Part 2

When we arrived at the hospital for the second time, we were put back in the same exam room. The routine went pretty much the same as the first time, back on the monitors and this time when I was examined I was just about 2 centimeters! After all this time I had barely increased a centimeter. The contractions were 3 minutes apart though and the baby was at 0 stage. They wanted me to go home again! I couldn't believe it and started crying. I was so uncomfortable. I hadn't slept or ate and was exhausted. Just when they convinced me to at least go walk around the hospital and try to drink something (once you are admitted you can't eat or drink), I got sick again. That is when they said I wasn't going anywhere and finally admitted me. My nurse in L&D was great! They hooked me up to an IV to get some fluids in me and then gave me some medicine to help me sleep through the contractions. They broke my water then too, hoping to move things along. I fell asleep for almost 2 hours, but when I woke up the contractions were even more painful! Plus I was so groggy and kept passing out between them, I didn't have the energy to talk or do anything between them. I was trying to get Chris' attention, but could barely speak, so I just shook the rail on my bed, lol. Getting to 4 centimeters was the longest part. I don't really remember anything. I know my mom and Chris were in the room with me.

Around midnight things got a lot better! I think I was finally at least at 4 centimeters then and I had slept some. At this point this is when they gave me an epidural. Can you say HEAVEN! My mom said I did a 180. I wasn't nervous at all about getting it done and the doctor who did it was awesome, it wasn't bad at all. Plus the relief was instantaneous. Now I could communicate and was alert. We still had a ways to go, but after 4 centimeters you dilate about 1 centimeter an hour. They gave me pitocin to help me along the way. At some point during this time my blood pressure dropped and the baby's heartrate dropped. They put an internal monitor on the baby and worked on getting my blood pressure up. I think it was only a few minutes and we were both fine, but I know it worried my mom. Me? I didn't realize what was happening. Around 2:30am they told me it would probably be another hour till I was fully dilated and that it would take an hour or so to push. So I called my dad to let him know. The estimate was pretty right on, it took about an hour and 40 minutes for me to be fully dilated. They told me when I feel pressure below to let them know. By this time they checked me out and the baby was at -2 stage and it was time to push! From there it all happened really quickly! They had to yell to Dr. Lieberman to get in there quickly, she almost didn't make it. I only pushed for about 15 minutes. They almost weren't ready for my little guy, it is a boy!

I never heard such a wonderful sound as his little cry. Chris cut the umbilical cord and then they handed him to me. He was beautiful! All slimy and wet, but so adorable. He weighed in at 8 lbs (although the scale actually said 7 15.5) and 21 inches. He scored a 9 on his tests and then I was able to attempt to breastfeed. All of the grandparents were in the waiting room and came in to meet him. At this point we didn't have a name. Although as soon as I saw him I knew he was Luke. He was a strong masculine name, just perfect for our little guy. But Chris and I hadn't agreed on anything yet and hadn't a chance to discuss it. So it wasn't until later that morning that we decided on the phone his name and began sharing it with all of our family and friends.

Here are a few early pictures of Luke William:

Long overdue...

As most of you know by now - it's a BOY!!! My little guy is 3 1/2 weeks old now and I am finally getting around to posting our story. I wanted to go back and recount the actual labor & delivery. In my last post, I mentioned I was scheduled for an induction as I wasn't dilated as of my Thursday appointment. Well Friday, I woke up at 12:30am with contractions. I started timing them and they were 8 minutes apart and coming regularly. At about 2:30 I came downstairs as I wasn't sleeping, I mentioned to Chris I was having regular contractions, but didn't really wake him or anything. Let me tell you, not much is on tv at 2:30, I watched about 5 episodes of the 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air' as I timed my contractions. I even created a spreadsheet of them. By the time Chris woke up for work they were 6 minutes apart. At first we thought maybe he should go to work, so he showered, but when he got out we both decided it would be best he stay home. I showered and the contractions were now 5 minutes apart. I called my doctor and they called back and told me to go to the hospital. We arrived at Winthrop around 9:30, on the way we called my mom and dad and let them know what was going on.

Once at the hospital they put us in an exam room and hooked me up to the monitors. We were still every 5 minutes. Dr. Levine was on duty and came in to examine me. My water hadn't broke and I was still not even 2 centimeters dilated. But he said "I would definitely have this baby today". The nurse later told us he was a bit optimistic. They encouraged me to go walk around, drink & eat. At this point Chris and I didn't realize I was being discharged and told to go home. They said walking and drinking was the best thing and to come back when the contractions were like 3 minutes apart. So we ended up leaving and went to a dinner to have some breakfast. I couldn't eat a thing and every time I got a contraction had to get up and walk around the diner. I was exhausted, I hadn't slept since Weds night. After 3 bites of Special K we left and went to the Perfetti house. I thought there was no need to go home, as we would be heading back to the hospital soon. I did manage to doze off for about 40 minutes and then we went home. By this time my mom had made it down from Connecticut. So between her & Chris they timed how far apart my contractions were and for how long as I paced the living/dining room. I tried drinking water, but couldn't get it down. Either from the hormones or the intensity of the contractions, I got sick twice. I went for a couple of walks outside. On my last walk I ran into both my neighbors. The contractions were more intense and close together and I felt pressure below. I thought the baby would pop out at any minute. So when I got home, I told Chris it was time to go and this was IT!! The pain was pretty strong and I could hardly stand during them. I kept doing my breathing, it was what got me through it. So around 5:30 we left to head back to the hospital.

