A baby girl

This goes to show you how completely swamped and consumed you are when you already have one child, a toddler who demands your time no matter what. Our family welcomed a baby girl in March. She was 6.3lbs and 19 inches long born by c-section. A healthy, happy girl who is now 8.4lbs and nursing like a champion. My second c-section and third abdominal surgery was a bit traumatic. Our little one was transverse and lodged under my ribs and hard to get out, then I had adhesions that caused lots of bleeding and prolonged time on the table. By the time it was all said and done I was exhausted and by the time I got home completely anemic from acute blood loss. But now, 4 weeks later I am healing and getting around okay. Its tough managing a toddler and newborn, but God is with me and I will be okay. I am learning more and more each day and loving the joys and taking the sour with the sweet. I think this is it for me, but hubbie wants to give it another go for a boy. I say, two is plenty and had refused all conversation regarding another baby, but God is in control and His will will be done in my life. I look forward to seeing what he has pre-destined for me. Amen!

Week 17 Day 4

Almost able to announce what we are having.

What I've learned...this pregnancy is much different than my first and I believe this is a little boy. My baby likes to laze around and does not move that much. I can occassionally feel him roll and adjust but no kicking or anything like that. He also likes to hang out low in my uterus. Not sure if its due to the placenta implanting low or what, but that's where he lives. LOL!

Can't wait to know. I have tons of baby girl clothes, but I love to consignment shop so that won't break the bank.

We'll see...keep your fingers and toes crossed for a boy ;-)

Week 9, Day 3

First let me remember NOT to doubt myself. I was right on target with the babies due date.

We saw and heard our little Limabean on Thursday! The sonographer confirmed we were exactly 8w6d on Thursday. So I am not a week behind!!! Baby is due March 30th and we are already planning for a c-section on March 26th.

I told my boss and co-workers right after I got back. They are all excited for me and my husband.

A very great day. I am still with my nausea and having to eat every 3 hours to stave off the morning sickness. I am sort of tired of eating at this rate but of course, I do what I got to do.

Week 6, Day 4

So a lot has happened since my last post. I went to the doctor for a u/s last week and found that I am not as far along in the pregnancy as I thought. The sono tech said that there was only the beginning of a pregnancy in my womb, no baby to see although I am definitely pregnant. I take that to mean that there was only a gestational sac in there at the time. Mr. Limabean Sr. was panicked, demanding to know whether or not I am pregnant and how far along I am. The sono tech told him I am definitely pregnant, but could not give any indication of the how far along part. Mr. Limabean Sr. was scared and just shut down. I on the other hand just summed it up to ovulating late (since I had had a 35 day cycle in April). I realized that I was only 4w2d when I tested positive for pregnancy and that it was even more of a miracle to me since I ovulated late and nothing was timed or planned. What a great blessing. So I was supposed to go to get another u/s this week, but I am putting it off until I am 8 weeks. That way there will be no questions and Mr. Limabean can see a strong heartbeat…or two.

Why do I say or two? Well, a few of my family members including myself have seen this vision of me with twin boys. I saw it before I had my first daughter, then my sister saw it and finally my daughter’s God mother. I am eating like crazy with this pregnancy and it is lots of protein. I have to eat every 3 hours or I start to feel sick and again, it can’t be junk, it has to be protein…steak and potato, beef stew and jasmine rice with ginger, sausage, egg and cheese biscuit. Don’t get me wrong I do want the occasional sweet, but the desire for protein is much more overpowering. Every pregnancy is different but with my first, I barely wanted food period. I had great loss of appetite, but not with this pregnancy. So, I have said from the start I feel it is a boy. I knew with my first it was a girl although I did not want to admit it, but I claim a boy with this one and continue to say so. We’ll know in 14 more weeks though. LOL!!!

This week my breasts are still sore and I don’t want anything to do with sex. I’ve had an aversion to chicken, but woke up this morning craving Chick-fil-A and went and got it and tore it up. Only half the sandwich though because I get sick if I eat too much. I also have a TART lemonade. I felt some indigestion coming on because I ate a bit more than I should have and am now munching on ginger snaps that my co-worker purchased for me yesterday.

