All of Matthew's call papers are due today. He stayed up really late last night trying to finish up everything. I actually haven't seen him since I went to bed, so I hope that he got it all finished. I'm so excited about having our interview with Dr. Fickenscher soon.
We are traveling to Chicago this weekend so we can visit our home church. There are no classes on Friday for fall break so we will have all day Saturday to visit with some friends. Yay!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Friday, October 06, 2006
Back to School
Wow how time flies! I can hardly believe that my last entry was Lena's birth story. That whole terrible ordeal seems so far behind me. I feel like it never happened!
So, we are back in Indiana for Matthew's last year of seminary. I have such mixed feelings about it. I love being here with friends, but it's so hard to know that we will be leaving again in the spring.
I had a "homebirth party" this morning. I invited several of the student wives over just to chat. We had a really good time talking about vaccinations, discipline, midwives, and everything in between. I'm planning another for the 20th and I'm hoping that we can get together twice a month. Maybe I'll try to plan something that our husbands can come to, something in the evening when they are not in class. I know Matthew likes to talk about birth as much as I do. Actually probably even more so!
So, we are back in Indiana for Matthew's last year of seminary. I have such mixed feelings about it. I love being here with friends, but it's so hard to know that we will be leaving again in the spring.
I had a "homebirth party" this morning. I invited several of the student wives over just to chat. We had a really good time talking about vaccinations, discipline, midwives, and everything in between. I'm planning another for the 20th and I'm hoping that we can get together twice a month. Maybe I'll try to plan something that our husbands can come to, something in the evening when they are not in class. I know Matthew likes to talk about birth as much as I do. Actually probably even more so!
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Lena's Birth Story
We knew we were having a big baby. Because of that, we were trying to get labor started as soon as possible. We were up late May 29th and didn't crawl into bed until after midnight. I was having tiny little contractions; they didn't hurt one bit. In fact I slept though most of them. May 30th at 4:45am I woke up to several intense contractions, only about 10 seconds long each. Matthew called our midwife, Carey, to let her know that labor had started. Since it was so light, she told us to get some rest and call when things change. Then we called David and Janice so they could make their way over to take care of Eli. Labor was pretty mild for about the first hour. I had sent Matthew to the grocery store to get some drinking water so we would have plenty for everyone that was going to be there. By the time he came back the contractions were fairly hard and 4-5 minutes apart. We called Carey again and told her to come quickly. (She's about an hour away.) I labored nicely, walking around the house, only stopping when I needed to. Finally I laid down on our bed since I was getting tired. I felt the need to push before Carey got there. Laying on the bed I could feel the head move down with every contraction, even though I wasn't pushing. I got into our birthing tub hoping that it would make things easier. (I know now that I probably should have stayed out.) I think the head was about crowning at the time. It took a lot of effort to get the head out; I felt that I couldn't get into a good position in the water. Then the shoulders got stuck. I turned onto my hands and knees in the water, which didn't help. I moved around severl times trying to get a comfortable position, but I couldn't. I got out of the water and pushed on my hands and knees on the floor. I still struggled for a while, but then Matthew hooked his finger under an armpit and got the shoulders to come out. I still had to push some more to get the torso and bottom out. "It's a girl!" I could hardly believe it. I looked down and her, her face was blue and her body was white. The cord was not pulsating and I couldn't see her breathing. I held her on her tummy and rubbed her back and smacked her bottom. I didn't see any response. I tried and tried to get her to breath. I was terrified, and I cried so hard. I thought she was gone. Carey arrived about 2 minutes after Lena's birth and proceeded to suction her and "bag" her with oxygen. Lena was breathing when she was born, it was just very shallow. 911 was called and the paramedics came, stabilized her and took her to the Boone Community Hospital. Later she was transfered to Blank Children's Hospital NICU in Des Moines. Lena was diagnosed with persistant pulmonary hypertension and is being treated with oxygen and nitric oxide. She was also receiving dopamine to keep her blood pressure up and fentanyl to sedate her and keep her calm. (She is now getting methadone for sedation.) She may have some neurological damage, but we won't know if she does and to what extent until she is off the ventilator and gets an EEG and MRI. Most of the time we have been staying at the Almost Home Birth Center and they have been very generous to us. We want to stay close by in case anything happens. We haven't been able to hold her except for those first few moments. Since she has not been able to nurse yet I am pumping milk for them to give to her. I am doing well with it although it's not as enjoyable as nursing a beautiful baby. I know it will be really hard once they let me nurse her, but I am determined to give my baby girl the best. Lena is responding well to her treatments, even though it is taking longer than they originally thought. I'm hoping that she will be able to go home before the end of the month because we have a "babymoon" waiting-Lena and I will lay in bed skin to skin and do nothing but nurse, cuddle, and sleep.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Lena Rose Jeffords
Thanks Genevieve for posting things for me. I have access to internet, but I'm pretty preoccupied. Those of you that have not gotten Matthew's emails, please read the comments on the previous post.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Still Pregnant
We were so worried that I wouldn't make it to 37 weeks and now I'm almost to 39 weeks! (May 30) I really do hope that it's soon. I'm getting antsy about it. Besides, I really don't want the baby to get too big. Though I am confident that I can birth a big baby, I really want to avoid it if I can. So, my midwife gave me a list of things to bring on labor. I haven't tried using herbs or acupuncture yet- I will if I go past 40 weeks. I've tried using a breast pump for 2 hours, applying castor oil and a heating pad to my belly, eating foods with curry in it, walking for 2 hours, and having sex twice a day. (Honestly, that last one is the hardest to do. I have to get in the mood, I'm usually tired, and Eli has to be asleep.) The walking gives me some contractions but the others really haven't produced any. Carey has said that acupuncture is probably the best one to do, I just don't want to have to pay for it- even though I don't think it would be too much. I'm just so eager to see my baby. I want to know if it's a boy or girl (though I'm thinking it's a boy). I can hardly wait!
