Theo Andrew Has Arrived!!

YAY, I finally had my baby! Well, it was a little while ago now but life has gotten a little busier and it's been hard to make time to blog. = )

Theo Andrew was born on September 7th at 10:26pm. I was able to do another natural waterbirth and things went very well, though much different than my first waterbirth experience.

I was woken up by contractions at about 6am and immediately sensed that they were different from the strong Braxton Hicks contractions I'd been having for about half my pregnancy. I started timing them, and they were about 6 minutes apart at first, so I called my midwife. She told me to wait about a half an hour to make sure they didn't stop before doing anything else. If they didn't stop, I was to call my sister to come get Ari, call Drew to come home from work, and head to the hospital. Well, they didn't stop, so I called everyone and started getting my stuff together. I actually had most of my hospital bag packed already this time, which made things a lot less frantic. Yay me!! = D

My mom, my sister Esther and Drew all arrived and helped me finish packing. My sister Naomi came and got Ari, and we then headed to St. Joseph's hospital. We arrived around 10:30am when all was said and done. I was able to walk up to the maternity ward because I was still in early labor. The reason they wanted me to come in even though things weren't very intense yet is because I was Strep B positive, so they wanted to get the first round of antibiotics flowing. My sister Anna, and two friends who were there to observe, met us there.

I got to my room and they had me lay down for a little while to get a baseline heart rate on the baby. After that I was able to walk around until my antibiotics came. They wanted to double check which one I should have since I'm allergic to so many. I ended up having to get the same one as last time, which made my scalp itchy. It was much less bothersome this time though, and the itching didn't last for as long either which I was thankful for.

With my first pregnancy, they left the IV port for my entire labor and delivery in case I needed a second round of antibiotics. However, I never ended up needing the second dose and the port caused me so much discomfort and irritation. So, this time I asked the nurse and midwife if they could take it out and reinsert it later if necessary. The first midwife said that she'd have to talk to the midwife that was coming on shift next, since she would be the one that would be working with me at the time of potential reinsertion. Well, when we asked the next midwife, she said YES!! I was so thankful, especially because I never ended up needing a second dosage this time either and was able to fully use my hand. = D

The next many hours were fairly uneventful. I was still in early labor and spent most of my time walking the halls trying to get things going. I also surfed Facebook and chatted with my labor team and friends, who were there to observe, to pass the time. I did a bunch of leaning over whenever I wasn't walking, because the baby was still somewhat sideways (though head down) and the midwife was hoping he'd swing down to face the right way. It ended up working, by the way!

One very interesting element is that this was all taking place on my sister Anna's birthday! We ended up canceling her family birthday party that was scheduled for the evening, because she was part of my labor team. With how slowly things were progressing, someone came up with the idea to have the party for her in one of the maternity ward's family waiting rooms. So that evening, desserts were brought, family was rounded up and we had her party! It was a lot of fun. I was able to attend as well, working through my still manageable contractions, and even had some pie because my midwife said I could. (I loved her!)

When the party started winding down, I decided to go lay down in my room alone to rest up for what I thought would be a very long night of intense labor once things eventually started getting further along. I laid down and was able to doze off a little bit. While I was lying there though, my contractions started getting more intense. I really started having to focus and breathe through them. With each one, I pictured a humongous wave rising and rising (like those big surfer waves) and then as each contraction started to let off I pictured that wave rolling over and me surfing through the tunnel of water. This was sooo helpful for dealing with the pain. I never even asked for pain meds this time!

At this point, no one was in the room but me. Finally, my mom came back into the room. She had called me about five minutes earlier asking if I thought she had time to run an errand, but after hearing the way I was starting to breathe, she decided that she probably did not have time!

She rounded up my labor team, which consisted of my husband and my sister Anna, as my sister Esther who was there to photograph, and two friends who were there to observe, and things started getting really intense, very fast. I was rechecked and dilated to an 8, so they said, "Fill the tub!" I stayed laying on my side in bed and Drew stood with me applying some lower back pressure, which felt good. Someone came back in and said the tub was ready and the midwife asked me if I was able to walk over there. I said yes, because I figured walking would help me keep progressing.

By the time I stood up, I was having very intense contractions that were very close together. Before I even started walking... I felt the urge to PUSH! I couldn't believe it. Everything was happening sooo fast! Anna and the midwife led me down the hall. When we got about halfway to the waterbirthing room, I had another contraction and my water broke. Oops! Sorry carpet. = )

I got in the room and into the tub. I felt such an intense urge to push that I asked my midwife, "Can I push now?!!" I wanted to make sure I was dilated enough. She said, "Just listen to your body and do what it says". So, I pushed. I pushed on top of pushing on top of pushing. At this point, there was practically NO break in between my contractions. I couldn't even use my surfer wave image it was so intense. Instinct took over. I reached out my hand in hopes that someone would squeeze it- I couldn't even get words out to ask for it. Anna grabbed my hand and squeezed it hard, which I was sooo thankful for.

I pushed and pushed. All of a sudden, I felt pressure, and burning, then pushed again and the pressure was gone. My son was already practically out!!! They told me to reach down, and I pulled him up and out of the water. It was amazing. All the pain was gone, and euphoria took its place. Not only that, but I was overcome by a sense of deja vu when I saw his face. This little boy looked sooo much like Ari that I felt like I had birthed the same child twice! Well, I was in love. I called out for Drew, trying to focus and see where he was and he came over and we shared a few minutes with our new son. = D

I held him in the tub for a while and then they had me get out do deliver the placenta on the bed. After that, while I was having skin-on-skin time with my baby and attempting to nurse for the first time, I was sewn up. I didn't tear bad, but did need some stitches. Theo latched on immediately to nurse. It was amazing how alert he was!

After I was wheeled into my hospital room, the rest of my siblings and my dad arrived to meet Theo. We announced his name, took a family photo and then everyone left so we could get some rest. Drew also went home because he does not sleep well in the hospital (which we learned last time) and wanted to be well rested to bring Ari to meet Theo the next day.

