Then there were three

Well you might have heard, either the through the grapevine or our haphazard phone tree, that mine and Adam's little Hamlet came early - about 2 1/2 weeks early to be exact. We had an ultrasound on November 15th that confirmed that our baby was frank breech. My midwife new how much I wanted Hamlet to flip so I could have a vaginal delivery. So after moxibustion, yoga, laying inverted three times a day for 15 minutes (with music and or light at the pelvic opening:), and, of course, bringing back our old friend ice - Hamlet decided to hold his ground. We had no other choice than to schedule an external version. We set the date for Saturday, November 20th, because the chief of OB would be in on that day, and she would really man handle me (both a good and a bad thing - I knew it was going to hurt....totally worth it to avoid surgery though).

Moxibustion = FAIL

Lying upside down = FAIL

Through some calculation derived all on his own, Adam determined that we had a less than 1% chance of needing an emergency C-section with this procedure. It was guided by ultrasound and if they perceived any danger they probably would just not even try to flip Hamlet. I did end up kicking it into gear after my last blog and got almost everything done I had planned for the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy, when work was supposed to slow down for me. Adam and I installed the car seat, packed our hospital bag, made my belly cast, did laundry, cleaned the house, assembled several baby items, got all the junk out of the babies room, and we squeezed in a little romantic date night too:) We did, however, miss opening night of HP7, which Adam will forever be sad about.

Saturday morning I woke up dreaming of the most amazing french toast ever. I do like the stuff but I usually don't crave it. I think knowing I was not supposed to eat breakfast made me have vivid food dreams. I had planned on waking up at 7:00 a.m. and doing my prenatal yoga to relax and ready my body for the flip. But when my alarm went off, I thought there is a less than 1% chance that this is my last morning to sleep in.....ever (according to all moms). So I snoozed. Then I woke up and got cute, since Adam told me we could go out to brunch after the version... a little french toast treat after my fast. And that man is so sweet, he didn't even eat breakfast either. I did take the term "fast" kind of loosely. I had a glass of milk, some green tea, and a lot of water, but no solids - except for a few pieces of Halloween candy. I wake up hungry, so I am glad I had something to look forward to, to keep me going.

We piddled a bit, listened to Jack Johnson, and packed the car. Then Adam clipped my toe nails after some reminding that we could have a baby today and I would never get that prenatal home pedicure he promised, so the least he could do was help a sister out with her velociraptor nails. Having any amount of white on my finger or toe nails drives me crazy. So not being able to cut my own toe nails for so long made me fixated on them. Once we took care of business we headed out to the hospital. The whole way we were daydreaming about how crazy it would be if the unlikely (less the 1 % chance) event did take place today. We snapped some "first false alarm" pictures when we got to the parking lot (little did we know:) and then headed up to the birthing pavilion. I got several compliments on how cute my baby bump was....and yes they may have just been cheap words from women who see pregnant bellies all the time...but I soaked it in.



We got taken back in to birthing suite 12 right around 10:00 a.m. This seemed promising since that is when my appointment was scheduled for. Brunch was right around the corner, I could almost taste it! The nurse had me change into a hospital gown and get hooked up to the fetal monitors to make sure Hamlet was doing well (and he was). I was already ravenous, but I just had to make it through 20 minutes of monitoring and 5 minutes of pushing, then I would be home free. We wondered about whether or not the version would work, or if we would be back in this same birthing suite when we had our baby. We wondered if all the rooms were blue or just ours and if that meant we were having a boy (Adam still thought boy, but I was becoming more convinced Hamlet was a girl). We wondered if Hamlet would flip on his own or if it would be snowing when I went into labor. After about two hours, we began to wonder if they forgot about us or if we would have time to get breakfast for dinner before we had to be at Young Life Club. I started to watch cooking shows, you know.... to get my mind off eating. And Adam went down to the car to get my computer to try and watch the Gators v. Appalachian State online. We also checked on HP7 IMAX tickets for Sunday online, but we decided to wait to order them, just in case.


Our nurse came in the room around 12:30 p.m. and said she had good and bad news. Oh no. She found out that one of the breakfast places that has the best french toast in town serves breakfast all day (she knew about my dream) = good. But the chief of OB and all the residents just left the floor to go do rounds in another part of the hospital = bad. Does an appointment mean nothing to you people?

