Let's see...where do I start, lol. Well, I'm 24 weeks and 6 days today 10/20/07. I don't know why I haven't posted on here earlier..lol.

This is my third pregnancy. I have a boy who will be 5 in Feb and a girl who just turned 3 in Aug. This pregnancy was planned. It actually came about after my hubby and I had seperated. However, when we decided to work things out and get back on track...after awhile a baby sounded really good for some odd reason, lol. So I took out my IUD in March and the middle of May baby was already "planted"..lol. It was pretty funny too...because my AF was ackward after getting my IUD out and I didn't know when to check to see if I was preggo. I was gettinf frustrated already by the time I found out I was...and was beginning to decide to just wait. Of course right around then I began to think that I might be preggers...and the day I thought to take a test (thinking while I was at work) I got really nauseous and dizzy. OMgosh..lol. So I got up the next morning before anyone was awake really and headed to the store to get milk and a pregnancy test. After waiting in the restroom with anticipation (they 2nd or 3rd test since we were trying) I saw the lineS...plural! I was definantly preggers..lol. I know from experience that taking 3 test won't prove much to you; the first is pretty much accurate! lol. So thus started my journey!

I felt nauseous all day at first. If I didn't eat something every 2 hours I felt it. I didn't actually throw up but several times. But I still didn't like it. The last time I threw-up, other than pregnancy, was in the 4th grade! So it was never enjoyable to do it with any of my pregnancies. I don't know how to do it...my body doesn't. So I cry and shake and jolt...lol. So not EVEN cute!! But the nausea stopped around 4 months...which was nice.

My belly started to grow without me gaining any weight at all! I'm already a plus size and I started at 230lbs. But by the time I was 4 months peggo I looked 5 months and had lost 4lbs. YEAAAA! Then, to my HORROR! I went to my 5th month check-up and found I had gained 13 LBS!!!! AhhhHHHHHH! What a shock! Then again...I was eating institutionalized servings at my job...they know nothing of portions! So i figured I'd have to work on that one. I felt the baby by then...little squirms or what not...but not often. I was actually feeling it in my vaginal area more than anything...like a teeny tiny thud! lol. He must have long legs! Ahhahahahah.

October 18th, 2007

~I went to my new Doc's today. I had to switch. I was going to our area Family Health Center...but quickly (like my first nurses visit) found that they did not do V-bac's (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) AT ALL! Even if you are a prime canidate! Well...I figured I had a while before deciding on what to do. And I quickly decided on NOT choosing a major SURGERY right off hand!

***You see...my 1st, my son, was 1 1/2 weeks late! So I was brought in on a early morning (like 7am) to be induced. By mid-day I was having my epidural and all. I was having some contractions too..but they had to put me asleep (because of lack of progression) and woke me up early morning the next day to do more petocin. I was in labor that whole day up until right before 7pm...when they decided that I'd need an emergency c-section! I was so glad I had read about it...because I dreaded even thinking about it up until I was 8 months preggo. So anywho...He was stuck in my birth canal...they were feeling his head and seeing his hair....but he wasn't coming out. And at 7:36 (Feb 9th) I had a BOY (we didn't know ahead of time) that was 9lbs 7oz! Geeked! However...I didn't realize that I had just undergone a MAJOR surgery and I was recovering the next 4 weeks! It sucked and I hated depending on people for everyday things I needed. My hubby was a real help though. ***Now...1 1/2 years later was my daughters turn. I had such extreme pelvic pain with heeeeer. Man! You could here my bones and joints popping at night when I turned over! It hurt to walk, even short distances. She was just sitting there! On my pelvis bones! UGH! So against my Doctors advice, I asked that a c-section be schduled. He wanted me to try a natural birth, but the pain was getting so unbearable for me. So he scheduled me on her due date Aug 4th. I was due in at 8am for prep. The day before though, I was experiencing some contractions and me and my mom went up to the hospital. Now my dad was at work (and my hubby too) but he said, "Watch, that baby;s gonna come tomorrow!" I said...DUH! I was due in for my c-section the next morning. But after about 1 contraction in an hour at the hospital the day before they let me go. Now here it was my due date....3:30 in the morning and I start to have contractions...I mean bad. They felt like the BG's (bubble guts for those who don't know), lol. I was having hot flashes and cringing and slumped over and shaking my knee on the bed. I woke my hubby up a few times but he said it was ok and went back to bed! The nerve!lol. So after trying to go back to sleep and to the bathroom I ended up calling the nurses line. The told me to time my contractions and I did. They were about 3-5 minutes apart. So I called back and the Doc told me to go in. I had my mom come pick up me and hubby and we were off to the hospital. I remeber that was about 5:30am. By 7:40 my daughter was born....NATURALLY! I had asked a few times for medicine...but by the time they checked again, it was too late! URG! So I had some serious back labor goin on...with no meds..lol. My hubby was pushing and twisting my leg and the nurse had to tell him..."umm, yea. that's not how you hold her leg!" LOL. My mom and dad were there too and my dad was pretty much coaching me. The Doc told me after screamin and saying "it hurt too bad" .....he would take me to surgery and pull the baby out if I wasn't gonna push...LOL. Whatever technic that was...I was ready to go and a few pushes after that she was out! She was 9lbs even. I was elated! And afterwards I was so gratful to God that she had came by herself! Recovery was a SNAP! And in 2 weeks I was taking a road trip with a friend to Ohio (4 1/2 hours away) while hubby stayed home. We even went to Cedar Point! So I quickly decided surgery was sooooo not for me!

