Sometimes I am a bit surprised at some of the negative reactions and criticism I have received from others regarding my natural VBAC birth. I guess I just don't understand what bothers people so much about it. I mean seriously...if it were THAT risky, why would any obstetrician agree to perform a VBAC? Keep in mind too, that an obstetrician will only consider a VBAC on a case by case basis. It's not like every woman that has had a c-section in the past is a good candidate. Anyway, if you know me you know that I tend to take a holistic, natural approach with things before resorting to the conventional method. This is just what I feel is right for me and my family.
I'll step off my soap box now...
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Birth Story - Short Version
I was asked to write a short birth story (125-225 words) for the Holy Family Birth Center. They are very low on funding right now and they are working on a newsletter to send out to potential donors. My birth story below as well as a few (clean and tasteful) photos of the birth are going to be featured in the newsletter and also on their website.
My natural VBAC
Since the birth of my son three years ago who was delivered by cesarean section, I had hoped to someday have a VBAC (Vaginal birth after cesarean) with my next child. It was this strong desire that led me to hire a doula and seek care at Holy Family Services. After doing significant research, I strongly felt that my best chances for having a successful VBAC would not be with an obstetrician at a hospital, but instead with a midwife at a birth center. I began seeing one of the volunteer midwives at Holy Family and I immediately felt at ease with her. I loved that she spent a considerable amount of time with me at each visit. I never felt rushed with her like I did with my obstetrician.
I am so thankful for the birth experience I had at Holy Family. I felt comfortable in the birthing room and I was allowed to labor in positions that helped me to relax better during contractions. My total labor was around seven and a half hours, but I went from 7 centimeters to birth in just 30 minutes. It was quite intense towards the end, but I can’t imagine the birth going any better than it did. Abigail Mercedes was born at 3:36 AM on November 12, 2009. She was 5 lbs, 15 oz. and 19 inches long.
My natural VBAC
Since the birth of my son three years ago who was delivered by cesarean section, I had hoped to someday have a VBAC (Vaginal birth after cesarean) with my next child. It was this strong desire that led me to hire a doula and seek care at Holy Family Services. After doing significant research, I strongly felt that my best chances for having a successful VBAC would not be with an obstetrician at a hospital, but instead with a midwife at a birth center. I began seeing one of the volunteer midwives at Holy Family and I immediately felt at ease with her. I loved that she spent a considerable amount of time with me at each visit. I never felt rushed with her like I did with my obstetrician.
I am so thankful for the birth experience I had at Holy Family. I felt comfortable in the birthing room and I was allowed to labor in positions that helped me to relax better during contractions. My total labor was around seven and a half hours, but I went from 7 centimeters to birth in just 30 minutes. It was quite intense towards the end, but I can’t imagine the birth going any better than it did. Abigail Mercedes was born at 3:36 AM on November 12, 2009. She was 5 lbs, 15 oz. and 19 inches long.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
My baby girl
She's just perfect and beautiful. I feel so happy and blessed. Thank you Lord.
Psalm 127:3 (NASB) Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalm 127:3 (NASB) Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Birth Story - Long Version
Disclaimer: Read at your own risk. Some of this might be too graphic in detail for you, but it's my birth story and I want to be open and honest about it.
That being said, I need to give you a bit of background information. I had a c-section with Cohen three years ago. With my second pregnancy, I was seeing one of the best obstetricians in the area (and one of the few who will even consider performing a vaginal birth after cesearean delivery or VBAC). At 36 weeks I hired a doula, otherwise known as a labor support person, and switched from seeing my OB to seeing the midwives at Holy Family Services Birth Center in Weslaco, Texas.
In the early hours of Wednesday, November 11, I woke up in the middle of the night with very strong and almost painful contractions. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions since my 34th week, but the contractions I woke up with on this morning were definitely much stronger than what I had been experiencing. My body was still so exhausted from the food poisoning incident just days before, so thankfully I would quickly doze off again after feeling a contraction. That morning I started timing them. The contractions were not regular at all. They were 8 minutes apart, then 20, then 15, then back down to 7 or 8 minutes apart. I really didn't think much of them since I still hadn't lost my mucus plug or had any "bloody show" and the fact that on Monday when my midwife checked, my cervix wasn't dilated at all and was still posterior. I also called my doula and she said I could experience irregular contractions like this for a week or even longer. So then I really didn't think about them and just went about my day.
Wednesday, November 11th was also the day Abe had hoped to see one of his newest favorite groups, Pretty Lights, in Austin which is about a five-hour drive from where we live. He knew that I would be over 39 weeks pregnant, but we were going to play things by ear and see if I was having any major signs that I would deliver soon. We talked with my doula about it as well as the midwife and both of them truly felt that Abe would be fine going to Austin, as long as he were "on call" in case real labor began. I also felt comfortable with Abe going to Austin because I just didn't "feel" ready and even if I did go into labor, I had my doula for support. So on Wednesday sometime after 2pm, Abe picked up his friend (also named Abe, so I'll just refer to him as Abe Number Two) and they were on their way to Austin.