So we entertained ourselves some more. Then our dear friend Liza came in. She was one of the OB residents sent in to do my ultrasound and check on the babies position. The position of the baby, cord, and placenta were all fine for the version but she looked concerned. Then she asked me how much amniotic fluid I had at my ultrasound on Monday. I told her I had about 12 cm (the lower end of the normal range). Her follow-up question was if my water had broke since Monday.....ummmm....no, not that I noticed. She then told Adam and I that there was only 2 cm of amniotic fluid surrounding Hamlet, which is almost nothing. Liza explained how the baby might not be lubricated enough for the version, but she would check. Next came the kicker. Liza said she would "check with the chief and if we can flip the baby, we will, and then induce, and if not we will prep you for a C-section, but either way your having this baby today."

Blank stare, disbelief, panic, a little crying. I think that was the sequence of things. Liza came back and told us the version was a no-go and I needed to be ready for a C-section in 20 minutes. She was very kind to me though, with how she broke the news. I felt like she really cared that this was not what I wanted. At that point, I knew this was what was best for our baby and I was really thankful that we had options to give Hamlet the healthiest birth possible. I got past the C-section and started to try and wrap my brain around the fact that I would be holding my baby in about one hour!



Adam and I started calling and texting as many people as we could. Michelle hopped in a car from Boston, the grandparents started looking for flights, and all of our wonderful friends started leaving us messages of love and well wishes. People were popping in and out of my room. I got stuck for an IV three times and then had some extra labs drawn because they were "concerned" about my bleeding times from all my botched IV sites (kinda scary when you are going in for major abdominal surgery - but I was fine). Then Adam donned his full body suit, with extra face covering for his man hair. And I was crowned with hair net and hospital socks. The team was ready to rush us out the door. In the midst of the frenzy, Adam and I asked for one more minute alone just to pray together and for him to hug me, so we could slow time down just a little bit. My head felt clear and everything started to feel super dream-like and surreal (very similar to being on the other side of the church doors and seeing my soon to be husband through the crack). I took deep slow breaths and as many mental snap shots as I could.

My processional led me past the nurses station and to the cold, very medical feeling OR, where I had to leave Adam at the door. The first thing I noticed was the ceiling - boring, white, and typical, but I thought this is what I will be looking at when I hear my babies cry for the first time. I warned the whole team I might get emotional and they assured me that was totally allowed. I then drummed up all my romantic mental imagery of me holding my baby (looking beautiful) and Adam hugging me and telling me what an amazingly strong woman I am. I was supposed to use these mental pictures to get me through labor, but I used them for my spinal tap. It worked. I got through it (all 10 or so tries). I am all about trying to be a tough cookie and letting the students/residents try without getting testy, because you gotta learn. I then went numb up to my nipples, which was strange and scary. My chest felt like a weight when I tried to laugh or take a deep breath and I kept squeezing Adam's hand to make sure I wasn't too weak up top. Adam assured me I was squeezing with adequate strength.

My sweet husband, who was supposed to open up his "love line" that we learned about in the Bradley method - where you talk sweetly and romantically to your partner, verbalizing everything you love about them- all the stuff that makes you fall in love and want to make babies with a person, could only say "Case, How you doing? You okay? How you feeling?" But I could see in his eyes how much he loved and cared for me:) And we were both pretty nervous. This wasn't an "emergency C-section" but we knew they worried about our baby and wanted to get him out as quick as possible. And Adam could probably tell I was about to blow chunks at any moment, not to mention, I think I was hyperventilating because breathing felt so weird. I was trying not to think about any of that and just get lost in my lover's eyes. I was also trying to block out the tugging and shaking of my body down below and the subtle smell of burnt flesh, that I knew was my own.

Then there was a lot of commotion and they told Adam to look over the sheet and I heard my babies first cry, right as Adam said "it's a boy." I can't even describe what I felt, but I was overcome with emotion. I was crying but I just felt such joy. Then Adam started to ask me if he could go be with our baby, but I cut him off and told him to go! I knew that they were pretty worried about my blood pressure, talking calmly but urgently, and giving me some bp meds under my tongue and I knew my baby boy looked like a blueberry. I was still conscious though, and he was crying, so I just laid there and listened to him and felt so thankful. After about 10 minutes of laying there listening to all the goings on and the play-by-play from the anesthesiologist who was still sitting by my head, he maneuvered the curtain slightly for me and I saw a little blue foot sticking straight up across the room. That was the first I saw of my son and I was so in love with that little blue foot! Finally, Adam brought him over to me and I kissed him and looked at his cute pouty lips. They let me hold him on the OR table, but I was really nervous because my arms were still very tingly and a little numb - so Adam spotted me. I felt much better after they slid my dead weight body back into my bed and laid my little naked baby right on my bare chest (where my tingly arms couldn't drop him). He had a full head of hair, and bruises on his tummy from kneeing himself while in his breech position, and the softest skin ever. I was madly in love.










