Birth Center Orientation

Today we attended the orientation/birthing class at the birth center. It's mandatory, no matter how many births you've had there, so although this will be our third birth there we had to attend.

They've remodeled since 2004 since we birthed there last and Cherie has changed the color scheme. It's a really beautiful home.

We were very proud of how The Pupster did during the meeting. We sat at the end near the door and he played in the next room, with the puppets and other toys.

For almost two hours straight, he stayed there and played and made almost no noise. The other couples even complemented him on doing so well. I think a lot of his energy, at other times, comes from the stimulation of his other siblings.


During the orientation, one of the mothers-to-be asked about the level of involvement she should expect from the midwives and birth assistants.

I'm really glad she asked that question because Cherie's answer included some statements I don't think I had heard before.

She talked about their goal of having the husband and wife work as a team and having the wife see her husband as her savior during the process.



She said that if they see that the wife needs a cold towel or a warm rice sock on her back, they take it and place it in the husband's hand so he can apply it, and the wife will thank him for helping her.

That's was really great to hear.

She also mentioned that there are many birth situations where there is a doula present, and that's helpful mostly in a hospital setting if the couple is not allowed as much freedom.

Many times doulas get a lot of credit for doing the comforting and encouraging and coaching that is designed for the husband to do.

No disrespect to doulas, I just like it this way. It strengthens the bond between the husband and wife during this extremely sacred process.


Below is the tub where the Pupster was born in 2004. I didn't plan it that way, I was there to relax and out he started coming!!!!



Hopefully I'll get to take a happy picture like the one below, during and after labor, when we come back in a few weeks, or a couple of weeks!!

3 weeks before your due date

Here's how you're growing so far. You're still moving quite a bit so I guess you still have a bit of room in there.

What are we up to? Today at school we read a chapter of David Livingstone (missionary to Africa), we worked on memorization (a poem we're learning, called The Year), we worked on writing (copywork), and we had an interview with Uncle Ed (Jeoff's brother) in Japan since we're studying Asia for geography.

During the younger kids' naptime and Diona's independent work time, I washed and folded a boat load of clothes and did the dishes.

I didn't have quite as much cleaning to do as usual because the kiddos are becoming such better helpers and much better at playing in one area and cleaning that area up. But only if I stay on top of them with reminders and pointers - that's the key!

This evening your big brother had soccer practice, which was cute as always, and afterwards we all headed to Lowe's to look at some kid room decorations and wallpaper for the kitchen.

Tonight we watched the finale of America's Best Dance Crew - Go Jabbawockeez!!!!

I missed the finale of Celebrity Apprentice although I watched the show pretty faithfully through out the season. I'll have to catch it online tomorrow or this weekend. I think Trace Adkins won. At least I hope he did. These are really the only two shows we watch and Jeoff just got into Dance Crew last week as I was flipping through the channels. The other two I flip on every once in a while are A Baby Story - which is getting on my nerves, Top Model, and Extreme Makeover Home Edition. A Baby Story is getting on my nerves because I want to see stories of more women walking around during labor and pushing in different positions other than laying almost flat. Oh we also flip in at Biggest Loser and Dancing with the Stars.... and yeah Hannity and Colmes or Larry King if there's a good guest or topic. Why am I rambling about this??? Hmmmmm .... I guess just so I'll have it documented for history's sake. Seriously though, the tv is usually off at our house except about 5-6 hours all week.


Update: Friday, March 28
We went for my appointment at the birth center today and I was dilated almost to 2cm. Beverly encouraged me (reminded me) to make sure I walk an hour each day to help with labor. My blood pressure was normal and she took blood for them to check my iron level again. My stomach measured 43 1/2 inches today.

Another update - Piers won Celebrity Apprentice. Oh goodness. I hope he improves his attitude.

4 weeks before your due date

Today was a date day for Daddy and me. Wow! We don't even remember when we had the last one of those. But it was absolutely great. We felt like teenagers out on a date together or something.

It was nothing major just good time spent together.

We had an appointment that morning at 10:30 and after the appointment we had lunch at Red Lobster.

Stopped by Fry's Electronics.

Went walking at the new outdoor mall.

Came home and greeted Grandma and the kids.

That night we had planned on watching a movie but opted out of that and decided that talking and actually having more reflection on the day would be much better than taking in a movie.

I had an appointment at the birth center yesterday. My waist (well whatever the part of my stomach that's biggest right now) is about 43 inches. I've gained about 22 pounds so far. Blood pressure and fetal heart rate were normal, thank God! They'll check my iron again NEXT TIME - Thank God!

Your estimated weight as of yesterday was about 5.5 lbs.

One Month Before Your Due Date: Baby Update - 36 Weeks

Today is the first day of Spring Break. We'll rest today and do some activities later in the week.

Before we go out and do a lot of activities we're cleaning inside the house. Daddy got you guys (well all of us) a little sweeper which we desperately needed. Today we're testing it out and teaching everyone how to use it - Even Lamby.

This past weekend was pretty eventful. Friday night we went to Auntie Rita's for their Bon Voyage party, before their cruise. Saturday morning at 7 I had breakfast with my friend, Tasha. That was long over due for us. It was nice to get out early and have the fellowship with a good friend.

Later on Saturday, I took all your siblings to Cia's birthday party at Going Bonkers. They had a really good time. Especially your sister Lamby. If I had let her, she would have ran loose all over the place!

Yesterday we all went to worship service. I can't wait until you have your turn to learn to sit in service with the family! :-) After service, we visited the Farmer's Market again and got lots of good fruit and vegetables.

The afternoon, was family BTU (Bible Study) at Granny's House. We're currently studying Ephesians 6 - Responsibility of Children & Parents and The Full Armor of God. Your sister, Lamby, hung out with Daddy while we were there so she could get her good long 3 hour nap; and after that they went grocery shopping at Walmart!

You are continuing to grow like a weed. I'm 36 weeks pregnant and I'm sure you're running out of room to get around in my tummy. I am very thankful that, at my last birth center visit, Cherie suggested that I start taking a calcium/magnesium supplement. And it has done wonders for the joint aches and pains I had been really suffering from!!!!

I take one whole one and two halves, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner respectively.

There's a baby shower planned for the end of this month. I'm excited about it! I know some people to have showers after a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd baby (or more) but I'm hoping this will just be a great time for fellowship and celebrating the fact that God has added you to our family!!!!! We'll also be celebrating motherhood in general - both natural and spiritual. I think it'll be a fun time. Especially since there will be some friends there who I didn't get to celebrate any of the other pregnancies with - so that's special JUST FOR YOU LITTLE ONE!!!

I put a comparison photo below, in the same outfit so you (and all of us) can see how your grow over time!

Oh yeah, you've also had a couple of little buddies born within the last couple of weeks that I'm sure you' grow up right along with. Little Carson was born about 5 weeks ago and baby Joel was born just on Friday.

Talk to you soon!

Here's how you're growing......

Baby Update - 35 Weeks

Pupster's Prayer

After the usual and most often uttered, "Now I lay me down to sleep.....," The Pupster asked us to repeat the following "open prayer," as we call them.

It was so cute, I had to post it:

thank you Lord
for making this day
we love you so much
because you’re so friendly
and whenever we do something bad
mommy pinches us, or daddy pops us or grandma puts us in the corner or granny pulls our ear
amen

I didn't realize........

....I looked so big!

Until Jeoff took this picture of me today, outside in the bright light LOL

34 weeks and counting

Baby Update - 34 Weeks