I won't bore you with all the details about what happens postpartum with newborn care and mommy care, but it all went very well. The only issue we had, was that Theo was doing some pretty intense gagging on thick, clear, foamy mucous. It was scary. They ended up lavaging him. That's where they suck out the contents of the stomach. Sad, I know. But, they ended up getting 10cc of mucous out! After that, he did not gag anymore, and was able to burp and spit up like a normal baby... without turning purple. Thank God!

So.. I think that's all I'll write about the hospital stay. On to how things have gone since arriving home:

The first week was a little rough; regular baby blues stuff... hormones. We did have some threat of Theo getting pretty jaundiced, so we were in and out of the clinic a few times getting blood drawn to stay on top of things. But by about a week old, his numbers were decreasing and we were told he was in the clear. That was stressful though. Also, no one warned me about how HUGE Ari was going to look when I saw him after having Theo. I had about 5 or so good sobbing sessions on that topic alone.

The second week was a lot better. My mom helped me out a LOT through those first two weeks, which was amazing. This third week has gone pretty smoothly! I had Ari on such a great schedule, that I've been able to just fit Theo into it. Of course, more of my time is definitely taken up with nursing and additional baths, diaper changing and laundry, so things are different.

For me, going from one to two kids has been much easier than going from zero to one so far, though Drew has felt the opposite. For him, this has been harder in that he now has to do more since we have one-on-one coverage instead of two-on-one. He's adapting very quickly though, from my perspective, and is such a good dad. = )

At first Ari was pretty much indifferent to Theo but recently he's started to show more signs of interest. He works at saying his name, he walks up to him and gives him little hugs here and there (lays his head on Theo's stomach while Theo's in his little chair) and says "shhhh" and "it's okay" when Theo's crying. He's even brought over a couple toys to him. It's sooo cute. I think that Ari's enjoying having another being in the house though he can't play with him yet, and I'm so looking forward to when they are old enough to play together. = )

I myself am healing up nicely and feeling almost back to normal physically, though I still have some weight to lose of course. I've finally figured out the Moby wrap I have (with major help from my mom) so I am going to start trying to venture out into walks with the boys. I don't have a double stroller yet, so I'll carry Theo and push Ari in the stroller... if all goes well. I look forward to getting more exercise!

I had been having some major tooth pain right after getting home from the hospital, but through prayer from tons of people, God has given me relief until I can get to the dentist next Wednesday. I haven't even had to take any pain meds for the past 5 days or so! My wrists and a shoulder have been acting up too... probably from getting used to holding a baby to nurse again as well as Ari's recent weight gain which has made him INCREDIBLY heavy! I'm hoping to get healing for those too so that I don't have to go to the doctor for them. Feel free to join me in prayer!

Sleeping is going fairly well also. Theo's been sleeping up to 6 hrs a night without waking up to nurse. I've been worried about it actually, wondering if it's normal and healthy for him to go that long between feedings. So, I called the clinic lactation consultant today and she said that as long as he's having the amount of wet and dirty diapers he should be, and is feeding well during the day, that I can let him sleep during the night. Well he is, and he is, so... hurray; I can sleep!! = D

Well, I think that's all for now. I'm sure I've missed some interesting details, but I'm pretty tired and have to feed Theo now, so I should go. Thanks everyone for your support, and hopefully I'll be able to blog more as I start getting more and more sleep. = )

Till next post!

38 Weeks Pregnant!

This is not a picture of my own stomach, but let me tell you.. a LOT of this is going on. I thought it was a super cute photo, so I'm including it. = )

I had my 38 week midwife appointment today. I guess I did last till that one after all. ; )

Things are still going well. My fundal height (the distance from my pubic bone to the top of your uterus) measured 37cm this week which is a week under, since I'm 38 weeks, but not a problem. I am dilated to 3cm now but still about 70% effaced. My midwife was like, "Well, at least you've taken care of almost all of early labor already!" I hadn't thought about that. According to BabyCenter.com, "Early labor ends when your cervix is about 4 centimeters dilated and your progress starts to accelerate." Maybe this means that things will go a lot quicker this time around! NOT that I'm complaining about 13 1/2 hrs (for you who had ridiculously long labors). She said the baby's heart rate is very good with a baseline in the 140s and acceleration into the 160s when he's active; a very healthy boy. = )

We then talked a little bit about how I'm doing overall. I told her that it's been a very rough week for me emotionally. Of course I'm uncomfortable at this point, but I'm also battling a cold that's been going through our family, starting with Ari. I thought I'd escaped with just the sniffles, but now I'm feeling very drained all the time also. Despite that... I have NOT been able to sleep. This is beyond pregnancy insomnia and normal troubles of trying to get comfortable. I'm exhausted. For the past 4 or 5 nights, all I have thought about as I get into the early evening hours is, "Please God, don't let me go into labor tonight; I don't think I can do it with how little sleep I've gotten. Please wait until after I get a good night sleep," but a good night sleep never comes. This concerned my midwife as well, because labor definitely requires energy. So she has prescribed me a sleep aid. I am sooo hopeful that I will actually get a good night's rest tonight, and that maybe it will even help kick this cold in the butt.

We finished our visit with her telling me that she is on call most of this Labor Day weekend, so if I go into labor during that time, there's a pretty good chance she could be the one there to "catch" my baby! ("catch" is the term used to describe the role of the midwife, since it's the mother who is really delivering the baby) I think it would be pretty neat if she could be there. She was the one I've seen all the way through both my pregnancies, but didn't happen to be on hospital shift when I had Ari. Labor Day, Sept 5th, 2011, was my original guess for what day I would have this baby, so who knows! Only God. = )

On a final note, I wanted to ponder a very sensitive topic, hopefully with grace and love. Know that this is not directed towards anyone specifically; it's just something that's been on my mind lately as I've heard about and discussed many hard circumstances regarding pregnancies.

I know something of what it's like to want to conceive a baby and not be able to, though not nearly to the extreme of may people I know. Drew and I tried on and off for about 2 years before we got pregnant with Ari. I dealt with a lot of jealousy and bitterness towards other pregnant women during that time, as well as embarrassment that there was something wrong with me, and heartache for what I longed for so badly; to have a baby of my own. Well, I finally did get pregnant, obviously. But being pregnant, for me, has been hard both physically and emotionally, in a variety of different ways, from beginning to end each time.

