Check Below

I finished the birth story as best I could with all the distractions! I think I got a little discombobulated at the end there. Still I think I may have forgotten to mention that my intention was to have a waterbirth to help with the pain relief...but clearly that didn't happen. They were afraid that it would slow my progression. Oh well...maybe next time. But check below for the story...and then go to dad's sight to see his little take on the whole ordeal. He was in the next room praying.

Apples, apples, and more apples!

Remember these from last year?! I thought our little apple tree was on its last leg last year! But no! Check this out!



This is just the beginning of our collection! And turns out we have this apple tree, and two others that produce bigger, more like granny smith apples. Can't wait to do this again with my whole little family of 4. Even W was in it...in the "moby-like" wrap in nothing but his diaper.

Brother and Sister

Mom went home

Mom went home today and I didn't cry...I thought about it there for a minute when she was savoring her grandchildren one last time. I'm so thrilled to have recovered so quickly and with very little "baby blues". Certainly my hormones have been up and down, but no sobbing in the shower everyday for 2 weeks. I have to say that the Women's Nutritional Tea combined with B-Complex that the midwife suggested for mood stabilizing seems to make a difference. Seriously, whether it is really anything or not, I swear I feel better shortly after drinking a cup. 2-3 cups a day for awhile.

Mom has been such a help, making sure things stay pretty clean around here. Driving me places while I was on restriction. Giving M extra attention so that I could focus on the baby. So many things I couldn't really begin to list them all. Still, we will all miss her around here. M will miss waking her up and playing with her. J will miss being spoiled while she is around, and I will miss the sleep and companionship that she gives me. I'm am more than thrilled that she and dad will be together again and that she will have an opportunity to rest! We all need that.

Baby boy is asleep for now, M is at least in bed. They have both had baths, and I guess it is now my turn! I'm gonna go grab that while I can and then feed him and off to bed for us both. Pray for a good night!

M's Big Birthday Bash!

What a day! Thank goodness for Magical Makings and our Ariel hostess! Enjoy these pics! This was quite a birthday bash!

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SIL's picture session!

Love these! can't wait to get them in the mail! Check out her slide show of Wyatt at one week! http://smilebox.com/playEmail/4d7a6b354f544d304e3377334f544d354e7a55310d0a&sb=1

The Birth Story

Ok. Ya'll know he was "overdue" at least according to the estimated due date. I was antsy about it at first, then I didn't mind. I just did things to try to speed the process along. Well, the weekend of his birth, my poor mom went back home to NC to spend some time with Dad and recoup, since W was taking his sweet time. She had already been here for 2 weeks. The joke always was that as soon as she left, he would come...and that is basically true.

Saturday night I decided to try the breast pump induction thing. I was told to pump for 20 min. every hour for 3 hours. Well, I didn't. I just pumped for 20 min. and then went to bed. Not too fun I tell you though. I mean to pump when there isn't anything in there to pump. ugh. But, I endured. And in the middle of pumping I knew something was happening. It's supposed to cause uterine contractions, and it did. I was pretty sure that this would do the trick. I went to bed thinking, if I wake in the middle of the night, this is the real thing...but I didn't.

I did wake early the next morning, Sunday the 29th of June. I felt achey and thought I might be having contractions. I went about my morning routine. And finally at about 9 I decided to start writing down the intervals. It turned out to be about every 12 minutes for a while. I didn't wake J though. There had been too many false alarms...

When he woke, I told him today may actually be the day. I continued to chart the intervals and they seemed to get closer together. I ate like pig that morning too (which turned out to be a bad thing when it came down to getting that baby out!) I called my doula and told her about the situation. I told her I'd call if they got closer together and such...and I did. I realized that this was not getting any easier and certainly not going to slack off. These contractions were painful and here to stay.

Julie came around 1pm? I think. Those types of details are getting fuzzier by the day. about 11:30 am we called Uncle K and SIL to come pick up M so that she wouldn't be an additional distraction to actually get this baby out. They came and I left the remainder of her arrangements to mom. I called mom and she said that she and dad were coming. It was funny actually cause she was very cautious to come seeing as I had already had two very suspicious days that we thought maybe...Well I had called her several times that morn already, and when I decided that she definitely should come, I had to spell it out very plainly..."What I'm trying to say is that I'm having this kid today. You need to come." I think I sounded kind of desperate and hormonal...and of course she knew that meant it really was time.

