Abbi's Birth Story

Abbi's birth story is a long one. Prodromal labor kind of indicates that, but hers was almost annoyingly so. Still, we got the best present at the end. :)

On Friday, February 24th, I went in for my 37/38 week appointment with my midwife. My blood pressure and weight were fine, and Abbi's heart beat and fundal height were measuring perfectly. Melissa (my midwife) checked my cervix. The previous week I had been a 3 and now I was a 4, 75% effaced and had "bulging waters". She asked if I wanted my membranes stripped, and I said yes. I know there's controversy about stripping membranes, but living almost two hours from the hospital, I usually choose to have it done so I'll at least be closer if I do go into labor. I started having stronger contractions (I was having contractions constantly, but they weren't strong enough to be considered active labor) almost immediately.

We shopped a little, then headed to the Winchester Wal-Mart. While walking around, I began to feel like I was leaking fluid. The contractions were every 4-7 minutes apart, and I continued leaking. I called Carl and told him to head to Lexington and we went to the hospital to be checked.

Initially I tested positive for broken membranes. However, the nurse checked the stuff on her gloves that was closer to my cervix and it tested negative, so she had me pee in a cup and my pee tested positive (meaning my urine was as alkaline as amniotic fluid normally is). However, I was still having the strongest contractions to date. She checked me again after an hour or so, and I had progressed from 4cms to 5cms. The first time she checked me she said that she didn't feel bulging waters, but the second time she checked me she said that she did. They gave me the option of going to my sisters house for a bit and coming back when I was more "in labor" (letting Carl sleep some and me eat something), or stay at the hospital. We chose to go to my sisters. They "reserved" the room (with the TUB!) for me for a few hours, because they just knew I'd be back in the wee hours of the morning.

We went back to my sisters, I ate a bowl of oatmeal and took a long shower. I then laid down to "try" and sleep.

I woke up several times throughout the night with contractions, but nothing regular. Mom said (because she slept with me) that she could hear my breathing change and get faster, and she assumed that was when I was having one. I woke up around 9-10 the next morning and was only having my very minimal contractions.

Both Carl and Melissa wanted me to walk around some before heading home, so Mom, Keevia and I went to the mall for a few hours. I never had much of any more leaking, and the contractions I had were my usual ones, with very few strong ones thrown in. We called it a day a few hours later and headed back to my sisters. We started packing up to go home, and I went to use the bathroom before we left.

Holy lots of bloody show, Batman.

We decided to stay another night. Carl went out and got a big exercise ball, and I spent the evening bouncing away. Nothing. Went to bed and got up the next morning...still nothing. We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast, where I had more bloody show. Frustrated, we headed home.

We literally hit our hometowns city limits and I started having stronger contractions. I had strongish contractions all that evening and the next day. I called my midwife on Monday afternoon to ask about the continual bloody show I was having (it was mainly mucousy with streaks of blood), and she asked to see me on Tuesday instead of Friday (when my next appointment was).

So, Tuesday morning we got up and headed back to Lexington. We got to her office around 10am. Again, weight, blood pressure, fundal height and heartbeat were all perfect. I had progressed to 6cms and was 80%+ effaced. She said my cervix was SO super soft she didn't see how I hadn't had a baby.

We decided, that since I was already 6cms dilated, and my body was so ready, and I lived 2 hours away, that we would go ahead and break my water. I called Carl and told him to head our way, then we went out to grab something to eat and some fruit and snacks for the delivery room. We got to the hospital, got checked in, and started getting settled in the room. Unfortunately the tub room was occupied.

Carl didn't get there until after 2pm because of a double wide trailer that was PUT TOGETHER traveling down the mountain parkway. There was no way for him to pass. My midwife was super understanding though and said she'd come and break my water once he got there. She got held up herself, so my water wasn't broken until about 3:30-4.

Funny story. I didn't have much water to break. Like, at all. I barely wet a chuck, and it took several, several tries to break it. My Momma thinks that it actually did at least leak on Friday. I don't know. I know that either the breaking of the water, the cervical manipulation, or SOMETHING catapulted me into much harder labor. 

I had a super sweet nurse who put me on the monitors directly after my water was broken for about 20 minutes. She then came in and started talking to us about books and Kindles, and Nooks while I bounced away on the birthing ball. I began noticing I had to reaaaaally concentrate to get through a contraction. I really only wanted to be sitting on the toilet because I felt like I needed to pee constantly.

I don't think Mom or Carl either one really realized how fast the contractions were getting more painful. Mom was talking to someone on the phone and was talking about how they were getting "a little harder". I remember thinking "Umm...no....these freaking hurt..." and Carl was ordering a pizza (and asking me if I wanted any....). An hour after my water was broken, the nurse came in and monitored me again (just Abbi's heartbeat for 1 minute. LOVE THAT HOSPITAL). As soon as she was done, I stripped off and got in the shower.

