Cheza Picture Of The Day 00017

Beautiful little munchkin, that’s what she is!

Cheza On Flickr = Adorable For All To See :)

I am tired tonight, kinda in the exhausted arena, and not sure why.

Maybe because I ate like a well practiced pig at lunch today. We did our Thanksgiving thing at work, a crock pot lunch, and WB set up a big ole cast iron stew pot and made some delicious Brunswick Stew.

Thinking of hitting the bed early tonight, and I regret to inform this blog that there will be no picture of the day, because we forgot to take it.

So, I offer this instead, a Flickr slideshow of Cheza Tsume Rose … enjoy!

Cheza Picture Of The Day 00016

My beautiful little angel in green, lol… she is just too cute every time I see her… partial, perhaps… just a little! Daddy took this picture for us today.

Infertility to Mommyhood, Part Three

« Infertility to Mommyhood, Part TWO [ Donnie delivered a new twist to the baby making efforts. He didn’t think he could father a child... Add his slim at best to my not really working at all up to this point and we have… adoption?… ] read Part Two here »

So, at this time I was still a smoker. About a pack per day. I had sworn to myself for as long as I could recall that should I ever become pregnant I would quit smoking. And I did. From August 4th at a pack per day to August 11th and my last cigarette to date. Before I went to sleep, about 11pm on August 11th, 2008, I smoked my last cigarette. I still miss them once in a while, but for the most part I think they stink when I smell them… and I cannot believe I used to smell like that. I honestly had no idea.

I was terrified to begin with. There was mass confusion in trying to get my first appointment set up. I ultimately ended up going to the Wake Med High Risk Clinic. Why high risk, you ask? I am diabetic type II for starters. I was also (at that time) 37 years old, considered advanced maternal age (not sure why, but what can ya do).

I had to go on a special diet for diabetic prego mommies, and test my sugar 4 times per day to start. As my numbers slowly began to rise the docs decided to put me on oral meds to help control my blood sugars. During a pregnancy you don’t want out of control numbers. And even though my numbers had previously been good, when you are pregnant, when the placenta is working right, your blood sugar numbers just naturally rise… I was destined for greater control aid needs, whether I wanted to be or not.

I think I have mentioned before how I hate needles. Well, the week after Thanksgiving 2008, at my regularly scheduled prenatal checkup, I was informed my numbers had reached a point where the oral meds were no longer enough. It was time to begin… insulin injections. I was now testing my blood sugars (pricking my finger) 4 times per day, and giving myself an insulin injection in the thigh 4 times per day. It was hard, but I had been warned in advance it was coming without a doubt, so at least it was no surprise. And I was so beyond over joyed at being pregnant, already totally in love with my baby… I was willing to suffer these needles for my child. A good thing too, since I had no choice.

I never really got sick while pregnant. I had about 3 weeks straight of being nauseous from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed, but I never tossed my cookies, so I figure I was pretty lucky. Aside from the initial nausea and anxiety, my pregnancy was pretty much uneventful… just how I wanted it.

I did what I could to keep healthy, stay relaxed, enjoy being pregnant and bond with my unborn child. When we found out we were having a little girl, we were thrilled. Cheza (Lunar Flower/Moon Maiden) Tsume (Wolf’s Claw) Rose would be her name.

Around week 30 of my pregnancy I began to practice Hypnobabies (self-hypnosis for pain control in natural childbirth). I was preparing to meet my little angel.

At week 37 I was informed that due to being diabetic and the likelihood for a larger baby, plus the risk for complications of diabetic pregnancy babies who go full-term, they would want to induce me. Cheza’s original estimated due date was April 1st, 2009. Her induction was scheduled for March 25th. I was still determined to have my natural childbirth with the aid of self-hypnosis and the support of Donnie. It would be a bit more of a challenge with the chemical induction, but I was up for it, I was excited about meeting my baby, meeting my Cheza… meeting our miracle baby.

My last doctor appointment before my scheduled induction was on the 22nd. I had gained a total of 28 pounds during my pregnancy, my A1c had dropped during the pregnancy, and other than bruises on my thighs from all the injections, I had what I would consider a wonderful pregnancy (wonderful enough that I would love to be pregnant again right now!).

The maternity ward was busy the evening of the 25th. When Donnie called to make sure we should still come in at 8pm, they asked us to please call back in hour and check… this continued for a while, and it was 10pm before we were finally able to come check in and get me into a room. They hooked me up to monitors and begin getting things ready to start the induction. At some point they lost Cheza’s heartbeat on the monitor. It took what seemed like forever and me rolling over a couple times for them to find her again… much lower.

They wheeled in an ultrasound machine and checked her out. She had flipped breech. She had been vertex at the last three ultrasounds, but she never engaged… and I guess she was not ready to be induced, so she flipped right there in the labor and delivery room I was in at the birthing wing of the hospital. They sent us home and scheduled me for a cesarean section the next day. I was to be at the hospital at noon.

I was disappointed, yes. I admit it. I had wanted a natural childbirth, and I was getting the furthest thing from it. But I was still going to get the same end result, my beautiful baby girl.

Cheza was born on March 26, 2009 at 2:10pm. She weighed 6 lbs 11 oz (far from the large diabetic baby I had been warned of) and 18-3/4″ long. 10 fingers, 10 toes, beautiful, wonderful, perfect.

Cheza breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months, until I unfortunately just began to dry up out of nowhere. She transitioned to formula with ease.

I have lost my pregnancy weight and am now anxious to be pregnant again, yet also accepting of the fact that this may have been a one time shot for me, and I a okay with that. I can always have fun trying!

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Green Bean Casserole

• 1 can cream of mushroom soup (10-3/4 oz)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• ground black pepper (to taste)
• 1 bag frozen green beans (1 lb.), thawed & drained
• 1-1/3 cups crispy French-fried onions

Preheat your oven to 350 degree F.

Using an oven safe casserole dish, mix your soup, milk, soy sauce, pepper, beans & 2/3 cup onions until well combined.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining onions on top and bake an additional 5 minutes until crispy.

Servings: 4

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