The week

This week ended up being surprisingly busy. We knew we were going to be busier than the previous weeks with my uncle's visit and a day planned to be spent at a lake with the Timers but on Sunday night, at the very last minute our plans changed.

My uncle (my mom's oldest brother) called on Sunday night to let us know that his travel plans had changed. He wouldn't be arriving on Tuesday night as originally discussed but on Monday at noon. He also wasn't going to stay for one day only but he was staying all the way through Thursday.

We scrambled to get the house somewhat decent on Sunday night since my first appointment with my new doctor's office would be on Monday morning and it was a little late to reschedule it. On the appointment, I must say, we are very happy with the switch. This happens to be not only one of the practices that has been getting most of my old doctor's former patients but will also be getting at least one of his staff members. The practice has three midwives and I will be a midwife patient, which means that I won't get to see a doctor unless it is really necessary. Our appointment took longer than what we were used to because the midwife took the time to answer every one of my daughters' questions and reply to each and every one of their comments.

That out of the way, we ran to pick up my uncle at the airport. We got there late... he'd been there for a good half an hour at least. From there on, the week becomes almost a blur to me. We mostly spent our time at the mall since he had a list of things he needed for the church in Guatemala and his time here was really the only time he had off from preaching.

Thursday we dropped him off at the airport and headed off to the lake for a few hours visit with the Timers. Friday was spent at Babies'r'us creating a gift registry for Susi and so my week wraps up. So, pardon the blah post with such mundane information but I have already been interrupted too many times to keep a train of thought. I'll give it another try later!

Misc.

Our newest garage sale finds: two bicycles for $3 (both)!Though we got two, only one is small enough for our girls,
but they're still loving it!

...and... we got this swing set from a family from church

it's a little beat up, but it is the greatest thing ever for the girls right now

they have spent sooo much time out there and we're happy for that

the big slide required some ingenuity for Adriana to climb, so
Ben brought up to the ladder section the smaller slide set we had gotten earlier
this year and voilá!

:: On another note, Susi is doing much better. Appendicitis and any other serious condition have been ruled out and now she is just watching what she eats even more carefully.

:: Ben is running 20 miles today. This is the peak of his training for the marathon. It is so amazing to realize that what seemed as an unfathomable task almost a year ago will become a reality in less than a month. He'll be running the marathon on September 14!

:: My mind definitely tends to forget my body is carrying a passenger. I keep coming up with these crazy ideas on projects that I get started only to find, a couple hours into them, that I will definitely not be able to finish them that day. I can't tell you how much my house keeps looking like a tornado hit so many rooms before it begins to feel breathable! The worst thing of all... I can't stop!!! Every room I go into I see something I want to change, move, paint, get, etc.! By far the strongest nesting instinct I've ever experienced, I think... oh well... I'll manage to keep up somehow.

Pheew...

Our day began yesterday with a scheduled prenatal visit for Susi at the doctor she will be going to and we are considering to transfer to as well. She hadn´t been feeling well for the past 12 to 18 hours with severe GI discomfort and we couldn´t get a hold of her PCP but figured as long as we could at least see that baby was fine we´d just go ahead and do that. Though her appointment wast at 3:00 p.m. she was in so much pain that by 1:00 p.m. we decided to take her in early.

Baby was doing great, but she wasn´t looking (or feeling) good at all, so the midwife called the doctor in to see her. She expressed some concern about the general area where she was pointing to the pain and the intensity of it and wanted to make sure nothing serious was being overlooked. The doctor came in (so I got to meet him as well) and he checked her and said he wasn´t all too convinced but still wanted to rule out an appendicitis. Appendicitis! Go figure! We were thinking a tummy bug aggravated by the pregnancy, but oh well.

They immediately referred her for a surgical consultation which led to an ultrasound which in turn led to not getting home until 9.30 p.m.!!! Susi was feeling much better by then and is feeling better now as we sit and wait for the results of the emergency ultrasound the surgeon considered so urgent. Trust me, I am glad they wanted to make sure everything was totally fine. In fact, the OBG´s office already called this morning to check on her. It was just very long and unexpected.

