What I'm Looking Forward To

By Natalie

Here I am at 40 weeks, which was 5 days ago!

I gave Jack his eviction notice a few days ago, and he is not listening! I can already see he is going to be one stubborn little boy. He gets it from his dad, I of course am completely agreeable.

Here's what I'm looking forward to when I have an outside of the body baby:

10. Drinking adult beverages. I can't wait to have something alcoholic. I have some champagne chilling in the fridge once Jack comes on the scene.

9. Sleeping in whatever position my little heart desires. If I lay on my right side, this greatly upsets Jack and he starts kicking and punching. When I lay on my left side, my arm goes numb. Oh, sleeping any which way sounds like heaven even if it is only in 2 hour batches.

8. Not having insomnia. At this point I'm looking forward to sleep deprivation so at least I won't be up for stupid reasons browsing the internet. I feel like I've conquered the internet.

7. Running. I can't wait to start getting back into shape. I know I have a few more weeks until I'm cleared, but at least it's on the horizon.

6.  Significantly less doctor appointments. I rarely get sick (knock on wood). During this pregnancy I had to get way out of my comfort zone and make 1,000 appointments.  I hate calling strangers. I really don't like talking on the phone at all. I think I have a phobia.

5.  Using the bathroom less. I'm just blowing through the toilet paper around here. I need to go back to work, so I can use the school's toilet paper.

4. Using the bathroom only. I'm looking forward to not analyzing my urine and searching for mucous plugs or spotting.

3. I'm ready to stop talking about all the nasty things associated with pregnancy. I've heard enough about Preparation H, stool softener, Depends, and TUCs pads, thank you very much.

2. No more maternity clothes. I hate elastic waists. I want to wear my own clothes and not constantly pulling them up.

1. Meeting Jack. I can't wait to hold him and love him. Jack-we are beyond ready for you. Please make an appearance soon. I'm begging you.

Turn Baby Turn

By Natalie

On Tuesday, I went to the hospital and had a external cephalic version (ECV). It was successful! The above picture is Jack in the head down position. This picture tells me little except that it's a picture of his head, I can't tell where it's positioned. Maybe you are a better sonographer than me!

What is it?
Externally turning the baby into the head down position. The doctor or midwife finds the baby's bottom and head. The doctor starts pushing the bottom first and then moves the head. My doctor ended up using his fists to get the bottom out of my pelvis. Baby's heart beat, your blood pressure, and contractions are continuously monitored. The doctor takes frequent sonograms.

When should I have it done?
I think most versions are successful between 37 and 38 weeks.

How successful is it?
According to Fit Pregnancy magazine it's about 58% effective. The Webster technique had a better success rate. I visited a chiropractor 9 times for the Webster technique and he wouldn't turn. When I was 37 weeks, we decided to start finding a doctor to turn him. We had a consultation appointment on Monday at 4:00 and did the procedure on Tuesday at 7:30 AM.

How long does it take?
Some of the videos on you tube take anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Mine took about 30 minutes, and Micah estimates that it took 6-7 tries before he would turn.

Risks?
When we headed out for the procedure, our bags were packed and the car seat was installed. They tell you to plan for going into labor or having an emergency C-section. Neither of those happened to us luckily! Worst case scenario is emergency c-section because the placenta detaches. Other side effects are bruising.

How painful is it?
VERY. Some women elect to have an epidural during the procedure. Dr. Downey informed us of a study that says that the version can be more successful with an epidural, this could be in part that the doctor is willing to try more times and be a little rougher since the woman isn't in agony. Despite this information, I elected not to have an epidural. I was hooked up to an IV just in case of an emergency and was given a shot to relax the uterus. I do not like IVs! I concentrated on breathing deeply and not passing out. Micah held my hand or my foot. The nurse was very helpful in keeping me calm. I don't know how in the world I didn't end up with any bruising, since I bruise so easily. I was very sore the next few days, and was ready to block the belly from anyone touching me. I returned to work the next day. 

Thank you Dr. Downey for turning Jack!

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby

By Natalie

Last week I had an ultrasound and found out the baby is head up. This is bad news, but I'm trying to stay positive.  I'm planning on delivering at a birthing center. If the baby is breeched, then I will have to go to a hospital and deliver at a place I'm unfamiliar with. Even worse, I'll have to have a C-section.

Good thing, I have my entire spring break to dedicate to turning this baby. I've been going to the gym at least once a day to hang upside down from the workout bench. I went and did some handstands in the pool at the gym. And I've had Micah do the Rebozo Sifting. I've also been doing some inversions, which look like the dolphin pose, except you are on a couch or raised surface. I found all of these ideas at spinning babies.

In addition I'm going to go to a chiropractor three times this week. The chiropractor will perform the Webster technique. According to Fit Pregnancy the Webster technique is 82% effective. Read this article for some interesting facts about breeched babies and other methodologies. It is interesting how doctor's knowledge of delivering breeched babies has changed over the course of time.

