tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22459365572406872962024-03-13T15:05:11.355-07:00Baby Stepsbecause I can't not share...Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-37180719135146126302012-05-27T21:46:00.002-07:002012-05-27T21:46:36.546-07:00Wow......time flies! Our little girl is growing so fast! And I have just had no time to blog - any time that I'm not nursing or holding or helping her sleep I'm cleaning, cooking, or playing with Robby or hanging out with Rob... also now that it's not about infertility or IVF I'm not sure what to post on our family blog or on this blog... <br />
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Little Sarah is a way better night sleeper than Robby was! She goes to bed around 8:30 or 9, then I do a "dream feed" at around 11 before I go to sleep, then she wakes up around 5:30 and I nurse her, and then she sleeps til like 8:30... except the last few days since I've moved her to her crib in her room - she wakes up around 5 still but then has a hard time staying asleep until the 8 am eat time.... I don't know if she's just used to my dark closet or what. I know some people use blackout curtains so I've thought about that...<br />
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Day sleep is a different story... She only sleeps for 30 or 45 minutes before she wakes up - I can usually get her back to sleep but it generally takes a lot of work. For example, she just slept for 45 minutes and then I went in to try to get her back to sleep and I spent the last hour standing over her crib shushing her or putting her binky back in when it would fall out as she turned her head (and I've tried lots of different binkies!) and she'd cry... anyways! I like to follow the baby whisperer's routine of Eat, Awake, Sleep... so she nurses, I try to keep her awake as long as I can which used to be only an hour and now she can do almost an hour and a half - then I try to get her to sleep til the next Eat and we do this every 3-4 hours. Sometimes it seems by the time the 3 hour mark rolls around she's finally in a deep sleep and will sleep til 4 hours!<br />
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Baby whisperer recommends something called Sleep to wake where if they are waking up after 45 minutes instead you wake them up just a little bit at 30 minutes to break that cycle... I haven't had much luck with it yet but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right!<br />
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And binkies... oh dear... Robby didn't take one so I didn't go through this with him... the replugging during naps is ridiculous... :/ They do seem to help her fall asleep quickly though which is good... I think I'd rather she just sucked her thumb - even though I'm sure I'd regret that later... she is definitely sucking on her hands more and more so maybe??<br />
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Anyone have any experience with the 45 minute nap deal? I know I shouldn't even complain since she sleeps great at night and maybe she'll just outgrow it but when you're in the moment and you spend all day just trying to get her to sleep... just thought I'd put it out there!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-29408040475696738982012-05-04T20:35:00.002-07:002012-05-04T20:36:35.162-07:00Birth Story...Hello anyone who is following this blog!!! My sweet little baby girl is 8 weeks old now! Can't believe I've been such a bad blogger. :(<br />
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There are things I want to add to my birth story but for now you can read my version on our <a href="http://robandestherparsons.com/sarahs-birth-story/">personal blog</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz04PpkPUGlawMcYA_IG_JxdlHj1PYLT9P8tbPwTi6atneIqjVJZFwtI9-RHH09v0a6FrVi2zY2OyDw9r5S7u0eNLZZz_Hj98_JBNGqgDoKy9r6Q5lZC3EPpNQV8brlBWK9p8fD11NN_X6/s1600/fam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz04PpkPUGlawMcYA_IG_JxdlHj1PYLT9P8tbPwTi6atneIqjVJZFwtI9-RHH09v0a6FrVi2zY2OyDw9r5S7u0eNLZZz_Hj98_JBNGqgDoKy9r6Q5lZC3EPpNQV8brlBWK9p8fD11NN_X6/s640/fam.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-14765882868754401732012-02-25T10:48:00.000-08:002012-02-25T10:48:18.521-08:0037 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLUdD0gwLX8VNvTqggFdnOZY-i1naUnmc8jDpJKn2WImznpMQv9EIuUlChse-rG4-IkCjLqel_sBrJvVdnYp_p6OcMcRxtWpja5jKi7Ys-xMt-WMl2R_MaapjJhrkDyPau3CsDmuiowJ4/s1600/37+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLUdD0gwLX8VNvTqggFdnOZY-i1naUnmc8jDpJKn2WImznpMQv9EIuUlChse-rG4-IkCjLqel_sBrJvVdnYp_p6OcMcRxtWpja5jKi7Ys-xMt-WMl2R_MaapjJhrkDyPau3CsDmuiowJ4/s320/37+weeks.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>I'm 37 weeks! Wow! Time is just flying by! Really, where has this month of February gone?? It feels like my birthday (Jan 31) was just the other day!! On my countdown for week 37 was to get my hair done by my awesome cousin! :) So here's my "after" hair pic and my big tummy!<br />
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So last Wednesday we had our home visit with Sherri! She came with her helpers, Roxanna who is also a midwife, and Hannah who is an apprentice. So one of the main goals is to make sure they know how to get to my house so we can check that off!! :) We talked about where to put the birth tub (in the living room) and how we'd fill it up (she brings a big garden hose and you get a special attachment for your sink to connect it to that). It was just exciting to have them in our home and feel like this is really gonna happen!<br />
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Sherri did my prenatal there at the house and my blood pressure was a little high and my urine analysis showed I was spilling some protein so she said I really needed to watch my nutrition and eat lots and lots of protein! And she said NO SUGAR. Yikes. Can't say I'm doing perfect there but at least her saying NO sugar means I'm sure eating a lot LESS than I probably normally would! That's good, right?<br />
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So during the past week I've tired to get 100 grams of protein a day - this may or may not have been accomplished by eating a double quarter pounder or some days one or two McDoubles... may or may not... I've also eaten a lot of eggs, even steak and eggs for breakfast, fish and chicken, cheese sticks, almonds... just lots and lots of protein. Lindsay gave me some protein bars to try that were yummy! Lots of greek yogurt too! Love that stuff!<br />
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I've also been trying to drink tons and tons of water.... with all this water drinking and baby's head dropping lower and lower I am going to the bathroom kind of all the time. Super fun!<br />
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Ok so something that is kind of hard is the fact that I had Robby at 38 weeks last time I am so much more.... on edge? I don't know if that's the right word... it's just that when Robby came early I was not expecting it AT ALL and I just went into labor and it was the first time I'd ever had contractions, they just came, kept coming closer and closer so I figured it was time and we went to the hospital and had the baby. Great. Now, I keep thinking she COULD come early and I'm having Braxton Hicks ALL THE TIME and now I'm feeling the period like crampy feelings too which is what my contractions with Robby felt like and so it keeps making me stop and wonder.... like this morning laying in bed they kept coming but I laid there wondering and paying attention to them for a while... then I figured I'd get up and just go make breakfast and I guess they went away or now I'm not paying attention to them at least... But it's just hard knowing it COULD happen and have so many little feelings/twinges - I'm just going to try to ignore them until I can't any longer but at the same time I could have ignored my contractions with Robby for a lot longer but then it would have gone too fast... does that make sense? I am concerned that it could go too quick so I don't want to ignore them too long! I want my midwife and my team to be here when she comes!<br />
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So there has to be some balance! I'm just trying to be as prepared as I can be, try not to expect it, but just go with the flow. And those who know me know how well I am at going with the flow! ;) I think my hypnobabies scripts help with that though. I feel like I'm still feeling really positive about everything... I got all my birth supply stuff gathered together in the laundry room! See:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL9-VJfoXjzXPMG_9JbPOt2M2UZpVwDj7AifXWk9Ogz9m6OTmij5dZLTjgcYv-wYWwwHzSiVeesw169O3dxcEL7l8jhyy4hLr6ExONz-qgsyyaUCBWboJUYT-MrB2dwYkgUTnAf9CJpcH/s1600/supplies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL9-VJfoXjzXPMG_9JbPOt2M2UZpVwDj7AifXWk9Ogz9m6OTmij5dZLTjgcYv-wYWwwHzSiVeesw169O3dxcEL7l8jhyy4hLr6ExONz-qgsyyaUCBWboJUYT-MrB2dwYkgUTnAf9CJpcH/s320/supplies.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Some of the stuff is just where it goes in the house but here's a good chunk of it... ready and waiting!</div><br />
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At my appointment with Sherri this week everything was looking good - protein levels were good, blood pressure good, baby's heart rate was good. She said I was measuring a little smaller than I usually am (I'm normally measuring ahead like 2 weeks - this time I was 36 cm when I was 37 weeks) but that probably means the baby's dropped some! We talked about how I was feeling pretty good and how I wondered if I'd need to get miserable before the baby comes out - she said maybe not miserable but that I'll probably start noticing more pressure down there. Maybe she said the magic words because after that visit, mostly yesterday and this morning, I am certainly noticing more pressure and like I said a lot more crampy feelings. So that's good! <br />
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I just have this church dinner groups thing I'm in charge of tomorrow so I keep saying any time after that she can come! Wouldn't that be fun if she came tonight just to throw that off? I wouldn't really complain...Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-2040279483970423072012-02-12T22:37:00.000-08:002012-02-12T22:37:19.503-08:0035 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A8vUfPUG5LP4_CdgTofk0SXecdpamOrV0xrhEG0wO71EPy5_nwj93s03IpZe0-aGkuM9TsQAtvMEuEMlEFINxlZg3_rzwAmSbTOUKMELPYwQqC15cbr1hqEOqjkawwrHDVIhie7qjMNW/s1600/35weeks4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A8vUfPUG5LP4_CdgTofk0SXecdpamOrV0xrhEG0wO71EPy5_nwj93s03IpZe0-aGkuM9TsQAtvMEuEMlEFINxlZg3_rzwAmSbTOUKMELPYwQqC15cbr1hqEOqjkawwrHDVIhie7qjMNW/s320/35weeks4.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">35 weeks!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As my hypnobabies affirmations cd says, "I love my pregnant body and I accept it every day... more and more every day." :) I just want to remember it! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Ok so I'm 5 weeks away from my due date - Robby came at 38 weeks so I've got 3 weeks till I feel like I need to be READY but then am still trying hard to not expect her to come early and be ok with going late if I need to. I've got my little "countdown" (things planned for each week through 42) and am trying to keep the days busy along the way as well!<br />
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Like this week I have: acupuncture tomorrow and then planning on going swimming, Tuesday clean my house and then a homeschool Valentine's Day party; Wednesday go up to SLC to see my sister and then Sherri comes in the evening for our HOME VISIT!; Thursday probably go to the gym in the morning and then Robby has gymnastics; Friday.... I don't know yet. But we are just trying to stay busy! :)<br />
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It's been exciting getting ready for Sherri to come do our home visit. We'll talk about where to put the birth tub and any questions we have... I feel like I should have more questions but I don't really have many! I don't know if it's because I've already done a lot of preparing or if I'm missing something!<br />
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The other night I woke up about two hours after having gone to bed and was awake for a few hours with contractions - not just like the braxton hicks I'm having all the time every day (like several just in writing this post) but I could feel them in my lower back... I just laid there trying to go back to sleep... got up and had a cheese stick... some water... took forever but I finally fell back asleep. I was sure I wasn't really in labor because I'm only 35 weeks but my illogical middle of the night self was pretty confused...<br />
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Swollen! My feet are so swollen! Well, all of my church shoes are pretty much too small to start off with but they've always worked fine - today I could barely squeeze into one pair, the widest ones I have! And the "chubby" ring I had been wearing as a wedding ring isn't really fitting either... my blood pressure and urine and everything has been normal at my appointments and it's not the kind of swelling where if you push your finger in it it leaves a dent so it's nothing to worry about it's just not very helpful.<br />
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Tomorrow I have acupuncture and Dr. Dummar will also do an adjustment and I'm so looking forward to that... my back is kind of killing me.<br />
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I feel like there has been more stuff I wanted to share but I can't think of it now! I'll try to take more pictures and blog more often!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-36143531876047841922012-02-12T22:14:00.000-08:002012-02-12T22:14:43.351-08:00Postpartum thoughts...Wow it's been forever since I posted! I have a lot of different things I want to post about and this is one I started earlier... <br />
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I've been thinking a lot what's going to happen AFTER I have this baby... It will be a big adjustment going from one kid who can get himself out of bed, dressed, and get his own breakfast if he wants to being woken up all hours of the night to a baby who can't do a thing for herself! We have been spoiled - Saturdays Robby gets to watch cartoons while we sleep in, and the last few days he's woken up late and then just played in his room and let me sleep in til 9! Our lives are about to seriously change!<br />
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My recovery after I had Robby was pretty difficult... I had the most wonderful birth, had the sweetest new little baby, but I was a crazy person! Crying all the time... it didn't help that I had broken my tail bone in labor so I was in a lot of pain, couldn't get up and down easily, and just in general didn't know what I was doing! Just so emotional!!!!! It should have been the happiest time in my life and instead I was a wreck. <br />
