Induction Scheduled!

Kaitlyn's scheduled induction is for December 29, 2009 @ 6am. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that everything will go well, and Kaitlyn will make it here safely. I can't believe we have one week left!

36 week (and last) Appointment

Weight: +14.8 lbs pre-pregnancy
B/P: 110/80
FHR: 140's
Position: Head DOWN! :o)

My 36 week appointment was this afternoon at the specialist's. Things went really well. My weight is right on track, my blood pressure was okay, and most importantly Kaitlyn is lookin' good! I still don't agree with the B/P that they recorded, but there is no protein in my urine and my labs have been fine so far, so I am happy.

They did a non-stress test, and Katie had the hiccups for a good ten minutes. Then she took a nice nap. Lol! The nurse practitioner came in to speak with me and said the baby was doing well, and we were just waiting for another room. I wasn't quite sure what room I was waiting for, so when she told me to go to the ultrasound room for a biophysical profile, I was pleasantly surprised. I had a different technician today and she even showed me pictures of Katie in 3D (and printed them out for me)! :o) She looks so beautiful and snug in there. She has big cheeks and looks just like her daddy. I can't wait for her to be here.

No other complications here at home. I had some really tight pains in my abdomen yesterday night. My whole stomach was hard and firm like my forehead. It was constant pain and did not come and go at all. Contractions? Who knows...

Last stop is December 24, 2009 for a blood pressure check and NST at Labor and Delivery....almost there!

35 week Appointment

B/P: 110/70 (I don't buy that...)
Weight: +14.4 lbs pre-pregnancy
FHR: 138

Today, Jonathan and I went to see the specialist for a growth ultrasound (number 7). My blood pressure was really good this morning, but I am not too sure that the medical assistance got an accurate reading. I am more inclined to think it was in the 120/80's, but either way, it is better than it had been at work. My weight gain is appropriate and the baby is looking good.

The amniotic fluid levels were fine, which indicates that her kidneys are functioning and producing urine as they should be. She decided to take a nap while they scanned, and they were able to measure her head (a couple days behind) and abdominal circumference (a little ahead), see her kidneys and heart chambers and take a look at her spine. She didn't want to look at the ultrasound wand, so the only picture we got as her "girly bits." She is still a girl. :)

Today marks the start of the 5th week of bedrest for me. As nervous as I am about Katie coming out, I am ready for her to be an outside baby. We have an appointment with my OB on Thursday, so hopefully we can talk more about the induction and when she would like to schedule it. In the meantime, make your guesses on her birth weight/height! :)

**Edited on the 17th:

B/P: 132/88
Fundal Height: 35 cm
FHR: 130's

Pretty standard appointment in the beginning. Got my vitals, did a non-stress test (which went great) and went to see the doc. She swabbed me for GBS (group B strep) and talked about how I was feeling. I mentioned to her that last night I had A LOT of cervical pressure, and she told me to keep a closer eye on those as they sound kind of like contractions. Then she decided to check me anyway since I was already undressed. She said my cervix is anterior and 1cm dilated. No protein in my urine at this spot check. My labs came back from last week and my 24-hr urine had protein levels of 243. (It has been 163 and 170. Pre-eclampsia is 300...) So....

Here is the game plan:
Monday, 12/21: Go see specialist and have NST
Thursday, 12/24: Go to L&D for NST and urine check

Monday, 12/28.....

GO TO L&D FOR INDUCTION.......

(Trying to change that to Tuesday, 12/29....but it's here, none-the-less).

34 week Appointment

B/P: 136/90
Weight: +14 lbs pre-pregnancy
Fetal Heart Tones: 140-150's
Fundal Height: 34 weeks

I started getting sick with a cold/sinus congestion on Friday. I spent much of the weekend curled up on the couch trying to breath. :o) With my lungs squished and congested, it has been rather interesting. I am hoping this clears up quickly.

Today's appointment was relatively the same as the last. I was on the NST for about 40 minutes. Kaitlyn thought she would just nap rather than move around. When she does that her heart rate stays about the same (from 130-134ish) and they like to see more fluctuation (120-150 with some rises to 170's). I drank some Gatorade and she perked up a bit.

As you can see, my blood pressure is rising back to where it was when I was working. I am not sure if that is baby-induced, congestion/sick-induced or what, but I have to go back on Friday for another NST and Blood Pressure check. The plan is to continue on towards 37 wks. Today, she looked a little unsure as to whether or not she thought I would make it that long. As I have said, I just PLAN to get there. :o) So we will have to wait and see. No protein in my urine thus far. I started having a lot of back pain Saturday and Sunday night, and boy, that is NOT fun....

33 week Update

B/P: 130/82
Weight: +15 lbs pre-pregnancy (I wore my tennis shoes...whoops)

Fetal Heart Tones: 120-170's
Fundal Height: 33 weeks
Baby's Position: Head Down, Facing my back (Good for Delivery!)

Just a quick update that all is going well, and the same. I saw my doctor on Monday, the 30th. It was the longest I have ever been there. I was on the NST for about 45 minutes, and Katie did well. They were looking for movement, variation in her heart rate and accelerations in her heart rate. I finally saw Dr. A after waiting about 45 more minutes. (I usually don't have to wait for her, so this was rare but frustrating.) No new things at this appointment except she explained to me the "period-like" cramps that I started having yesterday are Braxton Hicks.

"Indefinate" Bedrest

According to my OB, this is my current status. I saw her on the 23rd and the 25th for follow-ups. My blood pressure was okay, 128/86 (on the 23rd) and 130/80 (on the 25th). No protein in the urine, which I am constantly grateful for. Katie did great on the NST. I measured in right at 32 weeks, (I was 31wks, 6days at the appointment) and everything is looking good, relatively speaking.