They headed this way, Julie, the doula headed this way, and I labored around the house. By the time Julie got here I was contracting every 6 minutes which seemed too close together to me. It didn't take long till they were ever 4 minutes. She said that she thought maybe she would be going back home when she got my phone call cause it seemed like really early labor, but after being there with me and timing out my contractions, she knew she was here to stay. We tried different positions. I peed a hundred and one times! AND every time I would sit on toilet, I would have contraction. I labored moving around and walking most of the morning and afternoon, but I got tired and so tried the side lying position. This was actually helpful, but did slow the contractions a bit.

We kept the midwife informed and she didn't seem to think that she would see me today but maybe tomorrow. When we decided to head to the birthing center, it was around 6pm (i think). J had sup, and then we went. At that point riding in the car and having contractions was pretty rough. I'd say I did pretty good considering I only let two bad words slip and only in the privacy of my own car! Ha!

We got there, and Amy checked me and found me to be progressing well at 5 cm. It was 80 plus degrees in there cause the air had been off all weekend. I quickly got into my laboring top which kept me fairly cool and labored a bit more. Then I did side lying again.

At this point they were getting more difficult and I had been laboring all day. I wanted to rest and get on with it all at the same time. I have no idea how long I laid there, but it seemed like at least an hour. Amy came back in to check me and found me to not have progressed any further and said that I needed to walk the halls and squat with each contraction. She anticipated that my water would burst any minute...but it didn't. I did the gosh awful squats! Good heavens that was hard! Thank goodness I could share the work and some of the soreness with my hubs and my doula (sorry guys!)

See, when I'm working hard and/or in pain, I don't like to be touched. So, my doula said she felt like she wasn't earning her keep. The birthing ball was terribly uncomfortable when I was contracting so its usefulness disappeared. Her counter pressure was most appreciated in the squatting sessions. So she earned her keep walking the halls of blessed births.

I did progress very quickly this way. In fact the next time I was checked I was at 8 centimeters, and in a great deal of pain. Here comes transition...Now this is supposed to be the most painful part of labor, but also the shortest, usually lasting no more than 30-45 minutes. I stayed stuck in this phase of labor for a good 2 hours or more. In fact, this is when begging and yelling and sitting on the toilet are about all I remember.

I zoned out for the rest of the labor once they made me walk the halls. Seriously, the memories are literally hazy and I don't remember everything that I said. My doula says I did very well. The worst thing I said was "Dangit!" And she laughed cause she thought I was about to say something else. It was so hot, I was stuck...in transition...on the toilet.

But the worst of it was that I was stuck in transition for soooo long. more than 2 hours I think. I was begging for anyone to help me, but no one could. I labored on the toilet till I needed to push and this worried them a little since I wasn't fully dialated, or something like that. But I was pretty close...so I tried to breathe through a bunch of them...which by the way is extremely difficult! When your body wants to push, its a miracle if you can avoid it!

They offered to break my water, since it still hadn't burst, so I said SURE! What ever will help move things along...They did that and I suppose it helped, but like I said I zoned out.

Weird thing is that I actually pushed in the bed laying down! Didn't expect that and didn't really think about it till later. But I just did whatever they said at that point and I was just glad to be pushing. The next part was a battle! I pushed and not for really long, but it felt like it might never end. They say that pushing is better as far as pain cause there is some numbness...but W decided that he wanted to come out with his hand on his cheek, so that added another level of difficulty and pain. Me and the midwife battled over pushing and breathing. I would release air and she would yell don't! He would be almost there and then go back in. Pretty typical.

I pushed like my Cuz in Law said 500%! Not just 100% And finally the head was out. And they say he was wide eyed and turning his head, but his little shoulder was obviously stuck...thanks to his other arm being up by his face. So I'm almost there and Amy, the midwife is pulling while I'm pushing...she's working her magic getting that one arm out so he can turn his body and dislodge his other shoulder. AND...there he is...I was so excited, but so exhausted I hardly knew what to do. They placed him on my chest and he was so slippery I thought I might not be able to hang onto him...

Not to mention, that they told me to hold my own legs while I pushed and that just wore my arms out! J was there beside me the whole time I pushed and instinctively held that leg. In fact, I barely remember asking someone to please hold my other leg...and J stepping in to make that happen by making it known more loudly and firmly. When the other midwife stepped in to hold it, I apparently murmured the most heartfelt "Thank You" she had ever received.

