Wednesday, December 14, 2011

My Worst Nightmare

Yesterday I called my doctor because my c-section incision was red and puffy. They said it was normal and that everything was fine.

This morning around 11:30am, I took K up to our room so I could put her down for a quick nap... I went into the bathroom and looked at my pants. My pants were soaked. Let's say I was right about how my incision looked. It was draining an orange bloody liquid.

I called the dr almost in tears. They wanted to see me ASAP. So I couldn't shower, feed K or anything. I had to drive there in the rain without the DH. K was crying and wanting to eat while we were there. So I feed her and the dr checked my incision. He was not happy that my steri strips were never taken off and that it was clearly infected. He cleaned it up and put a panty liner on the area.

So for the next few days/week or so, I have to shower a few times a day, take an antibiotic twice a day and always have a panty liner on the incision. Also at night, I'm not allowed to wear pants(underwear yes) and an old shirt to bed so the incision would get some air....

This is not how I wanted to spend my last few weeks with K. And I have to go back to the dr next week.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Welcome to the World, Kendall Rae.

Kendall Rae was born on November 29th. She weighed 7lbs 1.6oz, 20 inches long.

I hope one day I can sit down and write out her birth story. It definitely wasn't easy and I'm still recovering. I had an emergency c-section (Tuesday morning 11/29) and I was already in labor (at the hospital on Sunday 11/27).

Random Note - We get to celebrate our first Christmas with Zoey and Kendall Rae.

God has surely blessed us.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

41 Weeks... OH MY

Let me explain why this is one of the last posts until she arrives!!! Today/tonight is the big day... We are going to start the induction process. I'm on this rollercoaster of emotions.

So let me leave you with this......

How far along?: 41 Weeks
How big is baby? Watermelon. :) - The DH said my stomach looked bigger last night.
Weight gain/loss?: I don't even want to worry about my weight... We're waiting for this baby!!
Stretch marks?: I think because she has been cooking for so long that I have finally started to get stretch marks on the lower part of my tummy. I'm not really excited about this. But thankfully she will be out and I can start working out when the dr gives me the okay.
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep (YEAH RIGHT) - Sleep is not even possible. Or getting comfortable enough to sleep for a few hours.
Food cravings?: I will eat whatever I can keep down right now. Got sick a lot this past week... Had to breakdown and take a Zofran (YUCK).
Movement?: She definitely moves around, just not as intense as before (she's getting bigger). She is definitely getting into a schedule and sometimes worries me. Sleeping while I am going about my day. Then moving while I am trying to sleep.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: I feel like a turkey... POP.
What are you looking forward to this week?: We get to hold our baby girl in the next few days!!! Thank you Jesus!!!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

40 Weeks Dr Appt

Hello readers!! Yesterday was the day we went to the doctor. We had a sono to see how much fluid was in there. Normally it is 10.0.... mine is 8.5. The doctor said it was because I am 40 weeks and that it is okay. She also said that they were not doing a non-stress test because the baby passed the biophysical profile with flying colors - mostly looking for movement and breathing. When we got to talk more to Dr. S., she checked my cervix and there was nothing. It was so painful - having someone's hand up your you know what. Its not a walk in the park especially when she is pressing down. I grabbed the DH's hand and I swear I put my nails in his hand. Though he says I didn't. After the exam, we talked more.... More like when we are going to get induced, what's the process and what kind of drugs am I going to have. So here it goes..... Cervidil and Pitocin. One is used to soften the cervix and the other is to start contractions. (Though the nurse said to me today that sometimes after talking to patients like me, they are in the hospital within a few days before induction).

My Birth Plan

In my birth plan, I have laid out important things that I want to happen. The nurse from our hospital said everything should be fine unless it goes against medical beliefs (or something like that). I promised her it would not... Just basic things such as the L&D room is only for the DH and me. I don't even want my momma in there. Yes, I know that sounds bad. But I just want my husband. After having her, I want as much skin to skin as possible before they take her to the nursery to get her first bath and all that stuff. I want a sacred hour before visitors come. Though I did find out that anyone can visit the first night (we will see how I feel about this one). After the first day, they have to follow normal visiting hours. With visiting hours, I have said that I don't want anyone in my room while I am trying to breastfeed because I am not a pro at this yet. And don't need people looking at me while I am trying to feed my baby. I also just want the DH to spend the nights at the hospital, no one else.

That's what I know right now. Its crazy. Its exciting. And sometimes I am a wreck with all of these emotions.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

40 Weeks

How far along?: 40 Weeks
How big is baby? Watermelon. :)
Weight gain/loss?: I don't even want to worry about my weight... We're waiting for this baby!!
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep (YEAH RIGHT) - Sleep is not even possible. Or getting comfortable enough to sleep for a few hours.
Food cravings?: Not really craving anything.
Movement?: She definitely moves around, just not as intense as before (she's getting bigger). She is definitely getting into a schedule and sometimes worries me.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: I feel like a turkey... POP.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Well, Baby E is staying in right now.. I'm okay with that. According to the countdown.. She is fully baked but maybe too comfortable. LOL. So on Tuesday, I will have a stress test, a sono to check the fluid and an appt to check my cervix. Praying for a miracle.

Two of my last pictures before the baby.....

Makes Me Laugh

Makes me want to laugh when I read that "She is fully baked but may hang around a bit longer because it is so comfortable." Oh little princess.... It might be scary to make the journey out... But it is so pretty out here. You will be loved. Spoiled. Cared for. And yes it might be scary but your mom and dad are waiting for you patiently.

We love you so much!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

I wish...

I wish I was writing you to tell you that our baby girl is in our arms. Yesterday we found out that my cervix is open by a finger (probably not even a cm, if you ask me). I am not having contractions. Though I am walking like crazy (sometimes even 2x a day). Her heartrate was 134/137-ish. And Dr C. informed us on the plans for next week.

Next week we will meet with Dr. S. Before we get to see her, I am going to get monitored aka stress test to see how my contractions are and how the baby's heartrate is doing during this 20 minute test. After the test, we will meet with Dr S. She will check my cervix and talk about the results of the stress test. After that, the DH and I will have our sonogram to check the fluid. If the fluid is low, I am assuming I would be induced. If everything comes back fine, I will have to be induced probably that Sunday or Monday.

So here's looking to holding our baby girl probably around the 28th or 29th of November.

God give us strength.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Baptism Class & Godparents

This past Wednesday, we went to a Baptism class. We have to pick two people who will be our baby girl's godparents. It was an easy decision to make because we have talked about this several times. We have decided to go with our siblings. So my sister and the DH's brother will be our baby girl's godparents.

The baptism will not take for a few months. Looking forward to this special event in our baby's life.

39 Weeks..

How far along?: 39 Weeks
How big is baby? Mini watermelon. :)
Weight gain/loss?: Well on Thursday's appointment, I gained about 4 pounds. So the fact that I haven't gain a pound since either Week 33 or 34 and just gained 4 pounds.. I'm not going to worry about it.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep (YEAH RIGHT)
Food cravings?: fruit, beef, noodles
Movement?: She definitely moves around, just not as intense as before (she's getting bigger). She is definitely getting into a schedule and sometimes worries me.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Sometimes it looks like its popped and sometimes it hasn't.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Our appointment is this coming Friday. I will be 39 weeks and 5 days - So close to 40 weeks! And an explanation of my back pain (maybe contractions?).

