"I'm King of the World!"

Or so James Cameron continues to think. I'm blogging of his documentary, The Jesus Tomb, which will air right before Easter on the Discovery Channel.

I won't waste my precious third trimester energy debunking the issue when other bloggers have already done so, far better than I could:

Amy Welborn, open book - Okay, the Jesus tomb
Hot Air - Titanic Director Aims to Sink Christianity

We'll be adding the Discovery Channel to our list of things we're giving up for Lent.

Photo Blogging by Bitty

Bitty took this picture of Mommy yesterday. When he saw the picture in the viewfinder he exclaimed, "Mommy, you're so CUTE!"

Hey, at 32 weeks and feeling like a Teletubbie, I'll take any compliment I can get!

Foto Friday

National Pancake Day

Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday, aka Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday or National Pancake Day. So head on over to your local IHOP and enjoy a free short stack!

We'll be doing pancakes for breakfast then a stuff-your-belly 'Pigs Dinner' complete with Kings Cake! (OK, it's really an Oreo cookie cake off today's 1/2 price rack, but I'll stick a plastic baby inside... or a Little People - got plenty of those lying around.)

Happy Birth Days!

In the past two weeks, Bitty and Itty have gained three more cousins!

Dade Andrew, born to Aunt Esme and Uncle Andy on February 5
Adam, born to Aunt Zoryana and Uncle John on February 11
Lucia Marie, born to Aunt Gina and Uncle Tony yesterday morning

Bitty and Itty now have a total of 16 first cousins, with another one due next fall!

Congratulations to all of Dan's brothers and their wives on their new little blessings!

Childbirth in the 21st Century:

Receiving a letter via Certified Mail informing me that Itty will be born on April 17 at 7:30am. (I'm having a repeat C-section.)

Due to an obstetrician shortage and off the chart malpractice insurance rates, OB's in our state will not attempt VBAC's. Honestly, I have no problem with a repeat C-section. I don't believe for one contraction that a Mother's worth is based on how her child comes into the world. With drugs or without, in an operating room or a bathtub, through your birth canal or another woman's. Being a Mom means enduring a lifetime of heartbreaks every time her baby is hurt or upset - so I'm all for lessening the physical pain associated with delivery!

Which is not to say a c-section isn't painful. For Bitty's birth I had 9 hours of labor at home, 3 hours of labor without drugs at the hospital, followed by 12 more hours of labor (albeit with an epidural) before an emergency c-section was performed due to failure to progress and Bitty's decreasing heart rate. At that point I'd been awake for over 36 hours and was utterly exhausted.

The following morning when the nurse forced me up out of my hospital bed I thought I was being punk'd. Sitting, let alone standing after having a 6-inch incision through my stomach? Dan said he'd never seen anyone is such utter agony. (I now know to ask for more pain meds BEFORE the first dose wears off!)

I told my OB that my goals for this birth were: 1) a healthy baby and 2) to not feel one darn contraction. If I have to deal with the recovery from major abdominal surgery, then I should be spared any of the discomfort of labor!

So my pregnancy ticker now reflects my new 'due' date since my c-section is scheduled for 39 weeks gestation. Mark your calendars!

Wish You Were Here!

Current temperatures for some of our family & friends:

Washington, DC: 20F, Wind Chill, 4F
Buffalo, NY: 11F, Wind Chill, -9F
Green Bay, WI: 3F, Wind Chill, -13F

Our Part of the World: Sunny, 72F

Feel free to gloat in August when we are sweltering at 115F, but for today we're loving this part of the country!

And All Is Right in Our World

Favre to Return in 2007