After Abe left Cohen and I took a peaceful two-hour nap. I was so, so tired on Wednesday, even though I had slept 11 hours the previous night, and 12 hours the night before. I even got to take short catnaps on Wednesday morning while Cohen kept busy in his playroom. Obviously my body was telling me to rest for a reason. That evening, I sent an email to my friend Melissa who was planning to photograph the birth. We hadn't emailed each other in over a week, so I wanted to touch base with her to let her know that I would be in touch with her when the time came, even though I thought it would still be a while before I would go into labor. I sent that email at 6pm then prepared some leftover picadillo for Cohen and I to eat. I was still having contractions off and on like I had been all day, so I thought maybe a warm bath in our jacuzzi tub would help. The bath felt nice, but the contractions were still coming on strong. I was having to really focus and breathe through them. Cohen was so considerate too! He would ask me if I was okay and would tell me to "breathe like this Mommy" and do some deep breaths.. I thought to myself that I should probably start timing them because they seemed to be getting closer together.
I began timing my contractions at 8pm and sure enough, they were coming 7-8 minutes apart. Abe and I were texting each other back and forth around this time as he was getting ready for the concert to begin at 9pm and I was getting ready for bed. I think I was still in denial at this point that I was in labor. A few minutes before 9pm Abe and I sent our "Goodnight, I love you" final text messages and I got cozy in bed. I felt another contraction coming on, so I looked at my phone to check the time. It was 8:59pm. During that contraction, I felt a pop (or maybe a kick?) and then a gush of something come out of me. I thought my water broke! I let the contraction finish then I got up to use the restroom. I wasn't exactly sure if I had just peed on myself or if my water broke, so I called to check in with my doula. I wasn't able to get her on the phone so I called my mom to tell her what happened. My mom thought that my water had probably broken. While I was talking to my mom, Lorie, my doula called. I explained everything to her and she advised me to call my midwife at the birth center to find out what to do next. At some point during all of this, Cohen fell asleep in bed next to me. With every contraction I felt that I had to use the bathroom. Each time I went I was noticing more blood and discharge and something that must have been my mucus plug. I was certain that I was in labor at this point.
Next, I called the after-hours cell phone for the birth center and left a message. It was likely that my midwife would have me drive to the birth center to get my IV and antibiotics started since I tested positive for Group B Strep. In the meantime, I started gathering my bag and overnight stuff, the baby's bag and the infant seat and I called Abe's cousins Cris and Celia to see if they could come and stay with Cohen while he slept. I had really wanted Cohen to be a part of the birth, but since he had just dozed off for the night, I knew it would be better to call someone and have them stay with him. After about 20 minutes, I called the midwife cell phone again and got a hold of my midwife, Gina. She wanted me to come into the birth center. I called my doula, explained everything and she was on her way to pick me up and drive me there. I also sent Abe a text message that read, "My water broke. Call me." I continued gathering my stuff (because at this point I still hadn't completely packed my bag) and prepared a red raspberry leaf tea infusion to drink during labor as my midwife advised. I also called Abe's cell phone a zillion times, but got no answer. I decided to text Abe Number Two's wife Kathryn to see if she could get a hold of her hubby since I couldn't reach mine. Around 10pm Abe's cousins arrived to stay with Cohen and my doula Lorie came to pick me up. We packed up the car and were on our way to the birth center.
On the way, I sent a text to my friend Melissa (the photographer) to let her know I was in labor and that I would be in touch with her as it got closer. Also on the way, my mom called, my two sisters were text messaging me, and finally Abe called me! He was going to get a taxi back to his hotel, pick up his things and would be on his way. At this point I was having to take breaks from talking in order to focus and breathe through my contractions. We arrived at the birth center around 11pm. They took my vitals and my midwife checked me. She first checked to see if my water broke (it hadn't and I was shocked...I was sure it had broken earlier) and then checked to see how dilated I was. I was three centimeters. My doula helped me to strain the loose red raspberry leaves from my tea while the midwife prepared one of the birth rooms. My contractions seemed to be coming more frequently and I vividly remember becoming quite annoyed with a barking dog outside and noises from the "labor cat" that apparently only comes around the birth center when there's a woman in labor.
Once we got into the birth room, Gina turned on some dim lights and low music while I drank the red raspberry leaf tea infusion. It tasted like dirt. I tried to drink it quickly and it made me a little queasy. Next, I got the IV fluids and antibiotics. This procedure took a little longer than expected. You see, I have really good veins (lots of nurses have told me so anyway), but they tend to move and roll away from needles. I got stuck about six times before Gina called another midwife out of bed to help. Ramona, a visiting midwife, was able to stick me the very first try. In Gina's defense, she had started my IV just two days earlier during my food poisoning incident and I felt NOTHING! Anyway, once I was hooked up to the IV I continued laboring in positions that felt comfortable to me. I sat on the birth ball, stood up and leaned over the counter, and tried sitting backwards on the toilet. It was a bit hard for me to completely relax because the birth room was super cold. It cooled off quite a bit outside that night and someone at the birth center had left the AC on in the room all day. They had the heater on inside the birth room, but it was taking a while to warm up. Jesse, my sweet, sweet nurse gave me her hoodie to wear and some warm socks since I forgot mine.
