31 weeks and counting

Not much to report... We met our new midwife, Donna, last week and feel really good about switching to St. Joe's. Ramah had her interview with the UW Midwifery program yesterday and the director gave Donna and the practice at St. Joe's rave reviews. My acupuncturist, Mary, also gave her a thumbs up. Peanut continues to grow and measure in the 50th percentile. Last week she was 3 lbs. 5 oz. For the first time during an ultrasound she was not moving around and really did not want her picture taken. We could not get a clear shot of her face. She was head down, wedged in my pelvis, and not moving! Stuborn little thing.

We now start going for office visits every 2 weeks.

Peanut did have the hiccups for the first time yesterday, twice. Very cute, but it was tough knowing I could not do anything to help soothe them for her. My mom has said I used to get hiccups horribly in the womb. I continue to get them, frequently, and they are not fun! I sound like a croaking frog and they last for ever. I hope I've not passed this on to our little girl.

Don is loving working at the Mariners. He started taking the train to/from work. It is fantastic. He comes home and is not cranky from being in traffic.

This weekend, my mom and Heather are throwing a family shower for us. I'm excited to see everyone. Ann will be here for a long weekend and we plan to take her to a T-birds game on Saturday night. It should be great fun.

The best news in a long time...

In was hoping Don would post and tell all of you, but that's not happening ;)  Don is now a MARINER!  Yes, he got the job as their Audio Supervisor 10 days ago.  It is a great position and we were quite relieved.  Thank you all for your amazing support as we navigated the past few months.  

Don is loving it at Safeco Field.  The first day he worked I got a text photo from the broadcast booth, overlooking the stadium, with the Puget Sound in the background.  Gorgeous.  The following Monday, the HR team gave him his first M's memorabilia for his office; an autographed baseball in a case, signed by Dave Niehaus.  He was quite stoked.  I got another text photo of the ball :)  

After a long conversation with my cousin Ramah, who is also my doula, 2 weeks ago, regarding our birth plan and pain management, I have decided to plan for a water birth at St. Joseph Hospital.  Now that Peanut is growing and we are no longer concerned about delivering her early, I can give some thought to making the delivery as comfortable and memorable as we can.

The water birth is supposed to help me relax my muscles and be more soothing in general.  Remember - an epidural is not on the table and pain meds make me harf!  After my neck surgery in 2001, I leaked spinal fluid for 14 days and had to be flat on my back.  If I was even at the slightest incline, I was throwing up and experiencing the worst headache ever (worse than my migraines).  My neurosurgeon told me then that I was not a candidate for an epidural.  I can't even imagine going through that again AND trying to care for and breast feed a new born.   So a water birth is the best way for us to manage pain and make me comfortable.  The hope is my labor will also go quicker.  

I've switched my pre-natal care from my OB at Tacoma General to the midwife and OB practice at St. Joe's.  I had my intake with the nurse there last week, was not classified as high-risk, and I'm scheduled to see my new midwife this Wednesday.  Don and I really liked the women at the new office and are looking forward to this experience.  Ramah is too!  Though she's been a doula for Crystal and a few girlfriends, she's not worked with a midwife yet or done a water birth.  

Love you, 

~B

I've been meaning to post for a week now, but have not had the time to scan the latest ultrasound photos and upload them - so, I'll give you all the scoop and add the photos later.  

Last Tuesday we had lab work, another ultrasound and a visit with my OB-GYN.  The glucose test came back normal - yeah.  But, my hematocrit level is low, I'm anemic, and I have to take an additional iron supplement - yuck.  I was a little bummed to hear this.  After years of anemia I had gotten things under control about a year ago thanks to acupuncture and diet.   

The ultrasound was the best part of the day.  We love seeing/hearing Peanut's heart beat, watching her move, and checking in on her progress.  Her organs look great, she has a cute oval shaped head, and we even got a photo of her face.  Just as we had hoped and prayed for, the single artery of the umbilical cord has doubled in size.  It is now doing the work of 2 arteries (what a 'normal' umbilical cord has.)  The ultrasound tech took measurements of Peanut's femur, abdomen, and head and plugged those into a matrix which tells us where she is on the growth chart.  The last 2 months she had been in the 36th and 35th percentile.  This month, with the increase in that artery's capability, she's in the 5oth percentile!!  Now, that is a bit skewed as Peanut has SUPER long legs (she's taking after her Mom and Nana!) and the femur measurement is probably throwing off the calculation a bit.  Nonetheless, she's growing and looks to be out of the woods.  The tech estimated her weight at 2 lbs. 3 oz.  We will continue to monitor her with an ultrasound at every office visit, but we are feeling really good about her progress.  