Hardships of any kind are just that; hard. But people who have had trouble conceiving deal with, what I believe, is an unnecessary pressure once they do get pregnant. They feel like they must be happy at all times, no matter what, because they are lucky to be pregnant. These people sometimes put that same burden on other pregnant women up until the point that they themselves get pregnant, and judge those who aren't living up to their standards. In my opinion, this is unhealthy all around. We are told to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn; not to demand that people "should" feel a certain way, just because it's easier for us to handle.

I believe it is possible to understand how truly blessed you are to be pregnant and still dislike, and have a hard time, being pregnant at the same time. I personally do not like being pregnant, but I am SO glad that I have been able to get pregnant and so far carry one child to birth. I pray every night that this baby would stay healthy and that the cord would stay far away from his neck; I KNOW that it's possible to lose a child even up to your due date and am grateful for each day that he is alive in there.

There is definitely a place for tact in how to talk about pregnancy hardships one-on-one with a person who is having trouble getting pregnant; some people are much better at it than others (I have put my foot in my mouth out of good intentions more than once). But it's an impossible burden to try and figure out how your words might affect all the individual people who might read something you've written in a status or on a blog, where so many people may read it. The safer alternative is just to never write anything about the topic, which is just extreme and does not encourage an atmosphere of "going through life together", which I believe is what most of us seek through social media.

I have a heart for women who have trouble carrying pregnancies and pray for as many of them as I can think of on a regular basis. I hope that any of you reading this who fall into that category WILL get pregnant, and that when you do, your pregnancy will not be riddled with guilt and pressure to always be happy if you have a hard time with nausea or any of the other very unpleasant things that can come along with it. God comforts us in the midst of our trials and helps us work our way through; He does not expect us to suck it up and ignore them. = )

I apologize if this has offended anyone. My heart's intention is that it actually draws us into mourning, hoping and rejoicing WITH one another, rather than against each other in the two camps of "can" and "can't". God Bless till next time. = )

37 week update and some TMI (be forewarned)

I will be 37 weeks pregnant at midnight tonight! I guess I could technically still have this baby by then, but I highly doubt that I will; I'm just not feelin' it. Therefore, I can say that, unforeseen circumstances aside, I will make it to full-term! Woo hoo!

I had my 37 week appointment with my midwife today and it went very well. I have been following her advice and MAJORLY taking it easy (well, easy for me at least) since last Thursday. It has been a royal pain in the tuchus, but I have persevered. Starting tomorrow I can resume normal activities, knowing that I now qualify for the waterbirth I want to have. YAY! Come any time New Little Boy!

So back to my appointment. My uterus has almost caught up from measuring behind last week and I am now measuring 36 1/2 cm at 37 weeks, where as I was measuring 35 cm at 36 weeks last Thursday. Last week my cervix was still cone shaped. The internal os (opening) was measuring 2cm while the external os was only measuring 1cm, and I was 50% effaced. This week my midwife said that the baby is VERY low, pushing down on my cervix, and that it is now cylinder shaped and 2 1/2 cm dilated at the internal and external opening. I am also about 70% effaced. She said that I could have this baby at any time now and that she wouldn't be surprised if I had him before my appointment scheduled for next Thursday.

We were talking more about the differences between women in regards to pregnancy and she said that she believed that I was probably one of those women who just doesn't carry to term. She said it seems like I just grow babies faster, since this baby feels like it's a very good weight already. She imagined that if I were to carry him to term or a week after, he would be a pretty big baby. No thank you, I said... 7lbs 9oz was already plenty of baby to push out. = )

I swear I feel like if this baby was any lower, he would probably just fall right through me. I feel like a water balloon that is about to burst. I am definitely waddling since his head is far down in my pelvic girdle now. And MAN, is he ever packed in my belly. The midwife even had trouble figuring out which body parts were which because everywhere she felt, some body part or another was protruding.

Okay, next topic. Here comes the TMI... skip ahead if you don't like talk about bowl movements... last warning...

As a disclaimer, the reason I am mentioning this is because I had NO idea that it was a possible symptom of the end of pregnancy; I never experienced it with Ari. I wish I was told that it could happen so I wasn't so confused and disturbed, and therefore I am sharing my experience with the general public.

Since Saturday morning now, I have been having some very loose stools. At first I thought I might have caught a bug, or eaten something that did not agree with me, but I felt fine and it has just persisted. This is quite the contrast to the constipation that I and many pregnant women battle during pregnancy. So, I called the on call midwife and asked her about it and she said that sometimes at the end of pregnancy, hormonal changes can cause your stools to be loose. As long as it's not watery like diarrhea, and as long as I'm able to eat and stay hydrated, it's nothing to worry about. She suggested that I try to eat more binding foods (the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) and avoid dairy, and hopefully that would help a little bit. Well, I tried that and it did NOTHING beneficial. If anything, it made it worse and I felt worse because I was eating boring, low nutrition foods instead of foods that I like that have some substance to them. So, I said screw it and have just resumed a normal diet. I feel better, but the loose stools have continued. The wives tale in regard to this is that you get loose stools to help clean your digestive system out, making room for the baby to move through and out of your body. If that is true, then I sure hope this is a sign that it will happen soon. I'm ready to resume normal bowel functions.

Okay, TMI time is done. Overall I am doing very well. Getting more tired, having more trouble sleeping, but healthy and for that I am very thankful. = )

On a completely different note, I am almost done with my nesting list! My mother and sister Esther have been especially helpful these past couple of weeks. My mom's been helping me organize, purge and clean the main floor, and doing some tasks on her own that I could not physically manage at this point with my huge belly. Esther's been taking Ari out on walks and to the local coffee shop to keep him entertained while we work. I am so thankful! So yeah, I am feeling so on top of things and prepared this time, quite the opposite from the end of my first pregnancy. I HIGHLY suggest to any of you up-and-coming mothers that you have everything together at least a month in advance. It's not not worth the stress of procrastinating.

