33 Weeks

Since Joe's in AZ my Mom, Sister and Niece are visiting. I knew I shouldn't have gone with them to the Heritage Center yesterday, but I really wanted to see Ari ride a horse. During our visit the baby dropped, it hurt. It still hurts. I can no longer sit (he's so low I feel like I'm going to snap his neck) or stand (lots of weight on abdominal region nerves). I put myself on bed rest, I really think this kids going to fall right out. Glad I didn't go to St.G, I would have returned laying down in the back of Joe's rental truck.

Oh, and just for the record, my Mom tells me I'm bigger than I look in this picture... And the stroller is doing fine, it was a life saver.

Negative is Positive

I eventually busted out of Labor and Delivery without having to stay overnight. Made a deal with my Dr what if he let me go I would come back the next day for my Fetal fibronectin test. I must have been seen as a flight risk... Anyway, I went back the next day and got the test; the results thankfully came back negative, which is actually a positive thing. I have a 95% chance of NOT delivering in the next 2 weeks, so that was good. Saved me from the dreaded 100% bed rest mandate.

Although the test results came back exactly the way I wanted it too I still managed to have a complete meltdown that same evening. Joe was packing to leave town (he left today) bound for southern Arizona and wasn't taking us with him. Something about being dialted, dirt roads, middle of nowhere on the Mexican border, hot... Ya, and I thoguht the Dr was being over cautions. Would have been a great trip...but lets not talk about that. The plan became for Joe to drop Ari and I off in St.G for the week, problem was I couldn't seem to find ANYONE aside from Joe and I (and some of my family members) who thought that was a good idea; something about no Doctors in Scipio. Even my doula (who attempts to remain neutral) looked like she was going to pass out when I mentioned skipping town.

I felt fairly confident that I wouldn't go into labor on the way down, this happened with Ari too. I was at a 5 and 90% and my Dr advised me against traveling to St.G for my brothers wedding, so I stayed and missed the wedding and still didn't give birth until 3 or so weeks later. BUT there's always that little wonder if, I would never be able to forgive myself if I gave birth to a preemie on I-15. I guess sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and be overly cautions right along with the rest of them. Strange I keep comparing this pregnancy to Ari's when really the only thing that's been the same is this early dilation thing; other than that this pregnancy is been totally and completely different, and not in a good way. That also had me a little worried. So after my mental meltdown we decided to stay here and my Mom and sister agreed to come up to Logan.

Should be fun. I was really looking forward to the 24/7 pool access but what can you do.

And as a side note, due to all this F.Tepedino took pity on me and hooked me up with my very own jar of her homemade spaghetti and meatball sauce. Ya, see, there's a silver lining to everything.

Labor and Delivery...and not in Labor or Delivering

Today was my 32 week check-up. As we all remember when I was pregnant with Ari I dilated early. The first time my Dr checked me was at 35 weeks when I was at a 5 and 80%. I felt like I was dilating early again so today just for "fun" I asked my Dr to check and see. Sure enough at 32 week I'm at a 2.5 and 80%. No big deal right, seems things are progressing just like last time. Lucky me!

WRONG. My Dr's freaking out a little. Sent me to Labor and Delivery to be monitored, he wants me monitored overnight to see if I'm having contractions (which I'm not). I got a shot of steriods in the butt (still hurts) that will help develop the babies lungs faster in case he's early. Tomorrow I'm set for a fetal fibronectin test (apparently predicts if you will or won’t be going into labor in the next 1 - 2 weeks) and another shot of steroids in the butt...like my butt needs steroids! Like this kids needs steroids! I can see how IF the baby is born early more developed lungs would be beneficial, but he's NOT going to be THAT early, I'm 99% sure. I know I know, there's that 1% but I tend to think all this mumbo jumbo could just end up doing more harm than good...and at what point do you just refuse to be treated? Such a fine line.

Don't get me wrong I'm just as grateful as the next guy for some good medical intervention when it's needed, I guess I just don't feel like this is needed. Seems more like they should do the fibronectin test first then use that to see if they "should" be worried. I came armed with all my medical records from Ari's birth to show that this is just how my body is and not to freak out; so far no one cares. Well, ok, there's one nurse who's on my side but her shift just ended.

Anyway, I have however gotten a tremendous amount of work done. Gotta love the mobile office. Now back to the most important work, working on getting myself out of here!

Side Note: I am however getting A LOT of free juice. Score!

32 Weeks

Franklin Basin: Some of Our Better Moments

Pregnancy: 47 Lindsey: 0

It's been a hard summer for me. Usually by mid July I've put in at least a good two or so weeks of camping, added about 5,000 miles on the car and completed about a hike a week, a few bike rides, a little climbing, had a Moms vacation and if I haven't done a river trip already there's at least one on the horizon.

