Jax is 5 days old and he's already had 2 photo shoots! The link to the hospital shoot is below - the home shoot was this morning, and we don't have them back yet. We'll be sure to share when we do!
Jaxxon Vann - 1 day old
At some point I'll take the minute (or 30) to write out our tale (or how it begins), but not now.
I just wanted to share our pics!
3mo holding hands
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
The moment we've all been waiting for!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Negative 2 days...
and still no action! Doctor said today that there was no progress...which means nothing really. I could still have him tonight, or we could not see anything until they induce on Monday. We'll just have to wait and see.
Monday was my first day of maternity leave. While I feel like I should have put off my maternity leave another week, I also know that I accomplished more at home this week than I think I have all year! I think my "nesting" phase was stifled with fatigue before and now that I have the whole day I'm nesting like crazy! Evening's are more uncomfortable than mornings, so I'm pretty active until about 3 or 4pm - then I slow down a bit. I can't believe how fast this week has gone, but every night Brian has commented on how much I've accomplished each day. Good thing - because I'm afraid that may come to a grinding halt when I'm trying to keep up with Jax! Hopefully we can find a groove within a few weeks and start accomplishing things again.
We had new carpet installed in the living room on Tuesday. I took the opportunity to really scrub that room. I scrubbed all of the baseboards in the room before they put the carpet in, and once the installer finished and left I took advantage of having a big empty room to put up what few Christmas decorations I was actually getting out this year (I use the term "big" loosely when describing this room. It is not big, but when it's empty it sure feels big!). We aren't putting up a Christmas tree this year. We will be traveling so much between Salina and Iowa and add in there a couple of days in the hospital and we just simply won't be home to enjoy a Christmas tree very much. Then I have to try to find the time to take it all down in January when I'm home alone with Jax all day and trying to figure out exactly which direction is up! So, sadly, there will be no tree this year. There is, however, some decorations. I can't not put up my nativity - it's just too beautiful of a reminder of the true meaning of the season. And stockings have to be hung! Even if Santa will find us in Iowa this year. And for the past 6 years my mom has given me a crystal ornament. I love them. I love seeing how they amplify and reflect the lights around the room. They are some of my very favorite ornaments - so they had to be hung as well. I took this opportunity to change up my usual decorations and add some beaded garland to my bay leaf garland and hung the ornaments from it with some tiny white lights. It's not much, but it really makes me feel festive.
I had some very specific ideas on what I want for birth announcements and Christmas cards this year. Of course, I either couldn't find what I wanted out there or I was not wanting to pay as much as the designers wanted me to! So I decided I would do it myself! I got into my photo editing software and dug in deeper than I've ever done before. I have to say, I love them! I can't wait to see what they look like with pictures! LOL! Now if I can just manage to capture the picture that I have in my head! THAT is the hard part! I have been studying my camera - and practicing - and we have a friend with a bit more experience coming to take some too. Fingers crossed one of us can catch the perfect pictures!
Anyway - I'm sure you really didn't care about my cleaning, decorating, and designing! LOL! But that's about all the excitement around here this week. We'll be sure to let everyone know when he's finally here! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and is looking forward to the rest of the holidays!
Monday was my first day of maternity leave. While I feel like I should have put off my maternity leave another week, I also know that I accomplished more at home this week than I think I have all year! I think my "nesting" phase was stifled with fatigue before and now that I have the whole day I'm nesting like crazy! Evening's are more uncomfortable than mornings, so I'm pretty active until about 3 or 4pm - then I slow down a bit. I can't believe how fast this week has gone, but every night Brian has commented on how much I've accomplished each day. Good thing - because I'm afraid that may come to a grinding halt when I'm trying to keep up with Jax! Hopefully we can find a groove within a few weeks and start accomplishing things again.
We had new carpet installed in the living room on Tuesday. I took the opportunity to really scrub that room. I scrubbed all of the baseboards in the room before they put the carpet in, and once the installer finished and left I took advantage of having a big empty room to put up what few Christmas decorations I was actually getting out this year (I use the term "big" loosely when describing this room. It is not big, but when it's empty it sure feels big!). We aren't putting up a Christmas tree this year. We will be traveling so much between Salina and Iowa and add in there a couple of days in the hospital and we just simply won't be home to enjoy a Christmas tree very much. Then I have to try to find the time to take it all down in January when I'm home alone with Jax all day and trying to figure out exactly which direction is up! So, sadly, there will be no tree this year. There is, however, some decorations. I can't not put up my nativity - it's just too beautiful of a reminder of the true meaning of the season. And stockings have to be hung! Even if Santa will find us in Iowa this year. And for the past 6 years my mom has given me a crystal ornament. I love them. I love seeing how they amplify and reflect the lights around the room. They are some of my very favorite ornaments - so they had to be hung as well. I took this opportunity to change up my usual decorations and add some beaded garland to my bay leaf garland and hung the ornaments from it with some tiny white lights. It's not much, but it really makes me feel festive.
I had some very specific ideas on what I want for birth announcements and Christmas cards this year. Of course, I either couldn't find what I wanted out there or I was not wanting to pay as much as the designers wanted me to! So I decided I would do it myself! I got into my photo editing software and dug in deeper than I've ever done before. I have to say, I love them! I can't wait to see what they look like with pictures! LOL! Now if I can just manage to capture the picture that I have in my head! THAT is the hard part! I have been studying my camera - and practicing - and we have a friend with a bit more experience coming to take some too. Fingers crossed one of us can catch the perfect pictures!
Anyway - I'm sure you really didn't care about my cleaning, decorating, and designing! LOL! But that's about all the excitement around here this week. We'll be sure to let everyone know when he's finally here! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and is looking forward to the rest of the holidays!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
6 days...
Some of you know this and some of you may not, but I am a dreamer. That's not some way of patting myself on the back - I just have vivid dreams that I love to talk about when I wake up. My mom has been trying to get me to hang a dream catcher in my window for decades... she must not like talking out my dreams with me!
Anyway - This post is a dream post. Sorry Mom!
Last night I dreamt of Jax. This was the first time I've ever seen his face (or remembered at least). I can't get over how beautiful he was! I don't mean to sound conceited, but he was the cutest... the most handsome... the most beautiful baby I've ever seen! Now I'll go ahead and try to describe this inhuman beauty and you'll all wrinkle up your faces and go "really!?!" Well, yes, really... this is my dream! LOL! He had dark auburn hair - darker than mine, but more red than Brian's. It was good hair: smooth, sleek, it laid perfectly in place. There wasn't a ton of it, but it wasn't terribly thin, either. He had my Dad's icy gray eyes. They were beautiful and sparkled when he laughed. He had beautiful warm skin tone - not porcelain white, but not too dark, either (he is my child after all - he's got an awfully pasty Mama). Just warm and it had a healthy glow.
He was a happy baby - as a newborn he would play actively when he was wide awake - and when he was tired, he'd snuggle sweetly and sleep soundly. In the dream I also go to see him a couple months older. Still beautiful, and still happy. Our friend Barb (who made his quilt) was visiting (or we were visiting her - or we met up somewhere, IDK, it was a dream) and she scooped him up and he just loved her! He loved everyone who came around him. He was entertaining and sweet and so so happy.
Okay - now you all know why Mom wants me to get a dream catcher! I think Brian is on her side as well - although he tells me he likes hearing about my dreams... I sense some sarcasm when he says it.
I don't care - I love my dreams - I know they don't mean anything or foresee anything, but I enjoy them none-the-less, and today, when I'm sad to be missing so much family, I'm glad to wake up feeling so excited to see my baby boy. I can't wait to see his face and compare it to what it looked like in my dreams. Something tells me he'll be even more beautiful in real life.
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Anyway - This post is a dream post. Sorry Mom!
Last night I dreamt of Jax. This was the first time I've ever seen his face (or remembered at least). I can't get over how beautiful he was! I don't mean to sound conceited, but he was the cutest... the most handsome... the most beautiful baby I've ever seen! Now I'll go ahead and try to describe this inhuman beauty and you'll all wrinkle up your faces and go "really!?!" Well, yes, really... this is my dream! LOL! He had dark auburn hair - darker than mine, but more red than Brian's. It was good hair: smooth, sleek, it laid perfectly in place. There wasn't a ton of it, but it wasn't terribly thin, either. He had my Dad's icy gray eyes. They were beautiful and sparkled when he laughed. He had beautiful warm skin tone - not porcelain white, but not too dark, either (he is my child after all - he's got an awfully pasty Mama). Just warm and it had a healthy glow.
He was a happy baby - as a newborn he would play actively when he was wide awake - and when he was tired, he'd snuggle sweetly and sleep soundly. In the dream I also go to see him a couple months older. Still beautiful, and still happy. Our friend Barb (who made his quilt) was visiting (or we were visiting her - or we met up somewhere, IDK, it was a dream) and she scooped him up and he just loved her! He loved everyone who came around him. He was entertaining and sweet and so so happy.
Okay - now you all know why Mom wants me to get a dream catcher! I think Brian is on her side as well - although he tells me he likes hearing about my dreams... I sense some sarcasm when he says it.
I don't care - I love my dreams - I know they don't mean anything or foresee anything, but I enjoy them none-the-less, and today, when I'm sad to be missing so much family, I'm glad to wake up feeling so excited to see my baby boy. I can't wait to see his face and compare it to what it looked like in my dreams. Something tells me he'll be even more beautiful in real life.
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
This post is maybe less baby and more just a shout out to some of the things for which I'm most grateful.
This is one of my favorite weekends of the year... not just Thanksgiving, but the years that all of my Vann family comes together for Thanksgiving. ... and this year I'm missing it! Yes, tears have been shed, and more will be shed - but Brian and Dr. Curry and I just agreed that 6 days from Jax's due date was too late to be traveling. {big sigh} :(
But I refuse to let my selfish sadness ruin a day that I should be celebrating all that I have for which to be thankful. There is not enough time, space, or life left in this old computer to put down everything I'm thankful for, but here are a few things off the top of my head:
Family: I'm blessed with family whom I can also call friends. If I hadn't been graced with such amazing family I would have gladly chosen them as my best friends. I married into a loving family who welcomed me with open arms and make me feel right at home. I'm so blessed to be so surrounded on all sides with such love.
Brian: I could have lumped him in with family but he deserves his own line. If anyone had asked me 5 years ago about my future I'd have had two answers - one I thought likely to happen, and one I always wanted to have. Brian gives me the life I always wanted to have and never thought I would have. And the dreams we have yet to attain are things he actively pursues along with me. I'm grateful for every day that I get to spend with him.
Jaxxon: I know I haven't seen his face - I haven't looked into his eyes - I don't know his voice... but I am so thankful to have had the chance to experience this pregnancy with him. I'm so thankful for the challenge that awaits me with his arrival. I'm thankful that God chose me to be his Mama. I cannot wait to experience the world all over again through his eyes.
Friends: I have the most amazing friends. They entertain, support, inspire, teach and encourage me every day. Whether local or across the country my friends make me want to better myself every day. I've met a lot of great people over my 30 years, and I've had some great times, but I've only really held onto those that are absolute treasures in my life. I haven't padded my life with shallow friendships, but with profound relationships - with people who make me a better person.
Blue & Zeppelin: Yes, they are a challenge all their own, but I'm thankful for them. They teach me patience and they keep me on my toes at all times. They have been great practice for children. They teach me all about love and adoration and forgiveness. Zeppelin is the traditional dog who can't get enough of me - and on the other hand Blue Belle is never afraid to put me in my place before settling in to allow me to give her a puppy massage. LOL!
Freedom: Our nation isn't perfect. It's got it's flaws - who among us doesn't? But it allows me the right to make my choices, to be educated, to pursue excellence, to speak my mind, and to change my mind. And as much as I love traveling abroad it always reminds me of even more reasons to love to be an American.
Home: Is it my dream house!? No - but what fun would it be to have your dream house at 30!? What would there be to work for the rest of our lives!? But I'm so blessed to have a stable, safe, lovely home to bring my expanding family home to. A safe place to rest my head at night - and know that it will protect my family.
Health: I am not often caught bragging about a great body, being a master of emotional stability or an exceptional lifestyle - but I'm healthy. I live life in an everything-in-moderation state of being and I believe I am a well rounded person for it (no pun intended). Is there room for improvement!? Of course, but only just allows me space to continue working on the person I want to be. I'm healthy, I'm able, I've got options all around me. I'm thankful for the ability and endurance to be able to accomplish whatever it is I put my mind to. I've had a wonderful pregnancy - and if anything were to put my health - body, mind & spirit - to the test it is pregnancy!
Technology: I may not be a great student, but I really do love to learn. I love to DIY. I love to test my limits and see what I'm capable of. Sometimes I get less than spectacular results - sometimes it's a complete failure, but I almost always try again until I achieve some level of success. Technology gives me the opportunity to learn things that I never would have taken the time to learn otherwise. I can research quickly and easily and get all kinds of ideas and options within a few seconds. I don't take everything I read online as gospel, but I do consider it most of the time and use that knowledge to make more educated decisions. Even if that decision is that whatever I read online was BS! At least I have a plethora of information! In addition to that technology has given me safe, reliable transportation, a climate controlled home, entertainment, convenience, and comfort. I'm thankful to live in the 21st century!
Modern Medicine: This year especially I'm grateful for modern medicine! I have every respect for wholistic approaches, etc. But no one need ask why I'm loving the medical world this year! Bring on the epidural!
Well, that's what is on my mind tonight - tomorrow a million more things will go through my mind - and I'll be thankful for the ability to share my gratitude. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, joy, and gratitude. This year, I'm thankful for all of you!
This is one of my favorite weekends of the year... not just Thanksgiving, but the years that all of my Vann family comes together for Thanksgiving. ... and this year I'm missing it! Yes, tears have been shed, and more will be shed - but Brian and Dr. Curry and I just agreed that 6 days from Jax's due date was too late to be traveling. {big sigh} :(
But I refuse to let my selfish sadness ruin a day that I should be celebrating all that I have for which to be thankful. There is not enough time, space, or life left in this old computer to put down everything I'm thankful for, but here are a few things off the top of my head:
Family: I'm blessed with family whom I can also call friends. If I hadn't been graced with such amazing family I would have gladly chosen them as my best friends. I married into a loving family who welcomed me with open arms and make me feel right at home. I'm so blessed to be so surrounded on all sides with such love.
