I had another doctors appointment today. As usual, things are going great. Weight gain is good, I think I gained like 2 pounds since my last appointment, blood pressure is good, everything is good with my pregnancy. Now I'm just working on my son to convince him that the week of Thanksgiving is the best time to come out and play! lol
Thursday, 10/23/08, my Uncle Val was taken in an ambulance from Logan to the University of Utah hospital because he was coughing up blood. My uncle has cystic fibrosis, he is one of the oldest living people in the world with this condition, he is 53 (I think). The oldest on record lived to about 70. The average life span is around 16 years I believe. Anyway, he is now in the hospital again. This in and of itself is nothing new. He is always in the hospital to get "cleaned out" and get anti-biotics and such. After being admitted, the doctors told him that he would be in the hospital for months this time. They ran a bunch of tests and finally allowed him to be put on the lung transplant list. We are all hoping and praying that he gets a lung soon and that the transplant goes well.
I know many of my friends are religious, my family is having a fast/prayer this weekend. If nothing else, when you go to the temple or say your prayers at night, please include him in them if you can.
So, Friday 10/24/08, my Gram was admitted to the hospital. She fell a bunch of times, got a concussion, broke a rib... She isnt' doing well. They released her today, but they say that she is going to need constant care from now on. I can't imagine them putting her in a home. It is so sad. She has always been such a strong and independent woman. To see her now at this point breaks my heart. I am heading to Logan tonight to spend time with her. I feel that I need to spend as much time with her as possible before the Gram I have known for 26-years totally slips away.
Last, we recently discovered that there was a 5-day lapse in insurance coverage. My COBRA ended 5/31/08, I got married 6/6/08, so from 6/1 - 6/5, I had no insurance. Unfortunately for me, they just so happened to run a bunch of tests on 6/2. I thought I was covered through the 5th. I thought I had insurance. Now that I'm learning I didn't, I have over 1000.00 in medical bills for ONE DAY!!!!!! One simple day of prenatal tests. Fabulous.
Today is not my favorite day ever.
So I went to the doctor today for my 33-week appointment. I'm doing great. Jayden is also doing great. I've gained 25-pounds so far... She told me that I could expect to gain about 30-35 for my pregnancy! Yay! They made me get a flu shot. And they scared the crap out of me by saying "well, your baby is due during RSV season!" Oh thanks! Not that I'm not scared to death already lol. Anyway, point here is that I got my flu shot. My arm hurts and I am getting that fabulous flu shot fever! Yay! But, my son will hopefully be protected and not get RSV.
BJ and I have been watching childbirth education videos, learning a lot. We have decided that I am going to try to have Jayden naturally, without an epidural. I am not totally ruling out an epidural; however, I truly don't want one if I can handle it. It's just that we learned that it gives the baby the best chance of bonding with the mother, as well as latching on, as I will be able to try to feed him right away. Like I said, I'm not ruling out an epidural at all, but I really don't want to get one if I don't have to. I was the only baby of my mothers that had an epidural and refused to breast feed. So, we'll see how it goes!
Some of you may know that we were toying with the idea of requesting an induction around Thanksgiving, to make it easier on us with time off and stuff... Well, after some consideration and research we have decided that we are not going to go for the induction. I want to avoid a c-section and an epidural, as I have already mentioned. One of the common reasons for a c-section is a failed induction. Also, when you are induced, they give you Pitocin, which requires that they also give you an epidural as Pitocin increases the intensity of the contractions a LOT. They sometimes have to give you the epidural earlier when using Pitocin than they would have otherwise, which can slow down and in some cases actually stop labor - leading to a c-section. It's funny how parents often have their own ideas of how things are going to go, they get it all planned out and stuff, and if my son has another agenda, all our plans could go out the window! We shall see! The closer it gets, the more excited I get. I can't believe that in only a few short weeks, I am going to be a mommy!
Here are some pics of his nursery and stuff.
Jayden's Crib - His daddy worked hard on it!
I made the "Jayden" out of wooden chalkboards I bought at Robert's arts and crafts. I painted the frames red and added the painted wooden cut-outs to the frames. I was really happy with the way it turned out!
