Questions

Well, thanks for all of your comments on my last post!

**Warning: birth stories ahead.  LONG post ahead! You may want to turn back now!!**

4 Comments! I was so excited.  I felt really popular! 

Thanks for not hating me for my ridiculous labors and deliveries.

In this post,  I decided to answer any question you might have about my labors/deliveries.

How fun!

To start with, I had the same OB/GYN for 19 years.  His office was located just minutes from our house, and for many years he was the most wonderful doctor.

I've had 7 of my children at our local hospital that happens to be just three blocks and across the lake from our house.

When I went into labor with Russell, our first baby, I was 5 weeks early and when I called the doctor's office that morning at around 4:15 after I thought that my water had GUSHED and not merely broken, they told me I had probably just wet the bed and to come in the next day, which was a Monday, for a test that would determine whether I had a bladder/kidney infection or not.  I was pretty sure I had NOT wet the bed.  We decided I'd better go to the hospital.  Once we got there, the nurse on duty checked to see if it was really my water that had broken....yes, yes it was.....then she decided to check me to see if I was dilated......yes, yes I was, to 8.5 centimeters....the doctor wasn't there and when her fingers came away covered with blood, she decided to call him.  I heard her on the other side of the curtain talking to him, snatches of her conversation with words like "8.5", "almost complete", "head right there".....I knew it was serious.  The doctor got there in enough time, basically 20 minutes before he was born at 5:52 AM, an hour after I had gotten to the hospital.  Basically he sat down on his stool and caught our son!

With Samantha (baby #3) and Sofia (baby # 7), I had both of them in the hospital without the doctor present at all.  Samantha delivered herself under the blankets.  Sofia also delivered herself, and the cord was wrapped three times very, very tightly around her neck, so the team of three nurses who delivered her just cut it wherever they could find a spot and blood spurted everywhere, even on the nurses.  She was fine.  I was fine.

By this time in my childbirth scenario, I had been doing lots and lots of research. I noticed things happening at our local hospital that I didn't like.  I wanted to know such things as why they put the ointment in the baby's eyes and why they needed these shots right after their birth.....I wanted to know why the doctors dressed like aliens in preparation for the births......and we started to be looked on as weirdos because we were asking so many questions.

When I was pregnant with Lucie, Dave let it slip at one of our appointments that we had been looking into having her at home....and I became Persona Non Grata overnight.  I went from being one of my doctors favorite patients to a total scum.

He kept that attitude and when I was pregnant with Pennie, he decided, after a few ultrasounds that showed that "there really was only one baby in there" I needed higher risk care due to my past history, so he shared my care with a doctor down the road a bit.   When we found out we were having twins, and then Dave let it slip again that we would probably have them at home simply because I had a hard time making it to the hospital, that sealed his dislike of us and he dropped me like a hot potato.

So, I have had most of my babies at the hospital and have had three babies (Olivia included) at home.

No, I have never had an epidural.  Never.  I delivered Russell without any drugs just because it was so fast.  I had a shot of Demerol with Hannah and, after feeling totally in my right mind, in the middle of a conversation with the doctor and my husband, I began talking about the giraffes I saw in the room, no more Demerol for Mama! I do not remember having any drugs with any of my other babies.  

I did take pain killers afterwards, because as any mom of more than two babies knows, those nursing afterpains are worse than labor!!

Yes, I have cussed as I was pushing several of my babies out.  Those of you who do labor/delivery without drugs sympathize! I have a favorite word, and no, it is not the F Bomb.

I have told my husband on more than one occasion, as he faithfully stood at my side holding my hand, that I couldn't do it and wanted to go home.

After Russell was born, Dave had these bleeding, deep half moon marks on his hand.  I asked him what they were and he told me that I had clawed his hand badly when I was in labor.  Yikes.  When I was in labor with Hannah, he was actually cutting my fingernails!!

My husband never, ever leaves me during labor and delivery.  He divides his time between holding my hand and going down to the foot of the bed to check on Baby's progress. He always laughs joyfully and cries a bit after every single one of our babies comes out.

My husband delivered Lucie and Pennie.  He delivered Pennie with the help of a dear friend who came for the birth, and who was also 7 months pregnant herself at the time.

I almost bled to death after Samantha was born, due to the fact that the placenta refused to detach.  After she was born, I couldn't even sit up or talk without feeling like I was going to pass out.  Doctor did not order a blood transfusion, but at my 6 week check up, he admitted that he should have ordered blood for me.  I was so pale after she was born that I looked dead.  I couldn't hear because my ears were ringing so loudly.  Turning my head caused me to almost throw up.  I had a very bad tear with her also.  It was not very fun healing after she was born, but I did, without a blood transfusion at all.

