was nothing strong so I knew better than to try to stay up and exhaust myself trying to jump start labor. Plus I have to get Scott his doggoned mead today.
Well I am off to shower and get my day started.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Getting Close!
Lately I have been so unbelievably tired but I guess that is because I am getting close. Last week after my appt I called Candace to let her know that I couldn't make any promises about keeping Mia in until she arrived on the 31st so she nd Abby flew in over the weekend and are hanging out with me. Well not today, they went into Dallas so I don't feel like a watched pot lol.
Anyhow I have been wanting to take a picture of my belly with no clothing over it but just haven't gotten around to it. Personally I think for this being my fourth pregnancy that my pregnant self looks amazing. I don't have any stretch marks from this pregnancy so far but I am by far the largest I have ever been in my life. People are asking me every day if I need a hospital, especially men. Little do they know lol!
I cooked for everyone yesterday and Candace and Abby came over to eat with us. Candace pumped while she was here twice and wow she is a milk making machine! I am so proud of all her efforts and success at getting her supply up. I will be pumping colostrum for Mia and we are still trying to figure out the logistics of getting it in and her putting Mia to the breast at the same time. She is afraid of over feeding and probably more let down than Mia can handle. I am hoping Mia is just one HUNGRY baby and she will be nursing like nuts so Candace won't have to worry about it at all.
I think my kids are just as excited about meeting Mia as Abby is. They have been really awsome about the whole thing this whole time. It's amazing to me how they handle strangers when they ask questions about their "new baby brother or sister".
It's like they can tell the people who will be able to handle the news that it isn't our baby and those who can't. Like the other day Kyra and I went out to breakfast and the waitress asked her if she was having a sister or a brother and she said "the baby is a girl" but gave her no other details. She smiled a knowing smile at me and I winked at her.
Well I have an appointment tomorrow and when I have the energy I will post again.
Just to update the details, I am about 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced and soft. She is at a 0 to +1 station so I am carrying really low.
Ok that is the nitty gritty:)
Anyhow I have been wanting to take a picture of my belly with no clothing over it but just haven't gotten around to it. Personally I think for this being my fourth pregnancy that my pregnant self looks amazing. I don't have any stretch marks from this pregnancy so far but I am by far the largest I have ever been in my life. People are asking me every day if I need a hospital, especially men. Little do they know lol!
I cooked for everyone yesterday and Candace and Abby came over to eat with us. Candace pumped while she was here twice and wow she is a milk making machine! I am so proud of all her efforts and success at getting her supply up. I will be pumping colostrum for Mia and we are still trying to figure out the logistics of getting it in and her putting Mia to the breast at the same time. She is afraid of over feeding and probably more let down than Mia can handle. I am hoping Mia is just one HUNGRY baby and she will be nursing like nuts so Candace won't have to worry about it at all.
I think my kids are just as excited about meeting Mia as Abby is. They have been really awsome about the whole thing this whole time. It's amazing to me how they handle strangers when they ask questions about their "new baby brother or sister".
It's like they can tell the people who will be able to handle the news that it isn't our baby and those who can't. Like the other day Kyra and I went out to breakfast and the waitress asked her if she was having a sister or a brother and she said "the baby is a girl" but gave her no other details. She smiled a knowing smile at me and I winked at her.
Well I have an appointment tomorrow and when I have the energy I will post again.
Just to update the details, I am about 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced and soft. She is at a 0 to +1 station so I am carrying really low.
Ok that is the nitty gritty:)
Friday, May 16, 2008
Pregnant People
Last week the kids were outback playing and Kyra and Lance ran in with babies in their bellies. It was just the funniest thing I had ever seen. I needed to take another belly picture so here was my chance for a fun one...
Erick took this picture (I hate when he does because it is like he is looking up my nose lol)
Erick took this picture (I hate when he does because it is like he is looking up my nose lol)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
I found my way back!!!
