Official Pregnancy Update

I have not officially updated my pregnancy here at all. So for those family and friends who are still not sure what is going on, I put together this timeline (with all my free time lying on the couch, lol)

June 1st - Positive pregnancy test! YIPPEE - I estimated I was 4weeks 3 days, but I was not able to get an accurate date due to nursing.

July 20th - First Prenatal - Did not hear a heartbeat, it was still too early.

August 17th - Second Prenatal - Heard the heartbeat... Woot Woot!! :) Everything looks good so far. Midwife asked me to check my blood sugars for a week before and after breakfast. (I'm not diabetic, but I am at risk due to certain factors) -- Test was normal :)

September 19th - Ultrasound. Results all came back normal and everything looked good, and looks like another girl!

September 22nd - Switched midwifes. My other midwife lived kind of far away and didn't make it to my last birth, so I switched to one that lives much closer, she's brand new, and a Christian :)

October 6th - Prenatal. Again all looks fine

October 14th - For my birthday we planned on going out then getting a gender check ultrasound. (not at a fetal foto's type place, but a licenced/qualified place). Baby is still a girl, but my fluid looked very low. The tech did some unofficial (because she didn't have an order from my midwife) measurement, and my fluid level was only 4.8 cm.... Called midwife who said it should be around 14 cm.

October 16th - (My Birthday) Went to Labor and Delivery because Midwife's (yes 2 of them trying to help) were having a difficult time getting me a level 2 ultrasound because they don't work with an Obstetrician. It was finally suggested I go to L&D to get monitored and get an ultrasound at the hospital. It was a Friday night, so they checked me via ultrasound and found the baby is growing good, but fluid is low (Dr insisted they didn't take fluid measurement before 26 weeks). Dr ordered a Level 2 ultrasound for Monday or Tuesday morning, but couldn't get me one over the weekend because those are only done in the MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) department. So back home we went with no answers!

October 20th - Had a level 2 ultrasound and a consult with a MFM Doctor. The baby looked great as far as they could see. Her fluid is low 4.5-5cm and they don't know why. They checked my placenta, baby's growth, kidney's bladder etc. Suggested we do the 'wait and see' approach, or we could go through a battery of tests. The test results wouldn't change the outcome and so the Dr. and Lee and I both agreed to wait. We scheduled another ultrasound at 26 weeks. Midwife wanted me to take it easy, lay down on my side when I can, and drink 4-6 liters of water a day.

November 2nd - Prenatal- just to check. I'm growing fine.. 25 weeks and measuring 26 1/2 cm. Midwife said it didn't feel like I had a lot of fluid but didn't feel extremely low either. Praising God for growth!

November 10th - 26 week 2 days now.. Ultrasound day with the Perinatologist. Fluid level is up some. It actually almost doubled, but it's still low. Last appointment it was 4.5-5cm now it's 8-9 cm. Baby's growth has slowed a bit, but is still in the normal range. Baby is still breech, and again, we are just taking the 'wait and see' approach. PTL Fluid is up some!! YAY

So that is where we are at today. Lots of rest and fluids. Just trying to take it as easy as I can while taking care of 6 children. :)

Blessings,
Christy

My favorite snack this pregnancy...

Natural Peanut Butter, and Sliced Crunchy Apples..... YUMMMYYYYYYYYYY

GSE (Grapefruit seed extract)

Here I am dealing with strep throat again. It seems to be my weak spot. It's only been about a year since my last episode. That episode was so memorable that I can't forget it. I was in bed with all symptoms of the flu except the famous cough, for 3 days before I woke up one morning to tonsils that were nearly touching each other. I have never gotten the flu, or bronchitis.... but I seem to get strep throat, and it seems to be coming more frequently.

After my last episode, and having to pay WAY TO MUCH to go to a Doctor and get an official diagnosis just to get antibiotics, I decided to try to get rid of strep myself. I've had some people recommend GSE but I didn't know much about it. So I looked it up, researched it, and when the time came (which was Sunday) I knew I just needed to go to the health food store and pick up some GSE.

GSE has worked incredibly well! Each and everyday I have felt improvement in my body. Today I was able to get through the day without even 1 Tylenol! I was very happy to be off of pain meds. I'm very thankful pain meds are around when I need them, but I never like taking them, especially during pregnancy. I'm sure i'll feel even better tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to what each day brings. I'm also very happy to have found something other than antibiotics to combat strep throat.

