8 week survey and first appointment

I had my first appointment yesterday with the new practice here in our new hometown Jackson.  I'm not loving seeing a new doctor and midwives and I miss Saginaw!  I met with the midwife yesterday and went over paperwork things.  Pat took the morning off and we hired a sitter for the girls.  I thought we'd check for a viable pregnancy but she said no we're just doing history.  She said at 12 weeks is when you meet with the doctor and he does an ultrasound and physical.  I asked why they wouldn't just do that all in one visit.  She said, well I can do your physical today, so we did.  She ended up getting out the doppler and checking for the heartbeat.  What do you know?  She heard it right away!  170's.  She said there was no way that I was only 8 weeks, that my uterus felt like 12 or 13 and she has never picked up a heartbeat at 8.  She ended up setting up an ultrasound for that afternoon.  (Which we had to find another sitter for and we missed nap:( )...  She said maybe I had a fibroid or cyst that was making me big or maybe my dates were wrong or multiples.  There was no way my dates were wrong!  We were nerved up and the ultrasound tech was kind of cold not divulging much of what she saw.  She did tell is the baby looked good and had a heartbeat of 180.  The baby measured 8 weeks 2 days..exactly my calculations! She then said we had to sit outside the room and she would call my doctor.  Very odd situation!  Finally, she came out and said the midwife was on the phone and wanted to speak with me.  The midwife said all is fine and your baby is a super baby!  She's never heard a heartbeat that early...which I think is weird.  So yeah, we praised The Lord as we left and felt relieved.  She scared us for nothing, but I'm glad we got to see our baby.  I guess your uterus makes it way up a lot faster with each pregnancy :).

8 week survey

How far along: 8 weeks 3 days

Weight: 123

Weight gain: not sure what i started at

Symptoms: short of breath, vivid dreams, peeing a lot, queasy, tired, moody, dizzy sometimes and headachy...oh, I tried sea bands and they work!  They hurt your wrists after awhile though.

Maternity clothes: no, but I feel like I'm showing already.

Gender: thinking another girl, like 90% sure in my gut.  We are waiting to find out this time :)

Movement: nope

Sleep: not good...Colette cosleeps with us and still nurses.  Ready to end that!

Food: I'm hungry a lot but also feel queasy.  Depends on the day with what sounds good or not.

Milestones: heartbeat!

Weekly wisdom: nap when kids nap and rest as much as possible.

Sisters updates: Amelia will be 3 next month and is a typical 2 1/2 year old.  She loves learning, art, watching shows, puzzles, whining, talking and singing.  She can count to 20 and knows most sight words.    Been potty trained since last Christmas and sleeps pretty good.  She attends the 3 and 4 Sunday school at church and will be taking dance this fall.  She wants a brother :).  

Colette just turned 1.  She is a happy baby most of the time but is very clingy to mama. She says hi and bye and loves to clap and wave.  She is not a good sleeper.  She loves to eat and nurse.  The girls love each other but also fight daily.  Looking forward to adding another one!! 

Making an appearance :)

I haven't been on here since January!  Anyways, there are 2 big pieces of news to share.  First, we are moved into our new house.  It sits on a great wooded lot and has a lot of space.  We painted the entire upstairs, trim included and will be painting the main floor in the next month or so.  We had a leak from the main bath that went down into the kitchen, that we are making an insurance claim for.  We'll be getting new wood floors and new floor in the master bath.  This house has been good for the most part...even though we've had pest issues like ants, mice and random dead frogs.  I think it will be a great house to raise our kids in!  We had our whole family over for Colette's first birthday and it was a perfect house for a large crowd.  

Outside house pics:

Pics from Colette's first birthday, You are my Sunshine:

Pic of sisters visiting big brother Liam's grave on his 4 year anniversary/birthday. We miss you Liam!!!!!!