The contractions continued getting more intense, but the pain was tolerable. As long as I focused on my breathing at the beginning of the contraction, I didn't seem to tense up as much during them. My doula was such a wonderful support person. She would talk me through each contraction and that helped tremendously. Just knowing that I wasn't alone was the best feeling. My midwife was also there during my labor, but my doula was solely focused on me. The midwife was busy charting, checking the baby's heart rate, and I guess monitoring me. It was also nice hearing both my midwife and doula tell me that I was doing great. I didn't honestly believe them at the time, but it helped me to hear it at least. It boosted the confidence I had in myself for sure.
When my IV was almost finished my midwife decided to check me again. She said I was a "tight seven". This was around 3 AM. My doula decided to call the photographer and I'm so glad she did because I wouldn't have been able to call her at this point. Next, Gina removed my IV and said I could try laboring in the birth tub since the warm water might help me to relax more and stay warm since I was still so cold. The warm water felt SO good! I was finally able to fully relax my tense, cold body between contractions! However, after getting into the water my contractions went from being tolerable to quite painful. From what I recall, I had about five super strong contractions in the water. Even though these contractions were long and painful, I was still able to relax between them. Then I had the most painful contraction yet. I wasn't able to just breathe through this one...I'm pretty sure I cried out in pain. It hurt! And then the contraction went away and I got a short one-minute break before the next one came.
The next part of my labor is pretty fuzzy in my memory, but this is what I recall. During the break in contractions, my friend Melissa called my doula and told my doula she had arrived. My doula walked outside to get Melissa to show her the way when another painful contraction came. Because my doula wasn't there with me, I started feeling a little unsure of myself and I tensed up big time. The contraction hurt SO, SO bad and I screamed. All I recall is my doula and Melissa walking into the birth room in the middle of my screaming. I will never forget the look on Melissa's face as she walked in! That was the worst contraction. I had one more intense contraction and after it was over I whispered to my doula, "I feel like I'm at that point where I can't do this anymore". I knew from reading Ina May's "Guide to Childbirth", that when a woman gets to this point in her labor that she is usually in transition. But I didn't believe I was at transition yet since I was barely seven centimeters dilated just 20 minutes before. My doula responded with words of confidence, such as, "That's good...this means you are almost there..." and as she was speaking I literally felt the baby's head drop down and it HURT! It took a few minutes for me to grasp what was going on and once I did I was able to breathe and relax again, only now I had to relax with the baby's head "down there".
Now it was time for me to push. I was instructed to push when I felt the next contraction coming on. The contraction came and I pushed as hard as I could. Next I felt a burning sensation and her head came out. This felt so uncomfortable that I felt I needed to change positions so I stood up from where I was kneeling in the birth tub. This position wasn't any more comfortable so I tried kneeling back down, but everyone shouted, "No, Dawn!", because the baby's head was already exposed to air when I stood up outside the water. So I had to finish pushing while standing up. I pushed hard three more times and the baby was out. It was 3:36 AM. I turned around and gently stepped over the umbilical cord that was still attached to both me and the baby and they handed my tiny perfect baby to me as I sat down again in the water. All the pain was gone once I had my baby girl in my arms. Everyone was shocked that I went from less than seven centimeters to birth in about 30 minutes, including myself. I swear it was the red raspberry leaf tea infusion that caused my labor to move along so fast. It was very intense, but also very fast.
Next, I called Abe. He was 20 minutes away. 20 minutes!! I delivered the placenta and my midwife decided to leave the umbilical cord intact. When Abe arrived he got to cut the cord and pretty much hold Abby right away. Delivering at the Holy Family Birth Center was the best, best experience.
This is me, relaxing between super strong contractions.
That being said, I need to give you a bit of background information. I had a c-section with Cohen three years ago. With my second pregnancy, I was seeing one of the best obstetricians in the area (and one of the few who will even consider performing a vaginal birth after cesearean delivery or VBAC). At 36 weeks I hired a doula, otherwise known as a labor support person, and switched from seeing my OB to seeing the midwives at Holy Family Services Birth Center in Weslaco, Texas.
In the early hours of Wednesday, November 11, I woke up in the middle of the night with very strong and almost painful contractions. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions since my 34th week, but the contractions I woke up with on this morning were definitely much stronger than what I had been experiencing. My body was still so exhausted from the food poisoning incident just days before, so thankfully I would quickly doze off again after feeling a contraction. That morning I started timing them. The contractions were not regular at all. They were 8 minutes apart, then 20, then 15, then back down to 7 or 8 minutes apart. I really didn't think much of them since I still hadn't lost my mucus plug or had any "bloody show" and the fact that on Monday when my midwife checked, my cervix wasn't dilated at all and was still posterior. I also called my doula and she said I could experience irregular contractions like this for a week or even longer. So then I really didn't think about them and just went about my day.
Wednesday, November 11th was also the day Abe had hoped to see one of his newest favorite groups, Pretty Lights, in Austin which is about a five-hour drive from where we live. He knew that I would be over 39 weeks pregnant, but we were going to play things by ear and see if I was having any major signs that I would deliver soon. We talked with my doula about it as well as the midwife and both of them truly felt that Abe would be fine going to Austin, as long as he were "on call" in case real labor began. I also felt comfortable with Abe going to Austin because I just didn't "feel" ready and even if I did go into labor, I had my doula for support. So on Wednesday sometime after 2pm, Abe picked up his friend (also named Abe, so I'll just refer to him as Abe Number Two) and they were on their way to Austin.
