My Fresh Prince of Bel-Air :)

So do you know the theme song to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? If not, it starts something like this: "Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped turned upside down.
I'd like to take a minute,  just sit right there..." And I'll tell you how this baby boy is flipping our plans upside down. :)

Since I take way too long to tell a story, I'll just say... Our little man has decided to be breech. Now for the goofy long story. Keep reading if you choose.

So being an L&D nurse, I routinely performed what we call Leopold's Maneuver on patients to check for a babies position. So being pregnant I frequently check my little boys position. Part of why I check so often is because this little boy LOVES to move!! I'm continually baffled how he can change positions so quickly. Some days he was head down with his back against my tummy. He pushes his tummy so hard against my stomach that I joke he's trying to get out "alien" style. But the weird thing is that I wouldn't feel him kick my ribs like so many mom's complain about. I figured he either was in a pike position OR my placenta was in the perfect spot to absorb those kicks. I mentioned the lack of kicks to my nurse practitioner at my last appt at 36 weeks. She checked me. I was 1 cm and 30% effaced. Yay!! Well she said that she could feel a hard little noggin during the exam. She did check my placenta position on my anatomy scan ultrasound and agreed he could be kicking it. So TMI warning: skip to the next paragraph if you need. So after she checked me, I bled. A lot. Let's just say a week later I was still spotting brown discharge. To spot a few days after a check is totally normal. A week later: a little abnormal.

So Wednesday they had me come in before my scheduled appt which would have been Friday. As I was speaking with this nurse practitioner she saw on my chart a note about questionable position. She asked if his head was engaged and I laughed because for all the contracting I was doing recently, this little boy did not have an engaged head. I mentioned that sometimes he felt breech and sometimes he felt head down. It just depended. Well she did Leopold's maneuver and said she wasn't sure if it was butt or head. She did a vaginal exam. I was now 2cm and 50% effaced. But no sign of a head. She decided to schedule me for an ultrasound just in case.

They could only fit me in the next day so I went home. I of course read up on breech babies and versions and explained to Neil that its good to know "just in case" but I'm sure it'll be fine. Even as I laid in bed that night, little boy had the hiccups. I could feel them low low in my pelvis. I told Neil that he was head down again and I'd feel silly at the ultrasound. But I repeat, this little boy loves to move. The next morning when I was laying in bed, he once again got hiccups and they were mid tummy on my right side. Now he totally felt head up!!! I just never know hour to hour!!!

So Neil and I went into the ultrasound. I got on the table and the tech first looked at my lower abdomen. She immediately said "nope" and looked just under my ribs. And there was his noggin!!!! It was so good to see our little boy but we thought it was funny that he wouldn't show his "naughty" little face. The tech tried to wiggle him out but he was stubborn! We could only see the back of his head. So he's what they call complete breech with his bum as the presenting part. His head is in the top of my ribs, his back is against my right side and he's sitting criss cross apple sauce.  (At least during the ultrasound.) Ironically my sister had a breech baby (my nephew Tyson) who was born on April 11th which is the due date of our breech baby :) Go figure!! Haha
 
So we met with the nurse practitioner afterwards. She asked if we'd prefer to try a version or schedule a cesarean section? A version (or external cephalic version) is where a doctor manually tries to flip the baby to a head down position. Its performed in a hospital and has definitely has pros and cons. While we had been waiting, Neil and I talked. We worry that he's so wiggly that if we do a version now that he'll just flip back. We decided that we'd wait a week to see if he'd flip himself and we'd go from there.

Even knowing that he's so wiggly and at times I felt he was head up, you still don't "prepare" to have a breech baby. Neil and I both understand that no matter how well you plan, you just never know what's going to happen. And babies are the ULTIMATE example of this. Birth plans are thrown out the window. (Nurses joke that the longer it is the more likely you are to have a c section.) Its a joke but babies don't read birth plans. Every person is so soooooo different. Even pregnancy to pregnancy is different. Of course you should know what you'd like and be prepared and educated. But being flexible really is key. I know a lot of women get depressed if their labor ends in a c section. They feel as if they "failed". Nobody gets a gold star for having an unmedicated labor. But I think we feel a lot of pressure. I totally would love to have an unmedicated labor with minimal interventions. Medical interventions can be scary. Pregnancy and delivery are scary!! I'm a nurse and do I want my delivery to end in an EMERGENT c section?? No way!!! But do I want a safe and healthy baby and for me to be safe as well?? Heck yes!!!!! (Sorry I'll get off my soap box now.)