Drew has been nesting too... though he won't admit it. The thing that finally made me realize it was that on Sunday, I woke up to him washing my car in the driveway for no apparent reason. He NEVER washes my car. He never even washes HIS car. I thought it was so cute. = )

We also had a co-craving tonight! I was thinking on my way home from my appointment that a Gyro from Frank's Dairy and Deli would be sooo good for dinner. But, I had already asked Drew to pick up some tonic water (for my leg cramps) on his way home from work and decided that he probably wouldn't want to pick dinner up too. However, when I got home Drew was like, "You know what sounds really good tonight? Gyros." I hit him in my surprise and exclaimed that we were totally craving the same thing. Must be a sign that the end is near. ; )

As a final update, Drew and I had a very nice spa weekend away this past weekend. Well, it was only one night away, but two full days and it was GREAT. Drew was not as into the spa thing as both he and I had hoped, but he was glad that he experienced it once. We had a very relaxing time hanging out together and going to some of our favorite restaurants, as well as to a movie. I am so thankful for my family helping us to make it happen. = )

Till next post!

36 Weeks Pregnant!

I'm 36 weeks tomorrow, but I had my 36 wk midwife appointment today, and it was "slightly" more eventful than I expected!

This is the first time that I haven't measured exactly on the week that I was pregnant for starters. I measured 35" today. The midwife says it's probably because of how much lower the baby is sitting in my pelvis already. I'm also 1cm dilated and 50% effaced! Woah! I was NOT expecting that. She said that she would not be surprised if I had him by next weekend! AAAAaaaa!! I was REALLY not expecting that. I mean, I have been expecting to have this baby early, because Ari was 10 days early, but not 3 weeks early!! My midwife told me that if I do not have any sex, or do a lot of walking, or doing anything that could cause the baby to bounce around in there, that I can probably hang on until next Sunday. Wow.

As my midwife was measuring my stomach, she asked me to remind her how much Ari weighed when he was born. I told her 7lbs 9oz, and she said that this baby felt like he was probably going to be around that same size. So who knows?! Maybe he's just packin' on that weight quickly so he can meet us sooner! = ) I am kind of hoping to last at least until next Sunday, because I was planning on having some friends over on Saturday for a little girl's night. But.. I am also very sick of being pregnant, and if this little guy is ready to come out then I am ready to meet him too! = D

I guess I should probably pack my hospital bag tomorrow.

I was initially somewhat concerned about the idea of having him this early because I'd remembered hearing something about alertness and ability to nursing being much different between 37 and 38 weeks. I asked my midwife though, and she said that had more to do with the timing of being medically induced. She said that even as early as 36 1/2 weeks there is usually no difference in an infant's ability to feed if the birth happens naturally. It made me feel much more at peace having my misinformation cleared up.

I did start to freak out a little bit this evening because I haven't washed any of my newborn stuff yet. So I put a load in, that included my infant car seat fabrics, and felt a little better. Overall though, I have just about everything ready, or at least ready enough. Babies really don't need much at first. = )

Oh! One VERY important detail that I almost forgot to include. If I go into labor before 37 weeks, I CANNOT have a waterbirth at the hospital. So, PLEASE pray hard that I last at LEAST until next Friday, August 26th, so I can have the waterbirth I've been planning on. = D

So yeah. I'm supposed to take it easy this week (which admittedly is super hard for me) and could be having this baby at any point in time now I guess! Aaaa!!! So excited. = D

Well, I think that's all for now. If I don't have the baby by 37 weeks, or if I get bored before then, I will try to do another post. = )

35 Weeks Pregnant!

Alllright. I am 35 weeks pregnant now. Phew.

Things have gotten REALLY real in the past few weeks. I am in the throws of my final trimester. Uncomfortable, sore, slow, tired. Oh yeah, the fun last stretch.

What to update you on...

Well, a couple weeks ago my normal Braxton Hicks contractions got super intense, accompanied by lower back pain. I called the midwife, and she told me to try taking a nice warm bath until I was pruned up to see if that would help them stop. I did, and they calmed down a little bit in the bath, but as soon as I got out they were intense again. So, I got to take a trip to the hospital to be monitored and examined. The results were that, yes, I was having a good bit of contractions, but that I was not dilated at all which is GREAT. I also had no infections that could be contributing to my contractions and the fetal fibronectin test showed that I would not be having this baby in the next two weeks (which would put me a little over 35 weeks) which is also excellent. The midwife told me that I should probably just expect that this level of contracting will be my new baseline for the past month and I was sent home. *sigh* They have indeed continued and I have gotten used to functioning with this new level of discomfort... for the most part. = )

Pregnancy insomnia as well as nesting have set in. I've been trying to plug away at my to do list, but it is going slowly. For the most part the very important things are done, but I do want to get a few more things washed and organized before Baby Boy #2 comes. I have to say though, I am WAY more on top of things this time than the first time. Partially because I have almost everything I need already, which is nice. = )

What else? Ari has been a nightmare. A NIGHT.MARE. He is sprouting 6 or so teeth at the same time and also recently came down with some sort of virus. It has been slightly traumatizing for Drew and I. I think this is a good sign though, because it means that Ari has been VERY healthy overall so far. This is only the second time that he has developed a med-high fever and both times it did not require us to take him to the doctor; we were able to manage his symptoms at home. He's finally over the illness but the teeth are still causing him to be a very unhappy boy. I am praying that God is allowing this to happen now so that he will be done with this intense bit of teething by the time Baby Boy #2 is born. One can hope. = )

On a positive note, Drew and I will be having a spa day away next weekend! We are getting couples massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. Super excited!!! This will be Drew's first time getting a massage and I sure hope he likes it; maybe then he'll budget for us to get them on a regular basis. ; ) Unfortunately I will not be full term at that time, so NO reflexology induction foot massage for me this time around. = ) Maybe I'll schedule one if I reach my due date.

So, yep. I am uncomfortable, but very healthy. This baby is very healthy, and moving a BUNCH. I cannot wait to meet him!! I am getting sooo excited. I know it will change my life again forever, so I CAN wait until he's ready to come out, but I am super excited. = )

Hopefully I'll be able to blog again before I'm a mother of two! God Bless. = D

30 Weeks Pregnant!!

Not the best quality, but you get the idea. = )

A friend of mine kindly lit a small fire under my butt to update my blog.. so here it is!! In my defense... I was planning on trying to update by 30 weeks pregnant. ; P

So, I am now 3/4 of the way through this pregnancy!! Can you believe it? I cannot. It has gone by sooo fast, and sooooooo much faster than the first one. When life gets busier, time flies by faster I guess, and Ari definitely keeps me busy. = )

Things are going very well in general. I am gaining weight at a good rate; not too much, not too little. I also passed my glucose test a few weeks back, so I'm processing sugars correctly which is a big hurrah! Baby Boy #2 is measuring right on target for how far along I am as well and has a very strong heartbeat. All seems to be well with him!