In answer to any questions that you may have about whether I prefer hospital births over home births, the answer is: I will never, ever give birth in our local hospital ever again, barring any emergencies.  When I was told, at an appointment when I was pregnant with The Twins, that my local hospital would not let me leave without a social worker going over my file and telling me if I could leave or not, that sealed the deal for me.  Home births for me all the way.

That said, I am not stupid or foolish.  If there was any slight problem, I am glad the hospital is there.

I found out that the ointment the nurses put in the newborn's eyes is to kill any sexually transmitted bacteria.  Couples who are in charge of their birth plan and have been monogamous for many, many years ought to be able to opt out of having this stuff put into their babies eyes.  Sheesh, any parents in their right minds ought to be able to opt out!

If fact, you should be able to opt out of anything you want to before and after your baby is born.  Even the PKU heel stick.  Believe me, you do get treated differently if you opt out of anything after your baby is born.

So, I plan on having Baby Boy at home.  I have a midwife who has been delivering babies for over 30 years and is highly respected in our community and the county and beyond.  I also am under the care of a very, very good perinatologist who is okay with having the midwife scenario should everything in this pregnancy continue to go normally.  I really, really like both my midwife and my perinatologist.

These days there's talk about writing up Birth Plans......let me tell you, you can do that for your own peace of mind and as something to keep you occupied during your pregnancy, but once you get to the hospital, it goes out the window, at least in most hospitals it does.  A good hospital and good doctors and nurses will follow your plan to the letter.

I'm looking forward to having Baby Boy at home!!!!!

63

63 Days!!!

That sure doesn't seem like a very long time to me......

And I feel that it's going faster and faster each day.  Isn't that the way of pregnancy though? At first it seems to go so slowly.....but then, as the pregnancy progresses and Baby gets bigger, the days seem to pick up a bit of speed, until the third trimester, and then everything just spirals out of control!

I was talking to my perinatologist and giving him an analogy on how fast the last trimester is going for me and he said.....

"Yep, you can't put the brakes on this one!"

It's sobering.

You know, I don't know about you, if you've experienced pregnancy or childbirth, but for those of you reading this post who have, I wonder if, as soon as you get pregnant, you begin to fear labor and delivery.  Is this just me? Or is this a universal fear? I'd be interested to know because way back in March, as soon as that little test stick came up with two pink lines, labor and delivery were the first things that obsessed my mind.  I'd find myself thinking about it during the day.  I'd have sudden rushes of sweaty, gripping terror! I'd go to bed thinking about it. In the second trimester these feelings abated a bit.....but.....

Now, with about 63 days, or 9 weeks, until Baby Boy makes his debut, I find myself praying daily, sometimes every few minutes, for courage and bravery.  I pray to be able to just get through.  I pray for strength for my body.

Something you ought to know about me is that my labors and deliveries are not like the numerous and countless birth stories I've read.  I hesitate to say it, but my labors and deliveries are ridiculously easy.  My body was made for having babies.  That doesn't mean there's no pain and,after two hours, dressed in my best dress and pearls, I sashay out to front porch and, lo and behold, there's a baby in a basket, all cozily wrapped in a warm and charming blanket.  No, not quite.  But my labors and deliveries don't last long and are not excruciatingly painful.  I don't talk a lot about it because I don't want to be hated in the Mama Community.....but it's a fact.

Still.

That irrational fear comes upon me.  Every. SINGLE. TIME.

So.

With 9 weeks left, I'm praying that I'll be brave.  I'm praying that I can labor and deliver with peace.  I guess that's the biggest thing I'm asking for.  I want to be blanketed, infused, surrounded with the Lord's peace.  

My husband always marvels at my fear in this area.  He's been with me through every single delivery of every single child we've had, and even delivered two of our girls himself, and he always marvels at how easy and quick it is for me.  

Still.

If you are familiar with this silly labor/delivery fear, please pray for me.  And for Baby Boy.  My babies usually deliver themselves.  Just pray. I want Christ to conquer this fear in me and I want Him to shine, even through labor and delivery,  through how ever much  pain and intensity there will be this time.

Thanks.

Bumpdate

Yes, I told you I was going to do a late Bumpdate, didn't I?

Well, I was waiting to take a picture of my Bump...which is really not a cute little Bump anymore.....it's a Mountain that causes people to look at me with a horrified look or a look of sympathy and ask, in the most hushed tone, "are you due next week?"

Yes.

How about this one: "are you sure there's only one in there?"

I read a post today about strangers losing their filters, meaning that those around us have no propriety or manners anymore and will say whatever comes to their minds when they see families like ours......

