The Three E's

The Three E's... About 6 years ago my very close friend Rosa became pregnant. She was my first friend to have a baby so everything about having a baby was completely foreign to me. So I decided that I would read all her pregnancy books with her so we could talk about it even though I wasn't pregnant. Of course Rosa rushed right out and purchased the classic What to Expect When You Are Expecting book. As her pregnancy progressed and we got further and further into the book we decided that neither one of us wanted anything to do with the terms that began with the letter E. Those words being, enema, episiotomy, and epidural. I'll have you all know that I have not forgotten those words over the past 6 years and now that they are possibly around the corner I am doing everything in my power to steer clear of them! :)

I feel very fortunate to be able to say that I have never spent any time in the hospital. When I was about 5 years old I was bit by a horse and had to get stitches in my finger but other than that trip to the ER I have never been back for anything other than the occasional immediate care visit for the flu or something common like that. Before becoming pregnant I can only recall giving blood one time when I had stomach issues and that was so traumatic I said I was never going back to the doctor again. I have tried to take medicine and it makes my stomach turn so I quit taking prescriptions for anything- I'll survive. Oh and just to add a little story about pills: I was on a prescription from the dermatologist once (desperate times call for desperate measures I looked like I was 12) and apparently I didn't swallow the pill with enough water so the capsule dissolved in my throat and backed up into my sinuses and out my nose. I was foaming at the nose and my throat was on fire. Milan had to call poison control at midnight. I survived but my throat and nose were both burned from it. Dave lovingly calls me "green snot" now. Nice. Anyway, I have tried taking vitamins and we all know from a previous blog that I am incapable of that as well. I refuse to take over the counter medicaton for a cold (remember when I puked Nyquil all over you mom?) nor will I take aspirin or any of that stuff. It too makes my stomach turn. When it comes right down to it I am a complete wreck. I prefer pain over intervention.

Onto another subject... Gestational diabetes testing. During the third trimester they make you go in and get tested for diabetes. I do have to say for the record that I am getting better at giving blood. After much practice of mental relaxation I can now give blood without getting an upset stomach. I really am proud of myself. Anyway, the doctor told me to eat like normal that day- so I did (no Twizzlers of course). I went in drank my bottle of "kool-aid" and waited the full boring hour until they could draw blood. Two weeks later I go in for my visit and I'm told I didn't pass the test. What? Ok, imagine me freaking out about this. All I can see is visions of Twizzlers dancing in my head. I am told to come into the office the next day for the 3 hour test. Oh my god, three hours! I had to fast after midnight. I have never fasted in my life. I honestly thought I was going to die the next morning without my breakfast and water. Anyway, I get to the office, they draw blood, and I drink that nasty sweet drink again. You can't walk around or leave so you just sit for an hour until they can draw your blood again. You do this for a total of 3 hours. Oh did I people watch! But that's another story. In the end, I was nauseous, thirsty, starving, and my arm hurt from all the needle poking! But none the less I survived. Now I get to wait for the big news of whether I have diabetes or not. I knew that if I did I wasn't going to be able to forgive myself for all those Twizzlers I ate. Finally after a long few days of waiting I call the office and the nurse tells me that my numbers came back really low and everything looks great. WHAT? Then why on earth didn't I pass the first test? Come to find out at my appointment today I was only one point above normal so it automatically pushed me into the 3 hour test requirement. Are you kidding me! As ridiculous as all of this may sound to the average person you need to see that to me that is traumatic. :)

Back to the three E's. I waited to get pregnant for many reasons but the biggest reason had to do with the fact that it requires me to have medical things done. Now that I have survived two root canals and crowns put on my teeth I knew I had graduated into the world of being a big girl. If I can get a root canal done certainly I can have a baby. If you have never had a root canal done then make sure you are taking extra special care of your teeth so you don't need one done. It is terrible. Here's another look into the life of Jen. When I was 23 I had my wisdom teeth removed. How bad could that be? Oh how naive I was! I was nervous but I honestly don't get as afraid at the dentist as I do at the doctor. Anyway, I sit in the chair and suddenly I am being strapped down and givin a big needle in my arm. I immediately start crying. I don't know what came over me but I had no control of myself. The nurse had to wipe my eyes and nose because my hands were strapped down. It was pathetic and scary. The next thing I know the surgery is over and they are waking me up. What do you think the first thing I did was? Cried of course. I started crying all over again. It was as if I had never been out. I picked up right where I left off! You would have thought I had lost a limb and not 4 teeth. Anyway, back to the three E's.

