It's a BOY!

Baby Boy
Born August 29, 2006
6:44 A.M.
7 lbs. 14 oz.
21 1/8 inches
Perfect 10 APGAR scores
Praise the Lord!
Pictures and birth story to follow.

Contractions Have Started

I began having contractions last night around 10 PM. I kept having them all throughout the night, one every 45 minutes to an hour. I would say they are mild to moderate, but having never experienced labor before, I don't know how strong contractions really get. I haven't been diligent about timing them yet, since they are still so far apart, but I would estimate they last between twenty and forty seconds each. I feel them all around my abdomen, both front and back, and they don't go away if I change position, so I'm hoping that they are the real thing, and not just false labor.

Just Waiting

Note: slightly graphic pregnancy-related information to follow, so if you are squeamish, feel free to stop reading now.

I haven't noticed any more amniotic fluid, but I have started having a pinkish discharge, or "bloody show." This doesn't necessarily mean labor is imminent, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

One of my midwives came over to my house to check on Baby and me. Baby is head-down (yay!) and is reacting well (the heart rate is varying nicely instead of staying perfectly steady, which could indicate fetal distress).

My midwives suggest that I stay at home as much as possible to reduce the risk of infection. This is fine with me. When else in my life am I ever going to have a great excuse to just hang out at home and read, crochet, sleep, watch movies, etc.? My midwives said I could go for a walk. It's too hot outside right now (in the 90's), but maybe I will go when it cools off this evening.

Still no contractions. I am hoping and praying they will start soon.

I appreciate everyone's prayers. Thank you so much.

Getting Close (I Think)

Yesterday, I had a strong urge to get things in order. I bought a couple of nursing shirts and a shelf on which to stack our cloth diapers. I made sure the dishes were caught up and changed the sheets on our bed.

Around 1:30 this morning I got up to use the bathroom, and discovered fluid trickling down my legs. I tested it with a nitrazine strip my midwives gave me, and it turned blue-black, which means the liquid was amniotic fluid. I did some reading on the internet about water breaking, and I E-mailed my friend to let her know I won't be at Bible study this morning, and after that, I was too awake and alert to go back to sleep (although I did get back in bed and attempt for about half an hour to fall asleep). I made myself an omelette. Sometimes eating something helps me fall back asleep. But here I sit at 3 AM, and I'm excited, and not sleepy. I still haven't started "real" contractions, but I'm expecting them to start any time. I will call my midwives in the morning to check in and see if there is anything they recommend.

Ripe and Ready

When I went in for my appointment today, my head midwife said that I look "ripe and ready" for labor. Because my pelvic ligaments are stretching and softening, walking has become more like waddling. I'm hoping for some action soon!

No Baby Yet...

Just in case you were wondering, Baby still seems pretty content inside me. I haven't been having any strong contractions at all, just occasional very mild twinges in my uterus. Ah, well, one of these days.

I have an appointment later today with my midwives.

Any Time Now

Someone said to me the other day, "Every first-time mom hopes her baby will come two weeks before the due date." That statement has certainly proven true for me. As much as I enjoy the miracle of life inside me, I'm ready to have the miracle on the outside now. :-) Only six more days until the official due date, but I know Baby is not looking at a calendar.

As a baby shower gift, my parents and my grandma gave us a year of diaper service. Our first shipment of 70 pre-folded cloth diapers arrived today, along with 6 velcro-tab diaper covers. The diaper bag is all packed for the birth center now. As for
my bag, well, that's another story.

Jury Duty

I had jury duty today. After 7 1/2 hours of hanging out in the jury room (mostly I worked on crocheting this doily; PDF file), my name was finally called, along with several other people. The judge announced that we had been selected to serve on a two-week-long trial. She asked if anyone in the group had a reason he or she would not be able to serve for two weeks. A few people responded that they could not be away from their jobs that long, or that they were planning to take a trip. The judge interrogated each one of them--is there anyone else who can do your job? What would happen if you weren't there? Can your trip be rescheduled?, etc. When she came to me, I said, "I'm due to have a baby any day." She just smiled and said, "Okay, next." A man in front of me turned around and whispered, "That was a good one. I think I'll use that one next time." :-) Needless to say, I was excused.

Also, I found out that in my state, if you are summoned for jury duty, and you are a woman breastfeeding a child, you are automatically excused. I'm glad someone has gone before me to make things easier for breastfeeding moms.

It's Not Every Day

It's not every day that you're walking in the mall, nine months pregnant, and a guy at a display booth holds out a pair of those roller skate shoes with retractable wheels in the sole and asks if you're interested in trying them on. Uh, no thanks, but thanks for the laugh.

