True Companions Baking Plus One!

Yup - I was right :-(

2009-11-24T19:27:00.003-05:00

Reflux it is. Went to the pediatrician today and she agreed 100% with my diagnosis of Ryan's issue and gave us an Rx for Zantac to try. 0.5cc twice a day. If things don't improve, than can try 3x/day. Here's to hoping it works!

While we were there, we popped him on the scale to check his weight:

Ryan's Weight:
Birth: 8.0
2dPP: 7 lb 7 oz
2 weeks: 8 lb 1 oz
Today (5w4d): 9lb 15oz!

So he is just 1 oz of being an even 10 lbs!

I also popped myself on the adult scale and am down 1 lb from the last I checked - yay!

Mommy's Weight:

Final Total PG Weight Gain: +11
1 week PP: -12 lbs -- officially below pre-PG weight (but far from where I should be!)
2 weeks PP: -22 lbs -- apparently my body really likes no longer being pregnant or on any more IF drugs!
5w4d PP: -23 lbs -- So not much of a loss from a couple weeks ago, but a loss is a loss, right? ;-)

So, let's hope this Rx works and he starts to feel better soon!

And if I don't get on before Thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Reflux?

2009-11-22T00:12:00.001-05:00

Ryan is increasingly crying/whining while feeding, is almost constantly squirming (ie: straightening out, kicking his feet, pulling his head away (while still attached to nipple - ouch) while eating, gets the hiccups a lot and has been super fussy/crying lately. So much to the point we're having a hard time consoling him right now after he just got done eating. Doesn't spit up much, though - 2-3 times max since he's been born.

I can tell he is definitely in some sort of pain and it breaks my heart. We originally thought maybe it was gas, but after reading up, I'm beginning to think maybe reflux?

Will call the pedi tomorrow/Monday and hopefully get an appointment to get this figured out!

I'm sorry, Ryan!

Blood Lines

2009-11-19T16:00:00.003-05:00

DH is absolutely in love with Ryan. And I can't even put into words how it makes me feel to see him with out little guy - it's beyond amazing. He is such a good daddy!

DH is adopted and has never met his biological family. He has never had any desire to. And while DH was out today he sent me this text message:

"Did you know Ry Guy is the first human I have met that I share DNA with? That's pretty cool. I love him!"

I never really thought about it that way, but I think it's so amazing and so special that DH finally has this special link, you know? ;-)

Visiting Daddy at School!

2009-11-19T15:35:00.007-05:00

Besides being a teacher, DH is also the SADD advisor for his school - and yesterday we took a trip to school to visit daddy and bring some cookies that we made for the kids!

Baking with Mommy:

(I may or may not have accidentally dropped cookie dough on Ryan's face during this picture and just had to kiss it off of him) lol

Visiting Daddy!

Was a great day!

1 Month - wow

2009-11-16T18:26:00.004-05:00

Has it really been that long? I have been a very bad blogger! I've been writing things down on paper, but haven't put them in here. Wasn't sure if I wanted to put pictures of him out here or not. But, I've decided I do! Especially since I have one in my siggy on the message boards anyway. ;-)

So - I will go back and type those entries into here and will back-date them so they'll be in order for history. ;-)

In the meantime, here are a couple pics!

OK - wow scary face on me, but this was right after he was born - yay!

If anyone's still reading this, check back soon - I'm hoping to find time between holding our little guy and feeding him to get them up soon!

He's here!

2009-10-16T16:49:00.002-04:00

Ryan Thomas was born at 2:22 am this morning weighing in at 8 lbs even and a nice 22 inches long!

I'll post more later when I get some pics from my family. DH and I are in love already!

Going to the Hospital!

2009-10-15T10:51:00.003-04:00

So - apparently the little guy WAS trying to break his way out last night. ;-) I woke up this morning at 5:00 to go to the bathroom and felt a gush of water. Thought ok - might be my water breaking. Then I started to feel contractions about every 5 minutes.

Was supposed to go to the doctor this afternoon anyway for a check, but they had me come in anyway. On my way out the door, I had no doubt that my water broke and had to go change before I could leave the house.

They did an internal and I'm 100% effaced, but only 1cm dilated (boo!). But, since my water broke and I'm GBS+, they are requiring me to go in now to the hospital anyway.

So - now just waiting for the husband to get home and we'll be on our way. Wish me luck!

Belly Movement!

2009-10-14T18:12:00.003-04:00

The little guy was going crazy in my belly, so I thought I'd take a quick video. Don't mind the poor quality or weird sound my camera is making, but you can see he was having a grand time in there! LOL

40w2d - Movement!

Maybe he's trying to work his way out of my belly?! LOL

40 Weeks - Happy Due Date To Me!

2009-10-12T13:17:00.003-04:00

Well, today is officially my due date and looks like it's going to come and go without us getting to meet our little guy!

We had our first bi-weekly appointment this morning which started with the NST then the regular appointment. I've had one NST before when I was nervous about not feeling him move (only to have him go crazy while I was sitting in the waiting room), so I was looking forward to today's appointment. I love just sitting there listening to his heartbeat and feeling him move!

DH didn't go to the one prior (was out of town), but he went today and was amazed at how much he moved!

I knew going into the appointment this morning that he wasn't going to be ready, but to look at the tape and see not a SINGLE contraction on there? Yeah.... ;-) The only spikes on the contraction line were from when he kicked the monitor! lol Doctor's exact words were: Well, he's as happy as a clam in there!

So - I have another appointment on Thursday which will include another NST, an u/s to check for fluid levels and another appointment with the doctor including an internal. Based on that appt, we'll go from there to determine if we continue to let things go or pick a date.

So - I guess it's up to the little guy to see what he wants to do! I'm in no rush, but do want to meet him soon!

On a related note, I wanted to wish Larissa the best of luck - she is only 2 days behind me and is in labor as we speak! Come on, Larissa!

This Weekend and Last

2009-10-09T12:15:00.004-04:00

I apparently didn't post about it, but my mom came down to visit last weekend to spend one last "solo" weekend together before the baby arrived and it was awesome! Dad was supposed to come down and hang with DH, but something came up and he couldn't come. :-(

But, I still had an awesome time just hanging with my mom! We hung out and chatted, went shopping, went for walks, out to eat, apple picking (complete with cider donuts - yum!), just everything! Yay!

And this weekend DH and I are spending together in case it's our last one as just the two of us. We've been trying to do things like that lately anyway, but the reality has set in that this may, in fact, truly be the last weekend! We're going to go to dinner, watch movies (not in the theater - I can't handle sitting there that long anymore), go for walks, just whatever we want to do, whenever we want to do it. I can't wait! (And yes, I know we can do many of those items with the baby, but it's still something special to do with just the two of us). ;-)

Here are some pics from apple picking (I like the ones better with my mom in them, but I don't want to post without her permission):

And Larissa - if you're reading this - we are so close! Wonder which little guy will come first!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

39 week Appt & pictures

2009-10-08T20:31:00.000-04:00

Had my last regular weekly appt on Wednesday at 39w2d and the doctor said everything looked good! He said I've even dropped some, but I'm not sure I see it. Maybe? lol

I now go twice weekly until the baby is here and if I go more than a week overdue, we'll do another ultrasound for sizing, placenta, etc... But, as far as next week's appointments go, they'll be the standard weight/bp/hb/urine checks - but we also get to do an NST before each. I'm actually looking forward to that part - getting to hear his little heartbeat for about 20 minutes while I get to not be at work! lol

Here are the stats for this week's appt:

Baby's HB: going strong and steady as always in the 140-150 range
My BP: 114/70
My Weight: +1, so now at total +12 (I thought I was supposed to stop gaining at this point? ha)

And a couple pics:

Just 4 days to go!

Nursery Pics!

2009-10-04T18:54:00.015-04:00

Despite being 39 weeks tomorrow, we are not done - still have to hang stuff on the walls, and we can't decide WHAT to do for curtains, but thought I'd share what we've done so far. it's at least usable if the little guy comes tomorrow!

I don't have a good before picture (forgot to take one), and went through many a paint change, but here's the progression so far...

"The Before": The closest "Before" that I have. The entire room was the off-white/cream color you see on top with brown stained trim around the windows and base boards:

We then painted the bottom "Guacamole" and the top "Lettuce Alone" green (both by Olympic). We loved the bottom, the top looked AWFUL. So, I bring you:

"The During":

The paint "chips" looked great in person, but on the wall, ummm, no. I swear it glowed. So off to the store we went again and bought spent forever comparing shades of blue for the top instead. We finally settled on "Crashing Waves" also by Olympic. And to that, we bought some chair rail, while, and even mitred the corners ourselves. So this now leads to:

"The After":

We love the colors - the chair rail/trim really set it off and add the perfect touch!

To this, we added the Baby Mod "Cadence" Crib from Walmart in Espresso...

The Crib:

And the "Hartford" dresser by Rockland from JCPenney...

The Dresser/Changer:

Both came super fast, were pretty easy to put together, and came with no scratches. They look beautiful - both rich espresso colors that actually match really well despite being different colors - and seem pretty sturdy - ESPECIALLY the crib. I recommend to anyone!

Here's the bedding - "Monkey Vine" from BRU - ties in the greens, blues, and browns...

The Bedding:

I love the colors and the subtle monkey-theme. Very cute! I had this on my wish-list but wasn't going to buy b/c, honestly, it's pretty expensive. But my mom surprised me with it one day - she has spoiled this little one already (she also gifted us the crib - we are so blessed) and he's not even here yet! Thank you, mom!

The Decor:
As I mentioned above, we're not done decorating, but we added an espresso colored wicker basket to the dresser with the changing pad, a matching wicker hampter and are also going to be adding white shelves to the wall to put pictures, other items and are also going to have his name over his crib like this:

Name with be olive green to match the walls and the monkey will be this brown. Other than that, we may hang a few other things, but for now, that's about it.

OK - this post turned out longer than I thought (sorry!), but I just love the room. It's not even done, yet neither DH nor I can stop going into the room. We just love it! And the colors should be able to grow with him from infancy into boyhood, no?

Oh - and if you have idea for curtains, let me know! We've tried white, brown, and green, and don't like them. Thinking we may have to do a mixure.

OK - guess that's it. I'll try and post more pics once it's finished, but here are a few last shots of the room with what we've at least got in there so far. Thanks for looking!

Hope you have a great weekend!

38 Week Pics!

2009-10-02T09:56:00.005-04:00

I never remember to post them when I make my regular weekly update. But, here are pics from this morning at 38w4d. 10 days until the big EDD!

38 Week Appt

2009-10-01T10:38:00.003-04:00

Nothing again out of the ordinary. Was probably my shortest yet.

Baby's HB: he didn't say, just said sounded good and regular
My BP: 110/80
My Weight: +1, so now at total +11

That was about it. When he looked at my belly he goes "Wow, no stretch marks!" Then proceeded to look around and then go - oh wait, there's one - but you can hide that since it's down low". I was like - what?!?! I look at myself every day in the mirror for them and haven't seen any. So you can bet I went home and did the same thing (and made DH check, too). And no - there was stretch mark there. I blame it on an underwear line. ;-)

He said to schedule an appt for next week (but I already have them booked past my due date), but that he hoped he didn't see me again! lol I told him I was ok if he continued to bake in there until full term. ;-)

How far along?: 38w3d - only 11 days left until D-day!
Total Weight Gain: +1 since last appt, total +11
Stretch Marks?: not on the belly - Dr was wrong! ;-)
Sleep?: same - eh. Getting lonely. I find I end up moving to a spare bed and sleeping by myself. I think I get in my head too much and get worried about waking DH up with all my movements. And therefore get even less sleep. I miss sleeping with him!
Best Moment This Week: DH begging to meet his son ;-) It's so cute how much he wants to meet him!
Movement: he's keeping busy ;-)
Food Cravings: Still nope. Would be helpful if I did on those nights where I can't decide what I want for dinner!
Labor Signs: not really - would be nice to have some to let me know something's going on, but I'll be patient.
Symptoms: same as always.
Belly Button In or Out?: Still in.
What I miss: sleeping and being able to move as easily - especially when trying to finish up the nursery.
What am I looking forward to: finishing the nursery and my mom's visit this weekend!
WeeklyWisdom: nothing.
Milestones: I'll be hitting single digits this week on the number of days left until EDD!