I was really hoping to be able to make it back to work, at least for a short while, but Dr. A wasn't having it. She said that going back to work would only increase my blood pressure more. :o( So here I am, sitting tight for a few more weeks. Dr. A said that her goal is to make it to 37 weeks. As long as there are not any further complications, we will plan on an induction at the hospital nearest my house. I really like it there, but it is a small (albeit brand new) unit without a NICU. My doctor feels that inducing there will be safe for myself and the baby if I am at 37 weeks, and there is an excellent transport team for the downtown hospital if need be. Of course, if my status changes, and/or I have to be induced prior to 37 weeks, I will deliver downtown...I am really hoping that doesn't happen.

Having a common goal and knowing that Katie is doing well despite my blood pressure "issues" provides me with some reassurance, but I am super nervous about the induction. I have become fairly well educated on PIH, and while I feel confident in our plan, it's the complete opposite of what I had initially envisioned. I guess things just don't always go according to plan. I pray that Katie continues to do well and is in excellent health before, during and after delivery. I have faith that my doctor will take care of me and see me though my pre-natal care, delivery and post-partum recovery. And I hope, hope, hope that our induction is successful and without the need for a c-section.

Couldn't resist

As it becomes more evident that an early induction is in my future, I thought this quote I found on Maybe if You Just Relax was an appropriate comical representation of some of my emotions:

"I always thought I would be one of those people who went two weeks past her due date. I obviously thought very highly of my uterus, and assumed that I was running a Ritz-Carlton type of operation down there. Nobody would think of removing my baybee from my four star uterus! It's like a world class vacation resort in there!

As it turns out, I was running more of a Motel 6 operation. And the general idea was to get her out in one piece without giving her a wicked case of bed bugs or Hep C. "

3D/4D Ultrasound

Yesterday, Paul and I went to get a 3D ultrasound at BabyVision Ultrasound. My mom had been looking at these with me for a long time and afforded us the opportunity to catch a sneak peak at Katie. We had such a great experience; the staff was so friendly and the technician was patient with us while Katie tried to hide her face. Imagine that!! :o)

She is so stubborn. She kept putting her arms and hands in front of her face and the umbilical cord into her mouth. We finally got some head shots of her, and she looks JUST LIKE her daddy. The technician said the placenta is anterior, and she is very crowded. I can't imagine how much bigger my tummy is going to get in the next few weeks, but she definitely needs more growing room. Her head is down in my lower left quadrant, her belly is right around my umbilicus and her legs are up near my sternum and diaphragm. This would help explain why I get so short of breath. :o)

Katie yawning

She looks so peaceful!

Kaitlyn Marie

31 week Appointment

B/P: 128/86
HR: 100's
Fundal Height: Did not measure
Fetal Heart Tones: 120-160's
Weight: +11 lbs pre-pregnancy

Paul and I went in for a short appointment today for an ultrasound (number 4). We had a biophysical profile performed where they "grade" the baby on her movements, amount of amniotic fluid and whether or not she is "practicing" breathing on her own. Our stubborn girl was not really in the mood to move and was in a food coma after a yummy breakfast of bean and cheese tacos. :o) Whoops, that might be mommy and daddy's fault, Kaitlyn.

After much shaking of my tummy, she finally decided to move her legs and arms a few times and flip over. And she did take a couple of "practice breaths," so all looks good at this point. Before we left, Dr. A had the nurses place me on the NST (number 6 in as many days). It was about this time Katie decided she was awake and moving all about. :o) She has a mind of her own, already...

Kaitlyn's Heartbeat while in the Hospital

1st Hospital Stay

If I was caught off guard at Friday's appointment, I was definitely thrown for a loop at Monday's follow-up! My doctor told me she wanted to see me twice this week. Once for a normal appointment and once for an ultrasound. My blood pressure was 140/90, no protein in the urine. Rose, my doctor's assistant, placed me on the NST before I saw the doctor, and Katie proceeded to kick and flip and move about. She must like to hear her own heartbeat because she always gets active when we do this test.

I had been in the room for about 20 minutes when my doctor appeared and informed me that she wanted to keep me overnight at the hospital to run some tests on my kidneys, liver, and blood and to have me do a 24 hour urine test. I was disconnected from the monitor and sent on my way. Mom was able to leave work and met me at the hospital with an overnight bag and pink roses for Kaitlyn and me. I finally got a hold of Paul (he wasn't able to get my text messages) and let him know that we were both okay.

A very nice nurse, Catherine, took me to my room, Labor and Delivery Room 5, and got me admitted. She placed me on the NST, again, and rechecked my blood pressure. Surprisingly, it was coming down and stayed between 130/80's and 120/70's. We only got two readings over 130/80 the entire time I was there.

I didn't have to wear a fashionable hospital gown nor get an IV, so it was a relatively pleasant stay. The hospital is brand new and had all kinds of fancy amenities such as room service and free WiFi. I had a lot of visitors the first day (so the nurses kept telling my visitors, lol!) and the time passed really quickly. Leslie, Tara, Irma, and Jonathan came to see me that afternoon. Tamara, Paul and Mom were able to come that evening once they got off of work. I didn't get much sleep after everyone left because the hospital bed was not so comfortable. My legs and bottom kept falling asleep where the bed comes apart for delivery. I am sure the post-partum beds are a lot more comfortable than the delivery beds. Regina was my nurse overnight.

First thing Tuesday morning, Dr. A stopped in to let me know my "blood pressures in jail look really nice" and that my labs all came back normal. They were just waiting on my 24-hr urine test to finish and if my protein counts were low, I would be able to go home. My nurse, Kelly, placed me back on the NST to check on our little girl, who was doing great! It is such a blessing that during these last seven months our little angel is doing so well.

