Home again

We got back from the hospital on Friday, and are slowly adjusting to our crazy new life. Having friends and family here to help out has been a life saver. My parents just left on Saturday afternoon, but Britt's mom is still here and will hopefully be able to stay through the end of this week.

A Navy pilot friend of mine once described caring for a newborn as "Not very intuitive. Even the intake and exhaust operations aren't as simple as you'd think." That pretty much sums it up -despite all the books we've read and classes we took, there is still a lot of trial and error. Once again, thank goodness for having family and friends to help keep us on track.

My apologies for not getting pics out any sooner, so without further ado, here is our Miss Luci!




On the way to the hospital.




About 30 minutes old!



Super cute!

Look at her long legs.

All dressed up.

Here she is!

Lucia Rosonke Pierse made her debut July 25, 2007 at 9:11 pm. She weighs 8 lbs 2 oz, and is 22 1/2 inches tall. She has big blue eyes and quite a bit of curly sandy blond hair. She is very alert and seems to respond with familiarity to the sounds of our voices.

It's been quite a day! Britt was fully dilated by about 5:30 pm and Dr Beena came in and said it was time to start pushing. Britt pushed for a few minutes, but Luci wouldn't budge, so Dr Beena decided to let Britt rest for about 90 minutes, to see if her natural contractions would get things going.

Britt started feeling the urge to push around 7:00 and that's when it started to get really tough for her. She had near-continuous contractions for about two hours as Luci slowly made her way down the tunnel. By 9:00, Britt was getting really tired and frustrated, but Beena was able to get the suction on Luci's head and help pull her out the rest of the way.

I could go into further detail of what happened over the next few minutes, but this is a G-rated website. So - for my dad and for Liz Jobe and for anyone else who appreciates brevity over detail in this instance, suffice to say that Britt and Luci made it just fine and both are resting quietly. Actually, there are little snores coming from each of them, but both are resting peacefully! :)

- Clay

At the hospital

Britt and I arrived at the hospital last night and all is well; no baby just yet, but we're making good progress!

We got in around 8:00pm and met with Dr Beena shortly afterwards. A quick check showed that Britt's dilation hadn't progressed beyond 1.5 cm - where it's been for a week - so the doctor gave her Cytotec, a cervical "ripening" agent.

We were both able to get some sleep last night, even though Britt was still having regular, if somewhat unproductive contractions. Our nurse started the induction process - with Pitocin - around 5:00 this morning.

By 9:00 this morning, Britt was dilated around 3-4 cm and started having regular, increasingly painful contractions. The Pitocin-induced contractions were really brutal, however, and after about 45 minutes of continuous pain, we decided to get the epidural.

Now - at 3:00 pm, she's dilated to 5 cm and feeling better than she has in months, if a little nauseous. Britt just told me that she finally feels that Luci is ready to come out, and Dr Beena told me earlier she is confident Luci will be born today!

So - my apologies for keeping most of you in suspense today, but it took me a little while to figure out how to connect my Jurassic era computer to the hospital's LAN.

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers; I'll write again when we have more news!

-Clay

Type A

Well, no news today. I am still 1.5 cm dilated and my contractions were not very strong or regular this morning. As of now we are scheduled to start the induction process at 8pm tomorrow (Tuesday) night. We'll check into the hospital and be monitored for about an hour to make sure all is well. Once we've established Luci is still happy, we'll soon disrupt her world as she knows it and start the eviction.

As you may or may not realize, we really have had very lofty goals of a completely un-medicated child birth. Given we are starting the entire process with meds, clearly things are not going to go as we had hoped. Being SO type A, and having spent soo much time learning as much as we can about natural child birth, clearly this is not how we envisioned bringing our daughter into the world. That being said, we have the utmost faith in our child care provider, and at this point she feels this course of action will provide the best possible outcome. All of the reading in the world cannot compare with her experience, medical knowledge and judgement. We can only put our faith in her and in God that this is how it is all supposed to go. We all share the goal of a healthy mom & healthy baby, and we are trying to stay focused on the sweet baby girl we'll soon be holding... please keep us all in your thoughts & prayers tomorrow night and Wednesday.