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So! When we were at my midwife's forum the other day (she does monthly little classes with all of her clients together) and one of her helpers got up and started talking about placenta encapsulation. I'm just going to start by saying I've heard of people saving their placentas and cooking them up and the thought of it always seemed pretty crazy to me! I've even heard before of people putting it in capsules before but for some reason when Rachel was talking about it it was kind of like a little light went off and I thought, "I am doing that." I looked over at Rob who was probably thinking, "um, ew..." and I informed him we were doing this. :)<br />
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Ok, let me explain - when you are pregnant, especially at the end, you have three times the amount of normal hormones (I don't remember exactly which ones or the more techinical explanation) and then after you give birth those levels deplete below normal which is what causes those crazy baby blues and all that emotional-ness. So, when you encapsulate your placenta (or pay someone else to do it which is what we will be doing) you are able to regulate those hormones and give your body back what it was missing. Also do you know we are the only mammals who do not eat their placenta? I'm not ready to cook mine up but if it can be dehydrated and put into little capsules that look just like the herbs I've been taking this whole time then sure!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsCK8zJ-wUQCL0-e7pDu8hMN1H-AL_vhRQDo6UqYPdatIUEIfxGtkknTlxwaX7AS-qQve5QNd0cJ_z56yYCv7E-CZLBTDjLfgtTxqMVgoIeiPPt7dCsGGx0RfciWoeJDkepfDHFr_spbg/s1600/placental-encapsulation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsCK8zJ-wUQCL0-e7pDu8hMN1H-AL_vhRQDo6UqYPdatIUEIfxGtkknTlxwaX7AS-qQve5QNd0cJ_z56yYCv7E-CZLBTDjLfgtTxqMVgoIeiPPt7dCsGGx0RfciWoeJDkepfDHFr_spbg/s1600/placental-encapsulation.jpg" /></a></div>I'm not doing the process justice - you need to go <a href="http://placentabenefits.info/articles.asp">here</a> and read more about it. A summary of the benefits:<br />
-balance your hormones<br />
-enhance milk supply<br />
-increase your energy<br />
-can help you recover more quickly from birth<br />
-shortens postpartum bleeding<br />
-FYI - Rachel Talley will do it for $150 <br />
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All I'm saying is, if there are some natural "happy" pills that can be produced from something my body makes that can help me not be a crazy person after I have a baby then SIGN ME UP. Maybe I'm more open to this after going through this gamete of Chinese herbs, acupuncture, special herbal tea from my midwife... but for whatever reason this just is something that sounds like it could really help me. Some of Sherri's other clients have talked about the amazing difference it's made in their recovery and I am 100% sold. <br />
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If you're in Utah and are interested you can email Rachel Talley about it at rachel@livingmom.net or call 801-623-2559.Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-2314200062728306532012-01-11T20:16:00.000-08:002012-01-11T20:16:39.004-08:0030 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Wa2vaHoaa7fABaprcoBOr-xsQvnmQtBKIoRojq4AbhwLDeKWDhlGQjKIO2z476jlwsntCnSitik-2C0k-sDMI2e3aobAbhmjIJgtxyY-FtLcHNahnXZUB-4odhT-_gKUPdrv9RE2dT_y/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Wa2vaHoaa7fABaprcoBOr-xsQvnmQtBKIoRojq4AbhwLDeKWDhlGQjKIO2z476jlwsntCnSitik-2C0k-sDMI2e3aobAbhmjIJgtxyY-FtLcHNahnXZUB-4odhT-_gKUPdrv9RE2dT_y/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdk9gc0J96pGFvRVVfvhgm5HKtGID1T37AW5RoF9Lbq9mVfXXx4VyKeFs-xb521HG3hLWT7QP9eVPyCy0Ph7LjUWNql1Bis1YpR4ZmZpY_obBFzDUoq0dnShnre-6UAra0OMLajp7Kaqb/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdk9gc0J96pGFvRVVfvhgm5HKtGID1T37AW5RoF9Lbq9mVfXXx4VyKeFs-xb521HG3hLWT7QP9eVPyCy0Ph7LjUWNql1Bis1YpR4ZmZpY_obBFzDUoq0dnShnre-6UAra0OMLajp7Kaqb/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF6kI-f9DJAte4E_YoqMhha2RoJfGUbJmRQQQh4J6ekOglyvCQaBBYf39zM-77PCESasyBQH4N5o7MCjVL-6RZuZVdF1nkcgTTqj8zVRAmXyMGWMLhhD7yYI8_6NAHG45F88G0TmxapY3/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF6kI-f9DJAte4E_YoqMhha2RoJfGUbJmRQQQh4J6ekOglyvCQaBBYf39zM-77PCESasyBQH4N5o7MCjVL-6RZuZVdF1nkcgTTqj8zVRAmXyMGWMLhhD7yYI8_6NAHG45F88G0TmxapY3/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>Ok some more not great belly pics but that's all I've got! :) I can't believe I'm this far along! <br />
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So overall I'm doing great and feeling good! I'm grateful for the chance to have worked so hard for this - it sure makes the annoying stuff easier. :)<br />
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That weird muscle, possibly hernia thing, I have had felt better before my appointment last week so I didn't make a big deal out of it to Sherri but lately it is KILLING me. It's worse when I'm doing lots of lifting and cleaning or something so I'm trying to be careful but it's hard to slow down when things just have to get done! I have tried some BFNC on it but it didn't seem to do anything... I'm gonna see if she has any other ideas when I go in next week.<br />
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Last appointment baby girl was sideways, transverse. This time she seems head down and her bum was to the side. She still has lots of time to wiggle into a good solid head down bum in the middle position. Sherri suggested doing some crawling around on my hands and knees to jostle her around so I've been doing that as well as trying to spend time bouncing around on my birth ball (exercise ball) instead of laying back in bed. <br />
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Braxton hicks are here... a lot... my tummy just feels like a bag of rocks sometimes for like an hour straight... such a weird feeling!! These don't feel anything like the actual labor cramps I had with Robby but just like this crazy rock hard tummy feeling.<br />
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We have the crib and dresser all set up in our 3rd bedroom - it has been our office so we are trying to combine the two functions which will be interesting! It's been so fun to go through the girl clothes hand me downs from my sister in law and sister! These clothes are all so adorable! I can't believe I'm gonna have a baby girl to put in them!!!! Even Robby has been so excited looking at the little hats he used to wear or baby shoes... "can we do more baby stuff??" he asked me. <br />
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My next appointment is next Tuesday! I'll be 32 weeks! So crazy it's going so fast!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-60226073442065541202011-12-19T22:10:00.000-08:002011-12-19T22:10:08.907-08:0028 week appointmentHad a great visit with my wonderful midwife Sherri today!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshUPVoHJgqp_yNH5cPRzMGVqY5tQDllVQk5DQwPuOgrm-HWeyj0bgf8VrT2CPT0POigch_oqUrojYaq6AXTe6qxwfIng54XJsrSO0Zsq57XotFxTZ49ZO6kE-tIhVQWs_avZJxMQGSGaA/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshUPVoHJgqp_yNH5cPRzMGVqY5tQDllVQk5DQwPuOgrm-HWeyj0bgf8VrT2CPT0POigch_oqUrojYaq6AXTe6qxwfIng54XJsrSO0Zsq57XotFxTZ49ZO6kE-tIhVQWs_avZJxMQGSGaA/s320/IMG_2491.JPG" width="228" /></a>So I'm almost 28 weeks along and again I'm measuring +3, so a little bigger. I'm not worried about having a big baby though since I was a 10 lb baby. :) Baby was lying transverse (sideways) but there's plenty of time to for her to get her head pointed down. It explains the kicks/movements I feel on both sides of my stomach all the time!<br />
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I have this weird sore spot on my left side and higher than my belly button... she said it could be sore from baby kicking/being in one spot but I don't feel like she's sitting in this spot all the time. Another option is it could be a hernia - the muscle and tissue stretching in that spot... I don't really know much about them but sounds like if that's it there's nothing I can do and we'll just see if it goes away after baby is born. Anyone have any experience with this? It just really hurts... I carried Robby inside today from the car (which I NEVER do anymore) and it made it so much worse. Later tonight I tried to lift him up to show him something and I almost fell over it hurt so bad! So, not very fun but it doesn't hurt that bad all the time. Maybe just no heavy lifting??<br />
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All my other vitals and stuff were good - perfect blood pressure, no protein in the urine, even perfect pH levels she said! Woo hoo! <br />
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I have officially gained 30 lbs so far. Seeing numbers on the scale I've never seen. Ahh... it's probably not going to get much better with Christmas coming up! We have delicious goodies dropped off at our door almost every day! Nice neighbors, huh? :) I need to keep up with stretching and walking - got a bad cold last week and that's made me slack off really bad but I want my body to be as ready as possible for labor! <br />
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My appointments will now be every 2 weeks! Makes it feel like it's getting closer!! :) So fun!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-50421946867980047532011-12-16T21:40:00.000-08:002011-12-16T21:40:26.323-08:0027 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Me and Robby's attempt at some belly pics...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr2-Ul4ejM_7DQmIzmHZ1DVzxd1IX5oCzryRE8XWxrDOx_ixZYTqR53bUuzb7XJum2c3eNXs5h2w_7nkn8DrVjcj5Br752AzWGnLUeHg-cj4BNQmLM2G7bIAZy5r-VawTMABI1Z5eHSrI/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr2-Ul4ejM_7DQmIzmHZ1DVzxd1IX5oCzryRE8XWxrDOx_ixZYTqR53bUuzb7XJum2c3eNXs5h2w_7nkn8DrVjcj5Br752AzWGnLUeHg-cj4BNQmLM2G7bIAZy5r-VawTMABI1Z5eHSrI/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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Not great but it's something. :)<br />
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This little baby has just gotten huge it feels like! Before kicks and punches were normal but now I'm feeling body rolls and big hard spots, a bum maybe? I don't know how people can tell what body parts are what but it just feels so crazy to feel huge kicks in two places at once - maybe she's jumping?? It's so fun. I love to just sit with my hands on my tummy... feels like she never stops moving!!!<br />
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It's hard to imagine my tummy getting bigger - 3 months worth bigger, you know? I know I don't look huge it's just this big tight belly that it's so crazy it can stretch and stretch to fit my growing baby...<br />
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I'm trying to keep up with my long everyday to do list of things that would make for the perfect pregnancy but it's so hard! I'm trying to eat as healthy as I can but when there are Christmas treats being dropped off at my door each day it's so hard to resist!! Also, there are days like today that NECESSITATE a diet coke to get through... (started with Robby accidentally slamming my finger in his door.... didn't get better...) It's hard to get enough rest, drink enough water, take all my herbs, drink my midwife's tea, do my kegels, pelvic rocks, yoga, hypnobabies practice, etc.... but I'm trying.<br />
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I really do feel pretty dang good though. It's nice having the holidays to make the time fly by. After Christmas I basically just have 2 months until I want to be ready - just be ready for her to come any time in March! I have bought a couple of things but I need to go through my clothes I have for Robby and figure out what I can use for her and am lucky to have a sister in law who said she'd pass down her little girls' clothes so I'm also waiting to see those too! But boy is it hard to not shop when girls clothes are so dang cute!!!! :)Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-61684406027308019692011-11-18T13:50:00.000-08:002011-11-18T13:50:32.240-08:00The good and the not so good...I've had lots of things I've wanted to blog about but never seem to make the time or when I try to start I don't feel like writing all these words that are in my head! But it's a good way to unload and I want to share! Also, really sorry there's not many pictures - I don't know what pictures I'd add to these topics... maybe I'll try to get creative and add something! (so if there are random pics that's why)<br />
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First, just in general everything is so great! I feel good, baby seems to be doing great... she is like a little kangaroo jumping around all the time! There is nothing more amazing then feeling your baby kick inside of you. This morning when Robby climbed in bed to snuggle and wake up he put his hands on my tummy and felt a couple of good strong kicks! "I feeled it!" he said. It's neat for him to be able to feel his little sister in there! Last night I went to a movie (Breaking Dawn - woo hoo! it was so fun!!) and baby was more active than ever! It felt like she was doing a can-can line for like 45 minutes!! So crazy!<br />
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I'm 23 weeks now and have another midwife apt on Monday. I love my midwife and feel so lucky that I found her! I said this on facebook but at my last appointment after I asked questions and we chatted for about 45 minutes she said, "ok, I'm just going to have someone come in to do some body work and massage on you!" So for 15 minutes she had her massage therapist daughter rub my feet and my back... I was speechless and soooo happy. :) I just feel like the level of care and attention I get from her is far better than anything I've seen before - at least in my experience with the three doctors I had during my pregnancy with Robby. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Dr. Savage too but she doesn't have an hour to sit and just chat with me as most doctors do not. Also, midwives focus a lot on nutrition and the overall mental health and well being of the mom and spend a lot of time just building a relationship of trust so when my birthing time comes we'll be ready. I just am so happy with her - it's great. :) I want other people to know that this kind of care exists! If you are pregnant - consider a midwife!!! There's still a range among midwives too and I think home birth midwives probably spend the most amount of time with their clients but still it's better than the 5 minutes per apt one of the OBs I saw was giving his pregnant moms.<br />
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So some of the <b>wonderful things about pregnancy</b> right now are:<br />
feeling the baby kick!<br />
having a cute round tummy & not just a squishy one :)<br />
appointments with my midwife<br />
thinking/planning/day-dreaming about my birth<br />
looking at adorable baby girl clothes!<br />
talking about baby names (even if we can't totally agree on anything!)<br />
imagining what this little person inside of me will be like, look like (blue eyes like her dad, maybe?)<br />