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
When will it be?
My due date is June 6th and I'm already past the point of when Eli was born. Take a guess at when the big day will be and post it as a comment!
Monday, May 15, 2006
37 Weeks
Well, I'm almost to my 37 weeks point (tomorrow). If I don't have this baby tonight, then tomorrow morning will be the most pregnant I've ever been. (Eli was born at 8:22am at 37 weeks.) I'm definitely ready to have this baby. Not so much ready to have a second child, just ready to not be pregnant anymore. It's kind of like looking forward to a party at your own house. You put all this hard work and preparation into it, and you can hardly wait to have it over with, but you know it will be just great! And then afterwards it’s all over. That’s the part that I don’t like. It’s the “Baby Blues” thing that everyone talks about. The birth will be this big wonderful event, then comes the baptism and all the family and friends that will visit. After about a week or two it’s all over. My hubby will go back to work and I’ll have to take care of two young’ns. I guess that I’m pretty lucky that Matthew doesn’t work a whole lot away from home. If he ever is gone, it’s just over to the church or visiting shut-ins. Plus, I have so many people here in the congregation that are really excited about helping me out with anything I need. It’s really nice to know that they are all so eager. Say a little prayer for us, please as the birth may be near. (It could actually be closer to three weeks from now!)
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
The time is drawing nigh!
Well, I am a very bad blogger. I just never seem to find the time to be online long enough to write anything. I am 35 weeks pregnant now. Gee, looking back it's gone by really fast. Actually it feels like I've been pregnant forever. I think it's because Eli's birth was still so fresh in my mind when this baby was conceived.
Last month Matthew was left at home while Eli and I visited my sister hoping to be there for the birth of her 4th baby. However, Trace was born the day before we got there. It was nice to be there for 2 weeks with a beautiful new baby boy. I had a really great time, but I think that Eli's cousins were ready to get rid of us after about a week. They loved us being there at first, but decided that having a toddler around wasn't always fun. They just aren't used to having to keep their little toys up and out of his reach. But everything worked out and I think that they will recover eventually. Maybe it was good practice for when Trace starts moving about.
I just had my home visit from our midwife, Carey. It was great! I love having people over and I love to show off a clean house. Everything seems to be in order. The birth kit is together, I have a bag packed for "just in case" hospital transport, and we were able to borrow a Softub pool for the birth. I'm not quite sure how to do the water chemicals. I read the directions, and we have some of the chemicals, but we need to purchase a few of them. I have the website to get the ones that are specially made for this brand of spa, but they're kind of expensive. Carey said that pool chemicals from Wal-mart would be the same thing and a lot cheaper. She is going to send me an easy to follow sheet that lists what we need to get and just what to do. So, after we get all that taken care of, all we have is the waiting. We are officially able to have a homebirth at 36 weeks. Eli was born at 37, but all babies are different. I may even go late, although Matthew doesn't think so. He's actually been worried that I won't make it to 36.
My biggest concern at this point (Carey's too) is that they baby will get "too" big. Obviously, I love food. Especially if it's loaded with sugar! Problem is, all that sugar will go straight to baby. I know that I am capable of giving birth to a 10 lb. baby, but why would I want to since it can be prevented? So, I've been cutting sugar out of my diet. No sweets, 1 fruit per day, no white starches, no dairy (although I really don't stick with that one). It's really hard to do. I haven't been great at it, but I'm managing. I just crave all the bad things! Also, I need to be eating more vegetables. I don't get nearly enough, maybe 1 or 2 a day when I really should have 6. I'm just not a big fan of cooked veggies. (Yes, they are supposed to be cooked, just not to death.) I do count raw ones because at least they are still vegetables. It's better than eating a doughnut!
I've been seeing a chiropractor for the past several weeks because my left hip has hurt so badly. He has does great! He specializes in applied kinesiology. (Visit this site for more info. http://www.icak.com/ It seemed to be pretty reliable.) I first had 4 visits really close together so he could evaluate everything and now I go once a week. I will be re-evaluated at my 12th appointment. That will be sometime later this month. I first met Dr. Moss at a Natural Living Expo in Des Moines. (It was such a neat event!) Matthew and I love the idea of natural foods and medicine, but sometime it's just so expensive. We're halfway there-natural birth, cloth diapers, breastfeeding, we're getting into natural medicines and alternative forms of treatment. It really is the food part that's more expensive.
