Tuesday 10/13-Monday 10/20

Tuesday 10/13
Determined to get back on track. Took a walk to Bashas with the kids this morning, came home and baked a loaf of oatmeal bread while River watched Cars movie. Let him play a bit out front but he was soooo tired. Put him down for his nap, ate my salad and then put Rainn down. Did my workout, put the bread in the oven. Now I'm just enjoying a few moments of quiet before Rainn wakes up. :) It's going to be a good week.

My goal is to workout every day, be it a video or run, and to eat South Beach Phase One for the entire week, possibly next week as well. I'm not going to weigh myself until I've completed a full 7 days of eating perfectly and working out, or I know it will depress the heck out of me. I may not weigh myself for 2 weeks. Here we go.

B-nonfat latte
L-tempeh salad with homemade chipotle dressing
D-chile relleno casserole
S-nonfat latte
W-jillian michaels' no more trouble zones (40 minute version)

Wednesday 10/14
B-
L-
D-
S-
W-

Thursday
B-
L-
D-
S-
W-

Friday
B-
L-
D-
S-
W-

Saturday
B-
L-
D-
S-
W-

Sunday
B-
L-
D-
S-
W-

Back On It

Here we go:

Thursday 10/8
B-nonfat hazelnut latte
L-BBQ flat-out pizza
S-ZonePerfect bar
D-Stuffed poblanos and black bean and corn salsa
S-slice of homemade wheat bread, banana-chocolate-chip muffin
W-30 min run

Friday 10/9
B-
L-
S-
D-
S-
W-

Saturday 10/10
B-
L-
S-
D-
S-
W-

Sunday 10/11
B-
L-
S-
D-
S-
W-

Monday 10/12
B-
L-
S-
D-
S-
W-

Tuesday 10/13
B-
L-
S-
D-
S-
W-

Week Eight 8/31-9/6

This is it! The last week for the Body After Baby Challenge. I've stuck to my guns, worked out almost every day, and stuck to the Weight Watchers plan doing a modified South Beach Diet. I've lost about 8 lbs (hoping to hit 10 by the end of the week!) so far and definitely gotten more toned. This was a great way to motivate me to continue improving my body after having my son just 4 and a half months ago. Thank you for creating this challenge!

Here's to giving it my all this week and posting my results at the end of it. :)

Monday 8/31
forgot to write it down but did good
W- upper body workout

Tuesday
ate like crap; total binge day - In n Out, Culver's, etc.
W-30 day shred level 2

A few notes..back soon

Wednesday
B-nonfat latte
L-wendy's BLT salad with spicy chicken
S-chocolate cheesecake, atkins bar
D-mr. goodcents turkey sub
S-chocolate cheesecake, vitatop
W-20 min core, 20 min legs, 10 min upper

Thursday
B-Vitatop, nonfat latte
L-wendy's BLT salad with spicy chicken
S-atkins bar
D-veggie burger, kung pao chicken
S-chocolate cheesecake (3 slices), 2 aspen bars, spoonfuls of peanut butter (WTH!)
W-8 min abs, 8 min buns, 50 push-ups

Friday (determined to eat PERFECTLY until my trip next Friday - no snacks, no treats at night, just good clean eating and exercise!!!)
S-nonfat latte
L-wendy's BLT salad with grilled chicken
D-
W-30 day shred level 3

Saturday
B-
S-
L-
S-
D-
S-
W-

Sunday
B-
S-
L-
S-
D-
S-
W-

My goal was to lose 10 lbs and look great in my bikini. Here's how I did.

Here are my results...
My starting weight: 134
My ending weight: 128

WEIGHT LOST: 6 lbs.

Starting/ending measurements:
Waist: 32.5/30.5 (-2)
Hips: 39/37.5 (-2.5)
Thighs: 21.5/20.75 (-.75)
Arms: 11/12 (+1)

INCHES LOST (from waist, hips and thighs): -5.25 inches!

I'm submitting my after photo today as well. Whether or not I look great in my bikini remains to be seen. LOL.