being pregnant with my <a href="http://oliviacarter.blogspot.com/">best friend</a> so we can talk all we want about it and not get bored<br />
when Robby asks things like, "when the baby is 3 can she watch Kung Fu Panda? So I can watch it with her?" and "when the baby comes can she sleep with me?"<br />
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Hopefully that list illustrates I'm ecstatic about being pregnant and life is good!<br />
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Pregnancy comes with a <b>few downsides</b> and I just wanted to elaborate on some of these and share some things that I've learned or have been thinking about. Not trying to complain just wanted to get this out there!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinkandbluesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/bathroom-scale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://pinkandbluesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/bathroom-scale.jpg" /></a></div><b>Weight gain</b> - yes, it's inevitable, you're having a baby you're going to gain some weight! It's just been frustrating that I'm gaining so much MORE weight than I did with Robby! I know people say sometimes with their second kid they gain more faster... it's been especially hard since I had just done a bunch of work losing weight at the beginning of the year and was probably my skinniest ever just before I got pregnant. Which my awesome sister in law points out that could be part of why I've gained so much! I'm just trying to <b>focus on eating as much healthy food as I can</b> and limit the treats as much as I can. I know I shouldn't stress about my weight gain and if I'm eating good foods then I'll gain whatever the baby needs me to and hopefully I'll be able to lose it not too long after I have the baby! I remember how awesome breastfeeding was for losing all that pregnancy weight! Hopefully that works again! I'm just saying, the numbers on the scale just make me a little nervous right now! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/218Dp7gYhcL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="http://www.southernsavers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Candy-Coupon.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://www.southernsavers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Candy-Coupon.bmp" width="200" /></a> <b>Craving sugar</b> - this goes with the weight gain and I said I am trying to not eat a bunch of junk and at first that wasn't too bad but the past few weeks I've just been craving sugar like crazy!!! This is so not helpful. I am usually a chocolate girl and can have one or two pieces a day of dark chocolate and be totally satisfied. Lately, I'm gobbling up any chewy sugar sweet candy I can find! Well, not everything but way more than I should especially if I'm trying to slow down my weight gain! Becca mentioned sometimes if women aren't getting enough protein they can crave sweets - I've looked at my protein intake and it definitely could be improved so I'm working on that to see if that helps! Also lots of protein is super important during pregnancy! I have a whole nother (how do you spell "whole nother" sounds normal when I say it but writing it??) post I'm formulating in my head about diet! :)<b> </b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTUI7lMEqVdCRlYtBnQ7LtXRnrooWJ3oQb_wH3qx955ApVlAdoy" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTUI7lMEqVdCRlYtBnQ7LtXRnrooWJ3oQb_wH3qx955ApVlAdoy" /></a></div><b>Hemorrhoids</b>- I can't believe I'm writing about this in a public space but if anyone's made it this far down into this post they are probably safe to share this with. :) I didn't have this problem when I was pregnant with Robby but did a little bit in my recovery. I know lots of people get them and it's normal but nobody talks about it! So! Just wanted to share the advice my midwife gave me for this and it has seemed to help a lot! I've used witch hazel pads and put a drop of two of <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/doTerra-Lavender-Essential-Oil-15/dp/B004O25R8A">Lavender oil</a> </b>(from the sample kit <a href="http://parsonsbabysteps.blogspot.com/2011/10/prenatal-apt-monthly-forum.html">she gave me</a>!) - the lavender oil acts like an anti-inflammatory. Also, something my midwife & her assistant called BF&C which means <b>Bone Flesh & Cartiliage</b> - they said to ask for it at Good Earth and I did and came home with a small jar of it in an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Tissue-Bone-replaces-BF/dp/B000XFFW0K">ointment form</a>. Also, my midwife recommended taking baths & putting epsom salt in there which also helps with my skin being a little itchy and my muscles being a little achy. Win win. So I wouldn't bring this up except for when I mentioned what I'd learned to someone else she said, "I wish I'd had known that!" and I knew I couldn't keep the info to myself. <br />
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I'll try to take some better pictures of my tummy and post those soon! I took a belly pic every week with Robby - this time I seem to never take them!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-10141286661063319122011-10-19T20:31:00.000-07:002011-10-19T20:31:10.998-07:00A healthy baby........GIRL!<br />
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I am still in shock. Can't believe it! While we would have been thrilled with either a boy or girl we really thought it'd be awesome to have one of each - then whatever happens happens but there'd just be less stress...<br />
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Before we picked up Rob we got some Jamba Juice - give baby a nice sugary kick hoping to make sure he/she would be wide awake in there! I'm glad we had Robby come to this ultrasound - he was so excited!<br />
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I can't remember all the details right now.... the ultrasound tech checked everything else first it seemed and baby looked great in every area! We have referred to the baby as a boy the whole time pretty much and even during the ultrasound I was saying, "look Robby, there's his foot!" Then I didn't even realize she was checking the baby's bottom when she announced, "Well there's lady parts!" I basically sat up and shouted, "WHAT?!?!?" I was so caught off guard and didn't realize she was just perfectly sure we were looking at a girl... she even said, "Um... is that ok?" (like oh no this woman doesn't want a girl) and I told her I didn't even dare get my hopes up for a girl so was she SURE it was a girl?? She was very confident. The picture we got isn't great but that's ok. I mean, with Robby it was so clear instantly that it was a boy that this is just harder to believe. Like she said, "there isn't as much to show with girl parts..." but she did a few other things and then checked between her legs one more time and said she was so sure it was a girl she'd "take our stuff back for us" if it wasn't.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Here's our "girl" proof picture - you can see the three white lines that mean girl...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGE6FamVprtEwrens3dUYica_oAmTmCCQb-bpQpMBN-jrQ60V6CTq9QgBLJUZLOGgiG9Nnnt2R6K30IEIEuz2Hw32xqwvhrz60iPlTWekO0q-2uPJeTu6N5JRZHFn03E1oPH8druK_NY/s1600/Scan0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGE6FamVprtEwrens3dUYica_oAmTmCCQb-bpQpMBN-jrQ60V6CTq9QgBLJUZLOGgiG9Nnnt2R6K30IEIEuz2Hw32xqwvhrz60iPlTWekO0q-2uPJeTu6N5JRZHFn03E1oPH8druK_NY/s320/Scan0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> HER foot... not "his" like I'd said earlier... sorry little girl!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPO2xt4rJe7RHNdmuaybVRpkbaOmU9Gu54DIGwmJSJMhDQn82aT_L3fksxcoaVfAnByfyFZTg6II7GkQtzS9pjVqHGSbIsAwS01yL9BRTKw6xLX5KTBL06G_CINl7vYTfvUgZ_ASzYqyM/s1600/Scan0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPO2xt4rJe7RHNdmuaybVRpkbaOmU9Gu54DIGwmJSJMhDQn82aT_L3fksxcoaVfAnByfyFZTg6II7GkQtzS9pjVqHGSbIsAwS01yL9BRTKw6xLX5KTBL06G_CINl7vYTfvUgZ_ASzYqyM/s320/Scan0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cute little profile... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdQrNr8MssuPbNep7-msm-s3ddCfBZE3sSSgfqbAwvnS8fX8OpNq2bPNmv4txuROfb2gNRD5SIBFsNUpSH2TMjqJeA-kuysv_bsYyFO8vaLigQ5XgWrP_KLqgOOOXCfmgePi-WkqElbk/s1600/Scan0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdQrNr8MssuPbNep7-msm-s3ddCfBZE3sSSgfqbAwvnS8fX8OpNq2bPNmv4txuROfb2gNRD5SIBFsNUpSH2TMjqJeA-kuysv_bsYyFO8vaLigQ5XgWrP_KLqgOOOXCfmgePi-WkqElbk/s320/Scan0009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Her "halloween" mask as the tech put it! Kind of scary angle but still just neat cause it's my baby...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWLruwlEjRHlQ-Z-ROHbStDmkpVzmp4_O6I2ktl9jjvjxpFdoWNhR3ehIrmLL5iUVQ5xoVZDWzDr4mbtXHgw5h7a0ZpHA7_shGbzjQFdR1cnvM5xW9Nyqkx3w8rrn8AnDLHZkda_6bAs/s1600/Scan0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWLruwlEjRHlQ-Z-ROHbStDmkpVzmp4_O6I2ktl9jjvjxpFdoWNhR3ehIrmLL5iUVQ5xoVZDWzDr4mbtXHgw5h7a0ZpHA7_shGbzjQFdR1cnvM5xW9Nyqkx3w8rrn8AnDLHZkda_6bAs/s320/Scan0010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNf3js8y-KrIcfF9xze-8HlHKd7vE1Vh_-NDZrdT2gV6Pp6FHS58BJWUCLaFKkSwXDu00O-BWpNZ2jQHjcmjTYgMPJz8pgVCiNJhJ12CUGwftQlzhOgfXZ_CidndSrfLUGetBBj-zRtno/s1600/Scan0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNf3js8y-KrIcfF9xze-8HlHKd7vE1Vh_-NDZrdT2gV6Pp6FHS58BJWUCLaFKkSwXDu00O-BWpNZ2jQHjcmjTYgMPJz8pgVCiNJhJ12CUGwftQlzhOgfXZ_CidndSrfLUGetBBj-zRtno/s320/Scan0011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
While I will definitely be double checking between baby's legs the second she is born to confirm this information I'm going to go ahead and be excited about this! <br />
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As much as of course I've always wanted a baby girl I think a big part of it for me is wanting Rob to have a daughter - he is so cute with all our little girl nieces and I just think that'll be really special for him.<br />
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Luckily Robby was instantly excited about this and doesn't seem disappointed he's not getting a brother. His face was so cute when she said it was a girl... we are all going to have to get used to saying SHE now. Which is great. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmr9d7unrkwA0eX7JiPUYHEba86Il8N71CWnh7MD4nDdWUD4ZhBshXACX7jF-D62bXXreF196OK278hMukbMpB2T4GZy1kWQCKAx8O_hd4XIE4lu9dcVgnz208OX1h49rI7Hw7GoCvcs/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmr9d7unrkwA0eX7JiPUYHEba86Il8N71CWnh7MD4nDdWUD4ZhBshXACX7jF-D62bXXreF196OK278hMukbMpB2T4GZy1kWQCKAx8O_hd4XIE4lu9dcVgnz208OX1h49rI7Hw7GoCvcs/s320/IMG_2080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Robby my awesome photographer.... Rob had to go to a work meeting tonight and I forget to take a picture earlier with him! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbCTVyCL1J2-pIAphVWH-LZ0JOWJAEoCJ75hkMnG9pCHwyzRZlrv4MX9c4FdFzHCmpYewRp2AHAOzWNpwnylAjcCyvhTHzX7z9UKGIRXpSNFwLr_68rUNgBoPyXmydOOeYAN8ghgJu_g/s1600/IMG_2078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbCTVyCL1J2-pIAphVWH-LZ0JOWJAEoCJ75hkMnG9pCHwyzRZlrv4MX9c4FdFzHCmpYewRp2AHAOzWNpwnylAjcCyvhTHzX7z9UKGIRXpSNFwLr_68rUNgBoPyXmydOOeYAN8ghgJu_g/s320/IMG_2078.JPG" width="302" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91E1xJnvldcLd76BQ1HQmDlKG0MqdilFtHyZmQfKGPxxHX3yEEEyrw20Jx_R8jKlqJHXrBLD_UnViTv2uABpbU9mTPq-Od5vAl_Gqw24b-NGJs2gytVxdnS917Jxe0CDnZv4RGsZJ3wk/s1600/IMG_2077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91E1xJnvldcLd76BQ1HQmDlKG0MqdilFtHyZmQfKGPxxHX3yEEEyrw20Jx_R8jKlqJHXrBLD_UnViTv2uABpbU9mTPq-Od5vAl_Gqw24b-NGJs2gytVxdnS917Jxe0CDnZv4RGsZJ3wk/s320/IMG_2077.JPG" width="154" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Me at our Cornbelly's outing yesterday... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mR4BMRnLU4wIj-0CGElYhIIQwxiScnvA9F96nHg2AwLLkPqZCZpAZo9JeppmwCvhrag1fHqC-rK0_57f57SS_6tzeHM_9S0dh-b4Ud1NgcuMZQuUqzcgWCU7qkS9IOfSlFzYG2bjuvg/s1600/IMG_2070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mR4BMRnLU4wIj-0CGElYhIIQwxiScnvA9F96nHg2AwLLkPqZCZpAZo9JeppmwCvhrag1fHqC-rK0_57f57SS_6tzeHM_9S0dh-b4Ud1NgcuMZQuUqzcgWCU7qkS9IOfSlFzYG2bjuvg/s320/IMG_2070.JPG" width="170" /></a></div><br />
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We are just SO VERY HAPPY! It already was such a miracle to get pregnant.... now to be having a girl.... I just can't even believe it. I feel so lucky!!!!! We are so grateful.Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-63724063768858988442011-10-17T22:06:00.000-07:002011-10-17T22:06:35.221-07:00Ultrasound is coming up!Ahhhh I'm so excited! We have our "20 week" ultrasound this Wednesday! I'll be one day shy of 19 weeks but oh well. They let me schedule it then so I'm doing it! And I can't even stand it hardly one more minute! Need to make it through a whole day and a half... tomorrow is packed and Wednesday is pretty busy too so that's good.<br />
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People have been asking if I have a guess - I have felt like it was a boy since before we got pregnant. I kept thinking this pregnancy has been a lot like Robby's - I haven't had morning sickness and feel pretty good most of the time! - but then I realized there are a few things that are different. The headaches, awful sleeping problems - both of which are much better and less frequent - this is random but my hair is still coming out at a normal rate where with Robby I stopped losing ANY hair basically... I'm STARVING all of the time and much more exhausted - I do have a 4 year old but last time I was working full time so... last time I got lots of leg cramps and none so far. Anyways - it is a little different.<br />
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Obviously we would be thrilled to have a girl so we can have one of each. Just to know we have a girl would make me feel like I could more easily relax and say, "now whatever happens happens!" But if it's a boy I might feel like I want to try harder for another baby hoping we get at least one girl. Robby would be SO HAPPY to have a brother though so that makes me excited for a boy too. Either way it's a WIN WIN for sure!<br />
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Feeling the baby move has to be one of my favorite things! I hope it gets strong enough to feel on the outside soon because I know Robby will love that.<br />
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I have nothing to wear - I bought a few very on sale maternity tops and just ordered some pants on sale from Gap and Old Navy so I hope they fit right when they get here!! I'm resorting to leggings and need to find some longer tops to wear with them so I don't look so silly!<br />
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I've been asked for some belly pics but you guys, I feel like I'm rarely "dressed for the day" and am always looking frumpy and in pajamas. At least after about 3 pm.... :) And Rob isn't the most eager photographer... I'll try to get Robby to take some pics of me!<br />