Brian: I could have lumped him in with family but he deserves his own line. If anyone had asked me 5 years ago about my future I'd have had two answers - one I thought likely to happen, and one I always wanted to have. Brian gives me the life I always wanted to have and never thought I would have. And the dreams we have yet to attain are things he actively pursues along with me. I'm grateful for every day that I get to spend with him.
Jaxxon: I know I haven't seen his face - I haven't looked into his eyes - I don't know his voice... but I am so thankful to have had the chance to experience this pregnancy with him. I'm so thankful for the challenge that awaits me with his arrival. I'm thankful that God chose me to be his Mama. I cannot wait to experience the world all over again through his eyes.
Friends: I have the most amazing friends. They entertain, support, inspire, teach and encourage me every day. Whether local or across the country my friends make me want to better myself every day. I've met a lot of great people over my 30 years, and I've had some great times, but I've only really held onto those that are absolute treasures in my life. I haven't padded my life with shallow friendships, but with profound relationships - with people who make me a better person.
Blue & Zeppelin: Yes, they are a challenge all their own, but I'm thankful for them. They teach me patience and they keep me on my toes at all times. They have been great practice for children. They teach me all about love and adoration and forgiveness. Zeppelin is the traditional dog who can't get enough of me - and on the other hand Blue Belle is never afraid to put me in my place before settling in to allow me to give her a puppy massage. LOL!
Freedom: Our nation isn't perfect. It's got it's flaws - who among us doesn't? But it allows me the right to make my choices, to be educated, to pursue excellence, to speak my mind, and to change my mind. And as much as I love traveling abroad it always reminds me of even more reasons to love to be an American.
Home: Is it my dream house!? No - but what fun would it be to have your dream house at 30!? What would there be to work for the rest of our lives!? But I'm so blessed to have a stable, safe, lovely home to bring my expanding family home to. A safe place to rest my head at night - and know that it will protect my family.
Health: I am not often caught bragging about a great body, being a master of emotional stability or an exceptional lifestyle - but I'm healthy. I live life in an everything-in-moderation state of being and I believe I am a well rounded person for it (no pun intended). Is there room for improvement!? Of course, but only just allows me space to continue working on the person I want to be. I'm healthy, I'm able, I've got options all around me. I'm thankful for the ability and endurance to be able to accomplish whatever it is I put my mind to. I've had a wonderful pregnancy - and if anything were to put my health - body, mind & spirit - to the test it is pregnancy!
Technology: I may not be a great student, but I really do love to learn. I love to DIY. I love to test my limits and see what I'm capable of. Sometimes I get less than spectacular results - sometimes it's a complete failure, but I almost always try again until I achieve some level of success. Technology gives me the opportunity to learn things that I never would have taken the time to learn otherwise. I can research quickly and easily and get all kinds of ideas and options within a few seconds. I don't take everything I read online as gospel, but I do consider it most of the time and use that knowledge to make more educated decisions. Even if that decision is that whatever I read online was BS! At least I have a plethora of information! In addition to that technology has given me safe, reliable transportation, a climate controlled home, entertainment, convenience, and comfort. I'm thankful to live in the 21st century!
Modern Medicine: This year especially I'm grateful for modern medicine! I have every respect for wholistic approaches, etc. But no one need ask why I'm loving the medical world this year! Bring on the epidural!
Well, that's what is on my mind tonight - tomorrow a million more things will go through my mind - and I'll be thankful for the ability to share my gratitude. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, joy, and gratitude. This year, I'm thankful for all of you!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
10...
Well, with just barely over a week left until his due date it's about time I finish the nursery! There's still a touch here or there that I'd like to do, but in the mean time I rigged what needed to be rigged and it will do (no safety hazards - promise).
So, without further ado:
Now the details. I didn't love a nursery set, so I decided to personalize it all.
So, without further ado:
First the overall view
Now the details. I didn't love a nursery set, so I decided to personalize it all.
Tara created this masterpiece. If you pay attention the photo's spell out Jaxxon. The fact that she used pictures of Grandpa's cars adds yet another special touch.
There are a couple of custom pieces in the image below. The small blankie that the teddy bear is holding is from Nana - we couldn't find just the right colors, so the baby boutique in Salina helped us create exactly what we were looking for. Funny little owls on the front with bright orange swirled minky on the back. SO soft!
The quilt was hand pieced and stippled by our dear friend Barb. It's a masterpiece! I told her I intended for it to get dirty and really well loved, and I hope it does, but right now I love it so much I don't want it to ever get dirty! It turned out absolutely perfect and it was made with love. I couldn't ask for more!
The car collage is courtesy of our friend Travis. It's small now, but I plan to add pieces to it as we get memories on film with Jax. The Kansas license plate was another gift from Aunt Tara.
I wanted a mobile of some sort, but I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. One day, very early in the pregnancy I tripped over a magnificent mobile - and the maker was PROUD... it was over $300!!! So, like any motivated DIYer I decided to make my own with that one as inspiration. It turned out a bit more astrological than I'd planned, but it's fun and colorful and catches and throws light around the room - all good things! I don't know what Jax will think but when cousin Scott got to preview the room he loved it!
Aunt's Bre & Laura made this blankie (over the back of the chair) for Jax. I anticipate it getting a lot of love - I know Brian's already taken a nap with it!
Another little favorite part that I can't really take credit for are the vintage truck finials. A steal that I just happened to trip over while at Pottery Barn Kids with Nana. They are so perfect and I anticipated them breaking the bank, but at a bargain $7 they were not leaving my hot little hands until they were mounted on Jax's wall! I love them so much I might go see if I can get another to hold the curtain back (...yes, that's what is rigged... for the time being).
So, that's his room! I hope he loves it as much as I do. I can't wait to add the finishing touch: Jaxxon!
Friday, November 18, 2011
12 days of Jaxxon
Haha - like I'm really going to manage to blog every day for the next 12 days! But can you believe that's all that's left until his due date!? CRAZY!
I'm now 38 weeks and 2 days. Jax is about 19 3/4" long and 6.8-7lbs. He's just getting fatter now - a chubby baby is a healthy baby! He's moving and rolling and stretching all of the time. I love feeling his hard little body when he's pushing out on my belly.
We saw the doctor today - we've made a little progress towards his arrival, but for the most part are looking like we're right on track - about 12 days out! (okay, Dr. Curry said "right on track"... the 12 days out is my own hopefulness). Heart rate was good - about 147. Everything is looking good.
So - I've been thinking about all of the things I'll miss about this pregnancy - and all of the things I won't! I thought I should probably write them all down so I don't forget (because I will forget).
I'll miss:
feeling every little roll, kick, stretch etc.
The feel of my belly, and I think I'll miss the look of it, too.
The pride of walking around with a big baby belly - this is about the only time in life that I get to feel good about my belly sticking out!
The guiltless indulgences. I try not to go over board, but it's nice to not have to question every little snack.
The soft, clear complexion - knock on wood I don't think I've had a break out since the first trimester!
Strong, fast growing fingernails!
maternity pants.
I won't miss:
Painful punches to tender zones
Heartburn: sometimes Prevacid helps... but in the 3rd trimester sometimes it's no match to my heartburn
The constant and ongoing need to go potty - day or night.
Instant hunger pangs that cannot wait another moment (honestly, they hit hard and with nausea of I don't eat NOW!)
Being so full I'm sick after a moderate/small meal, and starving beyond belief 15 minutes later.
Swelling: hands, feet, wrists - and everything in between! And I've been lucky - it hasn't been too bad, but what I've had has been constant since summer.
My non-maternity clothes slipping and my belly hanging out (this is really only at home, but still annoying).
My joints slipping as I get closer to the end. It's quick and it's over as soon as it happens, but it hurts!
My hair growing like I used the Peanut Butter Solution (did anyone else see that movie as a kid?)
My limitations - I hate not being able to do certain things... it's really hard to accept my limitations (and I know that won't go away very soon).
Feeling like I'm always wearing a girtle (that's really my best description - like everything on the inside is being squeezed into a too small girtle...then again I might want to wear a girtle after he's born!).
Watching the number on the scale climb every week - that's traumatizing!
Ok - I know it looks like there's a lot more that I won't miss than I will miss. But I think the "will miss" list holds more weight than the "won't miss" list. I feel more strongly about the things I will miss.
I hope you all have a great weekend and if I don't post again before - have a very happy Thanksgiving ({small sob}: the closer it gets the sadder I get that I won't be with all of my extended family in Salina. ok - now it's a bigger sob).
I'm now 38 weeks and 2 days. Jax is about 19 3/4" long and 6.8-7lbs. He's just getting fatter now - a chubby baby is a healthy baby! He's moving and rolling and stretching all of the time. I love feeling his hard little body when he's pushing out on my belly.
We saw the doctor today - we've made a little progress towards his arrival, but for the most part are looking like we're right on track - about 12 days out! (okay, Dr. Curry said "right on track"... the 12 days out is my own hopefulness). Heart rate was good - about 147. Everything is looking good.
So - I've been thinking about all of the things I'll miss about this pregnancy - and all of the things I won't! I thought I should probably write them all down so I don't forget (because I will forget).
I'll miss:
feeling every little roll, kick, stretch etc.
The feel of my belly, and I think I'll miss the look of it, too.
The pride of walking around with a big baby belly - this is about the only time in life that I get to feel good about my belly sticking out!
The guiltless indulgences. I try not to go over board, but it's nice to not have to question every little snack.
The soft, clear complexion - knock on wood I don't think I've had a break out since the first trimester!
Strong, fast growing fingernails!
maternity pants.
I won't miss:
Painful punches to tender zones
Heartburn: sometimes Prevacid helps... but in the 3rd trimester sometimes it's no match to my heartburn
The constant and ongoing need to go potty - day or night.
Instant hunger pangs that cannot wait another moment (honestly, they hit hard and with nausea of I don't eat NOW!)
Being so full I'm sick after a moderate/small meal, and starving beyond belief 15 minutes later.
Swelling: hands, feet, wrists - and everything in between! And I've been lucky - it hasn't been too bad, but what I've had has been constant since summer.
My non-maternity clothes slipping and my belly hanging out (this is really only at home, but still annoying).
My joints slipping as I get closer to the end. It's quick and it's over as soon as it happens, but it hurts!
My hair growing like I used the Peanut Butter Solution (did anyone else see that movie as a kid?)
My limitations - I hate not being able to do certain things... it's really hard to accept my limitations (and I know that won't go away very soon).
Feeling like I'm always wearing a girtle (that's really my best description - like everything on the inside is being squeezed into a too small girtle...then again I might want to wear a girtle after he's born!).
Watching the number on the scale climb every week - that's traumatizing!
Ok - I know it looks like there's a lot more that I won't miss than I will miss. But I think the "will miss" list holds more weight than the "won't miss" list. I feel more strongly about the things I will miss.
I hope you all have a great weekend and if I don't post again before - have a very happy Thanksgiving ({small sob}: the closer it gets the sadder I get that I won't be with all of my extended family in Salina. ok - now it's a bigger sob).
Monday, November 7, 2011
Coming up quick!
I can't believe there is less than 3 1/2 weeks until my due date! All of a sudden my little projects here and there are high priority! AH! Of course, at this point, if none of them get done it won't be a catastrophe, but you know I'd like to do all I can before I have a newborn to tag along with me.
As friends and family of mine are pregnant and have their babies I'm taking little notes here and there about their experiences. Trying to decipher what we want to try and what we want to try to avoid, etc. Trying to use my resources, if you will. But one thing that we've noticed with many friends babies being born is the social networking element. So many times I find out that a friend of mine had their baby through a facebook post by someone who is not the parent of the baby. I think it's great when the parents designate a person to be their "PR" rep, but I don't think Brian and I are going to have a PR rep. I'd like to ask anyone who uses facebook or other social networking applications to refrain from commenting on either their wall or ours or posting pics of Jaxxon until they see that either Brian or I have posted something on our pages. We are so excited to announce his arrival to the world, we'd love to be the first to do so!
The next request seems like a given, and yet in the excitement of everything it can easily be overlooked. Jaxxon will be born in flu season - and his brand new fragile little immune system doesn't have a chance against the bugs that are out there in the world. So anyone who wants to come visit Jax after he's born is more than welcome, but please, if you have been feeling less than 100% or have had a bit of a bug, wait until you are feeling 100% before coming to see him. The rooms all have a sink with soap and hand sanitizer right inside the door so that everyone who comes in can make sure they aren't unknowningly bringing any little flu-y friends with them. I feel like a paranoid, over-protective crazy person saying all of this... well, I might just be that person! I'm sorry!
Okay - I'll try to tame the paranoia for a bit now.
I'm trying to be as prepared for December as possible. We have a very busy month and the more prepared I am now the less crazy I am then! On that note, I'm considering what clothes I'll need to pack for Jax, and what clothes I'll need to pack for me! Acknowledging that it's likely that both of us will get more than one outfit dirty per day. Planning Jax's travel wardrobe is fun - it's all so cute that I can't wait to show him off in it! Planning mine - less fun. I have no clue what I'll be able to wear - will I still be in maternity clothes!? If so, will I love the maternity items that I love now, or will the lack of baby in the belly (and presence of just post-baby belly) make me hate the things I love now. I assume I'll still need maternity clothes , and if not I'm in a world of hurt because I have no clue what I have in my pre-baby wardrobe! I can't even imagine myself without this belly right now. I can't imagine ever having a waist again... it's a completely foreign concept to me right now. Please forgive me if I show up to some family holiday event and I'm mismatched and ill-fitted - I may have lost all clue as to how to dress myself (and for the time-being, I may have lost all care)!
A week or so ago I started feeling low pressure in my abdomen, but didn't want to jinx anything by claiming that Jax was dropping. Well, we started our weekly appointments on Friday and doctor felt Jax's head and showed me how to feel him too - it's crazy that he's getting in position and all ready to be born! Everything is still going well, so for the time being we will not be planning on another ultrasound - we'll have to wait until he's born to see him again! My belly is measuring in the appropriate range (a few cm behind my 36 weeks pregnant, still, but definitely in the safe zone - no sign of a giant baby yet). His heartrate continues to be strong and stable, and my BP is up a bit, but still well within in the safe zone.
On Wednesday Jax will be full term! 37 weeks! All of his organs are ready for the outside world and he's a fully developed baby. Jax will be about 19 1/4 inches and about 6 1/2 - 7 lbs. At this point any time is go time. I'm reminded of this every time I call anyone! Whenever anyone answers my call I hear something to the effect of "is it time!?" I've started joking that I need to send a pre-call text saying "just calling to chat" - I may have to stop joking and start doing it! (I feel so bad for my friend Erin - I've pocket dialed her a handful of times and then hang up, she must be jumping every time she see's my name pop up! SORRY ERIN!) Jax is still active, and I still enjoy the majority of his movements. Very few are painful, and those that are I can usually alleviate the discomfort by adjusting my position.