Actually, Andrea found my way for me! I was lost but now I am back. This has been a truly amazing journey and I feel like we are in the final countdown (and yes, I have been singing that song much to my family's dismay lol!) I am so excited to meet Mia and I only hope that the remainder of the pregnancy is easy on Andrea and that the birth experience is as beautiful as her own children's births.
Speaking of beautiful...doesn't Andrea look great? I love that belly and she just looks radiant. So, that fact that I have gained 7 pounds is nothing right? Truly, the medication that I am taking to induce lactation is making me plump lol! It's supposed to trick your body into thinking that it was preggo so I definitely got round! I am pumping about 1 1/2 ounces every three hours and 1 ounce is from the right. If only my left could keep up I would be happier with my production but I am hoping that when I begin nursing my supply will follow Mia's needs better than with the pump.
So, I have my packing lists started and I am counting the days until we travel. Alex, Abby and I will be staying in an extended stay hotel and then taking a train home to NY. Yup, that's right, a 40 hour train ride with two adults, one tween, and one newborn in a 7x10 sleeper car. Doesn't that sound like a blast?! I'll be sure to capture that journey on film! Really, we are all so excited. I will be home schooling Abby while we are away and Alex will be working from the hotel so life will go on.
Keep your fingers crossed that Mia waits until after 38 weekd to arrive (Andrea will have to stand on her head or something lol!)
Speaking of beautiful...doesn't Andrea look great? I love that belly and she just looks radiant. So, that fact that I have gained 7 pounds is nothing right? Truly, the medication that I am taking to induce lactation is making me plump lol! It's supposed to trick your body into thinking that it was preggo so I definitely got round! I am pumping about 1 1/2 ounces every three hours and 1 ounce is from the right. If only my left could keep up I would be happier with my production but I am hoping that when I begin nursing my supply will follow Mia's needs better than with the pump.
So, I have my packing lists started and I am counting the days until we travel. Alex, Abby and I will be staying in an extended stay hotel and then taking a train home to NY. Yup, that's right, a 40 hour train ride with two adults, one tween, and one newborn in a 7x10 sleeper car. Doesn't that sound like a blast?! I'll be sure to capture that journey on film! Really, we are all so excited. I will be home schooling Abby while we are away and Alex will be working from the hotel so life will go on.
Keep your fingers crossed that Mia waits until after 38 weekd to arrive (Andrea will have to stand on her head or something lol!)
Sunday, April 20, 2008
32 weeks
ok ok... I have been getting a ton of emails asking me to update my blog and although I have not personally responded to the majority of my emails (I am sorry, really) I am hearing you and I do miss you all.
I have been insanely busy lately. We put new flooring in my home and are working hard at getting this house presentable to sell. I have been doing some volunteer work for my neighborhood as well and just taking care of the kids, and of course it is that time of year(you know ren faire). So when I do read emails I only really have enough time to reply to the ones my clients are sending me. Even Candace and I are having a hard time finding a connection at times so really it's not personal. Just life...
Ok so on to the good stuff. The pregnancy is going well and Friday I hit 32 weeks. I had a midwife appt this week and my BP is great 120/70, I gained no weight in the last 3 weeks, in fact I think I actually lost some weight because Mia is growing but I didn't. Fundal height is measuring 32 weeks, my iron checked out but I do need to watch it(that is a first for me). No swelling in my legs or ankles. i had a trace of protein but that has more to do with the fact that the day before I had only about 40g of protein total to eat. I had a meatless soup for dinner, but it was so yummy!
ok so on to what you are really here for, the belly picture.
32 weeks and 1 day
The baby has started keeping me up at night. I am half tempted to call Alex and Candace every time she wakes me up to prepare them for her schedule lol. That would be a hoot wouldn't it (insert evil grin here).