37 Week Appointment

2009-09-24T00:15:00.003-04:00

Nothing out of the ordinary - just a standard appt:

Baby's HB: 150's
My BP: 120/70 (went up from 110/70, but OB said they didn't worry unless it was over 140/90)
My Weight: -1, so now at total +10

OB did what I'll call an external exam - measured fundal height like usual (on track) and then felt my uterus for the shape, size, and position of the baby. While he didn't get any real measurements, he said that the little guy felt like he was "average" which I'm ok with! lol I'll take average over a big/little guy!

Other than that, nothing else too exciting. Still carrying high, so I expect him to be in there for a while still. Gives my lazy butt time to finish things up!

37 Week Pictures!

2009-09-22T17:45:00.004-04:00

I forgot to post them below, so here goes:

One of these days I may put a side-by-side of now vs. earlier in the pregnancy. I haven't done that yet even for myself to look at!

Hope everyone is doing well!

37 weeks = Full Term!

2009-09-22T17:39:00.003-04:00

Not much to update this week other than I'm Full Term! No, that doesn't mean I want him to come now, but hey - I don't see him making his move yet anyway. ;-)

We had our birthing class on Saturday and, while long, it was informative - especially for DH who hasn't done as much research yet. And we have our last class tomorrow night - Infant & Child CPR. Why it is scheduled to take 3 hours, I'm not sure (maybe they're doing other safety things, too?).

Other than that, I've been a shot-free, "regular" pregnant girl for a full week now and it's kinda nice!

How far along?: 37w1d
Total Weight Gain: +0 since last appt, total +11
Stretch Marks?: still no new ones - still just the couple on the underside of my breasts, knock on wood!
Sleep?: same - sleep, up to pee, sleep, up to pee, repeat.
Best Moment This Week: Full term!
Movement: he's keeping busy ;-)
Food Cravings: Still nope.
Labor Signs: not really
Symptoms: same as always - periodic heartburn, we're back to constipation, my lovely right rib and leg.
Belly Button In or Out?: Still in.
What I miss: wow I'm boring - not much has changed in a lot of these. Still the same - sleeping all night on my back/stomach.
What am I looking forward to: dresser arriving and we can hopefully finalize his little room!
WeeklyWisdom: nothing really. I bought an exercise ball and plan to use that often.
Milestones: Full Term!

This Weekend

2009-09-18T16:18:00.003-04:00

We have a lot going on this weekend!

Friday:
- Work shower (yummy cake!)
- Going to grab dinner and see The Informant with Matthew Damon. Looks good!

Saturday:
- Birthing class
- Finish up shopping for the baby (we got 3 of the same stroller, so thought we'd return 2 to finish things up).

Sunday:
- DH watch football and go fishing
- Me - finally turning in that pregnancy massage gift certificate DH got me for my birthday! Yaaaay!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

36 weeks!

2009-09-17T18:23:00.003-04:00

So, here we are at 36w3d - not too far from being full term!

Stats from this week's Appt:

LO's HB: he was too busy moving around for her to get a real measurement!

My BP: 110/70

My Weight: +0, total +11

Position: still head down!

----------------------------------------

How far along?: 36w3d

Total Weight Gain: +0 since last appt, total +11

Stretch Marks?: still no new ones - still just the couple on the underside of my breasts, knock on wood!

Sleep?: same - sleep, up to pee, sleep, up to pee, repeat.

Best Moment This Week: Our shower on Saturday! It was great!

Movement: Still lots of movement. He made me nervous Thursday night when he wasn't moving as much, but he of course proved me wrong once I got to the OB office for the NST!

Food Cravings: Still none yet.

Labor Signs: not really, I don't think. My constipation has decided to go to the other extreme (TMI, sorry) end and a bit of upset belly, but who knows what that really is. And then some standard Braxton Hicks still.

Symptoms: heartburn periodically and the constipation has went the other direction Other than that, just my lovely right rib and leg – although not constant, thankfully.

Belly Button In or Out?: Still in.

What I miss: still the same - sleeping all night on my back/stomach. Oh, how I still miss thee.

What am I looking forward to: My work shower is tomorrow and birthing class is Saturday. After that, it's date night for DH and I!

WeeklyWisdom: nothing really. I’m so boring. haha

Milestones: I am now injection free! Took my last Lovenox injection plus Baby Aspirin and B6 pill on Monday. It's so weird! lol Oh - and I'll be full term on Monday!

I'm Vibrating

2009-09-15T16:24:00.000-04:00

LOL Last night my right hip flexor (ish) area started vibrating. Comes and goes. Still happening today. It's the weirdest thing ever.

Gotta love the things pregnancy does to your body. Any one else experience that?

Baby Shower & Grey's Anatomy

2009-09-13T14:09:00.002-04:00

So my baby shower was yesterday and I loved it! It was just so awesome to have everyone there together to celebrate our little one! It made me so happy and can't wait to tell DH all about it when he gets home!

I even gave the LO a tour last night of his nursery and told him about the day and showed him some of the items. lol Yup, I'm a dork. ;-)

I'll post some pictures and tell more about it once I get some from mom or some of the other fine ladies who took them. ;-)

(And a big thank you again to the dinner club! haha)

And - on another note - OMG - I can't wait for 9/24 when the new Grey's Anatomy season starts. Just these 5+ minutes were good!

http://abc.go.com/shows/greys-anatomy

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

NST #1 and Baby Shower!

2009-09-11T12:21:00.002-04:00

So - I had my first mini-freak out about the baby. Usually the little guy is very active at night and last night he just was not. I barely felt him move - even after all my usual tricks - poking my belly, putting my laptop on my belly, eating ice cream, etc... And still this morning. So I called my OB and they had me come in.

And wouldn't you know it, once I sit down in the waiting room the little guys starts moving like crazy and now won't stop! lol And I am NOT complaining!

But it was pretty cool to just be able to sit in there and listen to his heartbeat fluctuate for 10-15 minutes and see the contraction thing move. I don't know what it all relates to, but the contraction piece varied from 3% - 39% during the test and the heartbeat was all over the place - especially when he moved. So cool to see!

They said everything looked great, confirmed my regular appointment for next week and sent me on my way. They also made sure to tell me to call anytime - to not hesitate ever, that's what they're there for. That made me feel great!

And I learned one more thing - the NP who checked in said - Hmm, I wonder why you have a blue folder. Turns out, b/c I was at the RE, I have a special folder - that's kinda cool to know - I like knowing where I came from and why I may be paranoid sometimes. ;-)

So - other than that, DH is going fishing with a friend of his up by my parents' this weekend and tomorrow is my shower. I can't wait - to have everyone all in one place. Yay!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

35 week Pictures!

2009-09-10T19:55:00.004-04:00

I forgot to post these earlier. Here are some pics for this week! He's growing!

Horton Hears the Who

2009-09-10T09:39:00.003-04:00

So DH has started a new book with the baby last night - Horton Hears a Who. We made it about 1/3 of the way through last night before we fell asleep. Here's what I found waiting for me in my Inbox this morning from DH:

Horton hears the Who. Tonight part 2 at 11pm. Horton takes a bus and goes to Buffalo to see the WHO in concert on their reunion tour.....he is faced with some tough choices and... oh wrong version. See ya tonight.

I love DH and I love that he makes me laugh - hope you all have a fantastic day!

35 Weeks Appt

2009-09-10T09:11:00.003-04:00

So, I’m 35w3d today and we had our last bi-weekly appointment yesterday. From now on, we go every week – hello doctors! Haha

Yesterday’s appointment was a bit of a change-up from the standard – in and out appointment. They did the Group B Strep swab yesterday (will find out results at next week’s appointment) with some nice little swabs in the front and the back, followed by my first internal. Still holding long, hard and closed!

After the appointment we stopped off for my 3rd tri Thyroid draw and then to Walmart for an exercise ball. My back doesn’t really hurt (thank goodness!) but I figured it can’t really hurt to start using it. And this way I’ll have it for labor, as well.

Here are the stats:

LO's HB: upper 140's
My BP: 110/78
My Weight: +0, total +11
Position: still head down!

----------------------------------------

How far along?: 35 weeks! (and 3 days ;-) )

Total Weight Gain: +0 since last appt, total +11

Stretch Marks?: still no new ones - still just the couple on the underside of my breasts, knock on wood!

Sleep?: pillows still helping, but still not sleeping all the way through. Sometimes feels like I do, though since I’ve been going to bed so much later lately. I think Nesting has kicked in – I keep working on projects and can’t stop!

Best Moment This Week: Finishing painting the nursery, we put the crib together last night (it’s beautiful!) and just seeing DH so excited about this little guy. Talking to my belly, kissing my belly, reading to my belly, everything. I love it and I love him even more!

Movement: Still lots of movement. Especially after I eat ice cream – he absolutely takes after mommy in this aspect! haha

Food Cravings: Still none yet.

Labor Signs: not really

Symptoms: heartburn periodically and the constipation has lessened (thank you Colace!). Other than that, just my lovely right rib and leg – although not constant, thankfully.

Belly Button In or Out?: Still in.

What I miss: still the same - sleeping all night on my back/stomach. Oh, how I miss thee.

What am I looking forward to: My shower is this Saturday!Weekly

Wisdom: nothing really. I’m so boring. haha

Milestones: Nursery is painted and crib is put together. Do those count?

35/35

2009-09-07T21:54:00.001-04:00

Wow! I've always seen people post about hitting their 35/35 (35 weeks pg, 35 days left), and now it's my turn. 5 weeks left - wow!

Busy Week!

2009-09-06T21:37:00.000-04:00

: Had a lot going on this past week - phew!

Monday: Hit 34 weeks and watched my old softball team play in game 2 of the league championship.

Tuesday: we went to our breastfeeding class - seemed to be pretty informative and it's good to know we can see the lactation consultants anytime we need!

Wednesday: went to our "So Now You're a Family/.Taking Care of a Newborn" class. Lots of good info there, and very happy we went. DH even learned to change a diaper and swaddle!

Thursday: game 3 of my old softball team - they ended up losing the series 2-1. :-(

Friday: wedding

Saturday: Finished painting the nursery and putting up the chair rail. We think it looks great and will have to post pictures soon!

Sunday: spent the day hanging out in Lake George - weather was awesome!

Phew - I'm tired just writing all that! lol This coming week should be almost as busy - but again with good stuff!

One Year Ago

2009-08-31T17:07:00.002-04:00

One year ago yesterday, we lost our little kitty. We will always remember you, Riley! You would have made a wonderful "big brother" to our little one on the way. :-(

We hope you're having a fantastic time in kitty heaven!

33 weeks!

2009-08-26T22:48:00.001-04:00

Had another OB appointment today - just the basics:

LO's HB: upper 150's
My BP: 110/68
My Weight: +1, total +11
Up Next: our last bi-weekly appt which will include the Strep B swab and possibly the final thyroid test. After that, it's weekly appts. Then daily once I hit my due date.

----------------------------------------

How far along?: 33 weeks! (and 2 days ;-) )

Total Weight Gain: +1 since last appt, total +11

Stretch Marks?: still no new ones - still just the couple on the underside of my breasts, knock on wood!

Sleep?: still wake up a lot, but have acquired quite the pile of pillows to try and help!

Best Moment This Week: lots of movement and hearing the HB at our appt today!

