As of today, I have two weeks left until I enter the last year of my twenties.
I'm ok with it...at least for now I am. So many people get worked up over turning 30. Honestly at this point, each birthday is just another year to me. Sure, I may change my mind next year when I actually turn 30, but for now, it's just a number.
It does not define who I am, what I've done, or what I will do.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
24 weeks!
As of today, I am 24 weeks along with this pregnancy! YIKES! Where has the time gone?!
Weight gain: 7 pounds, as of my last OB appointment last week.
Food aversions: Pork, Chicken, and Pizza
Morning sickness: Have had some nausea this past week.
Appetite : Comes and goes this week.
Cravings: Salad with ranch dressing
Clothes: Found my old maternity clothes from my first pregnancy last week...Much more comfortable now!
Sleeping: Awaken nightly around 3-4am, and can't go back to sleep then :(
Bellybutton: Still in
Backaches: Horrible!
Heart Burn: Not too bad this week, unless I ate garlic or onion
Movements: Mostly feeling kicks very low, occasionally they are near my belly button.
Gender: IT'S A BOY!
Name: Yep, he's got one, it starts with J
Next appointment: March 14th, My birthday!
Looking Forward To: Sitting on the floor comfortably, or laying on my back in bed....
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day to my Sweetie!
 |
| The two of us on our honeymoon, June 2006. |
11 years together, almost 7 years of marriage, and I still love you more each day!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Our Paleo Adventure---Update
So a few months ago, I shared with you how we were trying to go Paleo in this house. Ironic, right? After all, I am a cornfed child who ate potatoes, bread, beans, or corn at every meal growing up and those are forbidden on Paleo.
Anyways, Chris is having wonderful results with weight loss, increased energy, and overall feeling good since starting our adventure. Being pregnant, I am only half doing paleo. I eat little bread, lots of fruits and veggies, and meat (when I can stand it), my weakness and craving is potatoes!. Through our adventure, I have managed to keep weight gain to a minimum so far at 5 1/2 months, I have gained only 4 or 5 pounds.
We've also found several new recipes for vegetables we like. Here's a list of a few of our favorites. If you like one, let me know and I'll share the recipe.
Roasted Zucchini and Carrots
Honey Glazed Carrots
Mock Potatoes
Steamed Broccoli (no recipe there really, haha)
Spaghetti Squash
Anyways, Chris is having wonderful results with weight loss, increased energy, and overall feeling good since starting our adventure. Being pregnant, I am only half doing paleo. I eat little bread, lots of fruits and veggies, and meat (when I can stand it), my weakness and craving is potatoes!. Through our adventure, I have managed to keep weight gain to a minimum so far at 5 1/2 months, I have gained only 4 or 5 pounds.
We've also found several new recipes for vegetables we like. Here's a list of a few of our favorites. If you like one, let me know and I'll share the recipe.
Roasted Zucchini and Carrots
Honey Glazed Carrots
Mock Potatoes
Steamed Broccoli (no recipe there really, haha)
Spaghetti Squash
Monday, February 11, 2013
Why I may not breastfeed Baby J
When Carson was born 4 & 1/2 years ago, I was determined I was breastfeeding him. I knew what the benefits were, I knew how to do it, heck I even taught new moms how to do it at work.
He was born and was a champ at breastfeeding from the get go. It hurt like h*&$ but I knew it was best for him. His first feeding was 35 minutes of good breastfeeding. He went to the nursery for his bath while I passed out from the meds I had been given. The next feeding went well too, but every hour he was wanting to breastfeed. I would feed him and he would seem unsatisfied.
By day 2 of life, he was already very jaundiced and not getting much from me because my milk had not come in yet. The decision was made to supplement him with formula to help flush out the bilirubin. I would breastfeed for 20-30 minutes, but then he would down an entire 2 ounce bottle! The kid was a pig! We came home and continued breastfeeding and supplementing. I would pump after feedings(getting maybe an ounce or so) and use that to supplement the next feeding. We breastfed every 60-90 minutes, meaning I got no sleep and was falling asleep with him at my breast. We continued this until day 4 when he was back in the hospital for a day for the jaundice. He still breastfed, but now was taking 2-3 ounces after breastfeeding. Still, it was ok with me because he was at least getting some of my milk.
