Two Weeks Postpartum Update

Vaught Charles is two weeks old today! Despite showering every day since delivery, I still have a tiny bit of stickum stuck to the inside of my wrist from all the tape that held my needles in--the only reminder that I actually was in the hospital having this baby just two weeks ago. I can't believe it's been a whole fourteen days! Vaught is doing so well; at his wellness visit today, he weighed nine pounds and one ounce and is 21 and 1/2 inches long. He's gained a whole pound and grown an inch since delivery! I am so thankful because he had a little jaundice (normal) his first week.
I attempted breastfeeding in the beginning and actually did really well with it. Vaught even latched on at just one day old. I nursed strictly for precisely three days then gave him a few bottles at four and five days. By day six, I decided to bottle feed and couldn't be happier. He gets fuller off of bottles and sleeps better, and I know he got that first little bit of breast milk that's really good for him. Okay, enough about my boobs... He's doing wonderfully with formula! I'm very thankful that he doesn't have a sensitive tummy.
He's also sleeping on his tummy now... Don't give me any flack; our pediatrician said do what works! Besides, we all slept on our bellies. He will sleep for about 45 minutes at a time on his back but is getting three to four and a half hour intervals on his belly. He's such a big boy!

As for mama, I feel fantastic, though this is a little new. I remember getting in the back of my husband's truck with the baby as we were leaving the hospital that Saturday when it really hit me: we're going home. We're on our own now. No nurses to come get him when we need a little rest. No doctors on call to come to our rescue. I cried silently in the back seat half of the drive home. From there, things kind of went downhill. I cried the entire first week. I couldn't help but think of all the what-ifs and the many things that could go wrong. I was eating a piece of toast with crunchy peanut butter in the morning and nothing else. I was happy but sad at the same time. Last Thursday night, I cried for two hours because I couldn't believe he was already a week old.

Basically, I was losing it a little.

 

My aunt brought us dinner that Thursday night, and I couldn't help myself. She was rocking him and trying to talk to me, and I suddenly said, "Okay, I'm sorry but can I just cry? Can I please cry?" And I just let it all out. By midday the next day, Friday, I had called my doctor and was given a prescription for a mild antidepressant. I don't mind sharing this tidbit because I think all women should know how very normal it is to feel overwhelmed with a new baby. It's the most joyful thing in the world, but it's such a sudden change. It'd be a little strange to not be overwhelmed! Anyway, I have done wonderfully with the medicine and am really grateful to have called my doctor. I was embarrassed at first, but he assured me that I was totally 100% normal. And that everything was going to be okay. And you know what? It has been!

 

So at two weeks postpartum today, I am two pounds from the weight I was at my first appointment. I am ten pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. I feel great and can't wait to return to the gym at some point this weekend for some mild cardio! I'm really impressed at how quickly my body seems to have healed from pregnancy and delivery. I never thought I would feel this good after only two weeks!! It helps to know that Vaught is so perfect and healthy; he is going to be a BIG boy!

 

 

 

And to top this short post off, can I just say that there is nothing like that first glass of wine after not consuming alcohol for nine months? My mother-in-law treated me to a bottle of my favorite white zinfandel and this super classy new "wine glass." Ahhhh!



Vaught's Birth Story

     It's Tuesday, September 23rd, and I'm getting a head start on this since I know I will have little to no time once he arrives. At my week 38 appointment, my doctor mentioned inducing me at forty weeks if we went that far. I was about a centimeter dilated and he said we'd give it another week and see how it goes. Turns out our concerns were his too; this baby is getting BIG! I don't really know the figures on it, and it turns out that much of the ones you can find are inaccurate, but many women need to be induced by 40 weeks due to baby's size. At 38 weeks, Vaught was already measuring to weigh 8 and 1/2 pounds, just slightly larger than average. Not only that, much of his measurements (femur, brain, stomach) showed that they had been fully developed since early September.
     A few things about my doctor before we continue... I would describe him as a cool, easygoing guy, the kind of guy I'd be friends with if he weren't my doctor. He's young (early 30's maybe) and was randomly assigned to me when I began using the women's clinic in Oxford in 2011. He was new at the time but from that first appointment with him just a few days shy of my twenty-first birthday, I knew he would be the doctor I'd use as long as I could--the doctor who would hopefully deliver any children I had in the future. Who knew that we'd be there just three years later?! Anyway, he's someone I trust and can talk to easily, perfect qualities in the person you want handling the delivery of your first baby. So when he mentioned induction, I panicked if only for a moment. I knew that he wouldn't bring it up, much less recommend it if he didn't fully believe that it would be fine to go through with it or if the baby wasn't ready.
     So at my week 39 appointment Monday, he asked if I'd given it any thought.

I had.

     He wanted to check me before we went any further. I'd made no progress as far as dilation goes since the previous week. It really doesn't mean anything, but I knew that this was probably a good sign that going ahead with an induction would be the best for Vaught and me. Since I was still just about a centimeter, my doctor said we'd put me in Wednesday night and get me started with a Foley catheter (look it up). This will hopefully dilate me from a 1 to a 4 or 5. Once I'm at a 4, things may begin to roll along easily without other cervical dilation drugs, or I may need to be started on Pitocin once the catheter comes out. He says that it's an effective method that almost always delivers exceptional results in dilating the cervix. He even said that many women end up not needing Pitocin with a successful catheter.

It all sounds great to me!

 

     So it's 2:30 on Tuesday, and although I have a horrible cold and can barely speak, I've been buzzing around like a busy bee today, cleaning house, folding laundry, and restocking the fridge and pantry. I tried to shop the way my husband would if he were broke and single... Still spent $20 more than I intended to.

Just trying to get this house in order before we return from the hospital Friday or Saturday. We are aiming for our special delivery by midday Thursday. If by C-section, we probably won't go home until Saturday or Sunday. By if all goes well, my doctor said we could shoot for a Friday evening or Saturday morning release. I even got Lola and Ginger treats to have while they're boarded at the vet and then some for when they come home to their new baby brother. We are just too excited!

I guess I should be honest and say that I am just a little nervous, but I've got God and a great team behind me. Eric and my mother will be with me when we go in tomorrow night, and they're honestly all I need right now. I can't believe how close we are to meeting Vaught! I feel as if I've been waiting my entire life...