Movement: Oh still going strong. He's been kind enough to add in cervix punches lately. ;-)

Food Cravings: Still none yet.

Labor Signs: just the basic BH's.

Symptoms: heartburn has lessened, but constipation has set in a little. Bought some Colace just in case! Rib issues still here - mostly the right side. Have had it since early on. Not sure what causes it, but helps if I raise my right arm or lay on my side. Back getting a bit sore, but DH gives me a massage every night and I am SO thankful for it!

Belly Button In or Out?: Still in.

What I miss: still the same - sleeping all night on my back/stomach. Oh, how I miss thee.

What am I looking forward to: Pregnancy related - doing my last injection (Lovenox) in just 1.5 weeks! It'll be weird, but I bet it'll be nice! Oh - and painting our nursery this weekend!

Weekly Wisdom: nothing really.

Milestones: um, does this count? We got our first gift off our registry which was unexpected and pretty cool!

Belly Pics

2009-08-21T17:51:00.003-04:00

I have more to upload, but can't remember what email address/password I used for that page. Hopefully I figure it out soon - oops!

In the meantime, here are a couple:

31 weeks:
Not so very flattering with the Lovenox bruises and armpits lol Sorry!

32 weeks:

Have a great weekend!

Daycare? Check Again!

2009-08-20T23:04:00.005-04:00

So I've spent a while researching daycares and narrowed it down to 4 to look at. We have finally finished looking at all 4 and have made our choice! To be honest, on paper many of them look similar so we really needed the on-site visit to make our decision. And it truly helped!

Daycare #1: the first one we visited was the one I liked the best over the phone. The center is less than 2 years old, hasn't had any violations, has a great open "field" all around that they go on walks in and "explore" and is not located on a major roadway. Rooms were bright, fun and really seemed to be a close-knit group with good security. Also had an indoor playground for the really cold/hot/rainy days so the kids can still get exercise. About 10 minutes from the house and easy access to interstate to get to work. Price: $235/wk

Daycare #2: closer to the house and not too far from interstate to get to work. Nursery smelled and all the classrooms just seemed to be dirty. Just really didn't like it from the minute we walked in. Price: $245/wk

Daycare #3: a little further from the house, but seeemed fun. The rooms were a bit smaller and the center itself seemed kind of cramped. The 3 year old and 4 year old rooms were not enclosed so it was really loud and just seemed like it would be distracting for each other. Price: $245/wk

Daycare #4: we liked the theory on this one - it's an intergenerational daycare. Meaning it's located in a senior living building and they interact on a daily basis. Story time, put on plays, etc... But, when we got there, we just didn't really like it. Not sure what it was, just didn't like it. Price: $210/wk

All 4 provide formula (assuming we end up needing to go that route) and once eating solids, provide baby food. Then, when even older, provide breakfast, snacks and lunch. I never wouldd have guessed! They also have daily report cards and will work with us during the summer for a reduced schedule when DH is home.

So, in case you can't tell, we chose #1! Despite being told we needed to hurry up and make a decision and get on a waiting list, none of the places I called (even those that weren't in our final 4) said no worries, call us when the baby is born. Well, I don't work that way! lol So I called today and official made our yes. She added us to the list, but still - nothing "official" will happen until November. She said not to worry at all, that we'll have a spot, but you can bet I will check back periodically just to make sure! lol

Despite not wanting to pay that much for daycare (even though the one we chose was one of the cheapest around!), we're excited to have someone for our little guy to go once I have to go back to work - it was a big decision!

Pediatriician? Check!

2009-08-20T00:21:00.003-04:00

So we went to an open house for the pediatriactrics group we were thinking of using. It's about 5-10 minutes from home and seriously like a minute from the daycare that we are leaning toward.

The office has 7 doctors and always has someone on-call at all times so you never get an answering service - you will always get a doctor - even in the middle of the night. They have both sick/well child rooms, offer same-day sick appointments and the place looked really nice. That one particular doctor certainly loved to talk, but she also seemed to know her stuff. And besides, if we don't like her with our baby either, there are 6 others to choose from.

Add to all that, the practice came highly recommended from some local ladies (some of which even went there themselves as kids!), they answered all my questions and, well - we are sold! So one more item down off our list!

Final Ultrasound

2009-08-13T12:09:00.005-04:00

Had our last ultrasound yesterday - which was exactly 2 months from my due date. Wow! While it was sad knowing this would be the last time we'd see him until he was here for real, it was still so exciting to see him again!

Here's what we found out:

Sex: still a boy! DH said he was nervous it wasn't anymore since he got it so ingrained in his head that it was. So we're good to go!

HB: in the 150's

Weight: estimated at 4.2! While I know they can be off, it's comforting to know he may in fact be that big already and if, heaven forbid, something were to happen, he'd be a pretty good weight/age to hopefully do well in the NICU!

Height: said they couldn't estimate since he was all scrunched up

Position: head down! During the u/s he was head down and his legs over to my left side. He even had his hands/arms up by his head sleeping - it was so cute!

Placenta: apparently it's anterior. Go figure! I've been feeling him since 17 weeks, but I guess I could be feeling him more if it wasn't, from what I've heard. Who would have guessed!

My Weight: +1 since last appointment. Total +10.

Overall - they re-checked everything from head to toe and the tech and doctor both said he looked really good! Yay!

I have one more 2-week appt left and then around 35 weeks they said I switch to weekly. That's also when I get my lovely Strep-B test. I asked if they swabbed both from and back and the answer was yes. I'm ok with that, just wanted to know what to expect! lol

So, yeah - assuming this little guy is on time, our baby will be here is less than 2 months. Scary, yet exciting, thought! Oh - and I'll try and post some of the pics from the u/s - they put some on cd for me, but forgot my cd drive attachment today. Sorry!

31 Weeks!

2009-08-10T16:43:00.003-04:00

How far along?: 31 weeks!

Total Weight Gain: +9 as of last appt. Next appt. is Wed - I'm sure I've gained more!

Stretch Marks?: no new ones - just a couple on the underside of my breasts, knock on wood!

Sleep?: still wake up a lot, but various positions throughout the night help.

Best Moment This Week: My nephew's 1st birthday party! Oh - and my mom and sister seeing my belly move!

Movement: Oh still going strong. Feeling more in my ribs now.

Food Cravings: Still none yet.

Labor Signs: just the basic BH's.

Symptoms: heartburn, some rib issues - mostly the right side. Have had it since early on. Not sure what causes it, but helps if I raise my right arm or lay on my side.

Belly Button In or Out?: Still in.

What I miss: my sister - brought her back to the airport to fly back to Australia yesterday. :-( PG related - sleeping all night on my back/stomach.

What am I looking forward to: Pregnancy related - seeing the little guy on our next ultrasound on Wednesday! Non-pregnancy related? finally a weekend home with nowhere to go and no visitors!

Weekly Wisdom: nothing really, but I did have to AW this text from DH: "I love you more each day. Me, you and bitty. Everything elseis just a side dish." I love you to, babe! Yay! ;-)

Milestones: final u/s on Wednesday - was told it's routine, so I'm assuming it's for growth and positioning?

Busy!

2009-08-07T12:05:00.002-04:00

We've had a busy week this week.

1) We did 2 daycare visits - 1 we really liked and 1 not as much. And go figure - the one we liked the most was the cheaper of the 2! We have a couple more left and then we'll make our final decision. The funny thing, is none of them really need our Yes/No answer until the baby is here. I had always heard that you have to do it ASAP b/c spaces fill up, but so far, that has just not been the case. We will probably do it sooner than that b/c that's just how I work, but I just found it so different than what I'd always been told.

2) L&D Tour: had our first class. It was a quick one - just a high level overview of some of the staff from each of the departments (NICU, Breastfeeding, etc...) and then a tour. There were a couple things I wish we could change (ie: the birthing tubs currently not hooked up), but our OB only delivers at this hospital so I'm happy we liked it overall! Plus, we've really only heard good things about delivering at St. Pete's, so that's good, too.

3) Nursery: nothing beyond emptying the room has been started (which subsequently needs to be re-emptied!), but we think we have narrowed down colors, etc... When we decide officially, I'll post them. It's not easy!

Other than that, we are finally ending our "on-the-go" session. We seriously haven't had a free weekend in I can't remember how long. This weekend we go to my nephew's 1st birthday party and then we'll finally be home for a while and can get things done. Yay! We got him this book (which is awesome!) with his name and then DH is picking up a toy today. Should be fun!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Belly Pics!

2009-08-03T22:08:00.004-04:00

So I finally added belly pics. They aren't anything too special yet nor do I have that cute round pregnant belly that many girls have, but it's my belly none the less - and it's carrying our son - so I'm showing it off!

I'll keep the belly pic site linked on the right and update them there going forward. Thanks for viewing!

http://mybellypics.blogspot.com/

30 weeks!

2009-08-03T21:55:00.004-04:00

How far along?: 30 weeks!

Total Weight Gain: +9

Maternity Clothes?: Still haven't bought new ones yet - but getting plenty of use out of the ones I do have.

Stretch Marks?: no new ones, knock on wood!

Sleep? slept better this weekend than I have in a while - but I'm thinking that's due to the long hours and lots of dancing associated with a wedding!

Best Moment This Week: my sister arrived from Australia and my other sister got married to an awesome guy!

Movement: Oh yeah - especially when I'm laying on my side!

Food Cravings: Still none yet.

Labor Signs: Nothing yet which I'm thankful for.

Belly Button In or Out?: Still in.

What I miss: my sister :-(

What am I looking forward to: Pregnancy related - DH feeling the baby again Non-pregnancy related? Seeing my sisters again this weekend!

Weekly Wisdom: I apparently am looking small to some - can't complain about that, I don't think! ha

Milestones: we have our first class tomorrow - Maternity Night at the hospital. Hope it's a good one!

29 Weeks!

2009-07-27T09:29:00.003-04:00

Saw this in another blog, thought it was fun:

How far along? 29 weeks. Can you believe I am no longer in my "20's" - tomorow is officially the start of the 30's - wow! (on that note, I seriously need to get to posting belly pics - I'll do it, I promise - although they're really nothing exciting, I promise! lol)

Total Weight Gain: + 7 (as of 2 weeks ago at last appt).

Maternity Clothes? I have 1 pair of jeans, 1 capri and 1 shirt. I can still get away with some older clothes, just a size up. But I do need to get out there and get some more - especially tops.

Stretch Marks? some on my boobs, but can't really see them - they're kind of on the bottom, if that makes sense? Nothing on belly yet (knocks on wood).

Sleep? Don't sleep well, up numerous times a night. I have taken to not always sleeping the night through in the same bed as DH. And that makes me sad. :-(

Best Moment This Week: DH has seen my belly move (4th of July), but he officially FELT it for the first time during our vacation (7/20). It was awesome! Usually the little guy stops moving once anyone (myself included) puts their hand on my belly. But not this time!

Movement: Definitely. And now that he's bigger, I am feeling a lot more regular movement/squirms than just the jabs/kicks. It's awesome. DH said it felt like a snake slithering in my belly when he felt it. Interesting analogy! lol

Food Cravings: None yet

Gender: Still a boy I hope! lol

Labor Signs: Nothing yet which I'm thankful for.

Belly Button In or Out? Still in.

What I miss: Laying and sleeping on my belly/back. Ah, those were the days. ;-)

What am I looking forward to: Pregnancy related - our next appt. is tomorrow. Just a routing one, but we still get to hear the little guy's heartbeat! Non-pregnancy related? My sister is getting married Friday (yay!) and my other sister comes home from Australia tomorrow for it - can't wait to see her!

Weekly Wisdom: haven't had any this week from anyone else - and I'm ok with that!

Milestones: DH feeling movement and officially leaving the "20's"!

We're Back!

