36+ Week Update

Hello Everyone,

Well, it has been a couple of weeks since I had the time to update the blog. As my due date approaches, I realize that I have more projects to finish than possible. I still have a pretty great energy level though, which should help me get through the next 3-4 weeks.

I taught my last class at the community college until after the baby arrives this Monday. I am so relieved! I really need a break from the insanity of running up and down multiple flights of stairs every week with a heavy backpack and purse in tow. Oh yeah, and my "snack pack" of healthy things to eat and drink while teaching so that I can avoid hitting up the vending machines. I have to get my final grades submitted by midnight tonight, but then I am free of students and papers to grade for a while!

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and then I will have one every week from now until the baby is born. Tomorrow I am getting a Group B Strep Test that everyone gets at this point in pregnancy. If I test positive, I will be given IV anitbiotics during labor. Hopefully it will be negative and I can cross it off the list of things to worry about. At my last appointment the baby was head down and seemed to be a good position. I can feel that he is still head down, but maybe tomorrow I will get some more info on positioning, size, etc. I will definitely keep everyone updated.

Spring has sprung in Cincinnati and our yard is blooming wild! We have gorgeous daffodils and tulips coming up, our Bradford Pear Tree is blooming, as is our lilac bush. The sun was out this morning, it was about 45 degrees and everything just looked great! Cider is loving the spring weather and the cats are spending more time outside rolling around in the sun.

Here are some photos of some flowers from our garden and of course a few shots of my baby bump!

I am feeling pretty good considering how big my belly has gotten! Yesterday I got in two walks with Cider and a 1 hour prenatal yoga session. It was great! Yoga instantly eases the swelling in my ankles. Loves it! I thought I would post three shots from this morning because you get a better idea of just how much little tillema has taken over from different angles. The first shot I look super huge! JM took it - obviously the other two I did on my own! Sorry about the funny face on the first photo of me. I look super tired and puffy! Not the best photo - but you get the point!

In other news, our dear friend Phoebe's mother made us the cutest quilt for the baby! She is a professional quilter and does fabulous work. The quilt is amazing and adorable! What a sweet gesture! Here are some photos of the whole thing, as well as a few up close detail shots! The animals are all embroidered on the quilt and the quilting stitching itself is the alphabet! Super adorable!

Last, but not least, here is a photo of the lamp we recently added to lt's room. It matches the rest of the colors perfectly and was super cheap. Thanks IKEA!

I hope everyone is doing well and I will post again sooner rather than later! I promise!

Love,

CBT, JMT, & LT

33 Week Update & Baby Shower!

Hello Everyone,

It has been way too long, but things have been super busy in the Tillema household. This past Saturday Jen & Micah flew in from Denver and Erin and Jen threw me the best baby shower anyone has ever seen. It was so much fun and we are truly moved by the generosity of all of our friends and family. Mem, Heit, Ilja and Magda were skyped in from Nederland, Elaine and Dylan drove in from Pittsburgh and many of our Cincinnati friends made it to our house for the party.

We played really fun games, Jen put out a gorgeous spread of food, and Erin loaded us all up with the most delicious cake I have ever had, there was one raspberry cake and one lemon cake. It was so good that everyone ended up eating a piece of both!

It was a whirlwind weekend that has left me totally and utterly exhausted, but I am so grateful to have had Jen and Erin plan and execute this shower and I am so happy that I got to spend time with them. I cannot wait until I can return the favor!!!

On Sunday, after the festivities, JM made us a lovely brunch and Jen took some very beautiful black and white pregnancy photos for us. One of them is posted above!

In terms of the pregnancy, I am feeling tired from the weekend, but I am still doing really great. I had my 32 week check up last week and everything is going great. Blood pressure in check, weight gain in check (up to 21 pounds now!!) which means that I am right on track for an average weight gain, only very minor swelling in my feet and only at the end of a long day, and the baby's heart is beating strong and he is super active. When we are in bed at night if my belly is touching JM's back he can feel the strong kicks and punches too!

There is definitely more to catch you up on, but this is all I have time for today. Enjoy the photos!!!

Love,

CBT, JMT & LT

Here is one of the full house on Saturday!!!

29 Week Update

Hello Everyone,

I am sorry that I have not posted for a while, but my 28th week of pregnancy (third trimester is here!!) was a bit hectic. As most of you closest to me may already know, I had a spot on my chin biopsied in December that came back from the lab with the diagnosis of Basal Cell Carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer. The big C word definitely threw me for a loop, especially since I am pregnant and have the joys of pregnancy hormones to thank for some of my emotional ups and downs. Last week, I underwent a procedure called Mohs Microsurgery to remove the cancer. The doctor I was referred to is a specialist in Mohs, so I knew I was in great hands, but it didn't make the procedure any more pleasant. I left the doctor's office on Wednesday morning with 8 sutures in my chin and a 1 inch long incision. (They have to make absolutely sure that the cancer is totally eliminated, so they examine each layer they cut out under a microscope.) I have always been a sunscreener and the type to wear a hat, big sunglasses, and long sleeves when out in the sun for a long period of time - but my celtic genes put me in the highest risk group for BCC.

