Family traits

So there are many opinions out there as to who exactly our new little bundle of joy looks like. And I am finding it a lot harder for me to tell than I thought it would be. Joshua thinks she looks like me and I think she looks like Joshua...
So I'd like to hear your comments on this... WHO do YOU think she looks like?
By the way... her eyes are a deep blue with what looks like a ring of green around the outside. Of course, this is bound to change. But Joshua's biological father and twin sister both have blue eyes so we just don't know.

very very very long and hard

I never had any clue about how difficult and impossibly painful labor is.
I wanted to do this natural and really felt that I could. So many poeple I know have done it (and trillions more before modern medicine). But...

-I was in early labor for more than 24 hours before I even got to 1.5 cm dilated.
-with less than two hours of sleep and barely any nutrition I was very VERY weak and tired.
-My little Bundle of Joy was what they call "Sunny Side Up" which gave me horrible back labor.

After my recent experience I realize how people have died from this. And all I can say is THANK GOD for drugs.

Thanks mom!

I am just so thankful to my mom for passing down so many of her talents down to me, including this one.
Here is a picture of Samantha's quilt... or at least the center of it. It doesn't hold a candle to the types of quilts my mom has spit out over the years but it's something from me to my daughter. I am hoping it means as much to her one day as my mom's creations mean to me.
One thing that is cool about it, is that the fabric was from a line that came out this past spring called "Seaside Rose" by Moda Fabrics. After the fabric gets sold out in the stores it is very rarely reordered... therefore very hard to find after the summer... making her quilt that much more unique.
The quilt that I had made for my neice Ellie was made from fabric from the same designers from last year's "Paris Fleamarket" line.
I told you I'd like to bore you... didn't you believe me?
;-)

I'm feeling very stretched

I can't say that I am exactly thrilled about this picture, as you can see I am looking and feeling pretty stretched...

I thought I would give you guys a real update...

According to the ultrasound we had on Friday (her due date), they estimated that Samantha weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz.

The way it is looking (since my cervix is closed for business) is that the doctors will have to try to help us out a bit. Here is the plan:

We are going back to the Dr. on Wednesday. If my cervix is still uncooperative they will give it and application of "cervigel" which is supposed to help soften it. I will then go with my luggage to spend the next 12 hours in the hospital, just in case I go into labor. Thankfully, I will be given a room.

If that doesn't work we will repeat the same trick on Thursday night. And if it still doesn't work than they will induce me on Friday.

So, it is a good thing that Barb is planning on coming down next weekend to visit Samantha because it is looking like she will be here by Saturday morning at the latest! YAY!!!

The very talented Mr. Cheney

I don't know if any of you are aware of exactly how talented my hubby is...
Let me explain... here is a picture of Samantha's very pretty dresser. At this distance it might pass as new. But let me show you a picture of the desk that was from the same old set... sorry, it's in the garage covered with Joshua's various sporting equipment and has a nice healthy layer of sawdust from all of Joshie's hard work...
What a difference! And all it cost us was the cost of the paint and hardware! Thanks Daddy!

Update...

So it is not looking like Samantha will be making her grand entry anytime soon, or at least the Doctor is not placing any bets on it.

Daddy hits a big one for his baby

He said he was going to hit a homer just for Samantha... and he did! He looked over at his wife prior to the at bat, blew her a kiss and said "this one is for the baby sweetie!" He proceeded to step up to the plate, set himself and just when the pitch was right, he laid into and hit a long towering home run deep over the left center fence. All with a fractured finger too! His teammates claim that the ball never had a chance. Joshua did well on the day, hitting 4 for 5 with 2 singles, a double and the homer. He even did well defensively at first base snagging whatever came his way.HORRAY Daddy !!! Watch out or this could be the start of a career change! Samantha's first home run ever.

Imagine what he'll do after she arrives!

Castor Oil

So I spent some time this morning reading up on Castor Oil. Really, I was only curious what the proper dosage was for the induction of labor... the label only gave the basic laxative doses, and it actually said to consult a physician if pregnant or nursing (!). So I did what Angie suggested and googled "natural labor inducers" and found a nice big discussion board on Castor Oil.

It's a good thing I'm the type to read the instructions on something before I assemble... or swallow, as it would be in this case. The size of the bottle is a lot smaller than I thought it would be. I was wondering if I had to chug the whole thing, or at least picturing that in my head. I found out that the dosage is really the same as it would be if you were using it only for laxitive purposes, 1-4 tablespoons.

People like to mix it with root beer, saying that the bubbles suspend the oil and help it go down undetected. But they say that there still is an aftertaste from the oil still coating the inside of your mouth, and to have a wet washcloth handy to wipe out your mouth afterwards... (gag) Some people say that peanut butter helps cover up the yucky oil taste the best, for those of us that are peanut butter lovers at least. I enjoy it mixed with other things, but by itself is a little overwhelming for me (it sticks to the roof of my mouth). One Castor Oil Cocktail recipe called for vodka (!?)... it's supposed to help absorb the oil better.

One thing they all agreed on was the "goopy", heavy consistancy of the oil. Much heavier than olive or vegatable oils. Many even noting that it has a texture. YUCK! I was mentally gagging pretty much the whole read.

But I am really glad that I did read it all. Not only because it saved me from downing the whole bottle at once, but also because I found that there seems to be a general concensus that this method of induction ONLY WORKS IF you are already dilated or if your cervix is what they call "ripe".

So I guess I don't have as much control in this as I had hoped. I am not dilated AT ALL... my cervix is still what they call "CLOSED".

So while my cervix is out of service.. I just have to remind myself that Samantha is a whole lot easier to take care of now then she will be later. And I can sleep, very well actually. Gotta be thankful for what I've got.

Sami's room

So I finally finished painting Samantha's room... and I'm pretty happy with it. So I tought I would share a few pictures from it just because I can. And it's a whole lot easier than making dinner for you to lure you here to show you in person.



Sorry, should have cleaned off the bed before I took the pictures.

Here's the beehive, Joshua's idea.



And here are some bluebirds...



And butterflies...




There is a bullfrog too, just don't have a picture.

Hope you enjoyed the tour.

Samantha

So here is little Samantha Mae... the one we are all waiting so patiently to meet face to face. Well, some of us are not so "patient", including yours truely.
I actually purchased a bottle of Castor Oil the other day, and I'm prepared to use it. As if it were a weapon of mass destruction or something. But then, one might say it is. Have you ever heard what that stuff does to you!?? There is a reason why not everyone is willing to try it. It doesn't even work for everyone, it's absolutely disgusting to have to drink... and it is sure to cause some major digestive issues. If I didn't have to go and take care of Joe tonight I might just go ahead now... but I need to be sure I am no further than 10 feet from an available toilet at all times... for God knows how long.
But let me remind you... mommy is getting impatient.
And I do like the sound of September 9th as a b-day. 9/9
She'll be four on 9/9/09... and 94 on 9/9/99.
9.99
999.99
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Only Beth will get that one.
But then I also like the idea of receiving such a huge blessing as Samantha exactly 4 years to the day after we all experienced the losses of September 11th. At first I was worried about that... but now I realize that it would be nice to have something better to think about that day.

So do we still have bets going out for when?