Fairness

I always think it is unfair that the mother to be always gets her picture taken at certain milestones in her pregnancy, so to be fair I decided to take a picture of Brett too. He had to really stick his belly out and was a really good sport about it. This is the first pregnant picture I have taken and WOW! I am a hell of a lot bigger than I thought I was! Which is good because I was starting to worry that I wasn't big enough for how far along we are. We are coming down to the wire here with only 8 weeks left to go. Pretty crazy how it really doesn't take that long to grow a human being. It took longer to actually get pregnant than to actually be pregnant. We are so excited to have this little addition to our family. I think I finally found that one perfect outfit to bring our little guy home in. It is sooo teeny! But totally adorable. It is a green onesie that says "See ya later alligator!" With an alligator on the front and these little blue and white striped pants to match. With some socks and possible another onesie underneath I am sure it will be he most perfect outfit ever.

Hypnobirthing

I am terrified of having an epidural, so I have been investigating Hypnobirthing. My very long time friend first told me about it and I have to admit, I was really skeptical. Through my research there have been claims that through hypnobirthing a woman feels no pain and is free from harmful chemicals that sedate and drug your baby before they come out. This information only feuled my skepticism. But, my long time friend went into labor 7 weeks early and used the hypnobirthing techniques and she was able to deliver a healthy 4 lb 1 oz or so baby "naturally". On a side note, why do they call it a "natural" childbirth? If it comes out the vaginal canal at all isn't it still natural regardless of the use of aneasthetics? Anyhow, her baby was pretty little, but I hear contractions hurt no matter what. So, I became even more interested in hypnobirthing. She said it hurt when she transitioned, but it was doable. So I tell my mother in law about it, (she is starting her second semester in her nurse midwife program so this is right up her alley.) She researched it even more and learned of some classes you can take to prepare you for delivery (or as they call it in the hypnobirthing world, birthing) and for Christmas (since we couldn't go on the cruise with everyone else) she paid for us to take a five week course in hypnobirthing. I was really excited, but I knew my pre-med husband would be even more skeptical than I was. We attended our first class this last wednesday, and met Launie Anderson, a certified Hypnobirthing therapist. She is really funny. She actually approached the method in a somewhat medical way, which was really helpful because we McGowan's believe that medicine is only here to help us. Brett was actually impressed. We got our books and relaxation cds (which actually tell you not to listen to them while operating vehicles and heavy machinery, I think that is really funny.) I have been reading the books and am pretty impressed with the idea of the method. This method is called the Mongan Method after some lady that got the whole movement going. That book however, is extremely anti-medicine. It makes me laugh because I just can't agree with all of it. But, there are some really valuable things in this method and I am excited to learn more. I really hope I can incorporate it into our "birthing" so that I don't have to have an epidural (which terrifies me.)
The real idea of hypnobirthing is not all about hypnosis. There is no watch swinging in front of your eyes while you are trying to give birth or anything. But it is a method which teaches you to relax your body and mind enough to let your body do all the work when "birthing" your child. The thing that makes the most sense to me, is that EDUCATION REDUCES FEAR. I am a firm believer in the idea that the more we know about what happens and what goes on we are better able to make decisions and have more control over the situation. I will post more of this new fangled idea of Hypnobirthing, so stay tuned!

Good News

At work, my doctors have access to all their patients files and charts, lab reports, orders and the like. Everyday I have to pull their patients charts for the day. So, technically Dr. Dickinson looked up my lab reports for my glucose test and I scored an 89! Hurray! I called the ob's office and they said it was great. I told them I was fine, but they just wouldn't listen. And, since risk of developing type 2 diabetes runs really high in my family, I had to comply. But, now we know that everything is okay and I don't have the dreaded 'betes.

Venting

Last friday, I had to take my glucose test. They wanted me to take it at 28 weeks, but I wanted to take it after the new year. So I went on a day that I didn't have an appointment. I drank that orange drink, which didn't taste too bad. It was a lot like McDonald's orange drink that the kids get. I waited 45 minutes, walked down to the office to get my blood drawn. As I was walking to the office, I got a horrible headache, my skin started buzzing all over, the baby started practicing his gymnastics, and my eyes didn't want to focus. Those symptoms just continued. I got my blood drawn and the girl actually did a very good job, I really don't mind needles and all that stuff. I went back to work, and just about fell asleep during cases. I was exhausted for the rest of the night, but couldn't sleep. The office told me they would call me only if something was wrong with my blood tests. Yesterday, I get a call from their office. I started to worry because I really don't want Gestational Diabetes. But no, the message simply stated... "your blood in the test tube clotted off, so we need you to repeat the whole test again, just stop by our office to pick up the drink, Thank you." HOW HORRIBLE IS THAT? IT IS JUST MEAN AND HEARTLESS! I was sick and determined that I was not going to take that test over. I went into the office and told them my situation, and how I am only 10 weeks, OR Less, away from delivering, I feel fine and I shouldn't have to do that drink again. It didn't work, especially when I told them it made me really sleepy. They just said that is all the more reason to repeat the test. GRRRRR!!!!!!! So, off I go to get my blood tested again this morning. On a side note, the red drink tastes much better than the orange!

10 Weeks and Counting!

It is hard to believe that we only have a little over two months before our little guy arrives. I have so much to do! Just getting to ten weeks felt like a life time, and now it is almost over. I have been soooo blessed during this pregnancy. I haven't been sick, over emotional or anything throughout the whole thing. My hips hurt, but they tend to always hurt anyway. The only difference I have really noticed is I can't see my feet and there is this monkey bouncing all around in me!

Our little monkey is getting so strong and apparently running out of room. It is fun to watch my belly when he kicks and see it jumble and jiggle all over.

Funny story, we decided that we need to be better about reading our scriptures more. So every night before we go to bed Brett and I will read a chapter out loud. Everytime it is Brett's turn, the baby goes nuts! He is rolling all over the place, kicking and punching as he rolls. I think he likes to hear Brett's deep voice booming out scriptures. But it is fun that he listens to his Daddy. Hopefully that trait will continue when he comes out!

Holy Cow!

I got to work today and noticed on my little pregnancy ticker thing that we only have 78 days left until we have a baby! It was a kinda Oh Crap! I have so much to do, moment. We went to see the doctor on Wednesday, and he said that everything looked great. We are pretty excited. Our little kicker is getting pretty strong lately. It is a lot of fun to feel him move around in there. The first time I felt him from the outside I was a little freaked out, but I got used to it. Now I think it will be really wierd not to have him popping around in there. I think the alarm clock wakes him up in the morning because it will go off and then he will go off on some kind of morning exercise program. It is pretty cute. We are totally excited for our little one to arrive. I jjust need to get into the habit of taking pictures so I actually have cute stuff to post on!

Not Much to Say

What is there to say when all you do is go to school, work, and sleep? Not much. But now that school is out, we have some news. Brett finished his last semster of his bachelor's degree, and now has the proud honor of calling himself a bachelor. It is so exciting thinking about how we don't have to go to school again until he goes to medical school, but alas, he shatters my dreams and informs me that..."there are a few classes I would still like to take." The poor kid can't just take a break! When he came home from Iraq, the plan was to get a job, get married and in January start back into school. No, two days after he is home he signs up for classes and has been going straight through since. I have to be proud of him though, he works really really hard. So, CONGRATULATIONS Brett on finishing your bachelor's.