Just shy of 2 weeks after he was born, everything came to a screeching halt for us. I was admitted to the hospital and put on IV antibiotics and pain medications that didn't allow me to breastfeed . He was home with my parents, while I was in the hospital "pumping and dumping" my breastmilk. This set us back quite a bit. I came home after 2 1/2 days in the hospital and tried to resume our breastfeeding. We did so for about a week longer, then decided to just switch entirely to formula. Carson was happier with a full tummy on formula, and I was happy knowing he got the colostrum that was so important early on.
This time around, I'm unsure about what I'm going to do. Ideally I would like to pump and bottle feed baby #2. Hopefully I produce enough to be successful at this. But in my mind, I still think about just going with formula from the get go this time. I know lots of people would have a fit that I'm saying or even thinking this. You know what though? It's ok if I don't breastfeed. Lots of babies are formula fed everyday and grow up to be just as smart and healthy as breastfed babies. My breasts will thank me for the decreased pain, my body will appreciate the little bit of more sleep I will get, and my baby will still be just as happy with formula as breastmilk.
He was born and was a champ at breastfeeding from the get go. It hurt like h*&$ but I knew it was best for him. His first feeding was 35 minutes of good breastfeeding. He went to the nursery for his bath while I passed out from the meds I had been given. The next feeding went well too, but every hour he was wanting to breastfeed. I would feed him and he would seem unsatisfied.
By day 2 of life, he was already very jaundiced and not getting much from me because my milk had not come in yet. The decision was made to supplement him with formula to help flush out the bilirubin. I would breastfeed for 20-30 minutes, but then he would down an entire 2 ounce bottle! The kid was a pig! We came home and continued breastfeeding and supplementing. I would pump after feedings(getting maybe an ounce or so) and use that to supplement the next feeding. We breastfed every 60-90 minutes, meaning I got no sleep and was falling asleep with him at my breast. We continued this until day 4 when he was back in the hospital for a day for the jaundice. He still breastfed, but now was taking 2-3 ounces after breastfeeding. Still, it was ok with me because he was at least getting some of my milk.
Just shy of 2 weeks after he was born, everything came to a screeching halt for us. I was admitted to the hospital and put on IV antibiotics and pain medications that didn't allow me to breastfeed . He was home with my parents, while I was in the hospital "pumping and dumping" my breastmilk. This set us back quite a bit. I came home after 2 1/2 days in the hospital and tried to resume our breastfeeding. We did so for about a week longer, then decided to just switch entirely to formula. Carson was happier with a full tummy on formula, and I was happy knowing he got the colostrum that was so important early on.
This time around, I'm unsure about what I'm going to do. Ideally I would like to pump and bottle feed baby #2. Hopefully I produce enough to be successful at this. But in my mind, I still think about just going with formula from the get go this time. I know lots of people would have a fit that I'm saying or even thinking this. You know what though? It's ok if I don't breastfeed. Lots of babies are formula fed everyday and grow up to be just as smart and healthy as breastfed babies. My breasts will thank me for the decreased pain, my body will appreciate the little bit of more sleep I will get, and my baby will still be just as happy with formula as breastmilk.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
My 1st Birth Story
Warning!!! THIS IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH! Read on at your OWN RISK!
Four and a half years ago, I gave birth to a wonderful, beautiful baby boy. His entry into the world however, was anything but beautiful and wonderful.
After 2 weeks of regular contractions, but not dilating, and a few visits to Labor & Delivery only to be sent home, I was done. I wanted the little guy out. Monday July 14th was my last OB appointment. At that visit, I asked for induction.....You see, one year prior to this, my nephew died at the hands of an imcompetent doctor who failed to do a emergency c-section in time to save him. I was determined I WAS NOT having my baby on Asa's first angel birthday. No way in heck was that happening. So I asked to be induced on my doctor's on call day so that I could avoid any chance of that happening....We knew I was carrying a big baby and blood pressures hadn't been good for weeks, so my doctor was alright with inducing at 39 weeks, 4 days given the family history and my current pregnant isses.
