Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Pregnancy Update

So I have been incredibly absent over the last few weeks.  I have not posted a blog since week 16 so I will get "caught up" with this one lol. 

Here are my weeks in photos:



How far along today?: 19 weeks and 4 days
Style:  Grandma Bunny (my mom) bought me some AMAZING maternity jeans today!!! I had forgotten that jeans were actually made so you could breathe in them.  I also have found that some of my pre-maternity shirts are not long enough to cover the "bump" anymore.
Growing?: Yes!
Best moment of the week?: Knowing that in a little over 24 hours we will know who you are!
Cravings: McDonald's fries and Arby melts have made a reappearance over the last few weeks.\
Baby moving yet?: I felt little movements here and there but nothing that I notice unless I really pay attention.
Still nauseous?: Only when I have a large build up of phlegm in my throat.  Which has been VERY FREQUENTLY lately.
Belly button popped?: We have noticed it is definitely getting more shallow.
Wedding rings on or off?: Had to take off my band.... it was too tight to begin with but my wedding set still fits.
Mood: Tired!
Gender: In less than 24 hours!!!


So over the last few weeks I can definitely feel I am "filling out." There is no squeezing into some of my old clothes anymore.  I have been increasingly tired lately and craving red meat.  So my guess is I need to increase my protein in my diet, which can't happen til I have the energy or the money to really stock up on groceries. 

Another event that has occured is that Chris tore his muscle in his calf that attaches to the achilles tendon, clean off of it.  Which left him in a terrible amount of pain, and us without answers for a few days.  Once we got into see a doctor he was put in a boot and told to do physical therapy for 6 weeks and wear a walking boot for 4 weeks and that put him on light duty work, which means he can't do his regular job.  THANK GOD for sick time!!!
Life is slowly getting back to normal if it ever was that to begin with.  We have our 20 week ultrasound on Thursday morning which is in a little over 24 hours.  That means we will not only get to see you again but we will also know who you are!!!  Not exactly how we pictured it but perfect none the less.

Then we will be having a gender reveal party on Friday night to tell our families what your gender is.  But the best thing is, is that Saturday is Chris's birthday, so your gender party will be your daddy's birthday party as well!  How exciting.

With all of the excitement we have begun to talk more and more about the names we originally picked out and decided that we chose them maybe for the wrong reasons and we have agreed on different names.  And believe me they are much nicer!

So you have gone from Baby R to Baby A!!!

All to soon we will know who you are and begin to pick up on your personality!

I will post pictures from the gender party later this week and also do an update of our Valentine's Day that I slept through.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

16 weeks pregnant!!



OK so I am back with another update!

This week has been a little crazy but also very fun!

We began week 16 on 1/21/12 and Mommy was quite the happy camper!

After a weekend of VERY good sleep and work Mommy started having heart palpitations at work on Monday morning at the end of her shift!  QUITE SCARY!  They were nonstop for 45 minutes then would come every 5 - 10.  They were taking Mommy's breath away so off to the ER we went, per Dr's orders.

By the time we got there they were happening 1 or 2 times per hour but were still taking my breath away, so the doctors put mommy on a heart monitor for awhile, listened to your heartbeat, it was 135, and told me to relax.

So after about 2 hours of monitoring they sent us home and told us to talk to our OBGYN about it the next day. 

Dr. W took a listen to Mommy's heart and your own and heard nothing abnormal.  So she referred us to a cardiologist which we will be seeing very soon.

SO ONTO THE WEEKLY UPDATE:

How far along today?: 16 weeks and 4 days.
Style:  Maternity shirts for the most parts, I bought maternity scrubs, WHICH I LOVE!, and when at home pajama's.
Growing?: Yes!
Best moment of the week?: Hearing your heart beat.
Cravings: McDonalds fries are out the window and now I can't say I really crave anything this week.
Baby moving yet?: We heard lots of movement but I did not feel it, so I must have been wrong.
Still nauseous?: Only when I have a large build up of phlegm in my throat.
Belly button popped?: Nope
Wedding rings on or off?: On, but get tighter and looser throughout the day.
Mood: Tired!
Gender: Not yet


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

15 weeks pregnant!


