I had the baby!

Wow! It has been over a month since I have written. So much has happened. I guess I will break it down in sections....

1. YES I HAD THE BABY! He is wonderful. We named him Tytus Shae. He is beautiful and very well mannered. He sleeps well and hardly fusses, thank goodness, since we live in a camper right now! I'll share his birth story with you.

Those of you who know me know that I do not like hospitals or really care for doctor's care. Shae and I have had some very bad experiences in hospitals and just prefer not to go near them. I had my first two children in hospitals, the first at a teaching Navy hospital in San Diego, and the next child in Key West. It was in 94' and there was the Haitian Crisis and scores of boat people were landing on the beaches of Key West. They were quarantined in the local hospital. I went into labor but there was no room for me in the hospital. They put me in a back room where brooms and mops were! Hanna always said she was like Jesus, no room in the inn! Well, there are many more stories of why I do not like to go to hospitals, that I will not bore you with. I had my next three children at home with a state certified midwife. Her name is Lori Link and she works out of Mt Vernon Missouri. She is incredible. My 3rd child weighed 10 pounds and I delivered her naturally at home! Yikes! That was a tough one. I am so glad I had her at home, though. I will tell that whole story another time. My 4th child was a beautiful birth at home. My 5th child was a little tougher than the 4th, but still great at home. No hospital for me, no way! Epidurals, no way! So, when family heard I was having this baby at a hospital, they thought I had gone off the deep end! Sheri in a hospital, what has happened to her? Most family was thrilled I was not having this one at home, but thought it curious and wondered what made me change my mind on home birth. If you have read my earlier posts, you know I possibly had Pregnancy Induced Asthma. I don't know for sure that was it, but the doctor thinks that is what it probably was. I had such a hard pregnancy. It was my hardest. I had two horrible asthma/bronchitis attacks that lasted weeks. After the horrible cough went away, I still couldn't get my breath. It wasn't just the weight of the baby, it was up higher in my chest. I would get a lot of phlegm and have to clear my throat a lot. We decided to go ahead and come back to the Springfield Missouri area, where we are from, to have the baby. We are comfortable here, know the people, and had lots of paperwork and sorting to do anyways. We came back and got settled in with Dr. Brown and Cox Monett Hospital in Monett Missouri. We had to drive 1hr and 20 minutes to the hospital for every appointment. I could not have the baby at a big, unloving, cold hospital. We checked out Monett hospital. I remember walking into it the first time. I was by myself. I just kept thinking, I can't do this, I can not do this! It was so white, unwelcoming, just yuck! I made myself go to the 3rd floor to check out the OB ward. It was nice. The rooms were pretty good. There is a bathtub in each room, with jets, to labor in. You can't deliver in it, though. The equipment was hidden in big brown cabinets. There was a TV with cable. I would labor, deliver, and recover in the same room. The nurses seemed nice enough. I thought, maybe I can do it. I am going to publish this post now, and will write more in the next.....

More on Tytus' birth

I will continue from the post above.

I talked with Shae a lot, we prayed, and decided that I should have this baby in the hospital. I didn't have full breaths and new that with my hard, long labors, that I might need extra help. I kind of had a feeling I might need an epidural....oh no! I talked with my mid wife and she agreed. Dr. Brown had done a home birth with my midwife, so I thought maybe she would be different than most doctors I had been around. She was, yet wasn't. She seemed to understand more, but still was very clinical. I think it took awhile for her and I to really come to an understanding. I tried to make sure she new I respected her opinion, yet I was not one to just follow her blindly. I would do my own research and make up my mind based on her recommendation, my own feelings, research, and lots of prayer. She did lots of tests on me, checked my oxygen level in my blood, it was fine....she checked the baby with a AFI and NST. It was an ultrasound and stress test. Of course, baby was perfect. She had a chest x ray done. Everything looked great. That is when she decided it might be the pregnancy asthma thing. She had me start an inhaler as well as the other one I was using. I had to do the steroid one once a day and then later increased it to twice a day. I was told to do my ProAir inhaler first then wait ten minutes. Then, I had to do the steroid inhaler. I did it in the morning and then again in the evening. I had to do a peak flow meter. It measured how much volume I had in my lungs. It was horrible. It was when I measured that every morning and night that I realized just how bad it was. My readings were between 100 and 120. That is pretty bad. The inhalers helped, though. It still didn't ever get any higher than 120. The doctor said she wanted to give me an epidural at 4 to 5 centimeters. Then she told me she would like to induce at 38 1/2 weeks! Induce! I told her that we would really have to think about that one. Inducing is so bad for me and baby. Inducing causes contractions to be much harder. It makes it harder on the baby and tends to make their heart rate go down which then leads to a c section. That is surgery and opens you up to all sorts of infections. The birth process has a purpose, it helps prepare the baby's body for life on the outside. All of the contractions squeeze the baby to help push out the fluid in his lungs, among other things (research it, it is amazing). I will add more later. I have to get the kids to bed!