So we didn't plan on this little squirt chilling Indian style in me! And we still will have big decisions to make. But we feel good at this point letting him do his thing. We'll give him some time and we'll go from there. I honestly just want my healthy little boy. I still can't believe we're so close!!! I can't wait!!!

Pregnancy Bump Timeline

I plan to post bump pictures throughout the blog as I give updates about my pregnancy but thought it would be fun to also post all of them in one place so you can really see how this kid is making me grow! =)

Week 8

Week 12

Week 14 

Week 16

Week 19

Week 20

Week 22

Week 25 

Happy New Year- only 100 days til my due date!!

Weeks 18 and 19- Anatomy Scan

At 18 weeks and 4 days I had my anatomy scan. It was soooooo WONDERFUL to see our sweet baby and to hear how well he was doing. Barbara the ultrasound tech went over every little inch of him in detail. She said he looked PERFECT. He was still measuring a week and a day ahead of schedule. Little over achiever! ;) It was so fun to see his fingers and toes and we even got a 3-D image of his sweet face that's my FAVORITE!!

Look at his precious face!! His hand is up by his face.
There's his adorable nose and lips and chin!!
I am completely smitten!!!!!

18 weeks- Still a BOY!!!!

So as our 13 week ultrasound showed... our little man was still just that!! A little man!! Neil and I like to joke that I'm growing a penis. (I'm sorry if that offends anyone!! We just think it's hilarious!!) But I know so many people choose to wait to find out the gender until birth and I'm all for "to each his own." And I feel sooo lucky to have found out at 13 weeks. To me it's amazing to be able to give this child an identity. I know our society is full of opinions about gender and its role. But I believe what The Family: A Proclamation to the World says about gender. (You can read more here:
https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation) "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."  Knowing that we're having a little boy allowed us to start calling him Him instead of IT. I love talking about our son instead of just "the baby"! He just has so much more of an identity now. If only we could decide on a name! ;) Haha!


So during the ultrasound Barbara asked if I had felt him moving yet. I of course was slightly embarrassed  to admit that no I hadn't. There might have been moments that I thought possibly may have been him moving but I just wasn't sure. Well she assured me that he was a MOVER! =) Well that night I layed in bed, propped up on pillows and I put my hand on my tummy and basically squished my little guy. It was SO FUN!!!! (I'm such a good mom!) I basically gave him no choice but to wiggle around! And that he did! He gave me a few good kicks! After that I knew what I was feeling!  I LOVE feeling him throughout the day, getting a little kick now and then. It was really fun too when we used my doppler and there would be a commotion and I could feel him squirming around at the same time. It always makes me smile. My little squirt is already very feisty! =)

18 weeks
 Doesn't his face look like the ape from Tarzan- Turk? =)

18 weeks
Side profile
Look at that adorable nose!!!

So this is where I'm going to admit once again what a worry wart I am! I think I was 17 weeks when we finally announced on Facebook that we were expecting. I know people who wait much longer. And I think we would have waited longer but Neil finally said it was time. It was getting harder to hide my tummy and Neil had had to bite his tongue a few times when He had conversations with friends at church or work so that he didn't slip our secret. (Family had been told previously along with a few close friends.) It wasn't that I didn't want people to know. Remember how I really wanted to SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOF TOPS??? I still did! But I once again will blame it on our LONG journey. What if something happened to my baby???? Even as I write this I have these fears in the back of my head that try to creep in. I know that fear is a lack of faith and is really just Satan. But I also understand that the Lord gives us trials. Extremely difficult trials at times. And I know we have been SOOOOO BLESSED!!!! So I'm choosing to focus on this time I have to carry this precious SON OF GOD. I know it is going all too fast!!!

