Quilts

I have been slowly working through a several quilting projects, since finishing this one last year for Courtenay & Brian's little boy Evan (CrazyMomQuilts Ragged Squares).

Here are the 3 most recent ones.

I made this 4 patch quilt for Kate from Moda's Bunny Hill.

And this is for Andrea & Luis' little boy, Lincoln, from a Moda Charm Pack (I don't know which one). I used CrazyMomQuilts directions for the Stacked Coins.

My cousin Kacie recently had twins, so I made two quilts for her.

Reese's is another Moda Charm Pack with the same CrazyMomQuilts Stacked Coins.

Reid's is something I came up with on my own, inspired by this one from CrazyMomQuilts (do you see a theme here?).

Time to figure out what to make next...

Baking with Isaak

I have been craving chocolate lately. And peanut butter. Chocolate and peanut butter.  I found a recipe for Peanut Butter Blondies...with chocolate.

After dinner tonight I got a step stool and had Isaak help me. His motor skills are good enough to poor a measuring cup into a bowl.  He stirred between ingredients, saying "bate bate bate chocolate". I have been looking forward to baking with Isaak for years and am thrilled that I can start.

I read the recipe to Isaak as I added each ingredient...and before long Isaak was "reading" the recipe to me. His version included a lot of chocolate chips.

Childbirth Sucks

Childbirth sucks. Don't get me wrong, it is worth it, it just sucks and I am never doing it again. NEVER.

We had originally been scheduled for a 7am checkin with an 8am start on the induction. At 5:45am we were called to say we had been bumped and to call back at 10. Of course I was already in the shower. I called at 10 and they said come as soon as possible (before we lose our spot). We called Sarah to come watch Isaak and we headed off to the hospital. My pitocin was started at 1pm and my water was broken at 2pm. I was 4cm at this point. The breaking of my water really got things moving. At 3:30 I cried Uncle and asked for half a dose of Fentanyl, wanting to take the edge off of the contractions and not really knowing how long labor was going to last. I was 5 cm now.  At 3:45 I was to 6cm and my nurse started calling for my OB to come to the hospital as I was going to go fast. At 4pm they told me not to push when that is what actually brought relief. I tried not to but wasn't very successful. The nurses got me upright and prepped and I think I only pushed 5 times, Katherine was born at 4:15pm. My nurse delivered her as my OB was just leaving her office  to come to the hospital and the oncall OB was running from the office across the street. She made it in time to deliver the placenta. 2 hours and 15 minutes. And no, I wasn't trying to go fast.

At one point, between pushes, Kevin made a reference to how easy a 3rd child would be. I told him to f*** off. The nurses all got a kick out of it.  I am glad to say, my child bearing years are over. Kevin gave me a wonderful mother's day gift with his visit to the doctor last week.

As we were leaving the hospital on the 24th, the nurses said Katherine's birth was the birth of the year, not only was it in record time but they delivered her with out an OB.

Amsterdam - Portland Comparison
Several people have asked about my experience in the US versus the Netherlands.  My prenatal care was very comparable. The major difference was a urine test and weight at every OB appointment in Portland, whereas in Amsterdam it was never checked.  I was on a baby heart rate monitor and uterine monitor for Kate and not Isaak. But then I was induced and they wanted to watch her reaction to the pitocin and my blood pressure.  My nurse and I discussed pain management and how all I had to do was ask if I wanted medication, versus getting a vigorous head shaking and blank look from the first assistant with Isaak.  Oh, and the best difference...was the offer of pain medication. I had half of a dose of Fentanyl to take the edge off of my contractions at about 3:45. It really only made it so I didn't care about 1 contraction, the rest I felt and cared about. After Katherine was born I was offered the 2nd half of my Fentanyl in my IV (which I gladly took). My lovely nurse then offered me 3 advil, which I again gladly took, followed by the glorious words "would you like a vicodin?", to which I replied, "Yes, Please!".  Whereas with Isaak it was 2 regular strength tylenol.

Friday is the day.

There is a very close end in site for my bed rest. I will be induced on Friday morning, unless she decides to come earlier on her own.  My bp was up higher today then on Friday. I tested just below the protein threshold for pre-eclampsia, so I have been scheduled to be induced on Friday morning.  Inducing me shouldn't take much work, I am now at 3-4cm, so my doc says..."a little pitocin and they break my water". With Isaak my  midwife broke my water at 4 cm and he was born 2.5 hours later. They say the 2nd one is usually faster still.

We are using Legacy Good Samaritan in Portland.  Denise arrives on Saturday afternoon and until then my friend Sarah is going to hang out with Isaak from Friday morning until Saturday afternoon.  

Bed Rest

Well, I am on bed rest. My blood pressure was elevated in 2 consecutive OB apppointments. Not skyrocket high but above 140/70ish and significantly higher than my consistent lower BP. On friday they gave me a 5th Ultrasound to confirm she is still growing and has good fluid. She is, she had gained 1 lb (now 7lbs 4 oz) since the ultrasound 2 weeks before.  The concern with the blood pressure is that it is either pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension. I also had a little bit of protein in my urine which supports the pre-eclampsia. Monday I delivered 24hrs of pee to the lab along with blood for a additional labs. I will see the doctor on Wednesday to learn more. If it is pre-eclampsia then I will not be allowed to go past 39 weeks (which is this week) and if it is gestational hypertension then I won't be allowed to go past 40 weeks (Wednesday next week). I feel fine other than a headache every now and then.

My bed rest isn't as strict as some, I can get up to make a sandwich, shower, etc. I am not supposed to pick up Isaak and I don't have to be in bed. I can be on the couch, reclined with my feet up.

I have contractions every day, off and on. This has been going on for about 2 months now. They are getting stronger but nothing consistent. Every time they start I wonder, "is this it" and start timing them.

So...we wait.  The bags are packed, the carseat is in the car. We are as ready as we will ever be.

Baby Shopping List

Tastet Baby Girl Shopping List
I  have been asked a few times as to what we need, here are some ideas:
gDiaper Bundle for Newborns, thank you barry!
gDiaper cloth inserts (small)
gDiaper liners (small)
cloth diaper sprayer
Haba toys (pacifier cord, rattle, teether)
Clothes (sleepers/rompers/onesies/outfits/tights/leggings/crib shoes)  6mo, 9mo, 12mo. NO 0 - 3mo (we have more than she will actually wear!)