Thumper's New Names

With some hesitation, I am announcing the names of the next Munn.  I say I hesitate because I already know some may dislike our choices.  We have chosen a couple of names which are less popular but are strong in sentimental value.  While I value the opinions of others, I hope that our name choices will be respected as well.  Also know these are our name choices right now and may be changed if something doesn't "feel right" about them as we go along.

GIRL - Jayla Anne Munn

BOY - Liam Martin Munn

Generally speaking, it seems that a majority of people agree that we should have a boy.  Generally speaking also, it is often implied that if we have another girl that this would be a disappointment or let down of sorts.  YES we do hope for our boy - but we LOVE our girls so much!!  Whatever this little sweetie is - he/she is meant for our family and is already loved more than he/she could possibly know.  We are thrilled to become parents to another girl or boy.  I look forward to the moment we will finally know what our next little one is!

Blue Christmas

"I'll have a blue Christmas without you

I'll be so blue just thinking about you

Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree

Won't be the same, dear, if you're not here with me

And when those blue snowflakes start falling

That's when those blue memories start calling

You'll be doin' all right with your Christmas of white

But I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas

You'll be doin' all right with your Christmas of white

But I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas."

The lyrics to this song and a couple others have new meaning for me.  Friday December 14,  during my lunch/shopping date with my Mom, we were sitting in a pizza restaurant when I noticed the corner TV blinking the words breaking news.  I looked up and read somewhat what it said but I wasn't fully brought up to speed until I started reading the many many Facebook posts praying for the families of those lost in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.  20 innocent young children, not one over the age of seven, were killed.  Six adults were also shot and killed, then the shooter killing himself making 27 people dead from this horrible tragedy. 

As a future teacher and mother of a seven year old, the news was hard to swallow.  We are taught in my classes that when we become teachers, we take on a certain in loco parentis - which trasnlates to "in place of parents" or the unofficial act of teachers stepping in as parent or guardian of their students when at school.  When parents send off their students at the beginning of the the day, they are also silently passing on the torch of trust and guardianship of their son and daughter onto the teacher.  As a parent and a future teacher, I take this role quite seriously. When a parent sends their child to school, they assume they are in a safe environment.... which is another reason the shooting on December 14, 2012 is considered even more devastating.  Not one of those parents sent their child to school that day, expecting them to be buried before Christmas. 

Through the events, I heard of one teacher that's brave act saved her classroom of students.  Her name is Victoria Soto.  She was 27 years old and a first grade teacher.  When the gunfire broke out, she hid her students in her classroom closets and cabinets.  When the shooter entered the room, she told him her students were in the gym just before being repeatedly shot to death.  Not one of her students was harmed. She is my hero.  I hope that one day when I am a teacher, I will have the courage to do the same if ever needed.  Victoria Soto is an example of the dedication teachers should have towards their students.  She displayed true in loco parentis. People like her make me proud to become a teacher. 

At times, I think about how I would feel... I see Danelle's stocking and presents ready to be put under the tree.  Then I realize that for some parents out there now, they are heartbreaking reminders that their child will not know the joy they planned for Christmas morning.  I have thought hard about the mornings when I send Danelle off to school; how would I feel if that were the last time seeing her on earth?  Does she know how much I love her every day that she leaves home?  I can't begin to imagine enough the depth of sorrow and anger that those parents must be feeling at this very moment.  

"Bells will be ringing this sad sad New Years

Oh what a Christmas to have the blues

My baby's gone..."

To the families and friends of all lost, teachers and staff of Sandy Hook Elementary, and many traumatized students of this shooting in Newtown, Connecticut...  "The death of a child is the single most traumatic event in medicine.  To lose a child is to lose a piece of yourself," Dr. Burton Grebin. I wish there was a way I could help you at this time or ease some of the pain you are feeling.  You are in the thoughts and prayers of many, including me and my family.  May you find comfort and peace during this difficult time. 

