31 Weeks and A Major Score!

Here we go!

How far along? 31 Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: I have had ZERO appetite this week, so the "high calorie" diet isn't exactly going as planned. I'm taking in as much protein as I can to make up for the calories I am not taking in. I go back a week from Monday to weigh in. O_O
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day and still trying to make my regular shirts work. I got several really cute maternity shirts from my MIL for Christmas that will hopefully see me through the end!
Sleep: Oy. I've been REALLY lucky up until this point. I really have. But this past week has been brutal in the sleep department. I sleep when I can, but between getting up to pee (which thankfully is still only once a night and that just started this past week-up until now I've been sleeping through the night), the hip pain and my ribs feeling like they were going to split down the middle, sleep is definitely getting harder. I wouldn't trade it for anything though.
Best moment this week: Being pregnant at Christmas. In my own odd little world, there is something special about being pregnant at Christmas. I am so thankful I got to experience it. Abbey bounced around and moved all day and that really was the best gift I could have ever asked for (but the iPod touch was a close second!).
Movement: She bounces like crazy and I can't get enough of it. It makes me sad to think this is all coming to an end. I really will miss her feet in my bladder.
Food cravings: M&M Cookie from Great American Cookie Co. I've had 2 this week. Ooops.
Gender: GIRL! GIRL! GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? Going, going.....
What I miss: Nothing at the moment...
What I am looking forward to: Seeing Abbey at our US January 6!
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy every minute. I am so sad this whole experience is almost over. This is probably our last pregnancy so I know it's possible I'll never feel a baby bounce around and wiggle in my belly. I can't even talk about it without tearing up.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (I know this has been the same since the beginning but I honestly believe it.)

Sadly, there is no fruit/veggie pic this week. There is a belly pic, but I haven't uploaded them just yet. It's coming. I promise. Probably...tomorrow.

Now, this major score I mentioned above. I have been collecting (read:hoarding) diaper coupons and formula coupons and any other coupons I can get my hands on since the second we found out we were pregnant back in June...and maybe even before then. Many of them were nearing their expiration date so I made 938 different little stacks, one for diapers, one for formula, toys, wipes, gear, etc. I noticed some were store coupons (specifically Target) and the others were from manufacturers. So I googled around and asked a few friends for the inside scoop on all these coupons and got more than I expected. Apparently you can stack 1 manufacturers coupon with a Target coupon. So here's what I did: I paired up 1 Manuf. coupon with whatever Target coupon I had. Then I checked to see if you had to buy multiple things (ie: diapers AND wipes) in order to use the coupons. Then I checked to see if I had a coupon that I could use with the "other" item from the initial coupon. I then I stacked three coupons for two different items, taking as much as $9 off the two items. Make sense? No? It's hard to explain, so let's add brand names.

I had 1 Manf coupon for $3 off 1 package of Pampers diapers AND wipes, 1 Target coupon for $3 off a package of Pampers diapers and 1 Target coupon for $3 off 1 package of Pampers wipes (and I had three of each of those, so I used this whole thing three times over, all on the same check out order). So I got 1 box of Pampers and 1 package of wipes and used all three coupons on the two items.

So, by the time I had used some of my stash of coupons up, we left Target 3 large boxes of diapers, 3 large packs of wipes, 2 cans of Similac powder formula and 1 bottle of ready made Similac formula for less than $40! (Our initial total was almost $90, ending total, after coupons was $42.05, but I bought some socks and a few clearance Christmas items). I think the best buy was the formula. The ready made bottle was $5.34 before the coupon. I had a $5 off coupon which left the bottle costing .34 cents! I also had a $5 off any baby purchase of $25 or more that I was able to throw in on top of everything.

Moral of the story: USE YOUR COUPONS. Not using them is literally throwing money in the trash. And if you don't use yours, send them to me, hahaha!

I hope you all had a great Christmas and got everything you could have ever wanted!

31Weeks

Merry Christmas, Buddha!

Hi, Baby Boy!

I hope you are having the very best Christmas up there! Your dad and I miss you so much, especially around the holidays, but THANK YOU for the Christmas gift today! We were in the middle of an ugly rain storm on the way home from Grammy's house and as soon as we peaked over a huge hill we saw a big, fat, bright rainbow! It was beautiful and instantly made me tear up. I'm so glad you remembered us and said hi! It's so great to know you are doing well.

Your sister is going crazy right now on my bladder :) She's so silly and I think she is going to be a lot like you. We have some of the things we bought for you set up in her room. I'm sure you won't mind sharing...right? Haha.

Your dad and I are so, so blessed and thankful that we get to call you ours. We will never, ever forget what a huge part of our life that we were and still are. One of our biggest goals with Abbey is to make sure she knows everything about you and how lucky she is to already have a guardian angel.

We love you so, so much baby boy. Be good.

Love,
momma

30 Weeks (!)

YIKES! We are really in the home stretch now, aren't we!

How far along? 30 Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Gained one over the past two weeks despite upping my calories and protein. Up 2 pounds overall.
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day and still trying to make my regular shirts work. I am hoping to buy as few maternity shirts as possible!
Sleep: I have to admit, it's getting harder. My hips and ribs HURT. But once I'm asleep, I usually sleep straight through the night, it's just getting to sleep that's the hard part.
Best moment this week: Making it to 30 weeks. I still can't believe it.
Movement: She bounces like crazy and I can't get enough of it. I already know I'll miss this.
Food cravings: Apple juice, apples, applesauce. Anything apple. (STILL)
Gender: GIRL! GIRL! GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? Going, going.....
What I miss: Nothing at the moment...
What I am looking forward to: Seeing Abbey at our US January 6!
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy every minute. I am so sad this whole experience is almost over. This is probably our last pregnancy so I know it's possible I'll never feel a baby bounce around and wiggle in my belly. I can't even talk about it without tearing up.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (I know this has been the same since the beginning but I honestly believe it.)



What is Abbey up to this week?

Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleeping and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

All that^ stays the same until Week 32, so don't expect another fruit picture for the next few weeks!

And now for Show&Tell :)

**I can't find my 28 Week picture. I'm going to be really upset if I either (A) forgot to take one or (B) lost the pic entirely.

29 Weeks

30 Weeks


Yowza.


And now for the real Abbey update.

We had our regular appt yesterday with my OB and everything went great. Despite being on the different diet, I only managed to gain 1 pound, not the 3-5 they were looking for. BUT gaining is better than losing. My blood pressure looked great (117/77) and Abbey's heart rate was great (152bpm). We talked at length about why Abbey looks to be small right now.