Wednesday

     I spent most of the day finishing laundry and putting a few final touches on his room and bassinet so that we'd be totally ready (ready as first time parents could be) for him to come home. At around 2 I took a shower and curled my hair and Eric was home by 3. I figured we could leave the house by 3:30 and be on our way to Holly Springs to drop off Lola and Ginger. For some reason, Eric suddenly got really organized and pulled his duffel bag from the truck and re-packed it. Twice. So that put us at nearly 4 leaving. We dropped the original little Paces off at the vet and then were on our way to Oxford and walking through the doors of the ER at precisely 5:30. Getting signed in was easy, as I had preregistered back in June. We were in a labor and delivery room within ten minutes. Little did I know, I wouldn't see the outside of this room for more than 24 hours.

     The nurses immediately came in and began getting me "ready:" gown on, blood drawn, IV needle in, the works. At 7:30, my doctor arrived (in street clothes, mind you) and attempted to insert the Foley balloon. It was probably one of the most uncomfortable procedures I've ever had to endure, and it ended up not working. For some reason, my cervix had decided to completely close. Tears streamed down my face (from both pain and disappointment) as my doctor told me it wasn't working. "We have two options," he said. "We can try Cervadil" (he went on to explain what it was--look it up) "or you can go home and wait another week." I looked to my husband for an answer, though I already knew what we would do. We had just found out that his mother had flown into town from Virginia once she knew I was going to be induced. I already had a waiting room full of family and friends who would end up staying the 24 hour period it would be before Vaught arrived. Although I knew it would be a long night and long day the following day, I decided to move forward with the Cervadil.

     It was inserted about half an hour later at 8pm and around 10:30 I could feel the pressure. That's all it was at first--pressure. But by 2am, I was having painful cramps. I was moaning and whimpering and would fall asleep for just a moment only to be awoken by the pain. I finally asked for pain medication and slept beautifully once it was administered through my IV. It wore off quickly though, and I was in pain again by 5. At 6 I got more medicine and was pretty comfortable until the Cervadil was taken out at 8am Thursday morning.

     Right after it was taken out, my doctor came in to insert the Foley balloon, which worked and was much less of a painful procedure now that I was back at 1cm. The nurses told me I could walk around for a few minutes and get a shower if I wanted, which I thought would be a good idea.

Wrong. How very wrong I was . 

     The balloon was on top of my cervix... The baby was on top of the balloon... All of this pressure pressing down, down, down, and within 45 minutes I was in agonizing pain. It was seriously the worst 30 minutes of the entire experience, and I think I'm doing pretty good to have only had a half hour of serious pain. My husband held my hand as I clenched my teeth and whimpered through it while waiting on the nurses to administer more pain relief. Nurse Crystal came in and began to put something in my IV, and that's the last thing I remember. I slept comfortably until 11. By that time, I was beginning to dilate pretty well, so the catheter wasn't putting as much pressure on my cervix. Thus, I wasn't in near as much pain. At 2:30pm, I was 4cm dilated, so it was ready to come out, and we were prepared to get the ball rolling with Pitocin. By that time, I was estimating that Vaught would make his arrival by 6 that night. I told my mom I wanted pizza ordered so that we could have a party in the postpartum recovery room once he was here. Did I mention that by this time I'd gone nearly 24 hours without eating anything other than ice??

     The nurse came in at 3 and told me I could get my epidural at any time since I was now nearly 5cm. I thought that was a little odd since I was really not in any pain at the time. My mother was in there as the nurse was talking to me though, and she encouraged me to go ahead and get it, as those contractions might hit me hard and fast once they really got going. I still waited until four for the epidural. I have to say that it's really not as painful going in as some people say. I was still a little loopy from all the pain medication I'd been given that morning, but I remember a sharp, quick prick and some pressure on my spine as I leaned into Nurse Crystal. Where was my husband at the time?? In the cafeteria... with 2 jumbo hamburgers and a box of fries.

     Within ten minutes, my entire lower half was numb. It was an odd feeling; I thought epidurals were supposed to make your lower body completely immobile. Turns out that's called a spinal block and they typically don't administer those to women in labor anymore. I could wiggle my toes and feet and bend my knees; I just couldn't lift my legs or feel them. I pinched and pinched and felt nothing.
I had visitors coming in and out to see me for the next hour. I had always said that there would be no visitors when we were at the hospital, but I was feeling so good I didn't even care. Around 5 I decided to take a nap and it was an hour of the best sleep I'd ever gotten. I was so calm and relaxed. Thank heavens for the person who invented the epidural!

     By 7, something wasn't right. I could completely feel and move the entire left side of my body and could feel the very constant, very sharp contractions on that side. I called in a nurse to ask if it was normal. She said it was and to give it a while longer to take effect on that side. At 7:30, things were even more intense; I had thrown up twice already due to the discomfort. I called another nurse and we decided to redo my epidural. I knew that it was okay to feel pressure, but I was feeling serious pain; it seemed like the epidural had just skipped out on the left side of my body. Fifteen minutes later, my epidural had been redone (painless) and I was feeling amazing. I had been 8cm before we redid it, so I thought I had at least another hour or two ahead of me to rest. I was excited to take another nap! But then my nurse decided to examine me again just in case. "Well that's why you were in pain!" she said. "You're ten centimeters!"

     Eric was right beside me, feeding me ice out of a cup, and we looked at each other like... No way. "It's time?" he said. "It's time," the nurse told him.

     We called in my mom and my dad and I was starting to push by 8pm. I'll spare you the details and just skip to 8:27, when Vaught arrived. I had never felt so relieved, overjoyed, overwhelmed, and happy all at once. He weighed 8 pounds and 1 ounce and was 20 and 1/2 inches long. My nurses and doctor were amazing throughout the whole experience. A few minutes later I was holding him and we let the rest of our visitors come in to meet him. They only stayed for a few minutes though and we didn't pass him around; I told the nurses that I didn't want anyone holding him until we were ready for visitors the following day. Those first few hours were important to me, and I spent most of the night holding him, drifting in and out of sleep.

     I was surprised at how quickly the epidural wore off and how easy it was for me to walk around later that night and early morning. I was prepared for intense pain, but it never came. It was more like a mild soreness that would get a little strong if I stood for too long, but by Friday night I could walk around pretty easily and was ready to do so; I had been sitting for two days straight! We had a room full of visitors Friday night and Vaught finally got to be passed around and admired by his new family. We were glad to be released Saturday morning and were home just shortly after noon.

