She is Here! She is Here! She is Here!

Our beautiful daughter, Christina Joy, turned 2 weeks old today! She is such a precious treasure. John and I couldn't be happier to be her parents. We have less time and less sleep but our joy and delight has more than doubled.

It took 30 hours of labor to transition from a very big prego lady to holding our daughter in our arms but she was worth all the pain. I'll post more when I can but I've got to run now.

Labor Day!!

I went to bed convinced I would still be pregnant in 10 years.

Around 4:30 this morning, I awoke with uncomfortable contractions. Sometime after 5:00 I woke up John. The contractions have continued around 4 to 7 minutes apart so it looks like I am finally in labor!!! So far, they are only lasting up to minute but are quite intense. Here's hoping they are making enough progress for Christina to arrive today :)

2nd Mountain

We saw the midwife today and discovered that my body has a looooong way to go before Christina arrives. I was almost 50% effaced but not really dilated at all. So with that news, we continued with our plan to hike another mountain. What a Perfect Day!!! Incredible blue sky, Gorgeous fall foliage, and a clear view from the top--what bliss!

John took this at the top of the mountain:

hmmm, and blogger is not going to let me post any other pics.

9 month jump :)

40 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9 months pregnant and counting!!

This is a bit confusing since my due date was actually on Monday according to my last menstrual period. So maybe Monday was also the official 40 week date but I'm happy to celebrate today :)

Christina Joy is doing a lot of jumping for joy :) I am feeling all kinds of wiggling, poking, pushing, and kicking! It certainly feels like she is lower down than she was. My only concern is that I am also feeling a hand wiggling down there (hopefully not as low as her head). It is not ideal to deliver a head and hand at the same time.

I continue to have painful contractions but they always stop. I still have not noticed signs of labor (bloody show or mucus plug) so though I feel progress is being made, we could still have a long time to wait.

John is just wonderful. He has always been wonderful to me and excels at making me feel cherished but he continues to go above and beyond. Tenderly giving me relaxing massage, selflessly meeting my needs, and always reminding me of his love and appreciation. Despite all the awkward changes to my body, John has found beauty to enjoy. He blesses me more than I could ever think or ask. Thank You Jesus for my Lover, my Husband, my Friend.

Midwife visit

So we saw the midwife today and everything looks great :) Christina is still in the ideal position for birth and seems to be engaged as well! I've been feeling quite uncomfortable with Christina applying a lot of pressure against my bladder. My stomach has been really tight and my back is aching so... can't say I am in labor yet but seems to be getting closer all the time :) We are going to go to bed and rest up for whatever happens tomorrow.

Due Date

Mom, John, and I planned to hike a mountain today but as we looked at the list of what still needs to be done and the rainy weather forcasted we decided to change our plans. But, my sister told us about a mountain only 15 minutes away that we have never been to. John found information about it (my hero) and away we went. Ahhh, what bliss! The weather was perfect, the trail was amazing, and the hike was easy and short enough for this 9 month prego lady. Christina slept through most of it but did a lot of s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g exercises on the way home.

Now back to our list of things to do :)

Any time after 10:00 p.m. is an excellent time to sleep but my body has not caught up with my brain yet so here I am, wide awake without a good reason why.

I do not feel that labor is going to begin anytime soon and I am okay with that. There is still stuff to do. We are planning to hike a small mountain on Monday (my due date) with family and I can hardly wait!

John and I went for a lovely long walk today and I felt had energy to spare. Such a perfect fall day! The weather has finally turned cooler--what a Blessing!

I got to hold my sister-in-law's son and my oldest sister's daughter tonight. So precious! It is hard to believe we will get to hold our own sweet daughter is just a few days or weeks! Christina certainly acts like she is getting squished in there but obviously something needs more time to grow.

It sounds like my clicking is bothering John's rest so I'll stop and discover some way to fall asleep myself.

Something Finalized

Christina may not arrive for a few weeks but we now know 2 numbers in her birthday: 10/?/10. I think 10/1/10 has a really neat look to it so today could be a great arrival date! The weather forecast calls for wind and rain with possible power outages so it would certainly be an adventure! Whatever day she arrives will be splendid!!

39 Weeks!!!

It's beginning to feel a lot like... Christina may come out some day :0) Miss active continues to run out of room, the size of my belly continues to shock me, and the days Fly by! John and I went on a shopping excursion today to pick up the rest of the items needed for the birth. Now all we need is a liner for the "birth tub" and we will have it all. Christina's clothes are washed, her blankets are folded, diapers are within reach, and packing is coming (though still lots to do). Off and on I feel quite crampy and today I got all excited over diarrhea since that is a sign of early labor But though all of this may be helpful preparation... the real thing has not yet begun. This means more time to pack, wha-hoo!

Things are happening

Days are flying by! We saw the midwife today and praise Jesus, Christina has kept her head down!! Even more blessings, she is in the ideal position for birth! Thankfully, everything else looks good with me and Christina.

Since Saturday morning I have been feeling rather crampy (rather reminiscent of menstrual cramps). They can be uncomfortable but they are not terrible and as long as I am busy, I don't really notice them. They do not come in waves so I can't say I am in early labor yet but it's good to know something is going on. The arrival of our sweet baby can't be tooooooo far away!

We picked up the birthing tub (actually it is a water trough) so now all we need to do is clean it out, pick up a liner, and find a place to put it! Packing continues at a feverish pace and it is great to see the boxes stack up.

Christina has not slowed down a bit! The strength of her kicks seems to increase daily and now that her head is down, she uses it to put a lot of pressure on my bladder! She can also pinch a nerve in my leg--ouch! I'm thinking she is ready to stretch herself out vs. being wadded up in my belly.

Sunday, my brother David and his wife Celina, kindly followed John and I around with cameras and got some great pictures! Here is one of many:

38 Weeks, Wow

Is it really possible that Christina could arrive in just 11 days? Or even any day now, Wow! How very wonderful to hold her sweet self!!!

Here is a photo collage from yesterday:

I am doing well. My stomach is a becoming more sensitive as time goes by. My hands, wrists, and inside of my elbows by far hurt the most from all the poking they received yesterday - at least 11 jabs from attempted IVs, blood tests, numbing agents and anesthesia. My goal is to walk A LOT to help Christina engage her sweet head and keep her from flipping head up again. I am also wearing a band at the top of my belly to help keep her down.

Amy is quite the trooper and is becoming a wonderful mother. She endured all these hardships (and more) with grace in order to benefit precious little Christina and give her a healthy and natural induction into the outside world. ~~John

a day in the hospital

I am too tired to sleep, to exhausted to rest. What a day. I had a lot of firsts: first hospital visit, first IV, first spinal, first drugs in my system, first visit in an operating room, first catheter, first external cephalic version. The good news? The doctor was able to turn Christina--wha-hoo, thank You Jesus!! I can't say that Christina is happy in her new position as she has been kicking and rocking up a storm! Though I am delighted to know she is doing fine in there, her movements make me nervous--do not flip back sweet baby!

I would not mind to never repeat today. My veins are very difficult to use so before too long, I felt like a pincushion as three nurses and the anesthesiologist poked and prodded my hands, wrists, and the underside of my elbow to attach the IV and to draw blood. The fact that I had to fast and could not drink after 7:30 this morning made vein use more difficult. The version itself was no big deal. Christina was easy to turn (an answer to prayer) and it only took one try. My stomach may be sore tomorrow but so far, it is only a little sensitive. The numbness from my waist down was only supposed to last an hour but it took almost 5 hours for the spinal to wear off. What a creepy feeling to not be able to move your legs or feel sensations! I gained a whole new level of understanding for people with disabilities and for the elderly who are unable to help themselves. I'm not sure if it is the drugs or the copious amount of fluid from the IV to keep my blood pressure up, but I am a walking balloon--puffy feet, puffy hands, puffy face. Here's hoping the swelling will be gone tomorrow.

John was wonderful throughout the whole ordeal. Despite everything, he made me feel safe, secure, cherished, and treasured (all things he excels at in daily living). I so appreciated his sweet kisses, his gentle touch, his calming presence. He was by my side the whole day (except for when they wouldn't allow him for the spinal) which has resulted in sore muscles and utter exhaustion for him. We have both wished that for all we've gone through, the end result would be Christina in our arms. But, Lord willing, the version is what will keep us from having to endure a C-section or breech birth ...and that is worth a lot.

