McFarland Family News

Our Beautiful, Insane Life

2010-10-16T22:09:00.004-05:00

The last month has been absolutely insane. Reid was high-maintenance as a baby--always wanted to be held, fought sleep, fussy in the evenings, not a great sleeper at night, etc... I was so very hopeful that Camille was going to be the "easy" baby. You know...the one who is always content, rarely cries, sleeps in their bassinet angelically.

Lets just say that Reid and Camille may not look a whole lot alike right now, but they share similar personalities. Sweet Jesus, help me! Camille is not a bad baby. She's not colicky. She does not cry for hours on end. She simply thinks that she needs to be in my arms ALL THE TIME. She can be sound asleep in my arms but as soon as I put her down she wakes up. Crying. She sleeps for 3-4 hours at a time at night...as long as I hold her or snuggle her next to me in bed. She would also like to eat 24-7. She will ride in the Ergo carrier strapped to the front of me which is how I prepare Reid's food, clean the kitchen, do laundry, etc... And the last week or so she is finally letting me put her on her play mat or in her swing for brief intervals.

Add to the newborn insanity Hurricane Reid. That child never stops. He is such a great kid. He is smart, he's adorable, and he plays well by himself and with others. However, he is throwing some horrendous tantrums lately. I'm talking tantrums with every diaper change, almost every time he goes in his car seat, sometimes when he goes in his booster seat to eat and frequently when he is told "no". And these tantrums are kicking, screaming, back-arching, body-throwing, bang-your-head-into-the-back-of-the-chair performances every blasted time. This is easily my least favorite part of parenting thus far.

So, yes, life is insane. Yet there are so many precious moments during each day: Camille snuggled on my chest...so tiny and innocent, Reid's adorable little voice chattering away, Reid bringing Camille a pacifier or covering her with a blanket, Camille smiling at me, Reid learning to do something new. The list goes on and on. It always seems that when I've reached the absolute end of my patience, one of them does something to soften my heart and remind me that this is such a sweet and fleeting time in our lives. As crazy as it seems now, I know that one day I will miss this craziness.

And now, pictures!

Reid and BeBe playing with is new police car. (Have a mentioned that the help of both sides of our family has been a lifesaver?!)

Camille at one week old.

Such a big boy!

Snuggling with my sweetie.

Reid loving on his baby sister. He's such a great brother!

Playing on her play mat.

First real bath. Her cord stump took 4 weeks to fall off!

My pretty girl.

And the official one month old chair picture. Reid let her borrow his teddy bear.

Professional Picture Gallery

2010-10-07T20:58:00.002-05:00

Here is the link for the online photo gallery of Camille's newborn photo shoot. The password is "reid". Enjoy!

http://eleventhirtysiximages.com/viewing/?slideshowID=86570

Pictures of Camille

2010-09-19T21:52:00.005-05:00

This picture was taken about 10 minutes after my water broke. We are walking out the door to go to the hospital. I may be having a contraction which would explain the forced smile. Our last picture as a family of three...

And poof! Ten hours later, the baby magically appears.

This picture was taken around 2:30 a.m. when my parents could finally come back and see us. I'm impressed they hung in there--they are NOT middle-of-the-night party people. Come to think of it, neither am I.

When Reid was born and taken to the nursery for his first bath both sets of grandparents and my sister stayed outside the window to watch his first bath. When we dropped off Camille at the nursery for her bath it was 3:30 a.m. No one was at the hospital with us. We were exhausted. This is the one picture that was taken before Brian and I left our sweet girl in the nursery. Let the younger sibling complex begin! (She was back in my arms within an hour--I'm not a horrible mother!)

Reid seeing Camille for the first time around 10:00 a.m. on her birthday.

Our family of four! Can you see Camille's face? Nope. Did we buy Reid's happiness with a Matchbox firetruck? Absolutely.

Happy Birthday, sweet Camille!

Reid assisting with the spit-up suction. Such a big helper already!

A little mother-daughter chat before leaving the hospital

All dressed up and ready for the ride home.

As you can see, Reid is thrilled to be taking his little sister home for the first time.

My sweet parents adorned our house with pink balloons to welcome Camille home.

First picture at home

The morning after our first night at home--also Daddy's 31st birthday. Happy Birthday, Daddy!

One Week Old-A letter to Camille

2010-09-16T21:28:00.003-05:00

My precious Camille Geneva,

Today you are one week old, and you are our miracle. Everything about you has surprised us so far! Daddy and I were surprised to learn we were pregnant with you a couple of days after Christmas in 2009. It took us quite awhile to get pregnant with your brother, and we were amazed that it was so easy this time.

We were so surprised to learn that you were a little girl! I wanted to have a little girl so badly, but given Daddy's family tree, it seemed likely that we would have a houseful of boys. There haven't been any girls born on the McFarland side of the family for 85 years! In late March 2010, Daddy and I went to the big ultrasound and doctor's appointment. Even before the ultrasound tech said anything, I could see that you were a girl. Daddy said he knew by the huge smile on my face that we were having a girl.

A couple of weeks later, in mid-April, we were surprised to learn that our doctor was already worried about our pregnancy with you. You weren't even halfway to your due date! I cried in the doctor's office and asked what we could do to make sure you would be born big and safe and healthy. I was so worried for my precious little girl. I spent the next 3 1/2 months on bed rest trying to keep you safe. Those early weeks of bed rest, I was often paralyzed with fear for you. You kept right on wiggling and kicking all day, every day as if to reassure me that you were okay. I treasured every ultrasound that we had, and I loved seeing you grow bigger and stronger with every passing week.

We were surprised that we made it to our "goal" of 34 weeks pregnant with you. We felt so blessed to have gotten you to a point where you would likely be just fine even if you were born a little early. And then you really surprised everyone as you continued growing and seemed very happy to stay inside Mommy week after week after week.

Our precious little girl, we worried about you so much, but you showed us how resilient and amazing you are as you grew inside of mommy even past your due date! And then, very early on the morning of September 9, 2010, you made your arrival.

You are big and healthy and strong--all the things that we prayed for. You weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces and were perfect in every way. I was so very tired after you were born. They finally wheeled us up to our room at 3:30 in the morning. We had to drop you off at the nursery for a bath, but I knew you'd be back in our room soon. I was exhausted, but the moment the nurses brought you back to me, I was energized! We spent those early morning hours cuddled together in my bed. You were snuggled against my chest to stay warm, and I just kept kissing your sweet head which was full of dark brown hair.

Your daddy loves you more than you can imagine. I remember in the delivery room hearing him tell you about the book Daddy Hugs. He said he was giving you "teeny-tiny finger hugs" while you were on the warming table, and you have had him wrapped around your little finger ever since.

Later on the morning you were born, you met your brother for the first time. At first he just stared at you, but over the last week he has shown us repeatedly how much he loves you. He covers you with his blanket when you're in your glider, and he always wants to make sure you have your pacifier in your mouth. He brings his favorite toys and puts them next to you in the glider and looks at you lovingly.

And your grandparents--well, they all adore you. BeBe, Grandad, Mimi and Grandpa all spent special time with you in the hospital, and they've loved holding you and telling us how beautiful and perfect you are over the last week.

Sweet Camille, you are our tiny, precious miracle. We are so proud of you for being born so healthy and strong. We know God has big things in store for your life, and we can't wait to see what each day brings. But for today, you are one week old, and we couldn't love you more.

Love,
Mommy

It was a dark and stormy night... (part II)

2010-09-15T20:31:00.004-05:00

So, I get out of the wheelchair in the labor and delivery room and have the worst contraction yet. I was standing leaning over the bed trying to catch my breath, relax and breathe. The next 30 minutes to an hour are a blur so I'm not sure of the exact timing. What I do remember is wanting things to slow down so I could get in control of the pain and practice relaxation techniques.

The reality was that in a short span of time my contractions started coming fast and hard. I believe they were two minutes apart. At some point the labor and delivery nurse, Devin, checked me, and I think I was 4-5 cm. I tried to relax and and find a comfortable position, but I literally wanted to crawl out of my skin and run away. I became very hot and sweaty and extremely nauseous. The next thing I remember is being in the bathroom, throwing up repeatedly and contracting like crazy (oh yeah...and that amniotic fluid was still flowing and still stressing me out).

At that point, I felt panicked. I knew I needed to relax because tension was causing the pain to be so much worse. I just couldn't. Things were moving way too fast, and I felt as if I had completely lost control of the situation. The nurse was telling me I had to come get in bed and get the monitoring and IV started. (Because I was a VBAC things were "high risk" and my doctor wanted continuous fetal monitoring and IV access). The combination of nausea and intense pain was too much. So, in the bathroom of the labor and delivery room, I made a decision. I was having an epidural. The only issue was that Brian and Elizabeth (per my birth plan instructions) gently tried to convince to ride out a few more contractions and reconsider. I'm not sure what I actually said. I remember thinking, "I know what you're going to tell me. I know that's what I told you to tell me. But I was wrong. Dead wrong. I want that epidural and I want it yesterday."

The nurse hadn't overheard all of this, and popped her head in the bathroom and said something about seeing in my chart that I wanted as natural a childbirth as possible, but she still needed to discuss my options. I stopped her, told her that I had totally changed my mind and I wanted an epidural immediately. She reminded me that I still wasn't hooked up to monitors and that I did not have an IV started. These things needed to happen before the anesthesiologist could come in.

The next hour or so I spent sitting in bed, trying to calm down and breathing through contractions. The contractions were so powerful. I held Brian's hand and continued to sweat profusely. Dr. Fogwell came in checked me and I was at 6 cm. I remember feeling such intense pain and trying to relax between contractions. This was probably the calmest I was during the active labor stage because I just kept telling myself that if I could survive a few more contractions then I would have the epidural. I think I kept asking how long it was going to take to get the bag of IV fluid in so that the anesthesiologist could get his rear in the room and get the job done. I looked at the slow drip a few times and contemplated grabbing the IV bag and giving it a few good squeezes.

The contractions continued to intensify, but the bag was almost empty. Then I heard the nurse call for the anesthesiologist, and I heard the reply over her little radio--"He's just gone into room 7". I was in room 9. This was not good. Internally, I panicked--I could NOT wait any longer. I wanted to run into room 7 and drag the good doctor back to my room. I think externally I stayed fairly calm and zen simply because it was taking all of my energy to survive the contractions. Finally the doctor came in. He said Brian and Elizabeth had to leave while I got the epidural. I didn't want Brian to leave. I was scared and in pain, but I knew that the faster he left the faster I would have sweet relief.

I had a contraction as the epidural went in, and I held onto nurse Devin for dear life. Her little radio kept paging her saying her husband was on the phone saying it was urgent. She seemed a little concerned, but replied that she was busy at the moment (helping a pregnant lady regain her sanity.) Finally the epidural was in--the anesthesiologist said I would probably notice relief after a couple of more contractions. Good grief! Now I was alone in labor and delivery and I had to survive two more contractions. The doctor asked me if I wanted a "light" epidural where I still had some sensation or a "heavy" epidural where I'd be pretty much totally numb. I sucked it up and said "light". Eventually, I started to notice some relief.

Brian and Elizabeth returned and I was starting to relax. Brian's phone kept ringing, and I noticed that he left the room before talking. The next time he came in I asked what was going on. He looked a little concerned, and told me that there was a little "weather situation". I was concerned--my parents were still on the road and Reid was with Brian's mom. What was this weather situation and where was it happening? Brian said, "There's a tornado, and it's on the ground." Again, I feared the worst--like it was heading for our house in Allen and Reid was in its path. So when Brian said, "It actually looks like it's headed for the hospital", I was strangely relieved. Labor and delivery is in the basement of this particular hospital. Brian told me that they had just called a "Code Grey" and that nurses were scurrying around talking about moving patients. Nurse Devin popped her head back in (that urgent phone call from her husband--it was about the weather). She said that with a Code Grey we were safe in L&D. In fact, they were going to start moving other patients into the hallways of L&D.

Once I talked to Brian some more and verified that my parents and Reid were out of harm's way, I thought the situation was sort of humorous. I even asked Elizabeth to turn on the TV so we could watch the coverage. Clearly, the epidural was helping at this point! The tornado broke apart and changed course before reaching the hospital, and I don't think all they did was move patients away from windows upstairs. My parents arrived safely around 6:30, and the nurse checked me again. I was still at a 6.

The hours between 7 and 10 pm were fairly relaxed. I put on my make-up and tried to make the most of my "I-didn't-shower-today" hair. My sister came and stayed awhile. I chatted with Brian, Elizabeth, my parents, sister and our new nurse Julia who had come on at the 7pm shift change. I felt pressure with each contraction and started becoming nauseated again. I threw up some more, and even with the epidural, I sensed that the contractions were fast and strong and that things were changing rapidly with my body.

The nurse checked me around 10 pm, and she looked somewhat surprised and said "Well....". I was so afraid she was going to say that there had been no change in the last 4 hours since I got the epidural. (Side note, I do think that had I not had the epidural, my labor would have continued to progress rapidly, and I would have had the baby in a matter of 2-3 hours, but who knows!) I was excited/terrified when she said I was at 10 cm, and I was ready to start pushing.

I remember the first 30-60 minutes of pushing pretty clearly. I pushed and pushed and was making "a little" progress. My epidural was becoming less effective and I felt so much pressure and some pain. I'm not sure what happened to me mentally during that period of time, but for some reason I started becoming convinced that I could not push this baby out. I was so uncomfortable--not the worst pain, but definitely the worst discomfort of my life. I didn't feel like being on my back was effective so I turned over on my hands and knees (with an epidural--somewhat stressing nurse Julia out) and started pushing.

This is what I remember: I was very tired. I was getting frustrated and feeling desperate. I did not want to be told to push, and I certainly didn't want our perky nurse (who really was wonderful--I just didn't appreciate her at this point in time) counting to 10 repeatedly. I was sort of in my own little world--I could hear everyone else talking, but I just wanted to be left alone. Another weird thing was that, at some point, I got very concerned about Brian being by my side while I was pushing. I never thought I'd be like this, but there was part of me that was self-conscious, and I just started thinking, "this is too much-I cannot let him see me like this, and I can't fully concentrate on pushing for thinking about this". So, Brian ended up spending some time sitting on the other side of the room. I think this helped me slightly from a psychological perspective.

Eventually, after a long time of pushing with not-so-much progress, the nurse told me she had spoken to my doctor and he was coming in to discuss options. When Dr. Fogwell walked in and said, "Let's talk." I was in the middle of a contraction and feeling desperate. I told him I did not want to talk at the moment. The nurse sweetly told me that the doctor had come in just to talk to me, and I needed to talk to him. Luckily, my doctor knows me pretty well by this time, and he said, "no, don't worry, she'll talk to me when she's ready". With that, he sat at the computer and hung out for about 15 minutes (I think-my concept of time at this point is very hazy) until I told him I was ready to talk. He told me my options were:
1. Have a repeat C-section. Which he said, "would be stupid since you're fully dilated, and the baby is fully engaged in your pelvis"
2. Turn your epidural all the off and see if that helps with pushing.
3. Use forceps to assist with delivery.
4. Have the anesthesiologist come in and make your epidural much stronger to see if we can get you comfortable enough to push.

I chose option 4. I was already pushing pretty hard by the time the nurse anesthetist came in. He was an older gentleman named Jack. In the midst of all my crankiness and desperation, Jack walks in and starts cheering me on with all he's got. "Come on sweetheart, just push that baby out!" I almost hit him. I don't know how much longer I pushed after that. I was definitely in the zone with my eyes closed and totally focused. I do have recollections of yelling "please help me", and I'm fairly sure I yelled "get her out" at least once. All in all, I was not the serene laboring goddess that I had hoped to be.

With the last few pushes I heard the nurse and doctor saying that she was moving her head around trying to get herself into position to come out. Just when I thought I couldn't push any harder or take any more, she was out at 12:56 am on Thursday, September 9, 2010. It was the sweetest feeling of relief I have ever experienced! She came out with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck twice--apparently it was a long cord! They got it unwrapped, and she started crying. Brian cut the cord, and the placed our sweet baby on my chest. She was so purple at first that it scared me, but the nurses assured me that she was okay. I rubbed her face and head and stared at her in amazement.

