Braxton Birkenfeld looks great except for one thing...he is still breech! At 36 weeks, the majority of babies have turned into the head down position. The doctor said that most likely at this point, he will not turn because he just doesn't have a lot of room to do so. There are a few things that we can try to get him to turn, but we are looking at a good possibility of a c-section. We are going in Friday to have an external cephalic version done. The doctor will manually push on my belly trying to get Braxton to rotate. There is about 33-50% success rate. Even if it does work, the doctor said that many babies that go through that end up having a c-section anyway for some reason. Blake and I have read there are several exercises to try and even a method that a chiropractor can do to get a baby to rotate on his own. We shall see.
The good news is that everything else is great and that's really what we want. Braxton is currently about 5.7 lbs. and everything is measuring great. We got some pretty good pictures of him, but he had his hands up next to his face so the sonographer had trouble getting a good face shot. She did say that she thinks he has my jawline and lips! She also confirmed that he is still boy, so no last minute shopping for pink stuff!
We just ask for prayers that Braxton will turn and everything will turn out fine. I am just having to deal with the possibility of a c-section instead of a vaginal birth. Call me crazy, but I was looking forward to the pain of contractions, pushing, and the whole shebang. It's still possible though.
We will know more on Friday after the external version. Please pray that it is not too painful and doesn't put stress on Braxton. We will update everyone on Friday on how it went. Until then, we are going enjoy our last Christmas of just the two of us. :) We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and feels as blessed and as loved as we do! God bless!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Not much to update
Not much has really been going on to update. School is out for Christmas break! Thank goodness! We have enjoyed a weekend with the Birkenfeld family and the Lee family will be here next weekend. We have a doctor's appt. on Wednesday where the doctor will do another sonogram. After that, we will have a better idea of how big Braxton is and his position. By that time, I will be 36 weeks, so he will be here very soon! It's time to start thinking and guessing when he will be born, his weight, and length! Here's some info on Blake and me when we were born.
Robyn
7 lbs. 1 oz.
19 1/2 in.
Blake
6 lbs. 11 oz.
19 in.
We will probably know more after our doc appt. Until then, you better start thinking!
Robyn
7 lbs. 1 oz.
19 1/2 in.
Blake
6 lbs. 11 oz.
19 in.
We will probably know more after our doc appt. Until then, you better start thinking!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Ho! Ho! Ho! Happy Thanksgiving!
Blake, Chelsy, and I made our last trip to Canyon until Braxton arrives. It was really strange to think that the next time we make that drive, we will have a baby in the backseat! We don't know how we are going to bring everything! Leave Chelsy home? Nah! Don't be so silly! I am now not allowed to travel too far from DFW since I am over 33 weeks! We are just weeks away! That means Christmas will be celebrated here in Keller!
I had a doctors appt. last week. Everything is still looking great. Currently, Braxton is breech, but my doctor said that babies usually don't settle into their birthing position until about 36 weeks. He is going to do a sonogram on Christmas Eve (yes, the office is opened on Christmas Eve!), just to check Braxton's position and to look at everything else. Blake is excited just to get another confirmation that Braxton is in fact a boy. Otherwise, a little girl would be stuck wearing a lot of blue and brown and sleeping in a blue and brown nursery!
We are just about done with the nursery. Just have a few finishing touches left. I cannot take much credit for it because Blake has worked very hard on it. My artistic cousin Bevin and her roomate Rachel came over a couple of weeks ago and painted the "Braxton" letters and helped me to decide on where to hang everything! The letters turned out precious! I painted the "A" and the "N." Don't look too closely because you will be able to tell that a non-artsy person did those. :) Here are some pics of the nursery so far. You can see more on our picture page.
We have been spoiled beyond what we deserve with the many showers and gifts. We feel so blessed and so loved. Chelsy loves all of the new baby toys she has received for her new room! If we don't watch her closely, she will take off with a teddy bear or some other baby toy. She is very confused because anything that is soft and squishy and squeaks has always been hers.
Blake and I decorated the house for Christmas the other night. We realized that this time next year, we won't be able to have too much decor on the floor or ornaments on the bottom of the tree because there will be a little baby trying to grab a hold of everything and put it in his mouth.
We are all doing great. Blake and I are both busy with work trying to get stuff done before Braxton arrives. We are wrapping up our birthing classes and just trying to enjoy the two of us these last couple of weeks. We ask for a couple of specific prayers:
1) Blake being swamped (in a good way) with work during this busy time in our lives.
2) My preparation for the sub while I'm on maternity leave.
3) That the perfect sub falls into place!
4) My labor and delivery
5) Our transition into parenthood
6) Safe travel for family when they come to visit.