My urine test came back around lunch time at 170mg/24hr, and I was released home with my mom. It appears that this test was a little high, normal is 30-150mg/24hr, but Dr. A said she would release me to home bedrest if it was under 300. I had this same test August 5th and it was 163.8mg/24hr, so it hasn't increased too much.

I am praying this is the last time I have to be admitted before December 29th so that Katie can get bigger and her lungs can mature as much as possible.

Kaitlyn's Baby Shower

Noemi and Denisse, two of my very best friends, hosted a shower for Kaitlyn and I on November 14, 2009. We had such a great time! So many friends and family were able to attend, including my Grandma and (great) Aunt Rikki from Oklahoma. I was so touched by the outpouring of love from everyone who came or sent well wishes. It is a beautiful thing to see how many people care about us and are just as excited as we are to meet Baby Katie! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful group of ladies in my life.

I took about 90 pictures from the shower, so I am not able to host them all on this website. But I will be placing the pictures on my webshots account and will provide a link to them here. I have included a few that I just had to share.

My mom-in-law, Me, Mom and Grandma

Noemi, Me and Denisse

Gift and Cake Table

I measured in at 12 pieces of toliet paper.

Tamara in the lower right had half a roll for me!

We received so many precious and SOFT things.

Kaitlyn's very own Strawberry Dress, made by my Grandma.

My mom was so excited to see all the gifts for Katie, too!

I can't thank everyone enough for all they have done for Kaitlyn, Paul, and myself. And to Denisse and Noemi for the hard work they put into hosting this wonderful event. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

30 week Appointment

My first Non-Stress Test

B/P: 138/90

HR: 80's
Fundal Height: 30cm, which is right on track
Fetal Heart Tones: 150's
Weight: +12 lbs pre-pregnancy

I don't think I could have prepared enough for our appointment today. I was expecting it to be very uneventful and be on my merry way with a note for return to work on light duty. Instead, we had a long appointment and an order for "BEDREST" from my doctor. :o(

As you can see, my blood pressure is still high, although it has been higher than that at work. I still do not have protein in my urine (thank the Lord), and we are hoping to prolong delivery as long as possible, provided that my blood pressure doesn't get crazy high (160/100's), my kidneys, liver, and other organs are functioning well, and Katie doesn't show signs of distress.

Mom and Denisse went with me to the appointment, and we all got to listen to Katie's heartbeat on the monitor to see how active and healthy she was doing. This test is called a "non-stress test." They put monitors on my stomach to measure her heart-rate and if I have contractions, measure how frequently those are coming and evaluate how Katie responds to each contraction. Fortunately, there were no contractions and she had a nice heartbeat ranging from 120-160.

Despite everything going on with me, she seems to be staying active and thriving. :o)

28 week appointment

Me at 27 weeks, 5 days

B/P: 138/90

HR: 100's

Fundal Height: 28cm, which is right on track

Fetal Heart Tones: 130

Weight: +3.5 lbs since last visit, +7.5 lbs pre-pregnancy.

Well, this morning's appointment could have gone better. This was the first time that I went by myself, although I don't know if having anyone there would have helped because I would have stressed regardless.

My blood pressure is still elevated, but more than last time. I have been getting migraines about once a week since the last appointment, but I can't get a B/P reading to correlate with the headaches as I forget to take it when I am in that much pain. I don't have anymore swelling that normal: I can still wear my rings and take them off with the same ease, my legs still have swelling but not more than usual, and I can't really tell that my face is swollen. I am not showing any protein in my urine, which would indicate preeclampsia. At this point, my blood pressure is classified as "Gestational Hypertension." My doc talked about putting me on blood pressure medications, but does not feel it would be as beneficial to me at this point because my hypertension is not chronic in nature, rather, it is directly related to the pregnancy. With delivery, my blood pressure should return to normal.

She did tell me to talk to my boss about working reduced hours and/or what the policy is for bedrest, which I know a little about the latter. I would really like to work on cutting my hours a bit rather than all together for FMLA and maternity leave sake, but I will talk to my manager about that tomorrow or Monday. I have to check my B/P at work and call in some readings to the clinic tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be any higher than now or she will be more willing to put me on bedrest, I'm sure. I have a repeat blood pressure check on Tuesday so that she can check my urine for proteins again. Then God-willing, we will be going to Virginia to see Jonboy swear in as JKR, Esquire. :)

We are going to take it day by day at this point and see how my blood pressure is, how my urine looks (gross, huh?), and how Katie is growing. I have an ultrasound on November 13th to make sure that she is growing appropriately. I will be 30 weeks and 3 days by then. If my blood pressure keeps trending upwards and/or I start to have protein in my urine, I will be diagnosed with "preeclampsia" and will most likely have to take steroids to help Kaitlyn's lungs mature more quickly for an early induction and delivery. That is the scary part for me. Ultimately, I want Katie to be as healthy as possible and for her to come out in her own time, but I understand there are significant risks if I become preeclamptic or severely preeclamptic. It looks like if an induction is planned, I will be delivering downtown as opposed to near the house, and they have an exceptional NICU.

The best news is that Katie seems to be growing well and doing just fine at the moment! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We are so excited to meet our baby girl, but we are hoping she can stay in her cocoon baking as long as possible. :) I am trying to think about lots of blood pressure lowering thoughts and take it as easy as possible.

Nursery

So I think that we have everything done for Katie's room with the exception of hanging some things on the wall. It looks so cute and peaceful! I love just sitting in the rocking chair looking around. Here are some pictures from around her room.

Looking into the nursery from the doorway.

