Bronner's One Year Checkup

Bronner turned one last week and we had to go to our well baby visit. He now weighs in at 23lbs and 9oz and is 30 3/4 inches long! He is doing great! We are transitioning to whole milk!! Yay for no more formula. That junk is so expensive! Hopefully little Sawyer will be able to breastfeed until he can have whole milk and save us some money! We are working on a sippy cup but you know he doesn't like his milk in a cup. So I am trying not to force the issue and just let him do it own his own. Now granted the main reason is I am sure that when little Sawyer gets here he is going to regress some and if he sees him getting a bottle I'm sure Bronner is going to want one too. So why work so hard at something only for all that work to come undone? And the fact is I have many other things to do like keep up with a one year old and grow an almost term baby! I ordered my new moby wrap on ebay the other day and can't wait to get it in. Jeremy says it looks like it is from Africa and it does but it works for them and with 2 kids under 1 we are going to need something to strap one of them to us! Hopefully we will like it. I used a Baby Bjorn with Bronner and liked it but I didn't feel like it was tight enough against me for a new born and put a lot of strain on you neck/shoulders, where the Moby is an all over wrap and evens out the pressure some. Or so the article says! I'll let you know how I like it! Sawyer is growing well and we go back for our next check up on Tuesday! I was checked at my 32 week appointment because I have been contracting more than normal for me but was only a FT/50/floating. Yeah basically that means I had a baby a year ago and my cervix didn't have ample time to recover and close all the way!! :) Anyways I'll let yall know how it goes! Hope you have a great week!

The Business of Being Born

I watched Ricki Lake's The Business of Being Born yesterday and really enjoyed it. It was very pro midwife and anti OBGYN which was hard for me to get over since I do work with OB's everyday. This was the main part of the film that I didn't agree with. I think midwives would be very useful in low risk vaginal deliveries but I think that they all should be working under a MD. I have no problems with people delivering at birth centers and such but just in my opinion would rather them be connected to some sort of hospital system. I would actually love to work in a birth center attached to a hospital. The best of both worlds. Natural deliveries with an OR down the hall! I know that these are truly low risk deliveries and the reality of something awful happening is rare but it is those rare cases that are so devastating. It only take seconds for labor to go from great and wonderful to life threatening. There are times that you need an OR and there are reasons that we make people have IV's. I know that they said that midwives bring this stuff to your house but honestly trying to start and IV in a pt that is hemorrhaging is really hard. I guess working in this situation everyday you tend to have a biased opinion. I did wholeheartedly agree that we do way to many interventions. There is an influx of c/s and interventions about 4-6 pm. Is this because OBGYN's want to go home or because they have been laboring all day and really need them. Well that honestly isn't my call to make but I would say there is definitely some of both. We do inductions for people that are "favorable" or "uncomfortable" instead of letting them labor themselves so that their own MD can deliver them. Now granted I want my MD to deliver me and I loved being able to have Bronner's birthday planned. It is much easier!! But if you truly want the best chance to have a vaginal delivery with no interventions like a vacuum or forceps or an epidural your best bet is to stay at home until real labor starts and not worry about who is on call! Just my opinion though! Anyways it is a great documentary but take it with a grain of salt and do your research on the other side of the story too!

Bronner is Turning ONE Tomorrow and Candy Cane will be 32 Weeks!

I haven't been so good at updating lately. It seems when I am home and have a minute I am either so tired and would rather sleep or something more important needs to be done. Weeks 28-31 have been pretty uneventful for Candy Cane and I. He and I both keep growing! He finally turned into his vertex/head down position on Halloween! That was the weirdest feeling ever but I am so thankful. Now I can continue to plan for my natural delivery! Jeremy thought I was crazy but I kept laying upside down and eventually it worked. Now granted he didn't turn while upside down but I think he got the message! He is just taking his own sweet time. Hopefully he will be a laid back boy like his big brother. Bronner is growing like a little weed. He goes on Friday for his one year check up and vaccinations. Hopefully it will all go smoothly. He now has 4 teeth on the top and 1 on the bottom. Yes they are supposed to get their bottom two first but he got 3 on the top, then the bottom one, and then last night I noticed another one on the top. Hopefully that other bottom tooth will come on out soon! He is so cute with all these teeth! He is walking holding on to one hand or one of his push toys or the couch. He is doing so good and hopefully by the time CC gets here he will have mastered the skill! He is waving, clapping, and talking a lot now. He says mama, dada, moo, uhoh, wow, hello (and even holds something to his ear when he does it ... super cute!), and lots of other babbling I'm sure we will soon figure out!