The ECV Plan

We are to arrive at the hospital at 10:30 tomorrow morning.
The procedure is to begin at 12:05 (Ha, like that will happen)
We will have an ultrasound to confirm her position and check the amount of fluid
I will have a spinal since that has the best results.
If anything looks troublesome, I will have an emergency C-section.

For more information about external cephalic version go to:
http://www.webmd.com/baby/external-cephalic-version-version-for-breech-position

a quick up-date

So, we saw the doctor today. My midwife and her assistant were there as well so we had a full room (I have really appreciated their support and advice). The doctor felt my stomach and believes Christina should be easy to turn. We have an appointment scheduled for Wednesday for an external cephalic version (ECV). We are still hopeful Christina will decide to turn on her own without intervention. If she does not turn before Wednesday, we are hopeful the version (ECV) will be a success. This would mean we could continue with our plans for a home birth. If Christina continues to stay head up, we may still have the option of a vaginal breech birth at the hospital.

John and I are both quite overwhelmed with all that is ahead of us. The path of least intervention is certainly our preference (i.e. an ECV vs. a C-section) but regardless of what we choose (ECV, vaginal breech birth, C-section), there are risks for me and Christina.

We are clinging to this promise in James, verse 5: "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

tonight + tomorrow

John is coming home tonight!!! My Wonderful Husband, my Best Friend, my Lover, my Companion, my Delight, my Dearest Love will finally be here. I do not know how couples survive who have to be apart because of work or some other reason. We have not enjoyed getting back to our "phone-y" relationship. I can't wait to be right next to him!!! Sweet bliss ~

Tomorrow morning at 11:00 we will meet with the Doctor to discuss our options for Christina's arrival. I'm a bit anxious not really knowing what to expect but hopeful that we will have a clear plan of action. I feel like emotionally, I have walked through what having a C-section would mean, though if that is our only option, I'm sure there will be more things to accept. I am praying that what we need to do will be very obvious, that we will have the grace to accept it, and the peace to walk through it.

Until tomorrow ~

37 Weeks

Somewhere along the way, I got ahead of my progress and jumped a week. So even though I missed posting last week, I am now starting my 37th week. 37 has been a big milestone since it meant that if I went into labor at anytime from now on, I could still have a home birth. Now, (until Christina turns) her arrival will be in a hospital but it is still nice to be all that closer to holding her sweet self in my arms.

Christina continues to be an active baby and gets the hiccups at least 3 times a day! I think she is going through another growth spurt since I've been really hungry during the night. She also seems to have helped my belly expand several more inches!

I got the results back from my blood work and thankfully my iron is great! I am still having issues with swelling feet and ankles (after our trip east they looked like clubs) but thankfully the weather has finally turned cooler so I'm sure that helps. I have been very busy packing our stuff with plans to finish it before Christina's arrival. All the bending and lifting gives me a lot of braxton hicks.

I will be away from John tonight for the first time since we got married. He and his sister Sharon left to pack up stuff at their parent's house and at our camper. We decided that I should not travel any more long distances until after Christina arrives. John plans to be back before Monday for our consultation with the doctor. I miss him terribly. I haven't been able to sleep without him since we've been married so... these could be a lot of long nights.

Ultrasound Results - It's a Breech

Christina is breech. The good news is, she is frank breech which means her bum is down, her head is up, and her legs are above her head. The reason this is good news is that this is the best position for a natural delivery. Her bum is so far down that it is unlikely she would turn but I am still going to give her every opportunity I can to help her turn.

We have a consultation with a doctor on Monday. She will discuss the risks associated with an external version and what our options are for a breech birth. She has delivered breech births naturally so we are hopeful. Most doctors will not consent to a natural breech birth for first time moms. This is because first time moms do not have a "proven pelvis". There is no guarantee that a baby will fit.

So, we wait + we pray.

overdue update

This post is long overdue. Life has been like a whirlwind. It took us 3 days to travel back east. When we arrived my sister Sara was in the early stages of labor. This lasted off and on for a few days. Sara planned to have a natural home birth. Sunday, things intensified and her baby turned away from her head down position. An ultrasound showed that the baby's back was now over the birth canal. With their baby in this position, their only option was a C-section. Their beautiful baby girl is healthy and happy and Sara is recovering.

The experience was emotional and draining. As far as we know, Christina has continued to be breech which means that if nothing changes, she will have to be delivered by C-section as well. I am going for an ultrasound to check her position today. If her head is down, we will rejoice and I will do everything I can to help her stay that way, hoping and praying she does not turn before or during labor. If her head is up, we will probably schedule an external version. This is where a doctor attempts to turn the baby by applying pressure to my stomach. An ultrasound is used to look at the baby to confirm everything is okay. From what I have read, a doctor will try this once or twice. If the procedure is unsuccessful, a C-section is scheduled.

The good news is, even if Christina is breech, she may change her position before birth. She has continued to be really active. Yesterday, the visiting midwife thought she felt her head at the top of my belly. Later, she though she felt her head, halfway down my left side. Maybe Christina is just doing somersaults in there!

So, as my sister Sara has experienced, how a baby arrives in the world doesn't really matter in the great scheme of things. She still has her precious daughter in her arms.

8 Months Pregnant

How did time go by so fast?

Peace

As far as I know, Christina is still happy in her head-up position despite all the strange postions I keep getting into. It is very nice to get to pat her little head and dream if she has hair or not! She has been so active! Last night, I felt an arm or a leg moving around on my right side. So sweet and little and pokey!

I'm feeling much better about her position now--thank you for your prayers! I guess I needed some time to grieve over the possibility of not having the birth I've planned. Today, the sky is overcast with rain predicted, but my heart is filled with sun. No matter how our daughter arrives in the world, it will just be so wonderful to have her!!! I'm so excited about seeing all her little parts that have been moving about so much inside me! (She has the hiccups now)

John and I have decided to stay a few days longer than we planned so we/he can get some painting done to make it easier when we move back. This will also hopefully save us from dealing with holiday traffic. We are anxious to get back but it has been so nice to have this time together!!!

So, like most of life, our next few days and weeks are filled with unknowns and changes to our plans. And as Kristen says, "It's all good". ;)

36 Weeks

Discouraged. Overwhelmed. Frustrated.

Discouraged over Christina being breech. Knowing she could turn head down, but could also just as easily turn head up again. If she is breech when I am in labor, I will not be able to have a home birth. This is devastating to me. Even the midwife here who delivers breech babies, will not deliver a breech to a first time mom.

Overwhelmed with all that needs done. Today is John's last day of work before we leave. When we return he will hopefully have a work truck, a work cell phone with enough signal to communicate with (far different than what he has had), and a more consistent schedule with maybe even some days off!! We hope to leave before the weekend if we can tie up loose ends here.

Frustrated to have not finished painting. I am very thankful we got Christina's room done except for a few touch ups. That will make moving her things so much easier! I wish I could have done the same for our bedroom, both bathrooms, and dining room. Though I am the one with the most time, I also have the most limitations: should not inhale fumes, should not lift heavy things, should not over-do, should not go into labor before 37 weeks.

So, I am in a prime spot to learn patience, contentment, and gratefulness ;)

Not Engaged

Well then, here is proof I have no idea what I am talking about. We went to see the midwife and Christina is actually not engaged, far from it. She is breach. Her head is to the left of my belly button and her back is against my side. No wonder I've been feeling movements on my bladder, that is her new kicking ground.

So, there is still hope that she will turn around. There is still time for her to do so. So I am researching positions etc. to help her turn upside down.

The good news is, as far as we know, she is still perfectly healthy. Everything looked fine with me and it looks like despite the heat wave, I've been able to stay hydrated--wha-hoo.

Engagement

Christina is Engaged! Quite young to be making such a commitment but in her case, this engagement does not involve a diamond ring (that we know of).