And now for some belly pics! I feel huge!!!
BJ and I have been watching childbirth education videos, learning a lot. We have decided that I am going to try to have Jayden naturally, without an epidural. I am not totally ruling out an epidural; however, I truly don't want one if I can handle it. It's just that we learned that it gives the baby the best chance of bonding with the mother, as well as latching on, as I will be able to try to feed him right away. Like I said, I'm not ruling out an epidural at all, but I really don't want to get one if I don't have to. I was the only baby of my mothers that had an epidural and refused to breast feed. So, we'll see how it goes!
Some of you may know that we were toying with the idea of requesting an induction around Thanksgiving, to make it easier on us with time off and stuff... Well, after some consideration and research we have decided that we are not going to go for the induction. I want to avoid a c-section and an epidural, as I have already mentioned. One of the common reasons for a c-section is a failed induction. Also, when you are induced, they give you Pitocin, which requires that they also give you an epidural as Pitocin increases the intensity of the contractions a LOT. They sometimes have to give you the epidural earlier when using Pitocin than they would have otherwise, which can slow down and in some cases actually stop labor - leading to a c-section. It's funny how parents often have their own ideas of how things are going to go, they get it all planned out and stuff, and if my son has another agenda, all our plans could go out the window! We shall see! The closer it gets, the more excited I get. I can't believe that in only a few short weeks, I am going to be a mommy!
Here are some pics of his nursery and stuff.
Jayden's Crib - His daddy worked hard on it!
I made the "Jayden" out of wooden chalkboards I bought at Robert's arts and crafts. I painted the frames red and added the painted wooden cut-outs to the frames. I was really happy with the way it turned out!
And now for some belly pics! I feel huge!!!
So I just finished watching the debate. Obama, as expected, did a phenomenal job. He gave precise answers and details regarding his policies, as well as visions for our country's future.
I wanted to see what Fox News had for a poll - I do that sometimes, even though I know that FOX noise is usually a bunch of crap... Anyway, so I go to the site, see a poll and vote for Obama. I get an error message the popped up on my screen! I call BJ over, show him. We both have a good laugh. Beej then says, "You should try voting for McCain instead and see what happens!" so I did. Surprise, surprise!!! It worked!!!!!
Oh how I wish I had taken screen shots!
I wanted to see what Fox News had for a poll - I do that sometimes, even though I know that FOX noise is usually a bunch of crap... Anyway, so I go to the site, see a poll and vote for Obama. I get an error message the popped up on my screen! I call BJ over, show him. We both have a good laugh. Beej then says, "You should try voting for McCain instead and see what happens!" so I did. Surprise, surprise!!! It worked!!!!!
Oh how I wish I had taken screen shots!
So my post on dads in the delivery room has been successful enough in the voting category or input rather, that I am going to try it again. And, by the way, thank you for your comments about dads in the delivery room. It has led me to believe that the research my husband found was the minority not the majority, and he truly does have a place in the delivery room... Not that I would have let him get out of being in there, had he even wanted to, in the first place. He knew his attendance was mandatory :)
Note: This turned out to be a much longer and more in-depth post than I originally intended. If you don't want to have to read all of my ramblings, you can scroll to the bottom where I finally ask the question lol.
Ok, so holidays. The beauty and complication of the holidays. I have a complicated family, which is even more complicated by the fact that they live 2-hours away. My holidays were always busy even when I was single. I have my mom, my dad & step-mom, and lots of extended family. There are always 2 Thanksgiving dinners, at least. There are always at least 2 Christmas dinners as well. The holidays are spent running all over Logan. It is chaotic, but it is my family. I love them all, and I want to spend as much time with them as I can. Since meeting my husband, 4-years ago, we have added into this crazy mix, his family. They are far more simple than mine; however, they live in SLC with their extended family up in Idaho Falls. The only thing that complicates his family is that they aren't used to having to share (Beej and his ex-wife spent all holidays with his family because hers lived in Arkansas). They have done well with sharing for the most part, but at first it was tough and they are still getting used to it.