She is head down and moving well into my pelvis now and so when she turns her head it grates on my cervix and I can feel it deep in my vagina. It is actually quite painful which is also very surprising to me. Last night she did sleep though which was great. She had been very active up until about midnight when she settled and went to sleep. Up until them though I was in a lot of pain every time she moved. Her movements are also very physically jarring to me. I could be sitting here and then she will move and my whole body will react to it. It's crazy.
Anyhow, everything is well with me and I hope you guys are all doing well too... I miss you!
I have been insanely busy lately. We put new flooring in my home and are working hard at getting this house presentable to sell. I have been doing some volunteer work for my neighborhood as well and just taking care of the kids, and of course it is that time of year(you know ren faire). So when I do read emails I only really have enough time to reply to the ones my clients are sending me. Even Candace and I are having a hard time finding a connection at times so really it's not personal. Just life...
Ok so on to the good stuff. The pregnancy is going well and Friday I hit 32 weeks. I had a midwife appt this week and my BP is great 120/70, I gained no weight in the last 3 weeks, in fact I think I actually lost some weight because Mia is growing but I didn't. Fundal height is measuring 32 weeks, my iron checked out but I do need to watch it(that is a first for me). No swelling in my legs or ankles. i had a trace of protein but that has more to do with the fact that the day before I had only about 40g of protein total to eat. I had a meatless soup for dinner, but it was so yummy!
ok so on to what you are really here for, the belly picture.
32 weeks and 1 day
The baby has started keeping me up at night. I am half tempted to call Alex and Candace every time she wakes me up to prepare them for her schedule lol. That would be a hoot wouldn't it (insert evil grin here).
She is head down and moving well into my pelvis now and so when she turns her head it grates on my cervix and I can feel it deep in my vagina. It is actually quite painful which is also very surprising to me. Last night she did sleep though which was great. She had been very active up until about midnight when she settled and went to sleep. Up until them though I was in a lot of pain every time she moved. Her movements are also very physically jarring to me. I could be sitting here and then she will move and my whole body will react to it. It's crazy.
Anyhow, everything is well with me and I hope you guys are all doing well too... I miss you!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
24 weeks!
I had a midwife appt today. I was a little concerned because I checked my cervix earlier this week after what seemed like a week full of braxton hicks. My cervix is soft and slightly open according to me(I could get almost a fingertip in there), but I had Bonnie check me and she said for a woman on her 4th pregnancy that my cervix was doing great.
She is a little concerned that I am eating way more fruits and veggies than I need and I seriously need to increase my protein intake... so tonight I bought a beautiful steak and had it will some grilled asparagus and onions and some mashed taters. It was a rather tasty dinner.
I am now up to 161lbs and my fundus is measuring right at 24. The baby is extremely active all the time. I know that when she has to slow down because things are getting tight and labor is about to start I am going to be totally freaking out... I told Candace that I think we might need to rent a doppler to help keep my peice of mind during those last few weeks.
Also I have been having a lot of discomfort because the baby is often in these very odd positions and I am supposed to start my Chiro care at 30 weeks but Candace has offered(thank you C) to start paying for visits sooner. She knows the baby is trying to kill me(kidding ;)). This pregnancy has turned out to be a lot harder on me than I thought it might but I am handling it well. I am often so afraid that Mia is going to be colicky and hard to settle once she is born but also somewhat relieved that she is going home with Alex and Candace and I won't be the one driving her around in the middle of the night. I wish there was something I could do to ensure she was a peaceful easy baby but realy I guess it is just her personality.
SUPER STRANGE....
The other day Candace called me and I had just had this dream about Mia the night before. In the dream she pressed her face against the inside of my tummy and you could see the outline of her entire face through my skin, Candace was totally freaked because she too had had almost an identical dream just a few days prior.
I think that is all I have for updates right now.
I know I am tired so I am out for the night...
She is a little concerned that I am eating way more fruits and veggies than I need and I seriously need to increase my protein intake... so tonight I bought a beautiful steak and had it will some grilled asparagus and onions and some mashed taters. It was a rather tasty dinner.
