Welcome to the World, Baby Girl

It is so hard to believe that she is already two days old! Finally have a moment to sit down and recreate our birth story - we are set to be discharged tomorrow morning.

I went into the hospital Sunday evening at 8:30 to be admitted and start cervidil, due to my chronic hypertension. My docs did not want me to go past my due date, so inducing a week early was always in the cards for me. My last appointment had been Tuesday, where I still had made no progress - no dilation, no idea about effacement. Going into the hospital, we were very open about where the birth process might take us, knowing full well that as long as we had a healthy baby and a healthy mom, we would have success. We started the cervidil at 10:30 (I was 0cm dilated and at a -2 station. Around 11:40, they gave me an ambien to try and sleep through the night.

Contractions did begin overnight (at least, painful contractions, not those fun BHs), and at 8:05am, my water broke - quite the dramatic gush! They checked me - barely 1cm, but still, the cervidil obviously did SOMETHING, and at 8:50 they started the pitocin. Mom (who flew out from CA) and J really helped through the labor - it was definitely strong - and at 1:45, my doctor checked me and I was at 4cm. I was given the go ahead for the epidural, but was first started on magnesium - something usually reserved for pre-eclampsic patients, which I wasn't, but given my bp issues, they decided to do it all the same.

By 6:30 PM, I was at 5cm and 100% effaced, but desperately started to need a booster of the epi, which I got. At this point, I was only at a -1 station. By 9:30 I needed another redose of the epi, and I was at 6.5 cm. Doctor mentions that she feels baby's head with some swelling, inserts an internal monitor to check the strength of the contractions - she wanted to see if it was worth adjusting the pitocin or if the contractions should have been enough. By 10:35, there was no change - the contractions should have been strong enough without additional pitocin and the call was made to go ahead and find another exit strategy. At 10:50, DH was scrubbing up, and I was being prepped for surgery. At 11:33pm, Michal Kalanit was born.

Her first name, Michal (mee-chal... like "hall," but with a gutteral "h"), is for J's late father, Michael. Kalanit is for my grandfather, whose middle name was Kahn - the Kalanit is a lovely wildflower found in Israel. She was 8lbs, 5oz., and 20 3/4 inches long at birth.

The Plan

Houston, we have a plan.

I went for my weekly doctor's appointment on Tuesday (yes, Tuesday, I've been negligent, dear readers - my apologies) - just a tidge over 38w. As per my normal Tuesday routine, I got hooked up to the NST machine (this being the LAST APPOINTMENT, J came with... so he got to experience the fun of being left on the monitor for a good 20 minutes longer than necessary), where the monkey did quite well. She bounced around and was active for the first 20, 25 minutes, then promptly went to sleep. Finally the doc came in and released us. She took us to another room, did a check, and responded that yet, I'm still Fort Knox inside, and we're going to go ahead and schedule the induction for next week. She explains how it all works, and then that's it, we're done. We leave thinking, okay, someday next week, it'll all happen.

And then I get the call... Sunday night, 8pm. Holy crap. Having it on the calendar (a few days sooner even than anticipated!) was a little shock. So we will be checking in to the hospital in just over 2 days at this point, where I will first be treated to a dose of Cervadil, which will hopefully get the Fort Knox situation to let up a bit. I guess Pitocin will start in the morning - I can't remember all the details, and you think I would, right?

Aside from being a bit nervous about my chances at a "normal" delivery (non-section) due to the less than favorable starting position, I'm not really nervous about this next step. I guess it goes in line with my unusually-chill response to pregnancy this entire 9ish month period. I am open to whatever is going to happen. I do not have anything specific in mind for what I want this to be. I don't have a birth plan (save: get baby out healthy, keep mom healthy). I trust my medical professionals to make the right choices for me, and I hope I'll be able to be a good advocate for myself if that doesn't seem to be the right path.

On a nice surprise note - my mother is arriving tonight! J thought this would end up being the case the entire time, but way back when, she asked if I wanted her there for the birth. Knowing the rather unknowable nature of the timing of a baby's arrival, I said that I'd rather her be here for the big religious ceremony that we will have in a few week's time, since we could schedule that. It wasn't that I didn't want her here for the birth, but if I had to choose, that made the most sense. Well, my sister came out a few week's ago on a surprise visit, and mom even at that point mentioned coming out (finding pretty amazing deals for a last minute flight). She asked the other day, once we had our schedule, if I minded her coming out, and of course I said no - I'd love my mom there (although, in the actual delivery room? Just me and J... this is no three ring circus, at least not any more of one than it'll already be), I just hadn't thought it would be really feasible before. Bonus here - mom's an RN, so I feel like I'll have an extra advocate on the side.

