JELLO! Say It Aint So!

Announcement:

My son...does. not. like. JELLO!

You heard me.

How sad is this???!*  I made this discovery the other night when I reenacted an old junior/high school favorite from my days of sleepovers with dear friends**.  I asked Brennan enthusiastically (right before bed time) if he wanted to help me make JELLO!!  And then we could have it for breakfast (Coolest Mom Ever...I know.) He, of course, very enthusiastically replied "YES!!"

It was all fun and games all the way up to the point the jello touched his tongue.  At which point he spat it out with gusto and almost cried.

Sad day.  So, naturally, I made Brennan some eggs and ate almost an entire bowl of jello for breakfast.  Ahh, pregnancy cravings...good stuff.

*I'm perfectly aware that on a scale of one to "my puppy died"...this JELLO! debacle is really not that big of a deal, but I am feeling particularly dramatic right now...so there.

**When I was in junior/high school I would spend an awful lot of time staying the night at my friends houses.  It was often customary for us to be awake in the wee hours of the morning, at which time we would make jello and then have it a few short hours later when it was set up.  JELLO!  for breakfast...Sweet memories! 

24 Weeks and a Silly Survey!

Total weight gain: I am at my starting weight now.  

Maternity clothes? Yep.  I have just succumbed to the maternity wardrobe.  Although some things are pretty baggy on me and just look frumpy which is obviously GREAT for the self esteem of a pregnant lady.  

Stretch marks? I got a few little ones at the very end of pregnancy with Brennan that sort of disappeared after he was born, but I have noticed that they are rearing their ugly heads once more now that my belly is stretching.  I can tell that they are the old ones though because they are extremely light colored and not really itchy or painful.  

Sleep: Still pretty interesting.  I have been having some insane dreams and thrashing quite a bit.  The pregnancy pillow is comfy, but clearly not comfy enough to help me sleep through the night.  Also, Brennan has taken to waking up multiple times in the night and asking me to come into his room and/or waking up just prior to the crack of dawn and wanting to play.  SO. TIRED....I know, I know...it's not going to get better any time soon. 

Best moment this week: We got the little onesies for the baby (one pink-Little Sister and one blue-Little Brother) and the t-shirt for Brennan that says "I'm the BIG BROTHER!" and he is so excited and proud!  If we put the shirt on him he walks around and points and says (very emphatically) "I am the BIG brother!!"  So sweet :)   

Miss Anything?  I miss not having pain in my lower back and hips when I walk.  Ahh, those were the days... 

Movement: This baby is a little acrobat.  I feel like Brennan moved more often and less intensely, but this baby seems to have periods of complete "chilled-out-ness" mixed with "WHOA!  What's going on in there??!" It's really funny :)

Food cravings: TACOS!  We have them at least once a week.  Good news is...I found recipes to make my OWN taco seasoning (free of MSG and all of the other weird stuff in the packaged kind) and a neat way to make crispy corn tortillas.  I like crunchy tacos better than soft, but I hate how when you fry corn tortillas they end up SO greasy.  SO...get this...Preheat your oven to 450*, take a few tortillas and wrap them in a wet paper towel and microwave for about 20-ish seconds so that they are nice and pliable.  THEN, use a little lime juice (I put mine in a little spray bottle because that is how often I do this) and hang the tortillas directly off of your oven rack to make a "taco" shape.  Bake them for about 10 minutes and voila!  You have oil-free crispy taco shells.  You're welcome.  (actually...thank you, Pinterest...I never would have come up with this one on my own.) 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Hmm, sometimes hearing people talk about gross things (poop, blood and guts, etc.) makes my stomach turn a bit...which is odd...because it normally doesn't bother me.  

Gender: I am getting SO excited to know what this baby is!  Only a few more months until our SON or DAUGHTER is born.  Craziness.  **Note, all of my dreams have been about baby boys, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything because I remember dreaming that Brennan was a girl.  So clearly my dreams are liars. 

Labor Signs: I know they aren't technically "labor signs", but Braxton Hicks Contractions are annoying!  I never had them with Brennan, but I have been having them this time.  Not so much painful, just uncomfortable.  My doctor told me to drink lots of water (check!) and relax (not-so-check!)  Working on it! 

Symptoms: Super tired, intermittent heartburn, and jaw/tooth pain (how weird is that?)...evidently pregnancy can cause some sinus issues along with increased blood flow, which gives the sensation of a lot more pressure.  It's only my top right side of my mouth, but when I bite down on anything it feels like someone has their fist crammed in the right side of my face right blow my eye.  No bueno.  

Belly Button in or out? We'll call it halfsies.  I wouldn't really call it "IN" anymore, but not so much "OUT" either...more like "exceptionally shallow"...how's that?