Thursday, November 10, 2011

38 Weeks Dr Appt

You always want a great report from the doctor. You always want to hear you are dilating and that you are making progress. Well, this doctor's appointment didn't go well... My cervix is closed (please note that last week - my doctor was able to insert a finger - TMI to the max). I am not dilated. Sadness. Heartrate was 125 - which is good but starting to get slower. Doctor S said that it happens as you get closer to finishing the pregnancy. The heartrate can be between 115 to 130. Everything else is good and she made some recommendations for my sleeping or the lack there of.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

38 Weeks & Going Strong!! :)

How far along?: 38 Weeks
How big is baby? Measures from head to heel (like a leek)
Weight gain/loss?: I don't believe I have gained anything from 34 week to present!! Thanks to the nurses for telling me this great news!
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep (YEAH RIGHT)
Food cravings?: fresh/frozen fruit, tuna casserole (I used to hate it, now I eat it more)
Movement?: She definitely moves around, just not as intense as before (she's getting bigger). She is definitely getting into a schedule and sometimes worries me.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Sometimes it looks like its popped and sometimes it hasn't.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Our appointment is Thursday afternoon. We will see what kind of process has been made cuz I'm gonna ask for another internal exam (which could be a good thing or bad thing?)

Friday, November 4, 2011

37th Weeks Appt with Dr. S.

Well, we met with the doctor today. Exciting news ---- Since 34 weeks, I have not gained a pound!! Though the baby is Xpds, Xoz, everything is still good. Baby is great. Heartbeat was wonderful today (the doctor was impressed) since the last appointment, the heartbeat was not as loud/strong as it was today. The heart rate was in the 140s. :)

My internal exam..... Cervix is still mostly closed - she was able to put 1 finger in (sorry - that is definitely TMI to the max). And my cervix is starting to change. YAY!!

Here's hoping for some positive news next week. Doctors appointment is on 11/10.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Love ya.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Our Last Sono - 11.3.11

I would have loved to share the pictures with you. Unfortunately our little princess did not want us to see her face. We did get to see her hand/fist though. It was covering her face. LOL.

Baby E weighs Xpds, Xoz - small or big, we will see. Fluid is great according to the sono tech.

Tomorrow we get to see Dr. S. again and I am hoping for an internal exam. I am dying to know what my body is doing. LOL.

Lately, I have been having bad cramps (gets worse with walking)... Nothing else I don't think.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Hello November

November: A month to be thankful for.

In less than 30 days, the DH and I will be holding our baby girl. Though we would love her anytime; we know that she will come when she is ready. :)

Sunday, October 30, 2011

37 Weeks - Full Term, Baby!

How far along?: 37 Weeks - All internal organs are ready to go!!
How big is baby? Measures from head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard)
Weight gain/loss?: I don't believe I have gained anything... Maybe a pound (if that). :)
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep through most of the night unless I have to pee... Which is like 2x to 3x/night and its normally around the time I have to get up. Thanks bladder & baby girl.
Food cravings?: fresh/frozen fruit, tuna casserole (I used to hate it, now I eat it more)
Movement?: She definitely moves around, just not as intense as before (she's getting bigger). She is definitely getting into a schedule.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Sometimes it looks like its popped and sometimes it hasn't.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Our last sono is on Thursday. Our 37th week appointment is on Friday. They couldn't do it back to back. Also have my first internal exam. Wondering if I have dilated or not. We shall see. :)

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Happy Last Day!!! (insert happy dance & smile & tears)

Well today, friends, is our last day. I wanted to say my last day but I knew it wasn't the right word to use. It is our last day - the DH had to take out our second to last syringe and fill it with progesterone (we have one extra to use next time). This was the last time that I had to feel that pain/burning sensation/knot in my rear. It was such an amazing/scary/exciting/overwhelming feeling because we know that the shots are over with and now the waiting begins. We are waiting for our baby girl. How freakin' awesome is that!

Today I wanted to bring some of my friends/co-workers that I used to eat with (half day doesn't allow me to anymore) a dessert. Just to say thank you for supporting me, for supporting us. I will be making something gluten-free so that one co-worker especially can enjoy the dessert (goal is to share it with them next week).

One of my friends put a ? on my facebook status last night... So I thought I would share why this dinner is so important tonight. What are we celebrating? We are celebrating the end of the shots. All 66 shots and over 3 months of progesterone pills (post-peak phase & 2.5 months ago when I started the pills up again). We're celebrating the end of something that has been hard and not easy on either one of us.

So the next big thing we get to celebrate is the birth of our baby girl and that is the best feeling/emotion a mother and father can feel. (You have been preparing for this for months.)

To our friends who have supported us.. You know who you are. You know that it hasn't been easy for the DH and I. But you have been there and haven't left. We thank you for that. We pray to God about each and every one of you that have been there for us. Cheering, supporting and praying for us during these past 9 months. You will never really know how much it meant to us. We love you.

So here's to the last shot and a new beginning. God, You are so amazing. Thank you so much for blessing us with this baby girl. We are patiently awaiting her arrival.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Baby Update

Well everyone, yesterday we went to the doctor.

Things we know....
- The heartrate was wonderful.
- We found out that she is head down. :) Amen to that.
- I have a low hemoglobin - similar to iron.
- My Vitamin D is a 44!! :)
- My last progesterone pill is tonight.
- My last progesterone shot is TOMORROW!!!!
- My last sonogram is next Thursday. Cannot wait to see baby girl.
- And I officially started my FMLA today. That means I am going to half days. I will be working in the mornings only.

Working mornings only means I get to make sure all my kids are there. It means that I get to come home for lunch and relax. I cannot wait to put my feet up and relax for once. I am not sure if it is the stress of work, my kids or staff. You just never know when you work at a school.

Things I am sad about (though they are so tiny):
- I didn't get to go to the school bonfire at my husband's work today. Its been our tradition, our thing.
- We aren't carpooling anymore. Though if my water breaks at school, the DH will be able to get there without me having to drive to his school and not freak out on my way there. LOL.
- I am going blow through my sick days. I will be lucky to have 6 of them by the end of the maternity leave. I guess I will definitely be going back on January 5th.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Oh Mondays....

Today was a good morning. I was able to handle the shot and thought we were going to have a great day. I was proven wrong mid-morning. Something happened at school that caused the DH to show up and the doctor to be called. After the DH left, I finally got to talk to the nurse. I had no choice but go to the hospital. The DH and I arrived at our hospital around 2pm. I had to answer a lot of questions and they started to monitor me (two items - baby's heartrate & contractions) for FOUR HOURS. It seemed like a lifetime. It was uncomfortable only being on one side for that long period of time. The nurse and midwife were happy though that we came in. The baby's heartrate showed an up and down pattern... which is good!! If it was a flat line, that would be very bad. The nurse and midwife did ask me if I was okay because I was having contractions. They wanted to make sure I didn't feel them. I told them that I didn't and I asked if I should feel it or not. They said its good that I am having contractions (preparing my body for labor) but it was good that I wasn't feeling.

Tomorrow we go to the doctor. I am excited to meet the new doctor. I am wondering if they are going to check me or not. I guess we will see.

I couldn't have gotten through the day without my husband. It definitely showed me just how much he cares and worries about me.