After Abe left Cohen and I took a peaceful two-hour nap. I was so, so tired on Wednesday, even though I had slept 11 hours the previous night, and 12 hours the night before. I even got to take short catnaps on Wednesday morning while Cohen kept busy in his playroom. Obviously my body was telling me to rest for a reason. That evening, I sent an email to my friend Melissa who was planning to photograph the birth. We hadn't emailed each other in over a week, so I wanted to touch base with her to let her know that I would be in touch with her when the time came, even though I thought it would still be a while before I would go into labor. I sent that email at 6pm then prepared some leftover picadillo for Cohen and I to eat. I was still having contractions off and on like I had been all day, so I thought maybe a warm bath in our jacuzzi tub would help. The bath felt nice, but the contractions were still coming on strong. I was having to really focus and breathe through them. Cohen was so considerate too! He would ask me if I was okay and would tell me to "breathe like this Mommy" and do some deep breaths.. I thought to myself that I should probably start timing them because they seemed to be getting closer together.
I began timing my contractions at 8pm and sure enough, they were coming 7-8 minutes apart. Abe and I were texting each other back and forth around this time as he was getting ready for the concert to begin at 9pm and I was getting ready for bed. I think I was still in denial at this point that I was in labor. A few minutes before 9pm Abe and I sent our "Goodnight, I love you" final text messages and I got cozy in bed. I felt another contraction coming on, so I looked at my phone to check the time. It was 8:59pm. During that contraction, I felt a pop (or maybe a kick?) and then a gush of something come out of me. I thought my water broke! I let the contraction finish then I got up to use the restroom. I wasn't exactly sure if I had just peed on myself or if my water broke, so I called to check in with my doula. I wasn't able to get her on the phone so I called my mom to tell her what happened. My mom thought that my water had probably broken. While I was talking to my mom, Lorie, my doula called. I explained everything to her and she advised me to call my midwife at the birth center to find out what to do next. At some point during all of this, Cohen fell asleep in bed next to me. With every contraction I felt that I had to use the bathroom. Each time I went I was noticing more blood and discharge and something that must have been my mucus plug. I was certain that I was in labor at this point.
Next, I called the after-hours cell phone for the birth center and left a message. It was likely that my midwife would have me drive to the birth center to get my IV and antibiotics started since I tested positive for Group B Strep. In the meantime, I started gathering my bag and overnight stuff, the baby's bag and the infant seat and I called Abe's cousins Cris and Celia to see if they could come and stay with Cohen while he slept. I had really wanted Cohen to be a part of the birth, but since he had just dozed off for the night, I knew it would be better to call someone and have them stay with him. After about 20 minutes, I called the midwife cell phone again and got a hold of my midwife, Gina. She wanted me to come into the birth center. I called my doula, explained everything and she was on her way to pick me up and drive me there. I also sent Abe a text message that read, "My water broke. Call me." I continued gathering my stuff (because at this point I still hadn't completely packed my bag) and prepared a red raspberry leaf tea infusion to drink during labor as my midwife advised. I also called Abe's cell phone a zillion times, but got no answer. I decided to text Abe Number Two's wife Kathryn to see if she could get a hold of her hubby since I couldn't reach mine. Around 10pm Abe's cousins arrived to stay with Cohen and my doula Lorie came to pick me up. We packed up the car and were on our way to the birth center.
On the way, I sent a text to my friend Melissa (the photographer) to let her know I was in labor and that I would be in touch with her as it got closer. Also on the way, my mom called, my two sisters were text messaging me, and finally Abe called me! He was going to get a taxi back to his hotel, pick up his things and would be on his way. At this point I was having to take breaks from talking in order to focus and breathe through my contractions. We arrived at the birth center around 11pm. They took my vitals and my midwife checked me. She first checked to see if my water broke (it hadn't and I was shocked...I was sure it had broken earlier) and then checked to see how dilated I was. I was three centimeters. My doula helped me to strain the loose red raspberry leaves from my tea while the midwife prepared one of the birth rooms. My contractions seemed to be coming more frequently and I vividly remember becoming quite annoyed with a barking dog outside and noises from the "labor cat" that apparently only comes around the birth center when there's a woman in labor.
Once we got into the birth room, Gina turned on some dim lights and low music while I drank the red raspberry leaf tea infusion. It tasted like dirt. I tried to drink it quickly and it made me a little queasy. Next, I got the IV fluids and antibiotics. This procedure took a little longer than expected. You see, I have really good veins (lots of nurses have told me so anyway), but they tend to move and roll away from needles. I got stuck about six times before Gina called another midwife out of bed to help. Ramona, a visiting midwife, was able to stick me the very first try. In Gina's defense, she had started my IV just two days earlier during my food poisoning incident and I felt NOTHING! Anyway, once I was hooked up to the IV I continued laboring in positions that felt comfortable to me. I sat on the birth ball, stood up and leaned over the counter, and tried sitting backwards on the toilet. It was a bit hard for me to completely relax because the birth room was super cold. It cooled off quite a bit outside that night and someone at the birth center had left the AC on in the room all day. They had the heater on inside the birth room, but it was taking a while to warm up. Jesse, my sweet, sweet nurse gave me her hoodie to wear and some warm socks since I forgot mine.