I have been having some not so fun symptoms though lately; some pregnancy related and some not. My Braxton Hicks contractions have been a lot stronger with this pregnancy. I actually went in for an unscheduled visit a couple weeks ago, because they got so bad while on a walk with Drew and Ari that I had to sit down on the curb a couple times to rest, hoping that they would stop... which they didn't. I ended up being prescribed to take a chill pill and relax for 24 hrs, and that ended up helping them to return to their "normal" strong state. It was a little bit scary though; I feared that I was going into labor for a day or so! This baby is definitely not ready for that, so praise God that I didn't. = )

In addition to the intense false contractions, I am going into my 3rd week of some sort of virus working its way through my system. It started with a few days of migraine headaches, continued on to clogging my sinuses, progressed into my lungs and is now *hopefully* working its way out of both of those. In the meantime, I have been still having migraines and have finally been prescribed something for them. They are very intense, including a general loss of appetite (but thankfully not nausea) as well as light and pressure sensitivity. It is a big bummer to be sick on top of being pregnant. I got to experience it with my first pregnancy as well, and was hoping to escape it this time around.

Finally, I have not been sleeping well. I'm getting increasingly uncomfortable with my third trimester (which is to be expected) but this sickness has been making it even worse. In addition, Baby Boy #2 is an INTENSE mover. And when does he like moving the most?... for several hours after I lie down to sleep at night. I am sooo glad he's alive and well in there, but I sure wish he would reserve all his motion for the daytime. But alas...

Alright, enough of the physiological updates. = ) Life has really been fun lately aside from all the previously mentioned drama.

Ari is a BLAST. He is SUCH a fun little boy. He really has a hoot of a personality. He continues to be interested in learning the name of every object around and is getting better and better at mimicking the sound of them as we say them. His current favorite words are "off", Boo-Boos (Abita, our dog) Arch (Archie, our dog) Chester (my parents' dog) and "dump truck"... or really "truck" of any kind. He LOVES trucks, especially his riding dump truck toy and a hand-me-down blanket with a dump truck on it; it's pretty cute how much he loves them. In addition, he has learned another sign: "music". Ari LOVES music, and requests it ALL the time. He loves dancing to it, he loves hearing people sing and even comes up with little melodies himself as he's sitting in his car seat sometimes. He is a very musical little boy. = )

Listening to music with Daddy. = )

Ari and I have been getting out to TONS of play dates, especially since I joined some of Meetup.com's St. Paul moms groups. We have really been enjoying getting out to so many new parks, beaches and splash pads, and meeting lots of new people. I like that Ari is getting more of an opportunity to interact with kids his age and having to learn to share some before Baby #2 comes. Ari especially loves the water play dates. I mean, he LOVES water. Baths, pools, beaches... any way he can get it, he will take it! I'm super thankful for that because I also love water. = )


I have been intentionally keeping my schedule pretty full to keep time flying by, and my mind off of how uncomfortable pregnancy is. I like the experience of conquering labor and delivery, and having a new baby.. but I do NOT enjoy BEING pregnant. In addition to play dates with Meetup groups and family/friends, I have been attending a weekly Beth Moore bible study at church and continuing to sing at church, though only once-a-month or so. Drew and I have also started attending a small group again after a nice long break. Due to all the busyness, time really has been flying by at an amazing rate. I am hoping that I will enjoy the transition to a slower lifestyle once the baby arrives after having my fill this summer. = )

Oh! Did I mention in my last post that we have settled on a name?!! Yes, with much deliberation, we believe we have a name. We will not be revealing it until we see the boy face-to-face, but what a RELIEF to not have that stress. = )

Let's see... what else?...

Oh! Drew and I are planning on going on an overnight away from Ari for the first time EVER, coming up next month! I think the plan is to do a day spa thing on a Sat, spend the night at a hotel that night, and just overall enjoy a relaxing time eating fun food and each others company. We really wanted to fit one in before Baby Boy #2 arrives and we are cutting it CLOSE! I have actually been having a feeling lately that I will have this baby early as well (Ari was 10 days early). Who knows if that will actually happen, but hopefully and God willing, I won't have this baby before we get our night away- you can say a prayer for me about that. = )

Well, I think that's all I can come up with at this moment. In the bible study I'm attending, we're learning a lot of cool stuff, but particularly to "step up" in our dependence on God. I will leave you with a couple cool quotes that have resonated with me in the midst of my discomfort and illness, and I promise to try and update this blog again before I have the baby. = D

"If our trust is in manifestations of God's favor rather than God Himself, we will crumble like dry clay when He calls us to walk a distance of our journeys entirely by faith and not by sight."

"God never promised to remove us from human experience, but for those of us who call Jesus Savior, the only difficulty we'll ever experience will be right here [on earth]."

-Beth Moore: "Stepping Up: a Journey through the Psalms of Ascent"

Till next time, may God bless you all! = D

23 Weeks Pregnant!!

Wow. I cannot believe how fast the time has flown by. I'm now OVER halfway through this pregnancy! It feels like only yesterday that I wrote my last blog post about being 14 weeks along. Sheesh!