To be continued...

Still chugging along...

Three days past my due date and I am still here. Very common I hear with first babies. This one must take after me, I was 3 weeks late. I don't know how my mom did it, I would go crazy! This morning I saw the doctor and they did a non-stress test, a sono, and an internal. Well there is no change, I am not really even dilated. So Sunday night I will go into the hospital to ripen my cervix and then they will induce. The induction probably won't take place until Monday morning sometime. Maybe I will go on my own before then, but I am not counting on it. Baby looks good, has dropped pretty low so it was hard for them to get a head measurement for the sono. They estimate 7 lbs 14 oz.

EDD +1

Still here!

On Friday I went to the doctor's and I was only a 1/2 centimeter dilated. Yesterday I went again, but they didn't do another internal. The doctor said there really wasn't a point, because until I go into labor it doesn't matter how much I am dilated. They also did an ultrasound and everything look good. The estimated weight is 8lbs right now. I also had a non-stress test where they monitor the baby's heart rate. Each time the baby moves I need to press a button. Well this time the baby was not cooperating, and wasn't moving. The test took over 30 mins and the nurse had to literally shake my belly. But the baby did wake up a bit and move around. They said it was fine.

So now the plan: I go back to the Dr on Thursday morning (although we are hoping I go before that and can cancel the appt). At this appt they will again do a sonogram, a non-stress test, and an internal with the doctor. From here we will schedule an induction for Sunday night. So here is to hoping I go on my own before Sunday!

Everything is good. We are as ready as we can be, just waiting for our little bundle of joy to arrive. I feel good, the same actually. I was a bit irritable over the weekend, can that be a sign of impending labor? But thankfully that seems to have passed (at least for everyone else's sake). Just trying to keep busy and tie up some loose ends.

We know that everyone is as anxious as we are to meet Baby Perfetti. We have received a lot of phone calls of people checking in to see how we are doing and if there is any news. It is to the point if we don't answer the phone people assume we are at the hospital. I am afraid not to answer the phone & get people's hope up, LOL. It is really sweet how much people care and are excited for us!

Updated nursery pictures

Still need to put the bed cribbing together, but wanted to post some more recent pictures of the nursery.

Bouncing baby

Just came back from my 39 week doctor's appointment. They finally did an internal! But the doctor said there wasn't much progress and I wasn't ready yet. I guess that means I wasn't dilated. During the exam I casually mentioned that the baby had been moving less frequently and with less intensity since yesterday. So they had me stay to see if we needed to induce early. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor for 20 mins, during which time I had to press a button every time the baby moved. Well the baby woke up and made mommy look like a fool since it was bouncing all over the place. Later when the doctor read the results she said it was like a straight A report card and everything looked perfect. They also did another ultrasound to check the fluid, movements, measurements, etc. Everything was good and measured right on schedule. The estimated weight right now is 7lbs 11ozs. Now I am supposed to closely monitor the movements and call if it doesn't seem normal. Otherwise they want to see me again on Friday. Dr. V reiterated that they won't let me go to the 41st week, so unless I go early the baby will be born sometime next week.

I feel ready! This weekend we got a lot of the little things done. After like 8 loads of laundry everything is washed & put away. The bags are packed. Chris put together the bouncy seat (but I do need to get more batteries, everything requires batteries!), so all the 'stuff' is put together and hanging out in the dining room. We are all just patiently waiting for the baby to decide they are ready. Together we haven't decided on THE name yet, but I feel like we are much closer.

I am feeling good, although I do feel like I am getting a cold. My nose is runny and I am congested, plus I woke up with a sore throat. So I am drinking some tea and taking it easy. Also I took a nap both Sat & Sun, I am just feeling more tired lately and by 9:30/10 I am exhausted. Otherwise I feel the same I did a month ago, so who knows. Eating is becoming more difficult. I need to keep eating, but I have no room so I can't eat a lot so I have to eat a LOT of small meals. But I also need to get at least 70oz of fluid in me, so it is a constant struggle.

Tomorrow 'Nanny' is coming! She has the crib mattress and will help me set up the crib (which means more laundry today). I am also going to interview another set of pediatricians (recommended by Lisa) and have a good feeling about them. They are in Garden City.

12 Days

Less then two weeks to go and mommy and baby are doing well. At our doctor's appointment this week everything looked great. I thought they would do an internal and tell me if I was dilated yet, but they didn't. No big deal. The baby's heartbeat was strong, 150. My UTI seems to have gotten better and I should finish the antibiotics tomorrow. The doctor told me that they wouldn't even let me get to my 41st week if I don't go on my own. So that means this baby is coming either way by the 29th of October. With the arrival approaching we have resumed our discussion of baby names, still haven't chosen the "one". Now we even have some new considerations in the mix, so who knows!

My godmother bought us a cherry glider and it arrived yesterday! I can't wait for Chris to put it together. I have been 'nesting' lately. Cleaned the linen closet to make room for some baby stuff on the shelves. The entire house has been scrubbed top to bottom. I am bringing the comforters to the cleaners to be cleaned and am in the middle of reorganizing the master bedroom. Next I am going to wash the clothes, blankets, bibs, and burp clothes so we are ready. I also need to pack my hospital bag; Chris wants to know what I am waiting for. I guess I knew I didn't need it yet, lol. So I will take care of that and the diaper bag in the next couple of days, as we patiently wait for our lives to be turned upside down :-)

Why do they make these things so difficult?