1. IUGR which in my case would be due to lack of maternal weight gain. Like I said before, since we are fairly certain Abbey has no genetic issues (NT Scan and quad screen came back clean) and since I don't do illegal drugs, lack of weight gain on my part could be one reason she is small, which is why they are pushing me to gain gain gain.

(And here's where it gets tricky and it's really hard to explain, so bear with me.)

2. Metformin. I have to be on Metformin to control my PCOS and keep my ovaries from exploding with cysts. The Metformin helps the hormones going to my ovaries know what to do as to keep cysts from growing.However, Metformin is a drug most commonly used to treat diabetics. I am not a diabetic. If anything, my sugars run on the lower side of normal as opposed to the higher side. Metformin is also known for causing weight loss. Metformin is also starting to be related to smaller (yet still healthy!) babies. Let's try a flow chart of sorts.

-I need the Metformin to control my PCOS.
-I don't need the Metformin to control diabetes because I'm not diabetic.
-The Metformin is keeping me from gaining weight.
-I can't come off the Metformin because it is doing such a good job at keeping my ovaries disease free.
-The Meformin may be what is restricting Abbey's growth.

Simply put, we are stuck for the moment. The great news is all Abbey's major organs (brain, heart, lungs, kidneys) look great and are right on track. Her cord looks great. Her fluid levels are great. She's just a small baby. We have another US in 2 weeks to check her growth and come up with a game plan for the remaining 6-8 weeks of this pregnancy.

So. We are thankful. There is nothing wrong, just a little added stress for me. I am not considered high risk at the moment and Abbey is not in any danger. We just want her to chub up a bit.

And I think that catches everything up.

One more thing. I have made the decision to go private following Abbey's arrival. I will be moving to a new, private blog that will require you to have a username and password to log view the blog. I'm doing this for several reasons, but mostly for our privacy. I don't want pictures of our daughter just floating around on the internet for anyone to see. This blog will remain public and I might update over here once in a while (minus pictures) for those who don't want to make the move, but I promise nothing.

So if you want in, please email me at speakoftheblog@gmail.com. I think I can take 100 different readers so everyone that is a "follower" now should be able to get in over "there". Family will get invites first, then friends.

WHEW! That was a long entry! If you made it this far, go get yourself a cookie!

I hope you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! Remember the reason for the season :)

Number One Sign You Are Too Tired To Put Together An Exersaucer...

There is a recall out for our exersaucer, so I decided (at 8:30 at night after a long day) to open ours and see if it was one of with the serial number being recalled (it wasn't-Thank God! It was the model before ours). So...since it was open, I decided I'd build it. It can't be that hard, right?

Wrong.

First, I couldn't get the seat to snap in correctly. After much tugging and pulling, I get the cloth seat snapped into it's position.

Then, I couldn't get the legs to snap on. They are plastic freaking legs. It should not be that hard. So I pushed and shoved and twisted those damn legs ever which way you can think but they would not snap in. Eventually, I got one to snap in. With my finger still between each piece of plastic. Um. Ow. Ow actually isn't the word. It's much harsher. I pulled the pieces apart, threw them across the room and just burst into tears. It was not until then that it occurred to me that I just might be too tired and hormonal to put together an exersaucer (that she won't even need for another 6 months) tonight. But I get on these tangents where I think things have to be done that very minute. Ben heard the commotion and came to Abbey's room where I was "working" to find me in my undies, a tank top, surrounded by pink and green pieces of plastic sobbing. God love him for not laughing. All he said was "I think you are too tired to do this tonight. Why don't you go ahead to bed."

So here I am. In bed. Nursing my poor finger and my ego while he works on her exersaucer in the next room.

Let this be a lesson to you all. When you know you are too tired to do something, don't even attempt it.


In other news, Abbey is doing great! She's been a maniac today. On my way home, I stopped by Dairy Queen to pick up a milkshake. I ordered a small and the girls behind the counter asked if it was for me or the baby. I quickly said it was kind of for both of us since we both need to add a few pounds over the next two weeks. They laughed and asked a few more questions before one of the girls returned with a LARGE shake. They said to consider it for the baby, refused to let me pay the difference and sent me on my way. Very sweet! But- have you ever seen a LARGE shake from DQ? It's like a freakin 10 gallon drum! Who honestly needs that much? It was one of those cups you almost have to hold with both hands, lol. Out of sheer curiosity I had to look up the nutrition info when I got home. Are you sitting down? 1130 Calories. ELEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY CALORIES. Holy Lord. Seriously. I drank it down (poor me, right?) but promptly barfed about 1/2 of it back up. So there goes those calories. I didn't barf it up because of an pregnancy related nausea. I barfed it up because that is an obscene amount of calories to take in and 20 minutes and my body said "Heeeeeeeeeck no", haha! I barfed it up because NO ONE should drink an 1100 calorie milkshake.

So another lesson learned there. Always (politely) turn down milkshake upgrades. Or have some self control and don't drink the entire thing.

28w4d

28 Week Appt.

It wasn't great news, but it wasn't terrible. I'll start from the beginning.

So the three pounds I had gained (overall)...pretty much gone. I lost 2 pounds. So we are at one pound total for weight gain. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't skinny pre-pregnancy, but I still should have gained more than 1 pound by now. I'm losing weight which is keeping Abbey from gaining appropriately. Which leads to the next issue.

Abbey is pretty small. Her belly is only measuring in the 12% and overall she is in the 32% for babies at her gestational age. Her head, limbs, organs, fluid levels, cord and placenta all look good right now, she just is a little behind, growth wise.

So now the plan is for me to increase my caloric intake and gain some pounds. Every one keeps saying "Load up on ice cream and Chinese!". Uh, yea, that sounds fun, but (1) I don't feel like eating 99% of the time and when I do, it's never much and (2) I want to gain the weight in a healthy way, not by loading up on junk. I'm loading up on complex carbs and protein in an effort to gain weight but to it in a healthy manner.

AND It sounds like I'm having a C-section. O_O

My ovaries are apparently a real mess. My right one, anyway. From the US yesterday she can tell is it practically ruined and would rather me not have it. Apparently "diseased" ovaries are more likely to develop cancerous places on them and what not, so I'm likely better off without it. Lefty is doing ok and is the ovary we triggered from for Abbey, so I guess the right is a dud anyway.

And if Abbey stays small, she would rather deliver her by csec. Smaller babies sometimes don't do as well with vaginal deliveries and a csec i usually less stressful on them.