After a few minutes, the nurses took her to the little warming bed in the room--they were a little concerned that her lungs sounded a little "crackly" and her oxygen saturation was a little low. Eventually they called the NICU team down to do an assessment in our room but kept assuring us that it was nothing too serious. After some deep suctioning and a once over by the NICU team, she was declared perfect and allowed to come back and snuggle with me some more.

I experienced exhaustion like I've never felt before. I pushed for 2 1/2 hours before little Miss Camille made her appearance!

All in all, it wasn't exactly the labor experience I had envisioned. I am thrilled that I accomplished a VBAC. I have a few regrets about getting the epidural, but I also know that with the way things unfolded, it was the best option for me at the time. We want to have more kid(s), and I would definitely opt for a VBAC over a cesarean given the choice. I would even consider attempting a future birth without an epidural. Maybe. Or not. I found the experience empowering and the recovery easier in many ways than with the c-section. We were admitted to labor and delivery around 4:00 on Wednesday, had the baby at 12:56 am on Thursday and went home at 4:00 on Friday. And all my hard work was rewarded with the best prize imaginable!

It was a dark and stormy night... (part 1)

2010-09-14T20:19:00.005-05:00

The story of my labor and delivery--according to how I remember it.

*I'm sure it's a fairly accurate account, but since I had my eyes closed and was willing myself into a state of unconsciousness for the last two hours of the experience, I may have missed a few things.
**This story will be very lengthy and contain mindless details, but its my blog and I'll ramble if I want to.

Anyway. Last Tuesday night was a dark and stormy night. The Dallas area was being inundated with rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine. I was awake for much of the night with some cramping off and on, and every time I woke up it was pouring down rain. I was also awake because my mind was racing--was I in the very early stages of labor? Was I ever going to have this baby? Was she okay in there?

Let me back up a few hours. Tuesday morning I went to the doctor again. I was 40 weeks and 3 days pregnant. If you are reading my blog then you know that this constitutes a miracle in and of itself. We were amazed. My doctor was amazed! I had been planning from the first time I saw the doctor for this pregnancy in January to attempt a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). VBACs carry an increased risk of uterine rupture and the medications used in inductions further increase that risk. Therefore, my doctor was adamant that he was not inducing me. I either needed to go into labor on my own or have a repeat c-section.

At Tuesday's appointment, my doctor said I was 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced. He offered to schedule a "pseudo-induction" where he would have me check into the hospital Thursday morning and he would rupture my amniotic sac. In theory, this should cause labor to start and I would have the baby without the extra risk of induction meds. I was so excited to have a plan and at the prospect of no longer being pregnant that I immediately agreed. Of course, when I talked things over with Brian I started to analyze all the "what ifs". I knew that if the doctor broke my water and I didn't start contracting after a certain number of hours, then I would have to have a c-section anyway. So, after scheduling my induction for 6 am Thursday and calling my parents and telling them to head up sometime Wednesday, I changed my mind. I know. How annoying. Of course I changed my mind after my doctor's office was already closed Tuesday so I planned to call Wednesday morning to cancel the induction.

So after my long, restless and crampy Tuesday night, I woke up fairly early on Wednesday morning and told Brian I felt like I might be having contractions, but they didn't seem too regular. Brian kept getting ready for work, and I stayed in bed and started timing the contractions. They seemed to be 5-7 minutes apart and lasting for about 30 seconds. Around 7:30 Brian decided to try to work from home instead of going in to the office. He had a couple of meetings he needed to call in for, and he had a 4:00 meeting at a building near our house that he was going to try to attend.

Throughout the morning my contractions came and went. It continued raining, and much of central and north Texas were experiencing flooding. My parents debated about coming up--I was worried that my dad would take off of work and leave and it would turn out to be a false alarm, but I was also worried that they wouldn't make it up if things moved too quickly. They decided to leave around 5 pm. Brian called and asked his mom to come hang out with me and Reid while he was on a 2:00 teleconference and went to his 4:00 meeting.

I had contacted our doula and birth photographer, Elizabeth, Wednesday morning, and she predicted that I'd probably continue to have intermittent contractions throughout the day, and my labor would probably intensify once I went to bed that night. Things seemed to be following this pattern so I had decided to wait until late that afternoon to take a shower and fix my hair. I wanted to be "ready" when I went into labor. After Brian's mom arrived, I decided to try to nap. I was on our bed resting but not sleeping. I couldn't get comfortable so I decided to roll over onto my other side (no small feat when you are that pregnant!). As I rolled over I felt a "pop", thought my water was breaking and jumped out of bed to try to get over the bathroom tile (you can thank me later, Brian--our bed actually stayed completely dry). I made it to the bathroom before the rush of fluid started. I briefly wondered if my water had really broken or if I was just completely losing bladder control, but seconds later my first real contraction hit and I actually fell down to the floor on my hands and knees. The intensity of it surprised and scared me.

I was about to yell for Brian, but just then he walked into our bedroom to check on me before leaving for his meeting. I believe it was just after 3 pm at this point. I told him I thought my water had broken, and he could tell by my expression that I wasn't messing around. I told him to call our doctor's office and Elizabeth, and I quickly changed clothes while cursing myself for not having taken a shower earlier. I thought about taking the time to shower quickly, but when the next contraction hit that thought quickly vanished! I was so thankful that Brian's mom was already there taking care of Reid. I tried very hard to act completely normal and not get overly emotional when telling Reid goodbye. He definitely sensed that something was going on, and he was crying and very upset when we left (which of course broke my heart!). We had actually just picked up our new Chevy Traverse at the dealership on Tuesday night. We planned on getting leather interior, but they had exactly what we were looking for with cloth interior. We planned to take the car back in later in the week to get leather seats installed so we weren't overly worried about my riding in the brand new car :)

Brian and I drove from Allen to Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, and I was so thankful that it was not rush hour. As soon as we got in the car, I called my parents to let them know what had happened. They had actually seen a break in the weather and decided to leave early. Turns out they were pulling out of the driveway when I called! We tuned into Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket for a little taste of our normal lives. I continued having fairly strong contractions in the car, and I remember telling Brian that I just wanted to get checked into the hospital and regroup. I was planning on natural, drug-free childbirth, and I felt like I just needed to get to a labor and delivery room and try to relax and focus.

Once we arrived at the hospital, I asked Brian to go in and get a wheelchair. In case you didn't know (and I had heard this but never appreciated the full extent of it), when your water breaks it is not a one-time event. The supply continues to replenish thus it continues to flow...and flow...and flow. Next to the pain of contractions, the continual gushing of fluid probably stressed me out the most. I just felt so out of control! All that to say, there was no way I was walking in to the hospital admitting area with fluid leaking out of me. Eww.

Brian pushed me into the hospital in a wheelchair, and I sat through all the stupid questions and paperwork while leaking fluid and breathing through contractions. The charge nurse asked me if I was sure my water had broken. When she wheeled me into the L&D room and I got out of the wheelchair she got her answer. The moment I got out of the wheelchair and tried to change into the hospital gown was also the moment that things started to move very quickly...

Nursery and Reid's room

2010-09-06T13:21:00.005-05:00

I was so excited to decorate a nursery when I found out I was having a girl. I like pink, but I can only take so much. So we painted our little girl's nursery blue. Of course! We did use lots of very girly pink accents though. My very talented friend Angela helped me come up with an idea for a paint treatment on the nursery wall, and she helped with the tedious taping of the wall too. (The contrast of the lattice pattern is a little hard to see in these pictures, but it's more obvious when you're actually in the room). Brian got to do all the grunt work with the paint. He also made the shelving unit under the window and the floating shelves above the dresser. I have such talented friends and family! The prints on the wall above the crib are from Etsy, and my parents had them matted and framed for our baby shower gift. It definitely still needs a few finishing touches, but we'll get there soon enough. Here are a few pictures:

When we first moved to our new house in April, we tried to put Reid's furniture in his new room in the exact same arrangement that it was in our old house. The walls in his new room were a light beige and not nearly as warm and inviting as his old "pumpkin spice" walls. The final straw for me was the day we finished the nursery and took the rocking chair out of Reid's room to put in the nursery. The whole concept made me sad anyway, and it left Reid's room looking so barren and pitiful. We haven't rocked Reid to sleep for a long while, but he still sat in our laps to read books and such. Suddenly, there was nowhere to sit and snuggle with my baby! So fixing up Reid's room become a priority. We had already purchased the twin bed to match his furniture, but we had planned on storing it in the attic until he was ready for his "big boy bed". Instead, we went ahead and set it up in his room as a place to read books and snuggle. I've been wanting to do some kind of mural/wall decal for awhile, and we custom ordered the "forest friends" scene from a shop on Etsy. We used the same pumpkin spice paint color on all walls except the mural wall, and voila!

Reid's First Day of Preschool

2010-09-03T21:51:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was Reid's first day at his new preschool. He is going to the Child Development Center at our church two days a week. I wasn't sure how he would do, but other than a few tears at drop off, he had a great day! I know I keep saying this, but I just cannot believe how grown up he is looking these days.

Reid's New Trick

2010-08-30T11:32:00.001-05:00

98 Days and Thankful

2010-08-16T21:08:00.005-05:00

Sorry, friends and family. This post is long overdue. It's just that since I got off of bed rest I have stayed busy trying to bring some order back to our lives.

I officially started bed rest on April 16 following what should have been a routine appointment with our OB at 19.5 weeks. You all know what happened--my cervix had suddenly and dramatically shortened, and the doctor was quite concerned about the future of my pregnancy. I officially ended bed rest on July 23 at 34 weeks. While 34 weeks is not full-term, my doctor uses it as the benchmark for when he would no longer aggressively try to stop labor. It was explained to me that babies born at 34 weeks will likely spend time in the NICU, but very rarely will they have any long-term side effects of prematurity.

When I first started my bed resting journey, I had to think week-by-week. Thinking about 3 1/2 months was just too overwhelming. I remember calculating that I needed to make it to almost August before I'd be allowed to be "free", and I couldn't even wrap my brain around what that would be like. I couldn't imagine what that would look like for us as a family.

I really dislike exposing my true emotions--makes me feel way too vulnerable. However, I also want to have a record of how I have truly been feeling this summer, so here goes...

The beginning of this journey was very dark for me emotionally. I was so scared of losing this baby. I hated feeling that things were beyond my control. I would spend my nights thinking about what might happen. I wondered in those first weeks if the baby would live for even a few minutes if she was born that early. I tried to mentally prepare myself for what it would be like if she did--or didn't. I tried to prepare myself for what she would look like. I wondered if we would have a funeral, and if so, where we would have our daughter buried. When Brian had to travel for work, I was a nervous wreck. What if I went into labor, and they couldn't stop it? What if our daughter only survived for moments, and he wasn't there?

And of course, the pregnant body is a crazy thing--constant twinges, aches and pains. I analyzed everything--sure that everything I felt meant that pre-term labor was inevitable.

At the appointment where I was placed on bed rest, I remember surprising my OB when I said, "Okay, so we have to make it to 24 weeks--that's just over 4 weeks from now." My OB looked at me like I had grown two heads, and said something about needing to make it much longer than 24 weeks. For me, however, knowing that our baby had a fighting chance at survival meant everything. Once we hit the all-important 24 week mark, I started to relax somewhat. (Of course, prior to that, I had scoured the internet for stories of babies born between 22-24 weeks who had survived). Each week after that was a bonus. I knew making it to 28 weeks was another big milestone. After that, the weeks seemed to fly by in a way.

Yesterday I hit the 37 week mark. That is officially full-term. And I am thankful. This process has definitely changed me, though. I am so thankful to God that we have made it to this point, and that I will most likely deliver a healthy baby in the near future. Yet, I wonder why we are the lucky ones when so many others have devastating outcomes. I am so thankful for our families and friends who made it possible for me to obey the doctor's orders (that is a whole other post!). Yet, I have spent time thinking about women who simply cannot obey a doctor's orders to be on complete bed rest because they have to work to support their family or they have no one to help with other children. I don't know why we were chosen for this particular journey. But I am thankful.

On a less serious note, I have to use all of these deep thoughts to keep myself grounded and thankful because reaching the 37 week mark has brought the bad with the good. I'm exhausted as a result of bed rest + being really pregnant. My muscles and joints are completely out of whack again due to the combination of being on bed rest for so long + being really pregnant. My back hurts so badly when I get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night (at least 4 times, mind you), that I usually limp the first several steps until things loosen up a little. And last, I ITCH ALL OVER. A dangerous condition called cholestasis of pregnancy has been ruled out. And I am thankful. However, I'm fairly sure I have PUPP. Look it up at your own risk. It's icky--and itchy. And there's not a darn thing to be done except delivering the baby. I'm going to ask my doctor to confirm at my next appointment on Tuesday, but all the symptoms are a match. All the itching has led to very little sleeping. Itching + sleepless nights + trying to get back in the swing of being the primary care provider for a very active toddler + being really pregnant + being in the midst of 16 days of 100+ degree temperatures with no end in sight...

I can honestly say that I am so thankful to be at this point in this pregnancy, but a girl can only take so much. I'm ready to have this baby. Of course, after all the drama, who wants to bet I'll carry her past my due date? Sigh.

AquaBaby

2010-07-16T21:18:00.005-05:00

Water safety. It's important people! Drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death in children 14 years and younger in the United States. (Car accidents are the leading cause, if you must know.) However, in states that have an abundance of residential pools (Arizona, Florida, and Texas), drowning is often the number one cause of accidental death in children.

Children aged 1-4 are most likely to drown in a residential pool, owned by a family member or close acquaintance, while being supervised by one or both parents. (Statistics courtesy of the Center for Disease Control-Division of Injury Prevention).

I personally like to think that I am immune to things like this. I like to believe that I am a responsible, careful parent, and therefore, bad things can't happen to my child. However, I have seen enough stories on the news to know that drowning doesn't just happen to irresponsible or careless parents. It happens to responsible parents all the time, and it only takes a moment for the unthinkable to happen!

Our new house does not have a pool, but Brian's parents bought our old house, and thus, inherited our pool. Reid spends a lot of time over at their house, and for our family, it was essential that Reid learn how to swim early. In mid-June, we enrolled Reid in infant swim survival lessons. The goal of this type of lesson is not to merely acclimate infants/toddlers/preschoolers to the water, but to teach them how to survive should they ever fall in. These lessons are typically for kids between 6 months and 6 years of age. My understanding is that the skill set acquired varies depending upon age (i.e., babies and toddlers learn how to float and breathe, and the older kiddos learn more actual swimming skills in addition to the floating.)

As a parent, is it very difficult to watch your child go through these lessons. Mom and dad are not in the pool for the lesson-just the child and the instructor. Also, your child is allowed to struggle in the water for a few seconds at a time as a part of the learning process. I'll be honest---I almost couldn't take Reid back after the first couple of days. We were BOTH so traumatized. We stuck with it, and after 4 1/2 weeks of lessons, Reid has officially graduated from swim school! His final exam consisted of going in the pool in a regular diaper, clothes and shoes. The instructor set him on the edge of the pool and gently pushed him in. He demonstrated the ability to get back up to the water's surface, roll over on his back and float. He would then turn over and "swim" a short distance before floating/breathing some more. He was able to find the steps and get out on his own at the end.

I must take a moment to brag like the proud mom that I am--Reid was a natural. He impressed the instructor and other parents with his swimming/floating skills from day one. At 16 months of age, he was actually able to move beyond learning to turn over on his back to breathe, and he learned to swim a little and to find the step and get out on his own. We'll definitely chalk his athletic prowess up to the McFarland side of the family. As a child, Brian held multiple swim records at the YMCA in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. (I'm actually informed by certain sources that Brian STILL holds certain swim records in Oklahoma. Apparently records are kept online so people can go back and check these things 20 years later. I digress.) Brian's brother Mark swam in college and he currently coaches high school swimming in New York.