Thank goodness for my MIL and sister! They were a lifesaver today and helped me figure out the car seat & stroller (seriously it is not that easy). Then the three of us (OK, really it was mostly the two of them) put together the Pack n' Play. Now our PNP has a changing table and a bassinet, but they still say it is good for travel (yeah right). It was a comedy show watching us put this thing together. The guys (Chris, my FIL, and Brianne's friend Tom were watching football and found us even more entertaining then the games). Well I am happy to say we figured it out and is set-up and ready for the baby. Chris installed the car seats yesterday. Tonight we might attempt the swing. The nursery is done and I put away the clothes, I am hoping to bring up a bunch more stuff tonight and clear out downstairs. I also plan to pack up the hospital bag.

Yesterday, my step-mom (soon to be better known as Gammi) hosted a high tea for me at the Garden City Hotel. It was soo nice! She did such a wonderful job, I loved the individual floral arrangements (the colors were perfect). Everything was beautiful and tea was a lot of fun. Everyone was so generous and we received some wonderful gifts including two special gifts from my dad & step-mom: they have set-up an education fund for the baby and commissioned an artist to do a watercolor of the baby and I.

Last night I thought this might be it. I had contractions again and they lasted a few hours. They were pretty intense. I was able to fall asleep, but twice they woke me up. Eventually they went away, but for the first time I also had a dream I was in labor and the baby was born. I guess it can be any day now and I am getting anxious.

Just some things...

The baby is doing well. I went to the doctor's on Monday and I had lost 4 lbs, but the doctor said the baby was measuring well. She asked if I was eating, which I am. And wanted to make sure I am not dieting, which I am not. The heartbeat sounded good. The doctor explained the procedures for when I do go into labor, because who knows - it could happen any day.

So the baby is good, but mommy and daddy had a rough week. A precious little angel was taken from this world this past week. Brandon Thomas passed away on October 1st. He was such a special little guy who touched so many lives. He is now finally resting and peaceful. Brandon is our guardian angel.

During the past couple of days I tried to take it easy. I haven't slept well. I had to go back to the doctor's today (and I gained weight, so who knows maybe Monday was a freak thing). They put me on antibiotics and think I have a Urinary Track Infection. We won't get the results back till Monday, but they don't want it to get worse (I am sure I have one). Hope the medicine kicks in quickly, because I am very uncomfortable.

Eight years and 37 weeks - milestones!

Eight years ago today Chris and I went on our first date. Seems like yesterday we were walking in Union Square and Chris was talking a mile a minute (yes it is true). Last night we attempted to go to dinner at the same place we have the past 7 years, but they were closed. So we went to another Uno's restaurant instead. It was nice to celebrate the last eight years, even though it was sad "our" place was gone.

So enough about Chris and I and more about the baby, that is what everyone cares about anyway. Today I am 37 weeks, so happy to have achieved this milestone. Now if I go into labor I am considered FULL TERM. Which really means any day this baby could arrive. 9 months really has flown by and now that the time has arrived, I still don't feel ready. The 'To Do' list has grown, even though we continue to cross things off.

Over the last week the baby has started to drop. I guess the baby is preparing to meet mommy & daddy. According to the books this phase is called "lightening". I am feeling the baby lower, which means more frequent trips to the bathroom. At night it is even harder to rollover and sleeping is much more of a challenge.

Thank you to all of our family & friends for their continued love and support. We know you are all as excited as we are to meet this precious bundle of joy.

As requested...

Check out the progress of the nursery:

Pictures of Nursery Construction

We aren't done yet, but almost (cross your fingers). Crib is coming on Monday!

What will I miss?

Today someone asked me will I miss being pregnant?

I will definitely miss being pregnant and I never thought I would feel that way. The 1st trimester I didn't enjoy (it felt weird to me and strange things were happening with my body), but otherwise I have LOVED being pregnant.

I am so going to miss feeling the baby kick and move! Every time it happens I am amazed. I thought that feeling would pass, but it hasn't. At night I sit on the sofa or lay down and just watch the baby move. I can't stop rubbing my tummy and pausing every time I feel a kick or a movement.

The private bond that I feel I have with the baby as it grows inside of me. We have little private conversations every day.

Honestly, I think I am glowing. Pregnancy has really agreed with me and I couldn't be any happier!

The extra love, support & attention from our family & friends.

Dreaming of our life once this little bundle of joy arrives. The anticipation and excitement is like nothing I have ever experienced. Sure, it is overwhelming and somewhat scary too, but it also the most awesome feeling in the world.

We are in position!

Yesterday the doctor confirmed what I already thought, the baby is head down and in position. Where I have been feeling tremendous movements is the baby's feet and butt. Since it is tight in there I am feeling and seeing lots of movement, but less kicks. I got to see both of the baby's feet, looks like good size feet to me and the arms & hands, which one is by the chin and the other is over the head right now. Early estimates & measurements show the baby currently at 6lbs 9oz. Both Chris & I were over 8lbs at birth.

All of my measurements are perfectly on track. Blood tests from last week came back negative. The baby's heart rate was again in the 140 range. So everything is progressing as expected.

Last night we went to a baptisim class at St. Raphael's. I was soo uncomfortable. Don't know if it was just gas or more Braxton Hicks, but I couldn't sit still. The class itself was fine. Mostly explained about the sacrament, as well as the actual ceremony itself.

