Christmas Dinner

Christmas Outfits

GBF vs. GBS

A good friend, Rebecca, recommended the Gentle Birth Formula when I asked how in the world her first birth went so well. So, I hopped on board and took it for the last four weeks of my pregnancy with Abigail (didn't want to miss those last two shifts at work). =) Not sure if it was the magic herbs or just that a second labor goes easier and faster, but wow, I will recommend the GBF to anyone who is pregnant. It only costs $30, doesn't taste that bad, and if nothing else has a great placebo effect.

However, there should be a disclaimer on the bottle: don't dwaddle once those contractions start! I figured we had hours and hours of labor ahead of us and didn't dare hope that Abigail could come so fast. When we got to the hospital, the nurse noticed on the chart that I had tested positive for Group B Strep a few weeks before. I hadn't heard the results from the midwife so I had just assumed that I was negative again (as I had been with Nathaniel). GBS positive moms are supposed to get an IV with antibiotics during labor to pass the antibiotics on to the newborn, protecting the baby from the exposure she receives during birth. Alas, there was no time to even think of starting an IV with Abigail's birth. This was great in that I don't really care for needles, but not so great because the protocol is to monitor newborns in the hospital for 48 hrs. after birth if they miss the antibiotics. 48 hrs! We were planning on going home the same day! We were not very happy. Luckily, Abigail looked great and they agreed to let us go early with lots of instructions. So, the moral of the story is: if you're going to take the GBF, know your status on the GBS. =)

Details

It is so nice to be back home! Here's the story:

Tuesday afternoon--I am very cranky and decide to take a long nap.

9pm--I wake up feeling much happier and energized.

11:30 pm--We go to bed and I start feeling contractions, but as this has gone on for the last two weeks I try not to get my hopes up.

11:45--Nathaniel comes into our room for some strange reason, then goes back to bed.

Midnight--I decide this is worth telling Ben about.

12:15--The contractions are 3 minutes apart and I want to get going to the hospital. We decide to go to the hospital first and get checked so the midwife can keep sleeping.

12:45--We leave for the hospital and Ben tries to entertain me by driving over the roundabouts instead of around them. I am not entertained.

01:00--We check into the hospital. I opt for a wheelchair ride because I can't imagine walking at this point.

01:20--The nurse checks me and says "You're not going to believe this!". I say "Oh no, I'm still a 3?" She says "You're a 9." Praise the Lord! Suddenly there are several nurses wheeling stuff into the room.

01:30--I can't help but push. The nurse tries to help me wait for the midwife.

01:35--The midwife arrives.

01:51--Abigail arrives! 8 lbs, 5 oz., 21 inches long. Whew! Ben cuts the cord and I can't believe it's over.

I recommend having your second baby first, if at all possible. It is so much nicer! =)

She's here!
Abigail arrived at 1:51 am today, after a short intense labor and three hefty pushes. She has the same dark hair and rosy skin that Nathaniel had as a newborn. Thank you for your prayers! More doting pics and details to come.....

Nothin' doin.

Well, the due date has come and gone and...Abigail is still cozy and warm in my belly. At my last appointment, Annie (midwife) said that 75% of babies are born after their due date (4% on, and 21% before). Does this make sense? What is a due date other than a statistical measure of the human gestation? Shouldn't Nagel's rule be changed to make it 48% before, 4% on, and 48% after? =) Not that I'm bitter or anything....

"Hi Granny...Abigail still in mommy's tummy...but I hold the baby doll...I be real gentle...I want to go on a bike ride."

I am going to be pregnant forever.

Midwife appointment yesterday--not much has changed! A whole week and no new numbers to report. So, I've given up and decided to enjoy waddling around, since I'll apparently be the first medical case of gravidarium infinitum. =)

Christmas Tree!



We went up to Grannie Carol's property last weekend and she let us cut down a Christmas tree--great fun!

Last Two!


Tonight and tomorrow are my last two shifts at work--wo-hoo! If you think of me, please pray that 1. the ER will be calm and boring, and 2. that I will have the energy to make it through the nights and not go into labor. For all the joking I've done about how nice it would be for my water to break so I can get out of work, I'd really rather not leave my co-workers short staffed, and I'd like to get in my last chiropractor visit (Thurs) and massage (Friday). So, please pray for God's perfect timing for Abigail's arrival!