Let me add that the fatigue has caused me to take naps at work much like last time. So far only one person here officially knows about the pregnancy, but I’ll let the cat out of the bag in a couple of weeks and after the u/s. The news is too good to keep for 12 weeks. LOL!!!

Lil' Limabean - Week 5 Day 3

Well its been quite some time, but I am back now to report that I am preggers with baby no. 2, naturally and by the grace of God. I just got a PPT on Sunday after much waiting and wondering. I was skeptical that I was pregnant despite the obvious signs that I was exhibiting. One night I was compelled to take a prenatal vitamon and omega - 3 supplement, then there was the intense craving for seafood and especially fish, then the strange sensations in my breast...almost as if milk was letting down. Add in the missed period on day 28 - 35 and you got it, two very pink lines that showed up immediately on my pregnancy test that I purchased from the dollar store. LOL! Boy have things changed since the first go at this. Back then I believed only the best digital pregnancy tests would do. But now, I know that when you are pregnant, a test for $1 will tell the story just as well as th $20 test.

So I am back to tell my story, because of course I want to capture every moment and see the differences between my first pregnancy and this one. I don't want to be the pregnant lady who is always talking about being pregnant to my family and friends, so I will pour our my thoughts here and be content.

I'l be back to tell more about this journey to a PPT because it was not as quick as I had originally hoped, but nonetheless it is a HUGE blessing. As my little one turns two this week, I cannot help be happy that Mommie is going to be able to give her that little sibling to grow up with that is close to her age. I am excited as she and I go on this journey together. She has been rubbing my breast as if she knew something was going on there. She is such a darling little butterbean.

I am hoping and praying for a boy and feel as if it will be a boy and that's why we'll call this baby Lil' Limabean.

Thanks for journeying with me and check back frequently for updates.

There is Hope!

I wanted to thank you all for coming along with me on my journey in the birth of my daughter. I will not be posting here anymore but will leave the blog active in case someone else can find some helpful information here.

If you are struggling with fertility and have issues similar to what I had, I want to encourage you and let you know that there is hope. It can and will happen, just keep the faith and never give up on your dream to conceive.

Many Blessings,

The Rebound Girl

The C-Section Experience

Since Lil' Butterbean did not come on her own, we went in for our scheduled section as planned.


We arrived to the hospital around 8:00am and were immediately given our consents to fill out. Then sat in the lobby with my MIL and neice for about 15 minutes before they came and took us back.


Both my husband and I undressed, I put on the hospital gown and he put on scrubs and a head bonnet. He looked like a doctor and I kept teasing him about it. Before that they sent him out to eat something and stated that they do not allow anyone back without them having eaten. We certainly did not want him to pass out, so he rushed off to eat and then came back. By then I had been shaven to prep the surgical area, given a IV with saline and a baby monitor put on. It was so cool to hear Lil' Butterbean's heartbeat like that. It was also one thing I enjoyed since I thought I would miss out on that having a section. Her hb was around 125 the whole while, but with my lying on my back she did not care for it so I had to roll to my left side, which has always been her favorite side. Soon we were tagged and I was taken back to the OR to get the spinal block.


Talk about an anxious walk. I had prayed and encouraged myself by reminding myself that God had brought us this far and now it was up to me to be brave and not fear the spinal. He has proven to me the type of God He is and the least I could do is face this next hurdle with faith. Prior to getting the block, the anesthesiologist came in to brief me. We spoke about drug interactions. I told him how when I had the myomectomy some drug I was given made me itch. He identified it as duramorph and said I would also get it this time, then advised me to ask the nurse for something to conteract the itching. We discussed my arms being restrained, because I did not want that. He told me it'd be loosely tied and not to fear it. Of course my request that my husband come back with me for the spinal was shot down. It was against hospital policy. So I walked back and went in to the very cold OR with the nurse. She was fantastic in comforting me. I sat on the side of the bed and rolled forward and the anethesiologist did his thing. One shot to numb me a bit and then the spinal block. Just a little bit of burning,nothing serious at all. next thing I knew my legs were tingling and getting numb. They had me lay flat. My OB was there prepping. Everyone introduced themselves and it was a beautiful thing.