Very early Sunday morning, I woke up with pains that came and went in waves with a little break in between. Felt a lot like contractions. They didn't last very long but were quite intense. Christina wriggled and squirmed and turned her whole body from left to right! The next morning, I noticed Christina's movements much lower in my belly. She used to push her little bum into and under my ribs (not very comfortable). Now her little bum is just a little bit above my belly button. Though I'm happy to have more room to breath, I now feel every movement in my bladder!

From the research I've done, Christina dropping into my pelvis (or lightening I guess is the correct term) does not mean I will go into labor right away. It could still be a month before we get to see her sweet face. (It could be quite problematic if she decided to slide out before 37 weeks). It is a bit un-nerving, knowing she has made progress towards deliver and we still have a 3 day drive before we get to the midwife I'm planning to deliver with!

So, we shall see!

Hydration

Today, I dumped a full bottle of water all over me and the couch.

Today, I dumped most of the water in my water bottle down my front after I tried to get a drink.

Today, I dropped a full glass of water on the table, breaking the glass and covering the table and floor with water.

Today, I dumped a container full of hot water down my shorts and onto the kitchen floor.

I hope I am soaking up water through my skin since getting it to my mouth has suddenly become a challenge.

Note: P.I.C is an actual term: Pregnancy Induced Clumsiness. Boy do I feel better :-P

35 Weeks!

Wow, how did it get to be Wednesday already? I have been very busy painting (with open windows and a fan so as to not inhale fumes). I hoped to get the rooms painted in our house so that when we come back, we can just move in. Since this is just a rental, I didn't want to spend a ton on paint so I've been looking at Home Depot for Oops paint. You can get a gallon of paint that someone either didn't like or didn't pick up for $5.00--such a great deal! I've been looking for paint but they have only had 1 or 2 gallons of some dark ugly color. I was feeling very discouraged. Last Saturday, John and I stopped at Home Depot and they "just happened" to be getting rid of old stock so they were pulling gallons off the shelves, adding a tiny bit of color, and placing it on Oops paint shelf! What a blessing! We found all the paint we need and want for $5.00 each! It has been wonderful to use it!

Monday, I began painting the kitchen. Our house does not have a bunch of windows so this room tends to be dark anyways, but when we arrived, the cupboards were dark green and the walls were 2 shades of brown! Not at all a nice place to cook! The kitchen is now light and cheery with white cupboards and light lime green walls. Wha-hoo.

Today, my friend Jeanna came over to help me paint Christina's room! John and I had mixed and re-mixed a light pink we found and I had great doubts it was ever going to look nice! Even as I cut in around the trim I was doubtful. But, when Jeanna finished rolling it, Wow! It is exactly what I had mind. God is so good!

Christina has been really active! She took a little break in her activity for a bit. I think she slept a lot while going through a growth spurt. At the time, I thought she must be running out of room. She is running out room but that has not slowed her down a bit! My ribs have never been so stretched! I can't wait to hold and enjoy her strength on the outside :0) The little thing on the right of my blog says she is gaining an ounce a day! I could imagine it is sheer muscle!

Christina's house continues to expand. I am now 41 inches around and I feel as big as house! John continues to be so kind and loving despite my awkward body. He is just wonderful ~

Daddy's Kisses

Christina got her first kiss long before her birth. Since we have known she was on her way, her Daddy has been sending her greetings with kisses through my belly.

We had to pose for the picture so I could get my camera set up but the action is something that happens daily:

34 Weeks!

Christina has the hiccups! I guess that is the only way for her to say "Hello" to you! I can feel them really low so from what I've read, that means her head is still down--good place to be!

I think she is running out of room in there. She is still quite active but she actually takes some breaks. Then when she does move... she can be quite forceful!

It will be very interesting to see how she reacts to her newborn cousins when we see them in a few weeks. Whenever I talk about a baby or look at pictures of a newborn, Christina goes crazy! It would seem like she is jealous or excited--I'm not sure what to think of it! You know how in the Bible, the baby in Elizabeth's womb danced when Mary came to visit her when she was pregnant with Jesus? That does not surprise me at all!

Christina and I are still growing! I am continually shocked when I pass a mirror to see how much of me sticks out! John has begun calling my baby bump a Mountain and it really fits quite well! I will try to take/post some pictures this week.

I did not sleep well last night but it had nothing to do with pregnancy. As John and I were going to bed I realized how well it would work to switch the room we were going to use as an office and the room we were going to use as our bedroom. So I spent too much of the night planning it out in my head. I am itching to have each room painted and filled with our stuff. For those who do not know, John and I are planning to leave here early September to head back to take care of some jobs, pack our stuff, and deliver Christina. We will have 3 weeks after her birth before we need to be back here so our return date is quite up in the air. I am so grateful that it worked out this way instead of knowing that I Have to go into labor by X date. The pressure probably would have made for a late delivery if nothing else. So with the arrangement we have now, I am hoping for an early delivery ~

The best part of this week is the break we are having from the heat and humidity! Instead of temps in the 90's, it is lingering around the 70's--what bliss!

Undeserved Blessings

I woke up this morning to very precious blessings.

Ever since Monday and the Rhogam shot, I've been out of commission. My back/side have been in a lot of pain and yesterday I had diarrhea twice with a stomach ache. It has also been horrible hot. All this to say, a Huge pile of dishes has been growing since Monday. We were out of most silverware and dishes because they were all dirty. My friend gave me a pot of broth which I froze most of, but ran out of used yogurt containers to put it in, so the pot had been out growing terrible things.

This morning, John brought me breakfast in bed before he ran out the door. When I got up, I came out to the kitchen to discover that terrible pile of dishes, transformed to a dish drainer piled high with clean ones and a precious love note on my laptop. I haven't been able to stop crying since. I feel so loved, so cherished, so cared for, and that I've been given something huge that I do not deserve. It is like being taken out of pig pen and treated like a princess. But it is even better than that because this was all done out of selfless love vs. duty.

And this is only the beginning. John is hoping to have a shorter day so we can go to the office, I can meet everyone and then, we can head to the beach!!

Thank You Jesus for my Wonderful Husband!

Week 33

Christina is Active! I think she moves more than she sleeps! This may be one reason my sleep has become so sparse but I'd much rather feel her moving than sleep anyways. Last night, John had his hand on my belly and I think she kept him awake as well with all her movements.

I am getting more uncomfortable as the weeks progress with back and side pains (even my belly button feels like it is getting stretched) but that seems to go with pregnancy. My belly has certainly never been this large before. Depending on how she is laying, I measure anywhere from 39 to 40.5 inches around! (Much different from the 20 something waist I had before)

I have begun reading Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way so that has me all keyed up for labor. I have even begun to wish I could go through labor twice so that I could experience both midwives, (the second time around should be easier anyways) and what I need to do would be so fresh in my mind but... I would still only end up with one baby so I guess I'll be happy with one labor for each baby!

Our sweet baby is growing all the time. According to my Week by Week book, she now weighs approximately 4.5 pounds with a head to bum length of 12 inches, and a total length of nearly 19.5 inches. (If only they had a guess of how powerful her kicks can be!)

32 Week Prenantal

I had a prenatal last night. We have really enjoyed getting to know the midwife here so it is rather sad to miss sharing the birth with her (we will be in another state for the birth) but she has hopes to attend one of our later births.

Christina had her head down (wha-hoo) though she may not stay that way. I am still measuring about 2 weeks small. My iron as at 10 (last month is was at 11) so we brought home some Floradix, (which I hate) to help build that up. For other "tasty" treats, I also have chlorophyll and black strap molasses. Mmm. Mmm. I was also quite dehydrated (which isn't too surprising with all this heat and humidity) so I now have a water bottle attached to me, well almost. According to her scales, I have gained a few pounds (my scales were not showing any difference) so that is a good thing. I have now gained almost 30 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight! We talked about visiting a chiropractor. I have been having a lot of pain in my left bum cheek and nothing seems to help. I also got my rhogam shot (without mercury, thank you Jesus) so it is getting painful to sit here and type.

Yesterday was also the delivery day of my newest niece! She got that cool birthday: 08.09.10! And isn't this unique? My brother and his wife have a baby boy. Both of my sisters and myself all have girls! So, next month, my other sister will deliver her girl and then... October will come and Christina will arrive, wha-hooo :0)

10.10.10

Wouldn't it be fun if Christina decided to arrive on October 10?