All in all, I'm glad I had that experience. It led those witnessing to really think about the way that Christ suffered for us on the cross...that is really what the child birth curse of Eve's is all about. Mom used the term endured...I endured the pain to get to the child...just like Christ. Love that scenario. That makes it all a bit more worth it. The experience was to me, extremely hard and the verdict is still out as to whether I will ever do that again in that same way, but I must say the recovery for me and little W has been fantastic and very easy! I DO Love That!

One week!

Well we made it through the first week and we are doing really quite well. That is one of the pluses of natural, no drugs, childbirth. Mood wise I'm doing really well too! I mean compared to last post partem...No real baby blues. A little sure, some hormonal fluxes as well, but all in all I'm pleasantly surprised at this recovery.

W is a good baby too! He has a little schedule I swear! Course its only been a week, but he has his awake times and sleepy times, and eats well every 3 hours except at night which there are one or two 4 hour sleep times. In fact, two nights ago, he slept a little over 5 hours and I had to wake him.

Hubs and I have a little schedule going, sort of...though I'm not sure we need it too much, cause he has been easy to put back to sleep...mostly.

Itsamomthing has been so gracious to help out with arranging for food to be brought to us and truthfully, some of you have gone out of your way to bring meals and check in on us before we could even get the chance to actually need something. I am pleasantly surprised, amazed and grateful for your generosity! Considering the recent moving away of ALL of our extended family, it is nice to know that we still have support all around us. Thanks for being the church.

The Birth Pics

Excuse me for the way I look, but really I was about to give birth to a huge baby! haha... I joined this Smilebox thing so those of you that want can print these, at least that is my understanding. If it doesn't work, then let me know and I'll send out something else so you can have these pics for yourself.

I swear the story is to come...

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Can't Wait

Can't wait to sit a post a long drawn out story post about this whole birth experience. As most things in my life, it didn't go exactly as planned, but my doula has aided the story telling with some great and terrible (haha) pics of me and the whole process. She did a fantastic job of being modest and appropriate with them as well, so I can post almost all of them. Woh the story is long and may have to come in installments, as it is hard to get in a long time for blogging.

Mom and baby and family are doing well. we are getting as much rest as is possible and a lot of snuggle time with baby. Thank you SIL for helping with M and summer camp. Thanks to mom who is helping with pretty much everything. Thank you to those of you who have already gone to the trouble to bring us meals. They have been some of the best help you could give.

BTW--LOVE the recovery time of natural childbirth. Feeling tired, but coherent and have been out twice already. Wyatt and I took our guaze moby-like wrap out to the library with M and mom and then made an appearance at J's work cookout today. He loves being in there! and I love being hands free! And snuggling of course.

More to come...pics you can print too.

The wait is over...

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Not in Labor Yet

I'm about to post some oh so flattering pics of myself. Please keep in mind that I am 800 years pregnant and overdue! Ha! After meeting with Julie yesterday, she graciously let me borrow her birthing ball to sit on and roll around on to get baby boy in position. M thought this was pretty cool, so she got out her beach ball and did the same. It was funny and happened more than once today.


Tonight I've been taking it easy and having some contractions. Nothing new mind you except that I haven't really had any contractions to speak of lately, so at least they are back. I intend on going with that and trying to coax them into actual real labor.

That would be primo wouldn't it seeing as my mom just went back out of town today. That would be pretty right on for the way things happen in my family! Who knows. I certainly am not getting my hopes up. Still, I made another of my fave chocolate cakes today. I asked the doula if eating my fave chocolate cake would make my body release oxytocin (if you don't know about this hormone, you'll need to look it up so I don't have to explain it and possibly get some weird lurkers...). She said chocolate cake=oxytocin! So sweet! haha...



Great day. M and her dad played in the "pool" on the porch and managed to make it into a pseudo bathtime. It was fun to watch and take pics. We shall see what tonight holds...

Scattegories

SCATTERGORIES - it's harder than it looks! Copy and paste into a new email. When you have answered all the SCATTERGORIES, send it on to friends but DON'T FORGET to return it to the person who sent it to you.
Use the first letter of your first name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things - nothing made up. Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same first initial - which by the way is hard if you already have read their answers! You cannot use your own name for the boy/girl names.

