Rolling over

My 2-1/2 week old child has just rolled herself over 4 times in a row. I think I've heard before that newborns can do that sometimes, but it's because of reflexes and stops after a few weeks, only to start again a few months later. Either that, or I just have a GENIUS little girl =).

Job Change

Well, apparently my boss told everyone at work on Friday, so I guess I can let the cat out of the bag now. I am changing jobs next year. I'm not particularly excited about the change because I'll be sad to leave the ladies I've been working with for three years, which includes some dear, dear friends. I trust the Lord that his plan is perfect and my job had started to get kind of stressful (who knows how much of that was the pregnancy as well).

The funny thing is that my job is changing due to the economy, but not in the way you would expect! I am being moved to a part-time teaching position, because the state is getting stimulus money and want us to expand some of our special ed. services, including assistive technology, which was my job. We're not quite ready for me to work full time, so I agreed to go back to teaching Orthopedically Impaired students. It won't be quite as flexible -- I'll actually have to work the same times every week, without being able to flex my time as long as I put in my total hours, like I was able to do before. But, as I said, the Lord knows our needs.

Cousin Fun

We've had a fun week with Tasha and Jude. Sad they have to leave. Poor Tasha isn't feeling great herself, but she was still such a big help. The main reason I need help now is that I just don't have much time between baby feedings and I'm exhausted from getting about two hours of sleep at a time.

Elsi

She's awake more now and it's precious.

Big bro

Our Newest Addition

Greg's e-mail announcing our baby girl: Elizabeth Sharon arrived Monday at 7:17pm after the doc threatened Esther with a C section.  The labor stalled at 4cm and the dr came in and said if things didn't progress in the next couple of hours, he would have to do surgery.  Esther took this to heart and so after I left to find some supper she decided to dilate fully and try to call me back early from supper.  So...10 minutes later the dr was back, about 1 hour and 20 minutes after he left the 1st time. Two more contractions and Elsie entered this world crying her head off and peeing all over the doctor, her way of punishing him for threatening her mother.  She weighed 5lbs10.7ozs and 18 in long, had a few wisps of what appears to be red hair, and a good set of lungs.  She isn't feeding well yet so we are working on that and having to supplement with some formula till she gets the hang of it.  Grandpa Wilhelm came to visit today to help daddy try and distract the big brothers.  Lydia and Kaki were here and a great help but have to leave today.  Great Auntie Ann comes in from Canada to help today.  That is where we are today.

Having a baby Monday!

When I went to the doctor today, he said my fluid was down to a 6 and
there were more calcifications on the placenta. Since I will be 36
weeks on Saturday, he said we should just go ahead and have the baby.
So I'm going to the hospital on Monday morning, 5 AM, to be induced!
Doc believes the baby will be ready to go home and not have to go the
NICU; said he thinks she'll weigh about 6 lbs. I'm excited, and a
little nervous. Lydia and Kaki are here now, both planning to leave
Tuesday, so hopefully for their sakes we'll have a baby before they
have to leave. Praise the Lord we made it so far and pray that we'll both do great.

Please pray for Luke and Ben too. They've been very clingy today and I'm not sure why, but there have been a lot of people helping us out by doing many of the things I normally do for them. Besides struggling themselves -- they're wearing out the rest of us with their whining and fighting. I'm sure Greg is tired too, but he's been wonderful to me and the boys.

God is Good!

Things were actually looking up today at my bi-weekly doctor's visit. (Is bi-weekly twice a week or once every two weeks?) AFI (amniotic fluid) was almost at a 9. Means we have at least another week, unless it just goes really downhill between now and Monday. I've been on Spring Break this week, so I haven't done much of anything. Next week, I'm not supposed to go back to work, however, which is good and bad. Got stuff to do and don't need to eat up my sick days, but God is in charge and I feel encouraged. It's hard at times to be in such limbo, and I think Greg is especially feeling it right now. He would LOVE for this all to be fast-forwarded and be OVER.

Today's Preggo News

I guess it's not really BAD news, but kinda feels like it to me. I'm 34 weeks and a couple days. Doc said baby still looks good, but fluid has dropped more. I'm supposed to be getting as much rest as possible and doing fetal kick counts between now and my appointment on Thursday. He said we'll probably be having a baby this weekend or next week. I'm voting for next week or later!

