Vacay mode

We've gotten the vinyl decal in to finish the pink wall.  Have yet to put it up (it's still in flattening stage) but excited to see it up.  Of course I'll take pictures once it's up. 

Got my first birthday gift on Sunday and BOY am I happy!  It's the sheet set!  So those are in the dryer, going on the bed tonight!  Can't wait to see how it will look.  I got all the furniture sanitized last night, so it's ready to go.  As far as Kinsley, we go back to the doctor next Friday.  Should be a longer appointment since we have our natural childbirth decision to talk about, the diabetes test coming up, and figuring out when and where to do a 4D ultrasound at.  Apparently, I'm starting to "wobble" some (so one women said here at work).  Greeeeatttt...more and more people are now asking "so how far are you?" or "congratulations".  Just waiting for the right person to prank.  :)

Well Thursday is my birthday (like you didn't know)!  I'm pretty sure it'll be a pretty boring one this year since I'll be working 10 hours then coming home and packing.  We leave first thing Friday morning to go down to FL for the "family vacation".  Too bad Adam and I can only stay 4 days this year.  But any beach time is better than no beach time to me.  I'm dying to get out on a vacay too.  Cross your fingers that I don't look like a beached whale out there!

On a preggo note, my most recent craving has been peanut butter.  Anything with peanut butter.  For those that know me, I HATE peanut butter (usually).  It is one of those things, if I don't want it, then don't bring it near me...the smell alone makes me gag (prior to preggo stage).  Now it's one of those things that I love.  So my favorite food right now is the good ole PB&J!  I'm cheap and easy LOL.

In other news, we are getting new roof!  YAY i know I bore you with the excitement of married life again.  It is all covered under our insurance so it is exciting for us!  Well sorry this post is so boring and dull, the next one I'll highlight our beach trip for you (with some pictures) and hopefully will have some new pictures of the nursery!

~ADK

Au Natural

Well Adam finally got his toy in...

Haven't really seen my husband since.  Should've known that was going to happen! LOL

Meanwhile we are keeping busy reading up and watching DVDs on different childbirth methods.  After reading and talking to some friends I've learned so much about the effects of medications/procedures they do to you at the hospital not only to you but to the baby.  So Adam and I have made the decision to go Au Natural.  We will still be in the hospital setting (Emory John's Creek- hopefully- LONG story) but we will not have ANY medical interventions.  I'll list some statistics below...Basically our plan is for me not to be hooked up to any sort of machine that would prohibit free movement about the room.  This means no IV, no EFM, and definitely no medicine.  We are also interviewing and looking for a doula now.  We believe hiring a doula will give us the extra push and piece of mind that we are making the right decision and will cause us to stick to our birth plan.  I don't want to put all the stress on Adam, having the extra person there to encourage me and who knows various methods and techniques (cause we might forget what we've learned) will benefit us. 

-99% of births occur in the hospital

-92% of those are by an OB

-only 8 % of births are done with a midwife (we are choosing midwife over OB)

-31% of births are by C-sections (this rate has climbed 50% in the last 10 years)

-The number of labors being induced has doubled since 1990.

-23% of labors are induced.  16% of preterm and 24% of term and higher deliveries

-33% of women still get an episiotomy

-over 50% of mother's receive an epidural

-epidural is full of powerful narcotics (lidocaine, fentanyl, morphine, etc) all of which reach your baby within 3 seconds of you getting the drug 

-a medicated baby is slow to respond after delivery most of which do not know how or cannot latch on right away due to the drugs in its system

-nurses have reported to be able to tell a non-medicated baby from a medicated baby just by the color and alertness in the nursing ward

-epidurals cause mother's blood pressure to drop therefore, lowering blood supply to the baby

- receiving an epidural often leads to vacuum, forceps, Pitocin

-affects of an epidural last hours post-delivery on mother (meaning can't walk around)

This is just a snip-it of why we've decided on a non-medical birth.  To really understand it, I suggest watching "The Business of Being Born" DVD.  It's streamable via Netflix or is probably at your library.  Now, that DVD pushes for home birth but I'm not one of the 1% who currently thinks that is the way to go.  At least not for the first one. 

It really is astonishing how much the doctor's in hospitals push you to do what they want.  Often you go to the doctor and they never tell you about other methods of delivery.  Many women don't know what to expect or that it is not normal to be induced or receive an epidural.  If you think about it, doctor's want to get home for dinner, they may have had a rough day...they just want to hurry your labor along so they can go home.  Same with hospitals, it's like a restaurant, check them in - check them out.  And don't get me started on insurances...I wonder why they don't pay for doulas, yet they'll cover thousands of dollars of labor and medication. 