I am now up to 161lbs and my fundus is measuring right at 24. The baby is extremely active all the time. I know that when she has to slow down because things are getting tight and labor is about to start I am going to be totally freaking out... I told Candace that I think we might need to rent a doppler to help keep my peice of mind during those last few weeks.
Also I have been having a lot of discomfort because the baby is often in these very odd positions and I am supposed to start my Chiro care at 30 weeks but Candace has offered(thank you C) to start paying for visits sooner. She knows the baby is trying to kill me(kidding ;)). This pregnancy has turned out to be a lot harder on me than I thought it might but I am handling it well. I am often so afraid that Mia is going to be colicky and hard to settle once she is born but also somewhat relieved that she is going home with Alex and Candace and I won't be the one driving her around in the middle of the night. I wish there was something I could do to ensure she was a peaceful easy baby but realy I guess it is just her personality.
SUPER STRANGE....
The other day Candace called me and I had just had this dream about Mia the night before. In the dream she pressed her face against the inside of my tummy and you could see the outline of her entire face through my skin, Candace was totally freaked because she too had had almost an identical dream just a few days prior.
I think that is all I have for updates right now.
I know I am tired so I am out for the night...
Monday, February 11, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
20 Weeks and a whirlwind visit
This is the update you have all been waiting for...
ok so Candace flew in on Thursday around noon and I had been up since before 7 trying to get our day on a roll. We were expecting a winter blast to come through the area on Friday morning. I also had my US appt scheduled for 10 am in the morning as well and my prenatal with Bonnie after that, then we were supposed to go to lunch with Bonnie and well...
So if you know anything about winter blasts in Texas, you know that you are literally risking your life going out on the roads in those conditions. People here are completely clueless. So I called Bonnie first thing Thursday morning to see if she could reschedule for that afternoon with us instead. Of course she was willing and able, so that was easy but the US was not going to be so easy. At that point it was just hope and wait for the best in the morning.
So when Candace finally got to my house we quickly packed up the kids and dropped them at the baby sitter and went to meet Bonnie at her office. Then we went to lunch at this amazing little Greek restaurant in HEB. I had a great Gyros with marinated beef and I totally scarfed some eggplant like hummus stuff(I cannot for the life of me remember the name of it now). It was DELICIOUS though.
Then we all went back to the office and Bonnie did my prenatal and JUST in case we couldn't make it to the US in the morning she turned on her US machine so Candace could see her little babe.
The first thing we saw when she placed the device on me was the butt shot... like this little one WANTED it's mommy to see.
Bonnie couldn't be 100% sure but though what we were seeing was a little girl. Can I say, "TOLD YA SO!" now? If you have been following along I have been calling this baby she for how long?
Anyhow, they might not have been 100% sure but I was, and have been. So the baby looked FABULOUS as always and we quickly shut the machine down. Alex worries there might be issues with too many and too long US's and we all know I completely agree with him. So the US lasted about 5 minutes really.
Well then we sat and talked for a while. We talked about expectations and actual needs for certain blood tests(after the baby is born) and state requirements etc etc. And of course touched on a few other things that had been of concern for Bonnie.
It was a little uncomfortable but we all got through it.
We finally left the office around 5pm and went to go pick up the kids.
Candace had a horrible headache and right after we got the kids actually became physically ill from the pain. Poor gal, she was physically and mentally exhausted by that time. She had been up since 2:30 am Texas time. Who wouldn't be completely done in?
So, she went back to the hotel for some much needed rest.
The next morning the kids and I got up, dressed and breakfasted. I really wanted to call Candace and see how she was feeling but worried she might be sleeping in and didn't want to disturb her. Scott left for work early in the hopes to avoid the ice, which BTW never came!