Deserves Its Own Post

1 More Shot to Go!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

***Cannot wait to have a nice dinner with my DH on Thursday!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

36 Weeks - OH MY!!

How far along?: 36 Weeks - Will be full term at the end of this week!!
How big is baby? Weighs as much as a crenshaw melon (6pds - gaining 1 oz/day)
Weight gain/loss?: Let's see I have gained a pound from my 33 week appt to my 35 week appt. We will see what happens this week. :)
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep through most of the night unless I have to pee... Which is like 2x to 3x/night and its normally around the time I have to get up. Thanks bladder & baby girl.
Food cravings?: fresh/frozen fruit, tuna casserole (I used to hate it, now I eat it more)
Movement?: There's movement going on. She is definitely getting into a schedule.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: I'm not sure if its going to pop or not.
What are you looking forward to this week?: 2 more shots to go!! The DH and I are having a nice dinner on Thursday. :) Also on Tuesday, we are going to the doctor together. Cannot wait to see what they have to say. Also I'm hoping they check me internally. They were supposed to do that last week but there was so much going on.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Things I know....

- 2 more shots to go.
- On Sunday I start my 36th week of being pregnant.
- This weekend I am going to start packing our bags for the hospital.
- We are also installing the carseat this weekend too.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Stress Go Away!

So yesterday wasn't easy at all. The real bad thing.... Baby E stopped moving. I was scared and told the DH about it when we went to bed. Today was better than yesterday but still stressful.

When I went to the doctor, they put me on a monitor to make sure the baby was okay. She was better than okay, she was great! I even had two small contractions. The midwife talked to me after the monitoring... She said that I cannot wait, I must call. So every morning and evening, I have to lay down for 30 minutes and count. I must feel 5 or more kicks and punches. If I do not, I have to call and either come into the office or go to the hospital.

If you read this blog, please pray for Baby E and me. Please pray that my stress level goes down and I can handle the next few weeks. Next week, the DH said he is going to talk to the doctor and tell them how I feel. He feels like I need to express how I feel (like the stress isn't going to go away - unless on bedrest). I know you aren't supposed to wish for bedrest... but I care more about my baby than anything else.

Monday, October 17, 2011

4th Shot, 3 more to go!!!

4th Shot = Not... I sorta laid/rested my tummy on the bed. Chris injected the solution and I did feel it. It was burning but I did get through 2CCs!!!

3 MORE TO GO!!!!! :)

2 more days til the doctor appt!!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

35 Weeks.... She is almost full-term.

How far along?: 35 Weeks
How big is baby? Weighs as much as a honeydew melon (5.5 pds)
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself. The nurse did say a week and half ago that I didn't gain a pound between appointments. We will see on Wednesday if that is the same.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way. I had to buy a larger bra this past weekend with one of my friends... Nervous that the boobs are going to get larger. LOL.
Sleep?: Sleep through most of the night unless I have to pee... Which is like 2x to 3x/night and its normally around the time I have to get up. Thanks bladder & baby girl.
Food cravings?: fresh/frozen fruit
Movement?: There's plenty of movement going on. Its so beautiful.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: I'm not sure if its going to pop or not.
What are you looking forward to this week?: 4 more shots to go!!! My count went down and I am back to 2CCs/2x a week. And you can read about how I handled my 5th shot (2CCs). I get to go to the doctor this week.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Our Friends

Today is Sweetest Day and yes, it screams Hallmark Holiday & not a real holiday. I did buy the DH a card and I am buying him a Willow Tree that will go perfectly in Baby E's nursery.

Today also reminds me of all my friends. All of the friends that haven't left my side through this pregnancy. The ones that call or text to make sure I am doing okay because they know sometimes I am not. The ones that send me advice on what items to buy or things to do when she arrives. I cannot forget the one that said for the last few weeks, do something for yourself once a week. I am so thankful for these people. I am lucky to have them around even if we are miles apart from each other.

Today also reminds me of the people who haven't spoken to me since I have gotten pregnant. Why did this happen? Because we are on different paths or just not meant to be in the next chapter of life together. I am not going to start naming people but its true. Out of my 6 bridesmaids, I have a relationship with all of them except for one. My sister and I are closer than we have been in years (so this should be in the positive category). I do miss the one bridesmaid that I haven't talked to but that is life according to one of my best friends from grammar school. And I have accepted this.

I hope and pray that Baby E doesn't have to go through what her daddy and I went through with our friends. I think a part of my DH misses his guy friends from high school. But knows that God has blessed him with some really amazing ones such as his best man, fantasy football friends and cannot forget one of my favorites - our school's summer speech path. Because the DH and I teach summer school every year (except for this coming!!), we have built this friendship with the speech path. We have been introduced to his wife and their handsome little son. And just last week, I went shopping with his wife and their son while our husbands were at a football game together. The DH and I feel so blessed to have friends who have babies or toddlers because they know things that the DH and I don't know yet. I love hearing their advice and knowing they will always be there to support us.

The DH and I are so blessed to have a loving family that might be crazy at times but they are crazy for you, Baby E. We are blessed to have the friends who haven't left our side through this pregnancy or other challenges we have faced.

Today, I want to say thank you to all of you and remember that we love you.

Friday, October 14, 2011

1st of 5 shots & another rough day

So yesterday was our 1st of 5 shots left til baby E makes her appearance.

Things I know.....
- The DH darted the needle toward my butt (OUCH but that's how he has to do it).
- Started injecting the progesterone & I could feel it.
- Not even 1CC in and I was done.
- Light-headed, on the verge of fainting... Just not a good thing.
- I couldn't handle it. The DH could only get 1.75 of the liquid/oil in me.
- He stopped and had to help me to our bedroom to lay down.
- On a good note (HA), I have 4 shots left.

...........................................

This morning was like every other morning except I woke up coughing... I told the DH I was going to get sick. I think he wondered if it was really going to happen or not. I showered. Then brushed my teeth. Big mistake on wanting to brush my teeth. I know its what you have to do (LOL)... but it always makes me puke. And there you go.. This is how I started my Friday.

I hope our weekend is better than the past two days.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Phone Call from the Nurse (my dr's nurse)

Well it is true... I'm back to 2CCs twice a week (4 total in a week). And on a good note, I have FIVE shots left and 15 pills left.

I am so lucky/blessed to have my DH, momma and friends who have supported me during this pregnancy. It definitely hasn't been easy.

I will be so happy when my shots are done.

And I did the calculations... 66 SHOTS total and I have completed 61 so far.

Thanks for all the love, support & prayers.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

34 Weeks & Progesterone Count

1st Draw: 14.9 (when we first found out we were pregnant - 4 weeks pregnant)
2nd Draw: 11.7 (6 weeks pregnant)
3rd Draw: 13.7 (8 weeks pregnant)
4th Draw: 17.6 (10 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 20!!!!
5th Draw: 15.4 (12 weeks pregnant) - Still closer to 20 but not where it needs to be.
6th Draw: 23.9 (14 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! So close to Zone 2.
7th Draw: 23.7 (16 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! Will hear back from the doctor tomorrow because she wasn't in today. :)
8th Draw: 26.3 (18 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 30 and I thought I was in the 27's before and that it went down... Man, I need to be more optimistic there. I am happy to say that my count is above 25 and getting closer to 30.
9th Draw: 30.4 (20 weeks pregnant) - It is over 30 people!!! Amen to that.
10th Draw: 32.4 (22 weeks pregnant) - It is going up!!! But not as high as I would like it.
11th Draw: 33.3 (24 weeks pregnant) - It is going up but because of the infection in my body... I swear that's why it didn't go up more. We are thankful/blessed/grateful that it is going up... It is still painful and looking forward to seeing my doctor on Thursday to discuss our options since I am in 25 weeks now.
12th Draw: 31.3 (26 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone went down and I am on the verge of crying. We have a phone call out to the dr who prescribed the shots. We are thankful though that it is still above 30. AMEN to that.
13th Draw: 56.6 (28 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone has gone up (a whole 25.3 points)!!!!!!! Been on the shots since 4 weeks pregnant & with the progesterone pills for only 1.5 weeks!! God is so good... And we are so thankful that it has gone up.
14th Draw: 62.3 (30 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone almost went up 6 points!!! Tomorrow I will hear back from the doctor to see if they are going to change my dosage.
15th Draw: 85.8 (32 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone went up 23.5 points!!! Praise the Lord!!!! On a high note, if that wasn't high enough for you, I am officially in ZONE 2!!!!!! I am only in Zone 2 by 5 points but its an amazing feeling to finally have. And on another high note, my shots are going from 2CCs to 1CCs!!!! YAY!! I am still taking the pills. It was either that or just stay on 2CCs and drop the pills. The DH and I are quite excited about this!!!
16th Draw: 81.8 (34 weeks pregnant) - Well my progesterone went down 4 points. The doctor did tell me that this could happen when you go from 2CCs twice a week (4 total) to 1CC twice a week (2 total). I'm trying to be strong and I am so thankful for my DH. He has kept me going through this all of this. We will see what the doctor has to say either tomorrow or Thursday. Hopefully Wednesday because we have a shot on Thursday. Also we really want to know when we can stop these shots. My butt has gone through so much already.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

