Thursday, February 28, 2008

21w0d

21 weeks today!

Today was a much better day for me. The event went well. We were much better organized after learning from yesterday’s mistakes and everything went off without a hitch. I am less tired but no less nauseated. I think the acid reflux contributes to that.

I have my monthly OB appointment tomorrow and am honestly dreading the weigh in. UGHHHHHHHH. I am trying not to think about it but it’s the only thing on my mind. That and trying to make a mental note of all the questions I have for the doctor: childbirth classes, medication for the acid reflux, changing of my prenatals…I’ll think of more.

Everyone is telling me how fantastic I look, how I really do have a glow. My parents say I look the prettiest I have ever looked. Today, a co-worked who hadn’t seen me in ages walked in and saw me sitting behind me desk and said I looked awesome and asked me what I was doing differently. LOL I stood up and she almost keeled over. We had a good laugh. I’ll be sure to post some pictures soon.

I am debating whether to have a 3D Ultrasound done or not. I will wait until after I have my Level I on March 12 to make the decision. I know they have the 3D Ultrasound machine at my Perinatologist’s office; I’ll ask and see if they can hook me up with some 3D pictures. Otherwise I’ll make the appointment and pay for it out of my own pocket. I think it will be way cool and worth it.

In other news, we’re having dinner tonight at my good friend and co-worker Marcia’s house. She had her baby girl almost 4 months ago and I still haven’t met her. I am really looking forward to it.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

20w6d

Today has been the most hectic and busy work day of my pregnant life so far. Thursday will be just as bad.

I have wretched acid reflux, am insanely fatigued and feel nauseated beyond belief.

Needless to say, I am not a happy camper. I have been in tears for most of the afternoon since I got home just feeling pathetically sorry for myself and dreading tomorrow.

I have been running around all day like a mad woman, playing host and trying to accommodate and charm almost 150 people. I have never had a harder time than I had today and am amazed at how well I did. For those of you who know me well, you know I am in a constant state of what Norman likes to call "A Social Frenzy". I just can't help myself. And now I'm paying the price.

I'm afraid to nap since I figure I'll either sleep until tomorrow or sleep until it's too late for me to wake up and get back to bed at a decent time.

And poor Nugget is not a happy camper either I can just tell. She is giving mommy lots of extra boob pain and lower back pain for good measure.

I plan on taking it very easy tonight and am guaranteeing you right now that I'll be siting with my feet up for most of tomorrow.

Monday, February 25, 2008

20w4d

And so it begins…

We knew buying preconstruction would mean no guarantees as to when our move in date would be. We gave our down payment on December 1, 2006 and were given an estimated move in date of December 2007 – February 2008. I called in mid-January and asked when they thought we’d be moving in and they said 60 days. A few days later, Norman and I went to view the models which were finally up and furnished. Well, 60 days is almost here and I am too embarrassed to keep calling and asking when they think we’ll be moving in so my cousin Karla called them for me last week.

[Karla was the Maid of Honor at my wedding. She, along with my cousin Allie, has always been nothing but the very best to me. They are throwing my baby shower. They are both my sisters and I am sooooo thankful to have them in my life and by my side always!!!!!]

Guess what they told her? 60 days. Mind you, it had already been about 45 days since they had told me 60 days. I just about had an attack. Norman and I thought we’d have to rent a place in the meantime because we are busting out of my parents house as it is. My parents are so great. Instead, they suggested we start cleaning out my brother’s old room in order to make extra space (OMG that room was a disaster of a storage area). The last thing I wanted to have to do was start renting somewhere to just have to move very soon thereafter so this is a small relief. I am really hoping that we are moved into our new home before the baby arrives in July but it is good to know that if we aren't, we have a clean empty space for all the baby's stuff. I mentioned to Norman that I don't want to assemble anything we get at the baby shower until after the baby is born, just in case we can move into our house in June or closer to the baby’s due date.

It’s frustrating but we’ll survive it. In the meantime hopefully we can save some money!