Week Seven, 8/24-8/30

Busy week, bad eating so far. Just one week left on the Body After Baby Challenge. I'm just now getting around to logging my food. I'm starting South Beach Phase One again today, using the yummy Atkins bars as snacks.
My motivation, besides the fact that I'll be posting pics of myself in a week in a bikini, is the fact that I'll be going to Chicago for my aunt's wedding and to visit old friends and family in about two weeks. Then my mom is coming to visit in early October. After that, I'll have to find a new thing to get in shape for. LOL.
Here we go.

Thursday, 8/26
B-fried egg, iced nonfat latte
L-grilled chicken salad with spicy ranch
S-tuna salad, atkins bar
D-salad with battered halibut, sour cream, avocado, cheese
S-atkins bar
W-30 day shred level 3

Friday, 8/27
B-nonfat latte
L-McDonald's bacon ranch salad
S-atkins bar
D-Wendy's BLT salad
S-atkins bar, pulled pork
W-level 3 shred

Saturday
B-nothing
L-Panda Express kung pao and veggies
S-atkins bar, peanuts
D-Paradise Bakery BBQ chopped chicken salad
S-atkins bar
W-core workout dvd

Sunday
B-coffee bean and tea leaf NSA vanilla ice blended drink
L-chicken taco salad
S-atkins bar, jerky
D-rubios salad, golden spoon fro-yo
S-atkins bar
W-legs workout dvd

Week Six 8/18-8/25

On my Disney vacation this week, really going to do my best to stick to the plan. Did pretty good yesterday on the road, but had some peanut butter crackers I really didn't need last night. Today we're going to the Parks, so it will be a bit of a challenge. Planning to log religiously this week and do South Beach after we get home (Thursday-Sunday) to undo any damage. :)
Oddly enough, mamanotes' Body After Baby Challenge blog this week is about staying on track on vacation. And that's exactly my challenge this week!

Monday
B-Atkins Bar
L-Fajita chicken salad, 2 scoops reduced sugar Baskin-Robbins chocolate overload ice cream
D-Mexican chicken caesar salad
S-atkins bar, peanut butter crackers
W-Walking all over Disney with a crazy toddler and a baby in a wrap :)

Tues
B-egg white omelet with cheese and cottage cheese on the side, latte
L-Wendy's BLT salad with ancho chipotle dressing, diet coke
S-beef jerky
D-souhwest chicken salad
S-fiber chews

Wed
B-atkins bar
L-panda kung pao
S-pb crackers
D-veggie sub, baked lays
S-vita top, c&c bar, aspen bar

Thurs
B-atkins bar
L-rubios healthmex mahi burrito, small golden spoon fro yo
S-atkins bar
D-wendy's chicken caesar salad
S-aspen bar, 3 WW candy bars, atkins bar, 2 c&c bar, 2 pieces beef jerky (!WTH!)

*Note: Had a bit of a binge last night. DH has been eating badly and I guess I decided I deserved to do it, too. Of course, I felt like crap today. Worked out for 50 minutes and ate like a champ to make up for it. I'm also going to do my best to NOT use my "bonus" points this week to make up for what I ate last night. In summary, it was SO NOT WORTH IT. I feel bloated and yucky today.

Friday
B-atkins bar, latte
L-flat-out chicken salad wrap, sun chips, apple chips
D-hacienda southwestern chicken salad
S-Atkins coconut dark chocolate endulge bar
W-10 min core, 20 min lower body, 20 min upper body WORKOUT DVD

Saturday
B-Atkins PB bar
L-BBQ Bronco Billy's Pizza, apple chips
S-Atkins bar, beef jerky, veggie straws
D-chicken salad wrap, golden spoon fro yo
S-WW cookies and cream bar, WW candy ice cream bar
W-30 day shred, 10 min core

Sunday
B-Atkins PB bar
L-Tuna salad wrap
S-Atkins bar
D-BBQ pork sandwiches, green beans, sun chips
S-WW cookies and cream bar, WW candy ice cream bar
W-

