here she comes!!
Going in tomorrow morning to start Cervidil. Hoping it will be enough to start labor without having to go on the Pit.
Still not 100% sure that I should...but I trust my doctor and he's convinced that this is the best thing for me and my baby girl.
Goodbye, pregnancy! Hello, Momma of four!
Deo Gratias.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
To Be Induced, Or Not To Be Induced?
That is the question.
Doc called and suggests that if my body has not made any progress of going into labor on it's own by this evenings appointment, he would like me to go to the hospital TONIGHT and start the inducing process.
But it's completely up to me.
I don't know what to do.
And I'm extremely disappointed.
But then again, my baby's coming. I should be excited, right?
God help me make the right decision.
Doc called and suggests that if my body has not made any progress of going into labor on it's own by this evenings appointment, he would like me to go to the hospital TONIGHT and start the inducing process.
But it's completely up to me.
I don't know what to do.
And I'm extremely disappointed.
But then again, my baby's coming. I should be excited, right?
God help me make the right decision.
Friday, June 18, 2010
11 More Days! (or more? or less?)
Oh, My!
Wow, this pregnancy went fast. Soon I'll be holding my Little Miss Sunshine and The Shaffer's will start a new chapter in their lives. A new member will be added to our precious family and life as we know it will never be the same. I CAN'T WAIT!!!
But then again, I can. (Because I'd rather go on my own and not be induced!) I still have that wonderful image of what the perfect delivery would be like.
I would start going into labor at home while Mike is at work. By the time it started getting a little tough, he'd be home from work and could help do a last minute clean up of the house and kids and help pack the kids bags. My parents would be able to finish their work day as well before I would need to call them and ask them to come and get the kids. They would get here, and Mike and I would head off to the hospital because my water broke (on it's own!) and baby would be here any minute. I'd get situated in my hospital room, have music playing, lights dimmed and flameless candles scented with vanilla flickering their lights in a peaceful and relaxing manner. My doctor would arrive and I'd be ready to push. My beautiful baby would be born and the pain would be over and since it was a Friday (did I forget to mention that?) my brother Justin would be there and so would Ang. No one would have to worry about making it to work the next day. (It would be one of Angie's Saturdays off) And because I wasn't induced and went into labor on my own, I'm a bit past my due date but that worked out great because my sister could be here for the delivery. And she brought almond flavored champagne with her from CA and we're all sharing a glass and celebrating Little Miss Sunshine's life. The baby would be perfectly healthy and very eager to breastfeed. I would be very healthy too and didn't even need an episiotomy! In fact, there's no reason to stay long and my parents would be back Saturday afternoon to meet their new grand daughter and Mike and I would get to introduce her to her three older siblings. We'd get picture perfect photos of them all meeting for the first time and the kids would get to enjoy the free ice cream that the birthing center keeps stocked for patients. After getting more pictures of them in their Shaffer shirts, eating ice cream and hugging their baby sister, it would be time to take everyone home.
Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Instead, I got results for my Group B Strep test and they were positive. This means I need to be hooked up to an IV at least 4 hours before the birth so that I can get antibiotics to protect my baby from getting infected with the bacteria. If I don't, she could get pneumonia or meningitis.
I also had an ultrasound yesterday to determine how big the baby might be already because talk of being induced has been thrown around my latest doctor appointments.
She's already 8lbs. 6oz.
I expect to hear from my doctor any time now to discuss our options. I had decided a few days ago that I wasn't going to be induced even if the baby is big. I was determined to let my body do this on my own. To let my "natural" birth actually be natural! But babies supposedly gain one pound a week at the end. I have about 2 weeks to go. Maybe more if I went late. Do I really want to deliver a 10 or maybe even an 11 pound baby?? Surely, I do not. Do I want the risk of an emergency C-Section hanging over my head because they can't get the baby out? No. No, I don't. So what do I do? Get induced? Spend days in the hospital again because my body just isn't ready? Have my contractions be determined by pitocin? Be in more pain than I need to be? If I have to, then yes. I guess I need to just let go of my imaginary labor and except it the way it is. As long as I get my baby in the end, that's all that matters, right?
Wow, this pregnancy went fast. Soon I'll be holding my Little Miss Sunshine and The Shaffer's will start a new chapter in their lives. A new member will be added to our precious family and life as we know it will never be the same. I CAN'T WAIT!!!