     Looking back now, it all passed by so fast, and I almost can't believe he's finally here. It's a very surreal feeling... I was still pregnant just a week ago. I spent 9 months preparing for him then suddenly he arrived and it's a very big, very abrupt adjustment.

But a good one.

Our first few days together have been wonderful but a little emotional. He's not the best little sleeper at nighttime, but I know it will get better! I feel great today, but I do have a mild case of the baby blues... There is no greater joy than having a baby, but at the same time it's very overwhelming. My heart gets so full when I look at him, I can't help but cry sometimes. But with each day it gets easier, and I'm slowly starting to feel like myself again. Vaught has a newborn photo session tomorrow, and I am so excited! He's down for his afternoon nap now, so I'm about to go pick out some outfits for him for his pictures. Wish us luck!!!

Fourth Trimester Project

     The fourth trimester project began Friday, September 28th, and is going really well so far. I am resting and recovering but am taking Vaught on a couple of short stroller walks each day. The sun feels soooo good for both of us! My final total pregnancy weight gain (as of last Monday's final prenatal appointment) was 29 pounds. And that was obviously a lot of fluid because I have already lost 24 pounds of it. I kid not; I am 5 pounds from the weight I was at our first appointment February 12th. I'm not calling that number my pre-pregnancy weight because I logged back into my MyFitnessPal account (after several months) I looked back at my weight record and saw what it really was. I am 13 pounds from my precise pre-pregnancy weight, the lowest it was while I was eating and exercising well. It makes me so excited to already be down 24 pounds. I know, I know; it seems like a lot, but keep in mind that I was carrying an 8 pound baby, placenta, and lots of blood and fluid... Yeah, it's pretty gross, but hey, I feel thin for the first time in month! I'm not eating entirely well, which is odd for me. I've never in my life had a problem with not eating, but I think the baby blues have been getting the best of my appetite. I've made a goal to try and eat a little more throughout the day. I definitely don't want to get back to where I was due to a low appetite.

 

6 days postpartum... Where's my big belly?!

     I'm excited to return to the gym maybe towards the end of next week, but in the meantime I'm getting plenty of rest, bonding with our sweet baby boy, and taking it reeeeal easy. I have so many goals I want to reach, and I'm so excited to be back on the road to reaching them.

Pictures



Selfie before leaving for the hospital!

Putting on my pink socks that this one nurse kept asking me to take off!!! Grrrrr.

Our first picture together... Love him so so much.



He's definitely got my "WTF" face!

The day after delivery I craved nothing but fruit!

Ready for all our visitors Friday night!

So in love with this.

I don't wanna go a day without you. I just wanna be the one that makes you happy.

"You're Still Pregnant?"

That's exactly what my doctor said when he came into the examination room to find me sitting on the "look-see" table with a paper sheet wrapped around my waist.

"I was so disappointed when I woke up this morning and discovered that I was still pregnant, doc," I told him. I was joking. Just a little.

Whether or not he was going to mention it, I wanted an internal, so I went ahead and assumed the position to make it easier for everyone. As of Tuesday I'm a little better than one centimeter dilated but not quite to two yet and "really soft and thinned." If you don't know what all that means, look it up. Or don't; it's kinda gross. I was happy to be one centimeter because it means that we are at least getting somewhere, but I can't help but be a little flustered. His ultrasound measurements show that he has surpassed fully developed and measures at eight pounds, seven ounces. A real whopper! Now don't get me wrong; I love the fact that's probably going to be a big baby, but I asked the obvious: why hasn't this little nugget made his appearance already?! I am so anxious!! My doctor said that Vaught will come (duh) and that he probably just likes his cozy little home. "Some babies just like to overstay their welcome, but let's not forget that you're not yet forty weeks!" Even still, with Vaught measuring to be quite the little fattie, my doctor said that if I'm still pregnant this Monday (39 weeks and 4 days) we can talk about an induction date for the next week. The word induction scares me a little, but I'm not going to dwell on it. I still believe that Vaught will come before then, though little boys can be so stubborn! Regardless of how we get him here, I'm so excited to see him.

Movement/Contractions
I had sporadic contractions throughout the day yesterday (Friday) and it took me a little while to figure out that they were contractions; I just thought I was having stomach cramps or something. After each one ended Vaught wiggled around a lot. His feet are all over my ribs now. Luckily, it's not painful, but it sure is surprising sometimes!

Swelling
Lots of random swelling in the past week or so, despite not being on my feet too much. Tendinitis makes my hands swell for a few hours in the morning, so I've put  my rings in my lockbox at work until after the baby comes. I don't really like wearing a lot of jewelry anyway :)

Highlights
My family baby shower was two weeks ago, and I really enjoyed it! Vaught got lots of nice gifts, and I loved spending time with my family since we probably won't get to visit for a while once he's here. One of Eric's favorite gifts from the day was the blue Bumbo seat... I have no idea why, but he thinks it's the cutest/goofiest thing ever. He says Vaught's gonna sit in it and watch football in front of Eric's recliner in a couple months. I'm just like Okay, baby. Whatever you say.

L-R: Aunt Wanda, Baby Mama, Aunt Neicey, Godmother Sally

I MADE IT TO THE FIRST OLE MISS GAME!!!!! And I was totally going to do a blog about how to survive at a sporting event at 38 weeks pregnant but never got around to it. We parked about a mile away, so I ended up walking two miles that day and was definitely feeling it the next morning... ouch! The weather was perfect: cloudy and cool enough for me to wear my sweater the entire game. The Rebels delivered a royal ass-beatin' on the Cajuns: 56-15! Overall, it was a wonderful day, and I couldn't be happier to have been able to go! Ole Miss football is my favorite pastime!!!!

My birthday was Thursday of this week. For 23 years my birthday was alllll about  me; I spent weeks planning the perfect day/weekend/party and was a total diva about my special day. This year I hardly thought about it in the weeks leading up to the 18th. I've been too focused on getting this baby here, which is a good sign that I'm not as selfish as I once thought I was! Anyway, my mother had me leave work with her at three on Wednesday, and I thought I was going to Tupelo to help her find some flowers for our church. But we ended up shopping, getting a dozen cupcakes from Gigi's (I'd not had them in at least two years), and meeting my cousin, two of my aunts, my godmother, and grandmother at Outback Steakhouse. She had planned this surprise party for me the previous day, and I never even knew! It's funny that somehow this year, my 24th, was the best birthday I think I've ever had. There's just too much to look forward to on top of being another year older (and more fabulous).