But I definitely am grateful for my sweet husband who knows when to push me. We had our cute announcement made at 11 weeks =) So it was time to debut our BIG PROMOTION!! =)

This makes me soooo HAPPY

19 weeks

20 weeks

Baby Ralph- First Trimester

So I had some issues but I am so grateful that we were able to see this little squirt more frequently because of it. At 7 weeks we had an ultrasound and there was our sweet baby's heart beat thudding away!!! It was AMAZING!!!! (I tried to add the video clip of the heart beat but couldn't get it. So maybe I'll try again later')

7 weeks- Isn't our peanut precious!!??
I LOVE THIS LITTLE PEANUT!!!

8 weeks pregnant

At 9 weeks we also got another ultrasound. Again baby Ralph was going strong and was actually ahead of schedule by a week and a day. (And at 22 weeks is still measuring over a week ahead of schedule.)

(As a silly side note: if you ever have the chance for an early ultrasound, there is a theory called the Ramzi Method that is pretty convincing about gender and placental implantation. It basically correlates a baby's gender based on where the placenta implants. The study showed that boys implant on the right side 97% of the time and girls implant on the left side 97%. So there is a 3% chance for both boys and girls that are opposite of those findings but a fun theory I'd say!! http://pregnancy.about.com/od/genderpredictions1/ss/Ramzis-Method-To-Determine-Fetal-Gender.htm
I tested it out at my 9 week ultrasound, I asked where the placenta implanted: it was on the right side. Implantation on the right side means: a boy! So was it right??)

9 weeks- Looks like a little duck to me!

At 13 weeks and 4 days we got another ultrasound. At this point I was friendly with the ultrasound tech. Her name is Barbara and she is WONDERFUL! She asked if I was eager to know the gender and we said of course. So she said she'd she what she could do. Well it wasn't too hard to guess. (As a Labor & Delivery nurse I was able to do ultrasounds on patients. We mostly did them to make sure that a baby wasn't breech. All I was legally allowed to point out was the head, heart and bladder. BUT I also got decent at doing them) Our tech didn't have to tell us what we suspected. =) There was definitely something there. =) And based on the Ramzi Method it was correct! Cool huh?!

13 weeks- It's a BOY!

It was early so we told family with a little "gender reveal" but didn't officially announce it until after our anatomy scan. We wanted to verify our "findings" in case it was a mistake.

As for morning sickness- yes I had it. But it was different for me. I was extremely nauseous which was NOT fun. But I was SO DIZZY! Like in bed or on the couch besides trips to the bathroom. It was pretty debilitating. I ended up taking all my PTO at work. It was stressful and I didn't know when it would end. Thankfully I worked it out with my boss to let me go from full time to PRN. In the medical field that means part time/ as needed. I'm only required to work a minimal number of hours every so many weeks. It's been such a blessing. And even as horrible as I felt, I was just SO GRATEFUL!!! Of course I'm grateful to finally feel "human" again but I'd do it all over again for this sweet baby!!

And I have to give the BIGGEST shout out to my AMAZING husband Neil!!!!! I know through all the ups and downs that I am EXTREMELY BLESSED to have him at my side. But I have to say, He did EVERYTHING for those weeks I was so sick. Again I was in bed or on the couch  so he cooked, he cleaned, he bought groceries, and  all while working his full time job. He was a CHAMP!! He took such good care of me. He still is such a sweet, patient, caring man and I'm so excited for my children to have a Father like him!!

13 weeks
Doesn't his face look like a luchador mask??
Like in Nacho Libre??

So other side note: Even with all the sickness, dizziness etc it's still such a crazy thing to know you're pregnant but to not feel the baby yet. And yes, I'm a total worry wart. Every day I prayed that this little peanut would be ok. But I'd still worry! BUT, the BEST thing I have bought this pregnancy was a doppler. Not the kind they sell at Babies R Us etc. But the type we have on the Labor & Delivery floor. It was $50 on Amazon. It came with a little packet of gel. But we bought a big bottle of gel for $3 that's still going strong. I got the doppler right at 12 weeks and instantly got that PERFECT sound of a racing heart beat!!!!! (Some women get them sooner and find the heart beat sooner but it's not guaranteed until 12 weeks.) It has been AMAZING!!!! I just take a couple minutes every day to listen and it is SOOOO REASSURING!!! I'd recommend it to anyone! I plan to use it with other pregnancies too!