2009-07-24T15:57:00.004-04:00

The trip was awesome! The flights sucked. Hard. But I don't want to focus on those. The trip itself was just so relaxing. We went to Sandals Royal Caribbean and we pretty much did nothing but lounge at the pool, lounge at the beach, lounge IN the pool, eat, drink, and take evening strolls. Not a bad way to spend our anniversary/baby moon if you ask me! ;-)

We have been to Jamaica before, so we didn't bother with excursions this time - we really just wanted to relax and that we did. Our room got upgraded which was nice so we ended up with a bar right in our room (DH took much pleasure in that), besides the other bars on site, and there was a pool about 10 feet outside our back door/patio. Oh - and one awesome thing about a pool? You can lay on your stomach - on a floaty or whatever - and it doesn't hurt! lol

There were two resort cats that we saw just lounging around periodically (so cute) and during our night time strolls, we saw so many crabs just walking around. Big and small. It was pretty cool!

The weather was great, people were nice, and there were lots of choices of restaurants or even 24 hour room service (which we took full advantage of and had breakfast in bed/on our patio every morning!). I'll post pictures once I finally get them off my camera.

And the best part? DH finally FELT the baby move! He saw it for the first time on the 4th of July, but he's never been able to feel it. Everytime he put his hand on my belly, the little guy would stop moving. :-( But not this time - gave him a nice big kick!

Tough life, no?! lol

Yoga

2009-07-16T12:44:00.006-04:00

So I signed up for a pre-natal yoga class and last night's was the first class. I wasn't sure what I would think going into it but it wasn't too bad. Just a couple things I had trouble with:

1) Breathing. I don't know about you, but whenever I think about the process of breathing, the thing that usually happens so naturally becomes almost impossible to do. And the fact that she kept constantly telling me to think about breathing in... breathing out... I could not for the life of me breath comfortably! And I had to actually make myself inhale and exhale each time. Sooo not natural or relaxing at all. Anyone else like this or have suggestions?!?!

2) "Yoga-ese". I know it's not officially a word, but it's what I call it when referring to the way the instructor was speaking and things she said. I know it's not right, but I just had a hard time getting into all the talk about "the universe", and that I wasn't "running toward anything" and that the universe was happy, energy, etc... I know that's a big part of yoga and will be something I have to definitely work at not rolling my eyes to.

Other than that, it was great - will take me a couple sessions to get familiar with everything and not have to look up to make sure I'm doing it right. And the oddest thing - it's upstairs from my RE office. It was so weird going back there! I was hesitant about going to a pre-natal class at an RE's office for the simple fact that I would HATE for an IF patient to see a bunch of ladies with pregnant bellies walking around. Ouch. But, thankfully, the class was at 7:00 pm so the RE's ofice had long since closed.

I will miss next week's class while in Jamaica, but they said I could make it up during any of the other yoga classes - yay!

And now, speaking of Jamaica. We'll be there TOMORROW! So I leave you with this awesome pic - another great way to relax other than yoga. ;-)

2 Days!

2009-07-14T22:48:00.002-04:00

2 more days of work and then we're off to Jamaica. Aaaaaahhhhhh.....

The countdown has begun and the packing has commenced. DH is still dependent on crutches which makes me sad, but I'm thinking a few days laying at the pool/beach can help - we canNOT wait!!

I passed!

2009-07-13T17:10:00.004-04:00

Today is 27 weeks (and start of 3rd tri!) and had my last monthly OB appt today - from now on out, we go every 2 weeks. Wow!

Got the results of my glucose and repeat thyroid tests and I passed them both as well as the standard blood pressure, weight, heartrate, etc... So - here are the results:

Glucose: 88 -- well within passing range, yay!
Thyroid: 1.4 -- so staying on same 50 mcg dosage
BP: 90/60
Weight: +1 from last month, total +7
HB: fluctuated between 148-152 -- nice and strong!

They also gave us the official go-ahead for Jamaica and we leave this Friday! We canNOT wait!

Other updates:
- We had our nieces (ages 7 & 9) here since Wednesday and we brought them back home yesterday. Was fun, but I will admit I was ok with driving them back home after the visit, too! lol

- Now that the girls are gone, we are instead dog-sitting. Dog comes tonight and his daddy picks him back up Thursday night. We leave Friday morning. Let's just say it'll be nice to get away for the pure simple fact that no one will be around and we can finally be alone! We haven't been alone, especially on the weekends in I don't know how long! (And yes, I know we won't be alone at all when the baby comes, but it's ok - it'll be our baby!!! lol)

- DH woke up Saturday morning and couldn't move his knee or put any pressure on it. He's not sure what he did, but we went to Urgent Care yesterday and the doctor thinks he sprained it. It's only slightly swollen and DH doesn't recall doing anything to have resulted in a sprain, but he went for x-rays today just in case it was anything else.

So needless to say, we'll make quite the pair at the resort - the pregnant girl and the guy on the crutches - won't be hard to forget! lol

Sweet!

2009-07-10T11:11:00.001-04:00

Got the mail last night and there was an envelope from my RE. I wasn't expecting anything good - maybe that we owed them money or something. Especially since we just paid them for another year of DH's sperm storage. But nope - and boy was I wrong.

It was a CHECK! Holy crap. A refund of over $500. Yay!

That is so going into the savings account right now. Not a bad way to end the week!

Peeing

2009-07-09T09:16:00.004-04:00

Yes, peeing. That's what today's post is about - seeing as how I'm doing enough of it lately. ;-) I want to preface this post by saying that I'm not complaining (b/c it isn't that bad honestly), just pointing out things I've noticed. So let's get started:

1) The standard - I'm pregnant. I drink a lot. I pee a lot. I never thought to include the cost of increased toilet paper purchasing in our budget. lol

2) The little guy likes to use my bladder as a trampoline. I love that I can feel him, not loving the sudden urges to pee. ha

3) Haven't slept through the night in I don't know how long - often due to getting up to pee. Multiple times. Good thing it's not too far from the bed.

4) My "style" of peeing has changed. Before I was pregnant, the rate at which I peed varied. If I really had to go, it came out fast. Now - it's always a steady rate. Always. Well - except for those trickles that result from above mentioned trampoline practice. It's like there's a limit on how fast I'm allowed to pee now. Very weird. Anyone else notice this?

5) Cramping/ab tightening. Just for a short while. And often right before I go and right after I'm done. Anyone else?

6) The lovely "snissing". While it's been close, I haven't actually peed my pants yet (thanks kegels??), but I have a feeling it will happen at least once before this pregnancy is over.

OK - guess that's it. Just some weird little things I've noticed about peeing now that I'm pregnant. ;-) Anyone else experience any of these, too? Or have anything else to add to the list?

Hope everyone's having a great day!

Pediatricians

2009-07-07T18:22:00.002-04:00

Not sure exactly when you're supposed to do this, but I got a recommendation from a couple girls on my local so I signed up for the next open house on 8/17 - can't wait! If we like them, there's one more check off our list!

Not sure I passed

2009-07-07T11:30:00.003-04:00

I know I won't know until my appt. on Monday, but for some reason I don't think I passed. I have been feeling "off" ever since I drank it. I guess it could be b/c I wasn't allowed to drink water and haven't really had much to eat (a couple egg whites), but I'm not holding my breath.

They had both orange and red today, but only the red was cold so I went with that. The first few drinks honestly weren't too bad, but by the bottom, I was forcing it down. I can handle not having to drink that again! haha

It would suck, but I guess it's good to know, just in case though, right?! lol So I guess we'll just wait and see what we're told on Monday - fingers crossed!

And one more thing - we're in double digits now - only 97 days left - wow!

Tomorrow = Glucose

2009-07-06T15:19:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is the day I get to drink the sugary orange stuff. I've heard from some it's not so bad, others that it's terrible. Either way, I know I have to drink it fast so at least it'll be over with quickly.

I have the option of orange or fruit punch, but of which I do not like the flavor of. I'd rather eat the jelly beans or drink the grape juice I've heard some girls get to do! lol

Besides glucose, they'll also be drawing to retest my thyroid. Hopefully I'll still come back ok and just stay on my current dosage.

Outside of the pregnancy, this past weekend was the 4th of July! We went to visit the in-laws and had a pretty good time. Started registering, went to a BBQ on Honeoye Lake, got some color, ate some crap food. All-in-all, not a bad weekend!

Bridal Shower?!

2009-07-01T12:41:00.002-04:00

My sister asked me the other day for the list of people who I'd want invited to the shower. I have to admit - it took me a minute to realize what she was talking about! It may sound weird to say, but I sometimes forget I'm pregnant. Maybe forget isn't real. Maybe it's just that I don't think it's really happening sometimes. I don't know how to describe it.

But when it sunk in what she was talking about, it made it a little more real. She is throwing a shower for us. For the baby we're having. Wow!

Who knew...

2009-06-29T21:41:00.003-04:00

...someone coud fit so much into such a small room! We cleaned out the guest room this weekend for the nursery. And wow. Just wow. There was sooo much stuff. In every single corner. it is now spread out in the rest of the house. But hey - at least the room is empty! lol

We only have the 2 bedrooms. And I honestly have no idea where we're going to put everything we had in there. We're going to have to get creative, I think. And DH and I are now going to have to share a closet. That is going to be scary. It's not that either of us have a TON of clothes, it's that neither of us keeps the neatest of closets. Especially DH. Our bedroom is small and I have a feeling it's going to get even smaller - especially once we have the baby in there, too.

So now we just have to paint and then get new carpeting. Then we can start filling it again!

Wish us luck!

OH! And today is the end of my 25h week - wow!

MIA

2009-06-26T12:53:00.002-04:00

Hey there - been MIA for a while. My hard drive crashed so had a loaner and tried not to do too much that wasn't work related (I don't have a home computer at the moment).

But - all is doing well! We've based V-Day (Viability Day)! That pretty much means that if something were to happen, hospitals would do everything they can to try and save the little guy. And NO - it doesn't mean I want him to be born now, just comforting to know there'd at least be some hope.

I've been taking belly pics right along, but haven't really seen much change. Once of these days, I may actually post them! LOL

OK - have to get back to work, but I hope all is well with everyone. Have a great weekend!

Appointment Today

2009-06-15T19:57:00.003-04:00

Had another appointment today (23 weeks!). No ultrasound or anything, just routine with some updates:

1) Said I can come off Lovenox at 28 weeks if I'm comfortable with doing so. If not, let him know and can stay on up to 36 weeks if I want. Not sure how long I'll go. Probably just go until I run out? Not sure how much I have left.

2) Need to do the GD check and re-check thyroid levels before next appointment. Next appt. is 7/13 so will probably schedule those the week before. My initial glucose level was 71 when they first drew it, so hopefully it stays low!

3) BP looks good and have gained 3 lbs in the last month. Total +6 I think? I went forever without actually gaining, so it's weird seeing that. I know I'm supposed to gain weight, but I am not going to lie and say it's not a scary thing!

4) Switching to DH's insurance next month (cheaper delivery costs and covers breast pumps and class discounts - yay!) so got some info on the breast pump thing. He just said I need to give them a call to see if they need a durable medical form or an Rx for it and he'll do whatever we need. Even if it's not covered 100%, it's a big SCORE in my mind - those things aren't cheap!

5) He ok's our trip to Jamaica next month - yay! We tried multiple times last year to go on that trip, but it kept getting postponed due to treatments so this year (assuming our ass of a travel agent actually does her job), we'll actually get to go! We just have to come in and see them a couple days before we go to get a final check and get some "tips" and a copy of my apperwork to take with. Can't wait!

6) Found out we get another ultrasound between 32-34 weeks for measurements - sweet!

7) Lastly - I'm off pelvic rest! Still required to call if I have any spotting, but now that means we can have sex (if we get the nerve!) and do more than just walking for exercise, lift things, etc... Yay!

OK - guess that's it - sorry it was so long. I just really like my office so it's easy to get carried away. Everyone I've seen so far has been great!