She said ultimately the decision is mine, but I really trust her and her partner with my care 100%. If they feel this is best for Abbey, I believe them.

Also, they are going to monitor Abbey every 10-14 days to check her growth and monitor my weight gain. If at 37 weeks she is still tiny, they will do an amnio and go ahead and deliver her. IUGR is one of her concerns and she said those babies tend to do better on the outside than in. Babies with IUGR sometimes have genetic issues or have drug addicted mothers and since neither is the case with our Abbey, lack of maternal weight gain is our only answer. She has not been diagnosed with IUGR at this point and we are really hoping to avoid it which makes it even more important for me to pack on some pounds.

This all makes me really sad. I'm a mess. I feel like a total eff up. I can't get pregnant on my own. Now I can't even provide well enough for her on the inside. How am I going to be a good mom when she is on the outside if I can't provide for her now.

But right now I really don't have time for a pity party. All my energy is being focused towards her and making her grow big and strong. Our goal is full term, but ultimately we know God is in control and will watch over us and take care of Abbey.

We really appreciate any prayers you can spare. We want a full term, healthy little girl and I really believe prayers can get us there.

28w3d

Sweet!

Thanks to PCOS, I got the privilege of taking the one hour glucose challenge TWICE.

YAY.

Not really...But whatever I have to do to keep me and Abigail healthy, right? I passed the first one a few weeks ago with a score of 114 (way below the failing mark). I hoped that since I had passed the first one by such a large margin they wouldn't make me take the second one. No dice. So I took it again Friday morning and passed with a 110 this time! Even better! So no more glucose tests for me!

My blood pressure looked awesome (124/79) too, so it was a great day!

And today? I washed sheets, cleaned the master bathroom and bedroom, folded (more of) Abbey's clothes (seriously running out of room!), Windex-ed all the mirrors and shot this awesome video. Please admire my lovely belly, lol. No stretch marks yet, but I am getting bigger by the day so I can only assume they are going to strike soon. Ben and I watched her move and dance around for almost an hour but as soon as we got out the camera out she settled in and got comfy. Stubborn girl. I have no idea who she gets her attitude from! Honest!

Other than that, we are all doing great! We reached the 28 week mark today which is both awesome, exciting and scary all at the same time. Just the thought that we could have a baby in ten weeks is mind numbing to me (and Ben!). I've been dealing with some bittersweet feelings regarding this pregnancy and all the fun milestones we are hitting and the fact that it is all coming to an end soon and the fact that we missed all this with Buddha. It's hard sometimes. I got really overwhelmed Thursday but thankfully Ben was home and just let me cry it out and take a nap. Just as soon as I think the healing process with Buddha is over, all the feelings of sadness and loss rip through me and I feel like part of the healing starts over. I wish we had gotten to experience all of this with Buddha, but I wouldn't trade Abigail for the world. I feel like I am almost forced to choose between the two of them even though it's impossible to do that. A power greater than I can even imagine made the decision for me and I trust that decision with my entire heart, but that doesn't mean it isn't hard sometimes. At the end of the day, I know I have a baby boy who taught me more in 9 weeks than I could have ever hoped to learn in a life time and who I am so insanely proud of and a baby girl who is teaching me how to trust and love again and melts my heart every moment of the day. I am so, so blessed to have them both and I can't thank God enough for allowing me to be their mom.


28Weeks

27 Weeks!

I'm really trying to get back in the swing of blogging but time has not been my friend lately. So here's the 27 Week post and some pics to hold you over!

How far along? 27 Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Three pounds total
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day and still trying to make my regular shirts work. I am hoping to buy as few maternity shirts as possible!
Sleep: Love it. Love it. Love it. Getting all I can.
Best moment this week: Hitting the third trimester!
Movement: She bounces like crazy and I can't get enough of it. I already know I'll miss this.
Food cravings: Apple juice, apples, applesauce. Anything apple.
Gender: GIRL! GIRL! GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? Going, going.....
What I miss: Nothing at the moment...
What I am looking forward to: Our next appt, Dec. 7. I love my OB and can't wait to see her again!
Weekly Wisdom: Make the decisions that are best for you and your family, not ones that will pacify others. How you deliver, feed and raise your child is your business. Don't let others opinions sway you from what you feel will work best for your family. (same)
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel. I know this has been the same pretty much every week, but it's stiiiiiiiill how I feel)

What is Abbey up to this week?

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving Abbey a healthy pink glow. She's also soaking up my antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and she will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

All that^ stays the same until Week 28, so don't expect another fruit picture for the next few weeks!

And now for Show&Tell :)

26Weeks


27Weeks


Stay tuned for my (late) Thanksgiving post! I promise it's coming!

A Quick Rant...

If one more person says:

"Oh just you wait"

"This is only the beginning"

"You have no idea what you are in for"

"Say good-bye to your old life"

or any other negatively toned comment towards being pregnant/having a baby, I will seriously punch you in the throat. It gets effing old.

We had to years to "just wait". By the time Abbey gets here, it will be 4 months short of THREE years.

This is our new "beginning" and we are very much looking forward to it.

Of course we have no idea what we are in for. We know it will be hard and trying at times, but it will also be much wanted and prayed for.

And as for our "old life"- it was amazing, we had amazing times. But our "new life" is going to be so much more amazing than anything we experienced with just the two of us.

So keep all the negative comments to yourself. If you don't have anything nice to say about being pregnant/having children, save them for the next unhappy person who is willing to share in your misery. Because this optimistic, naive infertile and her husband are much looking forward to everything having a child entails.

26w2d

Baby Shower #1

My first baby shower was last weekend! I still can't believe I just typed that out. The entire time mom and I were down there I honestly couldn't process that we were in Charlotte for my baby shower. When the balloon lady at the grocery store asked if I was having a girl or boy I almost looked around to make sure she was talking to me. I forget I actually look pregnant now. When I was changing my clothes and getting ready for the shower, I almost started crying. I couldn't grasp this was really happening. We've come such a long way in the past year and it's hard to believe now is our time. It's our turn. It's so surreal.

My childhood friend, Carol, was nice enough to offer her house up as a location for the shower. Her house is just about the cutest thing ever and it was so, so generous of her to offer up her time and home to us! My mom, aunt and Ma along with a handful of high school friends attended the shower. We had an awesome table full of food, a table overflowing with gifts for Abigail and hours of great conversation. I am unbelievably thankful for all the gifts and cards and for the time people set aside to come out and celebrate our little one. I know how busy people are these days and it meant the world to me that these ladies set aside a few hours of their time to come out.