On a positive note, I got to interact with a lot of the staff at this new practice and found everyone to be very, very pleasant. They all were trying to muster up their very little Spanish to try and connect directly to Susi. It was a good chance to see them care for a patient who wasn´t me and so I believe this will be the team that will assist on our baby´s birth. I do have an appointment with them on Monday, so unless something terribly drastic happened our mind is set. I believe we will get the best of the two worlds (midwife-obstetrician) in one combo and it will be much closer to home thus relieving our already tight gas budget.

As for Susi, we are waiting to be told what happens next. Ohh, yeah and as to what a Guatemalan craves for pregnancy... it may be very simple but unusual like pineapple with salt, tons of lime on meat, chicken, fruit... I guess salt and lime are a big factor.

Thankful:

Today I am thankful for

:: A husband whose calling doesn't take him away from home as much as others. He is with us so much more than I show appreciation for.

:: A husband whose heart loves the Lord so strongly he is not ashamed to admit his faults and ask for forgiveness from the girls and me. I have learned so much from his humble heart!

:: A little girl who is showing more and more understanding and compassion to the little one and the unborn baby.

:: A sweet girl who loves snuggling and gives her love and admiration freely to Mami and Daddy.

:: A strong willed two-year-old whose life contentment is in sleeping with her little arms tightly wrapped around my neck and her little body technically on top of me.

:: Opening my eyes every morning to a sweet little face stroking mine or smothering me with kisses, she is sweet as she is strong!

:: The fact that we have been able to buy a few new items of clothing for each member of this household even when we have an extra mouth to feed and our income seems to be below our expenses. God IS faithful even when it doesn't make sense.

:: Sharing a pregnancy not only with a relative but with a friend who appreciates (understands and shares!!) every one of this Guatemalan's cravings!

:: Having the "problem" of trying to figure out how to accommodate so many people who are planning to visit from Guatemala throughout the fall and winter. We are so loved!

Today

I am definitely NOT 19 weeks pregnant, I am 26 but for some reason the widget regressed. I changed it already but the changes are just not reflecting on the blog, so sorry about that.

On another note, please support my husband as he undertakes his marathon. Click on this link to read about the marathon and see if you can support him!

Findings

After a couple of months of reading I find myself satisfied, prepared and even excited for this upcoming birth. As I reported earlier, I had decided to go on a new quest. I admit I probably didn't even read half of the material out there. But since that post I have read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and The Birth Book, by Dr. Sears, in that order.

I was quite enthralled by Ina May's book and really enjoyed learning all that she had to teach. However, at the end of the book I felt a little disappointed because, of course, as a midwife, she strongly supports home births and birthing centers. Not that she has anything negative to say about hospitals and doctors but her experience is limited to free standing birthing (no hospitals involved). Since neither of those is a choice for me, I felt like I had no way to transpose the approach to a hospital setting.

Because I was very much satisfied with the material and didn't think there could be much more new to learn. However, Dr. Sears' book was being held at the library for me and upon returning the first, they immediately remembered I had another one waiting. I took it and figured I'd browse through it and return it right away. Well, I have renewed the book twice already. Most of the information is the same as in Ina May's. Even though he is a doctor and his wife was an obstetrics nurse and they actually encourage strongly home birth or at least a free standing birthing center with a midwife to assist and that an obstetrician should be invited only when medical intervention is required. They speak from their own experiences both in birthing and assisting births. They have a high respect for the medical institution and hospitals but they also have seven biological children and an adopted daughter whose delivery they both assisted. Because of this they understand how hospital routines can become a hindrance to an all natural labor and delivery.

They do not bash any systems but they help you choose what is more convenient according to your own ideals for birth. They make very useful suggestions in how to state your preferences in a respectful way that will encourage your doctor and hospital staff instead of making you come across as a know-it-all who has no respect for the practitioner. So, in reading the Sears book I was able to figure out a way to make the hospital work for me without feeling like I'm going to be perceived as an unfriendly patient.

Our plan continues to be laboring at home for as long as it is possible but now we have the tools we need in the event we got to the hospital too early. This week a final decision will be made as to hospital and practitioner. We've only been holding on for the last hospital tour on Tuesday and as I accompany my cousin to her new OB/practice I'll be watching and taking my own mental notes. I currently have scheduled appointments at both practices but Ben and I have agreed that after Wednesday we will decide and cancel the one we don't favor. I'll keep you posted!

