Pregnancy, itchy rashes and Celiac's Disease

So, it looks like my hypothesis that Jack cause the rash I had while pregnant, and that it *was* DH was correct. I just found more supporting evidence! It seems like the Ig crossed the placenta and ran through me, like the gluten in my diet passed through to him! I found this very interesting.

Gluten Free and Dirty Mommy Talk

Readers beware... if you are not a parent, this might just be way over the TMI quota!
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Well, for as long as I remember Jack's poop has been green. Spinach green to be exact. Honestly I don't remember how it was in the beginning, but I THINK it was green. And while nursing wasn't a huge problem, there were things that drove me nuts. Like the way he would pop off and struggle with me when I knew he was starving and arch his back. He also had some very nasty crusties behind his ears, I thought it was dried milk at first, but apparently it wasn't My Lactation Consultant told me as much when we went in at I think it might have been 4 months? Anyway, she said the likely cause was a food intolerance, wheat or dairy in my diet. She followed that by saying they usually out grow it by 6 months, so it was up to me if I went through elimination diets. I chose to wait it out since it can take nearly that long to cycle through anyway. As long as it takes to clear my body, it takes that same time to clear his... back to back.

So, while we were waiting it out, it just continued to get worse. His ears especially. One day when I looked at it I almost thought it had started to rip off... but it only took a split second to realize that was wrong... it was just gooey and his ears do not stick out but lie flat (lucky kid) so I was looking up under the flap and it was all yucky. *sigh*

I was starting to be torn and his poop was getting darker green by the day. At 6 months, we were worse and not any better. So... I knew it was time to try. I tried convincing myself it didn't hurt him to have green poop, but seriously... it's his little body's way of saying something is wrong. As much as I do everything else under the sun to try to make sure the kids are healthy it didn't make sense for me to ignore this any longer. So, the day Of Max's Bar Mitzvah/ Ankle Sprain, I went gluten free. The day before I gluttoned on all the gluten I could; cookies, crackers, bread... you name it, I tried to eat it. By the end of the day I felt so sick. Sluggish, vile, icky... so much so I could not even eat the last 2 organic oreos. I was heartbroken. But, I knew I was doing the right thing.

Now, with an allergy/intollerance to wheat it is usually the protein in it that carries a problem. It is also for all intents and purposes identical to the protein in Barley and Rye, so none of those either. Oats are super close, but may or may not react. Milk/dairy is also extremely close, not the lactose(the sugar) that we know I have issues with but the casein, the protein. Well, so far I am only eliminating the gluten, not dairy. So far there has been improvement. His ears have healed completely and his 'mustard seed' is looking more like it.

So there you have it.... that is Jack's largest new development.

Dropping?

Well, to my knowledge, Dory never really dropped... but Lesli declared today when she saw me at the Charlotte Mommies 4th birthday party that I looked very different from Friday. Since I woke up it has been a bit difficult getting around, much like I have a bowling ball wedged in my pelvis. So... I guess he has dropped. Now that said, I have also heard that second, third and so on can drop and then bounce back up... going back and forth several times, so we'll see if he stays put.

Lottttts of pressure. And waddling.

Just like 'Where's Waldo?'....

So... where's Jack?


Hint: He's in blue.

Still waiting....

Had contractions the other night, but not a darn one of them was anything exciting.

Dory's Birth Story...

So, as I look forward to giving birth to Jack, I have a natural desire to compare my expectations of the impending event to Dory's story. I know I shouldn't, that every birth is completely different and that I certainly do not want to overshadow his story with hers. That said, I know that *I* have never blogged her account and I know that Jack's will soon be up for all to read. Therefore, it makes sense to add Dory's now.

Much of what follows is my recollection at 6 months along with other info that I didn't include then due to space issues in the baby book... And John should feel free to correct or add his memories to the comments section (please sweetie?)
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On Monday I started contracting in the early morning, about 2am. They went away by the early afternoon and I had spent much of the morning in the bath tub relieving some of the discomfort that they were causing and ding final nesting things. The contractions were accompanied with bloody show and part of the mucus plug.

On Tuesday, the same thing happened, early am contractions! John stayed home with me since he was very excited and we had a wonderful day together doing us things, but again, they stopped at about noon.

Wednesday and Thursday were more of the same, contractions and bloody show that went away with time only (didn't matter what I was doing, I was having steady contractions) and John being very excited and sticking around, us doing stuff together. In the afternoons, when he was disappointed at the lack of a main event, he would head into work for a few hours.