I have included pictures and video clips of our little Aqua Baby below. I'd just like to hop back on my soap box to say a couple of more things:

1) These lessons do not "drown-proof" your child. They are merely one layer of protection and should be used in conjunction with adult supervision and barriers to pool access.
2) This type of training is so important for little kiddos who regularly spend time around the water. You can find more information at the following websites:

www.infantswim.com (The Infant Swim Resource home page)
aquatykestx.com (The website of our local swim instructor, Cindy Clark)

This is Reid's "help me, mommy" face--made frequently during the course of our lessons.

Reid learning to float on his back with Cindy.

Reid floating on his own like a pro.

Reid with Cindy on graduation day--so proud!

Video #1: Reid during his second or third week of lessons working on floating and swimming to the step.

Video #2: Last day of lessons I was asked to join Reid in the pool so Cindy could teach me how to continue working with him. (Disclaimers: I am 8 months pregnant. I am a whale. Also, I'm allowed to be in the pool while on bedrest--Reid is pretty darn near weightless while under water. No enormous pregnant women nor unborn children were harmed during the making of this video.)

Video #3: Reid floats over to steps, turns over and gets out of the pool on his own.

All About Reid

2010-06-10T15:22:00.006-05:00

I haven't done a post about just Reid in a long time. While my adorable 15 month old son has enough personality to fill up many, many blog entries, I will try to condense this into one post.

Reid is a vibrant and happy little boy. There are two distinct sides to his personality. He is quiet and ultra-focused for big chunks of time while reading books to himself and playing with toys. It is not an exaggeration to say that he could be mistaken for being profoundly deaf at times. No amount of calling his name or making funny noises will distract him. It's kind of scary. He gets it from his dad. Really, though, he is obsessed with reading and books these days. He points to the pictures and reads aloud. He also brings books to me to read to him.

Here is Reid in "focus mode" with his absolute favorite toy truck

The other Reid can be summed up in two words: "perpetual motion". Other applicable terminology for this side of Reid would be "wild child", "hellion", "crazy baby" and "turbo". He runs, jumps, climbs, screams, and wallers. I believe this last term is the southern version of "wallows". For Reid, wallering entails rolling around like a crazed monkey on his soft gym mats, the floor, the baby pool or his parents. He also loves to throw balls. The kid has quite an arm on him! He can even catch balls that are thrown to him occasionally. Unfortunately, Reid also loves to throw food, wooden blocks, my iPhone, books...anything he can pick up. He has learned to stack blocks, and I saw him stack 5 wooden blocks the other day.

Here is a collage of Reid wallering in the baby pool

"Hellion" (meant in the most affectionate way possible)

Climbing with wet feet. I'll let you envision the end result.

Throwing his ball with determination (and wearing a stylin' swim diaper)

Our child is a social butterfly! He craves social interaction and attention. I am pretty sure he has already met everyone on our block. My mom was out in the front yard with him one day, and he saw a neighbor a couple of houses down. He started running down the sidewalk babbling and waving her down. A few days later my dad had him in Borders and was standing in line for several minutes waiting to check out. He said that Reid was trying his hardest to get the attention of people standing in line without success. Reid was getting very frustrated until finally someone looked and said hi. Apparently, he thinks that public adoration is his birthright.

Reid wanting to be held by Daddy

Running man

Reid is saying some words that we understand, and I know that he says plenty more that we have yet to pick up on. Right now he uses "bah" for many, many things: "ball", "bird", "airplane", "dog". It is always accompanied by emphatic pointing. Reid also says "mama" and "dada", "woof-woof", "up" and "bye". He signs "more" (for which he also says "bah") and "all done".

He is a good eater, but definitely likes to exert control over what he eats and when. He is quite fickle--one day he'll scarf something down and the next he acts offended that you have besmirched his high chair tray with the same food. I have learned not to say that Reid loves or hates certain foods. It really just depends on his mood. Reid does eat the food that we eat, but he also has his "toddler" foods that he loves.

Reid's food staples these days:

Fruits: blueberries, strawberries, apples, pears, mango, banana, oranges/tangerines
Vegetables: sweet potatoes, butternut squash, zucchini and green peas (lately, he rejects green vegetables unless they are lightly tossed with ginger-soy sauce)
Other: chicken salad sandwiches, diced ham (we buy a small ham, dice it into baby-sized pieces, glaze it with an orange spice sauce, bake in the oven, and freeze for future use), yogurt, waffles, veggie burger patties, cheddar cheese, grilled cheese, PB&J, and eggs

He is learning to use utensils, and he can feed himself a container of yogurt with about 2/3 ending up in his mouth.

Reid is engaging in much more functional play. He offers his milk cup to his stuffed animals and baby doll/sister-in-training. He gives the doll a pacifier and tries to take off and put on its hat. He likes to brush his hair with my hairbrush and pretend to put his lotion on himself.

He is obsessed with being outside. He plays outside in his water table and new baby pool. He plays in the dirt. He plays on his little slide climber. He loves to go on walks. Whoever is lucky enough to walk him in the 100 degree heat often gets home and takes him out of his stroller only for him to climb right back in and point at the door and grunt.

But the thing Reid is the best at? Melting hearts with his smile!

Good News / Annoying News

2010-05-29T09:13:00.004-05:00

This definitely isn't a good news/ bad news post. So instead of bad news, we'll call it annoying news.

First, the good news! I went to the doctor on Thursday, and my cervix was actually LONGER (2.3 cm to be precise). Who knew 3mm of change could be so exciting? The whole time I was on bed rest with Reid things never improved. They didn't get worse, which was a victory, but we never saw a reversal of the initial condition. The first six weeks of this bed rest journey looked to be the same. Things were either getting worse or staying stable. I never dared hope for improvement.

We're not sure why things have gotten better. Perhaps the experimental progesterone injections are working? I have made it to 26 weeks, and I know that with every day that passes, our baby girl is growing and developing by leaps and bounds.

The annoying news: I have been on bed rest for 6 weeks. That's 42 days. I think. This happens to be the length of my entire bed resting journey with Reid, and I'm STILL not as far along this time as I was when I started bed rest the last time. In short, I'm slowly losing my mind. I'm getting cranky and horribly Vitamin D deficient. My muscles have atrophied and my energy levels have plummeted. And I still have 8 more weeks before I am far enough along that my doctor will let me off of bed rest.

The real tragedy of this situation--the thing that keeps me up at night--my hair. That's right, folks. I'm that shallow. You see, the day the doctor put me on bed rest (April 16, for those who are keeping track), I had planned to call and schedule an appointment to get my hair cut and highlighted. I was already at a Level Yellow hair emergency, but we had been so busy that I had not had time to see the lovely Dana. We have now surpassed Level Red. DEFCON 5. All-out hair crisis. My head is an unruly, frizzy mop. What's worse? R-O-O-T-S. I'm seeing my natural hair color for the first time since I was 15, and it is NOT pretty. The pasty-white-soft-and-jiggly-bodied, frizzy-two-toned-headed reflection that greets me in the mirror is the stuff nightmares are made of. Seriously. I'm pretty sure that after this hair experiment, Brian will never again complain about me spending money on my hair. (Okay, okay, if you know Brian you know that this is not true. He will always complain about the amount of money I spend on hair maintenance.)

Prior to my appointment on Thursday, I made the executive decision that my strict bed rest had lasted long enough. I was still going to be very, very good and cautious, but I was going to go see Dana so she could take a weed whacker to my head. I just needed to run this by my doctor, but I was sure he would agree. After all, I've been SO GOOD the last 6 weeks. I may have gotten a tad carried away and also started planning an outing with Brian, Reid, my parents, and my sister and her family. The big outing was going to be today. I was going to go for a wheelchair ride in the Arboretum.

Then came Thursday. The day of reckoning. I ran my list of requests past the nurse before the doctor came in. I guess she ran them by the good doctor. He walks in the exam room and says:

"I hear you have a couple of requests, and the answer to both of them is...YES!...in 8 more weeks you are welcome to get your hair done and go to the Arboretum."

Evil, evil man. I'm seriously considering firing him and finding another (more permissive) doctor. When I told him that I was pretty sure I would lose my mind if I wasn't allowed to leave the house soon he said:

"Allison, this is probably politically incorrect, but I don't really care about your mind right now."

Alrighty then.

And so this beautiful, holiday summer morning, I am blogging from the couch. Again. I'm not sure how I'm going to make it for 8 more weeks. I will persevere, and I will succeed. And of course I know that it will be worth it in the end. Meanwhile, if you have the misfortune of visiting me in the near future, avert your eyes and spare yourself the agony of seeing me in all bed resting glory.

Reid's 1st Birthday (3 months later...)

2010-05-22T11:02:00.010-05:00

Here is my VERY belated post on Reid's first birthday party. Go ahead and judge.

February 20, 2010:

I'm normally not overly sentimental, but the night before Reid's first birthday, I sat in our room holding the little knit soccer hat he wore the day he was born and crying over how small it was. I could not believe how big our baby was getting. The last year has been filled with such joy, excitement and learning, and we are so proud of our precious son.

Reid: one day old

Reid: One year old

Reid's party was train-themed. He loves to play in boxes, so Daddy constructed a train out of cardboard as the centerpiece of our fancy party. I decided to make Reid's birthday cake, and it may be the last kids cake I ever make. Good heavens, what a stressful mess!

When time for the party arrived, wouldn't you know that Reid "I'm-Not-A-Great-Napper" McFarland was sound asleep in his crib as guest after guest arrived. Brian and I finally woke up him over an hour into the party. He loved seeing all his guests and playing in his cardboard train. He enjoyed his cake and actually didn't make too big of a mess while eating it. It was a great day, and we are so thankful for all of our family and friends that came out to celebrate our sweet boy.

Reid's friends partying without him while he naps.

Reid playing in the train with Daddy.

Playing in the train with Auntie Sarah.

Reid's friends Rylin, Avery and Carson

Singing Happy Birthday!

Reid just woke up and is trying to figure out why all these people are in his house.

Very excited about the balloons before the party started.

Eating yummy cake.

The finished masterpiece (sort of...at least it didn't collapse before the party started)

And one last funny picture. The train engine being held up by a tequila bottle the night before Reid's party. This pretty much sums up the cake-baking experience.

New House

2010-05-18T17:33:00.003-05:00

Here is a picture of the front of our new house along with a couple of pictures of Reid playing the weekend we moved in. I promise to try and have my "people" take pictures of the inside of the house one of these days.

Being pulled in the ice chest by Grandad in my new backyard.

Front of our house...Brian has since spruced up the landscaping a little

Reid loved the water table we got him for his birthday (in February!); he's just now getting to use it.

I like our house a lot, but the backyard is by far my favorite part. Reid adores being outside, and at our old house we had the pool in the backyard and lived on a street that was fairly busy. So he wasn't allowed a whole lot of freedom when playing outside. Now he plays outside every day. He digs in the dirt, rolls in the grass and plays on his little slide/climber.

Early Retirement and Other Ramblings...

2010-05-16T09:42:00.004-05:00

It's official. I am retired. I submitted my letter of resignation to UT Southwestern last week as a formality.

The plan (before my crazy cervix took over my life and the rest of me completely lost control) was to work through the end of May and then resign. I would say my good-byes to all my coworkers and gather up all my belongings. My affairs would all be in order, and it would be a clean break. I would have closure.

I left work on Thursday, April 15, telling my coworkers I'd see them Monday. Obviously, God had other things in store for me. So now, I'm retired, but all of my "stuff" (diplomas, books, lab coats, important paperwork, etc...) is still in the office. Even worse is the fact that I shared an office, they have already hired my replacement, and I feel like my work stuff is in the way and has likely been moved into a heap somewhere. This is fine and understandable, but it just leaves me feeling such a loss of control and closure. In fact, I'm getting a tad anxious just typing about it. And by a tad, I mean my heart rate is up, my palms are sweaty and I'm getting slightly nauseous and dizzy.

Anyway.

I am happy about my decision to leave work for the next year or two (or five). In fact, I had started to really look forward to being a full-time stay-at-home mom during this pregnancy. I was only working two days a week, and it was great in some ways. However, I often found that working part-time left me feeling like an inadequate speech pathologist and an inadequate mom. I have completely unrealistic expectations that being a full-time SAHM will resolve all of my inadequacy issues.

If I'm honest (and I usually am), leaving my job has created even more issues for me. I'm struggling with feeling a loss of identity and with nagging fears about the future of my career. I always wanted to be a SAHM, and I know that this is the right thing for our family right now. I hate that societal pressures (and apparently my own belief system) have left me feeling like a less valuable person because I'm not working outside the home. The funny thing is, I have always respected SAH moms and I always wanted to be one. It is very odd to me that when it comes to my situation my feelings change so very much.

This has all exposed some major flaws in the way I view my identity and self worth. And this post is getting too philosophical and I'm getting sweaty palms again. So enough of that.

In other news, I had a doctor's appointment on Friday. My cervix had stayed the same length as two weeks earlier, and we considered that a victory. The really big news is that we have reached 24 weeks which means this baby is considered viable outside the womb! I know the reality of a baby born so early, but I still feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I get my first round of steroid shots this week to help the baby's lungs develop more quickly in case she is born prematurely. I also started a somewhat experimental treatment last week called 17P injections. You can read about them here if you are really bored. A home health nurse comes to our house to give me the shot. It was the longest needle I have ever seen in my life! I don't usually have needle anxiety, but I'm not kidding when I say the needle she injected in my "hip" was roughly this long: ___________________________________

I didn't cry. It really wasn't that bad. I get to have another one on Wednesday--which is my birthday. Oh happy day.

Update

2010-05-01T21:11:00.003-05:00

This will be a fairly short update because we still don't have Internet at the new house, and I'm blogging via iPhone.

I had my first follow up appt and sonogram on Friday. I was actually kind of excited and hopeful. I thought things might have improved since I went on bed rest. At the least, I hoped they would have remained the same. I mean, in the last two weeks, I have not participated in any of Reid's daily care, I have not been to work, and my activity level has been pretty minimal. I sat up at the table for some meals and sat in our leather recliner occasionally, but I spent most of my time on the couch or in bed.

So, Brian and I were very disheartened when the ultrasound showed that thing were worse. My cervix is down to 2.0cm from 2.8cm on 4/16. It is frustrating and scary to do the right things and to still have a negative outcome. I could not feel more out of control right now.

The good news: our sweet baby girl continues to grow and thrive and measure perfectly.

The bad news: I'm just now 22 weeks, and we've got to keep her safe and healthy inside of me longer. A LOT longer!

The plan: even more strict with the bed rest. I'm trying to stay lying down except to get up and go to the bathroom and for the occasional shower. No getting up to get a drink, sitting up to eat, etc... That, and lots of prayer. We continue to trust in the Lord and know that he us good. He already knows the plans he has for our precious girl.

And, *when* (not if) I make it back for my next appt in two weeks, I'll be 24 weeks, the baby will be viable outside of the womb, and I will be far enough along to receive the first round of steroids to speed lung development.

Emotions

2010-04-24T20:39:00.005-05:00

Today was the big move, and tonight is our first night in the new house. I am overwhelmed by many emotions right now. Ugh. I hate being overly emotional, and I'm typically not so good at talking about how I really feel. But tonight I feel honest, so here goes:

I am sad. I'm mourning the loss of being an active parent to Reid. I'm letting go of all the spring and summer fun I had planned for our family...trips to the Arboretum and zoo, afternoons at the park and playing in our new backyard. I'm sad because the combination of me being on bed rest and us moving seems to have been very difficult on Reid so far. He's out of sorts, fussy and needy. It breaks my heart that I can't always scoop him up and comfort him when he cries (and that sometimes, when he's crying and I hold my arms out to him, he turns away from me and runs to my mom).

I'm tired of feeling deep, gnawing anxiety that keeps me awake for hours at night. I'm tired of analyzing every blasted feeling, twinge, sensation in my abdomen wondering if i'm only moments away from my water breaking and the devastating outcome that would bring. I'm sad that I've lost my excitement about having this sweet girl and that I can't bear to look at crib bedding and dresses online because it makes the precarious nature of this situation more real to me.

In the midst of all this, I also feel overwhelmingly hopeful about this pregnancy and blessed by the friends and family in our lives. I have been so humbled by the support and love we've received so far.

All this emotion, and we're only 1 week into this great adventure!

