Welcome Friends and Family!

She mentioned today that she doesn't want to step onto the plane without me having delivered (she leaves on vacation on June 22nd and comes home the 27th.)  I asked her "Don't you think I will make it?" and she shook her head 'no'.  I told her my Mom had 10 babies and most of them came over due, that I was #6 and was supposed to be a June baby but was born in mid-July, and she said "But all your other children came on time, and Dylan came early."  I reminded her that Alisa was 5 days late, that Mark and I worked really hard at trying to induce labor, and that Dylan came the day after I was given a stressful church calling.  Now, I know that may all well be for my own peace of mind, that perhaps nothing I say or do will prevent this baby from coming while she is gone, let alone making it to July, but I don't think I want to be induced just so that she doesn't have to worry about me while she is on vacation! :-)

Another concern is that I am measuring big, which to her means that I will go early.  I am measuring 41 cm's today.  So she asked the birth weights of the other kids, and then looked through the chart for how I measured with Alisa.  I measured 40-41 cm's with her too, starting at 37 weeks, so that eased her mind a little.  She then asked how I did with the other kids born at this time of year, because she tends to think really low pressure systems can activate labor, and I told her I've never had a baby in the summer, and that yes, all my babies came in a snow storm.  She said we'll have to pray for no tornados.  She said she'll check my cervix next week, and if it's dilating "We'll talk".  I am not sure how that will matter too much, with Dylan I didn't dilate until 3 hours before I gave birth.

I have contractions, maybe 10 a day, but no false labor, and only one at a time, and nothing painful.  I use them to practice breathing, so while I may start breathing through them, I don't need to.  I don't sleep well at night, but that's because it takes 5 minutes to roll over and it's so darn hot!

Baby's heartbeat is 140 (again!) and my test for GBS (Group B Strep) came back negative.

For me, the bottom line is that while I know the baby will come when she is ready, I'm willing to try to keep her in, but not willing to induce her early so that my doctor won't miss the birth. We are ready for when she does come. We've got the going home outfit, I've got my maternity bras, we got some fabric to use as backdrops for pictures. We did the belly cast.  I do still need to get some pictures taken though!  3 weeks until July 4th, 2.5 weeks until July.  Any one want to take bets?  (Top)

June 1st, 2007

37 weeks...Full term!  "Full Term"  day passed by uneventfully.  Reading back through Dylan's baby blog, I was pretty emotional about the day, thinking it was my last.  This time I feel at peace (mostly) and happy that I was able to be cognizant and aware enough to enjoy each moment, to never wish I was done, and to not complain too badly at the not-so-fun parts.  I am truly grateful for the help I received from Mark and the kids, who have had a constant hand in easy any discomfort I have felt (and for Dylan who not only makes me smile when I am uncomfortable, but is in his 'toddler twos' enough to remind me that it's not all bad letting your kids grow.  But I have to admit I am an emotional wreck.  I like to watch 'Hot Topics' on The View, and during commercial breaks I switch channels.  Montel, whom I never watch, had a psychic lady on and I was just in tears with one of the story lines.  Or on Sunday, when a man at church spoke of his Mother's funeral and singing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" at her grave site, and then spoke a little of his son leaving in a week for his 2 year mission, I was a big bawling baby.  Then 2 minutes later I laugh hysterically at something fairly benign.

So, I had my 37 week appointment.  Like last week, my blood pressure was 140/60.  This week I measured 40 cm's, but I had a small contraction during the measuring, so that could account for the growth.  Baby's heartbeat rate was 140 (again...same for the longest time now, she is consistent and mellow...which I deserve!) and I actually lost a pound (according to the nurse, I still don't look!)  The night of Dylan's full term day I had a night of false labor, but nothing other than a few strong ones here and there so far.  I had my group B strep test (no results yet) and was checked.  My cervix is very soft, but I am not effacing.  The outer os of the cervix is open (which is normal for women who have had more than 1 child) but the inner cervix is closed.  I am a little worried that she could reach my cervix, usually I am so posterior, but then again, Dylan's couldn't be reached, and he came early! Baby is head down, but not engaged. So she doesn't think I'll go into labor during the next week.

So that's it for updates.  4 weeks from today is July 4th.  On the one hand I hope I can make it, on the other hand I don't think I can stretch that much more!  Bonnie brought over 2 meals this past weekend, one of which we ate, the other of which we froze.  I am up to 6 meals frozen now, and will have 4 more after shopping tonight.  And the meal that we ate from Bonnie, I want the recipe so I can freeze it because the kids loved it!

