Merry Christmas

The first Christmas with our son has passed. The little guy never ceases to amaze us.

There were packages everywhere with his name on them... and he wasn't entirely pleased with the amount of time it was taking for the wrapped gifts to get to him so he could rip the paper off. Rather than cry, he looked up at me and grinned... then proceeded to try to crawl down from my lap and help his daddy with the gift delivery.
Problem #1 - he can't really figure out the crawling business yet (he's close... but just not quite there).
Problem #2 - he can't walk at all.

So, we watched him try to escape, then squeal in delight as his next gift was delivered. Then, with minimal help, rip the paper from the package.

Now, for those who think most children do this... pause for a moment and remember Tony was born on July 20 of this year. That means, he is only 5 months old. We were fully prepared for him to not really give a whoop about presents, and just sit there. To have him be so interactive was a huge surprise and made the holiday that much more fun.

This was, by far, the best Christmas ever. It was so magical... we had no idea how much fun it would be or what to expect. Tony really made the holiday that much brighter.

Time Flies

I can't believe nearly four months has passed since our little man came into the world. He's growing and developing so fast... much to our chagrin. I love it when he feels the mood to cuddle - it's the best feeling in the world to have him snuggle up with his head on my shoulder and his little hand over my heart.

The best thing about watching him grow is watching the new things he does:

Talking - he makes out words sometimes... his favorites are ago (just a musing my mom uses to teach him to form words), I, hi, ma... and lots of coos and laughter.

Laughing - he laughs and smiles all the time, it's so awesome to wake up to his precious smile every day.

Crawling - he hasn't quite mastered this yet. He does scoot when he's on his belly, though.

Scooting - he scoots on his back now

Rolling over - this is his new trick - he loves to roll over to his belly... and roll from side to side.

Walking - he knows the movements... he just doesn't have the balance yet.

He loves to amaze us and delights in "talking" to us. I love that wee little man.

I'll always need my son...

I’ll always need my son, no matter what age I am.

My son has made me laugh… made me proud… made me cry… hugged me tight… seen me fall… cheered me up… kept me going strong… and driven me crazy at times!

But, my son is a promise from God that I will have a friend forever.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Though he is only 13 weeks old... LM has managed to do all of these things and so much more. I don't know how he does some of the things he does. I don't know why I was blessed with such an amazing little boy. But I am truthfully thankful... to the very core of my being... for receiving such a blessing in my life.

Developments

This morning, I was getting ready to spend some time with ourLM while OD was changing his diaper. All of a sudden... I heard a very loud and distinct "hi" followed by a laugh from LM... which was very quickly followed up by OD leaning out the door and saying "did you hear that?"

I know... he's only 3 months old... and I've often debated whether or not I can actually count his little musing as actually being his first word... but it sure is amazing to hear his sweet little voice in the morning.

My Promise to My Child

I will stalk you, freak out on you, lecture you, drive you crazy, be your worst nightmare, embarrass you in front of your friends, hunt you down like a bloodhound until the day you understand why I do it. 

Then I'll know you are a responsible adult. All because ♥ I LOVE YOU ♥ 

You will never find anyone ...... 

who loves you and cares about you more than...

your MOTHER

I love you, LM...

I knew all along I would love you, but I never realized the depth of that love could grow any stronger... it grows by leaps and bounds every day. You're only 3 months old, but you seem to know exactly what to do to make me smile and make my cares fly away.

I love your smile... and your sweet little laugh. I love your determination... and I love your little coos and baby words. You mean the world, and so much more, to me. 

I vow to always be there for you when you fall... and when you need to celebrate success. I vow to protect you... but let you spread your wings and learn to fly. I vow to teach you new things as you teach me. I vow to be an example of faith, hope, love, trust, and intellect. I vow to show you the importance of education, hard work and dedication.

I vow all of these things and so much more. But most of all, I vow to love you... unconditionally... for all the days of my life.

Making a Difference

One morning a man walked along a beach covered with thousands of starfish that had washed up during a storm. Now they lay dying in the sun. He saw a young girl picking up the starfish one-by-one and tossing them into the sea.

As he approached her, he couldn't help but ask, "Why bother? There are too many of them. You won't make much of a difference."

She picked up another starfish and tossed it into the water; then she turned to the man and said, "I made a difference to that one."

One person can make a difference, if they just try.

10 Things I Adore About My Baby Boy

 1. His smile. He has a beautiful, joyous smile that is infectious.
 2. His eyes. His eyes are the most beautiful shade of blue and they are so expressive.
 3. His hands. He's learning to grasp and reach for things, and sometimes he will reach for me.
 4. His frown. I know it sounds strange, but his frown is just so stinkin' adorable.
 5. His voice. He's becoming more and more vocal - his coos and other noises melt my heart.
 6. Cuddles. There is nothing like cuddling up together, hearing him breathe, and feeling his little hand near my
      heart.
 7. His laugh. Such a joyful, sweet sound accompanied by an adorable, heart-melting smile.
 8. The way he grunts and stretches for 3-5 minutes in the process of waking up.
 9. The way he nuzzles into my neck when he wants to cuddle.
10. Sweet, tiny fingers and their gentle touch. When we cuddle, I can feel little fingers "kneading" my chest
      above my heart and on my upper arm. (Squeeee... so sweet!)

10 Things That Change When You Have a Baby

  1. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.
  2. You believe in the things you believed in as a child.
  3. Your heart breaks much more easily.
  4. Your love becomes limitless, a super-human power.
  5. You discover an inner strength you never knew you possessed.
  6. You take time for one more hug and kiss, even if it means you'll be late.
  7. You now see news stories from a mother's perspective, which makes them much more disturbing and
       breaks your heart.
  8. You love life more - everything comes together better because of one tiny person and your love for them.
  9. Where you were once afraid, you are now fearless... where you were once fearless, you find fear.
10. It doesn't matter if you've moved mountains... your child is the greatest accomplishment in your life.

2-month Well Child Check-Up

Yesterday we had the 2-month check up for the LM. We saw the doctor first... who checked him over and informed us he has a slight murmur, which is perfectly normal and not a concern, and is very healthy.

We were given a form to check off developmental things he has started to do. Of course, we had to be honest... and the doctor said he's right on target developmentally... and even ahead of the curve on some things that he's started doing. I have to give my mom props for all the hard work she's done with the little guy, he's really learning to do things that I've never seen a child his age do.

His latest list of developmental achievements:
Recognizing people when he sees them and smiling/laughing/cooing at them.
Wiggling to be picked up.
Propping himself up on his elbows and holding his head up without a problem when laying on his belly.
Trying out the crawling motions.
Trying to sit up by himself when being supported on your lap.
Mimicking sounds you make and trying to figure out how to position his mouth for words.

I absolutely adore his smile... he also practices frowning from time to time... which is equally as adorable as his smile.

After the doctor left, I put his onesie back on him... and we waited for the nurse to arrive with his vaccinations.

Enter the nurse... who seemed a nice enough person. I knew we were in for it when I saw her carrying one oral vaccination and three syringes. I immediately looked at the little man and whispered "It's going to be ok honey. Mommy is right here."

First was the oral vaccine. She gently woke him up by shoving the little dispenser in his mouth. After he realized it tasted sweet, he took it all right away. Then, the nurse had to take a bit of time to get some bandages and the three injections ready. Naturally, the baby was still pretty comfy in his blanket and nodded off to sleep. Rather than giving me a chance to try to wake the little guy up before giving him an injection, the nurse said "Okay, I'm ready," and immediately stuck him with a needle.

The baby responded by flinging his eyes open, flinging his arms up, inhaling deeply and opening his mouth... all while turning beet red. Another shot was administered in his other leg before he let out a wail that sounded like he was at least 2 years old. When she finished with the third one and left the room, I put the baby's jeans back on and immediately picked him up to cuddle him. I asked my husband to take care of his next appointment scheduling as I was going to take the little guy outside.

We saw the nurse in the hallway. The baby looked at her and "mumbled" around his pacifier as we walked by. Once we got close to the elevator, he was calmer... by the time we got outside, he'd calmed completely... the instant I sang him a song, he went to sleep.

Other than that, it was a pretty good day. We finally found a daycare provider... and she lives right down the street from us! Yay!

August 10, 2011

Today I am 3 weeks old.

I can't believe how quickly time is passing since I came home. Mommy and daddy are working out a schedule for night time feedings once mommy goes back to work - which she wishes she didn't have to do. Mommy says she is going to miss me.

So far, I practice holding my head up quite a bit. I am getting much better as my neck gets stronger. Daddy tries to give me tummy time as often as possible.

My Mom

When my mom offered to come up for 3 months (or as long as needed) once LM was born, I jumped on the opportunity. Many people thought I was off my rocker, but she's been such a help around the house - which has allowed me to heal from the surgery and focus on taking care of our precious little man.