After I found out I was pregnant the first thing I did was get a bunch of books to read. I knew I had 9 months to psych myself up for this. Fortunately the lady I babysit for had just given birth to twins so she was my daily resource for pregnancy conversation. It wasn't long before she was sharing her own stories and suggesting reading material. Little did I know that my meeting her would change my entire outlook on giving birth. I didn't know people actually gave birth without the 3 E's. I also didn't know that my list of things to be afraid of would be much longer than my little list of the 3 E's. The most powerful thing for me has been learning that I have control over the interventions that happen at my birth. You don't have to do things just because that's the way the hospital tells you to do it or that's the way most women today do things. I felt so liberated learning about this and reading all of the material supporting and encouraging natural child birth. Remember... I am the girl who would choose pain over intervention. In my quest for a birth that I can handle I have hired a doula and found birth classes that support and encourage natural child birth. Over the past 7 months I have bombarded Milan with snippets of info from all of the books I have read and he is completely on board with me for this journey. It is a journey much different than my friends have taken but I do believe it is one woman were created to do without too much unnecessary intervention.

I had planned to share my funny birth class stories tonight but it seems as though I have gone off on a tangent. I will save my stories for another day. Taking traditional birth classes at the hospital and taking alternative birth classes are much different and we are totally enjoying the experience. I will paint the picture for you next time. I hope you enjoyed my chatter. I needed to get it out! :)

7 1/2 Months

7 1/2 Months Looks Like This!

Here is the Little Peach! I guess I can't really call him little anymore. But he will always be "my little peach" even when he is 10 and tells me to stop calling him that! As I have mentioned before, my back is killing me. When I look at a picture of myself I can totally see why! It's starting to be shaped like a U. I feel like he is pulling me forward and I always want to correct my posture but it doesn't work at all. It's hopeless. I am finally having to give in to the inevitable pregnancy waddle.

This week will be week 31. I went to the doctor last week and found out that Eli is head down. I didn't really need the doctor to tell me that since I have been getting kicked in the ribs continuously but it was nice to have it confirmed. Let's just hope he stays put! I have had so many people share their pregnancy stories with me and no matter how well someone describes what it feels like when the baby moves there is no way to truly understand until you experience it for yourself. There are no words to describe the feeling. I am in awe everytime he moves. The kicks are one thing but the real movements are amazing. When you put aside the first trimester sickness, the second trimester clothing issues, and the third trimester discomforts you come to realize why so many women choose to do this over and over again. I'm already getting sad realizing it is coming to an end. At least there is something wonderful to look forward to.

I do have to say for the record that I am slowing down in all ways possible. My trips to the gym are shorter, my hours of sleep are shorter, my desire to socialize is shorter, my patience is shorter, and my ability to think rationally has just about diminished. I am angry over nothing important and then on the verge of tears over nothing important. I get mad at the TV because there is nothing worth watching. I am constantly antsy and bored out of my mind. Yet I can think of 10 things to do and don't want to do any of them. I feel like I am trapped inside of a cage yet the door to the cage is standing wide open so I can come and go freely. I think it must be time to start nesting. They say pregnant women start nesting around this time so maybe I need to do that. I had been holding off on getting the nursery put together since we thought we may be moving but now that I know we are not moving yet (thank goodness) I can put my focus on Eli's room.

Tomorrow will be birth class number 2. I will write about it this coming week. If it is anything like last week's class then let's just say it will be a blog worth reading... :)

The Happy Couple

Our trip to Marco Island

Us

Uncle George, Aunt Maria, & Us

Being pregnant is so enjoyable! Milan and I get along so well and enjoy this time together so much. Not that we didn't get along before but we are even closer now as we await Eli's arrival. It is so much fun waddling around getting attention from strangers and having Milan smile at my tummy. Our trip to Florida was wonderful. We relaxed a lot and just enjoyed the scenery. I would do anything to live near the beach. My hope is that Reynolds will move us near the ocean one of these days.

