Belated Mother's Day Giveaway

I had a little, well, free time in China and one way I spent it was surfing baby-product websites for all those must-haves for SB and Fletcher. Those essential items that no baby can live without, you know, like this (yes, I am being sarcastic, however, Fletcher does really like the one I bought).

I found this really cool site that just happens to be hosting a Mother's Day Giveaway this whole month. Click on the icon below, check it out, and enter to win. Or don't, so I will have better odds.

We Have a Date

Unless Angie goes into labor earlier, which seems unlikely at this point given her past birthing history and the fact there is "not much happening" with her cervix, SB will arrive on June 11th. The OB gave us the choice of induction on June 8th or June 11th. Angie didn't care one way or the other, so I chose June 11th for a couple of reasons. First, did you read my post below about being completely unprepared? Well, a couple more days could make a big difference on the preparedness front, not only for cleaning, shopping and organizing, but it also gives me a couple more days to pump to help bring in my milk supply (more on that later, so if the topic makes you squeamish, you are forewarned). It also gives Trevor a chance to pick up one last trip to offset the FMLA days he will take after the baby is born.

But the main reason I chose June 11th is because it is (was?) my grandmother's birthday. I was very close to my grandma (my mom's mom) who passed away when I was pregnant with Fletcher. She was in the hospital when I had my first ultrasound to confirm a viable pregnancy and I went straight to her hospital room after the appointment to show her the blobby pictures. I will never forget that day. I think her excitement was second only to mine, and not by much. So, it will make me very happy if SB is indeed born on June 11th, and the occassion may even necessitate a (middle) name change in my grandma's honor.

The end is in sight as we have less than two weeks to go. I am still a little bit in denial, even though I have been shopping for newborn diapers and girly take-home outfits the past couple of days. I have also been reading baby books during my pumping sessions because, although I am a veteran mom, I have no idea what to do with a full-term baby.

Speaking of pumping (this is your cue to stop reading this part if you "don't want to go there"), as of yesterday I have entered the pumping part of the protocol. I now take 21 supplement pills a day (3 different supplements, but multiple pills) and pump every three hours during the day and once at night. I woke up at 2am last night, but Fletcher was just too cuddly, so I didn't manage to sneak off to his room to pump until about 4am. I am actually pumping right now as I type (for all you pumping moms out there, I recommend the Pumpease). I have yet to produce any measurable quantities of milk, but have produced some drops at each session, which I think is normal in an induction protocol (after all, it has only been one day).

Trevor has been great the last few days about looking after Fletcher while I focus on baby stuff (afterall, feeding is one of the biggest responsibilites when taking care of a newborn and I am already doing that part, in a sense). And I have a feeling the two of them will become quite close in the next few months.

So, it looks like everything is coming together and I have a chance of being marginally ready to welcome another member of the family. Angie is feeling good, as good as you can feel at 38 weeks, that is. Her blood pressure is great and while my mom thinks she "looks uncomforatble" she said she is not feeling too bad at this point, although I am sure she is ready to be done with this pregnancy. She gave me a tour of the labor and delievery and postpartum units the other night (she works there, so I got the informal, behind the scenes tour) and has filled me in on generally what to expect.

All in all, I am hopeful that unlike my previous experience, the most difficult decision I'll face this time around is what blanket background and outfit to choose for her hospital picture...

Which do you think?

Limited Access

I have been shut out of blogger the last week or so, so I haven't been able to update. I wrote the last post on May 14th (don't have that good of a memory, but since I wished Kenny a happy birthday it must have been that day). Another patient's father figured out a way I can access the blog, but I can't post any pictures or fix the layout, so any posts I add might not be as pretty until I get back to the States at the end of the month to fix them.

In the meantime, I will post anything even remotely interesting I hear about Smykeeney, although Angie says there is not much to report. Angie did tell me that she plans on naming the baby Norma, after my mom, since I have to fix the birth certificate and can change her name at that time. Honestly, I would be all for it, giving my mom a namesake for a week or two, but the more I think about it, I don't think it is a good idea. Would muck up the parentage action and may confuse things and stall the legal paperwork. So, Angie, if you are reading this, ixnay the Ormanay.

Peek-A-Boo

Angie got to take a peek at Smykeeney Baby last Thursday, and luckily SB is still safe inside Angie’s womb, so she couldn’t look back. Because, much to Angie’s dismay, I would not pay for the 4D ultrasound, you will have to make do with the following two images.

