My Future?

Is this the destiny of me as a Mom of 3? Just as I think today has been an easy day (Alana asleep on the couch, my Mom preparing a delicious dinner, Carter and Addison playing outside with a neighbor)...I peek out to see this:

Current temp outside:

a chilly 65 degrees

Current amount of Rain Water in the pool:

4 inches

Current Fun-o-meter:

Off the Charts!!!

I'm so glad these brothers have each other!

Alana's first few hours

The benefits of a scheduled C-Section: An opportunity to take 1-LAST picture smiling, and able to go into surgery with a good attitude--I was about to have a baby GIRL:)

Proof that I gave birth to a baby more similar to a 1-month old than a newborn:

1) Thumb Sucking 40 minutes after birth

2) Perfect Skin

3) Smiles for the camera, again, only less than an hour after being born

Our family was soo happy to meet our Baby Sister Alana

Because a baby is never too young to start accessorizing:

She's just too sweet!

Baby Alana

We will soon get our own pics up of our sweet baby girl, but in the meantime, please check out these beautiful pics taken here at the hospital:

go to: www.bellababyphotography.com

click on: "view my photos" located on the top right hand corner

Type in password: 0821alanamadura

*There are no capital letters and do not use any spaces.*

Today's the Day!

Here's the Goal for today:

Before:

After:
...don't I wish...

She's ready, I know it. She's been knocking to come out since 8 PM last night, either with big pushes or strong contractions.

Pics coming soon of our Sweet Baby Girl!

What I will miss about Pregnancy

Knowing what a 41-week belly looks like on me: Addison's Chair:
Carter talking to, kissing, and giving high fives to his baby sister, and even insisting he sleep with her at nap time, with his arms wrapped around my belly as he dozes off:
Steve thinking, or saying, that I'm the most beautiful pregnant lady (aww, thanks) and he'll miss my pregnant belly. (you'd think he has a clue to the bread-dough tummy that follows!)

• Being able to hold or carry all my kids when needs be (i.e. at church, crossing a street, running away in a park, etc.)
• My friends and family picking up the phone on the first ring in case this is the call saying I'm in labor...Sorry to have disappointed so many of you, but I HAVE liked not being on the "screened phone call" lists lately! Maybe you'll just have to go back to being excited that I called.
• Having an obvious excuse as to why I can't run/work out/ train for a marathon ;)

Baby Bucket List...?

If you knew that you only had one day left before you would inevitably have a baby (see the following post), what would you do with your time? Any advice or ideas?

Come out Come out Wherever you are...

So, when is this baby girl going to be born? She was due on August 13th. She's still inside, and running out of room (trust me, I can feel it!).

• After 2 nights of Italian and 1 night of spicy Mexican? Nope
• After our 3 mile walk on Saturday to hopefully get things moving? Nope
• After my 40 minute walk around our neighborhood Monday night? Nope
• At the Enrichment night that I was in charge of planning but had no intention of being at because the baby was due before then? Nope, that happened last night--and it was AWESOME!
• During the relaxing Yoga Class last night? Nope.
• After going to the zoo today with my kids and friends? Nope, though I give myself a LOT of credit for being brave enough to go a) so far in the car and b) with so much walking and c) with such an involved activity with the kids--i.e. lifting, chasing, etc.
• Fine. Castor Oil, here I come.....YEAH RIGHT!!!

So it looks like this sweet baby girl WILL be born on Friday, at 3:00, via C-Section.

So why a C-Section?

We've patiently waited and tried everything for a VBAC, but have always only wanted what would be the best for my body and the baby. We've run out of time and options. And besides, it feels like she's trying to claw through my belly button.

Otherwise:

Is it because I'm sick of waiting? Absolutely NOT! Don't you think I realize it's easier to take care of 3 kids if one of them is inside and not crying or needing to be changed or fed?

Is it because the Dr.s are sick of waiting? No. It has been impressive for me to even find a practice that would CONSIDER a VBAC for a patient with 2 previous emergency C-Sections. They have been supportive as long as both I and the baby were healthy. They even allowed me to go past my due date, which is generally unheard of in the C-Section/VBAC world.

Is it because the Dr.s are concerned about their risks/liability? No.

As far as we know, it's because I was born with a glitch. Where I saw my 2 past Emergency C-Sections as 2 unrelated events, these doctors have been able to review my medical history and see a pattern I was unable to see. So bottom-line, my body just can not deliver babies the normal way. We've waited it out, giving my body any opportunity to prove me wrong, but now it's time to move on. I accept it. I feel fine about it. I wish I didn't have to go through the recovery of this intense surgery. I wish I could experience what our bodies were meant to experience. But I must admit, something is exciting about not having to go through labor this time...