My husband came in last armed with the camera. By then I was having some anxiety because I was trying to move my legs and could not. I literally started freaking. I told my husband I did not think I could do this. He immediately began to comfort me and I could feel him holding one of my arms that had not been tied down. I can tell you now I see why they tie the arms down, because I would have been flalling them all around if they had not. What's more it was VERY loosely tied down, not like Frankenstein at all. At any rate, my anethesiologist kept asking me how I was doing and monitoring everything. I told him I was completely freaking out, so he gave me something because I got better and calmer. He gave me oxygen and told me I was doing great. My BP had dropped a tad so that was contributing to my anxiety. Mr. Butterbean Sr. reassured me and told me his focus was on me and making sure I was okay. That put me at ease.

I could feel pulling and tugging and hear my OB talking a bit. I think I heard him mention adhesions from the myomectomy. I am going to order his operative report to get all the details. I felt tugging and pulling. Then lots of tugging and pulling and then I felt like I was empty. I told my husband 'I am empty'. Then I heard our miracle crying and my husband say 'Oh look at her'. I could hear in his voice that he was overwhelmed. I just continued to take it all in as I listened to Lil' Butterbean cry and cry. I told myself in advance I would not get upset with her crying and me not being able to comfort her immediately, because she needed to cry to clearn her lungs out. Her apgar was high, but she had a little bit of difficulty breathing becuase she had fluid that had not had a chance to be squeezed out since she did not come down the birth canal. She cried and and soon my husband went over to see her. Then he was back with me. After a few more moments they brought her over for me to see and then took her back for some additonal stuff they do. After that, they gave her to my husband and he brought her over to me and I just stared into her little, precious face. Our miracle was here!!! The staff was nice enough to take photos and I tell you, they all seemed to genuinely care. The anesthesiologist commented on how beautiful she was and what a blessing she was. I could not have agreed more.

In the meantime my doctor was stitching me up and opted to do the staples and an injection to help reduce keloids for me (since I had gotten some from the myomectomy scar). After he was done, he told me everything went wonderfully and then commented that he followed all my instructions (from my birthing plan). He told the OR 'Oh yes, she had a list of instructions for me and I followed them all'. I just laughed. My husband then commented that we'd see him three more times for three more babies and our OB stated 'I don't take that as a threat. Just don't call me when the tuition bills come in'. It was a very nice atmosphere.

They took my oxygen away and took out the epidural. Transfered me to another bed and took me back to recovery. They put Lil' Butterbean on the bed, between my legs and we both went back to recovery where the nurse immediately took vitals and then put her to my breast for feeding. She latched on and had her first meal. Shortly after they came to take her in for a bath and I took a nap, then I was moved to my room and the baby soon followed. My fear of being separated from her was unfounded. They wanted her with me at all times and once we got in my room, she never left except for her hearing tests and weigh ins. I was VERY pleased with the service. We went to breast feeding classes and everything and lactation consultants came by the room to visit us. The entire experience was a blessing and I can't wait to do this again. Yes, i am already ready for the next baby. The doctor says we should wait 9-12 months.

A few days after the staples were but in, they were removed and steristrips put on. Removal was painless, just tiny pinches if that. I was actually up and out of bed that night. My legs were back within a few hours. Getting up the same day is really the best thing and helps you heal faster. By noon the next day my cathether was out (they put that in after the spinal so I did not feel a thing) and I was using the bathroom on my own and they took the IV out. The nurses said I was acting like a vaginal birth instead of a c-section. I credit this to the experience from the myomectomy and lots of faith in God! I barely needed any pain meds. It was not so much for the c-section pain, but for the pain from my uterus contracting when Lil' Butterbean was nursing. Ouch! But the beauty of it is, is my uterus was contracting quickly (they have to check this and it hurt a bit but nothing unbearable). The nurse actually pushes on the uterus to see where it is. They had given me pitocin immediately after the surgery to help with the uterus contracting too.

I stayed in the hospital for 4 days because that is what my insurance covered and I was able to get 3 meals a day and all the help I needed while healing.

Now 3 weeks out, I feel great. It was not a hard thing to care for Lil' Butterbean with the c-section. God gave me the strength to do what I needed to do to get the job done. The c-section experience was not bad like I thought, I did not feel slighted and like I said I can't wait to do it again!

My miracle is here and I could not be happier or prouder.

She is here!

Just a quick note to say our bundle of joy has arrived!

More details to follow.

