Merry whatever you celebrate, but in my case it was Christmas!
Last weekend we headed to Alabama to spend the weekend with my family. Dolce got to reminisce on years past while bobbing his head on the dash and watching traffic go by. Forever a truck dog, that puppy is. Here he is with his Christmas present. He has the strings pulled off in no time flat (he’s had several of these before) and one is actually MIA. If he doesn’t poop it out in a few more days then I don’t even know.
He really is the best dog ever. He’s gotten me through a lot of hard times in my life with his cuddles and puppy kisses.
Well here’s the bump.
She’s getting big! I went to the cardiologist and discussed delivery options. That along with speaking to my OB has led us to decide that a c-section is the right choice for me. No one wants my heart rate skyrocketing in labor and putting me or Baby Bump at risk. I’m totally fine with it. I’m not devastated that I can’t push or that I’ll have a scar. My goal has always been to bring a healthy baby home by any means necessary. If this is how it has to be, then this is how it will be.
My only concerns for the c-section were:
1) Matt is in the room with me.
2) I can nurse ASAP after delivery.
3) My anesthesia isn’t so strong that I’m knocked out for 10+ hours afterwards and can’t bond with my baby.
I got the feedback I wanted for all of those concerns so I’m a happy camper.
I trust my doctors and know I am getting the best possible care.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for me and my Matt Smith was wonderful.
He completely spoiled me and baby Bump. I’ve never been so spoiled at Christmas. He got me so many nice things, but my favorite of all were these beauties.
Cloth diapers! I cried when I opened them. To me they represent so much more than adorable decoration for baby butts. They represent not having to struggle to afford diapers every month.
But they are the most adorable things ever.
I can’t wait to put her in them!
Matt cooked Christmas dinner and it was delicious.
We tried to incorporate American and British tradition into our day. That included Christmas crackers.
We had lots of fun. Christmas night we went to see a movie at the dine in theater near us. Taking full advantage of things like this because we sure won’t be able to do it next year!
The day after Christmas I failed my sugar test, but just barely. I have to go back for the 3 hour. Lovely.
But that afternoon we got the best Christmas gift of all: Baby Bump has graduated from the specialist. They have seen every part of her to let us know she’s ok, and we don’t have to go back. I’ve lived in fear that her spine wasn’t ok or her face was deformed, simply because we couldn’t see them. The doctors sure don’t help ease your mind when they throw around the terms Spina Bifida and Downs Syndrome. Of course we would love our angel no matter. Knowing that her spine is exactly as it should be made me so happy and took a lot of worry off my shoulders. Worry that I had a hard time even talking about.
And check out the parting gift we got when Bump left the specialist for the last time–
She yelled at the ultrasound lady for interrupting her nap. Her daddy’s temper already. I’m sure she’ll be in preschool going all British houligan on folks.
Her chubby cheeks. I could just kiss them OFF!
And perhaps the most shocking of all, a side by side comparison of my baby picture and Bump. She looks like me. I don’t know why but I always thought she’d look like Matt. She didn’t escape the curse of my lips. She has my family chin. Here’s hoping that his dimples and eyes will sneak in there somewhere.
When I look at her I see perfection. It’s funny how I’ve spent most of my life feeling imperfect myself but staring at something that looks very much like me all I see is perfect.
As of Wednesday, she was 3.2 pounds of perfection. We couldn’t be happier. I couldn’t be more at peace and at home with my little life.