Wednesday July 16th was the big day. I was admitted to the hospital at 12:01am to start IV antibiotics, and barely slept all night due to the lady next door birthing what I can only assume was a hippopotamus from the way it sounded! Anyhow, I was induced at 6am that day and within an hour of being induced was having strong regular contractions. I was dilated to 1.5cm and the dr broke my water around 8am. After that, the contractions got even stronger. I had IV pain meds around 9, they made me sleepy and sort of took away some pain, but they didn't last long. I tried the birthing ball, the rocking chair, everything, but nothing helped. I wanted to walk the halls but since I was on pitocin, I was told no. My nurse (also my coworker at the time) talked me into getting my epidural in hopes that it would make things progress finally. I asked for the epidural around 11:30, and finally at 1:30 I got it. It was the greatest thing in the world! I don't know why anyone would do it without one.
By 2pm I was 2cm (some progress?!) and I was effacing more (cervix thinning out). I started feeling more pressure and pain down low and they checked me again at 4:00 and I was 3cm. I laid back and tried to relax. At 5:30 I was throwing up and feeling pressure down low again. They checked me and I was 5cm, 95% effaced, -1 station. Chris went to go eat supper as we were expecting it to be a few more hours yet. I was discouraged and wanted a C-Section but my doctor simply said "You promised me a good induction and I promised you a natural delivery. I'm keeping you to that!". By 6:15 I was throwing up again. They checked me and I was 6-7cm. WOW! I was moving fast now. So then I felt more pressure and pain, she checked me and I was 8cm at 7pm. I called Chris and told him to get back there NOW! Luckily he was pulling in the parking lot at that time. I was horribly uncomfortable and feeling a lot of pressure and the contractions were hurting really bad again. So they checked me and I was 9cm with an anterior lip, it was about 7:30 now. I had to lay on my side trying not to push....THAT'S NOT EASY!!!! It was so uncomfortable. My epidural was empty, so anesthesia had to come give me another loading dose. That started working around 8, which is good because it was time to push then!
I pushed and pushed but Mr. Carson was too big and it just wasn't working. I was so frustrated and just wanted him out! The dr came back in around 8:45. I was pushing so hard but felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. Apparently, I was getting there though, they had me feel his head and it was great! It gave me encouragement that I was almost there and I was able to do it. I pushed a three or four more times really hard and Carson was born. His head was out but his shoulders got stuck (shoulder dystocia). You could see the panic on my OB's face, and everyone else in the room had the same look at that point. My OB had to take both of her hands in there to pull him out. He had bruises on his arms from where she was pulling trying to get him out. At 9:13pm, Carson entered this world. All 8lbs 10oz, and 22 inches of him! He came out very blue and not wanting to breathe. I kept asking what was wrong and the nurse just kept not answering me. I was an OB nurse....I KNEW something was wrong. The nurse picked up the ambu bag to start life saving measures and he FINALLY took a breath. He started getting better color and crying after they put him on the warmer and kept rubbing him and giving him oxygen. The doctor even kept asking the nurse if he was alright. Something I never will forget. My husband had a look of complete fear on his face. My mom kept saying "he's okay Becky, he's okay."
Once he started crying and was pink, I realized that yes, he was ok, but I wasn't okay. The OB ordered my nurse to give me a shot of pain medicine on top of my epidural and asked for extra sutures to be brought in. I knew something was wrong. You see, there are different degrees of tearing when you have a child. My OB had given me a 2nd Degree episiotomy but then when Carson's big shoulders got stuck, things quickly got worse. I ended up with a 4th degree tear. For those of you who don't know what this is, it means I tore my perineum from my vagina clear through my rectum. I had internal and external stitches. It took just shy of an hour for them to stitch me up. I felt it despite all the drugs. On top of this, I was losing quite a bit of blood.
I didn't hold my son first. I didn't even hold him for an hour. When I finally got to hold him, I was so out of it from the pain meds that I couldn't focus. Our first feeding found me falling asleep with him at my breast! Our family finally met him around 10:30 that evening, and they only were allowed to stay for 30 minutes because I was so bad.
