About That Test & Taking It Easy

I just might fall asleep before I finish this.  I meant to write yesterday.  Really, I did.  But no did do and now today is almost through (listen to me wax poetic).

Anyway, so yesterday we went in for a non-stress test.  Weston came with me.  They put two monitors on my belly and through those they monitored the heartbeat, her movements and any contractions I had.  They were looking to make sure the baby's heart rate increases with movements and contractions instead of dropping.   That was basically it.  Little babe had the hiccups for a little bit.  That was cute.  She was sleepy and not moving around much, so it was hard for them to get a good reading.  They wanted her to wake up and move around.  It was completely opposite from the ultrasound the day before when they wanted her to chill and hold still and she was moving a ton.  What they did record they said looked good.

While I was getting the non-stress test, the midwife and Weston and I talked more about the ultrasound from the day before.  Basically my amniotic fluid measured 7 cm which is low normal.  5-25 centimeters is normal.  The cord is not delivering all of the nutrients the baby needs, obviously, which is why she is small.  I read on the internet last night that one of the purposes of the amniotic fluid is to support the umbilical cord from being compressed.  I wonder if me having not so much fluid is causing the low blood flow in the cord.  I am going to ask that the next time that I go in.

The midwife said that the baby is in a "less than optimal" environment right now, so we will need to keep monitoring maybe twice a week, and if things start looking better for baby outside rather than inside where she is now they may need to intervene.  Talking about all of that made my nerves go wacko and I started shaking and getting all jittery as I was getting the test done.  I was afraid that it would effect the results, but I don't think that it did - pretty sure that it didn't.  It just made me have crazy convulsion-like shakes and everything in my stomach turn to acid.

The midwife told me that I needed to rest more, lay on my left side, and drink a lot.  I've been trying to, but man do I feel like a lazy bum.  But I also feel that I really need the rest and can totally feel the difference after laying down even for a little bit.  And how ironic is it that the weather is just turning nice and I have a million things that I want to/need to do and was just getting going on?  Yeah, pretty ironic indeed.  BUT, of course, what is more important, a healthy baby or getting things done?  Yeah, no doubt on the answer there.  That makes it easy.

I will go back in on Monday for another non-stress test and another ultrasound.  That will be my 5th ultrasound this pregnancy.  I have only had 6 appointments - 2 with the other midwife place, 1 "OB shopper" visit, 1 normal checkup, and then my appointments last Thursday and Friday.  It sounds like I will make up for it now, though, going in twice a week.

*

So here are some of the things that I observed today as I chilled on my backside resting and drinking water.

First from the front porch:

Hanging basket on the front porch - an orange can-can

Feet up on the porch swing.

I gave Jiles a bag of gold fish and a push, and went and sat back on the porch swing.
That didn't last very long.

Weston cutting the posts.

Grandma feeding the horses in the front pasture.

Biker boys.  I think the biker girl was in a tree.
Notice Spencer's fat feet.  He thought it was cool to wear like 10 pairs of socks and no shoes as he rode the Marsha Brady bike.
I did not think that it was cool and told him so just after I took this picture.

I need to finish painting the trim on the hen house.

The flowers that sit on the front porch are waiting for a pot.

The creek is still raging, but lower.

 And then later.  Same day, similar situation, different porch (and different shoes):

Kick up the feet.  

Biker ride by.
This boy is obsessed with his bike.

Spencer watches Grandpa plow the garden spot.

Spencer drools as he watches Weston rototill a flower bed.
Spencer mowed the lawn yesterday.
We (ston) need (s) to weed eat.

Monkey girl.
I wonder where she got that from.

Jiles escapes through the grass.

  And lastly, a 34-week prego shot.  (This one I did not take from sitting on my backside.):

Am I still awake?  Barely.  It's a new day (after midnight).  I'd better go and hit the hay.