The room is almost complete!! Carpeting is being installed as a write this. And Jeff will probably finish up the rest in a day or two. Soon we will be able to clear out the dining room and start to organize the nursery.

Chris and I are so excited and cannot wait for the baby to arrive!!!

Braxton Hicks

Last night I was awoken in the middle of the night with contractions! Instead of freaking out, I remained calm (yes, me - calm). I remembered what the nurse in our class said: that if they are on one side and don't get stronger they aren't the real thing. Well they were quite uncomfortable but were only on the right side. I laid on my left side and they went on for almost 20 minutes. Afterwards the baby was quite active, as it has been the last few nights while I am trying to sleep.

Yesterday I went to the doctor and all is good. Too early to know the position or the size of Baby Fuffs (although Dr. N said probably about 5.5 lbs). My weight was the same. I am concerned if the baby is breached when they will schedule a c-section (that was the course of action the Dr told me we would follow). The doctor understood my concerns and scheduled another sonogram for next week! So excited to see the baby again, my appointments now are every week. I can't believe I only have 5 weeks to go before getting to meet this precious little one.

Sunday I got the baby the most adorable outfit for Halloween, our little pumpkin. And a really nice soft & cozy outfit to come home in. On the home front we are getting there. We are making lots of progress, although it is hard to tell. The house needs to get organized!

Green Eyes

So the baby's nursery is well under way, the sheetrock is done and the new door is being hung. Still looks like quite a lot left to do before it will be done. But it should be done next week. I got the paint, a nice green with some yellow accents to match our bedding. Whatever Jeff was doing on Monday, stunk. So Monday night I slept on the sofa. I didn't get a good nights sleep at all. But it was good I was downstairs. I tried broccoli again (my mom had made this yummy Oriental salad for my shower) for lunch. I thought it was fine, but that night the gas was killing me. Oh well, guess broccoli and I will really have to part ways for awhile.

The other night I had a dream about the baby. She (yes it was a she in my dream) had the brightest most vibrant green eyes I have ever seen. They were beautiful!

Feeling good, although I do get pooped. By the time night time comes around I am pretty uncomfortable. My stomach seems to get tight and heavier. The baby also moves around so much more. The neatest thing is just watching my stomach move, it looks like a wave.

We took a breastfeeding class at the hospital. It was good, but long. The biggest thing I took from the class was about positioning and getting the baby to latch on. Chris came along, about half the women there had their SOs with them, so he wasn't the only guy. He did the crossword puzzle, but mostly he drank juice & ate cookies.

Smile pretty for the camera :-)

A couple of pictures from Sunday:

Mom and Dad-to-be when we arrived with our gifts

Me with the "Aunts" - Karen, Megan, and Brianne

The grandma's and me

It showered!

On Sunday our families threw a beautiful baby shower for us. The shower was at my in-laws in the backyard. It was such a beautiful ladies luncheon. Chris came in the beginning to greet all of the guests. The tables looked great & the centerpieces were adorable (bowls of floating rubber duckies and roses). I know my mom, mother-in-law, and my sister (and many others) put a lot of work into the details to make it a very special day. And I appreciate their thoughtfulness so much!

The day couldn't have been more perfect, it was a bit hot in the sun, but there was enough shade to keep cool. The food was excellent - great gourmet wraps and a variety of salads. I heard the strawberry champagne punch was excellent, too bad I couldn't try it. My sister's roommate Karen made a "Honey Bee cake" to coordinate with our bedding. It was so cute, I can't imagine how much time & effort it took.

Everyone was so generous!!! The baby hasn't even made its debut and it is already loved and was showered with so many gifts. I wouldn't even know where to start. We received everything off of our registry plus a ton of other lovely gifts: many beautiful blankets (even a handful of handmade ones, which I love), an adorable octupus chair, and cute little clothes. Now our dining room is full of baby stuff; we might need a small addition on the house to fit it all! We have lots to go through and organize (hopefully the nursery will be done soon & the furniture delivered so we can put some of it away).

A really cute touch, was my sister included the following card in the invitations:
I want to be a bright child
as smart as I can be,
That is why I am hoping
my mom will read to me.
If you plan to bring a card
Please take another look,
I would like to learn my ABC's
From your favorite storybook.
Please sign your name in the front
as a personal touch,
Baby Perfetti Thanks you
Beary, beary much.

We received so many great books for the baby's library! Everyone signed the books, so it will be a great momento. Chris and I enjoyed looking at the books last night and recognizing some of our own favorites from childhood.

Thank you to everyone! It was a very special and beautiful day. We love and appreciate you all. Chris and I are so thankful our baby will have such a wonderful extended family and support system.

Baby, don't scare mommy like that!

This past weekend we went up to Vermont for our annual Brew Fest trip. The ride up was good, but I was very uncomfortable, being almost 33 weeks pregnant. We had to stop a few times so I could stretch and walk around. During one of our stops we visited a local confectionery, where we had some yummy homemade chocolate. The weather was gorgeous all weekend and perfect for hanging out and relaxing. Baby Fuffs really enjoyed its first trip to Mt. Snow and was quite active! The music had the baby dancing all afternoon in my tummy.