I get the sutures out tomorrow at 2 pm and I cannot wait! The Mohs procedure is great for two reasons: 1) 99% of the time the cancer never comes back; and 2) It is the best procedure for removing skin cancer in the face cosmetically. I will have a small scar that should fade into the background and become almost undetectable within 1 year. So, even if you are not as fair as me, use sunscreen people! Believe me, you do not want to go through this process if you can avoid it.

Later that Wednesday, with a 2 x 2 1/2 inch pressure dressing on my face, I met with my new ob for our first visit. WHAT A RELIEF!!! He is one of the nicest doctors that I have ever met and he is totally supportive, even encourages natural childbirth. I am so happy to have found him this far along in the pregnancy. I also found out that I passed my glucose screening test and that in the last three weeks I gained 1 pound. I have now gained around 14 pounds total and can expect another 10 or 11 in the third trimester. I have been working out and eating right, to ensure that I am in good shape for the natural childbirth that I desire. I have been using my elliptical 3 times per week, doing yoga 4 times per week (2 times in a class and 2 times on my own) and walking the Cider dog all over the place. My new doctor said I was doing great and that everything is progressing as it should - he even told me my belly looks great!

In other news, I finished little t's baby blanket this weekend. It is so adorable. I am posting photos of it here as well as a couple of belly shots I took myself on Friday night.

Yesterday I met with a photographer who is going to take some pregnancy photos of me. I really wanted to be able to capture how my body looks carrying this baby. She is going to take some really artistic and beautiful black and white photos of both me by myself and of me with JM. I am excited to have something to show little t when he is older.

I hope everyone out there is doing great! I just want to give a shout out to Jen and Erin who are planning the baby shower we are having on March 14. They are working really hard and I am REALLY lucky to have them in my life to pull of this together. THANKS GIRLS!! And Jen, I cannot wait to see you! I miss you tons.

Big Kiss from CBT, JMT, & LT

Hiccups and Switching Providers at 27 weeks!

Hello Everyone,

First of all, thank you for all the sweet comments about little t's nursery. I hope he loves it as much as everyone else seems to! We think it is super cute and I find myself peaking in on everything at least twice a day. We still have some finishing touches left like framed photos/art for the walls, a new futon cover and lamp for the chest of drawers, but overall we are just really pleased with how the room has turned out.

On another note, I am certain that little t had hiccups today and I could finally feel them for the first time. It was the funniest feeling like little rhythmic thumps in my belly for a few minutes. I read that it is towards the end of the second trimester that you can feel these hiccups and sure enough, like clockwork, little t delivered. He must not have been too happy about the hiccups though, because it felt like he was doing some wild acrobatics to get rid of them. Major commotion in the belly all at once. Still, it is so good to feel him move and to know that he is progressing along like he should.

On a not so fun note, but a totally insane one, JM and I have decided that we have to find a new provider to deliver the baby. Since I have been going to a fairly large practice, it is necessary that I rotate through all of the physicians who may end up delivering the baby. Before our hypnobirthing classes started I had only seen one of the six doctors and the only midwife in the practice. I asked them what they thought of natural childbirth and they seemed to be sort of supportive, but not totally enthusiastic about the idea. I was not totally alarmed, however, and continued to see them. Since that time, we began our hypnobirthing classes and I have become aware of the really pointed questions that I should be asking to get a feel for the practice culture and their support or lack thereof of moms who desire natural births. JM and I met with yet another doctor in the practice last week and had the worst experience with him ever!

First of all, he was 45 minutes late and we were the first appointment of the day. We were told that he had a "meeting" and would be 20 minutes late, which turned into 45. Bummer, but after already peeing in a cup, being weighed, etc. it just made more sense to wait than to reschedule. I am glad we waited! When he came in the room, he did not introduce himself to us, but merely sat down and asked, "any questions?" What? No hello, how are yous? I told him about a few minor things that had happened over the past 5 weeks and he seemed fairly disinterested in my concerns. He did not even make a quick note in my Electronic Medical Record chart that he had pulled up on his touch pad hand held computer. I went on to tell him that we were taking hypnobirthing classes and that we desired a natural un-medicated childbirth. I asked him what he thought about natural childbirth in general. He responded by laughing out loud and saying, "I don't really care what you do, because I get to leave the room." Number one, don't laugh in your patient's face. It is rude and condescending. Number two, this implies that I will be one of those "natural birthing moms rolling around and screaming" and that he is lucky that he will not be the one "dealing" with me. I was so mad and shocked that I did not know what to say. Instead of walking out right then, I just kept asking him questions.