Mom has no problem making beds, cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, ironing and helping with caring for the little man... which is so helpful. I really am grateful for the wonderful mother I have - I know I'm fortunate to have a m other like her.

Thank you mom - you've made this transition so much easier. We all love you.

August 3, 2011

Today, I am two weeks old.

Things have gotten progressively better at home. I have been sleeping three to four hours between feedings - and sometimes I even stay up between them to investigate and play. Daddy does tummy time with me sometimes, it's a lot of fun... and I'm learning how to scoot better... and practicing holding my head up whenever I get a chance.

Visitors have slowed down a bit - and I've been able to get to know mommy and daddy better and better. I'm sad that daddy has to go back to work tomorrow, though. Hopefully he will be able to play with me on tummy time when he gets home.

This week I have learned:
8/2: Smiled for the first time. Mommy was holding a toy of mine and making it crinkle and I smiled at her three times.

My Belly Epilogue

Surprisingly, two weeks after delivery, my belly has almost returned to normal. (Yay!) I have learned so many things through this process... and I'm sure I will continue to learn as our little angel grows.

God never puts a dream in your head that you cannot make come true.

This statement is so true! I didn't think it was true at times, but as I look at our beautiful angel as he sleeps in his swing, I realize the complete truth of this statement. Had it not been for a combination of factors, and our perseverance, he wouldn't be here with us today.

You think you know what love is as you travel through life. Through first relationships... losses... and heart breaks. As you try to meet your goals and fulfill your dreams, you think you learn all you should know about this emotion. Until you bring a sweet baby into your life, a being of your flesh and blood, you have no idea how much love you can hold in your heart... you watch them as they sleep and interact with you... the first smiles... the first cuddles... and you feel, at times, as though your heart could explode.

The little guy is 2 weeks old.. he'll forever hold my heart in his tiny hands.

July 27, 2011

Today, I am one week old.

I was due to be born today, but I've proven myself to be stubborn since the very beginning. On July 23, I came home from the hospital with mommy and daddy. Home is very different from the hospital, it's warmer, it smells different, and people only come in when I need them.

My new surroundings include a really big dog named Apollo and a fuzzy kitty named Bella. Both of them are very watchful over me - they both want to make sure I'm okay every time I cry. I haven't had much of a chance to get to know them yet, but I'm sure I will soon.

The first night home was very hard. I didn't know how to react to the new surroundings, so I woke up often. A big storm came in early in the morning, making sleeping even more difficult. Mommy stayed right by my side all night - and daddy woke up with me every time I stirred as well. I heard mommy and daddy say that the nights will get better, I hope so.

At one week, I've accomplished:

7/22 - started scooting on my belly while on mommy's tummy in the hospital bed.
7/25 - started trying to hold my head up - it's still very heavy, but I try every chance I get.
7/26 - learned to put my knees up under myself and snuggle up like a little peanut and practiced scooting on the floor.

Details of Your Belly Departure

My labor began... I didn't have labor. 7 days before the due date, I had a scheduled Cesarian Section.

July 20, 2011 at 11:42am

Where I was when the contractions started, and who helped me get ready:We arrived at the hospital at 9:30am. We had scheduled a c-section at our last OB appointment due to the baby being in prime breech position. When they did the final ultrasound at around 9:48 that morning, the baby was still in breech position, his little legs were crossed under his bottom and his arms were crossed across his chest.

Having a C-Section was very frightening for me, I had never had a surgery or procedure of any sort. I didn't have any of the usual pains associated with labor and the pain from the C-Section actually went away surprisingly quickly. By the next night, I had asked if I could cut out the oxycontin and just take Tylenol and Ibuprofen for pain management. I was told by the nurses that I was one of the very few women who refused to have a hand-activated medication pump.

Where I was when my water broke:
I was in the surgical suite when the water broke. The doctors broke the amniotic sack during the procedure.

One of the nice things about the C-Section was the surgery took less than an hour. No labor pains, no pushing, no having to deal with hours and hours of labor. The worst part was when they were trying to get the epidural in so that they could start the surgery. It took almost an hour to get the epidural in because I was not able to arch my back very well. Finally, I was able to get it to arch just enough so they could get it placed properly.

At first, the idea of a C-Section really frightened me; but it was more than worth it. Little Anthony Robert came into this world on July 20, 2011 at 11:42am weighing 7lb 9oz and measuring 19.75 inches in length. He is a perfect little boy - he's absolutely precious - he looks more like a toy than a child.

The little man is such a good baby. He only cries when he's hungry or has a dirty diaper. If he gets fussy before feeding time, I only have to say something to him and he's content.

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly love anything more.... I feel as though my heart could literally explode with love for this little guy.

Total number of hours that I was in labor:Due to the C-Section, I was not ever in labor. The baby was breech, so they didn't want me to go into labor with him in the wrong position. The entire time for the procedure was about 45 minutes to 1 hour, once they got the epidural placed. (Due to my inability to bend over well, it took an hour to get the epidural placed.)

The Lamaze breathing....I'm glad I didn't take a class for this, because it would have been useless.

So...this is what labor feels like:I never felt labor due to the scheduled procedure. The procedure scared me at first, but it was more than worth it. Our little Anthony came into this world with wide eyes and a healthy set of lungs. He's healthy and happy... and I wouldn't trade him for the world. He's absolutely the most perfect and gorgeous baby I have ever seen... I know I'm biased, but I have complete strangers confirm this every single time I take him out in public. He's our perfect little angel.

Special Delivery!

Tony was born in:  Rochester Methodist Hospital

If I were to do it all over again, my approach would be:Honestly, I'd do everything the same way. All of the fear and anxiety I had over the Cesarean Section was really uncalled for - it was a great team that put me at east in the OR, and our little man was born healthy and happy. He stole my heart the minute they put him in my arms.

Who delivered you?The surgical team including several nurses... doctors... and an anesthesia team.

Who cut the umbilical cord?
Daddy cut it. I wasn't really expecting him to cut the cord, but I think they caught him off guard and he went ahead and cut it. Yay daddy!

Who was present during the birth:The only person they would allow to be in the OR with the surgical team was daddy.

Nurses and helpers I don't want to forget:Amy (there were two of them), Tracy, Jen, Kymnberly - all nurses who cared for me during the hospital stay... and also cared about my anxiety over not being able to feed you. Specifically Amy, Jen and Kymnberly saw to it that we had an alternative feeding plan so you'd get something to eat since you weren't able to nurse right away.

How my husband coped in the delivery room:Rob sat at my side until baby Tony was born - then he took pictures and helped with cutting the umbilical cord. I was surprised he was such a trooper.

Who came to visit us?Katie, Tony and Elliott Sikkink, Julia Briese, Uncle Jeff, Grandma and Grandpa Lichner, Uncle John, Via and Corky.

Other good stories and interesting details about the baby's entry into the world:The first thing that I heard was laughter from the surgical team. It seems that the minute the little guy was out of the womb, he started to pee... giving the team delivering him a shower. I cried tears of joy the minute I heard him crying.

When they finally brought the baby around the curtain, he opened his little eyes and I fell in love. He was so cute in his little swaddle and hat... and his big eyes were wide open and ready to take in the world around him.

How I felt when I first saw him:I was absolutely overcome with happiness. He was so perfect, so sweet and so cuddly. I just couldn't stop tears of joy from spilling over my cheeks as they finally put him in my arms.

How it felt to hold him for the first time:I can't even begin to describe the feeling. They put the baby into my arms, he blinked his little eyes and yawned, and I fell in love in an instant.

He is absolutely the most beautiful and perfect little angel I have ever seen. He's so content... it's a true blessing to finally have him home and be able to hold him and give him all the love he deserves.

Weeks 37-39 - Ending of Third Trimester

July 7, 2011 - Week 37

Snapshot of life this week:
Music that we have been listening to lately: 1980s, soundtracks, classical
Recent movie I've seen: Pirates of the Caribbean 4
Book I'm reading right now: Thirst #3 The Eternal Dawn by Christopher Pike
Top news story right now: Casey Anthony acquittal and government budget meltdown

July 14, 2011 - Week 38

Not much time is left until we meet our sweet baby boy. I can't believe how quickly the last 9 months has passed - wow! I'm a bundle of 1,000+ emotions as I face a c-section delivery since the baby is still in a prime breech position. But it will all be worth it in the end, as I'm holding our little bundle of joy.

July 20, 2011 - Week 39

Scheduled C-Section 10:30am
The big day has arrived, it's finally your birthday!! I can't believe I will meet this precious little boy in a matter of a few hours... finally get to see who he looks like... and, most importantly, hold our little angel fir the first time. I can't wait!