Rocking Chair and Bookcase

Crib and Changing Table

Dresser/Changing Table and Doorway

Kaitlyn's Crib

Random Update

Well, I am growing and getting bigger, as is Lil' Miss Katie. I really need to take a picture to update our progress, hopefully tomorrow or Saturday. We get to dress up on Saturday and go to a fancy dinner with Paul's company to celebrate the store selling $500,000 in one month - a feat that Paul has accomplished 3-4 times before, but it was a first in this particular stores 20+ year history. He brought in more than 20% of their sales that month!!! We are soo proud of Paul. He is such a good husband, father, and provider.

The nursery furniture started coming in on Tuesday. Paul supervised the delivery and assembly of the crib and dresser. My mom and dad gave Katie the most beautiful crib! I will post some pictures when I get home. Paul put some of the bedding in the crib and sent me updates at work so I wouldn't miss out on the fun. :) The room is coming together, but definitely looks smaller with the furniture in place. The only thing left is adding the bookcase (Paul is picking it up tonight) and a little decor! I am super duper excited. I love just going in her room and sitting in the glider.

I have been feeling so/so. During weeks 25 and 26 I got a migraine so bad that I threw up. That was definitely not pleasant, and I hope we can keep those at bay. I believe my allergies are acting up this week, too, as I have been sneezing, coughing and achy, but no fever (thankfully). I got my flu vaccine awhile ago and the H1N1 vaccine at work on Tuesday. Paul went in for a few fillings on Tuesday, also, and he ended up with an unexpected wisdom tooth removal. So it has been an eventful week at our house. We are both trying to stay healthy and strong.

Two of my best friends are hosting a shower for me on the 14th of November and I am so excited!!! I can't believe that we are inching closer and closer to January. Next Tuesday is "officially" the beginning of the third trimester!!

99 Days

Until I am due!!! I can't belive how fast days 200-100 went by. The second trimester has been SO MUCH better than the first, even if I was throwing up and sick during a lot of it.

Kaitlyn got to celebrate today by talking with her Grandpa overseas. He even got to see how big she was getting in my tummy because I got a new web-cam!!

January is going to be here before we know it...

Kaitlyn's Room, a work in progress

So yesterday, Paul woke up and declared he had energy. Surprisingly enough, I had some, too!! So I set off to Home Depot to purchase the paint we picked out the week before, and Jon and Paul disassembled the desk and took it to mom's house. We moved the bookcase out the week before and decided to move the extra chair to our bedroom. Her room is FINALLY empty.

I am definitely not in shape as this morning I woke up so sore!!! It took longer to set up, tape, and clean up than it did to actually paint, but we got it accomplished. I can't wait to see all the furniture and decorations come together. It won't be long!

The color is "Barely Pink" by Behr.

Swine Flu....

I found out today, after I had been there for 6 hours, that one of my patients was positive for Swine Flu. Good times. I'm sure it will be fine. I am very careful about washing my hands ALL THE TIME, but still....

23 week Check-Up

23 weeks, 2 days
This shirt looks much different than 8 wks ago...

B/P: 130/90, repeat of 128/86
HR: 80
Fundal Height: I don't know, she didn't say
Fetal Heart Tones: 150
Weight: +7.8 lbs since last visit, +3.8 lbs pre-pregnancy.

This appointment was pretty much routine. My blood pressure is up...but that isn't really new. I am looking at my B/P at week 7 and it was 128/76, so it has kinda been on the border the whole time. She was concerned about it and had the girls re-check it. Not much improvement in my book, but she proclaimed "that is much better!" at the reception desk. I have to go October 5th to have them re-check my blood pressure, and my next appointment is actually in 5 weeks on October 29th.

I weighed myself before I went in at home and my scale said I was 214.6 lbs, however their scale said 217.8 and she rounded to 218. My doctor didn't seem concerned, but I think 8 lbs is a lot in 4 weeks! Although my scale said 4 lbs in 4 wks. That's much better. I will just continue to keep an eye on it. I am not supposed to go over 230 lbs for my overall gain, so I am trying to keep a slow and steady pace.

Kaitlyn kept kicking the Doppler when they were checking her heart rate. It was actually pretty cute. You could hear the "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" of her heart and then "bllleepp" where she would kick. She is moving around more this morning than usual. She is typically awake in the evenings.

The last four weeks have been nice. I didn't get sick during week 20. I threw up during 21/22 weeks but only once, and I felt better that day. So far week 23 has been uneventful. I had a migraine Monday (week 22) but that was the only thing dramatic for the past four weeks. It has been nice to have somewhat of a reprieve. I don't feel 100%, but I have felt the best I have in a long, long time.

We finally decided...

upon a name!!!! Paul and I had brainstormed some names while Meghan was here over the 4th of July. We had narrowed our list down to two after we learned we were having a girl, and I told Paul to make the final decision from there. After a long, and careful weighing of "the pros and cons of each name," our daughter will be known as....





Marie is after my materal Grandma (my mom's mom).

19 week and 2 day checkup

I am kinda late in posting about our last appointment. I have been soooo busy with work. Today I am off for one day and back for two. Then one off and back for two again. I just haven't gotten a lot of sleep. :( Anywho, the appointment went really well.

**STATS**
Weight: -4 lbs pre-pregnancy
BP: 122/70
Fetal Heart Tones: 152
Fundal Height: umbilicus

Paul had to work, so this was the first appointment he missed. Denisse went with me and said that she was really excited to hear the baby's heartbeat on the monitor. My headaches were really bad the Tuesday and Wednesday before my appointment; I threw up at work Tues and stayed home sick on Wed. She told me to make sure I take the Imetrex as prescribed to try to keep them manageable. She also told me if I needed a note to work all days for 8 hour shifts, she would write one for me. I really, really like my 12 hour shifts, even if they are long, because I have more days off to rest, get the nursery ready and make my appointments. 8 hour days just go by too quickly and I am still exhausted when I get home.