Her birthday would be very memorable:

10.10.10

Wide Awake

This is the time for rest and sleep but my mind is running and my body is restless. Maybe I'm hungry? Maybe I'm over-tired?

I'm thinking about our daughter hiccuping inside of me. Who will she look like? Will she have hair when she is born? Will she be a happy baby? Will she be easy to nurse? I can't wait to hold her close and kiss her sweet self.

I'm thinking about our move and being so far away from family and all the things we will miss. I'm thinking about my sisters, getting ready to have their sweet babies and my sister-in-law who already has her son in her arms. I'm thinking about being a mom and all that entails. I'm thinking about labor and hoping it comes early vs. late. I'm thinking about the rhogam shot I still need to get and feeling worried about it's affect on our baby if I do or do not get it. I'm thinking about my belly, hoping our baby is growing fine--not too big or too small.

I'm thinking about John and how very blessed I am to be married to such a wonderful man. I'm thinking about all the hours he has put in these past weeks and how tired he is. I'm thinking about how quickly he has picked up so much new information and excited for him and us for this new opportunity.

I'm thinking about the house we are renting and all the things I want to do to it! I'm thinking about the oops paint I discovered and how to make the best use of it. I'm thinking about all the stuff we plan to move here... and that makes me tired ~

sweet dreams ~

32 Weeks!

And I am looking Quite Pregnant!

Christina continues to be quite active.
She loves to reach under my ribs and tickle my bladder!
She has had the hiccups of few more times. One time, John laid his head on my belly and he could feel her hiccuping! He was also able to hear her heartbeat. He has been quite impressed with the force of her kicks! I love that he can share all of that with us.

Overall I'm doing well.
I've been having a lot of indigestion/acid reflux.
It isn't always horrible but there are some factors that tend to aggravate it:
Getting dehydrated
Feeling tired
Eating dairy products
Sitting in John's truck for a long time
(that last one makes travel very troublesome)

John has been working really long days.
I was able to ride around with him over the weekend.
It is always nice to be together
He had Monday off so we went to the beach.
Such Bliss!
My awkward body loves the water.

So many friends are either about to have a baby, or just had a baby.

I am so excited about our sweet baby's birth day!

Delighted to be this far along

Hiccups!!!

I think Christina has the hiccups!

I can feel little rhythmic bumping.

HOW CUTE!!!

This is the first time I've noticed this!

31 Weeks, 2 days late

Watching Christina rotate around inside me has become one of my favorite things to do. It is like watching the aurora borealis. They both are mysterious movements. They both fill me with wonder.

The development of a baby is just incredible. I know how Christina began her growth in my womb and I know the One who is knitting her together but the vast amount of detail that goes into making her who she is... wow, it is phenomenal. Just think what it must be like to put together a nose! A nose to smell roses and fresh baked bread and to even recognize her mother's scent (which of late will be rather strong towards garlic!) And her eyes--what beauty awaits for her little eyes. And her heart, already beating and will, Lord willing, continue to beat for the next 100 years! Okay, maybe not 100 but who knows! I can't wait to show her all the beautiful things God has created for her to enjoy. I can't wait to surround her with her parent's love. I can't wait to see Christina and John together!!! He talks to her daily, kissing and making sounds on my belly. I can't wait to see her laugh at his silliness!!!

And the date for her entrance into this mysterious world is getting closer all the time! It is possible that Christina could be here in 9 weeks!! According to my Week by Week book, Christina now weighs approximately 3.5 pounds. Her total length is nearly 18 inches! ...and that is all the helpful information contained in that book for this week! Other sources mention that her lungs are not yet ready for outside air and that she will gain 1/2 pound a week until delivery. I am going to start measuring how big around I am but I need to buy a measuring tape first! All part of the joy of temporary living in a different state.

Seizures?

Wow, I'm behind on posting this week!

Things are going well. Christina is so active and I love to feel her little body parts move around inside me. Today I could feel a large hard bump (it felt like she was trying to push herself out next to my belly button!) A short while later, Christina was on the move with fingers or toes moving under my hand. How precious!!

I had a scare of few nights ago. It felt like Christina was having a seizure! For about 5 seconds, I could feel what felt like uncontrolled spasams. A few minutes after it finished, Christina began moving all around doing what felt like summersalts! I was glad to know she was fine but I was so worried about what had just happened that I got up and searched on-line for some answers. I discovered that what I felt was quite common. Many pregnant women who were around 30 weeks had felt the same thing. I couldn't find any medical advice but the some of the guesses where that it could be anything from a baby's twitching reflex when she wakes up to some part of her getting caught on something and her trying to free herself. The last idea just sounded dumb. After a few more searches the next day I found something that makes sense to me. The following is copied from this link:

Well, Ladies....I have called my doctor, and done some research on the web. After documenting the "episodes" on paper, I have come to realize that we are not feeling the baby having a seizure...We are feeling the Uterus going through a fit of spasms. If any of you have ever exercized to the point where your muscles seem to "quake" or "shake", this is the same thing for the Uterus. It is getting a constant workout by the Braxton-Hicks contractions. And we don't always know when we are having Braxton-Hicks Contractions...but they are purposefully to "exercise" the uterus for labor and delivery. Since all of our timelines are late in the pregnancy, we've probably been experiencing these contractions for many weeks now, which would explain the uterine muscle spasms. I confirmed this with my Ob-Gyn, and was reassured that this was the most likely cause, since I know-as the pregnant one-that there is NO WAY my baby could be moving that fast!

Also, ...My doctor said that the spasms can be in one area, the whole uterus, the left side, etc etc. Just like when you work out, and your arms seem to shake, it's not always the WHOLE arm...it could be the top muscle and not the bottom, the outside and not the inside, etc. So to experience a uterine spasm in one location only, whether it is the same location every time or a different one, is fine. As long as the baby still moves regularly, and your doctor has no other concerns, I wouldn't worry about these spasms. I will NOT tell you that they are comfortable though, because I could really do without them!

Temporary Residence

30 Weeks!!!

Just think, Christina could BE HERE in 10 weeks!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!! It is still hard to fathom the gift of our own precious daughter to have and to hold. I've been around babies, taken care of my nieces and nephews, but I always had to give them back. It is hard to believe that we'll get to Keep Christina!

30 weeks feels like a huge milestone. I hope last night wasn't the start of how I'll be sleeping from here on. I slept like a baby! Restless, hungry, fidgety, awake more than asleep, etc. I felt like a drank a huge cup of coffee right before going to bed--even though I haven't had caffeine since I've been pregnant.

Wha-hooooooooo! John just got home (early) so I'll post more tomorrow.

Midwife visit

We met the midwife here today, and we really like her. She gave us a lots of time to ask/answer questions and then also did a prenatal. I am still measuring small at 27 cm. vs. the 29 cm. that is typical for this week. She checked my iron and it was at 11 which is okay but I need to work on bringing it up. This is a big blood building time and if my iron drops to 10 I cannot have a home birth. I haven't taken any vitamins since we've been here and I've only drank milk with black strap molasses twice since so I'm going to start that up again! John and I are planning to pick up some chlorophyll which is helpful for that and other things. At this point, I'm not worried about being able to build it up. Everything else was really good.

Christina's heart rate was the fastest so far getting up in the 150's! Her head was a bit below my left ribcage and then she wrapped around with her feet at my lower right side, what a cutie! I was concerned about her head being so high but it is normal for her to be in a breach position. Around 30ish weeks (or later) is when her head will begin to drop.

John has 3 whole days off, wha-hoo!!! He has been putting in such long, hot hours.

I picked up some decorating books at the library so my thoughts are full of ideas for this house!

Week 29, a day late

Oops! I lost track of the day! Yesterday, John and I planned to meet Jeanna's midwife but things changed with John's work schedule and so we will visit her tomorrow morning. From chatting with her on the phone, she sounds very nice and Jeanna has had nothing but positive things to say about her so I'm looking forward to spending time with her.

Well there it is: the third trimester! I have been feeling a bit different... Sunday and today I got hungry and hot and felt like I was going to pass out--a new feeling for this pregnancy. So, I'm going to work on eating protein, staying cool, and taking my black strap molasses to keep my iron up.