Here's a few of Jax's favorite things right now - they make him dance almost every time I eat them:
~California Club sandiwich: Turkey (heated to steaming), bacon (heated also), white american cheese, avacado, and a touch of mayo (pre-pregnancy bacon, avacado and mayo were not things you'd typically find on my sandwich)
~Swiss Oatmeal: My own recipe including greek yogurt, oatmeal, milk, cinnamon, dried cherries & cranberries, diced apple and diced banana
~Honeycrisp Apples {with or without carmel} (apples usually gave me a tummy ache pre-pregnancy)
~Ice cream (preferably with some chocolate, strawberry sauce/jelly, and banana)
~Coke
~Ice Water (this sounds like something normal, but I never used to like much ice in my water - I just wanted cool water - now the more ice the better - but it always gives him hiccups)
~Apple Juice (I was never a fan of apple juice - now we can't keep enough in the house to get us through the week)
~Milk (I don't crave milk, but when I get a glass I end up chugging it and wanting more!)
I hope these things are still good to his tummy after he's born! Most of these are staples in my daily diet (I don't have ice cream every night...).
Here is just some silly self-portrait (I was trying to learn a bit more about my camera before Jax is here):
And here is a progression from week 18 through week 36 (most of them are shown... some weeks we either forgot to take a pic, or my SD card was corrupted and we lost the pics - don't worry , we've got a new SD card so we shouldn't have that issue anymore) This pic should blow up bigger if you just click on them.
As friends and family of mine are pregnant and have their babies I'm taking little notes here and there about their experiences. Trying to decipher what we want to try and what we want to try to avoid, etc. Trying to use my resources, if you will. But one thing that we've noticed with many friends babies being born is the social networking element. So many times I find out that a friend of mine had their baby through a facebook post by someone who is not the parent of the baby. I think it's great when the parents designate a person to be their "PR" rep, but I don't think Brian and I are going to have a PR rep. I'd like to ask anyone who uses facebook or other social networking applications to refrain from commenting on either their wall or ours or posting pics of Jaxxon until they see that either Brian or I have posted something on our pages. We are so excited to announce his arrival to the world, we'd love to be the first to do so!
The next request seems like a given, and yet in the excitement of everything it can easily be overlooked. Jaxxon will be born in flu season - and his brand new fragile little immune system doesn't have a chance against the bugs that are out there in the world. So anyone who wants to come visit Jax after he's born is more than welcome, but please, if you have been feeling less than 100% or have had a bit of a bug, wait until you are feeling 100% before coming to see him. The rooms all have a sink with soap and hand sanitizer right inside the door so that everyone who comes in can make sure they aren't unknowningly bringing any little flu-y friends with them. I feel like a paranoid, over-protective crazy person saying all of this... well, I might just be that person! I'm sorry!
Okay - I'll try to tame the paranoia for a bit now.
I'm trying to be as prepared for December as possible. We have a very busy month and the more prepared I am now the less crazy I am then! On that note, I'm considering what clothes I'll need to pack for Jax, and what clothes I'll need to pack for me! Acknowledging that it's likely that both of us will get more than one outfit dirty per day. Planning Jax's travel wardrobe is fun - it's all so cute that I can't wait to show him off in it! Planning mine - less fun. I have no clue what I'll be able to wear - will I still be in maternity clothes!? If so, will I love the maternity items that I love now, or will the lack of baby in the belly (and presence of just post-baby belly) make me hate the things I love now. I assume I'll still need maternity clothes , and if not I'm in a world of hurt because I have no clue what I have in my pre-baby wardrobe! I can't even imagine myself without this belly right now. I can't imagine ever having a waist again... it's a completely foreign concept to me right now. Please forgive me if I show up to some family holiday event and I'm mismatched and ill-fitted - I may have lost all clue as to how to dress myself (and for the time-being, I may have lost all care)!
A week or so ago I started feeling low pressure in my abdomen, but didn't want to jinx anything by claiming that Jax was dropping. Well, we started our weekly appointments on Friday and doctor felt Jax's head and showed me how to feel him too - it's crazy that he's getting in position and all ready to be born! Everything is still going well, so for the time being we will not be planning on another ultrasound - we'll have to wait until he's born to see him again! My belly is measuring in the appropriate range (a few cm behind my 36 weeks pregnant, still, but definitely in the safe zone - no sign of a giant baby yet). His heartrate continues to be strong and stable, and my BP is up a bit, but still well within in the safe zone.
On Wednesday Jax will be full term! 37 weeks! All of his organs are ready for the outside world and he's a fully developed baby. Jax will be about 19 1/4 inches and about 6 1/2 - 7 lbs. At this point any time is go time. I'm reminded of this every time I call anyone! Whenever anyone answers my call I hear something to the effect of "is it time!?" I've started joking that I need to send a pre-call text saying "just calling to chat" - I may have to stop joking and start doing it! (I feel so bad for my friend Erin - I've pocket dialed her a handful of times and then hang up, she must be jumping every time she see's my name pop up! SORRY ERIN!) Jax is still active, and I still enjoy the majority of his movements. Very few are painful, and those that are I can usually alleviate the discomfort by adjusting my position.
Here's a few of Jax's favorite things right now - they make him dance almost every time I eat them:
~California Club sandiwich: Turkey (heated to steaming), bacon (heated also), white american cheese, avacado, and a touch of mayo (pre-pregnancy bacon, avacado and mayo were not things you'd typically find on my sandwich)
~Swiss Oatmeal: My own recipe including greek yogurt, oatmeal, milk, cinnamon, dried cherries & cranberries, diced apple and diced banana
~Honeycrisp Apples {with or without carmel} (apples usually gave me a tummy ache pre-pregnancy)
~Ice cream (preferably with some chocolate, strawberry sauce/jelly, and banana)
~Coke
~Ice Water (this sounds like something normal, but I never used to like much ice in my water - I just wanted cool water - now the more ice the better - but it always gives him hiccups)
~Apple Juice (I was never a fan of apple juice - now we can't keep enough in the house to get us through the week)
~Milk (I don't crave milk, but when I get a glass I end up chugging it and wanting more!)
I hope these things are still good to his tummy after he's born! Most of these are staples in my daily diet (I don't have ice cream every night...).
Here is just some silly self-portrait (I was trying to learn a bit more about my camera before Jax is here):
And here is a progression from week 18 through week 36 (most of them are shown... some weeks we either forgot to take a pic, or my SD card was corrupted and we lost the pics - don't worry , we've got a new SD card so we shouldn't have that issue anymore) This pic should blow up bigger if you just click on them.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Earning my stripes
Okay - so 2 weeks seems to be my speed... sorry, it's been a while again since the last blog!
I'm trying to be real with myself, and after this weekend I decided that if I get stretch marks, I've "earned my stripes". Not that I've worked hard and they are a reward. No, more that I let myself have a weekend full of "oh, that sounds good, yes, I'll have some," and I deserve whatever I get. While I can't say the entire weekend was full of cravings, I will say I gave in a bit more than usual. Today I'm back to trying to make nutritionally based decisions, not taste based! But, if I get stretch marks, after this weekend, I deserve them! Jax has been hungry lately. I'm glad I have a very nutritious lunch on the menu all week because I may have to have more than one lunch (it's veggie soup - what could be bad about veggies and meat!? I don't feel bad about an extra indulgence in that). But I keep telling myself that hungry is good. Jax is measuring right on, but he has to keep growing and there's nothing better than meat & veggies for a growing boy!
Last week I did some more work in the nursery. While we still need some little things (crib mattress pads, etc) I decided I didn't want it to look like a drop-zone in there anymore. I dug out the mobile that I made a few months back and got that hung. I hung the framed name that Tara made for me over the crib - I may have been a bit over-zealous with my 100lb hook and my reinforcements on the wall that make it hard for even me to take down - but there's no price for peace of mind - and I feel confident that it won't ever fall from it's place right now. Brian and I finally got a curtain rod that would fit with my prized vintage truck finials and I got the curtain hung. I still need to figure out a tie-back, but in the mean time a ribbon is holding it back. I got the room cleaned up and the only things out of place are things that will live elsewhere in the house, but don't need to be making the house baby-ville in the mean time. The swing, the bouncer, the sleeper that will start out in our room... that kind of stuff. But it's looking more and more like a functional nursery. There's a sheet on the bed (and the crib isn't full of everything that I didn't know where to put anymore). The changing pad is secured to the changing table and has a cover and a protector on it. The majority of the laundry is done (don't get me wrong - there is still a lot to do). If necessary I could bring Jax home today and he'd have his own room ready for him.
Speaking of being ready to bring him home - we had our pre-admission visit with the maternity care coordinator (MCC) at St. Lukes South last week. While I think she may have been having a bad day (she left us with a bitter taste in our mouth, but not for the hospital, just for her) she did get a lot of the paperwork finished so we have that much less to do when I'm actually in labor. We got very familiar with writing Jaxxon's name. It was strange approving medical procedures for a person I've never met. But I felt like I was being proactive as well. Taking care of him before the last minute. It felt good. The MCC did look a bit shocked when we said we hadn't bought our carseat yet, so the next day Brian went over lunch and got our carseat. It's not installed, but we have it... in the garage. LOL! We'll get it out and install it soon, and make an appointment with either the hospital or a fire station or one of the other car seat check stations to make sure everything is in correctly and as safely as possible.
A little over a week ago I packed up and headed to Salina for my final baby shower. What a wonderful brunch we had! I got to see some family & friends that I hadn't seen in what feels like ages. We had a blast just looking at precious baby stuff and laughing at all of the fun things that are out now. We recieved our jogging/all-terrain stroller, a pack n play (with more little accessory functions than I could imagine), lots of precious outfits - one of which I've chosen as Jax's going-home outfit (assuming he hasn't dirtied it between putting it on him, taking hospital pics, and getting in the car seat - as my child he very likely will have it dirty before we leave the room. I'm used to it - I've always been that way). We got a precious Pestinger Heating and Air Conditioning outfit - overall's like Dave Lennox's and a PH&A shirt. There was so much fun loot - my car was filled to the brim! We also visited my dear friend Amy and she graciously allowed us to go through her stashes of baby clothes from when her two boys were infants. We got a ton of adorable clothes from them, too (Amy has some seriously good taste). I still need to go through the giant bag and box I brought home and sort them all - one day I'll dump it all on the bed and just start making piles by size. I can tell you now that I'm going to need more hangers! LOL! A lot of it will be great for summer trips to Iowa and Colorado - where it's a bit cooler than KS. The sizes from one of her sons are the wrong season for Jax, but they'll be perfect to keep him toasty warm on cool crisp evenings in the mountains and in Iowa. It will be such a blessing to have something warm in the right size when you can't find cold weather gear in stores!
On Wednesday I will be 35 weeks. That means Jax is around 18" long and between 5 1/2 and 6 lbs! Last Thursday I was measuring 32 1/2 cm - which Doctor assured me is just fine after 32 weeks (before 32 weeks the centimeters should roughly match the number of weeks pregnant the woman is). For my own peace of mind I'm taking that as meaning Jax will be an average 7-8 lb baby - even though I know there is no direct correlation between fundal height and birth weight. It makes me feel better - let me have this one little denial! LOL! Jax is just busy in there putting on fat and growing! He's really roly poly lately - last week he was super active and I felt him move from being up and down (I don't know which end was where) to side to side - and he's been that way for a while now. I still thoroughly enjoy feeling him move around. I'm really going to miss being pregnant with him - and I can't wait to meet him... all at the same time!
I'm trying to be real with myself, and after this weekend I decided that if I get stretch marks, I've "earned my stripes". Not that I've worked hard and they are a reward. No, more that I let myself have a weekend full of "oh, that sounds good, yes, I'll have some," and I deserve whatever I get. While I can't say the entire weekend was full of cravings, I will say I gave in a bit more than usual. Today I'm back to trying to make nutritionally based decisions, not taste based! But, if I get stretch marks, after this weekend, I deserve them! Jax has been hungry lately. I'm glad I have a very nutritious lunch on the menu all week because I may have to have more than one lunch (it's veggie soup - what could be bad about veggies and meat!? I don't feel bad about an extra indulgence in that). But I keep telling myself that hungry is good. Jax is measuring right on, but he has to keep growing and there's nothing better than meat & veggies for a growing boy!
Last week I did some more work in the nursery. While we still need some little things (crib mattress pads, etc) I decided I didn't want it to look like a drop-zone in there anymore. I dug out the mobile that I made a few months back and got that hung. I hung the framed name that Tara made for me over the crib - I may have been a bit over-zealous with my 100lb hook and my reinforcements on the wall that make it hard for even me to take down - but there's no price for peace of mind - and I feel confident that it won't ever fall from it's place right now. Brian and I finally got a curtain rod that would fit with my prized vintage truck finials and I got the curtain hung. I still need to figure out a tie-back, but in the mean time a ribbon is holding it back. I got the room cleaned up and the only things out of place are things that will live elsewhere in the house, but don't need to be making the house baby-ville in the mean time. The swing, the bouncer, the sleeper that will start out in our room... that kind of stuff. But it's looking more and more like a functional nursery. There's a sheet on the bed (and the crib isn't full of everything that I didn't know where to put anymore). The changing pad is secured to the changing table and has a cover and a protector on it. The majority of the laundry is done (don't get me wrong - there is still a lot to do). If necessary I could bring Jax home today and he'd have his own room ready for him.
Speaking of being ready to bring him home - we had our pre-admission visit with the maternity care coordinator (MCC) at St. Lukes South last week. While I think she may have been having a bad day (she left us with a bitter taste in our mouth, but not for the hospital, just for her) she did get a lot of the paperwork finished so we have that much less to do when I'm actually in labor. We got very familiar with writing Jaxxon's name. It was strange approving medical procedures for a person I've never met. But I felt like I was being proactive as well. Taking care of him before the last minute. It felt good. The MCC did look a bit shocked when we said we hadn't bought our carseat yet, so the next day Brian went over lunch and got our carseat. It's not installed, but we have it... in the garage. LOL! We'll get it out and install it soon, and make an appointment with either the hospital or a fire station or one of the other car seat check stations to make sure everything is in correctly and as safely as possible.
