Less than 6 weeks to go

It's hard to believe that way back in the spring we found out that after 2 years we were finally successful in our attempts to have a viable pregnancy.  And now, with just 6 weeks to go, the anticipation is really getting to me.  I can't wait to meet, see and hold this little guy.  It seemed like so much of the focus was just on making it happen that you can often lose sight of what 'making it happen' results in!  

And things are moving along.  My dearest and oldest friends in Portland - Pearl and Erica - planned an organized a shower for us.  It was perfect.  There were the friends and 'aunties' from Portland and then the friends and family who travelled hours to be here.  It was truly a great party.  This baby is certainly loved and has such a community of wonderful folk surrounding him.  What a lucky guy!

We are still organizing and nesting.  I can feel a big cleaning nesting session coming up. Maybe during Thanksgiving weekend.  Brett is currently adding final painting touches to the nursery and we are trying to figure out how to be uber organized - that, I believe, is the secret to not feeling entirely overwhelmed and feeling prepared.  We'll see if that works.  

The one wrench in our plan has been around the type of birth we will have.  Way back in June I mentioned about the spotting issues and the result was the placenta being too close to the cervix, essentially this little guy's exit route.  We have had a number of follow up x-rays to see how things have progressed.  Luckily the placenta has moved about 4 cm away from the opening- which, according to my OB is great.  Hopefully you sense the big "but" that is approaching...BUT, he remains breach at 33 weeks, which could change - again, do you sense the big "but" coming - BUT, the umbilical cord connects with the placenta at the bottom, not in the center as is usually the case.  So now, the cord is blocking the cervix.  In essence, my OB feels like he is basically sitting on the placenta like a cushion and that is making it 1) difficult for him to turn and 2) will make it nearly impossible for him to get through the cervical opening with the cord where it is.  It just wouldn't be safe to attempt it unless things change drastically.  So...we have another ultrasound during the week of Thanksgiving and we will find out what the plan is.  

She asked me, as she was drawing me a great picture of the placenta and cord placement, about my birth plan, 'So, what's your birth plan? 'Cause my birth plan for you is to place a healthy baby in your arms.  That's pretty much it.  Whatever that means we have to do.'

'That's pretty much my birth plan,' I told her. 

'Having a C-section doesn't make you any less of a mother,' she assured me.  And I know she's right. 

We have watched documentary and films about natural birth, read about it and yes, ideally, I would like to have that experience for this baby and I.  However, after all that we've been through - having him here and healthy is priority #1.  As Brett characterized it, we are about the product and less about the process at this point in our baby-making careers.  

So I imagine that during our next ultrasound, at 36 weeks, we will see where everything is in there and we will make the call about the c-section.  There are of course pros to this route, including just knowing when he will be here and being sure we are prepared.  The cons are of course missing out on the experience and just the 'fatefulness' of his arrival.  I hope we can at least pick the day out of a hat so that there is some 'fate' involved.  

I'm not exactly sure how soon after 36 weeks the delivery would be scheduled, but I know that she does not want me to go into labor on my own if the cord/placenta continue to be where they are.  So this baby could be home and snug before Christmas for sure.  Baby's 1st Christmas.  Crazy to think and type. 

Today, Brett and I are headed to the coast for the night.  Likely our last trip out of town as a couple, but looking forward to many trips as a family in the future. 

Pregnancy Brain...

This morning, I realized that it had been a while since I had posted in this blog.  Since June to be exact. It's crazy to think that so much time has passed.  June seems like forever ago.  And then, I found this blog post I had written in September, but never posted.  Pregnancy brain.  I decided to go ahead and post it because hey! I wrote it, why let it go to waste.  But a more recent post is definitely in the works.

From September 2013: 

School is about to get underway and I’m heading into my 24^th week or so.  Time seems to be flying and there is a part of me that wants to hold on to each moment – who knows if we will have more babies.  And part of me can’t wait for December and the joy of meeting this little guy.  And let’s be honest, I think I am about to enter the ‘uncomfortable’ stage and have seen little bits here and there the last week. 

 As most of you mommies already know – sleep is a thing I long for.  In fact, the other day I caught myself thinking.  One thing I’ll really look forward to once this baby boy arrives is sleep.  And then I had to laugh, as you are all probably doing right now.  Sleep?  Wait another 18 years or so…A girl can dream right?

Up to this point, things have gone pretty smoothly.  I did have a few weeks where I was spotting and of course, was on the phone with my doctor every week.  Turns out it was just the placenta very close to the cervix and, as my doctor predicted, the baby would grow and the placenta would move away from the cervix and the spotting would stop.  And that’s exactly what happened.  But she is gracious and kind and any panic I had she saw me immediately, checked the heartbeat and did an ultrasound for us.  She is really the best. 

We have already started to get all crazy nesty around here.  Even Brett.  Or I should say, really, it’s Brett.  As I type, he’s outside, sweeping, cleaning, organizing the garage, fixing things.  I tease him that he’ll be glad when I go back to work so he can just relax, but I think it might continue.  He’s been amazing.  He is so wonderfully helpful and he absolutely loves this belly.  I had no idea I would love that belly so much.  Is a common phrase he says nowadays.  And it is finally getting to be a belly.  For a while, it really just looked like I had spent the summer gorging on beer and carbs.  I wish! 

Other than growing this life, honestly, not much has happened this summer.  Oddly, we finally heard back from one of the last organizations we applied to for a grant and were awarded it!  We had completely forgotten about it and it had not ‘final’ due date, so you just submit everything and wait.  Even though we don’t need it, it was comforting to know that if things had not turned out as miraculously as they have, we would have had some additional help and support coming our way.  And plus – we won a grant!!  But the good news is that someone else will get to use that and hopefully, it will make their dreams come true.  That’s nice to know. 

So school starts and I’m hoping this little guy hangs in there until school gets out on December 20^th.  And then, we will just wait for his arrival.