Preparing for Battle

So here are just a few things that are running through my mind lately:

1. Is it really almost September?

2. Thank the Lawd for some rain up here in OKC.

3. Our Princess is really growing up when she you ask her to do something and she says to us, "That is ridiculous." Oh boy.

4. I am so excited to meet Cam in a month, BUT I am having so much anxiety about the delivering process. I lost so much blood after I had LF that I am really terrified it is going to happen again. And I want to be able to hold my little Cub right after I have him, unlike having to wait several hours before I could hold my Princess.

So, this is really the biggest thing on my mind, and Andy telling me I need to discuss all this with the Doc at my next visit. He tries to be reassuring, but I know he is nervous about everything too. I feel stronger with this pregnancy than I did with LF. I have really tried to exercise every other day if not every day. But at the same time, I am not sure if  that really makes a difference in what my uterus will or will not do after delivery. When I first went in to see Doc for this visit, he said "Now, you are going to behave this time, right?" Ha! He totally kept his cool during everything after LF, but I know it took him off guard completely. And like he told us, "You just really never know when something like that is going to happen or not." I was induced with LF, and I am hoping that Cam in just going to come out all by himself. I do not plan on having an epidural or any medications (I did not with LF), but this go round I really want to steer clear of the Pitocin. I still wonder if that is actually what caused my uterus to just wimp out after all those contractions. I know that is pretty necessary with women that are induced and have epidurals from what I have read, but my contractions were off the charts.  As soon as he broke my water, things were moving pretty fast (he broke my water at 7:30 a.m. and I pushed her out at 11:05 a.m.) I don't think the Pitocin would have made a difference in the amount of time I pushed LF out. I think they ended up pumping me with more Pitocin in order to get my uterus to contract after too. I just know it was terrible, and I think I had an out of body experience. As soon as I pushed her out (which was an awesome feeling - like "I DID IT!!!") I remember feeling like I could breathe again, then I saw the reflection of red in my doctor's glasses and was not quite sure if that was normal or not. And then I just kind of floated...as soon as they got some blood back in me though I was like a new person. I remember my mom said my color was coming back and she knew I was on my way. I also know it gave Doc a scare because when he came to check on me he said, "Oh good! I am so glad to see your smile again. You have such a pretty smile and you gave us a little scare for a minute there."   Lots to discuss with the Doc this next visit...

I am also doing some research on Early Expression, if anyone has any thoughts on that. I produce a pretty good supply of milk and just the same with LF, I have already started leaking colostrum. I contacted my lactation consultant to get her thoughts on if I could pump that or do something with it. You can actually hand express colostrum before delivery and freeze it! My main concern for doing this is because if I hemorrhage again, then I would prefer my Cub to have the colostrum with all those good antibodies, rather than glucose water or formula. And maybe that will help keep him at bay until I can breastfeed him.  I don't really remember all the time frame but I don't think I even held LF until 5 or 6 hours after she was born. It took about two units of blood back in me for me to regain some strength. Nipple stimulation can cause uterine contractions too, so if that helps move the process along without Pitocin, then I am all for it. Just another reason that I feel so strongly about breastfeeding.

I do know that I am in good hands with my doctor and that whatever happens, it will all work out in the end. I am such a planner and that is one of the hardest things about being pregnant! You think you have this plan and everything will go a certain way, but no, that does not always happen. I think I actually only know a few people where everything has just gone completely the way that they wanted!

Childbirth in itself is one thing to go through, and I think every woman that has given birth, (whether vaginally or C-section), can probably say that it is one of the toughest experiences of their life (well, except Gisele Bunchden, but she is a freak of nature). Well, enough of the worry and concerns today...it feels good to kind of get some that off of my chest. I will continue to prepare for battle because really, that is what happens before you have a baby! It may terrify others but thinking about the pain helps me prepare! I swear labor is 75% mental and the rest is physical. When I was about 9 cm and getting close to the pushing point, I looked at Andy and said, "I don't know if I can do this anymore." He told me exactly what I needed to hear and that was "You are almost there - you told me you would say that and that means that it is all almost over! You can do this!" BEST. COACH. EVER.  So I will end with this quote today because it makes me happy:

“Why do people say "grow some balls"? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding.”

― Betty White

 

True dat, Betty, true dat.

