Welcome Stella Jane!

Much more to come on this little girl's arrival.  But here are some pictures that are long overdue. 

Documenting Baby #3s Birth Story

Saturday, November 20th - Went for a really long walk with my neighbor.  Probably walked about 2 miles (which is really long for me these days) with hills.  Raked leaves and shoveled them into bags with the whole family for at least an hour, maybe longer.  Sat on the exercise ball I bought on Friday as much as I could stand during afternoon and evening.  Evacuated my bowels, nice way of saying I had diarrhea sometime around 5pm with some pretty serious contractions.  Thought to myself, this is it!  Didn't eat dinner, but was hungry by 8pm so had a snack.  Went to bed at 10:30 with some mild contractions, but nothing regular. 

Sunday, November 21st - Woke up several time with contractions that were uncomfortable.  Was up with Mia at 4:30 because she had a bad dream.  Starving, came downstairs and ate a peanut butter sandwich.  Started blogging and timing contractions at 4:45.  They are currently eight to ten minutes apart, not very intense though.  Haven't heard from Mia, assume she is back to sleep.

During the day today, I pulled weeds and cleaned up a couple of flower beds.  I also learned that the barometric pressure is falling in St Louis as I type and it is a Blue Moon tonight (3rd full moon of a season with four).  It would be a great night to have a baby.

The Lack of a Sucking Sound in My House - Well, It Can Suck

I know, I know.  I should be thanking my lucky stars and sticking my tongue out at all the dentists in town.  But I am not.  I really just wasn't ready for this.  I feel like her babyhood is slipping through my fingers and it makes me sad.

Mia stopped sucking her thumb. 

Just like that, easy peasy.  Well, there definitely was a series of events that led up to this historic moment.  If you need to figure out how to get your four year old to stop using her thumb this is what you do:

1.  Have her walk up a slide in Crocs that are too big for her over and over until she slips and falls and smacks her mouth on the slide.
2.  Make sure the fall is hard enough to move the tooth and makes it wiggly and definitely throw in a fat lip and some blood.
3.  Take her to the dentist and make sure she has a very healthy fear of "the chair", "the bubbles" (aka flouride), and "the pictures".  (This you need to work on years in advance to instill the proper level of hatred of the whole place.)
4.  Have the scary dentist whisk her away even though Mommy promised she would stay with her the whole time.
5.  Have the dentist make her cry, at least a little.
6.  Have the dentist scare her into thinking if she sucks her thumb ANYMORE her tooth will fall out.
7.  Make it hurt a little to suck her thumb.
8.  A couple of weeks later leave blankie at school overnight to truly break the blankie/thumb sucking in the middle of the night cycle.

Voila!  Now you have a four year old little girl who no longer sucks her thumb, at all.  She doesn't suck it during the day, she doesn't suck it to go to sleep, and as far as I can tell she doesn't suck it at night to go back to sleep.  This could be why she has been calling out for Mommy after any bad dream or when she wakes up, normally at 4am. 

Trust me, I was perfectly fine with the thumb sucking.

Oh, and to update you on the tooth.  It is definitely out of place, which apparantly is no big deal.  It has stopped changing color, so she won't have to get a new grill or have it pulled.  It just is slightly duller than her other pearly whites.  Gives her character.

Just Another Day

So today was my due date.  It's 9pm and no sign of baby.

A lot of people don't understand why I am okay with this.  They wonder why my doctor won't induce me.  But the thing is; she will, she actually offered to induce me two weeks ago.  I said no.

This seems odd to many people; that I would say no.  But I have a few reasons.  First of all, I am not very uncomfortable.  I know what it is like to be uncomfortable in the ninth month of pregnancy.  With Jac, I was swollen to the gills, not used to losing sleep and in general just pretty anxious about the whole thing.  But I really am not that uncomfortable with this third baby.  I am very mobile, no swelling to speak of, eating well - I don't sleep anyway, so this is truly one of those babies that its just easier to have her in than out. 