I know...I am still pregnant!

I never thought I would still be pregnant so close to Gabriel's birthday! I am so overdue I owe the library fines! Ha Ha, that is my poor attempt at humor. I knew I would go over, I always do. I am not stressed out about it, just ready to be able to roll over again. I am ready to hold sweet pea in my arms. My feet are swelling a lot. Shae rubbed my feet earlier. Then, my neighbor, Meg, brought some support stockings to help squeeze the water out of my feet and legs. They feel much better. I really appreciate her thoughtfulness. It feels good to be tended to a little. My mom came out today. She stayed to visit and then I smiled my nicest smile and casually put out the white leather I had bought to make Gabriel new chaps and vest. My mom is a wonderful seamstress, so I hoped she would not be able to pass up this opportunity. She took the bait and stayed as long as she could! My mind has not been it's best this pregnancy, so even simple tasks can be hard. Thank goodness she helped me. It made it so much easier. They turned out great. She taught me a locking whip stitch, but I just couldn't get it after she left, so I had to sew it just regular. I still have to finish it up, but they are close to being done and they are wonderful. Gabriel wanted white ones to match Mike Lee's chaps and vest. Mike Lee is a pro rodeo bull rider. I was also blessed with some great tea that Meg made. it was delicious! What a day!
Earlier this week, I felt the Lord telling me to enjoy the rest of this pregnancy. This is my last pregnancy and birth, so I need to take the time to enjoy and remember it. It is a choice. I could think about my aches and pains, discomfort and being overdue. I have to purpose to think positive and be encouraged. The devil was trying to remind me of all the things Shae hasn't done this pregnancy. How maybe we could have done some things different and then I wouldn't be in such a negative health situation. But, I didn't fall for it. I won't let satan divide us. That is just what he wants to do. I began thinking of all the wonderful things Shae has done for me. He is a wonderful husband, not perfect, but just great. I started thinking about times he was there for me. Shae rolled over and began to give me a whole body rub. My body ached so bad this morning. I was so blessed that God would put in Shae's heart to rub me. I felt like God was giving me a gift, rewarding me for my loving and supporting my husband. I woke up this morning wanting to cry and feel pity about my situation, but I chose to look at my blessings instead. God then blessed me with a gift through my husband. I not only made my body feel better, but more importantly, my spirit. I felt so much better in every way. I hope that all made sense. I am so tired, I might be jumbling my words a little. I do need to get my feet up and get to sleep....maybe tonight!
Much love,
Sheri

Still No Baby! Yikes!

Where is the little feller'? All my children seem to really like it in the womb! Tuesday went well at the doctor. She did not push inducing, but of course recommended it. I think she said more to cover her hynie for malpractice. My cervix wasn't ready at all so inducing would have included a medication to ripen my cervix, administered during an overnight stay at the hospital, then putting pitocin in my IV to start contractions. Now, there is no guarantee this will work, so I could spend 2-3 days in the hospital and then be released or have a c section. So, why would I want to induce? The doctor thinks I might have pregnancy induced asthma or it could be just left over from bronchitis. She doesn't know. Women who have asthma have a higher risk of still birth. She said it is a very small minor risk higher than every other woman. Inducing has tons of risk also. It was a tough decision, but we decided that the trauma of all the medications, harder contractions, and possible c section was not worth risking at this point. Baby is doing great and so am I. I am feeling better, thank goodness. I started going to the chiropractor. He said he thought my immune system was worn down with all the stress of sorting, packing and moving. Then I got sick in August and then got pregnant. I must admit, there has been a lot of stress on this trip, too. So, he thinks I just haven't been able to totally recover from all of that. After I have sweet baby I should perk up. I am walking more and trying to be more positive. A lot of people have prayed for me and I believe the good Lord's grace is sufficient for me.
Must run,
Love sheri

Doctor wants to induce?!