Stubborn Like Your Mommy

Dear Little Man,

I see you're stubborn like me. This could get interesting.

Love,
Mommy

Fresh from an appointment yesterday, I posted this on my Facebook page. I was scared, frustrated and a little bit overwhelmed at the news we'd received. Silly, probably, but that's me.

We found out that our little man is still breech. He's in what they call "prime breech position", meaning his legs are free and dangling in the spot where his head should be at this stage of the game. We were given options... I'm not crazy about either of them, but we had to choose one as natural birth is not really an option when the baby is breech.

Option #1: External Cephalic Version

Basically, this is a procedure where I would be brought into the hospital one evening during this week. They would administer anesthesia for pain that is known to speed up the heart rate - therefore making it necessary to not only watch me, but to keep a very close eye on the baby. Once the anesthetic takes effect, the doctor and nurse proceed.

They try to keep the subject's belly well lubricated... and then proceed to put pressure on the baby to try to get him to tip into the cephalic position so that natural delivery is feasible.

Now, this didn't sound like a great option to me for several reasons... most of all being potential harm to the baby himself. In the process of this procedure, they try three times to accomplish the desired result - each time pushing for about a minute or so. If the baby flips, great. But there isn't anything stating he won't flip back.

There are potential risks to the baby as well.. he could get the cord wrapped around himself, end up with distress from the medication, the placenta could rupture or the amniotic sack could rupture. All of these situations would warrant an emergency C-Section.

If they were able to accomplish a flip with the version, and the baby stayed in position, that would be awesome, the goal would be achieved. However, then we wait for birth to ensue naturally... and the baby would continue to grow in utero. Being that they think I'm a gestational diabetic; this could result in a baby that is too large to deliver naturally... warranting a C-Section delivery.

Option #2: Planned C-Section

I'm sure you all know what a Cesarean Section delivery is. They numb me, put a catheter in, then proceed to cut the abdominal area beneath the uterus and then through the wall of the uterus to deliver the baby surgically.

It is no secret that I hate it when I have independence taken from me. It's also no secret I am not fond of needles, scalpels, etc. So... yea, not really an option I want to face. But the doctor called down and got a tentative schedule for one anyway, just in case my research proved I wouldn't be wanting to do the version.

By early this afternoon, I had decided that I would rather not go through a ECV procedure. There are other factors that I weighed into my decision... the fact that the procedure itself looks like it's painful... and my tendency to get distressed if my heart is beating too fast, even if I know the reason it's doing so. I know this will inhibit my ability to do certain exercises right away - but I will try to get back on track and keep my dietary selections and portions controlled so that I can start down the path to losing weight in the time between this little guy's birth and the conception of our next child (yes, we do plan to have at least one more). The doctor has been called... and the bouncing baby boy will be forever changing our lives on Wednesday July 20, 2011 - 7 days prior to his original due date.

Wish us luck!

The Baby Shower

June 25, 2011 - The Baby Shower

We had a wonderful time at the baby shower that was hosted by my mother-in-law, Linda. She was so concerned about it being perfect for me... which was a moot point because I'm a pretty laid back person.  But we had a lovely shower - despite inclimate weather.


My family from Oklahoma and Wisconsin came over... it was great to have them over and see some of them again. We were impressed with the turn out - it wasn't huge... but it was just right.

We got every large item that was on our list... and the decorative elements for the nursery. We also got lots of clothes and blankets - he's definitely not going to be a naked or cold child! I was humbled by the gifts we received.

We did end up having a few items that were duplications - so we traded them in and one of the large items and finished out almost everything on our registry list. We had originally registered for a co-sleeper bassinet... but I got overwhelmed when we got everything and decided we'd go ahead and return that (we have plenty of things for the little man to sleep in anyway).

Now, we're in a mad dash to the end of the pregnancy... I have to get the items hung up in the nursery and get some of the blankets stored away. I'd like to move the dressers around, but I can't seem to find the motivation to do so... or get Rob to be motivated enough to help.

I can't believe we only have a little over 3 weeks left until the little guy is here!

Weeks 33-36 - Mid/Late Third Trimester

June 6, 2011 - OB Appointment (Week 33)

Weight gained: 23lb

Baby size: 17.2-18.7in, 4.2-5.8lb

Baby heart rate: 124-128bpm

Another excellent progress report from Dr. J! He says everything is looking great - we have an ultrasound with our next appointment. We are going to get an estimate on how big you'll be at birth.

Dr. J thinks you'll be between 8.0 and 8.5 pounds at birth. (Here's to hoping you will be that or slightly smaller! Come on little guy, make this easier on mommy!)

June 9, 2011 - Week 33

Hooray - an end to the stupid heat! (At least for now.) Back to nice, comfy temps and lower humidity. We can take healthy walks in the fresh air again!

One month to go! This is what I'm doing to prepare for baby's arrival:
Getting things finished in the nursery and trying to find some shelves to put stuffed animals on so they are no longer all over the floor.

I think I'm officially nesting! (Chirp, chirp!)

June 16, 2011 - Week 34

Well... it's starting to get humid again (boo!). I guess we couldn't go without it forever. =( Oh well.

Things are still going really well, but my ankles look more like cankles lately due to the humidity. Luckily, there is no cause for concern. The swelling goes down if I elevate them and my blood pressure is still very healthy.

June 22, 2011 - OB Appointment/Ultrasound (Week 35)

Weight gain: 27lb
Baby size: @6.5lb, 15"
Baby heartrate: 140bpm

Everything still looks fine. Heartbeat is still strong. Baby is still a boy and he weighs in at around 6.5 pounds. He just decided on a whim to move into the breech position... but the doctor said there is enough fluid present that he may well move back on his own. (We are hoping this is the case because I really don't want to have the doctor assist him in repositioning... nor do I want a C-section delivery.)

Seeing the ultrasound images was so much fun. He is going to be quite a cutie!

June 23, 2011 - Week 35

People say that my belly looks like: it's ready to pop.
My relatives said they think I'm carrying twins - but we know for a fact we are just carrying one big baby boy.
The baby had managed to flip into the breech position at the last appointment. I had been wondering why the activity had shifted from primarily daytime movement to primarily night time movement. Wow... I never knew I'd have a little party animal!

I experienced a night of rather abrupt movements and the baby seemed to be moving primarily during daylight hours again... I wonder if he's flipped back into the delivery position (crossing fingers).

The baby has the cutest little cheeks! I can't wait to see them in person instead of in the ultrasound photos!!


June 30, 2011 - Week 36
I've had so many people ask me if I'm ready for the baby to be here. Personally, time has passed so quickly, I can hardly believe he'll be here in just 4 weeks! Where did the time go, anyway?

To be honest, I am ready to physically have the little man here. I am ready not for the reasons most people are... not because it's been an uncomfortable pregnancy - because it hasn't... it's honestly been a dream. I'm ready partially because the weather has been nasty humid lately - making it really hard to enjoy the last few weeks... and partially because I just want to hold this little guy. :-)  I know, soon... there isn't much time left now.

Did you finally move to a more desirable position?

The other night, I noticed a great, lurching movement in my belly. I determined it wasn't gas... at it was accompanied by some other smaller movements. The baby had done one of his lurchy moves.

Does this mean he's decided to flip back out of the breech position into the much more desirable head-down position? I certainly hope so. I have noticed some differences in the way you tend to handle things in different positions.

Head Down:
He tends to sleep more during night hours and play/move more during day hours.
The movements of his feet are stronger.

Breech:
He tends to be in reverse - sleeping during the day, hence moving around lots and keeping mommy up late at night.
The movements of his feet aren't as strong.

Lately, it seems he's favoring waking hours during the day and sleeping hours at night... keep it that way and lets' hope that the baby moved to head-down again... so I don't have to have him pushed to the correct position and we can avoid C-Section delivery.

A letter to the baby

To our little man:
I know you love to move around in the warmth of your temporary home... and I can definitely understand wanting to try new vantage points; however, it would be preferred that you reposition yourself to your preferred head-down position prior to the next appointment. Please.
Thank you.

Love,
Mommy

 

He's quite the mover and shaker...

Times of day (and night) that baby moves around most:
He tends to move most when I'm awake and moving around and after I eat. He loves to rustle around down there - I get quite a kick out of it!

More things that seem to trigger baby's movement:
He definitely responds most to spicy, cold and sweet foods. He also tends to respond to my movement - such as when I exercise.

I've actually recognized baby's body parts moving and pushing against my belly (cool!):
He has been head down for most of the pregnancy at this point... so I can tell when his feet push up against my ribs or his hands move around in my lower abdomen. I am starting to be able to feel his elbows and knees as well.

When the term Braxton Hicks entered my vocabulary:
I have some times when I think these mild contractions might be happening... but they aren't very strong. I don't really feel the cramping sensation that was described so much as tightness in my abdomen.