So I didn't get to eat all of these by myself.... But they tasted better with family and friends :)

Bump Pics
Sorry there's only one... and I recently discovered that my Ole Miss tank has been taken over by my husband who is wearing it to his extremely grueling powerlifting workouts, so it probably needs to be steamed and sanitized at this point.. Ew.

Up Next:
Umm... hopefully this baby?!

And Then There Were Two...

This is the part of the blog I've dreaded writing, for I know it's just going to induce tears all over again, and my crazy pregnancy hormones don't help at all. As you probably know, we've been a family of 6 and 1/2 for a little while... Me, Eric, Baby Pace, and four dogs: Ginger, Chance, Lola, and Anabelle. A few weeks ago we began thinking that with a baby coming, it might be best to try and find another home for two of our lot so that it's not as crazy in our house once Vaught gets here. Don't get me wrong, it's not totally crazy in our house, but three of our dogs are pitbulls (mixes) and they can be super hyper and extremely active dogs. They're also attention hogs, and we worried that the focus on them would be cut wayyyyy short once Vaught got here. Actuallly, we knew it would be cut short. Anyway, we decided that since Chance and Anabelle were our newest, we would try to find other homes for them either together or separately...

Chance was adopted from Olive Branch Animal Shelter in March 2013 less than a month from his date to be euthanized. He was an amazing dog from the beginning: housebroken and trained to not just up on the furniture, though we quickly taught him that he could. He was so calm and mellow from the beginning but could be playful anytime you brought out a squeaky toy or ball. He was the sweetest dog I think I've ever been around. Loved people and loved being around a lot of people.

Anabelle was about to be taken to the animal shelter, as she was the runt of an accidental litter and the family didn't want to keep her. I picked her up and took her home with me at just five weeks old. Less than a month prior, I'd experienced a miscarriage and was still attempting to heal from that. Anabelle was my "angel baby" that I cared for and raised, and the joy of having her took some of the pain of suffering such a heartbreaking loss away. Not all of it--but she was definitely an enormous help, and I'll always be grateful that she came into my life when she did.

After a few phone calls to some of our best pitbull-supporter friends, we couldn't find anyone, so we resorted to what we knew would be our last option: Craigslist. I wrote out these way too long, way too detailed descriptions of both dogs and put them on the website. Within an hour, we were getting phone calls about both of them. By the end of the day, we had secured both dogs a new home, and I never imagined that we'd feel so comfortable with it. It really is a small world after all because Chance was found by a couple from the area I grew up in. They are a newly married couple who were looking for a large dog to have in the home, and they'd been thinking that they wanted to adopt a pitbull. We met them with Chance last Sunday, and there was an instant connection. It's like Chance knew what was going on and he was actually excited. His tail was wagging as they loved on him and put a new leash on him. He jumped right in the truck and didn't even pay us any attention as we drove away. Of course I bawled my eyes out the whole way home. Even still, I knew we were doing the right thing; I never thought I would feel good about giving two of our dogs away, but I could tell this was a good fit. They sent me this picture the next morning of Chance in their living room. Look at him smiling!!

A family of four from Batesville came Monday night to pick up Anabelle. Somehow, it was much harder to let go of her than it was Chance. She was an extremely special little pup to me. Her new family has two children, ages one and three. She's such a hyper little dog that I knew she would love some kids to play with! Her new mommy sent me this photo of her a few days later and informed me that she was fitting right in with her new siblings. Anabelle loves everyone, so it didn't surprise me at all!

She is such a cuddle-bug! I can never explain how hard it was to let these dogs go; I spent about two days crying, and that's part of why I've neglected the blog all week. I knew I would have to write about this, and it was so so hard to do. I've got a few tears coming now, but they're mostly happy tears. It's a really bittersweet thing. I know that Chance and Anabelle are in amazing homes and probably haven't given us a second thought, but at the same time I feel that no one could ever take better care of my dogs than I can. I'm so happy we did this for them, but they will always be my precious babies. Lola and Ginger seemed a little lost without them for the first few days!

Chance and Anabelle :)

Well, it is 8:30am now, and my husband just called to tell me breakfast is almost ready. I'm at Starbucks this morning because I just couldn't focus from home. I've had two contractions in the past two hours I've been sitting here working on this, so maybe today is the day? Maybe not. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

HAPPY SATURDAY!

Week 38 & The Fourth Trimester Project

In memory of Chucky Mullins

 

Thirty-eight weeks strong, can you believe it?! Two weeks, give or take a little. I'm really hoping it's "take a little" at this point. I find it impossible to believe that I could pass September 25th with Vaught still in my belly! But if I do then I guess that's the good Lord's will! 

 

     My appointment Tuesday (technically the week 37 appointment) went really well. I am Group B Strep negative, which is great! You'll have to Google GBS because being positive for it really is no big deal, but I was glad to be negative. It basically just means a little less work for my nurses. I gained one pound, but I'm pretty sure it all went to Vaught since his measurements show him weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces, up nearly a pound from last week. Can I just say that I love the fact that he's probably going to be a little Fatty McFatso? I love it. My doctor apparently loves it too. My mother could not believe that he wasn't the least bit concerned with Vaught's size. In my doctor's words, there are no weight limits on babies; women are designed the carry and birth children regardless of the woman's size or baby's size. Now, there are circumstances sometimes and that's understandable, but I trust my doctor wholeheartedly. He says he isn't concerned until I get to week 40. And let's just pray that doesn't happen!

     I did not get examined Tuesday. My doctor doesn't really like to do them until you're past 40 weeks but said he'd be glad to check me if I wanted it. After hearing him explain why he doesn't like to, I chose to forego the ordeal. You see, you can be 2 or 3 centimeters dilated and stay that way for two weeks, longer even. It is fairly uncommon, but it happens. I love reading the discussion boards on the Baby Center website. Some of those women have supposedly been 2 centimeters since 32 weeks and are going on 38 or 39! Or there's always the chance that I might not be dilated at all but could be 10 centimeters by supper time. It just doesn't do me any good, and I would have most definitely been discouraged and stressed to discover I wasn't dilated at all. I feel as if I am seconds from active labor... like it could happen at any moment. But I still just didn't want the letdown. Vaught will come when he's good and ready! And my doctor assured me that I would know without a shadow of a doubt when "it's time."