We stayed like that for the next five or six hours. We had a welcome wagon of ladies in our room when we returned. My two closest friends from church, Megan and Penny, were there bearing gifts and a video camera. And my personal cheerleader in life, Michelle, had just arrived too. Perfect timing! They fussed over me and all told me my blue, swollen baby was cute - good friends:) Then my hospital dinner came and I ate all of it, while Michelle was out getting french toast from the restaurant Adam and I had been planning to go to all day. My nurse reminded me to take things slow, and I assured her I was. I started on the french toast as soon as Meech got back (I only dripped a little bit of syrup on my baby). By then the little Hamlet was ready to try breastfeeding. He was working to hard at breathing until then to give it a go. He latched on and went to town. Luckily, I got Adam's attention just in time for him to grab the baby, while Michelle handed me a basin, which I promptly vomited all of my dinner and french toast into (I guess I wasn't taking it slow enough). I think that was the easiest yuking experience of my life though - less than a minute of nausea, it came up quick, and I felt instantly back to normal- that never happens for me. So I ate some more french toast and tried to breast feed again. The same sequence of events occurred. Again the newborn, who we were still calling Hamlet, was not harmed by any vile stomach contents.



The third breastfeeding attempt was successful and all the nurses and lactation consultants who came in from then on couldn't get over what a breastfeeding champ my lil' man was. We proceeded to test out a bunch of different names out on our boy, but the name we had picked out from the beginning was the one that stuck, but Adam and I both had problems committing to something so permanent. Both of our moms confessed they were glad Boaz was not the one to stick. On his third day of life we made it official and named him William Grayson Hammond, but we call him Liam.



The last three weeks have felt like three or four long days. The lack of sleep gets less romantic as the days go on, but our boy has given us several good nights too. I think overall he is an easy baby. But even with an easy one, I am surprised at how inefficient I have become. Don't get me wrong. I am glad my main job right now is to cuddle with, stare at and care for my newborn - but I would think I could accomplish one thirty minute task a day that I set for myself, but no. I really feel like I can't get anything else done. I think my friend Lins was right when she told me if you don't finish something before the baby comes, you won't finish it. For instance this blog took me eight days to crank out! Oh well. I am doing my best to soak in my boys first month of life and trying not too think about him growing up yet (which keeps popping into my mind and makes me burst into tears). When Adam can tell I am on the brink of crying, he will start singing some song about a child growing up to fast like "Puff the magic dragon" or the "Circle Game." Then I loose it and cry so hard, that I start to laugh. At first I thought he was insanely cruel, but actually, I think he knows what he is doing. It's like an emotional release for me and after it's over I feel normal again.



Other than that, please forgive me if I haven't called you, returned your calls, or if I don't give you a Christmas present. I promise I have good intentions. I am just in the mom haze. I love you all and I can't wait for you to meet little Lili:)

Exhausting our options

So we found out for sure on Monday our little baby is still breech. Hamlet moves a lot still and even throws me for a loop sometimes because I feel a complete change of position, but never head down!

We tried the moxibustion about two weeks ago. Adam met me on his lunch break at the acupuncturist's office. No needles were involved (I know it is weird, but I was actually kinda hoping for the experience of the needles). Instead the guy just stuck moxy seeds to my pinky toe and smoldered them until it was too hot against my skin. Then he pulled them off. He did this about ten times on each side. I did feel Hamlet move a lot, but no flipping. He said it doesn't always happen right away and he gave us a less potent stick of it to burn by my toe every day, which we have been pretty faithful with.