Weeks 29-32 - Mid Third Trimester

May 12, 2011 - Week 29

More thing(s) that I miss from life-before-the-belly:
Walking sans waddle and normal undies

We just returned from the cruise. Bummer, vacation is over! =( The dietician was surprised I was able to manage my diet and sugar levels so well. She said I have naturally fallen into a plan that meets their guidelines. Yay!

May 18, 2011 - OB Appointment (Week 30)

Weight gain: 20lb
Baby size: 15.2-16.7in, 2.5-3.8lb (FH 30cm)
Baby heart rate: 130-140bpm

Glucose monitoring seems to be going well. The dietician looked at my notes and test results and commended me for my efforts. Dr. J is also happy with the progress.

We just returned from our cruise and now I can't wait until April 2012 when we get to take baby with us on our Western Caribbean Cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy. =) We are so fortunate to be able to take these trips with you - as someone always stays at our house to watch it while we're gone.

May 19, 2011 - Week 30

Dr. J actually said he's not certain I am actually diabetic and that the monitoring was a "better safe than sorry" situation. It's nice to know that he thinks they may have overreacted a bit. We discussed how healthy you are - and the amount of movement you do... I told him I don't really bother with kick counts so much as long as I feel baby move throughout the day - mostly because baby moves most of the day.

I discussed with him my desire to lose 20-40 pounds between this baby and our next one (we are going to wait a year and then try for a second). It will be a lot of hard work, but I know I can do it...and it will definitely be worth it!

Sarah O. said I grew larger on the cruise. :-) She's so funny!

May 26, 2011 - Week 31

I am now most comfortable sleeping:
on my side

I am now getting up to pee 1-2 times per night.

Somewhere along the way, my belly has grown larger! It's so cool to see baby boy moving and to feel him reaching and stretching!

June 2, 2011 - Week 32

I can't believe how humid it has been! It is going to get worse before it gets better, I'm afraid. Darn you, Mother Nature! I guess I need to invest in some shorts and tank tops.

Even growing up in Oklahoma didn't prepare me for this added discomfort. Hello shorts, I love you! (I have to do something to keep us both somewhat cool.)

Daycare woes...

Way back in January, we asked a family friend that runs a daycare if she would take on our little man. Her answer was an enthusiastic yes... but she wouldn't have an opening until November 2, 2011. That's great... my mom was planning on coming up to spend some time with us and help out - I'm pretty sure she would happily move her trip dates so that she can assist until the daycare is ready.

This morning, the provider wrote me a note to inform me that one of her existing mommies is "unexpectedly pregnant and due in February." So, we have been bumped and she will no longer have the room in her daycare to watch our little guy. GRR - back to the drawing board it is. (I've had as much of this plan changing and disappointment as I can handle for the year!)

Weeks 25-28 - Early Third Trimester

April 14, 2011 - Week 25

I feel compelled to talk about my pregnancy:
anytime, with anyone who happens to ask.

This has been such a magical process. I have gone from hopelessness to nervousness to being completely elated. I can't believe we're nearing the final weeks!

April 15 - OB Appointment
(Week 25)

Weight gained: 18lb
Baby Size: 13.6-14.8", about 1.5-2.2lb
Baby heart rate: 136-144bpm

Everything is looking great! I'm remaining healthy and gaining weight at a healthy rate... which means baby is growing at a steady and healthy pace.

The baby is a very strong little man... and he LOVES to move. He has recently shifted from mostly daytime movements to moving more at night as well. (I think he's going to be like his Uncle Tony... a night owl). I hope he'll be strong and healthy on the outside... because he sure does pack a punch!

If, by chance, I haven't noticed baby move in a while, he is very responsive to ice cold water or sweets. It's kind of funny sometimes because he'll get the hiccups and it feels like a little rhythmic earthquake in my belly.

I had a blood glucose challenge test today... I fear the results will be horrible because I didn't get to sleep much last night. Yep... the results were what they consider a failure, so I have a wonderful 3-hour glucose tolerance test Monday - yuck!

April 18 - Glucose Tolerance Test

Well, that was pleasant... NOT. I had to drink twice the amount of the nasty glucose liquid stuff... which tasted like 7-up with Sweet Tarts dissolved into it... and I failed the test again. I was given a glucose monitor and taught how to use it... now I just have to figure out the different guidelines as I don't get to see a dietician until May 13.

April 21, 2011 - Week 26

Our journey is starting to get closer to the end... we're beyond the halfway point! The baby is still active and healthy and I'm doing everything I can to make sure things stay that way. This little guy has no idea how much we love him... and we have yet to even meet him.

Drat - they declared me as having gestational diabetes. I get to do daily blood monitoring now... which stinks since I love needles so much.

April 28, 2011 - Week 27

Right now my husband is feeling a little:
Overprotective and ecstatic.

Vacation is growing ever closer! In a few days, we get to go on a 7-day cruise from Vancouver through part of Alaska. We will be aboard the Disney Wonder... we've seen that ship before and we love it. Neither of us can wait.. one day, we'll share this magic with our little man in tow!

May 5, 2011 - Week 28

We're finally on the cruise! Alaska is so beautiful... and magical. I never dreamed I would enjoy this trip this much.

You seem to like riding on trains, planes and ships. You've been happily moving. It's a good thing, too, we love to travel!

The Baby Shower

Our baby shower is quickly approaching - it will be this weekend. Originally, there were over 20 people who RSVP'd but a good part of them have backed off due to "prior engagements that suddenly came up". It's disappointing, but what can you do?

The shower is this Saturday (June 25)... hopefully the weather will hold up.

My Big Fat Public Pregnancy

People seem compelled to touch you:
I mind. I'm not a touchy feely person... and I definitely don't like strangers touching me.

First time a total stranger put his/her hand on my belly:
Thankfully, this has not happened as of yet. I did have a man tell me my "bags" were nice... weirdo.

First time someone gave up their seat for me and my big belly on the bus/subway (or performed some other act of kindness):
People do this? I don't use public transit - it's just easier to drive. I don't recall when the first time was that someone actually did something random and kind for me... I believe it might have been when we were on our cruise in May.

Pregnancy Education

Prenatal Birth Preparation Class
A 6-Week Crash Course

So, we're almost finished with our Prenatal Birth class... Wednesday is the last class! I'm so excited that it's finally ending. I don't know that I can even say it has been very useful - other than showing different types of breathing and distraction techniques.

I really think they should reevaluate the course and chop it down to 3 (maybe 4) sessions instead of 6. It's a 2-hour class that spans 6 weeks... and I don't think we've really gained much at all. Oh well. You live some, you learn some.

Second Trimester Round-Up

Music that I (we) have been listening to lately:
80s music, current music and some Disney and country (pretty much the usual).

Recent movie I've seen:
Gnomeo & Juliet

Book I'm reading right now:
The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Top news story right now:
Earthquake and Japan tsunami, Charlie Sheen's breakdown, Wisconsin legislature

Weeks 21-24 - Late Second Trimester

March 17, 2011 - Week 21

I'm most comfortable sleeping: on my side.

I now get up to pee about 1 time a night.

So far, pregnancy has been a breeze (knock on wood). Only 4 months are left in this part of the journey - I can't believe how quickly time has passed! But, don't worry, the baby's nursery is almost ready - the closet is clean and filled with clothing and shoes... and the bedroom is just about ready for baby to come home.

March 22, 2011 - OB Appointment
(Week 22)

Weight gained: 12.5lb
Baby size: 10.5-11.8", 12.7-20.8oz
Baby heart rate: 136 bpm

Nothing terribly exciting to report this time - the appointment was awesome (as usual). Yay!

March 24, 2011 - Week 22

The little guy is about 4.5 to 5 days larger than his gestational age... baby hasn't slowed down yet. That technically pushes us into week 23... I'm hoping you'll slow down at some point... wow.

I'm feeling baby a lot more now. He's still facing the back... so it's sometimes a little difficult to feel the movements.

The crib has arrived and is assembled! It's so different having baby furniture in the nursery at long last! I had to order a new curtain rod with monkey finials to complete the room. We're currently awaiting their arrival so the valance can finally be hung. Such a lucky little boy; the drawers and closet are absolutely packed with things for him... and he has the best furniture money can buy.

March 31, 2011 - Week 23

The end of the trimester is nearing quickly. Wow... time sure flies by! It's a good thing I'm such a planner... because the baby room is almost completely set up and we're on track in there. :)

April 7, 2011 - Week 24

Vacation is fast approaching... yikes! I've spent so much time getting the room ready for baby... I should really start looking for some things to wear on vacation!

I get a kick out of you already (quiz)

Week that I first felt you in my belly:
At about week 15 - between 15 and 16. At first, I didn't know if it was you or not... but as you grew, I realized it had to be our little dancer moving around.