Hope everyone's doing well! And finally - a big congratulations to Sandi for making it to full term today!

You have GOT to be Kidding Me!

2009-06-14T13:33:00.002-04:00

WTF! Over a month ago, we called the travel agent we used for our honeymoon to re-book our anniversary trip to Jamaica. We were supposed to go last year, but it kept getting postponed due to treatments and therefore we never met.

Three weeks later and numbers attempts at contact later, she FINALLY gets back to us with some potential flights/dates. I get back to her immediately with our selection.

She called me when I was in PA 1.5 weeks ago to confirm, get my card info, etc... and to book the flight. Yay, right?!

No. I called USAIR today to confirm what name they had me under since my passport still has my maiden name and they didn't have a reservation for us. At all. On ANY flight.

So then I look at my credit card statement and NOTHING has been booked. No flight, no resort, nothing.

I DON'T GET IT! If it wasn't for the fact we already had money invested in this trip with them from last year, they would have been fired a LONG time ago. I just don't understand it. They were soooo good last time. And were for others I referred to them as well. But now? WTF!

If she caused us to lose the fair/rates or if there are no seats left on that flight, I don't even know what I'm going to do.

OMG!

Daycare

2009-06-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

OK - so I finally got my butt in gear yesterday and started calling some daycares. I had my spreadsheet ready with the phone numbers and a list of some questions (thank you to a fellow blogger for additional questions!) and started dialing.

There were a couple I really liked over the phone, others seemed fine, but didn't like the "person" as much on the other end of the phone. But, to be fair, we'll do tours of them all to get the real feel.

The part that hit me the mots was cost. I knew it would be a lot, but it was still shocking to hear in person. Most of them ranged from $225 to $245 a week. One was max $187. Yikes! There were some variances - ie: some provide formula/food/snacks, others did not.

While I do not want to pay that much money, I'm not seeing much of a choice. I called a few in-home places and so far, I did not like them. I'm trying to get recommendations, but no one near me has kids and those with kids don't use daycares anywhere near us, so I'm on my own at this point.

We hope to get the tours done in the next few weeks and are already on the waiting list for a few. Guess we'll see how it goes!

Sign up for Classes

2009-06-01T18:36:00.002-04:00

Had a sec to pop in amongst my million travels to get online, so wanted to pop in and say hi! Hope everyone's doing well.

DH and I signed up for classes the other day. Seems like a lot, but, honestly, when I read the descriptions, they all sounded relevant - so we did it. LOL

- Breastfeeding Your Baby
- Child & Infant CPR
- Childbirth Prep Marathon
- Maternity Info Night (meet everyone, tour, free massages!)
- New Parents Class
- Pregnancy Workout

Up next is finally making Daycare calls. I've narrowed down the list, just have to actually make the calls to see who has openings and set up visits. I don't know why I keep putting it off, but I do. Hopefully I'll get off my butt and get it done this week while I'm away and then visit next week.

If any of you have tips on the classes, daycare, etc..., let me know - I'll take them!

All is well!

2009-05-27T20:17:00.000-04:00

DH and I went in for the appointment yesterday. They got us in right away which was nice - less time to sit there worrying! I knew things would end up being ok, but there's always that nagging feeling in the back of your head the thinks the worst, you know? Especially since I hadn't really felt him at all that morning.

They start off trying to listen for the heartbeat. Usually they place it on my belly and we hear it right away. But yesterday it took them a few tries before we did. And let me tell you - I was so scared! But, they did end up finding it and it was the best sound I've ever heard!

Next they did an internal exam and she said my cervix looks PEREFECT - doesn't even look like it bled. Sweet!

So - she said everything looks great, but "based on everything we've been through to even get pregnant", she's putting me on pelvic rest for a month. I/we know we most likely won't need that, but it's nice they want to be extra cautious with me - I won't complain!

I have a trip planned for CO this weekend (leave Friday, come back Sunday night), then I fly out again Monday for a work trip to PA and come back Thursday, then drive up to my parents house for my sister's shower Friday after work through Sunday.

They did ok me for the flying, though, and gave me copies of my paperwork "just in case", although they're not expecting anything to happen. It was kind of cool reading the paperwork - especially the big "IVF" written right at the top. ;-)

So, guess that's it. I'm done rambling. ;-) And we do realize this was extremely minor in comparison to what could happen during pregnancy, but we both were still so extremely happy after we left. We didn't realize just how nervous we were until we left. Now, let's hope everything else from here on out is smooth sailing!

Sad Day, Happy Day, Nervous Day

2009-05-26T13:10:00.003-04:00

A lot of emotions going on today.

Sad: today is the anniversary of when my cat got hit by the car. Which, if any of you read back then and remember, was the start of a really long, bad summer which ended with my kitty not making it. Maybe I'll post pictures later to cheer me up - to remember the good times. We miss you, Riley!

Nervous: started spotting red yesterday. Wasn't a ton, but enough to freak my out, of course. My OB has a rule to call whenever you have spotting of any kind. Of course they were closed yesterday so I called today and they are having me come in today for a pelvic exam and check the heartbeat. And then based on those, if we do an u/s or anything else. I haven't spotted today, but I have been feeling some funky feelings in my uterus, cervix, etc... But, then again, they could just be normal and I'm just more tuned into them right now based on the spotting.

Happy: I officially start week 21 today, meaning I have officially completed the first half of this pregnancy. I was just thinking about this the other day and thought to myself - how in the world did that happen?! I've been very lucky and have been feeling very well so far. Here's to hoping it continues that way!

Hope everyone had a great long weekend!

It's a Boy!

2009-05-18T21:41:00.003-04:00

It's a boy!

I have been calling it a he ever since we got that first positive beta. I don't know why, but I just did. And turns out, I was right!

The little guy didn't want to cooperate at first. He was sort of crossing his legs and had the umbilical cord between them so she couldn't tell for sure. But then the u/s tech had me lay on my side to try and get him to move and he still hadn't moved enough. So finallly the tech and I were just poking at my belly until he finally moved enough and showed for sure he was a boy!
It was so awesome to watch the ultrasound - we could have stayed in there all day!

Heartbeat was 158 andd everything looked perfect! The tech said he was about 6-ish inches and about 11 oz (in the 50-60th percentile which is great!) and measure right on track for where he should be.

Also got the results of both parts of our previous NT scans and they all came back great. And there were no soft markers or anything today, either!

DH was so excited - I loved the look on his face! He will now have a little fishing partner and my sister's baby will be a year when ours is born, so they'll be close in age to play!

After the results we went out to dinner to celebrate, called everyone we knew, and now here we are!

I have a little boy - a son! - growing in my belly - yay!

Today's the Big Day!

2009-05-18T10:06:00.002-04:00

Yay! I'm nervous (always am before an ultrasound - the whole "what if" thing always creeps in") but I'm also very excited. And so is DH - 3:30 can't come fast enough today!

Hair Cut Day!

2009-05-16T10:37:00.002-04:00

So today's the big day - for my hair. ;-) As I posted below, I haven't had my hair cut (by a professional) since the 9th grade. My only criteria are:

- long enough for a pony tail
- no bangs
- low maintenance
- not too short - I have chubby cheeks I'm sure are only going to get bigger as this pregnancy continues.

Kind of nervous what they'll do, but I'm sure it'll probably be pretty boring. If I had to guess, it will just end up being - cut inches off, layer it. ;-)

I'm looking forward to the hair washing and hair "playing" the most - thank you DH for the gift certificate!

Big Ultrasound on Monday!

2009-05-13T14:55:00.000-04:00

So - in preparation for Monday's big ultrasound, I'm going to attempt to put voting on the right side of my blog. So, if you're up for it, let me know what you think!

A Thump and a Book

2009-05-12T17:57:00.003-04:00

So, I felt another "thump" today, so I am beginning to think it is the baby, although still not 100% sure. I don't think I'll be 100% sure until it happens more often and is a little harder. But yay for now if it is!

Outside of that, I've been feeling pretty good. Still sleeping like crap - that's probably the biggest thing right now. I am such a light sleeper right now - I wake up so easily - and it's not always to pee. I knew the not sleeping was going to happen, I just thought I had more time! lol

I also noticed I had my first skin tag - they're kind of freaky - yikes! It's tiny and I know they generally go away, just weird to see actually happen. I think I'll just not look for now. ;-)

On a different note, this past weekend, we went away to visit DH's family for Mother's Day. It was a nice trip. I hadn't been able to go out to visit since Christmas, so it was great. We catered to his mom and tried to not let her do anything (although not always successfully!). I wasn't expecting anything myself for Mother's Day since I don't technically have a baby in my arms, but his sister and nieces got me a card and a gift, it was pretty cute. And some friends sent well-wishes as well, it was kind of cool!

DH didn't do anything (and I agree) since we aren't technically there yet and didn't want to jump the gun, just in case, you know? I'm completely ok with that and can't wait for next year!

Besides the card/gift from his sister, she always gave us a box of the old books she and DH used to have as kids - it is so cool to look through them. And DH said he wanted to pull each of them out and read them to my belly - yay! Although not one of those books, DH took a book out of the elementary school library last week (his idea!) and read it to my belly last night:

It was actually a pretty good book - I've never read any of the Clifford books. DH thought it was pretty funny and now that I think about it, I wonder why, too - seems everyone did - maybe they were out after I was too old for them? Who knows!

Either way, it was so cute watching him read last night. He was so into it and it just made me fall in love with him even more!

OK, guess that's it - I hope everyone has a great day!

Baby? Maybe?

2009-05-08T11:18:00.002-04:00

Oh, one more thing! I'm not 100% sure, but that last 2 nights, I MAYBE felt the baby? The first night I was reading one of the giant Harry Potter books and last night I was using the laptop. Both times, I had them resting on my belly and I could feel some "thump, thump, thumping". I'm really not sure if it was the baby or the weight of the book/laptop "settling" things on my belly.

Does that even make sense? Either way, I'm going to hold out officially saying anything until I feel it again - without something sitting on my belly. ;-)

Lilacs and Tulips

2009-05-08T11:14:00.002-04:00

We are going out of town this weekend to visit DH's family. If we stayed home, we'd get to go to Tulip Festival. Lots of vendors, yummy food, good bands (I think Third Eye Blind is headlining?) and, of course, lots of tulips. Parking sucks - hard - but I love to look at everything.

But, to make up for it, Rochester (where we're going), is having their Lilac Festival this weekend. It sounds pretty similar I think and hey - who doesn't love the smell of lilacs!

So maybe we'll check it out and maybe take some pictures. Tulips are a lot more colorful to photograph, but I'll most likely have my camera in hand just in case!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Getting my Hair Cut!

2009-05-06T14:58:00.003-04:00

I just schedule an appointment to get my hair cut next weekend! DH gave me a gift certificate for Christmas since I kept talking about doing it and I haven't used it yet!

I haven't had my hair cut by a "real" person since the 9th grade - and I'm 33! I always just keep my hair long-ish and just trim the bottom. I never saw the sense in paying someone to do that, so I've always had my mom or DH do it for me.

So, needless to say, I'm pretty excited - curious what they'll come up with - that and I love when people play with my hair - yay! My only criteria is it still has to go in a pony tail and no bangs. Oh - and not above the shoulder. Sounds pretty boring, but that's me. ;-)

I can't wait!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

2009-05-04T18:09:00.002-04:00

Sort of. ;-) My Grandmother's actual birthday was back on 2/21 and we had a small family party to celebrate her 90th birthday. Can you imagine living 90 years?! The things you must have seen!

Well DH and I went up this weekend for a second party - one for the extended family. It was supposed to be held at someone's house on Sunday, but my grandmother ended up being admitted to the hospital (she's ok!) Saturday so we moved it there. She was in good enough condition they let us have it in one of the big rooms there so we could all fit and she was able to come down for it.