The contractions were much more managable in the shower. I either sat on the chair in there, or stood with the water hitting my back. A week or so before I had watched this video that a doula friend of mine had posted on Facebook, and being very, very musical I decided to give it a try. I began singing any hymn I could think of. I sang "Just a Closer Walk With Thee", "Amazing Grace", my favorite "Come Thou Fount" and more. Literally anything that popped in my mind I started singing. And it worked. It worked very, very well. If I sang, I didn't notice the contraction as much. If I didn't sing it was muuuuuuuuuuuch harder to concentrate through it. I stayed in the shower for over an hour (the nurse came with a handheld doppler and checked me while I was in there!). I only got out because I was starting to get very, very hot, the contractions were beginning to come on top of one another, and I couldn't sing through them anymore. I was pretty sure I was in transition.

I got out and had them move the bed so that I could lean on my hands and knees. ALL of my pain was right over my bladder area, and it was agonizing. There for about 10 minutes I was having contractions on top of one another, and then they slacked off to about every 3 minutes. The pain at this point was almost unbearable. My Mom started pushing on my low back (even though I wasn't having back labor like last time) and the pressure or something made it bearable again. Funny thing was that my chiropractor (who had came in about this time) couldn't do it like Momma could. I was checked somewhere in here and was at a 8 or a 9. My midwife told me the way I was sitting might actually be putting MORE pressure on that area of my stomach, so I moved onto my left side. I tried to rest as best I could between contractions. Looking back, I think I was ready to push here, but I didn't really have a strong urge. I weathered several contractions on my left side, and finally started sobbing that I couldn't do it anymore. My midwife recommended that I start pushing and see if that helped.

Oh, sweet relief. If I pushed through a contraction the pain went away. They got things ready, and I started REALLY pushing. In about 2 pushes she was crowning and I began feeling the ring of fire. I started pushing steadily and gently (when the midwife told me to) and then around 2 big pushes later, she was out! I didn't have any ripping or tearing again!

They laid her on my chest and started cleaning her off. She was slightly reluctant to cry, but they got one out of her pretty quickly. Throughout the entire birth I didn't really have very much fluid at all come out.

Keevia was in the room the entire time. Mom says that when it started getting intense she handed K her iPhone and Keevia climbed up on the couch, with her back to me, and watched Blues Clues. Either right before I gave birth or right after, I started crying, and she got a little upset that Mommy was crying... So Mom picked her up, and she was fine. I remember her going "That's Baby Abbi!" as Abbi was laid on my chest.

We delayed cord clamping until the cord had stopped pulsing, and then we snuggled with Abbi a little longer. I delivered the placenta with no pitocin and it was MUCH more pleasant than when I delivered it with pitocin with Keevia.

Because she came SO quickly (about 4 hours after my water was broken) and in only 4-5 pushes, she was bruised to pieces. She had broken blood vessels in her eyes, bruising on her eyes, nose and forehead, and big bruises across her back. I'm a mean old Mommy. They took her and weighed and measured her, then brought her back and she latched right on to nurse. She nursed about four times in the next two hours.

All in all, it was a much less painful birth than Keevias. With K's birth I kind of hypnotized myself and was silent. I was much more vocal with this birth (I even asked for a C-Section when she was crowning), but I was able to be more aware. I was more vocal because I could BE more vocal. If I opened my eyes with K I started hyperventilating. I was able to reach down and feel Abbi's hair and head as she came out this time. I think a lot of my pain was from being ready to deliver, but she just hadn't dropped fully. When I started pushing, I dropped her myself. Melissa had told my Mom and Carl while I was in the shower that she could stretch my cervix to a 10 when she broke my water, it was THAT soft.

I don't regret them breaking my water at all. I went so quickly it would have been difficult for us to get to the hospital if it had broken at home (especially if I had dilated more before then!) and almost impossible for Carl to get there. I have a beautiful healthy baby, and I couldn't be happier. I honestly never felt like I had a baby at all. The only real pain I felt after birth was from my tailbone, I think I pushed it out a little.

So there it is. If you read it in its entirety you deserve a medal! Ha!

26 Weeks!

Yowzer! I'm 26 weeks pregnant!

I'm feeling really well. I still HORRIFICALLY tired after very little work, but hey, I'm growing a human. A human that seems to be very feisty! She really is very strong (my whole stomach moves when she kicks) and she seems to be thriving!

A few weeks ago I was having kidney pain (low-level), but thankfully that has mostly went away. However, it's replaced itself, and the replacement SUCKS.