A description of this new sensation:
It varies from small effervescent flutters to large, lurchy feelings - depending on what you're doing. It's so strange... yet so surreal.

First time I felt you hiccup in my belly:
Around week 17 I felt little rhythmic "bumps" that I assume were your tiny hiccups. So wild!

Week that you started to kick noticeably harder:
Around week 16 or 17. You've been an extremely strong kicker so far - people can see my belly lurch when you kick!

Times of day you move around most:
You move most of the day - especially after I eat meals or snacks!

I've noticed that these things seem to trigger you to kick or wiggle around:
Me exercising - are you trying to exercise with me?
Eating spicy food.
Drinking cold/sweet liquids or eating cold/sweet foods.

Boy or girl? To know or not to know (Quiz)

People say I am carrying: low
Everyone thinks you are: a girl
Personally, I think you are: a boxer!

My thoughts about finding out if you are a girl or boy before you are born:
I have never been good at waiting for some things. Especially things that require large amounts of change... I'm too much of a planner to leave everything up for surprise endings. People tell me I should wait and be surprised, but I just can't wait. I have to know!!

My husband/partner: agrees with me

This is how we'll compromise:
Hopefully we'll find out if you're a girl or boy at our 18-week appointment. We will keep it between us until our 20-week.

March 1, 2011 - OB Appointment - Anatomy Workup (Week 18)

Weight gained: 9lb (I told the midwife she didn't need to worry!)
Baby size: @5", 11oz
Baby heart rate: 141 bpm

Everything is looking great - the baby continues to be extremely active. I'm so excited to be having a little boy! I was a little sister to two big brothers, and I can honestly say that I was hoping a boy would come first. He's looking healthy and strong - all of the appropriate limbs are formed correctly and in their appropriate locations. I can't wait to finally hold him!

The ultrasound tech said that he appears to be about 4-5 days larger than his gestational age... oh please, don't be a monstrous sized baby!!!

Weeks 17-20 : Mid Second Trimester

February 17, 2011 - Week 17

My appetite is currently the size of: Rhode Island (that's the smallest option listed).

Thankfully, the baby has yet to make much of an impact on my appetite. I just try to eat foods that will pack the most nutritional bang for their buck.

We are awaiting the arrival of the baby's crib. It was ordered from JCPenney and they said around 7-14 business days to delivery. My mom and dad bought it on their last visit.

Once the crib arrives, the mattress will be purchased and the nursery will be close to complete :). We have baby's clothes unpacked, washed and ready to go - he is going to be one very well-dressed little guy.

February 24, 2011 - Week 18

The next appointment with OB is the anatomy workup.... and it's only 5 days away! (I can't believe how time is flying by!!) Will we be lucky enough to find out what we're having? (I sure hope so!)

March 3, 2011 - Week 19

The things I miss most from life-before-the-belly: wine with dinner!

I'm so-o excited! A couple of days ago, we had the anatomy workup and found out what the baby is... I am happy to be having a healthy baby boy! The ultrasound went well... now we can start to decorate!!

March 10, 2011 - Week 20

I'm starting to feel the star kicker more & more. They say I should start counting kicks soon... but I wonder if I need to since the little bundle of energy moves around so much during the day. I can't even describe how amazing it feels!!

I spent a lot of time in the first trimester wondering when I'd finally start showing... now, all of a sudden, it seems like I woke up one day and BAM! There was a belly that came from out of nowhere! It's so amazing!

A few clothes-ing remarks (Quiz)

When I wore my very first maternity outfit:
March 11, 2011. While I had worn maternity jeans before, March 11 it was necessary to wear my first actual maternity outfit to work.

My favorite maternity outfit is:
I love my yoga pants! They are so comfortable... and versatile. I also love my two embroidered tops - they are so cute and they go with whatever I decide to wear with them.

I borrowed maternity clothes from:
No one. I don't really have anyone to borrow them from.

Record number of days in a row I wore the same heinous pair of stretch pants:
I don't wear stretch pants - not now... not ever. I don't even own any. :)

February 8, 2011 - OB Appointment - (Week 16)

Weight gain: 8lb

Baby size: 4.6", 3.5oz

Baby heart rate: 142 bpm

We didn't get to do an ultrasound this time. :( The midwife was the appointment facilitator - she's just a bundle of happiness to deal with. Definitely not one of my favorite people at all!

The midwife first decided she needed to get onto me about my weight. "We only want you to gain 15 pounds the entire pregnancy." was her recommendation. I promptly informed her I was told from the get-go that 25-30 pounds would be okay... and that I should focus on trying to stay closer to the 25 pound range. I realize she wants me to be healthy, but Dr. Johansen says everything is fine... since he is the one with the MD/OB behind his name... I'm thinking she should be on his page instead of trying to make me conform to her opinion.

She asked what I tend to eat as snacks and I told her it's usually stuff like fruit or nuts because they are easiest for me to pack up and carry along. She made it sound like I should avoid fruit at all cost because it contains sugar. Yes, it does... but natural sugars that are contained in fruit are a lot easier for your body to break down and process. (Oh, and by the way, most everything you eat contains some form of sugars. It's just better to stick with the ones with more natural sugars as opposed to those with added, processed sugars.)

Her last tidbit was that first-time mommies don't usually feel the baby moving until around the 20th week of gestation. Funny that she asked me if I'd felt the baby move prior to this tidbit. If what you're telling me is the case, why not wait to see if I ask when I will feel movement instead of leading me in and getting my answer to shoot it down. Ugh... this is going to be a long pregnancy if I have to deal with her shenanigans too much.

On to better news, things have been really easy so far. The baby is so active! I've been trying to avoid eating too many sugary and fatty foods for both of our own good. I want to make sure this little rock star is getting the best and healthiest foods possible to get it off to a great start nutrition-wise. I have also read that the baby will be able to taste the flavors of the foods I eat in the amniotic fluid... so I try to introduce a variety of different flavors.

Weeks 13-16 : Early Second Trimester

January 20, 2011 - Week 13

My mood swings are: nonexistent (I'm not really a moody person... never have been.)

We've started making plans to set up the nursery. We don't know what we're having yet, but I have chosen a gender-neutral jungle theme. The walls are already painted a kind of yellow-beige color... so the color scheme that goes with jungles will fit perfectly.

I can't wait to pick out furniture and start getting things set up! My mom and dad want to buy the crib and changing table - and it's rumored mom has already picked out the perfect bedding ensemble for the nursery.

January 26, 2011 - Week 14

Only 26 weeks left, it sure seems like time is flying!!

We've begun to get things organized so we can make the house safe for a new baby. We've cleaned the closet in the nursery... and started working on how to rearrange the furniture. The next step is to clean the carpet... but we can't do that until spring finally rears its head so we can open the windows for the carpet to dry more rapidly.

February 3, 2011 - Week 15

Now that the hormones have really kicked in, my hair is: lustrous and full (it seems even moreso than usual.)

No huge changes as of yet. I have felt what I think were the baby's movements, but the midwife said new (first-time) mommies don't usually feel baby so soon. She's such a Negative Nellie... or as John would say, a Sally Cranberry... I hope we don't have to see her much more.

Feeling what I believe is the baby moving around is one of the most exciting and happy feelings! I absolutely love it, and it makes me smile every time it happens.

February 10, 2011 - Week 16

The baby is starting to move a little more. I find it particularly funny as it is trying to find a good spot and I feel the lurch as it flips over. :)

Au revoir, jeans... au revoir any semblance of a waist (Quiz)

When I more or less popped:
At about 18 weeks my normal clothes started feeling a little snug - we'll be shopping soon! I didn't really truly pop until around week 20-21. I remember waking up one day and thinking "holy cow, what happened to my belly?!"

If and when my belly button popped:
It hasn't yet.

I'm starting to feel like:
Humpty Dumpty

More thoughts about getting big:
As of yet, I'm not that big at all. I'm afraid the doctor is going to yell at me about my weight if I don't keep an eye on myself.

My exercise regime:
WiiFit step aerobics at least 4x a week. I up the duration when it gets easier. I can't wait to walk outside when it's warmer out!!

First Trimester Round-Up

Music that I (we) have been listening to lately:
Anything and everything - particularly the usual 80s and soundtracks.

Recent movie I've seen:
How to Train Your Dragon

Book I'm reading:
The Strain by Chuck Hogan

Top news story at the moment:
The Arizona shootings (January 8th)

"Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. 

It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body."

~Elizabeth Stone

Weeks 9-12 – Late First Trimester

"A baby is born with a need to be loved -- and never outgrows it."

~Frank A. Clark

December 23, 2010 – Week 9

We have officially made our first road trip to Oklahoma. I’m surprised I’m feeling so good after a 13-hour car ride! Everyone here is so excited that you’re on your way.