There are other reasons I am okay with going overdue.  One, I really want the spontaneous labor, the 2am contractions, the frantic drive to the hospital - all the drama.  It seems so clinical and controlled to be picking dates and times and methods of induction. I read a book this week that said, should labor and delivery be something that is done to your body or something your body does?  But even if spontaneous labor wasn't enough of an incentive for me not to want to be induced I truly believe that if I am on a Pit drip I will cave and get an epidural.  I haven't really talked about this with many people because a lot of women either think you are truly nuts or they just think you want to be Supermom if you want to deliver naturally.  That isn't it at all.  I may be nuts, but Supermom is not on my radar.  I can go through the reasons that I want to labor naturally or to put a finer point on it, with as few interventions as possible, but I will save that for another day.  The point is, it is my body, my baby and my labor.  If I want to labor out in the woods, it is my decision.  And I know that with one intervention you are pretty much setting yourself up for more.  The Pit drip automatically leads to more aggressive labor than most women's bodies would do naturally making it more difficult to turn down the epidural.  So that is a big reason for me to not want the iduction.

The other reason, which has less backing than just my gut instinct is that I think baby has her own timeline and she will be happier, healthier and just ready when she is ready. 

That all being said.  I am now scheduled to be induced next Tuesday.  So say your prayers that this baby makes an appearance before then, and barring that; that this induction goes as well as it possibly can with as few interventions as possible. 

Oh - one last thing for all you statistics geeks out there.  A baby is considered full term anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks.  Ninety-five percent of women will deliver their babies within this time frame and the other five percent will deliver early or late.  This is a normal curve.  The 40 week mark is simply the average, the mid point.  So now, after realizing that I am simply at the midpoint (I have no idea why I didn't realize this during my first two pregnancies.) of the normal curve for delivery I don't feel so overdue.  Overdue really shouldn't be used at all to describe going bast your due date.  Due date is really a bad term also, it implies that an uncomfortable, fat, hormonal woman who may or may not have had eight hours of uninterrupted sleep in months is somehow defective if her body has not gone into labor by this date.  Enough said about that.

Nesting in Full Swing

I really am feeling quite good at this point.  I do have some aches and pains, but considering my size and the fact that I am 5 days away from my due date I am very mobile.  I keep telling people that a month ago I didn't feel well at all.  Between the belly button pain and the medication I wasn't too happy.  Don't get me wrong I have a myriad of lovely pregnancy symptoms, but all in all it has been a really good week or two. 

I have a lot of energy, I am sleeping well and I have a lot of motivation!  I truly believe that the motivation comes from the nesting instinct.  I have had A LOT of Braxton Hicks, so I feel like I am within at least a 5 day window!  Surely this will happen soon. 

Here is one of the projects that I have had a lot of help from everyone.  The room.  We decided to keep our guest room intact for the most part and just add lot of baby furniture.  Eveyone has helped out with the room - Jeff's parents, my sister, the kiddos.  My mom made the bedding, which I am so pleased with. 

Okay baby, we are officially ready for you.  Come on out.

Cowboy/Cowgirl Day

This is the way I sent Mia to school yesterday for Cowboy Day.  So much fun!

Thanks to our friend for supplying this outfit!

Week 39

Well, we have one more week until the big Due Date.  Not that I believe in due dates.  Did you know that only 5% of women have their babies on their due dates? 

I saw the doctor yesterday and it was a nonevent.  I had myself wound up pretty tightly about it.  I just knew that my doctor was going to turn into a pushy mean lady who would make me pick a date to induce.  I was also worried that she was going to try and get me started in her office.  There are things that I have heard about, but never had done to me that I was terrified of, I think I would have had to ask for Nurse Hilde to come in and hold my hand. 

But, yet again, I was worrying for nothing.  She did check my progress, which hasn't changed.  I am still a 3 and not very effaced although baby is firmly in position in my pelvis. She did not try any "procedures" on me to hurry things along.  She did ask me if I was still wanting to go into labor spontaneously.  We talked about what would happen next week when I reached the magic number.  Most doctors have a firm date that they don't like to go past because of the increase in risk of still birth.  So we talked about how induction would work and what days of the week it would be on, all the practical stuff.

Now I just have to figure out how to go into labor before we get to next week.  I certainly don't want to endanger my baby.  But I also don't want to induce just for convenience sake.  I know so many people who go overdue without any issues.  I truly hope that this decision is taken out of my hands. 

The good news is that I feel great.  I felt awful a month ago and couldn't imagine making it this far.  But it hasn't been bad.  I have definitely reached the 'big as a whale' stage where I couldn't possibly ever be attractive again.  But as far as sleeping, that is fine.  My kids wake me up more than my bladder.  And I don't have much pain any more, no sciatica, no belly button pain.  I am just ungainly and can't reach anything south of the border.  I am definitely ready, but of all the pregnancy weeks and ups and downs, this past one hasn't been bad.