Week 38, Day 2

So sex makes the baby some faster, eh? I am going to put it to the test. I told my co-worker I think that is just something they say to make us have sex with our partners. But we shall see.

I was having stronger and longer Braxton Hicks a few days ago with some shooting around my back. Nothing that doubled me over, but I felt it. I told my sister about this and she said ‘um hmmm, it was 3 or 4 days for me before the baby came when that started happening’. We are having lots of movement too. My little girl is just out of room and that’s all to it. Between the movement and contractions, I can tell the end is near, how near? I am not sure. I reported everything to my doctor who told me to tell the contractions to behave until next week when we have our planned c/s. He said if I have more than 4 contractions an hour that last longer than 1 minute to come in. I say, if my water breaks I will go on in.

I am bloated and my nose is constantly peeling. I mean my nose is so flaky its not funny. The more I grease it up the more it flakes. Alas, I give in. I have braided my hair and plan to do a manicure, pedicure and eyebrow arch on Friday (if I last). That way I’ll look decent at the hospital. As it stands, I just want to be able to sleep on my back atleast, the stomach will come after I heal. I want my arm to stop going numb and my feet and fingers to stop swelling. I can’t even wear my wedding rings. But its all part of the game plan and victory will be mine in the end!

We got the travel system Monday. Oh its so cute. I also got the bassinet off craigslist and washed every part of it. I am going to assemble it tonight and my husband is going to set up the main level of the house for me when I get home. I am so excited and anxious! I am one day closer to holding my Lil’ Butterbean. Pregnancy has been a wonderful journey and I can’t wait to share our birth story.

Week 37, Day 3

14 more days until I hold my Lil’ Butterbean. At least that is the plan. For some reason I do not believe Lil’ Butterbean is going to stick to the plan, but it’s all up to God to decide. I’ve had a few people tell me that they think the last week in July will be the time. I agree as I have always thought my baby would be born at 38 weeks. Now I long for the desire to go into labor naturally even if it results in c/s. What I mean is, I want Lil’ Butterbean to choose her own due date, to feel some contractions and then do the c/s. I am opting for that next pregnancy since I did not do it this time. But like I said I think Lil’ Butterbean will make her debut and I will get to experience all of that and be happy to get a c/s as opposed to pushing her out.

Sunday, we went on the hospital tour and that was informative and fun. It just helps reinforce things for Mr. Butterbean Sr. and get him mentally prepped. He is so anxious to meet our little girl and it’s quite precious to me. She is sooooooo active and he has seen and felt her movements lately. He told me that it seems like she wants to come out. I told him I think so. One night he said I grunted in my sleep all night and he was afraid to sleep for something happening. I told him it’s just his little one up and doing some aggressive movement, movement that I am sure will pop the bag and send me into labor. But we will see. I just brace myself for what may happen at any moment.

In the meantime, I am tired because I am not getting the sleep they suggest. How can I when the baby is so active at sleep time and I can barely get comfortable? On top of that the feet and hands are slightly swollen and my face and nose have just taken a turn for the worse (LOL!!). I feel bloated, my breasts are changing more than ever now and when I wake in the morning my eyes are red and puffy. It ain’t pretty, but that is what’s up. Soon I will be beaming and glowing again, when I see this little girl and hold her close. I can’t wait!

Almost 9 months

I am ready today. I have been going back and forth regarding delivery, not quite ready and a little anxious, wanting the baby all to myself, loving our time together…but today, I feel ready. I think it has more to do with my physical than my mental. My body is ready for this to end it seems. I have the puffiness in my face and feet, inability to get enough sleep and need to do some real body detoxing. I remember one of my co-workers saying ‘I am so over the whole pregnancy thing’ when she was at the end. I don’t feel like that, just feel like my body is saying ‘I can’t take much more’. Not to mention one of my co-workers wives just delivered a 9lb 1oz baby boy and another just went on maternity leave with hopes the baby will come soon.

My sleep is off now. This is the time they say get as much rest as you can, but my 9 hours are just not enough anymore. I need 12. This weekend I slept in both days and found myself waking up after 12 hours, so I know that is what I need. Last night I was down at 9:15 but I certainly did not get 9 hours of sleep. I was up a bit waiting on Lil’ butterbean to settle down, then up a few times for potty breaks, tossing from side to side unable to get comfortable, hot, cold, thirsty and just waiting on those annoying birds to start their daggone chirping outside my window (turns out they did not start until around 6:30am as opposed to 4:30am). How am I supposed to get sleep like this? By the time the baby comes I’ll be doubly exhausted.