1. What is your first name: Gini
2. A 4 letter word: good
3. A vehicle: galant

4. A city: greenville

5. A boy's name: George

6. A girl's name: Gail

7. A Drink: GC Cola (sold at ALDI)

8. An occupation: Golfer
9. Something you wear: Gown
10. A celebrity: Gwyneth Paltrow
11. A food: Goolash
12. Something found in a bathroom: gel
13. Reason for being late: got tied up

14. Something you shout: Go! Go! Go!
15. An animal: gorilla

16. A body part: gall bladder
17. Word to describe yourself: goofy
Good luck to the next person!

"...with my God I can scale a wall" 2 Samuel 22:30 (NIV)

Is this getting old?

I'm o.k. really. A little bored maybe cause I didn't plan to be pregnant at this point, but I'm not miserable, or anxious really, or desperate. After being with one of the doulas today I have a great peace. She was so positive and encouraging. Thanks Jules.

I did stair walking...didn't really know that it was supposed to be particularly helpful, but it makes sense. I had steak n shake for lunch with the family (minus hubs who had to be at work). That was good, but man do they skimp on the meat! But I can't complain cause the shake was amazing.

One thing I enjoy about being OH SO pregnant is the stares, laughs, head turns...Seriously. People are amazed or something...I don't know. But I find it somewhat amusing and kind of cool.

I ate dominoes pizza tonight (seriously) because I'll try anything of course...and in talking today it was brought up that there are supposedly prosteglandins in the cheese that dominoes pizza uses, so there was some type of study done about women who go into labor and some type of correlation to dominoes pizza! Ha! why not! so I had that for supper. The doula let me borrow a birthing ball (big exercise ball) for trying to get this boy in place and ready. That'll be pretty cool too.

I did do something that was kind of interesting. I took M swimming at the big pool tonight after sup. I'm not a water person, so this was a deal for me...not to mention that someone as pregnant as I am should NEVER don a big red one piece maternity bathing suit! Ha! Talk about feeling sexy! I sexy walked to the doorway and did my sexiest pose leaning up against the frame and told J "I bet you've never wanted me more!" To which he replied that I looked like a very large cherry! That was funny. Needless to say I wore my oversized shirt and shorts the entire time.

But I'm wondering if it was actually a good idea or not? It did certainly feel different taking a good bit of the weight off of me, and boy when I got out could I feel the heaviness! But seems like baby boy may have moved up a bit in the process of floating around. That certainly wouldn't be the goal. Well, so I cleaned up and did a little bit of stairs at mom's house before I came home again.

Still no more news than that. I suppose he'll come when he is ready. I'll do my part as best I can, but the rest is up to him. And so we wait...

Cream of Whatever Soup

Since I'm not laboring...I thought I'd post about something I meant to post about a while ago.

2 times of late, I have gotten into the middle of cooking something and found that I had run out of cream of mushroom/chicken soup. Now, really I can't stand Cream of Chicken soup. Personal distaste for it. But I use cream of mushroom alot. I usually just keep a bunch on hand, but occasionally I run out and forget to put it on the list.

Well, I decided to see if I could do a substitute and this is what I found.

Cream of whatever Soup
2T butter
2 T canola oil
1/4 c flour
1/4 t salt
add in whatever you are going for (I use mushrooms, chopped)
10 ounces of milk (1 1/4cups)

Heat the butter and oil till it all melts. Add flour and salt. Stir to make roux. Add mushrooms, cook for at least 4 minutes (stirring). Add milk and stir until thick.

I used this again tonight in my Broccoli Rice/chicken casserole.

In making sup, I knew that I had leftover chicken that needed to be used or it'd be wasted. I had broccoli that needed cooking so that it didn't go bad. i had a whole thing of generic ALDI "velveeta" which was just sitting there in my cabinet with no purpose for its future. And rice is something we generally keep stocked. So that is how we came up with dinner. Come to find out in the middle of prepping, we were out of Cream of mushroom soup again...so I made the above recipe.

One of the perks here is that the sodium level is nill and there are no MSG's as opposed to most canned soups. It did take a bit longer, but not bad all in all.

Baby Boy's Room while we wait...

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If you're wondering...

"He" is not here yet. There are signs that he is coming soon. Lost the plug (sorry to those of you who could care less or whatever), so the time is drawing near. I feel VERY tired and emotional. I appreciate all the calls and prayers. Sorry if I haven't called or answered my phone, I'm a bit hormonal right now. I just wanted you all to know that it means a lot to me even when I don't answer.

