Inks - Pedernales Falls

Day 3 of our camp-out was spent hiking around the park.  Which wasn't Kelsey's favorite part of the weekend.  We even saw a few leaves changing color which is rare around here.  I'd love to go back when its warm enough to swim.

 The girls learned how to properly play with their food.

 We packed the car and started home, but swung by Pedernales Falls (another state park) on our way home.  It was a nice park, but no playground, which is no bueno for this Momma of littles.

 And, they don't even let you swim here and slide down the falls. boring. (or safe, whatever.)

my thoughts on a cesarean

So, I've been thinking about compiling my thoughts on the subject of c-section for a while, the bottom line being I love it.

I will say I understand why many people avoid surgery and try every possible option before resorting to said surgery but I am not one of them. 

I think I realized what bothers me the most is when people assume I hated it, and can't believe I wouldn't try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean).  I have a little bit of a hard time not being a little sensitive when people say things like "I'm sorry" (really, because I'm not), or "find a new Doctor"

1. I like my Doctor, and I trust him.  He's delivered thousands of babies and I have now had two.  Worst case scenario for me would be laboring for hours (days maybe??) and end up in surgery anyway. Recovering from 'both'? no bueno.
2. My Doctor doesn't do VBACs.  Again, I like my Dr, and didn't want to try to find someone else in a short amount of time.
3. I have had two children and have NO CLUE what a contraction feels like. . . . .  . I hear they suck.
4. Being able to schedule your child's birthday (and TIME) is AWESOME! Yes, the day before can be a bit overwhelming but that's just one day, and although its only one week 'early' I feel it greatly reduces the ticking time bomb of anticipated labor.
5. I actually like being able to stay in the hospital an extra day or two:  yes, the first night in the hospital isn't pleasant (is 5 am really the BEST time to turn on all the lights and draw blood? but blood would be drawn no matter what the form of delivery).  This time around the nurses timed checking on me (blood pressure/temp) with feeding times so I needed to wake up anyway.  Having a call button is awesome.  I think the hospital food is good, and I don't have to think about meals (I also get vouchers for guests meals too).  I take advantage of the option to send the baby to the nursery in the middle of the night.
6.We don't want 6 (or more) kids.  Sorry Grandparents.  Maybe its somewhat of a mis-conception that c-sections limit the number of children you can have.  We asked the Dr about that one and he said 'no'.  His personal 'record' is 6 on the same Mother, and since we don't plan on having 6+ kids in this life, that's not a problem.
7. Recovery. Drugs - problem solved. But seriously, maybe I'm lucky enough to simply recover well but recovery isn't painful.  Yes, my incision is sore for a few days but unless a toddler pushes directly against it with all her weight I hardly notice. Furthermore, is there really anything wrong with not being able to do anything but snuggle your newborn for a few days?

8. In my opinion a preventative scheduled c-section is head over tails better than dealing with a ruptured uterus.

Ok, the 'liquid only' diet after surgery isn't the most enjoyable.  I will say, without getting into all the specifics, it was much easier this time than with Rylee.

I was also a bit more nervous towards the end this time around, as when Rylee was born, we didn't have other children to care for at home, so being in the hospital the 'extra' time didn't matter.  Turns out, its not that big of a deal.  Thanks to some amazing friends, a fantastic husband, and a wonderful (visiting) Mother.  Anticipating leaving Rylee for the evening (for the first time) was much harder than actually leaving her.

Granted, a c-section is all I've known (unlike most that complain about them).

Many people have argued women have been having babies for centuries without resulting to surgery, while this is true, way back then childbirth was also the leading cause of death.

I guess the moral of my rant is instead of complaining about it, I'm finding the positive in what I've been given.  Having c-sections have brought me two of the most beautiful, precious girls and I couldn't be happier.

Happy Birthday

Kelsey's Birthday started off in the wee hours of the morning, as we had to be at the hospital between 5 and 5:30. . . AM {I commented often why am I waking up so early when we have this scheduled, and for months? . . . . the nurse mentioned that's 6 less hours I have to go without eating/drinking as well as the option to go home a day early . . . I guess}

My last pregnant picture:

 

 We got all set up, monitored for a few minutes {apparently I was having contractions that were 4-8 minutes apart though still braxton hicks as I felt nothing} got some blood drawn then we waited for the anesthesiologist and the Dr to show up chatted with each for a bit, took a little nap and then waited some more.  A few minutes later we hear my Dr chewing out the lab for being over an hour late on my blood work.  . . . . you know in case of emergency they would already have the info needed to keep me alive. Then we headed off to the OR.

