The Copy Cat

I'm sure every little kid does it. Camille is no exception. She loves to copy everything we do. For instance, the other day, Sarah was sweeping. So what did Camille have to do?

Then today, Sarah was putting on her make-up, so....

Camille tried to do the same. She ended up with some cotton ball stuck to her cheek and I couldn't resist taking a few pictures!

Reason 5,139 to Love Computers

Seeing as how I am working on a Master's in Computer Science it should surprise none of you that I love computers and (especially) computer science.

Reason 5,139 to love them: I coded up an experiment today for my thesis. It took an hour or two to code up and debug, but it will probably take a few days to run. Thanks to computer, all weekend long I can think "ah, I am working on my thesis, right now" while I am out Christmas shopping, working in the nursery for the Relief Society dinner, sleeping, showering, etc. Such a wonderful feeling!

My thoughts on C-sections and VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean)

I am going to post a review of a book that I read on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). But before I get to the review of the book, I just wanted to explain a little bit about why I read it and why I'm writing the review. First of all, most of you probably know that our daughter Camille was born via C-section last summer. I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at my 39 week check-up and was sent directly from that appointment to the hospital to be induced. (my doctor gave me the option between that or coming back the next morning for a C-section...either way, I needed to have that baby SOON because my condition was bad and they didn't want it to get worse or for it to start effecting Camille).

To make a long story short, pitocin did nothing for me. No contractions. Nothing. Basically, Mike and I hung out for 10 hours before my doctor suggested doing a C-section. He would have allowed me to go on with the induction, but he estimated at that point that there was an 80% chance I would end up needing a C-section anyway. Mike and I said a prayer, and we felt like a C-section was the right thing to do.

Although I felt like having a C-section was the right thing to do in that situation, I would like to avoid future ones if possible. I have a lot of reasons for wanting to have VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean). There are lots of obvious reasons, such as the possible complications that come with having major surgery. (A lot of people seem to forget that a c-section is a major surgery since it is such a common procedure.) Also, the recovery is pretty painful and a much longer process than for a vaginal delivery.

But the biggest reason for me wanting to have a VBAC is because Mike and I want to have a large family. These days, the general reccomendation is that you have no more than 3 c-sections. Also, it is not reccomended that you attempt a vaginal delivery if you have had more than 1 c-section. (Unless you have already had at least one vaginal delivery...then the reccomendation is no more than 2 c-sections.) Mike and I would love to have more than 3 children. However, we will understand if that doesn't happen. Having reflected and researched a lot since Camille's birth has helped me come to realize that everything is in the Lord's hands and will work out the way it is supposed to.

Anyway, I am going to write the book review so that maybe it can help someone else out. I have done A Lot of research on VBAC since Camille's birth. There really isn't as much information out there as I had expected or hoped. However, I do come across new stuff sometimes. I am going to start posting links to helpful websites and stuff. I thought the book I read was VERY helpful, although some of the information was a little out-dated. Consequently, I would suggest doing further research on the topic so that you can make the right decision for yourself, whether it is VBAC or repeat cesarean.

The book review will be my next post, so watch for it...Hopefully later today, but definitely within the next few days.

Learning new tricks isn't always good

Camille has a learned a new skill. Okay, it isn't a bad thing. It's just that she does not use this skill appropriately.

She has learned to take her clothes off.

The problem with this is that she has known how to take her diaper off for a while now. But, as long as we got her dressed quickly after a diaper change or a bath, she couldn't get it off. Now she knows how to undo the snap on her pajamas and unzip them.

I first discovered that Camille could take her pajamas off last week. She woke up in the morning, and I heard her so I went to get her out of the crib. She was standing in her bed wearing only a diaper. Her pajamas were completely off! I didn't think she would learn how to do this already because she isn't even 17 months old.

The other day Camille woke up in the night. I went into her room and she started saying "blanket" over and over. After I put her in bed for the night, she had apparently unzipped her pajamas before falling asleep and woke up because she was cold. Luckily she hadn't taken off her diaper, but I still felt bad for her. I always check on Camille right before Mike and I go to bed, but she sleeps on her stomach. Which is why I didn't notice then that she was almost undressed. (She still had her arms and legs in) Poor kid.