The contractions continued getting more intense, but the pain was tolerable. As long as I focused on my breathing at the beginning of the contraction, I didn't seem to tense up as much during them. My doula was such a wonderful support person. She would talk me through each contraction and that helped tremendously. Just knowing that I wasn't alone was the best feeling. My midwife was also there during my labor, but my doula was solely focused on me. The midwife was busy charting, checking the baby's heart rate, and I guess monitoring me. It was also nice hearing both my midwife and doula tell me that I was doing great. I didn't honestly believe them at the time, but it helped me to hear it at least. It boosted the confidence I had in myself for sure.
When my IV was almost finished my midwife decided to check me again. She said I was a "tight seven". This was around 3 AM. My doula decided to call the photographer and I'm so glad she did because I wouldn't have been able to call her at this point. Next, Gina removed my IV and said I could try laboring in the birth tub since the warm water might help me to relax more and stay warm since I was still so cold. The warm water felt SO good! I was finally able to fully relax my tense, cold body between contractions! However, after getting into the water my contractions went from being tolerable to quite painful. From what I recall, I had about five super strong contractions in the water. Even though these contractions were long and painful, I was still able to relax between them. Then I had the most painful contraction yet. I wasn't able to just breathe through this one...I'm pretty sure I cried out in pain. It hurt! And then the contraction went away and I got a short one-minute break before the next one came.
The next part of my labor is pretty fuzzy in my memory, but this is what I recall. During the break in contractions, my friend Melissa called my doula and told my doula she had arrived. My doula walked outside to get Melissa to show her the way when another painful contraction came. Because my doula wasn't there with me, I started feeling a little unsure of myself and I tensed up big time. The contraction hurt SO, SO bad and I screamed. All I recall is my doula and Melissa walking into the birth room in the middle of my screaming. I will never forget the look on Melissa's face as she walked in! That was the worst contraction. I had one more intense contraction and after it was over I whispered to my doula, "I feel like I'm at that point where I can't do this anymore". I knew from reading Ina May's "Guide to Childbirth", that when a woman gets to this point in her labor that she is usually in transition. But I didn't believe I was at transition yet since I was barely seven centimeters dilated just 20 minutes before. My doula responded with words of confidence, such as, "That's good...this means you are almost there..." and as she was speaking I literally felt the baby's head drop down and it HURT! It took a few minutes for me to grasp what was going on and once I did I was able to breathe and relax again, only now I had to relax with the baby's head "down there".
Now it was time for me to push. I was instructed to push when I felt the next contraction coming on. The contraction came and I pushed as hard as I could. Next I felt a burning sensation and her head came out. This felt so uncomfortable that I felt I needed to change positions so I stood up from where I was kneeling in the birth tub. This position wasn't any more comfortable so I tried kneeling back down, but everyone shouted, "No, Dawn!", because the baby's head was already exposed to air when I stood up outside the water. So I had to finish pushing while standing up. I pushed hard three more times and the baby was out. It was 3:36 AM. I turned around and gently stepped over the umbilical cord that was still attached to both me and the baby and they handed my tiny perfect baby to me as I sat down again in the water. All the pain was gone once I had my baby girl in my arms. Everyone was shocked that I went from less than seven centimeters to birth in about 30 minutes, including myself. I swear it was the red raspberry leaf tea infusion that caused my labor to move along so fast. It was very intense, but also very fast.
Next, I called Abe. He was 20 minutes away. 20 minutes!! I delivered the placenta and my midwife decided to leave the umbilical cord intact. When Abe arrived he got to cut the cord and pretty much hold Abby right away. Delivering at the Holy Family Birth Center was the best, best experience.
This is me, relaxing between super strong contractions.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Meet Baby Abigail!
Abigail Mercedes Graustein was born at 3:36 AM on November 12, 2009. She weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 inches long.
I'll post my birth story next!
I'll post my birth story next! Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Cohen is Three!
Dear Cohen,
I'm not sure if you will remember this, but on your third birthday we took you to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate with you. You weren't really into the pizza or salad we ate, but you sure did love the games! It was a little over-stimulating for you, but you had a blast!
You go to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays at FUMC Dayschool and you really enjoy playing with your best buddies Nicholas, Sam and Cole. You also take a class at The Little Gym once per week and you just love jumping all over the place and swinging from the bars like a little monkey. You have mastered the "Bear Crawl" and the "Spider Walk".
You enjoy playing with your Thomas trains and Cars Movie cars every single day. Your favorite TV show is Wow Wow Wubbzy and you and Daddy enjoy watching the Transformers cartoons together. Your favorite books are the lift-the-flap books by Karen Katz...the same books I began reading to you when you were just three months old. You love to sing along to your Raffi CD when we're driving in the car. You really enjoy singing and dancing to music these days and repeating the songs you learn at school. We love to watch you perform the chicken dance--it's the cutest!
You are also potty-trained and have been wearing big boy underwear since September. Daddy promised you a Lightning McQueen Power Wheels car when you started going poo-poo on the potty and you made that accomplishment just before your third birthday! Everyday you ask to ride Lightning McQueen around the block in our neighborhood and you enjoy waving to everyone.
