Baby James Update

Today things did not go as planned. I had called my doctors office to see if I could push back the scheduled induction my doctor had set up for Tues to Thurs. I just felt like little James might need a couple of extra days to figure out how to make his way into the world. I left her a message, but found out it was her day off so someone else would be calling me. I got home from a walk and running some errands when one of the docs from the office called me back. After explaining my feelings she informed me why they don't like their patients to go over 41 weeks, especially if the baby is measuring big like little James is. I tried to explain why I wanted to wait a couple of days and she said she would call my doc and the hospital to see if we could push it to Thurs. Well... the hospital only takes a certain amount of scheduled inductions each day and the next available appointment was not until next Tues. My doc called me (on her day off) to tell me it would have been fine to push it back a couple of days, but she would not be comfortable waiting until I was 42 weeks and would probably only deliver me if it was a c-section! I love my doc and trust her to know what is best. I don't think that James is going to be a 9 lb baby, but he could be if I wait too long. I might be able to handle delivering a big baby, but I just don't know. So after much thought and prayer, we decided to head to the doc today to get checked and do a few things that might help push me along. We will see if they work tonight. I was dilated about 1/2 cm but was 70% effaced with a soft cervix, which is good. Otherwise, I go in tomorrow to possibly be induced. I am hoping I will get there and I will be at a point where I can just let nature take it's course with out any pitocin... but if I need it, that's OK too.

After I saw the doc, she sent me to fetal monitoring at the hospital to have the baby and my fluids checked (his heart rate had dropped a little). Everything there looked good! His heart rate was great and he was moving a ton. My fluid levels are good and the best news of all is that James has turned for me! I was so happy to see that he is no longer sunnyside up and is in the perfect position for birth. I have been doing exercises and seeing a chiropractor to get him to turn, so I guess it worked!

Now back to the waiting game, but it wont be for very long. It is crazy to think that in a couple of days we will be holding our little baby boy.

How do you like your eggs???

Sunnyside up???

Well that is how Baby James likes them!

Today was my "due date" and no baby. I am really not that surprised. Most first babies are late right?

I went in to see my wonderful doc today and had an ultrasound to check out how he is doing. Turns out, everything looks good. Fluid is good, heart is good, I saw his mouth open and close and saw that his knee truly is under my ribs. The big surprise was that he is head down (good) but in the posterior position, aka sunnyside up (not good). This means that he is not in the best position to get down in my pelvis and slide down the birth canal. Babies ARE born posterior, but the labors tend to be longer and more painful. Often the baby will turn while he makes his way down... but not always.

WARNING: There may be TMI ahead.

Since his head is not down in my pelvis, he is not pushing on my cervix helping me to dilate. Right now I only have a "dimple" in my cervix. This can all change over night of course. I am going to try some exercises to get him to turn around and the fact that he hasn't descended into my pelvis works in my favor.

I had to schedule an induction for next Tues because he also seems to be a little on the big side (from what they can tell, but that could be off by a pound or two) and a big baby in a posterior position can create some problems. For those of you who know me well, you know I have planned a natural birth using hypnobabies. This all could put a little bit of a damper on that plan, which obviously makes me a little sad. But at the same time I know that the most important thing is that James gets here safe and sound no matter how he decides he needs to get here. I just pray that he turns and makes this a little easier on all of us.

One week to go????

I can not believe that I am in my 39th week of pregnancy! I really feel like it has flown by. I would have to say the 1rst trimester was the longest. With the nausea, throwing up and fatigue. The worrying that something might go wrong and the fact that you don't look pregnant, just pudgy, it has to be the longest.

But all of that is behind me now. These days I am feeling good! I feel little James moving a lot and his kicks are very strong and his movements make me laugh. I am constantly making Haws "look at this" or "feel this". It never gets old and I think I will really miss it, even though I will love having him here with us.

I have been very lucky in this pregnancy and I don't really have anything to complain about. The human body is amazing and it is crazy what changes happen while you are pregnant. I hope I am able to do this a few more times :)

I just wanted to document some of the things I am going to miss about being pregnant.