And my brother got accepted into CRNA school down in Florida and will start in October of this year...which means they will be moving for 28 months :(.  I'm happy for them but sad and will miss them terribly!  Amelia will miss Adam and nataleigh so much!!  I'll miss my sister-in-love Emileigh like crazy!  She's one of my best friends :(

And the final news to share is this;

It's still super early in the pregnancy and I haven't been to the doctor yet, but yeah, pregnant again!  Complete surprise!  Can my body handle this??  I'm still nursing Colette!  I'm 7 or 8 weeks and feel tired and queasy here and there.  I'm taking it day by day :) and am excited for another sweet baby.  I'd like to be team green this time around but pat's not sure about that.  Praying for a healthy baby and good pregnancy.  Ok, well off to bed.  I'm one tired mama lately ;)

I'm back :)

I haven't written a post in 4 months! A lot has happened again :). We now live in Jackson, Mi. Patrick got a job as a worship arts director at an awesome church here. We are thankful for this ministry opportunity. Amelia is completely potty trained and Colette will be 6 months old this month! Here are some pics of the last few months.

Colette 1 month old

 1 month old and weighing in at 11lbs 8oz...already!  She is a pretty content baby for the most part.  She rarely spits up and likes to make eye contact.  She smiles and coos.  She is in 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers.  She loves her bath time.  I just can't believe how much I love her already and how much I love my girls!  

Amelia is 23 months now and will be 2 in less than a month...ahhh!!!  She is so much fun and quite the little talker.  She knows her abc's and can identify most letters.  She can count to 13 and identify her numbers.  She knows most colors and all of her shapes.  She loves to play with other kids and especially loves her cousin Nataleigh and likes to copy her.   She has been kind-of jealous with sister here and has a few issues with sleep.  She does love to hold sister and help with her though.

I love these girls!!!

Welcome Colette Sophia

Colette Sophia
-7/26/12
-10:55 pm
-8 pounds 7 ounces
-20 1/2 inches long

Amelia and her sister Colette for the first time.  Watching cartoons :)  She loves to hold her sister!

She's here!  She arrived 3 days shy of her due date on July 26, 2012.  I had an appointment early afternoon with the midwife Kelly.  She checked me and said I was 3-4 cm and 50% effaced.  She said that she didn't strip my membranes but that she stirred things up a bit.  After the appointment, I started having some irregular contractions and some bleeding.  She had given her opinion that I might have her later that day or in the next few days.  I went home and tried to do a few things to see if the contractions were real or false labor.  We took a walk, I took a bath, ate dinner and packed our bags.  The contractions were all in my lower back, so I wasn't sure if they were real.  They seemed to have let up when I took a walk, so again not sure if they were real or not.  Around 5 pm, they were getting stronger and closer together and I decided we should call the doctor.  I called and the nurse said that he would call me back in an hour!  So, I decided that we should just head to the hospital, and if it was false labor, I would be sent home.  We arrived at the hospital around 6 pm.  I was checked by a resident and was dilated 5 cm.  I was admitted and moved to a room.  My doctor came in and said he wasn't sure if I really was in labor.  What?!  He came and checked me around 9:30 and said I was in labor and at 6 cm.  My contractions were getting more and more intense, but all in my back still.  I was debating getting an epidural, and decided I would....which was the biggest mistake!  The CRNA tried getting the epideral in my back 3 or 4 times.  I felt sensations in my legs and I got a terrible headache and neckache on her last try.  I was told that it was because I was so tense and how I was sitting.  WRONG...she gave me a spinal headache that I wouldn't know was a spinal headache until 3 days later.  Anyways, she finally put it in place.  They told me to relax and watch some TV.  I had a few contractions and the resident came in to break my water.  He broke my water and said I was at an 8.  As he was walking away, I had the urge to push.  The nurse said that there was no way.  Next contraction, my body took over and just pushed.  She told me to stop pushing and wait for the doctor.  I felt her moving down the birth canal, and really thought she was coming out.  Dr. Minnec rushed in and checked me and said that I was complete and she was on her way out!  Her heart rate dropped...this was really scary for me because I did not know what was going on and could see panic on Dr. Minnec's face.  He ended up using the vacuum and helped get her out.  Total pushing time was 5 minutes and total vacuum time was 1 minutes.  The time from the epidural to having her was only 30 minutes!  What a waste!  Next time, I hope this will be motivation for me to not get an epidural.  Besides the epidural mess-up and the vacuum, I think it was a pretty good labor and delivery.  It was quick and I got my VBAC!!!