Now, some even better news.... Don has a second interview with the Mariners tomorrow morning (Wednesday) at 9 am.  Wish him well, he's really nervous.  It has been nearly 2 weeks since his first interview.  They want to wrap things up and make a decision by the end of the week.  He also heard back from Benaroya Hall.  The hold up on their end has been due to a member of the interview team (the guy who has since left the organization and it is his old job they are filling) buying a house in LA.  He's back now and they plan to make some decisions by the end of the week as well.  Again, fingers crossed, candles lit, whatever it takes...  

Thanks so much for your support.  I know I'm slow at posting.  I'll try to be better. 

Love you all, 

~Barba

When it rains...

Well yes, it is raining cats and dogs here, but that's not what I'm referring to.  Don and the Village Theatre went their separate ways the end of September.  It has been a tough 3+ months.  Good news, Don has been working as a contractor for the new Showare Center in Kent since the 29th of December.  (the new hockey arena for the Seattle ThunderBirds)  He didn't really interview for the job, just had a few email and cell phone conversations before reporting to training to find out he is the lead on the sound team!  OK... at that point there had been no discussion of job responsibilities, compensation, benefits - you know, the small stuff.  

Late in November we heard the sound designer at Benaroya Hall in Seattle was leaving in January.  Don applied for the job, did some great follow up, connected with the union rep... but the snow hit and downtown Seattle SHUT DOWN.  Then, the entire Benaroya/Seattle Symphony staff went on holiday break for two weeks.  Don was about to crawl out of his skin with anticipation.  

Early December, Don heard that the Mariners were searching for a sound guy so he tossed his resume into the mix and waited to see what happened....  

Meanwhile, the last 2 weeks he was been enjoying running sound for the hockey team and for the various UW sports.  It wasn't full-time work, but things were looking better for us financially and Don was feeling good about the work he was doing.  

Fast forward now to yesterday.  Don got an email from the team at Benaroya.  They wanted to schedule him for an interview either Thursday or Friday of this week with a quick phone interview yesterday or today.  Don was supper stoked to get the first interview Thursday morning at 9:00.  The Benaroya gig would challenge him professionally, use his theater experience well, and would be a step up from what he had been doing with the Village Theatre in Issaquah.  He was trying not to get to excited. 

Today, while talking with the contact from Benaroya, Don got a call from the Mariners!!  He has an interview with them Friday at 1:00.  He is over the moon.  After 3+ months of being out of work and wondering what was in store for him, he is encouraged.  He has a great shot at either of the jobs.  Both would be full-time with benefits.  Both would challenge him and would be solid career moves.  Please send him lots of positive thoughts and keep him in your prayers.  It is going to be a very big week to 10 days here.  

Christmas

 After spending the past three Christmas holidays in Oregon with Don's family, we decided to stay in Tacoma this year with my family.  We had a great Christmas.  Both Christmas Eve and Day were spent at my parent's house with my younger brother, Tony, Heather, Jacob and Alyssa, Heather's parents and my parents.  After dinner and family time on Christmas Eve we went to Mass at St. Leo's.  We spent the early part of Christmas day here at our house with the dogs.  Santa was very good to LadyBug and Lola.  We headed to mom & dad's in the early afternoon for a late lunch and then helped with dinner preparations.  

For those of you who have been requesting a belly shot, you'll see one to the left.  

I hope your holiday was peace filled and merry, 

~B

Baby's doing well....

We had another ultrasound yesterday morning. Last month, Peanut was measuring in the 36th percentile for growth. Yesterday she was in the 35th - not bad. They measured all of her parts and pieces and everything is right on track and they released from Maternal/Fetal Medicine. We can now do ultrasounds at each of my office visits to monitor her growth with the 2 vessel cord.

Yesterday afternoon we had our monthly appointment with my OB. She is really happy with our progress and Peanut's growth. I was thrilled to see I've only gained 7 lbs.! I'm eating like a horse, but this making a person stuff uses a lot of energy. Our next visit and ultrasound will be January 20th.

Daddy's little girl kicks...literally

So I got to feel the baby kick for the first time this week, what a difference.  It seemed that she was something in the far distance and would be here when she gets here.  Well that has all changed now, she IS here.  It's a very special thing that I was not expecting, I can't really describe it but it's kind of like growing up in a way.  It becomes real.  I know that sounds funny but there it is.  My daughter is on the way and I can't wait to meet her.  Love to you all.

Don