We made a drive down to Oklahoma to visit my side of the family for Christmas. The only concern for the doctor was that we stop every 2-3 hours and make sure I get up and walk around a bit. I was game for doing that – as long as I got to see everyone.

The road trip was rather uneventful – but we had a great time with the family. I couldn’t believe at that time that it would just be a few short months before we were welcoming a new member to the family. 

I remember being particularly nervous because I usually have to take Dramamine to allow myself to read or do crafts in the car, otherwise I get motion sickness. The Dr. J had suggested we try Sea Bands instead since they don’t like you taking Dramamine when pregnant. Reluctantly, I went and bought a set of the bands.

The morning of the trip, I put the Sea Bands on and remember telling Rob I doubted they would work. But they worked so well! I was up the entire trip to Oklahoma… playing on the computer, reading and doing cross stitch projects. It was awesome! (Rob liked it, too… I was able to keep him company.)

December 30, 2010 – Week 10

My pants: still fit!

I’m feeling a lot better lately. For the past couple of weeks, taking the prenatal vitamin in the morning hasn’t been working so well. Thank goodness my brother told me it would go better if I took it before bed… he was right!

Since adjusting the time of taking the vitamin, I have felt better… the mild nausea has gone away completely.

January 5, 2011 – First OB Appointment

Weight gained: 4lb

Baby size:  @1.6 inches, about .25oz

Baby Heart Rate: 167 bpm

Do you know you’re a miracle? There are so many children in this world that are not wanted… we wanted you so badly we went through this elaborate process to conceive you. You’re a miracle… and we vow to love you and nurture you all the days of our lives.

During this appointment, we were able to actually hear your heart beating for the first time. It was such a miracle!

Just when I didn’t think my heart could possibly swell any more, today it literally melted as your heart thumped happily. Then, when you moved, I was just amazed – to see your little arms and legs moving as I laughed was nothing short of amazing.

Every time you moved, I would laugh. Then you would move again and a vicious cycle began. Dr. J commented that it was like Valley Fair for infants. I could tell you were enjoying the ride…. I think we all enjoyed it!

My nerves are finally starting to subside – you have such a strong heart rate… and you sure do like to move.

January 6, 2011 – Week 11

Things have been rather uneventful lately. They say it’s too early to feel you moving around, but there are times when I wonder if it’s you that I feel anyway. The estimate is that you’re slightly larger than your gestational age (just 2-3 days).

January 13, 2011 – Week 12

This week officially marks the end of the first trimester. We made it! I feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful first trimester.

Only 6 months left!

Now we can tell everyone else: wait, is there anyone else to tell? We kind of told everyone once we heard your heart beating and saw you moving for the first time.

December 10, 2010 - The Day My Heart Melted

Our final appointment with Reproductive Endocrinology was December 10. I had an ultrasound then a meeting with the doctor to review everything and "graduate" me to the OB side of the practice. I was not prepared to feel my heart absolutely melt on that day.

Our appointment was during lunch. I was instructed to get prepared and lay on the table.What would thankfully be the last internal scan. We both watched the monitor as the ultrasound technician delicately located the baby. She informed us that the heartbeat would not be legible, however it would be visible as a tiny flicker on the screen. That's when we saw it for the first time, the tiny starlight twinkle of the tiny little heart. It was pure magic.

I almost cried when the reality of the culmination of all of our efforts hit me - there it was... our baby. Our little miracle. It was so surreal. (I think it took weeks for it to really sink in.)

We were taken to the OB appointment desk and set up an appointment for January 4. We would meet our OB Dr. Johansen that day for the first time. What a bizarre feeling - in a good way.

So, off we went to work... having seen the tiny flicker of life within my womb... armed with the very first ultrasound images we would receive on this magical journey.

“A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.”
~Carl Sandburg

Weeks 5-8 – Mid First Trimester

"A babe in the house is a well-spring of pleasure, 
a messenger of peace and love, 
a resting place for innocence on earth, 
a link between angels and men."
~Martin Fraquhar Tupper

November 25, 2010 – Week 5

It’s still so surreal – I can’t believe I’m pregnant. I am almost afraid someone is going to pinch me and wake me up, thus ending this splendid dream. I am so excited!

December 2, 2010 – Week 6

My energy level has been:
relatively normal (I’m too excited to be tired!)

I can’t wait until the December 10 appointment when we finally get to see the baby for the first time! I think they said we should be able to see the heartbeat, but the baby will be too small to hear it beating just yet. We will also find out if one or both embryos took.

Once we go through the ultrasound and meet with the department chair, we are officially considered “graduated” from the Reproductive Endo group… at least for this time around. I still can’t believe we’re finally going to be parents!!

December 9, 2010 – Week 7

Tomorrow is the big day… the first time we get to see how you’re doing and just how many of you there are growing inside my womb!

I can’t even begin to express how excited I was to find out what to expect in 9 months… well, at least part of the story. We were both excited.

December 10, 2010 – First Ultrasound

My weight gain – 2 lb

Estimated size of baby – 1/3 of 1-inch long

Baby heart rate – 143 bpm

There were so many questions! How to tell everyone? What should the nursery look like? When do we find out if you’re a girl or a boy? The list is endless!!!

It is nearly impossible to describe the feelings that washed over me the first time we saw the tiny twinkle of your heart beating. I had to write a separate post about it… let’s suffice to say it was nothing short of magic – a miracle!

December 16, 2010 – Week 8

My complexion this week is: glowing

It’s still sinking in how tiny you are. I have no visible body changes at this time… but I’m sure that will all come along in due time.

I’m still frightened that something could happen and at any point we could go in for an appointment and get horrible news that you’re no longer there. I’ve actually had dreams about this… and it frightens me to tears. (I know, hormones, right?)

Pregnancy Weeks 1-4 – Early first Trimester

Even in our case, they count back to 2 weeks prior to the transfer date to get the actual date of conception. I don’t know why they feel compelled to do this, as there is actually no way that anyone can be pregnant. Oh well, it is what it is!

October 28, 2010 - Week 1

This is the actual date of conception they have listed in my records. It was somewhere around this date that we actually started doing some of the shots… so I suppose the ramping up to the retrieval stage had already begun. The long and short of the entire process was that the shots sucked – but I’m not a needle person – there was some discomfort as we neared the retrieval period, but it wasn’t unbearable.

November 3, 2010 - Week 2

The retrieval date – as stated in a prior post. I was told there would be discomfort/pain. I didn’t really feel much pain at all after the procedure was finished… I suppose I’m just lucky?

November 5, 2010

The transfer date. It was a beautiful morning, and I was sooo excited to get things rolling. We saw a couple we’d seen the Sunday prior in the waiting room – they looked just as unhappy today as they did Sunday. (Sad, you’d think a person would be ecstatic that they were getting ready to go through what could be a miracle in the making.)

We made it through the transfer and I was on bed rest for the remainder of the day to make sure the embryos had the best possible chance of taking. It was absolutely BORING to be on bed rest – and I found myself hoping and praying I would have a very healthy pregnancy and not get put on bed rest again… I don’t think I could possibly make it through a longer stint of bed rest.

November 11, 2010 - Week 3

At this point, we were still anxiously awaiting the blood tests. I tell you, it was the longest 7 days I had ever experienced in my life… and there were still 7 days to go! Ugh! Give a girl a break already!!

We were so excited to see the outcome – yet very anxious that it wouldn’t work the first time. Even though the goal of our specialist was to get me pregnant… that doesn’t mean it has to work on the very first try. Here’s to hoping my great health helps us out!

November 18, 2010 - Week 4

My current disposition: sunshine and happiness

We had the first of two blood tests yesterday. My HCG level was at 115! Yay! They are looking for the number to at least double by tomorrow.

November 19, 2010

The second blood test was today. My HCG level more than doubled! It was 239! They have officially declared the transfer a success – I’m pregnant! YAY!!! I can hardly believe it!

I honestly didn’t know at this point whether I should be jumping for joy or shaking in my shoes! It was such a new feeling… and there were so many different emotions surrounding me. All I could think was to hope and pray that everything stayed happy and the pregnancy progressed healthily.

"Every child begins the world again."

~Henry David Thoreau

Can someone please hold back my hair...

"Every child born into the world is a new thought of God, an ever-fresh and radiant possibility."
~Kate Douglas Wiggin

One of the biggest fears I had of pregnancy was that I would experience tons of morning sickness... and everyone knows I HATE getting sick. I am well known for brushing my teeth if I get sick... so the idea of having to carry a toothbrush with me and brush my teeth several times a day was something I dreaded.

All the fun and gory details about morning (noon) (night) sickness:
I only experienced very mild nausea... but it was easily abated by eating a small snack (such as a granola bar). This was very short lived because once I discovered the art of taking prenatal vitamins before bed, I said goodbye to any type of nausea.