On Sunday after the festival ended we all went swimming. There was a bit of an incident afterwards and I kinda freaked out. While swimming I realized that if my water broke I would never know (although now I know I would continue leaking after the initial break). Anyway I now have this stuck in my head and am not feeling the baby move. When we got back to our condo I was getting really worried that the baby wasn't moving around or kicking. Chris was fantastic and tried to reassure me everything was ok. He offered to call the doctor and go to the hospital. He is definitely the calm, level-headed one and usually puts me at ease. He hugged me while I cried and told me the baby was just sleeping, that the long day & swim had lulled him/her to sleep. I tried calling my mom, but wasn't able to get in touch with her. Every 15 mins I went to the bathroom to make sure nothing was happening. It was a pretty stressful night for me and as a result I didn't sleep well. I did feel the baby kick some during the night and in the morning, but I still was concerned. Finally after lunch on Monday during the ride home the baby was quite active and I felt much better. If this is a sign of things to come, this baby is going to cause mommy many sleepless nights!

On Tuesday, I had another appointment with the Doctor. Everything looks good. He said in the future if I don't feel movement to call them and they will put me on the monitor. The heartbeat was as strong as ever. My latest bloodwork came back and my protein and B12 were low. They aren't concerned for the baby, since the baby takes everything first. But I did get a B12 shot and am going to take B12 once a week and increase my protein. I visit the doctor again in two weeks where I will have the Strep B test, after that we go to once a week appointments! Wow, it is getting close.

Out of breath

This little one causes a whole slew of things. Today I took a shower and when I was done I was so out of breath. Just chilled out for a bit with some ice water and all is ok. The doctor says this is common and the baby is compressing my lungs, but it is a bit freaky when it happens. I already have a fear of not being able to breath through my nose or mouth, it is kinda weird.

Sunday night we were in bed and we were just watching my stomach move. It wasn't like kicks, but more like a something rolling around. Chris and I both thought it was so cool. I love having this little baby in my tummy, it is the neatest feeling in the world.

On Sunday the baby and I made our first of many trips up to UConn. We went in Gampel and saw the new banners, I guess we were officially out of room. It just looks so different. Then we went to the Co-op and Baby Fuffs got a pair of Husky socks, a bib, and a cotton hat. Then we were off to the Pi Phi house and the Dairy Bar for some yummy ice cream. Baby was quite active, so I think she/he enjoyed the trip!

Hello, look at me!

Ohhh little one, you are too cute. I already love your chubby cheeks. During the sonogram you were looking right at me, pressed up against the screen. It was the first time I got to see your little face, oh how precious. The technician said you are measuring right on schedule. Your estimated weight is 3lbs 14oz, right were you should be. Your heartbeat is still fast, 145. The doctor seems to indicate that means you are a little girl. I don't believe it and not putting much faith in that theory. He said you are 'growing like a weed' and we are both doing great!

Everyone loves you already - sending you lots of kisses. You aren't even here and everyone has been so generous already. Friends from far & wide have sent care packages for you.

63 Days to go!!

I can't believe it, but that is what my ticker says. I am 31 weeks and doing well. This weekend I started feeling a bit more pregnant. I am getting more uncomfortable and definitely have to take it easy. Breathing has been a bit more difficult at times (as the baby grows your diagram gets compressed is what I am told). Had some cramping type symptoms over the weekend, I think it was just my body telling me to slow down. So I laid down on my left-side as the books say and watched the Yankees. Baby got pretty excited when they won, I know we have a big Yankee fan in training here!

Chris and I have completed two of four child prep/Lamaze classes. The classes have been pretty good, very informative. We have learned all about the hospital and what will happen from when we get there till we discharge. We have all the confidence in the staff there and have heard nothing but great things about their care. The breathing exercises have gone well, it is nice & relaxing. I know that won't be the case when the time comes, but so far we are doing well. Last week we went over the anatomy and the actual labor, which we both found interesting. I was surprised to hear that during the 'transition phase', when you are actually pushing, it doesn't hurt. It is the labor & contractions before hand that are really difficult. This coming week we will watch a video and go over pain mgmt. I think by the end I will be ready and so will my coach!

Today I go to the doctor (I go every 2 weeks now) and they are going to do another sonogram. I can't wait to see Baby Fuffs again! Will update again soon (hopefully with a pic).

In other news Baby Fuffs has a new second cousin. Isabella Rose was born on Weds, Aug 15th. We hear mommy & baby are doing well.

Broccoli is no longer my friend

I have never had a problem with broccoli, it has always agreed with me and is one of my absolute favorite vegetables. Well, that has changed! Last night we had broccoli for dinner and within the hour I had major gas pains. I slept awful. All night I was up and my tummy just hurt. I was tossing and turning all night and was up like every hour. Chris and I even met at 3am on the stairs, I scared him. Think I am going to have to lay off the broccoli for awhile or eat it in small/limited amounts. A friend of mine used to tell me she couldn't eat it while breastfeeding, because it was way to gassy for the baby. Guess Baby Fuffs isn't ready for it either.

Who is this Charlie and WHY are he and his horses in my bedroom?

Seriously what is with the charlie horses? The last few nights I have woken up with at least 4 per night. Boy are they painful! Some people say to eat bananas for potassium, but then you have to worry about being backed up.

Today I had a doctor's appointment and had to meet with a new doctor as I make my rounds before delivery. The doctor said everything looks good. I am measuring right on schedule. The heartbeat is fast, 146, which the doctor indicated could mean a girl. But I don't know if I believe the fast heartbeat myth. I did lose a pound in the last month, but he didn't seem concerned. In fact, he didn't bring it up, I did. Starting now I go every two weeks. At my next appointment they are also going to do an additional sonogram and check the babies growth. So I am really excited about seeing the baby again!