     The tendinitis in my right wrist has now extended to my left one. It's the damndest thing! My doctor feels that it will disappear shortly after having the baby, but we still discussed some options in case it doesn't. I really don't want to have surgery on my wrists!

     Contractions are still coming; faint but there. Some get a little uncomfortable to the point where I feel like I should begin timing them, but then they die down. Since I have such a high pain threshold, I'm really hoping my water breaks to signal active labor; I just don't fully trust my body with these contractions.

Up Next

My birthday is next Thursday, and I've barely thought about it! I will be 24. We may or may not have our little guy here by then, but wouldn't he be a wonderful birthday present??

 

I've been given the green light to attend the first home game at Ole Miss this Saturday assuming Vaught is still in tow! I'm excited to go but excited for him to be here too! I really don't mind which comes first :)

Bump Pics

My Ole Miss tank is dirty... Sorry :( I've got it washing and will hopefully have a picture with it by tonight to add on here. If you've ever wondered, I'm in the bathroom at my work. The building was built in like 1918 and was formerly the original First State Bank in Holly Springs. Right beside the bathroom is an old elevator too. Like the ones with the caged door! I keep telling my mom that I'm going to test it out one day (it hasn't been used in at least fifty years) and she says she'll kill me if I do... if riding it doesn't kill me!  

37+6



37+5



37+3 like seriously? I used to have a lap!

 



If you've still got time, don't go anywhere...

 

 

 

 

 

The Fourth Trimester Project



     I woke up at 6:30 this morning and did what I do a few mornings a week: checked my Blogger profile. I love reading other people's blogs and try to make a point to do so now and then. One of my favorite bloggers is a girl named Mallory at Mal Smiles Blog. She is a proud army wife and new mother; her pregnancy was about three weeks ahead of mine, so I loved reading all about her bumpdates and different things going on in her life in Colorado. That's the fun with blogging; you get connected with people you would have never knew existed otherwise! Anyway, her most recent post caught my eye and I just had to go read then after reading I told my mom I'd be a few minutes late to work because I had to get this out...  I follow Mallory on Instagram, so I see most of what she posts on there, including a postpartum progress picture a few days ago when she was 6 days postpartum. She looks incredible. Not to have just had a baby but in general. I looked at it thinking hell, I'd like to look like that any day! Well, apparently she posted it to Facebook, where a Facebook friend she hardly knows messaged her and although she complimented Mallory on her postpartum recovery, she basically told her that she shouldn't post pictures like that for fear of hurting other recovering mothers' feelings because some of them still carry around baby weight for years...

 

     My first thought was I am so glad I don't have Facebook. Secondly, girls can be such bitches. Since when should we ever feel guilty about the progress we make with ourselves? Since when should we feel bad for posting a progress picture on our own social media account? It's ours to do what we want with, right? If you don't like it, unfollow or just don't look. If you're friends with Mallory on Instagram and I assume Facebook too, then you know she's really into fitness. She worked out her entire pregnancy, up until the day before she delivered. Not only does she love fitness, but she was also motivated to keep up a workout regimen in hopes that her body would bounce back easily after pregnancy--and what do you know?! She looks so good!

 

      If you read me often, then you know that I was in the midst of my own fitness journey when I discovered I was pregnant. I was down about twenty pounds and had been carrying out my lifestyle change for about 28 days. In those 28 days, I had never felt so good. I could already see and feel a major difference, and I'd never been so determined in my life. But then came a few positive pregnancy tests, and I nearly panicked. After a few days of that "shit shit shit" state of mind though, I began accepting what this meant for me. God has orchestrated every single moment of my life, and this was totally in His plan. I decided that I would take the blessing He'd given me and make it the healthiest nine months of my life. And that's exactly what I've done. No, not every day is perfect. For lunch yesterday I had a hamburger and French fries from Sonic. Really, I'm still human. But from the beginning I've had the same mindset as Mallory; perhaps by staying really active through this pregnancy, I can get back to where I was quicker and then work even harder towards my fitness goals. Sounds like a pretty good plan, right?

     So with that, I give you the Fourth Trimester Project. I know what you're thinking; trimester means three terms, so how is there a fourth trimester? I'm an English teacher; I know what trimester means, and I'm only calling it that because I think it's a clever name for the recovery period after pregnancy. So you have three trimesters in pregnancy, all about 12-13 weeks in length. The fourth is a 12 week period I came up with that begins the day after I deliver. I've been thinking on this since April or May. Since I decided to start blogging again, I knew I wanted to make this site a place where I could be open and honest about my fitness success and gain support from other enthusiasts and bloggers as I continue towards a better, healthier me. Everything about the FTP will be here on my blog, and although I do not have all the kinks worked out, I have made a pretty good outline with my husband's help.

     I've divided it into four three-week sections, with the end goal for me to be back at my lowest weight before getting pregnant. I'm not a numbers person, but one day I will share those numbers with you. I won't now because yes, I'm a woman who is embarrassed by the number on the scale and at the same time knows it does not define her in the least bit. I promise: one day I will share it with you. But for now, it's not important :) But I will record the exact amount of weight gained (23 pounds at this point) and then reveal how much is lost after each three week sector. Also, keep in mind that this could change a little depending on how well delivery goes. If I have a C-section, we may need to extend this to a 16 week project, as I might need a few extra weeks to rest. But we'll see!

 

     Weeks 1-3: Rest. Well, as much as I can at least! I'll be a new mama, a breastfeeding mama, a tired mama, a stressed mama... Going out for a walk in my neighborhood on a breezy day would be okay, but no trips to the gym yet. There are some ab-tightening exercises I can do while laying down that are okay to start within 24 hours of delivery, so I'll be trying  a few of those!

     Weeks 4-6: Light to moderate cardio with light strength training. Back to the gym I go! I will definitely try jogging, but if it feels too heavy still, I'll hold off until I'm comfortable with it. I won't be picking up any 20-pound dumbbells for a little while. I'll stick with fives, eights, and tens.