Last Tuesday Carl and I made a trip to Lexington to do some Christmas looking and shopping. For whatever reason he didn't sleep at all the night before (he couldn't turn his brain off he said), so I ended up driving the entire (1 1/2 hours) down there. We did our shopping, a good bit of walking, etc, then we headed home. His lack of sleep caught up with him, and I ended up driving the majority of the way home. Not unusual at all when I'm not pregnant, but its the most driving I've done in some time (I usually have pregnancy induced car narcolepsy... at least that's what I call it. ha!).

The next morning I was tired, but nothing too bad. I ended up going to the shop (my mom and I run a quilting business out of her parents old house, which is two houses down from mine) with her. As I left the shop to go back to her house, I slipped a little on these rugs that are right outside the front door. I was already having a little bit of pain in my groin area, and it seemed to intensify some then. So, we headed to my chiropractor that afternoon.

She didn't find anything out but a jammed hip (not unusual with me) and she ended up working the muscles and such around my pubic bone area. It didn't really help. The next day, as the day went on, the pain came back... so I started researching it.

Symphasis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) is so super fun. It's generally caused by your body making too much/reacting to too much of the relaxin hormone. One article I read thought that it might be a chiropractic issue, which makes sense. I went back to the chiropractor about two days later, and still didn't have much of anything out, although my sacrum was tilted a little bit. I have little to no pain (usually no pain) when I first get up in the morning, but as the day goes on it gets worse. Yesterday Mom and I went shopping for 6 hours, and I overdid it, so I had a lot of pain today. I did discover that her low back brace works well to stabalize my pelvis and keep me from having TOO much pain while quilting.

Generally I only have pain when I first get up from a seated position, and the first 5-10 steps I take. Last night, however, I was having it rolling over in bed, and today it's been semi-constant. If I move one leg out suddenly it hurts a LOT. Again, managable, but sucky.

I keep doing pelvic rocks and such to ensure that this little Princess is NOT posterior like her big sister was, and it seems to get better after doing them. Some nights at about 11pm, I think I'm not going to make it through the pregnancy with this pain, but then I get up the next morning pain-free, so its kind of just a day-by-day, hour-by-hour sort of thing.

BUT, other than that superfun 'complication', this pregnancy is going swimmingly. I feel great (albeit tired) now, and just anxiously awaiting her arrival!


I did buy her a "stash" of newborn & small fitted cloth diapers off of my FAVORITE website in the entire world, Spots Corner, for a whopping $45 plus shipping. I'm SO excited. I had plenty of medium and large diapers, and several one-size, but no small or newborns (as I didn't start with Keevia until she was over a year old).

I also managed to score (look out for reviews coming in the next few months!) two babywearing giveaways in the last month. I won a Onya baby carrier through a Twitter party, and I won a Boba 3g Carrier through Mothering Magazines contest. SO ecstatic (especially about the Boba!). I'm currently awaiting a waist extender for the Onya, and then hopefully I can wear it. I can report that I can comfortably wore the Boba 3g with a 28 lb toddler last night while 26 weeks pregnant!

It seems I've been here before...

Apparently about this point in my pregnancies (as evidenced by this post in my pregnancy with Keevia), I begin to reach a point of miserableness. I'm generally over the morning sickness, but still have some residual days. But for some reason the weeks between 13-16 are really, really rough on me.

This pregnancy seems to be harder than my pregnancy with Keevia. My symptoms aren't that much different, other than I think I'm more tired this time around. Maybe that's because I have a toddler? I know the one symptom I have with Bean (what I'm referring to the baby as) that I didn't have with Keevia is that I am NOT SLEEPING.

I've dealt with insomnia for years, but usually my insomnia is centered on me not being able to fall asleep. I'm used to laying in bed wide awake for hours on end. I know how to deal with that.

With Bean, I have absolutely NO problem falling asleep. None. I'm actually falling asleep faster than I can ever remember doing. I sleep fine for an hour or so, then I start waking up. Usually I have a dream of some nature (sometimes "bad", sometimes just about a show I watched or a book I read), and for the REST of the night, my brain won't 'switch off'. I have to wake up at 4:30-5 to wake Carl up for work.... usually that's juuuuust when I'm falling asleep deeply. So, I've been going to bed between 10-11 pm, and not being able to drag myself out of bed until 8:30-9 in the mornings.

I can't eat ANYTHING greasy or my stomach kiiiillls me. I have an aversion to eggs (it was fried chicken last time!) and I'm having a hard time eating meats. The texture just gets to me and I end up gagging. I'm eating a lot of nuts!

I don't have the constipation issues that I had with Keevia, although I've had some the last few weeks thanks to an Irritable Bowel Syndrome flair up. I've cut out wheat gluten for the time being, and it seems to be helping.

