Several people---thanks, Lord, that I am truly blessed with people who care and are interested about me!----have inquired about my birth plans, provider plans, etc over the past few weeks since I announced my pregnancy. I decided that rather than trying to type so many emails (at least ten or more!!!), I would just "group update", haha. Please do feel free to email me back if you have another question or need clarification!!
For those who don't know, a bit of background:
I have had FOUR (unnecessary!) c/sections.
First one, twin preg, 39 weeks, out of ignorance was induced on an unfavorable cervix, resulted in c/s.
Second one, again young and ignorant!!!, had a repeat c/s because doc said 'that's what you do!"
Third pregnancy, attempted hospital VBAC, but went in too early (4 cm), and was strapped to a bed and bullied into MANY interventions, resulted in ANOTHER c/s after reaching 8cm!
Fourth preg, saw my OB the whole preg (she refused me any kind of TOL), also hired a midwife, planned a lovely homebirth, and ALMOST succeeded!!! Got "stuck" at 9cm for 8 hours, completely exhausted, requested transfer, poor hubby didn't know what to do! Off we went to the hospital, doc (not MY doc) was FURIOUS, wouldn't let me finish my labor, boom---c/s!
It has been a difficult journey, and in many ways continues to be!!!
After much prayer and consideration and consulting with MANY trusted birth professionals (mostly midwives, but also a doc!) here is our plan:
I am seeing Dr. Frederick Cummings in Denton for my prenatal care. He is very "old school", and really avoids cutting women unless TRULY necessary. He will deliver many types of unusual circumstances (all breeches, twin VBAC, VBAMC etc etc). I went to see him mainly to get his "professional " opinion about my chances/wisdom in VBACing, and he is amazing! He was truly grieved over ALL of my c/s after I explained them to him and gave him all my operative reports; he really LISTENED to us (hubby went with me). He did NOT make me feel patronized, or treat me as if "the little woman THINKS she has done some research" KWIM??
Dr. C assured us that regardless of who is on call, HE will be the doc who comes in to stay there with me for the duration of my labor. He assured me that he is willing to wait it out if I get stuck. He assured me that I will be allowed to move around, with periodic montitoring only, and can birth in whatever position I like! etc etc
He was highly recommended to me by more than one midwife, and more than one fellow birthing woman!
Hubby and I decided prayerfully that, since I have had no previous vag births, it would be prudent after 4 c/s for us to birth in the hospital, since the conditions seem rare and ideal! (Okay, so we have to drive 50 miles, no big deal, HAHA!).
The Lord further confirmed it by allowing my dear friend and midwife from my last birth to offer to come back to Texas for several weeks to "wait it out" with me until labor, and then be with me at home until my labor has progressed well (6-7 cm) before going with me to the hospital in a doula role! That is so reassuring, too, because *IF* things go faster than we expect based on the past, I know she is well-qualifed to help in VBAC births, and can certainly help me birth, even if its on the way to the hospital, haha!
SOOOOO, that is my update in a LONG nutshell!
I feel great, I am starting my 2nd trimester already, and very excited about the birth! Saw a sonogram this week on Monday, and baby was very busy and active and actually appeared to wave at us, ha!
THANK YOU to all of you supportive friends who believe in me and pray for me and have asked how things are going!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
God's design is the BEST one!
As a mommy of FIVE children, isn't it WEIRD to think that *I* have never seen a baby born in real life????
Well, that was true until YESTERDAY!
My very dear friend Christine had invited me several months ago to attend her birth. She phoned me EARLY Friday morning to announce labor had begun! She usually has fast labors, like 3-4 hrs, so I went flying out to her house (75-80 miles away!) at 3:20 am---I sped the whole way there, and I have NEVER done that in my life! I arrived at 4 am on the dot, hoping I had not missed it.....
...and then my fast-laboring friend proceeded to have a 14 hour long labor, HA! (I could have roller bladed out there, ha!).