Well, a lot has been going on, to say the least. = )

I finished the semester off with a bang! 40/40 on my two case studies and 95/100 on my final, which topped me off with a 92%; an A in microbiology! That was one of the harder classes I have had to take and I am SUPER glad that it is over. Not only that, but this will be my last class until Spring 2012 at the earliest, since I am not taking any summer classes and can't take any fall classes due to Baby #2 due to arrive in September. I am sad that I have to postpone starting a Nursing Program until Fall 2012, but it will be a nice break to spend with my new family of 4. = )

Speaking of Baby #2, HE is growing very nicely so far. That's right; in case you hadn't heard, we are having another boy! I am really excited about this. I have visions of how much fun (and likely trouble) my two little boys will have with each other as they grow up. I know it won't be exactly the same as my twin nephews' relationship, but I am hoping they will be close and get along great. I can't wait to see if there is a strong sibling resemblance, or if they will each have their own look. I know their personalities will for sure be different. = )

Just this past week Baby #2 has been doing a LOT more moving. Well, maybe not a lot more, but it's been much stronger. According to a development email I got, he is now almost a foot long and weighs over a pound! You'd think he weighed more than that with the kicks and punches I'm already getting. I can even SEE some of his movements! We had our fetal survey ultrasound at 20 weeks, and the ultrasound tech even commented about how active he was. I am going to have my hands full! = )

We are now trying to work on a name for this boy, since we found out the gender. So far it's not going so great. I have provided around 40 names that I think are options, and Drew has provided none while at the same time shooting down all but 5 of them (none of them being my favorites). This shouldn't be a shock to me, since it's almost the same thing that happened with Ari. But, we did agree that we thought we liked the name Ari, and dwelt on it for several months before being completely certain. That is my hope for this pregnancy. I really want to have an idea of a few names that we both like and just dwell on them for a few months. So far, no luck though. I told Drew that he had better start doing some research and pitching in, or there will only be the names I've come up with to work from. He does not seem to share my urgency... I just need to take a deep breath, remember that it will all work out, and chill a little. I think reality is really setting in for me though that this baby is going to arrive.

One exciting thing, is that even though I'm barely over halfway cooking this little guy, there have been babies that have survived after being born as early as 23 weeks (see picture below)! We'll pray that he stays in there a little bit longer though. = )


I myself am doing very well so far. I am now net positive on the weight front! That's right.. I have gained back all the pounds I lost at the beginning of my pregnancy, plus one. I am feeling happy about this because I know that I am eating enough. I do need to start watching what I'm eating a little better though, now that I'm feeling better. Veggies need to be incorporated back into my diet, and I probably need to be eating less Spaghetti O's. = )

I have been getting out to exercise more now that the weather has been so nice, so that's good. Ari and I have been taking walks with Drew and friends, and I even took him on a little bike ride in the trailer the other night. It was fun, but a lot of work with a growing belly in front!

As far as other symptoms go, my heartburn is being managed pretty well by Zantac 75 and Tums. My hands and feet have started to swell a little, and I'm trying to get into the habit of wearing my compression stockings every day now. It's hard because they are SUCH a pain to get on. They really do make me feel better though. I'm hoping that the swelling stays down, and especially that my nose won't expand like during my first pregnancy. At least if it does, I know that it will return to normal eventually. = )

Did I mention yet that I can eat an almost completely normal diet now?! That's right! My prayers have been answered and I am SO thankful that I don't have to work so hard to find foods that I can eat anymore, especially since I'm pregnant. I am hoping that I will continue to be able to eat normal foods after this baby is born, but at least I do know that I can survive on an altered diet if things do go bad again. = )

In other family news, Ari is a hoot-and-a-half. He is REALLY getting to be a lot of fun.. well, fun and quite the handful. We're dealing with a mess of teething, as well as some weird stomach issues likely left over from a recent bout of some sort of sickness. These combine to create quite the crabby little boy and it has been wearing on me. I think I'm due for a day off. This shouldn't be hard to come by now, because we are officially done nursing. Yep, that's right! 15 months was a solid streak, not too long and not too short, but it has come to an end. My supply was down to almost nill due to this pregnancy and Ari's teething/sickness was the final straw for him I guess. He started refusing every morning and so yesterday was the first day where I didn't even try to initiate. The great thing about it though, was that it happened pretty gradually. I feel like I had more time to prepare than maybe some moms would have, and because my supply was already dwindling, I have experienced no complications with ceasing to nurse. It makes me sad that this cuddly chapter with my non-cuddly boy has come to an end, but I am happy for what it was and glad I did not try to force it into lasting longer. He is one step closer to complete independence though now, and this makes me both sad and proud. = )

Lately Ari has been very into jumping, lying down on the ground for the dogs to "get him", climbing on a stool to look out the front window, opening and closing cupboards (not allowed) closing doors, turning light switches on and off, and trying to say a whole gamut of words including just plain babbling and making animal sounds. He is working on eating with a spoon and fork, and can also sign "eat", "more" and "all done", which makes me very proud. He LOVES to read books, listen to music and dance. He is also getting great at walking places (rather than being carried) and climbing up and down stairs, while holding onto our hand. He really is NOT a baby anymore. = D


Well, I think that might be all I have for now. I am really looking forward to this summer. I want to get into a good routine that can accommodate our new little one when he arrives. I also want to go through my house and purge it off all unneeded things and organize all the stuff that is to be kept. I hope to go to the beach a lot, hang out with friends and family, and just enjoy these last few months of relative freedom before life changes drastically again. I also hope to update this more often now that I have more time. = D Adieu for now!

14 Weeks Pregnant!

Wow. Time has been FLYING by. I am now entering my 2nd trimester!! Woo woo!

I had my second visit with the midwife yesterday and FINALLY got to hear the heartbeat! We got to "see" the heartbeat at our early ultrasound, but getting to hear it was music to my ears. Nice strong heartbeat and now in the upper 140s to lower 150s. My midwife says that the wives tales about heart rate are somewhat accurate, but not until the 3rd trimester and there is still a lot of error. The wives tale is that a lower heart rate means it's a boy, whereas a higher heart rate means it's a girl. We do plan to find out the gender at the 20 week ultrasound so we shall see! = )

Things are going pretty darn well lately. I still feel nauseous, but just in the evenings, and not as severely as just a week ago. I am starting to get some energy back, but still really do need an afternoon nap to make it till bedtime. My heartburn is still staying manageable with Tums.. though I would like to try some more natural remedies once I find the time to get my hands on them.

Ari is growing up so fast. His latest thing is that he wants to know the name for anything and everything in the world. He will gesture with his hand (not point) and say, "Ehh?!!" about a billion times a day. It's so cute.. but sometimes it does get a little overwhelming and then I just have to distract/redirect him. = ) Some of his favorites to hear are "bananas", "crock pot", "light" and "door". When we're outside it's "snow" and "sidewalk". He such a little cutie. Poor guy is sprouting his upper lateral incisors too, so he's been having a rough go of it lately. I'm praying that they pop through very soon!