****NOW*****

~October 20th, 2007~

I meet my new Doc for the first time. I had a visit with the nurse 2 days prior and that went well...you know the stats! lol. But the office was nice and it reminded me of the doctor's office I went to with my first 2 (which is no longer in practice). I knew a girl that worked the front desk and everyone was kind. It was decorated and pretty too! The other office I was going to felt more like a prep room at the hospital..lol. So the Doc was really nice and open. He said I was good to go for another V-bac (vaginal birth after cesarean) and that "I'm just one of those cases where it doesn't make sense NOT to do it". Seeing how I already had one with my daughter, lol.

So I'm sooo geeked that he oked me to give birth naturally! I haven't taken lamase classes since my first...but my 2nd went ok! Only 3 hrs in labor really. I did have some trouble pushing though...I forgot how to breathe and I was pushing every way I could. So by the time it was over...I had some broken blood vessels in my eyes...from strain! lol. But other than that, she came! So I'm gonna get some videos from the library for me and hubby to watch and start practicing my breathing and pushing technics. I'm thinking of it just being the 2 of us there in the room. But I also think it would be nice to invite his mom if she'd like to come...but we'd have to pick her up to go, lol. But then again, it might not be to bad...I'll be ready to go when I get to the hospital, lol. I have no idea how this one will happen and what to expect...I don't know if I want drugs or not. But I do know that God will keep us safe through it all and my healthy baby BOY will be here with us.
My children love him so much already and they don't even see him. They kiss and hug and talk to him...they can't wait till he's here and talk about what they are going to do with him once he comes. I'm so glad we decided to add to our numbers..lol. Having a child is so precious! I'll have more later....-Tiffany.

~**October 23rd, 2007**~

Ok...when I said, "i'll have more later" I DID NOT mean more children...hence the sentence before it "having a child is so precious!" AHahahaha. I meant I'll have more to WRITE later, lol.

25weeks and 1 day today! Hard to believe I only have 15 more weeks to go. It's really gonna go by fast too! I woke up last night talking in my sleep and crying!lol. I had a really weird and sad dream....don't care to much to share, but so odd I woke up crying! My husband was like, "are you ok...what's wrong" but I was half asleep still and went back to bed, lol.