So far I've lost 10+ lbs with this pregnancy. I'm okay with it though, because I had it to lose and I'm eating much healthier than I was.

With Keevia my spine and body stayed in alignment SO WELL. I went over two months without going to the chiropractor (trust me, this is HUGE for me). This time.... Yeah... I'm going 3-4 times a week and I'm still in pain. My sacrum WILL NOT stay in (it's out the same way sometimes, other times its out a different way), my right hip stays jammed (both ways this morning!), and I always have a lumbar vertebrae out. We're not sure if the vertebrae knocks the sacrum out, or vice versa, or if the hip is the cause. I'm finally over the constant nerve pain I was having in the beginning of September though, so that's a plus!

Maybe this one is a boy... Carl would be happy! We have names picked out for a boy or a girl, so it doesn't really matter to me (LIES. I want another girl!), as long as it's healthy!

I really, really couldn't be happier to be pregnant, and I know it'll get better. I have such a fantastic, hard working husband, and a wonderful supportive family that I would be lost without. Pregnancy isn't always roses, but the outcome is definitely worth it!

Here we go again

I feel like all I'm writing right now is a repeat. I'm just in this constant weight loss struggle. I was doing sooooo well for a while, then I hurt my ankle. The same ankle I broke last year. I didn't want to do ANYTHING to cause me to do that again. So I stopped exercising. I haven't gained any of the 8 lbs I lost back, but I also haven't lost any more of 44-46 lbs I need to lose.

My cycles are still all screwed up, and that's frustrating as well. Why I thought that dropping 8 lbs would magically cause my cycles to straighten up, I don't know. But apparently I did.

I went to the chiropractor today and had my pelvis realigned, along with a vertebrae in my neck, my L1 vertebrae and my ribs. Because yes, my ribs go out of alignment. You have to be awesome like me for that to happen.

My mom told me today that she was concerned about me because I never seem to have an appetite. I beg to differ. When we're out and about on the town, and we're hungry, nothing ever sounds good to me. That's because we have ONE restaurant that I can stand to eat at, and it's rather expensive. I don't like fast food. I mean yes, I like french fries, but everything else? Meh. Not a fan.

I need to try and write less about me, and more about my sweet girl. She is so big, and has such a personality. Maybe a post will come soon.

Stick with me, I'm working on it.

I had a panic attack yesterday.

Well, not really, but very, very close.

If you've followed me for any time, you know I'm struggling with PCOS right now. I'm not new to this, I've had it since I was about 15. It got really bad in college, I went to a OB/GYN in Lexington and was placed on Metaformin (Glucophage) for 3 months. I went off of it before I got married, and got pregnant twice without any issues (even without trying!). No issues with the pregnancy.

When I was half-way through my pregnancy, I switched from an OB to a Midwife. From 20 weeks on I saw a wonderful midwife, M. I saw her at every appointment and we were right on the same page. I went into the hospital on a Wednesday and she was on call! I got everything I wanted with my birth plan (eat and drink freely, intermediate monitoring, freedom of movement), but hadn't delivered by the time she went off call. Another midwife, S, came on call and ended up delivering Keevia. She was FANTASTIC. I had no ripping or tearing. She was just rock-star!

So, today, I finally broke down and called my clinic to get an appointment with either M or S. I've seen both of them since having Keevia, but haven't been in about a year. My hormones are SO out of whack right now. I'm  a weepy mess. My acne is horrible. My facial hair (yes, it sucks) is out of control. I'm bloated. I'm depressed. I'm miiiiiiiserable. And my frame (pelvis/neck) will NOT stay in at the chiropractor. This is something that has never happened before. I usually go out really bad and then get put back together and I'm fine. My pelvis has been out for about 2 1/2 weeks now. She keeps getting it balanced and it keeps going back out.

Tuesday night, on the way back from a Super Wal-Mart trip, my breastbone started hurting. It got EXCRUTIATING. I couldn't sleep. Yesterday I went into the chiropractor and not one, not two, but FOUR of my ribs were "popped". She put them back in, and one almost automatically went back out. My pelvis was also out. As was my L3 Vertebrae. My body is trying to tell me something is going on.

So I called my Women's Health office and spoke with the receptionist. After explaining my woes, she said she'd put me on the line to a Nurse Practioner to discuss my symptoms... then she dropped the bombshell. "The Nurse Practioner will speak to you because both M and S left the practice in January."

My heart stopped. NO!!!!!!!!!!!! Not BOTH my midwives! The receptionist told me a city that both of them had relocated to.

"Not a big deal" I told myself, I'll just call the hospital I was born at. They're EXTREMELY midwife friendly!