On a totally different note, we had to take Reid to the ER last night when he woke up with croup. All the steam in the world (or, rather, our hot water heater) could not call his breathing. The staff at Children's Plano was awesome, and after steroids and breathing treatments he was MUCH better. Seriously, I can't take anymore drama!!!

Seriously

2010-04-19T22:13:00.002-05:00

Most of you know this already, but here is the scoop: (warning: the word cervix is used multiple times below)

I went to the doctor for a routine check-up/ultrasound on Friday. I was 19 1/2 weeks at the time. Brian and Reid were with me. Our baby girl looks great! One of the choroid plexus cysts had completely resolved, and the other was much smaller. She was measuring perfectly, opening and closing her mouth and squirming, jumping and bouncing in a way that is eerily reminiscent of her brother's actions in utero... Scary!

The bad news: My cervix was shorter than it should have been, and it was funneling (opening at the top which indicates weakness). Both of these things can indicate that pre-term labor is a possibility. This is exactly what happened when I was pregnant with Reid with one major exception: I am about 9 weeks earlier in my pregnancy this time around. The minimum gestational age for viability is 24-25 weeks (with not-so-good long term prognosis). Needless to say: we were totally freaked out.

My doctor wanted me to go home and start bed rest immediately. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that this treatment will work. The good news: a) my cervix is longer now (2.8 cm) than it was when I went on bed rest with Reid (when it was 1.7 cm); and b) my doctor felt like the fact that my cervix stayed fairly stable for 10 weeks when I was on bed rest with Reid was a good sign this time around.

The reality of our situation right now: I am on total bed rest for the duration of this pregnancy (and we are hoping that is a long, long time). Actually, that's not true...my doctor said in 14 weeks I can come off of bed rest and resume normal activities. That is 3 1/2 months from now. Holy moly, that's a long time! We need a minimum of 5-6 weeks to give this baby a fighting chance. Wow, typing that out makes it even more real.

Ideally, I spend the vast majority of the day lying down as sitting can increase pressure on the cervix. I am sitting up occasionally throughout the day to relieve the pain in my back that is caused by constantly lying down. I am also showering every day or two. Yummy. In the last four days I have moved from my bed to the couch to the leather chair and back again. This is my life.

Oh yeah, and we're still moving this weekend.

My mom is here for another week. I cannot imagine going through this without her help.

Reid is doing well. I'm trying to figure out ways to spend quality time with him throughout the day. So far we have snuggled in bed between 6-7am, read books, watched Barney and Sesame Street and eaten non-messy snacks in bed together. He also climbs in my lap for lots of hugs and kisses throughout the day.

Brian is holding down the fort and working and coordinating this move. Crazy.

The only family members who are insanely excited about this bed rest? Baxter and Bristow, of course! My loyal companions are thrilled about the unlimited snuggle time and attention they are getting from me right now.

I'm sure you'll hear much, MUCH more from me in the near future. I have nothing but time...

Update Vomit

2010-04-13T11:15:00.002-05:00

So, it's been quite awhile since I blogged. We have lots going on. Lots of things have changed. I don't have the energy to do multiple posts at the moment so here is my stream-of-consciousness update vomit:

I am 19 weeks pregnant. With a girl. We are thrilled, and this is the first girl in the McFarland family in 85 years!

The last 2-3 months I literally feel like I crawled in a hole and lived in a state of semi-consciousness. I was exhausted, stricken with migraines and tension headaches, and sick with one illness after another. I had two sinus infections, bronchitis, laryngitis and pharyngitis. And no, not at the same time. This loveliness continued on for weeks, and weeks, and weeks. As soon as I would start to feel better, I'd get slammed with some new and delightful viral illness. Ultimately, all of the coughing (plus pregnancy-related reflux) led to painful growth/ulcer thingy on my vocal cord called a granuloma. Ironically, I treat patients who have these all the time but couldn't prevent it from happening to me. Awesome. All this in addition to "morning" sickness. And raising a feisty, energetic one year old.

We are selling our house to some wonderful buyers. They are a middle-aged couple from Denver who are moving to the area to be closer to their fabulous son, daughter-in-law and grandson. That's right, folks! Brian's parents are moving here, and buying our house from us. We close at the end of April (hopefully!)

We are buying a house about 8 minutes from our current house. For those familiar with the area, it is in Allen but still Plano ISD. It is bigger and does NOT have a pool. This makes us very happy...especially since Mimi and Grandpa will be living in a house with a pool :-) The house has plenty of room for guests so plan your next vacation for Allen, Texas and stay at the Hotel McFarland!

I traveled alone to Maryland at the end of March for my wonderful friend Barbara's baby shower. I got to catch up with all my awesome grad school friends while Brian and his dad took care of Reid at home.

Brian's dad has been living with us part-time. His new contracting position started before they sold their house in Colorado. Since mid-February, he has been staying part-time in Fort Worth and part-time in his future house. Some may think it would be weird to have your father-in-law living with you, however, I am here to tell you that it has been tremendously helpful in this season of our lives! He has watched Reid on the weekends while we house-hunted, slept, and packed boxes. He has also been a tremendous help as an extra set of adult-sized hands in our house lately.

My parents came up to Plano and stayed with Reid for a long weekend, while Brian and I spent 4 nights in Southern California. We had a wonderful time, and it was just what the doctor ordered. I have finally turned the corner and feel much better (most of the time!)

Our house is semi-packed (i.e., we're living in a state of confusion and chaos). We move in 10 days. My mom is the packing Nazi. Last weekend she came up and oversaw what Brian and I are referring to as "the carnage". Basically, if it wasn't nailed down, she tried to pack it (even though we still had about 3 weeks left in our house!) In all seriousness, there are no words for how thankful I am for my mother's help and organization. I cannot imagine having to go through this move without her help.

Reid is great! He is growing like a weed and walking/running all over the place. His personality is bigger than ever, and he has started expressing himself more verbally. He is currently obsessed with playing with trucks and cars and throwing balls. Honestly, he's into throwing everything. In fact, the other day, he threw a wooden block at my head. Hard. It hurt, and I was not amused. Reid, on the other hand, was quite proud of himself and laughed maniacally.

Through all this insanity, I have continued to work part-time. Retirement is in sight, though. May 27 will be my last day of work before I enter into early retirement/full-time motherhood. This was a tough choice for us, but the closer it gets, the more I know it is the right choice. ...for now, anyway. We will probably revisit this issue in a year or two.

My dad is retiring in December, and my parents will most likely be moving to the area! That's right...BOTH sets of grandparents nearby! We are thrilled and know how blessed we are that our parents are choosing to live near us.

Brian's been working hard, traveling frequently for work and picking up the slack around here since I've been basically worthless lately. He takes Reid on jogs with him (in the stroller), and they spend a good chunk of every evening wrestling/yelling/doing "man stuff" that Mommy couldn't possibly understand.

That's all my addled brain can come up with for now. I promise to post pictures of my adorable son soon.

Two

2010-02-26T21:21:00.003-06:00

We're excited to announce Baby McFarland #2 is expected to arrive 9/7/10!

Christmas: Take 2

2010-01-29T14:05:00.005-06:00

So I'm ridiculously far behind on blogging. If you'll remember, we had a pre-Christmas celebration at home with me, Brian and Reid. We flew to Denver a few days before Christmas to spend time with Brian's family. We had a great time hanging out, playing Wii, supervising babies and opening a ridiculous amount of presents.

Reid's first Christmas Eve was a little rough. He started the day by falling over the bottom rung of a bar stool and hitting his head on the tile floor. (No one was alarmed. We have a crazy, fearless child, and, unfortunately, injuries go with the territory. ) He had small bump but seemed fine. Brian and I decided to take him to an early afternoon church service just for kids. While we were there he was totally not himself. For those of you who know him, he did not smile at anyone, he was not amused by the dog in the live nativity, and he did not seem to be enjoying the music.

We got him home from the service, and he was pretty cranky. We thought he was hungry so we tried to feed him, but he was having none of it. As I picked him up out of the highchair he started projectile vomiting all over the kitchen. He has NEVER thrown up before. We cleaned him up and he immediately fell asleep.

By this time it's almost 5 on Christmas Eve. I called the nurses line of our pediatrician's office which is staffed 24 hours a day. Given the combination of hitting his head that morning, vomiting and lethargy, the nurse said she thought Reid needed to be seen in an ER to rule out concussion or other head injury. So, Brian, Reid, Grandpa and I were off to the ER at Littleton Adventist outside of Denver.

As wretched as having to take a sick baby to the ER on Christmas Eve is, I can't complain too much. The ER was nearly empty, and they got us back to a room in the ER of the attached children's hospital less than 10 minutes after we walked in the door. Way too much information, but while we were waiting for the doctor, Reid had several episodes of diarrhea. This actually turned out to be a good thing (in a way) because it made it more likely that Reid had a stomach virus and not a head injury. After being thoroughly checked out by the doctor and nurse, it was confirmed that Reid did not seem to have any sort of head injury, and he had coincidentally come down with a virus the same day as hitting his head.

We were in and out of the ER in about just over an hour, and Reid perked up enough that evening to open some gifts and play a little. The day after Christmas we all headed up to Winter Park to enjoy spending time in the mountains and skiing. Reid got to sled and play in the snow, and Brian and I got a day of skiing alone together while Steve and Connie kept Reid. Enjoy some pictures of Christmas #2!

Playing and sledding in the snow and Mimi and Grandpa's house

Playing with Grandpa and Allie in the snow

Reid, on Christmas Eve: trying to offer his Pedialyte to his younger (but bigger!) cousin Garrett; In the second picture you can tell he isn't his usual energetic self

All bundled up in the snowsuit

Playing in the snow with Mommy

Sledding with Daddy in Winter Park. It's hard to tell because he's so bundled, but his eyes are definitely smiling in the second picture :)

11 months

2010-01-20T20:31:00.004-06:00

I'll Be Home for Christmas

2010-01-07T19:51:00.005-06:00

We were scheduled to be in Colorado on Christmas day, and one of Santa's elves tipped us off that Reid's gift from Santa was a little too bulky to be delivered to Denver. So, we had our own family Christmas celebration at home on December 18th and 19th. Reid seemed to have fun, and Brian and I had a blast giving him gifts and capturing his reactions.

The stockings were hung...

Reid got to open his Christmas Eve gift--the original Tickle Me Elmo. We think he liked it :)

This is the gift that Santa left for Reid while he was sleeping. Santa is quite frugal and saved 75% off of the price of tumbling mats by shopping on Craigslist.

Reid was very excited to discover Santa's gift on Christmas morning. He hasn't stopped climbing, crawling, diving and tumbling since.

Mommy and Daddy gave Reid a drum that he loves to play. He's so talented.

Even Baxter got in on the gift giving!

double digits

2009-12-21T20:54:00.004-06:00

Baby boy is 10 months old, and more active than ever. He even took his first steps on Saturday! We leave tomorrow for Denver to spend Reid's first Christmas with Brian's family. We are spending New Years weekend with my family in College Station. Busy, busy, busy!

Reflections

2009-12-14T21:53:00.002-06:00

I have always had a freakishly good memory...emphasis on the freak. I have also always been someone for whom sounds, sights and smells bring memories flooding back. In fact, I recall sitting in my hospital room holding two day-old Reid last February 22 and weepily telling Brian how last February 22 I had the day off from work, and I had spent the day getting ready to host a baby shower the next day wondering if I would ever have a baby of my own and then we had a belated Valentine's Day dinner at Jaspers. And now we were a family (insert more post-childbirth-crazy-lady weeping here.)

Anyway. This Christmas season has left me reflecting on this time last year. I spent Saturday reflecting about how last December 12 I left work at noon for a routine OB appointment and was told things looked drastically different than they had one week prior. Only 1.7 centimeters were keeping Reid inside of me, and there was concern that my amniotic sac was slipping into the open portion of my cervix. I thought about that moment of realization--Brian was in New Orleans at a wedding. I was only 28 weeks pregnant. If the baby came now, he would probably survive, but it would be a long road. I remember driving myself home in a calm fog, and I took a shower while I waited for my sister to come pick me up and drive me to the hospital. Packing was surreal because I didn't know if I was packing for the trip to the hospital. I calmly packed the camera and battery charger just in case. Brian finally got the hospital after midnight, and we spent our time listening to Reid's heartbeat and the sound of him moving and kicking the fetal monitor while lying in the hospital bed together watching NCIS on my laptop.

Last December 14 I was in the hospital on my second day of bed rest. The doctors were finishing off the last of my 48 hour course of steroids to speed the development of Reid's lungs. I remember Dr. Hunt, who was on call for our OB, coming into the room and laughingly telling us that it was unfortunate that we were having a white boy. Apparently, baby boys' lungs always develop more slowly than little girls; and black babies' lungs develop more quickly than white babies'. Who knew.

Last December 15 they finally discharged me from the hospital once they determined that I was not contracting and that Reid wasn't in any immediate danger. Dr. Hunt dropped by to chat and to reassure us that no matter how early Reid came, he would be in good hands. I was given lots of information about how I would know when the pre-term labor started...about how it was unlikely they'd be able to stop my labor if my water broke. I'm a bottom line kind of girl, so as I peppered the good doctor with questions, he gently told me that it was not a matter of if Reid would be premature but how premature he would be. He told me that our OB, Dr. Fogwell's goal was to have a 2009 baby...to try to make it to sometime in January.

The weeks came and went...I stressed about Reid being breach and the possibility of not having the type of childbirth experience that I so desperately wanted. I tried everything to try to get Reid into a head-down position. And it the midst of all of it, I made it to 38+ weeks. And I had to have a c-section because my stubborn baby was still breach. Not my ideal experience, but a perfect baby, nonetheless.

And I'm sure that this coming February 24 I will be reminiscing about how last February 24, before being discharged from the hospital to take my sweet boy home, Dr. Fogwell dropped in and mentioned that due to me only having 1/2 a uterus...and due to it's odd shape...Reid had been much safer in the breach position. It was a position that allowed to him to grow free from the risks of intrauterine growth retardation. He also mentioned his feeling that if Reid had been in the normal, head-down position and putting all that pressure on my very weak, short cervix, it was highly unlikely that we would have made it to term.

So, this December, as I sit on the couch looking at our Christmas tree, I reflect on last December when I spent so much time on the same couch, looking at the same tree, wondering what the future held. And I am so humbled and thankful at what God has done in our lives.

Thanksgiving

2009-12-13T20:26:00.004-06:00

I've been a productive blogger today. If you haven't seen the first post I did today "Pre-Thanksgiving Festivities" scroll down so you don't miss it. (I wouldn't want to be accused of being partial to my family over Brian's!)

We spent Reid's first Thanksgiving in College Station with my parents, Sarah, Toby and Cason. We had a wonderful time, and Reid truly embraced the meaning of Thanksgiving by eating everything on his tray. My sweet child (who continues to be around the 25th percentile for weight) ate turkey, brisket, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, part of a roll, and 1/2 piece of pumpkin pie with cool whip.

My parents bought a used double stroller, and Grandad had fun pushing his grandsons around the neighborhood. They might have been mistaken for twins except they look nothing alike :) Cason and Reid played together very intentionally for the first time. Unfortunately, Cason seems to be traumatized by his cousin Reid AND his Uncle Brian. I think they're just a little too...crazy, perhaps, for his taste.

Pre-Thanksgiving Festivities

2009-12-13T17:02:00.007-06:00

The weekend before Thanksgiving we embarked on a major road trip with our feverish, fussy little guy. I did NOT have high hopes for the weekend. We left Friday afternoon and drove 6 hours to Wellington, KS, where we spent the night with Brian's grandmother. Leg One: Reid did amazingly well.

Early Saturday morning we left Wellington and drove 4 hours to Osborne, KS (which I spent the weekend referring to as Nebraska since it's in far Northern Kansas!). Leg Two: Reid did pretty well despite fever blisters developing on his lips and one very chilly, very dirty diaper change at a rest area.

Once in Obsorne we met up with Brian's parents and Brian's extended family at Great Aunt Berta and Great Uncle Bob's house. Reid also met his great grandfather for the first time, as well as Aunt Cinnie, Uncle Kevin and cousin Scott. We had a fun pre-Thanksgiving lunch and spent some quality time with family.