Speaking of the nursery, I have not done one darn thing. LOL! I did put the bedding that I like on our Pottery Barn Kids registry, however, because there is a Labor Day sale. I really want to rush out and buy it, but I have been restraining myself. Mom bought the baby a whole bunch of cute clothes and the most adorable pink flip flops the other day. And last weekend, Paul took me to Eden's Baby to purchase some cloth diapers. They didn't have a whole lot in the store since they had a big sale for tax free weekend, but we found some we liked and registered with them for more. I know I have plenty of time left, but I feel like I should get busy putting everything together.

Dear Baby Girl,

You should know that you are one loved little girl. I can't think of any two men that love you more than your Daddy and my Papa.

Every morning when your Daddy gets up, he kisses you good morning and tells you how much he loves you. And every day before I leave to go to work, he kisses you again and tells you to be a good girl for mommy. He loves to rub on my belly and talk to you about the dreams he has for you and the fun we are all going to have. He even talks to you about the guns and ammo he has in mind to purchase to keep the boys away! I think he is a little ahead of himself.

And you should see your Grandpa. He tells everyone he meets about you. He calls to check on me during the day and tells me "to tell Baby Marie that he loves her and to be a good girl!" Before he had to out process for Afghanistan, he had your picture from your seven week ultrasound on his desk, and he would show all of his patients his "grand baby." He is the proudest Grandpa I have ever seen.

You are so loved already, and we can't wait to meet you when you are all done bakin' in my tummy. But stay in there longer cause you're not quite halfway through yet! :o) We love you!!

Love,
Mommy

It's a....

GIRL!!

The technician was super slick when she told us, we didn't even see the picture. She was looking around at the spine and said, "It looks like... you're having... a... lil'...girl." and off went the wand in a different direction. Then she says "Yep, it's a girl." So at the very end, we asked her, "Are you sure it's a girl?" Haha. She went back to the bottom and took this imagine. She pointed everything out to us (yeah, I can't read these things) and sure enough...IT'S A GIRL! Mom, Papa, Paul and I were all smiles!!!

We are still debating on the names. I think we have it narrowed down to two. (Gabriella and Kaitlyn). I told Paulie that he should decide. The middle name will be Marie, however, after my maternal grandma. It has been such a wonderful day. What a blessing the Lord has given us.

Perinatologist Appointment and Level II Ultrasound

17 weeks, 6 days

Weight: -3 lbs
BP: 120/60
Fetal Heart Rate: 148

We had our appointment with the Perinatologist this morning. We were scheduled at 10am, so we got there a few minutes early to fill out the paperwork. They had a sign by the window that said to pay $5 if you wanted your ultrasound on a disc, so of course we had to do that. What a pleasant surprise!

I did the standard: pee in a cup, weight and blood pressure before being seen. My blood pressure was actually good this time - YAY! The technician that did the U/S was very nice. She took lots of measurements of the baby, starting with the head. She got the spine, abdomen, kidneys and legs. The femur and the head are measuring 18weeks and 2 days. All the other measurements were right on track or a day within the due date. She was having a difficult time getting a few shots of the heart, the tailbone and the lips. The baby was being stubborn....wonder where that comes from? lol.

When the doctor came in, she was able to collect the other measurements, and we got a good profile picture. She said the baby looked great, she was happy with my blood pressure and she said that she didn't see any markers for chromosomal defects or abnormalities. We haven't gotten the results from the triple screen back, but based on what she said/saw, I am assuming that it will be just fine. Also, the doctor said that pending no further complications, she won't have to see me again unless my OB wants more ultrasounds.

We did find out the sex, but Paulie is waiting to tell his momma in person tonight, so I will post a separate post with the sex after 5 pm. We are both over the moon excited!!! Here is a profile shot of the baby for now.

Some Q&A, so that I remember...

*How are you feeling?
Of course, this one changes daily. LOL! I almost hate to answer that I feel fine or even good because I did that on the 28th of July and ended up going to the ER.

I was good and can recall "not even feeling pregnant" up until about 5 weeks and 5 days.

Then the spotting started that night when I got off work at midnight.

I woke up with HORRIBLE nausea at 6 weeks, and the 24/7 nausea didn't disappear until about the 11th week.

At week 11, the nausea came and went throughout the day, and I only got sick once a week or so until week 19. No throwing up during week 16.

Started getting daily headaches at week 11 and my blood pressure started to elevate.

Had a migraine during week 13 and week 15. Finally had a Head CT at week 15 and everything is fine. I have Imetrex now for emergencies. ETA: At 19wks, the Imetrex isn't helping because I don't take it in time. I had migraines during weeks 17 and 19.

*What do you want to eat?
Really, I am okay with anything. I will pick around till I get full. I can't eat nearly as much as I used to, and I can tell my stomach is ALREADY compressed by my bowels.

*Any cravings?
Nope, just aversions. Out of nowhere during the 1st trimester, I couldn't eat chicken, but that seems to have resolved.

I eat a LOT of tacos. Small bean and cheese tacos to be exact. With hot sauce. I have a hard time eating hot sauce (and even really lame, tame sauce) for some reason, but in a bean and cheese taco, I can hang. I seem to feel better when I eat these.

And the baby likes Ice Cream, but I haven't eaten a whole ton of it. I am not the pregnant lady on the couch gobbling up her second 1/2 gallon a night. lol. Just a few scoops here and there. It's been a million degrees out there. I need a break.

Okay, maybe I do have cravings. :o)

I can't drink my bottled water anymore. It has to be ICE cold. With ice in the glass. Very odd. But I am drinking a lot of it.