THE Latest

33 weeks, 2 days today. Had another dr. visit today. Amniotic fluid level is basically the same as last Thursday. Went from 6 on Thur. to 7 today. Dr. said to continue what I've been doing (drinking lots of water, restricting activities as much as possible making it my goal to be off my feet for an hour to an hour and a half 3 times a day) and he thinks I'll get another couple weeks out of this pregnancy, which would be great. Dr. said at this point his concern is not to prolong the pregnancy, so I may have avoided the long hospital stay this go around. We'd like to avoid the baby having to be intubated, like Ben was, because Ben's had health issues from that scar tissue. Please pray for that.

I haven't cried yet in his office, but almost did today. I cry when people start to get too nice to me =). He almost "crossed the line" today!

Thanks so much for all your prayers and help. We so much appreciate the food and company (aka, helping with the kids so I can be on the couch =).

Not such a good Update

Well, not such good news today. Baby looks good, but fluid was down today to a 6 (from a 12 on Monday). Nothing else is changing though. I'm just supposed to keep getting lots of fluids and lots of rest.

Good pregnancy news!

Today, my amniotic fluid was back up to a 12 (from a 9 on Friday)! I am trying to thank the Lord for pollen and allergies. My throat was hurting all day yesterday and I know I drank at least four 20 oz. bottles of water. So, now I'm trying to keep up what I did this weekend. Lots of rest and lots of water! Thanks for your prayers.

Newest pregnancy news

The news Friday at the OB doctor was not too good. My amniotic fluid was down a little more, from a 10 to a 9, and the doctor said baby growth may be slowing a little. He sent me to the hospital to get steroid shots yesterday and today for baby lung development, just in case. I will now be visiting the doctor twice a week, with my next visit being on Monday. When I asked him at what fluid level he prescribes bed rest, he said to start to restrict my activities as much as I can, because fluid below a 5 will land me in the hospital again -- not exactly sure what that means -- almost sounds like he was kind of saying it was up to me, but these were the consequences. The week before, he told me to lay down for an hour three times a day. Lyd (my sis who’s a labor and delivery nurse) and my Mom-in-law (nurse as well) agree that I need to keep my stress level as low as possible and get lots of rest, of which kind laying down is better than sitting. If the placenta is the problem, the less work it has to do to keep working properly the better.
Anyway, I'll TRY to keep you posted. I'm planning to try to find some help in the evenings while Greg's at work (Monday through Friday, 3:30pm to 12:30am this week), especially to get through dinner and bed time. Anybody wanna come visit =)?
It's been a little worse this week though, because Ben has been sick (not awful, but a croupy sounding cold/cough) and today it seems that Greg and Luke may be coming down with it. Thankfully, I've been able to avoid it so far.

Pregnancy News

Last Friday at my appointment (31 weeks) everything was still good, but the tone of the appointment felt a little more serious. At this point it’s still just precautionary, but my doc wants me to get off my feet for an hour 3 times a day, avoid heavy housework/physical activity, and make sure I’m getting extra protein. Baby growth was still good, amniotic fluid was still in normal range but down 2 cm from week before. Some fluctuations are normal, so we just don’t want a continuing trend! Pray we cn keep it up!

Hunting rain puddles

Had a lot of fun with my kids the other day, hunting for rain puddles! It's fun now that Ben can walk really well and doesn't have to be pushed in the stroller or carried everywhere we go.

Tree Climbing

Luke climbed his first tree Monday. The weather was GORGEOUS! 64 degrees I believe. He was a little nervous, but Greg helped him. Is there anybody out there that doesn't fondly remember climbing trees during childhood?

24 weeks and Counting

Had a doctor's appointment this morning, and he said everything still looks good! I'm at 24 weeks right now, and amniotic fluid still looks good. I don't remember when it started looking low last time, but I think it was close to 30 weeks. Every time I go, I think, "Will this be the visit when the boom drops?" I go back again in 3 weeks. At that point, I'll have to start going more often, but so far, so good! My doctor is completely comfortable with how things look right now. Praise the Lord!

We can rip off tags now.

Doctor says we're having a girl!

We are exhausted after 2 nights with a sick two year old, but this morning, he has no fever and seems to be fine!

I am also happy to have a day off from work due to "inclement weather." I guess there must be some flooding.

Visiting with the Masons

Aunt Sanny, Uncle John, Irene, and Isaac all came down from Nashville yesterday to visit with us. Lydia came up from Greenville to see them too. We made chicken curry with all the toppings, Mt. Kilimanjaro style, out of my new copy of the Herron/Cobb family cookbook that I got for Christmas. Aunt Sanny brought a delicious strawberry cake with cool whip and Irene made some chocolate cookies. It was yummy and VERY fun!

For any interested: I posted the link for buying the cookbook on the left-hand side of our blog among the links.