But then again, I can. (Because I'd rather go on my own and not be induced!) I still have that wonderful image of what the perfect delivery would be like.
I would start going into labor at home while Mike is at work. By the time it started getting a little tough, he'd be home from work and could help do a last minute clean up of the house and kids and help pack the kids bags. My parents would be able to finish their work day as well before I would need to call them and ask them to come and get the kids. They would get here, and Mike and I would head off to the hospital because my water broke (on it's own!) and baby would be here any minute. I'd get situated in my hospital room, have music playing, lights dimmed and flameless candles scented with vanilla flickering their lights in a peaceful and relaxing manner. My doctor would arrive and I'd be ready to push. My beautiful baby would be born and the pain would be over and since it was a Friday (did I forget to mention that?) my brother Justin would be there and so would Ang. No one would have to worry about making it to work the next day. (It would be one of Angie's Saturdays off) And because I wasn't induced and went into labor on my own, I'm a bit past my due date but that worked out great because my sister could be here for the delivery. And she brought almond flavored champagne with her from CA and we're all sharing a glass and celebrating Little Miss Sunshine's life. The baby would be perfectly healthy and very eager to breastfeed. I would be very healthy too and didn't even need an episiotomy! In fact, there's no reason to stay long and my parents would be back Saturday afternoon to meet their new grand daughter and Mike and I would get to introduce her to her three older siblings. We'd get picture perfect photos of them all meeting for the first time and the kids would get to enjoy the free ice cream that the birthing center keeps stocked for patients. After getting more pictures of them in their Shaffer shirts, eating ice cream and hugging their baby sister, it would be time to take everyone home.
Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Instead, I got results for my Group B Strep test and they were positive. This means I need to be hooked up to an IV at least 4 hours before the birth so that I can get antibiotics to protect my baby from getting infected with the bacteria. If I don't, she could get pneumonia or meningitis.
I also had an ultrasound yesterday to determine how big the baby might be already because talk of being induced has been thrown around my latest doctor appointments.
She's already 8lbs. 6oz.
I expect to hear from my doctor any time now to discuss our options. I had decided a few days ago that I wasn't going to be induced even if the baby is big. I was determined to let my body do this on my own. To let my "natural" birth actually be natural! But babies supposedly gain one pound a week at the end. I have about 2 weeks to go. Maybe more if I went late. Do I really want to deliver a 10 or maybe even an 11 pound baby?? Surely, I do not. Do I want the risk of an emergency C-Section hanging over my head because they can't get the baby out? No. No, I don't. So what do I do? Get induced? Spend days in the hospital again because my body just isn't ready? Have my contractions be determined by pitocin? Be in more pain than I need to be? If I have to, then yes. I guess I need to just let go of my imaginary labor and except it the way it is. As long as I get my baby in the end, that's all that matters, right?
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The Light
I had a dream this week that I don't want to forget because I'd like to think that there is some significance to it.
In the dream, I was at my parent's home, in my old bedroom, with Little Miss Chatterbox. We were painting the room and I told her to make sure she didn't paint over the light switch cover. When she asked me why, I told her because Nana had written on it and that it was very special to me. She walked over to the light switch and read, "The light of the Son shines upon you."
When I woke up, I wrote it down right away because I didn't want to forget it. I thought it would actually be a pretty cool thing to have painted on a light switch cover and I thought it was interesting that in my dream Nana had written it.
Every morning I say my morning prayers and read a passage from the Bible. Right now I'm reading the Gospel of St. John and this was the passage of that morning:
"For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God." - John 3:20-21
I was pretty surprised that the passage had to do with light, just as my dream had. I hope to share this with Nana and see what she has to say about it!
In the dream, I was at my parent's home, in my old bedroom, with Little Miss Chatterbox. We were painting the room and I told her to make sure she didn't paint over the light switch cover. When she asked me why, I told her because Nana had written on it and that it was very special to me. She walked over to the light switch and read, "The light of the Son shines upon you."
When I woke up, I wrote it down right away because I didn't want to forget it. I thought it would actually be a pretty cool thing to have painted on a light switch cover and I thought it was interesting that in my dream Nana had written it.
Every morning I say my morning prayers and read a passage from the Bible. Right now I'm reading the Gospel of St. John and this was the passage of that morning:
"For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God." - John 3:20-21
I was pretty surprised that the passage had to do with light, just as my dream had. I hope to share this with Nana and see what she has to say about it!
