He's Perfect!!

So, who knew how much time a new baby would take away from my blog?! Oh, you all knew already??

Well, if you haven't guessed, Grayson Alan has arrived! I figured it is about time for me to write my delivery story:

I went to the doctor on 2/28 for my 39 week check-up. I was secretly (or not so secretly) hoping that I was dilated enough to be admitted to the hospital and induced. Well, I got the bad news that I was not dilated a bit! However, all the pressure I put on myself to dilate must have stressed out my body (lol)... My blood pressure was 142/92 (then 152/96 after the not dilated news, oops). So, my doctor decided I needed to go ahead and be induced. As excited as I was to finally get to meet my little man, everything seemed like it was moving too fast! Next, my doctor wanted to get an ultrasound to make sure baby was head-down. The ultrasound showed that baby was in the correct position, but his amniotic fluid was low. This only furthered the need to be induced (in a way, it was a blessing my blood pressure was high, or we may have never known the amniotic fluid was low). Because of the low amniotic fluid, we had to have a non-stress test to make sure baby could handle contractions. During the NST, the tech kept saying that Grayson wasn't moving much and having to stimulate him. She had me so worried! Dr. G said that everything looked ok on it, though.

Michael and I did get to go home and tie things up before heading to the hospital at 2:00. When we got to the hospital, we checked in and I was started on my Cytotec. This medicine was 2 little pills every 4 hours that are meant to "ripen" the cervix for dilation. So, all night I had to stay hooked up to an awful monitor and lay in bed taking medicine. Thankfully I had some wonderful L&D nurses! The next morning they checked me, and I was still not dilated a bit. Now it was time to start my pitocin. This is the drug to stimulate actual contractions. They start the dosing off low and gradually increase it. This did cause me to have contractions that got fairly uncomfortable towards the higher dosing, but never unbearable. Dr. G came and checked me at 12 and I was still not dilated any...

At this point, Dr.G told me we would have 3 choices. He would come check me at 5, and if I was not dilated any then: 1. We could continue the pitocin all night and see what happens; 2. We could stop the pitocin and try the Cytotec again (allowing me to eat again since I had been nothing by mouth since midnight); 3. Have a scheduled c-section. The pitocin wasn't an option for me, because it would keep me not eating and would be most likely to lead to an emergent c-section. The down-side to the Cytotec was that it could still lead to an emergent c-section or could mean a whole day of trying and leading nowhere only to have a scheduled c-section with a different doctor. I talked to the nurse and she said that almost all patients at try another day end up having a section, and I had friends that had gone through the same thing. Michael and I decided that we were most comfortable having a scheduled c-section with our doctor. So, the nurse checked me at 4 and I was still not dilated at all. We told her our decision and then things happened fast (but oh so slow at the same time!)!

We spent an hour in the room with our families waiting while the nurses got me ready for surgery. Close to 5:30 they wheeled me to the OR and dropped Michael off in a waiting area. I got my spinal (not nearly as bad as I expected, the sitting on the edge of the table and tying to put my elbows on my knees was the hardest part), laid on the operation table, and waited on Michael to come back. The dang nursing student got lost trying to find him! Thankfully, my CRNA yelled out "somebody get the husband!" before he missed anything! Before I knew it I heard Dr.G saying "here is his head! Look at those long eyelashes, are you sure it's a boy?" (he was a boy). Then, I heard the cry that stole my heart! It was surreal! Dr.G brought him over and I saw that head full of dark hair on my husband's face with my chin. I was So in LOVE! Nobody can explain the feeling you get when you see the little person you had growing inside of you for the first time. He was all mine (and Michael's...), and I was the happiest girl in the world! All I could say was, "oh my gosh, he's perfect!!" Then, our lives were changed forever... Sometimes I catch Michael just staring at Grayson. Seeing Michael hold him, there are just no words to finish this sentence. Michael is the best father already!

Grayson Alan was born March1, 2013 at 6:09 pm. He was a perfect 6 lbs, 12 oz and 20 1/4 inches long.

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti! Recipe time!

For the month of February, Michael is doing clinicals about an hour and a half away. He doesn't usually get home until after 8. Because of this, we are taking a little break from emeals. I just can't cook for myself every night.

So, I took this opportunity to do some experimenting that I have been dying to try. Spaghetti squash! I had heard a few people at work talk about this squash that you could just stick in the oven and then scoop out the insides as a spaghetti substitute. It is fittingly named, spaghetti squash.