Friday, May 8th.
My appointment Tuesday didn’t go so well. I am healthy, baby is great, but the doctor still wants to induce next week! You have to remember, I usually do home birth, so for me to even go to a hospital is hard. The doctor had me up my asthma medicine. She thinks that I have prenancy induced asthma. It should go away after I have the baby. I sure hope so. Also, she wants to give me an epidural at 4 cm. That seems awfully early, but I am not going to argue with that. I get out of breath going around a parking lot, so I do think labor might be too hard without a little help. That is why I chose to go to a hospital, and not have baby at home. I really don’t want to be induced, so I am just hoping to go into labor before that.
We are ready for baby finally. This past Sunday we had everything ready. Talk about cutting it close!! The camper is very clean, baby clothes washed, I put a curtain up around the shower for extra privacy and a curtain in Naomi’s bed for her to be able to change and not worry about someone seeing her.
I am going to run. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and updated this website and now I am going to read my bible. I really need the word and to enjoy the presence of the Lord. Sheri

Ultrasound update

4-22-09
Talk about up and down. I cannot stand drama but it seems like there is a lot of it in my life right now. I went to the ultrasound Tuesday. The tech said that the paperwork looked like the radiologist had a typo and the baby does not have enlarged kidneys. She said she would go ahead and take a peek though. So, as she began to peak, her face got serious. She said she could not diagnose baby boy, but it was a good thing we came in. Well, that certainly doesn’t put us at ease. We left a little upset, but trusting that God has what is best in mind for us. Monday, my doctor said that if the baby had swelling in the kidney I couldn’t have the baby at her hospital and would have to go to a big one in a near by city. (I am trying to keep hospitals and doctors names private so strangers can’t find me.) So, Shae and I assumed that I will probably have to go to the hospital that I have absolutely wanted to avoid. To go from home birth to this huge hospital seemed like more than I could handle. But, thank goodness “I can do all things through Christ who give me the strength”.
I called my doctor’s office today to get the results and they said that the baby is fine. His kidneys are fine. They will just do an ultrasound of his kidneys after he is born. I CAN birth at their hospital and will not have to go to the big one! I was so thankful! This hospital is much nicer. I labor, birth, and recover in the same room. They do not take the baby away from mom. I can bathe him myself in my room in my Jacuzzi tub! I’m still not pleased with the scare tactics of my doctor, that she pulled out the day before, but I will forgive her, for well, being a normal doctor…. Ha Ha Ha. I know they have to say everything to protect themselves from lawsuit and sometimes they think they are doing what is best. We dealt with so many doctors over the years with Shae, we both are just plain sick of it.
But, thank the Lord, this one seems to be working out. I have another appointment soon, so hopefully things will be great. I realllllly don’t want more drama!
God bless you and thank you for your prayers!
Sheri

Doctor has negative report...