Week Five 8/10-8/17

Be back to blog later about my progress in the Body After Baby Challenge.
I'm back! Down 3 lbs (or thereabout) from when I started this thing 4 weeks ago. That leaves 6 lbs to go and just 4 weeks to do it. How? A few new goals.
Workout daily - 30 Day Shred or new video
Stick to the WW points - be vigilant
5 fruits and veggies a day
less desserts, more real food
35 grams fiber
Eat at home or eat pre-packaged stuff - I think eating out it's tough to really be accurate with points
Possibly do South Beach Diet again next week

Weight today: 131.4 :)

Monday
B-Vitatop
L-Paradise Bakery BBQ chopped chicken salad (1/2 dressing)
D-Chik'n Tacos
S-Golden Spoon fro yo, WW C&C bar, Vitatop, Aspen bar, chocolate silk pie (holy mole!)
W-Level 3 shred
How I did: too many desserts, not enough veggies or fiber

Tuesday
B-Vitatop, Latte
L-Panda Kung Pao and veggies, fro yo and caramel sundae
S-flat-out, sourcream and turkey roll up
D-BLT
S-subway turkey and baked lays, C&C bar
W-Level 2 shred
How I did: 5 svgs veggies, less sweets, good fiber intake, eating out too much

Wed. (Trying the new healthier version of Atkins (basically South Beach plus yummy chocolate snacks) for a couple of days to see how it affects me and my cravings)
B-veggie omelet
S-Atkins Bar
L-In n Out lettuce wrapped burger with mustard only
D-Rubios mahi salad
S-Atkins Bar
W-Level 3 shred

Thursday 127.8 today!
B-Atkins shake
L-Chick Fil A garden salad w/spicy dressing
D-Thai Chicken Wraps
S-quart of golden spoon(!), 2 vitatops
W-8 min abs buns arms

Friday
B-Atkins shake, nonfat SFV latte
L-Chick Fil A chicken strips (grilled) salad w/spicy dressing
D-Mahi and fajita veggies
S-veggie patty with mustard, caramel nut cluster atkins endulge bar
W-biggest loser cardio max warm up, 20 minute workout, cool down

Saturday
B-Atkins PB bar
L-BBQ flat-out pizza, vitatop, endulge peanut caramel bar
D-kung pao chicken with brown rice, golden spoon fro yo
S-vitatop, aspen ice cream bar, cookies n cream bar
W-biggest loser power sculpt warm up, 20 minute workout, cool down


Sunday
B-atkins shake
L-BBQ pizza and atkins endulge
D-hot and sour soup, veggies and kung pao
S-atkins bar and pb crackers
W-30 minute shred level 3

Week Four - 8/3-8/10

Here we are- almost halfway through the Body After Baby Challenge. I've almost stopped checking the blogs of other mamas because they make me want to fall off the wagon. It seems like people are losing interest and getting distracted, and it makes me think "everyone else is slacking, why can't I?"
I'll tell you why. Because I have worked my TAIL OFF for the last two months to look like I do. Because I feel so much healthier, stronger and more attractive when I'm fit. Because eating light and healthy makes me feel good and energized and happy. Because my husband deserves to have a wife that looks hot and my kids deserve a mom that has energy to play and will outlive her family's poor health history. That's why.
I'm writing this the night before my weigh in, and I'm really hoping I'm 132 or less. I need to be 124 to meet my goal for this challenge, and if I do I'm splurging (with DH's permission) on a new pair of Lucky Brand jeans in a smaller size. That means I have 8 lbs or so left to go and just 6 weeks. I met most of my goals last week, all except eating out. This week, my goals are:
-Level 3 Shred at least 4 times
-Eat at home 4 days this week (eating out the rest is fine)
-Measure all foods (no guesstimating)

Update: 131.8 lbs today! Yippee!