Also we registered for Child Prep classes (Lamaze) starting on Thursday for the next 4 weeks! We are also going to take classes at the hospital on Breast feeding & Child care. It is all coming together!

We talked...

The other night I got up to go to the bathroom (what else is new) and I couldn't fall back to sleep. It was 3:30 in the morning and so I was laying there with my hand on tummy and started having a conversation with the baby. The baby was definitely listening and started kicking and moving around for me. It was a nice little chat we had, the baby is doing well and nice & comfy where it is. She/he knows how much she is loved by mommy & daddy and everyone else. I love these special little moments. I thought the amazement of feeling the baby kick and move would die down, but it truly hasn't. Every time I feel it I get such a rush!

Everything else is going well. Half way through my 28th week and nothing really new. Still waking up a few times during the night to go to the bathroom. I also have been getting some bad charlie horses in the middle of the night which cause me to jump straight out of bed. Chris is one hell of a sleeper, he never hears me. We signed up for Lamaze classes which will start next Thursday, that is pretty exciting. The hospital also offers Breastfeeding and Baby Care classes which we are taking in September.

I passed!!

Just a quick update...I called Dr. L's office this morning and they called to get the results of my GD test. Everything is fine! I passed, which is good because the last thing I wanted to do was take the 3 hour test. They did say I was anemic and needed to start taking 3 iron pills a day. HOWEVER, when I reminded them I had thalassemia minor, they looked at it again and said I was fine and didn't need to take the iron. The doctors always seem to forget this, but I am used to it because when my blood comes back I always appear to be anemic.

Third trimester

So I am officially in my third trimester now; I am 27 weeks. It is definitely an exciting time. Jaime & Melissa came down on Monday and they helped me complete our baby registry. We had a lot of fun, but of course it was too short. Another thing to check of the To Do List.

I feel huge, although most people say I don't look this far along. I am beginning to feel more pressure in my belly and think it is stretching. I feel a bit crampy and uncomfortable. Mom says it is going to only get worse as I am in the last leg of the journey. Sleep is becoming more and more of a challenge. I just can't get comfortable. I have a pillow between my legs, one under my tummy, and one wedged behind my back. Pretty soon Chris is worried there won't be room for him. Last night I woke up at least 4 times, with what turns out to be gas pains. But it is all worth it. The baby is pretty active these days and kicking alot. Last night I actually saw and felt my belly move, it wasn't a kick, it was more like an entire arm pushing on my belly. I was just lying there when it happened and it was so cool. Unfortunately, Chris missed out because he instantly falls asleep.

Still waiting for the results of the GD test from last Friday. Not sure what is taking so long, but I guess no news is good news. I called and there wasn't a Dr in the office today, so I have to call back tomorrow.

So that is all for now. Mommy, daddy, and baby are all doing well!

Making progress!

All is well here on Ridge Lane. Baby is doing well and pretty active! Yesterday I woke up and had my arm draped across my stomach and there was the baby saying 'good morning'. I laid there for like 5 mins feeling he/she kick. It is such a cool thing. In fact, yesterday there was movement & kicking all day long, even my dad got to feel it.

On Friday I had my glucose tolerance test which checks for gestational diabities. The test was gross, lol. I had to drink this warm orange drink (tasted like flat orange soda, very syrupy) in 5 mins. I felt so sick afterwards. I knew there was a good chance I could/would get sick from the drink being it was so sugary. But good news is I didn't. After an hour they took blood, the technician sucked and just started poking all over, she had to use both arms, after she made one of the veins collapse. Anyway it is over & hopefully I passed.

Last week we asked 'Uncle Brian' to be the godfather of Baby Fuffs. We gave him a godfather frame with the following poem:
To my Godfather,
Uncle Brian

I may not know too much right now,
I still am kind of new,
But I know Godfathers are special,
'Cause Mom and Dad chose you.

To be a large part of my life
is what they hope of you.
They saw something quite special,
I would have picked you too.

Love, Baby Fuffs

I think he was surprised, but excited and of course said yes. Yesterday, we officially asked my sister 'Aunt Brianne' to be the godmother with a similiar poem. We are confident our baby will be well loved & cared for by our choices of godparents. Already we love this baby so much and couldn't be happier.

Saturday we also ordered the furniture for the nursery from Behr's. We decided on the Munire' Majestic collection in Walnut. It should take about 6-10 weeks. In the meantime, we have to get painting & replace the carpet, and some other things to prep the room. But we are making some progress on getting ready for our little one.

25 Weeks already!

Friday I went for my monthly check up with Dr. L. Everything looks good. She said I am measuring perfectly (whatever that means exactly). I gained 5 lbs, which she was glad to hear, I am up 13 lbs total. Now I have to start seeing the other doctors in her practice, so that I meet them all (any one of them can deliver the baby). So next month I am going to the Mineola office to see Dr. L (a guy - my first male ob/gyn, although not that it matters because all they do is listen to the heartbeat, weigh you, check your blood pressure & urine). At my next appt I have to have my Rhogam shot which I pick up at the pharmacy. In two weeks I have to go to the lab for my 1 hour Gastrointestinal Diabetes test, oh fun.

I am feeling great. Having some trouble sleeping at night (tossing & turning and waking up to pee multiple times) so I am a bit tired during the day. But no complaints really. I am 25 weeks along right now. We are really excited and can't believe we only have 3 months to go, time to start getting some stuff done around here and getting prepared. The baby is constantly moving and every time I am amazed by the kicks, movements & flutterings. I love the feeling.