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti:

Ingredients:
1. Spaghetti squash
2. 2 tbsp olive oil
3. 1 jar Prego spaghetti sauce
4. 1 lb ground beef

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut squash in half (lengthwise). Scoop out all of the seeds. Rub inside with olive oil. Place squash inside down on a cookie sheet and bake for about 45 minutes (should be easy to insert a butter knife when done).
2. While the squash is cooking, brown the meat and drain. Then add sauce and let simmer (I usually add some seasonings like basil and parsley to make it have a little more flavor).
3. Once the squash is done, get a large spoon and scoop out the insides. It comes out stringy and resembles spaghetti. Serve your meat sauce over the squash.

This is an easy, gluten free, healthier alternative to spaghetti! I was surprised how yummy it was! The texture was different from normal noodles, but it wasn't bad at all! I added a little salt and pepper to the squash and then topped it off with some Parmesan cheese (couldn't have it too healthy).

37 weeks!!!

I know, I am the worst blogger ever. I can't even keep up with it before my baby gets here to distract me further!

I am finally 37 weeks pregnant! You know what that means? If Grayson decides to grace us with his presence now, he would be considered full term! I think that sounds like a great idea Grayson!

I'm definitely starting to understand why people complain so much during pregnancy. These last weeks have been almost unbearable. My feet and ankles have swollen bigger than I thought possible, I have right plantar fasciitis so bad I feel like my foot is ripping in half, and my left sciatica is giving me fits. Doing everyday, normal things becomes such a struggle when you are this far along. Who would have thought putting on pants and socks would be such an ordeal?!

Don't worry, none of this is so horrible that I don't ever want to experience it again. It is, however, enough to make me wish this baby would hurry up! I love having this baby in my belly and feeling him move around, but I do not love what it is doing to the rest of my body.

On a brighter note, we have had all of our showers and have gotten all kinds of goodies for the baby! In fact, the nursery is all stocked and ready, the car seat is installed, and the stroller is folded waiting in the trunk. I'm sure we have other needs that we don't know about, but that is what we are saving our gift cards for!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. I was 60% effaced (thinned) but not dilated any yet. I'm just happy there was some sort of progress!

Now, what everybody really reads blogs for, pictures:

E-meals Week 2!

E-meals is still going strong! I am working out the kinks in finding my routine with it still. I love having a weekly grocery list, but I don't cook 7 nights a week. So, right now I am wasting some money on vegetables that may go bad before I cook them. Also, some of the meals are big enough to make a whole second dinner.

My plan: sit down and read each recipe before going to the store. Sounds simple enough that I probably should have been doing that from the start. I plan to pick out the 5 meals and sides that sound the best and then tweak the grocery list. This will save money and keep us from wasting so much.

Despite my problem with waste, I am still loving the food! Everything taste so fresh and healthy. I am short some of the everyday staples, so some meals take a little extra love to make the flavor. But, it has been so much fun trying all of these new recipes!

So far, my favorite recipes have been honey-Dijon chicken, sweet and smokey pork tenderloin, and the turkey ragu from last week. Yummy! And I am pretty excited about tonight's dinner, almond crusted tilapia with brussel sprouts! Yummy!

Check out this chicken and artichokes with a cold white bean and tomato salad! I was skeptical of the cold beans, but they ended up being my favorite part of the meal!

34 Weeks! (6 to go!)

I can't believe Grayson is already 34 weeks old!!  It is really starting to get real!  I am now going to the doctor every 1 week (you would think that would make the pregnancy fly by, but it seems to be slowing down).  I'm so ready to meet this little boy!

I think I have gained 27 lbs so far (I need to write down my weights because I just forget them).  No stretch marks and belly button is still flat (I don't know if inny is the right word to describe it, but it isn't an outy yet).  I'm still having Braxton Hicks contractions (some days more than others) and now my feet are starting to swell by the end of the day.  My blood pressure continues to be fabulous though (107/62 last time).

We talked about our "birth plan" with our doctor at the last visit.  Basically, we know that I want the good drugs, want just Michael and I in the room for the actual delivery, and hope to go into labor naturally.  Our doctor is open to talks of inducing once I hit the 39 weeks mark.  Michael kind of wants us to schedule it, so he can make sure he isn't almost 2 hours away when I go into labor.  But, I really want to go into labor naturally!  I just want that experience of counting the minutes between contractions and the chaos of packing our bags (b/c I'm sure we will be doing that at the last minute), shaving my legs, and begging Michael to paint my toenails.  There is also much great risk of c-section if you induce labor.

I am definitely starting the nesting phase and absolutely loving it!!  I have been so productive these days!!  We have finished decorating the nursery (pictures to come), washed all baby clothes/blankets, filed taxes, kept the dirty clothes hamper fairly empty, eaten home cooked meals almost every night, and kept the house fairly clean.  I have these bursts of energy where I just want to get up and do stuff (sometimes they are quickly followed by a burst of fatigue).