On another note, I did some good work in the nursery. I hung the curtains and the wall art, I febreezed the gilder and ottoman, I washed her clothes to take to the hospital. Today I’ll finish washing a few other things and pack her bag. I am going home at lunchtime today to do some more work, like sort the recycle, because Mr. Butterbean Sr. refuses to accept recycling is not just a good thing, it’s the law in our area. As I was folding Lil’ Butterbean’s clothes I marveled at the tiny little newborn pants, then thought wonder if they will be high waters on those long grasshopper legs the doctors say she has. LOL!!! Its okay, she’ll get one good wear out of them atleast. Tonight I’ll get the little socks I purchased at the Mom’s swap meet and wash those, along with a couple receiving blankets and stuff.

Get this, one of my neighbors heard me talking about breast feeding and gave me a medela pump! I was so pleased, she said she was going to give it to goodwill and I encouraged her to put it on Craigslist or Ebay, but she said she does not have the patience for that. So she gave it to me along with 2 receiving blankets and a little seat (the name escapes me now). I thought it was such a generous gift. So that’s one other thing I don’t have to worry about purchasing. YIPPEE!!!

So tomorrow is our next appointment and I am taking questions from my birthing plan in to go over. After today I go every week, but the doctor’s told me I do not have to do the internal exams since I am having a c/s. Well that’s a plus, my doctor has some pretty big hands. Ouch!

What's New at 34 Weeks?

What’s new at 34 weeks – my teeth hurt. I woke up the other morning to aching teeth. I read that this is part of the body getting lax and ready to give birth. My clumsiness and forgetfulness are in high gear. My hair, which normally grows fast anyway, seems to be sprouting like a chia pet. My feet are slightly swollen, my abdomen is tight when I get up from sitting and my Braxton Hicks are really more noticeable.

All this preparation...and I gotta have a c-section.

Week 34, Day 1

Another great check-up for Lil’ Butterbean. Her heartbeat was very strong again yesterday and she is still head down. Of course, she keeps me going with lots of activity, but I love that too. We have 5 more weeks to go and I am anxious but slightly dreading the end of our journey together. I know I must sound selfish but I have bonded so much with her and I don’t want anyone else entering our union. LOL!!! I know, I know it will be even better when she is born and Mr. Butterbean Sr. has to be a part of all this too, but still…

No one could have ever told me how much I would enjoy pregnancy. I don’t know if it is because I struggled to conceive and fought and prayed for this baby that I am enjoying it so much or that I really can’t believe it is happening. I mean, I always knew it would happen but I am still in awe. Yesterday I passed by the mirror in the bathroom and I actually stopped to do a double take. I just stared at myself in the mirror, marveling over my pregnant belly, how my nose has spread (and I hope it stops) and I look like one of those pregnant women I’ve seen who are ready to pop, the ones who would cause my eyes to fill with tears and my heart to ache as I longed for a baby in my womb. I just smiled and praised God for this miracle. When I feel my baby move inside of me, I am in awe, unbelieving that some women receive this gift so easily and could care less about it or that they are not exceedingly happy that God has answered. Everyday with my baby is a miracle to me. It is a reason to get up out of bed and go forward with my day, a reason to rejoice and be glad. I am so very glad!

So, as I count down these final 5 weeks I have mixed emotions. I know I’ll be back telling you guys how sleepy I am or how I cannot imagine life without my little one and how seeing her face brings me such joy, but for now I am equally happy to have her tucked safely inside of me, with me every moment. It truly brings tears of joy to my eyes. I will never cease to praise God for answering our prayers. It was not as if I was so deserving, but he saw fit to answer and all I can do is be thankful.

Week 33, Day 1

The date has been set for our c-section. It will be August 5, 2009 at 9:30am. I will be 39 weeks and 1 day. I wanted to schedule as closely as I could to week 40. It is sort of neat to be able to put a date and time to it. Original due date is August 11 and Mr. Butterbean Sr. selected the 5th since I was born on the 5th. I was thinking along the same lines as well.