The funny thing about moxy is it smells a lot like weed. It was subtle at first, but soon the smell was overwhelming. We were giggling about it and said something to the guy, who proceeded to tell us about how he has had the cops knock at his office door before because of the odor. And then laughing, he turns to Adam, who is looking handsome and very American Apparel in his dress clothes and tie, and tells him he wouldn't want to do the home treatment when he is wearing his work clothes unless you want to raise some eyebrows. What the heck?! Luckily we did a sniff test and he didn't smell too strongly of weed as he headed back to care for patients that afternoon. The acupuncturist also got onto us a bit for our ice intervention. Apparently, Chinese medicine almost never uses "cold" to treat anything, unless you know the disease is "hot." Cold usually slows or congests things. Hopefully we didn't set ourselves too far back. The ice sure did make Hamlet dance though. I did feel like a bad mom, so we haven't done a repeat of that treatment.

I have also been doing pre-natal yoga, focusing on the poses that encourage the baby to flip. I have been visualizing the turn. I have been praying for the turn. Recently, I even started a strict regimen of laying upside down three times a day at a 45 degree angle. When Adam is home, he sits between my legs and plays guitar for Hamlet to draw him/or her to the pelvic opening. We read that babies our drawn to folk and classical music and rock disturbs them - so we have been leaving out the AC\DC. We tried to pick as many songs as possible with the word turn in them, but that list turned out to be pretty wimpy: Turn around bright eyes (yes all million verses of the song) by Bonnie Tyler, Don't turn around (modified of course) by Ace of Base, and Turn Turn Turn by the Byrds. We are open to any other good suggestions to add to our list. Other than that we have been sticking to some folk songs that we love - no classical since Adam doesn't have his cello here. When Adam is not around I just use the ipod, which is not nearly as fun as having your hubby between your legs....singing.

What is the next step you may be wondering...it is not a fun one. I am scheduled for an external version this Saturday. Aside from the extreme discomfort it causes the mom as they physically force the baby into a head down position (they give some people who can't relax an epidural for the procedure), I am more worried about the slim possibility of tearing the placenta and fetal distress, which would result in an emergency C-section. Hamlet is in the best breech position (franc breech- booty down and both feet up by the head, but my placenta is in the most dangerous position, anterior (front and center). I am really excited to meet Hamlet, but I have a long list of stuff I am supposed to get done before they come. I feel like I have been nesting like crazy, but maybe I am not an efficient nester. The baby room is a mess, my bag is not packed, the car seat is not installed, we have no phone tree set up, and I still do not have pediatrician (I called today, I promise). Plus I have a ton of other things that really aren't important, but that I was hoping to knock out before I bring my baby home, because I hear your world stops for a bit and everything gets put on hold when you become parents. And I have been getting stressed because I just want to spend some super romantic time with my hubby, who is working a lot and tired. And when he does have free time, I feel guilty about not getting baby stuff done. I think I am entering panic mode.

Adam was trying to calm me down and tell me we are not going to have a baby on Saturday - "they didn't even tell us to bring a bag." Are they supposed to? Shouldn't I already have that ready since I am FULL TERM (as of yesterday). I think maybe they assume that is done. They didn't tell me to back a bag, no, but they did tell me not to eat anything and to fill out my surgical consent forms in case I need to go in for a C-section that day. I am thinking I should bring a bag - which I still don't even know what to put inside of it- because I am not gonna be sending Hammer home to get fuzzy socks or baby clothes or whatever you are supposed to bring to the hospital while I am alone with our brand new baby. I am also open to any suggestions of what I should put in the bag ladies, so throw 'em at me. I know the chances are super low this will happen and part of my reason for being so freaked out is anecdotal, but the only person I have talked to that has actually had a version went home with a baby that day..... so you can see I am little wound up, but I am hoping that writing about this will have some therapeutic effect on my jitters.

We did get one more ultrasound picture of Hamlet at the appointment on Monday where we determined that the booger was in deed breech, but I refrained from putting it on here because it is creepy. It looks like we our having a ghost baby. When the guy handed me the picture he said "I promise it will be cuter when it comes out." I hope so. Adam tried to explain to me how the baby is so big now it is hard to get them in one plane for the picture, so they end up looking a little supernatural. I guess - but I am still not posting it. The tech did tell us that he saw hair (we are assuming on the head, hopefully). So Hamlet will be a cute little hairy ghost baby. We also read that one of the risk factors for being breech is being a girl. Does that change anyone's prediction? It did kinda change mine, but mine changes with the wind.

As for some more boring updates, sleep is getting tougher. I toss and turn a lot more and my lower back is starting to ache. I have also been having this weird pelvic pain. It almost feels like my pubic bone is fractured. That's normal, right? And I am always hungry. Other than that I will have to keep you posted after Saturday...or you will get a frantic, call, text, e-mail or facebook message as we try to spread the word haphazardly sans organized communication tree. Wish me luck and pray that Hamlet turns before Saturday!