I have been needing a lot of rest but last night my body decided I did not need sleep and that my bladder needed to be empty. Usually I fall asleep after John leaves for work but today that hasn't worked.

I have been having some pain in my lower stomach, I'm guessing this is round ligament pain. It isn't horrible, just feels like something is getting stretched in there.

Christina has continued to be active, so nice to feel her moving around in there! I love to watch my belly move around with her!

I'm getting a taste of what life holds in store for us seeing Jeanna with her two children aged 3 and a bit over 1 year old. Jeanna is such a fun mom who really enjoys her children--even with all their activity! :0) I hope to never lose that enjoyment.

A short childbirth guide

I've been reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. I don't agree with everything but the more I read the more I get excited about labor and delivery! The section I just read was about her theory of Sphincter Law. Ina believes the following points:

• Excretory, cervical, and vaginal sphincters function best in an atmosphere of intimacy and privacy--for example, a bathroom with a locking door or a bedroom, where interruption is unlikely or imposable.
• These sphincters cannot be opened at will and do not respond well to commands (such as "Push!" or "Relax!"
• When a person's sphincter is in the process of opening, it may suddenly close down if that person becomes upset, frightened, humiliated, or self-conscious. Why? High levels of adrenaline in the bloodstream do not favor (sometimes they actually prevent) the opening of the sphincters. This inhibition factor is one important reason why women in traditional societies have mostly chosen other women--except in extraordinary circumstances--to attend them in labor and birth.
• The state of relaxation of the mouth and jaw is directly correlated to the ability of the cervix, the vagina, and the anus to open to full capacity.

She then goes on to talk about how a study was done with women to see if they could take a pee in their home while being observed (not an easy thing to do). They then took the same women into a hospital to pee while being observed. Not surprisingly, a high percentage of the women were unable to do it.

There is a lot of information in the book but these are the main points (with my goals for Christina's birth):

Sphincters Do Not Obey Orders

I want to deliver drug free so that I can a) know what is going on inside my body and b) know when it is time to push vs. someone commanding me to.

Sphincters Function Best in an Atmosphere of Familiarity and Privacy

This is one of the biggest reasons I want a home birth. I want my labor and birth to be in a relaxed setting with a few people who I am 100% comfortable with. In order for my body to relax I need to feel very safe and supported.

Sphincters May Suddenly Close When Their Owner Is Startled or Frightened

Ina has seen where the progress of birth was actually reversed after rough handeling by another doctor. And I've read other stories of birthing women who got scared in labor and halted or reversed their progress.

Laughter Helps Open the Sphincters

This is the best point! I really want to make birthing a fun experience! There are many things to get embarassed about but I hope I can meet them with a smile and laugh.

Ina writes about the connection between top and bottom: "A relaxed mouth means a more elastic cervix. Women whose mouths and throats are open and relaxed during labor and birth rarely need stiches after childbirth."

"On the other hand, women who grimace and clench their jaws while pushing have a greater tendency to tear, because their perineal tissues are more ridged."

"If you feel like grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw, catch yourself! Take a deep breath and exhale, relaxing your mouth and throat muscles. This effect is enhanced with an audible sigh when you exhale. Make a sound pitched low enough to vibrate your chest."

"Singing will maximize the ability of the body's sphincters to open. The sounds that accomplish this best are the notes that come from as deep down in the body as possible, the ones that vibrate the entire chest."

"I can say this categorically--I have never noticed anyone's cervix remain tight and unyeilding while speaking loving and positive words."

"...I have also found that many women find it helpful to be told that mooing like a cow is a good way to keep the throat open and relaxed. If they think it's funny to hear these sounds, so much the better, since being amused also aids relaxation."

28 Weeks ~

28 weeks is the typical week for women with Rh negative blood to get a rhogam shot. The shot is meant to guard my blood against building antibodies towards Rh positive blood. Here is a link to read more info: http://www.babycenter.com/0_blood-test-for-rh-status-and-antibody-screen_1480.bc

Even though we are away from "home", Jeanna's midwife is willing to administer the shot. We don't have a date planned for it yet. I am not at all looking forward to it. I had my first one after my miscarriage and it was quite painful.

In happier news, Christina continues to grow and expand. She now weighs nearly 2 and half pounds! Her head to bum length is close to 10 inches and her total length is 15 and 3/4 inches long. Wow!

She is kicking me as I type :0) Here is an expert from the Week by Week book:

"Until this time, the surface of the baby's developing brain has appeared smooth. At around 28 weeks of pregnancy, the brain forms characteristic grooves and indentations on the surface. The amount of brain tissue also increases.

"Your baby's eyebrows and eyelashes may be present. Hair on the baby's head is growing longer. The baby's body is becoming plumper and rounder. It's beginning to fill out a little because of increased fat underneath the skin. Before this time, the baby had a thin appearance.

"Your baby now weighs 2 and a half pounds. This is an amazing growth compared to just 11 weeks ago when [she] weighed only about 3 and a half ounces at 17 weeks of pregnancy. Your baby has increased its weight more than 10 times in 11 weeks! In the last 4 weeks, from the 24th of your pregnancy to this week, [her] weight has doubled. Your baby is growing rapidly!"

Good news since I continue to expand as well. In the past weeks I've gained 5 pounds according to the scales but with all the swelling in my ankles the gain my be mostly fluid.

little bit of life

Bleck, my feet and ankles look like clubs! They respond to the heat and humidity by blowing up. So attractive.

We arrived here on Friday. John has turned into a sponge, soaking up all the information needed to work at this job. I think he is a genius! Such a blessing to have this month to test it out.

It has been such a precious blessing to be so close to our dear friends: Jeanna and Abe. Abe and John are two peas in a pod. It is so neat to see their similarities! And Jeanna, is still as wonderful as she was 10 years ago when we were roommates in Romania. It is hard to believe that we get to be next door neighbors!

John, Christina, and I got to attend our first air show. We found a spot in the shade, not too close to the action. I wore earplugs and wrapped my arms around my belly to protect Christina from the noise. It was a really neat experience!

Another loud first for her was fireworks on the beach--Lovely! I've gotten out of the habit of carrying my camera around with me so sorry for no pics of the activities.

We are enjoying our little house very much. Our renters have given full permission to change things so if we do move here, I have a long list of things I want to do to make it ours.

My neck needs a rest. Ttfn.

Week 27, a few days late

We are on the road again! We still have around 5 hours drive time till we reach our destination. John will be working hard at this new job for the month of July. After the month, we will decide whether or not we want to move. We are excited and exhausted. The past few nights have been short and restless. Pregnancy causes the trip to take longer. My tiny bladder and swelling feet need frequent stops. John tries very hard to meet my needs.

Last Sunday, John's relatives gave us a Baby Shower! Christina now has a collection of adorable outfits--I can't wait to try them on her! John's family put together a whole year's worth of clothes and pinned them to a clothes line--so cute!

Christina has been kicking up a storm! I won't be surprised if she comes out somersaulting! My Week by Week book is somewhere in the truck so here are some links to check out:

http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-27-weeks

http://www.babiesonline.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week27.asp

Oh, I guess I am now in my 3rd trimester! How did that sneak up so fast? I thought that didn't begin until week 28. Wha-hoo for trimester 3!

26 Weeks!

I am Huge! I look in the mirror and am shocked to see strange and unusual body parts attached to me! I cannot imagine getting any bigger! I can hear you, "Just Wait" you say.

Two more weeks to trimester number 3!

Christina is on the move! She still prefers very early mornings and late nights but I feel her quite a bit throughout the day as well. So far, John is the only one besides me who has felt her kicks but he has felt some good ones! It feels like somersaults and cartwheels are her specialty :0) According to the week by week book she is now almost 2 pounds! Her head to bum length is 9 and a half inches. Grow baby grow! The book also says Christina's 5 senses are now fully developed.