Since my last post, we attended a c-section birth class to help prepare us for what is to come. It was informative and Mr. Butterbean Sr. really got a lot of it. I can’t ask for much more. After we finished the class we viewed a live c-section birth video online. Another eye opener for Mr. Butterbean Sr. He called me at work several times through the video to say ‘this is serious’ or ‘this is deep’ or ‘Oh Lord’. Poor guy LOL!!! I told him I had seen a myomectomy video and so I sort of knew what to expect only thing is a baby comes out at the end instead of a big fibroid. Well when I sat down to watch it I was alarmed at the how huge the ladies uterus was. Good grief it was big, but what can one expect. The uterus is a friggin’ amazing muscle. It is normally the size of a fist and can stretch to the size of a watermelon. That is some powerful stuff! The video did help me and I think we will do fine, now that I know Mr. Butterbean Sr. has watched it and understands what is going to be happening. He said, all I know is to stay on the other side of the curtain and not look over there. LOL!!! He will be there to hold my hand and help me through this, so I am opting not to get a doula. Plus they only allow one person back so…

I am also writing up my birth plan. I gotta make sure I have stuff in writing so the doctor’s know what I expect. I don’t have time to leave it up to them to decide for me. For example, they say they strap your arms down during surgery. I say heck no! Who wants to be strapped down like Frankenstein? Not me. So I am requesting my arms be free. They say it is to prevent you from grabbing into the surgical area when you feel the pressure and tugging with them getting the baby out. I say ‘bullshyt, I’ve never noticed a laboring woman with her arms tied down’. But at any rate, we’ll see.

I am currently researching staples versus stitches or glue to close my incision and leaning heavily towards staples. It was a big surprise for me as well, but after my myomectomy scar healed so hideously, I think stapling will be a better option to reduce bumpiness and keloids. When they cut this ugly mess off I want it to heal more smoothly.

On a final note, I got to see my baby in action for the last time on u/s. They did some measuring to find she is about 4lbs 4oz, head down and ready to go. She has her mommie’s chubby cheeks and her daddy’s long legs (just as I predicted). I can’t wait to meet this little girl and am completely in love all over again.

Week 30, Day 1

My final consult is complete. Mr. Butterbean Sr. and I went to have a consultation with a well respected and experienced doctor named Dr. Jean Tchabo. He specializes in VBAC births and so I wanted to meet with him and to make my final decision on VBAAM. He looked at the operative report and the x-rays of my HSG to see the shape of my uterus. He then recommended that we go ahead and do a c-section. He said of course vaginal birth can be tried, but it is not wise. He told me to not feel as if I had failed and to go ahead and do this and preserve my uterus. He said that if my uterus was to rupture at the incision, then the baby would come popping out of the top and the placenta would be deprived. He then said that he thinks it is a miracle that they removed such a large fibroid from my fundus and were able to stitch me up while keeping my tubes open. He mentioned that if my uterus ruptured I would probably not be able to have more children. He asked how many we wanted and I said 3-4 and he said it is possible, he has done up to 7 c-sections on one woman so it is possible. Mr. Butterbean Sr. asked about healing time, which the doctor said 9 months to heal and then try again. I was pleased with that tidbit.

Then Mr. Butterbean Sr. asked his favorite question, which is how tall will the baby be since he is well over 6 feet and I am barely over 5. The doctor said the baby will be a big baby and he thinks she’ll be 8 lbs because he can tell I am running out of space and will begin to grow out instead of up. He said I am probably having difficulty breathing at times, lots of indigestion and unable to eat a lot. He was dead on in what he was saying because often I have to stand up or stretch to give Lil’ Butterbean the room she needs. Sometimes I think she is busting out. So he recommended I eat 8 small meals a day and was very happy with the 10 pound weight gain. Now I was thinking Lil’ Butterbean would top out at 6lbs at the most, so a number like 8lbs has me floored. I guess we will see.

He made me feel so relaxed and at ease. And answered all of Mr. Butterbean Sr.’s questions at length. Now I see why he came so highly recommended by midwives. We were both happy with our visit when we left and will move ahead with scheduling the c-section at 39 weeks.