Meeting Great Grandad for the first time

Group shot in Osborne

Four generations of McFarland men!

Free from the car seat but we've managed to cage him again!

Trying to pull Great Aunt Cinnie's hair

Then, it was back in the car for 4 more hours back to Wellington. Leg Three: Mimi (Brian's mom) rode with us on this leg, and Reid did great for about 3.5/4 hours. As we neared Grandma's house he had a complete shrieking meltdown. And really, who can blame him?!

Saturday night we had dinner with more family at Grandma's house, and then Sunday we had another pre-Thanksgiving dinner with a lot of Brian's mom's side of the family. Some had seen Reid before and others met him for the first time. In no particular order we saw: Steve, Connie, Grandma and her boyfriend, Lou, Uncle Monty, Aunt Carol, Amy and Josh, Amy and Jeremy, Cole, Cason, Josh, Uncle Kris, Shawn, Amity and her husband and new baby Jaylyn.

This is the only shot we got of the family on Sunday, and as you can see, our camera was acting up :(

Then back into the car for 6 hours back to Dallas. Leg Four: Reid did amazingly well, again. Overall, he was an awesome little traveler considering he was in the car for 20 hours in a little over 2 days. He far exceeded our expectations, and we got to spent some great quality time with Brian's side of the family.

9 months...and 4 days

2009-11-24T10:54:00.005-06:00

We are a tidbit behind on blogging here at the McFarland house. Reid actually turned 9 months old on Friday, but we were off on a wonderful, crazy, long whirlwind of a road trip to Kansas to see Brian's extended family. Pictures of that trip will be coming soon to a computer near you. But for now, to my baby boy, who is growing up more and more every second, Happy 9 Month Birthday!

Capturing this months picture was an incredible challenge. Reid risked life and limb to indulge my need to document his every move. I thought about using this picture because I feel it accurately represents who Reid is as a little person at 9 months old:

However, I persisted, Reid used 8 of his 9 lives, and we were able to capture a more legitimate shot.

However, I persisted, Reid used 8 of his 9 lives, and we were able to capture a more legitimate shot.

Monsters in the Bed

2009-11-18T20:04:00.002-06:00

Reid and Brian have a game they invented called "Monsters in the Bed". Reid would like to demonstrate it for all of you, so you can play along at home :) Make sure your volume is on!

Snip, Snip

2009-11-09T21:18:00.004-06:00

Reid got his first real haircut a few weeks ago, but I'm just now getting around to blogging about it. The first 60 seconds or so went swimmingly. Unfortunately things went downhill very quickly, and screaming hysteria ensued (and Reid was a little upset as well). We got pictures of the happy times, but because of the intensity of Reid's meltdown, we did not get pictures of the end result.

The night before the haircut. Reid was all dressed up for a night out on the town with mommy and daddy

A little apprehensive about sitting in the police car

Maybe this isn't so bad...

Umm, what is that thing on my head?!

Dad, please, save me!

This is about the time that Reid collapsed into hysterics. He did not recover until we returned home. The hair lady persisted, and here is the end result (about 3 days later!)

Birthday Suit

2009-11-06T23:09:00.004-06:00

Trick or Treat

2009-11-04T21:00:00.004-06:00

Reid got to dress up twice for his first Halloween. On Wednesday, our church had its annual Fall Festival. It is HUGE, and Reid loved all the action. He went down a few slides, petted animals in a petting zoo and took pictures with his cute friends.

When Saturday rolled around, we headed over to my sister's house. My parents were in town and we took Reid and Cason to a few houses in the neighborhood to trick or treat.

Our two little trick-or-treaters crawling out the door to kick off the festivities

My two favorite golfers

I was Reid's caddy for the evening.

When was the last time you saw Tiger Woods with a pacifier in his mouth? We're going to have to work on this before Reid hits the PGA tour.

Little belly :)

Cason, the cutest giraffe in the world. And, in a frightening, display, Reid demonstrated just how much he loved his cousin the giraffe. We're still not sure what happened to Cason! See for yourself...

Reid doesn't need to remove candy wrappers...he's efficient like that.

Eight Month-Old Eating Machine

2009-10-20T19:50:00.007-05:00

Our "little buddy" turned eight months old today, and he is doing so many new things!

Reid officially cut his first tooth around 7.5 months; this was very quickly followed by his second tooth less than a week later
He can stand without holding onto anything for short periods of time, and he continues to walk with his walker, crawl, and pull up on everything in sight
Reid is definitely a climber! Today he crawled over to a box by a window and next thing I knew, he was standing on top of it. Heaven help us!
He continues to babble constantly, but he has also started to make what I call his "commenting noise"; he looks at something and makes a noise that either sounds like "dees" or "doh"; this is frequently followed by turning to make sure we're acknowledging him and whatever he is talking about

One of the biggest changes we've noticed in Reid recently is his appetite for solid food. He is eating a wide variety of foods in a wide variety of textures. I'm having tons of fun creating new concoctions for him each day, and I think I may do a future blog post devoted to baby food-making. The foods that Reid is now eating:

Veggies: sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini, butternut squash, acorn squash, green beans, peas, yellow squash
Fruits: apples, pears, blueberries, avocados, bananas, mango, peaches, pears, plums, prunes
Other: monterey jack and cheddar cheese, yogurt, scrambled egg yolk, rotini pasta, oatmeal, rice cereal, chicken, puffs, Cheerios

Reid is very into finger feeding; he has been feeding himself pieces of diced, cooked fruits and veggies (sweet potatoes, peas and apples are favorites), and pieces of cheese, pasta, puffs and cereal. He also grabs the spoon out of my hand frequently and tries to feed himself (with some success!). He drinks water out of a sippy cup with each meal, too. Have I mentioned that I cannot believe how grown-up he's getting?!

I feel like this one-sided dimple is new. At least it's getting much more pronounced, don't you think?

Moving right along...

2009-10-13T23:26:00.002-05:00

Well, my worst nightmare happened this week. I contracted the swine. It actually wasn't my worst nightmare though because Brian and Reid were spared. I holed up in our bedroom for a couple of days (wearing a mask whenever I came out and was around Reid) while Brian played Mr. Mom. I am so thankful for Brian! I don't know what I would have done without him last week. I was pretty useless. So now we're moving right along at the McFarland house...literally!

Here is some video of my 7 month old walking (or something) with his little walker. Check him out at the end...he's an all-terrain baby!

Autumn is in the air...

2009-10-07T09:14:00.004-05:00

On Saturday we spent a lovely morning with the Stunkards at the Dallas Arboretum. They are having their autumn festival, and the already lovely gardens were decorated with tons of pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. We couldn't have asked for better weather or better behaved babies!

Typical younger sibling/cousin..."I'm not touching you!"

My favorite picture of the day

Tasty!

The Stunkards

Hair-pulling is a common offense at our house these days

Angry face

He must get it from his dad...

2009-10-04T21:46:00.000-05:00

Reid is always particularly chatty when he's in his high chair. Here's a tiny glimpse into his true personality :)

Are you ready for some football fútbol?

2009-09-25T07:27:00.009-05:00

7 months...and 3 days

2009-09-23T13:26:00.002-05:00

Ouchies! (Alternately Titled: Somebody should probably call CPS)

2009-09-18T12:38:00.006-05:00

We've had a rough week here in McFarlandville, and poor Reid's face tells the tale...

On Monday night, I was carrying Reid through our bedroom and I slipped on a blanket on our hardwood floor. My feet flew out from under me, and I frantically tried to hold Reid up so he wouldn't hit his head on the floor. Instead, I managed to bring him down on the corner of his pack and play. His little cheek turned purple almost immediately. It doesn't show up so well in pictures, but it was ugly.

Reid seemed fine on Tuesday, but we were already worried about what his daycare would think about his face on Thursday. Then, Tuesday night, the unthinkable...Baxter scratched Reid! (Disclaimers: Yes, it sucks that the cat scratched the baby. In his defense, he was surprised and scared. We are working to prevent the cat and baby from being in similar situations in the future. The cats have been very sweet and patient with Reid excluding this incident. There are NO plans to get rid of the cat(s). Thank you for your concern.)

By the time we took Reid to daycare on Thursday morning he looked like he had been through a war zone. Brian and I alternated between calling him "Bruiser" and "Rocky". His daycare providers were extremely understanding though. They let us pick him up, and no phone calls were made to CPS (to my knowledge).

This shows the scratch, but the bruise does not show up so well. (Disclaimer 2: in this picture the scratch had started to look slightly infected. The wound had already been thoroughly cleaned, but out of an abundance of caution, I cleaned it again, smeared it with antibiotic ointment and put a bandaid on it for 24 hours. I had to prevent Reid from getting cat scratch fever. Did you even know there was such a thing?)

This shows the healing bruise, as of today. Oh, and the scratch treatment worked. Look how much better his forehead looks!

I also let him eat paper this week. I really am a terrible mother. Apparently, he shares my love of Pottery Barn.

Bottom line: isn't that the sweetest face you've ever seen? It absolutely breaks my heart when he gets hurt in any way. However, he is a crazy, busy, active little boy, and I fear this is only the beginning...

Oh no! The Big 3-0

2009-09-18T11:00:00.000-05:00

On September 11, my older and wiser (but mainly just older) husband turned 3o. We went to Jasper's (trendy restaurant) on Thursday night and bravely took Reid with us. He was quite well-behaved even though we kept him out past his bed time.

Stylin' baby getting ready for his night out on the town...

Reid with the almost Birthday Boy! Still looking good at 29 and 364/365

On Friday we had a little soiree at our house smack dab in the middle of a torrential storm. Our loyal friends braved the storm and enjoyed top-shelf margaritas, appetizers and a dessert assortment.

Brian does not like cake. He especially does not like birthday cake. So, I went to Central Market and picked out an assortment of fun desserts (mini cheesecakes, tiramisu cupcake, strawberry shortcake, chocolate mousse cup, chocolate raspberry tart, cream puffs, key lime tart, creme brulee, etc...).

My parents and Brian's mom were also in town to celebrate with us, but somehow I neglected to take any pictures of them, sorry!

Happy Birthday to the best husband a girl could ever have!

This n That

2009-09-09T11:56:00.001-05:00

I have a bunch of random things bouncing around in my head. So I thought I'd welcome you all in to my little stream-of-consciousness world.

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We have a crazy, A-C-T-I-V-E little boy on our hands, folks! He is crawling faster, pulling up on everything in sight and standing (holding on to something) for up to 10 minutes at a time! He even pulled up on our ottoman and managed to move from the ottoman to the coffee table (they were only about 18'' apart).

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In other news, Reid had his 6 month check-up last week. The official stats were:

Weight: 16 pounds 12 ounces (25th percentile)
Height: 26 inches (45th percentile)

I was surprised at how little Reid weighed. The pediatrician isn't concerned and chalked it up to how active he is. I have managed to hide my OCDness from the pediatrician up until now. I have refused to allow myself to call their office over symptoms (real or imagined) unless I knew it was a legitimate concern (like a highish fever). So, I think I took him by surprise when I casually tossed my latest concerns into my list of "normal" questions. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "How many times a day should Reid be eating solids?"
Dr.: "Two or three"
Me: " Is he old enough to get the flu shot?"
Dr.: "Yes, they can get it starting at 6 months."
Me: "Umm...do you think Reid has man boobs or is that normal baby fat?"
Dr.: (doctor gives me a strange look...) "That is baby fat."
Me: "Oh, okay. So, do you think Reid has retinoblastoma (malignant tumor) in his left eye? You see, my dad took this picture of Reid and instead of red eye, his left pupil looked yellow, and I know that's one of the warning signs, but my dad said he just messed up the red eye correction on the computer...he even showed me the original where Reid's pupil was, in fact, red, but I'm still worried..."
Dr.: checking Reid's eyes again "nope, he's got great red reflexes in both eyes, and his pupils look great"
Me: "oh, okay, I think that's all my questions today..."
Dr.: breathes a huge sigh of relief and looks at me with amusement but amazingly does not look at me like I've completely lost my mind. And, THAT, is why I love this doctor so much :)

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All of Reid's recent activity has led to a frenzy of baby proofing around here. After exploring several options, we think we have come up with a method of padding our enormous hearth that just might last (for a week or two anyway). It is a miracle of modern construction involving pool noodles, crib bumpers and LOTS of duct tape. I have to thank my sister for the fabulous (but slightly redneck) idea.

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And finally, here are a few pictures from Baxter's perspective of what it looks like when a half-crazed ball of energy comes at you...

Over the river and through the woods-Take 2

2009-08-26T14:09:00.005-05:00

A couple of weeks after our trip down to College Station to see BeBe and Grandad, we flew to Denver to see Mimi and Grandpa (Brian's parents). We also got to meet Reid's cousin Garrett for the first time and hang out with Mark, Becky and Matt. A great time was had by all! Reid did great flying for the first time, and he enjoyed being the older cousin for a change.

Flying with Uncle Mark is such fun!

Hmm...maybe it's a McFarland thing...

One of my favorite pictures of all time

Reid loved the way the grass felt!

With Dad at the park

With Mom at the park

McFarland men

Mark, Becky and Garrett

The adorable Garrett

Cousins

Reid looked so preppy in his little plaid visor!

Garrett is 2.5 months younger than Reid, but they're almost the same size!

Garrett was not at all sure about this hammock business...

The big oh-six

2009-08-20T19:00:00.001-05:00

Reid/Buddy/Munch/Mini Reidy Burgers (just a few of your many nicknames),

You are 6 months old today, and Daddy and I could not be more proud of you! You are such a delightful baby. (Intense, but delightful.) When you arrived on February 20, you were tiny and quiet. Now, you are so grown up! You have an exuberant smile that lights up our home. You let out squeals of joy, and you are so busy all the time! Here is a little snapshot into your life at 6 months:

You have just started crawling; your movements are still a little unsteady, but you're going faster and further every day!
You are sitting up on your own, and you are able to get into the sitting position and back to your tummy on your own. You look so grown up sitting up and playing with toys!
You are really beginning to enjoy food. So far you have had sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, bananas, avocados, apples, mango, rice cereal and oatmeal cereal. For awhile, you seemed to love sweet potatoes, but over the last several days, you've been excited about green vegetables. Yay!
You are so vocal, and we are hearing more consonant sounds and the beginnings of babbling each day. You also coo, squeal, screech, and laugh this fabulous belly laugh.
You seem to have a temper at this early age. Sometimes when I walk out of the room, you fall down on the floor and erupt into a screaming fit.
You are interested in Baxter and Bristow. You smile as you watch them walk around the house, and when they get near enough, you reach out to pet them. Bristow has been sleeping on the rug in your nursery at night. He looks so sweet and protective.
You are our Tasmanian devil baby! You get so wound up and pull our hair, claw at our faces, pull on my earrings, chew on our chins and suck on our noses squealing all the while.
You are a huge flirt! You smile at all new people, but you really turn on the charm for women. You give your ear-to-ear grin, then bury your head in my neck and act shy for about two seconds then turn and smile again.
You love to play on the floor. Some of your favorite toys right now are your squishy building blocks, Fisher Price keyboard, mini basketball goal and the mini barn mobile with farm animals that is on your car seat handle. You still love Mortimer the Moose and Sophie the Giraffe. Both of these toys usually ride with you in the car seat.
You love Daddy and I so much! Your face lights up when we walk in the room, and you laugh for daddy like no one else. You love to sit in my lap and suck on your pacifier while you play with my hair.

You are 6 months old today, and we love you so, So, SOOO much!

Love,
Mommy

Lazy Afternoon

2009-08-14T22:41:00.003-05:00

"5 years" alternately titled: "when did we get so old?"

2009-07-24T10:38:00.007-05:00

Five years ago today, I walked down the aisle with a slightly forced smile and deer-in-the-headlights look to marry my best friend. And before you think I'm psycho, the reason I looked that way was NOT because I was unhappy about, or afraid of, marrying Brian. It had more to do with the massive case of nerves that hit me as I was waiting in the back of the church about 5 minutes before lift off. I had been uncharacteristically calm all day up until that very moment.