Busy Day

The ladies of my church blessed me with a baby shower on Saturday. Since we don’t know the gender of our baby, we received a lot of yellow and green and white things! Also an Ergo baby carrier, which I am very excited about.

Mondays always seem extra busy to me. I did lots of dishes, baked bread, tidied the bedroom and living room, emptied all the trash cans, mended a skirt so the elastic waist would not roll down, and made two 9”x13” pans of chicken-broccoli-rice casserole for our home community (Bible study/fellowship group) tonight. I also crocheted some on a little ripple afghan for Baby. We probably already have enough baby blankets, but I started this one specifically for the purpose of having something to do when I have jury duty in a few days.

Welcome Sign

Our front door looked a little bare, so I cross-stitched this little welcome sign for it. The heart pattern and lettering both come from a book called 2001 Cross Stitch Designs.

Getting Cramped in There Yet, Baby?

I found out today that Baby is in LOT (Left Occipital Transverse) position in my uterus. This means that Baby is head down, with his or her back against my left side and feet kicking toward my right side.

Pregnancy Brain

Yesterday I wanted to pick up some books that were being held for me at the library. I checked the library’s web site to see what time it opened. 10 AM, just as I thought. I pulled into the parking lot around 10:15. I tried to open the front doors, but they were locked. I looked at the hours painted on the door—Thursdays, open at 10 AM. I walked around to the back of the building where a man was unloading books from a truck.

“It seems like the front doors are locked,” I observed.

“You’re right,” he said.

“But I looked online, and the library’s web site said it opens at 10 today, and it says so on the door, too.”

“Hmm. Should open at noon today,” the man said.

I was confused. “But…isn’t today Thursday?”

The man smiled and told me it was Wednesday.

“Oh, that would explain it,” I said, and walked to my car, blushing.

To make matters worse, when I went back to the library later in the day to check out my books, the librarian informed me that I had a bunch of overdue books. I was shocked. I usually keep track of when my books are due. I knew they were due on the 8th, but somehow I didn’t realize the 8th of this month had already come and gone.

I’m not usually so spacey, really. I blame the hormones. :-)

I Love My Husband

A couple of nights ago, I was struggling to make a decision. I knew what I should do, but I really did not want to do it. I pouted and whined to Hubby in the hope that he would help me justify taking the easy way out, but he (being the good spiritual leader he is) wouldn’t do it, and he said I needed to talk to the Lord.

I laid on the couch and moped and tried to make excuses for my sin for I don’t know how long—probably about half an hour—before my heart began to soften and I was able to pray for help. I resolved to do the right thing.

When I walked into the bedroom, I witnessed one of the most beautiful sights of my life—my husband, on his knees beside the bed, praying fervently for me. Thank you, dear Father, for a husband who cares that much for me, and who lovingly leads me to You.

Another happy thing is that my test results for Group B Strep were negative. Yay! One less thing to think about during labor and delivery.

Trivet

I just finished crocheting this trivet. I used Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn, and I alternated rows of puff stitches and single crochet stitches (so all the puff stitches would be on the same side of the trivet), and then added a loopy chain edging. It's simple, but it's nice and thick, and it has a fun texture.

Birth Position

For the past week or so, I have been wondering if Baby might be in a sideways position instead of head-down (obviously, sideways is not a good position for birth). I was very relieved when my midwife assured me at my appointment today that Baby is definitely head-down. She also talked about creating a "baby hammock" with my uterus, by leaning slightly forward when I sit or being on my hands and knees some every day. This apparently helps Baby rotate into the best position for birth.

A good friend of mine whom I have known all my life (we were bridesmaids in each other's weddings, too) came over at 1:30 today and we chatted until 5! Thank you, Lord, for friends. :-)

Oatmeal Waffles

This is my mother-in-law's recipe for Oatmeal Waffles. They are so yummy, and healthy, too, especially if you top them with peanut butter and applesauce or fresh fruit, rather than syrup. In our waffle iron, this recipe makes about 8 waffles. If you have extra batter, you can keep it in the fridge for a few days, just stir it before using. If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can just put 1 1/2 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup and fill with milk to the 1 1/2 c. mark; stir and let sour for 5-10 minutes before using.

Oatmeal Waffles

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 c. quick-cooking oats
-1/2 c. whole-wheat flour
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1 teaspoon sugar
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 1/2 c. buttermilk
-2 eggs
-2 tablespoons melted butter

Procedure:

Combine oats, flour, baking soda, sugar, and salt. In separate bowl, stir together buttermilk, eggs, and butter. Mix wet and dry ingredients together. Cook in waffle iron.