You know when you go overdue the phone seems to go overdue and you have to keep telling the same news (news that you're not too thrilled with anyway) over and over again. So, I'm going to go and rest. Could be news tomorrow...or not...only God knows.

I'll keep you posted. And yes, as soon as I actually know I'm in labor, I'll sit down and this computer and let you know that "he" is on his way, only I'll use his real name! Fun times ahead.

Due Date Came and Went

Well, still no boy...

I had acupuncture yesterday, but that was interesting and hasn't sent me quickly into labor. I can not say that it wasn't effective. At my visit today, I had the midwife do an exam and she said that I was "ripe" and baby boy's head was low...pushing a station 1. So, it could be anytime, but that doesn't mean much. I'm doing what I can to speed things along.

I've been drinking red raspberry leaf tea, taking some evening primrose capsules with all my other vitamins, and doing acupressure on all the labor inducing points. Walking doesn't seem to help so far, but there are a few other things to make this happen, so, we'll see.

Ah acupuncture. I told J, my hubs, that I'd try almost anything once, and so I did. I didn't really like it. I don't like needles...I'm not super phobic, but they make me uncomfortable. I chose not to look but it was still a mind over matter game in order for me to "relax." It did hurt actually when she would basically thump each needle in place and then twist. Once the needles were there you really didn't feel them, only a warmth or something that my body interpreted as increased blood flow to the area where the needles were. But then she came and "tweaked" or twisted the needles again. I don't believe in all that Chi business either, but I'm sure there is some value in the whole increase of circulation to problematic areas...I don't think I'll do it again. I did really like the lady though.

And that was that. So now I'm waiting. I'll keep you posted.

Still Going

Had Braxton Hicks ALL DAY yesterday! And I mean all day...and yet nothing. Oh so fun. Well, I have an accupuncture appt. set for tomorrow at 9:30a.m. Now, I don't know how I feel about this all, but I figure it's worth a try. I have a cousin who gave it a try and was in labor within 12 hours or so.

Apparently, if you are ready, then your body is to go into labor within 48hrs. So, we shall see and I'll keep you posted for sure.

I've never done this type of thing before, but after talking to Cousin Suzanne, she says if it works great, if it doesn't I'll just feel like I went to the spa! I'm for that!

Wading through Immunizations

I contacted my fave pediatrician, Dr Hales, in New Orleans for his latest and greatest Shot Record. This is what he's chosing to do now.

2 months--Pc, Comvax (Hep B/Hib)
3 months--DPTa, IVP (polio)
4 months--same as 2 months
5 months--same as 3 months
6 months--Pc
7 months--DPTa
12 months--Pc, PPD (that's just the TB test), Comvax
15 months--Varicella (chicken pox), DPTa
18 months--MMR, IVP

Now I'm not sure why he does or doesn't do Rotavirus, but I think I'm going to call and check into that and the MMR. I think it has to do with the fact that Rotavirus is so common and that kids get over it fairly easily. And how does he get by with postponing it to 18months when the AAP recommends it be done no later than 15 months? Personally I'm thrilled that he delays the MMR as it is in combined form.

Today, I talked to my midwife at Blessed Births about all this immunization stuff. She is also the mother of 7 and a grandmother and she said after much prayer and research they chose not to do any immunizations, but that that is indeed a personal choice. I told her that I was interested in doing immunizations as they are required, but not necessarily in that order and such. Breaking them up so as not to overload the infants system. She said that was smart. She also said that you do have a choice and you can pick and chose, you just have to have a pediatrician that will work with you. DHEC is not necessarily the most accomodating in this respect. So, I got some names.

I also got the heads up from Jill T. in my mom to mom group that Upstatemoms.com has a whole story on this with suggestions for peds. in this area. It should give a starting point if you are looking to find someone that can work with you on an alternate vaccine schedule.

Here are the names and such that my midwife suggested: The only heads up she gave was if you have an infant, get an early appt. so your wait doesn't get too long. They do spend a good bit of time with you in the office with the doctor once it is your turn, so they can get behind. (North Hills)

Dr. Gamble
3904 S Highway 14
North Hills Medical Center
Greenville, SC 29615-6138
864-987-9990

and

Holly Tree Family
Dr. Berglind
1338 Highway 14
Simpsonville, SC 29681
8642977091