Random thoughts Thursday... technically it's Friday

• This wind is incredible, annoying and I would like for it to stop.
• Upon my Dr.'s order's I started "swimming" today. Actually I just walk around. I am hoping to relieve the Sciatica that I have been battling, which has gotten progressively worse I might add,  have some felt some relief today, however, developed a painful groin due to exercising new muscles I guess.
• Got a call today that I have high glucose results, I go back Wednesday for a 3 hour glucose test. I am praying that it was an isolated thing and that I don't have Gestational Diabetes, I'd rather not add that to my list.
• I have an ultrasound in the morning to check the placental tear and growth of the baby
• I have a friend who recently found out she was pregnant, when Sophie learned about this she asked, " did she take her temperature on the pee pee stick like you did mommy?", she continued to ask HOW does a mommy know when she might have a baby in her tummy.... that was fun explaining, I'll spare those details. 
• David is still feeling the after effects in running in the OKC Marathon Relay coupled with playing basketball that afternoon ... his neck and back have been giving him fits to say the least
• Davis is wrapping up OCCT testing tomorrow. Tonight he informed me that there were 4-5 questions over Shay's Rebellion, he said they barely covered it in class, he was so frustrated. I could not remember any details about Shay's Rebellion, however,  I do remember learning something about it... back in the day
• We have 3 caterpillars captured, we are hoping to witness a cocoon and butterfly appearance, with my luck they will be plain ol' moths, but a beautiful transformation, none the less
• We also have a bird nest on our back deck with 6 birds that have hatched, I am afraid the mother has abandoned the nest. The last 2 days when I have looked, from a distance, w/o touching etc... she has not been there :( I'm hoping I am wrong.
• Well, I got up to take Tylenol for Sciatica, I am finally feeling relief, better head back to bed...

Way Back Wednesday...

So I don't usually post for Way Back Wednesday, but... Sophie saw this pick and said "I hope I can be a cheerleader like you mommy, and be on the top". I tried to explain that we were actually being silly. I wanted to whip out pics of my actual cheerleading days and show her a "real pyramid", but oh wait... I was always a spotter, never the flyer on top :) 


I love this pic! It's looks like I was having the time of my life. It was in 4th grade. I so remember that shirt and those jeans, I think I wore them every other day. That was my tomboy phase. Behind me was a massive oak tree, it was the important meeting place of many events in my elementary years. Oh, those were the days!!!

Overdue Birth Story of Sophie Marlana

As my pregnancy of this third little one progresses I have reflected so much on the birth of my last one, Sophie. I realized I had never written a Birth Story documenting the amazing experience I had with her birth. So here it goes, almost five years later. I remember it like it was yesterday actually.

After giving birth to Davis in 98, with every intervention possible, except for a c-section, I soon began to educate myself on the whole process of birth. Davis was a rather large baby at 9.3 lbs. . I wouldn't trade his birth for anything, even though it was a very difficult one. His birth urged me to explore other alternatives and led me to becoming a Doula. Little did I know it would be almost 7 years before I got to put in to practice all of the new things I had learned.

My goal with Sophie was to have a natural/unmedicated birth with my husband and a Doula to guide me through the whole process. My sister-in-law Moni eagerly began educating herself on the techniques. I knew she would be great, I wasn't even worried about how much she knew, I was so confident in her nurturing personality to help us through the birth, and she did amazing! David was extremely supportive and was willing to try ANYTHING to make me comfortable, even when it was not so comfortable, and at times back breaking on his part. He stayed active and involved the whole 18+ hours we labored to bring Sophie in to this world. I say We because I believe it was only possible to accomplish what I did with God and the support of these two people.

We arrived at the hospital around 6 AM for a scheduled induction on August the 17th. The Pitocin was started at a very low dose to get things going. It seemed so easy at first. It was a very slow process, which was actually good, since I did not plan to have an epidural. My Dr.  wanted to break my water around 8:30, however, I declined, knowing that it would kick things in to gear very fast and I didn't think I was ready. Needless to say it was not broken until 3pm or so. In between 8-3 we walked the halls, changed positions too many times to count, and I sat on my birth ball most of the time. We listened to my Enya CD's over and over. Ironically Sophie loves to listen to them too. David was so cooperative and encouraging with all of my requests and frequent changes of positions. Moni was encouraging and emotionally and physically supportive through all of my requests too. She was good at reminding me to remember to breathe and reminding me of my goal and the beautiful baby I would be holding in the end. Once my water was broke, around 3pm, things did not take off like I had hoped. I continued to progress slowly. We continued to move around and I wasn't in the bed very much. As the night continued I finally started to have the unbearable contractions. I was allowed to sit in the shower, on my birth ball, while Moni sprayed my belly with the spray nozzle. Thank goodness I was allowed to do this, I believe it was at least an hour that I stayed in there. I was still doing very well. The amazing thing about birthing is there is a break in between surges (contractions) that gives you the needed relief. I clung to those. As I progressed we learned that I had come to a halt. I stayed at an 8 for at least an hour or more. This is when one of my nurses checked me to see if she could "help things along", this is also when the demon possessed Michelle was introduced :) Not sure what she did but it hurt more than anything I had ever experienced. I began wanting an epidural, I began to panic!!! Transition had arrived... I was beside myself! Moni stepped out in to the hall leaving David and I alone for a few minutes while she talked to the nurses. I'm sure she was asking them " what the heck do I do with her now?" I was demanding an epidural, but what I was being told was it would be at least 30 minutes before the anesthesiologist would even get there... it would most likely be to late. So in those few moments while she was out of the room I started having the urge to push. I screamed to David that the baby was coming out now! Needless to say he got a little terrified, to say the least, and hurried to get the nurses. After returning to the  room he actually fainted. The nurse checked and low and behold little Sophie was on her way. Several nurses began attending to David, and I actually began to calm down. They called the Dr. and I was just holding on until she got there. At this point it had been 18 hours and we were in to the next day. The pushing stage was much more manageable. I would bear down and actually was screaming/grunting very loudly (so loud I'm sure it could be heard down the hall and one nurse said "don't make that noise" it was impossible not to, and my Dr. said those were my best pushes, so keep doing it!) then simply lay back and sleep. I was totally focused and able to ignore what was going on around me... chatter between the Dr. and nurses, and all the attention being given to David. It did take at least an hour of pushing, but it felt more like 20-30 minutes. Finally little Sophie came in to the world at 3:18 on August 18th 2005. I felt amazing afterwards, tired yes, but I was so alert and full of unexplained energy. I was able to nurse her immediately like I had hoped for, she wasn't even cleaned off yet. Then of course they had to take her and weigh her etc... She also had some fluid that she had to have suctioned a few times. Otherwise it was the birth experience I had imagined and hoped for. It was so amazing. Note* David was taken down to the ER for IV fluids after seeing Sophie. He recovered well. They were worried because his pulse would not come up. He plans to not faint this time around :)