Cohen, you are such a great kid and bring so much joy to our lives. I am already amazed at the little man you have become--you make Mommy and Daddy so proud! We love you so much and can't wait to see the plans God has in store for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
All our love,
Mommy & Daddy
I'm not sure if you will remember this, but on your third birthday we took you to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate with you. You weren't really into the pizza or salad we ate, but you sure did love the games! It was a little over-stimulating for you, but you had a blast!
You go to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays at FUMC Dayschool and you really enjoy playing with your best buddies Nicholas, Sam and Cole. You also take a class at The Little Gym once per week and you just love jumping all over the place and swinging from the bars like a little monkey. You have mastered the "Bear Crawl" and the "Spider Walk".
You enjoy playing with your Thomas trains and Cars Movie cars every single day. Your favorite TV show is Wow Wow Wubbzy and you and Daddy enjoy watching the Transformers cartoons together. Your favorite books are the lift-the-flap books by Karen Katz...the same books I began reading to you when you were just three months old. You love to sing along to your Raffi CD when we're driving in the car. You really enjoy singing and dancing to music these days and repeating the songs you learn at school. We love to watch you perform the chicken dance--it's the cutest!
You are also potty-trained and have been wearing big boy underwear since September. Daddy promised you a Lightning McQueen Power Wheels car when you started going poo-poo on the potty and you made that accomplishment just before your third birthday! Everyday you ask to ride Lightning McQueen around the block in our neighborhood and you enjoy waving to everyone.
Cohen, you are such a great kid and bring so much joy to our lives. I am already amazed at the little man you have become--you make Mommy and Daddy so proud! We love you so much and can't wait to see the plans God has in store for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
All our love,
Mommy & Daddy
When Momma gets sick...
The dogs don't get fed. The dishes don't get washed. Cohen doesn't eat nutritious foods or get his teeth brushed. The toys don't get picked up. Why is it that when Mom gets sick the house seems to fall apart?
I'm 39 weeks pregnant and I got a bad case of food poisoning Sunday night. I ate a small salad from a local restaurant and no more than 4 hours later I was up all night with vomiting and diarrhea, and lots of contractions. I thought I was going into labor! I even called my doula at 1:30 in the morning to let her know what was happening. I just figured my body was cleaning itself out as it sometimes does in early labor. Around 7:30 Monday morning, I made a call to my midwife to discuss my symptoms and that's when she said it must be food poisoning. Abe took me into the birth center and my sweet, sweet midwife took such great care of me. She put me on IV fluids, monitored the baby and my contractions, and sent me home with some Phenergan to help with the nausea and to help me sleep. Thankfully, today I am feeling much better, just still a bit groggy from the Phenergan and lack of sleep Sunday night.
I doubt the dishes will get done today, but I did feed the dogs and was able to prepare a smoothie and oatmeal this morning for Cohen as well as pack his lunch for school, so I'm feeling a little better about that. Hmmm...wonder what it's gonna be like when the new baby arrives!?
I'm 39 weeks pregnant and I got a bad case of food poisoning Sunday night. I ate a small salad from a local restaurant and no more than 4 hours later I was up all night with vomiting and diarrhea, and lots of contractions. I thought I was going into labor! I even called my doula at 1:30 in the morning to let her know what was happening. I just figured my body was cleaning itself out as it sometimes does in early labor. Around 7:30 Monday morning, I made a call to my midwife to discuss my symptoms and that's when she said it must be food poisoning. Abe took me into the birth center and my sweet, sweet midwife took such great care of me. She put me on IV fluids, monitored the baby and my contractions, and sent me home with some Phenergan to help with the nausea and to help me sleep. Thankfully, today I am feeling much better, just still a bit groggy from the Phenergan and lack of sleep Sunday night.
I doubt the dishes will get done today, but I did feed the dogs and was able to prepare a smoothie and oatmeal this morning for Cohen as well as pack his lunch for school, so I'm feeling a little better about that. Hmmm...wonder what it's gonna be like when the new baby arrives!?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
We found James!
So about six or seven months ago when I was suffering from a bad, bad case of morning sickness, I decided to hide one of Cohen's Thomas and Friends trains named James. You see, this particular James train is a battery-operated train that drives on his own with the push of a button. Cohen would continuously get James stuck underneath the couch or bed and then cry and beg for me to rescue James for him. After about ten times of rescuing James, I put James way up in the top of one of our closets while Cohen was napping. Normally I would just have continued my rescue missions, but I was so, so, SO sick and couldn't find the energy to get out of bed most days, much less find the energy to move a couch or crawl under the bed! And then James got lost...or rather, I lost him!
I figured that I would end up finding James while cleaning out and organizing the closets, but nope! I looked, and looked, and looked, but still no James. So last week Abraham decided to look for him. Let me add here that Abe has some unusual difficulty finding anything! Even when you tell him exactly where the item is, he still overlooks it. This is one of those traits about my husband that drives me crazy sometimes, but really it's pretty darn cute and I love helping him out to find things. Well, much to my surprise Daddy found James! James was hiding out in the top nightstand drawer in our bedroom underneath about six books that I've started reading and haven't finished yet. Silly me...I guess I should have looked in the nightstand first considering the fact that I spent almost three months bed-ridden next to that nightstand!