Tuesday
B-Vitatop
L-Panda Express and Golden spoon fro yo
S-1/2 can of whipped cream (!) and Atkins peanut butter granola bar
D-Mahi Salad and grilled zucchini
S-Vitatop, latte bar, cookies n cream bar
W-Level 2 Shred
How I'm doing: Feeling a bit out of control with our bank account and time management. I can feel myself wanting to cheat (hence the half can of whipped cream that went into my mouth). Doing my best to be in control of my diet as a way of feeling better and more in control of my life, instead of letting it spin me into an eating oblivion.

Wednesday 129.4 today!!!!! Not sure what I did, but I need to keep doing it!
B-Vitatop and nonfat latte
L-veggie pizza at bronco billy's
D-red onion and mushroom flat-out pizza, golden spoon fro yo
S-Vitatop, latte bar, cookies and cream bar
W-Level 3 Shred

Thursday
B-Vitatop
L-In n Out burger and fries
S-Green beans with fake butter
D-BBQ, red onion and jalapeno flat-out pizza
S-Latte bar, C&C bar, Vitatop
W-Level 2 Shred

Friday
B-Vitatop
L-panda express kung pao and veggies
S-brussel sprouts
D-Rubios mahi fiesta salad
S-vitatop, aspen ice cream bar
W-level 3 shred

Saturday
B-Atkins bar
L-BB's veggie pizza
D-Fish tacos :)
S-vitatop, aspen bar, c&c ice cream bar
W-8 min abs, buns and arms

Sunday
B-Vitatop
L-BB's veggie pizza
S-quakes
D-chili's guiltless bb burger and chips
S-vitatop, aspen bar, c&c ice cream bar, ww candy bar
W-level 3

Week Three 7/27-8/2

Here we are again, two weeks into the Body After Baby Challenge. I'm proud that I've been sticking with my workout routine, but I've gotten off the South Beach path and it seems to be affecting my weight loss. I've pretty much stayed the same weight for the last two weeks, despite counting my WW points and working out.
So, it's time to make a change. This week, a few goals...
-Level 3 Shred at least 4 days, Level 2 or 1 the other 3
-Limit of 2 vitatops and 2 ice cream bars/day
-Eat lunch in at least three days this week
-Limit of two trips to Golden Spoon
Well, here goes! Wish me luck! I'll consider this week if I weigh in at 131 or less next Monday. :)

Here's my end-of-week-2 results:
Ending Weight: 132 (no change)
Ending Measurements:
Arms: 11.5 (no change)
Waist: 32.5 (no change)
Hips: 38.75 (-.75) Hey, I'll take that!
Thighs: 21.5 (no change)

Monday
B-Vitatop and diet coke
L-El Pollo Loco 2 chicken breasts, bbq black beans, side salad
S-WW Latte Bar, English muffin with butter substitute
D-side salad with light ranch dressing and Flat-Out BBQ pizza with red onion and jalapenos, Golden Spoon froyo (that's the first)
S-Latte bar, Vitatop
W-Level 3 (first of four)

Tuesday (sooooo snacky today!)
B-Vitatop and latte
L-3 slices veggie pizza, Golden Spoon (that's two times!)
S-WW Latte ice cream bar, WW cookies and cream ice cream bar
S-english muffin, 3 servings Quakes
D-greek salad and falafel
S-Vitatop and a Flat-Out with light mayo, chipotle puree, lettuce, roasted red pepper and turkey (toldja I was snacky!)
W-Level 3 (second of four)

Wednesday
B-Vitatop
L-McDonald's chicken caesar salad
D-tempeh tacos
S- BBQ, red onion and jalapeno pizza (Flat-Out)
S-Vitatop, 2 WW ice cream bars
W-Level 3 shred (third of four)

Thursday
B-Vitatop and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf NSA vanilla ice blended drink
L-BBQ, red onion and jalapeno pizza
D-Rubios Fiesta Mahi Salad
S-BBQ, red onion and jalapeno pizza (i'm loving this, can you tell?)
S-WW latte bar, Vitatop
W-Level 3 shred (fourth of four!)