So not much intro today.... I am soo tired, and VERY cold! Our heat is out and we could not get a repair guy until tomorrow!  BRR!  SO I am typing in a hoody, t-shirt, sweats, 2 pairs of socks and my UGG's, and wrapped up in a comforter! Good thing I am a blanket hoarder!

How far along today?: 15 weeks and 4 days
Style:  Continues with the scrubs or lounge clothes.  I need to invest in maternity scrubs though!
Growing?: OH YES!! I think it is now looking more and more obvious in my scrubs!
Best moment of the week?: Getting Chris on board with waiting to find out until the gender reveal!
Cravings: Well the McDonald's french fries are still a must have, and my love for pizza was brought back full force this week.  HOWEVER... they both have given me a true understanding of heartburn!
Baby moving yet?: Still have the same feeling on my bladder.
Still nauseous?: One vomiting episode this week after 10 hours of uniterrupted sleep, so I guess it really does not count.
Belly Button popped?: Nope
Wedding rings on or off?: On
Mood: Extremely tired and when I don't get my sleep, which has happened a lot this week, or when I am freezing I can be a bit of a handful.
Gender?: Not yet

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

14 weeks pregnant!

Well here I am again with another update!

I can't believe how quickly but yet how slowly this weeks seems to have gone.  Perhaps it is just the fact that I am practically counting down the seconds until it is time for our next appointment so we can hear Baby R's heartbeat again.  I REALLY must record it next time.


How far along today?: Well the above photo was taken at 14 weeks 3 days but it is after midnight so I am now 14 weeks 4 days.
Style:  Let's just say this is a pj's or scrubs kind of week.  Mommy has been sooo tired!
Growing?: I defintily, definitly see a difference in my lower abdomen.  I had a small pre-pregnancy pooch, that has now grown outwards and hardened, without any weight gain!  And I can feel the top of my uterus!
Best moment of the week:  Looking at which crib and bedding set we want for our Baby R!
Cravings?:  Well for the last few years BC and I have sworn off McDonald's, we had seen an article about their food and were just completely turned off, however this week I cannot get enough of McDonald's french fries!  Another one that hit this week was craving milk, which is not completely normal for since I tend to shy away from it.

Baby moving yet?:  I still have the same feeling of something rolling on my bladder, so I guess we will have to wait and see at the Dr's appointment if I could possibly be feeling baby.
Still nauseous?:  I have my moments, but have not gotten sick this week!  But I have been VERY close!
Belly button popped?:  Nope, I don't think it will, it is very much so an "innie."
Wedding rings on or off?: On
Mood:  I have continued with the exhaustion, but I did get the energy yesterday to go but the materials to make Daddy's birthday/ your gender reveal party invites!  They have turned out VERY cute!
Gender: Not yet!


So it has been on my to do list since week 8 or 9 to start making pregnancy vlogs....well I still have yet to make one so I am going to go shower now and get "presentable" and make one.  I have A LOT to share in this video so it will probably be a three parter.

Other than that I am dragging myself to my work today since they are having a scrub vendor come.  The point has come where my scrubs are becoming uncomfortable around my stomach and I must see if they offer maternity scrubs or can order them for me.  BLAAAH I HATE CLOTHES SHOPPING!!

Daddy on the other hand has had a good week, he got a very good annual review and a raise.  He got to work out a few times this week and we spent some great quality time together this week.

Well see you all next week!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Life, money and the adventures of not having any!

GAAA!

Geez-ul peetz! I am sitting here writing in front of my computer putting off the cleaning that REALLY needs to be, simply because I am thinking about four letters L-I-F-E!

BC and I are in for a lot of changes in what I am sure will feel like a very short amount of time.  So of course being the panicker and "planner" that I am the figures just start rolling through my head and I kind of freak out!  Well a lot freak out!!! 

The biggest item on my plate today is my work.  GRRR..... I started my job in April as a night shift nurse at a local nursing home.  It is not my favorite job in the world but I love the people I take care of.  At the start of my job they informed that each employee is allowed 6 abscences a year from the date of hire until your "hire date" the next year.  