A little over a week ago I packed up and headed to Salina for my final baby shower. What a wonderful brunch we had! I got to see some family & friends that I hadn't seen in what feels like ages. We had a blast just looking at precious baby stuff and laughing at all of the fun things that are out now. We recieved our jogging/all-terrain stroller, a pack n play (with more little accessory functions than I could imagine), lots of precious outfits - one of which I've chosen as Jax's going-home outfit (assuming he hasn't dirtied it between putting it on him, taking hospital pics, and getting in the car seat - as my child he very likely will have it dirty before we leave the room. I'm used to it - I've always been that way). We got a precious Pestinger Heating and Air Conditioning outfit - overall's like Dave Lennox's and a PH&A shirt. There was so much fun loot - my car was filled to the brim! We also visited my dear friend Amy and she graciously allowed us to go through her stashes of baby clothes from when her two boys were infants. We got a ton of adorable clothes from them, too (Amy has some seriously good taste). I still need to go through the giant bag and box I brought home and sort them all - one day I'll dump it all on the bed and just start making piles by size. I can tell you now that I'm going to need more hangers! LOL! A lot of it will be great for summer trips to Iowa and Colorado - where it's a bit cooler than KS. The sizes from one of her sons are the wrong season for Jax, but they'll be perfect to keep him toasty warm on cool crisp evenings in the mountains and in Iowa. It will be such a blessing to have something warm in the right size when you can't find cold weather gear in stores!
On Wednesday I will be 35 weeks. That means Jax is around 18" long and between 5 1/2 and 6 lbs! Last Thursday I was measuring 32 1/2 cm - which Doctor assured me is just fine after 32 weeks (before 32 weeks the centimeters should roughly match the number of weeks pregnant the woman is). For my own peace of mind I'm taking that as meaning Jax will be an average 7-8 lb baby - even though I know there is no direct correlation between fundal height and birth weight. It makes me feel better - let me have this one little denial! LOL! Jax is just busy in there putting on fat and growing! He's really roly poly lately - last week he was super active and I felt him move from being up and down (I don't know which end was where) to side to side - and he's been that way for a while now. I still thoroughly enjoy feeling him move around. I'm really going to miss being pregnant with him - and I can't wait to meet him... all at the same time!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Long time coming
So sorry blog fans - it's been a crazy couple of weeks. Fall is the start of busy season at work and I've just been consumed with getting the nursery ready for baby at home - and I just haven't managed to get a post ready to go!
A little over a week ago my amazing sister Tara and fabulous friend Amy hosted a baby shower for me in Kansas City. They made the location a surprise for me, so when we ended up at one of my favorite Plaza lunch stops I couldn't have been more thrilled! Amy had set it up with an amazing space and such amazing food - I think I'm still stuffed! Of course, they decorated it so beautifully. Tara had taken pictures of parts of Grandpa Tom's cars and spelled out Jaxxon in a beautiful custom frame which hung on the back wall during the shower - I can't wait to get it hung in his room! It would already be up, but it's going to hang over the crib, so I need to make sure I use safety hangers and not juts balance it on a nail in the wall! She also put together the cutest baby truck - it was built out of diapers, blankets, dishwasher baskets, bottles, socks, wash clothes... there were a million little treasures in there! Amy had prepared some trivia games - if I hadn't won them they assured me that I'd have gotten the prizes, anyway. I'm not sure what the guests would have done with outlet covers and such! My aunts Patti & Beverly drove up from Arkansas to attend, so it was amazing getting to spend some of the weekend with them. And my friend Aubrey flew in from Kentucky to attend - just to attend the shower! It was so great to see her and I feel like I hardly got to spend enough time with anyone. I completely forgot until she reminded me the next week that we'd forgotten to take a bump picture together - she was about 21 weeks pregnant at the time and we missed the only opportunity to take a picture of our respective bumps! I'm going to kick myself forever for that one. As I've hit the waterworks phase of my pregnancy I did have to excuse myself to the bathroom once to compose myself - so many people coming together to celebrate Jax before they've even met him - I was just so touched. There I go, tearing up again! I've always been an emotional person, but it's gotten worse - and I don't anticipate it getting any better any time soon!
I was exhausted after the shower... I think that was the first time I really felt that 3rd trimester exhaustion. We'd been invited to a wedding that evening, and I'd sent Brian alone - I was bummed I didn't get to go, but when we got home I realized that I couldn't have gone if I'd wanted to - I would have collapsed and that would have not made for a happy bride! I was just too exhausted to do much of anything at that point. The next day I did some baby-shopping with my Mom and really just pushed myself. I'm so glad I did - I found some absolute treasures that I'm certain life would not be complete without, but I don't think I fully recovered until the Thursday after the shower!
Last week we had another doctors appointement - we see him every two weeks now - and we attended child birth prep class on Saturday. Everything was looking good at our appointement - my belly was measuring exactly 32 weeks along and my BP was still low and Jax had a healthy heart rate of 146 bpm. I'll see Dr. Curry again in 2 weeks, and then in November I see him every week until Jax is born.
Child birth prep was not necessarily something that either Brian or I was looking forward to. No one really wants to spend 7 hours on their Saturday watching 1970's birth videos! LOL! Or any decades birth video's for that matter! The class was from 9am-4pm with an hour lunch at noon. 1) I should have known better and packed a snack - Jax likes 2nd breakfast around 10 am and I was starving by the time we got out for lunch! 2) ... we both hesitantly admitted that we were glad we went. The class was pretty interactive - especially in the morning. There was a lot of focus techniques and how-to-help-mom suggestions that they trained us. We learned that the traditional lamaze (you know, hee hee hoo - hee hee hoo) hasn't been used in about 25-30 years because it causes mom's to hyperventalate, further complicating labor. But she did give us some breathing suggestions to get us through contractions and to help us not push when we feel the very first urge. Of course - being an epidural super-fan I probably won't ever feel that sensation to push, but if for some reason the epidural wasn't in my cards I know what to do now! Brian, being the resourceful guy he is, reminded me (while being shown good massage techniques) that Funcle Dustin is a licensed massage therapist and would be a great guy to do that job. Clever boy! I think it would be great if both of them worked on me... one at my shoulders, one massaging my feet... I might be okay with that. LOL! Dustin, of course, willinging volunteered when he was told about it his nomination. The afternoon was spent discussing the actual birth - watching videos... seeing much more of some 1970's mothers than we probably needed to... as traumatized as I felt by it at the time, I now feel like I've seen it - I can handle this. I hope that confidence sticks around!
This coming weekend I have my last shower in Salina. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. A lot of family was invited to this one, as well as some very long time friends. I took a couple of extra days off - I'm planning on practicing my photography skills with Scott for a fall/halloween photo shoot and hopefully getting some more car pics from Grandpa Tom's garage to put up in Jax's room. There is still a lot to be done in that little room - but when it comes down to it, we could make it work right now just as it is. It's all superficial stuff - you know, decor, etc. After this last shower Brian and I will go get our final purchases. We don't need a lot to be able to take Jax home at this point. Car seat, monitor... a few little things. The rest we could pick up along the way - it's a lot of convenience type things that just makes our life easier.
I'll be 33 weeks tomorrow. Jax is a little over 4 lbs and is 17" or longer. He's gaining about 1/2 a pound a week in body fat... unfortunately, I am too! A couple of weeks ago I could feel and see movement on either side of my belly - now I don't see it as much, but if I rest my hands on top of my belly I can feel little kicks, and inside I can feel little punches way down low. I'm no doctor and I certainly can't see what an ultrasound can, but my gut says he's now head down. Dr. Curry felt for his head last time through my tummy, but said he couldn't feel anything yet. Jax is growing so quickly now that kicks and punches will slow down (they already have) and it will be more wiggles and shifts (which I'm noticing also). It's strange to have my hand on my stomach and feel him roll, lol! His hiccups are strong enough now that Brian can feel them and sometimes I can even see them. He usually gets them after I drink a glass of water. Not juice or soda or gatorade - just water. How does he know!?! LOL! He's brilliant, I tell you, already advanced! haha!
A little over a week ago my amazing sister Tara and fabulous friend Amy hosted a baby shower for me in Kansas City. They made the location a surprise for me, so when we ended up at one of my favorite Plaza lunch stops I couldn't have been more thrilled! Amy had set it up with an amazing space and such amazing food - I think I'm still stuffed! Of course, they decorated it so beautifully. Tara had taken pictures of parts of Grandpa Tom's cars and spelled out Jaxxon in a beautiful custom frame which hung on the back wall during the shower - I can't wait to get it hung in his room! It would already be up, but it's going to hang over the crib, so I need to make sure I use safety hangers and not juts balance it on a nail in the wall! She also put together the cutest baby truck - it was built out of diapers, blankets, dishwasher baskets, bottles, socks, wash clothes... there were a million little treasures in there! Amy had prepared some trivia games - if I hadn't won them they assured me that I'd have gotten the prizes, anyway. I'm not sure what the guests would have done with outlet covers and such! My aunts Patti & Beverly drove up from Arkansas to attend, so it was amazing getting to spend some of the weekend with them. And my friend Aubrey flew in from Kentucky to attend - just to attend the shower! It was so great to see her and I feel like I hardly got to spend enough time with anyone. I completely forgot until she reminded me the next week that we'd forgotten to take a bump picture together - she was about 21 weeks pregnant at the time and we missed the only opportunity to take a picture of our respective bumps! I'm going to kick myself forever for that one. As I've hit the waterworks phase of my pregnancy I did have to excuse myself to the bathroom once to compose myself - so many people coming together to celebrate Jax before they've even met him - I was just so touched. There I go, tearing up again! I've always been an emotional person, but it's gotten worse - and I don't anticipate it getting any better any time soon!
I was exhausted after the shower... I think that was the first time I really felt that 3rd trimester exhaustion. We'd been invited to a wedding that evening, and I'd sent Brian alone - I was bummed I didn't get to go, but when we got home I realized that I couldn't have gone if I'd wanted to - I would have collapsed and that would have not made for a happy bride! I was just too exhausted to do much of anything at that point. The next day I did some baby-shopping with my Mom and really just pushed myself. I'm so glad I did - I found some absolute treasures that I'm certain life would not be complete without, but I don't think I fully recovered until the Thursday after the shower!
Last week we had another doctors appointement - we see him every two weeks now - and we attended child birth prep class on Saturday. Everything was looking good at our appointement - my belly was measuring exactly 32 weeks along and my BP was still low and Jax had a healthy heart rate of 146 bpm. I'll see Dr. Curry again in 2 weeks, and then in November I see him every week until Jax is born.
Child birth prep was not necessarily something that either Brian or I was looking forward to. No one really wants to spend 7 hours on their Saturday watching 1970's birth videos! LOL! Or any decades birth video's for that matter! The class was from 9am-4pm with an hour lunch at noon. 1) I should have known better and packed a snack - Jax likes 2nd breakfast around 10 am and I was starving by the time we got out for lunch! 2) ... we both hesitantly admitted that we were glad we went. The class was pretty interactive - especially in the morning. There was a lot of focus techniques and how-to-help-mom suggestions that they trained us. We learned that the traditional lamaze (you know, hee hee hoo - hee hee hoo) hasn't been used in about 25-30 years because it causes mom's to hyperventalate, further complicating labor. But she did give us some breathing suggestions to get us through contractions and to help us not push when we feel the very first urge. Of course - being an epidural super-fan I probably won't ever feel that sensation to push, but if for some reason the epidural wasn't in my cards I know what to do now! Brian, being the resourceful guy he is, reminded me (while being shown good massage techniques) that Funcle Dustin is a licensed massage therapist and would be a great guy to do that job. Clever boy! I think it would be great if both of them worked on me... one at my shoulders, one massaging my feet... I might be okay with that. LOL! Dustin, of course, willinging volunteered when he was told about it his nomination. The afternoon was spent discussing the actual birth - watching videos... seeing much more of some 1970's mothers than we probably needed to... as traumatized as I felt by it at the time, I now feel like I've seen it - I can handle this. I hope that confidence sticks around!
This coming weekend I have my last shower in Salina. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. A lot of family was invited to this one, as well as some very long time friends. I took a couple of extra days off - I'm planning on practicing my photography skills with Scott for a fall/halloween photo shoot and hopefully getting some more car pics from Grandpa Tom's garage to put up in Jax's room. There is still a lot to be done in that little room - but when it comes down to it, we could make it work right now just as it is. It's all superficial stuff - you know, decor, etc. After this last shower Brian and I will go get our final purchases. We don't need a lot to be able to take Jax home at this point. Car seat, monitor... a few little things. The rest we could pick up along the way - it's a lot of convenience type things that just makes our life easier.
I'll be 33 weeks tomorrow. Jax is a little over 4 lbs and is 17" or longer. He's gaining about 1/2 a pound a week in body fat... unfortunately, I am too! A couple of weeks ago I could feel and see movement on either side of my belly - now I don't see it as much, but if I rest my hands on top of my belly I can feel little kicks, and inside I can feel little punches way down low. I'm no doctor and I certainly can't see what an ultrasound can, but my gut says he's now head down. Dr. Curry felt for his head last time through my tummy, but said he couldn't feel anything yet. Jax is growing so quickly now that kicks and punches will slow down (they already have) and it will be more wiggles and shifts (which I'm noticing also). It's strange to have my hand on my stomach and feel him roll, lol! His hiccups are strong enough now that Brian can feel them and sometimes I can even see them. He usually gets them after I drink a glass of water. Not juice or soda or gatorade - just water. How does he know!?! LOL! He's brilliant, I tell you, already advanced! haha!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Just add baby and stir...
...well, okay, maybe there is a bit more to it than that, but as far as the nursery goes we're getting closer! I guess it would be good to have a mattress and some sheets... maybe a changing pad... Okay, there are a lot of ingredients left to add, but we have a crib and a layout for the room, so I'm feeling accomplished! A couple of weeks ago we had ordered the crib and we got the call late last week that it was in, so Saturday morning we got up and went to pick it up. It took very little effort to put together (unlike the horror stories you often hear about assembling a crib) and very few mulligan's and it was all set up and ready for a mattress and baby! We'd already had things relatively set up but before the day was over we'd rearranged everything a few times. The room is not very big, and with a full sized rocking recliner as well as a shelf, changing table/dresser and crib it took some very careful placement. By the time we got everything exactly perfect it was the exact mirror of what we'd had to begin with - but for some reason it just seemed to work so much better!
With the furniture all in place I put a few items on the shelf and it started looking like a little room for a little person (not just a furniture storage unit). We had a small lamp that we intended to use for the room, but it doesn't fit on the shelf, so in the mean time it's setting on the changing table/dresser. The cosy little space is my favorite place to curl up with one of my many baby books (that I'm reading all at the same time) and to absorb a little of the massive amount of information I feel like I'll need in a couple of months.
