He's Here!!

He's here! August 17th at 1:49 p.m. central time Brayton was born. 9 lbs. 8 oz. Happy and healthy!

Sorry my sleep-deprived brain is just posting this, but things went very well. Brayton is so very healthy. We are so blessed!!

The c-section went fine. Recovery is slow, which is driving me crazy, but it was definitely the best decision. Brayton had the umbilical cord around his neck twice, so if we had done the version procedure then it probably would have ended up in fetal distress and an emergency c-section a month early. Again, thank you God for watching over us there!

He is such a good baby. I didn't know any different with Rachel. My mom told me she was unusually fussy, and I knew her health problems caused her to be a little more fussy than average. But, now that I have a 'normal' baby I see just how difficult she was when she was first born. Now, I hope for Brayton that this isn't just the calm before the storm. LOL.

Rachel is getting used to her baby brother. She is so sweet and smart, and really sensitive to others feelings. So, when he cried for the first time it really upset her. But, she now just says "Brayton is noisy" and lets it roll off her back. She gives him hugs and kisses and mentions him when she mentions the rest of the family. It is so cute.

All is well. Sleep deprivation has kicked in (he is up every 2 hours at night!), but other than that, we're functioning!! Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers. I'll update again when I can think straight!

Friday, August 17th is the day!

Well, I have a c-section scheduled for Friday. Think about me around 2 pm central time when I'm getting my guts cut open. Sounds appealing, doesn't it?

Oh, if he does a sommersault between now and then all bets are off. But, I'm losing hope on that. That's OK, I didn't want all that pain of labor, anyway. We'll try it the other way this time. I'll let you know which I recommend.

Wow, time flies!

My little girl turns two today!

It's quite amazing to me. Everyone told me when I was pregnant with her that she would grow up fast, to cherish every moment. I had no idea. I just HAD NO IDEA.

I had no idea about a lot of things. I didn't realize how my feelings would suddenly be so intense. That nothing else would really matter to me in life more than her. I just didn't "get it". Then she was born and it hit me light a bolt of lightning.

Oh, sure I knew I would love her. I loved the very idea of having her. I just didn't understand my non-emotional self could feel such things.

She amazes me every day! The way she smiles first thing in the morning. How darn smart she is. How cute she is. The way she hugs and kisses everything. The way she makes even the grumpiest of people smile. That's my favorite part.

I pray I never take the gift of her for granted. That would be the biggest sin of all.

Happy Birthday, Rachel!

With all that can happen, it's really amazing any of us are here.

A friend once said that. She probably doesn't even remember saying it, but it's a true statement. If you think about all the things that have to happen at the beginning, during, and end of a pregnancy it is quite amazing. God really thought that procedure through before he made it.


My unborn kidlet is breech. Frank breech. Which basically means his butt is at the bottom, head at the top, and his legs are straight and tucked up by his face. With just over 4 weeks to go that isn't good. At this point only 4% of babies are in the breech position. Crap.


What's bad about the frank breech position is that it's even harder for him to move. The doctor described it like trying to turn a bobby pin instead of a marble. Round is better.

I have to do exercises to try to get him to move. I go back in Monday, July 30th for another check. If he hasn't moved by Monday the doctor will give me 2 options.
1) keep doing the exercises and if he doesn't move by August 15th then schedule a c-section, or
2) come back Tuesday to do what they call a external cephalic version (ECV). It's done by the doctor applying pressure to the abdomen and manually manipulating the baby into a head-down position.

Unfortunately, the ECV only works about 50% of the time, and it isn't without risks, there's a chance the placenta could separate or a drop in the baby's heart rate, so they monitor the baby the whole time. The risks, I'm told, are rare, though. But I've also been told this procedure is quite painful. Oh boy.

To make matters worse, my doctor is going on vacation Wednesday next week (Aug 1-14th), so if I had complications from the ECV that night or the next day he won't be around. Darn doctors and their lives. How dare he have a family. lol.