34 Weeks!!!

How far along?: 34 Weeks
How big is baby? Weighs as much as a cantaloupe
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself. The nurse did say last week that I didn't gain a pound between appointments. We will see in a week if they say otherwise. LOL.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way. I had to purchase new bras a while back... And I'm worried I have to buy more to last me the next few weeks. LOL.
Sleep?: Sleep through most of the night unless I have to pee... Which is like 2x/night and its normally around the time I have to get up. Thanks bladder & baby girl.
Food cravings?: fresh/frozen fruit
Movement?: There's plenty of movement going on. Its so beautiful.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... It still hasn't popped yet. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: 6 more shots to go!!! Please pray that my count goes up this week... We should get the results on Wednesday.


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

33 Week Appt

We met with the doctor today... Baby seems to be active (DUH). And has a great heart rate. I'm measuring 34 weeks.

Other than that, please keep the three of us in your prayers. We have hit a large bump that we haven't gotten over yet. And it breaks my heart.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

33 Weeks!!!!

How far along?: 33 Weeks
How big is baby? Weighs as much as a pineapple (I do love my pineapple)
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger. Worried that as my belly gets bigger my shirts won't be long enough.
Sleep?: Sleep has gotten better. Combination of a firm bed and progesterone pills at night.
Food cravings?: cheerios & vitamin D, fresh/frozen fruit
Movement?: There's plenty of movement going on. Its so beautiful.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... It still hasn't popped yet. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: 8 more shots to go!!! Going to the doctor this week with the DH!! <3

Thursday, September 29, 2011

100th Post

Dear Baby Girl,

I wonder how you are doing inside of me. You amaze your daddy and I with every move you make. Most nights, I stare at my tummy and see you move an arm, leg or elbow across my stomach. And tonight, it brought me to tears.

God has blessed your daddy and I with you. And even though we cannot hold you, we can see you move. And in a few weeks, we will see you again on a computer screen. It is so surreal that you will be here soon. Less than 55 days to be exact (unless you decide to gracious with your presence early - which your mommy would love (if you are full term, of course)). And you will learn too, that your mommy loves a countdown.

Let me tell you about your room..... Your room is a pretty pink and green (thanks to daddy & our friend D) with a perfect crib for you to sleep in/grown into (yay for 4-in-1 crib). Your daddy put together everything in your room (crib, dresser & toy chest). He did a wonderful job, you will see one day. It also has a comfy glider for your mommy and daddy to sleep in too when you need us the most.

Your closet and dresser are full of clothes. You might not fit into some right now but you will one day. Also please know that your grandparents (you have two sets of them) are so excited for you. You will always have clothes and toys to play with. So don't you worry.

We are so excited to meet you soon and see you grow into a beautiful woman. Just not too fast, okay. :)

Please know that your mommy & daddy love you so much. And pray that the next 55 days(ish) fly by. We cannot wait to hold you, cuddle with you and hug you (There are probably other things too... Just a few that came to mind).

Love you lots,
Your Mommy & Daddy

PS You are the best thing that has happened to us. God IS amazing and shows us daily that anything is possible if you believe.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

32 Weeks & Progesterone Count

1st Draw: 14.9 (when we first found out we were pregnant - 4 weeks pregnant)
2nd Draw: 11.7 (6 weeks pregnant)
3rd Draw: 13.7 (8 weeks pregnant)
4th Draw: 17.6 (10 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 20!!!!
5th Draw: 15.4 (12 weeks pregnant) - Still closer to 20 but not where it needs to be.
6th Draw: 23.9 (14 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! So close to Zone 2.
7th Draw: 23.7 (16 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! Will hear back from the doctor tomorrow because she wasn't in today. :)
8th Draw: 26.3 (18 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 30 and I thought I was in the 27's before and that it went down... Man, I need to be more optimistic there. I am happy to say that my count is above 25 and getting closer to 30.
9th Draw: 30.4 (20 weeks pregnant) - It is over 30 people!!! Amen to that.
10th Draw: 32.4 (22 weeks pregnant) - It is going up!!! But not as high as I would like it.
11th Draw: 33.3 (24 weeks pregnant) - It is going up but because of the infection in my body... I swear that's why it didn't go up more. We are thankful/blessed/grateful that it is going up... It is still painful and looking forward to seeing my doctor on Thursday to discuss our options since I am in 25 weeks now.
12th Draw: 31.3 (26 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone went down and I am on the verge of crying. We have a phone call out to the dr who prescribed the shots. We are thankful though that it is still above 30. AMEN to that.
13th Draw: 56.6 (28 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone has gone up (a whole 25.3 points)!!!!!!! Been on the shots since 4 weeks pregnant & with the progesterone pills for only 1.5 weeks!! God is so good... And we are so thankful that it has gone up.
14th Draw: 62.3 (30 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone almost went up 6 points!!! Tomorrow I will hear back from the doctor to see if they are going to change my dosage.
15th Draw: 85.8 (32 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone went up 23.5 points!!! Praise the Lord!!!! On a high note, if that wasn't high enough for you, I am officially in ZONE 2!!!!!! I am only in Zone 2 by 5 points but its an amazing feeling to finally have. And on another high note, my shots are going from 2CCs to 1CCs!!!! YAY!! I am still taking the pills. It was either that or just stay on 2CCs and drop the pills. The DH and I are quite excited about this!!!

Things I wish I knew......

Why my body isn't producing enough progesterone? I mean I have two shots in my rear every week and take compound progesterone pills.

Why is it that my mother in law and mother cannot get along? Or why my mother thinks she needs to control everything? Sorry Mom, I love you but it is true.

Wondering why my dog was so interested in my Apple MacBook power cord that she chewed it?

**Will be adding more later.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Baby Girl & Momma - 13 Weeks & 32 Weeks



32 Weeks & Counting

How far along?: 32 Weeks - YAY!!
How big is baby? Weighs as much as a jicama
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger.
Sleep?: Sleep has gotten better. Combination of a firm bed and progesterone pills at night.
Food cravings?: I do love creamy tomato soup from Panera, strawberry poppy seed salad from Panera, hamburgers, chicken, steak, pickles, cheerios & vitamin D milk and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: There's plenty of movement going on. Its so beautiful.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... It still hasn't popped yet. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: 10 more shots to go!!! Getting my blood work done this week. Please send prayers this way.


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

31 Weeks Appt

Today we met with Dr. M. We have never met this doctor before so it was quite interesting.