Cohen was so very happy the day James was found! I'm talking smiling, laughing, and dancing-around-the-house happy. Here is a picture of Cohen and James. And when I can figure out how to upload a video...I have a super cute video to add to this post!
I figured that I would end up finding James while cleaning out and organizing the closets, but nope! I looked, and looked, and looked, but still no James. So last week Abraham decided to look for him. Let me add here that Abe has some unusual difficulty finding anything! Even when you tell him exactly where the item is, he still overlooks it. This is one of those traits about my husband that drives me crazy sometimes, but really it's pretty darn cute and I love helping him out to find things. Well, much to my surprise Daddy found James! James was hiding out in the top nightstand drawer in our bedroom underneath about six books that I've started reading and haven't finished yet. Silly me...I guess I should have looked in the nightstand first considering the fact that I spent almost three months bed-ridden next to that nightstand!
Cohen was so very happy the day James was found! I'm talking smiling, laughing, and dancing-around-the-house happy. Here is a picture of Cohen and James. And when I can figure out how to upload a video...I have a super cute video to add to this post!
Nesting is GOOD!
For the past few weeks, I've been in this crazy "I've-got-to-get-this-house-organized" mood. I'm already a little (okay VERY) anal about keeping the house organized and having a place for everything, but lately I've had this desire to get every room in the house organized. The nesting instinct that comes with pregnancy is great! Check out my organized closets!
The first picture is of Cohen and Abigail's closet. This one is going to get re-organized very soon because I received baby clothes and baby stuff at my baby "sprinkle" this weekend that my mother-in-law Kathie threw for me this past weekend. More details about that in a separate post!
The next photo is the spare bedroom closet upstairs. This is where I've been storing the larger baby stuff such as the infant seat, bouncer, pack n play, swing, and bathtub. See Cohen checking himself out in the mirror?
The first picture is of Cohen and Abigail's closet. This one is going to get re-organized very soon because I received baby clothes and baby stuff at my baby "sprinkle" this weekend that my mother-in-law Kathie threw for me this past weekend. More details about that in a separate post!
The next photo is the spare bedroom closet upstairs. This is where I've been storing the larger baby stuff such as the infant seat, bouncer, pack n play, swing, and bathtub. See Cohen checking himself out in the mirror?
Finally, this is a photo of our office closet. The office and office closet was a disaster to say the least until just this past week. Since we had some family staying with us this past weekend, I really got the motivation to get the office organized. And yes, Abe and I have a ton of clothes! I didn't include a picture of our closet, but we basically have to use the two upstairs closets for our clothing overflow. Abe has more clothes than me actually, but those business suits hanging on the bottom row of the office closet are from my days working at the bank before Cohen came along. They all still fit me very well (pre-pregnancy, anyway!) and I just can't seem to get rid of them just yet. Maybe someday I'll have a use for them again...
Anyone want to pay me to organize your closets?
Anyone want to pay me to organize your closets?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
One-year Mark
I can hardly believe it, but we've been back in the Valley for one year now. I miss California so much sometimes, but at the same time McAllen just feels like home to me. Most of Abe's family members live here, so that's been really nice and I just love our house, Cohen's pre-school, my church and my mommy friends here. Now let's just see if we can make it to the two-year mark!
Yay for playrooms!
So, this is our formal dining room before...
We've used it a total of three times in the past year: Cohen's 2nd Birthday Party, Thanksgiving '08 and Christmas '08. What a waste of space! So we decided to make it a playroom instead. (By the way, can anyone else see the two "orbs" in this photo? I'm thinking they were reflections from my watch and wedding ring. Yep, I'm going with that.)
And this is what the room looks like now:
Cohen plays with his Thomas train table and trains every SINGLE day. And before bed he'll tell us, "I have to go put my trains to sleep!", and he'll go and put them inside the shed or roundhouse to "sleep". Too cute.
We're waiting on one more piece of furniture and the room will be finished. We had the bookcase and book rack made by a local cabinet guy and he's also finishing up a 3-cube bench for us too. Hopefully we'll get it this week.
Cohen decided that he'd rather sit in the basket to read his books than his special reading chair that mommy and daddy bought for him! It is so nice having this space for Cohen. I think I'm especially going to love it for hosting playgroups! It just makes our home so much more kid-friendly!
We've used it a total of three times in the past year: Cohen's 2nd Birthday Party, Thanksgiving '08 and Christmas '08. What a waste of space! So we decided to make it a playroom instead. (By the way, can anyone else see the two "orbs" in this photo? I'm thinking they were reflections from my watch and wedding ring. Yep, I'm going with that.)
And this is what the room looks like now:
Cohen plays with his Thomas train table and trains every SINGLE day. And before bed he'll tell us, "I have to go put my trains to sleep!", and he'll go and put them inside the shed or roundhouse to "sleep". Too cute.
We're waiting on one more piece of furniture and the room will be finished. We had the bookcase and book rack made by a local cabinet guy and he's also finishing up a 3-cube bench for us too. Hopefully we'll get it this week.
Cohen decided that he'd rather sit in the basket to read his books than his special reading chair that mommy and daddy bought for him! It is so nice having this space for Cohen. I think I'm especially going to love it for hosting playgroups! It just makes our home so much more kid-friendly! Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Middle names...Ugh!