When I was originally hired I thought, well that won't be a problem.  Well I must have jynxed myself because I would have never thought I would be right on the cusp of that limit.  However I must say I would be nowhere near that limit had I not had to have had a spinal tap, a blood patch and had I not gotten preggo.  

Now don't think all of those things are a burden, because they definitely are not!! Had I not had my spinal tap I would have never found the reason for my headaches and found the appropriate way to treat them.  I probably would have wound up on several different types of medicines trying to treat them with no relief.  Had I not had my spinal tap I would not have realized how important it is to care for your eyes and spine.  

Because I had the spinal tap, I also wound up having to have a blood patch performed 2 days later.  Had this not happened I probably would have died.  I have never been in such pain in my life.  I must say this also changed my outlook drastically on how I care for the pain of my residents/patients.  Not to mention it has changed my beside manner after seeing how I do NOT want to be treated or treat others.

So all in all that resulted in 2 or more missed work days, all with a doctors note and yet it still grows my tally of abscense.

The next month, October, I missed one day of work due to illness.  Now mind you, I am what I would say very prone to sickness.  I can garuntee that I have at least 4 or 5 days during cold and flu season that I am physically ill, head in the toilet, and etc etc etc.  One of those days happened to be in October and April, adding 2 more days to my total.

During October I had been trying to get put back onto my birth control but due to my whacked out hormones it was a little delayed.  Also during this time it was further investigated that I would need medical intervention to get pregnant.  Therefore BC and I thought we were safe to only use minimal forms of birth control.  Well it must have been a good month because during October I became pregnant.  

Since 7 weeks and 2 days I have been absolutely miserable with all day sickness, I have no idea why they call it morning sickness, since it rarely ever happens in the morning!  To my memory I have missed 3 days of work for this.  All of which I have a Dr's note for, one that I forgot at the office and need to pick up!, but they are still counted as 2 days absent.

So to my total I am at 6 days absent.  I am praying and praying that I do not have to miss ANY more days of work or that my work is EXTREMELY forgiving!  

UGH! Well I thought writing this would put me more at ease but it seems to have just made it worse!  Now I am looking around my house thinking, oh what will I do, I can't afford to be jobless again!  So I guess I am off to make a Plato's closet run and to see what all Mr. Craigslist can sell for me! 

Monday, January 2, 2012

13 weeks pregnant!

BC and I are completely thrilled that we have made it to this milestone!!!

This week has definitely had it's ups and downs but it ended on a very high note, which was the beginning of a new year.  This year will be packed FULL of new things for the 2 of us.  It is almost scary to think about all of the changes we are about to encounter.

As we were driving to our NYE celebration we got to talking and BC pointed out that next year we will probably be at home with our Baby R asleep before midnight.  HOW EXCITING to think about!!!

So I plan on doing these weekly belly shot updates every week, DUH, and adding a little info about my week below the photos.  Any post you get in between will just be a bonus!


SOOO on Mommy's side:

How far along today?: 13 weeks 2 days
Style?: I have begun to wear some maternity shirts that I have purchased simply because my boobs have made it impossible to wear most of my normal clothes.  But I can still fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans I just have to hold them closed with a hair-tye.
Growing?:  I can definitely notice a difference between this week and last in shape.  But my abdomen has started to harden.  As far as stretch marks go, I had some before Baby and sadly now they are darkening.
Best moment of the week?:  Ringing in the new year with my husband, it was our first NYE as husband and wife!, and some of my amazing family.
Cravings?:  OMG YES!! I am dying for a BIG glass of wine and some bleu cheese and fried chicken!  I am allowed to eat fried chicken, however, Baby does not like it!
Baby moving yet?:  It is probably gas or my intestines but I could swear that I feel Baby R rolling on my bladder.  It is like I am putting pressure on one side of my bladder and then all of a sudden without myself moving the pressure shifts to the other side.
Still nauseous?: Yes but I must admit it has been worse, I.E. end of week 12!
Belly button popped?: Nope
Wedding rings on or off?: On
Mood?: Exhausted most of the time.  But overall VERY happy!
Gender?: Not yet.....