Wedding rings on or off? ON!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Mostly happy :)

Looking forward to: Being a stay-at-home Mommy to my kiddos.  I'm thinking it will be very different than what I am used to, but I'm excited to try out being a homemaker...I think I might be ok at it.  We'll see! 

VBAC vs. C-Section

When I found out that I was pregnant the first time I had a million grand ideas of how this whole "birth" thing was going to go down.  I was going to have a completely natural, drug free delivery.  They were going to place my squirmy, pink, bundle of baby joy on my chest and we would bond at first sight.  I was going to be with my baby immediately and nurse him straight from the womb.  I wasn't going to have a major surgery or a scar to last a lifetime.  Nope.

 That was a long time ago (kind of, but not really...) and can I just quote a little Outkast for a moment?

  "You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can't predict the weather."

I ended up having a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks and 2 days.  I had spinal anesthesia (even more potent than an epidural)  I heard my boy's first cries from behind the blue surgical veil as my husband peeked over and pronounced "Whoa!  He IS big!" and I was introduced to my beautiful, perfect, 10 lb. 4 oz baby boy after they cleaned him up, weighed him, cleaned and stitched me up, and I didn't get to attempt to nurse him until several hours later.  I was completely bedridden for 24 hours after major surgery with the most annoying "pressure boots" EVER (evidently they keep your blood flowing in your legs to avoid clotting and such, since you can't move your legs...BLAH!) and yes...I have a straight little "bikini cut" scar that will be there forever.

 I have to admit...there was never anyone holding a gun to my head telling me that I  HAD to have a c-section.  It was more an "urging" of two different doctors.  My doctor was a little less urgent about when we did the surgery, but he made sure to elude to the fact that he assumed it would happen regardless of it being scheduled or after many hours of labor.  I sought a second opinion with a different doctor who was a little more "gentle" with me and told me she really thought it would be in my and my baby's best interest.  I was made aware of the risks associated with "shoulder dystocia" (which are horrific) and I was scared, to say the least.  I decided after hearing those possibilities...that if, in fact, I decided to wait and just let my body "do it's thing" and I happened to put my baby in danger...I would never, EVER be able to forgive myself.  After all, it wasn't just about me at that point...if it had been I probably would have been willing to risk a little bit more.  But not with my boy!  SO...a cesarean section it was.  At the time I had my c-section, I was zero centimeters dilated, zero percent effaced, and Brennan was still sitting pretty nice and high. (which by the way, meant that he was born with the most perfect little round head!)  Who knows how long he would have stayed put if we had said no to the c-section (and with the fact that babies gain about half a pound per week at that stage...we were looking at an 11+lb babe) I never so much as felt a single contraction...never had the "my water broke!" moment.  I worked my 40+ hour per week job until Friday and I set my alarm for 6 am Monday morning, took a shower, got dressed, and went to the hospital knowing that in a couple of short hours my baby would be extracted from my abdomen and it would all be "over"...just like in the movies, huh?

It was actually a really difficult thing for me to accept at the time (and I still have moments of "did I do the right thing?") but I have come a long way with prayer and encouragement from my loved ones.  I know that the bottom line is that my boy is safe and healthy and so am I.  It's not even that I have a particular hatred for c-sections.  I have never looked at anyone else who endured one and thought "Hmm...isn't SHE a wimp."  No.  Far from it actually.  It is by no means the "easy way out" as some people assume.  But see...I have this thing called "perfectionism"...it's really unfortunate sometimes, actually.  I always envisioned being the totally capable, strong Mama that would go through labor like a champ.  I just kept telling myself that I had somehow failed at my one, clear, womanly duty...I couldn't even give birth to my baby.  How ridiculous is that??  I know.  Very.

