Moving on from embryo adoption to?

(For the sake of this entry, we will just overlook the fact that it has been MONTHS since I last wrote. Apparently in the grand juggling show that is daily life, blog writing is one of the things I drop.  We are all alive and well though.)

We've always known that embryo adoption would not be the only way we grow our family.  Our family of five is beautiful, amazing, intense at times, and not complete. :-)

I have casually researched domestic and international adoption scenes over the years but kind of jumped off the deep end this weekend.

You know how Facebook advertisements target you? Sometimes ridiculously but sometimes it's like Facebook has been spying on your browsing history?

I've been getting an increasing number of ads telling me how there are more available children than waiting families. In China.

And so I dove headfirst into research.  I know so little. And the more research I do, the more apparent my ignorance is.  But the lure is strong. Thus the research continues.

And maybe, just maybe, we will start our first international adoption 12 to 18 months from now. :-)

Life Snapshots

Pop pacy in. Stroke down the bridge of his nose. Presto! Eyes start to roll.

Sometimes I have superpowers.


*****

Cora complains, "Momma, I'm boring!"

"Yes, yes you are."

Oops, too much snark.


*****

Mac sits at his desk and draws.  Our playground - and it's recognizable!  A police car - and it's recognizable!  Fourteen pages of policemen chasing bad guy bank robbers swiftly follow.

My ream of paper is going fast.

Party of Five

We became a "party of five" on June 3.

Augustine John, "Augie", was born at 3:22 in the afternoon, exactly one week after his due date.  He shocked us all by being 9 lbs 9 oz and 21.75 inches long.  And so we repacked all the newborn baby clothes and went straight to 0-3 months.

The twins are absolutely in love and will spend many long minutes just watching Augie's sleeping facial expressions. 

A birth story will be forthcoming.  I had been getting some notes from people, wondering....  We are alive.  We are well.  We are now a "party of five". 

Violet is....

Still not here yet.  :-)

Did I trick you?  Lure you in, expecting a gender reveal or birth announcement?  Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I've had to ban myself from reading labor symptoms online.  All these lists come with the caveat that such and such symptom could be a sign of impending labor.  Or not.

And in my case, symptoms are there. But not active labor.

The "worst" symptom so far is the inner thigh cramps that often accompany contractions.  Thank goodness only one leg is affected.  I almost fall over when I have these contractions each evening.

Monday, June 1, I will have my first dilation check plus a more "vigorous" check to possibly help get things going.  I've been turning down the dilation exams so far as I know they don't really signal too much.

If Monday's OB appointment doesn't get things going, then we will start some sort of induction on Wednesday.  I'll be 41 weeks then.   (!!!)

All this waiting and I still haven't packed my hospital bag. We live only about seven minutes away from the hospital and I have been procrastinating.  I do have a stack of things on the side of my dresser, so I guess that sort of counts?

I'll keep you posted!



PS.  I've asked this on Facebook but want to ask here as well. Do you have any prayer requests I can offer up during labor?  You can post a comment or email me. Or just say "a personal intention" if it's a private matter.

Some Signs

I am quite pregnant.  Though I haven't gained any weight myself in the last month, the baby clearly has.   That belly of mine.  Whew.

Side note: the perinatologist estimated Violet at over 9 pounds last Tuesday.  I am very skeptical, but we'll see who has the last laugh.

My due date is five days away. I have surpassed the point when the twins were induced. And when the twins were actually born (two days later).

I'm beginning to recognize some reoccuring signs of being pretty much full term.

1.  I have to preface any family phone call with "I'm not in labor".

2.  Anytime there is trash on the floor I just stare at it, debating.  Can I pick it up with my toes?  Is there a chance the kids will notice it and pick it up for me?  If I stare at it long enough, will I develop telekinetic powers and make the trash throw itself away?

3.  Pregnancy brain has seriously kicked in.  Case in point: it took me three tries to hang my front door wreath.  With a sticky hook.  My first attempt was about belly button level.  And yet I stared at it for a while, wondering if there was any chance it was passable.

In re-reading the above bullets, it appears I do a lot of staring and contemplating these days, wondering just how much lower my expectations can go...



All craziness aside, we can't wait to meet you, Violet!

An ordinary snapshot

My lifeguard stand is the rocker in my bedroom, a safe distance from the flurry of splashes.

I know how long I last in a warm bath. And I know the twins passed that marker minutes ago.

Fingers are undoubtedly wrinkled prunes. My bathroom floor is sopping wet.

I didn't move the bath mat far enough away.

And yet they play on, giggling and splashing.  Octonauts, sea creatures, goggles, and dive toys.  Swim suit bottoms.  

Such an enormous treat, swimming in Momma's big tub.

Comparisons and Predictions

I am 36 weeks exactly.  My bump is big.  My shirts generally don't fit.  Because my shirts don't fit, I wear a lot more dresses which require me to shave more often.  Which, in turn, requires its own sort of creative physical contortions.

On the bright side, per yesterday's OB and MFM visits, all restrictions are lifted.  I show normal signs of labor for this stage:  baby is head down but not engaged (and no dilation).  I can do what I want comfortably.  Saturday's family mud run?  Bring it on!  Actually, I'll just be there on the sidelines - I'm not throwing all caution to the wind.  :-)

Yes, Violet, you were born after Momma jumped in a mud pit and couldn't get out.  After Herculean strength on Daddy's part, he hauled Momma out only to find her succumbing to intense contractions.  And a small crowd gathered as you were born in a muddy park one spring day, a far cry different from your siblings' 36 hour sterile hospital delivery.

Umm, no thanks.

Based on the picture below, I think I should henceforth be renamed "She Who Swallowed a Basketball":

 

 

For contrast, here's a picture of me pregnant with the twins at almost exactly the same point (36w6D).  My belly might protrude just as far, but I am carrying more of a watermelon shape, from hips all the way to chest.

 

 

 

Since I'm in the home stretch, I figure it's time to take gender and dating predictions.  And for the most accurate guess, I suppose I could come up with some sort of prize?  Maybe a gift card to be mailed?  I'll accept a vote either here on the blog or on facebook (I know I'll link to this on good ole FB).

 

To recap, Violet is now an estimated 6 lbs 10 oz and has consistently been well above the 50th percentile for size.  My official due date is May 27.  And so far my OB and I do not have an induction date in mind.

 

 

Old Wife's Tales

 

1.  I'm carrying low - this means BOY

 

2.  Heartbeat is often below 140 - this means BOY

 

3. Craving sweet or salty? - No cravings.  However, if we get technical, I like an occasional root beer float and love my dark chocolate (something that preceded this pregnancy) - this might mean GIRL

 

4.  Face breaking out? - Not really.  This means BOY (girls supposedly "steal your beauty" - weird!)

 

5. Queasiness levels - more queasy this pregnancy than with twins - this means GIRL.

 

6.  Belly is basketball or watermelon shaped? - basketball means BOY

 

 

End tally:  BOY - 4 votes               GIRL - 2 votes

 

 

So, tell me.  What do you think?  Boy or girl?  Birth date??