We got to go home Saturday night.  I was back at the hospital the next night for my headache.  We decided to go home and do things naturally and not get the recommended blood patch.  I did not want them poking in my back again.  I laid flat and drank Mt. Dew for 3 days and the headache went away.

I love that things are easier this time around with breastfeeding.  She latched right away and nurses like a champ!  I feel more at ease and relaxed with everything this time.  I still can't believe I have 2 daughters!  What a blessing...it's way more than I deserve.  Thank you Lord!!!

38 1/2 weeks

Wow...can't believe it's been so long since I've last posted.  Well, a lot of things have changed.  We moved from Colorado back to Michigan.  We are staying with my parents until Patrick finds a worship leading job at a church (which we hope is closer to home...under 6 hours).  I made the trip back being 32 weeks pregnant.  It was a long drive and we are thankful to be back home.  This past year has been crazy and there has been a ton of change! 

Horrible picture here, but all I got!

How far along?: 38th week...full term...this is the most I've been pregnant, ever!

How big is baby?: Maybe 7 pounds?



Weight Gain?: I have been holding steady at 160..which means 40 pounds total


Maternity Clothes?: yup..some shirts are too short, and a lot of bottoms are too uncomfortable...so been wearing a lot of skirts



Sleep?: Horrible.  Some insomnia, tossing and turning, adjusting pillow between my legs, minor heartburn, up to pee a ton...



Best moment this week?: Finding out baby girl is head down!!!  She had been breech or transverse forever.  I had been seeing a chiropractor and doing exercises and praying a ton and she turned!!!  But, I was wondering this morning is she is breech again...we'll see.  I see the doc tomorrow.



Food Cravings?: sweets



Gender?: Girl...still working on a name :/



Stretch Marks: no



Movement?: yes, but more subtle I would say



What I miss?: Feeling comfortable and having energy.  It's all worth it though.


Belly Button?: flat

Labor Signs?: I actually lost my mucous plug around 33 weeks and was told my cervix was soft, low and ripe.  Well, since I have had BH contrax but that's about it.  I have had an upset stomach since last week and get these weird spells where I feel kinda faint, heart races and out of breath. 



What I'm looking forward to?:  A lot of things...finding out where we are moving to and getting back into our own space again (I do love being around my family though).  Getting this baby out of me :)  and holding her.

Main symptoms this week:  Heartburn, exhaustion, BH contrax, pains and pressure, weird spells


So many people I know are pregnant again.  I love this stage of life!  We are coming up to Liam's third anniversary already.  I am just so thankful to have an opportunity to have more children after losing him.  Praise be to God!

28 weeks

How far along?: 28th week
How big is baby?: 2-3 pounds I'm guessing
Weight Gain?: Lots this time! I think I weigh close to 150 already...
Maternity Clothes?: yup
Sleep?: The start of this past month it was terrible because of heartburn. Thankfully that seems to be better. I seem to be peeing less as well.
 Best moment this week?: Deciding that we are 90% sure we are moving home in a month!
Food Cravings?: Nothing special.
Gender?: Little girl
Stretch Marks: no
Movement?: yes. She was breech at my last appt. I feel like she moves all over though. Praying she is head down in the end!!!
What I miss?: Being able to do more physical activity, especially living in Colorado with all of the hiking trails.
 Belly Button?: still in but more flat Labor Signs?: no...and actually BH have died down too
What I'm looking forward to?: Holding her Main symptoms this week: Minor heartburn, some hip pain, occasional dizziness, fatigue

 Big sister Amelia is almost 20 months old...what??? She is such a joy. Everyone seems to love her. She is affectionate and has the funniest laugh. We picked her up from her church class last week and the lady said, she is so polite and shared really well. I surprised to hear that she shared well, because she is typical for her age with sharing. I can't wait for family back home to get to know her better!