Libby-Lou is Two!!

Poor girl didn't get a proper party with invites and a cake...but she did have an awesome day that included wonderful friends, pizza at the Hideaway, cookies and some presents perfect for a little diva! Also on the schedule was some jump time at BounceU, but the birthday girl was partied out and slept through the entire thing!












Next year...this girl is getting a celebration!!!!!

Another Update

I am finally getting around to making another update. Let me tell you...it is so difficult to be on bedrest and have no access to my computer. I keep thinking of all the things I could be taking care of but Grandma isn't technologically up to date. Oh well...I need to just be resolved to the fact that I will NEVER be caught up again.

Anyway, today is Evan's last day of being an only child. My c-section is scheduled tomorrow morning, August 4. The baby is still breech even though my fluids have increased to relatively normal levels in the last two weeks.

When I went in for my scan on Thursday, the levels looked so promising that my doctor considered trying to wait at least a few more days before delivering and I was so excited. As much as I am not enjoying being pregnant right now, I would love for the baby to have a few more days to grow. However, I have been having contractions for over four weeks now and they are steadily getting stronger. And when my doctor checked my cervix...I was dilated to a four! I am honestly surprised I made it through the weekend to 36 weeks but I feel better about scheduling her delivery knowing that she was going to come early no matter what.

Hopefully by the end of the week, we will all be home and I will have some pictures to share with everyone!

For now...here are a few recent pictures of my little trooper. I know the last month has been really difficult for Evan. We have been shuffled between houses and he hasn't seen nearly enough of his dad. But he hasn't complained at all and in fact has been a real joy during this difficult time. He is talking non stop and has the craziest imagination. I know he's my kid and all...but I am truly impressed at the things he thinks of!






And I don't have a picture but Evan did the cutest thing last night. He came into the living room with one of my tank tops hanging from his neck like a cape. He put his hands on his hips and said "Mommy, I am SUPER!"

If he only knew how super he really is....I love that kid!

Pregnancy Update

I haven't exactly fallen off the face of the Earth, but it sure seems like it to me. I just wanted to give a quick pregnancy update and let everyone know what is going on.

I went to my 32 week appt. on July 8, had a biophysical scan (they do these routinely on me because I had preeclampsia with Evan and delivered four weeks early). Libby looked really good and was actually weighing in at a little over 5 lbs (which is huge for 32 weeks). But when I got to the patient room, the nurse took my blood pressure and it was really high. And then the first thing my doctor asked was what this baby was doing to me. And then she said I wasn't going to like what she was going to make me do. Immediately I just thought she meant bedrest because of the high blood pressure.

She then told me that my amniotic fluid was really low. Average for 32 weeks should be about 10 cm. and I only had 3 cm. So she sent me to the hospital...FOR A WEEK!! They literally wheeled me out of the exam room and straight to the 6th floor of St. John's across the way.

I was told that there were basically three scenerios:

1.) If my fluid did not increase (or happened to decrease) in 48 hours, they would take the baby on Friday morning. She would have been 33 weeks.

2.) If my fluid increased but only marginally, I would remain in the hospital until 35 1/2 weeks and they would take her at that time.

OR 3.) If my fluids increased significantly, I could go home on bedrest until they decided the time was right to take her.

The AF doubled after 2 1/2 days of IVs of saline and steroids (which were actually to strengthen the baby's lungs in case she had to come too early) and then by Monday it was up to 11 cm. I also had semi-regular contractions the entire time I was in the hospital. Too regular to be Braxton-Hicks but not regular enough to be labor.

I was released late Monday night but am on strict bedrest until the baby comes. But I have to be honest, it is really hard to do bedrest with a two year old so it isn't exactly as strict as it should be. I am trying really hard but poor Evan just doesn't understand and he had such a hard time when I was in the hospital, that I just am giving in to his every request...uh, demand.

I also found out the baby is breech so I may have to have a c-section. At first my AF was so low they didn't think she would be able to turn into the proper position, but now that the levels are ok...it is definitely a possibility that she will move out of the breech position.

It is just really frustrating right now for me. My doctor kept saying she would probably take the baby at 36 weeks but then she went on vacation and the doctor filling in said 38 weeks since levels were back to normal. So just like with Evan...I have absolutely no idea when this kiddo will grace us with her presence. Hopefully, I will know a little more by next Monday or Thursday's biophysical scans.