It was a surprise - even all of the nurses were in on it, it was great! The look on her face when she saw the big birthday sign and again as she saw each of our faces. It was so amazing - to see that look of joy, love, and happiness on her face. Yay!

So, once again, Happy 90th Birthday, Grandma!

One Year Ago

2009-04-28T12:13:00.004-04:00

One year ago this past Saturday (4/25) we made our first RE appointment. Wow! And look at us now. When we first went it was depressing hearing the news that I knew I'd hear (if that even makes sense?). And then when we started our first IVF, we were pretty optimistic it would work. And then the crash when it didn't.

While I tried to remain pretty positive, there were plenty of times I wasn't sure this would ever work. And now, one year later, I have a little baby growing in my belly. It's unbelievable.

It still amazes me to this day that it worked. And that there is now a 5 inch long little being growing in my belly. And the fact that I can't feel something that big is sometimes even crazier to me!

I am 16 weeks 1 day today and officially in my 5th month. Wow. We have less than a month until our big ultrasound (5/18) and I can't wait. Hopefully by then I'll be "obviously" showing and not just look like I'm gaining weight. Part of me is in no rush, but there's another part of me that is excited for that moment - especially the feeling the movement. That just seems so surreal to me!

DH is absolutely in love and likes to touch my belly even though he knows he can't feel anything yet, but likes to do it. And will talk to the little one. He said he can't wait to buy the first book to read to my belly. lol

He sent me a text today and it said, "Next summer I will be sitting outside with my little baby. My kid! That's pretty awesome and I can't wait!". It's moments like these that just make my heart melt. Both in the fact that - wow, I'm really pregnant, and it hits me again. And also that I know my DH is going to be such a great daddy.

OK, I know this is just a bunch of rambling, but when I noticed the date on Saturday we were out to dinner celebrating my birthday and it just hit me. We were both so upset a year ago, at times thinking that we would never have a baby. And 3 IVF's later, here we are.

So now our fingers are just crossed that the rest of this pregnancy goes smoothly and we get to hold our little one in October. Wow. Just wow!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-04-22T10:16:00.002-04:00

OK, wow it has been forever since I posted - yikes! I'll try to catch up shortly. But for now, I'm going to be a total AW and wish myself a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ;-)

It's the big 3-3. So not an exciting year, but I love birthdays - anybody's birthday - so Yay! ;-) We're doing some celebrating tonight, but we'll go to dinner, etc... on Saturday. It's supposed to be absolutely gorgeous this weekend (in the 80's!) and I can't wait. Going to a yummy Vietnamese restaurant - can't wait!

Hope everyone has a great day!

15 weeks!

2009-04-20T12:26:00.001-04:00

So, looks like our little one is an orange this week. Yay!

Pants are getting a little tighter - will try and stretch them out as long as I can, but am curious how long that will last. Have also been getting some KILLER headaches, but they are gone on the weekends, so I seriously think they are due to stress/work, not pregnancy. Good times!

Other than that, things are going pretty well. DH made a comment on my boobs the other day - he's very excited about them! They aren't porn star big or anything, but definitely bigger - and he's liking it! lol

Here's what's going on with the little one this week:

TheBump.com:

Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements.

And BabyCenter.com:
How your baby's growing: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop.

Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds.

Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods."). See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing: You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then.

If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

If you're having amniocentesis, it'll most likely happen between now and 18 weeks. This test can identify hundreds of genetic and chromosomal disorders. If you're getting very anxious while waiting for the results, it may help to know that most women who undergo amniocentesis get good news about their babies — bringing welcome relief from their worries.

Don't be surprised if you and your partner are feeling a little stressed out these days. Many pregnant couples worry about their baby's health and how they'll handle the changes ahead. But with physical discomforts on the wane and energy on the rise, this is also a wonderful trimester for most women.

Told my Grandmother! LOL

2009-04-14T07:51:00.004-04:00

So, we went home to my parents this weekend for Easter and it was nice - fast, but nice. Was great to get home and see everyone. The only one missing was my youngest sister, but we called her and chatted Saturday night (her Easter since she's so far ahead).

DH and I also took advantage of the weekend to tell Grandma and my Great Aunt about the baby. To do it, I made copies of an ultrasound picture and put them in a big Easter egg for them to open. Neither of them understood, it was pretty funny!

At first my Great Aunt thought it was maybe a space module and Grandma first thought it was a cat. (What?!) And then when we said nope, she thought it was a mouse! lol

Granted, neither of them had ultrasound pics around "back in their day" and both have 85 and 90-year old eyes, but I thought that was pretty funny!

But, once they understood, they were both very happy for us. ;-)

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

14 weeks!

2009-04-13T12:14:00.000-04:00

Still not really feeling anything new. Pants are getting a bit tighter, but that's about it. bobbs are still feeling bigger and the nipples are a senstive. Not sore, just sensitive. Otherwise, pretty normal!

And in news for what's going on with the baby:

TheBump.com:

Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

And BabyCenter.com:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth.

He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck.

By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body.

Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active. See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing: Welcome to your second trimester! Your energy is likely returning, your breasts may be feeling less tender, and your queasiness may have completely abated by now. If not, hang on — chances are good it will soon be behind you (although an unlucky few will still feel nauseated months from now).

The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Starting to show can be quite a thrill, giving you and your partner visible evidence of the baby you've been waiting for. Take some time to plan, daydream, and enjoy this amazing time. It's normal to worry a bit now and then, but try to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby, and having faith that you're well equipped for what's ahead.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-10T14:16:00.002-04:00

We are headed up north to my parents this year to celebrate - will be nice to have everyone together. The only person we'll be missing is my youngest sister, but since she lives in Australia, I'm not really thinking she'll be there. ;-)

We always do Easter basket and Easter egg hunts every year, but considering the 2 sisters who will be there are 30+ and our male counterparts aren't really all that interested, it's out this year. Booo! But I understand! lol But it's on again next year when my nephew will be walking and we'll hopefully have our little one. So, til then! ;-)

I hope everyone has a great weekend and to those who celebrate Easter, Happy Easter to you!

NT Scan part 1!

2009-04-08T22:01:00.004-04:00

Had our ultrasound and bloodwork today for the first part (of the first part) of the NT Scan. ;-) Started with an ultrasound, then vitals, then meeting with the doctor, and ended with bloodwork!

The ultrasound went well. Was faster than I was hoping (maybe 5-10 minutes max? booo!), but at least we got to see the little one and it's heart beating at 168 bpm! And of course s/he didn't want to cooperate! lol He was upside down on his head. So we had to poke my belly and move the probe around on my belly until we could get a good angle. Finally did and the little one was moving, waving it's hand and it looked like it was sucking it's thumb. Not sure if it was or not, but that's what it looked like!

You can sort of see it here? Head on the right, hand up to it's mouth?

DH said the sweetest thing today when we got home. He said that the minute he saw the hand and he brought it up to his face, he said his heart just melted. He's going to be such a great daddy! There were many a day I never thought we'd get here and I am so thankful every day that so far, we're on our way!

We were told we'd get to hear the heartbeat today, but they didn't even attempt. And we didn't even realize this until we got home, so I'm going to call and see if they'll let us pop in and do that at our next appointment (which is just bloodwork). I hope so!

After the u/s, quick vitals on me were done. Was down 2 pounds - doctor even asked me about that - I was surprised! Because I'm really not that thin to begin with and 2 pounds is nothing. And no, I'm not trying to lose weight - I'm just assuming it's due to the fact that your weight can fluctuate by that much in a day! Oh well. ;-)

Next was the meeting with the doctor which was good. There are 3 doctors at this practice that deliver babies and I'm rotating my way through them, and today's was doctor #3. The first woman one and she was great! Really nice, positive, just cheery (without being cheesy and annoying) and it was great to meet her. I wouldn't mind at all if she was the one who delivered me!

She went through the results of the u/s and said everything looked good. The NT scan itself measured a 1.5 which was great (you want it less than 3). So now we just wait until the results of the bloodwork from today to come back in about a week and we'll get the "odds" of an issue from this visit. And then we do part 2 bloodwork in 3 weeks which wraps up the first part of the NT scan (this is not an amnio/CVT). And if anything comes back suspect from these things, then we'll discuss. But for now, I'm staying positive!

Now - just for a little bit of record keeping in case I lose my note:

4/27 at 3:15 - bloodwork for NT (Dr. Co...)
5/18 at 3:30 (BIG ULTRASOUND!) and 4:00 (Dr. N)

OK, guess that's it for today - a good day! Now, off to bed to snuggle with the husband. I hope everyone is doing well!

Told Work

2009-04-07T16:06:00.003-04:00

So I told work today. I was kind of nervous to tell. Only for the fact that in the back of my mind, are those two annoying words: "What if?". What if something happens? Once you tell people, it's out there - there's no easy taking it back. I've done this with everyone I've wanted to tell. Family, friends, work, etc...

I keep telling myself - I'll just wait until the next ultrasound. It's not that far away. And then that one comes and goes, and then I say - "what if". Why not wait until the next one, just in case. And on, and on, and on.

So I decided that now that I'm officially out of the first tri, I'm just going to suck it up and get it out there. I was so nervous telling my leader. Not because he'd be upset, but because I was actually telling someone. I was on the verge of tears and my hands were shaking by the time I was done. Such a sad sight to see, I'm sure!

But he was fantastic. He admitted he had an idea that's what was going on (his wife also works here and had someone recently on her team go through the same process) and was hoping that I'd come to him someday with this news. He had such a big smile on his face and was so excited for us - yay!

So once I broke the news to him, it was time to tell my team. And this is how I did it:

I called everyone over in hopes they'd pick up on the "pickles & ice cream" cliche. Out of about 10-12 people, all but 2 got it. Yay!

I ended up telling most of them about IVF and they were all very supportive and happy for us. I'm so happy it's out there now and I can stop putting it off. Yay!

Hmm, Peaches!

2009-04-06T17:44:00.001-04:00

So, it looks like our little one is a peach this week. That's a lot bigger than a plum - seems like a big jump. Maybe our peaches are just bigger here! lol

From The Bump:

Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)

From BabyCenter:

How your baby's growing: Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now.

If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing: This is the last week of your first trimester, and your risk of miscarriage is now much lower than earlier in pregnancy. Next week marks the beginning of your second trimester, a time of relative comfort for many women who see early pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue subside.

More good news: Many couples also notice a distinct libido lift around this time. Birth is still months away, but your breasts may have already started making colostrum, the nutrient-rich fluid that feeds your baby for the first few days after birth, before your milk starts to flow.

* * * Isn't that just amazing that, if it's a girl, she already has all those eggs?! Wow!

13 weeks!

2009-04-06T12:43:00.003-04:00

Woohoo! I'm officially in the 2nd tri! Yay! I know The Bump says I still have 3 more days, but I don't care. I'm starting today. ;-)

We have our next OB appointment on Wednesday - it'll be the NT scan. We still have one more day to back out and just do our regular appointment, but I think we are going to go ahead and do it.

Outside of that, not too much going on. Still feeling pretty good and happy to be down to just the one shot now (Lovenox). Will be on that until at leats 28 weeks (max 36). But hey, I can't complain - it bruises, but it doesn't hurt and is super easy since it's pre-filled!

Outside of baby, we did lots of things around the house this weekend. Lots of yard work (OMG so many branches from the storms this winter!) and some other projects in the house. Also watched a few movies:

Seven Pounds
Coyote
Rachel's Getting Married

All pretty good, but in different ways. Oh - and I also changed the headlight in my car - yay me! LOL

How were your weekends?

PIO done!

2009-04-02T11:34:00.001-04:00

My official last day was supposed to be this past Monday. But I still had some left in the bottle so I had the bright idea that I'd just ween myself off of it by doing 1/2 doses until it was done - in hopes of preventing the spotting I've heard about.