4-21-09
I feel like things are spiraling out of control. This is why I don’t like to go to doctors, yet I have to listen to them for the sake of my baby.
I usually do home birth. I have a state certified midwife who has been wonderful in the delivery of three of my children. But, this pregnancy has not been normal. I had two really bad bouts of bronchitis this past winter. My lungs still aren’t totally clear. I am out of breath and don’t have a lot of energy. I felt like I needed to have baby in the hospital. I was thinking that if I was too tired to go through labor that an epidural would help me out. So, I went to see a doctor. She actually did a home birth for her own child. I hoped she would be more understanding ….well…. I don’t know if she is more natural thinking or not. I saw her last Tuesday. She ordered all sorts of tests because she was concerned about the health of the baby. I had an ultrasound and heart rate test, oxygen in my blood test, and chest x-rays. Baby was great and the chest x-rays were clear. She was concerned that maybe I had a fungal infection in my lungs, asthma, an enlarged heart, or left over gunk from bronchitis.
I went back yesterday to see the doctor. She was upset because I hadn’t used the inhaler she had prescribed. It was for asthma. I looked it up on line and the side effects are bad! I didn’t want to start using it unless we had ruled out the other problems first. Why expose myself and baby to potentially more harm if not necessary. Of course, then she pulled out the scare tactics. I don’t want to be in denial or naïve and I want to have a level of trust with her. So, I listen to her, but think for myself. Shae and I have had too many problems with doctors and hospitals to just blindly go to a doctor and do whatever they say. Well, doctors tend to not like it when the patient actually thinks for themselves and double checks the doctor’s orders. She said baby has a better chance of still birth since she thinks I have asthma. She wants to do weekly testing on baby as well as another ultrasound on his kidney’s today. Come to find out, the radiologist reviewed the ultrasound and put in his notes that “I” have enlarged kidneys. The doctor said that is normal for a pregnant woman. I told her that the ultrasound tech never checked my kidneys. So, the doctor thinks the radiologist made a typo and meant the baby has enlarged kidneys. I asked if she could verify with the radiologist. She said no. So, because some radiologist “may” have made a typo, I have to go to another hospital today to have a special ultrasound done to make sure baby is ok. I would love to say no. It seems like the radiologist who made the possible typo should have to clarify what he meant, me or baby. But, the doctor said that he can’t so I just have to go spend my money and time to have some special ultrasound done. This is why I hate going to doctors. It is so ridiculous. But, because I love this little baby, I am going. I care more about him than my time or money. I am sure he will be fine, even the doctor said she thinks it is nothing. She said that their ultrasound equipment is like a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. This ultrasound place I’m going to is a 7 on that same scale.
The doctor does think it could be asthma. I have a really hard time believing that. I started the inhaler yesterday. I will do it for baby’s sake and then after I have him I will stop taking it. I think I will perk up after the birth and I get more exercise.
I will let you know!
Sheri

Can't sleep, too much on my mind....

3-26-09 It is 5:30am. I just couldn’t sleep. I have so much on my mind. I know we
need to make money to buy the van, storage trailer, and pay for baby. Shae already works
so much, I wonder what the kids and I can do to help. We have enjoyed being out of debt,
it is hard to imagine going back in debt again. Yesterday we made the decision to get
health insurance through his company. It is so expensive! Over $600 a month! It is going
to be tough. I have had such a hard pregnancy this time. I’m not sure I should do
home birth. I have had bronchitis twice and am still struggling to get full breaths. Thank
the Lord my cough is gone. I still have a lot of phlem, though. I am in terrible shape
because I have been sick so much and haven’t been able to exercise like I should. So, since
I have been sick, not exercising, I think it has caused my body to not process blood sugar
like it should, so now I might have gestational diabetes! Yikes! I bought a glucometer and
my levels have been great, even when I have some sugar. Hopefully I will have the 3 hour
glucose test and it will come out fine. Now, to top it all off, my feet are swollen, even my
right leg! It may sound like I am doing bad, but I’m really not. I do feel so much better,
I have some energy, and am ready to get some work done! I am trying to update the website
as well as look into some business opportunities. Pray for us. Pray for Grandad, too. He
is in the hospital. His lungs filled with fluid and was having a hard time breathing. He had
finished his cancer treatments and was getting better, but still very tired. His heart rate
had been up, but had a problem with the medication. We hope to hear more today.
With love,
sheri

Back in Missouri!

3-24-09
It is hard to believe we are back in Missouri. We had really wanted to go to Texas first. My blood glucose level was 215, which is way to high. So, we decided to come back here where we know doctors and midwives. I need to make sure baby and I are healthy. We are supposed to get really bad weather today. We aren’t even in Missouri 24 hours and already there is severe weather! Yikes! It is great to not have to look for alligators anymore! The weather is colder, but still nice. We have had a wonderful time on our trip so far. I was reflecting on the last six months. We had so many great times, yet I feel like we missed so many opportunities. We can’t go back and change anything, just learn from it. I hope we have made a difference for the kingdom of God. We are closer as a family and Shae and I are closer to eachother. We were able to meet so many wonderful people. I hope we were a light for Christ. I will try to remember them all in my prayers.