Well, all I can do is pray he moves between now and Monday.

The drugstore

I was standing milling over the contact lens solution at our local drugstore last week trying to figure out if, being 8 months pregnant, I could bend down to get the bottle on the bottom shelf and actually get back up again. I reach to kneel, and suddenly I was approached by a very young looking fellow. Maybe 16 or so by my estimation, although I admit kids are starting to look younger and younger to me these days.

He asks "Ma'am, do you know where the pregnancy test kits are?" while his ears are turning a shade this side of beet red.

I look at him a second and say "Why, I look like I should, don't I?" Trying to bend back up.

I almost told him "they are over by the condoms", but then I realized at his age if he's looking for the pregnancy tests he probably hasn't a clue where the condoms are, either.

I replied "This way" and proceeded to lead him to the pregnancy test isle.

He said "Thanks". I start to walk away, then realize he just stood there. Staring. At the yeast infection medications. Now, I will give him this, the boxes are the same size and shape.

I went back and said "No, here they are", and pointed to three of them. He turned that familiar shade of red. Then I said "You might as well get a kit with two, it's cheaper than buying them individually, and no matter what the outcome she's going to want to test twice".

He said "Thanks". Then he said "Is this your first?" I said "No, second". He said "Oh. This will be my first".

Sigh. I hope it turned out the way he wanted.

The Life of a Preacher's Wife.

My husband, the kind man he is, thinks of me often. But, I will say, we've been married 14 years. So, the flowers and candy don't come nearly as often as when we were courting. Oh, he does do it occassionally. Maybe once a year for no reason. Twice if I'm particularly lucky. I'm not complaining, mind you.

I've been particularly whiny and grumpy lately. I haven't been sleeping well (gee, have I mentioned that before?). I ache. It's hot. Being 8 months pregnant in this humidity isn't a day at the park. Wait, maybe it is. Anyway, today, my smiling husband walked in with a basket of irises, red and white roses, and yellow mums. Irises are my favorite! I was so excited!

I think he saw the excitement on my face, because he immediately put out his hand like he was saying, "stop".

Then he says "They're left over from a funeral we had. The family didn't want them".

LOL. Well, it's the thought that counts.

A night in the life of...

Last night I was lying in bed sound asleep. The full moon shining through the arch in the window.

I suddenly feel *tap, tap, tap*. In my sleepy stupor I don't move.

Then I feel *shake, shake, shake*

I roll over rather irritated and say in a nasty tone "What??" to my husband.

Now, in my defense, sleep hasn't come easy lately. Eight months pregnant, I tend to get horrible hip aches, back aches, and I'm being made to sleep on my side. Something I dispise. Besides the fact that I wake up 3 or 4 times during the night to pee. I wasn't happy to be woken up for no apparent reason.

Then I hear "I love you".

In a tone equal to my "what?" I respond.."I love you, too". Humph.

And then he rolls back over.

Then I lie there awake for about 30 minutes irritated and cursing him in my thoughts for waking me.

He didn't remember a thing the next morning.

Just when you think the wart is gone

It's back.

I know, I fell off the face of the earth. I got overwhelmed. A little depressed, even, and blogging became a source of stress. I had nothing interesting to say (OK, I still don't). I can't really explain it. I really didn't think anyone would notice. But they did. And I am touched. But, now I'm back. A year and a half later. What can I say, nothing is on TV.

What have I been doing? Well, I'm pregnant again. So you can use your imagination there. Due August 25th. It's a boy! Rachel won't know what hit her. We're really excited, and this is the last one. A girl and a boy, the complete set, we're done. At least if we have our say. Everytime I say that, though, I think of my friend Angela Marie and am worried I jinx myself. Not that she isn't soooo completely blessed. But you know what I mean.

Other than that, It's the same 'ol, same 'ol here. I will post something more interesting later, when I have time. OK, no promises on the interesting part.