All the ladies (minus my mom)

The diaper wreath Carol made! How cute!

The spread! Chick-Fil-A tray, fruit&veggie trays, cookie tray and CAKE! YUM!

The favors-Pink M&M's and pink Starburst candy! The fabric on the top of the jars is the fabric my mom used to make her bedding!

Thanks again to everyone who came out! Abbey scored a ton of stuff off her registry, many necessities, a few out fits, a handmade sweater and tummy time blanket from my mom and a hand made blanket (and a stock pile of diapers) from my Ma. I really need to start on the "Thank You" cards ASAP.

I suppose I should update a few Belly Pics too, huh? I can tell a HUGE difference between Week 21 and Week 25- and I'm only going to get bigger. It's a scary thought!

24 Weeks

25 Weeks


That's all I'm going to update tonight! We hit 26 Weeks tomorrow! Holy Snot! We are so thankful every day for this HUGE blessing and are loving every minute of this pregnancy. We had another great Dr appt this week (more on that tomorrow) and can't thank God enough for getting us this far (relatively) complication free!

25w6d

25 Weeks!

So, I am aware I suck at blogging lately. Between traveling, working and getting things ready for Abbey, I have NO time (not to mention the 4 hour naps that take up my afternoons).

Short Update: Things are going well! Abbey is moving constantly and growing like a weed. I'm sure I had to have gained weight by this point, I have been eating like a mad woman! I'm hungry all the time. Abbey LOVES all fruit and chocolate milk :) I had our first baby shower this week and as soon as I get the pics loaded, I'll post them. The shower was amazing and I can't thank my mom enough for throwing such an awesome party for our Abbey. Everyone who came was so, so generous and really went above and beyond for our little girl. We are so blessed and thankful!

I'll post more later, but right now, my dinner is getting cold and, as usual, I'm STARVING!

25w2d

In Case There Is Any Doubt....

Abigail is 100% Ben's daughter.

How do I know this?

Well...number one, we were so busy with each other when she was conceived, if you know what I mean, I didn't have the time to run around on him, haha.

Number two? She is instantly calmed by Bob Marley, jams to Elton John, loves Ramen noodles (I've had them 3 times in the past week. Hey, my sodium is still low anyway, so why not indulge?), and she is up bouncing around and dancing all night and likes to sleep a lot during the day (Ben works night shift so he is up all night and sleeps all day).


I think I love her more because she seems to be so much like Ben. He drives me crazy and at times causes me to spew profanity but I love him to the core and can't wait to see him with our daughter.

22w4d

21-22 Weeks, Pics and A Video!

Here I am! So sorry for the absence! Is it true though? Did it make your heart grow fonder? I doubt it, so here is the 22 Week survey, 21 and 22 week Belly Pics AND (since you are all so understanding) a link to the video we shot of Abigail's room last night. We got her crib and the rest of her furniture built (Thanks, Ben and Dad!) and a good chunk of her laundry done (Thanks, Mom!). My goal is to have it all finished by Thanksgiving so we can relax and enjoy the holidays with each other and our families.

How far along? 22 Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss:Gained three whole pounds over the past month, but still at a loss overall.
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts are growing less and less common, especially with my recent growth spurt.
Sleep: Still loving it but not neeeeeeding the way I was in past weeks. I think I'm in the "feeling good, second wind" part of pregnancy. I still get the occasional nap, but not as often as I used to.
Best moment this week: Getting ALL the nursery furniture built and celebrating our second wedding anniversary!
Movement: She bounces like crazy and I can't get enough of it. I already know I'll miss this.
Food cravings: Smarties. Yes, the sugary, nasty candy. I love them!
Gender: GIRL! GIRL! GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? Getting more and more shallow.
What I miss: Nothing at the moment...
What I am looking forward to: Our next appt November 18 (hopefully with my regular doctor, not her partner-more on that hopefully this week).
Weekly Wisdom: Make the decisions that are best for you and your family, not ones that will pacify others. How you deliver, feed and raise your child is your business. Don't let others opinions sway you from what you feel will work best for your family.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel. I know this has been the same pretty much every week, but it's stiiiiiiiill how I feel)
I have to add, RLP and sciatic pain have started over the past few days and they are NO JOKE. Sweet Baby Jesus, it will knock the wind right out of you or leave you curled in the fetal position for a considerable amount of time.


So what is Abbey up to this week?

Watch what you say -- Abbey is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, she is starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks and as to when they stop and start.

All that^ stays the same until Week 25, so don't expect another fruit picture for the next few weeks!

And now the promised Belly Pics- look for the "Pop!"!

21 Weeks
Annnnnnnnnd 22 Weeks

Someone had a growth spurt...and I can feel it! She feels more settled into my pelvis. I still think she is breech, just like she has been this entire time. I feel her feet waaay down low and less movement up higher. She still has plenty of time to turn herself, so I'm not worried.

And to fulfill my final promise, the link to the video of Abbey's room! This comes with one stipulation- you can NOT watch it if you don't agree to look over the clutter and general chaos of the room right now! If you can agree to that, here is the link: ClickMe.

And that's it! I really am going to try to be more diligent about my blogging this week-I've really slacked off lately! I just need more hours in the day!

A Late Entry...

The 20w (actually the 20w3d) belly pic...posted at 20w4d...I can't win them all, haha!


AND just for being so patient, a sneak peak into Abbey's room (please excuse the clutter!).


The trim work still needs to be done (all the brown trim is being painted white to match the chair rail), then we have to build the rest of her furniture and hang pictures and WE ARE DONE! W00T!


Hugs&Kisses

20w4d


PS-Please note: If you email me, please look to the column on the right! The email addy has changed! My old address was starting to get spammed way too much and I wasn't receiving half of my emails anymore! I love to hear from you, just make sure it's going to the new address!

::gulp::

We (Ben and I) have spent the afternoon on the phone with pediatricians in our area. Our number one pick is not accepting patients. The next two we were debating between were both accepting patients with private insurance (which we have), but only one of them did prenatal interviews. So clearly, we went with them. We go on November 6 for our interview with who we hope to be Abbey's pediatrician.


HOLY COW.

It still hasn't really sunk in that we are having a baby. Even though I feel her move, we are almost finished with her nursery, we are setting up pediatrician appt's and getting more serious about due dates, I still don't believe we are having a baby.

Hugs&Kisses

20w3d

20 Weeks (2 Days)!

I'm late and with no pic. This past weekend was hectic...what can I say? I'll do better next week.