Dr. M. measured me at 32 weeks even though I am 31 weeks & 2 days. I asked if it would change my due date and he said no. It just helps give the doctor an idea on how big your baby may be. Dr. M. also said that the heart rate was 136. And he asked if we were having a girl or boy. I said girl and he didn't say anything else after that.

We were able to ask questions... So we talked about who would deliver the baby and what not... esp since its our first. Dr. M. said we would go into the hospital and depending on if we wanted a midwife or doctor to deliver our baby.... If we went with a midwife, she would enter the picture during active labor. He didn't mention when a doctor would enter the picture (but I guess we can chat more about this at our next appt which is in TWO WEEKS!!). I'll be 33 weeks by then.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

31 Weeks

How far along?: 31 Weeks
How big is baby? Weighs as much as 4 navel oranges (try carrying that around)
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger. The DH jokes me that when I wear regular shirts around that my tummy hangs out a little. LOL.
Sleep?: Sleep has gotten better. Combination of a firm bed and progesterone pills at night.
Food cravings?: I do love creamy tomato soup from Panera, strawberry poppy seed salad from Panera, hamburgers, chicken, steak, pickles, cheerios & vitamin D milk and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: There's plenty of movement going on. Its so beautiful.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... It still hasn't popped yet. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Seeing my doctor and praying everything is going great. I also want to see what I am measuring.


Here is a picture of our cute diaper bag (will upload it later) & the story of how we found it... Two of our friends & their little one went to the Fest with us this weekend... And I told the mom I didn't have a diaper bag. She said that we needed to go shopping for one. Well the next tent we went in, we found the perfect one. It has the alphabet all over it and is made in a great material that wipes off easily. Perfect for two teachers.



My Tummy at 31 Weeks & 2 Days

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Doctor knows best.

After getting my progesterone results this week, the DH and I waited patiently to hear what the dr had to say about the results. So today, I got the phone call and wanted to hear that we could go down to one shot and pills. Unfortunately we were too optimistic, I guess. They still want us to do two shots a week with the pills.

And so I was playing devil's advocate and called back. I wanted to know what my progesterone should be without medication. My progesterone should be 102. So yes, before I wasn't even close to this number and this week, I am closer to the 102. Unfortunately that is what my progesterone should be this week. The number will change in a few weeks and I am not sure if my progesterone will ever reach that.

Sorry if this all over the place, its an emotional topic for me.

Please pray for the DH, the baby and me as we go through the next few weeks.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

30 Week Progesterone

1st Draw: 14.9 (when we first found out we were pregnant - 4 weeks pregnant)
2nd Draw: 11.7 (6 weeks pregnant)
3rd Draw: 13.7 (8 weeks pregnant)
4th Draw: 17.6 (10 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 20!!!!
5th Draw: 15.4 (12 weeks pregnant) - Still closer to 20 but not where it needs to be.
6th Draw: 23.9 (14 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! So close to Zone 2.
7th Draw: 23.7 (16 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! Will hear back from the doctor tomorrow because she wasn't in today. :)
8th Draw: 26.3 (18 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 30 and I thought I was in the 27's before and that it went down... Man, I need to be more optimistic there. I am happy to say that my count is above 25 and getting closer to 30.
9th Draw: 30.4 (20 weeks pregnant) - It is over 30 people!!! Amen to that.
10th Draw: 32.4 (22 weeks pregnant) - It is going up!!! But not as high as I would like it.
11th Draw: 33.3 (24 weeks pregnant) - It is going up but because of the infection in my body... I swear that's why it didn't go up more. We are thankful/blessed/grateful that it is going up... It is still painful and looking forward to seeing my doctor on Thursday to discuss our options since I am in 25 weeks now.
12th Draw: 31.3 (26 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone went down and I am on the verge of crying. We have a phone call out to the dr who prescribed the shots. We are thankful though that it is still above 30. AMEN to that.
13th Draw: 56.6 (28 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone has gone up (a whole 25.3 points)!!!!!!! Been on the shots since 4 weeks pregnant & with the progesterone pills for only 1.5 weeks!! God is so good... And we are so thankful that it has gone up.
14th Draw: 62.3 (30 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone almost went up 6 points!!! Tomorrow I will hear back from the doctor to see if they are going to change my dosage.

Please keep me in your prayers. Will keep you posted.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

30 weeks!!!!!

How far along?: 30 Weeks
How big is baby? Size of a squash
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger.
Sleep?: Sleep has gotten better. Combination of a firm bed and progesterone pills at night.
Food cravings?: I do love slushies (The DH says this is one craving I cannot have enough of), creamy tomato soup from Panera, strawberry poppy seed salad from Panera, hamburgers, chicken, steak, pickles, cheerios & vitamin D milk and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: There's plenty of movement going on. Its so beautiful.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... It still hasn't popped yet. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Get my blood drawn this week. Looking forward to getting my results. Will post the results when we get them. :)


Friday, September 9, 2011

What a Night....

Last night around 2am, I woke up with this severe pressure and cramping... I went to the bathroom to make sure it wasn't anything to do with that. I was in the clear. The pain continued for about 5 hours. I was pumping liquids and doing my best to not get dehydrated.

This morning I did call off work because I wanted to see the doctor. I saw the doctor this morning and told them about everything (new discharge, pelvic pressure, cramping, movements, etc). Sorry if that is TMI but I had to tell the doctor everything.

She did several things... measured me. I'm measuring between 30 & 31 weeks. Heartbeat for the little one was 142. And then she had to an internal exam... YUCKY!! I hate feeling that. She had to check a few things.... I do not have a yeast infection and I am in the clear. My cervix is closed and up high. I am not dilated or anything.

I was scared though with the amount of pain I was in last night... Just glad it was nothing.

Please pray that Baby Girl stays where she needs to be for the next 10 weeks or so.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Baby Girl's New Carseat & Stroller

We officially bought the carseat and stroller tonight. It is a pretty blue pattern. I think it is great... The DH wanted a green & silver one but Babiesrus wasn't sure when they have it in next. And because I am so patient.... The DH just said to get the blue one.

So here it is.... Our new Chicco Travel System - Azura



Monday, September 5, 2011

29 Weeks!! :)

How far along?: 29 Weeks
How big is baby? Size of a squash
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts... Though someone very special to me took me shopping this weekend while in my hometown.
Sleep?: Sleep has gotten better. Combination of a firm bed and progesterone pills at night.
Food cravings?: I do love slushies (The DH says this is one craving I cannot have enough of), creamy tomato soup from Panera, strawberry poppy seed salad from Panera, hamburgers, chicken, steak, pickles, cheerios & vitamin D milk and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: There's plenty of movement going on. Its so beautiful.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... It still hasn't popped yet. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Baby Shower was on Sunday. It was amazing. I loved it. Being closer to being done with the shots and pills. 8 more weeks!! :)

**What I love: Everyone says my face looks normal and I just have a belly (that's where all the weight went). We will see if it changes when it gets closer to the due date. :)



Tuesday, August 30, 2011

My Progesterone Update (Tears - Happy or Sad?!)

I was almost in tears today. The nurse called with my results......

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.... With being on the pills for 1.5 weeks with a combo of the shots, my progesterone jumped from 31.3 to 56.6!!!