Spring break is over which means I am back to evening classes two nights a week. We have our second lecture exam coming up on Tuesday, so I really need to get my butt in gear. I think that if I can commit a hour a day to studying I should be good to go. I'm hoping I can make that happen...

Onto my last bit of news. Our church began a prayer experiment on Monday called "Leap of Faith" that will go 40 days, ending on Easter. We have been encouraged to pray big things for ourselves, others, and our church or city and see what God does. I have decided, amongst other things, to pray for healing from my food allergies. As many of you know, I am currently allergic to wheat, dairy and eggs. This is probably one of the biggest, most intimidating prayers I have ever prayed for on behalf of myself, but I am really excited about it. I am praying along side of that that my faith will be increased over this 40 days and that above all, God's will be done.. be that healing or not. I trust that He knows what's best, and if He decides that He can be glorified more in me not being healed, then so be it. But.. I really do feel like he wants to and and am praying persistently. = D

Well, it is nap time.. so I aught to be heading to bed. Hopefully I'll be able to update more often now that I'm starting to feel better. Tschau!!

10 Weeks Pregnant

So I am now 10 weeks pregnant with #2... or #2 and #3... just kidding.

It's funny because the other night I had a dream that I was having twins.. a boy and a girl. I shouldn't be surprised that I wonder. First of all, my sister has fraternal twin boys. Secondly, my midwife told me that it is a very common "wonder" of most 2nd time mothers because you tend to show sooner with your second. But, at my first visit with her yesterday, she did tell me that I seems to be measuring further along than my last period date would indicate, so she wants me to get an ultrasound next week to get a better estimate of how far along I am.

The first visit was everything it was the time around. Questions about family history, my health history, my current eating habits, exercise, symptoms, weight gain (or in my case loss) do I want to do a water birth again, etc. Breast exam, internal exam, measuring of my uterus.. etc etc. Fun stuff. What I was somewhat disappointed about was that we were not able to hear the heartbeat with the Doppler this time. The midwife did warn me that 10 weeks is on the earlier end. My first visit with Ari was more around 12 weeks and we did hear the heartbeat then. At least we get to have our ultrasound next Thursday to confirm life, due date and maybe hear the heartbeat then! = )

As of 10 weeks, I am still very tired. My nausea has taken a turn for the better though and I am mainly sick only in the late afternoon through evening now. Mornings have gotten a lot more manageable. Eating is going better too.. in large part due to my wonderful husband making me awesome Potato Leek (and chicken) Soup last weekend.. which almost lasted all week. I need to convince him to make me some more ASAP! ; D Finally, heartburn has kicked up a notch, but so far mint Tums has been taking care of it. Thanks to my little sister Esther for recommending I try them. They don't make me gag like the fruity Tums do! = D Overall things are going very well.

Onto other news, Ari seems to be working on pushing a couple more teeth out. These would be his incisors on the top. He has been POURING drool lately. I cannot keep up with the dry bibs and am actually debating buying another pack, it's seriously that bad! He's such a trooper though. We've also been introducing more foods into his diet since his one year checkup, at his doctor's okay. We've successfully introduced Cheerios (some wheat), blueberries and are working on plain yogurt. We are on day 4 or 5 of yogurt and so far he has had a raw butt rash only, which the doctor told me not to worry about (but of course to treat). I think he may also be getting a rash around his mouth though. I am going to continue giving it to him, while monitoring closely for worsening symptoms. I am hoping and praying that he will not have food sensitivities like I do.

Microbiology is going pretty well so far. I am irked each week that I have lab from 8-10pm, when there was originally an option for a 6-8pm lab. When I signed up I did not know I was pregnant and by the time I found out it was too late to switch. Oh well. I do really like my lab group. They are very nice and awesomely helpful people, which is good because by 8pm my brain has definitely turned a large portion of itself OFF.

I guess that's it for now. I'm scheduled to work tonight. Ugh. I really like my job, but I do NOT like it in the first trimester of pregnancy. I am hoping that I get canceled. God knows what I can handle though. It would be nice to have some cash to make a Mary Kay order.. I am out of almost all of my skin care products.. hmmm.. I guess I'll leave the decision up to Him. ; )

1 year; 9 weeks

Ari's 1 year doctor appointment is tomorrow! Although he turned one year old at the end of January, it's taken us this long to get in for his checkup. First they didn't have any availability, and then his doctor took a day off.. on his appointment day last Thursday.. and we had to reschedule. So is life.

I'm really looking forward to this appointment because I have a TON of questions. Anytime I think of something I jot it down so that I can ask everything at once and save doctor visits if possible. I know.. I'm super smart. ; )

Ari is such a big boy now. He is walking like a pro and really has some complex babbling going on lately as well. He loves to read books and especially play with things that make noise.. including the dogs. Archie really doesn't care for him much (he just hides and burrows under blankets for most of the day) but Abita has started warming up to him lately and seeks him out to play. It's really sweet. = )

On to other news. I am now 9 weeks pregnant with our second. (9 week fetus in upper right) So far this pregnancy is definitely different than the last one. I won't go into all the physiological details. The most marked difference is in how I feel. I feel nauseous for much more of the day.. pretty much all day long.. but am not throwing up as much. I have officially threw up a couple of times now though, so I can't say I haven't at all.

I am taking Zofran now, which I also took during my first pregnancy. I am taking about half as much as I did last time (4 mg instead of 8). I still feel nauseous, but it helps me be able to tolerate it and eat some food. My nausea in the evenings has been getting worse, which might be due to heartburn starting to kick in. I'm going to try to stick to the lower dose, but if anything maybe I'll just up it in the evenings.