Patience

No news...I'll post again after our 10am doctor appointment tomorrow. Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Still no news

We went to visit Dr. Johnson again this morning - no news to report. I'm still 1.5 cm dilated, and still having contractions. Luci's heartbeat looked great & the ultrasound estimated her weight at 8 lbs, 7 ounces with an error rate of + or - 10%....so yes, we could be looking at a big baby girl. We go to see Dr. Johnson again on Monday morning. If Luci is still camped out as of Tuesday night we'll be admitted to the hospital to get the induction moving. We are praying she decides to come on her own before then...

Thank You!!

Thank you all so much for your kind comments & voicemail messages....gives me warm fuzzies to know we have so many caring friends & family. We are trying REALLY hard to stay patient, but it is hard!! We went to the doctor yesterday at 2pm and didn't arrive home until after 7pm. When we got to Dr. Johnson's I finally got to go into the fancy room with the leather recliner. I had seen pregnant moms go in there before, but never quite knew how you managed to get the recliner room...well, you just have to be full term! Once in the recliner you get hooked up to the fetal monitor that charts the baby's heart beat & the mom's contractions. I was having fairly regular contractions (which we knew), but Luci's heart beat wasn't behaving quite as expected. So...after a brief exam that revealed that I'm only 1.5 cm dilated (.5 cm progress in a week - boo) despite all of these contractions we were sent over to the hospital to have a bio-physical profile of Luci done via ultrasound. Basically both Luci & I are working really hard but just not getting anywhere, so Dr. Johnson wanted to make sure Luci was tolerating these non productive contractions all right. Clearly we still both have a lot of work to do, and Dr. Johnson wanted to make sure we are both still doing well and will have the strength for active labor once it finally hits.

The ultrasound took FOREVER. The first lady was pushing on my stomach super hard & it really hurt. Then she called in the big guns & another lady did the whole thing over. Apparently when a baby is full term & so big it creates lots of shadows that make it difficult to get the job done. The second lady was much more gentle, and finally at 7pm the event was over. We got a call just now letting us know that Luci appears to be totally fine hanging out in there, scoring an 8 out of 8 for well being. So no eviction notice being served yet - she has until Wednesday the 25th to come on her own accord. Tomorrow we go back to see Dr. Johnson for more monitoring, and then we have another ultrasound to estimate how big our baby girl is. I'll post another update tomorrow afternoon. Until then, keep praying for labor pain...I hear pain is a good thing at this point.

No news

Still here, still waiting. The wagons are drawn - Clay's parents arrived last night and my mom and youngest sister Baylee are due in later tonight. Staying super hydrated seems to be the key to keeping cramps at bay. Tomorrow afternoon we see Dr. Beena, and are going to talk to her about trying some Castor Oil...supposedly a method of natural induction. Beyond that, we are all just going to keep hanging out! Brooke's bet is on Friday night...any other takers? I'm curious to see what happens to my little baby widget over on the left of the screen tomorrow!

Cranky

Well we are still here, just hanging out...waiting. Thanks to all of you who have called to check up on me and I apologize for not being very good at returning calls lately...I'm too cranky. Physically I've been having cramps & belly tightening fairly regularly since Wednesday at 4pm. They are tiring, but not painful per se...just uncomfortable & taxing. Yesterday the cramps were quite bad & I burst into tears at one point telling Clay she was never going to come out & play. He was very sweet and suggested we get out of the house and go for a drive...so we did & it was a welcome distraction. This morning I woke up with more cramping & belly tightenings about 10 minutes apart. It was raining & we fell back asleep, only to awake to belly tightenings every 3 - 5 minutes. I didn't think it could be the real thing because I wasn't in much pain, but we both got very excited & hopeful. After about 90 minutes of these 3 - 5 minute tightenings we called Dr. Johnson...who told us that if I could talk through the tightening that this was not the real thing. Needless to say we were both BUMMED...and now I'm even more cranky from the letdown of it all. I'm trying really hard to stay positive & focused on how lucky and blessed we are, because I do know we truly are. She'll come on her own time when she's ready, and as Clay keeps reminding me I'm not even due until Wednesday. So my new approach is to just assume she won't be here until a week from Wednesday...at that point given the induction I know we won't have too much farther to go. So that's my current plan...we'll keep you all posted. :)

Pain for a reason!

Well we had our 39 weeks, 1 day appointment this afternoon...and I'm 1 cm dilated!! Only 9 cm more & some pushing to go until we get to meet our Luci. I've been having very irregular contractions since about 4pm yesterday. They are uncomfortable and maybe mildly painful, but I'm sure I'll soon say there were nothing compared to what was to come. Usually they go something like this...