Now that we are back to reality again this has been a tough week. I feel like it is my first trimester all over again! I get tired so easily! I am also experiencing back pain for the first time. Apparently my little Eli is positioned on my sciatic nerve. I have shooting pains from my lower back into my hip and down my right hamstring. I am waddling around like a duck. So far I have managed to continue my trips to the gym but I must look quite uncomfortable as I waddle around the place. I had to take a break this morning from blow drying my hair because I was out of breath! What on earth is going on? Oh that's right all of my organs are up in my throat now. Speaking of my throat, I know digestion is an issue for woman in their third trimester so I wasn't surprised when I would feel full so quickly. But what I am surprised by is the fact that my food stays in my chest for hours and hours. I laid down in bed 5 hours after dinner and could feel the food in my chest. This morning I woke up and could still feel it there. All I can say to that is YUK!

Milan and I begin our birthing classes this week. There are 4 sessions on Sunday evenings from 5:00-8:00. I decided to take a less traditional class through a place that specializes in woman who are seeking a nonmedicated birth. I haven't really written much on here about my birth plan but yes I am crazy and yes I am going to try to do it without the epidural. I have hired a doula who will be there to help with pain mangement. Not that my dear sweet hubby couldn't be of help to me but this woman assists pregnant woman routinely and has a whole bag of tricks to help you get through labor. I can't wait to see the reaction on Milan's face when we get to the class and he gets introduced to the reality of child birth- the gory details and all. :)

I am now 7 months and in my third trimester. I think they call this the ready and able stage. I have to say that I am neither of those two things. Maybe next month. I am already feeling sad thinking about not being pregnant anymore. As much as I can't wait for my little guy to arrive I am in no hurry. I may say something else very shortly if he doesn't move and get off of my nerve, though! I have a doctor's appointment again this coming Monday. I am now visiting the doctor every two weeks instead of every four. I guess time is winding down huh? The next thing I know it will be every week! I'm pretty sure I will be getting scared right around that time.

I noticed our pictures from Florida really don't show my baby bump very well. I will have to get a better picture posted soon. He is growing and growing in there. Not to mention moving and moving. He now kicks my ribs. There is nothing funnier than when my stomach gets distorted looking or when my shirt just starts moving all around. I can't help but wonder what he looks like. I imagine it all the time.

Twizzler Detox Program

Today is day 4 of the No More Twizzlers Detox Program that I have created for myself. Actually, I should be calling it the no candy at all detox program instead since all candy has been eliminated from the Hayden household. There is no secret that my weakest point with food is with sweets. I could eat dessert and candy over a real meal any day. Now most people with this problem would call themselves Chocoaholics but in my case it's not at all about the chocolate. It is all about the little kid sugary candy like gummy bears, swedish fish, licorice, sour patch kids, etc. I have a mouth full of fillings from the many years of this addiction. I have decided that I am no longer going to be in denial about my addiction. It is time to kick the habit!

Milan has been informed that there is to be no more candy brought into the house. Let me just say for the record that Milan's sweet tooth is just as bad as mine if not worse. So the look on his face when I told him that candy is the enemy and no longer welcome was that of a child being told the same thing. Since Milan does not feel he needs to be on the detox program he has agreed to buy candy secrectly and hide the stash from me.

I am writing about this today because I am so proud of myself. I have made it 4 days without any candy at all. I am not saying that there haven't been moments of intense weakness because I would be totally lying. For example, every time we go to the mall I make sure I have quarters with me so Milan and I can get candy out of the little machines. While in the mall yesterday I searched high and low for one of those machines but wouldn't you know that the mall we were in didn't have them! I took a deep breath and later held my urge to have Milan stop at a gas station. You have no idea how much trouble a candy addict can get into in a gas station candy aisle. Some how some way I made it through the day yesterday without any candy.

