More Baby Pix

That's our baby!

Baby is Here

First off, sorry it's been a month since we blogged. Life and internet access limitations have made it very difficult to get posts done. Here's the exciting news...

Our baby boy was born May 28, Memorial Day. He's already four weeks old today! That's what has kept me so busy. Besides being in the hospital for 9 days for our "special" birth experience.

I apparently had developed preeclampsia (protein in the urine and high blood pressure from pregnancy) which is dangerous to the baby and myself. The placenta can age prematurely and limit blood supply to the baby and for myself I could have a seizure at anytime. So due to those risks, I was induced at 38 weeks. It took two days of IV pitocin, then they broke my waters because I wasn't progressing much. Then within 5 hours I had my baby boy on my belly, no longer in my belly. BearHunter was so pleased and all smiles in all the pictures my doula took. I won't post them cuz they're pretty gory some of 'em.

I don't know what to screenname our baby for this blog. Any ideas? BabyBear is cute, but doesn't fit with BearHunter too well, eh? I call him squeakums and pumpkin at times. It's funny, in the first week or two I woke up dreaming about a mouse that was dead, but not really, in a drawer. Then realized it was my baby squeaking that made me dream about the mouse! He squeaks a lot.

And he's adorable when he wakes up from breastfeeding. His red face is thrown back as he arches and his two little arms automatically stretch up next to his face, elbows bent. And he pushes his little diapered butt back while curling in his legs. It's pretty much adorable. People say he has my (mom's) nose and mouth. When I saw this picture I had to agree. But he's got dad's big paws and tendency to kick and move as he's sleeping.

37 Week Art

Yeah, we reached full-term 37 weeks! Now baby is definitely ready for the world. The midwife thinks it's around 6 pounds. Now it's just a waiting game for real labor to start. I'm totally free to return to normal activities. Though I took a short walk to the grocery store yesterday and found myself completely exhausted when I returned. They checked my blood iron level yesterday to see if I need supplements, I haven't heard the results yet. But being tired in third trimester is also normal. I've been sleeping pretty well, thanks to a lavendar sachet my doula made for me. I still wake between 3-4am most every night, but can fall asleep again afterwards.

BearHunter used my belly for a pregnancy art palette. It's supposed to be a rabbit drawing, but looks more like a cat to me!

Bear Hunt

So there's finally a bear-hunting story. Unfortunately, BearHunter didn't happen to go! On Saturday one of our staff went out to test his new scope, and ended up on a bearhunting excursion. He and his friend found themselves perched just 30 yards above a two year old black bear. So they shot it and hauled it out. They donated the meat to the base and are getting the hide tanned. As cook, I now have the chance to use bearmeat in various recipes instead of moose or beef. I think it will work fine for fajitas or sloppy joes or stews. :) BearHunter and the staff who helped get the bear were the only two available to cut up the meat. Though he was bummed to miss the opportunity to go, BearHunter enjoyed cutting up the meat (with his new knife) and doing a taste test. Apparently younger bear tastes much better than older ones, and less likely to taste fishy. This little guy, which weighed around 200 pounds, tasted just fine, not gamey at all.

36 Week Milestone

Today we reached 36 weeks gestation. Praise God. Thank you, friends, for your prayers. Now if we have the little one, it's not so risky. Of course, the midwives still want us to reach full term, 37 weeks, for the best outcome.

I'm off of bed rest now, though still not allowed to be on my feet for long periods of time, or to hike or jog, etc. But last night I had a lot of contractions after being up more than I should have, so I'm not eager to jump into a full schedule. I'm blessed to live on a YWAM base where other people can fill in for me, and take care of me. I don't have to start my cooking work again until I feel ready. Everyone is very gracious and wants us to have a healthy baby. Our friend, two doors down, was just inventorying in his mind whether he has the tools he'd need to deliver my baby IN CASE it came really fast and we gave birth here at the base. He's delivered a few babies in his firefighting career. He said he does have what he'd need, not that he's wanting to have to do that!

BearHunter is hoping to do bearhunting this weekend. Just as an observer, he doesn't have a local hunting license yet. We'll see if that opportunity pans out. He tried his hand at chasing pheasants the other day, but he didn't get any on his first attempt. He was out there with his buffalo horn slingshot from Thailand (I think). The pheasants are seen frequently now walking around peoples' properties. Still see girl moose around, too.

Today BearHunter is working on installing a deck with the other staff here, for a local pastor. He's learning a lot from that process and loves being outside working hard. It doesn't hurt that the ladies bake cookes for them while they work! Now I wish I was over there!