Me (in my head): hmmm...is that Luci moving or is this a contraction? Oh, I'm getting kind of hot...hmmm...kind of hurts, kind of hurts...
Me to Clay: CLAY! Feel my belly!! Is that Luci or a contraction?
Clay: Hmmm....I think it is a contraction. Your belly is pretty hard. Yep, I think it is a contraction.
Me to Clay: What time is it?

Then we wait 10 minutes, or maybe 12, or maybe 16, or maybe 20 & we play the whole game over again. I was pretty uncomfortable before bed last night, but I slept like a rock & woke up this morning feeling just fine. I had a few contractions this morning, but again, nothing regular. Please note these irregular contractions & the fact that I'm 1 cm dilated are not very good predictors of how soon Luci will arrive...but it is certainly a step in the right direction and I'll take what I can get at this point! I was going to be a little depressed if this pain was for nothing...the thought of what 'real' results bringing pain must feel like was a bit daunting. Dr. Beena said she's got 4 moms (I'm one of them :) who are ready to go anytime, and 2 of them are 4 or 5 cm dilated and have been for awhile!!

So now we keep hanging out & waiting. We'll see Dr. Beena again on Wednesday (our due date) if Luci hasn't yet arrived. After that we'll see her every 2 days and then induce no later than Wednesday the 25th if she hasn't decided to come on her own by then. Our new, cheaper cable that we had installed yesterday managed to break overnight, so Clay's watching a creepy movie on DVD and I'm going to go read a book now. We'll keep everyone posted!

Things I'll miss...and things I won't!

Things I'll miss:
My hair. It looks better than it ever...like ever in my entire life.
The dessert card...no one judges a pregnant lady eating dessert.
Filet-O-Fish sandwiches...another guilty pleasure I've been partaking in far more than my husband likes.
Having a good reason to hang out on the sofa on my left side watching TV.
Having a good reason not to travel...and to stay home with my kitkats.
Having a good reason not to be on litterbox duty.
Random women telling me (always in a public restroom) how great I look when I tell them I'm due in a week and a half...this is a new one!
The anticipation and looming excitement of meeting the most significant contribution Clay & I have made to the world yet...both as individuals and as a couple.

Things I won't:
Having to force myself to stay hydrated, knowing I'll be in the bathroom every 10 minutes or less as a result.
Snoring.
Heartburn and Tums.
Preparation H.
Random people asking when I'm due and then being surprised at how far I have to go.
The inability to have a strong cup of coffee, glass of wine, sushi, soft cheese and cold meat sandwiches (that's deli meat for all of you non-Rosonkes).
Looking at my body as though it is science experiment every morning because the changes are really too much to rationally & emotionally comprehend.
My crooked negro medelo (known as the linea negra to every one but Clay & me).
Not being able to see my feet as I walk down stairs.
Being hot...ALL of the time.
The inability to wear my clothes, shoes & rings.
Feeling like my body is going to break when I try to roll over or get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.
The swelling in my feet & this giant belly.

38 weeks, 1 day

We had our 38 week appointment this morning...we're becoming quite the fixture at Dr. Johnson's office these days (as are many other women with huge bellies)! I lost 2 lbs over last week so Dr. Johnson said I need to eat up - to which I replied, "can do!" No changes to report...I am not dilated at this point, and Luci is still 'fairly high'. That being said, my heartburn has improved significantly over a week ago, so she must have dropped at least a little bit. She is in a great position for labor and birth, so hopefully she stays that way & just moves down a bit! The placenta looks good, but does have little calcification spots that are visible on the ultrasound. Dr. Johnson said this means that Luci is physically mature enough to be ready any day! Until that day, Clay & I will just keep hanging out watching TV, doing some shopping, eating stuff, taking little walks and sleeping in!

Sadly Clay's laptop is sick, so it is at the Geek Squad for the next week or so. I promise to post some photos as soon as it returns!

37 weeks - full term!

I'm now past the 37 weeks mark - which makes Luci full term! That being said, she still seems pretty content to hang out in her current digs...as of yesterday I wasn't dilated at all. Clay left just a few minutes ago and gets home on Saturday afternoon, so we'll keep our fingers crossed she's content until at least then. I'm getting more & more uncomfortable, lethargic and immobile. Yesterday I had a lot of cramping (a good thing when you are full term, per Dr. Johnson) and my feet were so swollen we put ice on them! My blood pressure is still really low, so the swelling isn't anything to be concerned about as long as I stay hydrated. I'm watching lots of TV (so much that I'm actually bored of it...and I love TV!) and reading books about baby sleep habits. We've finished with the Bradley classes, her clothes are washed and the nursery is ready to go. Now we wait until SHE'S ready!