What boggles me are the women who go 9 months or more avoiding certain foods, exercises, etc. that "are bad" for them or the baby but AS SOON AS they go into labor are "shoot me up" attitude!  Do they just "forget" what they are receiving? Does it not cross their mind that what they are receiving (cm from their spine) goes directly to their unborn child?  Yet they'd rather be selfish and "escape" the pain.  We are women, our bodies were made for this!  Before the 30s, medicine wasn't an option.  (I heard a statistic, I'll have to find it again- that the US has the highest mortality rate of infants of developed nations and 10th (I think) mortality rate of mothers of developed nations.)  I've guess I've ranted long enough.  I'm just appalled that women don't do more research on their own (since doctor's want to get paid).  

Adam and I really hope everything works out and we are able to succeed in this decision.  Given that medically everything lines up, au natural is the way to go!  It may not be easy but the results will be worth it in the end. 



Update

WARNING: LOTS OF PICTURES!

The doctor's appointment went well, very short.  Heartbeat was still kicking and we got some questions answered.  I go back the Friday after July 4th.  Not sure when the next ultrasound will occur.  

This weekend was full of mainly working on the nursery.  VERY exciting for both Adam and I.  I was going to post a picture of the "guest bedroom" as it stood before...but apparently I don't have one!!  SHOCKED cause it was my favorite room but I guess I never managed to take a picture of it.  

Here's a before 

Adam starting the trim- Big brother Benny "helping"

TaDa- wall still yet to be finished though- but paint on

View of whole room- tools included

Well there's the room- as stands.  Still finishing up craft #3.  One large and very important piece is coming for that pink wall, cannot wait till it arrives to see it!!!!  Now if only we had the bedroom set...hmmm.  Honestly though, I'm just trying to get everything done now cause i do have the energy.  I still go to bed by 9 but at least i have energy to last that long, and i'm somewhat comfortable (depending).

Other than that happening this weekend, it was Shannon's birthday and Madison's party (or her birthday too if you ask her- she doesn't understand that her birthday was Wednesday and that her party took place Saturday).  

Her with her princess cake

She was "patiently" waiting to open presents

No doubt he is a ladies man- Good luck Kinsley!!

Hayden enjoying the party (in his "Ad's shirt" and blue jean diapers)

Tom and I had a competition...close call.

It's started

well it has started, we can now feel Kinsley moving (even Adam).  It really is exciting.  i go tomorrow for another doctor's appointment (don't think it'll be anything special though).  we go on our second daycare tour tomorrow.  it is rough to choose, if it were up to me, i'd just stay home :) . see below for an update of the belly pictures since now i have that defined "bump".

21 weeks

as of last week i had gained only 6 lbs (which i think is underweight).  weight is one of my main questions for the appointment tomorrow.  6lbs? feels like a lot more than that to me.  the "nursery" is now empty.  we are currently working on cleaning the carpet (thank you Cassy) and painting the accent wall (hopefully will get done this weekend).  meanwhile, i have started crafting!

yep, that's yarn!!  

here's the rest.  T will be green other K will be pink.  they will be door hangers when done

here's a hint for the next craft, you'll never guess what I'm going to do with this though!

 :) so excited!! 

Speaking of Cassy, she is gone. A resident of Dallas (yes, drove from Dallas, GA (not TX) all the way to Buford), came and got her last week.  It really hit me hard the first few days.  Now, I know it's what we needed to do.  While I do love cats, i do not miss the fur, the scratching, the smell, the inability to leave the doors open, etc etc.  I think benny is slowly adapting as well.  he (and us) loves the fact that he can enter/exit the backyard as he pleases now. 

it being june and all, our weekends are so busy!  not sure why our family has that "june baby curse" but we do.  if you are unfamiliar with what i'm talking about it is that every female (soon not to be though) in my immediate family (list- me, SIL, mom, grandmother, and niece) were all born in June (as well as a couple of close friends)!  this week was my mom's bday, my niece's (4 already!), and will be my SIL's on Saturday.  Of course, saturday is also Madi's (niece) bday party!  hoping the thunderstorms can hold off long enough for her to enjoy her party at the pool.  it always is a blast.  i undoubtedly have the cutest niece in the world! oddly enough my name has changed from just Dana to auntie or aunt Dana.  Ad varies from Ad to Addy.  either way, she knows how to get our attention! 

Madi at her ballet recital

that's enough for now.

~ADK