Friday, February 22, 2008

20w1d

We had the fetal echocardiogram this morning and everything looks awesome. Nugget’s heart and all of her valves are in tip top shape.

The doctor gave me a report and told me to pack in it my hospital bag so that I can give it to the doctor on call. (If my OB isn’t on call I will be so disappointed). The doctor told me he didn’t expect for the baby to have any heart problems whatsoever and he doesn’t need to see me again.

We couldn’t have asked for better news.

Happy Friday

Thursday, February 21, 2008

20w0d

20 weeks today!

5 year wedding anniversary today!

I am officially halfway through my pregnancy, I cannot even believe it. On a day to day basis time really seems to drag, but looking back it’s amazing how time flies.

As you can all see I am getting bigger by the day. Yesterday I asked my mom how it is humanly possible for my stomach to get any bigger than what it already is. I have been slathering the cocoa butter on because I am really beginning to feel the pull.

I feel the baby so much more these days. She especially likes to kick at night. Last night in the middle of the night I could swear I felt her when I put my hand over my belly. I was this.close to waking Norman up but I was in a haze and poor Norm has been sick with a chronic ear infection so I didn’t want to bother him with a false alarm. He has yet to feel Nugget and I am desperate for the day when he can!

I have bad nausea at the end of the day. I remember reading that fatigue exacerbates nausea. Believe me when I tell you I am drained by 4PM. Plus I get thirstier than I’ve ever felt in my entire life at night for some odd reason. So there I am, chugging a ton of water very close to bedtime. Not good, but kinda funny since I also read somewhere that needing too pee a hundred times a night is just my body’s way of getting used to needing to get up two hundred times a night once the baby arrives.

I am also really plumping up. My face, arms and legs look so chubby to me. I look so much…softer. I’m taking it all in stride while trying to really watch what I eat. Yesterday I had a horrible craving for a Snickers Bar. I haven’t had any cravings during my pregnancy and decided to indulge myself. Mind you, six months ago I wouldn’t have been caught dead with a Snickers Bar. But there I was in Walgreens buying one. A king sized one no less. I ate it and it was good – but then I remembered why it is that I can’t eat chocolate while pregnant: I got the worst heartburn. To make things worse, I somehow ended up sleeping on my back for the majority of last night. When I got up to pee, I could hardly move the heartburn was so bad and my back was killing me.

Tomorrow we go in for the fetal echocardiogram. Since everything looked great during my Level 2, this is just extra precautionary. I am so excited to see the baby again. When I first heard that Tom Cruise bought Katie Holmes an ultrasound machine when she was pregnant with Suri I just about feel over. But to be completely honest, if I were given the chance to see Nugget every day I would take it in a heartbeat!

I will post tomorrow with results from the fetal echocardiogram.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

19w0d

19w0d Belly Pic!

Norman just took this with his iphone. I seriously cannot even imagine how much bigger my belly can get in 21 weeks.

Notice the baby clothes on my bed, Nugget's grandparents are spoiling her already!!

19w0d

Yesterday was one of the most emotionally exhilarating days of my life.

Our morning started bright and early and as you can imagine my tummy was in knots of anticipation. All I could force down was some OJ and off we went to see my Perinatologist.

They took me in right away and I was disappointed that it was a different technician who was going to perform my Level 2. I really liked the girl who did my Level 1 and was immediately turned off by this new lady’s off-putting attitude – but such is life. I am really good at first impressions and was not disappointed in my assessment of her, she was a heffer. This is our first child. I am emotional. I need compassion from people who are going to be dealing with me, my husband and child directly. But she did talk us through everything she was doing, explaining to us everything we were seeing.