Candace called about 10 am and she had already been having a busy day. It seems her DD had fallen at school and injured her neck. He DH was taking her to the doctor but the school nurse noted there didn't appear to be any neurological issues. Thank goodness!! But Abby really did want her mom to come home. We rescheduled our US appt for 1pm. Candace arrived around 11ish and the baby sitter called me around 11:30. So we went to drop the kids off at their respective places. Then off to grab a bite in the drive through and to the appt we went. Candace got to try her first bit of Chic Fil A. YUM!!!!
I have to say, the people who do my US's here is PUI Professional Ultrasound Imaging, and I totally love them to pieces. Robin has done every one of my (really important)ultrasounds in my last 3 pregnancies including this one. She was amazing to us and showed us everything and talked to us about everything we were seeing. The baby is measuring perfectly, her heart looked great, her bladder functioning, her kidneys in the right place and functioning. She showed us where the cord was going into the baby's belly and where it went into the placenta. She looked at the beautiful cord, and measured the nuchal fold (perfect). Everything looked just perfect on this little baby. Then she checked the sex and confirmed that Bonnie was right that we did indeed have a beautiful little girl on our hands. Although this was just a regular US vs the fancy schmancy 3d/4d, we also got to see a very detailed picture of her face, her little nose and the shape. She had her arm over her eyes and her little mouth was opening and shutting like she was crying. She didn't seem to enjoy the US at all. I felt so terrible. All in all though Candace got a real show while watching her DD and she got it all on video to take home for her DH and DD to watch as well. AND thankfully this really detailed and well done US only took about 30 minutes total so Alex, I am sure, was happy with all that too.
After the appt, we drove back to my house to check on a pot roast I had on the stove and so I could say goodbye to Candace. She was going to try to catch the next flight out. I am sad that we didn't get to spend much time together but happy that she got to see her baby and see with her own eyes that everything was going perfectly.
Congrats to the Parents to be!! :)
ok so Candace flew in on Thursday around noon and I had been up since before 7 trying to get our day on a roll. We were expecting a winter blast to come through the area on Friday morning. I also had my US appt scheduled for 10 am in the morning as well and my prenatal with Bonnie after that, then we were supposed to go to lunch with Bonnie and well...
So if you know anything about winter blasts in Texas, you know that you are literally risking your life going out on the roads in those conditions. People here are completely clueless. So I called Bonnie first thing Thursday morning to see if she could reschedule for that afternoon with us instead. Of course she was willing and able, so that was easy but the US was not going to be so easy. At that point it was just hope and wait for the best in the morning.
So when Candace finally got to my house we quickly packed up the kids and dropped them at the baby sitter and went to meet Bonnie at her office. Then we went to lunch at this amazing little Greek restaurant in HEB. I had a great Gyros with marinated beef and I totally scarfed some eggplant like hummus stuff(I cannot for the life of me remember the name of it now). It was DELICIOUS though.
Then we all went back to the office and Bonnie did my prenatal and JUST in case we couldn't make it to the US in the morning she turned on her US machine so Candace could see her little babe.
The first thing we saw when she placed the device on me was the butt shot... like this little one WANTED it's mommy to see.
Bonnie couldn't be 100% sure but though what we were seeing was a little girl. Can I say, "TOLD YA SO!" now? If you have been following along I have been calling this baby she for how long?
Anyhow, they might not have been 100% sure but I was, and have been. So the baby looked FABULOUS as always and we quickly shut the machine down. Alex worries there might be issues with too many and too long US's and we all know I completely agree with him. So the US lasted about 5 minutes really.
Well then we sat and talked for a while. We talked about expectations and actual needs for certain blood tests(after the baby is born) and state requirements etc etc. And of course touched on a few other things that had been of concern for Bonnie.
It was a little uncomfortable but we all got through it.
We finally left the office around 5pm and went to go pick up the kids.
Candace had a horrible headache and right after we got the kids actually became physically ill from the pain. Poor gal, she was physically and mentally exhausted by that time. She had been up since 2:30 am Texas time. Who wouldn't be completely done in?
So, she went back to the hotel for some much needed rest.