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Well, I'll be sure to update again after our ultrasound on Wednesday! Hope to see a healthy baby and hope we find out for sure what this baby is!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-6220392890741495612011-10-03T20:48:00.000-07:002011-10-03T20:48:58.090-07:00Prenatal apt & monthly forumI had my second checkup with my wonderful midwife, Sherri, last Thursday. We had another good hour long visit and talked about all kinds of things.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTizB3iDjy37ifCOL0usQxMNh4I43uEP6tNpfFGF-RBTBVCKrlQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTizB3iDjy37ifCOL0usQxMNh4I43uEP6tNpfFGF-RBTBVCKrlQ" /></a></div>One of the things we talked about were using essential oils to solve some of my pregnancy symptoms right now. She actually sells <a href="http://www.doterra.com/us/">DoTerra</a> and gave me a little 3 pack of essential oils for free which was great and I've already used them a bunch. Peppermint, Lavender, and Lemon.<br />
Peppermint - great for headaches (which Tara ps my midwife says is fine to use while pregnant)<br />
Lavender - to help me sleep and STAY asleep better<br />
Lemon - Rob's used on his cold sore; good for upset tummies/digestion<br />
A few drops of all 3 in a capsule is supposed to be good for allergies which Rob has bad right now so I made him take it 2 times and we're not sure the effectiveness yet but we're willing to try!<br />
Anyways it sounds like there are a million uses for even just these 3 she gave me alone! I know people who use these instead of medicines and I love the idea of having something safe and natural to use for me and my family. I'm definitely interested in learning more about them.<br />
Here's a little chart of different uses of some of the essential oils:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZdUJ3o-D7A/TeyglRLQf1I/AAAAAAAAAxM/RHuvwvoNQ2M/s1600/CPTG+vs+OTC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZdUJ3o-D7A/TeyglRLQf1I/AAAAAAAAAxM/RHuvwvoNQ2M/s400/CPTG+vs+OTC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
One of the best things was hearing the baby's heartbeat and having Robby listen to it with me - he was so excited! "The baby's heartbeat's COOL mom!"<br />
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<a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/health/images/gallery/living/copd-weight-gain-400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/health/images/gallery/living/copd-weight-gain-400x400.jpg" width="200" /></a>My blood pressure was normal this time which is good...<br />
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Weight - can we talk about the fact I've gained 13 lbs (+maybe a few more if you count vacation lbs that I'm choosing to not count) and I'm only 16 weeks. I was freaking out thinking I'd gained 5 lbs in a WEEK and calmed down a little when I realized it was over a month but still - with Robby I'd gained 0 by this point. I'm not sorry and I'll gain whatever lbs I need to and I feel like I'm eating when I'm hungry and not gorging on treats or anything so it is what it is. But I don't love it. Speaking of gaining weight and nutrition...<br />
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Sherri's Monthly Forum<br />
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Once a month Sherri gets all of her clients together and does a forum on a subject that's important to cover and then has couples who have just had their babies come and share their birth stories with the group. I know my nutrition isn't perfect but holy cow guys, it can get overwhelming thinking about all the stuff you should/could do.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ercprobioticenzymes.com/files/2393246/uploaded/Produce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://www.ercprobioticenzymes.com/files/2393246/uploaded/Produce.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We learned about the HOPE diet:<br />
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H- High Fiber - should be getting 30 grams a day, most people get like 8<br />
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O - Omega oils - can be found in flax, hemp, or chia seeds (were some we talked about); I'm taking high quality fish oil pills Dr. Dummar gave me<br />
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P - Probiotics - plain yogurt, we didn't understand too much about them :)<br />
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E - Enzymes - help us digest our food, in raw fruits and veggies, can take supplements<br />
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<a href="http://www.5dollardinners.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/No-Sugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.5dollardinners.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/No-Sugar.jpg" width="167" /></a>There's a ton I could say but I'll just say the thing we are working on now is having a good, healthy green smoothie every morning with flax seed in it to help with fiber and omega... trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, raw foods... <br />
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Also, Sherri said by your 4th or 5th month of pregnancy you really should be OFF sugar! Did you hear that? OFF SUGAR! Wahh! Ok, I do see that the more fruits and veggies we eat the less we crave sweets - I haven't even wanted chocolate for days which is good - but I'm definitely not OFF sugar! And there are different levels of OFF sugar - like no treats, or not using any products with High Fructose Corn syrup or sugar in them which is pretty much everything besides raw foods. :) (like when I did the HCG diet) At least that diet helped me be much more aware of what has sugar in it and look for/make my own no sugar or low sugar options. So I'll be trying to cut sugar out of my diet more and more but I'm sure I won't be perfectly OFF sugar.<br />
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So I haven't been able to convince Rob to do an early ultrasound and now ours is only 16 days away so I guess I can wait... waiting is no fun! But that's ok. Gives me something to look forward to!!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-5713251890130775032011-09-21T20:22:00.000-07:002011-09-21T20:22:18.480-07:0015 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFurM8oDFXxjx8leIINeKJjyBP4kYUd4eZ64RRwGXs69COtdZi9h-oQMzUgRADRkMSjRHuM8f7LyUmvjdohz3arhMpuUFl8rKBs315sgQZz79278sbevaV7oc9o8K1Bvln58jHMZ63fhD4/s1600/IMG_1950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFurM8oDFXxjx8leIINeKJjyBP4kYUd4eZ64RRwGXs69COtdZi9h-oQMzUgRADRkMSjRHuM8f7LyUmvjdohz3arhMpuUFl8rKBs315sgQZz79278sbevaV7oc9o8K1Bvln58jHMZ63fhD4/s320/IMG_1950.JPG" width="213" /></a></div> I'm 15 weeks tomorrow!<br />
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I can't believe it! It's great. :) Today during my acupuncture treatment while laying there relaxing I think I felt a little baby flip inside of me! I felt Robby at around 17 weeks and I've heard sometimes with your second you feel it earlier - either way hopefully soon I'll be feeling lots of little kicks. I know Robby is going to LOVE being able to feel the baby moving and I can't wait for that.<br />
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So I'm still having headaches - not as often but still every now and then. They are so annoying. Thanks everyone for your advice and thoughts though - I appreciate all your input! I love when women can share advice with each other. :) It makes me feel better that this seems pretty common and normal! And that hopefully they'll go away soon!<br />
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Weird sleep - ugh, so annoying! Last night I could NOT fall asleep - no really, I didn't fall asleep so at 4 am I finally got out of bed and got a yogurt and got on the computer for a few minutes... after going to the bathroom tons of times I was finally falling asleep and then Robby woke up at 6:30 with a bad dream.... and yeah... I didn't sleep. Oh well. Today I laid down at 1 to try to take a nap because I was so dang tired but my body was just totally resisting sleep. Awesome. Now it's 9 pm and Rob is giving me a hard time because I am READY for bed. :)<br />
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So with Robby we paid the $50 extra for a 16 week gender check but I had said, no, we don't have to do that this time, we can wait and I made an apt for 19 weeks actually for Oct 19.... but I just realized I'll be 16 weeks next week - we could find out NEXT week what this baby is (assuming it cooperates) and now I CAN'T get the idea out of my head!!!! Rob is saying no way we are can wait but we'll see... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakEf1-Y1uHMbVePvggd6wy8GLY63iY75hO1CaNQ8r06Oo83unxpnhIbDD8PAfrsWbnmqKyMjm21-4o7X9id6EFIzZRV7ZEcgG6FgBq9bf4cwsMPC_K-kh4ZcCO4DQF2ixurnZjZPz09Va/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakEf1-Y1uHMbVePvggd6wy8GLY63iY75hO1CaNQ8r06Oo83unxpnhIbDD8PAfrsWbnmqKyMjm21-4o7X9id6EFIzZRV7ZEcgG6FgBq9bf4cwsMPC_K-kh4ZcCO4DQF2ixurnZjZPz09Va/s200/IMG_1944.JPG" width="159" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaNQQabg1Xw8dV-wDZtZpqlbKC7F9-ucLvPeQjUCFbkVhrl2snmMYjQ7fqx5keRD0atkK0Q3ffE3Op5MCLrh6LlvIsbvkjZBMC6Phyphenhyphen7PzXJmRfIYlIb_gag3CVwnCRpB8GcmqjhiQRCYT/s1600/IMG_1947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaNQQabg1Xw8dV-wDZtZpqlbKC7F9-ucLvPeQjUCFbkVhrl2snmMYjQ7fqx5keRD0atkK0Q3ffE3Op5MCLrh6LlvIsbvkjZBMC6Phyphenhyphen7PzXJmRfIYlIb_gag3CVwnCRpB8GcmqjhiQRCYT/s200/IMG_1947.JPG" width="195" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not the best at taking pictures of myself! Oh well! There is a tummy! </div>Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-25573136660600793562011-09-12T22:32:00.000-07:002011-09-12T22:32:38.606-07:00Ideas?Alright so the first trimester is almost over and I have had very little to complain about - this has been great! Not throwing up, more tired but not completely exhausted... but for like the last week and a half I've had 2 problems... Headaches & I can't sleep.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMc9S52zZfNv-giwP4Bjg9ArIgCv-A3p1oQ-QAmQYSlPjfl5J-CkL2XZiRBB3uKbHJLpqx4PZ_1ERQDhSGnbvDz5pj2Qpa4_TvVn0HPf-w9NAyyFtMBUL6GDYpCuLixPd1epV6Gwg7FgqB/s1600/headaches-woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMc9S52zZfNv-giwP4Bjg9ArIgCv-A3p1oQ-QAmQYSlPjfl5J-CkL2XZiRBB3uKbHJLpqx4PZ_1ERQDhSGnbvDz5pj2Qpa4_TvVn0HPf-w9NAyyFtMBUL6GDYpCuLixPd1epV6Gwg7FgqB/s200/headaches-woman.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Headaches - from the base of my neck... off and on and it just kills. I went to Dr Dummar on Tuesday and he did a chiropractic adjustment which made it feel better then but then they came back quickly. Saturday I had a massage which again felt great but didn't solve the problem. I don't like taking tylenol because I feel like I'd rather not take meds during the pregnancy and I feel like it doesn't do anything anyway so what's the point - the two times I have taken it it's barely made a difference. The most frustrating thing is when I WAKE UP with a headache! Cause you think getting sleep would make it better! Grr! Oh well, it's just getting really old! And I wish there was more I could do!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiys5RP5iIXD2erqMySoFtz4-DAbAhQyd4lL4pMMnq17nznw_2HM34DnUYnZe4TW2tT5gEIwhsp0IwFS8G0B8WvnlHSl6NwaxpPPdzDRJpnt-tH5h2G86v41CI-DPwFkHBFduowsud64f7/s1600/cant+sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiys5RP5iIXD2erqMySoFtz4-DAbAhQyd4lL4pMMnq17nznw_2HM34DnUYnZe4TW2tT5gEIwhsp0IwFS8G0B8WvnlHSl6NwaxpPPdzDRJpnt-tH5h2G86v41CI-DPwFkHBFduowsud64f7/s320/cant+sleep.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>Can't sleep - I fall asleep... then I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go BACK to sleep. It is SOOOO annoying. Sunday I woke up at 3:30 am and didn't go back to sleep at all. I just get up and go to the bathroom 18 times... roll around... sometimes I'll get up and eat something. Becca said maybe my body is hungry and I am going to try just getting up and eating something right when I wake up next time and see if that helps me go back to sleep. Also, I usually take all my pills (prenatal vitamins, fish oil pills, cofactor pill, and herbs that I finally capsulated because I couldn't drink them anymore!) so I'm drinking a lot of water at bed time which = lots of trips to the bathroom. I'm trying to take those a few hours before bedtime and just deal with the fact they make me nauseous so cut back on the middle of the night bathroom trips.<br />
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I'm still able to sleep on my tummy although it is getting a little uncomfortable. I just lay half on a pillow to distribute my weight and that seems to help!<br />
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I have another appointment with Sheri in two weeks but I might just call her and see if she has any suggestions for these problems!<br />
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Do you guys have any ideas??<br />
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If you got up in the middle of the night and were getting a snack what would you get? I need some ideas...<br />
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And yeah, let's just pause for a second - I'm almost out of the first trimester! Thursday I'll be 14 weeks! Ahhh! Still feel like this baby is such a miracle. Robby's prayer tonight was short and included, "Please bless the little baby... I'm thankful for the baby and please bless it will stay in there..." We are just so glad to be pregnant.Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-4964292737636446152011-09-07T15:30:00.000-07:002011-09-07T15:30:40.033-07:00First prenatalI meant to blog about this right after and I kept forgetting!<br />
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So you know how I had decided on a midwife and so when she called me back on Monday and asked when I wanted to come in I said RIGHT AWAY! I was able to see her the next day, so last Tuesday, for our first appointment!<br />
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I pulled up to her house and she and her 5 year old son were just getting out of the car - hurray! Someone for Robby to play with! You guys, this is so great, Robby just ran around and played with her son for the whole hour we were meeting. And we scheduled my next appointment to be when her son would be home again so they can play. It's such a relief knowing he's welcome at these appointments and now he even will have FUN!<br />
