Table for Four

Easter Sunday started innocent enough - here is Lucy all prettied up to go to church and hunting for eggs:

Although they were empty, it did not take away from the fun.

We went into the hospital early the next morning for an induction - here is mom upon arrival. Believe me, that smile would not last very long. Can you guess how big the baby is?

After about 12 hours, we welcomed a new family member. Below are some quick photos of Zophia (Zoe) Lanxang Horton.
Here is the baby with her parents minutes after birth.

10lbs 4.2 oz - 23.5 inches long. This is a big girl and Lucy may not be the 'big' sister for long. Nanthida is starting a new 'over 10' club for mothers who deliver big babies - although there doesn't seem to be a lot of enthusiasm for it among expecting women...

Vadsana and Zoe

"Dad - how about a sandwich or something?".

Zoe's grandparents (and great-grandma)



Hmmm...the jury is still out with Lucy. She did not seem overly enthusiastic about her new sister - but life is full of changes....

We would like to thank everybody for their thoughts and prayers during this pregnancy and delivery - we are thankful for your love and support.

My Little Mover and Shaker

I have been trying to catch this little girl dancing on camera for the last ten, no twenty weeks. I have hours of video of my stomach doing, well, nothing. It seemed very single time Baby heard the beep of the camera turn on she froze. I was almost resigned to the fact I would not have this documented, but of course as children do (even in utero), they love to prove you wrong. Here's my little alien baby dancing up a storm to Jason Mraz's new single I'm Yours.


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Right Now

3 cm dilated, 80 effaced, 0 station.

Continuing biweekly prenatal appointments as well as biweekly NSTs.

Due to being treated for (and not necessarily diagnosed with) mild cholestasis of pregnancy, doctors will not allow pregnancy to exceed 40 weeks.

If there is no baby by next appointment (3/21) will schedule induction for sometime early next week.

Crazy.

Friends, Home Improvements, and Nice Weather (finally!)

This past Sunday my two wonderful and beautiful sisters threw me a "Pre-Baby Pampering Party". All of my best and closets girlfriends were in attendance, and I felt incredibly loved and supported. Sue and Vadsana set up pampering stations fully equipped with a foot soak, different nail gadgets, and facial masks. And as strange as it sounds, not a single person volunteered to give me a pedicure...

Speaking of hygiene...

Do you think that Lucy is trying to tell me something?

For the last few months Charles and I have spent the majority of our weekends getting the house ready for the baby. We've moved furniture around, cleaned and decluttered the basement, painted (again), set up Lucy's playroom (again) etc. All of the things we parents do for our children. I'm sure that when we bring the baby home her first thoughts will be of the new light fixture that Mom and Dad (mostly Dad) so lovingly installed in the living room. Even if she doesn't care for it, and I'm sure she will, I love it.

Our friend Lacy got the baby this awesome backpack. Lucy decided that because the baby is too small to wear such a bag, she should get to use it now. How could I argue with her? She looks so grown up that I'm about to make her start paying rent.

I'm feeling quite spoiled this week. The weather has not sucked. In fact, it has been down right nice. Lucy and I were able to get out for a brief period earlier this week for a walk (if you can call my very slow movement walking anymore). Sitting in a stroller is not as much fun for her as running around and making me chase her, so to burn off a little steam we headed to City Park.

I've decided that Lucy's upper lip...

must taste like...

ICE CREAM! Seriously, what's up with the tongue?

She's still loving the swing.

We only lasted a few minutes before her attention was turned to the big kid toy.

I really feel bad for her. I can't keep up, so she has to stay within arm's reach. Not so fun for an 18 month old that wants to explore everything.

Although, for a few minutes, she was content to sit on the stoop in between the slides and tunnel.

Jen, to answer the question/comment from a few posts ago, THIS is why pregnant women crop their heads out of photos. Do I need to elaborate? One word: unflattering. Two words: incredibly unflattering. By the way, this was not staged.

After looking at the three very bad pictures of me that Charles took (sadly, the one directly above was the best), I asked him to take another picture where I don't look so "pissed". He said, "You were pissed." I said, "I know. Take another one anyway. And this time say something to make me laugh." I love my husband. All he had to do was start laughing, and it put me in a better mood immediately. You gotta love the ever present mood swings of a pregnant lady.