     Weeks 7-9: Moderate cardio/moderate strength training. I'll be wanting to leave the gym during these weeks the way I'm used to leaving the gym: a hot, sweaty mess. I'm not one of those girls who dresses all cute in matching workout clothes and leaves with my hair and makeup completely in tact. No, I look disgusting by the end. I can't wait to get back to that! I'll be wearing my Polar watch again (don't ask me why I've been afraid to wear it while pregnant), and I plan to keep my heart rate up and going. This is where I'll be focused a lot more on muscle toning and fat burning.

     Weeks 10-12: Assuming all is well, I hope to be back in full power. I plan to start back up with HIIT while doing cardio and return to heavy squats and lots of bench work. At the end of week 12, we'll see where I'm at. I have the number in my mind right now, and maybe by then I'll share with you.

 

     And from there, we just move forward. Of course, it's not all about the exercise. My problem before was that despite being a runner and lifting weights, a healthy diet was not a part of my regimen, at least not totally. But on Christmas Day last year, when I knew that something had to change, that was the main change I just knew I had to make. I worked out at about the same pace, but I changed my eating habits and that's when the numbers began to slip away. That was when success happened.

 

     And speaking of success, yes, there will be photos. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see them there, though I may just sometimes direct you to this blog to see and read more. I am aware that no one wants to see me in a bra and panties, so no, I will not post that... at least not for a while. But if I can't share my progress with you, then why am I doing this? It is for me and my family definitely, but I've gotten so much support from people who read this blog and enjoy keeping up with me. You are so encouraging, and it's a great way to keep me motivated, knowing I'm being "watched." How embarrassing would it be for me to post a picture of Vaught and me when he's three months old and I still look like I'm carrying him in my belly?! I know that happens to a lot of women; many struggle to lose the weight and some never do. My sisters struggled after putting on tons of excess weight during their pregnancies, and they both pleaded with me to not do what they did. They are my motivation. Mallory is my motivation and inspiration. Other women who post their postpartum success stories and pictures are my motivation. I can't imagine why Mallory's Facebook friend was so unsupportive of her posting a progress picture (well, I can imagine why, but I won't go there), but I hope to never encounter someone like that. I'm trying to change the picture of what a lot of women think pregnancy is "supposed" to look like. I have been encouraged and inspired by fit mothers, and if I can inspire just one person, I'd say my job is done.

 

     One more thing to add is a great big THANK YOU to everyone who has been reading. I get close to two hundred views every week, which I never thought would happen. I appreciate it so so much. I can never place a value on your support of my pregnancy, new baby, and of course the fourth trimester project :)

 



Week 37 Update

Congratulations to me and Baby Vaught! We are officially full term!! Time has definitely flown by. It seems like just yesterday I heard his heartbeat for the first time, found out he was indeed a HE, felt his first kicks... Now he's got his very own room, an overflow of clothes, and more Ole Miss stuff than we do in the entire house. Hotty Toddy for this sweet little Rebel!! 

 

Ask me how I'm feeling any other day and I would say "Pretty good!" or a less enthusiastic "I'm alright." But today? No bueno. I left work at one, came home and got in bed. I just wanted to be horizontal in a cool, dark room. I know it would probably make me feel much better if I got up and moved around, maybe took a walk around my block. But I'm not having any of that today. Just let the pregnant girl sleeeeeeeeep.

It's six o'clock now and I finally peeled myself off the fresh sheets I put on our bed and made my way to the grocery store for a few items for the weekend. My mom gave us some ribeyes to grill, so we'll be eating good for the next couple of days. Makes me happy :)

Movement: Vaught has calmed down a little. I can feel his little feet kicking the top of my belly, as he is still head down, ready for his big entrance! Or should I say exit??
 

Weight: at Tuesday's appointment I had actually lost a pound in three weeks! Couldn't believe it! My total pregnancy gain so far is 21 pounds. I'll take it!
 

Cravings: I'm all about some Sonic ice right now.

 That's actually what really motivated me to get out of bed this afternoon. We have a new Sonic in Old Towne Olive Branch, and their ice is amazing. I know all Sonic ice is good, but theirs is like biting into a firm snowball. It's just unfathomable. I'm also craving milk and cookies, especially Oreos. But who doesn't love Oreos?! I satisfy this one with three or four Oreos and a glass of milk at nighttime. I try not to overdo it, but it's only a matter of time before I eat an entire sleeve by myself.
 

Tuesday's Appointment: it went really well! I had the Group B Strep test done, which was easy peezy. I have got to stop getting online and reading about these routine tests and exams that pregnant women must endure; so many women claim that "it hurts like hell!" or "I thought I was going to die!" and "Seriously, so uncomfortable." Ehhhhh? I have a reeeeally high pain threshold. Like really high. And I'm just a tough girl. But I went in expecting the worst, and it was no big deal at all. My doctor finally did an internal exam, which, again, was not bad. I was glad to find out that I am soft and thinning but not yet dilated. That can change in a matter of hours or days or even, Lord help, weeks. Again, I do not see myself going much further, as Vaught is already measuring at an estimated 7 pounds and 4 ounces! But that could be off by up to a pound. His head, belly, and spine are all measuring around September fifteenth. My doctor continuously wants growth measurements as this child keeps measuring early.
 

I'm still walking some, but no more hard workouts; I've developed tendinitis in my right wrist. In all 37 weeks I've not had a whole lot to complain about, but tendinitis?? NOT fun! I can't clasp my bra, turn a doorknob, or brush my hair without yelping. Even texting can be difficult.
 

Aside from that, I still feel good, but I'm a sleepy mama. It's cute how my husband still waits around for me to cook supper every night. Yesterday, I came in around 5, and he'd already been home about an hour. I changed clothes and laid down in bed, intending to nap for just a little while. He comes tiptoeing into our bedroom and says, "Baby... When are you gonna cook my dinner?" Not our dinner--my dinner. If I'd had the energy I might have been irritated, but it was actually kind of cute. I did end up cooking his dinner, but I was definitely exhausted by nighttime!

Highlights: my mother-in-law bought Vaught the carseat canopy caboodle from carseatcanopy.com. We put it on after supper tonight; it's cute as can be!! He is our sweet little Ole Miss Rebel! I'm taking the lap blanket to my "monogram girl" tomorrow to have his initials put on it!

Chance is starting to accept his role as "big brother!"