How far along? 20 Weeks! HALF WAY!
Total weight gain/loss: Still down overall. I have been eating like a trucker, so I have likely gained something.
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts with the occasional maternity shirt thrown in. Love them all.
Sleep: Loving it! Sleeping 8 hours a night and sneaking in a 2-3 hour nap every day.
Best moment this week: Getting ALL our nursery furniture paid for and picked up!
Movement: Ben felt Abbey move for the first time yesterday night and it was awesome. She woke me up at 3 this morning and kept me up til about 5:30am having her own personal dance party, but I didn't mind. I loved laying there feeling her bounce around.
Food cravings: MILK! I seriously still can't get enough!
Gender: GIRL! GIRL! GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? Getting more and more shallow.
What I miss: Sex. I've been on pelvic rest since JUNE people. JUNE. Ben's being a trooper and not complaining, but I miss it.
What I am looking forward to: Our next appt Oct 21
Weekly Wisdom: Don't let people get to you. Chances are, you are better than them anyway.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel. I know this has been the same pretty much every week, but it's stiiiiiiiill how I feel)
AND getting the nursery painted (pics to come) and getting the bookshelf and the desk to complete the nursery (again, thanks to my MIL!). (If you are wondering why we are getting an infant a desk, it's because we are not getting a changing table. We will put the changing pad on the table. I love the fact that there are drawers on the side so I can throw her diaper cream and stuff in there and it won't be a wasted piece of furniture in 6 months time.)What is Abbey up to this week?

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!



AND

Congrats to my brother and his girlfriend on their new Baby Boy, Bryce! I guess I'm officially an aunt now. All negativity and hard feelings aside, I'm glad their baby had a safe, easy and healthy delivery.


Hugs&Kisses

20w2d

Three HUGE Things....

1. Thanks to my ever generous MIL, we now have ALL the furniture for Abbey's room! The dresser, night stand, bookshelf and desk (which we are using instead of a changing table). I am so thrilled! I can't wait to see it all put together.

2. We have started painting her nursery. The pink we are using is HOT pink and I freakin love it! The bottom will be black and the chair rail will remain white. Here is a sneak peak from my blackberry. It is NOT the best picture, but it gives you an idea as to what we are doing.

3. BEN FELT ABBEY KICK! Best.Moment.Yet. I am so excited for him! I get to feel her bounce around all the time, so getting to share that with Ben was so great. We are so blessed!


Hugs&Kisses

20w1d

19 Weeks (kinda)

Our 19th week will be a short week! They are officially moving me up 4 days making me 19w5d today instead of 19w1d. So YAY! That's one step (or 4 steps depending on how you look at it) closer to meeting our Abbey!

How far along? 19 Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Still down. My OB wants to see SOME sort of weight gain by my next appt in 2 weeks. O_O
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts with the occasional maternity shirt thrown in. Love them all.
Sleep: Loving it! Sleeping 8 hours a night and sneaking in a 2-3 hour nap every day.
Best moment this week: Seeing Abbey for a full 40 minutes on our ultrasound yesterday!
Movement: It's getting so much stronger! It used to be little taps and bumps, but now they are getting stronger and more consistent. Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant until I get a good kick in the bladder (which I can't get enough of!).
Food cravings: MILK!
Gender: GIRL! GIRL! GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Dr. Pepper (still)!
What I am looking forward to: Our next appt Oct 21
Weekly Wisdom: If it doesn't sound good, don't eat it just for the sake of eating something so your husband will shut up. It is NOT worth it!
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel. I know this has been the same pretty much every week, but it's stiiiiiiiill how I feel)
AND having both our Target and BRU registries finished and up! AND AND we (meaning my MIL) bought the paint for Abbey's nursery! So, so, so nice of her!
What is Abbey up to this week?

Vernix Caseosa , a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

19 Week Belly Pic

From the front:


Not much to see, right? (I promise I'll take pics with something OTHER than my blackberry someday!)

And from the side:




I'll be back on Saturday with the new weekly update! See you then!


Hugs&Kisses

18 Weeks!

Almost half way done! Keep growing, Abbey!

How far along? 18 Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Still down overall and showing no signs of catching up. My appetite blows lately. Ben gets on me about eating enough, but as long as Abbey is growing, I think she is fine. He (jokingly) said he was ready for late night Wendy's runs, raging cravings and buffets when we found out we were pregnant and, so far, it has not been like that at all! Poor guy!
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts with the occasional maternity shirt thrown in. Love them all.
Sleep: Loving it! Sleeping 8 hours a night and sneaking in a 2-3 hour nap every day.
Best moment this week: Feeling movement more often :)
Movement: It's getting so much stronger! It used to be little taps and bumps, but now they are getting stronger and more consistent. Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant until I get a good kick in the bladder (which I can't get enough of!).
Food cravings: Hot dogs! So gross, but I want them at least 2 nights a week. It's hard to find nitrate free hot dogs, so I don't get my fix as often as I want.
Gender: GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Dr. Pepper (still)!
What I am looking forward to: Our US on October 7.
Weekly Wisdom: Love every minute of your pregnancy. I am so excited for February to get here, but remind myself to enjoy every day of this pregnancy while our Abbey is still on the inside.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel. I know this has been the same pretty much every week, but it's stiiiiiiiill how I feel)
And having my first fight with Target over our registry (it's STILL not showing online! STILL!)



What is Abbey up to this week?

Abbey has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing.

And the 18 Week belly, for your viewing pleasure:

I think it looks smaller than last week, but everyone at work keeps talking about how cute the bump is, so who knows.

Hugs&Kisses

I have a bone to pick with all you mothers....

WHY was I never warned about the poop vac? I have been warned about crapping all over the delivery table, but having all my poo sucked out by a shop vac prior to delivery?! WHY was I never told?

My younger brother, also the World's Most All-Knowing OB expert, informed me of this last week. He swears it is gospel truth. They use it for every delivery, every time. His girlfriend's OB informed them of this medical machine at their appointment last week (keep in mind, this is the same OB who claims US measurements are exact).

So, blog world, thanks for nothing.




Hahaha! I'm totally kidding. Well, not about the poop vac. After using several mom friends as my own personal WebMD, I confirmed what I though-totally false. No one, to date, has yet to hear of this alleged poop vac. I love you all dearly and thought you might benefit from a good laugh!

Abbey and I are doing well, we have had a busy weekend of nesting (which my house appreciated). Our next US appt is October 7, but surely I will find something to update about before then.