Friday
B-Vitatop
L-BBQ, red onion and jalapeno pizza
S-veggie pizza
D-Paradise Bakery chopped chicken salad
S-WW c&c bar, latte bar, Vitatop
W-Level 1 shred

Saturday
B-Vitatop
L-Chipotle Salad
D-Fish Tacos
S-BBQ, red onion and jalapeno pizza
S-Vitatop, Latte bar
W-Level 2 shred

Sunday
B-Vitatop
L-Chicken Tacos, 1/2 quart (!) Golden Spoon fro yo
D-RR Pollo Fiesta Salad
S-Vitatop
W-Level 3 shred

Week Two 7/19-7/25

While I experienced zero change last week, which was my first week on mamanotes' Body After Baby Challenge, I am really happy with the way I look right now and the way my clothes are fitting. I know I've made progress in the week's past, and I'm fitter and firmer than I've been in YEARS, so that has to count for something.
I'm going to continue to count my WW points and eat South Beach phase 2/3 and keep doing Level 3 30 Day Shred DVD for the rest of this week. I think I'm going to see if Jared wants to do the ChaLean Extreme DVDs with me, so maybe we'll start that next week as well as do South Beach Phase 1 again for two more weeks since that seems to be the way my body wants to lose weight.
I'm proud that I've stuck to this and I really want to learn to make it a LIFESTYLE and not just a season of skinniness. :)
I still have about 10 lbs I want to lose, mostly in my butt, hips and thighs. Those last 10 are always the toughest aren't they? I have been indulging in the treats a bit much. I need to limit that and focus on real foods with actual nutritional value instead of just satisfying my sweet tooth.
Wish me luck!

Monday
B-Vitatop (blueberry bran)
L-Cheesecake Factory Weight Management spicy chicken salad
S-n/a
D-Tempeh Tacos
S-WW Candy Bar Ice Cream Bar
W-Day 10 Level 3 30 Day Shred DVD

Tuesday
B-Thomas Healthy Start English Muffin with reduced fat peanut butter
L-Panda Express Kung Pao chicken and veggies, Golden Spoon Fro Yo
D-Flat-Out pepperoni and mushroom pizza with garden salad and ranch dressing
S-Vitatop, WW Candy Bar Ice Cream Bar
W-Level 2 30 Day Shred DVD

Wednesday
B-Vitatop (blue bran), cappucino with skim milk and sugar-free vanilla
L-Rubios Mahi Fiesta Salad, Golden Spoon fro yo
D-Buffalo Chicken Salad
S-2 servings Quaker Rice Quakes
S-Vitatop, WW Candy Bar Ice Cream Bar
W-Level 2 30 Day Shred

Thursday
B- Vitatop and skim SFV latte
L-pepperoni and mushroom pizza and frozen yogurt
D-kung pao tempeh and iced latte
S-WW Candy Bar ice cream cone, WW Giant Cookies and Cream ice cream bar, Flat-Out chicken wrap and vitatop (yikes!)
W-Level 1 30 Day Shred

Friday
B-Vitatop and skinny vanilla latte
L-SB pizza
S-2 svgs Quaker Quakes, 2 Blue Bunny Lights
D-Paradise Bakery BBQ chopped chicken salad
S-2 vitatops, 1 WW Giant cookies and cream bar, 1 WW candy bar ice cream bar, 1 flat-out with fat-free cream cheese (WTH?)
W-Level 2 30 Day Shred

Saturday
B-Vitatop
L-In n Out burger and fries
S-2 blue bunny lights, 9 pita chips, 1 stuffed jalapeno
D-Panda Express Kung Pao and veggies
S-Flat Out wrap with chicken breast, cheddar cheese and mayo; pickle; vitatop, 2 WW Giant Cookies and Cream ice cream bars
W-Level 1