As soon as the wand was pressed on my belly we got a perfect view of the baby’s bum, which gave us confirmation that Nugget is indeed a SHE! My eyes immediately began watering and Norman got a huge smile on his face. His little girl. The moment was truly priceless. I tried for the remainder of the scan to keep it together and did manage to do so. Norman and I were alone to wait for the Doctor and that’s when I really let it out. I was bawling tears of happiness. It is a feeling I will never be able to put into words. It is this complete and total unconditional love I have for this child that I never knew I could experience. It is a raw, primal love I have for our daughter. My daughter. I am so overwhelmed that sometimes I just can’t breathe. I am already a completely different person. My life and perspectives have changed entirely. I am a mother.

The doctor came to see me and said everything looks fantastic. The baby’s heart looks great and so do all of her other organs. I have a fetal echocardiogram scheduled for next week Friday, and then she wants to see me back on March 12. She told me that after the March 12 appointment she would no longer need to see me unless there is a complication. I am so thrilled. Of course I love having the scans done but parting ways with my Periniatologist is a good thing.

She is so cheeky. Waving at us and showing us her 10 fingers and 10 toes. She is very active. She likes to cover her face with her legs and feet. So adorable. We got to hear her heartbeat again yesterday; it’s the best sound ever. It was pumping strong at 158BPM.

I was floating in another world all day long yesterday. I couldn’t focus on anything. I am so happy and blessed and truly thankful for our daughter.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

18w6d

IT'S A GIRL!!!

We just got back from our Level 2 Ultrasound and we found out that we are expecting a baby girl!

She is feisty like her mama, wouldn't stay still for very long for the radiologist to get good shots!

Everything looks great, she weighs 10 ounces and is 19 weeks and 1 day old, 2 days ahead of what the doctor's initially thought - which is great!

We got to see the 4 chambers of her heart, her kidneys, bladder, EVERYTHING!

I will be sure to post some new ultrasound pictures and more details about today soon.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

18w0d

I just got off the phone with my Perinatologist’s office and all of my blood work from my combined first and second trimester screen came back negative for Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18 & Spina Bifida. This is great news! Norman and I had decided we would only have an amniocentesis done if the blood test results came back positive or abnormal. I knew everything would be fine but I just want to cry in relief. Pregnancy is like a rollercoaster and it’s so reassuring to know that everything is looking great so far.

Monday, February 4, 2008

17w4d

No word yet on whether we are expecting a bambina or bambino. My OB didn’t do an ultrasound last Thursday and we were left in the dark. It is going to be an agonizing 10 days but we have so much to look forward to!

My last appointment went well; the Doctor checked my weight, blood pressure and urine as usual. He checked the baby’s heart beat (154 BPM) and prodded my belly a bit. I was put on antibiotics for a UTI but other than that he said he expected smooth sailing and that I was doing very well. I, of course, never stop worrying about anything and everything. I know that this is normal seeing as how I am a first time mommy but I am looking forward to the day the baby comes out safe and sound!

I have still been really nauseated but fighting through it. I get really bad at night and think maybe I am just so fatigued by that time that the nausea starts to rear its ugly head. I truly haven’t felt that so-called burst of energy women feel in their second trimesters. I am so tired all the time. Hopefully soon!

Emotionally I have been a bit steadier…though I did have an episode recently triggered by Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. I sat down in a bookstore to read it because I was browsing children’s books and ended up in tears for the next 10 minutes. Norman says it’s because The Giving Tree is a reflection of life and parents and children. I used to love that book as a child but all I know is that now it’s the saddest book I have ever read.

I bought a Boppy pregnancy wedge last week and it has been a life saver. I am sleeping so much better now at night and even use it while laying watching T V for support under my belly. My belly is so big now that it pulls down to one side when I lay on my sides (which is the only way I can lay these days) and causes back pain and lots of discomfort. The wedge levels me off and takes a ton of pressure off my back. I don’t know how I lasted so long without it.

I can’t believe I am almost halfway through my pregnancy. I begin my 5th month in 3 days. Norman and I are so in love with our child and in about 20 weeks we’ll have Nugget in the flesh. It’s truly an amazing feeling and I am thankful every single day of my life.

More updates soon!