I'm 35 weeks today, and I need him to turn by 36 weeks. After 36 weeks it becomes much more difficult, because there is less room. Thinking spinning thoughts for me!

32 Weeks

By the time this posts I'll be 34 weeks. Hey, I'm only 2 weeks late on posting this picture! The baby is as big as a squash at 32 weeks, and weighs around 3 lbs.

I think the third trimester tiredness is catching up to me. I'm trying to do too much!  I came down with a cold on Friday. The heartburn seems to not be as severe, but the insomnia is back!

My foot is not doing so well. I'm wearing compression stockings 24/7 and elevating it when I'm at home and during the night. It's not going down as much as it needs to by the morning. And then I start the routine all over again standing on my feet at work. I have lymphedema in my left foot, I knew that it would be exacerbated by pregnancy. My family doctor has put in a referral to a lymphedema physical therapist. I'm anxiously awaiting to hear back from them. Hopefully I can get an appointment over spring break.

Honey

By Natalie

Hello, my name is Natalie and I'm addicted to honey. I want it on EVERYTHING. I make a smoothie every week day, and I've started adding honey to that. Then I'll have a bowl of Chex cereal and drizzle honey over it. When I get home from work I want to make a parfait with plain yogurt, granola, raisins, and you guessed it, HONEY.

One night for dinner, we had Honey Glazed Salmon. It's a really complicated recipe, you drizzle honey on the salmon and then grill it. Done and done.

One night Micah made me a snack, which was honey on a tortilla. I caught him making himself one the other day.

Help me out, what else can I add honey to?

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

By Natalie

As I grow older, I find myself becoming more and more like my parents. It's like we are related or something.

When I was growing up my dad would over estimate A LOT. He would say that he's turning 50 when he's only 45. He loves to round up.  I found this pretty annoying, why wouldn't he just say how old he is?  I understand it's hard being old and sometimes your forget EXACTLY how old your are. For most of a year I thought I was 27. Good thing I had Jennie to remind me that I was only 26. And this year when someone asks me how old I am, I say, "I'm going to be 30 in December." Why can't I just relish being 29 for a few more months?  Ask dad how far away  something is and he'll overestimate by an hour. This is SO me.  Micah would ask me how far away Austin is, and the distance would get longer by an hour every time he asked.

My dad loves to dance. He'll start snapping his fingers and dancing around the kitchen at a drop of a hat. He's not gifted with dance, and I'm not either. But, we sure try. If I watch So You Think You Can Dance, I'm leaping and spinning all around my living room.

My rule following comes from my dad. I follow the rules, and so does Micah. This is one area we can agree. Although sometimes I get a streak of my mom in me, and want to cut some corners and break the rules.

Y'all remember that personality test, Meyers & Briggs? My dad loves Meyers & Briggs.  He'll say this is my "E" coming out, or I have a "J." I always thought we were both the same (ESTJ). We have a little extrovert where mom and Jordan have the "I." Anyone else in 2011 still live by Meyers & Briggs?

I'm like my mom in many ways. We have the same smile. We look so much alike except she has blond hair. She'll tell anyone that I look like my dad. What do you think?

 Sometimes when I'm talking, I think I sound just like my mom. Not that I'm saying what my mom says, but my pitch and tone. A little bit creepy.

At work, I have to draw silly pictures a lot. I'm such a visual learner, so I assume all my students are too! My co-workers like my drawings, and I think this is hilarious. Compared to my mom I'm terrible at drawing.

My entire family is pretty avid readers. My mom and I's ability to tune everyone (SPOUSES!) out is a pretty nice trick while reading. I remember growing up I would have to put my hand on her book and say, "MOM!" to get her attention. Micah has to do this all the time, except he doesn't say, "Mom" more like "HELLO ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!"

My mom is a special educator. I taught special education for 3 years, and then went back and got my masters. Now I'm a Speech Language Pathologist and work with students with special needs. Funny how things turn out, especially when my degree is in psychology.

I can't wait to see what my child will take from the both of us. Will the baby be a mixture or strictly like Micah? I hope my child gets my organizational skills, humor (I'M THE FUNNY ONE), and studiousness. From Micah I hope they take his smarts and attention to detail, but my ability to finish a task!

 This is me at 13.5 weeks. Baby is around the size of a peach. Don't mind my extra wrinkly shorts.

BIG NEWS

By Natalie

I have been waiting for almost 13 weeks to tell everyone...I'M PREGNANT! This is such a hard secret to keep!!

I had a doctor's appointment at 4:00 on Friday, October 7th. We heard the heartbeat and were so thankful.  Then we packed our bags and drove to Katy to tell his folks!

I've been feeling fine. I want to eat everything and am pretty tired. Micah says this is nothing new, I'm always tired and hungry.  I haven't been sick, and hopefully I won't since I've made it out of the first trimester.

We are so excited and I can't wait until April to meet the little guy/gal!