The next morning the kids and I got up, dressed and breakfasted. I really wanted to call Candace and see how she was feeling but worried she might be sleeping in and didn't want to disturb her. Scott left for work early in the hopes to avoid the ice, which BTW never came!
Candace called about 10 am and she had already been having a busy day. It seems her DD had fallen at school and injured her neck. He DH was taking her to the doctor but the school nurse noted there didn't appear to be any neurological issues. Thank goodness!! But Abby really did want her mom to come home. We rescheduled our US appt for 1pm. Candace arrived around 11ish and the baby sitter called me around 11:30. So we went to drop the kids off at their respective places. Then off to grab a bite in the drive through and to the appt we went. Candace got to try her first bit of Chic Fil A. YUM!!!!
I have to say, the people who do my US's here is PUI Professional Ultrasound Imaging, and I totally love them to pieces. Robin has done every one of my (really important)ultrasounds in my last 3 pregnancies including this one. She was amazing to us and showed us everything and talked to us about everything we were seeing. The baby is measuring perfectly, her heart looked great, her bladder functioning, her kidneys in the right place and functioning. She showed us where the cord was going into the baby's belly and where it went into the placenta. She looked at the beautiful cord, and measured the nuchal fold (perfect). Everything looked just perfect on this little baby. Then she checked the sex and confirmed that Bonnie was right that we did indeed have a beautiful little girl on our hands. Although this was just a regular US vs the fancy schmancy 3d/4d, we also got to see a very detailed picture of her face, her little nose and the shape. She had her arm over her eyes and her little mouth was opening and shutting like she was crying. She didn't seem to enjoy the US at all. I felt so terrible. All in all though Candace got a real show while watching her DD and she got it all on video to take home for her DH and DD to watch as well. AND thankfully this really detailed and well done US only took about 30 minutes total so Alex, I am sure, was happy with all that too.
After the appt, we drove back to my house to check on a pot roast I had on the stove and so I could say goodbye to Candace. She was going to try to catch the next flight out. I am sad that we didn't get to spend much time together but happy that she got to see her baby and see with her own eyes that everything was going perfectly.
Congrats to the Parents to be!! :)
Thursday, January 17, 2008
almost 19 weeks!
This pregnancy has been so quickly at times and this last month has been busy for us as well again. Last friday Scott and I went to a dinner party and had a wonderful time. The food was SOOOOOO yummy and I totally made a pig of myself. I have found that raw foods do the best for me right now. Fruits and veggies mostly. I could eat them all day right now and do!
So Candace is coming next week for the big US. I have been thinking about it and I am going to ask her to have the tech write down what the sex of the baby is so she can tell Alex before I find out and then she can tell me. I just think he should know before I do.
Ok so I know everyone wants new pictures but this one I am going to post is not a belly shot. Last week I got my hair cut and I love my new style. Then this week I got my hair colored and I totally love my new color. It's called Roxy Red! I am not sure if you can see it but it has red hues in it and well I just love how it makes my eyes pop.
Anyhow soooo here it is!
So tell me what do you think(this required you to comment on this post;))
OHHH and the biggest news of the week... my sister, well she is pregnant!
I am so thrilled for her.
Tune in next week to find out about the baby!!!
So Candace is coming next week for the big US. I have been thinking about it and I am going to ask her to have the tech write down what the sex of the baby is so she can tell Alex before I find out and then she can tell me. I just think he should know before I do.
Ok so I know everyone wants new pictures but this one I am going to post is not a belly shot. Last week I got my hair cut and I love my new style. Then this week I got my hair colored and I totally love my new color. It's called Roxy Red! I am not sure if you can see it but it has red hues in it and well I just love how it makes my eyes pop.
Anyhow soooo here it is!
So tell me what do you think(this required you to comment on this post;))
OHHH and the biggest news of the week... my sister, well she is pregnant!
I am so thrilled for her.
Tune in next week to find out about the baby!!!
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