1.30.2013

More Pictures

It's time.

Making snow at preschool

Kids n' horses.

Lexi got her cousin Dani for the family gift exchange. We gave her a riding lesson as her present. 

Thanks to my awesome clients for letting us use their place and horse!

They fall asleep the minute you pull into the parking lot. Every time, without fail!
Emmy and I were alone for a few hours so we grabbed some lunch together. 


Like the next day, we all got super sick. Fever, cough, and crusty eyes. Poor Emmy. 
Kindle. Best. Invention. Ever. See how happy they are during my boring appointment?
Addison got the sickness, too. She got the cold, cough, sore throat, fever and it went to her eyes. She's so miserable. 

1.29.2013

Pregnancy Update

Welp, here we are at 35 weeks. The last few weeks have been a little crazy around these parts. In my ideal world, I'd have all these snarky posts available for your viewing pleasure. But, alas, all of the craziness has detracted from my time to create those entertaining posts we all love so much.

In an effort to keep my public happy (please tell me you can literally see the sarcasm dripping from that statement), I'm going to at least try to keep you on the up and up with baby numero 4.

Sooooo, my goal with this pregnancy is to have a VBA2C. That, my friends, is a (and excuse the anatomical terms that will be used with frequency here) vaginal birth after 2 c-sections. In some parts of the country, this type of thing is totally forbidden (at the hospital here in Tracy, for example) in others, it's highly recommended. The risk with a VBAC is that during labor, the uterus will rupture at the scar of the previous c-section. But, the risk is less than 1%.

If that does happen, things can get really bad, really quickly. As soon as the rupture occurs, the body shuts off oxygen to the baby. And, most facilities can't get the baby out (they do an emergency c-section) fast enough to prevent brain damage. Because the cost is so high, even though the odds are very low, a lot of hospitals won't do VBAC.

However, there are some risks with multiple c-sections, too. In fact, the risk of serious hemorrhage with the 3rd section is 12%. That often results in hysterectomies and other complications for mom after the surgery.

I've had 2 sections. Lexi and Emmy. With Lexi, the surgery was pretty uneventful for me. With Emmy, I hemorrhaged horribly, and needed a blood transfusion. The odds of me having that happen again are pretty high considering my past response to the surgery, and the increased risk overall with that many c-sections.

Addie was a very successful VBAC. The recovery was so much better. However, because Addie was a regular birth, and she took a big gulp of fluid as she came out, she ended up a NICU baby. Had we done another section, she probably would have come straight home with us. (Darned if you do, darned if you don't.)

Now, another caveat in this whole thing is that the nearest hospital for me to deliver at doesn't do VBA2C. If I'd only had one section, no problem. But 2? No way.

However, there is a location a little farther away from home that sees no problem with it (same insurance carrier - very strange, but that's how they've decided to roll). It's an hour and a half drive for us to get there. (That means laboring in the car for an hour and a half. That does not sound pleasurable to me at. all. But, having had c-sections, I'd take that over being cut in two any day.)

But, with any VBAC the conditions must be just perfect or they want to do another section.

Here's the requirements:
1. The baby must be in the head down position. No breech. No transverse (side to side).
2. The baby must be under 9 lbs.
3. They discourage the use of pitocin or other labor inducing drugs.
4. The mom shouldn't be over due. Anything over 40 weeks, and they see more problems with rupture.

Our little girl has been transverse the whole pregnancy. At 33 1/2 weeks, she was still sideways.

And measuring at least a week ahead size wise. Which = big baby.

Not the recipe I need for a VBAC.

I decided to try chiropractic to see if I could get the baby to turn. The local doc here has had a 100% success rate.

The baby turned after 3 treatments.

This size thing can't be determined until I'm at 37 weeks. If she's looking near 9 lbs, I'll have to schedule surgery. Anything less, and we're good to try for the old fashioned grin-and-bear it method.

If you asked the local yay-hoos around these parts, they would say I'm in for a ginormous kid. Every time I leave the house, I get some comment about how I have to be due any day (I wish), and how I must have more than one kid in there (I do not wish). And, how I've dropped. And, I must be going to have the baby early. I had the same experience with Addie and Emmy. People (medical professionals, even) swore I'd have an early baby. And while they were sizable, neither of them came early. I fully expect this one to be the same.

My doctor is very optimistic about me having a normal delivery. I'm so grateful she's been open to it and hasn't tried to scare me into surgery. I actually had one nurse say to me after I'd explained my plan, "Well, you must be fine with killing your baby then." I felt my face get hot, I resisted the urge to punch her in the throat, and simply said: "Well, you and I obviously have different opinions about the matter. AND, why would my doctor be supportive if it was so dangerous?"