*How is Paul doing?
Well, I don't get this one a lot, but I want to throw it in there. HE IS SO WONDERFUL!!! I could not imagine having anyone else beside me. He is the most amazing, patient, loving, thoughtful, compassionate man. I am truly lucky and blessed to have such a wonderful husband. I could gush all day at how good he is to me, how much he spoils me and how much I love him. Seeing the joy and excitement he has for this baby and our family makes me melt. He is going to be the most amazing father, and I am so glad that he was made for me. :o)

Movement?

When we were at the OB Friday, I was waiting out front with Paul when I had a sharp "poking" sensation in my right lower pelvic region. It was a bit different from the sharp "stabbing" sensations that I feel when I stand up quickly or whatnot. I didn't really know what it was, and before I could think about it too long, the tech came to get us and take us back to the room.

She tried on the Left to find the baby, the middle...no luck. I just knew that she would find the heartbeat on the right, and sure enough! She found it right where I felt that poking sensation!! I told Paul as soon as she left that I thought maybe I felt the baby.

Today at work, I felt something odd again. I was sitting still in the medication room. This time it was more in the middle, but still low pelvic area. It felt like "pop, pop" and then "pop" a few seconds later.

I have no idea what I will "feel" when I feel the baby move. Does this even sound like I am feeling the baby or is it something totally off base??? Who knows. I am excited to finally feel something cool!

15 Week Appointment

15 weeks, 3 days

Weight: -4 lbs
B/P: 132/80
HR: 80's
Baby's HR: 145

We went to the OB again this morning. My blood pressure is still high, unfortunately. We had some labs taken for the triple screen. This will help us determine the baby's risk for down syndrome and trisomy 18. While reading up about this test, it looks like there is roughly an 80% detection rate and there are lots of false positives. Meaning, some babies pass this test and have problems and some don't pass and end up fine upon further testing. So we shall see. I am taking it with a grain of salt.

My doctor is referring me to a perinatologist for my blood pressure issues. This doctor is a high-risk OB, to put it simply. I will see this doctor and my normal OB for the time being. She said he will take measurements via ultrasound of the baby to make sure the baby is growing well and will monitor my labs. At some point, I may have to take medication for my blood pressure. I am completely expecting it to get higher as I progress to the 3rd trimester...and I have roughly 25 weeks to go! We will see the specialist in about 2 weeks. We see Dr. A again in 4wks, so a minor change in plan from before.

I am still planning to take it easy and relax as much as possible. Hopefully we can sneak a peak at the baby's gender at the appointment with the specialist.

ER Trip

So yesterday, I developed a bit of a migraine while at work. It was so intense that I ended up throwing up, had to leave work early, and couldn't shake it with Tylenol/ice packs/sleep.

I had Paul and my mom take me to the new hospital down the street around 8pm so that I could be seen. When I got to the ER, my blood pressure was already 145/85. (When I left work at 2 it was only 127/78 or so. Not good!!) They did a CT scan of my head and double wrapped my belly/back in lead shields for the baby. The doctor on call said that everything looked great. They gave me a cocktail of IV Reglan/Benadryl to get rid of the headache, and I got a half a liter of saline to rehydrate me.

Today, I had an appointment with my Opthamologist to make sure that I didn't have any vision problems as my headaches have been increasing in frequency and strength. She didn't find anything, either. So it remains a mystery at this point. know that headaches/migraines can also be from stress/hormones, so I am trying to ride it out the best I can. I have an OB appt. on Friday, so hopefully we will know more then.

On the plus side, I did get to see an ultrasound of the baby while at the ER. S/he had the head towards the screen. It looks like the baby was lying on its back with its feet in the air. We could see the baby kicking its feet back and forth and when the Dr. moved the wand over the baby's head, the baby shot its arms/legs out like "WHEE" as mom says. LOL! I am glad mom got to see the baby finally.

Bad Connection

In the fax, that is. The baby clearly didn't get the memo. I felt like poo all day yesterday at work and ended up with 5 patients on primary (by myself, and damn that sucked). As soon as I got home (YAY! I made it to 8pm) I took a hot bath, dried off and lost all my dinner. :o( It was an early bedtime for me with an ice pack in tow for my headache. ugh....

In other news, my friend Tamara's Dr. Appt went well yesterday. She is at 10 wks. HR is in the 150's. And I am so glad that Wendi's appointment went well today! I am so excited the munchkin will have some playmates!

Rough Week

So this week has been a really tough one. I had an amazingly fun day with Elizabeth on Monday and even got to go swimming and enjoy some chocolate covered strawberries from Godiva. Around midnight, I threw up everything. :o(

It just came out of no where, too! I wasn't very nauseated or gagging; I just stood up and had to run to the bathroom. Tuesday morning I woke up with a pounding headache and continued to gag (since I didn't have anything to toss). I couldn't even get dressed for work and ended up staying home.

I developed a really bad headache at work on Wednesday and couldn't get it to go away. I took Tylenol, used ice packs, took it easy, and nothing worked. My blood pressure was only 120/70. Finally, I left work because I couldn't even function. On the way home, I ended up pulling over on the side of the road to puke, which is very embarrassing, lemme tell you. Not that I noticed mid-barf, but when I was walking back to my oddly stopped car, I noticed several cars slowing down and looking. :o( I told Paul the people in the houses must have been shaking their heads and thinking "These damn youngsters! No respect nowadays; just puking in people's yards because they are drunk at 6pm." LOL! Not even the case over here.

Thursday was a little better, but I stayed queasy all day. I finally had a reprieve when I woke up this morning, and I have been able to get some stuff done.

Paulie told me on Tuesday, "You're not supposed to be getting sick anymore; you are in the second trimester." I am assuming the munchkin didn't get that memo, but I did my best to fax it through, so I am hoping s/he cooperates from here on out. :o)

It's creeping up...