Good night

Not So Normal Checkup

I had a checkup today.  My 34 week one.  But when the midwife measured me I was only measuring 30 weeks.  She got me into the ultrasound room for them to check everything out.  The ultrasound tech did measurements, looked at the placenta, measured the fluid, and checked the blood flow of the umbilical cord.  Baby girl was kicking and swirling and moving like crazy, so it took a while to get it all done.  Verdict:  The placenta looked fine, but the abdomen and legs are measuring 4 weeks behind, she is small (4.1 pounds and should be more around the 5 pound range) and the blood flow in the umbilical cord is not flowing as sufficiently as it should be.  They measured 6 different places on the cord and I heard the tech tell the midwife that 4 of the 6 were abnormal.  That was my main concern.  I asked the midwife what I can do and she said that I just need to take it easy and to rest on my left side several times during the day to help the blood flow and to increase my water intake.  They want me to go in to do a stress test on the baby tomorrow and then go in on Monday for another ultrasound (we live an hour and 10 minutes from the office, so it isn't the most convenient thing, but there's no way we're not doing it.).  Tje midwife and I talked for a bit before I left and I asked a bunch of questions, like had I done/not done something that has caused this, etc.  She said that it was nothing that I had/hadn't done, but just one of those things, and that she will probably be small when she is born, but catch up after she is born.   

I got home from my appointment at about the same time the older 2 kids got home from school, and even though it was beautiful outside, I had the kids stay inside and play so that I could rest and not be constantly getting up to check on them.  I slept/rested/thought for 2 hours.  The worst thing I can do right now is worry.  I'm sure that everything will be okay.  I just want to know more about all of this, as does Weston.  He is going to go with me tomorrow for the stress test, which I am grateful for.  This is the first problem we've had with an unborn baby (except when I was in labor with Spencer and his heart rate plummeted).  Has anyone had, or know anyone who has had, any experience with this type of thing?  I would just like to hear any stories or whatever of similar situations.  Thanks.  I'll report the outcome of the stress test later tomorrow (probably).  I've never had one done on a baby, or me, and don't know quite what to expect.  Hopefully it isn't too stressful.

The Littlest is 2.

Jiles is 2!  

Okay, so he turned 2 like 3 weeks ago, but I am finally getting these pix up.

That is just the way it rolls sometimes.

This is what the ever so beloved Dada has to say about his youngest boy:

"entertaining, coordinated, future piano player, wanderer, wrestles, jumps on people, loves to explore, innocent, precious."

This is what I have to say:
Jiles is 23 1/2 pounds and 32 inches tall.

He pretty much says 7 words: Dada, Mom, me, boo (boots) buh (bus or truck), wee (trampoline), and mo (more).

He does the sign for please, more, and drink.

Jiles is such a daddy's boy.

When the mudroom door opens and closes, Jiles yells, "DADA!" and pitter-patters down the hallway as quick as a whip to see Weston.

And he is such a mama's boy.

He is a cuddler.

He ends up in our bed sometime during the night or early morning pretty much every night (which I love).

He likes to be in the action when it comes to wrestling, chasing, jumping, playing, laughing, eating.

His favorite toys or Bertie Bus, Gordon the train, and the science thing that we bought for Spencer last year that has wheels.

He always wants to have at least one vehicle in hand.

He loves anything that has wheels and will say, "Vroom vroom me" (oh, there's another word...well, onomatopoeia anyway...and it is more spitting than speaking) if he wants to play with something with wheels. 

He loves to eat.

He drinks a lot of water.

He likes to take one bite of a strawberry and then leave the rest on the counter to get another one (Spencer really wanted me to write that).

He plays the piano really gently and involves his thumbs in the process.

He loves to give hugs and kisses (on the lips, which I do not love) and is quite passionate about it.

He is such a sweetie!
And he is extremely bright and smart!

This is what Spencer has to say about his baby brother:
 "He hits and pushes.  He makes messes."  

We LOVE this boy!

Ten on Ten: May 2011

ten photos.

over ten hours.

on the tenth of the month.

ready, go.

 8:22 a.m.

My Rancher drops the slobbery bottles on the back porch after feeding his 5 orphaned calves.

9:13 a.m.

Chase the chickens off the porch and lure them back in the chicken yard with a bowl of scraps (get attacked - mildly- by Brewster the Rooster in the process. Punk!).

10:40 a.m.

Hang the freshly washed sheets to dry.  A mighty windy day will dry them in no time.

11:27 a.m.

Chicky play time in the sun.

12:12 p.m.

Somebody's got the crankies.  It must be lunch time.

1:02 p.m.

Squeeze in a little learning before quiet time.  Ezra asks to do math.

1:45 p.m.

Quiet time.  Jiles cuddles up to Kate while she finishes Black Beauty.