Times of day when I feel the worst:
IF I got "sick", it was normally between meals. I found eating a small snack between meals actually got rid of any nausea all together.

My stomach churns at the mere scent of: Nothing really causes me to feel ill from smelling it. The only things that have succeeded in making me feel a little ill were the smell of any type of nicotene related smoke, strong car exhaust or fast food joints that offer a variety of foods that don't smell appetizing together.

Foods that generally calm my belly:
Crackers, fruit, granola bars, milk, yogurt.

Cravings & Aversions - The First Trimester:
Cravings: Peanut Butter, spicy food, fruit
Aversions: None.

My philosophy when it comes to cravings:
give the belly what it wants, everyone is much happier that way.
The weirdest food craving I've had so far: 
I haven't really had odd cravings. Well, nothing I don't usually get a taste for once in a while.

Congratulations! You're Pregnant (a questionnaire)

Where and when I took the home pregnancy test:
I did a home pregnancy test November 20, 2010. We didn't want to take it and run the chance of a false negative or positive prior to the blood tests, so we waited until the pregnancy was confirmed.

First reaction when I realized I was pregnant:I knew I was pregnant prior to taking the home test. The first blood test was November 17, 2010. HCG levels that day were measured at 115. I was elated, but in a state of disbelief. (We'd been trying so long, it seemed like a dream). The confirmation blood test was on November 19, 2010 and HCG levels were measured at 239 - so we were officially declared pregnant at that time!

How I told my hubby:
He was the one who called Lab Talk to get the results, so he actually told me!

Reaction:
We were both elated. (It was surreal for quite some time.) We were almost in a state of shock or disbelief.

Who we told right away and their reactions:
We told immediate family (parents and siblings) first. They were all so excited! I had no idea either of our brothers would be so excited to become uncles.

Is this your first baby:
Yes.

When did you tell your friends/coworkers:
Most of them have known from the beginning, but we will tell those we don't know after our first meeting with the OB on January 5th. It's still so surreal... I want to see the baby one more time before the big announcement!

About Your Pregnancy - A Quiz

“Pregnancy defined is : Getting company inside one’s skin.”
~Maggie Scarf

Was your pregnancy planned or a surprise?  I'm sure you can all guess this wasn't a surprise. We planned it - but it was a surprise that it actually took on the first try.

When did you begin to think about having this baby?  We had been trying since 2008 to get pregnant. When things weren't working, we decided to enlist some assistance in 2010.

When did you first suspect you were pregnant?  I had a dream on November 9, 2010. I was standing in front of a mirror and my reflection showed me about 8 months pregnant.

When your pregnancy was confirmed, how did you react?  I was absolutely elated, I had to share the news with my close friends and immediate family right away.

How long did it take to become pregnant? Did it seem quick or slow?  Overall, it took us 2 1/2 years. We tried on our own for quite a while before seeing a specialist to try to narrow down the issue. Once we started the actual IVF process, it seemed like it took right away.

What is the best thing about being pregnant?  1) Knowing we will soon be welcoming a new member into our family. He is such a miracle... we can't wait. 2) Feeling the baby move and hiccup - I never thought I could be this happy.

What challenges do you face in this pregnancy?  As far as I know, there are no challenges that I face. The only potential issue is Gestational Diabetes... and I know it's going to be a struggle to convince them that I am not a diabetic, just like it was with my family med doctor.

Who was the first to know you were pregnant and what were their reactions?  The absolute first person to know was Rob. He was the one who called labtalk - so he even knew before I did.  He was as excited as I was.  We told our immediate family and friends who are like family first - they were all very excited for us.


What was the first thing you bought specifically for this baby?  A set of monkey-themed onesies.

What hopes and dreams do you have for your baby?  I hope he will pursue an edcucation and find success, true love, and complete happiness as I have. I also hope he's a lot like me in that he sleeps well early on.

What are the most important qualities you can nurture as a parent?  Honesty, integrity, determination, faith, hope, love, sacrifice, family and sharing/giving.

What were the best things about your parents as parents?  My parents taught me so many things - they were a constant source of faith, support, selflessness, sacrifice and unconditional love.

What role do you see your family playing in your baby's life?  Both of our families will be a big part of our children's lives. We are fortunate to have amazing people on both sides of our family.

Have you picked out any names? What names would you consider?  We already know exactly what we want to name the little man. He's going to be such a special little guy.

Are there any names to which you would say "Absolutely not!"?  Yes. Those belonging to Greek gods or those that are too dated.

Do you want to know as soon as you can if it's a boy or a girl? Why or why not? Yes because I'm a planner and I like to be prepared.

What one thing do you want your baby to be sure to have that you didn't? There was little I didn't have as a child. I honestly can't think of anything to put down for an answer.

Whose facial and physical characteristics do you want your baby to inherit? I hope he inherits equally from both sides - I do hope he favors my eldest brother at least a little bit.

Whose emotional and personality characteristics do you want your baby to inherit? I hope he inherits equally from both of us, we're both really even-keel, laid back, and happy.

What tasks do you need to accomplish before the baby is born? I want to finish some little projects I designed with the baby in mind, finish his baby book, and figure out how to organize his nursery (that is quite a chore, as it turns out).

Now the Fun Really Begins

"Something worth having is something worth waiting for."
~Unknown

After the transfer was completed, we had to wait an excruciating 14 days to find out the result of the transfer.  14 days! Now, to most this may not seem like a very long time at all. What's 14 days? It's 2 full weeks... half a month... to us, it seemed like an eternity.

I think we were both a bundle of endless emotions. What ifs ran through our minds like water over a waterfall. We read more internet forums and tried to keep our hopes up.

There was one night, about 1 week after the transfer, that Rob worked a later shift in Plainview. While waiting for him to come home, I put Apollo's boots on and sent him out to go potty. He got out on the deck and it was all glare ice, so I asked him to come back inside and I took him out the front door instead.


Walking along the side of the house, he stuck right by my side... when we got to the fence gate, he didn't want to go in without me. I walked inside the gate to get him inside and told him to go potty. All the while, he kept his eyes on me.

Normally, when he finishes, I tell him to go to the garage and he takes off ahead of me and waits by the garage entrance to the house until I get there. Not this night. This night, he refused to leave my side, even going so far as to sit in front of me until I put his leash back on. This was rather odd, but I didn't think anything of it.

November 16:

The day before our first blood test (Nov. 17 was the first test), a friend of mine wrote me that she was pregnant. Now, don't get me wrong... I was ecstatic for her... but I was so frightened that the procedure we were awaiting testing on was not going to work it made it hard to express my excitement.

Let me explain: Waiting for 14 days was the longest wait I have ever endured. I was a bundle of nervous energy. The what ifs were just attacking my brain from every direction... and my inner turmoil was at an inexplicable height. The wait was almost over. But I was still worried.

After dinner, I went downstairs and Bella (our cat) was right in front of me. She sat down in front of my feet and looked up at me with her concerned blue eyes, so I bent down and picked her up. She proceeded to cuddle up on my right shoulder and purr-coo in my ear for several minutes. I must not have realized how tense I was, because I immediately started to shed some tears - which freaked Rob out when he came downstairs. (How do animals know exactly what to do to make you feel better?)

The morning of November 17, we got up early and came in to the hospital. I went in to get a blood draw and then came to work. A few hours later, an excited Rob was standing by my desk.

Me (looking up at Rob's face): What's up, hon?
Rob: I just called lab talk and the results were there.
Me: Well, spill it, what's the verdict?
Rob: Positive. You're pregnant!
Me: OMG - what? Are you kidding me?

So yes, the first result was positive. I was scheduled for a follow-up blood test on November 19 - as they can have a false positive. Normally, the second test is followed with an ultrasound, but they must have found the HCG levels in my blood test to be more than sufficient because the November 19 blood test came and went and we were declared officially pregnant and scheduled to come in a few weeks later (December 10) for a final follow up and ultrasound with the Reproductive Endocrinology team.

Transfer Date Arrives!!

Flashback November 5, 2010:

Another appointment to attend. This time, it was a beautiful day in November... and we discussed our anticipations and hopes as we walked from the parking ramp to the check-in counter. Today was the big day... transfer day.

To those who don't have a clue what I'm talking about... this was the day they had scheduled to transfer embryos into my uterus. Prior to this point, we had done a retrieval and they had fertilized the eggs and kept them safe.. now it was time to see if we would be one of the fortunate couples who achieved pregnancy on the first try at a transfer. We had chosen to have the transfer done after 2 days, rather than 5. This being said, there was about a 40% chance of success on a live transfer. (The odds on a blastocyst transfer are higher, but we were skeptical about trying to take it out to 5 days just in case... in hind sight, I'm glad skepticism had us choose the first option.)