Overall, I'm holding up well physically. Even before I was pregnant my feet would swell in the heat so they've kept that trend up. I don't do well standing for long periods of time but walking is still good. Most of the time I sleep well at night, and I still get tired really early. My bladder has not grown with the pregnancy and it seems when I'm well hydrated I can only take 10 steps from the bathroom before I go back in (it's not quite that bad, it just feels like it). I've had some lower back pain at times and sometimes my stomach feels like it is stretching but nothing has been severe. I now weigh 15 pounds more than I did before I was pregnant. I often feel rather klutzy and am horrified to now drop food on my clothes (something I never did before).

I've added some pages to this blog: one has milestones and the other has prego pics. Nothing new but I'm glad to have it all in once place. I hope to also add a list of needed items.

ttfn ~

Ramblings

We have not left for our trip yet but as I make lists of what to pack, I am already including Christina. In my mind, I guess I think she has already been born! I keep thinking we need to take the port-a-crib so she will have something to sleep in. As I pack our clothes I keep wanting to pack hers. I've wondered if we'll be able to get everything in with her car seat taking up so much room. Reality always kicks in and I remember that she is still kicking around inside of me, not ready to come out for another 3 plus months (and we only plan to be away a bit more than a month) but I am always surprised by my thoughts!

I don't believe mothering is just an instinct. I do believe God gives mothers a beautiful bond with their children, even before they are born. It is so special to feel her in there, bumping about. Her kicks continue to grow stronger, showing her health and strength and reminding me of her precious little self.

I may look back on this time "before we had kids" and think how much simpler/easier life was. I don't doubt that our lives will become more complicated after Christina is born. I've heard the stories from mom's about the lack of sleep, the lack of time for yourself--all the things I take for granted now. But in the midst of that, I hope I never lose my wonder at this precious gift from God--our daughter!

I have so many expectations of what kind of Mom I want to be. I don't want to fall apart physically, I want to always enjoy our children, I want their lives to be full of fun and discovery, I want to train them to be kind and caring for others, I want to protect them from harmful influences (physically, spiritually, emotionally etc.), and I never want our children to feel they need to carry our emotional baggage (to name just a few!) Lots of ideas desperately needing wisdom to carry them out!

25 Weeks Baby Bump

25 Weeks

Life is speeding by and our sweet baby is growing! Christina's kicks are certainly stronger than they were! John has been feeling some great ones! So wonderful to share her with him.

I bought fabric today for my sister Sara to make a quilt for Christina's crib. (Someone gave us a beautiful wooden crib, what a blessing!) The colors for the nursery are grass green and light pink. I found the perfect green with white dots, white with green dots, and a pink flannel for the quilt. It will have a green rectangle, a white border, and pink binding around the edges. In the green rectangle will be 3 large peony's! This will all be done without a pattern but Sara is the kind of genius that can just wing it!

We are planning to be away from our little cabin for more than a month. The first part will be taking care of a job/visiting relatives and the second part will be trying out the new job for 30 days. I'm not sure how much access I'll have to the Internet so my posts may be a bit sparse.

It is hard to believe that my first trimester is almost over! Week 28 starts my third trimester! There is a lot that happens at week 28. Because I am Rh negative, I need to get a RhoGAM shot to protect my body from building antibodies towards an Rh positive baby. The shot itself has a lot of controversy and it is something we would rather skip for a variety of reasons, but if I became sensitized, the chances of a second healthy Rh positive baby could be quite slim.

We had a visit with our midwife Monday and everything is looking/sounding fine. Her heartbeat is sounding more girly! She now weighs around 1 and a half pounds and is over 8 inches long!

If Christina were born today, she would have a chance of surviving (though she would have to spend a lot of time in the hospital). We knew a family who had a baby this early and she is fine now.

I have been doing well but it seems I've forgotten how to walk! I trip over sticks and run into walls. Hopefully Christina will get her gracefulness from her dad!

24 Weeks

Whew, life is not dull. The job opportunity I mentioned before is once again an option for us. John had his first phone interview today, and already they have the second one planned for tomorrow! We are again very excited but also somewhat tentative considering all the changes this would entail.

Our baby girl seems to be doing quite well through it all. :0) Already she's a trooper! She prefers to be quite active early in the morning (John's favorite time of the day) and late at night (this used to be my favorite time of the day but pregnancy has changed that a bit!) According to the Week by Week book, she now weighs about 1 and a half pounds and is about 8 and a half inches long from her head to her bum. From the sketch of a 24 week baby in the book, it looks like she doesn't have much room in there!! Even with her small size, her face and body already look like a newborn. Ahh, what bliss to finally *see* her!!

And... unless something changes... we are planning to name our daughter...
Christina Joy! My mom's name is Christine so we wanted to honor her with our daughter's name but still use something a little different. And the Joy part fits nicely with what we have felt and will continue to feel as our daughter grows and grows!

Very Happy to be Alive

Early this morning, John and I could have been:

1. Burnt to a crisp in our bed
2. Crushed by a falling tree
3. Electrocuted

Thankfully, God in His graciousness, spared our lives, our cabin, and our things.

Read all about it at: http://godsgraciousgifts.blogspot.com/2010/06/gift-of-protection.html

23 Weeks!

It is sooo nice to feel our little girl bumping around in my belly. Her kicks are still quite gentle, but it is incredible to feel her movements.

We are delighted to have a little girl! In all the searching I've done for baby clothes, I only found 2 boy items. It has been very fun to shop intentionally for darling girl outfits!

According to the Week by Week book, our baby weighs almost 1 pound! Her head to bum length is around 8 inches.

I have been gaining weight and width as well. From my pre-pregnancy weight, I have gained 10 pounds and my belly, looks quite pregnant! I'll post pics when I have them.

Here is an excerpt from the Week by Week book:
"Your baby's pancreas is developing. This organ is important in hormone production, particularly insulin productions; insulin is necessary for the body to break down and to use sugar. When the fetus is exposed to high blood-sugar levels, the fetal pancreas responds by increasing the blood-insulin level. Insulin has been identified in a fetal pancreas as early as 9 weeks of pregnancy. Insulin in fetal blood has been detected as early as 12 weeks of pregnancy. Insulin levels are generally high in the blood of babies born to diabetic mothers. That is one reason your doctor may monitor you for diabetes."

Ultrasound Results!

It's a GIRL!!!

22 Weeks

Whew, life has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. John and I have been praying over an amazing job possibility. Everything seemed perfect: an unbelievable salary, great benefits, a cheap house to rent, and best of all, right next door to a precious friend. But, it was not meant to be. Last night, the company informed us things had changed and they now want someone with previous experience in the job. John and I are deeply disappointed but confident God has something better for us.

Tonight, John and I will go to a reception for photographers. A bit ago, I entered a photography contest. Last week, I was informed that I won first prize for the category I entered, and best of show over all the photographs entered! I was shocked, honored, and very happy!

Tomorrow, John and I will go to our baby's first ultrasound! I am ecstatic! We are Very Much hoping to find out our baby's gender (it is so awful to call our baby an "it", how wonderful to be able to call our baby by name!) and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to see this precious one that has been bumping around in there as I type all this! Oh, I Can't Wait!!!

21 Weeks, a day late

We are doing fine. The baby has been moving a lot and the kicks are getting stronger! Tuesday night, John and I went to watch some videos about pregnancy etc. and John get to feel some really strong kicks!

Week 21 is when our baby learns to swallow, what a cutie! According to my week by week book, our baby is the size of a banana (very happy our baby doesn't smell like one)!

Our camper was over-run by mice in our absence so we've had a challenge getting it cleaned up. We found 3 dead mice, and have killed 2 with traps but there is still a lot of scampering in the ceiling!

It hasn't been cold and rainy the whole time. At the moment it is 80+ out so we are staying nice and toasty.

Week 20 - Halfway Point

My how time has Flown! How can half of my pregnancy be over already?

This will be an interesting week. John and I are preparing to head out to New York state (a rather long drive) to visit family, take care of some business, and camp out. Looks like quite a bit of rain and cold is in the forecast.

I have my week by week book, yippee! Backing up to week 18 through week 20:
--Week 18 Fine tuning of the Heart and Circulatory System
--Week 19 More development in our baby's Nervous System
--Week 20 Vernix us being secreted onto our baby's skin to protect him or her from the amniotic fluid

So, overall I'm doing well. Mostly over a nasty cold.