Mommy and Daddy have begun the preparations for your gender reveal party.  We are planning to tell everyone for your Daddy's birthday party in February.  It is so exciting to begin imagining who you will be.  We have consulted with a few "experts" on the names we have chosen and all are in agreeance that they are beautiful/handsome names.

However Mommy and Daddy have differing opinions as to who you will be.
Mommy's gut says girl.
Daddy's gut says boy.

It seems like forever away but we will know who you are before too long.

Love you Baby R!




Wednesday, December 28, 2011

WE'RE PREGNANT!

Well I know it has been quite some time since I have made a blog post but I have an excuse and a really good one at that.

I'M PREGNANT!!! I am currently 12 weeks and 4 days pregnant with a healthy and beautiful baby!

BC and I could not have been more suprised, as this definitely was not planned, but we also could not be more thrilled that the doctors were wrong about my diagnosis of infertility and that we are bringing a precious life into this world!

We have been trying to savor each moment, including the scary ones since we found out and it has taken up all of our time doing so. The road has definitely been filled with twists and turns thus far but each moment is a blessing.
We found out about our precious surprise on 11/3/11 at about 6 in the morning. I had just awoken from a very vivid dream I had delivered a 14 lb. baby.  WOW! While I was laying staring at the ceiling it suddenly hit me that my period was 4 days late.  I remember thinking, "No way!" But as I thought more and more all arrows pointed towards baby. Saturday (my period was due), I had to work that night and was having some mild cramping, but nothing like usual, and only a small amount of spotting.  That NEVER happens.  Sunday the cramping was still there,  but still no bleeding.  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the cramping was all mild and off an on.  So that brought us to Thursday monring and my dream.

So after thinking about it for an hour I snuck out of the house and ran to the grocery store to buy a pregnancy test.  Well I came home with a total of four tests and had to do the deed. I opened the first test stick and dipped it in the cup, not even 15 seconds later I see 2 pink lines!  WOW! OMG! I remember thinking, "This test is broken, there is no way!" So I dipped the next test,and the next test, and the next. 

They all came back with the same results, positive. Two pink lines.

OH MY GOODNESS!

How was I gonna tell BC?!

Well I guess my brain decided to let out a squeal from the bathroom would be the way to wake him up and show him the results, cause that is what happened. 

When he came into the bathroom and saw me sitting on the toilet holding the four tests in my hand his jaw hit the floor. I looked in his eyes and saw the wheels in his head began to turn as he processed what was happening.  Slowly his jaw was put back into its normal place and he got the biggest smile across his face.  The statement that followed was what let me know everything was going to be ok.  He said to me, "Wow, holy crap! We wanted this some day, I guess God has decided we are ready now." And he planted the biggest kiss on my forehead.

So sleeping that day was a joke, I was up all day looking at pregnancy app's on my iPhone, watching baby shows and being simply amazed at the miracle inside of me.

We scheduled our first OB appointment for 11/8/11.  We confirmed the pregnancy there and set up our 8 week appointment.

We told my parents over the phone, because I was way to chicken to do so in person at 5 weeks 5 days and then we told BC's parents in person at 5 weeks 6 days.  They were all very excited and nervous for us. 

We had our first scare at 6 weeks 4 days when I had some intense lower left abdominal pain.  So off to the doctor we went.  We saw a different Dr. who ordered an ultrasound to confirm that baby was in the uterus not the fallopian tube.  And this is what we saw:

A healthy baby growing inside the uterus and we were able to see and hear the heartbeat which was 118.

We were measuring right on track with our due date of 7/7/12.

It was after this appontment that we started thinking of names.  We both finally agreed on one name we liked for each and they both started with "R" hence Baby R on the picture.

I told my grandma at 6 weeks 5 days after my mother begged and begged me to.  She was beyond thrilled and happy that the doctors were wrong about my infertility.

At 7 weeks 2 days I was hit hard with the dreaded morning sickness.  I can still remember what I ate before the episode and I don't think I will ever eat it again.