How about the lady I'm acquainted with that I saw recently at a sale? She looked at me with total disgust and asked me how many kids I had now, and I told her that this baby would make 9 kids for us, and she looked at me and spat:  "Well, you're not very smart! But...your kids are nice so...." I looked at her, and with a perfectly straight face said: "They certainly don't get that from me, obviously!" and I walked away.

It's getting to where I just don't want to go anywhere anymore just because of the comments and the stares, especially because I have to use those little motorized scooters to get around anywhere, as per my doctor's orders.  

Let me just be honest here, it's very, VERY hard to listen to the comments and still remember that I'm a Christian and that I must let the law of love be on my tongue.  The comments are always made to me when my husband isn't with me.  It's almost like his very presence deflects any rude people from opening their mouth. 

I wish he could be with me all the time!

I also wonder how my children feel when those comments are thrown at me.  

Anyway, I sure didn't mean to go on that rant!

But, even without a picture, I'll update you on our progress anyway!

How far along? We are officially 30 weeks now.  That's 7 and a half months!!!

Size of baby? He's in the 64 percentile.

Gender? It's a boy!

Weight gained? I haven't really gained any weight in the past few weeks, thank the Lord! 

Yes, all of my clothes are maternity clothes, and have been since I've been about 9 weeks pregnant!

He's moving and kicking and rolling around in there.

I'm looking forward to having him when it's cold outside.  I hope it's snowing while I'm in labor, although for our area, that would be a miracle.  I'd like to look at the snow gently cascading from the sky while I labor!

I was craving Mexican food, although I did have some the other day after my doctor's appointment and I also had a Pepsi with it.  About a half hour later, at my midwife's office I started to feel really gross and tired and nauseated, and she checked my blood sugar, which was very high....she gave me a bottle of water to drink and I was fine about an hour or so later, but I felt so sick that I didn't want to eat Mexican food anymore!! That's a miracle.  I still don't really want it.  I'm trying to drink tons of water.  I did drink some pickle juice yesterday!!!

I don't miss anything at all!! 

I'm sleeping alright.  My good sleep ebbs and flows.  The liquid calcium sure helps.

I've got restless legs! 

Yes, I do have stretch marks, but they're hard to see.  My stretch marks are very deep though.  Sometimes I feel like my skin is just going to split open! When that happens, I use this and let me tell you, it helps SO much! It smells so great too!

I'm sure glad I haven't gained any weight in the past month because I'm already heavy and getting around is tough!

The girls made a paper chain a while back to mark the days until Baby Boy's due date, and the chain is looking very short now! I guess there's about 70 more days to go.....

Anyway, I guess that covers this Bumpdate.  Thanks for tuning in!!!!

Doctor Day

Today is Doctor Day!!

We have to leave ridiculously early, like in an hour.

I haven't showered yet or even had a bite to eat.

Stay tuned for an update, even though it's a week late!

Thanks for your prayers!

Sovereign

I was reading a blog this morning that I often read.  The blog features a young couple and their baby son, who happened to be born with Spina Bifida.  She has some extremely wise perspectives and she is real and honest and achingly transparent.  Her son, Finn, is absolutely darling and precious.

You can read her blog here.  She doesn't know me from Adam, and I don't think I've ever left a comment on her blog.....I think I ought to, because some of her thoughts and realizations have impacted me greatly.......I've included a couple of her thoughts here, but I've changed them a bit to reflect my thoughts.  She wrote the thoughts but she caused me to also think them, and I've adapted them for my life:

"My circumstances and God's goodness are no longer connected.  He is still sovereign and I am still His child, no matter what is raging or flowing in my life......God is good even if and when He doesn't answer my prayers to MY specifications."

I'm going to be turning these powerful little sentences over and over in my mind and heart today.

Scrumpalicious Chocolate Sauce

Geez.

I can't even remember to regularly post recipes!! I have super-duper tons of recipes, you'd think I'd want to share them!!

Blame it on Pregnancy Brain or Mama Brain, whatever.

But this recipe, this one I had to share because it is just so amazingly fabulous! I was craving chocolate one day recently and didn't have a single crumb of anything chocolate in the house, but I realized I could make my chocolate cupcakes......and then, I needed something that would be a good replacement for frosting, since we didn't have frosting ingredients in the house either......

And this recipe came to me.  I'd never made chocolate sauce, but this recipe just whispered in my ear and lo and behold, when I tasted the finished product, my eyelashes stood up straight and little stars came sparkling out of my eyes!! What's more is that it's super inexpensive to make!