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It was kind of funny because she and her son had just been at McDonald's at the playplace - it was his first day of school. She said, "oh no, Esther! Today we're going to talk about nutrition and now you're not going to listen to a word I say when you see me with my Dr. Pepper and cheeseburger!" Ha! I told her no, now I won't worry about her judging me if I tell her I ate something like that. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0JBP-xLukcqCmqBk5SBU8LnVBIjItylQ6B7qBR5JTZQuDJJ2jUaTbLwGkhSTspSLCUTZB_QKfUG9FddYVlPScRRgl_-u8M0ooAPzGH_XNGnvIaJoVfu1gVmM1_tNtRfr1oE9Je6a4fLF/s1600/coke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0JBP-xLukcqCmqBk5SBU8LnVBIjItylQ6B7qBR5JTZQuDJJ2jUaTbLwGkhSTspSLCUTZB_QKfUG9FddYVlPScRRgl_-u8M0ooAPzGH_XNGnvIaJoVfu1gVmM1_tNtRfr1oE9Je6a4fLF/s1600/coke.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We did talk a lot about nutrition and I asked her what I ask every doctor, "How bad is it if I have an occasional diet coke?" I am basically asking for it when I ask this question but I need someone to convince me not to drink soda!! She told me a pretty convincing story - when she was pregnant with her 9th baby, at age 40, she decided she'd just drink Dr. Pepper if she felt like it! And all through her pregnancy she kept having bladder infections... and she said, "I know what it was from and I didn't care!" And then when she was in labor her midwife broke her water and all her contractions stopped - she said in a serious voice, "And Esther... I had to have a hospital birth." She went to the hospital and she had a cervical infection. So they gave her antibiotics and an epidural and then the baby came without any other problems but it was not the kind of birth she wanted and she felt like the infections were linked to drinking soda and just not taking as good of care of herself as she should've. She pointed out that it has to go through your kidneys which are right next to where the baby is!<br />
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If my goal is to have a healthy baby and to be able to give birth at home then I need to take the best care of my body that I can!! So I am going to do my best to eat healthy foods and exercise and not drink soda.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkvZr7_PGQgGKUQS6ZNehRfJNfnhHebHgXSB1dnhOexxYKJd6QvNr33wqc0lu_D-gqKXMb_RJRYBTa85OGp8eXmsD-AN0W-aB2Nh1Pa1SpU4Oi8GTaZDB2TDZegq8QS83P9mfH7ZYwyxD/s1600/doppler.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkvZr7_PGQgGKUQS6ZNehRfJNfnhHebHgXSB1dnhOexxYKJd6QvNr33wqc0lu_D-gqKXMb_RJRYBTa85OGp8eXmsD-AN0W-aB2Nh1Pa1SpU4Oi8GTaZDB2TDZegq8QS83P9mfH7ZYwyxD/s200/doppler.gif" width="161" /></a></div>My favorite part - we heard the heartbeat! I was almost 12 weeks at my apt and my uterus is tipped back so I knew it would be hard to hear the heartbeat but since I'd been having some cramping that weekend I was desperate to hear it!! She was very patient in searching for it and we found it a few times although it was very quiet - her monitor picked it up and it was definitely a baby's heartbeat! It was such a relief! I'm excited for my next appointment where it should be much clearer and easier to hear right away!!<br />
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She also took my blood pressure which was a little high which was random for me. She said it could be a fluke and she's not too worried about it but if it's high next time too then we'll start talking about ways to lower that - like eating more garlic apparently. I've read exercising can help as well - trying to get back into that these days!<br />
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And just fyi she does urine tests each week like at a regular doctor too. Other labs and ultrasounds are elective and we'll do an ultrasound around 20 weeks to try to find out if it's a boy or a girl and see if everything looks good! So that's just like a month and a half away! Ah! So exciting!<br />
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Basically I still feel really good about my choice and my midwife is great and I'm happy. :)Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-65274963346544085552011-09-06T21:36:00.000-07:002011-09-06T21:41:50.738-07:00Ideas for natural childbirthThis is for you, Tiffany! And it's just one of my favorite subjects so I figured I'd do a post instead of a comment in answer to your question!<br />
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So, you're thinking about not having an epidural? Want to know what your options are? Well, I'm no expert but I've got a few ideas and am happy to share!!<br />
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When wanting to avoid an epidural these are some things I think are super important:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Educate yourself! Read read read read!!! Lots of awesome positive childbirth books! </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the keys to success in achieving a non-medicated birth is retraining your brain to NOT BE AFRAID of labor! Reading and learning about the process is a huge step in this. Learn what your body is capable of how awesome it is and let yourself feel empowered and not scared. Fear is what makes labor painful! When you can relax and let your body do it's job labor is less painful and goes much quicker!</span> </span></b></div><br />
This is my new favorite! The one I mentioned last time, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Womans-Guide-Better-Birth/dp/0399525173/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315366067&sr=8-1">The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRev9ROucOvfi0uNNWYMvJ7YLHU7Va4fx65EP-RrA20qcQ93qDp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRev9ROucOvfi0uNNWYMvJ7YLHU7Va4fx65EP-RrA20qcQ93qDp" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birthing-Within-Extra-Ordinary-Childbirth-Preparation/dp/0965987302/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1315366246&sr=1-1">Birthing from Within...</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174362728l/388185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174362728l/388185.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1315366246&sr=1-3">Ina May's Guide to Childbirth</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.womensbookshop.co.nz/images/images_product/0091924154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.womensbookshop.co.nz/images/images_product/0091924154.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Journey-into-Motherhood-Inspirational-Stories/dp/0974785326/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1315366573&sr=1-1">Journey into Motherhood - this is full of positive birth stories which are awesome and helpful to read!</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rvpoceY1sKo/SiciJS6wEbI/AAAAAAAABVA/jjZ53wc7oas/s400/9780974785325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rvpoceY1sKo/SiciJS6wEbI/AAAAAAAABVA/jjZ53wc7oas/s320/9780974785325.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Watch this movie: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Business-Being-Julia-Barnett-Tracy/dp/B0013LL2XY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1315367028&sr=1-1">The Business of Being Born</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQRA97EPIrrleyM8UtGPZ9IEh0So2ua6Q-EAewVWgWhdRhHifbmw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQRA97EPIrrleyM8UtGPZ9IEh0So2ua6Q-EAewVWgWhdRhHifbmw" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact, if anyone is in Utah and is interested we can make it a movie night! I just bought this DVD and would love to have anyone over to watch it and chat about birth!! Just let me know! And I could probably get my expert sister in law Becca to join us and answer any questions you have!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Take a childbirth class that focuses or covers natural childbirth and other coping measures</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b><span style="font-size: small;">Like this <a href="http://www.gentlebirthchoices.com/childbirth-classes/">class taught by Becca</a> - I think she has a few openings left for her class in October!!! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">With Robby I took this <a href="http://www.birthnaturally.org/">Hypnobabies</a> class and felt like it really worked!! Looks like that instructor isn't teaching right now but I'd look into that method for sure.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Choose a care provider who will be supportive and limit interventions </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> OB, Family Practice, Midwife... You have options! Find someone with a low c-section rate (midwives and family practice that's easy because it will be 0 but you can ask about their transfer rate). You want to find a care provider who will be patient and allow labor to progress as normally as possible. Studies show OBs typically want labor to adhere to a schedule (dilating about 1 cm = hour) and when that doesn't happen they are more likely to introduce pitocin or other interventions which are not medically necessary and will make continuing in labor without medication more difficult!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've had some people ask me what the difference between an OB and a midwife is - A Midwife sees you all throughout your pregnancy just like an OB. I'll be seeing her once a month till the end, then it goes to every 2 weeks, then once a week. My apts with her are 30 min - 1 hr, as opposed to the 5 minutes some OBs schedule for you. She is concerned with your nutrition and any questions you might have and it's important to create a relationship of trust through the pregnancy. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>**On this same note, CONSIDER GIVING BIRTH AT A BIRTH CENTER OR AT HOME.</b> </span><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know this will sound very foreign to most of you and you might not know anyone who has done this so let me be an example for you! The easiest way to avoid unnecessary interventions is to stay out of a hospital. Hospitals continue to stick to policies that have shown to have no benefits to women or babies and if anything are detrimental (the "nothing by mouth" rule which restricts you from eating or drinking in labor; continuous electronic fetal monitoring which has shown to have no benefit over intermittent listening and has been linked to higher c-section rates and use of forceps). Ok, sorry guys, this is probably more info than you're interested in but I've just learned so much and feel like I'm bursting to share!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">So it's just something to consider - some women don't even know these options exist and I want them to be aware of what's out there!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Hire a doula to support and guide you through your labor</span></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Even if you have the most doting, loving, supportive husband I think having a doula is probably the BIGGEST key to having a non medicated birth! Having a trained labor support person with you through every moment who comes with a bag of tricks and knows comfort measures and position changes and can make suggestions is priceless. Or, if you are worried about the price, a doula costs a couple of hundred dollars (I think we paid $350 for ours) but if you consider the price of an epidural which is what? $500? So if you pay for a doula in place of an epidural that's pretty good! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can go <a href="http://utahdoulas.org/find-a-doula/">here</a> to look for a doula in Utah. I chose a few to interview and then picked from there!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like I said, I'm not an expert, this is just my opinion!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My story</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I knew I didn't want an epidural because there was no way someone was sticking a huge needle in my back. End of story. So I needed another option to manage the pain. I began looking around at childbirth classes in my area and settled on Hypnobabies. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I went with the first doctor my friend's recommended and while he was a great doctor to THEM it was clear he wasn't what I wanted when I walked in and saw a sign on the wall in the waiting room that said something like, "If you are planning on using a doula or Hypnobirthing or Bradley Method please let us know so we can transfer your records." Oooookay. At least they were upfront about it so I knew right away I needed to change. I went with the 2nd recommendation and that doctor while he seemed "ok" with the idea of me wanting natural childbirth the first appointment but at the second when I started asking more detailed questions he was impatient and I could tell when it cam down to it he didn't really care. Third doctor - I set up an apt to interview Dr. Shelly Savage before I switched my records over and she seemed very open to helping a woman have her birth be whatever she wants. I went with her and was very happy! But it was hard and awkward to switch doctors! Here's a tip - if you find a NEW doctor you can ask THEM to request your records from the old doctor and you don't even have to tell them. Figured that out by doctor 3.<br />
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Throughout my pregnancy I read and learned and my opinions on birth developed... I had stronger reasons for not wanting an epidural and was excited about natural childbirth! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a great experience with Robby with Dr. Savage, my doula Angie, and at Timpanogos Hospital. But I know I can have an awesome experience at home with my midwife Sherri, my sister Becca as my doula, and hopefully in the water! While it's totally possible to have a great experience in a hospital you are definitely going against the grain of their usual procedures and it can feel like a fight at times. I'm excited to be in my own home and have only my supportive team around me... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whew, sorry for being so wordy! Can't give a short answer! All she asked for was "A BOOK" recommendation and this is what you get. :)</div>Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-4815993367144817762011-08-28T19:27:00.000-07:002011-08-28T20:33:11.628-07:00I found one!So after my three interviews I've settled on a midwife - <a href="http://www.birthingathome.com/?page_id=2">Sherri Price</a>! She is great! I knew even just from our 2 phone conversations (first to make an apt for an interview, second to change the date of that apt) that I probably would end up liking her the best! She was very interested in how I was doing even though I wasn't her patient yet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdcdC_V2weVzP8LDP4zkOwMwrc-XsoZxyDD7uxhr4k9E5pOWMh6mbjn-dHTa1pWUcQEmleQALaI6nziLKki4IMjIDxSiznXdc3WiOY1LTKZuZmCMv9GE0mgKvW_rQlMj-9xZumyg22zO2/s1600/sherriWnash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdcdC_V2weVzP8LDP4zkOwMwrc-XsoZxyDD7uxhr4k9E5pOWMh6mbjn-dHTa1pWUcQEmleQALaI6nziLKki4IMjIDxSiznXdc3WiOY1LTKZuZmCMv9GE0mgKvW_rQlMj-9xZumyg22zO2/s200/sherriWnash.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>We met with Sherri first on Thursday afternoon at 5. We had a nice hour long visit with lots of chatting and Rob and I were both really comfortable with her. She told us about her and her 20 years of midwifery experience and most importantly we just clicked!<br />