Over the last week Jax has become very active. ...or maybe he's just getting stronger, but I feel him so much more than before! He's kicking a lot and rolling over. Nothing huge - nothing that would make me think he's changed position completely, but enough that I feel like he's rolling from his right to his left or vice versa. I'm really going to miss feeling this little guy move around inside! He also got his first case of the hiccups a little over a week ago (around 27 weeks). Well, the first case that I recognized. He's exercising his little lungs getting ready for breathing air!
Tomorrow marks 30 weeks. Only 10 more weeks to go (give or take)! I hear and read that I'm supposed to be uncomfortable and tired now. So far there are minor discomforts, but nothing that makes me enjoy this stage in my life any less. I've had Braxton Hicks Contractions for a few weeks now. I usually get one while we are on our walks - they are more painful on our walks, but nothing that stops us or slows us down. Doctor said they will get more frequent and more painful as time goes on, but he wasn't worried about them at all. I feel good. I'm still sleeping well for the most part. I do notice that I'll have a burst of energy, and then I have to recover for a day or so - so I must be getting more tired. Overall, though, I really enjoy being pregnant with Jax!
At 30 weeks Jax is nearly 4 lbs and 16 inches long. He's busy building fat stores now to help him regulate his body temperature when he finally arrives. His hiccups are exercises to build lung capacity when he's born, so every time I feel the little rhythmic thumps I think about his little lungs getting stronger and stronger.
With the furniture all in place I put a few items on the shelf and it started looking like a little room for a little person (not just a furniture storage unit). We had a small lamp that we intended to use for the room, but it doesn't fit on the shelf, so in the mean time it's setting on the changing table/dresser. The cosy little space is my favorite place to curl up with one of my many baby books (that I'm reading all at the same time) and to absorb a little of the massive amount of information I feel like I'll need in a couple of months.
Over the last week Jax has become very active. ...or maybe he's just getting stronger, but I feel him so much more than before! He's kicking a lot and rolling over. Nothing huge - nothing that would make me think he's changed position completely, but enough that I feel like he's rolling from his right to his left or vice versa. I'm really going to miss feeling this little guy move around inside! He also got his first case of the hiccups a little over a week ago (around 27 weeks). Well, the first case that I recognized. He's exercising his little lungs getting ready for breathing air!
Tomorrow marks 30 weeks. Only 10 more weeks to go (give or take)! I hear and read that I'm supposed to be uncomfortable and tired now. So far there are minor discomforts, but nothing that makes me enjoy this stage in my life any less. I've had Braxton Hicks Contractions for a few weeks now. I usually get one while we are on our walks - they are more painful on our walks, but nothing that stops us or slows us down. Doctor said they will get more frequent and more painful as time goes on, but he wasn't worried about them at all. I feel good. I'm still sleeping well for the most part. I do notice that I'll have a burst of energy, and then I have to recover for a day or so - so I must be getting more tired. Overall, though, I really enjoy being pregnant with Jax!
At 30 weeks Jax is nearly 4 lbs and 16 inches long. He's busy building fat stores now to help him regulate his body temperature when he finally arrives. His hiccups are exercises to build lung capacity when he's born, so every time I feel the little rhythmic thumps I think about his little lungs getting stronger and stronger.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Healthy Bouncing Baby Boy!
We had another Doctors appointment today - everything is looking good! Last month my fundal height (from the top of my uterus to my pubic bone) was 2-3 cm ahead of schedule (it should coordinate with the number of weeks I am pregnant). Doc had said that if it measured more than 2 cm ahead for more than 2 consecutive appointments that he'd then order some more testing to see if it was just a big baby, or if there was more going on in there. My biggest concern was that if I did measure big again this week and the hospital couldn't get me in today for an ultrasound that I'd have to wait anxiously until next Wednesday at the earliest before we could get in so that Brian could go with me (he'll be in Boston for work until Tuesday night). But, thankfully, this week I measured exactly 28.5 cm and I'm almost exacty 28.5 weeks along! So it's all perfect. I must have just had a growth spurt right before my last appointment. Last month I'd also almost doubled what my monthly wight gain should have been... I was a bit anxious about that. But this month I actually lost 1.5 lbs - 2lbs (the scale was not exactly at 0.0 before I got on - so I give myself a couple of fractions of a pound- haha). Since I'd gained more than average the month before this isn't a concern... and trust me - I'm not skimping on dinner (or any other meal, or snack) and I'm still working out about the same as before. So, all is good in the medical world of Baby Jax! His heart rate was 147 this week - he was resting - it's higher when he's kicking and punching (like now....just like mine is higher when I'm kicking and punching). They administered my RhoGam shot today - said if Jax comes out with an RH positive blood type I'll have to get another after he's born - but he should be safe for delivery, in case he is positive. Our next appointment is in 4 weeks and then we have a couple every other week appointments, and then we are down to weekly appointments until he's here!
I had my first baby shower last weekend in Monticello, IA. We had so much fun. A great afternoon with great people. I still can't get over how cute everything was... the blue punch with little rubber ducks floating in it - and the diaper cake... The hand made bibs, and made-with-love baby blanket... everything was so great! I can't wait to see pics! We came home with a great start on life-with-baby! :) Thank you Aunt Laura & Aunt Bre! I spent all evening sorting through everything and orgainizing and making a list of stuff that we are going to need that I'd completely over looked. ...this little guy already has a lot of laundry - and I don't have a laundry basket for him!
Peg also pulled out some of Brian's baby clothes in case we wanted them. We came home with a couple of great vintage sweaters and a darling little vintage blanket. The sweaters will probably be fitting next winter - they are all 12 month, but the blanket can go to use right away!
We ordered the crib this week - it should be in sometime next week. I can't wait to get it home and set up so I can really start getting the room ready! It's going to be a tight squeeze, but I think we can make it more cozy than cramped.
As I said earlier, I'm 28 weeks now. Jax weighs about 2 1/4 lbs and is about 14.8" long (although Dr. Curry said at our appointment today that he just knows we're going to have a tall baby... I don't know if he noticed that I was wearing 3" heels). Jax is busy adding fat to his skinny little frame right now (he can have any of mine that he wants... have it all little man). He's getting cuter! He can see and respond to light now - if I were to shine a flash light on my belly I might feel his startle response to the light. But when I think of the view he'd probably get... I'd rather just not. LOL! I'm feeling good and if I could get Funkle Dustin into KS for a back massage I might even forget that I'm even pregnant for a minute! I guess I can wait until October...
I had my first baby shower last weekend in Monticello, IA. We had so much fun. A great afternoon with great people. I still can't get over how cute everything was... the blue punch with little rubber ducks floating in it - and the diaper cake... The hand made bibs, and made-with-love baby blanket... everything was so great! I can't wait to see pics! We came home with a great start on life-with-baby! :) Thank you Aunt Laura & Aunt Bre! I spent all evening sorting through everything and orgainizing and making a list of stuff that we are going to need that I'd completely over looked. ...this little guy already has a lot of laundry - and I don't have a laundry basket for him!
Peg also pulled out some of Brian's baby clothes in case we wanted them. We came home with a couple of great vintage sweaters and a darling little vintage blanket. The sweaters will probably be fitting next winter - they are all 12 month, but the blanket can go to use right away!
We ordered the crib this week - it should be in sometime next week. I can't wait to get it home and set up so I can really start getting the room ready! It's going to be a tight squeeze, but I think we can make it more cozy than cramped.
As I said earlier, I'm 28 weeks now. Jax weighs about 2 1/4 lbs and is about 14.8" long (although Dr. Curry said at our appointment today that he just knows we're going to have a tall baby... I don't know if he noticed that I was wearing 3" heels). Jax is busy adding fat to his skinny little frame right now (he can have any of mine that he wants... have it all little man). He's getting cuter! He can see and respond to light now - if I were to shine a flash light on my belly I might feel his startle response to the light. But when I think of the view he'd probably get... I'd rather just not. LOL! I'm feeling good and if I could get Funkle Dustin into KS for a back massage I might even forget that I'm even pregnant for a minute! I guess I can wait until October...
Friday, September 2, 2011
Phew!
The doctors office called and left a voice mail saying my lab results were in from the glucose test - and that I needed to call them. AH! I went into a panic. I called and had to leave them a voice mail to call me back. 40 LOOOOOOOONG minutes later I got a call saying that all the results were normal. Phew! Dodged that bullet!
Just wanted to share the drama of the day. ;)
Have a great long holiday weekend!
Just wanted to share the drama of the day. ;)
Have a great long holiday weekend!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The ..ber months.
I don't know about anyone else, but I always feel as if the ...ber months just fly by (...ber months... you know: September, October, November, December) . As if once the calender turns to September there's just a downhill slide until New Years - and then there is time to breathe again. I have a feeling that this year will be even more crazy. This baby is due to arrive in the world in just 3 short months. It seems like the day that someone will actually close the car door and send me home with a baby are light-years away... and (terrifyingly enough) they are just around the corner! For the sake of my own state of mind I'm choosing to skip over everything that must happen in days before that car door shuts and a nurse pats us on the bumper on our way home (in my own little dream world the nurses help us out to the car and hug us goodbye with bittersweet tears in their eyes to see us go... a pregnant girl can dream, can't she?).
The first baby shower is this weekend in Iowa and I'm so excited as well as nervous. I've been to many baby showers - I've hosted... I know my way though one, but I've never been the Mama being showered! All of the sweet little-person things we've spent the past few months researching and registering for have seemed kind of like a dream list... you know "If I were going to have a baby I would want..." I guess so far I've had it so easy with this pregnancy that I forget I'm actually pregnant! I still startle myself a bit when I see my reflection in the mirror... Or when I see my belly jump with little kicks.
I have to say, though, that I hope the ...ber months go a lot more smoothly than August. Although July was hotter than H-E-double-hockey-sticks and August was a bit more tolerable, I'm not sorry to see August go. Between the heartbreak of losing a very dear friend, and the stress and anxiety of waiting to see if our dog, Zeppelin, will live or die - I don't want another month that stressful and heartbreaking for many many years (actually, ever - if I can never have another month that bad I'd be just fine with that). I'm ready for a few weekends that are NOT filled with tears.
Brian and I aren't much for keeping secrets (we keep those that need to be kept, but we love to share our joy with those we love)...word is out, but I guess we really haven't posted it on here yet - so here goes. Baby Michaelsen's full name will be Jaxxon (Jax) Vann Michaelsen. Lots of time, debate and discussion went into choosing a name (even before we were pregnant) and we both just adore what we came up with.
I'm starting to wonder if he isn't already a Jax... because sometimes it feels like he's doing jumping jacks in there! At our ultrasound he was already head down - and I haven't felt any BIG flips, so I assume he still is - and I get lots of low punches. I think he has targets set up in there on my bladder and other sensitive organs/areas. And sometimes he gets me from both sides - so I know both hands just jumped out! Sometime between 10:30 and 11am is usually his most active time to kick - I don't feel the kicks as strongly on the inside as I can from the outside... and I see my belly jump a bit too! I feel the punches well from the inside (sometimes enough to make me yelp) but I can't feel them very well from the outside.
I took my glucose test on Monday and haven't heard any word from the doctor - they told me no news is good news... he'd definitely call if the results were atypical and I needed to take the 3 hour test. I won't know for sure until I either hear from doc or I see him again next Friday, but until then there's no use worrying.
I'm 27 weeks pregnant now... second trimester is swiftly drawing to a close. Jax is about 14 1/2" long from head to toe and weighs about 2 lbs. He's practicing breathing motions and his eyes are open now and he can see a little bit. If (God forbid) he were born today he'd have an 85% chance of survival. He's now working on fattening up his bony little frame and his immune system is continuing to develop. His little brain is still developing and is working all the time. He may even be sucking on his fingers now (or working his hand eye coordination on those strategically placed targets).
The first baby shower is this weekend in Iowa and I'm so excited as well as nervous. I've been to many baby showers - I've hosted... I know my way though one, but I've never been the Mama being showered! All of the sweet little-person things we've spent the past few months researching and registering for have seemed kind of like a dream list... you know "If I were going to have a baby I would want..." I guess so far I've had it so easy with this pregnancy that I forget I'm actually pregnant! I still startle myself a bit when I see my reflection in the mirror... Or when I see my belly jump with little kicks.
I have to say, though, that I hope the ...ber months go a lot more smoothly than August. Although July was hotter than H-E-double-hockey-sticks and August was a bit more tolerable, I'm not sorry to see August go. Between the heartbreak of losing a very dear friend, and the stress and anxiety of waiting to see if our dog, Zeppelin, will live or die - I don't want another month that stressful and heartbreaking for many many years (actually, ever - if I can never have another month that bad I'd be just fine with that). I'm ready for a few weekends that are NOT filled with tears.
Brian and I aren't much for keeping secrets (we keep those that need to be kept, but we love to share our joy with those we love)...word is out, but I guess we really haven't posted it on here yet - so here goes. Baby Michaelsen's full name will be Jaxxon (Jax) Vann Michaelsen. Lots of time, debate and discussion went into choosing a name (even before we were pregnant) and we both just adore what we came up with.
I'm starting to wonder if he isn't already a Jax... because sometimes it feels like he's doing jumping jacks in there! At our ultrasound he was already head down - and I haven't felt any BIG flips, so I assume he still is - and I get lots of low punches. I think he has targets set up in there on my bladder and other sensitive organs/areas. And sometimes he gets me from both sides - so I know both hands just jumped out! Sometime between 10:30 and 11am is usually his most active time to kick - I don't feel the kicks as strongly on the inside as I can from the outside... and I see my belly jump a bit too! I feel the punches well from the inside (sometimes enough to make me yelp) but I can't feel them very well from the outside.
I took my glucose test on Monday and haven't heard any word from the doctor - they told me no news is good news... he'd definitely call if the results were atypical and I needed to take the 3 hour test. I won't know for sure until I either hear from doc or I see him again next Friday, but until then there's no use worrying.
I'm 27 weeks pregnant now... second trimester is swiftly drawing to a close. Jax is about 14 1/2" long from head to toe and weighs about 2 lbs. He's practicing breathing motions and his eyes are open now and he can see a little bit. If (God forbid) he were born today he'd have an 85% chance of survival. He's now working on fattening up his bony little frame and his immune system is continuing to develop. His little brain is still developing and is working all the time. He may even be sucking on his fingers now (or working his hand eye coordination on those strategically placed targets).
