Adam Likes to Play FLG

Last weekend Adam was spelling out words on the fridge and he put together the letters "FLG" and announced that he spelled golf as he pointed to the letters right to left. I explained to Adam that we spell words starting with the left and go right. As he flipped the letters around he sounded out the word and realized there was the vowel "O" he was missing. His first word that he spelled all on his own.

This weekend we spent out doors actually playing golf along with all other outside sports. The outside toy box is accessible because the snow has melted and it was our first 2014 day above 60 F! Something to celebrate for sure.

I realized one of the great things about having a bunch of boys is they will always have someone to play sports with. Although when Adam wants to play guy-guys and says no to playing hockey with Eli I will stop being the photographer bench warmer and join in.

To VBAC, Or Not To VBAC: That Is the Question.

Weather 'tis better to sign up for a surgery or attempt a less invasive natural birth. We actually went through this whole conversation with Eli's birth plan, because of my 4th degree tears I could choose to have a c-section. So we consulted with the OB for Eli's birth plan and she told us we couldn't make a wrong decision. We went back and forth and finally settled on another try at a natural birth.

Then as I approached my due date we found Eli not head down but in a transverse position and then the following appointment he was head down and I figured that's how he would stay. But birthing plans can change easily and I found myself with my water broke (which I somehow new was coming hours beforehand, love mom-intuition) and a baby who was not head down. I immediately new something wasn't right and frankly my head just wasn't in the game. I wasn't ready or prepared for a natural birth and when the doctor examined me and determined with an ultrasound that Eli was not head down I knew it was time to talk about a c-section. My doctor went to consult with other doctors on weather you could attempt a version after the waters are broken, but I didn't care what she found out- I already knew I was having a c-section.

But after my c-section when I was still in the hospital I asked the doctor who performed my c-section if I was a candidate for a vbac. He was the surgeon who sewed me up after Adam's birth and he didn't think 4th degree tears and a c-section sounded like a vbac was a good idea, which isn't what I wanted to hear. But over the weeks I realized the healing process of a c-section wasn't that bad and at times easier than my first natural birth. Healing from a birth isn't easy.

So I resolved that number 3 would be another c-section, but made a joke at our 20 week check up that I was planning a c-section but this baby would come super fast and I would end up with a natural birth. And my doctor said I would be a great candidate for a vbac, but that I couldn't do it in the Hutch Hospital. After that appointment I found out my doctor was leaving, so finding a new doctor was going to happen no matter what my birth plan was.

So here we are having the same conversations again, trying to decide which way to go. A natural birth an hour away at a new hospital or a c-section here in Hutchinson with a new doctor (and I only have two to choose from). I made a chart of all the risks and the one that gets me the most is the 0.5-1.5% chance of a uterus rupture with a VBAC. Also there is no guarantee that I won't have 4th degree tears again if I go natural, but I can guarantee that this baby has a big head like his brothers after seeing the ultrasound.

Ultimately I know it is my decision and mine alone and David will support me no matter what I choose. I feel like I have a lot of reasons to stay in Hutch and have another c-section, but they are reasons of convenience. It would be nice to be close to home because I have two small boys. Choosing the babies birth date sounds like more fun than playing the waiting game. Plus I get two extra weeks of recovery and both births took about the same time to recover from.

And do I have good reasons that I want to have a natural birth? I do want to avoid surgery. But do I want to do it because I've read so many amazing natural birth stories and I want to feel that high of accomplishment again? This is such a hard decision and if I don't act soon I will be stuck in Hutchinson having another c-section.

We Need a Winter Escape

Hello March- do you mind bringing some warmth? I'm not even asking for spring, just some above zero temperatures so we can finally get out of the house.

Today to get out of the house and avoid going completely stir crazy we went to the tropics. The tropical exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo. The sun shone in from the sky lights and it was humid and way above 70 F, so it felt great.

After our walk through the Tropics Trail we stopped to watch the Wild Bird show. I think it was the boys favorite with many different birds flying overhead. Well that and Adam got to meet a lizard up close and touch him today.