Summer Days!

It has been so busy for us...which actually kind of surprises me. I was certain you wouldn't be able to drag me out of the air conditioning once I was eight months pregnant. But I think keeping Evan busy is key for me getting a full nights rest.

My friend Monica came into town from Denver last week and so we have taken the kids out on several excursions.

Last Sunday, we headed out to Woolaroc again. It was Kids' Fest and the kiddos had a wonderful time. There were Jupiter Jumps, petting zoos, treasure digs and several different crafts for the kids to make. However, we had a hard time getting Evan and Anna out of the sandbox.





Then on Monday, we met up again and went to the Tulsa Zoo. Monica wanted to go to Feather Fest, which I had been avoiding all summer. I finally gave in but all it did was reinforce the fact that I hate birds. Those things are ruthless and they were dive bombing us. I lasted about 60 seconds and then I couldn't get out of there fast enough...




Tuesday night, Monica and the girls drove up to Bartlesville and we went to the Kiddie Park here in town. We had a blast and I can not believe it was our first time to visit. It is about three miles from our house and it was so much fun and so cheap. Most of the rides only cost 25 cents. I was really surprised that Evan just hopped on all the rides...he acted like a pro. I think we are going again this week.






Fourth of July was spent at Uncle Mike and Aunt Dianna's. There was a ton of great food and I think this was Mike's best firework show yet! Evan spent a lot of time swimming and then Matt and I surprised him with his own toddler sized lawn chair. Let me tell you...he thought he was hot stuff. I wish I had a picture, but I forgot my camera :(

Today, Matt and I are headed off to see Phantom of the Opera at the Performing Arts Center in Tulsa. I am so excited...a real date! I have heard it is an incredible performance so I can't wait to see for myself.

Another Recipe

I am not a huge meat loaf fan (actually, I am not much of a meat person at all) but these have been a huge hit in our house. Evan actually says "mmmm" with every bite. I can suffer through with that kind of response...

Mini Meat Loaves
Betty Crocker quick & easy cookbook
Hands-on time: 10 minutes | total time: 30 minutes | makes 6 servings

½ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 lb lean ground beef
½ lb ground pork
½ cup Original Bisquick mix
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 egg

1. Heat oven to 450°F. In small bowl, stir ketchup and brown sugar until mixed; reserve ¼ cup for topping. In large bowl, stir remaining ingredients and remaining ketchup mixture until well mixed.

2. Spray 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray. Place meat mixture in pan; pat into 12 x 4-inch rectangle. Cut lengthwise down center and then crosswise into sixths to form 12 loaves. Separate loaves, using spatula, so no edges are touching. Brush loaves with reserved ¼ cup ketchup mixture.

3. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until loaves are no longer pink in center and meat thermometer inserted in center of loaves reads 160°F.

Evan & Matt’s Rating: *****


And the best part...they only take 30 minutes!

Pregnancy Update

Thanks for the emails showing concern about my rough week last week. I am just glad to report that I am doing MUCH better. After my follow-up, my bladder infection was all cleared up and my glucose test came back at 135 (which really doesn't mean much to me, but I don't have to do the 3 hour test so I guess it means "GOOD"!). My blood work did show that I am severely anemic, just like I was with Evan. I didn't even really notice so hopefully a few doses of iron and I will be feeling like Wonder Woman!

After my rant, my doctor's office/lab messed up two more things...which is just so frustrating now that I live 45-minutes away. They didn't do my antibodies screen either time I was at the lab, therefore they couldn't give me my rhogham shot (which is necessary at 28 weeks if you are RH-). My doctor called me personally to apologize so I am just going to be thankful everything is okay and stop feeling so put out! Easier said than done, huh? So I went to the lab yesterday for the third time and hopefully they got all they need from me!

Well, Little E and I are off to the zoo. Since we are finally going in the morning (as opposed to after his nap in the afternoon), I am going to surprise him with a train ride. Hopefully, I will have some good pictures to post tomorrow!

Woolaroc

On Father's Day, we drove out to Woolaroc for the afternoon. I hadn't been out there since college and even then I was there for a wedding so there wasn't much time for exploring. We had a great time and Evan was fascinated by all the animals. He is still talking about the moose (which was actually an elk...oh well)