Hugs&Kisses

17w4d

17 Weeks

Three posts in three days? This is like a record or something.

How far along? 17Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Down another 2. And because I'm not gaining weight, I have to have the gestational diabetes screening early. Lameass PCOS puts me at a higher risk for GD anyway and the fact that I'm not gaining weight is concerning to my OB, so early screening it is (gaining too much weight is also a soft sign of GD- I can't win).
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts with the occasional maternity shirt thrown in. Love them all. Especially my slim cut Old Navy jeans. LOVE them.
Sleep: Loving it! Sleeping 8 hours a night and sneaking in a 2-3 hour nap every day.
Best moment this week: Feeling movement more often :)
Movement: Crazy baby, especially when I sit down after moving around or walking a lot.
Food cravings: Apples. Apple ANYTHING. I went through a dozen BIG apples last week, not to mention all the juice AND applesauce! I love them.- Still loving apples this week!
Gender: GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Dr. Pepper!
What I am looking forward to: Our US on October 7.
Weekly Wisdom: The more you ignore ignorant advice/opinions from people who talk out their butt holes, the happier you are.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel. I know this has been the same pretty much every week, but it's stiiiiiiiill how I feel)
And-WE REGISTERED!

What is Baby Abbey up to?

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and her little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

And the 17 week belly :)




Hugs&Kisses

17 Weeks


PS- We seem to be moving closer to a Valentine's Baby after every appt! I haven't changed my dates here yet because they go along with my ovulation date as opposed to how big Abbey is growing. Growth US's are really just an estimate anyway.

One Year

This will not be my most eloquent post ever (not that any of them ever are).

It's been a year since we lost Buddha.

I think about where we were this time last year and how much has changed and how much stronger and closer Ben and I are as a couple and how so, so blessed we are to be having Abbey.

Now I feel like I see everything full circle. This time last year my heart was in a million pieces and I honestly thought my life would never be okay again. Over time, little pieces came back together and reformed this stronger, more compassionate, sympathetic heart and it's just got this one tiny piece that's gone now. It just took time. It still is going to take time. But it has gotten better and it has gotten easier and acceptance has made the whole thing easier to swallow.

I see God's plan come full circle for us and how life moves on even when it seems like it will never get better. It's almost like we have the best of both worlds-an amazing son who watches over us and will protect his sister and a wonderful daughter who is doing back flips and warming my heart right now.


We miss you, Buddha.


Hugs&Kisses

16w6d

Pass the Salt....

Yesterday I felt terrible. Awful. I was nauseated, weak, really dizzy, almost disoriented. I had no appetite all week really and had been blaming it on the pregnancy and laid down with Ben for a while.

I felt even worse.

Then I started puking around 11AM. Hard. So hard it made poor Ben turn ghost white. So I took a phenergan and laid back down. The phenergan got me about 3 hours of sleep before I got up and decided it was a good idea to take a shower (don't ask why-I have no idea why). I yelled for Ben who had to come help me, a 25 year old, fully competent woman, get out of the shower, dry off and get back in my PJs.

He took me right back to bed, we listened to Baby on the doppler to make sure she was doing alright (can I just say again how much I love that thing!) and I promptly feel back asleep until about 6:30. I woke up drenched in sweat. Ben threw the thermometer in my mouth and lo and behold- I had a fever (100.04).

I took a Tylenol while he called my OB who told me to go straight to the ER. In a matter of minutes I convinced myself I had Swine Flu. Ben helped me get ready and off to the ER we went (again). Can I just say that before this pregnancy, I haven't been to the ER three times in my LIFE? NEVER. I never get sick. I never need medical attention. I avoid medical facilities at all costs.

So we get to the ER. Ben knows everyone working in the ER last night, so I go straight back to a room. They do the standard-weight (dropping still), blood pressure (lower than usual, but keep in mind I tend to run low anyway) blood work, pee in a cup, listen to Baby on the doppler, blah blah blah. The funnest part? The flu screening. I hope you could read that last sentence through all the sarcasm. That. Sucked. What they do is take two tiny wire bristle brushes that look like miniature baby bottle cleaners (these things were more narrow than a Q-Tip) and shove them allllllllll the way up your nose until you are sure they are poking your brain. And then-they leave them there for 60 seconds. You want to scream, cry and sneeze all at once, but you can't because if you do, you have to start over. So I closed my eyes, gripped Ben's hand with everything that I had (Sorry, hun!) and just breathed. It was awful and I feel for you if you ever have to have one.

Then we wait for results.

Thankfully, I remembered my laptop, so I cruised the internet, talked to my LJ ladies, considered updating the blog (but didn't) and watched TV with Ben. It took about an hour and my results were back in.

Thank GOD (seriously) I don't have the flu. I was feeling so terrible because my body had NO sodium present in my blood. None. The only sodium reserves I had left were deposits in my bones and organs. The lack of sodium left me nauseated, tired, weak and light headed. And, on top of that, I have a UTI (which apparently is super common during pregnancy). I have had UTI's before and they always come with textbook symptoms. I had no symptoms this time. Luckily we caught it super early, so a quick dose of antibiotics will clear it all up.

I am on bed rest today and will probably return to work tomorrow. I still feel like a dog, but the Dr in the ER said it could take a few days on a high sodium diet to get me feeling somewhat normal again. The only problem with the high sodium diet is the fact that I have NO appetite. Eating bland things doesn't sound fun, so eating salty things isn't exactly on my list of fun things to do today. I've really tried though.

So there you have it. I swear I am growing a Drama Queen. Thankfully though, Baby Abbey looks great, she isn't under any stress and I would take feeling 9984983984 times worse than this if it means she gets here safely. She is my number one concern at this moment and will remain my number one concern for the rest of my life. I just want her happy and healthy, whatever it costs me is fine.

Hugs&Kisses

16w5d

I Can Not Keep a Secret....

Abigail Marie

Coming February 2010

Hugs&Kisses

16w2d

Week 16

And on time for once! Go me!