So, for all of you that have read this entire thing...CONGRATULATIONS! Now, leave me a note by posting a comment. Maybe I'll even write back! Keep us in your prayers as the birth draws near.
Last month Matthew was left at home while Eli and I visited my sister hoping to be there for the birth of her 4th baby. However, Trace was born the day before we got there. It was nice to be there for 2 weeks with a beautiful new baby boy. I had a really great time, but I think that Eli's cousins were ready to get rid of us after about a week. They loved us being there at first, but decided that having a toddler around wasn't always fun. They just aren't used to having to keep their little toys up and out of his reach. But everything worked out and I think that they will recover eventually. Maybe it was good practice for when Trace starts moving about.
I just had my home visit from our midwife, Carey. It was great! I love having people over and I love to show off a clean house. Everything seems to be in order. The birth kit is together, I have a bag packed for "just in case" hospital transport, and we were able to borrow a Softub pool for the birth. I'm not quite sure how to do the water chemicals. I read the directions, and we have some of the chemicals, but we need to purchase a few of them. I have the website to get the ones that are specially made for this brand of spa, but they're kind of expensive. Carey said that pool chemicals from Wal-mart would be the same thing and a lot cheaper. She is going to send me an easy to follow sheet that lists what we need to get and just what to do. So, after we get all that taken care of, all we have is the waiting. We are officially able to have a homebirth at 36 weeks. Eli was born at 37, but all babies are different. I may even go late, although Matthew doesn't think so. He's actually been worried that I won't make it to 36.
My biggest concern at this point (Carey's too) is that they baby will get "too" big. Obviously, I love food. Especially if it's loaded with sugar! Problem is, all that sugar will go straight to baby. I know that I am capable of giving birth to a 10 lb. baby, but why would I want to since it can be prevented? So, I've been cutting sugar out of my diet. No sweets, 1 fruit per day, no white starches, no dairy (although I really don't stick with that one). It's really hard to do. I haven't been great at it, but I'm managing. I just crave all the bad things! Also, I need to be eating more vegetables. I don't get nearly enough, maybe 1 or 2 a day when I really should have 6. I'm just not a big fan of cooked veggies. (Yes, they are supposed to be cooked, just not to death.) I do count raw ones because at least they are still vegetables. It's better than eating a doughnut!
I've been seeing a chiropractor for the past several weeks because my left hip has hurt so badly. He has does great! He specializes in applied kinesiology. (Visit this site for more info. http://www.icak.com/ It seemed to be pretty reliable.) I first had 4 visits really close together so he could evaluate everything and now I go once a week. I will be re-evaluated at my 12th appointment. That will be sometime later this month. I first met Dr. Moss at a Natural Living Expo in Des Moines. (It was such a neat event!) Matthew and I love the idea of natural foods and medicine, but sometime it's just so expensive. We're halfway there-natural birth, cloth diapers, breastfeeding, we're getting into natural medicines and alternative forms of treatment. It really is the food part that's more expensive.
So, for all of you that have read this entire thing...CONGRATULATIONS! Now, leave me a note by posting a comment. Maybe I'll even write back! Keep us in your prayers as the birth draws near.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Growing
I feel so fat and pregnant now. I'm about 5 1/2 months along and am already feeling the strain of having extra body mass. I haven't gained any weight since the begining, in fact up until my last appointment I had lost 6lbs. I guess that would be bad for some, but for me it's fine. Besides, I gained it all back in 3 weeks! My goal was to gain no more than 15 pounds and since I'm over halfway, I think that I'm doing alright. (Side note: I don't like it when doctors or midwives tell a woman that she can only gain so much during her pregnancy. The reason that I have a set goal is because I know that I have a tendancy to overeat -and eat bad things- especially when I have an excuse. I also believe, for myself, that if I gain a whole lot of weight it will make labor harder for me. I'm out of shape as it is, and I don't need more fat to make it worse.)
The baby is moving so much now. Every evening at about 8:00 he/she starts to kick and wiggle. Matthew has gotten to feel it once. The only reason he hasn't felt it more is just becuase he's gone or busy at the time. I'm sure he'll get to feel it more and more as time goes on.
Eli calls! I must go.
The baby is moving so much now. Every evening at about 8:00 he/she starts to kick and wiggle. Matthew has gotten to feel it once. The only reason he hasn't felt it more is just becuase he's gone or busy at the time. I'm sure he'll get to feel it more and more as time goes on.
Eli calls! I must go.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Squirmy Baby
Oh it's been a long time! I've been very busy lately-in fact I'm busy now so this will be a short note. I'm doing well and Eli is growing like a weed. I'm roughly halfway through the pregnancy now and the baby is moving a lot. (That's the really exciting part.) More later.