Our first Halloween was fun. I wasn't planning on doing much since I had to work that night but Jeremy said he needed at costume. So I bought him a little dragon one and he was so cute. Jeremy took him to MS for the weekend since I was working Saturday and Sunday night and they went to Jason and Dyana's fall festival and then went trick or treating at Jeremy's moms. I'm sure Jerms loved the candy but thankfully nothing came home with them!

This past weekend was Bronner's birthday party. Most of our family was able to make it and we had so much fun celebrating his first year. The day didn't start off so great when my preggo brain forgot that I had put my wallet and such in the diaper bag the day before when I took off to Publix to pick up a few last min things and that cake. Well I get up to pay and there is no money to pay with! How embarrassing. They wouldn't take the number over the phone which is plain ridiculous so I had to go home and get my stuff and go all the way back! Thankfully they just kept my stuff right there and all I had to do was pick it up. Carter, Corbin, and Karsyn all had a great time playing with baby Bronner and getting some attention from grandparents. Bronner got too much! He now has plenty of toy and things to do! Look on facebook for some pics there were way to many to load on here!

Tomorrow is officially the big day! Bronner will be ONE!! Candy Cane also turns 32 weeks tomorrow! We are getting ever so close to meeting our little guy! I can't wait to watch my boys grow up together!

Work has been great lately. I have had multiple natural deliveries or attempts at them and they have all done great! I am starting to really plan for our delivery and hopefully will be teaching Jerms some classes soon. I know he is oh so excited! I have just finished ready Natural Child Birth the Bradley Way and it was great. I don't agree with everything in the book and there is no way that I would use this method solely ... mainly b/c your coach or spouse has to be super involved and I don't think Jerms wants to go that far! But I did learn some great tips and things to watch for about labor. It has really helped me come to realize that this is what God made women's bodies to do. Now I don't think that people should go natural because they have to and I'm not even saying that I will make it but it is definitely a great option for a faster recovery and a more alert baby. Epidurals are great things and many women need them but sometimes we push things to far. I am starting to realize that where I work is definitely more of a business of birthing babies than a welcoming of a baby into the world. To many people are forcing their labors before they are ready and they end up with options they didn't want. Especially in their first pregnancy. So anyways I am really starting to look forward to and prepare for my delivery and praying that it will be everything I want it to be. I really feel like God has laid a desire on my heart to do this unmedicated and I am hoping to achieve this goal!

Eventful week 26 and Bronner's Bday Photo Shoot!

Week 26 of Candy Cane's pregnancy (who really needs a name by the way!) was very eventful! On Thursday night I was admitted to L/D for gallstones and had great care by my wonderful friends! I was hurting so bad and just kept telling myself that if I could do this I could labor naturally. I mean it hurt worse than any ctx that I have ever felt and you didn't get any break. Now I am sure that at the end the delivery part would hurt worse but it only lasts minutes. This lasted about an hour before I finally got some pain meds and some relief. I was discharged Friday morning with a follow up with the surgeon on Monday. Well Sunday night I started hurting again and back to the hospital we went. Thankfully this wasn't as bad although the pain med did not work as effectively and I had to have 2 doses to get some relief. Monday morning I had surgery to removed my gallbladder and thankfully all went well! I did have some significant ctxs all night Monday night and ended up getting multiple meds for that but once they eased up I was feeling so much better. Turning 27 weeks on Tuesday and getting to come home from the hospital will hopefully lead to a better end of the pregnancy. Thankfully my Mom was here to help with Bronner and will probably be staying through the middle of the week. Hopefully I will be going back to work on Monday and saving my time off for when Candy Cane comes home!

While home and recovering I did a little photo shoot of Bronner for his birthday invites! Here are some of the pics!

24 weeks and viable!

So this week marked 24 weeks of candy cane's pregnancy!! He is now considered viable even though we don't want him to come anytime soon. After Christmas would be great! I took my glucose tolerance test today and passed with flying colors so I can officially continue my horrible diet of potatoes and grilled cheese! I had also gained a considerable amount of weight this visit so maybe I should watch what I eat but I mean after throwing up everything for so long food is just to good to ration! Next goal is 28 weeks and the third trimester!
Bronner is now "cruising" very effectively and getting into everything. We are going to have to baby proof the kitchen and bathrooms soon as he loves to open and close cabinets. He watched his first Alabama game of the season and looked oh so cute in his jersey. Jeremy was really proud! He is now 10 months old and I guess we are going to have to start planning a first bday party soon. I can't believe how fast my little man is growing up! If only he could stay a baby forever!

A Summer Full of Learning and Fun!