Here is her little (well, Angie says fat) face in the bottom right hand corner

The ultrasound tech said she has hair, but I think I will believe it when I see it (she is being born in in the Show-Me State, after all)

The doctor was pleased with the appointment. The baby looks great on ultrasound, fluid levels are appropriate. Angie’s BP is stable and she if she is dilated, it is not more than a “fingertip.” They estimated SB to weigh about 5 pounds 13 ounces, which just happens to be right around my birth weight.

I got a nice laugh today reading the blog of a woman I shared my cycle dates with (you can go to www.cyclesista.com to list your blog (I didn’t) and find other women undergoing fertility treatments at the same time as you (I did, from the deep dark shadows of internet lurkdom)). First I got a little surprise: her baby was born on Wednesday. She was a week ahead of us and having BP problems, so they induced her at 37 weeks. And the laugh, well, just go check out this post in which she talks about how prepared she is for the baby.

I, on the other hand, am anything but prepared. First off, the obvious, I am in a foreign country thousands of miles away from Kansas City. Second, house is not exactly sparkling clean. In fact, I have no idea how clean or messy it is as my lovely brother Kenny has been house sitting for us (Hi Kenny, Happy Birthday and thanks again for house sitting) and young bachelors aren’t typically known for their housekeeping skills. Particularly considering his roommates are two dogs. Not to mention that I can’t even remember the state of cleanliness when I left, but considering I overheard my other brother call me a “disgusting pig” a few days before we left, I am pretty sure it was far from immaculate. Third, the nursery isn’t quite ready. I got a good start on it, since I am just using Fletcher’s nursery and he is getting a “big boy room.” But the nursery is still full of little boy clothes and toys that have yet to migrate across the hall.

Thanks to my cousin Stephanie, we do have layette covered. And I did buy a box of newborn diapers and found the baby tub I had lent to my Aunt Laura, so I guess you could say I am not completely unprepared. Um, I guess…

A Little Insight

I ran across this post the other day from another former IVFer/micropreemie mom. It offers some great insight into how I, and many other people, are changed forever by infertility. How it can, and did, consume my life for years.

It also suggests that everyone call or write your congressperson about H.R. 697, The Family Building Act of 2009. The act would require group heath plans that provide maternity coverage to also provide coverage for infertility treatment. Her post also discusses the risks of multiple births and how insurance coverage and education on the true risks of a multiple gestation could go a long way in decreasing the rate of pregnancies with multiples due to IVF, a concept that I couldn't agree with more.

So this Mother's Day, in honor of all of those mothers who traveled the long road to get to their children, and those still on that road, please consider reading the linked post and writing your congressperson. I know I will.

Truckin' Along

Thursday's appointment was uneventful. Good BP, good weight gain. Next appointment in a week (from last Thursday) at which she will have an ultrasound to determine fluid levels, measure the baby and do whatever else they would do at such an appointment. What do I know, I had a two-and-a-half-month-old baby at this point in my pregnancy.

It Just Hit Me

I am having a baby. Well, kind of... you know what I mean. I just read a blog of a woman who got pregnant via IVF the same time Angie did. She delivered her twins yesterday. Angie is creeping closer and closer to term every day. Without the physical reminders, and even the visual reminder since I haven't seen Angie in awhile, it is surprisingly easy to forget we have a baby on the way. It still doesn't seem completely real to me. I am sure it is a whole 'nother story for Angie!

Obviously I can do little to prepare for the baby's arrival being in China and all, but I am doing one thing (well, two things as I am still dutifully following my induction protocol). I am enjoying every second of my final few weeks of being mommy to just one kid. And what a super special kid at that. We have a lot of down time here in China and without Trevor here for two and a half weeks, I am spending nearly every waking, and sleeping, minute side by side with Fletcher. And I can't think of any place I'd rather be. He loves life and loves being with his momma, and I feel the same way.

It is so exciting, but also a little scary, to be adding to the family. I suppose most moms feel that way on the cusp of having their second child. Only I don't have the swollen feet, aching back, strained muscles, and fatigue of those other women. So instead of just wanting the baby out, and soon, I get to be a little more introspective.

Angie has an appointment tomorrow and Friday will be 35 weeks, gulp. I called her in the middle of the night yesterday (it is handy to have a sister who works nights when you are in a time zone with a 13 hour time difference). She is feeling fine. The increase in bp meds did the trick and if anything her pressure is slightly lower than normal, although nothing alarming. Her youngest has pneumonia, though (get better soon Michael!), and I am praying it doesn't spread to her (or her other son).

I am hoping she will put up a post after this next appointment, but I am not holding my breath. I guess carrying my daughter is enough of a sacrifice so I can't really be mad that she refuses my requests for posts. I would also love to see a belly shot, since I delivered Fletcher before I took any of those. Shirt down will be fine. Whadda ya say, Ang?