Then we hit 8 weeks:
 

At 8 weeks and 3 days (11/29/11) we had our very first appointment, they took a lot of blood (found out that mommy is a cystic fibrosis carrier and daddy is not), performed a pelvic exam and the doctor answered a lot of our questions.  We also got another ultrasound that day!  Here is what we saw:


We now have a baby with eyes and limbs!  That beautiful heart was pounding away at 173 beats per minute.  It was an amzing sound!

Two days later I had a little bit of bleeding and we returned to the doctor to find that all was ok with baby, the bleeding was not in the uterus, and baby was healthy with a heart rate of 168.  I got a shot of RhoGAM just to be safe since I have B- blood and BC has B+ blood.  This provided for some comedic relief, when I made the statement, "I have never gotten shot in the butt before...."  The med tech and BC could barely contain themselves.  It wasn't until a few minutes later I realized the humor in that.

We went through the next few weeks without little trouble aside from morning sickness, but it was nothing the Zofran could not handle.  I have so far refilled that prescription 5 times.  It works wonders.




Then we hit 11 weeks and things got a little rocky:


At 11 weeks 2 days I had very bad morning sickness all day.  It came time to get ready for work and I took a shower.  I tried not to make it too hot as lately the hot water had been making me dizzy.

But I guess the water was still too hot.  The last thing I remember about that shower was washing my hair, and when I woke up I was laying on my back in the tub with a killer headache and the water was ice cold, it takes about a half hour for our hot water heater to completely run out, so I have not clue how long I was "down".  So I called BC and told him what happened.  He told me to call the doctor and see what they wanted me to do.  Well of course they said for me to go straight to the ER and since I was home alone they wanted me to go by lifesquad.  I declined and told them I would get a ride from family.  So I called BC back and told him I was going to have my mom take me since she was at dinner right down the road. 

I called my mom and she was here within minutes. When I got to the ER, BC was waiting for me along with his coworker and our friend to help me inside.  The doctors discovered that I was severely dehydrated and they pumped me full of IV fluids.  They were not to worried about the bump on my head since I was not having any vision changes or evidence of bleeding.  They also were not worried about the baby since I was having no bleeding in that regard either.

So they moved me to a more secluded ER room and had the IV fluids finish infusing.  Seeing as how we were at the hospital where BC works all of his coworkers came down to check on me and make sure I was ok.  And seeing as how BC works in security, I had at times 3 security officers in my room and I know, I KNOW, I had to have looked like a mental patient or a criminal to some of the people in the ER.  I also was surprised with a visit from a very close friend, whose husband works with BC.  She stayed for quite some time and helped me to feel more at ease.

So around 12 am the fluids were done and I was able to go home.  I must say, knocking on wood as I type, the morning sickness has gotten better since then.

I made an appointment with a doctor for a few days later and got a clean bill of health and he told me to take it easy for a while and return to work when I felt up to it.

We had our Ultrascreen to test for genetic disorders at 11 weeks 6 days on 12/23/11 and here is what we saw:



Baby R was healthy and happy snuggled up in mommy's uterus.  It has 2 arms and 2 legs, and a healthy heart rate of 158.  We also discovered that Baby R is quite the sleeper like it's father and very stubborn like it's mother.  We needed to get a good picture of the back of it's neck for some measurements and boy was Baby R intent on staying snuggled up.  I did everything but stand on my head to get baby to move and all Baby R did was move to the same position on the other side.  So with some help of the ultrasound tech and some very awkward positioning on my behalf we got Baby R to do a headstand and we were able to get the pictures we needed for the doctor.  I also got some bloodwork done that day, they pruck my finger and sent the reults off to be analyzed.  The doctor should be calling us with those results soon.

SO along came 12 weeks:


At our 12 week (12 weeks 3 days 12/27/11) appointment we were able to hear your heart on the doppler for the first time it was a strong 157.  And that brings us up to date. 

I plan to update this blog weekly if not more.  It will obviously become a baby blog and I can't wait to share all of the exciting times to come!