My blood pressure that is. I took it yesterday at work because I keep having headaches. I know that headaches can be yet another symptom while pregnant, but one of the girls suggested I check my BP just so see.

139/80!!!!! Holy Snikees! That is way to high.

I have been trying to take it easy and not overdo it at work, but holy cow. I am not sure what I am doing to make it go so high. I don't think I am eating that much salt, and I haven't really changed the way that I eat.

Before I left to go home, I re-checked it again and it was 122/72. I need to think happy thoughts and stay off my feet.

3rd OB appt.

11 weeks, 2 day

Weight: -3.5 lbs total
BP: 134/80
HR: 70's
Baby's HR: 162


I had my third OB appointment this morning. So far, I have been feeling much better. I haven't been throwing up quite so much. This week I have only felt a little bit queasy, and I have been taking my Zofran regularly. However, my weight is down a bit, so I can tell all that nausea/vomiting did a little bit on my overall weight gain.

Meghan was able to come with us to my appointment since she was in town! Yay! When we got back to the roo, the technician attempted to find the baby's heart rate with a hand held doppler. I knew that it was going to be a little challenging since I am only eleven weeks and the fundus (top of my uterus) is below the pubic bone until after 12 weeks. She had a REALLY hard time, and was even listening way up by my belly button (where the fundus is at 20 weeks). Finally, we heard a half a beat and Paul, Meghan and I all perked up our ears. The tech asked us if we heard it, and we said "for just a second." She tried and tried to find it again, but couldn't.

When the doctor came in, she exclaimed, "So, you heard the heartbeat in the 160's?!" We all looked equally puzzled and I told her, "No, we only heard like half a beat." So she got the doppler back out and found it for us. It was soooo quiet that we could barely hear, but it was there.

Dr. A was concerned about my blood pressure and asked me why it was so high. I am not quite sure why because it usually is 117/75 or so. She told me that my blood pressure will drop in the 2nd trimester and spike up in the third. So we will be keeping a close eye on it for sure.

I am supposed to have an appointment at 15 weeks where she will check the triple screen and then around 17-18 weeks for a Level II ultrasound to check anatomy. We are hoping to find out the sex, so come on baby and cooperate! :o)

So yesterday I woke up with a belly. A noticeable one. This nurse that knows I am expecting but hasn't seen me in awhile saw me in the elevator and noticed immediately. "Oh, you have a lil' belly!" she exclaimed as she reached over to rub my tummy. Which is cute and all, but.... I AM ONLY TEN WEEKS. I am gonna be so huge.

I have been feeling better this week. I haven't gotten sick since Monday. I haven't taken as much Zofran, although my bottle of 30 has been depleted, and I am picking up a refill tomorrow.

My clothes are pretty snug and my mom wants to go shopping tomorrow for some cute maternity pants. I am gonna need them at this rate. :o( However, I weighed myself this morning and I am down to 206 lbs from 214....I guess it is all moving to the middle.

10 weeks

"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.) "- thebump.com

Well, I am hoping for a reprieve soon. Something. Anything. I still have nausea and vomiting (it comes and goes all day but it's worst in the evening after 5 or 6 pm). I have missed MORE work, which makes me want to cry because I need the leave for when the munchkin arrives. But on the other hand, it's hard for me to "be there" if I am puking all day long in the bathroom. This week has been manageable enough so that I haven't missed any work, yet, and I have actually felt well enough to smile and joke around.

However, last night was pure misery. I got this horrible migraine that would not go away. As soon as I got home from work I "lost my cookies." I puked so hard I pee'd. How mortifying....

A running list of "symptoms" so far: N/V, constipation, tender breasts, gas, bloating, backaches, headaches, heartburn, FATIGUE...I think that might be all. lol! Can't wait till next Thursday...we get to hear the heartbeat!!!!

Second Ultrasound

7 weeks, 3 days

Weight: -1 lbs
BP: 128/78
HR: 84

Paul and I went to see the doctor today. Everything looks great! She said the baby's heartbeat was in the 160's. Paul got a really good look at the ultrasound. He was grinning ear to ear...I told him seeing his face was absolutely priceless. I was so busy looking at Paulie, I didn't get quite as good a look as he did. I was also lying down and had to twist my head around, but I did manage to see the heart blinking from black to white. Pretty cool!

The baby was measuring 7 weeks and 3 days, as well. We are still on for January 19, 2010.

Still hanging in there

So I am still here. The nausea definitely hits me in the morning. Had a great day on Wednesday though, and only felt queasy for a few hours. Didn't throw up on any of my patients, so that's a bonus, right? Yesterday, I was not so lucky. Well, I guess I was in the not throwing up on patients, but the nausea was in full force in the morning.

Paul has been bringing me crackers and sprite around 0430 in the morning, and I was (smartly) munching on them until I woke up for good at 0600. Well, I wasn't so smart (unfortunately) Wednesday night, and I didn't eat a darn thing. You better believe that wave of NAUSEA hit me full force at 0600 when I went to get up. I frantically stuffed some crackers in my mouth and sucked down some sprite, but really, it was too late. Paul was off and took me into work and I took a half a Zofran on the ride over. It finally gave me some relief during morning rounds.

I am just not so good at keeping food in my stomach. I am tired all the time, not hungry. It's hard to want to chow down on crackers when I can already feel my bowels and stomach being squished. It doesn't take much for me to feel "over full" when I eat either. But I am doing the best I can.

Besides the exhaustion and the "morning" sickness, I have been having some constipation and gas pain. I never appreciated my formerly functioning bowels more than I do right now. What I would give for a nice bowel movement after a good meal. Okay, maybe this is TMI. But it's the glamorous world of being pregnant. :o)

EIGHT MONTHS??