So we've got about six weeks left until Baby Abigail is here and we still haven't decided on a middle name. We were thinking about the name Mercedes. This was Abraham's great-grandmother's name, but other than her name we know practically nothing else about her. We've also thought about Michaela since Abe's middle name is Michael, but I'm not dead-set on that one either. Mackenzie is another one I've been pondering. Oh, and by the way, we were hoping to give Abigail a middle name that starts with M so that she will have the same initials as Abe...AMG (well, until she's married at least!).
I have two friends that are really good with naming babies. I say this because they each have four kiddos and I just love all of their names! I think I'll go to them for some inspiration and advice.
I hope my posts aren't boring you to pieces! I know I need to post some pics...I'm just a little lazy about taking them and then making the time to save them to the computer, upload them, etc. But I am going to try to be better about this!
I have two friends that are really good with naming babies. I say this because they each have four kiddos and I just love all of their names! I think I'll go to them for some inspiration and advice.
I hope my posts aren't boring you to pieces! I know I need to post some pics...I'm just a little lazy about taking them and then making the time to save them to the computer, upload them, etc. But I am going to try to be better about this!
Monday, September 28, 2009
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...
...Everywhere you go.
Okay, not really. It's 94 degrees today! But here I sit making our Christmas list of gifts to give this year...and it's still September! Honestly, I just want to get all the Christmas shopping over with. With a new baby on the way in November, I'm not going to have much time to deal with it so Abe and I are starting our Christmas shopping early. And hopefully it will be finished by November 1st!
Okay, not really. It's 94 degrees today! But here I sit making our Christmas list of gifts to give this year...and it's still September! Honestly, I just want to get all the Christmas shopping over with. With a new baby on the way in November, I'm not going to have much time to deal with it so Abe and I are starting our Christmas shopping early. And hopefully it will be finished by November 1st!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Pregnancy Survey
How far along? 32 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain: 17 pounds
Maternity clothes? I'm still able to get by with a few non-maternity dresses and shirts, but not for long.
Stretch marks? Thankfully none at all!
Sleep: Ugh...not so good. I wake up at least 3-5 times per night to..."tinkle" and another 1-2 times because I'm soooo thirsty and need some water. Usually after one of these awakenings I have difficulty falling back to sleep for about an hour or two.
Best moment this week: Baby hiccups. So sweet.
Movement: This baby is going to be a pro at kick-boxing!
Food cravings: Popcorn and occasionally ice cream. I've been craving pancakes lately too, but I haven't given into that one yet.
Food aversions: Can't think of a single one...
Gender: Think pink...it's a GIRL!!
Labor Signs: I've got the sporadic Braxton-Hicks going on.
Belly Button in or out? In-and I think it will stay that way. It did during my pregnancy with Cohen.
What I miss: Sushi and being able to sleep on my back if I so desire.
What I am looking forward to: Girly clothes and accessories
Weekly Wisdom: Let go and let God. (Especially regarding the labor and delivery!) Also, pray for your children, even if they are still in the womb.
Milestones: Organizing three closets in the house (this nesting stuff is great!)...three down, only one more to go!
Total weight gain: 17 pounds
Maternity clothes? I'm still able to get by with a few non-maternity dresses and shirts, but not for long.
Stretch marks? Thankfully none at all!
Sleep: Ugh...not so good. I wake up at least 3-5 times per night to..."tinkle" and another 1-2 times because I'm soooo thirsty and need some water. Usually after one of these awakenings I have difficulty falling back to sleep for about an hour or two.
Best moment this week: Baby hiccups. So sweet.
Movement: This baby is going to be a pro at kick-boxing!
Food cravings: Popcorn and occasionally ice cream. I've been craving pancakes lately too, but I haven't given into that one yet.
Food aversions: Can't think of a single one...
Gender: Think pink...it's a GIRL!!
Labor Signs: I've got the sporadic Braxton-Hicks going on.
Belly Button in or out? In-and I think it will stay that way. It did during my pregnancy with Cohen.
What I miss: Sushi and being able to sleep on my back if I so desire.
What I am looking forward to: Girly clothes and accessories
Weekly Wisdom: Let go and let God. (Especially regarding the labor and delivery!) Also, pray for your children, even if they are still in the womb.
Milestones: Organizing three closets in the house (this nesting stuff is great!)...three down, only one more to go!
I've been inspired...
So, I've been inspired recently to attempt blogging again. There's just so much that I want to record and document, but I seldom make the time to. I'd like to start spending less time Facebooking and more time blogging. I was really good about keeping Cohen's baby book up-to-date until he was about two years old, but now I'm finding that I want to remember the cute and funny things Cohen says and does on a daily basis. And I want to start documenting the happenings of our family.
Anyway, I can thank my friend Vannessa for this inspiration. She is great about blogging regularly and her blog is hilarious and such a joy to read. Her son Cole is going to love reading his mommy's blog someday! Thanks for the inspiration Vannessa!
Anyway, I can thank my friend Vannessa for this inspiration. She is great about blogging regularly and her blog is hilarious and such a joy to read. Her son Cole is going to love reading his mommy's blog someday! Thanks for the inspiration Vannessa!
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