So...now I am pregnant again.  My doctor with Brennan assured me that just because my son was born via c-section did NOT mean that I would never be able to have a vaginal delivery.  He said people have successful VBAC's (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) everyday.  He did however urge me to wait at least 18 months from my son's birth to the conception of our next baby if we intended to try a VBAC because that would mean a higher likelihood of success.  I assured him that was NOT a problem! (Hah!  Can we say "Surprise baby"???)  So, lets see...we conceived this baby when Brennan was 26 months old...we wanted to be EXTRA safe and we love the idea of our kiddos being just about 3 years apart in age.  I am now seeing a doctor here in Texas (obviously we moved from Virginia since baby #1 was born.) who supports my choice to attempt a VBAC, even though I can see the look of "you're crazy...don't you know second babies are usually BIGGER?" whenever she looks at me.  The fact of the matter is...I know that some people might think that I am, in fact, nuts (there could be some truth in that!) but you know what?  I just want to have the OPTION of trying to have a VBAC.  I have been praying (fervently!) that I would be able to have a vaginal delivery this time, but my husband pointed out to me that I shouldn't be so consumed with the method of delivery.  He's right.  So I have added an addendum to my prayer and that is...if for some reason the VBAC doesn't work out and I end up having another c-section, I pray that God would calm my heart and my emotions and that I would not be devastated.  That I would know that babies are born via c-section every day, just like they are born vaginally every day.  Every baby, every mom, every pregnancy and birth are different...there is no way to compare.  Also, let me be clear on this...the way that your child is birthed into this world (as a dear friend of mine put it) "is NOT a biblical issue."  SO TRUE and I am really offended when people openly and seriously judge someone else for having a c-section.  So in the end, all I care about is that I have a healthy and happy little baby and that I can hold my head up and say that I did what was best for both of us.  Obviously there are risks associated with both methods of delivery, but as it stands I am what my doctor calls a "perfect" candidate for a VBAC.  I would love to have this experience, but would you join me in praying that above all else, our baby is born healthy and in the safest way!  Thank You!

Snakes on a Farm

I'm not a fan of snakes.  I don't necessarily mind them if they are living behind thick glass in some sort of reptile habitat, but they definitely aren't my favorite zoo exhibit by any means.

Shortly after we first moved here, we were down at Judy and Shannon's (mother and father-in-law) house for dinner and afterward Shannon offered to drive me and Brennan home on the gator.  SO, he dropped us off on our front porch and something caught my eye...A SNAKE.  Coiled around the little awning-holder-upper-metal-post-thingy.  Well, you can just ask my father-in-law how THAT went because I don't care to relive it.  He rescued us and handled the snake appropriately.  Thank God...because as you can imagine, the snake obviously almost ATE my infant child.*

All I can say is, (again) Thank God my father-in-law was the one to stumble upon the nearly 6-foot-long snake that was in our chicken house the other day.  I think it is safe to assume that if it had been me that discovered the snake, there would be a big mess to clean up as I may have soiled myself.  Seriously...why do snakes even exist?  They're just so...creepy! Ugh. (No offense to all of you "keep snakes as pets" folks...but you clearly suffered some sort of trauma as a child and were not loved by your Mother.**)

Shannon killed the slippery serpent and I was left to assume that all was right in the world once more and that I no longer needed to be concerned with our egg-thieving pest.  WRONG.  Today my daring brute of a husband killed ANOTHER snake in the chicken house.  Snakes on a Mother-F'in Farm.***

The curses of living in the middle of a hay field...



*Obviously a gross exaggeration.
**Only joking.  But seriously.
***Sorry...I'm aware it is crass.  However...it's a slightly modified (and highly ridiculous) movie line from the atrocious movie "Snakes on a Plane" and oh-so-appropriate in this instance.

Earthquake!

First of all, let me just say...I am under no illusions that this is as exciting to some people as it was to us.  I am aware that people endure earthquakes literally on a daily basis in some parts of the world and that they are probably thinking "Those Texans, I mean really...cry me a river."  The thing is...we don't get earthquakes here in Texas very often, so yes...this is a big deal!!

Last week we had an earthquake that was 3.9 (Two Earthquakes within a week! Yikes!) However, I was at work during that one and thought that my mother-in-law and husband were just suffering from a case of the "crazies" because I didn't feel it.  Well, let me just tell you...I FELT IT last night.  Oh my goodness!  Please take note of the little map from the US Geological Survey that I attached to this post.  See the little star??  I feel confident that if you zoomed in extra close on that star you would see our house.  Seriously...the epicenter of this earthquake was almost right where we live.  It hit at 3:12 am and we were sound asleep.  I definitely said a naughty word when I was violently shaken awake...oops!  I'm thinking the shaking lasted somewhere around 15-ish seconds...Derek thinks it was less, but based on reports I have been reading it's obvious that I am right (surprise, surprise!!!) Regardless of how long it was, it was awfully violent for only being a 4.3 magnitude earthquake.  Our bed is on a basic frame with wheels and we have hard floors in our house so we were shaking pretty bad.  Not to mention the fact that it sounded like there was a huge train barreling through the pasture right outside our window.  Who knew earthquakes were so LOUD??  Probably people who are used to earthquakes, that's who.  

Poor Brennan.  There was a brief moment of silence after the obnoxiously loud rumbling subsided and then he cried out "MOMMY!!!" I ran in and he was so sleepy and disoriented he said "Mommy, please you lay in my bed with me?"  Sweet guy.  He says things backwards sometimes, so instead of "Will you please" it is "Please you will"...and you bet I did!  