June 1st, 2007

36 weeks. I've made it to June!  It's becoming real to me. Quickly!  At my doctor's appointment my blood pressure was actually on the high side, at 140/60.  However, I didn't get any chance to rest; I raced from home, checked in, ran up the stairs, and immediately was whisked into the doctors office to be weighed (I don't even look at the scale anymore!) and then blood pressure.  What happened to my usual sitting in the waiting room for 30 minutes, I'd like to know?  I didn't even get to start my grocery list!  My hands and feet get very swollen at night, but my doctor seems unconcerned at this point, as they swelling goes down when I put my feet up and drink lots of water.  I am still measuring 38 cm's, but that isn't because the baby stopped growing, it's because the baby is head down and lower than last time.  Doctor Olson would still like me to have the baby before she goes on her trip, and I'd still like to go after she comes home.  And why, may I ask, are people so negative?  They either can't believe that a pregnant woman actually wants to delay labor (I guess that is odd!) or that a pregnant woman on her 6th child has the ability to delay labor ("Oh no, you'll never make it!")  I'm going to start believing it if I'm not careful. :-)  So I am trying to do the opposite of everything I did with Dylan.  I've put myself on a sort of bed rest to keep contractions away (though they always seem to come on Sundays, the day of rest, and Wednesdays, the day of craziness (church, scouts, shopping).  On Tuesday, when I hit 37 weeks, I will get even stricter with my self, which isn't fair to the kids who are putting in extra work, but they understand my weirdness about this all, and appreciate the easier dishes due to the easier meals.  I've read my journal with Dylan, and at this point I did have a lot of contractions and some false labor, so hopefully I can keep that all away.  The pregnant women out there, who go overdue and ask for specific things to get labor going...I can do the opposite and not get it going, right?  Or does a body go into labor when it wants, and it's just a coincidence that it happens after stripped membranes, castor oil, or s-e-x?  We'll find out!

We like to watch the baby move, especially Alisa and Dylan.  They love to kiss the baby, and are anxious to meet and greet her (or him, if I'm in for the surprise of my life.)  Mark hates to see me uncomfortable and just wants this over so we can get into a pattern.  Gabby is a 'little' excited, and I think Zach is the most apprehensive of all.  He's definitely over the whole 'new baby' thing. 

The baby is still causing me pain when she turns her head.  It's such an odd sensation, and can't really be described.   I get relief by going into the down dog yoga position, which also feels good for my back, which is sore all the time these days.  I'm hoping that I'll get to the point where I just want the baby out and get on with labor.  And now that I write that, it sounds really familiar, like I've already mentioned it here or told someone else.  Sorry for any repeats (again!) 

I am starting to get the comments such as 'Are you still around'  or 'When are you due?  June 26th?  You look like you could have that baby now!" that get annoying to pregnant women.  I just try to let them slide, but part of me cringes.  At least no one comes up and pats my stomach without asking!

Next week I'll pack my hospital bag.  I am pretty ready, except I need the new camcorder to arrive, I need to do the belly casting kit, I need a going home outfit for the baby, I need to do portraits (still!) I need nursing bras,  I need to freeze a few more meals.  I do have the music on the Ipod, and I do have headphones and an Idog speakers ready to use to listen to it.  I have been meditating to it daily.  'See' you next week for more updates.  Please add me to your prayers, for good health and a healthy baby that will stay put until July! (Top)

May 17, 2007

34 weeks!  I told the kids that it becomes 'real' to me at about 35 weeks, but on Tuesday when I told Mark "In 3 weeks I'll be full term!" I then proceeded to realize that somehow the baby has to actually GET OUT!  Now while I have fast, and what would be labeled 'easy' labors, they aren't fun in any sense.  I am still determined to go naturally, if I am not induced.  No promises if I am induced (and I apologize if I have already mentioned all this in a previous entry, my brain cells are going straight to the placenta or something!)

At my doctor's appointment yesterday, things were just fine.  I am measuring 38 cm's, which is 4 cm's big (down 1 cm!)  My blood pressure was actually really low, 118/48, though not low enough to be a concern.  My weight was up by 2 pounds, for a total of 23 pounds.  Baby's heartbeat was 140, and she wiggled like crazy when the doctor listened to her through the doptones (which isn't a surprise, studies show that those things cause normal noises such as heartbeats, blood flow, etc. to be extremely loud) and babies try to 'run away' from them.  My doctor said that she'd induce on July 7th even though it was a Saturday (what can I say, she loves me! (Enough to tell me that I carry pregnancy so well, and was one of the best looking pregnant women she knew...how sweet, eh? Even though I know better!)  I told her that my worry about waiting to the 7th was that somehow I'd actually make it to the 4th and then deliver on my own on the 5th or 6th.  I asked all the kids what day they'd prefer, and it's about 50-50.  The older ones would rather be born on the 4th, the younger on 07-07-07.)  Dr. Olson couldn't guarantee that the baby was head down.  Up until last week ago I would have guessed a transverse position, as I was feeling kicks on both sides of my stomach, but one day I literally felt the baby try and turn around. Man did that hurt! Then all of a sudden the kicks were at the top of my uterus, and once again I can feel baby turn her head in my pelvis, a sensation I so do NOT enjoy, so I am not worried about a breech baby anymore.  Baby may have dropped a bit more, as I have to use the bathroom more often and my groin is so sore all the time.  My heartburn hasn't been too bad lately, it seems to come and go depending on what I eat or if I am laying down.  The doctor also okayed another ultrasound to check for size and position (and gender, ha!) 