...I say that, and watch...I'll go into labor tonight. Wouldn't I be swallowing all my words at that point.

Serves me right

The other week I was at my Dr. appt and felt that the staff and nurse were being particularly rude to me. So when I went into the restroom almost in tears I noticed that I took the last paper towel on the roll, but I felt justified in leaving an empty roll there for the STAFF to change, not me. I know that a better woman would have taken the higher road and just changed the roll herself, but I needed a little vindication.

Wouldn't you know, the next week I went to my appt (and the staff was all in a better mood) I went into the restroom, and the paper towel roll was empty, so I had to fill it.

OK. I deserved it.

Dear Ants,

Why? Why my house? Why now? Are you really seriously that low on food storage that you have to ravage my floor ANY time Addison drops a crumb? Don't you realize that sweeping and mopping several times a day is NOT the first thing a very-pregnant lady wants to be doing? Hello...I'm nesting here, trying to keep my house as clean as possible for that unforseen moment when I go into labor and friends/moms/inlaws come over to take care of the kids. You were gone for so long; oh how we loved those days, and all of a sudden you come back...with friends? Why do you expect me to say Hurrah Hurrah while you go marching around here like you own the place? Not my favorite thing!

Now please go away.

Steve's Day!!

Remember this:

The time has come again, and we wish you the BEST DAY EVER Steve (even if it is Sans-the fanfare of last year!)...and as long as we don't end up here:

Today is the due date, after all. But no signs of labor to report so hopefully Steve can keep the rest of August 13's to himself!
*******
...4:40 PM Update...

SORRY STEVE, Looks like someone discovered your birthday cake.

Because I think I'm...Smart?

My apologies for the last post...you were right...it was dumb. I'll make up for it in time.

94 Degrees with 90% or more humidity...what a weekend for our air conditioning bill! Inside working on some projects, I was hearing the constant booms of fireworks...not an unusual affair in our neighborhood (though it's illegal) and since I knew there were a few parties going on, I stepped out to see the show. I was AMAZED that no one was doing fireworks, and the sky was just filled with spectacular heat lightning.

I called to Steve inside, "Come out here, quickly!" and explained to him how I had come to discover this lightning show. "It's amazing that the thunder sounds just like fireworks." I had never heard thunder be so rhythmic and short....

...and then we saw a firework above the trees a few miles away. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Dollar Store Find!

I never really understand how items in a dollar store can be more than a $1.  Doesn't that irk some of you too?

Typically I never have a reason to go into the Dollar Store, but today I'm so glad

 I did!  In attempts to buy a new coloring book for Addison "from the baby", I actually found 2 200-page sticker books for the kids--Little Einsteins and Thomas--that were marked for $12 each, and when I asked (annoyed) if that was the real price for this "$1 Store Bargain", imagine how  thrilled I was when they were only $1!  They're going to think this baby girl is the COOLEST!

PS...I know this isn't a cool post, unless you're Mindi who is now thinking "I NEED that!", but it was either this or no post, so I figured I'd give you something!  I suppose we could take a poll as to when and how this baby will be born, but maybe we'll save that for tomorrow...So  warm up your Thinker!

In case you were wondering:

1. Part of "nesting" is prepping food to have on hand after the baby is born.
2. In order to do that, you have to clean out your fridge and freezer to make room for all your food.
3. And part of that is eating the rest of several boxes of ice cream that have just been waiting for such an occasion.

Just doing my part to help out!

Because I think I'm cool...

Today I managed to make 3 dinners: 1 for tonight with plenty of leftovers for the rest of the week, and 2 to freeze for when Baby Girl comes! Who decided I was going to be a rockstar today?

Steve's Nesting Too?

Steve has discovered this new cleaning fettish and is amazed with the power of Baking Soda! Forget all the other expensive cleaners I've purchased and have stored for the "toughest" jobs. Steve does it all! He's cleaned the stove and the tub, pots and pans, the rims on our car wheels, and yesterday I found him cleaning the license plates he had taken off the car. (So if you mention to him that our License Plates sure Sparkle and Shine, I think he'd appreciate it). I totally agree that Baking Soda is a cool and cheap non-abrasive cleaning agent, but it's just so fun to see him LOOK for excuses to use it! It doesn't hurt that this product DOESN'T say "contains elements known to cause Cancer in the state of California", nor does it hurt that it promises Steve's arms will look like this:But it is doing something to my baking supply.