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Rob was ready to have me cancel the other 2 apts since I liked her so much but I just felt like if I went ahead and did the other interviews the worst that could happen is I'd be more convinced that she was the one for me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bellanatal.com/img_0532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.bellanatal.com/img_0532.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Thursday at 8:30 pm we went to the <a href="http://www.betterbirth.com/">Better Birth</a> birth center and met with Suzanne. She gave us a tour of the birth center which is a beautiful facility and I was curious to see it even though I knew I wanted to go the homebirth route. It was a different kind of interview - more... official? We reviewed my medical history and she said she saw no reason why if this is what I wanted I shouldn't be able to do this. We asked her our questions... she was very nice and I think the midwives there are all very experienced and any of them would do a good job but one of the benefits I'm looking for in a midwife is that I will be building a relationship with this person throughout my whole pregnancy and then they will be the one to be there to support me in my labor and birth. Going with a practice where you rotate through a group of midwives isn't my first choice for this pregnancy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bellanatal.com/img_0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.bellanatal.com/img_0525.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They have a beautiful bed, awesome jetted tub, and kitchen stocked with drinks and frozen food and snacks for mom and other people there while she's laboring... </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://birthingyourway.com/wp-content/gallery/birthing-suite-page/birthsuite_room1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://birthingyourway.com/wp-content/gallery/birthing-suite-page/birthsuite_room1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Friday at 5:30 we met with <a href="http://birthingyourway.com/">Heather Shelley</a> at the birth center she runs in Pleasant Grove. Again, we toured the facility even though we let her know we were planning on birthing at home. It was a nice place - a much older home compared to the brand new Better Birth facility but still looked like a great option for someone who is looking for a birth center. Heather was very nice and we asked her our questions and chatted a little and once again I just knew we weren't clicking as well as I had with Sherri.<br />
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After that I just felt excited that it was over - that I did it! I looked around, did some interviews, and get to have this amazing person as my care provider!!! I left her a message yesterday (Saturday) and I'm hoping I'll be able to go in for an appointment this week or very soon and hopefully we can hear the heart beat on a doppler or something! I've had some cramping this weekend which I know is totally normal but it just reminds me of my miscarriage and makes me worry!!<br />
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So yes, we are planning on a home birth. I'm sure there will be lots of you who think I'm crazy and I will say 10 years ago I wouldn't have believed I would do this and now I can't imagine it ANY OTHER WAY. The education and exposure I've had has led me to choose this and I know that this is a great option for us and I hope I can share with you guys some of the things I've learned over the next few months! If you think I'm nuts I'd ask that you have an open mind as I share some of what I've learned and if you don't think you can be supportive feel free to stop reading my blog now because I'll probably be bringing this up from time to time!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31cruV9i5wL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Right now I feel like I can't get ENOUGH of birth books - I'm kind of obsessively thinking about giving birth right now! I can't wait! I feel so lucky that I have the chance to have another baby and know it's going to be another awesome experience like it was with Robby! The books I've read recently that were very informative:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Birth-Choices-Publisher-Healing/dp/B004UR8E7A/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1314584207&sr=8-15">Gentle Birth Choices</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Womans-Guide-Better-Birth/dp/0399525173/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1314584207&sr=8-3">The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth</a><br />
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I really recommend the second one (Thinking Woman) - I wish I could quote the entire intro to explain to you guys why I think a homebirth is such a good option for me but that would take a long time (and maybe be illegal?) but it is great.Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-66215088294724622962011-08-21T22:14:00.001-07:002011-08-28T18:59:20.560-07:00Search for a midwifeI am 10 weeks now and feeling really good! Besides having a dumb cold all week that is. I'm not really nauseous and I want to take a nap most days but it's not like I can't get out of bed. I was really relieved after seeing the ultrasound and then felt grateful about not having bad pregnancy symptoms but the longer time goes on and I don't feel that "pregnant" it makes me wonder a little and wish I had a doppler so I could just check for baby's heartbeat again!<br />
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While I haven't decided on my care provider yet I have three appointments set up this week with midwives and I'm really excited about them! And maybe one of them will let me use their doppler for a minute to put my mind at ease. I know my uterus is tipped so the baby is farther away from the surface though and it still might be a little early to hear anything but we'll see.<br />
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The midwives I'm meeting with are:<br />
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<a href="http://www.birthingathome.com/">Sherri Price</a><br />
<a href="http://birthingyourway.com/">Heather Shelley</a><br />
<a href="http://www.betterbirth.com/our-team">Better Birth midwives</a><br />
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I'll update you all after my interviews!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-59908101058355362412011-08-10T21:10:00.000-07:002011-08-10T21:10:46.017-07:00ONE Baby!We were thrilled to have our ultrasound on Monday show there is ONE baby with a good strong heartbeat growing in my tummy! We would've been really excited for twins but mostly we were just relieved to see a heartbeat!!!<br />
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We survived our trip back east and traveling home and then it was just 2 days left before the ultrasound! It was nice to be so well distracted before hand. I didn't realize how NERVOUS I was until we were sitting in the waiting room for a longer than usual wait and I started feeling pretty sick to my stomach.<br />
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For those who don't know I had a miscarriage and so my last ultrasound experience ended in looking for a heartbeat and baby and finding a barely there 6 week old fetal pole that had stopped developing. This made me feel pretty nervous and anxious...<br />
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We sat for 15 minutes in the waiting room... then probably another 5 with that sheet thing draped over me waiting for the doctor to come in.... I joked to Rob I was going to take the ultrasound probe and just do it myself!<br />
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As soon as Dr Foulk began the ultrasound I saw the baby instantly... and a few seconds later he held it still and I could see little baby's heartbeat fluttering!!!! RELIEF!!! I just was so happy I forgot that we were looking to see if there might be more than one baby! He measured the little guy and we got to listen to his heartbeat - so amazing! Then I asked, "so we only see one baby in there, right??" He said yup and scanned side to side to make sure there wasn't anything else in there.<br />
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They gave us three printed off ultrasound pics and a little card signed by all the workers at the Fertility center, it was very nice. Dr. Foulk said I "graduated" to my OB or care provider and when I settle on who my midwife will be he wants to send them a letter with some background on what happened.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNd_QfVZk0gDanyt4lU1LZ3lJan3AQQIO3ZIFaTBqZRScHQNbagg6M9rCPLjDZiuXJJZDaTf-k0jYbyA8O5osqSBJf75qBwAj0hikhNHgd2s3Xq5YE05aCvcX9goLXlEKyban_mLxRfBR/s1600/Scan0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNd_QfVZk0gDanyt4lU1LZ3lJan3AQQIO3ZIFaTBqZRScHQNbagg6M9rCPLjDZiuXJJZDaTf-k0jYbyA8O5osqSBJf75qBwAj0hikhNHgd2s3Xq5YE05aCvcX9goLXlEKyban_mLxRfBR/s320/Scan0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Listening to the heartbeat... 177.33....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcA9Sz0Z2ITPhrH4sWMw3y8yOLM5hlGepOMpzvs749-8pOBqykYhYS-mnKtMI7vfeDxJxLijaAxzPtBXuejlp1dTxes_lDIJr1F5GidcD36wT5IBqvB6HxXt6dXDloBHonCrEKqKpBPWpc/s1600/Scan0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcA9Sz0Z2ITPhrH4sWMw3y8yOLM5hlGepOMpzvs749-8pOBqykYhYS-mnKtMI7vfeDxJxLijaAxzPtBXuejlp1dTxes_lDIJr1F5GidcD36wT5IBqvB6HxXt6dXDloBHonCrEKqKpBPWpc/s320/Scan0005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It was so amazing to see baby's legs and arms kick and move around!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP20ObefRWLEnhVQen6RTKxAvemE0NzdrcF7v7hCMksmvOG_iwjw0yAB99KS3jdIdTcQbqtbh4imN5gRgcv7dHJB_RrELJ3sqs3zzRefii7GXdP5nWvloH9nB2bNeUaL1kRnAR_jI0JmCm/s1600/Scan0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP20ObefRWLEnhVQen6RTKxAvemE0NzdrcF7v7hCMksmvOG_iwjw0yAB99KS3jdIdTcQbqtbh4imN5gRgcv7dHJB_RrELJ3sqs3zzRefii7GXdP5nWvloH9nB2bNeUaL1kRnAR_jI0JmCm/s320/Scan0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It says he's measuring 8w6d which is 2 days bigger than based on my due date which doesn't change anything in my opinion it's just great to see he's a good size!! Looks perfect to me!</div><br />
We had to race straight from the ultrasound apt to Heber for my acupuncture apt - on the way, before we lost service in the canyon, we called a few people and sent a bunch of texts to spread the word. We called Robby first - my sister in law, Becca, was watching him at her house so we called and asked for him and I told him, "Mommy has ONE baby in her tummy!" I was worried he'd be disappointed since he kept saying he was hoping it was TRIPLETS (which would've been quite the unusual thing since we only put in 2 eggs!) but he seemed happy right away. When we came back from our apts to pick him up we walked in the door and from across the room he shouted happily, "MOM! You have ONE BABY in your tummy!!!" So I was glad he was happy! <br />
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When we got home we found Taba, my sister, had left us a fun surprise to celebrate in the fridge - some Martinelli's! So we cracked it open and took some pictures to mark the occasion!<br />
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I was sad I didn't get a chance to blog about it the last 2 nights since after Robby's gone to bed I've done nothing but work until I'm about to pass out! <br />
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Speaking of passing out, I have definitely been more tired but not completely exhausted. I've been more nauseous but not throwing up. At first I was wishing I was more sick so I would feel more reassured but after seeing baby's sweet little heartbeat I can just be grateful I haven't been more sick!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN88LfCHYRcR6W9lhDQ9_S351BSUOWqlJCDoCN4cZbCj3QagIHyfQwoEmrIUpu4vVrZ16HTnO11uEaiEwBKSrvNolnUGUd6HwJIESD7pZ1pf_BMaOKvRZjBwT6JIKSkYhN5p0YwPpUSp-/s1600/IMG_1918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN88LfCHYRcR6W9lhDQ9_S351BSUOWqlJCDoCN4cZbCj3QagIHyfQwoEmrIUpu4vVrZ16HTnO11uEaiEwBKSrvNolnUGUd6HwJIESD7pZ1pf_BMaOKvRZjBwT6JIKSkYhN5p0YwPpUSp-/s320/IMG_1918.JPG" width="256" /></a>The one thing I've got is a (what feels to me!) a giant tummy already. I was thinking twins would've made a lot of sense but that's ok! I stuck out right away with Robby too (and feel the same way symptom wise as I did with him too - does that mean it's a boy? we shall see!) so I'm trying to not worry about it but I'm already finding I look awkward in all my clothes and don't know what to wear! It doesn't help that when I was reading on some pregnancy site that at 8 weeks "you probably have a bulge but it's just water retention." Boo. It's just not as fun since I worked so hard to lose all that weight earlier this year but it's DEFINITELY worth it!!!!!!<br />
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Oh well! It doesn't help that not only am I not sick or throwing up but I feel like I'm starving all of the time!!! At every meal I feel like I'm eating at least double and am hungry every 2 hours... I decided if I'm going to be eating so much food to just try not to eat so many treats! Because I think you should listen to your body but that doesn't give me an excuse to fill it with junk... so wish me luck! Since today Doritos were sounding amazing... and Panda Express... <br />
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All in all we are just SO GRATEFUL and SO EXCITED!!!!<br />
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And now it feels like I can just breathe a little easier and I'm starting to get deeper into my search for a midwife! And can plan on taking a childbirth class - this time I get to take one from my wonderful sister in law, Becca, who is a doula, and I've been lucky enough to be at 2 of her homebirths and this woman knows how to give birth!!! She's teaching a round of <a href="http://www.gentlebirthchoices.com/childbirth-classes/">childbirth classes</a> this October at her home in North Orem if anyone else is interested let me know!!!<br />
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Once again thanks for all of you guys' support you are awesome!!! Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-77468077695740172912011-07-19T20:13:00.000-07:002011-07-19T20:13:56.715-07:00Growing strong...My day 20 HCG test came back with good results!!! (20 days after the transfer)<br />
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Since I'm out of town I had to just go to this LabCorp office to get my blood test. It was actually kind of convenient because I was able to make an apt online and it took only like 20 minutes total. Much better than if I'd had to go do it at a hospital or something! They told me they'd call my dr's office with the results and I would get a call that same day. My apt was at 10 am eastern time so they'd get the results nice and early!<br />
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So again I knew it'd probably be a phone call around either lunch time or 4 pm west coast time. I also noticed just a definite change in my mood from the minute I did the blood test - I just was anxious. I don't really even feel that pregnant at all yet so I was nervous for a low HCG count.<br />