We are officially in week 20 of candy cane's pregnancy!! He is getting big and finally moving around where I can feel it. I have what is called an anterior placenta ... just meaning the placenta implanted on the front side of my uterus between the outside and him ... so it takes awhile longer to feel them move since they have to kick hard enough to be felt beyond the padding! I have been super sick with this pregnancy and was on a reglan pump for 5 weeks and then a zofran pump for 5 weeks. Neither of which I would recommend to anyone but finally at 19 weeks and 6 days it is finally gone! Now that I am finally eating (and keeping it down) maybe I will gain some weight. Not that I'm complaining about the lack of weight gain but you know cute little baby bumps don't come without some cost! So anyways if you don't follow me on facebook ... we found out on Aug 11th that candy cane is another boy! We are still name looking and yes it will probably be awhile. Jeremy and I can't agree on anything. Last time we both had names we liked ... didn't agree and then Jerms mentioned Bronner and we both love it. Hopefully something similar will happen this time. I LOVE the name Aeden/Aiden but Jeremy hates it. He can't come up with anything though so I just keep calling him Aiden/Aeden and maybe he will change his mind! We are hoping little candy cane will come out on his own but if not are thinking he will be evicted shortly after Christmas or right before the New Year. Yes I complain about the week between the two are work being so super busy but I will be evicting this child for my tax credit!! (And he will be 39 weeks and ready to come out!) On work stories I have done two water births lately and have really really enjoyed both experiences. Not that I am saying I will be birthing this child in a tub but I have been considering it. My doctor doesn't "do" them but said I could if I wanted to. I mean I am a water birth educator and all! Who knows. Only time will tell and if I induce this labor that won't be an option anyways. Next up is my sugar ... which means I am almost viable! 3 weeks and counting!

In Bronner news ... he is getting so BIG! Last week was our 9 month well baby visit. He is officially 20lbs and 1 oz and 28.5 inches long. He is going to be tall. I guess he really didn't have much of an option in this department though! He is sitting and pulling up and taking steps when holding on to things. He will be "cruising" in the next week or two I'm sure as he is already starting to try. He has definitely skipped the whole crawling process. I was worried about it at first but the ped said some just do that. He is otherwise right on target. He is eating solids and trying to learn to use a sippy! We are hoping to have him off the bottle by his bday since candy cane will need them! No teeth yet but are looking to get some anytime. He has been "teething" for what seems like forever. Running temps off and on and chewing and drooling on anything in sight. We have take lots of trips this summer to Jeremy's mom and dad's to swim and he LOVES it. (Well many of the trips were without me due to puking but you know!) We have been to the beach and my mom has come to visit. All in all we have had a great summer and are enjoying our ever growing family!

Pumpkin Pies and Candy Canes!

I am so sorry to have stayed away from this for so long. But, here comes the excuse, we have been super busy around here. Well and I haven't been quite up to par. If you notice the title of this post you might be able to figure out why! If not follow along. Bronner was born November 10th 2008 as you all know so consequently his little nickname has been pumpkin pie or kumquat while in utero. Pumpkin pie stuck around though and I frequently find myself calling him that! Well now onto Candy cane! Yep you guessed it ... we are expecting in December! Well the official due date is Jan 5th, 2010 but we will be delivered by the New Year. When I found out, oh 5 weeks or so ago, I thought I was due in early December but I was a little off on my calculations!

So to answer the onslaught of questions right off the bat:

A: no this was not planned

B: yes we are super excited

C: yes I know many of you will think we are crazy for having babies 13 months apart

D: no we were not preventing this ... unless you count exclusively breastfeeding which obviously didn't work for us ... many times it does just not for me!

E: a little TMI but for those that are dying to know ... no I didn't have a period between Bronner and Candy Cane so that is why I thought I was farther along than I thought

F: yes I found out at approx 3 weeks and 4 days ... how I don't know ... I just had a flashback one day while puking and figured I might as well rule that out and go with the flu ... that is until the 2 pink lines popped up on that plastic stick

G: and finally yes we will be staying at out OWN house for Christmas and Candy Cane's bday in the years to come!!

So I hope yall now know why this blog hasn't been updated and are as excited as we are! If you think we are crazy feel free to have your opinions but please don't tell me! I already know how much work, stress and joy this is going to entail! We are hoping and praying for a smooth and health pregnancy. Hopefully avoiding cholestatsis but knowing that there is a real possibility it could happen again. Praying for a happy and healthy baby and thinking blue!!



In a little Bronner news he is giving kisses, eating and loving it, and continues to work on sitting for a long period of time. He would much rather be standing up that sitting down. He is not interested in being on his belly so we haven't figured out the crawling thing yet but we will get there! He is getting so big and we can't wait for summer for trips to the pool and the beach!