Okay, down to business. We're in week 38 with 12 days to go before the due date. The good news: The liver panels came back clean, I've had two NSTs so far and according to the nurse the baby is a "super star", my rash is really clearing up quite nicely, I'm still two centimeters dilated, and the doctor doesn't give me another full week of carrying this baby. The bad news: I've been nauseated and pukey since Monday evening, I've had Braxton-Hicks that have been quite painful, I'm still two centimeters dilated, and the doctor doesn't give me another full week of carrying this baby.

I am excited to finally meet her face to face, not to mention the fact I can't wait for her to stop using my intestines as a trampoline. At the same time, I've been psyching myself up to have this baby either on or after her due date, so I get a little nervous thinking that she could be here any minute. Although the doctor said he thinks she'll be here by next week, one can never predict these things. So, my next prenatal is on Monday, rather than Thursday. That being said, unless we have a new family member sometime this weekend, expect another update sometime Monday.

Lucy Finding Nemo... Very funny

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Here's a little something to make up for yesterday's very long, very boring, very picture-free post.

It's a Number's Game

Proceed with caution: I've written a novel, and those readers that make it to the end won't even be rewarded with a picture...

The irony of life is that as soon as I complain about something... well, anything, that "issue" seems to grow in magnitude. Remember last week when I was vocalizing my annoyance at having to see the doctor for weekly appointments that I found were slightly pointless? Now, as I am in week 37, I will be going to the hospital not once, but THREE times a week!

For those of you blissfully unaware (i.e. those of you who haven't a: heard my constant, incessant complaints, b: seen me walking around with frozen pea packs tucked into my shirt or the waistband of my hands, or c: have not actually scene the wasteland of hives and broken skin spread all over my body) I have developed a skin condition over the course of the last several weeks. It's called PUPPS, and in my opinion should more aptly be named "Hell on Earth". It's a rash that only pregnant women get. It is constant and can become inflamed. It can become painful and can even induce nausea. And if you're truly lucky, your skin can actually crack and bleed. Yippee!

Fortunately, it tends not to last longer than 6-8 weeks postpartum, and statistically does not seem to affect women who have experienced with previous pregnancies. Unfortunately, I am in the small percentage of the women who are afflicted multiple times (I had it with Lucy after she was born), and there is absolutely nothing that can be done, short of steroid therapy (which I have opted out of).

The doctors were concerned because the rash had spread outside of it's normal perimeter. I was getting hives and rash on my arms, legs, and even between my toes. They've run blood tests checking and rechecking my thyroid and liver enzymes. Luckily, everything has come back normal, and in the last week I have felt better than I have in weeks, no, months really. I'm really, really, enjoying pregnancy these days. I'm actually remembering how much I loved carrying Lucy. In fact, I get a little weepy-eyed thinking it's almost over.

This is why I was a little taken aback when the doctor mentioned the possibility of inducing me at 39 weeks. What the crap? After taking a look at my skin, the doctor has decided to err on the side of caution and run my labs again. Apparently there is a condition in pregnancy that is caused by elevated liver enzymes and it's symptoms are this crazy, wacky rash. It can cause fetal distress, which is also why I now have undergo twice weekly non-stress tests, as well as my weekly prenatal.

I would love and prefer to make it to my due date, and I would rather not be induced. That being said, Baby and Mama's health are what's really important. So, as of now, if the labs come back normal, AND the NSTs are normal, AND my rash does not worsen, I will get to go into labor naturally when this little girl decides it's time to leave the bed and breakfast called my womb.

A side note: Not that this means anything, but as of today, I am 80% effaced and 2 cm dilated.

Dang.

Let me preface this post by stating: I have been threatened bodily harm by numerous people (who shall remain anonymous) to update. Yes, it have been a while, but in my defense, I am nine months pregnant. So there.

I never, ever carry my camera around, so I have been begging anyone and everyone to send me pictures. My pleas were heard by my good friend Lacy. Aside from the last two pictures, she supplied the rest. So, those of you rejoicing in this new post, thank her.

Valentine's Day was quite uneventful. Well it was for Charles and I anyway. Lucy exchanged cards with her playgroup the Wednesday before. I think she was sad that she had to share her Valentine dates with Mallory. She is very good at "expressing" her feelings.