 

Bump Pic

Sorry but this is all I've got for week 37. I took it when I got home from work then went to sleep for three hours. The bump is wayyyy out there now! I cannot believe I actually thought I looked pregnant when I was like 20 weeks. Haha!

Up Next

My family shower is this Saturday at my aunt's house in New Albany. Eric's grandparents from Meridian are going to make the trip. He is so excited! Since we don't plan on traveling very far with Vaught until he's several months old, I'm glad they're coming and will get to visit with us before he's here. Hopefully they'll be able to come back soon after he arrives.

 

Ole Miss vs. Vandy at Vanderbilt Saturday at 3:30. My shower is from 2-4, so I told my aunt that at 3:30 we're going to have to turn her TV on SEC Network so I can keep up with the game :) Go Rebels!

 

Our Ole Miss season football tickets came in!! I hope I get to start going back to games in October, assuming my parents and Eric's won't mind a little babysitting :) Hotty Toddy!

 

I'm working on another little project right now that I hope to share with you before next week. I will post to Instagram when I finish it :) Have a wonderful weekend!

The Brunette Pregnant Goddess Barbie

Here I sit, almost 9:30 on the dot in my OB's office. I'm wearing an old sorority tank, size XXL so it nearly hits my knees and would do so if not for a 36 week baby belly, over which I have that fabulous pair of maternity leggings I found at Kohl's. I've not shaved my legs in a few days, and if I knew it wouldn't make things extremely awkward, I would totally be planning an apology to my doctor for it. My feet are comfy and not swollen, although my toenail polish is chipping slightly, and they're slipped into my favorite pair of Teva flip flops that I've worn nearly every day all summer. I've got a little bit of concealer, powder, and blush on, and my hair is in its signature "Kate Nicole bun," as my friends from high school called it. Here's a picture:

 

I look like a hungover sorority girl in her senior year of college, which is odd because I was one of those not too awful long ago, though I wasn't usually hungover. Not usually. Anyway, it's quite clear from the hair, the outfit, the lack of lipstick... I do not give a shit.

 

Sorry. I try to watch my language, as I know I have lots of conservative friends who read. I myself am quite conservative, though I do have a mouth on me once you get me going. But I am nearly 37 weeks pregnant, and I believe it's Miranda Lambert who said "My give-a-damn's busted." (Oh wait it was some other girl... Nevermind). But mine really is and has been since about... week 28 or 29. I run a brush through my hair a few times a week, but I've not plugged in my straightening or curling iron since June. I keep my face washed and moisturized but makeup? Shmakeup. I wear just enough to not look dead. My mom's like, "Honey, just dab on some lipstick. You need a little color." My wardrobe consists of maxi dresses, maxi skirts, and breezy knee length dresses. I wear these leggings with a Piko top or tunic sometimes. Don't get me wrong; I spruced up for my shower August 3rd, and now and then I'll have a day when I just tell myself You need to look pretty today! And it really does make me feel better to dress up a little! But the closer I get to having this baby, the more damns I'm running out of to give. But let me get to the point of this blog...

 

So I'm sitting here and in walks the brunette pregnant goddess Barbie, and today is the third appointment in a row in which we've met. Okay so we haven't actually "met," but we notice each other, smile, and she takes her seat not far from me. She's not hard to remember, but I kind of wonder if she remembers me. She's this perfect pregnant girl and I'm the girl she looks at, thinking to herself, Thank God I don't look like that girl! I look down at myself in shame because I know that's a really bad thought. And because I really do look like shit. She is wearing a short, mid-thigh length, flowy blue dress with a skinny brown belt perfectly situated between her adorable bump (she's at least as far along as I am) and perfect boobs (are those things even real?!). She is tan and glowing, quite literally. Her makeup is perfect (I know those eyelashes are not real) and her long, brown hair is styled in perfectly cascading waves. She's even wearing a cute little beaded headband, like totally hippie chic. I look down and this girl's feet are perfectly pedicured and situated inside a pair of gold wedges, we're talking at least four inches here. Anything with a heel higher than one inch has been foreign to me for about five months now.

 

In a single word, this girl is beautiful. She shows no sign of distress or worry as she tosses her hair over one shoulder and skims the pages of a month-old gossip magazine. Yep. This pregnant mama is feeling a little bit inferior.

But WHY?

 I'll bet you anything she spent her first trimester vomiting her little heart out every morning, while I was often confined to a bed due to severe back pain. I'll bet she's experiencing some of the unusually odd and uncomfortable and totally awkward changes our bodies undergo as we prepare to have a baby. Just like I am. She's here to get poked and prodded and examined in the most personal way. Just like I am. She's growing a human and seems to be doing a pretty good job of it. Just. Like. I am. Although she looks freaking fabulous, I secretly hope she's gained like fifty pounds. I've got her beat there (I'm about 99% kidding).

 

I stopped comparing myself to others years ago when I realized it would get me nowhere and that my best motivation for being better, stronger, smarter is actually myself. And that applies to anything I have going on in my life. However, with this being the third time I've seen her, it's been difficult, as is understandable. In actuality though, this post is really not about her at all; it's everything to do with me. Here's what I know: it matters not how you get there as long as you never give up. Okay, we're usually not talking about pregnancy, but I think it can be applied here. In a few short weeks (or days), our beautiful little guy will be here. For nearly nine months I have lived my life accordingly and changed my lifestyle so that he can have a healthy one once he arrives. I've not gained a hundred pounds, and let's hope that doesn't change before he's here, and I've done a pretty swell job of preparing our household to be the safest, most loving environment for him. I'm sure this girl in my doctor's office has done the same. So what if I'm not in wedges? So what if I've not brushed my hair since Saturday morning? She looks gorgeous and should be proud. I look like I'm fifteen months pregnant and should be proud. There are millions of women out there who would love to have swollen feet, aching backs, uncomfortable examinations if it means having a baby. We're both growing healthy babies and should be proud and grateful. For me, that's all I'm focusing on right now.

 

Maybe I'll see her again this coming Tuesday or perhaps at our six week postnatal appointment, where I will be in that office like....

 

 

Either way, I hope all goes well for her. Not only does she look great, she inspired what turned out to be a pretty thoughtful blog. That's what I love about writing--the more I do it, the more I learn about myself-- and the more I learn to love myself.