Thanksgiving has been the simple holiday. We alternate. First year, we spent it with his family in Idaho Falls, then mine, then his, and this year again with his because I will be so close to my due date I don't want to drive up to Logan and be far away from my hospital. Thanksgiving though has never really been a problem. Christmas, on the other hand, is a whole different story.
My dad's birthday is Christmas Eve. (I know, poor guy) My mother-in-law's birthday is the day after Christmas. My step-mother's family usually has a big Christmas party on Christmas Eve. My in-laws have a big Christmas Eve dinner tradition with nothing other than presents on Christmas Day. My mom has a Christmas Eve PJ's tradition. Ok, so since my dad usually goes to the Christmas Eve party with his wife, I have spent Christmas Eve with my husband's family every year since we met. My mom would like to see us on Christmas Eve, which I don't blame her, I'd like to see her too! My dad doesn't care. He's easy in all of this. So, since this is getting all confusing, let me try to simplify. For the last 3 years, I have spent Christmas Eve with BJ's family. Christmas morning we get up, open presents with his family, eat breakfast, pack up my Jimmy, and drive to Logan. Where we run around like chickens with our heads cut off all day long. The first year I was with BJ, we drove back to SLC on Christmas Day so we spent the next day with his mom on her birthday. Since then, I have said NAY to that. If we are missing my dad's birthday to spend it with his mom, we're missing his mom's birthday to spend it with my dad. I gave them slack on the first year because they weren't used to having to share. However, since then, I have decided that they just need to learn and we would help them do that. So after that first year, we drive back to SLC the day after Christmas.
Before I got pregnant, we were going to start a new Christmas schedule. We were going to alternate years on Christmas Eve. So, all of that which I explained above on opposite years. That way, every other year we'd actually spend the birthday with the parent whose birthday it actually is. And my family would get to see me on Christmas morning for the first time in 3-years. (My brothers really love their sister!!!!! They have been giving me crap about this for a LONG time now!) This new plan was because my husband said "I'm not going to make you go a year without seeing your family over Christmas, and I know you wouldn't want to do that to me either." He's close in his assumption, but not quite. See, I'm used to alternating years with my grandparents. He is not, his is a long and somewhat complicated family story, which I will summarize with - He only spent time with his paternal grandparents and paternal extended family on ALL holidays up until a few years ago. My extended family all lived in Logan and we'd just alternate Christmas dinners between them, this continued for the most part even after my parents divorced. So I am totally used to not seeing one side or the other on Christmas every other year. To me, that is normal. You alternate. If one family gets you for Thanksgiving, the other gets you for Christmas. And when your siblings all get married, which mine are years away from doing, you try to coordinate so your families are all together at the same time.
This year is complicated and I don't know what to do. I will have a newborn. I will have a cute, sweet, tiny little baby - who just so happens to be EVERYONE'S first grandchild. I have a new house, a new baby, and I've created my own little family. He's going to be so new that everyone is going to want to spend time with him on Christmas. He's going to be so new that I am just going to want to relax. I don't know what to do. See, in my opinion, NOW is the time to put feet down and alternate completely. We spend ALL of Christmas with one family or the other. And since Thanksgiving will be spent with the Hahn family this year, I feel that Christmas should be spent in Logan. I know that is going to be insanely hard on my in-laws. This is their first little grandbaby, they want to spend time with him and spoil him on Christmas (even though he's just going to be a cute, sleeping, little lump on Christmas). My family also wants to spend time with him. I don't want to do it like we have done in the past. Last year, the roads were sooooo bad and icy that we watched about 8 cars get in a wreck in front of us, and just barely missed being involved ourselves. I don't want to go through that with my newborn. I've joked that everyone just needs to come to us this year, but I know that wont happen. My dad and Lisa wont come down here for Christmas. Which is fine, they don't have to... and I'm sure my mom would, but I don't know about my brothers.... and it just isn't Christmas without my brothers! I love my brothers. They are my best little friends. They are my family. They have to be there. Ugh... so frustratingly complicated :(
This has been a very long, rambling post. Mostly I need to try to sort my thoughts and come up with a solution because I have lots of family members asking me what our plans are - Yes, I realize it is only October lol.