My biggest fear was that I would cry during our wedding. Actually, my biggest fear was that Brian would cry during our wedding. Thank the Lord, Brian held it together. I, on the other hand, did not.

Side note: I have no problem with other people crying during their weddings. It's just that the thought of 150 of our closest family and friends witnessing such an emotionally intimate moment really freaked me out.

Back to the story. As I waited with my dad, bridesmaids and flower girls, I suddenly became so nervous that I felt sick. I remember crouching down on my feet (in the big dress) and one of my bridesmaids moving my veil off my face in case I threw up. I didn't, praise the Lord. When it was time to walk down the aisle my heart was racing, and I remember that the combination of the veil over my face and all the white lights and candlelight in the sanctuary cast a magical glow. About halfway up the aisle, I remembered to look up, and there stood my prince charming! I was so relieved/happy/nervous/excited/nervous/petrified/nervous...

Brian was smiling, calm and brimming with confidence, as usual. He was relaxed when he repeated his vows with a clear, strong voice. I, on the other hand, said them so quietly they were hardly audible. And, I realized at some point in the ceremony that I was rocking back and forth on my feet. Embarrassing. Then, the mother of all my worst, emotionally-stunted nightmares: during the lighting of the unity candle I was overcome with emotion while listening to my dear friends sing and Brian pray for us. I cried.

This was not a lose control, sobbing, ugly cry, but it was definitely more than a glisten in my eyes. My sister surreptitiously passed the tissue she had been clasping around her bouquet. I had my back to the congregation during all of this, and I wiped my eyes and regained control before I turned back around. I'm good like that. What I didn't realize until later was that this entire display had been captured by the videographer in the choir loft. Right down to the lip tremble before the tears started flowing. Ugh.

When we were pronounced husband and wife and walked out to Vivaldi's Spring, I felt so much joy and relief wash over me. We were married, and I had survived the ceremony! I was extremely relaxed and happy through the reception. Until I started thinking about the wedding night. And on that note, I will leave you with some pictures. Of the wedding. Not the wedding night ;)

Walking down the aisle

The unity candle debacle :)

Relieved!

The cutest flower girls in the world!

Leaving the church and feeling much better.

A little pit stop at Sonic for Dr. Pepper, and I felt much, much better

Hill Country sunset

Getting nervous all over again...

Over the river and through the woods

2009-07-21T23:20:00.007-05:00

Last weekend, we took Reid to my parents house in College Station for the first time. It was a fun and relaxing weekend. We also took both cats, and I have to say that they were higher maintenance than Reid during the car portion of the trip! Warning: major picture overload follows! :)

With BeBe and Grandad in front of their house

Chatting with BeBe on the couch

Meeting my childhood cat, Noah

Hanging with BeBe with my mischievous expression

Posing in my sleep sack

Pulling Grandad's hair

Sleeping in the new Ergo Baby Carrier...LOVE it!

Flexibility drills with Daddy

Three of my favorite boys

He's started sleeping on his tummy with his butt in the air, and I can't stand how adorable it is!

This was how he napped at my parents' house. Disclaimers: a) I always put him down on his back and he rolls himself over; b) he was never left unattended on the bed and c) I have no problem with the cat being in the bed with the baby

At Grandad's office pretending to be City Manager

Putting Grandad's desk to good use :)

Five Months

2009-07-21T12:33:00.002-05:00

Almost Famous

2009-07-08T11:49:00.006-05:00

I had a the thrill of a lifetime...or maybe just this month, when THE MckMama emailed me last Tuesday night. Who is MckMama, you ask? Only my very favorite blogger of all time! She's a young mother raising her 4 kids (under the age of 4!) in Minnesota. She's also famous. In the blog world, anyway. She has had millions of hits on her blog, and it's not unusual for her posts to get more than a thousand comments.

She blogs about loving Jesus, daily life with her kids, eating organically, potty-training, her miraculously healed (but now sick again) son and dates with her husband. If you want to laugh, cry and get great parenting ideas, head on over to: mycharmingkids.net It's addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Anyway, I've always thought her youngest son looked a lot like Reid. This was particularly apparent in a recent photo I took of him. So, I emailed it to her. (Which is brave since it was a crappy picture, and she's a professional photographer). She emailed me back right away agreeing they looked alike and saying how "cute, cute, cute" Reid is. Now I love her even more.

So, I've decided that MckMama emailing me makes me almost famous...

Unfortunately, the rest of last week was not quite so thrilling. I thought my child was developing multiple personalities last week. He was moody even for him. However, when he woke up on Thursday morning, I could tell right away that he had a fever. And, it was a work day for me.

My super amazing husband stayed home with the sick munchkin all day and even took him to the pediatrician. Turns out, Mr. Reid had a virus involving fever and sores in his mouth and throat. All we could do was give him Tylenol, and it was so sad to watch him whimper pitifully all day Thursday and Friday. By Sunday he was good as new, though.

Here are some pictures from our last couple of weeks:

Eating a little avocado and breast milk. Isn't that how you make guacamole? ;)

Tasty.

Fourth of July fun with Eric and Beau Loyd

Reid and Beau reading a book together. They are so intellectual!

The super amazing husband referenced above gets Reid ready for day care, drops him off and picks him up on days I work (I'm a lucky girl!). Typically, I put an outfit on the changing table for Brian to dress him in. One day I forgot, and Brian sent Reid to day care in the shorts you see pictured. That's right, folks...those are shorts hitting his ankles! I laughed all night long :)

Reid is very in to sucking on his toes these days. In fact, he loves to suck on his toes between bites of rice cereal.

I was a bad mom one day. I just wanted to take a shower and dry my hair. This is Reid in the swing watching Baby Einstein. Scary how early they learn the "zoned out" stare.

Happy boy.

The new toy he got after his 4 month vaccinations.

This is the second time I have scratched him and done significant damage. Actually, he might have done this one to himself. I wasn't sure so I immediately trimmed his nails, and in the process, cut his finger for the first time. Feel free to nominate me for Mother of the Year.

Sign of the times?

2009-07-08T10:27:00.005-05:00

I'm sorry, I just have to get this out of my system then I will return to my regularly scheduled blogging about my adorable son...

Did you hear that Michael Jackson died?

It's been minor news for about the last 13 days, and can I just say, that I am SO over it? I realize that devoting a blog post to good ol' MJ is a double standard since I'm complaining about the onslaught of media attention. But, it's my blog and I'll be a hypocrite if I want to :)

I'm as big a fan of celebrity "news" and gossip as the next girl. In fact I check people.com once a day to get my fix. That might be a low estimate. I digress. When I heard that the King of Pop died on my way home from work two Thursdays ago, I knew it was big news. I figured there'd be a little tribute on the Today Show and it would get mentioned on the news. I guessed that MTV and VH1 would have some MJ video marathons and radio stations would play his songs all day Friday.

I was surprised and intrigued/saddened/annoyed/disgusted when I turned on the Today Show on Friday morning to find the ENTIRE 3 hours devoted to Michael Jackson news. I mean, he died. It's sad. What could there possibly be to talk about for 3 hours!? They interviewed attorneys, music industry big wigs, his personal spiritual guru (who could only be reached via cell phone since he was on a spiritual retreat in Iceland) and doctors who had never treated him but wanted to discuss possible theories on "what went wrong". Meredith Vieira had even flown to LA on Thursday night so she could report LIVE from the epicenter. Okay, so the Today show isn't exactly hard-hitting news. Maybe I can understand. But...

All 3 major networks devoted all of the nightly national news to the same silliness. Seriously, people?! And it's been pretty much non-stop since then until yesterday when all the major networks preempted their regularly scheduled programming to cover his entire 2 hour memorial service LIVE. From the little bit that I saw, Katie Couric was covering the event live in LA, but they kept cutting back to the studio in NY for updates and analysis. Are you freaking kidding me?!

This has nothing to do with how I personally feel about Michael Jackson (although, since you asked, I think he's a strange, sad man who at the very least had grossly inappropriate relationships with children). Apparently he has millions of fans. I get that they are sad and want to know what's going on. So read People magazine. Watch Entertainment Tonight. But, for the love of Pete, can we please use news broadcasts to cover actual news?

While MJ's dead body sat around garnering all the media attention for the last 2 weeks, did ya know what else was going on in the world?

North Korea test fired 7 more missiles
South Carolina's senate voted to censure their governer
A Yemeni airliner crashed off of Comoros killing 152 people
Obama met with Putin in Russia
A serial killer struck repeatedly in South Carolina (they're having a bad month in SC, apparently)
Ethnic violence erupted in China
Honduras' president was overthrown in a military coup

That is just a tiny sampling of the real stuff that was going on in the world.

Ultimately, the news networks are driven by ratings. Ratings are increased by showing the people what they want to see. SO...

What does it say about us a a country that we want to devote all of our attention to a man who sang, danced/made lewd pelvic movements and was addicted to plastic surgery while we virtually ignore the real issues?! Nothing good, my friends. Nothing good.

Now, if someone will bring me an extenion ladder, I will climb down off my giant soap box. Sorry for the rant. For the record, I feel much better now :)

These are a few of my favorite things

2009-06-25T20:51:00.003-05:00

This post is a very random tribute to the material things in my life that bring me great joy:

I want it, I need it, I can't function without it. Starbucks Breakfast Blend brewed fresh each morning by my loving husband with just the right amount of half and half. Heavenly.

This is the only dish soap I can use. My mom uses it too, and it smells like home to me.

A great go-to white wine for any occasion. 2005-2007 have all been very good years :)

This fall I ended my 14 year love/hate relationship with Clinique in favor of Bare Minerals. LOVE IT. I was skeptical of a loose powder foundation at first, but I have seen the light!

My CHI straightener has died a slow, agonizing death over the last year. (It is 4 years old...I hear that's an excellent life span for a CHI.) It has been replaced by the Sedu. The Sedu beats the pants off the CHI any day.

The "Dallas Red" variety of lantana camera; beautiful, native and very drought resistant!

I adore all Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Lavender Vanilla products. I know they say for "sleep", but I use them in the morning too. That might explain the need for the coffee...

I love to travel, but it's expensive. My consolation prize is reading about travel. This magazine is fabulous, and gives me great ideas for saving money. A $10.00 a year subscription lets me spend hours dreaming of future adventures!

Double pan fried noodles from P.F. Changs. I don't eat them often, but they are culinary perfection.

The only piece of technology I own. And really, do I need anything else? I don't think so.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel. We got ours in 2006 and have been snap-happy ever since.

I have more fun checking out what these bad boys pull out of my pores than I should. Don't judge me!

Anyone else up for the challenge of sharing the little things that make you smile?

I heart Daddy

2009-06-23T21:57:00.007-05:00

Reid loves his daddy! They already have so much fun together, and I know as Reid gets older, and is able to do more, they will have a blast. Of course, Brian has visions of playing soccer and baseball with the little man. One time I asked him what he would do if Reid didn't like sports and wanted to be a ballet dancer instead. His answer surprised me. He said, "Then I'll learn how to dance so we can spend time together." This is both touching and hilarious (everyone, imagine with me Brian leaping across a stage in tights!). I do think it shows what a great daddy Reid has though. And I hope Brian doesn't mind me sharing that little tidbit with everyone.

Brian's first Father's Day was a blast for all of us. We had such a busy day, and Reid was a trooper. We went to ABF a.k.a. "Sunday School" and big church, and Reid stayed in the nursery throughout. We peeked in on him in between, and he was standing in an exersaucer grinning from ear to ear with about 3 nursery workers congregated around him. We decided he was doing just fine :)

Then we had lunch at Central Market, and I surprised Brian by instructing him to drive to the PGA Superstore so he could pick out his new putter as part of his gift from Reid. Brian had lots of fun test driving putters while Reid and I walked around looking at golf apparel. Brian also got a gift card to play golf at Tour 18 from my parents, me and Reid. Finally, we came home, and Reid gave Brian a book he wrote called "My Daddy and Me". It was a photobook with captions of Brian and Reid since the day he was born. They read it together. Last, but not least, Brian and Reid went for a dip in the pool. There was tons of laughter and silly noises. I had to sit this one out since I had LASIK on Friday. No swimming for a month :( I did have fun watching them (in my wrap around sun glasses) and taking pictures.

Brian proclaimed it the best Father's Day he's ever had. And Reid proclaimed Brian the best daddy that he's ever had. ;)

Happy boys

Surfing lessons

Daddy making motorboat noises

Watching the US Open together

Brian tried out the new putter on the rug. Baxter had fun playing with the golf balls. I said he was Brian's catty. Get it? Please try to control your hysterical laughter.

Reading their book together

Reid holding the book and card to give to Daddy.

Brian posing with the putter. And the baby.

Tuckered out.

Fantastic Four (Months)

2009-06-23T21:51:00.002-05:00

Too busy to sleep

2009-06-17T10:20:00.007-05:00

I returned to work on Monday for the first time in 6 MONTHS (combination of bed rest and maternity leave). It was weird, busy, stressful but strangely okay. Of course, my in-laws were keeping Reid at our house, and dinner was waiting for me when I returned home. Now if only every workday could end that way! Tomorrow will be Reid's first real day at day care. I'm working Mondays and Thursdays for now.

Anyway, the number one question everyone at work was asking was: "how is he sleeping?!" as if this was the critical measure of his intelligence and my success as a mother. (What's that? I'm being way too sensitive and reading too much into the question? Okay, fine. Sleep deprivation has left me with the emotional stability of a newborn.) So, in answer to THE question: not well. Reid still gets up once or twice (or three times!) to eat during the night. Sometimes he wakes up more but goes back down without eating. No, he has never slept through the night. Not once. I've had a couple of freak occurrences where he slept for 6 hours, but there were no repeat performances.

So, if he doesn't sleep well at night, he must be napping well during the day, right? Nope. Reid is the consummate power napper. He will be passed out, be placed in his crib for a nap and wake up 10 minutes later smiling and ready to go. Or screaming his head off and cranky. It's a toss up. Yes, I'm exhausted. No, I never get anything done around the house.

All that to say, no, my child has not been sleeping for 12 hours a night, straight through, (like my sweet co-worker informed me her baby had been since 2 months of age.) BUT, he is completely amazing in so many other ways. Allow me to brag.

Reid rolls both ways, and he is now using rolling to go places and get things. He will hold toys in both hands and pass them from one hand to the other. He laughs, coos, makes raspberries and generally vocalizes non-stop. If we hold out our hands, he pulls himself to standing with very little assistance. He supports himself standing only holding our fingers. He eats his toes. He stands in his exersaucer. He tried rice cereal for the first time last night. He even appears to be getting his first tooth. And I'm convinced that there is not a cuter baby on this planet. Especially when he wears his swimsuit.

In summary, it is entirely possible that Reid will not sleep through the night until he is 16. His naps will probably only get shorter. But he is brilliant, strong, amazing and adorable. Four out of five ain't bad.

Holding his toes

Reading a book

Scratch that. Eating a book.

Standing in my exersaucer (with a little assist from the Wii fit board)

Eating rice cereal.

Entertaining mom after her first day at work.

Reid was dedicated at church this last Sunday with his cousin Cason.

Yes, they wore matching outfits.

Grandpa gave Reid a few tips on his game while watching golf together.

Swimming with Daddy.

To quote a very strange, very Southern saying I once heard (on the Bachelor if you must know) "I just want to sop him up with a biscuit!"

Standing with Daddy in the suit.

Ladies and gentleman, that is my 80 year old grandmother playing on the floor like a young spring chicken.

After a jog with Dad.

My Uncle Billy

2009-06-03T18:33:00.003-05:00

Most of you are aware by now that my uncle died very unexpectedly last week. He was 45 and had a wife, Christy, and two sons, Jacob, 14 and Sean ,17. Uncle Billy was my favorite uncle and definitely the uncle that I spent the most time with growing up. He was only 18 when I was born (my dad is 14 years older than he), and I have great early memories of riding around my grandmother's house on his shoulders. He also used to take my sister and me "exploring" in a wooded lot that backed up to my grandmother's house. I'm sure it was only about an acre, or so, but it felt like a great adventure to us!

