23 months

Hammin' it up with Uncle Nick's hat...

And almost a big brother!

to the dads in my life

Happy Father's Day!!! I was lucky enough to get to spend today not only with my awesome baby daddy, but also my own dad. What a treat! I am one lucky girl to have these two wonderful men who are both such great fathers. I am blessed.

floral friday

The flowers are gorgeous in Utah right so I've been taking pictures of them here and there.
I thought I'd devote Fridays to flower pics until I run out of them. Enjoy!

the good and the bad

I went back to the hospital this morning for another ultrasound. I'll start with the bad news. My amniotic fluid levels are still low. They were up slightly from Tuesday but not enough to make much difference. So it's definitely a no-go on trying to turn Miriam.

The good news is she looks perfectly healthy and happy. I went and saw my midwife after the ultrasound who did another non stress test and we couldn't ask for a happier baby. She's moving around and her heart rate is great. She's also still in a nice frank breech position which makes our chances of a vaginal delivery very good.

So although my fluid levels technically put me in a high risk category, all other indications show that baby is doing great and there is no cause for great concern. I will continue to drink lots and take it easy and we will monitor her every couple days. The big thing for me to be aware of is her movements. But she's always been quite active and still is. 

If I don't go into labor by mid next week we may try to help things along a bit. Again, with the low fluid, it's probably best that she be born sooner rather than later. For now its just wait and keep an eye on things. I'm feeling so much more peaceful about everything. And I just have to say how much I love my midwife. She was so reassuring and really positive. We are in good hands.

new photos

Its been forever, but there are actually some new photos over on the Red Bean Photography blog. Check them out if you feel so inclined. :-)

and the drama continues

Yesterday I went up to the University Hospital and got an ultrasound as a preliminary step in getting a version to turn this baby girl around. Well everything was great except that my amniotic fluid levels were quite low. Much too low to do a version, and low enough to cause concern that something could be wrong with the baby. The OB said many of his colleagues would recommend doing a c-section that night since I'm considered full term and the baby is breech anyway. He recommended we do a non stress test where we spend an hour or so on the fetal heart rate monitors and make sure the baby is happy. I opted to go to my midwife's office to do this instead of the staying at the hospital. And happily, baby is doing great.

I'm currently on orders to "hydrate like hell" and take it super easy today in hopes that I can get my fluid levels up. I will go back bright and early tomorrow morning for another ultrasound to see if they've risen. Hopefully they will be high enough that we can then attempt to turn her. A breech vaginal delivery is definitely an option, but it really complicates my homebirth plans. I REALLY want to get this child head down.

This has been such a great pregnancy and its been really nice to not have the preterm labor that I had with Asher, but its hard not to get discouraged right now. I SO SO SO want a peaceful homebirth. I have worked and prepared so much for this. Most importantly I want a healthy baby. And I want her to have a beautiful natural start to life.... not cut out of me if its not absolutely necessary.


So now I need more prayers. Prayers that my levels will go up. That she'll turn. That I'll feel peace about all this. It's really comforting to know that people are praying for me.

raindrops on roses

I took these from the safety of our covered back porch during one of the many rain showers over the weekend.

These last two are my favorite.

just now

After lunch today we noticed this cheeky robin on our back porch roof. He perched there for a long time while we watched from inside. Asher wanted to get a better look so I sent him and Grace outside. The bird stayed there for another 10 minutes or so. I was surprised they didn't scare him off.

Asher also took a moment to smell the roses. :-)

Gorgeous day, isn't it? Not hot, but sunny and green after our weekend of 60 degree rainy weather.

37 weeks

I'm a few days behind getting this post up. I've been extremely lazy all weekend and it has been glorious. We spent most of yesterday watching an entire season of Bizarre Foods on Netflix watch instantly. I love that show. And since the past few days have been unseasonably cold and wet, I didn't feel at all guilty staying in my pjs all day. 

As for this kid I'm growing... she is still stubbornly refusing to turn despite our best efforts. The plan is go see an OB at the U on Tuesday who can try to turn her the hard way. They will do an ultrasound first and then we'll probably schedule the version for the next day. I would LOVE for her to turn before then of course. It will save us the effort, worry, pain and money of going through the version. But I am feeling quite peaceful these days that everything is going to work out. The good news is that if she doesn't turn she is in the best position as far as breech goes. She's a frank breech, meaning that her feet are by her head and she's in a pike position.This is the safest breech because the bottom comes out first and prepares the way for the head. 

We certainly do appreciate any and all prayers that she'll get herself upside down in the next day. Or if that doesn't happen, that the doctor will be able to turn her. Ideally, I'd love for her to turn tonight and then be born on Friday. My parents are coming into town next weekend so the timing would be fabulous. Of course, I won't be counting on such perfection. But a girl can dream, right?

summer's first rose

Yesterday the first of our roses bloomed and I couldn't resist taking a few photos to capture this peachy pink beauty. In a couple days there will be dozens more. I love how beautiful the roses grow here in Utah. I'v been admiring them all over town as I drive around.