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
107 days (give or take)
Wow - that sounds like a crazy short amount of time! And yet - it feels so far away.
It's been a bazaar couple of weeks around here. Lots of heartache. Last Tuesday we lost a very dear friend. A man who stood up with us at our wedding. A man who can't possibly be replaced. It reminds us how fragile life is. It reminds me of the intense amount of heartache that I won't be able to stop throughout the rest of my life - simply because I will be a mother. Even if this little guy has only the best of a long healthy life, there will be heartache as his mother. I hope I'm strong enough for it all. I'm blessed to have an amazing man by my side to share life with and to hold me and comfort me when life seems to crumble a bit. I hope I'm able to comfort him as much as he does me.
We saw the doctor on Friday. Baby M is doing well. Good strong heartbeat. He's kicking and punching me all over the place. Rather than get too annoyed with it I choose to see it as reassurance that he's growing and getting stronger every day. He has great aim for my bladder & other organs! My belly is measuring a couple of centimeters bigger than average, but doctor said that is okay - it takes a couple of visits with larger than average measurements to bring up any red flags. The last appointment I was right on track, so it could have been that growth spurt I felt last week that caused the extra centimeters. Before my next visit I'll have my glucose test to check for gestational diabetes, and to check my blood again for the RhoGAM shot. Per the first blood tests I will require the shot - they are just double checking before they administer it.
We've made some progress on the nursery. Last Monday night we moved everything out and painted. It looks very fresh in there - I'm eager to start setting it all up! As I mentioned a few weeks ago we got our dresser already, and I bought a curtain. Our rocker has been purchased for a while now, but it will be delivered this weekend. We were hoping to have the queen sized bed out of that room by now, but we are still looking for a place to store it for a while. Before Saturday it will be taking up our only remaining guest room. Hopefully we can find a safe home for it for the next couple years soon! We'll order the crib in the next month or so, and finally the room will start coming together. I had an image of a mobile in my head - and it's inspiration was an unbelievably ridiculous price ($400 for a non-motorized, non-musical mobile anyone!? No thank you). So, I decided to recreate my own. I think it's finally done, and I can't wait to decide where to hang it in the nursery. I can't decide if it would be better over the crib, or over the changing table/dresser. I'll just have to see the room put together before I can make that decision. For now it's hanging in the closet!
Right now I'm 24 weeks. Baby is about 14" long and weighs about 2 lbs. Of course every different site gives a different size & weight, but since I'm measuring large, I'm going with the largest estimate I find! His lungs are now secreting surfactant, which is a surface-activated fat that helps his little lungs inflate with air when he's born. He's practicing breathing now. His ears are finished forming and moving to their correct location on his head (and if he has any Pestinger in him, they are already sticking out - just like Funkle Dustin's! ;) love you Funk!). His fingernails are finished developing, and his testicles are decending.
It's been a bazaar couple of weeks around here. Lots of heartache. Last Tuesday we lost a very dear friend. A man who stood up with us at our wedding. A man who can't possibly be replaced. It reminds us how fragile life is. It reminds me of the intense amount of heartache that I won't be able to stop throughout the rest of my life - simply because I will be a mother. Even if this little guy has only the best of a long healthy life, there will be heartache as his mother. I hope I'm strong enough for it all. I'm blessed to have an amazing man by my side to share life with and to hold me and comfort me when life seems to crumble a bit. I hope I'm able to comfort him as much as he does me.
We saw the doctor on Friday. Baby M is doing well. Good strong heartbeat. He's kicking and punching me all over the place. Rather than get too annoyed with it I choose to see it as reassurance that he's growing and getting stronger every day. He has great aim for my bladder & other organs! My belly is measuring a couple of centimeters bigger than average, but doctor said that is okay - it takes a couple of visits with larger than average measurements to bring up any red flags. The last appointment I was right on track, so it could have been that growth spurt I felt last week that caused the extra centimeters. Before my next visit I'll have my glucose test to check for gestational diabetes, and to check my blood again for the RhoGAM shot. Per the first blood tests I will require the shot - they are just double checking before they administer it.
We've made some progress on the nursery. Last Monday night we moved everything out and painted. It looks very fresh in there - I'm eager to start setting it all up! As I mentioned a few weeks ago we got our dresser already, and I bought a curtain. Our rocker has been purchased for a while now, but it will be delivered this weekend. We were hoping to have the queen sized bed out of that room by now, but we are still looking for a place to store it for a while. Before Saturday it will be taking up our only remaining guest room. Hopefully we can find a safe home for it for the next couple years soon! We'll order the crib in the next month or so, and finally the room will start coming together. I had an image of a mobile in my head - and it's inspiration was an unbelievably ridiculous price ($400 for a non-motorized, non-musical mobile anyone!? No thank you). So, I decided to recreate my own. I think it's finally done, and I can't wait to decide where to hang it in the nursery. I can't decide if it would be better over the crib, or over the changing table/dresser. I'll just have to see the room put together before I can make that decision. For now it's hanging in the closet!
Right now I'm 24 weeks. Baby is about 14" long and weighs about 2 lbs. Of course every different site gives a different size & weight, but since I'm measuring large, I'm going with the largest estimate I find! His lungs are now secreting surfactant, which is a surface-activated fat that helps his little lungs inflate with air when he's born. He's practicing breathing now. His ears are finished forming and moving to their correct location on his head (and if he has any Pestinger in him, they are already sticking out - just like Funkle Dustin's! ;) love you Funk!). His fingernails are finished developing, and his testicles are decending.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Life's Delicate Balance
I know it's been a while since we posted anything. It's just been a busy couple of weeks!
I'm now 23 weeks along, only 17 more to go (give or take)! The lil' guy is just kicking away in there I'm fairly certain I felt my shirt move this morning he kicked so hard - Brian will be able to feel him in no time.
We went into Pottery Barn Kids last week to ask about the shipping time for their nursery furniture. They told us that the dresser that we were planning on getting was about to get marked down 10% for the floor model. It was in great condition - only a little surface dirt that will easily wash off. We got another 10% off for having it on our registry. We saved a pretty penny on it and took it home that day! Since we still have a queen sized bed in our nursery-to-be we are looking for somewhere to store that for a few years (or someone to lend it to for a few years) before we get all of the furniture in there. We need to find somewhere soon - our glider/recliner will be delivered in 2 weeks! Once we get the queen bed out of there we can tarp up the dresser & chair and paint (we've narrowed it down to 2 nearly-the-same shades of gray). Once we've painted we can order the crib and start getting the whole room together.
I decided to exercise my creative side and make a mobile instead of buy one. We already have an ipod dock that my ipod will live on for his room, so he'll have music available at all times - so the mobile being neither motorized nor musical won't be too big of an issue. Brian has been getting lots of nursery & lullibye music read to put on my ipod for him. I have all the parts and pieces that I should need for the mobile - I just need to start putting them all together. ...we'll see what I come up with and whether it's trash or treasure! (lets hope for treasure!)
I also decided to have a custom quilt made for his room instead of buying a bedding set. I booked many hours looking at fabric collections and quilt patterns and finally decided on one of each. Of course the fabric was discontinued, so it was troublesome finding it, but we finally did and a very dear family friend agreed to quilt it for us, so it's all been shipped over to her for the making of the grand masterpiece! I can't wait to see what she creates!
Brian and I have had a whirlwind of emotion the last couple of weeks.
First, a friend of mine delivered a baby who is very sick. Abigail has already outlived her projected lifespan, but everyday is unknown for them. The family is so strong and looking at the bright side with it all - they've been an inspiration to me. I feel a sense of strength keeping up with her story. I pray that I can be as strong if I ever face such a battle.
Then last weekend a very dear friend of ours suffered a heat stroke while running a warrior dash (google for more info). He's been in a desperate fight for life since then. He was rushed to the hospital with 108* body temp and has had multi-organ failure and they are doing all they can to get his organs back up in working order again. Infection, swelling of the brain, and other factors/side effects have added to the severity of his condition. Tuesday he made some progress, Wednesday was not as good, but most of the day he remained stable. Today he's made a bit more progress so far. We've visited him a couple of times and it's very hard seeing our friend like that but I know that our voices, words & presence give him strength and courage to push on to a healthy future. We are begging for any and all prayers that anyone can send up for him. Thank you for those you've sent up and continue to send any you can. My mom reminded me today to pray for his doctors and their families as well. That the doctors may do their best work and that the families may know what wonderful work their fathers/brothers/husbands are doing for the patients & their families even though the doctors families may sacrifice their time for it. So, I'm adding all of them to my prayer list as well.
These events have reminded me of how fragile life is - and how we should cherish every minute we get. I'm reminded of the wonder of the human body - and how we need to take care of it for it to be able to take care of us. I'm reminded of how much I take for granted and put off because I feel confident I can always do it later. I choose to only have a positive outlook on these situations - and to only let myself be bettered by them. My negativity or pessimism would not help or change anything. I can't do a whole lot to change the situation for either of these people/families (other than pray), but I can have a renewed respect for life and it's delicate balance and make a continuous effort to live more in the moment. Don't put off to tomorrow what you can accomplish today. I always thought of this as a work-based quote, but now I see it as a life based quote. Spend time with the ones you love now - friend & family are so often taken for granted. Pick your battles - is it worth making your time with your loved ones negative and tense when you could let it slide and just enjoy their presence in your life? I know my life is a work in progress - and this is something I will work even harder on now.
I know many of you have heard/read this before, but any prayers you can offer up for the sake of these two families/patients would be much appreciated. They need every drop of God's miracle that they can get.
I'm 23 weeks along now. Baby M can hear my voice and the things going on around him - he's growing accustomed to the music I listen to, the voices I am surrounded with, and the dogs barking (Blue talks to him a LOT)! They say he'd become accustomed to the sound of the vacuum too, but I think I'd have to get the vacuum out for him to get used to that sound. LOL! He is getting a sense of motion and can tell when I'm walking, running (ha), dancing, etc. He is just over a foot long from head to tiny toes and weighs just over a pound. He's very active - kicking and punching all of the time. Getting stronger every day. I've started having some pregnancy related carpal tunnel syndrom. My chiropractor adjusts my wrists every two weeks and it's immediate relief, although it doesn't last the full 2 weeks. He assures me that it will go away once I deliver this lil guy - I hope he's right! But it's a small price to pay for the chance to have this baby. With the extreme heat in KC lately I've had my fair share of swollen feet. Doctor said the heat contributes a lot to it and that it's not something to worry about. I'm rarely uncomfortable, so I accept it also as just a temporary inconvenience.
In case I haven't told you lately - I love you - and I cherish your presence in my life.
I'm now 23 weeks along, only 17 more to go (give or take)! The lil' guy is just kicking away in there I'm fairly certain I felt my shirt move this morning he kicked so hard - Brian will be able to feel him in no time.
We went into Pottery Barn Kids last week to ask about the shipping time for their nursery furniture. They told us that the dresser that we were planning on getting was about to get marked down 10% for the floor model. It was in great condition - only a little surface dirt that will easily wash off. We got another 10% off for having it on our registry. We saved a pretty penny on it and took it home that day! Since we still have a queen sized bed in our nursery-to-be we are looking for somewhere to store that for a few years (or someone to lend it to for a few years) before we get all of the furniture in there. We need to find somewhere soon - our glider/recliner will be delivered in 2 weeks! Once we get the queen bed out of there we can tarp up the dresser & chair and paint (we've narrowed it down to 2 nearly-the-same shades of gray). Once we've painted we can order the crib and start getting the whole room together.
I decided to exercise my creative side and make a mobile instead of buy one. We already have an ipod dock that my ipod will live on for his room, so he'll have music available at all times - so the mobile being neither motorized nor musical won't be too big of an issue. Brian has been getting lots of nursery & lullibye music read to put on my ipod for him. I have all the parts and pieces that I should need for the mobile - I just need to start putting them all together. ...we'll see what I come up with and whether it's trash or treasure! (lets hope for treasure!)
I also decided to have a custom quilt made for his room instead of buying a bedding set. I booked many hours looking at fabric collections and quilt patterns and finally decided on one of each. Of course the fabric was discontinued, so it was troublesome finding it, but we finally did and a very dear family friend agreed to quilt it for us, so it's all been shipped over to her for the making of the grand masterpiece! I can't wait to see what she creates!
Brian and I have had a whirlwind of emotion the last couple of weeks.
First, a friend of mine delivered a baby who is very sick. Abigail has already outlived her projected lifespan, but everyday is unknown for them. The family is so strong and looking at the bright side with it all - they've been an inspiration to me. I feel a sense of strength keeping up with her story. I pray that I can be as strong if I ever face such a battle.
Then last weekend a very dear friend of ours suffered a heat stroke while running a warrior dash (google for more info). He's been in a desperate fight for life since then. He was rushed to the hospital with 108* body temp and has had multi-organ failure and they are doing all they can to get his organs back up in working order again. Infection, swelling of the brain, and other factors/side effects have added to the severity of his condition. Tuesday he made some progress, Wednesday was not as good, but most of the day he remained stable. Today he's made a bit more progress so far. We've visited him a couple of times and it's very hard seeing our friend like that but I know that our voices, words & presence give him strength and courage to push on to a healthy future. We are begging for any and all prayers that anyone can send up for him. Thank you for those you've sent up and continue to send any you can. My mom reminded me today to pray for his doctors and their families as well. That the doctors may do their best work and that the families may know what wonderful work their fathers/brothers/husbands are doing for the patients & their families even though the doctors families may sacrifice their time for it. So, I'm adding all of them to my prayer list as well.
These events have reminded me of how fragile life is - and how we should cherish every minute we get. I'm reminded of the wonder of the human body - and how we need to take care of it for it to be able to take care of us. I'm reminded of how much I take for granted and put off because I feel confident I can always do it later. I choose to only have a positive outlook on these situations - and to only let myself be bettered by them. My negativity or pessimism would not help or change anything. I can't do a whole lot to change the situation for either of these people/families (other than pray), but I can have a renewed respect for life and it's delicate balance and make a continuous effort to live more in the moment. Don't put off to tomorrow what you can accomplish today. I always thought of this as a work-based quote, but now I see it as a life based quote. Spend time with the ones you love now - friend & family are so often taken for granted. Pick your battles - is it worth making your time with your loved ones negative and tense when you could let it slide and just enjoy their presence in your life? I know my life is a work in progress - and this is something I will work even harder on now.
I know many of you have heard/read this before, but any prayers you can offer up for the sake of these two families/patients would be much appreciated. They need every drop of God's miracle that they can get.