How far along? 16Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: No clue. My rings are falling off now when I wash my hands (quite the opposite problem I thought I'd have during pregnancy) and I haven't been on a scale in over a week, so I have no clue...I'd have to assume I'm still down from my pre-pg-y weight.
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts with the occasional maternity shirt thrown in. Love them all. Especially my slim cut Old Navy jeans. LOVE them.
Sleep: Loving it! Sleeping 8 hours a night and sneaking in a 2-3 hour nap every day (I'll pretend I didn't take a 5 hour nap yesterday)
Best moment this week: Making it through another week. We are getting so close to the half way mark!
Movement: Crazy baby, especially when I sit down after moving around or walking a lot.
Food cravings: Apples. Apple ANYTHING. I went through a dozen BIG appples last week, not to mention all the juice AND applesauce! I love them.
Gender: We know (85-90% sure) but aren't telling yet! Only the grandparents know, but don't ask them. They are sworn to secrecy!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Dr. Pepper!
What I am looking forward to: My appt next week!
Weekly Wisdom: Do what makes you, your husband and your baby happy. Forget about those who have nothing nice to say.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel)




What is Baby up to?

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in Baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

And a Belly Pic for those interested!

Just for comparison's sake:

9 Weeks

Just a little bloat!

13 Weeks

A rare blog pic of yours truly! Please excuse my crazy hair!

16 Weeks!

I literally popped out over the weekend. That bump was NOT there last week!

Hugs&Kisses

16 Weeks

168 days to go!

ER Trip: Round 2

So last Monday, Labor Day, Ben and I went out, did a little shopping, went out to lunch and really just had a text book perfect day. And then we got home.

I was bleeding. Bright red. More than spotting. Passing small clots. Not what you want to see when pregnant.

Looking back, I am really proud of myself. I didn't panic. I yelled for Ben, let him come see what was going on, he called my OB's on call number while I found Baby on the doppler. Baby was chugging along and didn't sound like he/she was in distress. My OB called back immediately (can I say again how much I really love her?) and told me if the cramping or bleeding picked up, to head to the ER.

15 minutes later, the bleeding hadn't let up and the cramping had worsened. So off to the ER we went. Still not panicked, but praying the entire way.

VERY long story short, we got a room in the ER, had a GREAT ER physician, Dr. Barry, who I can not thank enough for his great, compassionate service. For example- the lab tech (who also happened to be the idiot who did my labs the last time I went to the ER in July and is, so far, the ONLY lab tech who has made my cry bc he freakin harpooned me with the needle) MISSED on the first stick (which also makes him the first lab tech to EVER miss when sticking me). Ben was holding my hand and talking me through everything (keep in mind, by this time, we had been in the ER for almost 3 hours, I was exhausted, hungry and emotional spent) and Dr. Barry stood beside my bed and just rubbed my back. Seriously, the best medical care I have EVER received in an ER (you may remember our ER trip from a year ago (where the Dr kept referring to my D&C as an abortion, almost like it was an elective procedure) and the lack luster care we received again in this past July (where the Dr did a blood panel I had done the day before and didn't review the results of before ordering the same exact panel all over again (which is also where I had my first encounter with the lab tech from hell, mentioned above), ordered an US and sent me home-no exam, didn't call my OB, etc). So needless to say, I have NOT been impressed with my ER care thus far.

But Baby checked out well, the placenta and cord looked great, I'm still rocking a 7x9 cyst on my right side that hurts so bad I have to refrain from swearing in front of nuns at times, my blood and urine panel came back great, my blood pressure, as usual, was a tick on the low side, but still fine (low tends to me normal for me), I got a pass from work the next day and was on my way.

My (amazing) OB had us come in again two days later and have a quick US to make sure the placenta was still doing well and the Baby wasn't under any stress. Baby checked out great again, good steady heart rate (162bpm) and they diagnosed my bleeding as likely coming from the Largest Cyst on Earth starting to leak out.

So, Baby, no more tricks. I know this one likely wasn't your fault, I blame my bum ovary, but still. You rule my reproductive organs right now, so keep things under control in there! I can't imagine anything every happening to you. Just the thought of it scares me to my core.

On the plus side, we found out what Baby most likely is! W00T! But...we aren't telling. It's not 100%, but it's most likely. We may announce it after our Big US at around 20 weeks, but we are really thinking about just not saying anything. We have been so open about our loss last year, our IF struggles, our current pg-y, we just agree this may be the only surprise we get to have with this experience. And since this is still most likely going to be our only child, we think we should get to have one big surprise! Some people don't "agree" with this decision, but who cares? I don't agree with a lot of personal decisions people make but who am I to judge? Have your own baby and then make the decisions you feel are right for your family.

::sticks out tongue::

And with that, I'm out! I'm exhausted!

Hugs&Kisses

15w5d

PS- We keep edging more and more towards a VALENTINE'S Baby! Holy Cow! That means there is only Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Years and MLK Jr Day left before we have a little one!

::faints::

Week 15

A few days late, as usual.

How far along? 15 Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Still losing, but I have no idea how much. They told me I had lost weight since my last Dr appt when I was in the ER last week (post still to come), but they didn't tell me how much. To be honest, I don't care.
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts with the occasional maternity shirt thrown in. I LOVE them. LOVE them :)
Sleep: Loving it!
Best moment this week: Finding out what we are having! (But we aren't telling...yet!)
Movement: Crazy baby, especially when I sit down after moving around or walking a lot.
Food cravings: Milk! It's so strange. I love milk and lemonade!
Gender: We know (85-90% sure) but aren't telling yet! Only the grandparents know, but don't ask them. They are sworn to secrecy!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: NOTHING this week. I am so thankful to be pregnant and wouldn't trade it for anything. (same as last week)
What I am looking forward to: Registering!
Weekly Wisdom: Learn to say no. I finally said no to an old boss this past week and moved on into a new stage of my life. I couldn't be happier. I am making better money, I'm in a safer work environment and I don't dread work every day. It's a much healthier work environment for me to be in, emotionally and mentally, especially while pregnant.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as last week, but still how I feel)


What is Baby up to?

Continuing the march towards normal proportions, Baby's legs now out measure 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 movement.

PS- The above is wrong. I've been feeling Baby pretty consistently for about 10 days or so and had a few hints of movement prior to that. My OB made a great point, saying when you deal with IF and IF treatment, you become more aware of you body, especially your uterus, so noticing movement earlier than other women who had no trouble conceiving is not uncommon. Another fellow IF friend of mine said the same thing. I've also had a few friends who did not deal with IF say they felt movement between 13-14 weeks. Everyone is different!

A few days late, as usual.

Hugs&Kisses

15w4d (still measuring 4 days ahead consistently, measured SIX days ahead last week in the ER! WOW!)

**Updated: Will you say a prayer for one of Ben's cousins? I'm not going to air her personal info here because that would be rude, but she could probably use some encouragement and positive vibes right now. I'd appreciate it and I'm sure she would too.

Unwarrented Opinions.