2:53 p.m.

Quiet time is almost over.  Go, bread, go.  Knead, dough, knead.  

(I love my Blendtec with its autoknead button.)

4:04 p.m. 

Pick up my scientific, knex-building oldest child from cubscouts at church.  Waited for half an hour for him to get back from a field trip seeing a blue heron's nest.

The bread is on the counter at home rising.

5:11 p.m.!

Got home waaay later from picking up Spencer than planned.  Dough is OOC (out of control)!

Ezra remarks, "How embarassing!" when he sees the dough.

Smush it down.
Start again.

Some Things I Think About On Mother's Day

oN mOTHER'S dAY,

i MAINLY THINK ABOUT 

MY VERY OWN GEM OF A MOTHER,

mARY sUE,

AND OF THE SERIOUS GOODNESS THAT SHE HAS DONE,

AND IS STILL DOING,

FOR ALL OF HER 7 CHILDREN.

mARY sUE WITH GRANDBABIES kARIE AND oLIVIA LAST NEW YEAR'S TIME.

sHE IS AMAZING.

i WANT TO SAY TO HER,

"hAPPY mOTHER'S dAY 

MY VERY OWN 

AWESOMEST MOTHER (YOU).

tHANK YOU FOR MY LIFE.  yOU KNOW THAT i WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU.

tHANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME.

tHANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, EXAMPLE, HUMOR, MEALS, LAUNDERING, TAXIING, BEDTIME SONGS, UNDERSTANDING, TEACHING, SACRIFICES...ETC.

bASICALLY,

YOU ARE THE best AND i LOVE YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH! 

{{HUG HUG, KISS KISS AND A BIG FAT GRIN.}}"

.....

i THINK ABOUT

mY HUSBAND'S MOTHER AND HOW SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAVE RAISED THEIR 6 BOYS TO BE EXCELLENT, CARING MEN WHO HONOR MOTHERHOOD.  

pLUS HER EXAMPLE TO ME.

tHANK YOU, tIA!

.....

i THINK ABOUT

MY VERY OWN SACRED ROLE AS A MOTHER, AND MY IMPACT ON THESE 4 LITTLE ONES

photo credit

AND HOW THE BIRTH OF THIS UPCOMING LITTLE ONE WILL ADD ANOTHER LAYER TO MY ROLE, CHANGING IT, DEEPENING IT.

.....

i THINK ABOUT

ALL OF YOU OTHER MOTHERS WHO SHARE THIS ROLE AND WHO ARE BOTH STRUGGLING WITH AND THRIVING IN MOTHERHOOD, JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.

oNE OF MY COOLEST-EVER SISTERS, hOLLY; ME; MY TOTALLY TUBULAR MOM; AND MY ROCKIN' MOTHER-IN-LAW AFTER THE RELIEF SOCIETY BROADCAST LAST FALL.

AND WE RULE THE WORLD!

That sounds extreme (and I look pyscho in the picture above), but really what an important job rearing children is!  What better way to "change the world" than to raise giving, serving individuals who will go about doing good to those around them, and who will teach their children to do the same.

i KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING A HUGE AND IMPORTANT THING

BY BEING (dedicated!) MOTHERS.

.....

i THINK ABOUT

THE FOLLOWING TALK THAT i READ A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN PREPARING FOR A TALK IN CHURCH ON MOTHER'S DAY.

(i DON'T THINK THAT i MENTIONED THAT DURING MY TALK THAT DAY jILES WAS LIKE 2 WEEKS OLD AND IN A CAR SEAT CARRIER THING UP ON THE STAND WITH ME; kATE WAS PUSHING AGAINST MY LEGS (PUSHING ME AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE) THE WHOLE TIME i WAS TALKING, TELLING ME THAT SHE NEEDED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM; AND THAT sPENCER AND eZRA WERE UP AND DOWN FROM THE STAND WHERE i WAS AND IN THE CONGREGATION WHERE wESTON WAS.  i WAS SO INTO GIVING MY TALK, THOUGH, THAT IT DIDN'T REALLY PHASE ME, UNTIL I WAS DONE AND I SAT DOWN AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THEN i THOUGHT, FOR REAL, DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?  wE WERE ENTERTAINING, i'M SURE, BUT PEOPLE STILL COMMENTED TO ME ON WHAT i SAID, SO AT LEAST MY CHILDREN WEREN'T TOO DISTRACTING.)