Happy Birthday to soon to be Grandma Rosonke

My mom turns 50 today!! Happy Birthday Mom!! I woke up this morning thinking about my Grandma Halvorson, and I have an appreciation for how she must have felt 50 years ago today. Although I bet she was probably a little better prepared than I am given she'd already had 2 kids. It is bonkers to think of her being as excited to meet my mom as I am to meet Luci. And it is even more bonkers to think of Luci, someday being as excited to welcome her first born into the world as I am.

Today I woke up the puffiest yet...my wedding band has become a pinky ring, and even my beloved Croc flipflops are leaving indentations on the top of my feet. The dreaded stretch marks have arrived and the bottom of my belly looks as though I've been attacked by something with giant claws covered in purple paint. I guess that is par for the course when the heat index is 97 degrees at 10:45am, and when you grow a big healthy baby in what used to be a somewhat smallish (small-er, anyway) belly...

36 Weeks!

This week has been another busy one...I'm already wondering how I had time to work before! We started the week with a tour of the hospital where we'll be having Luci. The tour was given by our favorite Lactation Consultant...aka the woman who taught our breastfeeding class, and to our delight she remembered us! The "Family Birthing Center" at Memorial Hermann consists of 34 suites where moms (who don't have C-sections) can labor, birth & recover all in the same room. There is no nursery; Luci will stay with us the entire time in our family birthing suite. There are 3 hydrotherapy tubs I can labor in (provided my water hasn't broken), and birthing balls & squatting bars in every suite. Each suite also comes with a TV, DVD/VCR player (although I'm thinking we won't get much use of these), mini fridge, peripheral lighting, individual thermostats (so I can keep it sub zero ;) and wireless Internet! Clay will be nice & comfy on the sofa that pulls out into two twin beds when we finally have time to rest. It is also equipped with state of the art security so that is comforting as well.

We are down to one final Bradley Method class left, and I think both Clay & I are becoming more confident in our ability to do this with minimal intervention. Dr. Johnson continues to be supportive (albeit somewhat skeptical), and as we learn more & more I feel better prepared (intellectually at least) to handle the pain. Good news on Clay's schedule for July; after he gets home this Sunday evening he'll only be away 4 nights before Luci's due date. We are really hoping that it works out so that he's home, but if not we are confident Amanda will be just what I need to get through labor.

Our 36 weeks appointment was yesterday; Dr. Johnson confirmed all looks well based on the 35 week ultrasound. Based on the measurements at that time, Luci is in the 74% percentile for size, so as Dr. Beena put it, "she's above average", to which our reply was, "Of course she is! She's our child!!" My Strep B (a common infection) test came back negative, so I won't need any antibiotics during labor. This weekend I'm going to be working on our Birth Plan so that everyone on our Birth Team will know our wishes of minimal intervention. As of yesterday I wasn't at all dilated, but my cervix is soft so that is a good sign that Luci is at least considering joining us out here in the upcoming weeks. I've also started to full on waddle, which Dr. Beena tells us is a good sign. Luci is head down, but not quite 'engaged' yet. I am measuring 35 weeks so that does indicate that she's dropped a bit, but she still has a way to go.

We also got some great news this week regarding Clay's Naval career...he has been selected for promotion to Commander! He's worked very hard to achieve this goal - particularly in the last year, and I couldn't be more proud of him. The selection rate for part-time Naval Reservists was only 40% last year (we haven't heard the % for this year), so it is a big accomplishment and one he hasn't taken for granted. It is great to see him being rewarded for his hard work & dedication.

In complete contrast, this is my fourth day without having to work and I must say I'm loving it!! Clay's response to this is, "I never thought it'd be a tough sell!" I value sleeping in a bit and just going about my day without any sense of urgency. It is kind of strange, but very enjoyable at the same time. I definitely appreciate the days more when Clay is home. I have very ambitious tasks lists to tackle when he is gone, but somehow it seems that I'm more likely to plop on the sofa when he is gone, and be up & active when he is here. I'm going to have to get over that...OOOR maybe I'll get sick of the remote & sofa if I just keep at it...