Sunday
B-Vitatop and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf large ice blended NSA vanilla
L-Eggplant parmesan, WW Giant cookies and cream ice cream bar
S-Flat-Out with mayo and chipotle puree and chicken breast
D-Quiznos small Cabo chicken sub no bacon, regular Golden Spoon fro yo
S-Vitatop, 1 WW Giant Cookies and Cream bar, 1 WW Latte bar
W-Level 3

Week One 7/13-7/19

Starting weight: 133

Starting measurements for the Body After Baby Challenge:
Arms: 11.5
Waist:32.5
Hips: 39
Thighs: 21.5

Monday 7/13

B-Grande nonfat latte with sugar-free vanilla syrup
L-Southwestern Caesar Salad at Paradise Bakery with avocado
S-VitaTop and 2 Blue Bunny Fudge Lites
D-Bobby Flay's Chopped Chinese Chicken Salad
S-2 VitaTops, 2 Blue Bunny Fudge Lites, slice low-carb chocolate cheesecake (feeling snacky tonight!)

W-Day 3 Level 3 30 Day Shred DVD

Tuesday 7/14

B-Vitatop
L-McDonald's Southwest Salad with grilled chicken and no tortilla strips, Diet Coke
S-Vitatop and 2 Blue Bunny Fudge Lites (I'm addicted to these two snacks, can you tell?)
D-Southwestern Salad (my own, featuring homemade chipotle ranch dressing - waaaaay better than McDonald's)
S-Cold Stone Creamery Sinless Sweet Cream (Love It size), Vitatop, some cheesecake batter, chik'n patty with mayo (yikes - nighttime is dangerous!)

W-Day 4 Level 3 30 Day Shred DVD

Wednesday 7/15

B-VitaTop
L-Kung Pao Chicken and vegetables at Panda Express, small cookies and cream Golden Spoon fro-yo
S-none
D-Tempeh Tacos (yummy!)
S-low-carb chocolate cheesecake, Vitatop, 2 Blue Bunny Fudge Lites

W-Day 5 Level 3 30 Day Shred (my lovely MIL watched the baby while I shredded!)

Thursday 7/16

B-Vitatop, SF NF Latte at McD's
L-Jack in the Box Southwest Salad
S-Vitatop
D-Cajun Chicken Salad
S-Golden Swirl Frozen Yogurt, Vitatop, Chocolate Cheesecake (sheesh, what is my problem? After 9 p.m. I turn into a chocolate monster!)

W-Day 6 Level 3 30 Day Shred

Friday 7/17

B-Vitatop
L-Subway Turkey on Italian Herbs and Cheese bread with pepper jack cheese
S-String cheese
D-Rubios Fiesta Mahi Salad
S-Chocolate Cheesecake

W-Day 7 Level 3 30 Day Shred

Saturday 7/18

B-nothing
L-Rubio's Mahi Fiesta Salad
S-Golden Spoon regular size (another addiction)
D-In n Out hamburger and fries
S-ColdStone Creamery Love It Sinless Sweet Cream with raspberries and blueberries, low-carb chocolate cheesecake

W-Day 8 Level 3 30 Day Shred

Sunday 7/19

B-some broccoli at church with a touch of ranch dressing
L-Bronco Billy's BBQ chicken pizza
S-carb balance tortilla
D-Pei Wei kung pao chicken and vegetables
S-WW candy bar ice cream bar, Vitatop

W-Day 9 Level 3 30 Day Shred :) (almost there!)

Finished with week one!

Ending Weight:
Ending Measurements: 132 (-1 lb)
Arms: 11.5
Waist:32.5
Hips: 39.5
Thighs: 21.5

Getting My Body Back :)