Breech and Ticked

True...I am very sad that my baby is breech. I found out at my last appointment with my midwife. Of course the one appointment my hubby couldn't make was the most eventful one of all. My midwife was pushing on my belly like she usually does before she tells me Hamlet is head down and then asses the heart beat. But she was pushing on it a lot longer this time and her brow started to furrow. Then I started to run through a list of ridiculous medical revelations she could be making....all of them scary and extreme. My baby being breech did not cross my mind. Nope. All my speculations were far more dramatic. Then she started to get closer and closer to my belly, inspecting the under part and looking concerned. Finally, I said "What?! What is it?" She wasn't giving me anything to go on. Then she told me, "Well, your baby is breech, but I think you also have a tick." She gave me a mirror and, sure enough, it was a tick. I was so embarrassed of my personal hygiene at that moment, but it is hard to care for what you can't see.

I was the entertainment for the office that afternoon. Three midwives came into see my tick and confer on the most current standard of care for tick removal. First, we identified the tick. We all agreed it was a dog tick (me using the mirror) and that it was not engorged. These were both good findings since Lyme disease is prevalent in north east, usually carried by deer ticks and transferred to the host when they start to feed about 24 hours after the bite. I was pretty sure I had had it less than 24 hours because the only time I went hiking since I got back from Florida was the evening before, so we were still in the safety window even if it wasn't a dog tick. Every person who came in the room proceeded to asked me "where have you been?" Really?! Is it that crazy to play in the wooded mountains when you live in an outdoor mecca like Vermont or New Hampshire? Anyways, the removal was successful, but I am on the look out for any target lesion that might pop up at the site of the bite for the next month (We don't want to see that. Target lesion = Lyme).

While all the ladies were in one spot, they all confirmed my little breech baby and told me to have Adam check me for anymore ticks when I got home. One of them imparted this wisdom to me with eyebrows raised before walking out the door, "You know you have a good partner if they check your butt crack." I will let all of you guess as to what kind of partner my hubby is. Now that the excitement of the tick was over, I had time to be bummed about my other news. I don't want Hamlet to be breech. I thought that sucker was head down for good after the whole VK experience, but now my Movie Moverton flipped head up and then got lazy.

What the heck?!

I am starting to stress about it because I would really like to avoid a C-section if at all possible. Even though I am delivering at an academic hospital, they said they do not deliver breech babies. Boring! I was getting really excited about natural childbirth now that Adam and I have been reading more and practicing relaxation (which involves Adam giving me massages and pampering me and telling me lovely things about myself- we should have started practicing sooner:) Plus, we are starting our child birth classes next Monday.

So my plan is to pray for that little butter bean to turn over. Feel free to join me. And tomorrow I am trying moxibustion - my first experience with acupuncture. I am getting needles stuck in my little toe and an herb burned by them to increase fetal movement. It actually has some good scientific evidence to back it...about the same success rate as external version, where they physically try to push the babe into the head down position. Not so fun for the mom. In fact, I heard it is pretty painful. I was chatting with a new mom at my flu clinic today, who had an external version. They abrupted her placenta (ripped away from the uterine wall) and she had to go in for an immediate C-section, but I am choosing not to think about that - starting now, because mine is not scheduled until November 15th - if Hamlet is still head up by then. I am also increasing my downward dogs, my butt-up child's pose, and my supported bridge (all yoga moves supposed to encourage breech babes to flip). And we are bring back our old friend ice tonight. We heard ice at the fundus (where little ham's head currently resides) makes them turn down. Ice got us results we wanted before, so I guess we will try it again. Adam and I will also be trying a little music and light at the pelvic opening to lure the babe in the right direction. Wish us luck!

Other than that I have been very busy with work since my return to Vermont from the beautiful Sunshine State. And fatigue has entered the picture again, so I have been feeling more bushed than usual. That is why haven't written about my trip yet, but I intend to in the very near future. I am so thankful I got to go home one more time before the baby comes. It has also flurried twice here - and I have missed both times. Once was yesterday. I am pretty excited about the first snow, especially since it is already cold- might as well snow if you are going to be freezing anyway. I miss you all and I wish I could hit each and everyone of you with a snow ball!