I'm 23 weeks along now. Baby M can hear my voice and the things going on around him - he's growing accustomed to the music I listen to, the voices I am surrounded with, and the dogs barking (Blue talks to him a LOT)! They say he'd become accustomed to the sound of the vacuum too, but I think I'd have to get the vacuum out for him to get used to that sound. LOL! He is getting a sense of motion and can tell when I'm walking, running (ha), dancing, etc. He is just over a foot long from head to tiny toes and weighs just over a pound. He's very active - kicking and punching all of the time. Getting stronger every day. I've started having some pregnancy related carpal tunnel syndrom. My chiropractor adjusts my wrists every two weeks and it's immediate relief, although it doesn't last the full 2 weeks. He assures me that it will go away once I deliver this lil guy - I hope he's right! But it's a small price to pay for the chance to have this baby. With the extreme heat in KC lately I've had my fair share of swollen feet. Doctor said the heat contributes a lot to it and that it's not something to worry about. I'm rarely uncomfortable, so I accept it also as just a temporary inconvenience.
In case I haven't told you lately - I love you - and I cherish your presence in my life.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Pregnancy Insomnia
I know pregancy insomnia can be to blame for a lot of the crazy things that run through a pregnant womans head at night, but last night I just can't get out of my mind.
I learned at a young age from a very wise woman that saying the Rosary typically helps if you can't sleep. On a good note: no better way to fall asleep than saying your prayers. On a bad note: I have a hard time staying awake through a Rosary now.
Last night, after painfully waking myself up by running into the door with my face on the way back to bed from the bathroom, I know I got through at least 2 Rosaries before I got to sleep. I lied in bed near tears at the fear of what I would do if there were a fire. There is nothing in this world that would convince me to leave my husband, my baby, or my dogs in a burning building and I was racing through what I would do on the second story to save them all. I was rigging up not-very-likely-to-work plans involving Baby in a backpack while I try to tie baby blankets together enough to get him out. I was thinking I might be able to get the adrenaline strength to throw my dogs out the window or do the same with them and sheet-hammock. Let me tell you, the number of very-unlikely-to-work things that went through my head was incredible. But, I did decide that I need another fire extinguisher in the house - one upstairs. And that we need fire ladders in each bedroom. These things were non-negotiable.
Now, I've gone shopping for many baby showers with very funny things on the registries... 2 liter of Coke, condoms, CD's, video games (daddy video games, not baby video games). But, my funny weird thing is fire ladders and fire extinguisher! LOL! I'll make sure it's in the house one way or another, but until I get it there it's on the registry. Mostly as a reminder to me... you see, insomnia isn't the only thing pregnancy causes. Forgetfulness runs right up there with it.
Luckily, I did finally get back to sleep. I woke up with only a red mark and some throbbing on my face (from the door). Brian said "people are going to think I'm hitting you!" But I don't think it's noticable. One cheek just has a bit more blush than the other! maybe I need a door stop to keep that darned bathroom door in place!
I'm 21 weeks day 3 now. Baby is kicking me all over the place! I love it! Brian can't feel it yet, but I don't think it will be too long now.
I learned at a young age from a very wise woman that saying the Rosary typically helps if you can't sleep. On a good note: no better way to fall asleep than saying your prayers. On a bad note: I have a hard time staying awake through a Rosary now.
Last night, after painfully waking myself up by running into the door with my face on the way back to bed from the bathroom, I know I got through at least 2 Rosaries before I got to sleep. I lied in bed near tears at the fear of what I would do if there were a fire. There is nothing in this world that would convince me to leave my husband, my baby, or my dogs in a burning building and I was racing through what I would do on the second story to save them all. I was rigging up not-very-likely-to-work plans involving Baby in a backpack while I try to tie baby blankets together enough to get him out. I was thinking I might be able to get the adrenaline strength to throw my dogs out the window or do the same with them and sheet-hammock. Let me tell you, the number of very-unlikely-to-work things that went through my head was incredible. But, I did decide that I need another fire extinguisher in the house - one upstairs. And that we need fire ladders in each bedroom. These things were non-negotiable.
Now, I've gone shopping for many baby showers with very funny things on the registries... 2 liter of Coke, condoms, CD's, video games (daddy video games, not baby video games). But, my funny weird thing is fire ladders and fire extinguisher! LOL! I'll make sure it's in the house one way or another, but until I get it there it's on the registry. Mostly as a reminder to me... you see, insomnia isn't the only thing pregnancy causes. Forgetfulness runs right up there with it.
Luckily, I did finally get back to sleep. I woke up with only a red mark and some throbbing on my face (from the door). Brian said "people are going to think I'm hitting you!" But I don't think it's noticable. One cheek just has a bit more blush than the other! maybe I need a door stop to keep that darned bathroom door in place!
I'm 21 weeks day 3 now. Baby is kicking me all over the place! I love it! Brian can't feel it yet, but I don't think it will be too long now.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
It's official!
"We very much have a boy on our hands!" Or at least that's how the sonographer phrased it. I think we very much have a boy on my bladder! LOL! I was very worried that I hadn't felt him move much yet, so last Friday at our 20 week appointment Dr. Curry told me to go lay in a quiet room after a meal and just wait. Sure enough - I felt a little something. I mean little. It was almost like a little muscle twitch, but in my abdomen. I felt it a bit on Saturday, and then a bit on Sunday, but today at work I realized I'd been feeling that for a while! When I'm sitting it makes me jump up and think I need to pee (again). I thought it was a little muscle spasm on my bladder - when it was really our little man just tapping a little Morse code "hello" to me. On Friday his heartbeat was 140 - well within the healthy range. It's going to be hard to stop calling him "it" now!
The summer is starting to wear on me now... too much time on my feet on concrete and I've got swollen ankles for a few days. They don't hurt, in fact it surprises me when I see they are swollen because I can't feel anything at all. I'm growing ever less tolerant of the heat. Hot days used to be a nuisance but I didn't get too upset over them... last week I had a bonafide anxiety attack because I was certain I was cooking from the inside out! To quote Fools Rush In, "the white people are melting!" and this girl is as pasty, ghostly, white as they come! I'm just glad that I'm only half way through my pregnancy this time of the year. I have friends and family who are 40 weeks (and more) right now and I'm fairly certain I'd have just set up camp in the hospital waiting room if I were them! Those ladies are TROOPERS! Much stronger women than I am!
The weather in KS is miserably hot. I'm told that the summer of 1980 held record setting highs - my mother was pregnant with me then. This year is rivaling those records... and I'm pregnant! There must be something about being named Suni that taunts the sun. Really, Sun, I didn't mean to pose a challenge! I know you are hotter than me!
Now that we have been reassured that our little man is indeed a man we're excited to continue planning everything and to start some shopping! We are looking forward to some weekends with our families coming up and hopefully will get to look at some cute boy stuff with them!
They gave us a video of the ultrasound today, but I can't figure out how to get it to load on Blogger (nor can I figure out what I'm looking at in the video most of the time)! I would put it up if I knew how, but it doesn't seem to be in the right format. Sorry! But, I can post some of the pictures (I recently learned that the process is called an ultrasound, and the images it produces is called a sonogram... I always wondered what the difference was). I have a whole handful of pictures, but I'll be honest - the front facial views are very skeletal (Skeletor is more like it) and creep me out a bit, so I just included my favorite pics.
Today I am 20 weeks and 6 days. I'll be 21 weeks on Wednesday. It's crazy that I'm 1/2 done, but I don't really buy that much, I've only known I was pregnant for 16 weeks, which means I have more to go than I even know I've gone! (or something like that... I'm confused now). Anyway. I'm feeling good lately! Feeling my little man move around is so cool. Makes me grin like a fool every time. LOL! I'm sure I look like a real bright bulb sitting at my desk grinning at nothing all day! Cravings have hit. Still loving my cheeses (which is good. Doc said babies are made of protein, so a protein - meat, dairy, or cheese - at most meals/snacks will keep baby growing and help limit me from growing too much!), my strawberry craving has passed and now I can't get enough of the peaches... millions of peaches for me! MMMMMMmmmmmm! The old cliche of pickles and ice cream is true - although I do not want them together. But oh, they are each on my mind multiple times a day! I let myself have more pickles than ice cream... they have fewer calories. At least ice cream is dairy - I'll give myself a free pass on it (in moderation). Baby can hear me now, so I try to talk softly and sweetly (I don't want to fill his little world with reverberating negativity!) - and whether it's in tune or not I try to sing to him too. Poor little guy. I should probably start reading to him. We can both enjoy that! He's estimated at 10.5" long (from head to toe now) and 10.5 oz. The way I've been feeling like I'm stretching all of the time he'll be a full pound in no time! He (and my uterus) are now heavy enough that when I lean forward I feel like he's going to fall out of my belly button. I can't even imagine what it will feel like in another 19 weeks (and 2 days)!
The summer is starting to wear on me now... too much time on my feet on concrete and I've got swollen ankles for a few days. They don't hurt, in fact it surprises me when I see they are swollen because I can't feel anything at all. I'm growing ever less tolerant of the heat. Hot days used to be a nuisance but I didn't get too upset over them... last week I had a bonafide anxiety attack because I was certain I was cooking from the inside out! To quote Fools Rush In, "the white people are melting!" and this girl is as pasty, ghostly, white as they come! I'm just glad that I'm only half way through my pregnancy this time of the year. I have friends and family who are 40 weeks (and more) right now and I'm fairly certain I'd have just set up camp in the hospital waiting room if I were them! Those ladies are TROOPERS! Much stronger women than I am!
The weather in KS is miserably hot. I'm told that the summer of 1980 held record setting highs - my mother was pregnant with me then. This year is rivaling those records... and I'm pregnant! There must be something about being named Suni that taunts the sun. Really, Sun, I didn't mean to pose a challenge! I know you are hotter than me!
Now that we have been reassured that our little man is indeed a man we're excited to continue planning everything and to start some shopping! We are looking forward to some weekends with our families coming up and hopefully will get to look at some cute boy stuff with them!
They gave us a video of the ultrasound today, but I can't figure out how to get it to load on Blogger (nor can I figure out what I'm looking at in the video most of the time)! I would put it up if I knew how, but it doesn't seem to be in the right format. Sorry! But, I can post some of the pictures (I recently learned that the process is called an ultrasound, and the images it produces is called a sonogram... I always wondered what the difference was). I have a whole handful of pictures, but I'll be honest - the front facial views are very skeletal (Skeletor is more like it) and creep me out a bit, so I just included my favorite pics.
Any arrow you see indicates his manhood... this is the first shot we got, to which the sonographer exclaimed "you very much have a boy!"
I can see what the arrow is pointing at, but I don't know what I'm looking at otherwise to reference that it is his parts.
Is it weird that I'm the first person to post my child's genitalia online? ew.
I can see what the arrow is pointing at, but I don't know what I'm looking at otherwise to reference that it is his parts.
Is it weird that I'm the first person to post my child's genitalia online? ew.
Here is a profile shot.
Toward the bottom of the image you can see the forehead and nose etc.
Looks like a cutie to me!
Toward the bottom of the image you can see the forehead and nose etc.
Looks like a cutie to me!
More manhood... both the bat and the balls. Yeah... I can't see much either.
Here is the head, abdomen and most recognizably, a hand!
Sucking his thumb maybe?
I don't know... the girls at work and I made that up. LOL!
Sucking his thumb maybe?
I don't know... the girls at work and I made that up. LOL!
This is a pretty sweet one in my opinion. It's the profile of his foot.
They had another of the bottom of his foot, but it was very skeletal also, and more boney than cute.
Today I am 20 weeks and 6 days. I'll be 21 weeks on Wednesday. It's crazy that I'm 1/2 done, but I don't really buy that much, I've only known I was pregnant for 16 weeks, which means I have more to go than I even know I've gone! (or something like that... I'm confused now). Anyway. I'm feeling good lately! Feeling my little man move around is so cool. Makes me grin like a fool every time. LOL! I'm sure I look like a real bright bulb sitting at my desk grinning at nothing all day! Cravings have hit. Still loving my cheeses (which is good. Doc said babies are made of protein, so a protein - meat, dairy, or cheese - at most meals/snacks will keep baby growing and help limit me from growing too much!), my strawberry craving has passed and now I can't get enough of the peaches... millions of peaches for me! MMMMMMmmmmmm! The old cliche of pickles and ice cream is true - although I do not want them together. But oh, they are each on my mind multiple times a day! I let myself have more pickles than ice cream... they have fewer calories. At least ice cream is dairy - I'll give myself a free pass on it (in moderation). Baby can hear me now, so I try to talk softly and sweetly (I don't want to fill his little world with reverberating negativity!) - and whether it's in tune or not I try to sing to him too. Poor little guy. I should probably start reading to him. We can both enjoy that! He's estimated at 10.5" long (from head to toe now) and 10.5 oz. The way I've been feeling like I'm stretching all of the time he'll be a full pound in no time! He (and my uterus) are now heavy enough that when I lean forward I feel like he's going to fall out of my belly button. I can't even imagine what it will feel like in another 19 weeks (and 2 days)!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Ultrasound update
I called Dr. Curry's office today to let them know that we were disappointed in our ultrasound and would like it if they would call and talk us through it. I also let them know that I don't mind student observation, but that we'd prefer if Dr. Curry run our appointments from now on.
Emily (Dr. Curry’s triage nurse) pulled the sonogram and said Dr. has not looked at them yet, but that she was looking at them and they looked good. She said the baby was measuring 18wks 1 day - so almost exact (we thought 18 weeks 3 days, so almost perfectly on schedule). Weight estimate (u/s is never exact) is about 8.5 oz. Everything looked good. They saw 2 kidneys a bladder a stomach a 4 chamber heart... everything looked good. She said Doc typically does another ultrasound in the 3rd trimester to evaluate size and position - if we want to wait they can check gender then (she said she could not determine gender from the images they sent her). She said if we want to know the sex for sure before that she highly recommends Johnson County Ultrasound and she can give us a referral if they require that - just to call her. She said “looks good” a lot! LOL!
She was completely understanding with the student observation only – not running the appointment – from now on. She was very helpful. I feel much better.
I just wanted to send an update on what the doctor's office had to say about the ultrasound. I hope you all have a good week!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Well boo...
We had our ultrasound on Friday afternoon. We had it all planned out - I drank all 32 ounces of water an hour before the appointment. I had some caffeine and some chocolate to get the little one moving so we could see all there was to see. I even got out of work early so we were there way before we needed to be.