Big Brother's Room

I figured we'd better show Nathaniel's before and after, too. Thanks again, Grandpa Jim, for painting! It sure is great to have doting parents.

Extreme Makeover










The room formerly known as Nathaniel's...














...now fit for Abigail thanks to a coat of pink paint (courtesy of Grandpa Jim) and some beautiful crib linens (courtesy of Grandma Liz).




























We are almost ready!

Vail





We had a great time in Vail making almond toffee, skiing (not very far, and my back was aching for 2 days!), and playing in the park. It was great to spend time together as a family since Ben has been so busy with school and his master's program. On the way home, we spent the day in Glenwood Springs, hit the pool, and watched a fireworks show in the evening.

Climbing







Nathaniel was a little cautious at first, but after he saw Daddy climb to the top, he refused to come down until he made it all the way up. And by the end, he loved it! We are so proud. =)

Pumpkin Patch!











We joined up with friends to visit a pumpkin patch and corn maze....and experiment with Mentos and Coke!










Can you guess what Nathaniel was for Halloween? Like father, like son. Thanks, Grannie Carol, for the awesome outfit! Nathaniel wore it for 3 days straight.

Moab










Ben and company went on two bike rides, and Nathaniel and I explored the bustling metropolis of Moab. If you're ever there, I recommend the Rotary Park, complete with two sets of playground equipment and all manner of xylophones. Great fun!

Gymnastics










Thank you Grandma Liz and Grandpa Jim for the gymnastics class! As you can see, I'm headed for the Olympics....

Ready for take-off!

Color Sunday?



Grandpa Darrel treated us to a weekend at Spruce Lodge on the Grand Mesa for Color Sunday...but about the only color we saw was white! We all enjoyed the preview of winter. Nathaniel keeps asking if we can go "snowing" again.

"Hmmm....what should I draw next?"

I know...I'm going to blink and he'll be doing calculus and physics homework.

We went on a lovely hike to Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs, CO last weekend. Nathaniel impressed us by hiking nearly the whole trail back down to the car. The fall colors were beautiful and it was great to get outside!

Correction

This morning when I checked on Nathaniel in his bed, he pointed to a picture in his "Big Truck Book". As it was semi-dark and the book was upside down, I glanced at the caption and said, "That's a fire engine". He quickly said, "No, mommy, that's Giant Excavator". By golly, he was right! How does he remember all of those big words? It must be a boy thing.

Ouray











Last week we loaded up two vehicles with four mommies, seven kids, and one aunt, and drove to the Ouray Hot Springs pool for a day of fun in the sun. The kids had a blast in the 98-degree water and we grown-ups had a great time chatting and soaking. The perfect finish? Ice cream!

Artistic Genius











A few weeks ago, Nathaniel was sitting on my lap coloring while I read email.

Nate: "Draw trailer"
Me: "Mmm-hmmm. Nice trailer, honey."
Nate: "Hitch. Truck."
Me: "Mmmm-hmmm."
Nate: "See mommy. Draw car."
Me: "Mmmmm...holy smokes! You drew a car! With volume! And wheels! In the right places!"











I'm so proud! =)

New Links

Check out the my mom's Stampin' Up page and Carol's picture pages -- links on the right.
Also, Chris (my sister in law) introduced me to TeaLuxe last year when we visited Harvard Square--I highly recommend their Victorian Rose tea (Bin # 142). Flowery, girly, smooth...makes my little pinky finger just levitate off the cup handle. =)

Mom to the rescue!











Me: "Mom, can you take a picture of me to put on our blog since my camera is dead?"

Thanks, Mom! The only problem is that the pictures are small--so just squint and use your imagination. =)

By the way, Ben found our charger-yeay! But now the computer won't recognize the camera. Grrr. One of these days it will all come together.

So I'd like to post a picture, but....
...our charger is MIA and our camera has just enough battery for me to see what great pics are on there, but not enough battery to dump them on the computer. We are going camping this weekend so hopefully the charger will magically reappear.
Abigail is tossing, turning, and thumping, especially at bedtime. It's amazing how quickly the time goes from "I don't look or feel pregnant" to "This is getting uncomfortable". I just keep remembering how much easier it is to take care of a baby inside of me (as opposed to outside of me), and enjoying the relative peace and control!