Sunday, I was laying on my back, looking at my stomach and I saw and felt our baby, so incredible!!

John and I went to visit the midwife today and everything is looking fine. I've been measuring small so we were all a bit concerned. Thankfully, my uterus is up to my belly button which is exactly where it should be for week 20, even though I don't look 20 weeks pregnant. It is always so reassuring to hear that heartbeat! It was in the 140's so we shall see... We are thinking to have an ultrasound when we get back from our trip!

The 4 Pregos

Mom Quotes

Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon

I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine - she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights. ~Terri Guillemets

A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them. ~Victor Hugo

A mother's happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories. ~Honoré de Balzac

Who fed me from her gentle breast
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
~Anne Taylor

Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. ~T. DeWitt Talmage

cats in the cradle

My dreams have been so vivid and so clear that it takes me a bit to realize they were only a dream even when it is one as crazy as last nights:

I dreamed that my stomach was not much bigger than it is now but we could see something moving and poking out on the left and something moving and poking out on the right. I told my mom about it and so we decided to check it out. Without causing any physical pain, she took a knife and cut my stomach open. We then discovered two black cats! From living in my stomach, they had an oily/water coating. We took one cat out and wiped it off. It had the silkiest, shiniest fur and was so beautiful with very long legs and a long tail. It wasn't a full grown cat and we decided we only needed one cat now so one remained in my stomach to grow up the rest of the way!

I am fully baffled where this dream came from! I don't remember thinking about cats (black or any other color) and Certainly NOT cats in my stomach! I think I did feel our baby moving about in there last night, so precious!

19 Weeks

Ahhhh, what a lovely way to start another pregnancy week. John surprised me this morning by planning a return to the beach where he proposed (tomorrow is the day he proposed). I have not been able to keep track of days or dates but John is so sweet to remember and celebrate them! It was a perfect day: deep blue skies, warm weather, no bugs, the ocean to ourselves and lots of trails to hike. I am exhausted but so grateful for it all.



Week 18 was pretty good. Felt what could have been more baby movements but no large kicks yet. My belly keeps getting bigger! I still don't have my week by week book but hoping to track that down. I may post more later but I think I'll catch some rest for now.

Strange

The other night I dreamed that my belly was translucent and I could watch our baby (a boy) move around. So precious to see his little body in there!

Last night, I dreamed I delivered our baby (a girl) before going into labor. As I held our sweet baby girl (she was really chubby and weighed probably 12 pounds!) I was dreading the fact that I still had to go through labor! [Very glad babies arrive after vs. before labor]

Pregnancy does something with your brain! In the past 24 hours I have:

• Added cold eggs to boiling water
• Asked to be taken to the bathroom
• Asked the above question with chocolate smudges on my khaki pants!
• Pulled a rack off the wall at the Dollar Tree
• Bought 12 (small) containers of yogurt I don't like

Good for staying humble ~

Baby Bump Pic

Still not much there, but at least there is more than there used to be! :0)

Week 18 - a day late

So maybe I was a bit overly optimistic about my nausea... Several factors helped make a difference but to summarize... week 17 was not sweet. So, it's nice to move on to week 18.

Yesterday was a very fun day and I found some great bargains! What a Delight! But I did a bit too much with too little food and by suppertime, I felt like I was going to throw up. (I hate for John to come home to me feeling like that!) But I *think* I may have felt our baby!!! Maybe it was just gas, but it felt like a hand or a leg swooshed by my stomach!!! Just incredible to think of a little body growing inside of me. All through the pregnancy, I've gone through various levels of reality. The shock and awe of "We're going to have a baby" continues to hit me in new ways.

Okay, the bad news is, I don't have the week by week book so tracking our baby's progress may be a bit scattered. Here are some sites to check out:

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-18-weeks_1107.bc
http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/calendar/week18

Oh, another new experience this week: heartburn. I couldn't figure out why my heart hurt so bad and I was getting a bit worried until I realized ah, heartburn goes with pregnancy.

Still no pic, maybe sometime this week.

Time is flying by--it's almost MAY!

Week 17!

I will refer to week 16 as "Sweet 16" because it seems everything got better during that week! There were still moments when I felt gross, but I noticed a huge improvement overall. And I figured out what triggers my nausea: Hunger, Tiredness, and Stress. Before "Sweet 16" it seemed like nothing made any difference in how I felt; I just felt gross. Now I can figure out what the problem is and fix it! How nice!

And week 16 is also the week I popped! I now look Pregnant! Oh happy day! I'll try to nab someone to take a pic of my baby bump. I'm so proud!

Despite eating almost 24/7 I still have not gained any weight so either the scales are broken or, everything is just getting re-arranged in there!

I have "lost" the book I was using to track our baby's growth so I'll have to come back with an up-date.

The only sad part of week 16 is that I cannot say for sure that I felt the baby. There have been rumbles and bubbles in my tummy but nothing felt any different than normal life so... maybe I'll feel something different this week :0)

Baby Dream

Last night, I dreamed I had our baby! The dream began in the middle of labor (which had been painful) but when it came to delivery, the baby just slid out without any pain at all. The baby was in this membrane like black sack which was sticky. We had to peel it off to see our beautiful baby. I was shocked to discover our baby was a boy and kept saying, "I really thought it was going to be a girl!"

John and I were delighted to hold and dress our baby boy--he was so cute!!! He had a little bit of blond hair on the top of his head that stuck up in the middle.

Despite multiple efforts, I was unable to nurse him. I was devastated!

Our baby grew a foot (in length) every week so he didn't stay little very long! I was concerned we wouldn't have any clothes for him to wear!

Such a crazy + random dream. Though we still have a loong time to wait before we'll get to hold our precious baby, I am excited already. I am not looking forward to labor, but knowing that we'll get to have and to hold this miracle now growing in my stomach... I think all the pain will be worth it!

:0)

16 week miracle

So precious, this is a baby at 16 weeks:

Ten Best Foods for Pregnancy

Ha, ha woops! Today is actually the day I begin my 16th week, not yesterday. I got my days confused and thought I was farther in the week than I actually am :0) Maybe that explains why I felt so miserable last night--I wasn't actually in my 16th week and from now on I'll feel great--here's hoping!

I found this article very interesting:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-ten-best-foods-for-pregnancy_10320506.bc

And what do they list as the 10 best foods?

1. Eggs (egg-salad sandwiches are delish!)
2. Salmon (I really need to learn to like this!)
3. Beans (I need to get some soaking!)
4. Sweet Potatoes
5. Pop-corn and other whole grains (probably not intending microwave pop-corn here)
6. Walnuts
7. Greek yogurt (seems yogurt and kefir do splendid things for pregnant women)
8. Dark, green, leafy vegetables (wha-hoo for kale chips!)
9. Lean meats
10. Colorful fruits and vegetables (I'm crazy about strawberries)

Check out the link to find the reasons why ;0)

All this typing about food makes me hungry. I'm off to eat some broccoli. MmmMmm

16 Weeks

Time is flying by. I felt like reaching week 15 was a big turning point for me. I felt much better... that is until last Friday when I threw up again. This makes my average about once every week... discouraging in my second trimester. I still need to eat 24/7 and I still need to get my rest.

I am feeling better than I have though at times it feels like progress is slow. My mom is keeping four of her grandchildren this week so I've offered to take over all the cooking and laundry. This is certainly something I was unable to do before.

I may be able to feel our baby this week! Oh happy day!!!

I found more bargains on girl clothes today :0) Very fun to think of putting them on our baby, even if this baby is a boy and we need to wait awhile for a girl. I would be delighted for John to have a son to follow in his footsteps. :0) He is already an amazing dad--so kind, gentle, and caring. He holds my stomach and talks to our baby... I love it when he does that!

Ultrasound Results

It has been such a delight to share my pregnancy with my sisters and sister-in-law. Hopefully we will get a chance to take another belly picture this Saturday.

And what will we all have? A baby of course!

Celina: a baby boy

Loree: not enough evidence either way but most likely a girl

Sara: a baby girl

Me: no ultrasound yet. If we have one, it won't be for a few more weeks.

Strange Dreams!

