this is the girls' club

Worth the Wait....by Laura

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:16:10 GMT

I waited 20+ years for this little piece of perfection - she is my bitty baby Bella Blue.

It is amazing that one little old determined errant egg pushed it's way through and became the love of my life - at long last.

To get such perfection was not as easy as some deem it to be.

I endured:

Four laparoscopies

Three attempts at artificial insemination

Two rounds of lupron depot (i.e. MENOPAUSE)

One divorce (and most importantly - one Frenchman!)

She certainly was "worth the wait". :)

Alma 26: 27

Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go. . .and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

Announcing the Arrival of Isabella Cristina!

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:04:41 GMT

in the words of my sister, Laura....

She has arrived and she is beautiful - living up to her name! Bella Isabella Cristina....

The labor started Monday night and HURT LIKE HELL - but gratefully only lasted a few hours. The delivery was spectacular - and I am pleased to announce that (with a natural birth even) I did not scream, curse or yell - go figure... :)

the announcement

Momma and Bella leepin'

Momma and Bella meeting for the first time

going home from the hospital

do i really want to hear that???

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:15:41 GMT

comments made to a pregnant woman about the size of her belly should automatically call for the extermination of said commentor:

You have just got to laugh at the asinine and curious comments that people make to a pregnant woman...what else can you do?

You can tell what a person's self esteem is pretty much based on the comments they make at this sensitive and critical time in your life - those who have been pregnant more recently - and who are secure with themselves - tell you "you look fabulous!" "I wish that I had looked that good" "you can't even tell your pregnant unless I look right at your belly" "aren't you just the cutest pregant woman?! - I love those people!

Then we have - the others - "Just when I think you can't get any huger...YOU DO!!" (is huger a word?) "You look like you are about to blow at any time!" (what am I? A whale?) "wow, you look like you might explode!" (just watch me if you make that ridiculous remark again) - these are the observations by women who either a) aren't very comfortable with their own bodies b) haven't been pregnant in a long time or c) feel the need to take a stab when they see me in a weakened state - they don't endear themselves to me with their pejorative opinions.

So, the moral of this blog...be nice to pregnant women! We are carrying an entire little person in there and that is pretty freaking amazing!!

NEVER comment a pregnant woman on the size of her belly...

My Itty Bitty Bladder - by LBB

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:10:22 GMT

There is nothing quite like the bladder of a pregnant woman - especially when this woman's normal state is like that of a pregnant woman when NOT pregnant!
I have been blessed with fabulous kidneys, an unquenchable thirst and and itty-bitty bladder - lucky me :S.

I am forever hearing from my step-daughter an incredulous - AGAIN?!! - each time I have to visit the loo - like I'm taking some sort of fabulous vacation in there (every 15 - 30 minutes!).

Then there is the dreaded plane flight - do I want the window or the aisle?? The aisle leads to constant bumps and the inconvenience of getting up for those at the window seat - the window seat means that you have to disturb everyone else to get up - so you had better wait it out so as not to perturb those by you too much. So, I take the window and try to hold it until it has become physically impossible and too painful to do so any longer...and once I get up and get to the back and await my turn I hear a slight *tinkle* (ok, just say the word and you'll know the length of time I actually did tinkle). It is amazing how those 2 teaspoons of urine were pressing on my itty-bitty pregnant bladder.

Contractions make for more wonderful potty moments - I thought that my baby was merely boring down on my bladder with his little head - getting nice and comfy in there - no, I was told by my midwife - those urgent I-can't-walk-or-I'll-lose-it moments are contractions - and they will happen for the last 4-6 weeks of your pregnancy with increasing frequency - FABULOUS!!

Could I just be catheterized - PLEASE??!! ~ Laura Christine

pending arrival - in mom's own words..... by LBB

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:38:34 GMT

Ok, so my well-intentioned-sister Tresann (and I know that she is probably right) thinks that I need to blog and save all of my precious memories...the funny thing is that my excuse not to journal was always that I won't have any posterity - isn't Heavenly Father funny?? He decided to nip that in the bud and I was shocked to find out at the beginning of last summer that I was indeed to have posterity!

Imagine my surprise at the ripe age of 40 and after having tried desperately for YEARS to get pregnant that despite my age, chronic endometriosis and the pill that I was six weeks pregnant - I think that my shock rivals that of Sarah and Abraham (ok, I did fall on my face, but I wasn't exactly laughing!)