SO - with all that said, the baby is in the right spot. We just need to see how big she's going to be. If history is any gauge, she'll be big. Emmy was 10 lbs. a week early. But, you never know. I'm holding out hope.

In other exciting news, this last week I've been down with a nasty head cold/cough deal. I'd been really dizzy, weak, and sick to my stomach for a few says so I went in to my doctor. She made me stay and get some IV fluids. Then, they drew some blood to see how my organs are working since my blood pressure was up by 20 points for me. I am also chronically anemic, so they tested that too.

The results came back, and I'm pretty bad off anemia wise. They recommended I take 2 iron pills a day.

I AM already taking 2 iron pills a day.

So, now I'm slated to go in weekly for an IV treatment of iron until the baby is born.

(And, I ended developing ear, sinus, and chest infections. Yay me!)

Otherwise, I'm in tip top shape, and super happy to be alive. (Again, with the sarcasm.)

Now look at some pictures I took of myself last week:




1.17.2013

Our Life In Pictures

I do love a wordy blog post, but I find myself short on time (and energy) these days. 

Enter: a photo diary. 

Better than nuthin', right?

Gpa Tweet's present to the girls was this awesome soccer goal. It can be used in 3 different ways.  And, yes, we let them play with balls in the house. What else is Christmas break for if not breaking the rules?



Pony rides (this one is old, but I wanted to remember it...)
Lexi got the Michael Jackson Experience dancing and singing game for Christmas. Even Allen, who was sick as a dog and recovering from surgery couldn't' resist dancing a few moves. Yes, we even had surgery during our break. Don't worry, that story is definitely going to have it's own post.  
We spend a lot of time riding scooters and bikes these days.
The girls dressed up as presents for the ward Christmas program.

I think she might have a future in the extreme sports...
Baking bums. 
Lexi kicked the habit of biting her nails. She actually stopped about 4 months ago so I finally took her to get a fancy manicure to celebrate.
And we lost more body parts.
Houston, I think we have a problem. This is the oil "leak" from our truck. Except that our truck holds 14 qts. of oil. It's really worthy of a blog post all on its own.  
Of course, we had to have some bad behavior. We choose to reward that with extra chores in our house.
And they have to do with a happy heart. And they always do; they actually seem to love it. 
Lexi writing her first original song.

Many a movie was watched during our break.
The weather had been pretty gross. When this happens, or we're just looking for something fun to do, we load up and have a picnic in the back of the Excursion. Dad was able to meet us "at the top of the world" for lunch this day.
We made 27,000 cookies. 


And we rode bikes some more.
And drove our plasma car some more.
We ate lunch with safety goggles and binocs. 
When a house has 5 bathrooms, buying toilet brushes in bulk is a must do.
Kindle hangover. We found her at 4 a.m. downstairs, with all the house lights on, playing on her "notepad". The next morning she paid the price.
Big sissy (as she likes to be called) tickling Emmy. Always ends in tears and pouting, but it's fun for a time.

Christmas

We started our celebrations with the cousin/aunt/uncle gift exchange at Gma's house. The kids seem to get pretty excited about choosing the perfect present for their loved ones. 

Look at Dani's face!

I'm sensing a theme here for these girls...
Lexi and Dani are both taking piano lessons so they each played some Christmas songs for us during the party.

We went to church:



 Then, on Christmas Eve, Gpa Bob and Gpa Tweet came over. I made Grandma Vincent's famous ham and all the fixings. Then, we opened presents. 



I made a photo book for Gpa Bob. It was a hit!
Davis Dog (our first born) even made the trip over. We miss him so very much!


Gpa Bob got the girls the new Kindle Fire HD. It took them about two nanoseconds to figure them out. They have been a great learning tool for the kids. And yes, a 2 1/2 year old can easily use one!
 And, finally, the big day!






Drunk on Christmas happiness. 
He does exist!
Looking for the candy canes Santa leaves on our tree each year.

Allen got the girls some special presents this year...
And then he got some of his own!
Christmas gets better each year. The girls understand the art of giving (and receiving, of course) as they get older. They look forward to the traditions we've started and continued. They love being around family. We've spent plenty of Christmas days alone and while we enjoyed being together, there is something to be said for the celebratory chaos that comes with living close to family.

We've been incredibly blessed as a family to have the means to celebrate Christmas so generously. We live in the greatest nation on Earth. We have the truth of the gospel in our home. And, most importantly, we have each other.

About Me

My photo
What started as a way to communicate with far away friends and family has become a place for this horse trainer/HR manager turned stay at home mom of 3 girls to hold on to a bit of her own identity. It's my take on the ins and outs, the ups and downs, the thoughts and feelings, the mistakes and triumphs of this family as we bumble our way to eternity.