6 Weeks LEFT!!

I can't believe that I am already 34 weeks! It feels like such an accomplishment for some reason. I remember feeling that way with Princess, too, around 32 weeks. With all of my education and experience with kiddos, I know if something were to happen, and I went in to labor, the chances of the baby being ok are much higher. It kind of feels like a big sigh of relief!

We have been so busy that I have had a hard time keeping up with my blog. I'll admit that getting an iPhone has not helped. I feel like I never need my notebook again! So here is a quick update:

 I finally have my "workout Andy" back. He kind of went through a slump when he was by himself in ND. It was really hard to get motivated to stay in shape up there, and I understood that once we moved up there too. That cold makes it hard to stay motivated! Once we got there, it was better for him because we joined the Rec center, and we would take our little family walks. But, for those months when we were apart, he went through a pretty rough patch. I think it went down like this: work, eat, drink and then repeat that cycle pretty consistently throughout the week. You can ask anyone that has lived up there though, that is not from there, and they will tell you how hard it is to be that far away from home.

Anyway, so he has started back on watching his diet and working out and I am so glad! It helps me when it is a family effort, and I love working out with him. We used to all the time before we had LF. He is so knowledgeable about strength training exercises.  I got him started on an app call My Fitness Pal which helps us watch our calorie intake. I was 2 points off on my glucose test so my doctor told me to try to stick to a 2000 calorie diet. Whatever. I tried to explain to the nurse that the milkshake, birthday cake, candy at the movies, and the Lucky Charms I had for breakfast, probably did not give me an accurate reading. But I always listen to my doctor's advice and have tried to lay off the sweets, to an extent. I have really been craved ice cream throughout the summer and my guess is just because it has been so damn hot! The My Fitness Pal app has helped me so much with my portions and keeping up with what I eat, and I am really looking forward to keeping up with it after I have Cam. I had no idea that one cup of Mac and Cheese was like 400 calories! Wow! I am feeling pretty good and getting in my daily walks and light weights, but I can tell it is getting to that uncomfortable stage. At night, my hips hurt and you know how that pain goes down your leg when it hits your Sciatic nerve? Yea, that is happening. I have a lot of trouble getting more than 3-4 hours of consistent sleep. And wowzer, who forgot to tell about how much stronger Braxton-Hicks are in the second pregnancy! I know everything has already been all stretched out once but really!




We also had a two week trip to see the Marlette's, the Gage-Lancaster's, and the Bentley's, plus a week in Shreveport seeing friends and family there. That was a long time to be gone, but we all survived, and we also celebrated Andy's 35th birthday during all that. It was fun, but by the final day at my grandparents house outside of Mena, Princess went in to a total meltdown in the bathroom, Andy was borderline meltdown, and my lasting patience with both of them had pretty much fizzled out at the point. I walked out of the bathroom with LF and was like "Bye everybody! We are leaving now!" Thank goodness we had finished our lunch, but I knew that we had a long drive back that day and I was ready to get on the road. LF slept about 3 out of the 4 or so hours back too if that tells you anything! I feel so blessed to have all of these wonderful family members, and it was nice to just be encompassed by love the entire time.

The last three pictures are actually from when we visited with the Marlette's in Tulsa for Sarah's graduation. I didn't get any when we were at the actual reunion with everyone...except the one where LF is in her panties at the park. DaDa forgot to bring her a new pair of shorts after she had a little peepee accident!

So here are some little pics of Cam, and I am just so ready to meet my little man! That sweet little foot is constantly in my ribs and I can't wait to kiss it!

We also celebrated our 6 year anniversary...my, my how time goes by. I still look at Andy and just feel overwhelmed with a love that grows every day. He's pretty easy on the eyes too! So we have celebrated over the past 6 years in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, North Dakota, and now, here we are in Oklahoma. I was actually able to get a sitter to keep LF for two nights so we were able to have a REAL date night on our actual anniversary. We went to a little restaurant in Enid since he is working there this week, and it was pretty good! I also convinced him earlier that day to let a professional cut those eagle talons on those toes, and I think he kind of liked it. We also got to work out together that morning at the hotel so that was fun too. That is a pic of the baby bump before we went to work out. I feel so terrible with Cam because I have hardly taken any belly shots! I was all about it with LF, but it is so true with the second that you just don't have nearly as much time or energy! It was very relaxing day though - exactly what we needed!