So me and hubby was talking about children and pregnancy yesterday and the day before...and I got to show him my books/mags and draw him illustrations, LOL. So funny. He remembers us talking about some of that stuff before...but it was almost new to him again. I drew a pic of a womans uterus and ovaries and eggs and drew how implantation occurs and what happens if it doesn't...meaning aunt flow!lol. He was like, "really." lol. SUprising how much the schools and more importantly your parents don't teach you. Definantly want my children (boys and girl) to know this stuff, lol. He was kinda shocked when I told him how much longer we have...it went fast. And truely there's no reason for a man to HAVE to keep track...so it'll be soon. I told him how great of a dad he was...seriously! It is amazing to see him with our children. I've never seen anyone spend such time teaching and loving their children! He even wrestles with them when I can obviously tell he doesn't want too...I don't even do that! lol. And he really takes the time to teach them. I told him I can't wait to see him hold a baby again! He held our nephews (newborn and 2mths) a bit ago and I could see his face just light up! He's such a good papa. I find it so ackward to think of what it would be like if we didn't have each other and a unit for our children. I came from a home where my step-dad was there for years before my parents got married and divorced several years later. My real dad wasn't around either. And I know personally and have seen from others how much it effects a child to have somehting other than a tangible union of 2 parents and siblings (or if they are an only child). I have never ran across a person that lacked a parent or went through a parents divorce that has said it didn't effect them negatively. I am so grateful to God that me and my husband decided to not go through a divorce. And like my pastor has been teaching about...it really is a selfless thing to stay married and work on something. To lose self and subcome to another persons needs and wants. So you, in turn, can get your needs and wants. And I know there is no such thing as a perfect marrriage! But by golly...you can come close. And I so look forward to working out my marriage for the rest of my life! We have 2 beautiful, intelligent, overely energized (lol) children right now...and I wouldn't trade them for the world! I'm so happy that we decided to have another. The bible wasn't kidding when it said that children are a gift from God...they truely do empower you to succeed at things.

My hubby and I noticed, because of my son's preschool home activity sheet, that we weren't really incorporating crafts and arts into our childrens lives. So we decided to take a more active approach...and they LOVE it. And I know that we do. They move you to do better and explore!lol. My hubby was drawing when I got off work last night and was at the dining room table drawing and cutting and molding clay for about 1 1/2 hours last night. I thought it was THE cuttest thing....him preparing something for our children to do. I'm so grateful that God graced us to be together. I love him so much.

Baby is kicking and rollin and ounching more and more. And I can feel it getting stronger. I hope he's a little less than 9lbs tho. Both of mine were 9+. It's just so precious to hold a 7-8lb baby...they are sooo fragile, lol. But if he is a bit bigger...we'll deal. What's a few pounds anyways, lol. I just want him to stay a baby for as long as possible this time around. It's our last (according to me..lol) so I really want to enjoy one of my favorite stages...the newborn.

Oh...and although the only name we really agreed on was Kenneth Reese Blackman...my son introduced my husband to the name Jayden! I was like...what! My best friends brother (whom I grew up with) and his wife just had a boy about 5 mths ago and named him Jayden! I was so disgusted about naming him that...I am after all one of those that are ORIGINAL!lol. But honestly...after hearing my son refer to the baby as that and my hubby keep playing and calling him that....it's kinda growing on me. And yes! I am starting to consider Jayden Reese Blackman; I can have a little JR, hehe. But we'll see. Maybe we should wait to see his face and decide, lol. I wonder what he'll look like. People mistake my son and daughter for twins ALL the time! They look sooooo much a like. I tease my hubby and tell him I want a little chocolate chip baby! lol. My children are darker than me (i'm pretty light) and look like a carmel color. My hubby is like a espresso brown tho and I love his color...so I say that this baby will be darker. But he wants him to look like his siblings. Well, we'll see. Either way...I'm sure he'll have our features, lol. Hasta Luego....-Tiffany