So far, due to the nausea and the fact that I am still nursing Ari, I have lost about 6 lbs. I'm not super happy about that, but I am at least losing weight less rapidly now that I'm taking the anti-nausea meds. Everything I've read says not to worry too much about losing weight during the first trimester, as long as you're eating healthful foods.. which I am. So, I am trying to relax and trust God. = )

I have to say, being with child.. with a child.. is a whole different story than being pregnant with your first. When I was pregnant with Ari, and I was tired.. I would just take a nap. If I felt sick.. I would just bum around or sleep. Now I don't have that option. I still have to take care of Ari, make his food, bathe him, change his diapers, show him love and attention.

I think that I've grown up quite a bit in the past few weeks actually, having had to put my needs and desires on the back burner even when I'm feeling so sick. My faith has grown also, because I have realized that I cannot do this on my own. God has been so good and is giving me strength, peace and wisdom as I try to figure out how to be a good wife and mother while I'm not feeling well on a regular basis. I am so thankful for how good He is and how much He loves me. = )

In conclusion, I am currently taking Microbiology in the evening, twice a week. This has also been very challenging- trying to pay attention while I'm feeling sick and trying to find study time during the day with a toddler at home. It has me questioning whether or not I would even be able to handle a night/evening nursing program homework load with two kids at home during the day. I'm not sure, but I know that God will give us wisdom about that as well. I won't be able to do the program this fall, now that I'll be giving birth in September, but maybe Fall 2012.. we'll just have to see.

Until the next time I have time to update.. "Not fare well, but fare forward, voyagers."
– T.S. Eliot

Preggo Again!!

Many of you already know this from FB, but I thought it was post worthy anyways. = ) We are very excited about this. Drew is excited that we're having our 2nd and final (his words) child, and really hopes it is a girl. = ) I calculated the due date on my own because my midwife doesn't need to see me until mid February. If my calculations are correct, I am due on September 15th!

I actually found out last week, but have been pretty darn sickly since so I haven't gotten around to it. My morning sickness did NOT start this early with Ari at ALL. I actually haven't thrown up at all yet, but have nausea almost all day long every day. It's been very hard for me to eat food because of that, and also because nothing sounds good.. except potato chips with hummus sometimes. I just got prescribed Zofran for nausea, which I took during my first pregnancy. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to take it this time since I'm still nursing Ari though.

Nursing and pregnant... what a calorie requirement. I have not been meeting it in the least. I've lost several pounds so far, which I know can be normal in the beginning of pregnancy. But it does concern me, mostly for my own health. I know the baby and Ari will get what they need from my reserves, but I want to keep the calcium in my bones and other vitamins and minerals in my body.

Anyways, in other news, it's Ari's first birthday today!! Wow, the time has flown to who knows where. I can't believe I have a little toddler on my hands! We already had one party for him at my family's house on Sunday night. It was very fun. Ari got to eat a cupcake and open a few presents. I was so nervous about the cupcake because it was just your average cupcake, full of wheat, eggs, dairy and who knows what else. But, he's at his 1 year mark now, so we can start trying those with the blessings of his doctor.

One of the first things I'm going to try to introduce him to is cows milk. I didn't know this, but apparently pregnancy reduces your milk supply. I've already noticed the difference. It's made me really worried because I don't know yet if Ari can handle any alternatives. But, I'm working on trusting God that Ari will be okay. None of the kids in my family could tolerate cows milk for the first few years of their lives, so we had soy alternatives which worked just fine. It could be an adventure.. but hopefully it will be uneventful and Ari will be able to tolerate everything perfectly.. just like my husband. = D

This morning my sister Naomi and her twin boys met up with Ari and I at a kids playplace in a local mall. It was fun to be able to do a little something special ON Ari's birthday, since we're not really doing anything as a family tonight- I have class. This coming Saturday we're having a gathering at our house with some friends. I wish it were summer so that we could invite tons and tons of people.. but finances are low and our house is not large. I know it will be very fun for Ari though. = )

And so Ari's second year begins... = D

Ari Has Graduated!!!!

Wow, so it has been quite a while since I last posted. But do you know what?... I was on VACATION from SCHOOL! ; D Yes, I was trying to relax and have a great holiday season, and I succeeded. = D

But now I'm back in school (taking Microbiology.. eeek!) and am ready to blog about important things! Such as.. Ari graduating from his CranioCap treatment!!! That's right ladies and gentlemen. After 16 weeks of wearing the CranioCap, Ari is done.

The appointment on the 4th was not really a normal visit since it was our last. It started out with Janet, the specialist, asking us about how things had gone the last three weeks. They had gone very well, although some of Ari's rash was back. He still didn't mind the helmet though, which I think is amazing. = )

Next, Janet went and got the mold of his "beginning-treatment" shaped head so that we could take it home as a souvenir, which is nice. She took Ari's helmet off, put the mold inside and locked the Velcro; his treatment was OVER!! = D

After that we chatted a bit about how much Ari has grown since he started the treatment, what a sweet and laid-back baby he has been through it all and how much we were going to miss seeing each other now that it's all over. Janet is seriously one of the sweetest ladies ever. Finally, we took a few pictures, said our goodbyes and Ari headed out the door (in stroller) a free man!!


It was really very bittersweet. I am sooo glad the treatment is over. I get to kiss Ari's head all the time, stroke his hair, he won't smell of mildew anymore and hopefully all his rashes will clear up. But, we will miss seeing Janet, the unexpected level of protection the helmet provided, and the rounding-out treatment itself.

Although we started Ari's treatment at over 7 months old (which is on the late end) the end result was that he went from having moderate plagiocephaly to mild plagiocephaly, which is amazing! Janet said that if a baby was brought in with the slight degree of flatness that Ari still has, they would not suggest treatment because it is so mild and will continue to round out as he ages. We absolutely consider Ari's treatment to have been a very great success, and are glad we did it!

Thank you so much for coming along on this journey with us, and providing such awesome encouragement and support. This experience has landed us some new friends, given us the opportunity to provide unique support for others and strengthened our faith in God. Through Him, all things are possible; He is good and in control no matter what happens. = D

Now finally, here is what you've all been waiting for. In progression: Ari's before pics, half-way pics and his AFTER PICS!! Whoo hoo for Ari! = D Let us know what you think!



Oh, here also for your enjoyment is a few fun photos of before and after Ari's first haircut today that he had today! Thanks to Chris at Mes Amis Salon in St. Paul. What a great friend and excellent haircut. = D