It's not been for lack of trying. We had a few trips planned that all fell through, which almost makes it worse. The lack of travel (aside from St.G and back, which doesn't count) has been really wearing on my mental stability, so when this weekend presented itself as quite possibly the last weekend to fit in a trip I just HAD to do it. We meant to leave Friday but Ari had a fever, so the new plan became Saturday. Just up to Franklin Basin, nothing too extravagant.

I knew as soon as I woke up Saturday morning it was a bad idea; and it had nothing to do with the fact that Joe had a sore throat or that Ari didn't sleep well and was having a re-occurrence of his snotty nose and an all together bad attitude. I believe it was the sciatic nerve that tried to warn me. Although I've had some serious back pain for the last few months I had yet to experience the sciatic nerve pain...until yesterday of course. I figured I would either be in pain here or up in the mountains, so I drug my leg around the house behind me and continued to pack. This pregnancy has totally kicked my butt since it began 8 months ago, I wasn't about to let it win yet another battle so we forged ahead! Allow me to dictate the events that followed:

Ari has a meltdown in the grocery store, he wants to push the shopping cart but has no shoes. Traumatic.

It's over 90 degrees outside and about 140 in the suburban. Thank goodness for A/C...oh wait, it decided to stop working. Down go the windows, I bake in the sun.

Ooops, forgot my back pillow.

Dust flies in my parents newly detailed suburban (which I detailed). The thought of me re-cleaning it sends chills down my spine, or maybe that was just the way the bumpy road made this kid bounce on foreign tender internal body parts.

Amazing flowers! We get out to take a walk, something bites my foot, it swells.

We find a creek to soak my foot and cool off. Flies of all kinds gather around our heads, ahhh and were down stream from a large herd of bathing sheep.

We get out at another meadow. I drive off and leave my camera case.

Oh good, there's a campsite. Mosquitoes, lost of them. Ari and I seek refuge in the tent.

Were starving, as soon as the suns off the fire pit we start a fire hoping the smoke will deter the mosquitoes. No such luck, especially for Ari who's just eaten a banana.

We roast hot dogs, only one fell in the fire (it was Joe's). We eat and swat, eat and swat. Ooops no plates, a frisbee will do.

My back hurts, theirs no relief, it's quite maddening. I'm weak from heat and lack of protein and feeling all together somewhat miserable...but I will persevere in the name of camping! Joe LOVES doing all the work and Ari seems to be enjoying himself. I'll be fine.

Something bites my other foot, my middle toes begin to look like sausages.

Joe and I start to laugh, we've never met a camping trip we didn't like. Until now.

Ari and I get in a fight over him eating a carrot he's been rolling around with his foot.

Oh wow, it's only 5:30.

What the! Braxton hick like contractions coming every couple of minutes.

Mosquitoes gang up on Ari. Ari says he wants to go home; Joe starts to pack up before I can say "are you sure?"

Joe packs, I become Ari's bug swatter, we're out of there!

The no treats unless you ate your dinner rule goes out the window. We all cram in the front of the suburban and eat treats all the way down the mountain.

The last 30 minutes of the ride I'm forced to muster large amounts of energy to keep Ari from falling asleep. I succeed.

We get home, bathe, set up a tent is Ari's room, play some trucks, watch a quick video and Ari passes out.

Joe and I unpack taking intermittent breaks in front of the blessed swap cooler...didn't we just pack all this stuff 10 hours ago?

Ahhhh, my lazyboy. Ahhh my bed. I go to sleep feeling somewhat defeated. I don't think I've ever had such an adventure free summer...or maybe it's just my definition of adventure?

Photos of the actual "trip" later.

A Whale with A Baby Whale Inside it

Ari's first somewhat recognizable drawing.

I was so proud of budding little Noah VanOrman.
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I a Carnivore, I Only Eat Meat

I was trying to convince Ari that he really needed to eat his bean burrito, after several failed attempts he looks as me and says: "Mom, I a carnivore, I only eat meat"

After Ari and I finished eating (we compromised on banana bread and apples, still not meat but apparently suitable):
Ari: let's go play toys!!!
Me: ok but I have to clean up the kitchen first
Ari: oh, ok, I'll help you
Me: thanks
Ari: (big sigh) your welcome
Then he immediately started singing "it's time to clean up, it's time to clean up, clean up, clean up, it's time to clean up, work with your Mom..." and he started actually putting things away. An apple went on the book shelf, a dirty plate in the fridge, string cheese wrapper in the microwave, a scrap of food in K-So's bowl...close enough.

Sunday "Walk"

I managed to snap a few pics of us enjoying a little wildlife on our Sunday "walk," before the mosquitoes swarmed; at which point it became a "run" for Ari and Joe; and for me a Sunday "waddle."

What I Wanted Today...