So I called when I got home. They are no longer doing deliveries of any kind and have no midwives of staff.

Then, I googled M's name and the city and found my gold-mine. She and S have opened their own practice. I called and got an appointment. My panic immediately reduced.

Maybe I'll get to normal sometime soon.

...

I'm struggling right now.

I'm struggling with my health. I can't seem to stay in alignment, and my PCOS is rearing its very, very ugly head. We need a new mattress, but it's a rather large investment, and I have to figure out how in hades to get it almost 2 hours here. Keevia has had a pretty bad cold that's made the whole family kind of miserable.

Carl got the new job and has been doing it for over a week now. We're in the adjustment period. It's not easy right now, but I know it'll get better.

I'm struggling with a blanket I'm doing for Rows for Remembrance. I'm struggling with laundry. I'm struggling with energy. I'm struggling with keeping my house clean. I'm struggling with remembering to pay bills. I'm struggling with... everything.

My weight is the same. I did walk half a mile last week, and if the rain ever holds up I plan on it becoming more the norm. The day after my Mom finishes her taxes I'm making her start a Zumba routine with me. No more excuses from either of us.

Please forgive me as I struggle through this. I have two posts in my head that need to get out, and they will soon.

If you pray, and feel led, pray I get my period soon. I'm on day 60+ (I'm not sure exactly what day, it was iPod my iPod and my iPod took a swim in my purse with Keevia's milk sippy and is now sitting in a bag of rice while I pray it works) of my cycle and I'm miserable. I'm crampy, bloated, nauseous, cranky and lethargic. I seriously feel like doing nothing but laying on the couch, moaning about my nausea. I think that either the PCOS is throwing me out, or me going out is pissing off the PCOS. I don't know. But it needs to stop.

I'm coming back soon, promise.

Hugs & Kisses

Promotion!

Carl signed the papers on a promotion we have been praying about for months. Right now we're very hectic with him working long, long hours and getting very little sleep. I literally see him long enough for him to eat dinner and kiss me goodnight. He got home at 9pm tonight and has to go in at 5am. It won't be like this for long, but these next few weeks are going to be hairy!

We're so very thankful though! After this initial phase is over and things calm down, I think he's going to be much, much happier. He's already happier and he's worn out! It disrupts my schedule quite a bit, but I think it may actually HELP me eat less if I fix two dinners. One for me and Keevia (small portions) and then one for Carl (where I tend to fix fattier foods... if I've already eaten healthy with Keevia, I won't be tempted! Score!).

Keevia is doing well... she had been acting like a....pleasure* recently, and two Fridays ago I finally took her to chiropractor for a check-up. The last time she'd been so pleasant* I'd taken her in and absolutely nothing was out, so I had held off taking her in this time. Yeah, well, her pelvis was out. That and the fact that she began wearing an amber teething necklace led to a MUCH happier baby. This weekend threw her schedule for a loop though (lots of company and fun times!) and she went to bed at 8 PM tonight. She's also been cutting her afternoon nap from 2-3 hours down to 1 hour and I don't know why. It makes her so super cranky in the afternoons.

I had the super-fun time of sitting in a car-mechanics waiting room for three hours today. We had some pretty gnarly storms go through this afternoon/evening, and I went out around noon-thirty for the proverbial milk & egg run. As I headed to town (I'd thankfully left Keevs with Mamaw in case I got caught in the downpour) I noticed that Mom's 1998 van was making a loud & annoying squeaky sound. I called her and she asked me to run it in. So, after stopping by the library (I didn't have anything to read or do in the waiting room, I'd been planning a grocery trip!) I headed over to the mechanic. I dropped the van off, and made my way next-door to the gas station for some food. I was starved, and made the mistake of getting greasy chicken strips and potato chips. My heartburn has reminded me since then why I don't eat at gas stations. I headed back to the mechanics and sat there for three hours. I finally went and ASKED about the car and it had been done for a while. AND when I got back in to drive to the grocery, the squeaking was gone...only to be replaced  by a louder, higher pitched squeaking. Mom's taking it back in on Wednesday.

None of my antics would have bothered me that badly except that I am on day 57 (YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT) of my cycle(thanks PCOS), and I think AF may be in my near future. Today is the day that the song "Witchy Woman" could be sang about me, only with a B there instead of the W. I can tell I'm in a craptastic mood and have been trying very hard not to lash out. I'm also highly emotional, which just adds to my charm.

But now I'm sitting in my silent house, with the window beside me open, listening to the gentle rain-fall outside, and I'm beginning to feel peaceful. God has answered so many prayers recently, how can I not be joyful?

*pleasant & pleasure should be interchanged with "pain in the patootie" and "royal drama queen" as needed.