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Anne Marie from the Fertility center called me around 5 pm my time - so I had the whole day to be nervous - and she immediately told me, "Ok we had a good high HCG count today! Your level was over 4,000!" I was so relieved I didn't ask her the exact HCG count but that's ok. As long as she thinks it's good! She told me to keep taking my progesterone and we talked about scheduling my ultrasound. I will be 7 weeks next Thursday so if I was in Utah I could go in that day (July 28th) for my ultrasound but I asked if I should do it out here in MD and she said let's just wait till I get back to UT because she wants me to do it with Dr. Foulk. So I have it scheduled for Mon Aug 8th! Then we'll know! Twins or a singleton!!!!!<br />
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Again this was great news and such a relief! Very encouraging! Like I said especially since I don't feel like I have a lot of "symptoms" yet but I know it's still really early. I would just feel better if I was throwing up. :) I know you're probably saying be careful what you wish for but I'm serious. I am tired and my tummy feels a little off after eating but that's all really. Wish I could get an HCG count every day to just make sure it's growing and growing!<br />
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If you're thinking I'm sounding neurotic just remember I did have a miscarriage so I feel like my fears are valid. I know there's nothing I can do besides I'm just trying to take it easy, think positively, and say lots of prayers! I always say I was happy that I enjoyed every minute of my last pregnancy even if it ended in a miscarriage and so I do feel like I want to do that again and I'm trying! I'm so grateful to be pregnant and I do have a good feeling about this!!!<br />
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So I'll make sure to keep you guys posted - can't wait for that ultrasound!!!!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-84407428508951474232011-07-14T20:14:00.000-07:002011-07-14T20:14:23.809-07:002 lines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6QTAWbPaGN3WCMAhgfQC_v7OLERmAQWEEhk3hraRqPBNFD2NKjSdZ9wOEHKAmTsZodS_GYJB2u5kPpDqHbQXVpFgZSWtcTkPFsJvwSno-v36mkC-WTYi5ohDIM-SjjRNotLfbcYCjGkk/s1600/IMG_0949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6QTAWbPaGN3WCMAhgfQC_v7OLERmAQWEEhk3hraRqPBNFD2NKjSdZ9wOEHKAmTsZodS_GYJB2u5kPpDqHbQXVpFgZSWtcTkPFsJvwSno-v36mkC-WTYi5ohDIM-SjjRNotLfbcYCjGkk/s320/IMG_0949.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Oh yeah! And not just because of some HCG shot either! These pics are from Sunday. It was so awesome to see those lines pop up right away and that pregnancy line super dark!!!! <br />
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I did another test today and it was a lot the same so that's good! I am going to Maryland tomorrow for 3 weeks so I have to do my day 20 blood test on Monday in MD. I was able to make an apt online at a LabCorp location and hopefully that works out well. Then we'll do the ultrasound either just before I leave MD or right when I get back - I'm so excited for that!<br />
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On Wednesday I had another acupuncture apt (I've been going every week but will miss a few weeks while I'm in MD) and he said that when you are pregnant your pulse changes and it becomes more "slippery" and that's what's happened to mine. Also, he said that Chinese medicine says that one side (right or left wrist) will have a stronger pulse depending on the sex of the baby and so based on that he thinks I'm having a boy. It'll be interesting to see if that's the case or not! As Taba said, you mean a boy AND a girl! :) I wish.<br />
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It's been a great week - a load has been lifted off of my shoulders with this good news and I'm feeling really good and hopeful about things. I've been getting pretty tired and after I eat my stomach usually feels upset - but anything that feels like "pregnant" I just get giddy about!<br />
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Well, wish me luck flying to MD tomorrow just me and Robby! Rob flies out later next week! Robby is such a good helper and such a big boy I know we'll do great but I always get a little nervous of flying without Rob. Oh, and I'm trying to take my medications in my carry-on with my needles too so I'm hoping they don't give me any issues with that. We'll see! I'll let you know!<br />
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Thanks for all your support everyone!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-51236550855775803372011-07-08T23:01:00.000-07:002011-07-09T06:53:38.510-07:00I'm pregnant!It worked! It worked!!! We're actually pregnant!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAOt8wv_lJfOc2w5gAkzTTkJp1qhGBkJtYaOp_qdK24K0gHSZOv2d8i-bXDY77qPXqwLNoZvWCxakSFELUevarlaa3zaX59L85-2oLz20WJ9GQyh4TFX2tG_ADF75_Jj8s-6VIc7uKAdy/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAOt8wv_lJfOc2w5gAkzTTkJp1qhGBkJtYaOp_qdK24K0gHSZOv2d8i-bXDY77qPXqwLNoZvWCxakSFELUevarlaa3zaX59L85-2oLz20WJ9GQyh4TFX2tG_ADF75_Jj8s-6VIc7uKAdy/s320/IMG_0369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAf2JPl1m7HqcvY7-5Rx9OZEFh42hIFJqE_UOMJxwhl_-gJvf_DbuePYrnZnNRc2q_E2RAmhzmxzpnxxFTFBkMBN5HbuYuzpHL4-E3DBqp4SOEPj7YkCn2JMBLduwyjTtPXZ2OLSXE4Es/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAf2JPl1m7HqcvY7-5Rx9OZEFh42hIFJqE_UOMJxwhl_-gJvf_DbuePYrnZnNRc2q_E2RAmhzmxzpnxxFTFBkMBN5HbuYuzpHL4-E3DBqp4SOEPj7YkCn2JMBLduwyjTtPXZ2OLSXE4Es/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Pictures Tab took to remember this wonderful day!!!!</div><br />
So to answer the main question we've gotten - we'll find out if it's twins or a "singleton" in about 3 weeks when they do a 7 week ultrasound. So that means I'm like 4 weeks pregnant. I'll be due around middle of March. And apparently HCG levels do not indicate whether it's twins or not because HCG levels for twins are the same normal range for singleton babies. Interesting, huh? <br />
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I want to remember as much as possible about this day so here goes - it's going to be super long! <br />
<br />
Rob and Robby came with me to my appointment for my blood draw at 9:30 which was great because the one on Wednesday kind of started me on a downward nervous spiral. Robby got to watch and he got a good show as it took her 4 pokes to get me. He wanted to see how they got blood from my arm - he's so interested in this whole process.<br />
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I was able to ask Anne-Marie, a nurse, a few questions before we left - like what if it doesn't work? How do we do a frozen cycle? We are going to be in MD for most of July so next month wouldn't work - she said we didn't need to do any birth control or anything beforehand just we could do it after getting my period next time. And what if I am pregnant and only 1 egg took would I still get a period or have some bleeding? Apparently no, she said the other egg would dissolve and if there were bleeding or spotting it would be for other reasons. I felt a little better with some more info. I said so you'll call at either lunch time or like 4, right and she said, "we'll call you as soon as we can!"<br />
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We got home around 10 and I waited for my sister Taba to get here - we gathered up for the pool. I was feeling kind of sick to my stomach... the nerves I think. It was overcast and even a tiny bit drizzly but we headed over to the pool anyway. Rob was going to work from home for the morning - I told him to come over to the pool as SOON AS POSSIBLE - I wanted him by my side for when they called! Which I thought would not be till 1 or 4.<br />
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At about 12 I went to let Becca & the kids in to the pool then I checked my phone - WHAT? Missed call at 11:52? They called! THEY CALLED! I started freaking out! Taba and Becca screamed - what should I do? What should I do? Should I go home? Get Rob? YES. Ok. I hugged the girls, we were all in nervous tears, and ran home. My hands were shaking so hard trying to unlock the door, why did he lock the deadbolt? Ahhh!!! I kind of slammed the door and he popped out of the office into the hallway - he looked like he was seeing a ghost, he said I looked nervous. I said, "we need to call them back! Now!" Andrew was working in the office with him... we went in our room and shut the door.<br />
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I could barely contain myself trying to scroll down in my contacts to "Utah Fertility" all the way to the U's... "Utah Fertility Center, this is Kim, how can I help you?" I told her Tonya had just called me and I was calling her back... she said she was finishing up another call and to wait so she put us on hold for the LONGEST 3 MINUTES OF MY LIFE as I tried to breathe squeezing Rob's hand as we sat on our bed...<br />
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Finally Tonya gets on the phone, "Hi Esther this is Tonya," in her soft quiet voice I was thinking OH NO is this bad? Then in a kind of teasing voice, "I hear you're dying for some news!" Okaaaay get to the point lady! "I'm happy to tell you that you are pregnant." And I lost it.<br />
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I nodded my head to Rob and tried to smile. I ugly cried and tried to say, "thank you," I don't know if she heard or understood me. She let me just cry for a minute. It's a little hazy how/what she said after that but she said we'll want to check my HCG levels again in 10 days so I'll have to do it when I'm in MD (need to figure out the best place to that - hospital?) and she said to take it easy...<br />
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She said "your HCG levels are beautiful. It was 27 on Wednesday and we want to see them double and they did, today was 75 so that's perfect." That gave me some comfort that so far it was growing strong!<br />
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I was apparently sounding pretty upset from what Andrew could hear with only crying no cheering - you guys my heart was soaring but the emotions were just so overpowering crying was all I could do! - so Andrew walked outside over towards the pool where Becca and Taba were just waiting as anxious as could be. They saw Andrew walking towards them with his head down, not meeting their eyes, and he kind of shook his head... they said their hearts just broke because they thought it was bad news! He said she would probably be crying if it was good too just he didn't hear anything helpful - luckily we could see him walking past our balcony so when we got off the phone with Tonya I opened my balcony door - we could see the girls at the pool standing at the gate and Andrew on the other side of it and they all looked upset. They saw me crying and Taba said she thought I was going to shake my head no but then I shouted out, "IT WORKED!!" and they all screamed and then were crying tears of relief and joy. It was very intense.<br />
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I wanted to see Robby, he was at the pool with him - they called him to come to the gate and Taba lifted him up and I yelled again, "It worked!!! Mommy's pregnant!" I wish I could've told him to his face more directly but I didn't want to wait. I came down to the pool a minute later and he looked up at me and said, "You have a baby!" I pulled him close to me and hugged and kissed him. I explained, "This means the eggs turned into babies or a baby and we'll find out soon if it was 1 baby or 2 babies. Sometimes babies can stop growing in their mommies so now we just need to pray that the baby will grow healthy and strong so it can grow all the way into a brother or sister for you! But this is really exciting and great that mommy is pregnant!"<br />
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Tonight before he went to bed he said to me, "I hope the baby doesn't escape." I said, "The baby's not going to try to escape! Just sometimes they aren't strong enough to grow all the way..." He said, "well, if I pray for it and you and daddy and everyone in our family like Papa and Grandpa Parsons and Andrew and Becca and everyone-" and I said, "Yes, lots and lots of people will be praying for the baby to grow! But Heavenly Father knows what's best and he'll take good care of us."<br />
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He knows this is a happy wonderful thing - I just want him to be prepared and not crushed if I were to have another miscarriage. And you know what, I feel like he gets it. Today he said he thinks it's going to be 1 baby and that it will be a baby brother. We shall see.<br />
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So after finding out the news so early we were all able to breathe a little bit! Rob and Andrew finished up some work in the house and I made some phone calls and texts to spread the news! Finding out so early let us really enjoy and celebrate the rest of the day! It started to get more and more drizzly and we had the great idea to go and leave all the kids at Taba's house and go to the Cheesecake Factory! Having big cousins around to babysit is awesome! :) Rob had to be back by 7 to leave for Girl's Camp (he had to go up and be like a security guard overnight tonight) so we raced up there and had a yummy dinner! We walked around the mall for a few minutes after where I will admit I bought a few really on sale items at Baby Gap to celebrate. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QqWznXcRx8q0U3fDsGrXnCMs0o-XJV3d-opd8_HSHKk3viJg2ZCG_DcDLkoSyZ6-S12K3lLpw4ZnwxxFFIdMDTh23_ilEfBCv5UvJPf-Q9ry7TJ0YHhUcRtA3kN2QpLemOzijLSjP35A/s1600/cheesecake2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QqWznXcRx8q0U3fDsGrXnCMs0o-XJV3d-opd8_HSHKk3viJg2ZCG_DcDLkoSyZ6-S12K3lLpw4ZnwxxFFIdMDTh23_ilEfBCv5UvJPf-Q9ry7TJ0YHhUcRtA3kN2QpLemOzijLSjP35A/s200/cheesecake2.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNipc3DsJCmZe2-TWDG4ED-OogTkJH11PhJWiRU5Xi7gnUtcSZ-PM3ntlgTLzV4JkrFvoWh73ntGrJWxYJQvwbEAVmyCsUvjEwXMOkpcoxgNGe62iP9Hgm_YmL25k24gVAR3fS9_skSS5/s1600/cheesecake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNipc3DsJCmZe2-TWDG4ED-OogTkJH11PhJWiRU5Xi7gnUtcSZ-PM3ntlgTLzV4JkrFvoWh73ntGrJWxYJQvwbEAVmyCsUvjEwXMOkpcoxgNGe62iP9Hgm_YmL25k24gVAR3fS9_skSS5/s200/cheesecake.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wUnQQ37wdaCP_qEf6-juPbvZmKnvv5gDIq080JcMouQ0SGia5kg3a8jKbEVtAdjuD_4ZRgIVUmcHusYwgEaj9r8kDXTPFX6KC11M6jtPRwccBJVAwI8EbUchLk0J1sm5WBZY8Ytlzqmm/s1600/cheesecake3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wUnQQ37wdaCP_qEf6-juPbvZmKnvv5gDIq080JcMouQ0SGia5kg3a8jKbEVtAdjuD_4ZRgIVUmcHusYwgEaj9r8kDXTPFX6KC11M6jtPRwccBJVAwI8EbUchLk0J1sm5WBZY8Ytlzqmm/s200/cheesecake3.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-S9bbKhbUnMk8DGSlGHbuLcjjjqsKoLIyk8Y-oLPyyUbpxiEk32rZfyE75MijpGcopEDELARUCra9bgxQaFkblV9eaVISI-2MDkWaZgwoCv-vl4daxW6q8DR5rIv9EoCRalOZhgnjdhc/s1600/cheesecake4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-S9bbKhbUnMk8DGSlGHbuLcjjjqsKoLIyk8Y-oLPyyUbpxiEk32rZfyE75MijpGcopEDELARUCra9bgxQaFkblV9eaVISI-2MDkWaZgwoCv-vl4daxW6q8DR5rIv9EoCRalOZhgnjdhc/s200/cheesecake4.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> YAY!!!!!! </div><br />