So, there you have it. At some point Monday or Tuesday (please be Monday, Tuesday seems that much farther away from the starting point!), the monkey will be here. And pictures will follow, of course. Am I excited? Nervous? Terrified? Yes, yes, and yes. But it's surreal, and I haven't quite gotten my head around it. I treasure each of these last little bumps and nudges I feel from within, and simply wonder at who is going to great us in the coming days.

Final BPP today... hoping that everything still looks fine to continue on THE PLAN... on that note, should go drink some water!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

I made these a few weeks ago but neglected to add the recipe to the blog. They were tasty - not much more needs to be said. Originally from The Joy of Cooking.

Ingredients
4 bell peppers (any color)
2 T. olive oil
8 oz. ground beef
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1/2 t. dried thyme
1 c. hot cooked rice
1 ripe tomato, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 clove garlic, minced
1 t. dried basil or marjoram, crumbled
red pepper flakes to taste
salt & ground black pepper to taste
1/2 c. fresh breadcrumbs
1 T. olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a baking dish in which the peppers will fit snugly.
2. Steam bell peppers over boiling water for 10 minutes. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add and saute over medium heat the ground beef, onion, and dried thyme until the beef is lightly colored, about 10 minutes.
4. Add the rice, tomato, eggs, garlic, basis/marjoram, red pepper, salt & pepper.
5. Fill the peppers with the meat mixture and set them in the baking dish. Combine the breadcrumbs and olive oil and spread over the tops.
6. Bake until the peppers are tender and the filling hot, about 25 minutes. If necessary, brown the tops under the broiler.

Stuffed Shells

Part two of my dinner-making marathon. J preferred these to the manicotti, although I forgot to add the basil and think it might have pepped things up a bit. All in all, a nice go-to baked pasta dish. This is actually an amalgamation of several different recipes, so it's almost like I came up with it myself!

Ingredients
1 box (12 oz) Jumbo Shells
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 bag (6 oz.) baby spinach, chopped
1 c. finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
2 t. salt
1/4 t. freshly ground black pepper
1/8 t. ground nutmeg
22 oz. ricotta cheese
3 oz. Parmesan cheese (grated)
3 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 lg. egg, lightly beaten
1 jar tomato sauce
1/4 c. minced fresh parsley.

1. Preheat ove to 400 degrees.
2. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in a large pot for the pasta. When the water is boiling, stir in 1t. salt and the jumbo shells. Cook, stirring often, until the manicotti is almost tender but still a little firm to the bite. Set aside and let cool.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add spinach, onion, and garlic; continue cooking 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg and blend well. Let mixture cool.
4. Mix together the ricotta, 1 c. of the Parmesan, the mozzarella, egg, basil, 1/2 t. of salt and 1/4 t. pepper in a large bowl. Add in the cooled spinach mixture.
5. Fill each of the shells with approximately 1-2 T. of cheese-spinach mixture. Arrange the filled pasta in an oiled 9x13-inch baking dish.
6. Pour the tomato sauce over the filled pasta.
7. Wrap the dish tightly in foil and bake until the sauce is bubbling around the edges and the ricotta filling is hot, about 25 minutes.
8. Let cool for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with the parsley and remaining 1/2 c. parmesan cheese.

** To make ahead/freeze: Prepare as directed through step 6, wrap carefully, and freeze. When ready to make, defrost in the refrigerator, then bake according to the instructions.

Recipe: Spinach & Mushroom Manicotti

Last night I made two dinners - enough to put away in the freezer and to taste test for our actual meal. I preferred the taste of the manicotti, but J thought the mushroom taste was a little on the strong side (I think he didn't mind it, but preferred the Stuffed Shells).


Taken from the back of the Barilla Manicotti box...


Ingredients

1 box (8 oz.) Barilla Manicotti
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
6 oz. mushrooms, chopped (I used baby bellas - crimini mushrooms)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bag (6 oz.) fresh spinach, chopped
2 eggs
1 container (15 oz.) ricotta cheese
1/3 c. chopped fresh basil leaves
1 t. salt
1 jar marinara sauce (I prefer Classico)
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook manicotti 7 minutes, drain and rinse in cold water. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and garlic; saute 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in spinach; continue cooking 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
4. Beat eggs lightly in medium bowl. Stir in ricotta, basil, and salt. Stir in mushroom mixture.
5. Spread 3/4 c. sauce over bottom of baking dish (13x9 works well). Fill manicotti with mushroom mixture; place in dish. Pour remaining sauce evenly over filled shells; sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil.
6. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover; continue baking 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Makes 6 servings.