Reunited And it Feels So Good

Note to self:  do not allow Mia to take her blanket to school. 

Sounds simple, straight forward and logical.  Don't underestimate the power of a four year old's tears on a pregnant woman's psyche.  She asked to take it, I obviously didn't say no, the rest is a sleepless night.

Right around bedtime we realized that Blankie was not in the building.  There were tears, lots of tears.  She actually went to sleep fairly easily.  But I was under no illusion that she would stay asleep.  We made it until 1:30 when she woke up basically screaming.  We all ended up in one bed, except the defector, Daddy.  I am sure that he didn't get a fantastic night's sleep, but I am also sure that his rated much higher than mine. 

I called early this morning to make sure that said Blankie had truly spent the night in Mia's cubby at school.  If not, I had a much bigger issue on my hands.  One requiring a plan, maybe even a night nanny or boarding school.  But Blankie, although lonely was still at school waiting for Mia.

Lest We Forget I Had a Birthday

Subconciously, I was going to slip that little birthday under the rug.  I really don't get freaked about my birthday.  There have been numbers that have seemed more significant than others.  But in general, I look forward to my birthday.  I look forward to Halloween and all of the festivities that come with it, I look forward to feeling a little special and receiving wishes and cards and gifts.  But let's be honest folks, birthdays do become a bit stale the more you have.  And now, being on the other side of 30 - numbers prior to this were still low 30s.  I am officially on the other side, in the upper 30s and it feels a bit odd.  I know that 40 is just around the bend. 

My DH did a great job on my birthday.  He did all of the things that make the day a little different than the next.  He let me sleep in, he made me breakfast, he let me dictate the days activities, he took the kiddos off in another direction while I went to the mall and out to lunch with my sister.  He bought a ridiculously large cake that we all adored.  And of course, he gave me a lovely gift that was very thoughtful.  A watch.  I haven't had a 'fancy' watch (Mia's description) in a long time.  It's perfect.

Of course, when I was digging for a complement and asked him, "How does it feel to be married to a 36 year old?"  My smooth, romantic husband said, "It sounds old.  Especially, considering I stopped aging at 28."  Hm.

Here are the things I learned during my 36th year:

• I have known this for awhile, but every year it seems to solidify, my family truly is the most important thing to me.  I have been blessed with an amazing, talented and funny husband who supports me and challenges me; and he just happens to be pretty easy on the eyes.  And somehow we were given two amazing kids with another on the way.
• Pregnancy becomes harder the older you get.  Sometimes the spirit is willing but the body is just not able.
• I have an amazing support group of friends and family and am constantly humbled by the acts of service that they provide.
• Kids grow up fast.
• My energy for fighting battles in life has diminished, I need to regroup and pick the ones that are truly worthwhile. 
• Even at the ripe old age of 36, a five year old and a four year will be the two people that try my patience on a daily basis.  Not the global financial meltdown, not the sluggish race reform in our country, not the mom's at the PTO, not the speed of my internet connection - oh no, definitely the five year old and the four year that I live with.
• Try, try, try to live in the moment.  Because it can all be gone in the blink of an eye. 

Wow - I got all serious today.  Thanks to everyone for making my birthday great.  Now I have to get used to checking the 36-44 box on surveys, yuk.

Sock Issues, Among Other Things

I believe everyone is aware that I am not a patient person.  I try.  Children have definitely helped me in this arena, especially my eldest.  In case you didn't know, children and parents are paired up somewhere in the great beyond for their strengths and weaknesses.  If your baby tries you at every turn and knows how to push your buttons right around 18 months it is because you are supposed to be working on something.  I am fairly certain that Jac will be teaching me lessons in patience well into his adulthood.  I can't wait.

The latest trial we have been going through is about socks and shoes, but mostly just socks.  Summer is a great time, bare footedness and Crocs are fantastic for people with sensitive toes.  You don't have to worry about seams or wrinkles or the heel or seams, did I mention seams?   We have been in school for approximately 10 weeks, give or take.  It is a requirement that the kids wear closed toed shoes for recess and rubber non marking soled shoes for PE.  We are lucky and get to have PE every other day.  The class gets a recess outside almost every day also.  Even if the school didn't have these rules, I would make Jac wear socks and tennis shoes to school, simply so that he could be fast and sure and play his hardest if he wanted to. 