Quiet...

I know I´ve been quiet. It has been partly due to the busy-ness of the season and partly due to a lack of inspiration. I´ve even been slow in taking pictures!

We did have a fun day at Six Flags though and here are a very, very few pictures to prove it!

Ben is in every picture because pregnant ladies aren´t allowed on these rides.

It was such a thrill they did it again!

Then they switched to boats,
which they were both big enough to go on by themselves.

Sporting Daddy´s sunglasses.

Waiting for a show to begin.

Some things to point out about this summer is that both girls have decided to stop calling Ben "Papi", he suddenly has become "Daddy". I, on the other hand, respond to various different names throughout the day including but not limited to: "Sister", "pretend little girl" (literally, Elena will randomly walk towards me and address me like that), "sweethat" (that one is literal as well), and some variations of Mami.

Adriana has suddenly turned into a very avid eater... however, she eats more off of my plate than her own. She suddenly LOVES rice, so much she is quite content with having that alone for a meal. We were having dinner last night and I still had some food on my plate. As has been becoming her custom, she began trying to climb on my lap. Trying to persuade her Ben said "Sweetie, Mami doesn´t have a lap anymore with the baby in her belly". Without even slowing down she kept on her attempt until she was satisfied and said, "Mami´s lap is right here, Daddy!" Hoping to finish my own plate of food I said "Why don´t you go sit on Daddy´s lap for a while?", she looked at me, stood on my lap and leaned towards Ben´s end of the table, looked on his plate and replied, "Daddy´s all done".

After naps, yesterday we were snuggling in my bed when Elena realized the baby was moving. Her eyes grew bigger and she exclaimed, "Mami, the baby is pushing herself out!!! I think her wants to come out play with her toys" (Yes, she does say very surely that my baby is a girl). I explained that the baby still has some growing to do before they can come out and play and then I went on to talk about the plans for the afternoon. When I said it was time to get out of bed and come downstairs Elena said, very concerned, "Mami, no! If you stand up your baby will fall out and her will fall bump down the stairs! We have to stay in bed for your baby wants to come out!"

Are things complicated or am I?

We went to do the "Expectant Parents Tour" to St. Peter´s Hospital. We already liked the hospital but decided to check it out a bit more before choosing our doctor. After all, the drive to the doctor´s office is almost an hour and we want to be wise with our gas budget and although we had checked if they worked with Susi´s insurance, it turns out they don´t. That leaves our choices at having two different doctors or finding another one altogether.

*The tour: we liked the hospital, as we expected. However, their tubs are temporarily (as in indefinitely) unavailable!

*The alternative: My old doctor gave a couple recommendations to chose from. One of them happens to take Susi´s insurance, has a midwife based practice (according to the website you don´t see the doctor unless you have a complication). What had discouraged us from contacting them was the hospital where they deliver.

Upon closing of the maternity in St. Clare´s, where the girls were born, all births in that county were centralized in Bellevue, where this doctor attends. We loved St. Clare´s because of their more natural approach to the whole process. We felt more trusted as the parents of the new baby and we were encouraged to keep the baby with us at all times. Only once did they take my babies and that was for a few minutes while they did the pediatric evaluation on them several hours after birth. From all we´ve seen, Bellevue can tend to be more on the "medical" end of their approach and I didn´t want to feel like I had to come in and fight for things I didn´t want. Added to the list of cons is the fact that with all the births of the county concentrated in that one place they aren´t guaranteeing private rooms, so they can´t promise someone can stay with you, so we were happy to steer away from that and go have our baby without having to "fight" or face raised eyebrows for our preferences.

*Our third alternative is much closer for prenatal appts but it´s the longest drive for the hospital, all the way to Cooperstown.

So, am I too complicated to decide on a hospital? or doctor, for that matter? I know so many people who aren´t even concerned about visiting the hospital before the baby is born and everything works just fine for them... I wonder, am I really making too much of nothing?

A face to the name... and some just for fun!

This, ladies and gentlemen, is Susi, my cousin.A bit of family fun

Posing together... doesn't Ben look great?!

An attempt at a family picture.

Transformations!