Friday started very similar!
However, they didn't stop. They got much stronger (not so much regulated though) and by 5am I had already taken more than one long bath to ease the pain. As the day went, they kept getting stronger, and not regulated.
By noon we had called our Doula, Lara Miller, to let her know that today was going to be the day since she has 3 kids and could use the bit of warning. We stayed at home until 11pm that night before making the 35 minute drive to our hospital and CNM, Bobbie Kimsey. Some of it was Lara's urging, but I knew that I wanted to labor at home for as long as I could. I didn't want to have issues at the hospital with someone tampering with the labor or attempting to give me a needle (again, needle phobic here).
Bobbie had told me that as long as I was hydrated upon admittance that it was fine and we could forgo even a heplock. I had been practically gulping water between every contraction the whole time, I have never been more hydrated than I was then.
I really thought at that point that Dorothy would have been born by 2am, but we were very wrong.
The stress on me of the hospital admittance (the nurses there didn't believe me about no needle and they had to find Bobbie to confirm it with her) caused me to plateau and I didn't progress much after that. I am willing to put good money on it that my cervix closed up a good bit on the way to the hospital too.... (YES, it CAN do that!!!) The contractions were intense and I managed the pain once there with low moaning (much like a cow's moo), walking, taking showers, and even singing - everything that I could think of to control the pain naturally. It did work! I did labor some on the toilet since i was drinking, but that just hurt like HELL. (We did however flood the shower, bathroom and part of the LDR room since John's foot ended up on the drain... It took us forever to figure that out, we even had ever available towel on the floor sopping it up!) Some of the nurses at the hospital thought I was a bit odd - not wanting drugs of any kind, but I knew in my heart it was best for both Dorothy and me not to.
Labor slowed down twice; I was threatened with both Pitocin and Cervidil and would not accept. We got it going again both times without medical intervention. (Nipple stimulation, *blech*)
I was nearly (well, pretty much was) sleeping throughout the contractions at the end I was so tired at that point. John was awesome, staying right by my side giving me strength when I needed it. I wouldn't allow the poor guy to leave for any reason.
I was too tired at this point to make it back to the toilet so I went all over the chucks pads on the bed, this is what happens when you are forcing fluids, and the last thing I needed was the bladder to be in my way fo pushing. that would have just added more pain and complicated things.
I ate PB&J sandwich, I think.

At about 7am Dory decided that she was ready and I started to push. It was at this point that my water finally broke. I felt her head as she crowned, but had NO interest in seeing it in a mirror. Two times I pushed too hard; on one of those times I should not have pushed at all... It was then that I gave myself a 3rd degree tear up. It was the ONLY time that I screamed the entire labor, that stinking hurt. At 7:36 on Saturday morning she was born.
She started nursing immediately. I had several stiches and was done. Never one needle except for the stiches.
Bobbie did want to give me Pitocin after birth to prevent hemmoraging, but I asked her if I was. She said "no" so I told her she could give it to me when I actually was, not before.
We forewent the newborn eyedrops.
She was 6lbs 12ozs and 21 inches long.
Her hair had been matted with blood while crowing and Bobbie tried to tell me as she was crowing that she had brown hair. Even though I could not see her, I knew better and corrected them. She did indeed have blonde hair, and lots of it.

Serving Jury Duty

So, here it is, 1am, and I have to be up and at 'em in 6 hours in order to serve Jury Duty today... what am I still doing up? I don't know. I made cookies earlier tonight, watched Spanglish (which was really cute, BTW) and now I am updating my iPod with Enya's first album (the black and white one) among other things in order to have things to do while sitting on my bum for hours. I have a great childbirth book to reread, knitting that I can do, and a fluff parenting magazine to take with me as well. I will have to pack my lunch when I get up. John is taking the day off to stay home with Dory, and has fully warned me that the house should be a wreck when I return.... I am secretly hoping that they clean up a little bit since the house got dirty again this wekend with all of the other things we accomplished on the nesting list. I don't want to feel like I have to clean as soon as I go into labor... which I might add, I've been having warm up contractions for some of the night. Not labor, but still... not quite the Braxtons that I have had all pregnancy long. With Dory I had a weeks worth of warming up, which I just leaned this evening has a name - prodromal labor. I wonder if I will have this again, or if my body will just kick into gear this time. Hey, maybe I'll freak out the court and go into labor there.... nah, but it's a funny thought.... much like the kids in the neighborhood who ignore the blatenly off porch light on Halloween getting an eyeful of a homebirth.... TRICK OR TREAT!!! hahahahahahahahah..... the idea just thrills me for some sick reason.