Cheers to NOT going into Labor on Labor Day :)

HAPPY SEPTEMBER FIRST, LABOR DAY, and BIRTH MONTH to all (and that last one TO ME)!!!

I thought all weekend how hilarious and ironic it would be to go into labor on Labor Day. But it is currently 7PM and we've made it this far. Surely if it were going to be today I'd have some type of heads up by now. But we've still got a few hours left in the day, so I suppose anything is possible :)

 

If you read me regularly, and I hope you do, then you might remember me mentioning in my week 36 bumpdate that the husband and I were going to go on a date this weekend. I told him last Wednesday or Thursday that I didn't care what it involved--just as long as we didn't sit around the house all weekend long! Friday nights we're both usually pooped from the week, so we ordered pizza and watched college football and stayed relaxed and cozy on the couch. Saturday I made a point to get out and go to Target and TJMaxx, just "browsing" as I like to call it. I ended up finding a pair of black trousers from Target with an elastic, smocked waist; just my size and perfect for post-baby work pants or lounge pants. I have no idea why, because this has not even been mentioned by my doctor, but the moment I saw them I thought, These will be perfect if I end up having to have a C-section! Don't ask me why that was my first thought! But really, they are fabulous! After my browsing excursion, I picked Eric up from the house and we went to Piggly Wiggly (our only grocery shopping outlet now) to pick out some steaks to grill that night. Along with salad and baked potatoes, they went perfectly with all the college football we got to watch! I was probably most impressed with the LSU-Wisconsin game. I had a hunch the whole time that LSU would win, and somehow they did! Although I looooove beating them as a Rebel, I always cheer for the SEC team! And if you wanna talk about those Rebels Thursday night... Wow. We pulled out an awesome 35-13 victory over Boise State, but we didn't really show up to Atlanta until the fourth quarter. Not cool but very typical of the Rebels. Any fan will tell you that.

 

Sunday--rainy and nasty, so we skipped driving to Potts Camp and opted for an afternoon movie. We saw Into the Storm. My review: don't waste your time. Great storm sequences (I love a good disaster movie), but horrible acting. We got back home around 4 and I got dressed for bed. But after laying there for a few hours, Vaught began kicking like crazy, so I got up and went to the gym hoping to settle him down a little. Thirty minutes of walking on the treadmill was just what he and I needed!

 

And today was the day I had been waiting for all weekend-- our "date day," we decided to call it. I made breakfast for us, then left for some cardio at the gym but somehow ended up at Olive Branch park where I walk/jogged a mile then grabbed a coffee frappucino from Starbucks. We left the house around 12:15 to see a movie in Collierville. We saw When the Game Stands Tall, which is probably the best football movie I've seen since The Blind Side, though nothing really compares to The Blind Side! Even if you're not an huge egghead like we are, I highly recommend this one--it's such an inspirational movie. Afterwards we met my mom, aunts, cousin, and Grandmother at Firebird's in for an early supper. The original plan was for it to be just the two of us, but my mom just so happened to call as we were on our way there. They had two extra chairs, so why not spend a little extra time with family? The last big thing that was on my to-do list for today was to make this horribly unhealthy but super delicious-looking dessert I'd seen on Pinterest, so we ventured over to Kroger (cheating on the Pig for once), and grabbed everything I needed, along with a few other things to last us through the week (you know, since I'm going through a dozen rolls of toilet paper every week with my six trips to the bathroom at night). Here's the link to the original Pinterest recipe, but I changed it up a bit, so I do believe I can also credit myself.  

 

The website calls it Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream Cake; however, I think that's kind of boring, and if you typed it into Google I'll bet you'd get a million different recipes. I'm in the process of thinking of a clever name for the one I created... The best I can come up with is "Orgasm in a Pan" because that's what I feel is most relevant for this one... Too much? Sorry. I'll keep thinking.

 

Ingredients:

10 Neopolitan Ice Cream Sammies--$3.50 for a box of a dozen. Eric ate the remaining two.

8 Oreos-- $2.17 for the off brand at Kroger.

2 cups of lite whipped topping-- $1.75 at Kroger.

6 fun size Snickers-- $1.60

6 fun size Milky Ways-- $1.60

Chocolate sauce for drizzle-- $2

Caramel sauce for drizzle-- $2

 

 

Directions:

Pretty self-explanatory from the pictures. But I recommend crushing your Oreos and slicing your Snickers and Milk Ways first so your ice cream sandwiches don't melt too quickly in the pan.

 

Next, line your sandwiches up in your baking pan or whatever dish you're using.

 

Cover Smother with whipped topping next. This would have worked a tad bit better had I given the topping time to thaw first. Didn't really think about that at the time though. Eric saw me struggling to spread it over the sandwiches, so he felt he had to step in. You know, seeing as how that's the manly thing to do. He did a pretty good job!

 

And you're already nearly done! Add your crushed Oreos and chopped up chocolate bars.

 

Lastly, drizzle with chocolate and caramel sauce, then place in the freezer for an hour.

As you can see, our three pitties LOVE to help in the kitchen!

 

Eric just pulled it out and cut himself a slice (read: enormous chunk) . He says that "Orgasm in a Pan" is a perfect name for this, though the more I think about it the more I feel that it's just a little too inappropriate, especially since I love doing some of my fun desserts with my mom and nieces! I reeeeally don't want to have to explain the name of this one to them! I would say "Sex in a Pan," but I'm pretty sure that's already taken! So I'm still thinking on a name for this; if you've got any, throw them my way. I'll totally give you credit!

 

I have another prenatal appointment tomorrow, and I'm so excited to see if I'm making any "progress" towards labor. I feel like we are so so close to meeting Vaught, but at the same time I want him to come on his own time when he's ready. I'm so grateful for this lovely weekend Eric and I got to spend together! It could be the last one we have where it's just the two of us, or we could very well get a few more in by the end of this month. Even still, it's crazy to think that we are 99% likely to have our baby boy with us by the end of September. My doctor basically told me that he wouldn't allow me to go past September, but you never know. We just continue to pray for a happy, healthy baby! Also, I will be 24 years young on the 18th of this month... I can't help but look forward to my own birthday!

 

As you can see, it's been a fun, relaxing weekend, but all this dessert talk and blogging is making me really sleepy... on top of the fact that I'm always sleepy by eight o-clock now :) Check in with me Thursday for Week 37!!!