In the subseqent hoursI had to have three shots of Methergine (a drug to stop the bleeding) and had to take methergine pills as well for 24 hours after delivery. I couldn't sit or lay down without horrible pain.
We left the hospital Friday afternoon, July 18th, with a jaundiced little boy. We had to go back for labwork Saturday morning and it wasn't great, so we had to go back again on Sunday. Sunday Carson was very very jaundiced so we knew the labs wouldn't be good. His bilirubin was too high so he had to be admitted to the hospital. It was so hard to have him there. My mom and Chris made me come home and mom stayed with him Sunday night so that I would get some sleep since I hadn't slept much before that. They put him under triple lights to bring down the bilirubin level, and it worked great! By 10am Monday it was low enough we were discharged.
But we weren't home long. On Monday, July 28th, I was admitted to the hospital for a uterine infection from my traumatic delivery and subsequent repair. Once again I was away from my baby. I was in horrible pain, I was still bleeding quite a bit, and they wanted to give me a blood transfusion?! By Wednesday, the antibiotics had worked enough that I was discharged home.
The months that followed were plagued by incontinence and shame. I had to wear pads and carry extra clothes with me every where I went. If had a touch of a stomach bug, I couldn't work because I wasn't able to hold my stool until I made it to the bathroom. In June of 2009, when Carson was 11 months old, I had a very extensive surgery to repair my perineal floor. (It's called an anal sphincteroplasty with perineal floor repair if you want to google it...I will spare the bad details here). I spent 4 days in a hospital over an hour from home. I couldn't sit, laugh, or walk without pain. However, in the months that followed that surgery, things did get better with the incontinence. They aren't perfect yet, and I need a second surgery to try and achieve even better results, but for now it's on hold because it hasn't been studied in pregnancy.
So there you have it.....my birthhorror story. There was no Hallmark moment where he was put on my chest for me to hold. Daddy wasn't able to cut the cord. I wasn't the first to hold him. It was anything but perfect, but the end result of a healthy, wonderful little boy was well worth it!
Four and a half years ago, I gave birth to a wonderful, beautiful baby boy. His entry into the world however, was anything but beautiful and wonderful.
After 2 weeks of regular contractions, but not dilating, and a few visits to Labor & Delivery only to be sent home, I was done. I wanted the little guy out. Monday July 14th was my last OB appointment. At that visit, I asked for induction.....You see, one year prior to this, my nephew died at the hands of an imcompetent doctor who failed to do a emergency c-section in time to save him. I was determined I WAS NOT having my baby on Asa's first angel birthday. No way in heck was that happening. So I asked to be induced on my doctor's on call day so that I could avoid any chance of that happening....We knew I was carrying a big baby and blood pressures hadn't been good for weeks, so my doctor was alright with inducing at 39 weeks, 4 days given the family history and my current pregnant isses.
Wednesday July 16th was the big day. I was admitted to the hospital at 12:01am to start IV antibiotics, and barely slept all night due to the lady next door birthing what I can only assume was a hippopotamus from the way it sounded! Anyhow, I was induced at 6am that day and within an hour of being induced was having strong regular contractions. I was dilated to 1.5cm and the dr broke my water around 8am. After that, the contractions got even stronger. I had IV pain meds around 9, they made me sleepy and sort of took away some pain, but they didn't last long. I tried the birthing ball, the rocking chair, everything, but nothing helped. I wanted to walk the halls but since I was on pitocin, I was told no. My nurse (also my coworker at the time) talked me into getting my epidural in hopes that it would make things progress finally. I asked for the epidural around 11:30, and finally at 1:30 I got it. It was the greatest thing in the world! I don't know why anyone would do it without one.