Michael, ready to join us a few minutes later (they don't let spouses in the OR until we're ready to go-something about a sterile enviornment and they don't want him passing out at the sight of the needle) :

 The anesthesiologist commented how relaxed I was prior to (and during) receiving the epidural/spinal block.  Shortly after my blood pressure dropped (totally normal) and I felt really nauseous.  They gave me oxygen and some drugs and I felt much better. . . . though not quite well enough to ask for the mirror I originally intended to have set in place to watch the surgery.  Michael was then able to join us - one hand in mine the other on the camera and he shot away. . . . .  This is NOT Kelsey's first picture :) (While I'm totally willing to share *those* pictures, I just don't care to post them the blog)

A few tugs and pulls later I hear "Oh, BLONDE hair!"  {my heart may or may not have skipped a beat} and then Michael announced "It's a GIRL" and the Dr sang "Happy Birthday" to our (at the time) no-name child. It was 8:05 AM.  She cried and cried, it was a wonderful sound.

They then brought her around the curtain to show me and then Michael left my side to watch them clean her up a bit. 

 They wheeled her over into my line of sight and weighed her: 8lbs 10 oz, swaddled her up and Michael brought her to me.

And we meet.  I was so happy to see her sweet face and smell her baby skin. I smothered those vitamin K'd eyes with kisses.

 The Dr finished up, drew 'her' cord blood from the umbilical cord for donation, stitched me up and we were on our way to the recovery room where we could properly inspect our precious angel and figure out what we'll name her before we start making phone calls.

 Kelsey Eliza it is. Perfection.

The nursery came and got her for her bath and tests.  They were just about finished as I headed up to my room.  They made a fun little bow out of her hat and showed her to us through the window. Another nurse complimented myself and the anesthesiologist for how well I was recovering and getting movement/strength again.

Kelsey looks a lot like Rylee did - Rylee's hair was darker and cheeks chunkier.  Kelsey has (what I think) SUPER long toes and she has a little webbed finger (which we'll have surgically separated sometime this year).  She was pretty swollen for the first couple days (the Pediatrician could barely get her eyes open to check them out) and her newborn rash has mostly all cleared up.

My heart is full.  Love is abundant.

Stay tuned for Part 2 . . . .

Maternity Pictures

My most fabulous friend took Maternity Pictures for me this week.  I'm so glad she did!  I kindof love them.

I shared them on facebook, but since some of my favorite people don't have FB accounts (ie: my Mom - and I make her read my blog) I thought I'd share them here as well.

 will it be Pink, or will it be Blue?

I'm excited to make this stage a memory - though slightly terrified at what that means.

13 days.

Friday Favorite: A Healthy Pregnancy

I'll be honest, I complain about pregnancy a lot.

I don't particularly love this condition.  Sure it has its fantastic moments but for the most part it pretty much sucks.  I'm actually quite jealous of those crazies out there that love pregnancy and 'never felt better'.  I actually thought (you know, the first time around) that it might be the same for me. Its not, and I feel a little betrayed.

I try to sort of stay positive and keep my complaints to Michael as much as possible because, well, its his fault.  But don't be surprised when you ask me 'how I'm feeling' if I tell you the truth.  No verbal filter is part of "pregnancy-brain".

That being said I am very grateful.

Grateful to have come this far.

Grateful to conceive drug-free.

Grateful to feel the baby move. (though I'm more grateful for this during the day)

Grateful for Michael's excitement.

Grateful for everyone elses excitement.

I am so excited to see Rylee as a sister. . . . .

There are so many that have it much, much worse, and I am grateful.

I'm grateful Michael goes along (and even enjoys) the 'surprise' of it all.

From day one Michael said "girl". It took me about 7+ months to even be able to verbalize what I 'thought' the gender is - it lasted about a week and I was right back to flip-floppping. I want a girl *slightly* (like 2.4 %) more just because they'd be close in age and I cried as I boxed up all of Rylee's favorite clothes (and shoes) that no longer fit her. But having one of each right off the bat would be pretty great too.