Ahh, which brings us to today. As we waited for a prescription to be filled at Target Milan has this bright idea to go down the candy aisle looking for chocolate Twizzlers. Chocolate Twizzlers are by far the best. In the back of my mind I am thinking I want to strangle him but I say nothing and go along to the aisle. Luckily there weren't any chocolate Twizzlers but none the less I still had to exercise some serious self control not to give in to my craving. Heck, it's been 4 days! Can't a girl have just one piece? I successfully left the aisle enpty handed. Milan of course had a bag of swedish fish with him but I just ignored it. By the time we left Target I had completely forgotten about the fish he bought. That was until we reached the car. The first thing Milan does is rip open the bag and let the warm air just fill up with the scent of sugary fish. Oh yum! I say nothing and stare out the window trying my best not to reach over and choke him. Finally when I couldn't help myself anymore I told him that eating those fish in front of me could be one of the meanest things he has ever done to me. His response, "oh just eat one it won't kill ya." I said, "you are suppose to be supporting me not encouraging me! Buying those fish and eating them in front of me is just rude!!" So he smiles at me and says I'll just put them in here and hide them. As if I am not going to remember he has candy hiding in his car!

Now ya'll can see why I am so proud of myself. It has been one hard weekend on my detox program. I did make some muffins last night as a way to curb this sweet tooth I have. :) It helped a little but in the back of my mind I am still craving the candy. I have no idea how I am going to travel this week without my stash in my carry on bag. We always have treats on the plane with us. Wish me luck!

Have you ever seen a drug on TV called Chantix? It's made for people who want to quit smoking. It blocks the craving for nicotine. I wonder if they make anything like that for people with my sugar addiction?

I go to the doctor again tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn't show that I am living on sugar- well WAS living on sugar until now. :)

Little Peach's Shower

Notice the lady is holding a bag of Twizzlers in her hand.

Very funny, Mom!!

As you all know I went home last week for my second baby shower. How nice to have multiple showers! I checked the weather report before leaving and saw the tempertaure was suppose to be low 70's and sunny. What a nice change from the heat in Georgia. Tuesday and Wednesday were absolutely beautiful days. The kind of day that makes you homesick because fall is coming. Thursday was another story! In rolled those classic Chicago rain clouds and by afternoon it was cold and drizzly. I packed a few items for cool weather but since my wardrobe is so limited fall clothes are non-existant. I dragged my mom from store to store to find some fall maternity clothes so I wouldn't freeze to death. I was hoping however the rain would pass and the sun would return. As luck would have it the rain just kept falling. It rained nonstop from Thursday to Sunday night. By Sunday, the day of the shower, Chicago had seen more rain fall than ever recorded in history. The roads were flooded, people were evactuating their homes, and the parking lot of Target had abandoned cars that were completely covered in water. As frustrating as all of it was I now have a story to share with Eli about his trip "home" for his baby shower.


As you will see in the photos below I can no longer call Eli my Little Peach. He is a growing boy! "They", whoever they are, say that he should be about 2 lbs. and 9 inches long now. This is the end of my 26th week- which is the third week of month six. I can't believe how I have changed in such a short amount of time. I look at myself and have to take a double take because I can't believe what I am seeing. Other than lower back aches, hip aches, and nightly muscle cramps I really can't complain yet! Yet is the keyword in that sentence. :) I know different woman complain about a variety of things while they are pregnant but my number problem is cramps. I have had cramps in my feet, calves, hamstrings, fingers, and as of yesterday a cramp in my butt! I fell over in pain and Milan just looked at me in complete shock. If you could have seen his face. I must have looked like a real moron trying to find a way to stand to get the cramp out.


So back to my shower... even with all that rain just about everyone was able to venture out and make it to the shower. I was so grateful that people chose to endure the rain and the roads so they could be at the shower. A big thank you goes out to my Mom for hosting the shower. I also need to thank Brenda for all her help with the planning. Bre- thank you for the centerpieces they were beautiful! Karen- thank you for providing the cheesecake and cupcakes as well being the photographer for the day! Thanks to all of you the shower was beautiful and Eli was blessed yet again with more gifts to get his life off to a great start! Not to mention helping make his Mama's life easier too!

Jen & Eli's Grammy Bonnie
Jen & Eli's Nana Karen
Bre 8 months & Jen 6 months Jen & Leticia
My beautiful centerpiece from Bre!