Other than being really shaken up (hah!) we are all fine.  Nothing fell off of our walls or got broken (miraculously) and we didn't exit our house to find a gigantic jagged crater in our yard.  All is well and hopefully we're done with the quakes in Texas.  

Nature-1, Derek-0

It's ironic, really...how seductive, sexy, and alluring the comic book Graphic Novel (shout out to all of the nerds!!) version of "Poison Ivy" is.  Because let me tell you friends...the real thing is anything but!*

OH.  MY.  GOSH!

Derek, my dear, sweet, handsome husband has a raging case of Poison Ivy.  Poor guy!  He was chopping down a tree(such a burly stud! )...and unbeknownst to him, the tree was also covered in the death ivy.  Lo and behold, a few days later and he has this wicked rash on his arms (Mostly.  There are some small patches on his thigh and chest) and it is just miserable.  Thank GOD, Poison Ivy is not contagious from person to person and I didn't touch the stuff.  We have a prescription steroid cream that we had used for Brennan in the past (he gets eczema on his legs) that seems to be helping some for this particular bout with contact dermatitis.  However, I, in my current pregnant state am unable to touch the steroid cream because it specifically states that it is teratogenic (very bad) for pregnant women.  We have been training Brennan in the fine art of steroid cream application. (Only kidding, of course!)  Derek says that hot showers are the best relief he has found so far and I have offered to apply calamine lotion and rub his throat to help the benadryl go down.  (Since he all but refuses to take pills with WATER...what in the world??!)  Hopefully my husband will be on the mend soon!

So this is my suggestion to all of you reader (that's right...all ONE of you...) if you see this:

STAY AWAY!  You will rue the day you ever thought "Poison Ivy" was pretty if you don't...you have been warned.

*Perhaps Derek was drawn to Poison Ivy because the cartoon version has red hair and he clearly has a thing for redheads...

20 Weeks and a Silly Survey!

Total weight gain: Still working on getting back up to my starting weight.

Maternity clothes? Still mixed.  I wear some maternity things, but a lot of them are just still a little bit too bit so I end up having to "adjust" myself constantly which is highly annoying.  My awesome, awesome Aunt-in-Law (is that a title?) Pam volunteers for a clothing drive type of thing and got a huge box of maternity clothes that she sent my way.  Best part??  Almost all of them were super cute and my size!  Thank you, Pam!  And thank you to the similarly sized, stylish, formerly pregnant woman who donated the clothes!! 

Stretch marks? Still none and hoping it stays that way!! :)

Sleep: What is this "sleep" you speak of??  I don't think I have ever heard of it.  Blah.

Best moment this week: Just feeling the baby move so much more.  SEEING the baby move from the outside!  

Miss Anything?  Why is it that I always just want a cold deli sandwich?  Lunch meat never sounded so good!! 

Movement: Oh yes...lots.  Derek has now been able to feel AND see the little babe move.  Pretty incredible! 

Food cravings: As I mentioned...Lunch Meat.  Oh my gosh, the other day I was craving a Turkey, Spicy mustard, and Granny Smith Apple sandwich (like from Magnolia Foods in Lynchburg) so much that I highly considered buying the ingredients and just steaming the turkey...but you and I both know it just wouldn't be the same.  Perhaps after this baby is born a trip to Lynchburg is in order?  Ahh, who am I kidding??  OF COURSE IT IS!! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: I have a UTI (oh joy.) Sorry...I know that is TMI.  (Hey...UTI, TMI...hah!)  I am on some antibiotics right now and they don't seem to be making me feel any better, but hopefully that will change.  PS...I HATE that I am taking a prescribed medication during this pregnancy.  I didn't so much as pop a tylenol when I was pregnant with Brennan and I would really just rather NOT this time around...but I know that UTI's can be very serious in pregnancy if they go untreated...so there ya go.  I hope my baby isn't drugged up! :(  

Gender: Still a surprise!  Although I did have my first "gender prediction" dream and the baby was a BOY!  He was really adorable and I didn't wake up the least bit disappointed at the thought of having another boy.  A girl would be lovely, but so would a boy.  This is the beauty of the "surprise" factor....we know it is one or the other and it truly does NOT matter! 

Labor Signs: No.

Symptoms: SO. TIRED. 

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but becoming more and more pronounced by the day. 

Wedding rings on or off? ON!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Mostly happy :)

Looking forward to: Brennan being able to meet his sibling!  He loves to talk about the baby and even claims that HE has a baby in his belly from time to time.  When we eat dinner he pokes his belly out and says "My baby is growing!" hahaha :)  We tell him it is his "Food Baby"