Tip: Substitute 1 box (10oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well-drained, for fresh.

** To make ahead/freeze: Prepare as described through step 5, but do not bake. Place manicotti in a freezer-safe dish and cover well. When ready to cook, defrost in refrigerator, then bake as instructed.

Update: 37w 5d

Just a quick update from the latest growth ultrasound/biophysical profile, which was yesterday:

• Baby - still head down (good job - no flips here!)
• Practicing breathing - definitely her mother's daughter... practice makes perfect!
• Measurements - everything's measuring between 37w and 40w (yikes! although, for the belly to be ahead is just fine... it's when the belly is behind that problems are evident)
• Weight - 7lbs 9oz... say what!? This shouldn't be a surprise since 4 weeks ago baby weighed in around 5lbs 3oz... and if, on average, babies gain 1/2 a pound a week, this isn't so far off of "normal." Somehow, hearing your soon to be child is already about 7 1/2 pounds (even if they can be off on the estimates as much as a pound in either direction), well, that's a bit daunting.
• Fluid - dropped a little low again - last week, it was around 11 1/2 (normal being 10-20 at this practice), yesterday it was a 9. She even checked twice to try and give me as much as possible. So, back to hitting the water for me! Luckily, the docs at the high risk practice where I go for these tests didn't seem to be overly worried, so I still get to keep my once weekly appointments and not bump it up to twice weekly.

Got a couple of cute pictures - once I get a chance to scan/photograph them, I'll post them. Highlight from this week's photos (no pouts this time!): cutest cheeks ever.

On your marks... get set...

I'm just not ready yet. Now, I know what you'll say - you're never truly ready for something to change your life so completely. I totally get that, and I really do agree. I have absolutely no idea how my life will be changed in just a matter of days, and to be completely honest, I am really okay with that. The current plan, if you can call it a plan since there are still some unknowns, is I have my biophysical profile and growth ultrasound tomorrow (that is, if the sonographer actually DOES the growth u/s... new sonographer last week simply forgot after two reminders - grrr), then another week of the same routine (Tuesday - doctors appointment and exam, Friday - biophysical profile), and then, in the words of my doctor from Tuesday, "we'll make plans for delivering you." When you put it that way... holy crap! All of this, of course, is predicated on the current path that I do not go into labor on my own between now and, oh say, a week and a half, give or take a few days.

So.. am I ready? Great question, and I honestly do not really know the answer. I hear from many pregnant women do right around now that they just cannot wait for the baby to arrive. They're uncomfortable, they're in pain, they are antsy to meet this new little person - I don't begrudge them their reasons. I'm just not where they are. The monkey has been super active lately, proving wrong all of the thousands of baby/pregnancy-related emails who caution that in the last few weeks of pregnancy, the baby doesn't move much due to a lack of available space. Every time I think about her impending arrival into this world, I get a little sad. I won't say that I'm one who has LOVED pregnancy - to be honest, I simply haven't minded it much. I don't love attention, and there is nothing that gets you more attention, more comments, more inquiries, than having a giant belly precede you into any room. But feeling this little being moving within? Feeling the nudges, the bumps, the kicks, the flutters... nothing has been more magical or amazing to me. So while others might declare their excitement over setting "eviction dates" for their little ones (a term that I cannot help but think slightly inappropriate or weird), knowing that I will have this particular type of experience for only a short while longer makes me a little sad. It's obviously bittersweet, since it will be replaced by a whole new experience and sense of intimacy, but since this is the only one I know so far, allow me to get a little teary.

We won't even get into whether or not we have enough gear/bottles/diapers/wipes/anything!

Self Portraits

Having frequented a message board for pretty much all of this pregnancy, I know a lot of ladies out there spend good money and time on maternity photos. Some of them have amazing photos, but for some reason, I hate photos of myself. That being said, I knew I should at least attempt to document the changes I was going through with the monkey. So... here are some of those shots... in reverse chronological order. I'll try to add more as we go along...

37 weeks... I was tired of trying to get a good smile or something, so I went for the full-on tongue-sticking-out pose...

I think this one was right around 35 weeks... apparently J's work bathroom is not nearly as nice as mine!

32 weeks... most comfortable dress ever!

26 weeks... guess I missed a few photos in there somewhere!

24 weeks...

As Promised...

I took some time to scan in some of the more recent monkey photos... these ones were fun. Often when we go in for an ultrasound, the sonographer points out the hands that are held up near the face. At first we used to make jokes about how she was shy, or how this pointed to a future football fan, since she was clearly signaling a facemask violation. Always, though, the sonographer attempts to ease the hands away to get a clear picture of her face. Two weeks ago, this was the result - some adorable pouting!