Ack, now my iPod doesn't want to register on the computer and update... I hate to wipe and reformat it again... i certianly don't have the time tonight. I guess it is off to bed for me.

Pregnancy brain

We are nearly ready... the birth pool has been cleaned and other little things have been accomplished. I had lots to say, but can I remember any of it? Nope. I have pregnancy brain. Oh well. At least we are full term right now.... any time would be pretty much great!

More Pregnancy Pics!

Thsi one we didn't get but I thought was pretty nice...

 

This one was great of Dory and Monkey!

  

Pregnancy Pictures!

These first three we are framing in this order as a triptic.





This one was just cute and sassy!

 

Crazy hormones

So, today was the first time that *I* have felt the effects of pregnancy hormones distinctly. The day quickly went from as planned to completely not as planned and for a few hours I was on the verge of bawling because of it. Totally not anyone's fault, but I was ready to just loose it, huge ball in my throat and everything, choaking it back. By the end of the day, I was fine, but man.... It was rough there for awhile. I wonder what this means as far as baby's decision to make his appearance... Surely it's all connected.

On the upside.... And on a cute note.... I at one point told Dory that I was sorry because the day had not gone as Mommy had promised it would and she didn't really get to see her friends like I had told her she would when she woke up, when we were running errands and she was unhappy, when she went down for a nap, and so on..... Her response? A very soothing and fully meant, "That's okay, Mommy..."
I could just bawl all over again thinking of how sweet and understanding it was, and how it means that my little girl is growing up.

So.... we've cleaned.

We cleaned all weekend long,3 long days for me, two for John, with the exception of a football game and a short excursion to the Ren Fest.... but the house has never looked better. We hired help to do the actual dirt pick-up and did a ton of laundry and putting away ourselves. It feels really good to have finally gotten something really tangable dine. John didn't even blink when I gave him his list to do.... as I said, still wearing my wedding band!
So, Sadie, out heroic cleaning lady, was here ALL DAY - quite literally - and never did run screaming from the house. I am beyond impressed!!! I have to sweep down a few cobwebs, but all in all, the whole house is now clean and dirt free... from the ceiling fans to the base boards and everything in between! (Now, I'll be honest, John peeked into the microwave and seemed a bit disappointed when I told him that was not included...) Mopped, vaccumed, cleaned the bathrooms (she was a granted sainthood instantly for that one), our faucets sparkle, the library shelves are dust free, the cabinet doors are clean and dust free as well!
We are getting really close to being ready for this new addition!

Blatent Bragging...

At 36 weeks and 1 day, I am still wearing my wedding band with little sign of needing to take it off!

You can take that any way you want since I did subject John to housework via nesting today. He was a great sport about it. :)

Home S-T-R-E-T-C-H

I forgot to mention that on Saturday and Sunday, my hips decided to explode due to the relaxin hormone (actually is released during pregnancy to help relax the ligaments between the pelvic bones so that the baby can pass through) and I was in PAIN all day both days. It's much better now, and thankfully so, because it really hurt to move in just about any direction, especially sideways. And if I had been sitting for any length of time, forget it, it was excruciating! I guess I would rater have that discomfort over potential problems that would happen if my body was not preparing for childbirth, but it certainly was not pleasant.
With Dory's pregnancy I remember the ligament wearing away at my bone on both sides of my hip... I have not had to deal with that this go around at all, I guess once done, always done. I also had sciatica pain last time, next to none this time.
Anyway, we are now in the home stretch and doing well, prepping physically and externally. :)

35.5 weeks preggers with Jack

This would be the basketball that I have been carrying around with me... the majority of my 24 extra pounds so far. :) All of the stretch marks are remainders from Dory, Jack has yet to add to them. Like how baggy the first pregnancy pants are on me? I sure do! (But they attract TONS of black Abby hair...) 

Let's see....

News....

Nesting,
The crib is back up in it's new life as Jack's bed. :) Another thing scratched off the nesting list. Now I want to paint glow in the dark stars on Dory's ceiling as a treat for her. A house cleaner is due by in another week to help us with the layer of dirt and dog hair we have. Now, if I could just get the home birth supplies cheaply rounded up without patronizing Wal-Mart, whom I boycott.