As of now, I am still feeling a lot of action from Lil’ Butterbean. I truly do not have a lot of appetite, but have been trekking along eating my small snacks every 2 hours and enjoying my time in the nursery (still not complete). I also am finalizing my gift registries in preparation for a couple of baby showers. That should be fun.

To God be the glory for all he has done, is doing and will do.

Week 29, day 2

So I passed the glucose challenge with an 87. Anything under 135 is good. I guess the egg trick worked, so thanks to my blogger friend at Searching for Serenity for the tip. I had been told that you need to be fasting, but the instructions say you do not have to be fasting. I had a fried egg 1 hour prior to testing and came out on top. I also cut back on sweets that week too so I know that helped.

My thyroid testing is also good and within range. Thank goodness. Now that I have Hashimotos Syndrome we have to keep a close watch on it. I had a thyroid u/s last week and it was stable. I imagine the worst is over and I won’t have much more issue until I am pregnant again.

Speaking of being pregnant my sister’s good friend just announced she is 4 months along with triplets. She had miscarried a few years back and struggled to conceive after that. I am not sure if she did in vitro or not, but what does it matter. It is a miracle in and of itself and I congratulated her 3 times over! God is a miracle worker and every day that I wake up and feel my butterbean move, I realize his grace, mercy and power and that I have favor with him. Its spectacular.

Lil’ Butterbean continues to grow and grow. I visited my grammie this weekend and the family was in awe of the whole thing. I mean, they thought that I would not or did not want children and it is truly a blessing for them to see me great with child. Mr. Butterbean Sr. is as proud as a peacock and shows my belly off to everyone. His sister and family and parents came up over the past couple of weeks to visit as well. We have been busy but I have enjoyed it. Still have not wrapped up the nursery but its okay, I am going to spend the next couple of weeks doing that.

My excitement (and indigestion) is growing with each week. We are at week 29 and Lil’ Butterbean is kicking and moving around more and more each day. I still have issue with eating larger portions of food and getting sick, but I manage. Other than the frequent bathroom breaks (sometimes a river, sometimes a squirt) I have nothing much new to report. Everyday is a blessing and I am so in love with my little one and enjoying this pregnancy and gift from God.

Indigestion

Boy has indigestion been eating my esophagus up. I had episodes early on, but now its seems I have a full 5 alarm fire in my throat. It feels like the food is just sitting right in my chest waiting to come flying out. Then if I burp, it tastes like stomach acid. YUCK. This Sunday after Mother’s Day breakfast, Mr. Butterbean and I decided to take a 40 minute ride to our favorite flea market. My indigestion started acting up and I was feeling clammy. Low and behold I had to tell him to pull over to the side of the road because I felt I’d toss my cookies any minute. You guys have understand that Mr. Butterbean gets chocked up in these types of situations, so when he looked at me and saw I was very serious he started to panic and pulled over. I jumped out of the car and thank God that the burst of cool wind hit me and cooled my body temp down enough that I was able to hold I out. I just leaned on the side of the car for a minute or two, got myself together and we kept going. I got back into the car to smell something awful. Poor Mr. Butterbean Sr. had nervous gas. I immediately erupted into laughter which must have helped my low BP go shooting up. LOL!!! When we got to our destination and I got out of the car, I burped and there it happened. I knew it needed to come out. After that I was relieved and shopped around for some great bargains. It was not much longer before a second bout of indigestion piped up. I immediately ate some left over ice-cream to cool the situation in my throat and that worked.

One of my co-workers suggested cold milk. She is Indian I think and she said in her country that’s what they drink to calm the indigestion. She also said ‘Your baby will have lots of hair’. We shall see.

The Glucose Tolerance Test

I need some help on beating this glucose challenge test. A person like me is already borderline diabetic and I just don’t see how I am going to pass the first test. My co-worker who is 4 weeks ahead of me did hers last week, failed it and had to do the 3 hour one with blood draw. I don’t wanna hafta to dat! LOL!!! I told some of my co-workers that I will be cutting out as much sugar as I can in attempt to beat this test and they said ‘well that’s cheating’. I say whatever!!! How can one be expected to pass when you come in fasting and drink that sugary mess on an empty stomach. I am gagging just thinking about it.