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in OCTOBER

Once I started feeling better Neil and I were able to do some fun things like a spontaneous weekend trip to Myrtle Beach with our good friends the Mitchells. I also started working again. It's draining and my sciatic nerves haven't loved me standing for long periods but I really enjoy the ladies I work with and being back in the operating room. All in all, I'm extremely BLESSED!!!

August 1st 2014- OUR BIG FAT POSITIVE!!!!!!!

I'm not sure how to write this post... but I guess I'll begin by saying that Neil and I waited a LONG time to finally be able to say those two FABULOUS words: We're Expecting!!!  I don't want to go into the details but to simply say, I have endometriosis and it has been a SIGNIFICANT challenge in my life. We waited awhile to go public with our news and not to be anticlimactic but if you're reading this you already know what our big news is. But  I really just wanted to SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOF TOPS!!!!! So here in way too much detail for most, is the day our lives changed forever!!

So the morning of August 1st, I was actually going into the doctor's office for a blood draw. But me being me, I just needed to take a typical urine test at home. I wanted to have a head's up as to which way the blood test might go. (I hate surprises- especially when its not really a surprise! Like when someone tells you they have a surprise. It's not a surprise if I know something is coming!!) But I just needed to see a negative with the hopes that a blood test would be more accurate OR HOPEFULLY I'd get a BIG FAT POSITIVE which would almost guarantee that my blood test would be positive!!!

So I dipped my urine and went about getting ready for the day. I glanced down and noticed that there was NOT just one line, like SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, but there were TWO!!!! 

COUNT THEM: TWO GLORIOUS LITTLE LINES!!!!!!!!

BUT....Me being me: I decided it wasn't enough. These test can be wrong. So I quickly dipped two different brands of tests (even the expensive digital one I had gotten for this exact moment) and they quickly pulled up POSITIVE. So that made THREE tests!!!! Three tests that all said that I WAS PREGNANT!!!!!! Knocked up, preggo, in the family way, preggers, PREGNANT!!!!! WE WERE PREGNANT!!!

Neil was with me and we both laughed in a kind of shock and amazement! I thought I would cry. (Believe me I had done a lot of crying and begging and pleading.) But instead of tears I was just SO GRATEFUL. SO HAPPY. Neil and I kneeled down and offered a prayer of sincere and heart felt gratitude. It was an incredibly spiritual moment and I don't think I'll ever forget it. (And now I cry as I think about it!) We were just so HAPPY! We had months and years of disappointments. It just seemed so SURREAL!!!!!

So although we got 3 positive tests, I still went and got my blood drawn. As silly as it sounds, I was still nervous. Maybe something was wrong with all 3 tests! When you've worked so hard for something, it's almost terrifying to believe that it could really be happening. Well I got off work and wanted to be near Neil's work when the call came in. When the nurse called I asked if she could call me right back and leave a message so that my husband and I could hear it together. I ran over to Neil's work and he came right out to the car. We sat there and listened and sure enough, I WAS PREGNANT!!! We couldn't have been more THRILLED!!

I wish I could say that we, more like I, stopped worrying after that. But I haven't. I'm now 22 weeks and I worry much much less!!! But I constantly pray that this sweet baby will be protected and watched over!! So that was probably a ridiculously long story for a positive pregnancy test, but it truly was a MIRACULOUS day for us!! And this sweet baby is already sooooo LOVED!!!!! 

WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!!!! BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!!!!

Adventures in North Carolina

North Carolina, the East Coast &

We'll miss you Idaho!

2013 and 2014 in Review

Since I obviously have let this blog fall to the wayside, I have some major catching up to do. Long story short, Neil graduated from BYU-Idaho in April 2013 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

We made a grueling cross country trek from Twin Falls, Idaho to Winston Salem, North Carolina in July 2013. Neil started as a Certification Engineer for BE Aerospace. Its a good company and we are grateful for the opportunity. It was definitely a change for us but the south has been full of their southern hospitality and we've enjoyed making friends at work and at church. And the city is full of activities and events like the Apple Festival, the Dixie Classic Fair, and the Highland Games. We miss our family daily but are enjoying our new adventure.