It's 5pm...

And I'm done with work!! Maternity leave has started and I'm celebrating with an O'Doul's Amber. My boss & I are talking 5 to 6 weeks after Luci is born to discuss what I might be up for in terms of returning part-time. I'm very lucky to have such a great boss!

6 lbs, 3 ounces...plus or minus 8 ounces

This afternoon we had another ultrasound at the hospital - the same kind we had at week 18. We confirmed our little Luci is in fact going to be fine with her lavender room (she's a still a girl!), and that she is possibly a bit big for her age. The data collected on her little bones, head & belly suggests she weighs 6 lbs, 3 ounces right now...with a possible error of +/- 8 ounces. So minimally she's 5 lbs 11 ounces, or she could be as big as 6 lbs 11 ounces already! Clay & I have read that during the 9th month she could gain anywhere from .25 to .5 lbs per week. That would put her right in line with the size of both of us at birth - Clay was 7 lbs 14 oz, and I was 8 lbs, 10 oz. I am exactly 35 weeks today, but measuring 36 weeks 1 day. So maybe she'll come a bit early!

Fun facts learned...the tech told us she likely has some hair (the tech saw sparkles?!?!), and she likes her toes! She was playing with her feet, grabbing her big toe & have a grand old time in there. Her head was really low & she kicked when the tech pushed too hard. It was really neat to feel her movements & see them simultaneously on the screen. We can't wait to meet her!!!

Appropriately enough, we are finally nearing the point where we are actually ready for her...I went to Babies R Us this weekend & went a little bit nuts with sales & my 10% off coupon. We now have crib sheets, towels, washcloths, and enough 0-3 month gear to clothe about 4 babies. Little girl clothes are so cute, and they were all so cheap I just couldn't help myself...so I allowed one last retail indulgence before the paychecks end (Friday is my last day!!) So if you are so very kindly thinking of showering Luci with some gear....she really only needs some 6-9 month outfits at this point! I also finished the Classic Pooh curtain toppers and crib skirt. And now that we have confirmation she'll be lookin good in pink, I'm going to get all of her little clothes washed!! I stocked up on some nursing pj's for the hospital & first few weeks at home, the car seat base has been installed by her dad (we'll get it inspected next week) and the stroller is put together. She's all we need!!

34 Weeks

Yesterday was my 34 weeks appointment with Dr. Beena. I was up 2lbs from the prior week, but I think it is because Clay & I went to Johnny Rockets for burgers & fries before the appointment. That is what I'm going to tell myself anyway! Other than that she again confirmed Luci is still sky high & showing no signs of joining us anytime soon. That being said, Clay seems to think she's dropped just a bit in the last few days, and I have been feeling a new pain in my extreme lower belly. Dr. Beena's nurse agreed that Luci may have dropped a bit, but Dr. Beena says, nope - I'm measuring at 34 weeks and if I'd dropped my fundal height would be shrinking, not growing still. We spoke with her a bit more regarding the delivery & she is supportive of our 'minimal intervention' request. We also told her we'd like to donate the cord blood to a public bank so she is making arrangements for that. She suggested Clay & I work up a birth plan so that we don't have to tell the hospital staff over & over what we want. Her C-Section rate is only 7%...which is VERY impressive, especially given the US average is something like 30%. She is also fine with me not having an IV as long as I don't have Strep B (tested for this yesterday) and am willing to have a heplock in case we need to start an IV quickly. Also I only need to wear the electronic fetal monitor for 10 minutes an hour instead of for the entire labor, which is is also great. Many care providers aren't this flexible. Have I mentioned how happy I am that she is my doctor?

We also had our 3rd Bradley class last night, which means we are already 1/2 way done with them! Amanda has graciously agreed to be the back up coach should Clay be piloting a 737 somewhere when Luci decides to enter the world, so she joined us last night & will hopefully be joining us going forward. We cannot thank her enough for her friendship & support...it is very comforting to both Clay & me that if he can't be there she'll be my rock & advocate. So thanks AGAIN to Amanda, and thanks Jamie for being on Clara duty. What would we do without you guys?

Neighborhood Cookout

This last weekend we were blessed with another event in honor of Luci. Our great friends and neighbors, The Lawrence's (Jamie, Amanda & Clara), hosted a family friendly cook-out in honor of Luci's upcoming arrival. Several other families in the neighborhood came & we had a great time hanging out & eating Jamie's delicious burgers and Amanda's amazing desserts. We were blessed with several gifts including every mom's 'must have' recommended mobile, a basket of all sorts of goodies, crib pad, some swaddle blankets, some toys, an adorable little outfit, and a sweetpea frame & baby book! It was a wonderful day & we again want to say thanks to The Lawrence's for being SUCH great friends.