We had a very busy weekend, but finally made some progress on the baby end. We went to Behr's and looked at furniture for the nursery. I am happy to say that Chris and I were able to agree on the type of crib we like and narrowed it down to 3 sets. The only question is the stain, I want a dark cherry and Chris likes more the walnut/chestnut colors.. The set we are leaning towards is Munire Majestic. They show it in the color chestnut color, which Chris prefers http://www.munirefurniture.com/majestic_01.htm. I can't find the other two sets online, they are by Creations. Both manufacturers got very high ratings in Baby Bargains. We looked at some sets at BRU, but the quality just wasn't the same and the price difference wasn't really that much. Not to mention that they received D ratings from Baby Bargains and Consumer Reports.

Soccer player or maybe a Pi Phi?

It has been awhile since I checked in, I was in Arizona for 10 days. We had a great time. The beginning of the week Brianne, Dad, Doris and I spent some days at their new home in Superstitious Mountains. The average temp was 110, but we managed. We drank lots of water and kept indoors most of the time, taking it easy. It was a very relaxing trip and we got to see some amazing landscapes. Baby and I felt fine the entire time. During the trip I feel like I 'popped' - there is no mistaking my pregnancy belly (although most couldn't believe how far along I was).

On Thursday the rest of the family went home and I went to Kierland to the Pi Phi convention. Since Thurs was our only free day before the madness began I met friends, Alison & Jody at the spa. I had a pregnancy message, which was nice. It was weird lying on your side and it wasn't as intense as some other massages I have had in the past. After a nice spa lunch I had a facial, which is when the most incredible thing happened....the baby kicked!! I almost jumped off the table to run and call Chris. I started laughing, it was so cool. Feeling the baby kick is the most amazing, incredible thing. Once he/she started, they haven't stopped. All weekend at the Pi Phi convention the baby would kick, each time I would put my hand there - I love the feeling.

Thursday evening after dinner my Pi Phi regional team threw a surprise baby shower for me!!!!! I was totally surprised, they did such a good job and brought it all from home all the way to AZ. They decorated the room, had angel favors, baked yummy sugar cookies, and my favorite chocolates. Plus they had champagne, wine, and Baileys for the celebration. Everyone was so generous! The theme of the shower was a 'pajama party'; we all had changed into our pjs before what I thought was a team meeting. The gifts were bedtime related: we got this yellow giraffe that is also a blankey that I am sure the baby will love it is so soft from Alison. Jody crocheted a beautiful green & white blanket and got us fleece pads for the bassinet & changing table. Nancy got some adorable feet-in pjs and a Target gc. Allie got the baby some bath time lotion & soap from Crabtree & Evelyn, as well as animal wash clothes. She also got a cute stuffed animal and swaddle blanket for nighttime. Barbara came and gave the baby an adorable lamb that plays 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'. Betsy got us a Miracle Blanket and also has an original bib from Arrowmont that she plans on sending after we have the baby (she has a pink & a blue). We had such a great time and I was so touched!

The convention and overall weekend was wonderful. It was definitely long & tiring, but I kept my feet up when I could. Plus I took some advantage of some breaks and laid down in my room. My friend Anne was there as a visitor and also got the baby some gifts - closet clothes dividers, pacifier holder, teddy bear rattle, and an angel picture frame. I myself couldn't resist and got a bib that says "Daddy's Angel" and a Pi Phi teddy bear from Pi Phi Express. Both will work for a little boy or a future Pi Phi legacy.

Another date?

Today I went to see my ob/gyn for my prenatal appt and all went well. The heartbeat sounds good & strong. You could hear the baby moving around too. I have gained 1 lb since my last visit, I am below average on gaining but the doctor isn't concerned. I go back in three weeks and after that I will schedule my Gestational Diabetes Test and Rhogam shot. While I was there I asked how long past my due date would they let me go, they said one week. After that Dr. R said complications could occur, so they would induce me. At this point she said my due date was October 22. I was surprised, I thought it was the 24th or 27th, she said it has always been on my chart as 10/22/07 and that doesn't change, even if future sonograms make it hard to measure or tell they don't update the date. So I that makes my official due date October 22, 2007

Even though my weight gain has been minimal, I did bust out some maternity clothes. Just for some comfort. But overall I am still wearing non-maternity clothes, some though in a size up.

Flutters

Last night I was lying in bed, waiting for sleep to overcome me when I felt the neatest thing. I had my hand on my belly and just like my mom said (and everyone else) I felt this 'flutter'. It was kinda like a butterfly. It was so cool. I only felt it that one time, I tried shaking the baby up to get him/her to dance some more, but no such luck. The location was exactly where the doctor told me I might feel the baby, so for the first time I am pretty sure this was the baby and not gas. I did try waking Chris up, but he was sound asleep. Hopefully this is just the beginning and there will be lots more flutters and kicks to come soon.

Other then that, not much else is new. I am 21 weeks and feeling pretty good. My back is starting to hurt more and I am having more and more trouble sleeping. I really need to have a pillow propped up behind my back and I still toss & turn every night. Plus the trips to the bathroom have increased greatly. Good thing I can get back to sleep after each one. But baby and I are a trooper and doing well.

Look at me!