1st Draw: 14.9 (when we first found out we were pregnant - 4 weeks pregnant)
2nd Draw: 11.7 (6 weeks pregnant)
3rd Draw: 13.7 (8 weeks pregnant)
4th Draw: 17.6 (10 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 20!!!!
5th Draw: 15.4 (12 weeks pregnant) - Still closer to 20 but not where it needs to be.
6th Draw: 23.9 (14 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! So close to Zone 2.
7th Draw: 23.7 (16 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! Will hear back from the doctor tomorrow because she wasn't in today. :)
8th Draw: 26.3 (18 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 30 and I thought I was in the 27's before and that it went down... Man, I need to be more optimistic there. I am happy to say that my count is above 25 and getting closer to 30.
9th Draw: 30.4 (20 weeks pregnant) - It is over 30 people!!! Amen to that.
10th Draw: 32.4 (22 weeks pregnant) - It is going up!!! But not as high as I would like it.
11th Draw: 33.3 (24 weeks pregnant) - It is going up but because of the infection in my body... I swear that's why it didn't go up more. We are thankful/blessed/grateful that it is going up... It is still painful and looking forward to seeing my doctor on Thursday to discuss our options since I am in 25 weeks now.
12th Draw: 31.3 (26 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone went down and I am on the verge of crying. We have a phone call out to the dr who prescribed the shots. We are thankful though that it is still above 30. AMEN to that.
13th Draw: 56.6 (28 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone has gone up (a whole 25.3 points)!!!!!!! Been on the shots since 4 weeks pregnant & with the progesterone pills for only 1.5 weeks!! God is so good... And we are so thankful that it has gone up.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Prayers Needed

Please keep me in your thoughts today.... Dentist appt right after school. Blooddraw for my progesterone. And a shot..... Some of these things don't excite me.

Will be looking forward to dinner & spending time with my DH & puppy. :)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Let's See How Much My Tummy Has Grown..




28 Weeks & The Start of the 3rd Trimester!!! :-D

How far along?: 28 Weeks
How big is baby?: Size of a Chinese cabbage
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts
Sleep?: Sleep has gotten better. We switched the mattress with the one in our guest bedroom. :)
Food cravings?: I do love slushies (The DH says this is one craving I cannot have enough of), creamy tomato soup from Panera, strawberry poppy seed salad from Panera, hamburgers, chicken, steak, pickles, cheerios & vitamin D milk and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: There's plenty of movement going on. The DH loves feeling her move.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... It still hasn't popped yet. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Starting the 3rd Trimester. Baby Shower #2 is next Sunday. :)

PS 9 weeks til we stop the shots & pills. Please pray for us... I go in tomorrow for a blood draw to see where my progesterone is. I hope and pray that it has gone up since I am getting lots of help.



Saturday, August 27, 2011

Cheers to the Beginning of the Last

Tomorrow marks the start of the 3rd Trimester. Can you believe it? I have completed 2 trimesters already. :)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

5 things....

1. I am still on all my progesterone (shots & pills).
2. I did pass my glucose test!!! :) - So I guess that is something to be excited about.
3. I didn't pass my Vitamin D blood draw. So that means I am still on 5,000 ius of Vitamin D daily.
4. I didn't have a great CBC.... I am going to start my 3rd trimester being ANEMIC. So that means 325mg of ferrous sulfate daily. And my doctors won't let me have Slow-Fe so more fiber than ever I guess.
5. And crib #2 isn't right either.... :(

Saturday, August 20, 2011

27 Weeks

How far along?: 27 Weeks
How big is baby?: Weighs about the head of a cauliflower
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself. Just know that my butt and thighs are bigger... And my boobs still fit in my new bras... sorta. LOL.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. My boobs have a little bit and my thighs have just gotten larger.
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts
Sleep?: Sleep is alright... Not the greatest.
Food cravings?: I do love slushies (The DH says this is one craving I cannot have enough of), creamy tomato soup from Panera, strawberry poppy seed salad from Panera, hamburgers, chicken, steak and ice cream... And pickles. AND I forgot to add my newest addition - I am loving cheerios with Vitamin D milk for breakfast.
Movement?: There's been movement especially when I'm trying to sleep or sitting. I feel it has picked up when I'm laying on my side. Its amazing. :)
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... I bet it pops in a week or two. Closer than it was last week. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Last week of the 2nd Trimester!!!! Bring it on!!!! :)

Baby Shower Pictures (the DH's side)




Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Progesterone Help

Well, today I had my 26 week appointment and we got to meet a new doctor. We both really liked him even though he was all over the place.

I finally got to talk to the doctor who prescribed the progesterone shots. And she first thought I should stay on the shots. That is what she prescribed yesterday... Though she thought about it after sending info to her nurse. She came up with two other solutions. And one I turned down right away. The option I went with is a time released progesterone pill. Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare to start them tonight.

Here's to a higher count in a few weeks.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Birthing Class #2

Birthing class #2 has been an eye opener. Right now, I know the DH and I have talked about who we are going to have in Labor & Delivery.... Just me and him and the doctors of course. Then after everything is done, we are going to go into postpartum room (which I hope is private). I don't care if it costs us more money. Just praying that we can get a private room. When I am finally in the postpartum room, then we can have company hopefully. The second item would be when we would want visitors, if my pregnancy is going to be hours (like 20), maybe I will want to see some of the family. But when you add emotions and what not, maybe not. LOL.

Homework for the next week:
- Try 2 relaxation items.
- Create a birthing plan and discuss it with the DH. (Hopefully he will help me create it).

PS Next week's birthing class we are discussing medicine and other items. When I asked the DH if I wanted an epidural or not. He knew the answer. He said I would rather be one that requests it instead of the nurses asking me all the time. He also said he knows that I want to try to do this without an epidural but thinks I will cave. How supportive! I think he is being realistic knowing me and what not.

Please pray for us.. Tomorrow is our first appointment with a doctor and it happens to be the day for my glucose test. Should be fun (maybe?!).

26 Weeks Progesterone & Prayers Needed Please

1st Draw: 14.9 (when we first found out we were pregnant - 4 weeks pregnant)
2nd Draw: 11.7 (6 weeks pregnant)
3rd Draw: 13.7 (8 weeks pregnant)
4th Draw: 17.6 (10 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 20!!!!
5th Draw: 15.4 (12 weeks pregnant) - Still closer to 20 but not where it needs to be.
6th Draw: 23.9 (14 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! So close to Zone 2.
7th Draw: 23.7 (16 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! Will hear back from the doctor tomorrow because she wasn't in today. :)
8th Draw: 26.3 (18 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 30 and I thought I was in the 27's before and that it went down... Man, I need to be more optimistic there. I am happy to say that my count is above 25 and getting closer to 30.
9th Draw: 30.4 (20 weeks pregnant) - It is over 30 people!!! Amen to that.
10th Draw: 32.4 (22 weeks pregnant) - It is going up!!! But not as high as I would like it.
11th Draw: 33.3 (24 weeks pregnant) - It is going up but because of the infection in my body... I swear that's why it didn't go up more. We are thankful/blessed/grateful that it is going up... It is still painful and looking forward to seeing my doctor on Thursday to discuss our options since I am in 25 weeks now.
12th Draw: 31.3 (26 weeks pregnant) - My progesterone went down and I am on the verge of crying. We have a phone call out to the dr who prescribed the shots. We are thankful though that it is still above 30. AMEN to that.


****Please keep me in your prayers as this is difficult and makes me worry about my baby.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

26 Weeks!!! :) And a drs appt.

How far along?: 26 Weeks
How big is baby?: Size of a eggplant
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself. Just know that my butt and thighs are bigger... And my boobs still fit in my new bras... sorta. LOL.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. My boobs have a little bit and my thighs have just gotten larger.
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts
Sleep?: Sleep is alright... Not the greatest.
Food cravings?: I do love slushies (The DH says this is one craving I cannot have enough of), creamy tomato soup from Panera, strawberry poppy seed salad from Panera, hamburgers, chicken, steak and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: There's been movement especially when I'm trying to sleep. I feel it has picked up when I'm laying on my side. Its amazing. :)
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... Not popping out yet. Closer than it was last week. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Almost finished with the second trimester!!! :) We have a drs appt this week and we get to meet one of the three doctors. Hopefully the crib comes in (We had to return the first one because there was a defect).