My little man (it may be a girl, although I am somehow convinced that it isn't) is due to appear at any time...how scary is that?!

(editor's note ~ ladies please read the comments (2) on the guestbook and let me know if we should let Greg's comment stay or go! lol [this has no effect on the privacy of the blog starting next week ~ although I just had a GREAT idea and I think I will ask Greg for a spiritual women's blog every now and again ~ also!! Beth had agreed to help with a recipe blog - hooray!!! anyone anyone?? lol)

I Introduce to my friends - Laura, my sister and...The BIRTH Plan

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:53:58 GMT

Laura at 15 weeks

the baby at 20 weeks

Laura at 19 weeks

So I call my sister today and I asked her, "what the heck is this BIRTH PLAN?" She had mailed a Birth Plan to me in an email. HER Birth Plan. Turns out that since I had my daughter, things have tightened up and they give women ALL sorts of choices - kind of a mini labor-will-and-testament so to speak.... My niece has HER plan and she's not due for another 5 months, so since my sister is due any day now (2 cm. and 75% effaced) ((and HUGE)) (((and baby's head between her legs))) lol - she decided to google it and found a birth plan and filled it out and sent it to her OBGyn. I should have told her it's a good thing she has a BIRTH plan, because obviously she didn't have a CONCEPTION plan. But that's another story.....

I had a plan - I really did. I knew I was going to a certain hospital, that I was going to be in a LOT of pain, and that I was ABSOLUTELY going to have an epidural - REGARDLESS OF WHAT MY MOTHER TRIED TO TALK ME OUT OF!! THAT was my plan. End of story. And look! Look at all of the choices. Do you know that I could have had a mirror so I could have watched Lauryn crown and being born? But, I didn't know, I didn't think to ask, and frankly at the time, I DIDN'T CARE!!! Good reason for a Birth Plan - don't you think?? Check it out!

By the way - my sister is doing this the old fasioned way - she doesn't know if it's a boy or girl......so the excitement has begun!! Go vote!!

(Oh and BTW - her COACH is NOT me! **AHEM** I am thinking of boycotting the entire ritual. yeah right....

birthplan@iparenting.com

Birth Preferences - Laura Christine

Due Date: February 14, 2008
Patient of DR. M. D.
Scheduled to deliver at .....

LABOR
I would like to be free to walk around during labor.
I wish to be able to move around and change position at will throughout labor.
I would like to be able to have fluids by mouth throughout the first stage of labor.
I will be bringing my own music to play during labor.
I would like to wear contact lenses or glasses at all times when conscious.

LABOR AUGMENTATION/INDUCTION
I do not wish to have the amniotic membrane ruptured artificially unless signs of fetal distress require internal monitoring.
If labor is not progressing, I would like to have the amniotic membrane ruptured before other methods are used to augment labor.
I would prefer to be allowed to try changing position and other natural methods (walking, nipple stimulation) before pitocin is administered.

ANESTHESIA/PAIN MEDICATION
I realize that many pain medications exist I'll ask for them if I need them.

CESAREAN
Unless absolutely necessary, I would like to avoid a Cesarean.
I would like (coach) present at all times if the baby requires a Cesarean delivery.
I wish to have an epidural for anesthesia
So I can view the birth, I would like the screen lowered just before delivery of the baby.
If the baby is not in distress, the baby should be given to (coach) immediately after birth.

EPISIOTOMY
I would prefer not to have an episiotomy unless absolutely required for the baby's safety.
I am hoping to protect the perineum. I am practicing ahead of time by squatting, doing Kegel exercises, and perineal massage.
I would appreciate guidance in when to push and when to stop pushing so the perineum can stretch.
If possible, I would like to use perineal massage to help avoid the need for an episiotomy.
I would like a local anesthetic to repair a tear or an episiotomy.