This I had to post as Ben was supposed to pick me up to go to a wedding rehearsal dinner. Susy was going to watch the girls for us for a bit and she also dressed me up... Ben's comment? "We have to let her dress you up more often!" I promise to post a picture of her soon... I do have to give her a face for those of you who don't know her. Beyond her dressing me up, it has been a blessing to have her around. Please pray for her and her husband as they expect their first baby so many miles apart!

Check this out

cloth diaper giveaway...

The Belly Pic

I know I'm a bit overdue in posting this...here it goes: 22 weeks and counting.

Happy Birthday Adriana!

Two Years Ago...

Today!

We celebrate today our wonderful little girl!!! Thank you Lord for such a treasure!

Happy Birthday Pito!

Super Quick Update

We're busy running around... this month is a busy one for us! Let's see...

* We had a "meet & greet" with a new doctor and unless something went terribly wrong from here, we are going to stay with him. The things we don't like about the practice are the same things we won't like at the other choices we have, so we narrowed our choice down to the hospital where we can have the baby.

* Adjusting to having my cousin (Susi) around hasn't been difficult at all. She has a very pleasant personality and is very easy going. Of course most of our conversations are about having babies as this is her first and she is full of questions, but I don't mind it at all (you would know that if you know me at all! he,he,he). My time on the computer has been somewhat limited because this is the only means of communication she has with her husband, but we understand that and our hearts go out to them as they have to spend this very important season apart.

* Today we are packing up again to go to Generation Conference. Don't ask me why we thought about doing this as a family... right now I am asking that myself! I think it was something along the lines of Ben telling me last year he didn't want to do this alone this year and so the decision was made. It will be an interesting time! Catch you all when we get back!

A few glimpses...

...of our day away:

little girls ready to tackle the beach

focusing on searching for treasures

simply smiling

getting buried in the sand

Adriana tried to but she refused to lie down

Continuing the crazyness

As expected, this week is turning to be busy. Monday was the "easiest" day but even when I was home all morning long, my whole morning was spent on the phone talking to insurance companies, Primary care physician and OB/GYN offices. The thing is, not only was my doctor my OB/G, but he also was my primary care, so I technically have to find two doctors. At the same time I need to find a doctor who will take my insurance and my cousin's as well (I'll explain more below). So it was a long morning with very long phone calls.

The day ended on a good note though, after shopping for a few needed things, Ben decided to bring the girls over to Dee's to swim and we ended up having dinner with them. Very nice visit, conversation and little girls' entertainment.

Tuesday morning found me trying to run through some cleaning and rearranging of the guest room to prepare it for or next permanent guest. One of my cousins married an army man in February and her paperwork is still being processed so she can't leave the country. He has been assigned to spend about a year in Panama and they just found out a couple months ago she is pregnant. He didn't want to leave her by herself in that condition, mainly because she doesn't speak the language and is quite alone in the area, plus with her papers still in the works she can't even drive legally. So my gracious husband was very willing to open our home to her and we are picking her up on Friday. Two pregnant ladies in the same house... fun!

Today I have a dentist appointment in the a.m. and an interview with a potential OB/G in the p.m. But after that we are packing for a night away... since my cousin needs to be picked up in Newark, we figured we could make a trip of it. We are taking the girls to Point Pleasant Beach in NJ, will spend the night in the area and visit with a friend a haven't seen in a couple years and Friday we'll be heading out to Newark to pick her up and head home! So it will be another few days before I can update in more detail (as if you needed more details than what I write!!!) until then...

Wheww!

VBS week was packed full with all kinds of activity for this little family! The next couple of weeks promise to be just as busy and entertaining! Besides our VBS Olympics this year, the two things most worth mentioning would be the quick but enjoyable visit of my cousin and his family. They got married right around the same time we did, except that we missed their wedding because we were due back home after our honeymoon. Since then, we've only seen them a couple of times and, actually they didn't know Adriana and we didn't know their youngest who is one year old. They were visiting her brother in Mass. and decided to take a longer stroll and meet us at the mall for a very, very late lunch! We visited for a couple hours but it was very well worth it!