She birthed her beautiful 9 lb baby boy in her big bathtub yesterday afternoon at 4:14 pm.
I am still so moved by the experience, I don't have the words yet to express it all.
I saw a baby come out the intended exit, in real life! It was amazing.
Welcome to the world, Baby Aiden!
Well, that was true until YESTERDAY!
My very dear friend Christine had invited me several months ago to attend her birth. She phoned me EARLY Friday morning to announce labor had begun! She usually has fast labors, like 3-4 hrs, so I went flying out to her house (75-80 miles away!) at 3:20 am---I sped the whole way there, and I have NEVER done that in my life! I arrived at 4 am on the dot, hoping I had not missed it.....
...and then my fast-laboring friend proceeded to have a 14 hour long labor, HA! (I could have roller bladed out there, ha!).
She birthed her beautiful 9 lb baby boy in her big bathtub yesterday afternoon at 4:14 pm.
I am still so moved by the experience, I don't have the words yet to express it all.
I saw a baby come out the intended exit, in real life! It was amazing.
Welcome to the world, Baby Aiden!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Happy 7th Anniversary to Us!
Today is our seventh wedding anniversary! In many ways, it seems like it should be much, much longer---although not because we're miserable, LOL! Mainly because Scott and I have known each other for over 20 years, so sometimes it seems odd that we have only been husband and wife for seven short years!
It's true what they say, marriage is not to make you happy, but to make you holy!...but I'm thankful to report that we are also very happy indeed! Scott and I went through some pretty rough turbulence; not the kind you end a marriage over, but just the kind that makes you think you will never have the true intimacy you so deeply desire. It was difficult! The Lord is so faithful when His children cry out to Him---He (I wanted to say 'finally' here, but decided that it was HIS perfect timing and His will, so it was only human-me who was rolling my eyes and saying, "FINALLY, Lord!!", haha) gave us a major breakthrough a few months ago at Christmastime.
The past few months brought so much growth in our relationship! It really feels like we are on our honeymoon all over again. He is so good!
I just wanted to post and tell the world how much I love my husband! I wanted to try to find a photo of us from the late eighties, just to make you all chuckle, but I'll save that story and photo for another post sometimes! ;)
Happy Anniversary, Mr. Bartholomew! I love you forever!
It's true what they say, marriage is not to make you happy, but to make you holy!...but I'm thankful to report that we are also very happy indeed! Scott and I went through some pretty rough turbulence; not the kind you end a marriage over, but just the kind that makes you think you will never have the true intimacy you so deeply desire. It was difficult! The Lord is so faithful when His children cry out to Him---He (I wanted to say 'finally' here, but decided that it was HIS perfect timing and His will, so it was only human-me who was rolling my eyes and saying, "FINALLY, Lord!!", haha) gave us a major breakthrough a few months ago at Christmastime.
The past few months brought so much growth in our relationship! It really feels like we are on our honeymoon all over again. He is so good!
I just wanted to post and tell the world how much I love my husband! I wanted to try to find a photo of us from the late eighties, just to make you all chuckle, but I'll save that story and photo for another post sometimes! ;)
Happy Anniversary, Mr. Bartholomew! I love you forever!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Who loves a RIDDLE???
Hey ya'll!
---really quick, here's a riddle I sent to Scott last week:
What do the following sentences have in common?
The glass balanced precariously on the edge of the table
A mangy dog slunk down the alley looking for scraps of food
The two political candidates were in a dead heat in their race for the nomination
Yesterday was the first day the old man felt like himself after his illness
The social and economic climate in the nation gave many people unrest
Each child received a small gift for attending the birthday party
They have no periods! (Me neither!)
---and there's TWO BLUE LINES!!!! (Wow! Me too!!!)
heehee!!!
get it?
---really quick, here's a riddle I sent to Scott last week:
What do the following sentences have in common?