Our 2nd day in Winston Salem at a Dash game

Living in NC has been a blessing being relatively close to my family in Atlanta. We spent a few weekends boating and also Easter 2014 with my Gasper family.
For Thanksgiving we went to the Big Apple. We stayed with a roommate of mine, Amaree, her husband Dallin, and their ADORABLE little girl Kennadie. They were living in DC which we also took advantage of in September and toured DC. But they had a connection in NYC, so we got to enjoy their company and experience the Macy's day parade, NYC and Thanksgiving in their company.

Kiss at Time Square

We love Easton!!

Christmas was spent in Washington with Neil's family in Federal Way and my family in Zillah. We love spending time with our nieces and nephews, especially during that magical time of year! They're growing too fast!!  I also enjoyed a spa day with my sisters and mom which is always on a girl's favorites list!

I started a job in January as an Operating Room nurse. Thankfully I've always had a tough stomach and enjoy the the blood and guts. I've learned a lot and enjoy the hands on side of surgery. Its amazing to be a part of healing people.

North Carolina had a rough winter (especially considering how mild they normally are). I was grateful for four wheel drive since as a nurse I HAVE to be to work no matter what the weather is, while Neil's company allows them to work from home.

Thankfully winter was relatively short lived and we had a beautiful spring here in NC.
Another aspect of NC that we love is being 3-4 hours from the coast. We love the beach and the warm water! We visit when we can and its always tempting us.

This spring Neil and I both experienced a first. We went on a cruise! We went to Cozumel, Mexico, Belize City, Belize, Roatan, Honduras, and the Grand Caymans. The ship had numerus pools and hot tubs, a water slide, shows, and of course food that never ended. We especially enjoyed brunch and dinner. And Neil was in heaven at Guy's Burger joint where hamburgers were all you can eat and toppings were endless. (Neil LOVES burgers.) At dinner Neil surprised me by having the staff celebrate our 3rd anniversary. We got a special dessert and the staff sang a song that repeatedly required us to "kissy kissy." It was a fun surprise!

So for our first excursion, we experienced a Mormon guided tour of the ruins in Cozumel. It was EXTREMELY rushed (like we almost missed the boat) but it was a neat experience to see the relationship of our beliefs and the history of the ruins at Tulum. A festival was happening at the ruins and the tour guide explained that 4 men in aprons climb a pole and twist themselves and a rope around the pole. They then swing head first as they untwist as they represent the "descending God." As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we know through the Book of Mormon, that Christ visited the people on the American continent. He descended and showed them the marks in His hands and feet. He administered to the people and healed the sick. To learn more go to: http://www.mormon.org/

In Belize, we took a bus into the Amazon and went on a canopy tour. As we ziplined through the trees, I got our group laughing with my rendition of Tarzan's call. At another part of the tour, we inner-tubed a river that passes through caves. It was beautiful and even the fruit bats were adorable! On the bus ride into and out of the jungle, our tour guide Captain Kirk was extremely informative. I never knew how poor the people of Belize were, but they LOVE their country and are so proud of its beauty.

"Friendly" natives in Belize =)

We love getting off the boat

Its like 6am in Honduras here

Our next stop was Roatan, Honduras. We both are very much beach people so we were excited to hit a private beach and do some snorkeling of the coral reefs. Well due to my complete and utter accident prone nature, 20 minutes into our beach day, I cut my foot on some coral. Unfortunately it wasn't just a cut. It was a CUT, on the ball of my foot!!! Neil helped me out of the water. The beach medic washed it and assessed it. I earned myself a trip to the island clinic for stitches! At the clinic they scrubbed out my wound with saline and chlorhexidine. The next part was the least enjoyable. I appreciated it but it was not fun, they numbed my foot for the stitches. It wasn't a little needle and the doc injected the lidocaine into my open wound, NUMEROUS times. I'll see if I can post the video. Yes I was a total wimp and whined like a baby. But thankfully I couldn't feel the stitches.
So after that drama they asked if I wanted to go straight back to the ship. But being the good wife I am =) I didn't want to ruin Neil's day. So once we were back at the beach Neil ran to the gift store and got a bag so that I wouldn't get sand in my bandages. He spent the rest of the time snorkeling. Lets just say I was extremely hot and had a throbbing foot but I'm glad he got to enjoy Honduras.