Here it is:

Scrumpalicious Chocolate Sauce

2 sticks real butter
3/4 C baking cocoa
3/4 C brown sugar
2 tsp real vanilla
1/2 C half and half

Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat.  Add cocoa and let come to a gentle boil.  When mixture comes to a gentle boil, add the brown sugar and the vanilla.  Let mixture boil gently for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.  After 3 minutes, stir in half and half and let mixture come back to a very gentle boil.  Turn of burner.  Sauce should be smooth and glossy.  Recipe copyright leeswords2013

That's it! That's all you have to do! I only use the very best ingredients in my recipes.  I'm kind of a stickler on that one thing, because the very best ingredients make a recipe taste the very best.  You can really tell the difference, especially if you have Bionic Taste Buds like I do!! I have to confess, I ate a small bowl of this today.....go ahead and judge, but let me tell you, when you make this sauce, you aren't going to be able to leave it alone!! It's good by itself, and it turns to a ganache texture when put over the top of cakes or cupcakes.  It's also superb over ice cream.

Okay, go make it and tell me how you like it! 

Bumpdate Postponed

Yes, today I'm 7 months pregnant!

Wow.

But you'll have to wait for an update.  I wanted to wait to do a Bumpdate until after I had gone to my doctor for my regular appointment.  My regular appointment is next week.   I'll be updating after that appointment.

Are you enjoying the beginning of fall?? Or, for a couple of you who read my blog, are you enjoying looking forward to a nice spring/summer??

So, stay tuned for a Bumpdate next week!

Please Read

I read a blog called "Tesha's Treasures".

She and I met through our blogs.  We are both BabyLoss Mamas and we really clicked with each other. We email each other and read each other's blogs and pray for each other.  

She has such a transparent heart.  She has such a teachable spirit and such beauty, inside and out.  I cannot wait to meet her in person some day and hug her!!

Please read this post.  She is a great writer, so eloquent yet so simple and so earthy.....she nails a lot of things that are in my heart right now.  It's amazing to me that she seemed to take the thoughts and feelings in my heart right out of me and post them in her post!

Thank you also for praying for her, as she is less than two weeks away from giving birth to her seventh child.

Thank you!!

Tesha's Treasures

Not-So-Favorites

Today, on this first day of October, I've decided to do a post on products that are not on my favorites list, nor ever will be!

Yes, I have a lot of children and I've been married a long time and have used a lot of products.  This post will focus on the things I've used for myself and have thrown into the garbage after a couple of uses.


So, here we go!

Let's talk about hair products.

This is my first product that I will never, ever use again:

I tried to find a picture of this product so I could post it here, but I went through 12 pages of images with no success! But I want everyone to know that Tresemme Thermal Creations Mousse is not my favorite.  It's lauded to protect your hair after you shampoo when you use heat tools like curling irons or straightening irons.  I got it because it said it also smoothed your hair, and we had been having some really humid days, day after day after day, which is simply atypical for this region of the country.  This mousse is heavy and it made my hair feel dirty by the evening.  I would run my fingers through my hair and they would come away coated with film.  Because of this gross film my hair was lifeless and dull.

Next:

You'd think that, since this product is a "salon" product and cost $27 per bottle, that it would be fabulous. Well, I got a sample from Sephora when I recently placed an order with for my birthday with a gift card my friend got me.  I had high hopes and my hopes crashed! YUCK!!

I have no idea why this stuff claims to be so popular! My two oldest girls and I all hated it.  We noticed absolutely no difference in our eyelashes after using this!

I found this stuff, The Body Shop body butter, at my local grocery outlet store.  Now, I don't usually like The Body Shop either, but this was cheap and it had one side of super thick stuff and one side of regular stuff, and I needed something for my dry feet.  I loved the thick stuff and it made my dry skin on my feet disappear, but it made me itch terribly.  It's full of artificial ingredients and so, I have to put it on the Not-So-Favorite list!!

Now, I ordered this with my Sephora gift card for my birthday.  It came in a package of 6 different brands and types of lip stuff.  It is VERY spendy and I hate it.  It is very sticky and very heavy and yet, it wears off within a half hour of applying it! Save your money and don't buy this stuff.

This stuff was given to us, and I had actually used it a few years ago and loved it, but recently they must have changed their recipe because this stuff is worthless! My laundry came out more dingy and not even cleaned.  I won't use this anymore.

This stuff is just all perfume, in my opinion! Never using it again!

This stuff is not very sudsy and you have to use a ton in your dish water to actually get those cleaning suds! So glad to have other choices.

I cannot stand any of these products, for the same reason listed with the Tresemme mousse, but also because of the white flakes that would build up on my hair!! Ewwww!!!!

And I will say, anything Cover Girl totally grosses me out.  It's all cheap and chintzy, and their values and morals, or lack thereof, totally sicken me.

Since this is a post dedicated to my Not-So-Favorite things, it's entirely random. 

I think that's all for today.  I actually look forward to doing an opposite post, listing my favorites!

Stay tuned!