For 10 weeks we have had minor issues.  It is a battle pretty much every day to choose a pair of socks that will feel good.  And trust me, we have a variety of socks.  That is not the problem, I buy socks constantly in hopes of finding the one truly comfortable pair of socks for Jac.  Hanes are terrible, don't ever buy them.  Champion are better but too thick if your feet are getting a little big for your shoes.  The thin athletic socks that are wicking, generally not made of cotton seem to be the best, however they do tend to hug the toes a bit too much for Jac's liking. 

It took us about 30 minutes yesterday to find a pair of socks that were suitable.  I had actually gotten some new socks from Stride Rite that boasted a "comfort seam".  The seam was truly nonexistent, barely there.  I wanted Jac to try these socks out before putting on his shoes, big mistake.  My big take away from this is that Jac will never be the kid who runs around in his socks.  He ditches both shoes and socks as soon as he arrives home from school.  He then will be either barefoot or slip his Crocs on for the rest of the day.  So having him test run his new socks thirty minutes before the bus, was torture.  I didn't realize that.  Big lesson, regardless of the sock; as soon as you put on the sock put a shoe on over.  It seems to deaden the sensitivity a bit. 

Surely someone out there has this issue themselves or has dealt with it in their children.  I have a lot of questions!  What socks do you buy?  I just recently bought some super 'spensive socks for him that aren't here yet from a website for kids with sensory issues.  We'll see.  Surely there is something better and cheaper out there. 

My other question is, how do you desensitize?  We have tag issues, underwear issues (Jac actually went to school without underpants yesterday because we literally could not face another clothing battle.), coat issues (can't be too bulky), pajama issues, shoe issues and pretty much clothing issues in general if they are too big or too little. 

It makes me wonder about when he was an infant if his witching hour in the evenings where he would cry from 5pm to 8pm was because he had finally had it with whatever uncomfortable outfit I had him in that day. 

My other question is, how did kids like Jac cope with wooden clogs, a sock that was home made/spun and then darned a hundred times or wearing wool all the time because you live on a sheep farm, etc. etc.  Seems like my little suburban guy has it easy.....

The Waiting Game

It is just a matter of time.  Baby Girl Carey will be coming out to join us very soon and everyone wants to know when!  We have had some contractions that wouldn't go away (8 hours).  We have had a full moon and the lowest barometric pressure in history (yikes).  Coming off of my medication I was very active, with Halloween, a birthday celebration, pumpkin patches, trying to make my house less of a pit among other things.  None of these have helped a seemingly very anxious girl to come out. 

Last week, I was dilated to a 2 and my doctor had me crawling backwards off the table (envision something out of the exorcist) and sweating bullets when she "checked" me.  This week, she was a little kinder although far from gentle when she said I was a "good 3". 

All signs say that labor and delivery are imminent.  My legs could snap off at the hips like a Barbie doll they are so loose.  Baby has rotated to a nice position so she won't be delivered sunny side up.  My energy levels are high, indicating nesting is starting to happen (I did buy a fire extinguisher last week).  My milk is coming in.  It would appear that, yes, in the next couple of weeks I should deliver a baby.  Exactly. 

I am not a patient person.  I have a tendency to want to control the situation, just a tad.  So today is yard work day.  A surefire method to throw me into labor.  I am going to protect my belly button which is still sore since little girl's bum rests up against it all day long.  I am not going to lift anything heavy or do any twisting, I can already hear all you naysayers.  After the yard work, I may go on a long brisk walk. 

My doctor offered to schedule an induction next week, she was not pushy or anything and said it was totally up to me  (but come on, I am only 38 weeks!).  If anyone has the option of turning down Pitocin I recommend it.  It is an evil, evil drug that makes even the most anethetized birth excruciating and exhausting.  So "no", I will wait it out and baby will come when baby wants to come.  (Or at least I will try 101 natural ways to kickstart this labor before resorting to drugs.)

Halloween Fun

We had a great time this Halloween! 

Mia's pumpkin, prepared for carving!

Pumpkin carving is serious business.

Neighborhood parade

We didn't have a six in the candle drawer, shoot!

Awww - pumpkin kisses.

Aunt Daphne came and helped, thank goodness!

The haul, we may have candy until Christmas.