These Hips Don't Lie....

I didn't do a "McFatty Monday" post this week because there wasn't really anything to say. I've been doing pretty well with food (slow, baby steps), and my water intake is up a TON. At the recommendation of my friend Danielle, I purchased a 30 ounce water bottle. LIGHT BULB. My water intake has went up SO MUCH! I achieved 90 ounces 2 days in a row (my goal is 120)!!!!

Exercise....yes, well..

My back was out. My back was out BAD. My hip has been "uncomfortable" since the weekend, but sleeping over at my in-laws just knocked my back all out of whack. Carl & I went four-wheeling while there, and after a "jump", my hip started hurting. Last Wednesday I went to my chiropractor.

 If you've read me for any amount of time, you know I LOVE the chiropractor. Like... the first person I go to when hurt or sick is my chiropractor. We're good friends as well, which helps! She was in the delivery room when I gave birth to Keevia.

So last week she "un-jammed" my right hip, which had never been jammed that way before. And fixed my L3 Vertebrae. And my neck was out of alignment. And my sacrum.  Yeah...

It got better for about two days. Then it started getting progressively worse. I was already scheduled to go back today, so I (stupidly) held out until today.

Yeah....

My pelvis AND my sacrum was out. And my hip was jammed in two DIFFERENT ways. She did English Bone Setting on my neck. And my L5 vertebrae was out.

Talent.

Actually, I think my PCOS may be causing the tendons & ligaments in my body to go all crazy. When I got pregnant (both times) I would go out really, really bad RIGHT after I got pregnant. I don't know, I'm kind of confused with my body right now.

But, as I sit here typing, I'm a little sore (My chiropractor doesn't "crack" your back like traditional chiropractors, she does what's called the Activator method. Much "calmer" and lasts longer, but generally doesn't relieve pain as quickly as a hand manipulation) still, but I can tell a HUGE difference! As a preventative treatment (ha!) Carl and I are looking into purchasing a King Size mattress (more on this later).

But, this is all to say... I'm back! My hips were hurting SO badly that I couldn't concentrate this weekend. Oh, and did y'all notice anything new up at the top? I now own my own domain! Woohoo!

Have a great Wednesday!

One of "those" posts

So...

I've been having some....ahem... female issues. Among other symptoms. Enough to have me convinced I was pregnant. Even though three pregnancy tests stretched along a 2 week period would tell me otherwise.

What symptoms you may ask?

Well, I didn't get my first post-partum period until Keevia was 9 months old (TO THE DAY folks). Not unusual. I'm a nursing Momma. So I had one in July, then I had one in September, October, and December. Not exactly what you would call every 28 days (or even 31, or 35...). But I kind of just went with it (like I do with most things).

My last period was December 12th. I have this handy little app on my iPod called Pink Pad that lets me keep track of periods, *ahem* maritals, and symptoms. It also tells you, according to it, when you're most fertile. Although I think that's a rather crapshoot for me, as my periods are never the same length. I digress.

So, I had severe nausea. A feeling that every time I ate something, it got stuck right above my diaphragm. I was exhausted (still am), and my sense of smell was slowly beginning to rise. Oh, and my face looked like a 15 year olds. I haven't had acne that bad in YEARS.

I took the first test when I was like a day late, according to Pink Pad. Then about 10 days later, I still had no period, so I took another one. Then, I took the third 2 weeks from the first test. All negative.

I went to the chiropractor yesterday, hopeful that she would just find SOMETHING to be causing this. I want to be pregnant (although I don't necessarily want to be pregnant right this minute), but was frustrated that my body was driving me crazy if I wasn't.

Low and behold, my 3rd Lumbar vertebrae was subluxated. What does the 3rd Lumbar Vertebrae go to you may ask? Your ovaries and other sex organs. Of course it does!

Then, my loving chiropractor, whom is a wonderful, wonderful woman, decided to try and kill me. She adjusted my diaphragm and stomach to make sure they were in the right alignment.

O
W
C
H

However, I really wish she had done this when I was in college and a singer. I can now breath SO MUCH better.

So, I still haven't started my period... But the nausea is better. I'm crossing my fingers that I start soon, and, as my beautiful baby is weaning, they become more regular. I think my emotions need a break!

Oops...

I'm sure I've blogged about my love affair with chiropractors before. I seriously wouldn't be walking if it wasn't for them. Seriously. My chiropractor was in the hospital room with us when we gave birth, and adjusted Keevia for the first time when she was about 30 minutes old. Since that time, we've been seeing her a couple of times a month. I SWEAR her adjustments are why she sleeps so well!