So what's next after baby showers? Oh that's right, the third trimester. Let the waiting game begin! Milan and I are going on a "Babymoon" to Florida for our 3rd anniversary on October 1st. Are you saying, "what in the world is a babymoon?". It is the last trip you take as a couple before life changes and you become parents. I can't wait to go to the beach! The next dilema... wearing a bathing suit in public.

6 Months!

Week 24- The beginning of month #6! Wow time flies by. I love it that my birthday falls around a holiday weekend (Labor Day) so in the past Milan and I always do something over the weekend and I call it my birthday weekend. This year it landed on the Thursday after Labor Day but I still like to call it my birthday weekend anyway! :)
This year was a little different since alcohol and babies don't mix! No margaritas on a patio with chips and salsa for me. Oh well, that was just fine since this year I get to have a baby!

Anyway, I still wanted to celebrate so we got all "dressed" up and went out for ice cream with our friends from our new neighborhood. A big thanks to Christy who let me borrow her super cute maternity clothes! I'll have you know this is a shirt without a string in the back! As you can plainly see my little peach is no longer little!

I went to the doctor last Tuesday. He told me I have doubled in size in 4 weeks! As if I didn't know that already on my own! One minute I'm squeezing into shirts that aren't maternity and the next minute I am wearing Milan's tee-shirts because nothing else is long enough to cover this bulging tummy! He told me I might want to stay away from all the Twizzlers since sugar is a pregnant person's enemy. I was reluctant to admit this crazy pregnant obsession but I did anyway after he asked me if I was drinking Coke before my appointment since my glucose level was elevated. Oops. Note to self... don't eat candy prior to peeing in a cup at the doctor's office. My love for Twizzlers has turned into an obsession. I have zero self control. The last bag that my sweet husband brought home is finally gone and I have requested he doesn't buy me anymore. We'll see how long I can go without. Just for the record, it's not just one type of Twizzler. I will eat the little pieces, cherry, strawberry, chocolate, or Pull n Peel- it makes no difference to me. The more the better.

I am off to Chicago for my second shower being given by my Mom. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post soon.... Eli's first trip by plane- how exciting!

Watermelon, Shirt Strings, and Diaper Bags

How come no one told me that watermelon causes heartburn? Watermelon of all things! I ate, yes you can believe it, a entire cheeseburger and fries for lunch yesterday and didn't suffer from it at all! Tonight for my healthy snack I eat watermelon and now I am suffering from heartburn- go figure! Eating Tums is just about as gross to me as taking vitamins so I may choose to suffer through this tonight!

Does anyone know who invented the maternity shirt? Why on earth do they all have to be cut from a tent pattern and then made to look form fitting by attaching that ridiculous string to the back? If that doesn't scream "I'm pregnant" I don't know what does! Yes I know I am pregnant so it shouldn't matter that the string screams that out but the shirts are so darn ugly! My mother would say I am acting vain by complaing like this but there has to be someone else out there who agrees with me! I am not trying to be vain about this. I guess I could shop at Mimi Maternity and pay $50 for a shirt without a string but honestly why can they make nice stringless shirts and the less expensive stores can't?

Ok, why is it so difficult for me to choose a diaper bag? I know my mother wants to reach through the phone and choke me sometimes! I have been looking for a diaper bag for months already! I hate carrying a purse so you can imagine the stress I am having over having to carry a bigger bag that requires so many items to be in it! I don't consider myself the trendy type so all of those super expensive bags that are really cute seem ridiculous to me. However, I don't like the bags that look like diaper bags from 1988 either. No Winnie the Pooh for me. I look at a bag online and then I find a store who carries it so I can check it out in person. I am so worried about making a bad choice! Who the heck cares? It's a dumb diaper bag! So I run down my list of questions... 1. Does it fall off my shoulder easily? 2. Does it have enough pockets? 3. Is it stylish and is the fabric nice? 4. Will Milan be caught carrying it? 5. Will it stay closed once it is stuffed with baby things? 6. Are those side pockets even big enough to carry the bottle that is suppose to fit in it?
By the way, what do people even realistically carry in these bags anyway? Do Moms upgrade to even bigger bags when they have two kids?

This is why God made pregnancy last 9 months. We need time to find shirts without strings and diaper bags that suit us perfectly.