The glass balanced precariously on the edge of the table
A mangy dog slunk down the alley looking for scraps of food
The two political candidates were in a dead heat in their race for the nomination
Yesterday was the first day the old man felt like himself after his illness
The social and economic climate in the nation gave many people unrest
Each child received a small gift for attending the birthday party
They have no periods! (Me neither!)
---and there's TWO BLUE LINES!!!! (Wow! Me too!!!)
heehee!!!
get it?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Liar, liar!!!
Have you ever just wanted to DIE of embarassment??
I don't think I can EVER step foot in our (relatively new) church home again!
We have recently become members at a new church home. We love it! We are really enjoying getting to know people there, and becoming part of the church family. We have been very welcomed, and feel right at home. The children are also happy about having some wonderful, Godly activities in which to participate.
Tonight, my mom went in my place to pick up Patrick, Natalie, and Jason from Royal Rangers and Missionettes. Rachael was fussy, trying to break two new molars through tonight, and I stayed home to nurse her and try to calm her into sleep. Matthew had also stayed home with me, but that's another blog post. :)
When Mom returned with the children, the first thing she said was, "You are not going to believe what your daughter did tonight!" This is not exactly what every mom wants to hear! I asked her, "Am I going to be able to go back to church on Sunday?", and then my next thought was "I wonder how much this is going to cost us??"
Mom said that my friend A. had pulled her aside as soon as she arrived to pick up the children. With a look of deep concern, A. said, "WHAT happened to Natalie's daddy???"
My mother said "I beg your pardon?"
Apparently, during the opening prayer time in Missionettes, while they were taking prayer requests, Natalie announced to everyone present that her father had died on Friday!!!!!!!!!!
let me just type a few more of those!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really didn't know whether to laugh or cry! We are having such trouble with dear Natalie's truthfulness---or complete LACK thereof! It really *IS* quite funnny, but I did NOT want to laugh in front of all the kids, and trivialize what she had done. The other half of me wanted to bawl, because I feel so discouraged in dealing with this; I really don't know what to do next!
I gravely told Natalie to go get her pajamas on, that this was Very Serious, so serious that I needed to talk to Daddy so we could pray and then decided how to discipline this misbehavior.
Here's another small chuckle: when I was tucking her into bed, and reminding her that she would indeed receive discipline tomorrow for this monstrous fib, Natalie said, "Mommy, I'm sorry I told that lie! I"m sorry I said that about Daddy. I told them my daddy died and that you have a new baby, too!"
Great. So now I am a PREGNANT widow!
Sheesh Louise!!!
(Not pregnant that I know of, haha!).
I don't think I can EVER step foot in our (relatively new) church home again!
We have recently become members at a new church home. We love it! We are really enjoying getting to know people there, and becoming part of the church family. We have been very welcomed, and feel right at home. The children are also happy about having some wonderful, Godly activities in which to participate.
Tonight, my mom went in my place to pick up Patrick, Natalie, and Jason from Royal Rangers and Missionettes. Rachael was fussy, trying to break two new molars through tonight, and I stayed home to nurse her and try to calm her into sleep. Matthew had also stayed home with me, but that's another blog post. :)
When Mom returned with the children, the first thing she said was, "You are not going to believe what your daughter did tonight!" This is not exactly what every mom wants to hear! I asked her, "Am I going to be able to go back to church on Sunday?", and then my next thought was "I wonder how much this is going to cost us??"
Mom said that my friend A. had pulled her aside as soon as she arrived to pick up the children. With a look of deep concern, A. said, "WHAT happened to Natalie's daddy???"
My mother said "I beg your pardon?"
Apparently, during the opening prayer time in Missionettes, while they were taking prayer requests, Natalie announced to everyone present that her father had died on Friday!!!!!!!!!!
let me just type a few more of those!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really didn't know whether to laugh or cry! We are having such trouble with dear Natalie's truthfulness---or complete LACK thereof! It really *IS* quite funnny, but I did NOT want to laugh in front of all the kids, and trivialize what she had done. The other half of me wanted to bawl, because I feel so discouraged in dealing with this; I really don't know what to do next!
