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!