Pregnancy (33 days till due date),
Yesterday my hips started hurting like HELL. The pubic bone hurt a few weeks ago, but this is certainly different. It's excruciating to move at times in certain directions, so I am trying to keep up with my exercises -- they should help some.
I actually read last night that -seriously- belly dancing is supposed to help in labor and contractions. So, yep, I'll break out the belly dancing kit that we got last Christmas at the Sunday School White Elephant party and start practicing. (Attached to it was the pic of a newborn in the class-- a warning of what use of this would do for you. There was quite a bidding war on it! We then created a waiting list for it... And we are all due in the next two months. Apparently the waiting list is dangerous too....) Maybe the finger cymbals will help.... I wonder if the little stick-on jewels will stay put during a waterbirth... humm.....
Anyway, other than that, I feel great still and this am was the first time that my ring finger was swollen enough that I was not sure I should be wearing it, it did come off easily though... I still don't swell often or for long.

Sewing,
I finally got my hands on some PUL (waterproof fabric often used for dipes)(Thank you Sharon!!!) and made a diaper hanging pail/liner for upstairs so that I don't have to remember to bring every singe one down until wash day. And the whole thing will go straight into the wash. Now to make a wet bag for the diaper bag as well.
I also made my first ring sling.... And it might just be the HUGE belly in the way, but at the moment, it is just NOT comfy.... Maybe the fabric is too stiff still... I guess I'll figure it out soon. On that same subject, I am very close to having a buckling Mei Tai up for sale on my sling site, Ba has the FrankenTai prototype at the moment and is keeping me informed of all of it's shortcomings.

Food,
And, now on a food related note, we started this week with a local food co-op for natural foods... We get 100% grass fed organic raw milk, cheeses and meats straight from a farmer twice a month and order our other foods such as cereal and regular items from a catalog once a month for 20-40% off grocery store prices! That is on top of our organic produce delivery we get every two weeks... And let me tell you, the apples are the best! The three groups will cover just about everything except the massive amounts of bananas that we go through every two days and the horrible for you treats that we will occasionally still want to consume. It feels good to have it pretty much figured out before Jack got here and I was too busy to learn how it all works. This also means far fewer trips to the grocery for us, something that I think will be quite enjoyable.
Also, John is on another wonderful bread baking spell. He has in teh past two days produced some of his all time best loaves. One Half Wheat & Rye loaf and one Oatmeal Raisen loaf. Yummmmmm.

nesting collection:

new car seat, check
new baby gate that I won't trip over, check
cloth diapers, check
new mattress, check
baby boy clothes, check
electric breast pump, check
diaper bag, check
changing pad, check
baby book, check
baby linens, check


homebirth kit.... eeekkkk!!!! not done yet!
homebirth classes, scheduled
bradley method refresher, scheduled


after that, i guess i need to keep up with cleaning the house! we're getting there. :)

Where, oh where

is the time going?!?!?! I have so much nesting left to do! In 3 weeks, I am full term, in 6 I am due.... EEEEEKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!! I am NOT READY YET!

At least the car seat, new baby gate that opens and the cloth diapers will come in this week... and I have been busy figuring out the local food coop ordering process so it will be easy when Jack is still little and it means less trips to the store with 2 kiddos. Some things are being done... but there is still a long list that trails it.

Now, if the rest of my list would just magically disappear! (read, actually done and finished... not that the list vanishes and with my pregnancy brain I can't remember what was on it....)

*sniff* *sniff*

I was just putting Dory to bed, and she was not having any of it, clinging to my arm and not wanting me to go and all. I was getting exsasperated.... until....
Well, as I was rocking her and she was clinging to me, I remembered that it won't be much longer that she and I have together like this. The time is rapidly *choke* comming to an end. I know great new things are ahead for us all, but *tear* here very soon it won't be JUST us. *sob!*

I thought that when I was pregnant with her and I was mourning the loss of my own life while being excited about the new one that it would be the last time I felt that way. Boy, was I wrong. I rocked her a bit longer tonight. She must know it's coming to an end soon too.

Darn pregnancy emotions.

At Grandma Dorothy's

~Grandma Dorothy and I
 
~No, I will not come back, I'll stand on my head instead.
 
~Dory, Grandma Dorothy and Aunt Cindy.