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Elder Jeffery R. Holland shares a tribute to Mothers

The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever.

One young mother wrote to me recently that she felt like the world expected her to teach her children reading, writing, interior design, Latin, calculus, and the Internet—all before the baby said something terribly ordinary, like “goo goo.” She worried because she felt she didn’t measure up or somehow wasn’t going to be able to be equal to the task, the mental investment, the spiritual and emotional exertion, the long-night, long-day, stretched-to-the-limit demands that sometimes are required in trying to be and wanting to be the mother God hopes she will be.

But one thing, she said, keeps her going. I quote: “Through the thick and the thin of this, and through the occasional tears of it all, I know deep down inside I am doing God’s work. I know that my motherhood is an eternal partnership with Him.”

Mothers, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones. Yours is the work of salvation, and therefore you will be magnified, compensated, made more than you are, better than you are, and better than you have ever been. And if, for whatever reason, you are making this courageous effort alone, without your husband at your side, then our prayers will be all the greater for you. Know that in faith things will be made right in spite of you, or more correctly, because of you. We thank all of you, and tell you there is nothing more important in this world than participating so directly in the work and glory of God. 

May I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you. He is blessing you and He will bless you, even—no, especially—when your days and your nights may be the most challenging. Rely on Him. Rely on Him heavily. Rely on Him forever. And “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope.”

Happy Mother's Day, ladies!

The Croupster

Jiles has croup.

I hate croup.

It is nasty and just plain scary, especially in the middle of the night, like last night. I had Jiles sleep about 10 inches away from my face so that I could hear him breathing.  He woke up about midnight scared because it was so bad.  We bundled him up and Weston took him outside on the front porch in the cool air.  Then I took him in the steamy shower for a few minutes.  He was able to sleep through the rest of the night with just a few coughs here and there.

Since he had RSV when he was 9 months old he is more likely to getting croup.
Dang it.

Today he has still been pretty yucky.  It was such a nice day, so we were outside quite a bit this afternoon.  I wish that I had just kept him in now because I think that he is a little worse.  I gave him a ginger bath about an hour ago and some medicine and rubbed Linda's salve on his chest and feet.

I just am not looking forward to tonight.  The nights are always the worst.

Here is the work of Jiles and Ezra when Jiles is feeling well (this is from yesterday)...

What's up, the insides of my drawers?
Now you know what I keep in my drawers and how I load my dishwasher.

  Not sure what is on his face.
Probably the same thing that is on his hands.
Chocolate.  That's what it is, chocolate.

Hopefully he'll be up to his destructive curious self again soon.

Croup, croup go away!
Don't come back another day!

You Ain't Lyin', Dandelion.

yesterday.

Sabbath afternoon.  

warm and loverly. 

sat in the dirt.

had dandelions dumped in my lap.

made dandelion crowns...

a must-do when living in the country, or anywhere they grow for that matter.

Don't they grow everywhere?

I have had like a hundred of these in jars and mugs and vases in my house the last few days.  On my counter, on my table, armoire, hutch, art thingy, entry way stand thing, computer shelf, window sills, etc.

The kids are so sweet to bring them to me.

I love how Ezra will say, "Mo-o-om.  I have something for you," in kind of a sing-song voice and then pull a dandelion from behind his back.  

These little yellow beauties are one of the only flowers that is growing right now.

We are like 2 weeks behind the rest of the northern hemisphere in becoming Spring-y.

Have you ever made one?

A dandelion crown?

They're easy.

But also

very 

fra

gi

l

e

.

(they break easy.)

And then fit it, tie it, and stick it on a stinking cute head (Kate's term).

(How's that for a tutorial?)

Stick it on one like her wind-blown hippie head.  Or it could be a his head. 

Like Ezra's.

Ezra rocks the dandelion crown.  

He totally masculinizes it, don't you think?

(Well, maybe not in the first picture below.)

Wouldn't it be fun if Ezra was triplets?

...you know, if there were 3 of him?

We would all be laughing all the time.

Spencer also man-lies the dandies.

His didn't last on his head for very long.

Just long enough to push Kate in the swing really quickly.

Mmmm, swings...

Yeah, that's it.

Peace out.