We were so excited when he married my aunt Christy--she was so young and hip (she still is even though she's a GREAT aunt now!). Sarah and I were flower girls in their wedding with stylish peach dresses with white lace. I always looked forward to their visits--especially when they had Sean and Jacob. I was touched when he and Christy came to Tulsa for my college graduation and not just because they gave me money ;)

The last time I saw Billy is when he, Christy and Jacob came to see us in the hospital when Reid was born. They had just come from a baseball game, and they brought Reid his first camoflage outfit. However, Billy and I had a newfound relationship on Facebook. We frequently commented on each others status updates and pictures. In face, I think I had just read one of his updates on Saturday morning.

So when my dad called on Saturday afternoon to let me know my uncle had had a seizure and was at the hospital, I was concerned, but I figured he'd be fine. He'd been diagnosed with epilepsy about 5 years ago but his seizures were well-managed with medication. My dad wanted Sarah and I to go up to the hospital and check on Christy and the boys and to see how Billy was doing. We were about to have a pool party at our house, and we decided not to cancel it. I assumed I'd get up to the hospital around the time Billy was being released, see if the family needed anything and make it back in time to see Reid in his swim suit for the first time.

Imagine my shock when, minutes after arriving at the hospital, the doctor informed us that my uncle was brain dead with a slim chance of survival. I was shocked! Nine days later, I'm still shocked. I can't believe he's gone. He was Facebooking on Saturday morning, for crying out loud.

I've always known that Billy was a wonderful uncle. I also knew he was a terrific husband and father. Over the last week, I have learned so much about him that I didn't know. I've learned that he has numerous fiercely loyal friends. Many of Sean and Jacob's friends were also very close to Billy and spent countless hours in the ICU waiting room. Former co-workers, high school friends, college buddies, friends from church...last week I met so many people who loved my uncle. Hundreds of people showed up at his visitation and funeral, and I was so proud to tell them that Billy was my uncle.

One quick picture--when Billy , Christy and Jacob came to see us in the hospital. That bundle of blankets is tiny baby Reid!

Read 'em and weep (or don't--your choice)

2009-05-21T08:03:01.835-05:00

My dear friend/former roommate Aimee tagged me to share seven random things about myself. I decided this blog should be about more than just Reid--after all, I existed long before he did. So here you go, for what it's worth!

1. I'm a walking paradox. I love a clean house, organized closets, sparkling car, and immaculate purse. Unfortunately, I am inherently a very messy person. I have a very hard time disciplining myself to keep things picked up and organized every moment of the day. Instead, I allow things to get out of control quickly, get completely stressed out about it, and then go on a cleaning rampage. Seriously, walking into my messy house physically affects me--the muscles in my neck tighten, I clench my jaw and the beginnings of a stress headache are born. Why, oh why, can't I make things easier on myself and just stay on top of things?!

2. I'm an amateur gardener. My dad definitely has a green thumb, and we always had one of the best yards in the neighborhood growing up--no pressure! When we moved into our house 2.5 years ago, our backyard had a Japanese zen garden theme going on, bamboo wind chimes, stone pagodas and all. I am s0 not a zen person, and I have spent each spring/summer/fall since creating my own little oasis. And one of these days, if you're very lucky, I'll give you a break from pictures of my adorable son and fur babies and post pictures of my plants. I know, I know, the excitement is almost more than you can take.

3. When I was 11 years old, I visited a pot farm. Actually, it was my grandparents house. Easy to get the two confused, isn't it? To make a long story short, some fine Arkansans from somewhere downriver got the great idea to use the river access to some of my grandparents' property to plant their own personal stash. I was visiting that summer and helping my grandfather look for trees blown down in a storm the night before when we stumbled across the operation in a secluded, wooded area (luckily no pot farmers were there at the time). The authorities were called and removed said illegal substance which was allegedly worth hundreds of thousands of dollars--street value of course ;) They never caught those fine farmers, but later that week several bails of hay on my grandparents property were torched. Only in Arkansas!

4. I'm a hippie. Okay, not really, but relatively speaking, among my conservative, Christian Republican (CCR, if you will) friends, I totally am. I don't know where this streak came from, but ever since taking a class in college called "The Cultural Meaning of Childbirth in American Society" I desperately wanted a home birth with a doula and a midwife. Certain medical issues made this scenario impossible, but that didn't stop me from bringing my doula to the hospital for my c-section. I also tend to question authority at times, I used some alternative medical services in our quest to become pregnant, and we're selectively vaccinating. In fairness to my parents, I'd like to point out that I was most definitely NOT raised this way.

5. I have a weird job. I got into the field of speech pathology because I wanted to work with kiddos. Sometime during grad school I became keenly interested in the medical side of the profession. Specifically, I grew to love voice restoration following cancer. Now I spend my workdays digging around in the necks of people who have had part, or all, of their voice box removed because of cancer. I help them talk and/or eat and swallow again. It's very rewarding except when it isn't-- there are times when the outcomes are less than favorable or when patients pass away. Most of the time, though, I feel I make an immediate difference in the lives during a really scary and difficult time. (And yes, I am going back to work, two days a week starting June 15).

6. I have issues. Sensory issues, that is! I hate wearing pants (but I do for the sake of humanity.) The thought of wearing layers makes my heart rate rise. For example, I have NO idea how people wear button down shirts under sweaters. I cannot wear wool--the thought makes me itch. I do not like loud noises, and when Brian has the TV or music too loud it makes me physically uncomfortable--not my ears--I just feel stressed by it. I love swinging, rocking, fidgeting and deep pressure touch. Yes, I realize this makes me sound like I could be on the autism spectrum. I'm pretty sure I'm not.

7. I should have been a travel agent. I absolutely LOVE to travel. The weird thing is, I think planning trips is half the fun! I enjoy the excitement of researching a new place and the challenge of planning travel on a budget. I also have loads of fun figuring out all the logistics of our travels (connecting flights, rental car pick up, train schedules in foreign countries, hotel check-in times, museum hours, etc...). It's like a jigsaw puzzle (which I also love...if there was a #8 I would tell you all about that!). I feel like actually going on a trip is the icing on the cake. It is usually the culmination of many months of research and planning, and I have so much fun watching everything fall into place. So, if #5 falls through, I always have a back-up career option.

Now, I'm supposed to tag 7 friends to participate in this exercise on their blogs. I'm not sure I have seven close friends who blog. Hmm...

1. My favorite sister, Sarah: just try and surprise me with new information about you!
2. Cara: Elvis knows all (don't ask), but share 7 things for the rest of the crowd.
3. Amy, we're so much alike, why don't you just copy and paste my list into your blog? (Okay, I actually don't think any of my 7 apply to you...)
4. The newest addition to my blogging family: Jennifer!
5. Brooke and I are practically living the same life right now with little boys who are less than 2 weeks apart!
6. Lindsay has the newest newborn in our small group, and I am constantly surprised by what I learn about you.
7. I don't get to see Dawn nearly enough, but I am always so encouraged by what I read on your blog since you've almost survived your first year of motherhood.

3 months

2009-05-20T21:13:00.007-05:00

UPDATE: Reid started rolling over from his back to his tummy last night while he slept, and then this morning he demonstrated rolling back to tummy then back to his back. Such a big boy!

Original Post:
Reid almost commemorated his 3 month birthday by rolling from his back to his tummy...almost. Other developments include starting to sit up when propped or in the Bumbo and lots of smiling/cooing interaction with Mom and Dad!

One month

Two months

Three months

So close to rolling back to tummy but got stuck on his arm :)

Using his hands and feet to play

First time in the Bumbo

This is how we get yard work done (a play yard-sized mosquito net over the swing--word of caution--the mobile has to be turned off or a tangled mess ensues!)

Eating his hands in his outdoor paradise

Hanging out with BeBe before bedtime

We are family

2009-05-12T20:27:00.005-05:00

I had a fabulous first Mother's Day as a mother! I got to spend the weekend with my parents, Sarah, Toby, Cason, Brian and Reid. We went to church Sunday morning, to Brian's soccer game Sunday afternoon and ate on the patio at PF Changs for dinner Sunday evening.

My mom is still in town, and she has brought Cason over this week for play dates. Our friend Beau and his grandmother even joined in the fun today. Enjoy the pictures!

Cason is working his supermodel pout.

Discussing dinner plans...got milk?

Cason decided to ditch the ratty old Red Raiders blanket in favor of something a little more stylish. And for those of you blog readers who have no idea what a Golden Hurricane is (and lets be honest...that's probably ALL of you)...it would be the mascot for the University of Tulsa, the alma matter of me and Brian.

Cason is so close to crawling!

Is this what child development experts had in mind when they coined the term "parallel play"?

Our little family on Mother's Day.

Grandad and the kids

Sarah's first mother's day too!

BeBe and the kids

Is there any question who Cason looks like? Sorry Sarah. (Funny side note--the night before Reid was born, one of my good friends asked me if I thought he'd look like Cason....ummm, if he did, that would be awkward!)

Happy Boy

2009-05-11T12:55:00.005-05:00

Reid has started to mellow a little in his old age. He is still an intense baby and can go from really happy to really angry in a nanosecond. At times, he still goes from being deeply asleep one second to opening one eye and beginning to shriek hysterically until he is fed (at which point he becomes instantly calm again!).

HOWEVER, whereas these situations used to be the norm, now they are much less frequent. Reid has started smiling, cooing and laughing a ton. He is more independent and will play on a blanket on the floor or in his crib for up to 30 minutes at a time without getting fussy. He has started enjoying his swing much more, and I'm even starting to get him to nap more regularly (without holding him through the entire nap!).

Reid has had visits from Mimi (Brian's mom) and BeBe and Grandad (my parents) lately. And, Reid now has another cousin! Brian's brother Mark, and his wife, Becky, had a big, healthy baby boy.

Garrett James McFarland
May 9, 2009 at 12:27 a.m.
8 lbs 15 oz
21 inches

We can't wait to meet, and play with, Baby Garrett! ( I will try to post some pictures of him when I get some).

Don't I look cute in a hat?

I love BeBe

Trying to grab the camera

I have the prettiest baby boy in the world :)

I'd love to say that he was this overjoyed that I am his mom, but in reality, a piece of wrought iron on the wall amused him for at least 20 minutes on this night.

Rolling over

Tummy time

Having a blast with Mimi

Mom is obsessed with dressing me in plaid. Somebody help me!

Chillin' with Daddy.

Playing with Daddy after his soccer game

I love my bouncy seat!

I hate my bouncy seat! (10 seconds after first bouncy seat picture)

Baxter says, "Bye, thanks for checking out our blog this week!"

The many moods of my munchkin

2009-04-22T09:55:00.007-05:00

This (cell phone camera) photo shoot was during Reid's daily stretch routine following a long night of being bundled up like a burrito.

Concerned

Disgusted

Elated

Just plain happy

Really amused

He's thinking, "...seriously, Mom? SERIOUSLY?"

Cranky

Extremely relaxed

Worried

Surprised

Thoughtful

Big Boy!

2009-04-20T21:59:00.003-05:00

Reid is two months old today, and he behaved much better for his two month old picture than he did for his one month picture. For the sake of comparison, I'll post the one month picture as well.

He goes to the pediatrician on Friday for his two month old check-up. He has started smiling, and it absolutely melts my heart!

One month old

Two months old

Loving his mobile

Smiling in the swing

Road Trip

2009-04-13T21:54:00.007-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updating, but I will make up for it with a ridiculous amount of pictures. We have been so busy since the last post! Brian's mom came for a visit, my mom came for a visit, and we went to Houston for a road trip over Easter weekend.

Reid has also started making many more social appearances--we went to church for the first time two weeks ago, and he did fairly well. We have also been to a few restaurants, and we even went to Aunt Sarah's school to visit and take her lunch on her 30th birthday. I'm starting to get a little more comfortable packing him up, loading and unloading him from the car, and managing all that goes with taking a tiny baby in public.

He continues to grow and change and amaze us! I'm not going to lie, he definitely has his ups and downs. Some days we have so much fun discovering new things, singing songs, reading books and making noises. Other days, Reid is quite high maintenance and spends much of the day screaming. Luckily, there are more good days than bad.

We went to Houston for the wedding of one of Brian's close high school friends. Brian's parents were there so we got lots of quality time in with them. Reid did great in the car both ways, and he did well in the hotel too! (I was nervous that he would scream all night, and we would be those people). Overall, it was a very successful trip, and we look forward to many more travel adventures as a family.

And now, LOTS of pictures:

Not sure what he thinks about his Easter outfit

Showing off his Easter outfit

Diaper changing on-the-go

Such a pretty boy

Who doesn't love a good cat-in-a-box picture?

Daddy and Reid--color coordinated!

Comatose after eating

Hotel in Houston--look how long (and angry) he is!

Sarah, Cason, Reid and BeBe at Cheesecake Factory

Reid loves his froggie Bath Luve--it keeps him warm and happy during bath time

Reid sporting overalls at the rehearsal dinner

Brian's best friend Noel and his son Rhys

Mimi and Grandpa on Easter

We gave him an Easter present--he's thrilled ;)

He loves playing in his crib and watching his mobile

Family pic

Cason telling Reid a fascinating story

One Month Old (slightly belated)

2009-03-25T19:18:00.006-05:00

I'm about 4 days late posting this, but hey, I guess that's just the kind of mom I'm going to be :) Reid turned one month old on Friday and I absolutely do not know where the time has gone!

New tricks:
-Rolling from his tummy to his back (he was doing this during the last post but I figured it was worth mentioning again)
-Holding his head up for several seconds at a time while on his tummy
-Cooing and grunting
-Tracking objects (and Mommy and Daddy)
-He's on the verge of smiling for us consistently--we've had a couple of semi-smiles
-He's trying to hold a rattle in his hand, but he's not really consistent with that either yet

We've also had lots of visitors since our last post. Brian's cousin Amy, Aunt Carol and Amy's boyfriend Josh came down from Kansas two weekends ago. Last weekend, Grandpa (Brian's dad) drove down from Colorado and stopped in Kansas to pick up Brian's grandmother. Needless to say, Reid has received a ton of attention which he has loved!

My attempt at the "One Month" picture--he was NOT a happy one month old

Baxter has accepted his brother--he even licked his head to prove it :)

Reid's faux-hawk after a bath

With Great Grandma

Happy after bathtime

Silly faces

Outside watching Mommy garden on a beautiful day

Bristow enjoying Reid's Snuggle Nest co-sleeper

With Great Aunt Carol

With cousin Amy

Little Reid-almost 3 weeks old

2009-03-12T19:39:00.005-05:00

Our sweet baby is almost 3 weeks old. I cannot believe it! The last several days have been amazing and challenging (and completely exhausting!). I've never felt so clueless in my whole life. We have learned that Reid likes to snuggle and has an incredibly expressive face. He also seems to be a little impatient and slightly temperamental. When it's time to eat he lets out one little peep to signal his hunger and then angry, cranky screaming ensues until we can get him settled and eating. Brian and I always suspected that our offspring would be lacking in the patience department :)

And now, I must brag. Reid rolled over from his stomach to his back at 15 days old. What's that you say? Must have been a fluke? That's what we thought too! So we put him back on his tummy, and he did it again. He's repeated his amazing feat 3 times since Saturday making his parents very proud. We also took Reid on his first "real" outing (excluding two check-ups at the pediatrician). We went to Brian's soccer game on Sunday, and Reid did great. Oh, and Brian's team won...yay!

My mom left on Sunday afternoon so I've been going it alone during the day while Brian's at work. Does anyone know where I can purchase an extra set of arms?!

So, here is the last two weeks in pictures:

Posing after Brian's soccer game

Watching Brian's soccer game

We didn't catch him rolling over on camera, but this is him on his back after rolling over for the first time!

Reid's "kissy face"--one of my favorite expressions

Precious!

Brian reading Goodnight Moon to Reid for the first time outside the womb

Hanging out in his Snuggle Nest in our bed

Sleeping on Daddy is one of his favorite past times!

Reid's first walk outside--he's in the pouch

Little, tiny Reid inside his pouch

Looking at himself in the mirror on his playmat...