Fall Fun

Why can't fun things go slower and lame things fly by? I can not believe our first Octoberfest in Vermont has come and gone. It has almost been a full week since the 5th annual "Hammond Drop-In Day". The crowd was smaller this year than in years past, which is to be expected when you move 1,200 miles from home. But I was still so surprised by the amazing turnout we did have.


Amy and Nathan made their anniversary pilgrimage from Orlando to be with us last weekend. Happy anniversary today BTWs! I think they get the award for greatest distance traveled. Second and third place go to Austin, who flew in from Jacksonville, and Ashleigh, who flew up from D.C. I would also like to recognize that Michelle has been at every Octoberfest, which ties her for perfect attendance with me and Adam. To those of you recognized, your dedication and faithfulness will not go uncompensated. You will each receive an oil painting of Adam and I as merpeople, as well as a lifetime of friendship and love:)


Having Austin and Courtney here meant we had the complete set of Nall siblings at Octoberfest this year - very fitting for the 5th anniversary, since their parents were the ones who inspired our drop in day tradition. Thanks Nalls! We also had representation from our friends in Mass, Maine, and New Hampshire (I know the last one isn't saying much since it is 2 minutes from us) - not to mention all of our in-town friends from Adam's residency, my work, and church drop by.


There were so many newbies to share all our Ofest traditions with, which have accumulated over the years. As usual the weekend was full of good food. There were several fires despite all the wet wood from tropical storm Nicole. Segway, Catan, and telephone-pictionary were enjoyed. Lots of Coffee and Beer were consumed (we actually made $6.25 from a bottle redemption place near our house. woo hoo!). Many great convos were had, several naps taken, and the occasional dance party. I saw 3 a.m. for the first time in a while, not including after hour pee breaks. We also started a new tradition of a Saturday morning hike (which may only be a tradition while we live in VT). It was a little tough to rouse everyone after a late night, but totally worth it once we got going. And we squeezed in several rounds of "no errors starting now" in a giant field we came across mid-hike. The Gator game was viewed (but not on the big screen this year) and sadly the Octoberfest curse continues. Luckily, we stick together through all types of weather. Much of the game was spent telling stories about overcoming adversity to lift everyone's spirits. My favorite was the one shared by Nathan, where he recounted a recent breaking news story about a woman who fought off a bear in her yard with an over-sized zucchini. Very inspiring. Other than the game, and the random drop-in guy who rolled backward down a very steep hill in our yard, and rumor of someone almost being hit by a hatchet....the weekend was a success. We are looking forward to next year, where hopefully all of you who were here in spirit, can be here in person. That will be baby Ham's first Ofest (out of utero).


The weekend before Ofest Adam and I got to experience a new Young Life camp. Since we just recently started helping out with Upper Valley YL we went to leadership weekend in Saranac, NY. It was so beautiful! I really got to see how amazing fall is on our drive from New Hampshire to New York. The leaves were incredible. I learned a new derogatory VT term for voyeurs who come to take in all the beauty of our state and consequently drive like crap - "leaf peepers." Oh you Vermonters- always so harsh with your words.


It is crazy to see a whole new face of YL, but I couldn't help but miss all the peeps I have had the joy of doing ministry with in the South. We have a small group of leaders up here, but it was great getting to bond with them for the weekend. We already knew the area director and his wife pretty well because they have really taken us under their wing since before we even moved up here - they gave us a place to stay while we were looking for one, watched Jamie for us, helped us move in. They have been a huge blessing in our lives and we are so thankful for them.