So, we took her to the chiropractor today for a routine check up. She wasn't showing too many signs, but her pelvis was still out a little, and her occipital was as well. She was adjusted both ways, without any tears this time! We made it home, and, amazingly she went to sleep in Mamaw's lap. We laid her on Mamaw's bed (which we've done for months) and blocked her in with pillows.

Fast forward two hours. Without hearing a peep from her to show she'd woken up, we suddenly hear this loud THUMP followed by a pissed off baby. We ran in, Mom examined her quickly (SUCH a benefit having a nurse as a mommy!) and she said she was fine. I picked her up and snuggled her close. She proceeded to pull away and yell at the dog, so I'm sure she's fine.

She's a little staggery, but we can't seem to see any other problems. I think we'll be going back to the chiropractor soon though, just to be sure.

And we really were going to try to get her back in her crib tonight!

The one where I actually got outside...

My husband is always in shock and awe anytime I say I like doing something outside. I used to ALWAYS be an outside girl. I played on my swings, in my sand-box, etc. Since High School though, studying has taken up a good part of my life, so the outdoors kind of fell away.

But I love it. Around Memorial Day, Carl took me four-wheeling at his parents. I had a blast! I love fishing, hiking, etc. I'm not a fan of camping. I like my nice comfy mattress thankyouverymuch. I like all the other things camping deals with (I.E. Campfires, S'mores, etc), I just don't like being uncomfortable when I sleep.

Since Keevie has been born, I've slowly been getting out more and more (I got WAY to hot when pregnant). Yesterday, I mowed the grass.

Now, you might think "Okay, so what? She mowed the grass. Big deal."

Y'all don't understand. I live on a 100 acre farm. 25+ acres is grass. That's a lot of grass. And it was really, really high. I cut for 2 hours straight on a riding lawn mower and I only got a little over half.

I didn't start until 4 pm. I put a little bit of Keevia's Burt Bee's sunscreen on the top of my shoulders and my knees, and I didn't burn a bit (I don't burn normally, at all). I can't tell that I got anything of a tan either though. I listened first to some of my music, and then starting listening to Carl's iPod when he got home (and my MP3 players battery died). He had me start "Eragon" which is one of his favorite series.

It felt good to get out. I really, really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I wasn't working at that time... but that'll get better. Mom's slowly on the mend (she almost had pneumonia again), and can keep the quilting machine in line (which is always a bother).

Keevia's doing well... sleep is still all screwy, but she goes back to the chiropractor on Monday. The day she got adjusted (Monday), she slept wonderfully. She's been in bed with us about 5 nights out of 6 this week. I'm exhausted!

I got to go to a wonderful baby shower today, and I had a lot of fun. I'm taking a box full of stuff (diapers that Keevia outgrew, a baby bath, extra towels, etc) to her tomorrow, then if she has a girl, I'll have more stuff for her. I'm letting her borrow (or keep if she forgets!), my very first Mei Tai. I wore Keevia in it in Wal-mart at 2 days old!

This has turned into a totally rambly post, but hey, I posted. That's good for me!

Too soon?

Keevia has been asleep since around 9 o'clock tonight. This is the first night, in, oh, 2 1/2 weeks where she hasn't used her bedtime as a nap time. She had been going down fine, but waking up 45 minutes to an hour later, and then being up for an hour or so, and then finally going back down around 11-1. Tiring. But, after a trip to the chiropractor today, and an adjustment, she has been asleep for over 2 hours! Woohoo!

She hadn't been down horribly long when Carl plopped his rather large book from the couch to the floor.

"Are you TRYING to wake her up?" I asked, glaring at him as only a Mom who has been rocking an overtired, frustrated, whiny baby for close to three weeks can glare.

"No! Sometimes I forget we have a kid." He replied. I laughed, he laughed, and then he turned serious.

"You know, everyone keeps asking me if I think we had her too soon. They ask if I regret having had her this early... do you?"

I didn't even have to think about my answer, a solid, resounding no.

Yes, financially, we had a baby too soon. We were in college when we got pregnant. Carl still had several years to go (as he wasn't the best student material). I was in my senior year. We struggled, and wouldn't have made it through his month of unemployment if it hadn't been for my parents. But things worked themselves out.

Now we have a mortgage (instead of rent!), student loans, no credit card debt, and month to month bills.

I admit, it's tight. And if we hadn't gotten pregnant, I could have a full time job as well, working at a library, or a school, or as a waitress even (I LOVED working at Cracker Barrel!). We could have two full time incomes instead of one. We might not have salvation army furniture, and be living so tight, but we also wouldn't have the absolute light of our lives.

This month is super tight, due mainly to poor planning, yet we'll make it. I know we will, because God always provides, and things always work themselves out. I can't even imagine my life without my sweet, sweet baby girl. So we have salvation army furniture, and so we don't get the latest movies. We have each other, we have a roof over our heads, and we have food to fill our bellies. What more dare I ask for?