By 2pm I was 2cm (some progress?!) and I was effacing more (cervix thinning out). I started feeling more pressure and pain down low and they checked me again at 4:00 and I was 3cm. I laid back and tried to relax. At 5:30 I was throwing up and feeling pressure down low again. They checked me and I was 5cm, 95% effaced, -1 station. Chris went to go eat supper as we were expecting it to be a few more hours yet. I was discouraged and wanted a C-Section but my doctor simply said "You promised me a good induction and I promised you a natural delivery. I'm keeping you to that!". By 6:15 I was throwing up again. They checked me and I was 6-7cm. WOW! I was moving fast now. So then I felt more pressure and pain, she checked me and I was 8cm at 7pm. I called Chris and told him to get back there NOW! Luckily he was pulling in the parking lot at that time. I was horribly uncomfortable and feeling a lot of pressure and the contractions were hurting really bad again. So they checked me and I was 9cm with an anterior lip, it was about 7:30 now. I had to lay on my side trying not to push....THAT'S NOT EASY!!!! It was so uncomfortable. My epidural was empty, so anesthesia had to come give me another loading dose. That started working around 8, which is good because it was time to push then!
I pushed and pushed but Mr. Carson was too big and it just wasn't working. I was so frustrated and just wanted him out! The dr came back in around 8:45. I was pushing so hard but felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. Apparently, I was getting there though, they had me feel his head and it was great! It gave me encouragement that I was almost there and I was able to do it. I pushed a three or four more times really hard and Carson was born. His head was out but his shoulders got stuck (shoulder dystocia). You could see the panic on my OB's face, and everyone else in the room had the same look at that point. My OB had to take both of her hands in there to pull him out. He had bruises on his arms from where she was pulling trying to get him out. At 9:13pm, Carson entered this world. All 8lbs 10oz, and 22 inches of him! He came out very blue and not wanting to breathe. I kept asking what was wrong and the nurse just kept not answering me. I was an OB nurse....I KNEW something was wrong. The nurse picked up the ambu bag to start life saving measures and he FINALLY took a breath. He started getting better color and crying after they put him on the warmer and kept rubbing him and giving him oxygen. The doctor even kept asking the nurse if he was alright. Something I never will forget. My husband had a look of complete fear on his face. My mom kept saying "he's okay Becky, he's okay."
Once he started crying and was pink, I realized that yes, he was ok, but I wasn't okay. The OB ordered my nurse to give me a shot of pain medicine on top of my epidural and asked for extra sutures to be brought in. I knew something was wrong. You see, there are different degrees of tearing when you have a child. My OB had given me a 2nd Degree episiotomy but then when Carson's big shoulders got stuck, things quickly got worse. I ended up with a 4th degree tear. For those of you who don't know what this is, it means I tore my perineum from my vagina clear through my rectum. I had internal and external stitches. It took just shy of an hour for them to stitch me up. I felt it despite all the drugs. On top of this, I was losing quite a bit of blood.
I didn't hold my son first. I didn't even hold him for an hour. When I finally got to hold him, I was so out of it from the pain meds that I couldn't focus. Our first feeding found me falling asleep with him at my breast! Our family finally met him around 10:30 that evening, and they only were allowed to stay for 30 minutes because I was so bad.
In the subseqent hoursI had to have three shots of Methergine (a drug to stop the bleeding) and had to take methergine pills as well for 24 hours after delivery. I couldn't sit or lay down without horrible pain.
We left the hospital Friday afternoon, July 18th, with a jaundiced little boy. We had to go back for labwork Saturday morning and it wasn't great, so we had to go back again on Sunday. Sunday Carson was very very jaundiced so we knew the labs wouldn't be good. His bilirubin was too high so he had to be admitted to the hospital. It was so hard to have him there. My mom and Chris made me come home and mom stayed with him Sunday night so that I would get some sleep since I hadn't slept much before that. They put him under triple lights to bring down the bilirubin level, and it worked great! By 10am Monday it was low enough we were discharged.
But we weren't home long. On Monday, July 28th, I was admitted to the hospital for a uterine infection from my traumatic delivery and subsequent repair. Once again I was away from my baby. I was in horrible pain, I was still bleeding quite a bit, and they wanted to give me a blood transfusion?! By Wednesday, the antibiotics had worked enough that I was discharged home.