After a c-section and 9 months of being pregnant, I not only felt fat but flabby and frankly, seriously injured. I felt like I could scarcely lift my baby without hurting my abdomen. So the only logical answer was to start working out and eating better. And so I have.
At 10.5 weeks postpartum, I've been working out for over a month using Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred video and completed 2 weeks of the South Beach Diet Phase 2. I'm 133 lbs and definitely firmer, but after seeing "before" pics I had my husband take the other day, I'm fairly sure I have a significant amount of work ahead of me. So while I won't post those pics here, I hope to post some in 8 weeks after I've completed a couple more months of exercise and dieting.
My goal is to weigh 125 or less and to fit into a new pair of my favorite Lucky Brand jeans in a size 6 (28). They're $115, so it's quite a reward. :) Maybe I'll post a pic of me in my new smaller jeans at the end of the 8 weeks. In the meantime, I'm going to take weekly pictures in my swimsuit to see my progress, as well as weigh and measure myself. My goal is to continue eating South Beach Phase 2 and use my online tracking (WW) to make sure I'm eating enough/not too much. I'm also going to try to do the 30 Day Shred video every day, with occasionally swapping in other videos to beat the monotony.
Thanks for reading!

When it Rainns...

I've got to get better about posting. Since I last wrote, a lot has happened. There were several weeks where my midwife reassured me that Rainn was head down, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was "up"...specifically his head, right under my ribs. At 36 weeks I took myself in for another 4D ultraround to put my mind at ease about his position, only to discover that I was right. He was in frank breech position.



My midwife went into action, putting me in touch with a great doc in Chandler and attending all my consults and visits with him thereafter. We attempted an external version in the hospital, an excruciating experience where they attempt to move the baby by basically wrestling them into position through your abdomen. After Rainn's heart decelerated three times, the doctor refused to try anymore and we were okay with that.

I spent the next few weeks praying, researching about the safety of vaginal breech birth and crying in my husband's arms. I went to my final OB appointment at 38.5 weeks, where I brought a list of about 20 questions for the doctor and spent about an hour with him. During my visit, he even brought out some ACOG Journals to confirm the studies I was citing. He was wonderful and open to the breech birth attempt. But at the end of the visit I broke down in tears and said, "It's just, if anything happens to this baby I'll never forgive myself." To which he replied, "Then go with the c-section. If you're concerned about YOU - then yes, vaginal birth is a much safer option. But if you're concern is THIS baby and getting him here safely, then do the c-section."

I'd asked God to help me make the decision that would keep us both safe, and at that moment, I felt a peace about doing the c-section. So that's what we did.

At my request, the doctor agree to do a double-layer uterine closure (to reduce the risk of uterine rupture) so that I could have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) for any future births, and he also agreed to attend that birth (since some docs won't do it).

At 39 weeks, 1 day, Rainn Isaac was born via cesarean. It was the scariest experience of my life. Jared was awesome, but just as freaked as I was.


When they took me into the OR at first, he couldn't go with me, which was terrifying. That's when they're giving you the spinal, having you lay down spread eagle while they insert the catheter and you're feeling like you're going to simultaneously blackout and throw up at the same time. Luckily my doctor has an amazing certified nurse midwife on his staff who held my hand and blotted my forehead with a cool rag until I came out of that.

When Jared came in, the horror on his face completely obvious at seeing me like that‚ I asked him to talk about River to distract me. A few minutes later, the doctor asked Jared if he wanted to stand up and look over the curtain to see the baby be born. He declined politely, only to be prompted again by the anesthesiologist. So he stood up and I watched his face go from feigned interest to complete nausea. (He later told me that right after he saw Rainn, he saw "my wife's guts" which was actually the placenta) Rainn was crying and they brought him over to me. He had a full head of dark hair and looked really different than River did. I cried.



Per our birth plan, Jared went with Rainn to the nursery to make sure they didn't give him the eye gunk (we wanted to delay it so he could see us to bond for those first few hours) or the Vitamin K shot (I'd been taking alfalfa for several weeks before and since he didn't have a traumatic birth it wasn't necessary). We also delayed his bath so he wouldn't be too tired to nurse.

After the surgery was complete and I was all sewn up, they took me back to the recovery room (which was just the room we waited in before the surgery). Rainn was still awake and he nursed like a little champ! (I didn't have any soreness or issues at all with him. It's been lovely!) Jared was so sweet. The first thing he said was, "Do you want me to tell you about him?" And proceeded to say all the little things he'd learned since we'd been separated. That he likes his head stroked, doesn't cry much, responds to Jared's voice...

