37 weeks

Happy Birthday Calvin Hart VanZant!

Calvin was born at 9:46 on 28Nov11 weighing in at 7.7 lbs and 20.5 inches.  Thank goodness Chris has some energy left after labor to remember these things.  I was a bit out of it.

After a productive nesting session on Friday, I was eager to continue through the weekend to prep for SM's arrival and decorate for Christmas the rest of the weekend.  My body had other plans.  The same ligament that caused me trouble a few weeks ago had a revolt on Saturday that lasted through the night and into Sunday - most likely triggered when Calvin dropped.  After very little sleep on Saturday night and a pain scale shattering bout on Sunday we went to the ER to be assessed, where I got checked into L&D because ER wants nothing to do with a 37 week pregnant lady.

Right before I was getting ready to be released, my water spontaneously broke.  Despite what you see in TV and movies I've been told this is not the way labor typically begins.  I was so happy because I had been  in pain for 2 days and terrified that would last until he was ready.  Then I realized that it totally changed the game plan.  I was now officially on the clock.

So off we went to the birthing center to be evaluated.  I wasn't in active labor and was hoping I could go home to get some sleep before the ordeal ahead.  Nope.  The midwife wasn't happy with Calvin's heart rate after my mild contractions, so she transferred us to another hospital where he could be monitored continuously.  This was way out of my birth plan. I was sad and nervous.

No rest for me and my second night without sleep was about to begin.  A much harder night.  Natural childbirth quickly went out the window.  Pitocin, pain medication and a final, last minute epidural so I could rest for an hour during the final stage of pushing.  I just didn't have anything left.  All this time Calvin was monitored and was doing fine.

After a 30 minute nap, it was time to get back to work.  I had one more hour to push.  The nurses and I worked really hard to ensure progress was made, but I knew that I was at risk to be rolled into the OR for a c-section when the doctor came back.  A vaginal delivery was all I had left of my original plan and it was the most important to me.   Luckily that part worked out just fine.

In the end, the final goal of any birth plan is to delivery a healthy baby, which is exactly what we got.  Chris was a fabulous coach and support during labor and our current challenge - breastfeeding.  But that's a tale for a different day.

I was wondering what my first words would be when I saw my son for the first time.  As it turns out I was too stunned for words.  I just cried.  I think Chris did do :)

36 weeks

The magic date has arrived.  After Sunday 20Nov11, if I should happen to go into labor early (or pre-term rather) I don't have to go to the hospital.  I can deliver at the birthing center as planned.  Yea!

We have anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks left.  New aches and pains are popping up every day and my feet are often like little tanks.  and don't even get me started on the scary varicosities (let's hope those are temporary).   I want his lungs to be fully developed but I am ready to push him out at any time. Just say the word, baby and we will get right on that getting you to breath air thing.

Chris and I are learning new things everyday.  He's reading the natural childbirth book and his new daddy handbook and we've both been attending birthing classes.  Yesterday we both learned all about breastfeeding.  We are definitely all educated and ready to forget it all as soon as we need it.

Now let's see what I can do to make this happen by December 5th.  Pretty sure I can make it happen.  This "bump" is still measuring 2 weeks ahead.

35 weeks

There are 5 weeks to go, but I'm saying 3.  Chris thinks I'm crazy but he marked the calendar with my prediction just the same.  It probably is wishful thinking, but a girl can dream.

This early prediction in no way indicates that I am ready.  I have just finally reached a point where I don't think I can hold out for over a month.  My body has reached the limit of weight it can carry.  On some level it knows I'm not suppose to weigh more than Chris at any time in my life, even now.  I'm tired and achy.

On Monday I took my first pregnancy related sick day due to a pain in my side.  Don't worry, it's nothing serious,  just the the pregnant version of a stitch in my side, but it hurt enough that I needed to lay around for most of the day.  That day got me thinking about what I would do if SM decided to come right NOW.

I know what is left to do at home to prepare SM.  It's mostly organizational and sorting out the initial sleeping situation.  Taking that day off made me realize that I am in no way prepared for maternity leave at work either.  There are several tasks that only I know about and documents stored locally on my computer (or worse - on my desk, including stuff sent to me from the last woman to go on leave).  So great, now I need to nest in two places.

One of the things we've had to do at home to prepare is get the cats ready.  I'm not worried about what Russell will do.  I'm sure that poor old guy will find a closet corner to make his own, but Skeeter is a different story.  As soon as we put the crib together, she was in it.  Our short term solution was to prop the mattress on it's side, but since SM can't sleep on it that way we needed another way to discourage Skeeter from getting in there to play or worse sleep with SM (she tried to sleep on my face the other night).  So we layered it with looped packing tape.

Kitten trap 1, kitten 0.  

Chris has some video of the poor thing before he took pity on her and got the tape off of her feet.  If I can figure out how to post it I will.  It's cruel and hilarious.

34 weeks

Before we get to the baby stuff there are two more important items this week.

First, Sunday was our 2nd anniversary.  I'm excited to start this next chapter of our relationship as parents and I'm mourning our couple-dom at the same time.  We will never again be two independent people who chose to spend our time together.  We will be parents with bigger obligations than either of us have ever had before.  To celebrate, we decided to spend a day together with breakfast and some easy errands followed by time spent walking around Pedernales Falls.

Then
June 2006 (I caught the bouquet at this wedding)

Now
November 2011 Pedernales Falls

I saw my first breathing armadillo.  I may be officially a Texan now.

Second, I know everyone is focused on the brand new baby boy to come, but this week we are celebrating the birthday of my first baby boy...

Russell and his baby

Happy 14th Birthday, Russell!  (you're going to live forever)

Now on to baby news.  There are just 2 more weeks until SM can make an appearance at any time, regardless of how unlikely it is that he will decide to show up "early".  Due dates are estimates at best so who knows...

I have been lucky to have perhaps the easiest pregnancy ever, but it has finally happened.  SM has found my bladder and decided it makes a great pillow.  Peeing is now my new hobby.  It had to happen sooner or later.  I'm glad it happened later.

THE BUMP

still not twins

It's like a basketball for giants