Finger After the Cast Off

At the end of February I got my cast off from surgery on my right ring finger. It felt great to have my hand back again, to be able to type and grip things with my right hand. Easier to run. I was surprised that pulling the pins was pretty much painless. The PA just grabbed them with pliers and slid them right out.

I had to go to rehab for two days a week for 8 weeks, which actually helped a lot. There really is a specialty in hand therapy, even for a skeptic like me. I still don't have 100% use of the finger, maybe 90%. I can't bend the tip all the way down, and occasionally my grip isn't there because I don't have the same sense of touch. But otherwise it's back to normal.

Midwife Appointment

We decided to use our same midwife again. Our experience with her with TF was beautiful and productive. One of the great things about a midwife is the personalized care. Each appointment, which is at the midwife's house early on and your own house as it gets closer to the due date, is individualized to the woman and that specific pregnancy. There's no waiting in a crowded doctor's office just to fill out a bunch of forms. It's relaxed and as much a check-in of the mom's spirits and overall well-being as it is a check-up on the baby. There is a lot of human dignity invovled, arising from a true relationship.

 

JoJo at the Dentist

Allergy Test

T Fish's eczema is still bad, so Bobbins took him for another allergy test, this time on dogs & chickens. Both were negative, which was a relief to The Dog and Bobbins' pets. We have more information but no answer yet.

Bike Ride

Uncle Jacopone took JoJo on his motorcycle in April, which she really enjoyed. But she backed into the exhaust pipe and got a nice burn on the back of her left leg. It took about 3 weeks for it to heal. The scar isn't too bad.

MM's First Dentist Visit

 Her thumbsucking and overbite didn't come up, which I guess is good. Her chipped tooth wasn't an issue either.

A Pox on Her

Poor JoJo got struck by the chicken pox.  And on vacation too.  She seems to be taking it pretty well, like a trooper.  Her sister avoided it again, which means she's vaccinated.  JoJo, on the other hand, will have life-long immunity.

Pats Run 2011

The main advantage of not running Baker to Vegas this year was getting to do Pat's Run in Tempe.  I did this two years ago, when Bobbbins was pregnant with MM (she slept in the car) and had a blast.  Even though it's a TON of people and not a very good course, it's all for a good cause.

Parking was tight.  Bobbins managed this:

      





The finish line.  That's me in the green shirt on the right.

        

My friend Jimmy from work also ran.

Don't know my official time, but I felt pretty good; probably hit my mark of 32 minutes.

The Jo bird has landed

Both of us were anxious to get out of the hospital. It is hard to just sit there when you can be sitting at home...blogging...in your own bed. So thank the heavens the OB Dr and the pedi Dr said we were cleared to land.

Twins? Someone will ask at some point, but for now the redness in Josie and the smirk in Marcelly will keep that question at bay.  

Going from Josie to Marcelly is a world of difference. Marcelly seemed so small and baby like and now she is HUGE. The actual time between them is 14 months and 2 weeks. In baby time that is pretty much a life time.

Let the sisters unite.

Turns out we all matched

The Paul Family                 

Josephine

I accompanied her to the recovery room for the first battery of tests.  I was amazed at the amount and color of her hair.  MM had almost the same amount but darker, like her mom's.  This was brown blonde, a lot like mine.  I was glad she didn't look exactly like me, as MM did.  She has a very round face.







All morning I prayed about the name.  "Josephine" (one of the three finalists) fit, especially after I walked by the large statue of St. Joseph at the hospital entrance (it's St. Joe's Hospital).  There's lots of ways to derive nicknames off Josephine, which suits me, and it's traditional and religious for Bobbins, who really likes "Josie."

Like an old pro, Josie took right to her mom.  Bobbins was a lot more prepared for this moment this go round.

It really is one of the proudest moment of your life.  The rush of joy, happiness, thanksgiving, and spirituality is amazing.











She was born at 7:18am 28 June, weighed 7lb 12oz, and was 19" long.  She has no middle name.

Birth of a Beauty

Bobbins was a trooper, as always.  This time was more painful than last, especially from the pressure, but she weathered it like a champ and a mom.

Dr. Chavira delivered the baby, with his partner Dr. Amaya.  This was the same setup as last year, although the mirror was positioned so that I could not see the action.

At 7:18am our beautiful girl came into the world!

Her Apgar scores were 9 and 9 (she's already an A student!).  She weighed 7lbs 12oz and was 19" long -- the same length as her sister and a few ounces heavier.

Monday Dawn

We awoke at 3:45am to head for the hospital.  Adrenaline, anticipation, love for our new baby, and a Dr. Pepper kept us going at such an early hour after a late night of last-minute preparations.  We checked in right at 4:30am, as requested.  Another pregnant lady showed up at the same time, in labor.

Bobbins rested as much as she could.

Both of us got our wrist-tags.  They are pretty identity conscious.










The other lady ended up going for an emergency C section and bumping us.  Our doc was there on time and ready, but they only had one scrub tech, and he/she had to attend to the emergency before Bobbins.

The delay was only about twenty minutes.  At 10 till 7 they wheeled Bobbins into the OR.  I suited up and waited outside.

MMR Shot

Tuesday MM had her MMR shot.  She took it like a trooper.  We've tried to space out her immunizations so she doesn't get so many at one time.  We're hoping she doesn't catch a fever from the MMR.

Of course it was sad when the nurse poked her. I could feel Marcelly jump and then she had a real hurt cry, as opposed to her fake, do what I want cry. Which I don't hear very often so of course she got her lovey and the car keys afterwards.

A diet from Diabetes

Amongst all the other woes and worries of this pregnancy it is no wonder that I have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. I say diagnosed because sounds the worst and it is the worst because bye bye sugars. 

Here is a short excerpt from ADA.com. Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.

So obviously altering the diet changes the glucose levels allowing the sugars in the blood to be changed into energy and leave the blood stream. Oh not so bad. Well when altering the diet comes into play changes the whole ballgame. Sad but true when we were worried about the other issues at least I could drown my sorrows in delicious mint chocolate chip ice cream or Oreos and milk. Now try drowning your sorrows in green beans and peas, practically gives you more sorrows. And for being pregnant and having cravings I tell you, no fun. Although on the bright side my husband says he will eat healthy too with me. Of course after I make him his chocolate chip pancakes. Encouraging. Wait till he eats his Friday lunch....a rice cake HA then we will see who is laughing. (BREW HAHAHAHAHA)

 

Oh yeah and pricking yourself is not fun either.