My ticker says "Only 8 more months to go." Today, that is not reassuring. Korinne tells me that it will get better. That some days I will feel like I wanna die but eventually, it gets better. Holy Cow, I am praying for that day to come soon.

Week Six

I hear by commence week six with a pray to the porcelain god. blah.

I don't know if I could ever do this again. I feel so miserable. I started spotting Sunday morning (at midnight) and spent all day Sunday in bed. Yesterday, I felt like a train ran me over and managed to drink some water, sprite and eat a few crackers. Today, I had to leave work before the day even began and threw up immediately upon my return home. I don't know how I am going to function like this....

First Ultrasound

5wks 3days

Weight: +0
BP: 110/70's
HR 70's

We had our first appointment today. The office was a lot busier this time. Several pregnant moms, a post-partum mother, and a few ladies that appeared to be there for GYN appointments.

We waited for about thirty minutes before they took me back and got my vitals, urine and a personal history. Finally we were taken back to the room and waited for the doctor to come and see us. She was very friendly and didn't seem rushed at all, although I knew they were busy. She did a vaginal ultrasound for "pregnancy confirmation" and said that the next appointment will be in 2 weeks (on June 5th) where we should see a lot more and get a confirmation of the due date. We were able to see the fetal sac, and she said it looks like we are 4-5 weeks along. Hopefully we will be able to hear the heartbeat next time!!! Paul and I are so excited.

I think it's finally sinking in!!!

First Doctor's Appointment...Scheduled!

I went to see my Family Nurse Practitioner yesterday to follow up on the edema (swelling) in my legs that I have been having. She had the girls take my blood to check my electrolytes and a thyroid panel. She said that my thyroid could be causing the problems, but if the test come back negative, she wants me to have an ECHO done for my heart to make sure my heart is okay. This is good for me because I have been wanting to get my heart checked. I have funny palpitations every once in awhile. My weight was +1 lbs from normal, too, so I guess I will keep an eye on things.

While I was there, my FNP asked me if I had an OB and referred me to a MD that delivers at the hospital by the house. She didn't know her very well, but she hadn't had any complaints from women she had referred. I swung by to check it out and found the office very quiet, clean and the girls friendly. They set me up with an appointment for May 22nd at 10:30. My insurance also told me that aside from the initial visit, I have 100% coverage for all appointments and the entire hospital stay (48 hrs after V/D and 96 hrs after C/S) if I use a PPO provider. This doctor and the hospital are in the PPO Network! :o) I am really excited. Not sure how much we will see next week as I should be about 5w3d along at that point.

Holy Fat Girl!

So I have managed to gain +/- 10 lbs since Friday.

WTH?

I have been experiencing edema in my shins and ankles for about a month, as well. As in pitting edema. I was talking to my dad and he thought I should have my thyroid rechecked. I know that I have had it checked in the past, but it just seems odd that I gained so much weight so quickly. Plus, my mom, her mom, and my great aunt all experienced thyroid problems.

I am going to re-weigh myself when I get home, and hopefully things will be different. However, low thyroid levels (Hypothyroidism) is know to cause complications in pregnancy and fetal brain development, so for peace of mind, I would rather just know that everything is fine. :o)

I AM PREGNANT!!!

omg!!!!

I absolutely cannot believe that we are pregnant. I am soooo excited. I took the test by myself and was pretty much convinced that it was negative as it was taking so long for the results to come up. Just as I was about to leave the room, it read "PREGNANT." I had to pick it up and look closer, as I could not believe my eyes! I walked out to show Paul, but he wasn't in the room. I looked out our door and saw him in the hallway.

I sat down on the bed, trying to appear very nonchalant and asked him if he would brush my hair. I had left the HPT test on the counter and just knew that he would see it. He walked off to the bathroom to get the brush and was very quiet. After about a minute, I went to the door to investigate. He was blowing his nose. LOL. He hadn't even seen the test. Actually, he was about to walk out empty handed when he saw me standing there. I asked him, "are you forgetting something?" and he says "oh, yah" and grabs the brush without turning his head.

"Aren't you forgetting something else?"

Paul looks very puzzled.

This time he actually looks at the sink and sees the test. His eyes light up and he can't stop smiling. He has tears in his eyes. We both hug each other and get teary-eyed. He kisses my face and tells me that he loves me with tears coming down his cheeks.

We are staying at a B&B, Auberge de la Ville, in Lexington, Virginia. My mom and dad are right across the hall. I really wanted to do something special for them, but I am away from home and don't have a lot of resources right yet. So I placed the test on the floor outside their room and ran back to hide. Paul knocked on the door and I can hear mom, "Come in!"

After no one enters, she finally opened the door. Needless to say she was VERY excited. My dad and grandparents were very excited, too. We had Jon come back over, and he was excited. No one can stop smiling. We called Nomi, Tara and Jason and shared the news. We told Irma tonight, too, instead of waiting for when we got home and could tell her in person. She sounded so excited.

I am only 3 weeks and 4 days along. Soon to be 5 days as it is nearing midnight. I am still in shock. I am so excited and happy, but nervous and scared all at the same time. I am just praying that this baby will stick around and that he/she will be a healthy and happy child for Paul and I. OMG, WE'RE PREGNANT!

Back on the Wagon

In November, Paul and I decided to take a little break from TTC. It was becoming too overwhelming, and we needed some time to think and relax.

So, here we go now. We are excited to expand our family. It has been a long journey so far, and it is only the beginning. It's been almost 11 months now since I stopped taking birth control, and we are very anxious to start this next journey in our lives. I am still scared. I doubt that will ever go away completely, but I have faith in us and I know that we will figure it out along the way.