~**December 26th 2007**~

Just saw myself on video camera this weekend after making a 'video message' for my mother-in-law. I was checking the tape spot for recording at my mom's when I ran over the little snipet on the new tape at the beginning...oh my goooosh! I am HUGE! Thank God it's only my stomach...but man! I was pretty shocked to see it, my mirrors don't show that much of me and I totally see the front view most of the time, lol. Now I know what people have been talking about, lol. But...I'm still beautiful and I know that it will all go away after the baby is born. I'm just happy that it didn't spread EVERY WHERE like with my other 2, lol. It's just a really big belly! hahaha. I had a really great Christmas and my hubby wrote me one of THE best letters ever! It made me cry twice! He's so supportive and concerned. Even when I think he's not really concerned about something, he shows up and gives that he is and such a special way; I love that man!lol. The children are starting to get anxious about the baby's arrival...but little do they know he'll be here in no time flat! Only 5 wks and 4 more days to go! I have an appointment tomorrow and am looking forward to seeing what's going on. I went to the hospital last week because my stomach was feeling horrible! I was assuming the labor positions I plan to use to ease the pain, lol. My hubby thought it was gonna happen, but I knew better. I knew it wasn't what I felt when I went into labor with Nali. But...I didn't know what was going on. So it turned out that after taking my son to an emergency Dr. appointment for an ear infection...i shouldn't be eating McDonald's! LOL. My stomach was on cramp mode and I was having minor contractions. So I was ordered away from the fast food and told the symptoms of which I should be looking for to forsee labor, lol. I know one thing though...I sure don't like those fetal monitors. They really do limit your movement and I TOTALLY don't plan on using them in labor!lol. I am nervous thinking abut when he will come, what time of day, what I'll be doing, lol. I am working until 3 days before my due date; so I hope I won't go into labor at work. Early in the morning, after work...all that is fine...but I feel this certain embarassment about going into labor at work. Some people think it's very ackward I'm staying at work so long...actually surprised by it. But I have to...I'm the only imcome in my house right now and I have to stay as long as possible. Even though my hubby has been looking for work these past few months, he has yet to find anything. I believe that God will give him an avenue for work though. It's weird but, I'm hoping that he'll find a shift that's after I get out of work so we don't have to pay for a sitter or that he starts a few weeks before I take of for leave. I totally want to take 2 months off though...and I'm praying that it will be possible. I just want to nurture my baby and be there for him as much as possible those first few months. Then I can go back to work. I want so badly to have everything work out just right...I'm believing God that it will. He's never turned me wrong any other time; and even when I thought it was "off" it turned out to be for the better by far! So curiously awaiting our new one. Only 2 weeks left for my baby shower! My friend Toy is such a blessing!

We are still deciding on a name...although my hubby said he's already decided (lol); he keeps throwing in names here and there, lol. But I'm thinking it's probably gonna be Jayden Reese. I love the middle name Reese. We thought of Ian and Kenneth too. But He likes Jayden most of all. And if it is Ian...it'd be Ian Michael (reese doesn't sound right with that name). But my son suggested Jayden (which my friend Jason just named his son 7 mths ago) almost 4 months ago and hasn't let up. He rubs my tummy and calls him that and all! And when I tell him that we didn't pick that name...we'll decide, he says "oh his name IS Jayden" lol. He's very stuck on that name. It's a really cute name...just getting more popular in my eyes and I love to be original. I liked the name Camden...but Rico shot it down as fast as it came out my mouth, lol. Toya said that if it's ok with me, she'd pick it up if I don't use it, lol. Of course that's ok! She won't remember it though by then, LOL. She kept forgetting it when I told her, even though she was very fond of it. So I'll remind her later on in life, hehe.

I wonder what he'll look like....I stopped teasing my husband that we were gonna "have a little chocolate chip", lol. It just is beyond me that we could have another look like Nali and Rico. People commonly mistake them for twins. Nali is all of 3 inches shorter and they look a lot alike. But it's hard to imagine another looking just like them, lol. If he does it's all good though. I just can't wait to see him; if he has long hair or short, light or dark, if he'll be as long as Nali, as big as Rico, or smaller than the both of them, lol. Of course we're hoping smaller. Rico thinks that if he's smaller he'll stay a baby longer, lol. I just want to have a baby smaller than 9 pounds, lol. Either way...I can't wait to see him. I'm expecting my v-bac to go very well and have everything work out just fine! It's so close I can't believe it! So geeked! Not about the actual labor, lol...but just about having him in my arms. -Tiffany