But, I realized last night I had no more 1.5" needles to actually inject it with - and there was no way the 18G needles used to withdraw the oil was going in my butt. So I'm just quitting cold turkey - yay!

My butt thanks me. ;-)

Heartburn, Insomnia & a Cold

2009-04-01T10:47:00.003-04:00

So those are the two newest things to have popped in this week. The heartburn itself isn't too bad, but I can feel it. The best part has been twice when I've bent over, I sort of get some acidy/vomit type stuff in the back of my mouth. Not nauseau, just from the heartburn/acid I'm assuming. Nice! lol

And while, throughout this pregnancy, I've had to get up throughout the night to pee, but this week I am just waking up ALL THE TIME. Not always just to pee. Just wake up, grumble, then try to go back to sleep. But, of course, because I'm awake, my mind won't let me go back to sleep until I pee. So I get up anyway. I know it'll be worse than this when the baby comes so I'm not complaining - at all. I would just like a little more sleep each night. ;-)

And in other news - I have a cold. I blame my boss. I've been able to avoid getting sick most of this winter. But on Friday my leader comes in saying he woke up with a sore throat, etc... We had a lot of meetings together on Friday and what what you know? A few days later I wake up with a sore throat to. Add in a stuffy nose and messed up ears and that's what I've got.

Hopefully it goes away soon. My mouth is so dry from not being able to breath through my nose - and water just doesn't help! ha At least this morning my throat didn't hurt as much, so I'm taking that as a good sign.

Hopefully that didn't all sound like one big complaint - yikes! I'm just kind of writing down what's going on throughout this journey. ;-)

So how are all of you doing?

12 weeks!

2009-03-30T10:42:00.001-04:00

So, this is my last week of the first tri - woohoo! And, according to The Bump, our baby's a plum! For some reason I always thought lime's (last week's fruit) were bigger than plums - guess not!

TheBump.com:

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed.

And BabyCenter:

How your baby's growing:The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it.

His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously.

His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

How your life's changing: Your uterus has grown to the point where your healthcare provider can now feel the top of it (the fundus) low in your abdomen, just above your pubic bone. You may already be into maternity clothes, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy. If you're still fairly small and not yet ready for maternity clothes, you've no doubt noticed that your waist is thickening and that you're more comfortable in loose, less restrictive clothing.

You may begin to feel heartburn (also called acid indigestion), a burning sensation that often extends from the bottom of your breastbone to your lower throat. Many women get heartburn for the first time during pregnancy, and those who've previously had bouts of heartburn may find that it gets worse.

During pregnancy, the placenta produces a lot of the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach. Particularly when you're lying down, gastric acid can seep back up the pipe, which causes the uncomfortable burning sensation. For many women the problem doesn't begin (or get worse) until later in pregnancy, when your growing uterus starts to push up on your stomach. The discomfort may range from mildly annoying to intense and distracting.

Spider Boobs

2009-03-26T12:55:00.001-04:00

Yup - that's what has started to show up. I know they will get even more "spidery" but I really started seeing the veins show up yesterday. And I have to admit - I knew they'd come, but it's kind of weird to actually see! LOL

11 weeks 1 day!

2009-03-24T12:48:00.002-04:00

Can you believe it? While I still have a long way to go until this little one is born, there are only 2 weeks left of the first tri and it has been almost 2 months since I got my BFP - crazy!

Still not really having any morning sickness which I am so incredibly thankful for. Little bouts of feeling a little "off", but nothing that isn't resolved by making sure I eat. Still feeling tired - mostly in the morning and at night, but if someone would give me the opportunity to take a nap in the afternoon, I wouldn't say no! lol

And as far as 11 weeks, it look like our little one is a lime this week!

From TheBump:

Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

And from BabyCenter:

How your baby's growing: Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing: If you're like most women, you're feeling a bit more energetic now and your nausea may be starting to wane. Unfortunately, you may also be suffering from constipation (caused by hormonal changes, which can slow digestion) and heartburn (hormones again, relaxing the valve between your stomach and esophagus). Just remember, all this discomfort is for a good cause.

Don't worry if nausea has made it impossible for you to eat a wide variety of healthy foods or if you haven't put on much weight yet (most women gain just 2 to 5 pounds during the first trimester). Your appetite will likely return soon, and you'll start to gain about a pound a week.

Hi there!

2009-03-22T22:06:00.002-04:00

Haven't posted in a bit - been busy. But I'll post again soon, including an update from our first OB appointment on Wednesday - yay!

In the meantime, we went to visit my sister and her family in VT this weekend. And we told them as well as my other sister that we're pregnant - yaaaay! They were so excited for us! They both had a feeling something was up that we were hiding (IVF, not the pregnant piece), so we came clean on pretty much all of it. My youngest sister lives in Australia so we told her via Skype so she actually got to see one of the ultrasound pics and we got to talk to her - so that was pretty cool. And I was going to surprise my other sister once she was done putting my nephew to bed, but she saw me telling the Aussie sister, so oops! No surprise! haha

And the visit itself was great. And my little nephew is just absolutely adorable. He's about 7.5 months and getting cuter every time I see him. Woohoo!

DH and my FBIL went ice fishing on Saturday while my sister, nephew and I went to do wedding stuff. Probably the last ice fishing they'll get in this season, but soon enough it'll just be replaced by regular fishing. LOL

And let me tell you - my sister is going to be the most beautiful bride I've ever seen - she tried on her dress for me and she looked so absolutely beautiful. She is going to take her FI's and everyone's breath away - I can't wait for the big day!

OK, other than watching the NCAA tourney (great job Siena!), we didn't do much else. Was a nice and relaxing visit. I'll post more later. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Happy (sort of) Anniversary!

2009-03-17T13:16:00.003-04:00

DH and I met 5 years ago today! And engaged 3 years ago today, too!

So we are going to go to dinner at the restaurant/bar that we met and got engaged at. We like to do it every year - our own little tradition - I can't wait!

10 weeks!

2009-03-17T10:19:00.003-04:00

Double digits! Today I am 10w1d - double digits - that feels pretty good! Tomorrow we have our first OB appointment - yay!

But for today, here's the weekly baby updates. I know they are super long and no one wants to read them, but I like having them in here to look back on and "see" all the changes. ;-)

TheBump - apparently it is a prune?

With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.)

And BabyCenter:

How your baby's growing:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

RE costs vs. OB costs

2009-03-16T11:31:00.002-04:00

I have to say - my insurance coverage for everything that happened with the RE was pretty crappy. I was more fortunate than many in that some things were covered with a co-pay, but for the most part, it was out-of-pocket. (We are so going to try and claim all of that on our taxes!)

On the other hand, I just called my provider today to see how it actually works BEING pregnant and I have to say - it's pretty darn cheap! I pay a single co-pay of $25 and that covers every single pre- and post-partum appointment - as many times as I go in, it doesn't matter. And as far as the actual delivery? It's just a $300 co-pay for room and board. Everything else is covered.

Holy cow! I am in shock. I never really use my medical insurance outside of my annual exam - so my biggest use of it has basically been the inability to use it for my RE stuff. So let's just say I am very surprised to find out it's actually pretty good outside of that.

I feel so fortunate - I'm still in shock! Wow.

House Guest is gone :-(

2009-03-13T11:56:00.003-04:00

So, my parents came back from South Africa and our house guest is gone. :-( We're going to miss her! But, we'll be going up to visit them for Easter so we'll get to see her again soon!

And replacing her is a new house guest for the weekend. One of our friends is going out of town for the weekend so we get to watch his black lab for the weekend - yay!

In other news, the spotting has stopped and we got a new mattress! I didn't realize how much I hated our old mattress until we got the new one. It's heaven! DH loves/needs a really firm mattress and I like a softer one (those hard ones hurt my hips/shoulder!) so I wasn't sure we'd be able to compromise. But it was easier than we thought and we are now sleeping on it - yay!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Keeping me on my Toes

2009-03-12T09:51:00.004-04:00

This pregnancy, as I'm sure all do, has a way of always keeping me on my toes. Never really fully let's me settle in and feel "comfortable" with it. I'm not sure if that is exactly the right word. But after the last ultrasound - see it move, hearing it's heart beating away, graduating to my OB, etc... I was starting to let my self settle in, of sorts. Get a little more confident.

But then my body likes to throw in little things like the spotting that started again yesterday, just to keep me on my toes. Just another reason why when I get this close to telling someone I'm pregnant (other than my parents and friend who knew about our IVF), I stop myself.

I know the spotting probably is nothing to be concerned about - but you know we all do! Even when it's most likely absolutely nothing that I did, I still wonder - what did I do that I shouldn't have?! lol

DH has told a bunch of people, but I just can't make myself do it yet. Other than my family, I really think it'll end up being after the 1st tri before I tell people. And then I'll have to allow myself to do it - it's exciting, but scary putting it out there, you know!

OK - I've been lax lately updating and I have some things to update about that will have to come later - but I just had to put that out there to get it off my chest. Thanks for listening!

9 weeks!

2009-03-10T10:05:00.000-04:00

Well - technically 9w1d - and my baby is a green olive this week - yuck! lol There aren't many things I don't like, but olives of all types are one of them - especially the green ones. I think I'll go with it being a grape, instead. LOL

But, since the TheBump uses an olive:

Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby!

And BabyCenter:

How your baby's growing:

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape (ooh, I was right referring to a grape instead of an olive! haha) — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months.

Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks.

Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

How your life's changing:

You still may not look pregnant even if your waist is thickening a bit. You probably feel pregnant, though. Not only are morning sickness and other physical symptoms out in full force for most women, but you may feel like an emotional pinball as well. Mood swings are common now — it's perfectly normal to feel alternately elated and terrified about becoming a parent. Try to cut yourself some slack. Most women find that moodiness flares up at around six to ten weeks, eases up in the second trimester, and then reappears as pregnancy winds to a close.

(No morning sickness yet - thank goodness!, but I do have waves of feeling like I want to cry - that's for sure!)

Yay for my little grape!

8w4d - Graduation Day!

2009-03-08T20:16:00.006-04:00

So - I graduated! It was bittersweet. I was very happy to be at the stage where I am able to leave and be a "normal" pregnant woman, but very sad to be leaving. I have to admit I really like it there - they are amazing. The building, the staff, all of it. They are just so nice, comforting, supportive, encouraging and just down right good at what they do. Just everything.

I started to tear up when we left and everyone came up to me and gave me hugs. It was so sweet - I am going to miss them! They did tell me to come back for visits, though - with progress, pictures, and the baby when it's born! If I do bring in the actual baby, though, I'll be sure to check to make sure no one's in the office. I would hate to hurt anyone's feelings, you know?

So - let's get down to the excitement of the visit! Since this was our last visit there, they grabbed a DVD and threw it into the ultrasound machine - a 3d one! They recorded the whole thing - right down to the sound of the heartbeat. Let me tell you - that was awesome to hear!

Baby's heartbeat was up to 167 bpm and looks like a gummy bear or a teddy graham! You could see it's head, it's body, it's heart and it's arms and legs! It was so cool - it even moved around a little bit. I wished it did it more, but I'm not going to complain!

I wanted to post the video on here, but it has too much personal info so no can do. ;-) But, I'll post my lame attempt at taking a picture of one of the u/s pictures (they never look as good as the real thing!):

So - can you see his head, two arms, and two legs/feet? Little cutie, no? haha

They showed us views both from 2d and 3d - it was awesome! Not a bad substitute for a graduation diploma, eh? ;-)

And - just for my own sake in case I lose the paper, here's when I get to (potentially) stop my current meds:

Lovenox: 7/20 (evaluate at 28 weeks with potential to continue to 36 weeks)
hCG: 3/16 (10 weeks)
Aspirin: 9/14 (36 weeks)
PIO: 3/30 (12 weeks)

So - by the end of the month, I'll be down to only one injection - woohooooo!