Ever since I've been pregnant, I have had strange, vivid dreams. Sometimes they are creepy (like two nights ago when I was surrounded with huge, fuzzy, black-widow spiders) but mostly they are just wacky. Last night is a great example. There are 3 different dreams that I remember. In the first dream, we were visiting a family from the church. In addition to their house, they had this old, rickety, falling down, "house" that I fell in love with even though it was missing a front a door and several windows. I went inside and found all this neat old furniture and other old items.

In the second dream, I was for some unknown reason, desperate for a shower. John and I were close to Cabela's. He was able to sneak me into the mens bathroom where there were showers. (We went into the mens bathroom so he could help me and keep me safe). Someone found out we were in there and we got in trouble. I explained I was pregnant and that made everything fine. The woman who was yelling at us, took us to her apartment. It had OSB walls (which she called plywood) and it was painted various colors. She was very proud of her work and kept going on and on about her lights.

In the third dream, John and I had decided to sleep in a tent at a campground, along with others. We had a terrible time finding a place to set up our camp since all the ground was very hilly. There was a competition to see who could finish and get back up to main building first. When we arrived at the main building, my two oldest nephews and my sister Sara were already there. They were all at a high tower (with a rubber raft on top) and you had to jump off the raft into the lake below. Sara arrived first so she got to jump first. She made a perfect dive and I was amazed to discover that she had a mermaid tail!!

The weirdest dream yet though is from a few months ago. I dreamed that times were really tough and so we decided to sell John's right arm to a meat factory. John didn't mind having his right arm cut off, and even helped me carry it to the meat factory!

15 Weeks!

15 weeks! How fun to be this far! And, I'm finally starting to look pregnant!!! I have gained around 5 pounds and my stomach definitely has a small baby bump (which I am very proud of!)

I still feel quite sick most evenings and threw up Saturday afternoon... ruining our plans to celebrate John's birthday. I felt so horrible changing everyone's plans and became an emotional basket case. I felt it was too late in my pregnancy to be throwing up and I didn't feel better after anyways.

The baby has been very hungry! A few hours after I eat, my stomach begins to growl!

The head to bum measurement for this week is 4 to 4 and 1/2 inches long and weighs 1 and 3/4 ounces! It should only take a few weeks before I'll get to feel our baby bumping around!

"Your baby's rapid growth continues. Its skin is thin. At this point in its development, you can see blood vessels through the skin. Fine hair called lanugo hair, covers the baby's body.

By this time, your baby may be sucking its thumb. This has been seen with ultrasound examination. Eyes continue to move to the front of the face but are still widely separated.

Ears continue to develop externally.

Bones that have already formed are getting harder and retaining calcium (ossifying) rapidly. If an X-ray were done at this time, the baby's skeleton would be visible."

an excerpt from: Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Glade B. Curtis, M.D., M.P.H and Judith Schuler, M.S.

Happy Days

John and I have had some very happy days. We went on a little honeymoon this past week. I highly recommend it!


Yesterday, we went to see my midwife and her assistant. It was a really good visit and I am so grateful for their services. Everything is looking good with our baby! We heard the heartbeat again, 130 bpm so it's official--we are going to have a either a boy baby or a girl baby!

14 Weeks!

Someone Very Special was born this day, 31 years ago. My wonderful husband arrived just a few minutes before March 31 turned into April 1. What an extraordinary gift he is!

Our own dear baby has continued to expand. Sometime soon, he or she will stretch to 4 inches long from crown to rump and weigh almost 1 ounce!

These are the physical changes taking place:

• Eyes have been moving from the side to the front of the face
• Neck is getting longer
• Chin no longer is resting on the chest
• Sexual development continues, making it easier to determine male and female.

On the other hand, changes in me seem to be on stand-still. I am very eager for my belly to announce I am pregnant! The picture of my nice round belly taken a few weeks back was taken a bit too early. My stomach actually shrank after John took the picture and though it is getting close to the size it was then, I don't think it has reached it yet! What I proudly thought was our baby was actually probably just fat or my bowls. Cheery eh?

I still haven't gained weight but that may change soon. I seem to be STARVING just a few hours after eating. Food is still not appealing!

My nausea at night is not getting better. Last night I almost threw up again and I've felt gross all day. I am looking forward to moving on from that stage.

So, I'm very glad to be this far along and am excited about the days ahead. :)

Boys in Pink Dresses?

99% of the Baby clothes I've found (for great deals) are adorable little dresses and other sweet baby girl attire. Today, I found a brand new, cute, pink dress for $1.00 that I just couldn't pass up.

John and I haven't decided if we will have an ultrasound to discover our baby's gender or not. Even if we did, it would not be for quite awhile. Though I'm not sure I could skip these cute little dresses even if I knew we were having a boy. [The dresses would be bought in advance for when we have our girl]

Rather nice to have a 50/50 chance either way. Baby girl clothes seem to have a higher cuteness rating but if you compare little girl babies to little boy babies... it's an even tie ;)

The Sweetest Gift

Yesterday, I found out a woman I don't even know has been praying for me and our growing baby. It seems I am constantly learning of friends known and unknown who are praying for us. I can't even explain what a precious gift this is. I believe it is because of the prayers of others and God's graciousness that we have this miracle growing healthily inside me. Having lost a baby, I know how fragile everything is. And though I have no doubt the baby we lost is in a "far better place than I have ever been too", the pain of our loss is something I would prefer to never experience again.

My heart breaks for those who aren't pregnant and wish they were. A miscarriage is a one-time-event but how terrible to experience month after month a discouraging report. I am praying for the women I know in this situation, eager to hear their good news!

13 Weeks -2nd Trimester!

Yesterday, I began my 13th week! I also entered into my second trimester! The second trimester is known as the easiest part of the pregnancy. So far, I have my doubts. For the first time since I've been pregnant, I threw up. Whether it was from being overly hungry or because of a flu bug, I don't know. The symptoms are the same. John was amazing through the whole ordeal. What a horrible thing for a husband to have to deal with! John took it all in stride, sweetly serving me.

Yesterday did have bright points as well. Sharon and I hit a thrift store on the day when almost everything is half off and I found 4 adorable baby outfits (some for a boy, some for a girl) and a little navy blue snowsuit that could work for either. I looked at a lot of things, put things back, found other things. When I checked out, (without adding up my total) I decided to pay in cash. My total came to $3.70. In my purse I had [only] 3 $1.00 bills and [only] 3 quarters!!

So, what happens with our baby during the 13th week?

According to this link our baby is the size of a peach! The head keeps looking more like a baby with eyes and ears fitting into where they belong :) Our baby's intestines are moving into our baby's tummy instead of in the umbilical cord (where they've been).

12 Weeks!

Here it is! At long last, the last week of my first trimester! It is a wonderful week to be at! My nauseated feeling has gotten worse the last few days so I'm counting on that meaning a healthy baby. :)

And wow is he or she cute!
I have the week by week book back from the library (which is where I took the picture from). According to it, our baby weighs between 1/3 and 1/2 ounce, and crown-to-rump length is almost 2 1/2 inches. (I love that it has the actual size in the corner, of course that is only correct in the book).

I think the most amazing thing is that all of our baby's "structures" have already been knit together. From here on out, our baby's innards will just grow.

According to the book:
[Our] baby's skeletal system has centers of bone formation in most bones. Fingers and toes have separated, and nails are growing. Scattered rudiments of hair appear on the body. External genitalia are beginning to show distinct signs of male or female sex characteristics.

The digestive system (small intestine) is capable of producing contractions that push food through the bowls. It is able to absorb glucose (sugar).

At the base of our baby's brain, the pituitary gland is beginning to make many hormones... The fetal nervous system has developed further... Stimulating [our baby] in certain spots may cause it to squint, open its mouth and move its fingers or toes."

copied from: Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler pages 184-186

Do I sound like a rhino?

Ta-Da!!!!!! I have rhinitis of pregnancy! Doesn't that sound fun. It actually only means a stuffy noes but since it is so common it has a name. All this extra estrogen is contributing to swelling in the mucus membranes lining my nose and creating more mucus. Yippee. Nice to know it is not a cold and that it's all for a good cause.

I've had a few mild earaches as well which is unusual for me but I am assuming all this ties together.

Tomorrow I will begin my 12th week!!!