This is his expression upon seeing himself in the mirror--I think he likes what he sees!

Lots of pictures!

2009-02-28T17:51:00.007-06:00

Last belly shot-the night before Reid was born.

Daddy's armrest the night before Reid was born.

Nursery

Nursery bedding, handmade by my mom!

Reid on his birthday

Sleeping with my baby-1 day old

Hanging out in the hospital-2 days old

Getting burped and showing off chubby cheeks

With Daddy in his gown--way too big!

Waiting to get discharged from the hospital

First bath at home--not a happy camper

Reid chilling out in his swing--he loves it!

Wide awake after eating

Reid posing with his first package addressed to him from Jennifer, Marion and Michael Powell

Comatose after feeding...

In the nursery after his first trip to the pediatrician for a weight check (he was up to 6 pounds, 15 ounces from his hospital low of 6 pounds, 13 ounces)

Our precious first born sons :)

On The Day You Were Born

2009-02-26T19:15:00.005-06:00

My Precious Reid William,

One week ago tonight, Daddy and I sat at our favorite neighborhood restaurant, Covino's, with BeBe, Grandad, Mimi, Grandpa, Uncle Toby, Aunt Sarah and Cason. We were celebrating because we knew that the next morning we would welcome you into this world. We ate lots of good food then returned home knowing we had a very early morning ahead of us. We finished packing our bags and getting the house ready. We wanted everything to be perfect when you came home!

Daddy and I snuggled into bed that night very nervous and excited. Daddy was surprised that he was not as nervous as he expected to be. Mommy surprised herself with being more nervous than she thought she would be! Your brothers, Baxter and Bristow, both slept in our bed that night. Daddy and I tried to explain to them that their lives would never be the same (but that we loved them very much).

On the morning of Friday, February 20, 2009, our alarm went off at 4:00 a.m. Daddy and I quickly took showers, and Daddy ate breakfast in the kitchen where I couldn't see him since I couldn't have any food but was starving. I fixed my hair and put on make-up because I wanted to look good for your big day. We left the house just after 5:00 a.m. after telling the kitties good-bye. The car was loaded down with your car seat and diaper bag, our suitcases, video camera, regular camera and a LOT of pillows for Mommy to have in her hospital bed.

We arrived at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas at 5:30 a.m. and checked into Labor and Delivery. They showed us back to our room and things started to feel more "real" to me and Daddy. I got dressed in my hospital gown and then Elizabeth, our doula and photographer, arrived. She took LOTS of pictures of Daddy and I before you were born, while you were born and after you were born. We know that we will always cherish these pictures.

Things started to move quickly at this point. Mommy was hooked up to all kinds of wires and machines. As we got close to 7:00 a.m., Daddy and Elizabeth had to leave while Mommy got her epidural. They went and sat in the waiting room with BeBe and Grandad and Mimi and Grandpa arrived soon after. Daddy got to come and hang out with Mommy for a minute before they took her to the operating room and then he kissed her good-bye at the door.

Once Mommy got all set up in the operating room, Daddy got to come back and sit right by my head. The next thing Daddy remembers is Dr. Fogwell asking if he wanted to see you being pulled out. Daddy was very brave and stood up and watched. The first thing he saw was your little bottom which came out first because you were breech. (You were peeing when they pulled you out of my tummy!) You gave two little squeaks to let us know you had arrived at 7:56 a.m., but other than that you were very peaceful. Dr. Fogwell told me to look to my left and I got my first glimpse of you! You looked perfect and had so much hair. The doctor thought you might be a red head but it turned out to be a head full of blonde hair.

The nurses carried you over to the warming table and got you cleaned up and weighed. They announced that you weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces. Daddy and I were surprised because we actually thought you might be a little bigger. We were thrilled with how perfect you were, and everyone commented on how alert and active you were. The nurses swaddled you and handed you off to Daddy. Daddy brought you over to see me, and I got to kiss your sweet little head for the first time. We spent our first quality time as a family right there with mommy getting "fixed up" on the operating table.

The next thing I knew, I looked at the big clock on the OR wall and realized that it was already 8:45 and no one had gone out to announce your arrival to your grandparents and Aunt Sarah. I knew they were probably getting worried, but I wasn't ready for Daddy to leave us yet. We asked Elizabeth to go to the waiting room and just announce that you had been born and that we were both okay. You see, Daddy and I had kept your name a secret ever since we decided on it the night we found out we were having a little boy. Daddy didn't think I could keep a secret that long, but I did! Daddy was so excited to go the waiting room and announce your name so we didn't want the surprise to be ruined.

Everyone was relieved to hear we were okay but anxious for the big announcement and to see you. Soon we were wheeled into the recovery room. They unwrapped all your swaddling blankets and snuggled you up right on my chest. I was elated to hold you for the first time and I kissed your little head over and over. I was still amazed at how much fluffy hair you had. Mommy and Daddy enjoyed more quality time with you--just holding you and looking at how perfect you were. You were so content and just laid on my chest wide-eyed and alert looking right at me and Daddy.

Finally, around 10:00 a.m., Daddy tore himself away from you and went to the waiting room where he announced that you had been born. Everyone was excited to hear your name. We chose the name Reid mainly because we liked it. We also liked that it is a traditional Irish/Scottish name which goes well with our last name. Your middle name, William, is in honor of your great grandfather, William Ernest Brown. He is Grandad's father who passed away when Grandad was a teenager Since Mommy never got to meet him we thought it would be special to carry on his name.

Once Daddy made his big announcement we got to have visitors in the recovery room. First, BeBe and Grandad came in to meet you. They were surprised that you were so tiny and that your eyes were wide open. Grandad thought it was very special that your middle name was William. Mimi and Grandpa were next to visit and they were so proud of you--their very first grandchild. Aunt Sarah came in next and Daddy came back with her. We had a good laugh because she had jokingly been calling you Willy McFarland.

Eventually, we were moved from the recovery room up to our hospital room. You rode in the bed with Mommy while Daddy walked next to us. We rode the elevator up to the fifth floor and they pulled my bed up to the window outside the admissions nursery. They took you into the nursery, and we stayed and watched for a few minutes while they took you to your little bassinet. Daddy and the grandparents stayed and watched while they measured you, gave you a bath and got you all checked out.

Eventually, you came to the room to be with Mommy. (We couldn't wait to have you back with us, and you stayed in our room with us the entire rest of our 4 days and nights!) Your hair was even fluffier after your bath. The rest of the day was filled with taking you in and seeing visitors. Uncle Toby came from work during lunch to see you. Sally and Eric stopped by in the afternoon to meet you. All of your grandparents spent the afternoon with us. We had a special cookie cake that said Happy Birthday Reid!

After all our visitors had left, Daddy and I got ready for bed. I drifted off to sleep and remember waking up to see Daddy rocking you in the chair in the corner of the room. He was instantly so in love with you! You were a little fussy that first night, but you seemed to calm down when you were snuggled skin-to-skin with Mommy. We eventually feel asleep this way--you tucked in next to me, cradled in my arm. I didn't sleep long because of all of the nurses checking on both of us during the night.

I just laid there staring at you, amazed. I kept telling Daddy that I could not believe that YOU were who had been inside of me for all those months. You were the little blinking dot on the ultrasound that gave us so much hope early in our pregnancy. At our 11 week ultrasound, you were the tiny, but perfectly formed, baby that we dubbed our "jumping bean". You were the one that kicked and squirmed inside of me for all of those months. You were the precious little baby that I read nursery rhymes to while I was pregnant. You were the head that bulged under my ribs--the one that Daddy would rest his head on and whisper to. And as I laid there staring at you, you were so awake. You stared at me, and I wondered what you thought about me and Daddy and being in this world.

You are almost one week old, and we love you so much. We cannot wait to see what life has in store for us. We're so lucky that God blessed us with you!

Love,

Mommy

Home

2009-02-24T19:43:00.003-06:00

Just a short update for now. Brian, Reid and a I made it home around 1:00 this afternoon. We are thrilled to be home with our happy, healthy baby boy. Of course, our "happy" baby has definitely developed his signature cry. It escalates from a couple of cute little squeaks to what I would describe as a shrill banshee wail in about 2 seconds. Luckily, this is usually quickly quieted by feeding him. For now.

I'll have to write much more about our birth and hospital experiences later. For now we are happy to be home and to have introduced Reid to his big brothers. Baxter seems pretty indifferent to him, and Bristow is curious. They have both been sticking close to me all afternoon, and I'm very glad that they are acting loving and cuddly and not angry.

Arriving at home; ignore the fact that I still appear to be pregnant. I promise, there is a baby in the car seat.

Bristow meeting his brother

Baxter meeting his brother

Happy Birth Day Reid!

2009-02-20T16:18:00.004-06:00

Ok, here is a picture of Reid. I didn't get one of his hair but it appears to be blond!

Reid William McFarland Is Here!

2009-02-20T13:11:00.002-06:00

This is Sarah, Allison's sister. I am happy to announce that Reid William was born at 7:56. He weighs 7 lbs. 9 oz. He is 20 in. long. Allison and Reid are doing great! I think he has Allison's nose and Brian's cheeks!
I can't post a picture right now. But I will later.

A major change in our marriage...

2009-02-16T17:31:00.003-06:00

Don't worry, I'm not about to share anything overly personal. I'd never do that ;)

As we've been counting down to "D-Day" (Delivery Day), I've been frantically nesting. I just want to make sure each area of the house is ready for Baby Boy McFarland's arrival. I plan on him sleeping in our room for awhile after we come home from the hospital. I have decided to use our new Pack-n-Play for this purpose in our bedroom. The only problem was figuring out how to configure our bedroom to make things work logistically.

Since I plan to breastfeed, I wanted the baby on my side of the room for easy access. Since I'm having a c-section, I wanted to have the Pack-n-Play very close to my side of the bed so I could reach over and pick him up with minimal getting in and out of our bed. The only way we could get this arrangement to work involved rearranging our bedroom furniture. We tried this for a couple of days, but our bedroom felt so "off"--it drove me crazy. I just kept thinking how Brian's side of the bed was such a better location for the Pack-n-Play. The traffic flow through our room would still be perfect.

I threw around a solution in my head during one of my recent sleepless nights. I just kept thinking, "could we possibly make this momentous change after 4 1/2 years?" I got up the courage to share my idea with Brian, and he went for it! So, starting Thursday night, we began a new chapter in our marriage.

We switched sides of the bed!!!!

The added bonus is that I'm now right next to the bathroom. If pregnancy has taught me anything, it is the critical importance of minimizing ones steps during middle-of-the-night bathroom trips! The first few nights were a little rough. It just seemed so wrong. In fact, we somehow managed to bump heads rather hard in the middle of the second night of our experiment when we both rolled over at the same time.

It's good to know that we could be successful with this major change in our marriage--especially since we've got another very minor change to contend with in a few days :)

It wasn't meant to be...

2009-02-12T17:59:00.002-06:00

We went in for the procedure this morning, and everything went well. The doctor felt like he was able to make several good attempts at turning Baby Boy McFarland. But alas, we still have a breech baby. The doctor feels that this is almost certainly because of the issue with the size and shape of my uterus. There's just not enough room at the bottom of my uterus for him to sit head down. There were no complications, and BBM handled the whole thing like a champ--no deceleratons in heart rate whatsoever.

I handled it pretty well too. I had to have a medication called terbutaline to relax the muscles of the uterus which has the lovely side effect of making your heart race and making you feel like you're going to jump out of your skin. I had been told that this procedure could be extremely painful, and, well.... I will say it was 3-4 minutes of extreme discomfort, but definitely manageable. I would never discourage anyone from having it done based solely on the pain level. They told me I'd be sore tomorrow, and I can already feel that setting in.

So our plan remains a scheduled c-section on February 20 (next Friday, scary!) unless I go into labor on my own before then. If that is the case, once they're sure I'm in labor they would go ahead with a c-section at that time. So one week is the longest we will go without holding our precious little boy. It's a thrilling and terrifying thought. Brian and I keep saying, this is our last week/last weekend/last time to ____, but it's so hard to fathom that our lives are about to change forever. We are SO excited and SO creeped out :)

Cautiously Optimistic...

2009-02-11T15:13:00.002-06:00

We had our weekly sonogram and doctors appointment today, and we received some good news. The umbilical cord had moved from around the baby's neck enough that the doctor is comfortable with performing the external cephalic version/ECV/manual baby turning procedure. To recap, this procedure is to turn the baby, who is currently breech, into a head-down position in order to avoid a c-section.

Brian and I are excited about this turn of events, BUT we understand that the odds of this working are not in our favor. Depending on the doctor/hospital stats this procedure is usually successful 60% of the time. Because of the small size and weird shape of my uterus along with the fact that our "little" guy is estimated to weigh 7 pounds 10 ounces at 37.5 weeks, the odds are definitely decreased in our situation.

That being said, Brian and I are very hopeful that we will leave the hospital tomorrow with a head-down baby and then wait to go into labor on our own. If the procedure is not successful, then we will feel confident that we've done all we can and move forward with the scheduled c-section on 2/20. We are getting so excited to meet our son no matter how he decides to come out!

Our procedure will be done in labor and delivery just in case emergency intervention is needed. (This is standard protocol). Brian and our doula, Elizabeth, will be there with me. The procedure is scheduled for 8 am, and we should be home again by about 10 am. We'll keep you posted on the outcome!

And for those who desire more information, below is a brief explanation of the procedure from Dr. Spock's website.

Turning a Breech Baby: External Cephalic Version

by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.
reviewed by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.
External cephalic version (ECV) is a procedure to change a baby from breech or other non-headfirst presentation to headfirst (cephalic). The physician pushes on the baby through the mother's abdomen, either creating a forward roll like a somersault or a back flip. For details about the procedure itself, see "The External Cephalic Version Protocol."

Why do external cephalic version?
Since all transverse babies and most breech babies are born by cesarean, moving the baby to cephalic presentation increases the chance of having a vaginal birth. Research has shown that offering ECV to all mothers with breech babies at 36 weeks gestation decreases the cesarean rate for that group of women. The success rate for rotating a baby to headfirst position is quoted as anywhere between 35 and 86 percent. The procedure is more successful in women who have had other children, since the baby can move around more easily, than it is for a first-time mom whose baby sits low in her pelvis.

The risks involved
Often the baby's heart rate will slow during or immediately after the version, especially when it is successful. The heart rate usually comes back to normal within a few moments, and there is no evidence that these short-lived heart-rate changes harm the baby in any way. In very rare situations, the heart rate stays slow long enough that practitioners will start the initial preparations for a possible emergency cesarean section. Although preparation is sometimes necessary, emergency C-sections are extremely rare under these circumstances.

While it's rare to have a serious complication of ECV, it may be uncomfortable or even moderately painful. You always have the right to stop the procedure for any reason. (Remember, it's your body!) If you can keep your abdominal muscles relaxed, you might be more comfortable and the procedure may be more likely to succeed. You may feel sore for a few days. Ideally, you will want a support person with you during the version, and you'll need someone to drive you home afterward.

Yuck!

2009-02-07T13:06:00.002-06:00

We had our weekly appointment on Tuesday, and it was more of the same--breech baby, cord around the neck but otherwise good. The doctor went ahead and scheduled a date for a c-section which is (drumroll please), Friday, February 20. We still go back this Wednesday to see if things have changed, and the c-section can always been cancelled or moved. For now, though, we have a date.

On a much less happy note... I started getting sick late Wednesday night with what we lovingly refer to around here as the Black Death. I'll spare the majorly graphic details, but hours of vomiting, diarrhea and fever ensued. After the prescriptions that were called in in the middle of the night (and picked up by Brian who deserves the husband of the year award) did nothing to help, my OB ended up admitting me to the hospital Thursday morning. I had severe dehydration which had started causing some contractions. After 24 hours of IV fluids, medications and baby monitoring (he's perfectly fine), I was released yesterday around 11 am. I'm still not feeling 100%, and I'm still only tolerating clear liquids, but overall I feel much better. Now we're in serious disinfecting mode and praying that Brian does not get sick. Keep your fingers crossed...

We're planning a quiet weekend of resting and baby preparations around here! Hope you all have a great weekend.