PS - Baby Shower #1 is tomorrow. :)



Friday, August 12, 2011

Last Night - Oh My

So last night, the DH and I were chilling on the couch. He tried to help my back pain go away. After he was done massaging my back, I grabbed his hand. AND she kicked two or three times... He felt it. The DH thought it was cool but weird. (I don't think he understands that I feel her every time she kicks/punches/whatever action/motion she does against my belly).

So glad she was able to show her daddy that she can kick/punch/move and he can feel it. :)

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Letter to Our Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl,

Just wanted to tell you how much we love you. And we are so excited to meet you in 11 to 14 weeks. We hope and pray that you continue to grow and develop inside of me. It is so important that you stay inside my womb until you are full term. And we hope that you are not as stubborn as your mommy and daddy and try to stay in the womb beyond the 40 weeks.

Please know that so many people love you and pray for you all of the time. God has definitely blessed us with you.

We love you lots.

Hugs & Kisses,
Mommy & Daddy

PS Mommy really likes that you are moving around and kicking/punching her insides. Please continue to grow so that Daddy can feel you move soon.

Update on Progesterone

Today I finally got to see the doctor who put me on progesterone... I haven't seen her since March 2nd. So its been a while. Today we looked at my injections sites and discussed if/when I get to go off the shots.

Average woman can be taken off progesterone if her levels spike and stay high. This usually happens around weeks 28-32. Another note, some women are not taken off of the progesterone until they are full term. So you are talking around weeks 36/37.

So if you do the math, I am 25 weeks now. My levels have not spiked. So if by God's help, my levels spike in the next 7 weeks, I might be taken off. Or worst case scenario, I have another 11/12 weeks left of shots.

Please keep me in your prayers. You would think these shots would get easier but they haven't... Today, the DH had to give me two shots (The first one hit a vein and blood came into the syringe (insert lots of tears - quite painful) AND the second shot worked and I didn't feel it (THANK GOD).

On a side note, the nursery is finally painted the way we wanted it... Just took us two tries on the pink. I think we are happy with Colonial Rose and Apple 4. Pictures to come after we get everything in there.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Maternity Photos

So my husband gave me a wonderful gift for our anniversary. We got some maternity photos taken on our anniversary.

Our wedding photographers were the ones he chose. We got an awesome deal and over 300 pictures were taken. Our favorite ones will be posted tonight on Facebook. I cannot wait to share with them with my loved ones.

Here is a sneak peak.... :)





Tuesday, August 9, 2011

25 Weeks, 15-ish to go!! :)

How far along?: 25 Weeks
How big is baby?: Size of a rutabaga
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself. Just know that my butt and thighs are bigger... And my boobs still fit in my new bras... sorta. LOL.
Stretch marks?: Well I take back my stretch marks remark... I've been doing really good.. And there aren't really there (so far).
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts
Sleep?: Sleep is alright... Not the greatest.
Food cravings?: I do love slushies, creamy tomato soup from Panera, strawberry poppy seed salad from Panera, hamburgers, chicken, steak and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: There's been movement especially when I'm trying to sleep. I feel it has picked up when I'm laying on my side. Its amazing. :)
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... Not popping out yet. Closer than it was last week. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Getting closer to the end of the second trimester. :) ...Repainting the nursery this week... Yeah, we couldn't live with the color we went with. LOL.

24 Week Progesterone

1st Draw: 14.9 (when we first found out we were pregnant - 4 weeks pregnant)
2nd Draw: 11.7 (6 weeks pregnant)
3rd Draw: 13.7 (8 weeks pregnant)
4th Draw: 17.6 (10 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 20!!!!
5th Draw: 15.4 (12 weeks pregnant) - Still closer to 20 but not where it needs to be.
6th Draw: 23.9 (14 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! So close to Zone 2.
7th Draw: 23.7 (16 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! Will hear back from the doctor tomorrow because she wasn't in today. :)
8th Draw: 26.3 (18 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 30 and I thought I was in the 27's before and that it went down... Man, I need to be more optimistic there. I am happy to say that my count is above 25 and getting closer to 30.
9th Draw: 30.4 (20 weeks pregnant) - It is over 30 people!!! Amen to that.
10th Draw: 32.4 (22 weeks pregnant) - It is going up!!! But not as high as I would like it.
11th Draw: 33.3 (24 weeks pregnant) - It is going up but because of the infection in my body... I swear that's why it didn't go up more. We are thankful/blessed/grateful that it is going up... It is still painful and looking forward to seeing my doctor on Thursday to discuss our options since I am in 25 weeks now.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Strong Enough

This weekend we met up with some of our friends and it was so great. We talked about a lot of things that are going on in our lives. One thing that the wife of our friend brought up was my progesterone shots. She asked how I felt about the shots and how it affects me and the DH.

I thought about this more and more as the night went on. Also as I write this entry, it makes me think..... How far the medical field has come and how this drug is supposed to help women not miscarry. It amazes me that it took us 7.5 months to conceive and with two shots every week, we are able to keep this baby... This baby that is growing inside of me.. She is kicking me oh so lightly right now.

I dislike/hate the shots but I know this is the only way I can keep her healthy and growing. The shots hurt. There's the truth. Some days are wonderful and I cannot feel the solution going into my butt. There are other days when I can feel the solution burning inside of me and I cry. I mean who wouldn't cry as a needle is placed inside of you sending an oil-based solution in your body. I know it could be worse... Oh I know it could be. And I am thankful that it is just two shots a week. Unfortunately my count is not high enough for us to go down to one shot or even none. And the doctors have not told me or the DH when the shots can stop. We continue to pray... So many people continue to pray for us and the baby. We pray that the counts get higher, that the shots help the baby... Though it is hard to accept all of this... I know God thinks we are strong enough. And that is why I am attaching the link to Matthew West's "Strong Enough". (The link isn't working... But try to find it on YouTube.)This song reminds me that I am strong enough with God. Even though there are days that I don't believe this. God shows me that the DH and I are strong enough.

P.S. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I'm going back to the doctor today (not for a 4 week check up or anything) ....The injection site of my shot on July 21st has not healed and could be infected. The injection site swelled up and was very warm. Also a pool of blood surfaced on the top. This has never happened before and the doctor is going to look at it to double check.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

24 Weeks, 16 Weeks to Go!

How far along?: 24 Weeks
How big is baby?: Size of an ear of corn (LOL)
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself. Just know that my butt and thighs are bigger... And my boobs still fit in my new bras. LOL.
Stretch marks?: Starting to see a few small stretch marks.
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts
Sleep?: Sleep is alright... Not the greatest.
Food cravings?: I do love slushies, creamy tomato soup from Panera, strawberry poppy seed salad from Panera, hamburgers, chicken, steak and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: There's been movement especially when I'm trying to sleep.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... Not popping out yet. Closer than it was last week. LOL.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Getting closer to the end of the second trimester. :) PS The nursery has been painted... Now that we know that we are having a girl! :)

Our Wedding Anniversary

This weekend marked our first wedding anniversary. We have been married for one whole year, 365 days. :)

And to celebrate ..........We went to STL to celebrate with our friends who got married the week before us (July 24th). We went to a bar and waited for the rain to stop before going to the stadium. We had a mishap with tickets and we all sorta want to forget about it all. We did end up getting tickets for $20. We had a great time at the game. Just talking and watching the game together. After the game, we had dinner at the City Diner. It was a cool place and the meal was yummy too. After dinner, we got to meet their puppy. His name is Toby. I wanted to take him back to the hotel with us because I miss Zoey so much. If you are new to my blog, Zoey is our adorable 8 month old mastiff/black lab puppy. (I'm quite overprotective of her.) Our friends dropped us off at our hotel and we just chilled.