As for pregnancy, I am still feeling good. I am 31 weeks as of yesterday. The only more serious issue I have had is something they don't have a distinct clinical name for, but a family physician informed me that it is appropriately termed "Vagina Knife" on the street. Basically, a stabbing cervical pain woke me up in the night last Sunday and I felt a ton of pressure. I laid awake for a little while, but was able to fall back asleep. I got a call to sub the next day at an elementary school and I went. I still had this baseline of stabbing pain, but I thought I could make it through the day. But there were points where it would get so intense, I would notice myself stop breathing for a bit. So then I tried to practice breathing through the pain - again, good practice for labor right? I didn't make it very far. I wasn't too worried because Hamlet was still moving a lot and I didn't feel any contractions, but it was just super painful. I dropped the kids off at PE a few hours into the day and that is when I started to feel chills. I got really nauseous and started to feel like I was gonna yuke. I got up to tell the teacher next door I wasn't feeling so hot and as soon as I stood up, I stopped being able to hear and everything started to feel tingly (as a seasoned fainter I knew that was no good). Luckily, the teacher next door just happened to walk in to say hey and immediately asked if I was okay. She went and got the school nurse:) And my friend came to pick me up to take me to my midwife. She said it could be a mix of things. I was pretty dehydrated....which makes a uterus irritable. Plus, when she checked my cervix she said it wasn't dilated or effaced, but it had moved forward, which happens sometime before birth and little Ham had moved way down since my last visit less than a week ago. I guess if that happens fast it can cause V.K. especially when mixed with dehydration. Her other explanation was this could be your new baseline...to which I responded, "b#&%h - you are crazy!" -in my head. Thank goodness after an afternoon of sitting on the couch and drinking about 6 Nalgenes of water, I learned that was not my baseline because I would have been a complete grump for the next 10 weeks. Well it is sunny here, so I am about to go walk my trails and take advantage of this beautiful weather while it is still around!


Oh, and to my honey.....Happy Engagiversary! (Well it was yesterday...I just didn't get around to posting this until today:)

Belly Pictures

I believe this was the first belly picture we took at around 5 weeks. I forgot I had such a girly figure:)

As you can see, we were very diligent in the beginning when not much was changing...but we were so excited! I think this was week 6.

Week 7. This is when I actually think I started to lose weight, not from yuking all the time (even though this was probably the beginning of the constant nausea) but because I gave up coffee, red wine, most meats, anything too sweet, and a whole host of other things that made my stomach turn. All I wanted was fruits and veggies, so consequently I lost 5 lbs. I might have to try that diet after the babe:)

Week 13ish. It is so nice to grow a pooch and have your hubby love it. Adam always made me feel so cute, even though this was the beginning of the 'feeling fat not pregnant' stage. I didn't just gain weight at the site of the baby bump. I gained it everywhere. Thanks estrogen.

Week 14ish. This is Kit Kat kinda of putting it together that there is a baby cousin inside.

And then getting really excited when she realizes it is a girl (which of course no one is sure of but her).

Week 16ish. This was our first belly picture in Vermont.

Week 17ish. This is around the time people started to tell me I "popped" (which I think means 'you look like you could have a baby in there').

Week 18ish. I started trying to show off my baby bump:)

Week 19ish. I was already starting to feel little Hamlet move!


Week 22ish. I started hiking a lot. First of all, because it is fun and beautiful and secondly, because I quit running around this time. It started to be no fun at all - lots of pressure and the constant urge to pee, even though lil Ham was probably less than a pound here.

Week 24. This is not Vermont...in case you were getting ready to move up here due to the state's abundance of majestic mountains and gorgeous beaches. This is actually Miami, so a lot of you got to see me at this size.


Week 25. Michelle and I both agreed my belly button should be sticking out by now, so she tried to coax it out. But it was not time. In fact, it still hasn't made it's debut. Neither has my linea nigra. I guess I might not get one. But Adam did tell me he could see a faint pregnancy mask. Also caused by pigmentation changes during pregnancy. I think I would rather have the line than the mask. But he keeps telling me I'm cute, so I guess I will believe him.


While the Nalls were here, they also insisted I do a belly photo shoot.

And when I didn't appear loose enough, they brought in a male model to help me feel more relaxed. Things got kinda out of hand from here, so there will be no more pictures from this shoot, since I don't have 'graphic content' warning on my blog.

Kinda cute.....except for the giant bulge in my pants. I promise it is wind and not a pregnancy-induced FUVA.

Week 26. Starting to know what it feels like to be poked, patted, and disrobed because of my growing belly. Of course I don't mind it from Addy, but that man dressed like a squirrel in Burlington who asked to rub my baby...that freaked me out a little. So I pretended to be hearing impaired. No response necessary.

People love babies...especially when they are your BFs.

Week 28. I feel like I am growing pretty fast. I have been getting away with my 'long' shirts and breaking into Adams Ts, but even those our starting to turn into mid drifts. It's 'no lust day' all over again.

Coming soon, by popular demand.....Pictures of our house. It just hasn't looked completely lived in until recently. What?! I have been busy. I am about to work on the last three boxes we have in our living room. Slow and steady wins the race. I hope all is well with you guys.

11 Weeks to go! And I will leave you with a picture of Adam and rehearsing a labor position.