My recovery has been tough. I spent 3 days in the hospital, despite my initial insistence to leave after 24 hours which my doctor actually entertained since he knew how many other things about this birth had been against my wishes. But considering that I could still barely walk, three days seemed okay to me.

My mom stayed with us for 10 days after the c-section, and then Jared took a week off, too. I'm now 3 weeks out from the birth. Still in pain - my entire abdomen from my belly button down includes patches of numbness or skin that feels painful to the touch. In a word, c-sections suck.



But I will say that I don't regret my decision. Rainn is perfect in every way, and I could not have lived with myself if he had ended up with brain damage, paralysis or worse as a result of my choice. I thank God that I didn't have any complications from the c-section, which can include a hysterectomy. Prayerfully, my future pregnancies (we only plan to have one more, maybe) won't be affected by it either.



So that's it - Rainn's birth story. And now we're all caught up. I'm off to make some lasagna for Jared for lunch! Happy Mother's Day!

Hooray for head down!

I'm almost 33 weeks now and according to my chiropractor and midwife, Rainn is head down now! ;) I'm going to continue going to the chiropractor just to help open up and align my whole pelvic, sacral area and hope that makes my birth nice and fast and easy!

I also found a lovely student doula named Dawn Smythe who will be attending our birth. It was definitely God's provision, because I really wanted a doula but didn't think we could afford one. My midwife said I should interview a few of them and pray about it and that if it was right everything would fall into place, and it has!

My mom is coming out around April 18, so I'm hoping little Rainn stays in that long. I'm really hoping he comes right around the 18th or 19th. We have everything ready! Our tub arrives on April 7th or so and we have it for three weeks. I'm just very excited to meet this baby and have my natural birth.

I really hope River is sleeping. In my perfect birth plan, I put him to bed while I'm in early labor and he sleeps through the night and wakes up to a new baby "brudder"! But I'm happy that we'll have my good friend Kristen, my mom, Jared and my doula there to help out if River happens to be up.

I covet your prayers for a healthy baby, a normal and straightforward delivery and an easy recovery! Thanks for reading!

Gearing Up for Our Homebirth

It's been forever since I've posted, but I wanted to start since hopefully I'll have lots to tell in the next 9 weeks or so!
We're planning a homebirth for our second son, Rainn Isaac, due April 21 or thereabouts! :) I have a wonderful midwife named Pam Qualls who will be attending with her student Jennifer. God also provided a lovely doula student (for free too!) to help me. Of course, Jared will be there as will my closest friend in Arizona Kristen Smith and possibly my mom if she happens to be in town during that time (she's flying out the 18th).
The most recent update is that we had our 4D ultrasound and baby is oblique breech, basically his hips are in my left hip bone and his head to the right of my belly button with his feet in front of his face. Since I'm only 30 weeks, I really shouldn't be concerned yet, but I am!
I started seeing a wonderful chiropractor who has had 2 natural births herself and is trained in the Webster Technique, which helps align the pelvis, hips, uterus, etc for baby to get into an ideal position which can help birth go more smoothly. I'm also doing lots of hands and knees ("Doin' exercise, mama?" River says!) and sometimes inversions off the couch. I read the spinningbabies.com site but it doesn't have a whole lot on this specific type of position, so I'm hoping the Webster Technique does the trick. But I'm not opposed to acupuncture (something called moxibustion has a crazy good success rate for turning babies), headstands in the pool or an external version if it comes down to it.
We have a big stack of towels, blankets, our birth kit (basically a hospital room in a box) plus a suitcase full of random supplies my midwife had us purchase all stacked up in our room. We also rented a heated, jetted tub for me to labor in since I've heard wonderful things about that. We're almost ready!
If anyone reads this and has info on getting my babe into position, I'm all ears. Otherwise I'll try to keep posting once a week until baby arrives!