GSE is safe for everyone.. children, pregnant and nursing moms also. There is a bit of controversy that says you should do a skin test with it if you are allergic to citrus fruits before trying GSE.

Blessings,
Christy

It's a girl!?

Even though we homebirth, we choose to get an ultrasound done. There are some things that can sometimes only get diagoned through ultrasound, and we want to make sure our baby looks healthy enough for a homebirth.

The ultrasound results are in! Baby looks to be another girl, but had her legs crossed so tech only gave us 93% on the gender. We also found out that I have a marginal placenta.

A marginal placenta should not be an issue. What it means, is that my placenta is near my cervix. There is a 90 + % chance the placenta will mirgrate further away from the cervix allowing a safe vaginal birth.

I am also changing midwifes. I really do like and trust my midwife. The problem... She is far away. About 45 minutes without traffic. My last baby was here in 1 hour and 45 min, and my midwife didn't make it until 15 minutes after she was born.

There is a brand new midwife in town. She just arrived home from the Philippines where she worked at a clinic delievery babies over the last 2 years. She now has her CPM licence (certified professional midwife) and is delivering babies. I am her 2nd patient! Her first is a friend of hers who is due just 10 days before I am.

I'm going to close this posts with some cute ultrasound pictures of our baby (assumed to be a girl at this point). The tech called her a cuddly baby because she likes to stay all tucked and cuddled up.


&


Blessings,
Christy

mmmm... love the smell of Taco Soup in the Slow Cooker!

** Well I forgot to take pictures before we started eating. We were all really hungry. This picture was taken a couple hours before the soup was done.


A dear online friend, that I do not think is online at all anymore gave out this recipe a few years back. We tried it an fell in love with it. So tasty, the smell is fabulous. An aroma that keeps you wanting to taste it all-day-long.

Even if you don't cook, you CAN make this recipe it is so simple! Here's how:

Add these into the crockpot

1lb ground beef (cooked and drained)
1/2 onion
1 can of corn with liquid
2 cans rotel tomatoes
2 cans diced tomatoes (or cut up some fresh ones out of the garden ;) )
2 cans black beans, rinsed.
2 packets or 2 tbsp taco seasoning
2 cups water

Cook on low about 8 hours or so. When ready to serve place serving in bowl, crush tortilla chips, add some cheese and sour cream - YUMMY

Pictures to come sometime after dinner ;)

Blessings,
Christy

ACK! Life is busy, and full of blessings :)

Hello fellow bloggers! I admit, I've been a horrible blogger lately. Not because I don't like to blog or because I don't want to blog, but mainly I don't have the time to blog right now. I know life comes in seasons thus the reason I leave my blog open :)

Well part of the reason for me being busy and not as energentic is because we are expecting a new little blessing! Priase God for his blessings on us!! Due sometime in February 2010. Just finished up my 1st trimester, and on into the 2nd I go! I was hoping the 2nd trimester would bring some much needed energy but the last couple days I've been even more tired. God is good though, and He seems to provide me with just enough energy to get through my days. The most important tasks are taken care of on a daily basis, and for that I am forever greatful!

If/when the time comes available I will start blogging again. If not you might just see some pictures go up here and there.

Well my family & friends until next time, take care. If you have any prayer requests you can leave them in my comments section, and I won't publish them. My comments get checked because they get sent to my email.

Blessings,
Christy

Summer Fun, and a quick note.

CAMPING:

Work First

Games and crossword puzzles (that' my mom in the pic)

Relaxing in PJ's, under the umbrela... all day!

Passing Time, Humoring Mom

Shooting!

Our Summer, Home away from Home.

FISHING!


Charlie

Harvey

Myles
Lee & Dustin

Maybe someday soon, I'll have the energy to write up an article on all the new stuff I've been learning about and doing here at the house. Untill then I hope you enjoy some of our pictures. The property shown above is my Mom's private property, so we leave our trailer up there spring-fall, and park it at our home in the winter.

I also have an exciting announcment coming soon. You can try to guess if you'd like, but I don't think I will tell you early. You'll just have to wait! ;) I know that's torture.. so sorry.

I know we are all so busy in the summer, but if you like to listen to sermons online my hubby and I have been enjoying listeing to sermons from THIS site. Just click the sermons tab at the top of the page.

Well I'm off to go complete some chores while the little ones are taking their daily naps.

Blessings,

Christy