Here is where I need input:
What does your family do at Christmas time? How do you split your holidays? Last, do you have any advice for me? lol
Thank you! I need all the help I can get right now!
Note: This turned out to be a much longer and more in-depth post than I originally intended. If you don't want to have to read all of my ramblings, you can scroll to the bottom where I finally ask the question lol.
Ok, so holidays. The beauty and complication of the holidays. I have a complicated family, which is even more complicated by the fact that they live 2-hours away. My holidays were always busy even when I was single. I have my mom, my dad & step-mom, and lots of extended family. There are always 2 Thanksgiving dinners, at least. There are always at least 2 Christmas dinners as well. The holidays are spent running all over Logan. It is chaotic, but it is my family. I love them all, and I want to spend as much time with them as I can. Since meeting my husband, 4-years ago, we have added into this crazy mix, his family. They are far more simple than mine; however, they live in SLC with their extended family up in Idaho Falls. The only thing that complicates his family is that they aren't used to having to share (Beej and his ex-wife spent all holidays with his family because hers lived in Arkansas). They have done well with sharing for the most part, but at first it was tough and they are still getting used to it.
Thanksgiving has been the simple holiday. We alternate. First year, we spent it with his family in Idaho Falls, then mine, then his, and this year again with his because I will be so close to my due date I don't want to drive up to Logan and be far away from my hospital. Thanksgiving though has never really been a problem. Christmas, on the other hand, is a whole different story.
My dad's birthday is Christmas Eve. (I know, poor guy) My mother-in-law's birthday is the day after Christmas. My step-mother's family usually has a big Christmas party on Christmas Eve. My in-laws have a big Christmas Eve dinner tradition with nothing other than presents on Christmas Day. My mom has a Christmas Eve PJ's tradition. Ok, so since my dad usually goes to the Christmas Eve party with his wife, I have spent Christmas Eve with my husband's family every year since we met. My mom would like to see us on Christmas Eve, which I don't blame her, I'd like to see her too! My dad doesn't care. He's easy in all of this. So, since this is getting all confusing, let me try to simplify. For the last 3 years, I have spent Christmas Eve with BJ's family. Christmas morning we get up, open presents with his family, eat breakfast, pack up my Jimmy, and drive to Logan. Where we run around like chickens with our heads cut off all day long. The first year I was with BJ, we drove back to SLC on Christmas Day so we spent the next day with his mom on her birthday. Since then, I have said NAY to that. If we are missing my dad's birthday to spend it with his mom, we're missing his mom's birthday to spend it with my dad. I gave them slack on the first year because they weren't used to having to share. However, since then, I have decided that they just need to learn and we would help them do that. So after that first year, we drive back to SLC the day after Christmas.
Before I got pregnant, we were going to start a new Christmas schedule. We were going to alternate years on Christmas Eve. So, all of that which I explained above on opposite years. That way, every other year we'd actually spend the birthday with the parent whose birthday it actually is. And my family would get to see me on Christmas morning for the first time in 3-years. (My brothers really love their sister!!!!! They have been giving me crap about this for a LONG time now!) This new plan was because my husband said "I'm not going to make you go a year without seeing your family over Christmas, and I know you wouldn't want to do that to me either." He's close in his assumption, but not quite. See, I'm used to alternating years with my grandparents. He is not, his is a long and somewhat complicated family story, which I will summarize with - He only spent time with his paternal grandparents and paternal extended family on ALL holidays up until a few years ago. My extended family all lived in Logan and we'd just alternate Christmas dinners between them, this continued for the most part even after my parents divorced. So I am totally used to not seeing one side or the other on Christmas every other year. To me, that is normal. You alternate. If one family gets you for Thanksgiving, the other gets you for Christmas. And when your siblings all get married, which mine are years away from doing, you try to coordinate so your families are all together at the same time.