The following week at playgroup Lucy decided that it would be fun to sit in the cat's water bowl. She was drenched from butt to back. Thankfully, our gracious hosts were kind enough to lend us an outfit to wear home. I'm not much for hunting, but I think that Lucy is contemplating her future in the game industry.


This week at playgroup we celebrated Zach and Ethan's birthdays. I can't believe they are both two years old. How quickly they grow (sniff, sniff). Like mother, like daughter; Lucy and I stuffing birthday cake into our faces.


While the rest of the brood ran around playing, Lucy decided the morning was best spent in on the couch watching television. Shocking, I know.


After most of the group left, and the only walkers remaining were Lucy, Ethan, and Zach, Lucy decided it was time to play. I have never seen her more animated before. She was really in her element rough housing with the boys. All that wrestling with Charles has really paid off. That girl can hold her own, and amazingly she walked away with only a single bruise.


Both pictures are me at 36 weeks, but the first is with Lucy, the second was taken two days ago. I think that I am bigger the second time around. I definitely feel bigger. I'm going to the doctor every week now. It kind of seems like a waste of time. I was weighed and measured, the doctor asked if I had any questions (I said "no"), I rescheduled for next week, and then I left. If they weren't checking the baby's heartbeat I would say the visits would be entirely pointless.


I had been having a lot of pressure, so at my 35 week appointment, the doctor checked me. My cervix is softening and thinning, but not too much to be alarmed, and the baby's head is already snugly in place (which would explain the pressure and constant trips to the bathroom). I don't anticipate this girl making an early debut, but you never know. I can already tell you she is prepping me for the late night feedings. For the last two weeks, I have been making middle of the night trips to the bathroom at midnight, two, four, and six. That I can handle, it's the constant kicking and jabbing and boxing that I find more or less annoying/painful. Don't get me wrong, I do love all the movement, but my uterus is about the size of a New York city apartment.

It's My Girl in a Box...

Friday afternoon Charles called and asked if Lucy and I would like to go to Sesame Street Live. I was stoked; Lucy was indifferent. I really wanted to see the new Sprint Center, and this would be Lucy's first big outing. Because the tickets were free, I figured that if Lucy was too young to enjoy the show, we'd stick around for a bit and then leave. In fact, I was kind of hoping for the evening to play out as such. As soon as we got to the Center we walked around and picked up dinner for Lucy ($9 cheese pizza, which she inhaled) and dessert for Me (2, 79 cent donuts from Quik Trip, which I inhaled). Twenty minutes later the show started.



You can see my plans for the evening were quickly thrown out the window. Much to the surprise of her father and I, Lucy loved the show. Her favorite thing to do was to clap after every song was over. Funny enough, it was mine too, but for different reasons...


Thankfully, she isn't quite a year and a half yet, so her attention span wasn't quite up to par with the length of the show. We left five minutes before intermission. Wiggly toddler aside, there is only so much "Elmo Grows Up" any parent can stand. I'm evil, I know.


Saturday we headed down to Brookside for a trip to the Lauren Alexandra Bebe Boutique. It was my first time in the store and I wanted everything. Too bad that it followed boutique trend and sold everything at boutique price. So, we headed next door to the kiddy bookstore. Lucy loved the old-fashion type writer. I think (and hope) she and her sister will grow up with an appreciation for anything literary.


We spent the evening at the Smiths and watched the very sad and very pathetic Superbowl game. We all ate too much and had to be rolled home. Monday morning Charles' flu bug made it's second season debut. He ran a fever for the next twenty four hours. Poor guy. At least he had Lucy to take care of him.


Even though Charles was sick Monday and Tuesday, having him home during the day was nice. Lucy really loves to hang out with her Dad. So much in fact that today she found herself quite bored. When I'm bored, I eat. When Lucy is bored, she sits in shoe boxes. If I followed her trend in thinking, I would a: be much thinner, b: have a bum shaped like a rectangle.




Oh yes, I loved reading all of the comments from the last post. I told you that quiz would be fun and interesting. I can't believe I am blessed with so many good girlfriends that are all pregnant at the same time. Here's to healthy babies!