Thanks and God bless! Love to all!
I had a doctors appt. last week. Everything is still looking great. Currently, Braxton is breech, but my doctor said that babies usually don't settle into their birthing position until about 36 weeks. He is going to do a sonogram on Christmas Eve (yes, the office is opened on Christmas Eve!), just to check Braxton's position and to look at everything else. Blake is excited just to get another confirmation that Braxton is in fact a boy. Otherwise, a little girl would be stuck wearing a lot of blue and brown and sleeping in a blue and brown nursery!
We are just about done with the nursery. Just have a few finishing touches left. I cannot take much credit for it because Blake has worked very hard on it. My artistic cousin Bevin and her roomate Rachel came over a couple of weeks ago and painted the "Braxton" letters and helped me to decide on where to hang everything! The letters turned out precious! I painted the "A" and the "N." Don't look too closely because you will be able to tell that a non-artsy person did those. :) Here are some pics of the nursery so far. You can see more on our picture page.
We have been spoiled beyond what we deserve with the many showers and gifts. We feel so blessed and so loved. Chelsy loves all of the new baby toys she has received for her new room! If we don't watch her closely, she will take off with a teddy bear or some other baby toy. She is very confused because anything that is soft and squishy and squeaks has always been hers.
Blake and I decorated the house for Christmas the other night. We realized that this time next year, we won't be able to have too much decor on the floor or ornaments on the bottom of the tree because there will be a little baby trying to grab a hold of everything and put it in his mouth.
We are all doing great. Blake and I are both busy with work trying to get stuff done before Braxton arrives. We are wrapping up our birthing classes and just trying to enjoy the two of us these last couple of weeks. We ask for a couple of specific prayers:
1) Blake being swamped (in a good way) with work during this busy time in our lives.
2) My preparation for the sub while I'm on maternity leave.
3) That the perfect sub falls into place!
4) My labor and delivery
5) Our transition into parenthood
6) Safe travel for family when they come to visit.
Thanks and God bless! Love to all!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Things Going On
It's been a while since I posted, so I thought I would give a quick update....
1. I'm 31 weeks. That is crazy! This baby is just two months (or less) away from being here! It's getting too real!
2. We've had our baby showers, and they were wonderful! Thanks to everyone that was a part of it! I will post pictures of that as soon as I can get Blake to put them on the computer. (Note to self: Learn how to do that.)
3. The nursery is coming along. Blake is hanging a shelf as I type this. Bevin is coming over this weekend to help me decorate. I will put up pictures of the finished product.
4. Thanksgiving is our final trip before Braxton arrives. After that, the doctor says I cannot travel.
5. I look like I've swallowed a basketball.
6. I am getting so big that I am getting pretty uncomfortable and Braxton keeps kicking me in the organs. For some reason though, I love every minute of it.
7. Chelsy thinks Braxton's toys are hers. They keep disappearing out of his room. So much for being sanitary. :)
8. We are taking birthing classes and are really enjoying meeting other couples in the same boat as us. This past week we got a tour of the hospital and it was strange to think that this is where we will be delivering our baby.
9. We are both so very excited and scared to death. Please be praying for us as we take these last two months to prepare.
10. We are so loved and so blessed and so happy. :D
1. I'm 31 weeks. That is crazy! This baby is just two months (or less) away from being here! It's getting too real!
2. We've had our baby showers, and they were wonderful! Thanks to everyone that was a part of it! I will post pictures of that as soon as I can get Blake to put them on the computer. (Note to self: Learn how to do that.)
3. The nursery is coming along. Blake is hanging a shelf as I type this. Bevin is coming over this weekend to help me decorate. I will put up pictures of the finished product.
4. Thanksgiving is our final trip before Braxton arrives. After that, the doctor says I cannot travel.
5. I look like I've swallowed a basketball.
6. I am getting so big that I am getting pretty uncomfortable and Braxton keeps kicking me in the organs. For some reason though, I love every minute of it.
7. Chelsy thinks Braxton's toys are hers. They keep disappearing out of his room. So much for being sanitary. :)
8. We are taking birthing classes and are really enjoying meeting other couples in the same boat as us. This past week we got a tour of the hospital and it was strange to think that this is where we will be delivering our baby.
9. We are both so very excited and scared to death. Please be praying for us as we take these last two months to prepare.
10. We are so loved and so blessed and so happy. :D
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Pregnant Bridesmaid
Here is a pic of me at 27 1/2 weeks in my bridesmaid dress. Stay tuned for future updates because coming up this week....our first birthing class and a baby shower at my school! Let the fun begin! 