We checked in and were taken into the ultrasound room about a half hour early. There were two gals - a student and an on-call sonographer. We've had a student for almost all of our doctors appointments so far, so when they asked if it was okay for a student to perform the ultrasound I didn't think twice about letting her. BIG mistake!
We were pretty much dummies in her classroom. The student talked to the licensed sonographer quite a bit - asking questions and such, but she didn't talk to us much. The screen was positioned so that I could hardly see it at all - so only Brian could see what she was looking at. He said he could harldy tell what he was seeing either. Now, we are no experts, but we've had 2 ultrasounds before and been able to tell what we were seeing. This time - no such luck. The student kept asking about level 2 measures and the sonographer kept telling her that wasn't necessary. Finally the student handed the wand over to the licensed sonographer and told her she couldn't find the abdominal view she needed. THe sonographer took one look and said "your bladder is full! Do you need to go to the bathroom!?" THANK YOU! I ran to the bathroom and back (aw sweet relief) and the licensed sonographer when ahead and re-took all of the measures that the student had taken... I was getting suspicious, but was glad they were double checking. Then she finally started showing us stuff. Except, not really. She showed us hands and feet, and told us a couple of times that 18 weeks is a really bad time to try to see the sex of the baby. She took a look and said she thought maybe it was a boy, but the umbilical cord was between baby's legs, too, so she couldn't tell. The student was certain there was no way of telling and putting doubt in everyones mind. The sonographer checked a couple more times and sounded less and less convinced each time, but was still kind of saying boy. By the time we left they were telling us not to start shopping or painting yet. UGH!
Now, I know that they can't always tell whether it's a boy or a girl. I was CERTAIN the entire pregnancy that this was a girl, and now I think she's probably right that it was a boy, but I'll need more conclusive evidence before I start shopping for team blue.
The later and later in the day it got, and the more people I talked to, the more gyped I felt!! Everyone leaves their ultrasound with a "new" due date. Dr. Curry had even told us to expect them to tell us one - and that he was not changing it no matter what they said. They didn't comment on the size, or weight of the baby. They didn't comment on anything about it at all. I started freaking out - were they not telling us something? Or was it just a student so focused on her "lesson" that she didn't think at all about our ultrasound! Was the licensed sonographer in such a rush to get us out of there that she just bypassed all the excited parents stuff and got what she needed and ushered us out? By the time I went to bed that night I was furious. Brian found me in the shower crying the next morning because I was so mad. Not that they couldn't tell us it was definitely a boy, but because they didn't tell us anything! I felt more confused than when we went in!
At our 12 week appt Dr. Curry did an ultrasound to check the heart rate (he couldn't find it on the Doppler). He told us then that it was too early to see the sex of the baby, but that we could see it at 18 weeks. We'd checked out some of the prenatal imaging centers and they all said they could look as early as 18 weeks - so we thought we were good to go... we were 18 weeks! It wasn't until the sonographer, and then a couple of friends of mine said that 20-22 weeks was much better time to see the sex that I even thought that 18 was too early. Had I known that, I may have waited to to the ultrasound at 20-22 weeks (lets be honest - 20... I can't wait any longer than I have to... which is what got me in this predicament in the first place!).
So... I'm still not certain enough to start shopping (dang it). Brian is convinced that it's a boy and it was just that student's lack of training (ie- inability to see it) that put doubt in all of our heads. IDK - all I know is that Dr. Curry will be getting a call from me bright and early tomorrow morning to voice my disappointment and let him know that I'd like to hear from him when he gets a chance to look at the images. Maybe he can tell us something since the tech's didn't!
The sonographer did say that Dr. Curry may order another ultrasound because the baby was curled into a position that made it difficult to get an image of the 4 chambers of the heart. She thought she could see them, but she couldn't catch it for the images. So... we'll see if we get another chance or if we'll be calling Prenatal Imaging for confirmation!
The heart rate was 144 at the time of the ultrasound. They said that just like ours, baby's heart rate will fluctuate with activity. Apparently my caffeine hadn't kicked in yet! Today I'm 18 weeks and 6 days. Baby is about the size of a sweet potato from head to rump (head on my left side, rump on my right). Baby is becoming amazingly mobile passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that I'll soon be able to feel movements. Baby can hear now - so I'm trying to talk to it more... and play more music, too! Sometimes we even dance (although that tends to be more spastic than rhythmic! Most of you saw the dancing Suni in the wedding video... not much has changed since I was 8). Big changes and developments are happening in the next couple of weeks.
We checked in and were taken into the ultrasound room about a half hour early. There were two gals - a student and an on-call sonographer. We've had a student for almost all of our doctors appointments so far, so when they asked if it was okay for a student to perform the ultrasound I didn't think twice about letting her. BIG mistake!
We were pretty much dummies in her classroom. The student talked to the licensed sonographer quite a bit - asking questions and such, but she didn't talk to us much. The screen was positioned so that I could hardly see it at all - so only Brian could see what she was looking at. He said he could harldy tell what he was seeing either. Now, we are no experts, but we've had 2 ultrasounds before and been able to tell what we were seeing. This time - no such luck. The student kept asking about level 2 measures and the sonographer kept telling her that wasn't necessary. Finally the student handed the wand over to the licensed sonographer and told her she couldn't find the abdominal view she needed. THe sonographer took one look and said "your bladder is full! Do you need to go to the bathroom!?" THANK YOU! I ran to the bathroom and back (aw sweet relief) and the licensed sonographer when ahead and re-took all of the measures that the student had taken... I was getting suspicious, but was glad they were double checking. Then she finally started showing us stuff. Except, not really. She showed us hands and feet, and told us a couple of times that 18 weeks is a really bad time to try to see the sex of the baby. She took a look and said she thought maybe it was a boy, but the umbilical cord was between baby's legs, too, so she couldn't tell. The student was certain there was no way of telling and putting doubt in everyones mind. The sonographer checked a couple more times and sounded less and less convinced each time, but was still kind of saying boy. By the time we left they were telling us not to start shopping or painting yet. UGH!
Now, I know that they can't always tell whether it's a boy or a girl. I was CERTAIN the entire pregnancy that this was a girl, and now I think she's probably right that it was a boy, but I'll need more conclusive evidence before I start shopping for team blue.
The later and later in the day it got, and the more people I talked to, the more gyped I felt!! Everyone leaves their ultrasound with a "new" due date. Dr. Curry had even told us to expect them to tell us one - and that he was not changing it no matter what they said. They didn't comment on the size, or weight of the baby. They didn't comment on anything about it at all. I started freaking out - were they not telling us something? Or was it just a student so focused on her "lesson" that she didn't think at all about our ultrasound! Was the licensed sonographer in such a rush to get us out of there that she just bypassed all the excited parents stuff and got what she needed and ushered us out? By the time I went to bed that night I was furious. Brian found me in the shower crying the next morning because I was so mad. Not that they couldn't tell us it was definitely a boy, but because they didn't tell us anything! I felt more confused than when we went in!
At our 12 week appt Dr. Curry did an ultrasound to check the heart rate (he couldn't find it on the Doppler). He told us then that it was too early to see the sex of the baby, but that we could see it at 18 weeks. We'd checked out some of the prenatal imaging centers and they all said they could look as early as 18 weeks - so we thought we were good to go... we were 18 weeks! It wasn't until the sonographer, and then a couple of friends of mine said that 20-22 weeks was much better time to see the sex that I even thought that 18 was too early. Had I known that, I may have waited to to the ultrasound at 20-22 weeks (lets be honest - 20... I can't wait any longer than I have to... which is what got me in this predicament in the first place!).
So... I'm still not certain enough to start shopping (dang it). Brian is convinced that it's a boy and it was just that student's lack of training (ie- inability to see it) that put doubt in all of our heads. IDK - all I know is that Dr. Curry will be getting a call from me bright and early tomorrow morning to voice my disappointment and let him know that I'd like to hear from him when he gets a chance to look at the images. Maybe he can tell us something since the tech's didn't!
The sonographer did say that Dr. Curry may order another ultrasound because the baby was curled into a position that made it difficult to get an image of the 4 chambers of the heart. She thought she could see them, but she couldn't catch it for the images. So... we'll see if we get another chance or if we'll be calling Prenatal Imaging for confirmation!
The heart rate was 144 at the time of the ultrasound. They said that just like ours, baby's heart rate will fluctuate with activity. Apparently my caffeine hadn't kicked in yet! Today I'm 18 weeks and 6 days. Baby is about the size of a sweet potato from head to rump (head on my left side, rump on my right). Baby is becoming amazingly mobile passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that I'll soon be able to feel movements. Baby can hear now - so I'm trying to talk to it more... and play more music, too! Sometimes we even dance (although that tends to be more spastic than rhythmic! Most of you saw the dancing Suni in the wedding video... not much has changed since I was 8). Big changes and developments are happening in the next couple of weeks.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tease!
No real blog post here - I was just sharing our first baby bump pics!
It will take some adjusting seeing myself like this!
We'll be back later this week... fingers crossed for great news!
It will take some adjusting seeing myself like this!
We'll be back later this week... fingers crossed for great news!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Balloons!
We must be growing today! I feel like someone has a big balloon inside my belly and is trying to fill it every last inch. It doesn't hurt, but it just kind of aches/stretches all over - like the slight ache after a hard workout. I've been expecting as much, though, because I have been so hungry lately! I was hoping baby was behind the hunger! Brian even commented a couple of nights ago (as I helped myself to his dinner) that he might have to start eating alone if I don't stop eating his food! Maybe it's time to give in to larger portions or more snacks. Do Tums count as a snack?! In the quantity I'm taking down they might!
I think we've finally decided on a crib and dresser. We haven't ordered it, but we anticipate doing so in the next month or two. It feels good to be decided. Like the basics of the room are figured out. Next weekend hopefully we can start deciding what the accents and colors will look like! :) Speaking of - only 9 more days until we get to see if baby will show us: boy or girl! I'm taking notes on things that make baby move (in case it's being shy). I've heard soda/caffeine, chocolate/sugar, jumping around (which will be risky considering I have to have a VERY full bladder). Any other suggestions would be welcomed!
I'm getting pretty excited about everything. I've started a few registries so I don't forget what suggestions I've gotten from all of my mommy friends. A new store opened up in town last weekend: Buy Buy Baby. I'm pretty impressed! I think I'll prefer it to Babies R Us. It's a sister-store to Bed Bath & Beyond and it's set up very similarly. It carries lots of brands that are hard to find other than online, so we can look at all of the options before we decide. I've heard they send out coupons much like Bed Bath & Beyond does - all of the time! And I've also heard that they accept competitors coupons, so it may be a smart place to shop! The clothing section was calling my name over the weekend when I went in with Tara - I whispered back that I'd come visit in 2 weeks after I know which department to shop in! I can't wait!
My fabulous friend Erin found out yesterday that she'll be having a baby girl 6 or 7 weeks before Baby M is due. This sends my girl wishes back to the forefront for a bit! Wouldn't it be fun to have a group of little girls that are about the same age?! Oh, the drama! LOL! But, then I see something boy-ish and the boy wish creeps back up and I'm back to 50/50 - I don't care whether it's a boy or a girl, I just want to know! (all of the essential items that we've decided on so far are gender neutral, so it won't change anything either way).
Today I am 17 weeks pregnant. Baby has mastered some simple reflexes such as swallowing, sucking, and blinking (that's right, the eyelids are not fused anymore). It may even be starting to get hiccups. The skeleton is starting to change from cartilage to bone (thank God for all the calcium in those Tums) and it's now able to move it's joints. The sweat glands are forming and the umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker. Baby is about the length of an onion: around 5", and weighs over 5 oz now. Maybe even more than that since I wrote this because I think I feel it growing right now! LOL! I started slathering on the belly butter a couple of weeks ago (after I caught myself scratching my belly because it itched - and DING the light went on). Now I just hope I'm one of the lucky few (you know who you are) who got away without many stretchmarks (if any at all). Fingers crossed!
Next weeks post will be later in the week so we can share if we know if it's a boy or a girl! Stay tuned!
I think we've finally decided on a crib and dresser. We haven't ordered it, but we anticipate doing so in the next month or two. It feels good to be decided. Like the basics of the room are figured out. Next weekend hopefully we can start deciding what the accents and colors will look like! :) Speaking of - only 9 more days until we get to see if baby will show us: boy or girl! I'm taking notes on things that make baby move (in case it's being shy). I've heard soda/caffeine, chocolate/sugar, jumping around (which will be risky considering I have to have a VERY full bladder). Any other suggestions would be welcomed!
I'm getting pretty excited about everything. I've started a few registries so I don't forget what suggestions I've gotten from all of my mommy friends. A new store opened up in town last weekend: Buy Buy Baby. I'm pretty impressed! I think I'll prefer it to Babies R Us. It's a sister-store to Bed Bath & Beyond and it's set up very similarly. It carries lots of brands that are hard to find other than online, so we can look at all of the options before we decide. I've heard they send out coupons much like Bed Bath & Beyond does - all of the time! And I've also heard that they accept competitors coupons, so it may be a smart place to shop! The clothing section was calling my name over the weekend when I went in with Tara - I whispered back that I'd come visit in 2 weeks after I know which department to shop in! I can't wait!
My fabulous friend Erin found out yesterday that she'll be having a baby girl 6 or 7 weeks before Baby M is due. This sends my girl wishes back to the forefront for a bit! Wouldn't it be fun to have a group of little girls that are about the same age?! Oh, the drama! LOL! But, then I see something boy-ish and the boy wish creeps back up and I'm back to 50/50 - I don't care whether it's a boy or a girl, I just want to know! (all of the essential items that we've decided on so far are gender neutral, so it won't change anything either way).
Today I am 17 weeks pregnant. Baby has mastered some simple reflexes such as swallowing, sucking, and blinking (that's right, the eyelids are not fused anymore). It may even be starting to get hiccups. The skeleton is starting to change from cartilage to bone (thank God for all the calcium in those Tums) and it's now able to move it's joints. The sweat glands are forming and the umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker. Baby is about the length of an onion: around 5", and weighs over 5 oz now. Maybe even more than that since I wrote this because I think I feel it growing right now! LOL! I started slathering on the belly butter a couple of weeks ago (after I caught myself scratching my belly because it itched - and DING the light went on). Now I just hope I'm one of the lucky few (you know who you are) who got away without many stretchmarks (if any at all). Fingers crossed!
Next weeks post will be later in the week so we can share if we know if it's a boy or a girl! Stay tuned!
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