Tomorrow is my 34 weeks appointment. Dr. Beena is heading off to India for 10 days so I'm checking in with her right before she leaves & I'll see her right after she gets back. I'm pretty confident that Luci is in no hurry to join us out here...in fact I'm pretty convinced she is crawling the wrong way. Every morning I wake up thinking she couldn't possibly get any higher, and sure enough she does! I'm anxiously waiting for her to drop so that I'll be able to breathe a little more easily!

Very blessed at 33 weeks

Yesterday was my 33 weeks appointment with Dr. Beena. As I pulled out my long list of complaints...um, I mean symptoms...(sooo tired all the time, restless legs, headaches, heartburn, rib pain, loss of appetite, snoring, more heartburn, still tired but can't sleep, etc) she told me everything I was experiencing was very normal and just part of the last few months of pregnancy...but that is was okay to vent ;). She did tell me to start taking iron supplements in case anemia is to blame for my increasingly lethargic behavior. Which is great if they work, but they are currently making my heartburn & indigestion that much worse...I've already had 3 Tums this morning. I gained 1 lb. over the last two weeks so I'm good with that, and I'm back to measuring on schedule...33 cm for 33 weeks!

Also to blame for my lack of sleep are these bonkers dreams I keep having. Two nights ago I dreamt I laid an egg ...and spent hours in my dream trying to figure out to keep it from getting all mashed up. I had hard boiled some eggs for a salad before I went to sleep and I think I was having flashbacks to my salad making experience - during which my attempt to slice the hard boiled egg ended up with mashed egg all over my salad. Last night I dreamt that Brooke showed up due any minute with twins! So Clay & I made the decision that we had to move ASAP to be by Brooke because I would need to care for her two babies as well as ours after she went back to being a doctor. I was very anxious in my dream about having to care for what would essentially be triplets! I know Aunt Deb did it & handled it like a pro...but I woke up feeling more tired than I was when I went to sleep last night!

Now for the 'very blessed' part...I know Clay & I often complain about being in Texas. But, I must say that we could not have landed in a better neighborhood. I love Cottage Green and the people that live here. For the last few months the girls in my 'hood have been getting together once a month to play a fun & goofy board game called Pokeeno. We bring a wrapped gift (no more than $8) and when you win a round of Pokeeno you get to pick out a wrapped gift. Well last night I won Pokeeno first (we do as many rounds as there are people so that all the gifts are picked - then we do a second set of rounds so that you can steal the opened gifts from others when you win) and opened a gift of a sippy cup & Johnson's Baby Wash. I thought, "Oh! Good thing I picked this gift...it wouldn't be appropriate for most of the ladies here!" And the next person wins...and picks out a gift...and opens 2 little girl newborn nightgowns! The woman had just told us she was pregnant, and I thought, "Oh I hope it is a girl so she can use these! Good thing she picked out that gift instead of it going to one of the other ladies with older kids!" And then the next person wins...and opens little girl socks! And the next person wins...and opens stacker cups! And the next person wins...and opens a handcrafted blanket and a little robe & wash cloth! And I bet you are starting to get the picture....well I wasn't! When all of the gifts had been opened and I sat there thinking about how inappropriate most of them had been! Usually people bring very universally appealing adult gifts...like wine or candles or gift certificates. As I'm thinking this I say out loud, "Well I guess I missed the baby themed memo!" To which my dear friend Amanda replied, "How do you suppose that happened????" And I honestly answered "I don't know!"...as I'm still sitting there thinking what inappropriate gifts people brought this time! And then my other good friend Lesley said, "She still doesn't get it!" At that point I felt myself turning bright red....as Lesley pointed out all of the obvious signs...pink baby gifts, pink cupcakes...! I felt like such an idiot!! It honestly didn't occur to me that these women, most of whom have met me only a handful of times would do such a nice thing for someone they barely know! After I got home I called Clay...and of course he figured it out after I told of the second baby girl gift being opened...and he said, "that's your good friends Amanda & Lesley at work!" Bottom line...I could spend hours counting my blessings these days...and for that I couldn't be more thankful.