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Final Stretch....literally
Today I am 28 weeks and officially in the third trimester! It feels like we just found out that I was pregnant and now this baby will be here in less than 3 months! It seems like the other day I was just looking in the mirror trying to see a little bulge, and now I look in the mirror and I can't see anything but a bulge! Baby Braxton is growing like crazy and is very active. He responds to sound. He usually starts kicking when my alarm goes off in the morning. He started dancing to the loud music at church the other day. He also kicked Blake in the ear when he put his head on my stomach.
I am still feeling good. However, I am starting to get those aches and pains that come with the growing belly. I occasionally have braxton-hicks contractions, which is a really weird and an uncomfortable feeling. I do consider myself very lucky because I really haven't had a very difficult pregnancy. I actually love being pregnant. (I'm sure I'll feel differently in a couple of months.)
I went to the doctor today for my regular check up and my glucose test for gestational diabetes. I will find out the results tomorrow, so hopefully everything turns out well. I am meausuring 27 in. which is about right considering I am just barely 28 weeks. (Your belly is supposed to be an inch for every week.) My weight gain is just right. Not too much and not too little. (I've gained about 18 lbs. for those of you that are curious.) I have some recent pictures of me and my belly, but they are on Dad's camera in Canyon, so he will have to send them to me so that I can post them on here. I was the pregnant bridesmaid in a wedding this past weekend, so I will get pictures of that soon.
We haven't done much else with the nursery. We are kind of at a stand still until we have our showers. I'm having one at school next week! :) I need to paint the "Braxton" letters, but I think I am going to have to recruit my crafty cousin Bevin to do that. Bev, when can you come over? We will have a paint night! What do you think?
Papa Blake is doing great. He has been really busy with work. He has spent this whole week at a emergency doctor medical conference promoting his latest software. It went really well, and they are hoping to get a lot of clients. He is really busy with work, which is a good thing. I asked him the other day if he still loves his job and he said "yes." That's all that counts! He had quite the experience in Chicago. On top of attending the conference, being wined and dined by doctors, he also got to attend a Madonna concert. Blake + Madonna concert in Chicago = culture shock. He will just have to tell you about the experience himself, but he did call me from the concert and said, "I'm not in Texas anymore baby!" Now Blake would never pay the money nor would he even attend such a concert if everyone else wasn't going too. He did say it was very entertaining and Madonna is really amazing. It was quite the production. He emailed me the following pictures from his iphone.
Big Sis Chelsy had a busy and exhausting week because she got to attend daycare everyday while Blake was gone. She has come home absolutely exhausted. The ladies at the daycare said she was very playful but would try to nap once things calmed down. However, she wasn't too exhausted to bark at the horses today while we were leaving daycare.
As you probably can tell, everything is great in the Birkenfeld household. We are just getting ready for our bundle of joy and praise God everyday for such a miracle. Being able to grow a child in your body just reminds us of how powerful and wonderful God truly is! We love you all and will see you soon!
I am still feeling good. However, I am starting to get those aches and pains that come with the growing belly. I occasionally have braxton-hicks contractions, which is a really weird and an uncomfortable feeling. I do consider myself very lucky because I really haven't had a very difficult pregnancy. I actually love being pregnant. (I'm sure I'll feel differently in a couple of months.)
I went to the doctor today for my regular check up and my glucose test for gestational diabetes. I will find out the results tomorrow, so hopefully everything turns out well. I am meausuring 27 in. which is about right considering I am just barely 28 weeks. (Your belly is supposed to be an inch for every week.) My weight gain is just right. Not too much and not too little. (I've gained about 18 lbs. for those of you that are curious.) I have some recent pictures of me and my belly, but they are on Dad's camera in Canyon, so he will have to send them to me so that I can post them on here. I was the pregnant bridesmaid in a wedding this past weekend, so I will get pictures of that soon.
We haven't done much else with the nursery. We are kind of at a stand still until we have our showers. I'm having one at school next week! :) I need to paint the "Braxton" letters, but I think I am going to have to recruit my crafty cousin Bevin to do that. Bev, when can you come over? We will have a paint night! What do you think?
Papa Blake is doing great. He has been really busy with work. He has spent this whole week at a emergency doctor medical conference promoting his latest software. It went really well, and they are hoping to get a lot of clients. He is really busy with work, which is a good thing. I asked him the other day if he still loves his job and he said "yes." That's all that counts! He had quite the experience in Chicago. On top of attending the conference, being wined and dined by doctors, he also got to attend a Madonna concert. Blake + Madonna concert in Chicago = culture shock. He will just have to tell you about the experience himself, but he did call me from the concert and said, "I'm not in Texas anymore baby!" Now Blake would never pay the money nor would he even attend such a concert if everyone else wasn't going too. He did say it was very entertaining and Madonna is really amazing. It was quite the production. He emailed me the following pictures from his iphone.