After check in, we were taken to our room for the morning so I could change and prepare for the procedure. This time, Rob would be allowed to accompany me to the procedure room, so he was given some scrubs to change into. I got ready and the nurse came in to take my vitals and get some more information prepared for the procedure. I remember the nurse saying "This is an absolutely beautiful day to get pregnant." I thought that was an incredibly sweet thing for her to say - considering I was almost scared that something would happen and the procedure wouldn't take on the first try. (No thanks to the internet and reading some stories from different couples who had been through many cycles of medication and still not achieved pregnancy.)

We were taken down to the preparation area and the process was explained for what seemed like the millionth time... but it's always good to be informed. For those of you who haven't ever been through something like this, the process is nothing short of amazing.

It was time to go into the procedure room where things were reviewed one more time and Dr. Jensen asked if we wanted to modify the original plan due to the low number of embryos. I told her that, with my luck, I would end up carrying three sets of twins if I had her put all three embryos in, so I declined the third and we opted to have it frozen - despite the fact that a vast majority of eggs don't survive the freezing procedure. I said a quick prayer that my guardian angel would protect the embryo and see that it made it through, and we were off.

When you do a transfer like this, the procedure is very intricate. A person from the lab was on hand to load a teensy catheter with the two embryos that were prepared for them to transfer. The catheter was literally as thin as a strand of hair - and to think, an embryo is THAT tiny when it first finds its way into the uterus... holy cow! We watched the monitor in wonder as they performed the procedure. I remember saying "Okay both of you make yourselves at home... we're in this for the long haul!"

Throughout the procedure, Dr. Jensen and the staff members were chatting jovially with us - we were discussing Disney Cruise vacations and how enjoyable we find them. After the procedure was completed, we were taken back to our room.

I had to lay flat for an hour. Now, I neglected to state earlier that one of the requirements for the transfer was that I come in with either a partially full or full bladder... so you can imagine the prospect of waiting another hour... Once the hour was up, the nurse came in and said I had to do three things before I was released to go home... #1 go to the restroom, #2 eat and drink something, #3 walk around. Let me tell you, I was famished and in a definite NEED to go to the restroom, so I knocked two of those out right away. After a brief walk around the unit, I was released to go home.

A day of bed rest lay ahead of me... I'm not a great candidate for bed rest, but I had Rob on hand to remind me of the importance of taking it easy ... so I was a good girl for the remainder of the day, despite being incredibly bored.

Retrieval or Round Up?

Flashback November 3, 2010:

We arrived at the hospital bright and early for a 6:30 am appointment. Not sure why they asked us to go in so early when I didn't go into the procedure room until almost 9:30, but it was all good. I was a bundle of emotions - and certainly there was some anxiety involved.

They wheeled me down to the preparation area and explained what would happen in the procedure room. They also put a shunt in my hand so that they could easily administer anesthesia. I'd never had anesthesia before... but there is a first time for everything. I figured it would be interesting to see what effect it had on me.

Finally, they wheeled me down the hallway and into the sterilized (and incredibly cold) procedure room. They stated I should be able to communicate with the nurses and hear them through the entire procedure right before administering the anesthesia. As I said, this was my first experience with anesthesia... and I don't remember a blasted thing. The last thing I remember was telling them the sensation in my hand had improved from burning to comfort... then I was out cold for the entire procedure.

They brought me to, though I wasn't sure how long the entire procedure had taken, and informed me they had retrieved 13 eggs and everything looked great. They were going to get the eggs to the lab and then Dr. Jensen would be up to speak with us in my room. Then away I went to recovery for a bit before they determined it was okay for me to be taken back to the room where my loving husband was so patiently awaiting my return.

I got back to the room, and Rob was amazed at my alertness after anesthesia. I was wide awake and joking with the nurse by the time I got back to the room. He even asked if I remembered any of the details that they had told me after the procedure - and I spurted out the stuff they had said and that the doctor should be up to discuss things shortly.

After the doctor came up to discuss things with us, the nurse went through the discharge schpiel and we were released to go home. (I was personally surprised that one of the restrictions was that I was not allowed to vacuum for a few weeks... or push or pull things.) I got dressed as quickly as I possibly could... and didn't waste a moment in going out the door and getting home. I was placed on bed rest for a few more hours - but was up and running within a short time after eating a bagel and taking a nap at home.

The next day, we found out only 3 of the eggs retrieved had been successfully fertilized. That wasn't the type of news we'd been hoping for at all. I was kind of bummed about it - as the next best thing they could do if we didn't have luck with a transfer was for me to go back through the process of the shots again. Needless to say, I started praying to any angel that would listen that day... and didn't stop for quite a while.

Beginning a Crazy Ride

Flashback October 2010

In the beginning of October, we began the journey down the IVF Turnpike. For those of you that have never been down that road - I call it a Turnpike because once you pay the initial toll, you have to proceed, and there is no quitting.


First came the medications. I had to take shots - up to three a day - in order to get my ovaries to be hyper-productive. The hormone treatments that were packaged for us were Menopur, Gonal-F and Lupron. Rob, my wonderful husband, braved my winces and gave me the shots each day.

For the first week, the Lupron was administered each morning in the belly. It wasn't so bad - the needle was small... so I hardly felt it. The next week, it was time to begin the Menopur and Gonal-F. Menopur, which is apparently highly volatile in liquid form,  came as a pill and saline... and Rob had fun playing chemist while mixing it. I did not share his excitement as I was the one who had to have the shot (remember, I hate shots). Needless to say, the saline made pain with this one unavoidable - it stung horribly no matter what poor Rob tried... and when they increased the dosage, I wanted to cry. The Gonal-F wasn't a party, either. It came in a pen form... Rob would dial up the proper dosage and you'd hear it click-click-click until the dosage was administered. (At least that and the smell of it were the worst parts - it was relatively painless otherwise.)

After a few bumps and some increases in the medications... we finally reached the day for the HCG trigger shot. Rob took one look, and promptly called our neighbor, Vickie and asked her if she could come over and administer the shot. I didn't know he'd done this until she knocked on the door.

The HCG trigger had to be administered exactly 36 hours prior to the scheduled time of the retrieval... with a margin of error of only 5 minutes on either side. The needle was longer and the dose larger than any of the previous ones we'd used. Vickie, being a former trauma nurse, knew exactly what to do to distract me prior to the shot. I never even felt the needle - nor did I feel the after-effects of the shot (it was supposed to feel like a flu shot on my buttock... I never felt a thing.) As a matter of fact, my flu shot that I took in October hurt worse than this trigger shot that was supposed to feel a lot like, but worse than, a flu shot. (However, I suspect this was because the nurse who gave me the flu shot was peeved that I'd been sent to OB when I was not yet an OB patient.)

You might be wondering how they know when they should administer the HCG trigger shot... well... let me share with you. For the entire time we were doing the shots (Gonal-F/Lupron/Menopur), we were going into the clinic every couple of days to get blood drawn and see what the hormones were doing. We also went into the Rep. Endo clinic several times to do trans-vaginal ultrasounds to do a count on  how effective the medications were on my ovaries and their production levels. What an interesting process - once the productivity was at their desired level, they scheduled us to come in for the retrieval and we were to administer the HCG trigger within the prescribed window of time.

The Journey to a Baby

Flashback to Summer 2010

We'd been trying for what seemed like an eternity to conceive. (In reality it was about 2 years, but we'd tried everything we could think of... and research.) Nothing seemed to be working for us. Frustration was mounting, as was heartache - maybe this life as parents was just something we weren't meant to experience.

Finally, we decided to ask Rob's doctor if she thought we were going in the right direction. She suggested a consult with the Reproductive Endocrinology department at the clinic. This certainly sounded like it was going to be a potentially expensive endeavor - but we both believed it would be worth a shot... I mean, the worst that could happen would be that they'd say there was nothing they could do.

We walked in the first appointment (which we managed to get rather quickly, surprising us both), and the doctor assigned to our case met with us for an hour and discussed the different things that needed to be done. Her name was Dr. Jensen and her final statement was "Our goal is to get you pregnant." (Thank goodness, someone who was going to try every trick in the arsenal before giving up!)

We left the consult meeting with a huge amount of information and more appointments to get tests done and such. I was nervous. What if they came back and said ti was an impossibility? What if the only option we were given was adoption? What ifs just mounted up endlessly.

After testing was complete, we were handed our fate. If we wanted our own child, it would require medical assistance due to a problem with a medical procedure that Rob had as a child that developed scar tissue. Yes, they could possibly surgically repair the damage, but they weren't able to tell us with total confidence that it would adjust the outcome of the problem and make us able to conceive on our own.

A long and frightening road lay ahead of us....