Still my favorite thing when people ask "what I'm having" is to say "a baby" or "a human".  I get some great looks.

And another thing - coming up with names is a million times harder this time around.  I sortof feel more pressure, and we (michael and I) don't really care for each others #1 choices.  It'll come, it may be a good thing we have 2 extra days in the hospital to finalize it though!

While on the subject of gratitude remember how when I was pregnant with Rylee we took a picture every week of that pregnancy?  And remember how I posted the last half-ish of the pictures on our blog sidebar (not within posts so I could view them forever)?  Then remember how our computer crashed just after she was born and the last 4 months of 'new' data aka the maternity pictures were lost (as our external cyber hard drive subscription had lapsed)?  Remember how I was devastated?  And how since all that hard work was 'useless' I didn't even atempt to take that many pictures with this pregnancy?  WELL. . . . low and behold Michael's gmail account had those pictures saved all along!  He found them first on his phone a while back (of all places) then figured out how to get them via the computer.  I was overjoyed.  Then felt a smidge of guilt as maybe I would have taken more pictures this pregnancy had I known. Ah well, I have a tentative photo-shoot set up and some fun things in mind so not all is lost.  

Anyway, after we went through the photos the other day Michael was comparing my baby bump to bump.  Thought I'd share.  I think I look the same.  Michael doesn't . . . . what do you think? boy/girl? high/low?

Grow baby, Grow!  I'll love up on you soon enough -just not before New Year's mmm-kay??

Friday Favorite: a little perspective

Given my current condition it would be a lot easier to list my irritations, annoyances, and complaints - I'm trying to be positive, believe me. Some days are more difficult than others. This little cutie would certainly be on both the pro's and con's list for the week.

I recently had what I now refer to as the worst day of both pregnancies. Just as I was thinking the nasuea was gone - it came back with a vengence. One day in particular this week I couldn't keep a single meal (or snack) down. My shadow quickly followed me to the bathroom after each attempt to eat, waited paitently outside in confusion as to why her Mother was hugging the toilet. When the coast was clear she'd join me offering hugs, kisses, and extra cuddles -vomit breath and all.

My sweet Rylee kept me from throwing side jabs at myself. It was helpful for a few moments to remember WHY. I mean really? who couldn't love that face:

and

Dear Baby #2,

Please stop hating me.

Love,

Momma

Friday Favorite: Ultrasounds

We actually had our 'big' ultrasound right after I got back to Texas. Whoever's idea it was to have a 'weight-check' immediately after a two and a half week vacation is CRAZY! Though, apparently I didn't eat enough Taco Amigo french fries, or sweet pork salad's as it was a fairly 'normal' gain - especially considering it was the first in this pregnancy I'd had any sort of appetite.

Ultrasounds seriously amaze me! Its so cool all you can see through that little machine. . . . 4 chamber heart, no cleft palate, no signs of down-syndrome, working kindey's, blood/oxygen flow to/from baby, 10 fingers, 10 toes, ear placement etc. amazing! If I could have an ultrasound everyday I just might enjoy being pregnant. . . . maybe. At least I can look at the pictures or watch the video any time I feel the need.

This little one was cooperative with our choice and kept his/her legs nice and closed as to not produce any baby-porn. . . . . . the gender shall remain a mystery for a few more months. We will however share a few photos of my uterus for you:

I love watching the baby move around. The tech had a hard(er) time getting a good look of the baby's hands/fingers since they were tightly clenched fists. First the elbow was resting on the knee, then both hands were covering its eyes (like Rylee used to do when she was tired) then under its chin (think Grandma Botsford). . . . . baby wiggled and squirmed and then out of no where fell right asleep. Rylee kept looking at the screen and waving saying "Hi-ya B" (hi baby). Seeing her become a big sister may be what I'm currently most excited about.

Pregnancy wise I'm feeling better - though I still get occational bouts of nausea or dizziness/headaches, and still tire fairly easy. The baby has unfortunately found my sciatic nerve, but luckily hasn't set up camp there quite like Rylee did . . . . . or maybe I just haven't given enough time. I'm starting to feel more movement which is always fun, and I'm over half way - YaHoo!