Tums
Heavy duty sinus medication
A sauna
Mylanta
Sleep
Soft Kleenex
Something frozen and non-sugary
My child to stop throwing fits
Throat lozenges
Joe to be home all day
Massage
A clean house
To be done being pregnant
Clothes that fit

I think I ended up with 35% of that list. Not too bad.

7am Ari's Dreams Come True...Literally

Nothing like this view first thing in the morning while eating your oatmeal...if your Ari anyway.

Ready for Training Wheels?

Ari and Joe took a ride today. They were gone for about an hour, apparently made friends with a little boy named Max a few blocks away. I wish I had a photo of their return. Joe was walking his bike back with Ari's trike hooked to the top bar and Ari on his shoulders.

Needy

Something has gotten into my child. And my dog.

I've always thought that the transition into siblinghood would go relatively smooth for Ari considering he was a Daddy's boy. Notice I said WAS. About a month ago Ari started wanting to play a game he called "baby." This is where Ari sits on my lap and pretends he's a baby. He cries and wines and babbles and crawls all over me until I'm on the brink of insanity. It's a great game. He doesn't play baby with Joe, just me.
(I am however grateful that it's still Joe he wants when he wakes up at night).

And just when you thought it wasn't possible for K-So to get any needier, she did. She use to follow me around the house, which was fine, but at least she just had to be in the same room as me; now she apparently has to be stepping in the same spot as me...at the same time. I swear she's going to kill me, I can't exactly see effectively over my protruding belly. She won't even go outside without me. OUTSIDE I say, she's a dog, she loves going outside. If I throw her out she just sits by the door. And she insists on being the first thing I see in the morning; yes K-so, I have indeed lived through another night of sleep.

It's like everyone around here is loosing their minds...well, except Joe of course.

Oh and check out my dog. Did I mention she's also overweight? Ya, she won't even let me gain weight by myself. She's gained 9 pounds in 2 years (according to the vet), I'm pretty sure 75% of that was over the last 6 months. It's been a rough 6 months for all of us, especially not good for K-So considering she also had her 5thish birthday...i.e midlife crisis. Sorry for flaunting your chubbiness K-So but she seems to be shaped more like a heeler and less like a border collie these days eh? Oh, and what's Ari doing in this photo? Well, he's eating a banana; he's actually a monkey...likely a baby one.

Sigh. But aren't they cute.

Silver + Blue = Fast

Ari was born to run. The last few hikes we've been on he's insisted on running nearly the whole time. Sometimes when I ask him what he wants to do he says he wants to go running, so I sit on the porch and watch him run up and down and up and down the block.

His running shoes (size 7) had gotten noticeably too small. So when the Kohl's $10 off coupon came in the mail I knew it was time for new runners. He immediately fell in love with the silver and blue nikes. We tried to push several other velcro models, but to no avail. We left with some silver and blue size 9's and a pack of ankle socks.

These shoes of course make him go faster than his other shoes, which is why during a game of tag with his Dad his body just couldn't keep up with his silver nikes. The episode resulted in his first major knee injury about 10 minutes before bedtime. Since my child has an aversion to modern medicine and bandages we cleaned the wound as best we could in the bath while I distracted him with stories of him driving heavy machinery. For a kid who sleeps on his stomach with his knees tucked under his body this wound presented a serious problem, and after 2 hours crying and wining in his bed he finally passed out.

Happy 4th

Don't worry, no hair was lost in the taking of this photo.
Thanks Julie and Mary for hooking us up with some pyrotechnics.

Baby Flipping Vibes Needed

I had a doctors appointment today. Allow me to share the good the bad and the ugly.

Bad: Glucose drink. A mixture of Sunkist soda and metal.
Bad: Blood draw
Good: 131 pounds
Good: Our Doula joined us for this appointment
Good: Labor and Delivery has a hot tub
Good: My Dr. will allow me to be in said hot tub until I'm ready to give birth, even after my water breaks.
Good: They have underwater fetal heart monitors
Bad: Dr. couldn't find a heartbeat
Good: Dr. finds heartbeat
Bad: Heartbeat is found in my ribcage
Ugly: Baby is breech
Ugly: Dr. gave me a pamphlet about C-Sections and laughed...was he joking?
Good?: I still have 10-11 weeks...that's enough time...right? So why was no one all that encouraging?
Good: Doula hooked me up with this website /www.spinningbabies.com/
Good: The delivery rooms look like a really nice hotel with big windows
Good: The nurses seemed really nice
Bad: Me freaking out on the way home
Good: My conversation with Claud in which she just kept laughing
Bad: Still feeling a bit nervous about the whole thing

On a side note. I know the exact moment this kid decided to rotate. Saturday night 10:45 pm. Joe and I were watching a movie, well, Joe was watching a movie. I was watching my belly go CRAZY, I was afraid my kid might be having seizures. Ever since that episode I've had what feels like a head in my ribs.

Send baby flipping vibes.