Today we had our maternity pictures taken by Jennifer Owens.  I cannot wait to see them!!  She showed us some on her camera as she took them and they looked fabulous!  She is going to do our newborn/6month/1year pictures as well!  She has been a joy to work with so far.  Check out her website and let her know I sent you there if you use her for anything!

Ok, enough of the talking, here are pictures:

34 Weeks!  I don't know how much more that stomach can stretch!

Bedding finally came in! Looks so good with the name!

I am in LOVE with the alphabet wall!! We are going to fill the little glass jar with pacifiers!

GF Cooking: E-Meals!!

I know my poor blog has been neglected lately (and taken over by baby Grayson).  Can I blame it on pregnancy-brain?  But, the good news is that I PLAN to post a lot more about food in the near future (don't worry, I'm sure Grayson will make his way into the blog plenty).

Why?

#1 (And most important): I have PASSED my board exams and am now waiting on a little letter in the mail that officially certifies me as a Nurse Practitioner!!  (So, no more coming home and going straight to studying).

#2:  I now work 8-5 and have much more time to devote to cooking when I get home (until baby comes, that is).

#3:  Michael and I have decided to try out e-meals!

What are e-meals?

It is a neat little website that lets you sign up for the type of food you eat (organic, gluten-free, low-carb, vegetarian, paleo, etc.), the grocery store you shop at (Walmart, Kroger, Publix, etc.), and the size of meals you want to cook (2 people or family).  Then, they e-mail you 7 dinner recipes (and lunch and breakfast if you desire) and a shopping list (including price if you picked your grocery store).

It is just so freaking convenient and easy, very healthy, and money conscious.  I mean, Dave Ramsey recommends it, so it must be good.



Michael and I signed up for the gluten-free, Walmart, family plan.  Walmart only offered a family plan with the gluten-free option, and I really wanted to have a grocery list for a specific store.  It is really hard to find gluten-free items around this area, so I knew the more specific list would be helpful.  Besides, I can take left-overs for my lunch! 

We have already made the first weeks worth of meals and they were amazing!  The recipes are usually things we would never think of on our own.

Here are pictures of just 2 of the meals we made in week 1: Egg Scramble Florentine (eggs with spinach and peppers with a side of tropical fruit salad) and Cajun Chicken Pasta (chicken pasta with mushrooms and peppers and a homemade sauce and a side salad)

Look at all the fresh food we use now!

Everything we have tried so far has been wonderful!  I lost a lot of pictures of the meals when we changed phones recently, but I will do better this week!  My favorite meal this week was Turkey Ragu (it was a ground turkey mixture served over fresh butternut squash, Yummy!!)!  I also finally made a gluten-free baked oatmeal recipe that I can't wait to share!  I LOVE oatmeal!

So, keep your eye out for lots of gluten-free cooking in the future!

32 Weeks!! Help Please!

Ok ladies (and my fashionably forward men), I need your help!!  I have scheduled my maternity photos and need help picking out one of my outfits/styles!  I know I want a bare belly picture that is still slightly modest (as pretty as it is, I'm not quite ready for the nude flowing fabric).  I have two outfits in mind, so I took the opportunity to use them for my 32 weeks picture.  Scroll down for pictures, and leave me some suggestions!!

32 Weeks!!!!

Can you believe I only have 8 more weeks to go?!  I can't!!  I have been so busy with the new job and preparing for boards that the days have been flying by!  Slow down!!!

I went to the doctor at 31 weeks for a check-up.  I was actually pretty sick with a bad cold and going through some horrible pregnancy-induced constipation (no since in hiding the truth, constipation and pregnancy come hand-in-hand!).  The day of my appointment I started having braxton-hicks contractions.  I knew they weren't the real thing because they were very irregular.  However, my doctor was a little worried because of how frequently they were happening (I think it was a mixture of stress and being sick).  So, he checked me to make sure I wasn't going into early labor.  Thankfully, everything was where it was suppose to be!  

My doctor made me come back in 1 week just to check me out again.  I was feeling much better by this visit, and my "contractions" have really slowed down and eased up.  Thankfully, I didn't have to be checked and I can come back in the normal 2 weeks.  At 32 weeks I weigh 174 lbs (23 pounds gained).  I still have an inny and no stretch marks!  Grayson has really learned where my ribs are!!

Picture Time! 
Battle of the Green sweater VS. Blue button-up.

Outfit #1: Green Sweater

Outfit #2: Blue Button-up

Also, do you like the messy up-do (I'll work a little harder to make it pretty on the actual photograph day) or hair down?  And, what do you think about the pre-pregnancy jeans left open?  Should I just scratch both of these outfits and start over?!  Suggestions please!!  I always look back at my professional pictures and wished I had worn something different.