  

V-bac :-s

All along, I was pretty certain that I wanted to attempt a v-bac (vaginal birth after c-section).   I felt pretty sure about things but something changed the first time I saw our baby on the ultrasound monitor.  For the first time in this pregnancy, this wasn't just an idea or happy thought.  It was REAL.  This baby had a face, nose, arrms, legs, a functioning heart and brain... it was a person, my child.  It was then that I began to worry about the thought of having a v-bac.  If something went wrong, I was certain that I would be ok but I didn't feel that I could responsibly risk my baby's life for my selfish desire to not be cut open again and suffer a long recovery.  Only knowing one person at the time with a successful v-bac, I decided to ask my doctor about it at my 24 week appointment.

Here's something to consider when thinking about v-bac: the odds of a major tear are 1/10,000.  The odds of a minor tear are 1/200, however even with a minor tear you can still go forward with a v-bac safely.  Something about my Dr. Crouch; he has had ZERO fatalities in mother AND baby in all his years of performing them.  In that time, he has only seen two major tears, both in women who were attempting a v-bac after repeat c-sections - but they survived.  He assured me that he will be in the hospital at all times.  There are three signs to a rupture; bleeding, baby's heart rate  and he told me that even with an epidural, I would feel it.  However, he also let  me know that I am in the LOWEST risk bracket for this to happen since I have had a vaginal delivery before, only one c-section, and almost three years of gap between these babies. 

Everything considered, I feel much more at ease about the idea than I had. I have said this many times; I trust my doctor with my life and now our baby's as well.  Overall, I have good feelings about the v-bac, if everything works out and I can still have one by then.  I worry more about going into labor on my own since I can't be induced and haven't had much luck with going into labor on my own in previous pregnancies.  I am hoping for the best and prepared for the worst (meaning c-section). I have my first fluid check on December 31st, New Years Eve.  Fingers crossed that this pregnancy stays as wonderful as it is now. 

*As a general disclaimer; v-bac is not for everyone and I completely understand and respect a mother's decision to have a repeat c-section.  To have a successful v-bac you need to trust your doctor fully, find out the risks, pray, and go with your gut feelings.  If you want many children, v-bac might make sense because repeat c-sections can be risky as well, sometimes more risky than the original v-bac.  If you only want a couple more children, you need to do what makes sense for you.*     

Thanksgiving 2012

November got off to a rugged start.  After a rough month, I was really looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with the family.  If there is one thing I have heard as a Mom though, it's to expect the unexpected and poor Kaitlyn got sick the day before Thanksgiving.  Not wanting to make anyone else sick (especially Elodie who was only six weeks old) we came up with a weird way that Shayne and I could have a holiday and one of us could stay with Kaitlyn at all times. 

First up - The Burrows/LaTurner dinner.  Ellie and I took our hungry bellies over to my Mom's house around 1:30 for our dinner.  Everything tasted amazing but my favorite part was the stuffing this year.  I need to get Mom's recipe because I had probably three helpings!  I also loaded up on the mashed potatoes and gravy, another favorite.  The time went by too fast though because in a moment it was 4:00, we had just had pies, and Ellie and I had to go so Shayne could catch his family dinner.  

4:15 - Shayne and Ellie headed out for the Munn family dinner at Sarah's house.  I don't know much about how this dinner went, but Shayne said he had a great time.  I heard some pretty great comments about the turkey as well; Jason has been mastering his "smoking" skills and they smoked the turkey.  I tried some of the leftovers and I have to admit, even cold it was one of the most flavorful turkeys I had probably ever tasted.  The smokey taste gave the turkey something extra. It made for an amazing turkey sandwich for me. 

While everyone was gone, I did get a little depressed though.  It seemed sad to me to look across the table and see half of our family missing, chairs empty that were once full.  It was the first Thanksgiving Shayne and I had spent apart... EVER. I hadn't even gotten around to taking pictures before it was time to leave.  Although we miss our family and hate being apart during the holidays, they were there in our hearts and we look forward to the day that we can all be together for the holidays again.