Norah's Induction Date Set

Wa-hoooo!!!!!

Tomorrow's the day!

Jadie and I go in at 7:00 am in order for Dr Rister to come in and break my water at 7:30 am!

We'll see how long she takes to make her debut.  And we'll see how long I can make it without pain meds.  I'm trying to avoid the epidural again.

Prayers are appreciated!

Quote of the Day

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
~Thomas Edison

Show and Tell: The Letter S

What Am I?

Baby #3: 38 Weeks

Mary, Courtney, Stephanie, Amanda, Kelly, Me, and Beth
(from our Fall Girls' Night: Sept 20)

How I'm Feeling:
READY!!!  When I get still to go to bed or nap, I feel painless contractions and downward pressure.  These are unfamiliar for me and they scare me to death!  I'd much rather be in the hospital than to have the possibility of going into labor at home/in the car/at church/anywhere but the hospital!  Keep in mind, Sarah was in quite a hurry once the doctor broke my water.  She came only 51 minutes later!  I can't imagine having less than an hour to get to the hospital if my water breaks on its own!


Baby Center says:

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Show and Tell: The Letter A

(Actually from last Friday)

What is it?

Picky Eaters

These tips from Mayo Clinic sound logical to me...and I can see I may need to reconsider some of my methods.

Taken from this children's health article.

I wonder if any of these tips would work for Jadie, too?  Or if not using these techniques when he was younger has led to some of his selectivity when it comes to food?  I guess I'll never know.

No. 1: Respect your child's appetite — or lack of one

If your child isn't hungry, don't force a meal or snack. Likewise, don't bribe or force your child to eat certain foods or clean his or her plate. This might only ignite — or reinforce — a power struggle over food. In addition, your child might come to associate mealtime with anxiety and frustration. Serve small portions to avoid overwhelming your child and give him or her the opportunity to independently ask for more.

No. 2: Stick to the routine

Serve meals and snacks at about the same times every day. Provide juice or milk with the food, and offer water between meals and snacks. Allowing your child to fill up on juice or milk throughout the day might decrease his or her appetite for meals.

No. 3: Be patient with new foods

Young children often touch or smell new foods, and may even put tiny bits in their mouths and then take them back out again. Your child might need repeated exposure to a new food before he or she takes the first bite. Encourage your child by talking about a food's color, shape, aroma and texture — not whether it tastes good. Serve new foods along with your child's favorite foods.

No. 4: Make it fun

Serve broccoli and other veggies with a favorite dip or sauce. Cut foods into various shapes with cookie cutters. Offer breakfast foods for dinner. Serve a variety of brightly colored foods.

No. 5: Recruit your child's help

At the grocery store, ask your child to help you select fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. Don't buy anything that you don't want your child to eat. At home, encourage your child to help you rinse veggies, stir batter or set the table.

No. 6: Set a good example

If you eat a variety of healthy foods, your child is more likely to follow suit.

No. 7: Be creative

Add chopped broccoli or green peppers to spaghetti sauce, top cereal with fruit slices, or mix grated zucchini and carrots into casseroles and soups.

No. 8: Minimize distractions

Turn off the television and other electronic gadgets during meals. This will help your child focus on eating. Keep in mind that television advertising might also encourage your child to desire sugary foods.

No. 9: Don't offer dessert as a reward

Withholding dessert sends the message that dessert is the best food, which might only increase your child's desire for sweets. You might select one or two nights a week as dessert nights, and skip dessert the rest of the week — or redefine dessert as fruit, yogurt or other healthy choices.

No. 10: Don't be a short-order cook

Preparing a separate meal for your child after he or she rejects the original meal might promote picky eating. Encourage your child to stay at the table for the designated mealtime — even if he or she doesn't eat. Keep serving your child healthy choices until they become familiar and preferred.

If you're concerned that picky eating is compromising your child's growth and development, consult your child's doctor. In addition, consider recording the types and amounts of food your child eats for three days. The big picture might help ease your worries. A food log can also help your child's doctor determine any problems. In the meantime, remember that your child's eating habits won't likely change overnight — but the small steps you take each day can help promote a lifetime of healthy eating.

Baby #3: 37 weeks

Can you even believe it?  


3 more weeks until my due date?


UPDATE
***My BP today was 130/80 and I'm still at 3-4 cm dilated as well as 75% thinned.  We're staying pretty steady.  I did bring up the induction conversation, just for the sake of Jadie scheduling vacation.  We decided that we'd try to wait until 39 weeks as long as my BP holds where it is.  Norah is measuring 35 weeks and the doc said she's got her head really buried low.  That's a good thing for delivery, but it also explains why I sometimes feel like she could just fall right out!*** I have a doctor's appointment for a check in about an hour.  Maybe I'll remember to let you know how it goes.  By the way, I was dilated to a 3 and 75% thinned at last Tuesday's appointment.  You can tell how good I was at sharing that.  So, don't get your hopes up about an update after today's appointment.


I'm feeling pretty good, but my clothing choices are dwindling.  I'm much more comfortable at night; praise the Lord for hearing my prayers and answering with relief from pain and soreness during the night hours.


We've been praying for God's timing with Norah's arrival as well as a quick and pain-free delivery (or as painless as possible).  Sounds crazy, but God tells us to ask in the name of the Savior.  We trust that he will take care of all of the details and we'll have a sweet baby girl and a recovering mommy in no time.


Here's what Baby Center says about this week:

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.