This morning we woke up and drove to Quincy. I have never been to Quincy, IL. It was quite an adventure. We met up with two other friends who were quite important on our wedding day. After spending most of our day with them, we drove home and had dinner.

I know our anniversary weekend might not sound amazing to other people.... It was quite perfect for us. :)

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Nursery Before Pictures




23 Weeks

How far along?: 23 Weeks
How big is baby?: Size of a large mango
Weight gain/loss?: Definitely stopped weighing myself. Just know that my butt and thighs are bigger... Finally went to get new bras at Soma and WOW... LOL.
Stretch marks?: Hmmm not on my stomach.
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts
Sleep?: Sleep is alright... Not the greatest. Dr recommends me trying mediation. We will see about that.
Food cravings?: I do love slushies, hamburgers, chicken, steak and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: There's been movement especially when I'm trying to sleep.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Its changing... Not popping out yet.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Getting closer to the end of the second trimester. :) PS The nursery has been painted... Now that we know that we are having a girl! :)

22 Weeks & 3 days = A Wonderful Blessing

We went for our 22 week appt last week.. Sorry I am running a little behind. The baby was healthy and growing. They said the baby was over a pound already... CRAZINESS. :) The tech lady said the baby showed everything in the first picture. They went through their checklist and finally we got to hear the news.

We are expecting a little GIRL!!!!!!!! :)

Couldn't be happier.

Here is one of the 3D pictures.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Progesterone Results are in for Week 22!! :)

1st Draw: 14.9 (when we first found out we were pregnant - 4 weeks pregnant)
2nd Draw: 11.7 (6 weeks pregnant)
3rd Draw: 13.7 (8 weeks pregnant)
4th Draw: 17.6 (10 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 20!!!!
5th Draw: 15.4 (12 weeks pregnant) - Still closer to 20 but not where it needs to be.
6th Draw: 23.9 (14 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! So close to Zone 2.
7th Draw: 23.7 (16 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! Will hear back from the doctor tomorrow because she wasn't in today. :)
8th Draw: 26.3 (18 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 30 and I thought I was in the 27's before and that it went down... Man, I need to be more optimistic there. I am happy to say that my count is above 25 and getting closer to 30.
9th Draw: 30.4 - It is over 30 people!!! Amen to that.
10th Draw: 32.4 - It is going up!!! But not as high as I would like it.

Monday, July 18, 2011

22 weeks & 1 day

Woke up this morning. Showered. Brushed my teeth. Got sick. ...not a great way to start the last week of summer school.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

22 weeks, 18 weeks to go!

How far along?: 22 Weeks
How big is baby?: Size of a spaghetti squash
Weight gain/loss?: I have stopped weighing myself.
Stretch marks?: None. I've been putting lotion on my tummy.
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts. My Soma tank tops are getting shorter.
Sleep?: Sleep has gotten a little rough.
Food cravings?: I do love mac'n'cheese, cashews, hamburgers, chicken, steak and ice cream... And pickles. Slushies have been added to the list. :)
Movement?: Some of the movement hasn't been as strong.
Gender?: We find out this week!!! :)
Belly button?: Its slightly changing. :)
What are you looking forward to this week?: Finding out the sex of the baby this week!!! Wednesday cannot come soon enough. :)


Saturday, July 9, 2011

21 Weeks (So Close to Finding Out the Sex)

How far along?: 21 Weeks (Over the halfway mark!!!)
How big is baby?: Size of a banana
Weight gain/loss?: Gained some weight.
Stretch marks?: None. I've been putting lotion on my tummy.
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts. My Soma tank tops are getting shorter.
Sleep?: Sleep has gotten better... and sleeping with lots of pillows.
Food cravings?: I do love mac'n'cheese, hamburgers, chicken, steak and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: More butterfly sensations against my belly. (Can't wait for them to get stronger. :) )
Gender?: Less than 1.5 weeks til we see our baby. A little anxious to find out if we are having a boy or a girl but I know God is preparing us for our little miracle. :)
Belly button?: Its slightly changing. :)
What are you looking forward to this week?: Just to keep growing and getting closer to finding out the sex of the baby.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Progesterone is over 30!!!!!

1st Draw: 14.9 (when we first found out we were pregnant - 4 weeks pregnant)
2nd Draw: 11.7 (6 weeks pregnant)
3rd Draw: 13.7 (8 weeks pregnant)
4th Draw: 17.6 (10 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 20!!!!
5th Draw: 15.4 (12 weeks pregnant) - Still closer to 20 but not where it needs to be.
6th Draw: 23.9 (14 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! So close to Zone 2.
7th Draw: 23.7 (16 weeks pregnant) - Over 20!!!! Will hear back from the doctor tomorrow because she wasn't in today. :)
8th Draw: 26.3 (18 weeks pregnant) - Closer to 30 and I thought I was in the 27's before and that it went down... Man, I need to be more optimistic there. I am happy to say that my count is above 25 and getting closer to 30.
9th Draw: 30.4 - It is over 30 people!!! Amen to that. Unfortunately it is still in Zone 1 so that means I am still on the shots. But the DH and I are so thankful that my progesterone and my body are finally producing more progesterone....

Just ask for more prayers that my progesterone keeps going up and that one day soon, I will be off the shots.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Progesterone Again...

We had to go to the hospital today because all of the other places to get my blood drawn were close. It was an in and out thing. Thank God.

We headed over to Grandma M's house for a 4th of July celebration. It was good. I brought my own food because they were having deli meat and I cannot eat it. After we finished hanging out over there, I had to come home for the dreaded shot. For the first time ever, the DH drew back and blood came out. So we had to start over and start a second shot. This time I felt it... every single thing the DH did. Thankfully it is over and there are two band-aids on my rear-end.

Also on a side note, we picked up the book, The Happiest Baby on the Block.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

20 Weeks - Halfway there!!!

How far along?: 20 Weeks (YAY for being halfway there!!!)
How big is baby?: Size of a small cantaloupe
Weight gain/loss?: Gained some weight.
Stretch marks?: None. I've been putting lotion on my tummy.
Maternity clothes?: A combination of maternity pants and regular shirts
Sleep?: Sleep has gotten better... Peeing a lot.
Food cravings?: I do love hamburgers, chicken, steak and ice cream... And pickles.
Movement?: More butterfly sensations against my belly. (Can't wait for them to get stronger. :)
Gender?: Less than 2.5 weeks til we see our baby. A little anxious to find out if we are having a boy or a girl but I know God is preparing us for our little miracle. :)
Belly button?: Its the same... slightly changing. :)
What are you looking forward to this week?: Just to keep growing and getting closer to finding out the sex of the baby.




Things We are Thankful For

- Air conditioner is fixed momentarily (Will have to replace it at the end of summer or beginning of Spring 2012)
- Fridge is working now (Yes - two things went wrong in one day.. Thank God it is working)
- I have not gotten sick for 15 days now. Thank you God!!
- Today I went without a pill

I know the list is small but that is a lot for us to be thankful for in just a few days.