T-Shirts Complete
Well, after not being able to come up with anything creative for each individual shirt for the kids, I came up with an idea for them to all have matching shirts. And since there's been so much softball going on around here, it's no surprise that my idea was to make them Team Shaffer jerseys with numbers on the back according to the order they were born. Here they are!
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Talented Little Miss Chatterbox
Little Miss Chatterbox drew some lovely pictures of me and the boys today. I already shared the picture of me and now would like to show you the boys.
Here's Mr. Funny, sword and all:
And I just love the one she did of Mr. Tickle in his diaper:
She also took some lovely pregnancy photos of me and Little Miss Sunshine:
(You see that picture that's in color? That was a total candid shot. She said something that made me smile and then snapped the picture. A photo of my real smile. Girl's got talent!)
She never ceases to amaze me with her eye for beauty and how to create it.
Ever since schools been out, she's become a bit restless and irritable. It finally dawned on me that this girl needs to be working with her hands and be creative! Sure enough, as soon as I gave her some projects to do, she's been happily busy and much more pleasant. I'm on the hunt for more artsy projects that are suitable for her age. Yesterday she told me she wishes she knew how to sew. I'd love to let her try cross-stitching. Perhaps there's another project in the near future!
Here's Mr. Funny, sword and all:
And I just love the one she did of Mr. Tickle in his diaper:
She also took some lovely pregnancy photos of me and Little Miss Sunshine:
(You see that picture that's in color? That was a total candid shot. She said something that made me smile and then snapped the picture. A photo of my real smile. Girl's got talent!)
She never ceases to amaze me with her eye for beauty and how to create it.
Ever since schools been out, she's become a bit restless and irritable. It finally dawned on me that this girl needs to be working with her hands and be creative! Sure enough, as soon as I gave her some projects to do, she's been happily busy and much more pleasant. I'm on the hunt for more artsy projects that are suitable for her age. Yesterday she told me she wishes she knew how to sew. I'd love to let her try cross-stitching. Perhaps there's another project in the near future!
Big Foot
I've always been aware of my big feet.
Friends in school gave me lovely nicknames such as Chewbacca and
I will always remember hearing a parent at one of my basketball games in middle school say, "Look at those boats!" as she passed by me, eyes focused on my feet.
When my first born came into this world, I'd hear comments like, "She's got big feet just like her mother!" (She's grown into those feet now and they aren't so big anymore) and one year my Nana gave me a stuffed animal bunny and told me that when she saw it she had to get it for me because it made her think of me right away. I wasn't sure if I should have been flattered or insulted because the only obvious part of that bunny was it's huge feet. Sure enough, she then said, "Isn't it cute? Just look at those feet!" :)
I've never let these things bother me though, and am more than willing to laugh with others at the funny and awkward feet that God decided to give me.
Sometimes I'll look at them and think, "They're really not that big." And I'll almost convince myself.
Until I get reminders like this picture that Little Miss Chatterbox drew today.
When your child draws a picture of you and your feet are bigger than your pregnant belly, there's no mistake. You've got to admit that your feet really are that big. And then you laugh and tell your daughter that it's perfect.
Hahaha. Gotta love it! (Do you think I can blame it on the pregnancy and say my hands and feet are just swollen?)
Friends in school gave me lovely nicknames such as Chewbacca and
I will always remember hearing a parent at one of my basketball games in middle school say, "Look at those boats!" as she passed by me, eyes focused on my feet.
When my first born came into this world, I'd hear comments like, "She's got big feet just like her mother!" (She's grown into those feet now and they aren't so big anymore) and one year my Nana gave me a stuffed animal bunny and told me that when she saw it she had to get it for me because it made her think of me right away. I wasn't sure if I should have been flattered or insulted because the only obvious part of that bunny was it's huge feet. Sure enough, she then said, "Isn't it cute? Just look at those feet!" :)
I've never let these things bother me though, and am more than willing to laugh with others at the funny and awkward feet that God decided to give me.
Sometimes I'll look at them and think, "They're really not that big." And I'll almost convince myself.
Until I get reminders like this picture that Little Miss Chatterbox drew today.
When your child draws a picture of you and your feet are bigger than your pregnant belly, there's no mistake. You've got to admit that your feet really are that big. And then you laugh and tell your daughter that it's perfect.
Hahaha. Gotta love it! (Do you think I can blame it on the pregnancy and say my hands and feet are just swollen?)
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