Big Sis Chelsy had a busy and exhausting week because she got to attend daycare everyday while Blake was gone. She has come home absolutely exhausted. The ladies at the daycare said she was very playful but would try to nap once things calmed down. However, she wasn't too exhausted to bark at the horses today while we were leaving daycare. As you probably can tell, everything is great in the Birkenfeld household. We are just getting ready for our bundle of joy and praise God everyday for such a miracle. Being able to grow a child in your body just reminds us of how powerful and wonderful God truly is! We love you all and will see you soon!
Friday, October 10, 2008
We're coming along!
So I had a wake up call last week when my doctor told me, "The next time I see you you'll be 28 weeks, which will be your 3rd trimester. I'm going to have to start seeing you every two weeks from that point." Third trimester!? That's like the last trimester! What? Will Baby Braxton really be here that soon? The answer is yes! We are in full baby mode now!
We have made some decisions on what we think would be best for our baby....breastfeeding, making our own baby food, and cloth diapers. Yes, that's right people. Cloth diapers! When I say cloth diapers, many people immediately think old school when it was literally just cloth and a pin. That's not the case. To give you a better idea, here is a picture of one.
You would be OVERWHELMED at the options they have now for cloth diapers. Do you want fitted, all in one, prefold, pocket, etc? Do we want them made out of wool, fleece, cotton, hemp, bamboo!? Don't forget to pick your patterns and colors! As you can imagine, this has required a lot of research. No worries! I am married to the internet research king! Blake has done countless hours of research on the best kind of cloth diapers. He could probably write a book. I have never seen someone care so much about a little tushi! Some of you may think we are crazy but it has a ton of benefits.
1. Cheaper
2. Better for his little hiney
3. Potty train faster
4. Better for the environment (The Birkenfeld house is going green!)
We are not the only crazy ones doing this either. It has actually become a very popular thing! We have several friends that are doing this with their baby. (Thanks Shan for the advice!)
Braxton is doing well. He has gotten very active! You can now watch my stomach pooch out when he kicks. He also got the hiccups the other day, or at least I think that's what it was.
As for our other baby, (the one that is furry and barks) she is doing great too. She just had a trip to the vet to get her teeth cleaned, and she did great. She is currently passed out on the floor from the anesthesia. She also made the cover of The Bark N Lounge (daycare) newsletter with this photo.
The ladies that work there said the dog directly to her left named Fenway is one of her many boyfriends. They say she picks the prettiest male dog at daycare that day and plays with him. Hopefully she doesn't get a bad reputation! :)
Blake and I are doing great. We start our birthing class next month! We are just busy with work and preparing for this baby and trying to enjoy our last few months of just the two of us before our world gets turned upside down....in a good way of course!
We have made some decisions on what we think would be best for our baby....breastfeeding, making our own baby food, and cloth diapers. Yes, that's right people. Cloth diapers! When I say cloth diapers, many people immediately think old school when it was literally just cloth and a pin. That's not the case. To give you a better idea, here is a picture of one.
You would be OVERWHELMED at the options they have now for cloth diapers. Do you want fitted, all in one, prefold, pocket, etc? Do we want them made out of wool, fleece, cotton, hemp, bamboo!? Don't forget to pick your patterns and colors! As you can imagine, this has required a lot of research. No worries! I am married to the internet research king! Blake has done countless hours of research on the best kind of cloth diapers. He could probably write a book. I have never seen someone care so much about a little tushi! Some of you may think we are crazy but it has a ton of benefits.1. Cheaper
2. Better for his little hiney
3. Potty train faster
4. Better for the environment (The Birkenfeld house is going green!)
We are not the only crazy ones doing this either. It has actually become a very popular thing! We have several friends that are doing this with their baby. (Thanks Shan for the advice!)
Braxton is doing well. He has gotten very active! You can now watch my stomach pooch out when he kicks. He also got the hiccups the other day, or at least I think that's what it was.
As for our other baby, (the one that is furry and barks) she is doing great too. She just had a trip to the vet to get her teeth cleaned, and she did great. She is currently passed out on the floor from the anesthesia. She also made the cover of The Bark N Lounge (daycare) newsletter with this photo.
The ladies that work there said the dog directly to her left named Fenway is one of her many boyfriends. They say she picks the prettiest male dog at daycare that day and plays with him. Hopefully she doesn't get a bad reputation! :)Blake and I are doing great. We start our birthing class next month! We are just busy with work and preparing for this baby and trying to enjoy our last few months of just the two of us before our world gets turned upside down....in a good way of course!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