DELIVERY
I would like to be allowed to choose the position in which I give birth, including squatting.
I would like (partner) and/or nurses to support me and my legs as necessary during the pushing stage.
I would like to try to deliver in a squatting position, using (coach) or a squatting bar for support.
I would like a mirror available so I can see the baby's head when it crowns.
Even if I am fully dilated, and assuming the baby is not in distress, I would like to try to wait until I feel the urge to push before beginning the pushing phase.
I would like to have the baby placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DELIVERY
I would like to have the baby evaluated and bathed in my presence.
I plan to keep the baby near me following birth and would appreciate if the evaluation of the baby can be done with the baby on my abdomen, with both of us covered by a warm blanket, unless there is an unusual situation.
If the baby must be taken from me to receive medical treatment, (coach) or some other person I designate will accompany the baby at all times.
I would prefer to hold the baby rather than have (him/her) placed under heat lamps.
I do not want a routine injection of pitocin after the delivery to aid in expelling the placenta.
I would like to see the placenta after it is delivered.

POSTPARTUM
I would like a private room, if available.
Unless required for health reasons, I do not wish to be separated from my baby.
I would like to have the baby "room in" and be with me at all times.

BREASTFEEDING
I plan to breastfeed the baby and would like to begin nursing very shortly after birth.

PHOTO/VIDEO
I would like to take still photographs during labor and the birth.
I would like to make a videorecording of labor and/or the birth.

OTHER
My support people are (support people) and I would like them to be present during labor and/or delivery.

A long, dark tunnel

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:21:04 GMT

I have another space on MSN spaces, but it is mostly about the other side of me. The side that laughs and teases and loves life. There is also this dark side of me, the side that doesn't want to see another day, that feels emotional pain in a physical way, someone who would rather climb into my bed and let the world go on it's course without her. This other person (no, i am not really two people) inside of me has anxieties that stop me from being able to do the smallest tasks in life, makes it difficult to face new challenges or even small every day challenges. Most of the time, I am able to push past that wall that holds me back, sometimes, I am not. Does it make life hard? Absolutely, for me AND for my family - my husband, my children, my parents - who worry about me and have to live with the consequences of depression. I sometimes am so angry, because the person that I once was, is not the person who I am now. Much of my drive and determination and bravery have been lost in the fight to come back out into the light.

Those of us who suffer from this dark demon are not all the same. Some of us are new to this, some of us have fought the darkness for a long time. I have been in this for over 25 years. I was lucky that I had a doctor that long ago who knew what was wrong with me when I first "broke". Some have long term depression and fight it all their lives, others are able to get help in one way or another and put it behind them after a time and never have to look back. All of you are welcome here.

So I am making this space, this place for those of you who feel this way too, who fight against something we cannot see and which threatens to overwhelm us and take us down under. If you want to share publicly, please do. If you want to share privately, send me a private message and tell me how you feel. If I can help in any way, I will. And maybe you will be able to help me too.

You are NOT alone. The dark tunnel you travel might make you feel that way, but we are in that tunnel with you, and together maybe we can come out into the light.

ThE BeGiNniNg

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:28:36 GMT

Photo Album: cLuB MeMbErS

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:50:23 GMT

cLuB MeMbErS

tressie ~ just me ~ http://tressiepoohscorner.spaces.live.com/ spacemaster

Laura ~ My younger sister and soon-to-be first time mommy!! ~ http://laura-babe-belle.spaces.live.com/blogwriter

tigg ~ My alter ego ~ http://candle-on-the-water.spaces.live.com/

Beth Marie ~ A wonderful lady with wonderful recipies and stories ~ http://msbethmarie.spaces.live.com

Linda ~just~ a wonderful friend to many and hilarious! ~ http://highriselacey.spaces.live.com

Geri ~ talented in graphic beyond belief and so very kind & giving ~ http://ourhouse92.spaces.live.com/

hope ~ beautiful blog & beautiful photographs ~ http://season-of-the-swan.spaces.live.com/

Nikki ~ a beautiful woman inside and out & an amazing Space ~ http://nikkihart.spaces.live.com/

Lisa ~ her space is a slice of heaven and peace. In every one of her photographs you know that God has been there already ~ http://lisa00785bigmama.spaces.live.com/

Kerrie ~ a loyal friend and an Aussie!

More Photos...

Custom List: ~ DISCUSSIONS BY TOPIC ~

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:47:21 GMT

~ DISCUSSIONS BY TOPIC ~

~ Depression ~
For those struggling with depression of any kind, post-partum, chronic, bipolar, seasonal...
Pregnancy & Child Birth
Some might be past the child-bearing years ~ but let's face it, EVERYONE likes to tell the gruesome stories from their pregnancy and labor/delivery!!