 

• Number one has to be feeling him move inside of me, especially when Haws can feel it too.
• People are so nice to you when you are pregnant. I have been surprised by how many men take and interest in my growing belly and ask all about the baby. It is cute.
• Connecting with strangers simply because your shared experience is so visible.
• Wearing tight clothes and not worrying about my rolls showing. There is just a huge belly that I can be proud to show off.
• Hearing about other peoples pregnancies and birth experiences. I like the good ones the most :)
• Having the support of family and friends.
• Baby showers in which you can feel the love for the baby to be and seeing so many of the people you care about, who care about you and your baby.
• The undeniable truth that there is a God who loves us. I don't know how you can see life being created in such a fascinating way and not believe there is a God.
• Treating myself to prenatal massages and pedicures. I will miss those!
• Being able to exercise so easily with the baby. I am sure it will be harder once he is on the outside!
• Laughing at how hard it is to get out of bed, especially when you are doing it 4+ times a night.
• Haws' face when he talks about how excited he is for the baby to be here.
• My appointments with my doctor, I just love her!
• Other people's reactions to my belly. "You are so small". "When are you due!?!?" "You must be ready to pop any day now". Everyone has such a different perspective.

So now I am playing the waiting game. I am done with work, have finished the nursery, have my hospital items set out and ready to pack and feel like I am as ready as I am going to be.

I have been keeping busy seeing friends and family, fitting in as much fun as I can, pampering myself, organizing the house, going out to eat and going on dates with Haws. I don't think I can ever be one of those people who are bored when they aren't working. I am getting a little anxious to have James enter the world. Now that I feel ready, I am like "bring it on!" I know that he will decide when the right time to be born is, I just hope it isn't two weeks past his due date! But for now, I am going to enjoy this time as much as possible. Life will not be the same once he gets here... and I welcome the change, even with all of the challenges.

The Nursery is Done!

Only 2 more weeks to go and we finally finished the nursery. What a relief. Now this little guy can come anytime and I feel pretty much ready. We had to finish the closet organizer and Haws finished it last night so I could put everything away. It feels good not having that hanging over us.

I like to keep things simple, so are nursery is pretty basic.

One side of the closet that Haws worked so hard on for me :)

Crib, circle mirrors, rug and the bouncer I put together myself.

The letters my friend made for us and the changing table. I plan to hang some pictures once he is here too.

And I love this "magazine rack" from Pottery Barn!!! Great for holding all the awesome books we got.

OK James... we are just about ready for you now.

Mothers Day

Next to having a baby on the way. This was the best gift Haws gave me this Mothers Day.

This robe is the most comfy/cozy robe I have ever owned. I would wear it all day, everyday if I could :)

Ellen Show

Every year Ellen has a mothers day show with an audience full of first time expectant mothers. I have known people who have been in the past and always thought it would be awesome! Luckily, little James is due mid June, which made me a candidate for this years show. I scouted the website everyday to see when they were taking applicants and the second I saw it, I applied. I got a call literally 15 min later and was on the show! I was so excited, I am sure my neighbors heard me screaming :)

You see, Ellen gives all the pregnant girls in the audience a whole lot of baby loot! Haws was especially excited for the financial benefit of going on the show. I took my cousin who flew in from Utah and I had other friends that got on so it was fun having a group of us. Me and another girl were "big" enough to sit in the "ready to pop section" and sat in the front row. So you might be able to see us on TV.

It was so much fun and here is some of the stuff we got. The rest is being ordered and shipped.

We did get a stroller, a really cool high chair and 6 months of free diapers!

No car seat or crib this year, I think the companies couldn't give as much this year as they have in the past, but I am so grateful for the things we did get!

The Age HiLo highchair

And the design in the front is the one I think I am going with for the Teutonia stroller.

Healthy Chicken Enchiladas

I took an Enchilada recipe and tweaked it to my liking and it turned out really yummy!

I thought it was worth sharing and documenting for future reference :)

Lori's Healthy Chicken Enchiladas

3 c. cooked chicken breast, shredded

10-12 low carb wheat tortillas

1 can healthy request cream of chicken soup

1-2 TB. Taco seasoning

2 c. light shredded Mexican cheese blend

1 c. plain greek yogurt

1 pkg. Lawrys Enchilada sauce ( prepared with water and 1, 6oz. can of tomato paste)

Mix soup, yogurt, chicken, taco seasoning and 1 to 1 1/2 c cheese together and set aside. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Fill tortillas (about 3 TB of mixture), roll and place tortillas into pan. Pour the prepared Enchilada sauce over the top of the enchiladas and top with remaining cheese. Bake covered at 350 for 30 minutes and then uncovered for 15-20 min or until bubbling.

Enjoy!