For All the Pregos Out There

The one thing about having a sick child is that there are many, short sporadic naps through out the day. Because I have nothing better to do or rather I CHOOSE to have nothing better to do, I utilize that "free-time" (I use that term very loosely) surfing the net, reading random articles and catching up on pop culture. A while ago I found this fun quiz entitled "Labor Prediction Quiz". I don't think there is ANYTHING scientific about it, but it's a great way to waste a few minutes of this very cold, long afternoon.

http://www.justmommies.com/quizzes/labor_prediction_quiz.php

According to the quiz results, I will most likely deliver an 8 pounder after my due date. Hmmmm. I don't know about that. Charles and I think that this baby will be smaller than Goose was. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Fun fact: I took the quiz with Lucy and it was pretty spot on, predicting an 8 lb 3 oz baby (correct), after a 13 hour labor (I labored for 15.5 hours, which possibly might have been shorter if her head wouldn't have been so big), after my due date (correct, again). Two out of three. Spooky. One more thing, if you take this quiz, let me know what your results are.

We did it.

After weeks and weeks of putting off sickness, my family has caught the dreaded bug; the same bug that has effected Lucy's entire play group as well as her friends in other states. You know, the one where the congestion, headache, runny nose, stuffy nose, nausea, and fever don't go away? Let me just say that I am glad that I got the flu shot, AND even more importantly, I am elated that currently it seems to be working. (Mama Horton says: I highly recommend the flu shot, along with a daily multivitamin to stave off illness). It's always best that one person in a sick house remains healthy, and even better when that one person is over 18 and can administer medicine (that Lucy is such a slacker) to the unwell.

Personally, I think that Lucy and her father planned this to prepare me for the sleepless nights that lie ahead. After surviving sleep deprivation with an infant, nights like last night are cake. Easy as pie. Mmmmm. A pastry would be good right now.

A little dramatic, don't you think?

Trying to be a better blogger, I grabbed my camera to snap up some Lucy shots. As always, the girl had her binky stuck in her mouth. I can never get the "money shot" with half of her face being blocked, so I took it from her. She promptly shook her head, "NO". Anyone who has witnessed this display, knows that it's starts out with a gentle back and forth motion, then if her point is not met, turns into what appears to be a full body seizure (i.e. temper tantrum).

Well, apparently my little grump was not in the mood for a photo shoot. I'm a horrible parent. The more dramatic her gestures got, the more I laughed and encouraged this ridiculous behavior. It's so funny. I. Can't. Help. It. Must. Keep. Snapping. Pictures.

Do you suppose she's a little upset?

In the last post, I mentioned Lucy has grown fond of her little blue chair. That is now an understatement. We officially have a new couch potato in our house. If there was any doubt of her lineage, here it is. When she's not tearing the playroom up, her little butt is planted securely in that seat. I can imagine after all this time of sitting on the floor, it's nice to have a soft spot to land, err, I mean watch television.




Here it is, all that requested a belly shot; 32 weeks and 35 pounds. This is the first time it seems the camera has not added ten extra pounds. This picture does not do me any justice, because I feel huge! Wait, I am huge. I have officially stopped counting the number of people telling/asking me "You look like your going to pop!", "Any day now, right?", and my favorite, "Are you carrying multiples?" Sadly, this started at week 25. Seriously, what is wrong with people? Side note: I think that I now have enough material to start my first book, cleverly entitled: What Not to Say to a Pregnant Woman (or Any Woman You Think Might Be Pregnant). I can see it on the New York Times bestseller list now...

The pregnancy and baby are both good. I have narrowed down the cause of most of my hip pain: vacuuming (either I must be one exuberant vacuumer or my hips have reached full stretching capacity and my joints have grown accustomed to their new location). Fortunately for me and unfortunately for Chaz, after learning of this revelation I haven't had to go to the chiropractor in three weeks. Whoopee! Also, the last couple of weeks I've had to contend with random Braxton Hicks contractions. Already. I can't believe it. This pregnancy has definitely been different than the first. Everything seems to happen much more quickly. Thankfully, the BH are no indication that labor is imminent. Still, I can't wait to meet this little girl. Hopefully, she is already well behaved, obedient, and takes direction well. I've been telling her since day one I'd really like her to stay in there and bake until her due date. We'll see. These next eight weeks are going to fly.