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We came home and Rob had to leave but that was ok - I snuggled Robby and we read lots of stories. He's going to be the best big brother! Then sometimes it's nice to have a quiet evening to yourself - especially when you have a NOVEL of a blog post to write such as this! I watched Runaway Bride and hopefully will be able to fall asleep soon cause I know I'm exhausted!<br />
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I wish I had more pictures - I have lots in my mind! And I know there will be tons to come!<br />
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We are so happy and so relieved! We know our journey isn't over but this is a huge step in the right direction! We feel so blessed and so lucky to have so many people praying for us and supporting us through this. I am floored by the amount of people that respond to my posts and updates and it strengthens us knowing we have so many people rooting for us! So thank you for all of your support!Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-32698206596057531112011-07-06T22:23:00.000-07:002011-07-06T22:23:39.327-07:00No news yet...I had my first HCG blood test today but they do NOT give me the results of today's test - they have me test again Friday morning and they will call me with the results later that day. They want to compare the HCG levels and see them going up, that's why.<br />
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I asked them today what time on Friday I might hear back from them and she said they usually call people with results at lunch or around 4 pm. I'm going to try to put 4 in my mind since it usually seems to take longer than quicker to get results. I wish I knew exactly what time... I want Rob to be with me but he can't wait around all day...<br />
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I just want to fast forward to Friday! As Taba said I wish I could just be knocked out till then so I don't have to live through these 2 days! I feel like I was doing really good until today. I went for my blood test and it just kind of hit me... this is it. We're almost done. Rob said today he's not ready for it to be final. Like right now we still can hope it's positive... but if it's negative...<br />
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I've had a cold all week and I was starting to get paranoid that if my body was working on fighting off this dumb cold it wouldn't be able to focus on growing a baby (or two). I had a realization early yesterday morning that maybe I should put myself back on "bedrest" so my body didn't have to do so much work. I took a good long nap yesterday afternoon and I was feeling a little better this morning so that's good.<br />
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I'm rambling and that's because I'm just feeling soooo nervous and anxious and I just feel like writing a bit to get it out and off my chest...<br />
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I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through tomorrow and Friday.... I know I should stay busy but at the same time part of me wants to be alone. I feel like crying but I know I should be thinking positive... so far tomorrow I have swimming w/Liv in the morning, then watching SYTYCD at night with Becca.... maybe I need to add "go out to eat for dinner."<br />
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A part of me... a BIG part of me... feels like there's no way this is going to work because for so long that's all I've gotten - bad news. The other night I saw a teensy bit of blood when putting in my progesterone suppository and I about had a heart attack. Last year I didn't even do the blood tests for my IUI cycle because I got my period before they were scheduled. My period would come today or tomorrow in a normal cycle but because I'm on 2 types of progesterone this time I doubt I'd get my period until I stop taking those even if I'm not pregnant.<br />
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I tried to explain tonight to Robby that we'll find out Friday if the eggs grew into babies because they might not. But that if they didn't then we'll have to try again with the other egg we have. And if that doesn't work then we'll have to start over and do the shots in my tummy to make more eggs... I told him if it doesn't work then mommy will be pretty sad for a while but that we'll try again and keep doing whatever we need to so he can have a brother or sister one day. I don't want to give him bad news... I want to give him a sibling.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTDDmqKda5At_fhLyX3Tl0y7VYtGDpksx4xQWlvOGnCB7gNGbyWu2wVllDUOIe4gAj3mt4u8xO-uKucYBwkeWOtT5DzicSHRanLOVeMef0f5Wrg_mzwpY-Lhkh7toLOVLHCpvXEf2sy3E/s1600/IMG_0906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTDDmqKda5At_fhLyX3Tl0y7VYtGDpksx4xQWlvOGnCB7gNGbyWu2wVllDUOIe4gAj3mt4u8xO-uKucYBwkeWOtT5DzicSHRanLOVeMef0f5Wrg_mzwpY-Lhkh7toLOVLHCpvXEf2sy3E/s320/IMG_0906.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bad news...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bszXrRPnYo68JgqBel_XRjJBTXoed8x2ogyu2eo921hKcgTMKGTgQiYVG285qYJYf7tc_Fvv5nrrye0831Ly4BQwIh8KAuP6j2-AJfL8eXNUd9rYOX1vQ04RyIr11LVpdBVBLOhNf8EJ/s1600/IMG_0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bszXrRPnYo68JgqBel_XRjJBTXoed8x2ogyu2eo921hKcgTMKGTgQiYVG285qYJYf7tc_Fvv5nrrye0831Ly4BQwIh8KAuP6j2-AJfL8eXNUd9rYOX1vQ04RyIr11LVpdBVBLOhNf8EJ/s320/IMG_0908.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good news...</td></tr>
</tbody></table> My heart is racing... please let this work....<br />
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I promise to update you all on Friday as soon as possible. Thank you so much for all your support and prayers.Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-5946362094518824152011-07-03T21:17:00.000-07:002011-07-03T21:17:44.041-07:00Patiently waiting...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cxZ2CXjyK9EY9GyZ69tN2IGCF763sqfsK3v5WbV0vT8z0j3-s_nfevC4DDqe6ZWpXIX5JITVEybvGFqZQnpgrHSA3OuYIdry8weWaGx2KbBRrJawgdPdCv7DdpISFpGxudbAvlVUTQtP/s1600/index1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cxZ2CXjyK9EY9GyZ69tN2IGCF763sqfsK3v5WbV0vT8z0j3-s_nfevC4DDqe6ZWpXIX5JITVEybvGFqZQnpgrHSA3OuYIdry8weWaGx2KbBRrJawgdPdCv7DdpISFpGxudbAvlVUTQtP/s200/index1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>...or trying to patiently wait....<br />
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It's Sunday night.... so not counting today 5 days left till we know!<br />
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Luckily last week we had a birthday party, then one last Rob work party, then 4th of July celebrating started and will continue tomorrow... Tuesday will be tricky to stay distracted... Wednesday is the first blood draw, then an acupuncture apt.... Thursday??? And then FRIDAY. Blood draw in the morning and then wait for them to call with the results. Ahhhh. I plan on going to the pool with my sisters/friends and pretty sure if it's bad news I'm going to have to leave to go home and cry for a few hours. And if it's good news then it'll definitely be a day to CELEBRATE!<br />
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Of course I'm looking for "signs" and symptoms of pregnancy but after 3 years of trying to get pregnant I know that really there's no way to tell until you get a positive pregnancy test! That being said, I'm sooo bloated, cranky, having weird dreams, and talking/doing some kind of silly dumb things! Of course all of that could be the end of my cycle, the progesterone shots, stress.... so I'm realistic... <br />
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I didn't update you guys on our last two little embryos - I got a call from the lab the day after the transfer, so last Wednesday, and she said they were able to freeze one beautiful blastocyst. I had been hoping for at least 2 to freeze so when/if we do a frozen cycle we'd be able to transfer 2 eggs but we only have the 1 which is better than NONE so we'll take it! And it's a well developed embryo (blastocyst) so that's good.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__prfcWg5O0Ozq3jmw9KL69XXY7X38JpiqZrn70SaWmyOTf2LO2ITKtrPVjhmFCce1qZ3ncvdznroM0SVvgdpo5JI5PwSY7ZHRMYvDBgznrGcfm2dFGbnlEx9Y8Z8u35mxlbQ8-81UNSS/s1600/25f_day5blastocyst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__prfcWg5O0Ozq3jmw9KL69XXY7X38JpiqZrn70SaWmyOTf2LO2ITKtrPVjhmFCce1qZ3ncvdznroM0SVvgdpo5JI5PwSY7ZHRMYvDBgznrGcfm2dFGbnlEx9Y8Z8u35mxlbQ8-81UNSS/s320/25f_day5blastocyst.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not mine but this is a good pic of a blastocyst!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ok, so I know maybe you thought the next update would be the results but I am having a hard time waiting so again I find myself turning to writing to cope... lots of deep breathing... just trying to think positive thoughts and hopefully the days will go by fast...Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2245936557240687296.post-81107898278545255742011-06-28T22:23:00.000-07:002011-06-28T22:23:42.655-07:00*Think Sticky Thoughts*Ok, our little embryos are in! Here's the picture they gave me today of the ones we transferred:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQerzErnJWe1lKvswd7-P-MB2HyE5_MqsNiuj94rGBXtLsng7MzI23uqeesWFflpx5MAu7CnvEWOYmHGZkv3oqTgCEP306Sair4JFCWOXIbGv0vssVFPY7lc_lvhAWxzRa82OzXtCU8zXx/s1600/Scan0004%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQerzErnJWe1lKvswd7-P-MB2HyE5_MqsNiuj94rGBXtLsng7MzI23uqeesWFflpx5MAu7CnvEWOYmHGZkv3oqTgCEP306Sair4JFCWOXIbGv0vssVFPY7lc_lvhAWxzRa82OzXtCU8zXx/s400/Scan0004%255B2%255D.jpg" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our potential future children!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The one on the right is a blastocyst and the other is an early blastocyst - both really good quality! He said each one had about 25% chance of implanting so we have like a 50% chance of getting pregnant with these little guys... <br />
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The update on all our embryos: we were down to 7 on Sunday. Today we had the 2 that we transferred (1 blastocyst, 1 early blastocyst), and now there are only 2 others that are still progressing but they are a little slow so he's not sure if they'll be good enough to freeze or not. He said they'd look at them again tomorrow and hopefully they'll have progressed a bit more and then they'd freeze them. I was really counting on having some frozen embryos to be able to do a frozen cycle if this one didn't work. There's no way we could afford another full cycle again for a long time... so hopefully they eggs are able to freeze so we have that as a back up plan! Or! Hopefully we just get pregnant and don't need them!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3RfseleXSvPUIZsNuN-zlsIuezgqlLW-4GaDxnekxckk4gBIm5ssBmmDiwSuwkZyiGyGraastJJy3WQZoFoJgeRWqfYWPFA8KhwnWNuchHBxInjhHoivwcVl-0u_91EYB1fQJdQcwsxl/s1600/mount-timpanogos-mormon-temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3RfseleXSvPUIZsNuN-zlsIuezgqlLW-4GaDxnekxckk4gBIm5ssBmmDiwSuwkZyiGyGraastJJy3WQZoFoJgeRWqfYWPFA8KhwnWNuchHBxInjhHoivwcVl-0u_91EYB1fQJdQcwsxl/s200/mount-timpanogos-mormon-temple.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>Our apt today was at 1:15. We decided this morning to go to the <a href="http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/mounttimpanogos/">temple</a> before our apt - it's convenient since it's just up the road from the fertility center. It was a peaceful way to spend the morning and help us keep things in perspective! I hadn't eaten much so after the temple we raced to Panda Express near by and ate our lunch in about 10 minutes flat before racing over to the fertility center.<br />
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While we were sitting in the waiting room Tonya, one of the nurses, comes up and asks, "How about some valium?!" It seemed funny at the time! They give you valium before the procedure to help you relax as well as relax your uterus.<br />
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We waited in the exam room and Dr. Foulk came in and showed us the pictures of our embryos and told us how the others were doing. The procedure is pretty simple and took about 10 minutes. They do an abdominal ultrasound while the dr inserts a catheter and uses that to put the embryos into the uterus. Then they check under a microscope to make sure both of the embryos were transferred from the catheter. <br />
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When they finished the dr didn't want me to move at all - I believe his words were, "be like a wet noodle" - as they pulled me up farther on the bed and I laid there for at least 30 minutes. Rob and I were both so tired and the lights were still out so be basically snoozed the whole time... I couldn't go to bed last night til 1 am and then Robby woke up randomly at 5 and kept coming in! So 4 hours of sleep... didn't feel great... when they came back in and told us I could get up, go to the bathroom, and go home I was nervous to get up! I felt like, "are you sure they're not gonna come back out??" <br />
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We came home and now I've just been making the most of my "Princess Days" as they said. The nurse explained I don't necessarily have to be laying down the entire time but the point is we want all the blood flow to go to the uterus so I don't want to be moving around. So I can sit up, watch tv, read... Taba was able to come down today and took Robby and her kids out to the pool and then I took a much needed nap! Then my sweet primary ladies brought us dinner which was awesome. Rob came home and luckily Robby was ready for bed early (since he woke up at 5 am!) so it all went pretty smoothly today!<br />
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Rob has been very helpful tonight but I realize now how many times a day/night I get up to grab something or do something... he keeps making trips back and forth around the house for me, hopefully he doesn't get too tired of it too quickly! :)<br />
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Now that these little embryos are in there I just feel like the pressure's on a little bit... I feel like I'm fragile or something. I don't want to jostle them or do anything that's going to prevent them from implanting! We will have 2 blood tests and compare the HCG levels and we'll get the results on 7/8! Please let these 10 days go by fast!<br />
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I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you guys for your comments, messages, texts and just all your support!!! It means so much to us to know we have so many people rooting for us! So, thanks. :)Esther Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175733158098225208noreply@blogger.com10