So I had the ultrasound today (the 17th) and all looks well.  Baby's new estimated due date changed from July 3rd to June 29th, though I keep telling myself it gets less reliable as time goes on.  The baby is definitely head down now, and the heartbeat was still 140.  Baby measured something like 5 pounds and 6 ounces (which apparently the average is 4 and a quarter for week 34.)  She was really active about an hour before the ultrasound, and sleeping during it.  No hiccups or yawn shots this time! (Actually, she's only had hiccups once, that was yesterday morning.) We tried to do the gender check, and at first she couldn't find anything and said "It gets more difficult to see as the baby gets bigger because...nope there it is!" and got 'the shot' on the screen.  I could tell what it was right away, and she said "It's the classic girl hamburger shot...no turtle for you!"  So yay, all the clothes I washed, and switching the crib to the girl's room wasn't in vain.  I'll include all the pictures on the pictures page.  Next week I am going to start taking pregnancy portraits, though we'll be using Mark's SLR film camera so it will take a while to get them online.

Still not too many contractions, maybe 5-10 a day, and nothing painful enough to make me think "Epidural!" as of yet.  I'll do another update in 2 weeks after my next appointment.  Also today I had a few of the clicking noises (like someone cracking their knuckles or clicking a pen underwater) which I had with Dylan all the time. Doctors (who have heard of it) say it's when baby moves so fast and rub up against something, some speculate it's baby sucking on their thumb or tongue). I don't know but it's definitely weird, and I am glad when looking online I am not the only women experiencing it.

I am getting a little anxious to meet and hold the baby, to see how Dylan, who just can’t stop kissing my stomach and laying his head on my tummy and saying “Baby out?” reacts.  And Alisa, who thinks she'll look just like her!  But I also love having her in me feeling her kick and squirm (and I also enjoy getting spoiled with foot rubs and hair brushing.)  And I can’t wait to go shopping for her and get the bag packed, but I don’t want this season of life to end, but am excited to do fun things with the kids too!  And I can’t wait to nurse you and feel your little grasp wrap around my finger, but I don’t want to be done performing one of God’s mighty miracles. Why does this have to be so difficult, so bittersweet for some woman?  I wish I were one of those who knew when it was time to be done, in fact were grateful to be done, instead of mourning it like some type of death. :-)  (TOP)

Hope everyone's Christmas was Merry!

November 27th, 2006

October 24th, 2006
You've found our super-secret web page! Secret only because we like to wait until I am 3 months to announce a pregnancy, a practice common to some women after science discovered that miscarriages happen most often in the first trimester. Some of you have been given hints, however! Think back and maybe you'll have an 'Ah-ha! I knew it' moment!

Anyway, published or not, this website has obviously been updated since about 4 days after I first tested positive.  This baby was planned and hoped for. No surprises, no accidents!  We've watched a lot of friends go through some pretty harsh pregnancy and labors in the last 18 months, thought about how much we are blessed to have easy pregnancies, labors, delivery, and healthy, happy, loved children, and prayed about this decision very much.

 I charted my temperatures, and you can see the day of ovulation, 6 days later a temperature shift (usually perceived to be implantation) and a positive HPT on the 21st.  Before we attempted this, I had a dream of a pretty little girl and her name too! At about the time of implantation, the heartburn and dizziness started. At about day 10, for 2 days in a row, Alisa said "Mom, what should I name my baby sister?"   And now I am getting nauseous in the late afternoon. Otherwise feeling really good. Mark calls it our next 'Caribbean baby' and said "I hope we don't keep having one of these during a cruise!" No, this time it feels right to be done.  I feel ready to be done. I took the test Friday night, and didn't look at the results. I put the test in a washcloth, put it on the table, got the video camera, read the kids the directions and had everyone look one at a time. Mark first. Good poker face! Ditto with Zach and Ethan. Gabby had to back away so I couldn't see her face. Alisa stared at it and I asked her what it said. "She turned around with it, and I walked up to it to see the '+' sign in the window. I said 'Alisa, we are going to have a baby!" We are all a little shell shocked (Alisa took more than one cycle, and we really didn't know if God would send us another family member...seeing as we'll need to move and get an 8-seater vehicle) and excited, and worried, and hopeful, all rolled into one.

 As you can see from this theme, I'd prefer a girl this time (but heh, the baby at the top 'could' be considered a boy.)  I think we'll try to find out the gender this time, because as much as we'll love and welcome another son, It'll take some getting used to. And oh, by the way, the due date is around the 1st of July, so hopefully THIS one will want to bake until its due date. A June boy baby would be pretty typical. :-)  (Top)