The not-so-good part of the week is a letter I got in the mail on Thursday. In a nutshell, it tells me that my OB/G is relocating, thus as of September 27th his office will be closed!!! So, half-way through this pregnancy I have to find someone new to assist the delivery of this baby!!! If only I knew someone I trusted enough to have this baby at home I would be the happiest, but that's not the case, so I have to find new hospital, new doctor and I don't have all that time to take my time in picking and choosing. I decided that so as not to overwhelm myself I will limit my choices to two: the first one is a doctor, who is a believer; the second is the group of midwives in the area. They both have their pros and cons but we'll see what happens. In the end it all boils down to my previous post, in whom do I trust. Yes we very heavy heartedly see this wonderful doctor off but in the end it has been God's hands and His hands alone where my life and that of my babies has rested all along. If I'd have my way, I'd go to an independent birthing center with midwives or have a home birth but for one or another reason none of those are viable options right now. We trust that the Lord's leading will be in the midst of this decision just as He was leading us when we found this doctor. I'll keep you posted!

She sings!

This week has been a long one, beginning with Monday. We taped this on Monday when we were going shopping after just having wrapped up the first day of VBS. Both girls were exhausted and supposed to take a nap while we got to the store. We don´t even know what Adriana was singing but she sang her little life out! While Elena, evidently tired, seems to just be suffering it until she manages to go to sleep... we just thought it was hilarious!

Yet Another Quest

As Dee and Becky prepared to receive their babies about a month ago, a lot of information on labor and birth has come my way. Inevitably, I have been intrigued by all that I have read and in the desire of doing whatever is on my power to make each birthing experience better than the last, my next quest has emerged. I think there is always room for learning and I am willing to learn, especially on this matter.

When I was pregnant for Elena I read the book Supernatural Childbirth. I was very much encouraged and motivated to believe this for myself. The book, in a nutshell, speaks about ridding ourselves of preconceived notions of a painful, horrible birthing experience and embracing a renewal of our minds and the power of the Holy Spirit to deliver us from the discomforts of the experience. It quotes scripture to back up their belief and their declarations of faith. I embraced it with my whole heart and believed for a painless labor and smooth delivery. I had absolutely no question or doubt about God's ability (or desire) to make this happen for me, for us... especially because the book says that God will meet you at your level of faith and I knew, that I knew, that I knew that I believed in His power and loving plans for my life.

Long story short, after an eight hour transition and having to push a baby out at only 8 cm dilation the last thing I experienced was a "supernatural birth" as to the book´s suggested standards. I even felt hurt because the book claimed that you only experience pain when you give into fear and I knew that I hadn´t! Needless to say, I threw the book to the bottom of a dark drawer not to be thought of again. I figured God wouldn´t be so cruel as to lead me on to believe He could do this and He would if I only clung to the belief and my faith to then turn and tell me after all, I just didn´t have enough faith.

Upon facing Adriana´s birth I looked at the things I could do differently and went in with no other expectations than to deliver the baby. My standard was the +/- 18 hr labor I experienced and my thoughts were that if I had made it through so many hours of labor, 8 hours of intense and painful contractions every 3 minutes, the last 3 or so hours on pitocin and pushing out a baby while still on a soft enough 8 cm, I could face anything else. It helped that because Adriana was born in the Summer we didn´t fear being snowed in so we weren´t in any hurry to leave for the hospital. I labored mostly at home and made it to the hospital at about 4 p.m. By 7:00 p.m. I had a baby in my arms!

This time around I want to embrace my labor with a positive attitude and just learn a little bit more to make it more comfortable. I have come across all of this stories of women who not only claim to have absolutely no pain through the birthing experience but there even are those who laugh the whole way through, enjoying the experience for the joyous occasion it is supposed to be. Now, in exploring their beliefs, techniques, etc., some attribute it to their own overcoming of fears and personal "inner" strengths; some others acknowledge God's hand in it. Some people do it for faith, some others are just hippie/"earth" people who call it a "primal" event that happens by instinct and, if undisturbed, can happen on its own with no pain or discomfort.

Honestly, I don't want to stir any boiling pots. I don't mean to question anybody else's experience or put labels into such a sublime and joyful time. In my opinion with or without pain God has a beautiful purpose for it, even when we don't understand it. I have found interesting all that I've read... I'll share some of it, some of it I won't for I don't want to be behind anyone clicking on some pretty weird links I've found! Any input is welcome, as well as reading suggestions. Right now, after I finish reading my current book, I have lined up: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth... I'll let you know my thoughts.