Once back on the ship we were able to get crutches. All week we had said that the ship was HUGE. But when someone is hopping around it becomes MASSIVELY HUGE!! 

Penelope the pregnant Sting Ray

Well I was worried that my foot would ruin our day in the Grand Caymans. We planned a visit to Sting Ray Bay and then snorkeling. I was fairly miserable. That was until we got in the water. I think the salt and the weightlessness were a fabulous combination. I absolutely fell in LOVE with the sting rays. They were so soft and so puppy like. We also got to snorkel. I LOVE swimming but HATE breathing out of  a tube. But I was able to get acclimated quickly and because I'm a strong swimmer I was able to get around with only one usable foot/leg. I was EXTREMELY aware of my position in relation to the coral all around me and was very cautious. I always laugh at how Neil and I are so different in the water. I loved just sitting and watching the fish in their natural setting and seeing how they interact and move. Neil just chased them around.  =) But we LOVED it! I would ABSOLUTELY go back to the Caymans!!! 

Overall, even with the motion sickness and my bum foot, we had a good time. We visited 4 beautiful countries, ate like kings, and had a wonderful time. 

Neil on the USS North Caroline Battleship

Over Memorial day weekend, we hit the beach in Wilmington. Again, we LOVE the beach!! We enjoyed the BEST cream cheese stuffed french toast I've EVER eaten at Cure beach.  Wilmington is a charming city and the boardwalk was a gorgeous place to enjoy the sunset. On Memorial day we honored those who have valiantly served our country by visiting the USS North Carolina Battleship. Neil liked the massive guns while I liked the operating room and the alligators that chill in the shallow water near the ship. 

This summer Neil hit his year mark at BE in July. We've enjoyed a few Winston Salem Dash baseball games, a weekend with family at my aunt Jackie's lake house, temple trips to Raleigh, and get-togethers with friends.

As much as I love the summer, I'm excited for fall. I love the cooler weather, crunchy leaves, the beautiful colors, caramel apples and pumpkin EVERYTHING!

If you've read this entire post, you must be a true friend or a good family member. =) I really want to document our adventures as they happen instead of a year after the fact! So keep reading!! You never know what adventure we'll tell you about next time!! ;)

My birthday dinner at Cheesecake Factory

Christmas!!!

I have just completed my penultimate semester of school and will be able to finish up the rest of my classes online  and with a few visits to campus.   This means I have moved to Twin Falls to be with my wife!!!! We have been apart for too long.  The down side is now having to fit everything from both apartments into one. On the Friday of the last week of school Karen came down to Rexburg and we packed everything up with the help of Sarah and her husband Tug, We made quick work filling our enclosed 5x8 trailer and two SUV's FULL OF STUFF. Lots of stuff.  This reminded us again of how much stuff we have.  We spent the night snuggled up on a twin sized air mattress and headed out the next day for twin falls.  Now the big feat of re-organizing it all lies ahead.

This Christmas has come and gone very quickly. We were able to spend it in Boise with Karen's family. We had a great time visiting with those that could make it.  Karen just started nights at the hospital.  So we had to rush  back home on Christmas day so Karen could start her 12 hour shift from 7pm to 7am. Her first few nights last week went well but she still spends most of the day recovering.  This past Sunday after her last of three night shifts we drove to Boise to stay with her sister and spend time with family for Christmas. So she did not get much sleep that day. We finally got to bed around midnight and she awoke a mere 14 hours later after some very well deserved sleep, even though all the nieces and nephews wanted her to wake up and play. 

I'm being introduced to a new tradition where we open only gifts from Santa on Christmas Day and the others we open Christmas eve.  As much as the little kid in me wants to open all my gifts as soon as possible, I'm still a little hesitant.  I'm sure it will work out nicely in the future and our kids will love getting to open their presents early too just like the kid in me always wanted to.

We wish you all a wonderfully Merry Christmas and wish this New Year brings you many amazing blessings and experiences.