As it stands we are mentally prepping ourselves for a planned c-section and opting for 8/5 to have it done, if that date is available. It seems weird to say I’ll be holding my Lil’ Butterbean on 8/5. This journey has been amazing so far and I know there are even better things coming our way. We have come from wishing on a star, hoping and praying to the realization that we are truly pregnant and going to be parents together for the first time. How cool is that?

I Need To Go Potty!

What is happening to my digestive system? Things have been moving along well, but its seems I have hit some type of road block recently. To be quite honest I am constipated and my dried prunes are not working!!!

It is so ironic. I just finished skimming through Jenny McCarthy’s book Belly Laughs. She has a chapter in there titled Passing Stonehenge in which she speaks to the being massively constipated. I laughed at that one as I’ve been good about drinking my fluids and munching on a prune to keep me regular. Well, now I’ve arrived at month 6.5 and I am having some issues. I woke up feeling disgusted because I wanted to go last night but could not. Then I decided this morning I would sit on the toilet until something happened and a little something did, but not enough to make me feel better. I have tons of fruit, mango, grapes, watermelon, strawberries and I am calling for action. I have drank apple juice and have 2 bottled waters that I am working on. By golly something has got to move and hopefully it will be my bowels!

VBAAM vs. C-section

It seems my plight is ending regarding seeking out second opinions regarding a Vaginal Birth After Abdominal Myomectomy (VBAAM). I have sent out five faxes to Obs and physicians in the area along with numerous emails to online doctors, midwives and doulas. Initially the OBs that I sent my letter and operative report too, gave me the same answer as my current OB office…no vaginal birth. So I figured that I better seek out the advice of some midwives since the OBs may have some contractual or liability issues that were standing in the way of them making an objective recommendation. I emailed a doula in my area who referred me to a physician that she said had allowed a woman in my situation with uterine scar at same fundal height to labor, however in the end she need a c-section. That physician and his partner stated that based on my operative report, they agreed that I should have a c-section. Still not convinced, I gleaned some information from the worthwile blog and found a wonderful midwife by the name of Elizabeth Stein who has written some articles on VBAC among other things. I sent her a fax with my information on yesterday and low and behold she called me this morning to discuss. She said ‘You may not like what I am about to say, but I recommend c-section based on what I have read in your operative report’. I told her that I really needed to hear it from a midwife instead of an OB because I know that midwives are more in tune with women’s needs and are more willing to do what OBs are not willing to because they are more concerned about liability issues etc. We chatted for about 5 minutes and she gave me some stories of VBAC births and the outcomes…one of which she spoke about a woman that labored but required c-section and they went in only to find the baby peaking back out at them through a hole in her uterus. That one sent me for a loop. All in all I trust her opinion more than anyone else, like I said I think it is because she is a midwife and I’ve read up on some articles she has written. I do still need to hear from two other doctors, one that a doula referred me to and the other is a mid-wife clinic in my area, but as of now I am focusing my energy more on planning a natural c-section and working with a doula to prepare for this event.

Either way I know I want a doula in the room to reassure both me and my hubbie of what is going on. After my myomectomy he was terrified seeing me laid up like that and he is still terrified. I need to get a handle on this so I can help comfort him and let him know that everything is going to be fine. I started researching this natural c-section birth and really like the idea of it. I also learned that I can have epidural anesthesia is I have a planned c-section instead of an emergency one. In epidural they will just numb the area that they’ll be cutting in so that I can’t feel it, but in general anesthesia I would be drugged up and unable to enjoy any part of the birth. I found a wonderful c-section plan at the ICAN site that had a wealth of information regarding the best way to plan a section. So, I am going to begin to focus my energy on this.

After reading those sites, I realize a c-section does not have to be as primitive looking as it once was. I imagined myself completely doped up on the table, Mr. Butterbean Sr. completely terrified as they cut me out and rip my baby out in a matter of seconds, then wisk her off to be checked, poked and prodded while I never get to hold her until I get back to my room and at that point I am too doped up to even hold her or remember anything that has happened. I don’t want that. But now I’ve learned that it does not have to be this way at all. I am still a bit skeptical about how I will care for my baby while trying to heal up, but in the end it may be my only option and I’ll just have to make do.

Having done all the research makes it much easier for me to accept rather than just being told what I have to do with my body. Now I feel it is truly my decision and I am making an informed one…that makes all the difference in the world.