So, in about 16 weeks I will be going through this again. I have the same plan, however, this time around I am planning to try Hypnobirthing as well. I hope to keep from "freaking out" during transition. I pray that I can stay focused and I pray it will be less than 19 hours this time around. I plan to NOT be induced, unless absolutely necessary. I can't wait to write a more accurate birth story for our baby girl in the weeks to come.... stayed tuned :)

Highlights of my 35th year of life...

• Witnessed my son being baptized
• Began following a Gluten Free diet
• Let go from a teaching job due to budget cuts
• Found new teaching job before school was even out, what a blessing!
• Went to LTC in Dallas for the 2nd year
• Finally painted my living room/dining room after 4 years of contemplating
• Served as female ministry leader for CR
• Witnessed Sophie cutting her head open, requiring stitches
• Learned to live with a drum set in the house
• Sold my van and got a Volvo... my favorite sedan
• Ate more ice cream than necessary (a pregnancy favorite)
• Refrained from eating out 2 months, not consecutive
• Paid more Dr. bills than I ever care to
• Paid off a vehicle
• Hosted two students from China in my home for 7 months
• Cooked more at home
• Started using coupons
• Prayed more
• Read more blogs
• Attended The CR Summit in California, it was amazing! This year I am due to have a baby the same weekend
• In December found out I am expecting our 3rd child... very surprised! DD 8.10.10
• Experienced bedrest/modified bedrest, which has been a challenge
• Had more ultrasounds than ever, and will continue to until August
• Attended the least amount of movies than I ever have in many years :(
• Had a massage for only the 3rd time in my life and the last one was 10 yrs. ago

Before I forget...

Today in the car Sophie had set a drink on the middle section, as I drove off naturally it went flying off and spilling on the ground. With a stern voice I told Sophie that we do not leave drinks there... her answer for me... "Well if you wouldn't drive so crazy it would have never happened". For the record I was not driving crazy, I was simply pulling out of the neighborhood. I had to speak sternly to her again.

Sophie: "Mom, you will be so glad at me!"

Sophie: " Mom, there are mosquito bites flying around everywhere"

I wish I had funny quotes that Davis said, but at age 11 he really doesn't have many. The funniest thing lately is how he acts when he thinks no one is watching... like when he is making a video. It's hilarious to watch his facial expressions!

Just curious...

Who is it that reads my blog everyday... pretty much... that lives in Yukon???

Yes, I am up yet again at 4 am, in pain, as usual. I'll spare the details.Waiting for my medicine to kick in. This baby is flopping all over, so that's a nice reminder that this is all worth it! Oh, the joys of pregnancy, and at 36 ... can't help but think this is a factor in several of my "complications". Pretty sure this is the last one for us.

Better try to get back to sleep!

Random Thoughts...

Today I pulled in to the nearby park to wait for Davis to get out of school, while waiting 3 teenaged boy's were arrested right next to our car. Sophie was so intrigued, of course, what 4 year old wouldn't be? She wanted to know what the Police were looking for... I said "bad things"... I had a hard time fighting back tears for these boy's. They looked pretty "normal". I'm pretty sure they must of had drugs on them because the officers were searching the car, really good! And they made them take off shoes etc... So when Davis finally arrived, he was afraid to even walk in our direction. Needless to say I was able to use this as a teachable moment. I emphasized the importance of who you choose as friends etc... I told him that this day will change the rest of the lives for these boys... finding a job, going to college, etc... it made me very sad. We prayed for them at dinner tonight.

Sophie fell asleep at 7pm tonight, after having a meltdown...crying that she didn't want to fall asleep. It was too funny, she knew her body was giving in, she laid on the couch and was asleep w/in 3 minutes.

The baby is moving all the time! I love this part of being pregnant! Some of the other stuff...not so much.

My aunt returned safely from Cambodia, she had a great time!

My son is obsessed w/ making videos of himself on my Mac, he is actually very good for an 11 year old. He has taught himself to add music, splice it all together, and way more that I do not understand. I can't believe he has had the patience to sit and do all of this.

My birthday is next week and I have requested special yard work projects to be done, and I would like for someone to paint my bedroom... maybe I am nesting vicariously through others :)