The Great Poop of 2010

This may not be the greatest poop of the year, but it's been the greatest one so far!

Keevia had a chiropractic appointment at 10:45 this morning. She's going through a developmental phase right now (jabbering/babbling CONSTANTLY), so she was awake from about 3:30-5 something, just babbling away, rubbing on Daddy, and nursing. I crawled out of bed around 8 and boxed her in...I finally woke her up around 9:15 so we could eat breakfast.

We had oatmeal (baby for her, regular for me!), and shared a yogurt, changed clothes (she was SO CUTE in this little seersucker dress and black shorts (because I have no bloomers for half her dresses)), and headed out.

While driving the 10 minute drive, I heard her making her poop noises, so I figured I would have to change her once we got in to Docs.

So, got in, checked her, and sure enough! She'd done the dirty. So, I headed back to one of the patient rooms which has a bed. I unfolded her changing pad (which I hardly EVER use), and pulled off the shorts. I noticed on the inside of the shorts at the top, the poop had leaked through. Not unusual when she's in the carseat... it happens all the time, she poops up. So, I peeled back the diaper...

WORST. POOP. EVER.

Oh, it didn't smell. In fact, it barely had any odor. It was just... EVERYWHERE. It had went up (and out) the front, out both sides, and up (and out) the back. There was about an inch of poop in the diaper, and another inch stuck to her.

I open up my wipes case, and prepare to do battle.

I have two wipes. TWO. 2. DOS. FOR THE BIGGEST POOP OF MY LIFE.

I was at a loss at this point... I couldn't leave her on the bench to go out to the car to get more wipes. There was NO going back. If I had tried to put the diaper back on her, the poop would have exploded more. I couldn't very well pick her up and carry her to the car without getting it everywhere. I was at a complete loss.

Finally, I rummaged in the diaper bag and came up with a bib. I wiped the majority of the excess poop off of her with it, and then put a clean diaper on her. I went out to the car, got the wipes, came back, and cleaned her off fully (then cleaned the diaper...). It took an additional 4 wipes to clean her!

THEN I had all these dirty wipes, a dirty changing pad, dirty shorts, and a dirty bib. Plus her dress had a LITTLE bit on it (on the edge). So I dig in to get her extra onesie and change her.

Guess what?

IT'S COVERED IN POOP AS WELL.

SOMEHOW one of her diapers from yesterday had leaked all over it. No clue how. NONE.

So. She stayed in her slightly dirty dress. I got two plastic bags from Doc, and then tied up the offending materials.

Big shocker, but when she was adjusted, the vertebrae going to her stomach was out. Who would have thought?

And with that, I'm all pooped out.

MIA

I know I'm MIA.

I really don't want to be.

My daughter hasn't been sleeping well... although, after a chiropractic adjustment, she is today!!! She had been waking an hour after going down for the night, and then staying awake for 2-3 hours. We've also had some stress with my Dad getting sick, but he's getting better, and we at least know its not serious!

Also, two of my uncles have had surgeries in the last two weeks, and my Mom has taken both of them to Lexington for the operations... leaving me at home, alone, with the wee babe... trying to do laundry, dishes, and deal with the workmen.

Oh, what's that? What workmen?

I'll tell you.

The main reason I've not been blogging though?

MY HOUSE IS ALMOST DONE!

Carl and I purchased a double-wide house on April 19th, it was set last Friday, and this week they've been doing various other things. They installed the septic system today, as well as finishing fixing the drywall/sheetrock (are they the same things?), framed the doors, and repainted all the places the sheetrock had cracked.

We are SO freaking close... yet we're still so far away. It's driving us crazy. It's literally like 25 feet away from us... and we can't be IN it. Yet.

Hopefully the water and such will be hooked up tomorrow, the siding will be finished...then we're just waiting on electric and for them to put on the underpinning. It's coming along! As soon as they get everything out of our bedroom (which has been the central location for all the supplies), I'm going to paint it, and then start moving stuff in.

It has been a total God thing right from the start. The price was one we could afford for a HECK of a house. It's 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, full dry wall, nice kitchen, working wood fireplace... it's everything we wanted!

On top of that, today I got offered all the brick we would need for temporary steps. That saves us, oh, about $60.

Also, while we were shopping for baby food and cereal yesterday, I managed to get 3 gallons of paint. I paid $5 for the paint to paint my bedroom, $7 for the paint to paint my kitchen/dining room (under the chair rail) and $9 for a accent wall in Keevia's room. I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY.

I promise, daily blogs will be soon.

Smoochies!