The months that followed were plagued by incontinence and shame. I had to wear pads and carry extra clothes with me every where I went. If had a touch of a stomach bug, I couldn't work because I wasn't able to hold my stool until I made it to the bathroom. In June of 2009, when Carson was 11 months old, I had a very extensive surgery to repair my perineal floor. (It's called an anal sphincteroplasty with perineal floor repair if you want to google it...I will spare the bad details here). I spent 4 days in a hospital over an hour from home. I couldn't sit, laugh, or walk without pain. However, in the months that followed that surgery, things did get better with the incontinence. They aren't perfect yet, and I need a second surgery to try and achieve even better results, but for now it's on hold because it hasn't been studied in pregnancy.
So there you have it.....my birth
Friday, February 8, 2013
Friday Free For All
Today I'm bringing back a post from the past that somewhere along the line got lost. This weeks post will be short and sweet :)
It's Friday....Thank goodness!
Work
This week has been crazy for me. Monday and Tuesday I did vision and hearing screens on children ages 2-5 during the local Preschool screenings. Let me tell you....that was very....trying. Yes, that's a good word for it. Wednesday I drove 110 miles round trip to participate in a grant required, 20 minute drill. Thursday was a day of getting lots done, and hopefully today is too! There's been lots of public health cases to deal with this week, so I'm hoping today doesn't bring any new ones!
Home
Sunday night during the Super Bowl our kitchen sink started leaking into the basement....apparently old pipes from the 50s don't last forever, haha! But Tuesday night Chris and dad replaced the pipes under the sink and I'm so happy it's fixed. It's hard to do anything without a kitchen sink!
Lil man has been battling a fever since Tuesday. Thursday we went to the pediatrician and learned that once again he has strep throat :( Fevers of 102-103 make this momma uneasy. Hopefully he starts feeling better this weekend.
Wednesday night Chris and I went to a Matchbox Twenty concert....that's a whole other post in itself! AMAZING!!!!!!
Pregnancy
I'm 22 weeks! I posted an update earlier this week with more details. I'm so glad I am finally feeling good. Can't wait for June to get here.
It's Friday....Thank goodness!
Work
This week has been crazy for me. Monday and Tuesday I did vision and hearing screens on children ages 2-5 during the local Preschool screenings. Let me tell you....that was very....trying. Yes, that's a good word for it. Wednesday I drove 110 miles round trip to participate in a grant required, 20 minute drill. Thursday was a day of getting lots done, and hopefully today is too! There's been lots of public health cases to deal with this week, so I'm hoping today doesn't bring any new ones!
Home
Sunday night during the Super Bowl our kitchen sink started leaking into the basement....apparently old pipes from the 50s don't last forever, haha! But Tuesday night Chris and dad replaced the pipes under the sink and I'm so happy it's fixed. It's hard to do anything without a kitchen sink!
Lil man has been battling a fever since Tuesday. Thursday we went to the pediatrician and learned that once again he has strep throat :( Fevers of 102-103 make this momma uneasy. Hopefully he starts feeling better this weekend.
Wednesday night Chris and I went to a Matchbox Twenty concert....that's a whole other post in itself! AMAZING!!!!!!
Pregnancy
I'm 22 weeks! I posted an update earlier this week with more details. I'm so glad I am finally feeling good. Can't wait for June to get here.
Monday, February 4, 2013
22 Weeks!
Officially more than half way through this pregnancy and finally feeling pretty good!
Weight gain: 4 pounds (only weighing at doctor's office, next appt is next week)
Food aversions: Pork...Lately I cannot stand pork.
Morning sickness: Almost non-existent
Appetite : Still about the same
Cravings: Lays Stax Regular potatoe chips
Clothes: Starting to get snug...especially my scrub tops!
Sleeping: Better than my last update but still waking frequently for no reason.
Bellybutton: Still in
Backaches: Still every day
Heart Burn: Not too bad this week
Movements: Feeling more kicks every day!
Gender: IT'S A BOY!
Name: Yep, he's got one :)
Next appointment: Mid February, 23 1/2 weeks
:)
Looking Forward To: Sleeping on my stomach again...finally got uncomfortable doing this this week :(
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