I asked about his opinion on fetal monitoring and if I could self-hydrate instead of automatically being hooked up to an IV. I even brought up that I would perfectly willing to have a hep lock so that they could have easy access should I need an IV. I would like freedom and movement and to control my own fluid intake. He again laughed in my face and told me that first time moms get "too tired and nauseous" to self-hydrate and that I would not be able to take care of it myself. He also told me that I needed to have continuous fetal monitoring meaning wearing a belt around my belly the whole labor. I was very disappointed with these answers and wanted to know how that would impact my ability to walk around and to get into a tub of water for example. He informed me that I could walk with the IV pole, but that I "wouldn't be doing much, if any, walking at that point in the labor." I kept thinking, wow! this guy is already totally against me and we have never even met before!

This ob clearly did not want to deal with someone who might rock the boat and interfere with his normal way of dealing with births. I started to think back on the discussions that I had with the other ob and midwife and realized that I was just too scared to admit to myself that I may need to change practices. In fact, when I asked the midwife about natural childbirth she said, "just don't come in here saying you are one of those women with a high pain tolerance." I must have pulled the wool over my own eyes or something. I just did not want to deal with the extra duty of finding a whole new practice at 20 weeks pregnant. But, after last week I knew that I could not accept anyone from this practice delivering our baby.

I called our hypnobirthing instructor immediately after the appointment and asked her for names of docs/midwives that I could call to check out. JM wrote a colleague to inquire about a midwife who assisted in the birth of his baby. Cincinnati is a very conservative city and a hard one if you want to achieve a natural childbirth. There is a 97% epidural rate here, and a 30-something% c-section rate.

I have now made an appointment with one of two obs in the city who supports natural childbirth, but cannot meet him until 2.24. I am also going to interview the midwife JM's colleague used and we are in e-mail contact right now. We are touring another hospital this weekend and I am certain that we will have someone new and improved soon.

I guess I am glad that I found this out now instead of during the delivery. I have heard many many horror stories of docs who say they support you in whatever you want, but when push comes to shove they get their way. If this hypnobirthing will work, I need to be surrounded by people who support me and who will help me through the birthing with good energy and positivity. I am hopeful and I am really looking forward to spending my third trimester in caring hands.

Wish us luck!

cbt, jm, & lt

26 weken

Hallo Allemaal!

We made some more great progress getting little t's room ready for his arrival. JM made the point this morning that we are probably getting this done much earlier than other people, but I am a neat freak (well freak in general) and I feel MUCH better knowing that we are prepared and not having to wait until the last minute. Another reason we are ahead of the curve on this point is that JM and I both have some extra time right now (and for me enough energy) to get this preparation stuff dealt with!

We now have a crib and changing table (thanks much to Mom!) and a nieuwe kast for little t. Robbie and JM spent almost three hours yesterday putting everything together and then I went crazy transferring all of little t's things into his new room. Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure ... Enjoy!





Hopefully, sometime soon we will have some new belly shots to post as well. Growing and showing is the name of the game.

Dikke Tut,

cbt

24+ Week Update

Howdy folks! First, I have to acknowledge that it is steenkoud (stonecold) in Cincinnati right now. JM and I woke up to -8 degrees F (-22 degrees Celsius) this week. It was mighty hard to get out of bed and make it into work on the below zero mornings.

Yesterday, was my mom's birthday so we drove down to Lexington to celebrate. We had a great time and mom bought a new car for herself. She got a GREAT deal in this bad economy. Now she will be styling in her new ride all around town. Mom getting a new car, meant that we have now inherited the VW Jetta that she has been driving since JM totaled the Volvo in Memphis, TN during Elvis Week back in '99. Good times. The Jetta needs some work, but is still in great shape and is really coming to us in perfect timing for the arrival of little t. It would be pretty difficult to still share a car with a new baby here. Thanks Mom for your generosity, it is always appreciated and I love you for always coming through when I need it most.

After many requests to see the proof that little t is actually a boy, I have finally convinced JM that we CAN indeed post a pic of little t's piemel (that's dutch for penis people) on the internet. He felt a little guilty posting photos of little t's junk for everyone to see, but here it is for your viewing pleasure.



Clearly a boy baby!

I am also posting a couple of belly shots - clearly growing and showing. Sorry it has taken me so long to get these online. They are from last week and you can see that little t is getting bigger and making his presence much more noticeable in my belly!



There you have it - two side shots (clearly pregnant) and one from the front (not looking so pregnant).

We spent some time this morning working on the nursery. We have now rolled out the rug and applied the polka dot decals to the walls. Super cute! here are a few photos from today's progress.

That's all for now, I hope you enjoy the photos and as always, there will be more to come next week!

Dikke Tut,

cbt

I love posing for my parents!!

Hi everyone!


Today was probably the most exciting visit to the OB's office during this entire pregnancy. We had an ultrasound today at 8 am and got to see what little Tillema was up to this morning! It was so exciting to see all four chambers of the heart, the spine, the diaphragm, fingers and toes, the brain, a great profile of the face, little t doing some serious thumb-sucking, and arms & legs.

As it goes with two stubborn parents, I think little t seriously had enough of looking cute for the pictures. Little t spent some time hiding, sitting up & facing mama's back, giving the tech a hard time. But after some swirling and a belly rub, he gave his face away (and as you can tell, a little more than just the face)... We are proud to present you the latest photos of little BOY T!!!