As many know one of my siblings has gotten his less than desirable significant other knocked up and their baby is due next month. She is toxic and I have no desire to get to know her. I don't like the person she has shaped my brother into being and our relationship has suffered greatly because of it.

They try to come off as the "be all end all" in baby knowledge, I'm the world's biggest idiot when it comes to infant/toddler care (despite having TWO degrees in prenatal/infant/toddler growth and development), but what do I know.

I usually just try to leave them alone. I don't need the drama or the antics that come along with them at the moment. However, tonight, E decided it would be a good night to push my buttons, most likely intentionally (you have to agree with me there, Mom). He asked why we got a doppler and I told him because we wanted one and we had the money for one. He then proceeded to tell me what a waste it was and how stupid I am for having one and how dumb it was.

How 'bout this, darling brother. You lose a baby and then you can come back and tell me how stupid you think having peace of mind at home in between appointments is. Okay?

After our exciting trip to the ER last night (more on that to come later-I had some heavy bleeding, cramping and passed some clots; Baby is fine and I'm well, but it was scary nonetheless) NOTHING I do that I feel ensures my peace of mind and allows me to enjoy this pregnancy just an ounce more is not stupid or dumb or a waste.

That's all I really have to say about the whole issue. Don't speak on something you have absolutely no knowledge or experience in dealing with.

Hugs&Kisses

14w6d

PS- Baby measured 5-6 days AHEAD now and weighs in at a hefty 4 oz! Grow baby grow!

My Favorite Pregnancy Product....

...thus far.

The home doppler (ordered from Dynamic Doppler).


After a few random days of near panic episodes on my part, absolutely sure something was wrong, we ordered this home doppler. I have a very generous friend who let me borrow hers, but we were never able to pick up anything other than static, so we upgraded to the medical grade one and it is MUCH better. I laid down, gel-ed up the probe and within seconds Ben had found Baby's heart beat pumping away at a strong 170 bpm!

Would I recommend this? Absolutely, 100 times over. If you can't throw down the $400-525 upfront to buy one outright, they have a rental program that costs $22/month for the standard and $44/month for the deluxe model. There is only one difference between the two-the deluxe displays the heart rate on the screen and the standard doesn't. We bought the standard and count out the heart rate on our own.

If you have had a prior loss, then I recommend it even more. It is so nice to be able to pop out the doppler and have a listen on days when I am really nervous or anxious or days when I just need to hear Baby to feel okay. I can't say enough how a loss robs pregnancy of all innocence but having this has made the past week so enjoyable and stress free for me. Pregnancy has gone from being fun and enjoyable 40% of the time and filled with worry 60% of the time to full time, loving, enjoyable happy time for both me and Ben. I can't say enough how much I love having this at home to use at my disposal.

Also in Baby news, I've been feeling more random kicks and tumbles this week! It's usually after I eat or drink or while I'm driving in the morning. He/She moves all over the place! It's such a great feeling and I can't get enough of it. I know this will be the number one thing I miss once Baby goes from an inside baby to an outside baby.

I also haven't pooped in days and I'm still throwing up on an almost daily basis. The traffic jam in my colon is something I could do without, but gives me something to look forward to. Who doesn't enjoy a good poop? And the barfing episodes? It gives us something to laugh at. Ben just HAD to comment on the distance I got in the shower with my most recent barf (showering seems to be my barf trigger, but my options are not barf and stink or barf in the shower and thank God for the easy clean up). I was literally standing at the back of the tub and vomit hit the opposing wall. You might be scratching your head wondering what on Earth Ben is doing watching me barf in the shower? Does he have some weird fetish? I can assure you he doesn't (as far as barfing nekkid girls go). I can feel the urge to puke coming and always yell for him. There have been a few times I have felt really faint after getting sick and have had to sit down on the edge of the tub. Our main concern is me fainting in the shower and him not being there or knowing what happened-and it's nice for him to help me hose all the chunks down the drain, haha! If that isn't solid proof of commitment in our marriage, I'm not sure what is. I luff him.

We are also starting to wrack up the baby gear. We had some we kept after Buddha (we returned some of it), we have some I have bought thus far this pregnancy and the rest is stuff other people have gifted to us already!

Ben's mom was SUPER generous and bought our crib for us this week! HOLY CRAP. That means we are having a baby. A crib. In my house. O_O
I knew we wanted an all white crib and I love the simplicity and classic look of this one. I can't believe how blessed we are to have so many so willing to go out of their way and buy gifts for Baby!

Last fall I found a Peg Perego stroller for an amazing price and snatched it up. I always thought I would be pushing Buddha around in it, but I am now just as excited, if not more to use this with Baby. We bought the PlikoP3 in Orange and I LOVE it! LOVE, love LOVE it. I love how bright it is and how fun the colors are.
Cute, huh?

A few weeks after buying the Peg Perego, we found an Espirit SunSpeed Umbrella stroller in the same orange to use as Baby gets older and we need a lighter weight stroller. I can't decide which one I like better!




A very good friend of mine also gifted us a brand new Jumparoo, travel swing to leave at my in-laws house, a snap and go stroller frame, an aquarium for Baby's crib, a gliding rocker and ottoman (they used it ONCE!) AND her breast pump with all new tubing and horns. I can't believe how generous she was (actually I can, she would give you the shirt off her back if you asked for it) and she would not accept a single penny for any of it! All of the stuff is new or used once and in perfect condition. Again, I can't believe how blessed we are to be surrounded by such generous people.

Other than that, we have lots of clothes and toys we have picked up over time, we spend time looking at nursery ideas online (we have the girls decided and are still flipping around on the boys) and have picked names (we aren't telling yet!). We have so much to look forward to with getting the nursery set up and all the little things picked out and set up. In a perfect world, everything would be done by 30 weeks so I can enjoy the last 10 weeks (or less) of our pregnancy. We have the date for my Charlotte baby shower set that my mom is nice to be throwing for us (November 7, for those interested) and the date for my Huntington shower set that my friend Marci is nice enough to offer (January 23, 2010) and have a tentative date for our shower in Logan Ben's mom is graciously throwing for us (I'll let you know, for the few Logan-area people when we nail something down for sure).

Whew! That was a long post! Hopefully we will find out what we are having by the end of the month, which would be awesome, but I have a feeling it will be more like 6 weeks from now, which will put me less than 10 weeks away from my 30 week goal to have everything completed. We'll see. If it's not done by 30 weeks, it'll be fine. I'm just a planner and controller :)

Hugs&Kisses

14w4d (measuring 15w1d)