I gravely told Natalie to go get her pajamas on, that this was Very Serious, so serious that I needed to talk to Daddy so we could pray and then decided how to discipline this misbehavior.
Here's another small chuckle: when I was tucking her into bed, and reminding her that she would indeed receive discipline tomorrow for this monstrous fib, Natalie said, "Mommy, I'm sorry I told that lie! I"m sorry I said that about Daddy. I told them my daddy died and that you have a new baby, too!"
Great. So now I am a PREGNANT widow!
Sheesh Louise!!!
(Not pregnant that I know of, haha!).
Smellin' like a rose!
Just a quick update on the hair saga----I washed it really thoroughly with my Aveda Rosemary Mint shampoo, and then I rinsed it with white vinegar, and then rinsed it again with warm water. It smells fine now! WHEW!.....although I do keep getting whiffs of 'eau de pickle', HAHAHA!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Sounds like a personal problem to me!
Okay, this is a weird topic. This has certainly never happened to ME before.....
....I think my hair is mildewy! EEEWWW! I am serious here! I cannot figure it out...
I did hear of this happening to a missionary friend previously----she had really thick, curly hair, and she lived in the tropics, for crying out loud! Right now it is forty degrees in the Lone Star State. Sheesh!
I am in a "long hair" season right now. You know what I mean---every few years, I grow my hair out, then after a couple years I get tired of it and bored, or I think I look frumpy, so I cut it off again so I can feel sleek and chic for awhile.....and then I get bored with only being able to wear it ONE way, so I grow it again......etc etc etc etc. You know the drill!!
Right now my hair is actually probably longer than it has been in quite some time. A week or so ago, I noticed a strange smell one day when I let my ponytail down. I had washed it that morning, blowdried it mostly-dry, and put it up out of my face. That night, I felt like it smelled strange when it fell towards my face when I let the ponytail down.
I asked Scott to smell my hair. Mistake number one! This man LOVES the way my hair smells when I return home from having it chemically worked on at the salon, okay? He did not notice any odd smells.....but *I* still did several days later!
Today, the same thing happened again! I dried it mostly-dry, put half of it up in a barrette, and went about my day. In the afternoon, I took the clip out, SAME THING! I asked my mom and Larry to smell it, and let's just say my mom was a bit over-the-top in her melodramatic reaction.
My hair is mildewed.
Anyone have any suggestions???
This really stinks!
....I think my hair is mildewy! EEEWWW! I am serious here! I cannot figure it out...
I did hear of this happening to a missionary friend previously----she had really thick, curly hair, and she lived in the tropics, for crying out loud! Right now it is forty degrees in the Lone Star State. Sheesh!
I am in a "long hair" season right now. You know what I mean---every few years, I grow my hair out, then after a couple years I get tired of it and bored, or I think I look frumpy, so I cut it off again so I can feel sleek and chic for awhile.....and then I get bored with only being able to wear it ONE way, so I grow it again......etc etc etc etc. You know the drill!!
Right now my hair is actually probably longer than it has been in quite some time. A week or so ago, I noticed a strange smell one day when I let my ponytail down. I had washed it that morning, blowdried it mostly-dry, and put it up out of my face. That night, I felt like it smelled strange when it fell towards my face when I let the ponytail down.
I asked Scott to smell my hair. Mistake number one! This man LOVES the way my hair smells when I return home from having it chemically worked on at the salon, okay? He did not notice any odd smells.....but *I* still did several days later!
Today, the same thing happened again! I dried it mostly-dry, put half of it up in a barrette, and went about my day. In the afternoon, I took the clip out, SAME THING! I asked my mom and Larry to smell it, and let's just say my mom was a bit over-the-top in her melodramatic reaction.
My hair is mildewed.
Anyone have any suggestions???
This really stinks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)