OK, guess that's it - hope everyone had a great weekend!

House Guest!

2009-03-05T08:41:00.003-05:00

We have been pet sitting for my mom's kitten since she's been gone and it has been fantastic! My mom named her Noel since she got her for Christmas - she's so cute! She ranges between holy terror and sweet little baby. LOL One minute she'll be sprinting around the house attacking every little thing, curious what it is, and the next she'll be curled up on your lap purring.

It has been so long since I've been around a kitten! I got Riley when he was 5 so never really experienced that with him. And thankfully, our furniture has fared pretty well. Although I can't say she hasn't gotten curious or playful and pulled absolutely everything apart!

Prime example - the power cords from the fish tank below that used to be all tucked away nicely. I have given up fixing them until she leaves. ;-) Let's just say she loves the fish!

I have taken a ton of pictures, but most of them end up not turning out well due the fact she's moving way too fast! So, here are a couple I managed to get while she was "resting".

Cute, isn't she?! We're going to miss her when she leaves!

8 Weeks!

2009-03-02T16:27:00.005-05:00

Today, I am 8 weeks even. Woohooo! I called my OB and could have had my first "graduate" appointment next Tuesday, but I have to pick my parents up from the airport, so won't be able to. But that's ok. I'll have just had an ultrasound this Friday anyway. So, instead, we go a week later on 3/18. Yay!

Had a good weekend. No new symptoms which is good - fingers (and toes and everything else) crossed this holds out. Had a friend come in from out of town that we told our news and he is very excited for us! We were going to wait to tell friends until after we told all of our family, but we couldn't pass up a surprise in-person visit!

In sad (for me) news, we were supposed to go up to visit one of my sister's this weekend to share the news and help her with wedding stuff, but we have had to cancel. Stupid winter weather! Boooooo!

In happier news, here's what's going on in my belly: ;-)

According to The Bump:

Your baby is growing like mad (average embryo: 0.63 in, 0.04 oz), putting on about a millimeter every day and continuing to straighten out in the trunk. Though you can't feel it yet, baby is moving those little arms, legs and (now only slightly) webbed fingers and toes like crazy.

And for fun, according to American Pregnancy:

What changes are occurring with your body?
Even though it may not look like your body has changed from the outside, many changes have occurred throughout your body. Before you were pregnant, your uterus was about the size of your fist, but it is now about the size of a grapefruit.

You may have noticed changes in your breasts. They may be more tender and sensitive than usual. This is completely normal as your body is preparing for lactation.

Another change that has occurred that you may not be aware of is that your blood volume has increased by 40 to 50 percent.

What is happening with your baby?
Everything that is present in an adult human is now present in the small embryo. The ears are continuing to form externally and internally. The bones are beginning to form, and the muscles can contract. Fingers and toes are webbed but are growing longer.

The facial features continue to mature. The tip of the nose is present and the eyelids are now more developed. The embryonic tail is also disappearing, and your baby's body is beginning to straighten out.

While your baby's gender has already been determined, the external genitals are still forming and cannot be clearly seen. The embryo is at the end of the embryonic period and begins the fetal period.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for stopping in!

Ultrasound #3!

2009-02-27T17:59:00.006-05:00

Still growing strong! She said the little one is measuring right on track, about 11 mm, with a strong heartbeat beating at 157 bpm!

Here is my once again sad attempt at taking a picture of one of the pictures. I suck at it, but at least it's something (ignore the giant white circle - it's just the reflection of my camera).

It doesn't really look human yet, but you could sort of see the distinction between the head and the body on the screen.

Next week will be our last appointment with the RE. They typically release you at 8 weeks, but since my ultrasounds have all been in the middle of the week (ie: today is 7w4d), they are having me come back next week for one more.

And I have a feeling this will be the best appointment yet! They said they will use the 3d ultrasound machine and pop in a DVD for us so we can have a copy of the ultrasound as well as the sound of the baby's heart! We haven't gotten to hear that yet and I hear it's just the most amazing sound ever. I cannot wait! And I feel so lucky they are giving us a DVD of the appointment. Woohoooooo!

I am so going to miss getting these every week after I graduate from the RE and am released to the OB. I'm getting pretty spoiled! Plus, I really like being there - I feel comfortable there. But will still be exciting to be released like a "normal" person. ;-)

In other news - the spotting has stopped (I think) - yay! No other new symptoms yet so I'm pretty excited about that. Other than that, not too much going on. Just looking forward to the weekend. Hope everyone has a great one!

Good luck Larissa!

2009-02-26T12:47:00.001-05:00

I wanted to wish Larissa and Shawn a ton of luck today! They finally get to have their first ultrasound and see how many babies are in there! I can't wait to find out!

And, I don't know if Stacy reads this blog, but if she does, good luck to you and your husband as well!

(Larissa - I never know if it's ok to link to your blog or not - so let me know either way?) ;-)

Spotting :-(

2009-02-25T17:55:00.002-05:00

I have been able to avoid the joy of spotting so far. Thought maybe I'd be a lucky one who didn't spot. But, such is not the case. It started last night, then went away for a bit and is back today. Mostly brown, some pinpoint red yesterday. And it freaks me the heck out. A lot.

I know it happens. And doesn't always mean something bad - but there's still that possibility. And that's what keeps creeping into my mind that I have to keep pushing out.

I tell myself - I have cramping, but it's not really bad so that's good, right? And it's just spotting and not a ton of bleeding, so that's a positive, right? Ugh.

I haven't bothered called the RE's office since I have my next ultrasound on Friday anyway. And it's not like they can do anything about it anyway if it was the start of a miscarriage.

So - I guess I will just hope it stops soon and see what Friday brings us, right?

(Please stop, please stop, please stop...)

7 weeks - a Blueberry!

2009-02-24T14:05:00.007-05:00

So - today I'm 7w1d today - yay! Still no new symptoms (meaning: no morning sickness or big/sore boobs) so I'm feeling extremely lucky at this point. I just hope it stays that way. The other symptoms are still here and manageable (cramping, emotional, tired, thirsty, hungry - and maybe a bit gassy and bloated, but not terrible).

And according to TheBump.com, my baby is a blueberry and will be about .5 inches this week:

Baby's brain -- both hemispheres! -- is growing fast, generating about 100 new cells every minute. Arms and legs are emerging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third!) is now in place.

And since I like to compare: according to American Pregnancy.org, it'll be about an inch by the end of the week. So maybe it doubles this week? I don't know! lol

What is happening with your baby?
At this point every essential organ has begun to form in the embryo's tiny body. The hair and nipple follicles are forming, and the eyelids and tongue have begun formation. The elbows and toes are more visible as the trunk begins to straighten out.

How big is your baby?
Your baby is approximately an inch long by the end of this week and weighs less than an aspirin.

Also - my parents safely arrived in South Africa - just got a call from my mom. Yay!

We told my Parents!

2009-02-23T14:25:00.006-05:00

We were going to wait, but since we saw the heartbeat and they were going to be in town, we did it. Yay!

They came into town today because they were flying out for their next volunteer trip - they're off to South Africa! I don't envy the long flight, but I do envy them getting to go! They always save up so they can go on these trips and I think it's awesome! I believe this year they are building a playground - can't wait to see the pics and more pics of the animals they see again this year!

So, I took the day off and we took advantage of them coming down to tell them! I didn't know how to do it, so I piggy-backed off the Valentine's Day theme from last weekend. I know it's a week late, but hey - it's ok - we just played it off that we waited to give them their Valentine since they were coming in person.

So, here's what we did. I went last weekend after V-Day was over and bought a box of chocolates. I then took out the insides and instead filled it with baby stuff and taped the our last ultrasound to the bottom of the cover.

My mom opened it and it didn't take her long to figure it out. A big old smile spread across her face and she said "Does this mean what I think it means?!". It was awesome and I started to tear up. She knows we've been doing IVF and she was sooooo excited for us! She had assumed that since I didn't tell her the outcome of this last cycle, that it didn't work. So this was a great surprise for her!

Here are a couple pictures:

Here's the side with the baby stuff:

Here's the top with the ultrasound:

And the two together:

And finally, when it was all packaged up!

My dad didn't know what we were going through, just that we were having "trouble" as my mom put it. He is pretty religious and conservative in his views so I originally wasn't going to tell him how it happened. But he made a funny comment ("What, no twins?! geez..." LOL) so I took that opportunity to tell him that we tried! And then showed him the picture of the two embies from our ET and explained it.

Surprising, he was very accepting of it and just kept asking a ton of questions to learn more about it - yay Dad!

Tom could only stop in for a bit on a break so after he left it was pretty much time to head to the airport. We grabbed some lunch and off we went. They'll be gone for a couple weeks and I pick them up on March 11th!

Heartbeat!

2009-02-20T16:36:00.005-05:00

Yaaaay! We got to see the heartbeat today and it was the most amazing sight ever!

It's so amazing to think that there is a little baby in there with a beating heart. At 116 beats per minute. Inside my body. In my uterus. Wow.

They printed out about a billion copies for us to take home - and here's my attempt to take a picture of one of them!

You can see the sac and then within the sac you can see the baby (blob on the left) and the yolk sac (the circle-ish type thing connected to the baby's right side). The yolk sac will eventually turn into the placenta around 10 weeks!

I was so incredibly nervous going into this session that the minute we saw it and they said it's measuring right on track, I almost lost it. I started to tear up. I still can't get over it. And the look on my husband's face - I wish we could have gotten all this on tape!

We go back again next week and we will most likely hear it then. If not, then definitely at my graduation ultrasound. Can't wait!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Ultrasound #2 today!

2009-02-20T11:27:00.002-05:00

We should be able to see/hear the heartbeat at this one and I am just so nervous!

I'm still feeling some the same symptoms as below - including increased cramping yesterday/today which of course makes me nervous - but no spotting or anything like that. So I just hope with everything I have that the little one will be measuring right on track today and we see that little heart beating away!

Aaaaaah! LOL

6w 2d Pregnant!

2009-02-18T12:44:00.007-05:00

I hope I don't jinx myself, but so far, I'm feeling pretty ok! I have had some very minor heart burn and I'm tired and bouts of emotional-ness (is that a word?). Not exhausted, but still pretty tired. No vomiting yet and only some very minor nausea, but if I eat something (granola bar, orange, jolly rancher), it seems to help. Still pretty thirsty, and off and on extreme hunger, and some cramping. Not too bloated, no spotting as of yet (phew!) and the boobs haven't really changed much and don't hurt yet.

It sometimes makes me wonder if anything is still going on in there, but then I remind myself - it's not the same for everyone - and I remember the symptoms I do have and consider myself extremely lucky.

And now, time for another round of c&p of what's going on in there. ;-)

http://www.thebump.com/:

Growing like crazy, baby is starting to sprout eyes, ears, nose, cheeks and chin. Those little hands and feet- still webbed like paddles- might wiggle by week's end, the heart is beating (almost twice as fast as yours!), and blood is starting to circulate.

http://www.babycenter.com/:

How your baby's growing: This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.See what's going on in your uterus this week.

---------

Both of these sites say the baby is 0.25 inches long, another says 0.75 - so who knows. But it's still prettty cool to know everything that's going on in there!

Good Luck Shawna!

2009-02-17T09:31:00.002-05:00

Ms. Shawna and her husband George will be having their babies tomorrow! I know she has a lot going through her mind right now and I just wanted to wish her the very best of luck!

I know she can't wait to see those two little boys (and neither can I!) and I know she and George are going to be great parents. ;-)

Please pop over and wish them luck!

My First Food Aversion

2009-02-15T22:53:00.002-05:00

Chocolate. Of all things. I made some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies the other day and have some chocolate truffles sitting in front of me. Both sound absolutely disgusting to me and the smell of them is even worse. Guess this is one way to not eat sweets!

Chocolate - who would have guessed?!? LOL