A Plan and Mini Update

Once again, we have a plan of action. Such a relief! So much to be thankful for in this Thanksgiving season...

Janna has a contact who is a CNM (certified nurse midwife) and a CPM (certified professional midwife), and that midwife also works with another combo CNM-CPM midwife. We consulted and had a lovely discussion, and afterward, due to their schedule constraints, they decided I would see each of them at every other visit (Janna will attend every visit). All 3 ladies expressed interest in being at the birth, so Jason and I really feel as though we are getting a "3-for-1" kind of a deal. A few of the details are a bit confusing the way they want to organize it, but overall I am feeling a great sense of peace about our decision. These 2 certified midwives are very experienced in just about every setting imaginable!

I never sit down to stare at the "tube" very often and happened to watch several back-to-back episodes of A Baby Story, which depicts traditional births in a hospital setting. It made me even more confident with our home birth plan.

I am feeling well overall and "Peanut" is moving lots. I can tell she is getting stronger each day. That's right, we're expecting a girl! Part of me is not getting overly excited for a girl as I half expect her to grow that extra appendage that was somehow hiding during the ultrasound.

Zyler is 22 months old and is talking a ton. He tried to repeat just about anything we say, so watch your language! ;-) Sometimes I will ask him to say "hi" to the baby in my belly and he will give my belly a hug. Too precious!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Some Bad News...

First off, Peanut is fine! We had our ultrasound last week... more on that later!

My midwife called me as I was almost home on Friday. She has to "release me from care" to put it in legal terms. She had a terrible loss a few of weeks ago. Her best friend died in a terrible car accident and left behind 8 children who look to V. as their second mother. Needless to say, she has been through a lot of stress, and, through prayer, came to the conclusion that she needs to withdraw from midwifery right now.

I completely understand her position and respect her decision 100%. I am very thankful that she did not try to "do it all" and then realize in my 30+ weeks period that she couldn't pull through for me. However, with all the time and discernment I have put into the decision to home birth and interview and find the right midwife for me, I was heartbroken and very upset all evening.

Right now we are leaning toward hiring her student assistant who I am very familiar with already, Janna Grapperhaus. She is close to being a CPM but not quite finished, and she has some options for me of CPMs she can hire to supervise her. Many details to figure out and questions to ask, but I have recently heard rave reviews of Janna's services and abilities which makes me all the more confident in her as a midwife.

Please keep us in your prayers during this discernment process (once again)!