Our goal has been to try to have Alex feed about every three hours, but haven’t been super strict about it in the first couple days home. The longest he’s slept in one interval has been about 4 hours. We’ve got lots to learn. I’m still trying to figure out breast feeding. It seems weird to me and my boobs hurt. I’m going to try pumping and see how that goes. Nick and I made a run to Target today while Nick’s parents watched Alex to buy the breast pump and some other baby things. And then we went grocery shopping. I was pretty tired when we got home and took a nice nap before dinner time. It’s been really nice to have Nick’s step dad and mom around the last couple days to help out while we learn how to care for Alex.

Alex also had his first visit to the pediatrician this afternoon and everything checked out excellently. He’s lost a little bit of weight since birth which is to be expected, but not as much as the average baby. In just 4 days I can see he has filled out in his cheeks, but he seems like a long skinny baby to me. his hands and feet are still pretty wrinkly, too. Alex has some birthmarks on his head. One on his forehead and eye called “angel’s kiss” which should disappear by the time he is two or three years old. And one on the back of his head near his neck called “stork bite” which he will have for life, but it’ll be covered by his hair.

Speaking of labor, Nick and I spent Labor Day weekend doing lots of walking and shopping. Walking is suppose to help keep baby in the proper position and bury his head down into the pelvis more. So, Friday we went to Home Depot, the grocery store, and ate lunch at Chipotle. Saturday we went to a bunch of garage sales in Sterling, Herndon, and Reston. We only spent $12 and found some pretty good treasures! For baby, we found this totally cute baby bath robe, an orange and navy blue 2 piece Adidas outfit, a dinosaur shirt, and a gray one piece with a train on it. We got 5 books: Disney’s Aladdin, a baby Bible verse memory book, A Tale of Three Trees, a book about the 1994 World Cup, and a math and physics formula book. We got a spreader for the lawn. And we got Pictionary new in the box with the plastic wrap still on. After the garage sales, we ate lunch at Potbelly and went to a Porche car show at Reston Towne Center.

Sunday we went to church, and I just slept a whole lot all afternoon. I think I was tired from all the walking from the previous two days.

Today we went furniture shopping originally looking for a chair for the nursery, but we didn’t find one we really liked. However, we did buy two more chairs to go with the dining set that we already have so there are six chairs total now. So, that will be nice when we have dinner guests.

I wasn’t able to eat or drink anything starting at midnight in preparation for the surgery. So, I was majorly hungry. The nurses gave me an IV and had me on the baby monitor for a while to keep track of baby’s heart beat and contractions. Baby’s heart beat was nice and strong and no contractions were happening. Later the doctor arrived and used an ultrasound to check baby’s position one last time before the c-section. We found his head down, his butt up, and his feet on my left side! He had moved into the proper position making the c-section unnecessary! My doctor was pretty surprised. I think Nick and I were, too!

So, doctor wants me to do a lot of walking to help baby keep his head down in the proper position and give him a few more days to decide to come on his own. But because baby has favored a less desirable position, my doctor wants to make sure that baby doesn’t turn again by inducing by my due date. So, I’m scheduled to be induced on Thursday if he doesn’t come sooner on his own. There is a possibility I may be induced on Tuesday, but not likely as there are 8 other mothers ahead of me in the schedule. If 3 of those 8 have their babies before Monday, then I will be induced Tuesday. I’ll go into the hospital the night before, in either case, to get some medication to make my cervix more favorable for delivery and the next morning I will be induced. There is still a possibility I may need a c-section if baby turns again or if inducing fails, but neither is highly likely. If I don’t have the baby by Tuesday, I have my next doctor check up appointment on Tuesday.

So, I am a bit disappointed that baby isn’t here yet, but it is what it is and God is in control! I am glad that I didn’t have to have a c-section as the recovery will be easier. Please keep praying for these last days of pregnancy, for a safe and healthy delivery, and for Nick and I as new parents!

Because of baby’s position, a c-section is planned for the morning of Thursday, September 2nd! I have pre-op on Wednesday afternoon. The surgery itself should be pretty quick. They will make a 10 cm cut below my panty line, pull baby out, and stitch me back up. Nick will be in the surgery room with me during the surgery, and we’ll be able to hold the baby right after he’s born while the doctors do the stitches. The doctor said they’ll have me up and walking around Friday morning, and I should be back home after the surgery by Sunday as long as there are no complications, like infection.

The first two weeks after the surgery may be tough, but my doctor said after that the recovery is pretty much the same as a vaginal birth. I am grateful that Nick will be able to take two weeks off work for paternity leave to help out. I think some family are going to come visit after I am home as well. Not sure exactly when, though.

Tuesday, August 31st will be my last day at work before starting maternity leave, and I’m planning to go back November 1st as long as our day care spot is open. But I will only be working from the office 3 days a week and at home from my laptop 2 days a week. So, baby will only need day care 2-3 days a week.

Please pray for the c-section, recovery, a healthy baby boy, and Nick and I as new parents!

I don’t really care if I get a c-section or if baby is born vaginally. With the c-section, it’s kind of nice knowing the date and time that everything is going to happen and the surgery is very quick compared to regular labor and delivery. I am confident in the judgement and ability of my doctors and the hospital. They are well seasoned, and it’s not a training hospital. My experience thus far with the hospital staff and doctors has been a good one. I am also confident that God has the best plan in mind for both me and baby and that it will be carried through. I don’t really feel anxious or scared about getting a c-section. Though, as my friend Marsha put it, “A c-section kicks off motherhood with a great sacrifice, submitting to birth by surgery and a difficult recovery.” So, I would appreciate prayers for the delivery and recovery.

I am ready for baby to be here. I’m kind of becoming tired of all the “you’re so big” comments, people touching my belly, and unsolicited advice. One person even told me something about standing on my head to get baby to turn! I’m physically uncomfortable and feeling impatient to get this baby out. I am excited to be a new parent and ready for the next part of this adventure to begin.

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

dried oregano

ground cinnamon

3/4 cup pineapple juice

1 tsp lime juice

1 tsp cornstarch

1 tsp dried parsley or cilantro

Preparation:

Pound chicken breasts to 1/2″ thickness.  Sprinkle with oregano and cinnamon.  Saute chicken in skillet, over medium heat in oil, for 10 minutes or until cooked through.  Set aside.  Stir pineapple juice, lime juice and cornstarch in a bowl.  Pour into skillet and cook until boiling and thickened.  Stir in parsley or cilantro.  Spoon over chicken.

• 1 – 1.5 lbs large, fresh shrimp
• Flour tortillas

Marinade Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3/4 Tbsp. lime juice
• 3/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. pineapple juice

Salsa Ingredients:

• 1 can crushed pineapple (8 oz) or diced fresh pineapple
• 1/2 medium sized red bell pepper – diced
• 1 clove garlic – minced
• 1 Tbsp. finely diced red onion
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
• chopped fresh cilantro to taste (I use 1-2 Tbsp.)
• 1/2 Tbsp. lime juice
• 1-2 Tbsp. pineapple juice (as needed, if additional liquid is needed in the salsa)

Preparation:

• Peel and de-vein shrimp.
• Drain pineapple and preserve juice.
• Whisk together all marinade ingredients in shallow dish.  Add shrimp, cover and chill for 30 minutes.
• For salsa, mix together all ingredients adding additional pineapple juice if needed.  Cover and chill until ready to serve.
• Remove shrimp from marinade (discard marinade) and grill 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat on each side, until shrimp turn pink.
• Serve shrimp in warmed tortillas with pineapple salsa.  Garnish as desired.