This year is complicated and I don't know what to do. I will have a newborn. I will have a cute, sweet, tiny little baby - who just so happens to be EVERYONE'S first grandchild. I have a new house, a new baby, and I've created my own little family. He's going to be so new that everyone is going to want to spend time with him on Christmas. He's going to be so new that I am just going to want to relax. I don't know what to do. See, in my opinion, NOW is the time to put feet down and alternate completely. We spend ALL of Christmas with one family or the other. And since Thanksgiving will be spent with the Hahn family this year, I feel that Christmas should be spent in Logan. I know that is going to be insanely hard on my in-laws. This is their first little grandbaby, they want to spend time with him and spoil him on Christmas (even though he's just going to be a cute, sleeping, little lump on Christmas). My family also wants to spend time with him. I don't want to do it like we have done in the past. Last year, the roads were sooooo bad and icy that we watched about 8 cars get in a wreck in front of us, and just barely missed being involved ourselves. I don't want to go through that with my newborn. I've joked that everyone just needs to come to us this year, but I know that wont happen. My dad and Lisa wont come down here for Christmas. Which is fine, they don't have to... and I'm sure my mom would, but I don't know about my brothers.... and it just isn't Christmas without my brothers! I love my brothers. They are my best little friends. They are my family. They have to be there. Ugh... so frustratingly complicated :(
This has been a very long, rambling post. Mostly I need to try to sort my thoughts and come up with a solution because I have lots of family members asking me what our plans are - Yes, I realize it is only October lol.
Here is where I need input:
What does your family do at Christmas time? How do you split your holidays? Last, do you have any advice for me? lol
Thank you! I need all the help I can get right now!
I find this clip funny. McCain really doesn't even bother hiding the fact that he doesn't like Obama anymore does he!
So, my husband is nervous for the upcoming delivery of our first child. He went online today and did some searching via Google. Nearly everything he found was regarding women NOT wanting their men in there with them. This boggles my mind! As I told him, he is the MOST important person to be in there with me... According to the stuff he has found, women feel like the men are "useless" and so they just don't want them in there.
Which brings me to the point of this post. I want to take a vote. How many of you think that your husband should be in there with you during delivery and had your husbands in there with you during delivery? What are your feelings on the topic? And if any of you didn't want him in there, can you explain to me why that is?
Thanks!
LoveQ
I got tagged by Stacie...
ABC's "getting to know you"
TAG ABC's of you. Each player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then go to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friend: BJ, and my mommy!
C-Cake or Pie: Gonna go for cake.
D-Day: can't think of one. maybe saturday or anyday I get to just relax with my husband and be lazy..
E- Essential Item: My computer
F- Favorite Color: pink
G-Gummi Bears or
H-Home town: Logan
I- Indulgences: Hmm, my latest craving is french fries - I still crave pineapple and strawberries as well...
J- January or July?: January, I'm a winter girl
K-Kids: One cooking in the oven right now... He's due in 2 months though! OMG!!!
L-Life is incomplete without: Family
M- Marriage Date: June 6, 2008
N- Number of Siblings: 3 brothers and 1 sister
O- Oranges or Apples: oranges
P- Phobias or Fears: Snakes and large groups of people - like people claustrophobia
Q- Quote: Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.
R- Reason To Smile: When my son stretches out inside me or kicks anytime I hold another baby. He's pretty protective of my tummy... Even if Beej lays his head on my tummy, you can be sure that Jayden will kick his daddy in the face, a LOT! lol
S- Season: Summer and Fall
T- Tag Three: oh man... I don't even know 3 other bloggers... and one I know sent this to me! Cruel Stacie, cruel! lol ... Ok 1) Beej, via blog - the others are gonna have to go via email! 2) Mommy, 3)Stacy
U- Unknown fact about me: i have never seen star wars, the princess bride, any indiana jones movie, the monty python things... and many other "classics" that I'm supposed to have seen.
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I am not supposed to eat a lot of meat. And I don't like a lot of meat... but I do eat burgers and steaks... and I love salmon, tuna, and shrimp... so I guess I'm an opressor of animals! lol
W- Worst Habit: Leaving lights on and cabinets wide open... I have a very short attention span! lol
X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds
Y-Your favorite food: Salad, Pineapple, Strawberries... and a few other things - I don't have single favorite anythings!
Z: Zodiac Sign: Pisces
This is so sad. When I was a kid, this episode aired. It is a real Duck Tales episode and I needed to share this with the grown ups. Too bad I can't send this video to everyone in the house and senate eh? lol
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