Very uncooperative little bugger

Today we had our 20 week ultrasound. Even though we weren't finding out the sex of the baby, I was so excited. I couldn't wait to see our little one again, last time we saw him/her it was just a black blob on the screen, but this time there would be body parts we would recognize. Chris went into work late so that he could come with me. When they finally saw me I laid down and she started. She told me to relax and that I looked nervous. I expected the u/s to be quick, but we were there for almost an hour. At some point I got pretty emotional and started crying. It was pretty silly, but I got all worried and was afraid something was wrong with the baby. The nurse had to leave for a minute and Chris was like 'what is wrong'. I told him my fears and he assured me everything was ok and not to worry. I was just so overcome with emotions at that point but finally relaxed some and Chris started to talk to me about other things.

Meanwhile the nurse came back and resumed her measurements and picture taking. At this point we can't see anything, they don't show you until the end. She kept shaking the wand thing on my tummy. I asked her if that was to make the baby move and she said yes. I then asked is it not moving. And she said oh no, the opposite, it is doing flip flops. LOL - active little one. The baby was being stubborn though, so she was trying to get it to move so she could get what she needed. Every time she thought she had an angle of the heart it would flip flop and then the arm would be in the way. Not sure how long the Level II sonograms usually take, but like I said our little one kept us there for over an hour!

But finally we got to see the baby! And everything looks perfect. We told them we didn't want to know, so they avoided those areas. But we could see the face, the eyes, ears, nose, mouth. The coolest part was seeing the hands & feet to me. I could make out the fingers and toes, it was amazing. The baby is measuring 19weeks 6days - 11 ounces. Afterwards the doctor came in after he reviewed the pictures, he then looked at the u/s itself. He said everything was great, right on track and no problems. Exactly what every mother wants to hear! I was so relieved and happy. I swear during the u/s I could feel the baby reacting and moving around a bit, it was pretty cool.

Was that a movement?

Hmmm, who knows. The books say that I should/could feel the baby moving now. I think I felt something the other day, but I can't tell. It seems hard to distinguish if it is just gas or my stomach or an actual movement. Since I really can't determine what it was, I have decided not to 'count it'. I hope to feel something soon, that will be so surreal!

Life is good. We had a busy & fun weekend, even relaxing. The baby went to its' first game at Yankee Stadium and even got a gift, Yankees Baby DVD. Unfortunately, the Yankees lost, but we still had a blast. Then last night we went to Shea to see the Mets, that was a fun time too. On the way to the train my stomach really hurt and I got cramps, but I think Chris was just walking too fast for me. Once we sat on the train I was fine.

Unfortunately for some, I still have my irritable moments. Thank goodness the one's I love, love me too. Good thing it comes and goes, but I apologize to Chris & my mom (now even my sister) because them all seem to get the brunt of it.

Today at the library I had one of those almost fainting spells. I was waiting for the librarian to renew my library card (who knew these things expired) and all of a sudden I felt dizzy & nauseous. I started sweating, despite the fact it was cool and the ac was on. I felt so sick, I had to sit down for 10 mins before it passed. Afterwards I had to go get a strapless bra for my sister's wedding. I went to a store where they measure you, the girls have grown a full cup size! At least the back size remained the same. Boy these things are huge!

Lookin good...

Yesterday I saw Dr. L again, all is good with me and Baby Fuffs. The heartbeat was strong. We got our test results back. Chris is normal and doesn't have thalassemia minor, which is great so no worries about the baby having blood disease issues associated with thalassemia major. The AFP genetic tests came back all find, so no worries there. I am scheduled for a Level II sonogram on the morning of June 6th. Since I will be 20 weeks, if we were going to find out the sex, this is when we would, but we are opting to wait it out. My next appt at the dr is June 13th, I will see Dr. R (Dr. L is out for 2 weeks).

After doing much research about the pros & cons, as well as talking to other parents we have decided not to do the Cord Blood Registry. If available I would like to donate my Cord Blood to the public bank, but not sure if Winthrop participates in that program. At this time we don't see a need to store ours privately.

Not much else going on. Looking forward to the long holiday weekend. The weather is supposed to be nice & warm. We are hoping to make it to the beach. Also, we have Nana's 85th Bday Party and hope to check out BRU for the baby registry.

Second trimester bliss

When I announced I was pregnant anyone who had recently been pregnant (in the past 3 years) handed me a stack of books. As a result, I have acquired a huge library of pregnancy books, baby books, and even 2 for expecting dads. In all of these books it says that the highlight of your pregnancy is the second trimester, months 4-6. Well let me just say, this is sooo true. Not that I have much to complain about from the beginning, my 1st trimester wasn't bad at all. I didn't have 1/2 the symptoms that some women complain about. But during the beginning of this blessed pregnancy I was dizzy/light-headed, battled bouts of nausea, completely gassy/bloated, constipated, and exhausted (tired like you can never ever imagine, this type of exhaustion was nothing like pre-pregnancy tiredness). And so now we are in our 5th month (I will be 19 weeks in 2 days). It was like the sun rising and a bell rang, what a difference from night to day. Pretty much all of my earlier symptoms have disappeared and I feel great! Besides for my growing little tummy, I wouldn't even know I was pregnant. Supposedly during the third trimester the exhaustion comes back and as you get bigger you become more uncomfortable and less mobile. Thus I am taking advantage of feeling good and really enjoying this time.

Yesterday I went to Behr's and started looking at some furniture for the nursery. This place was recommended to me and I saw a few beautiful sets. I am torn between white and dark cherry. Chris doesn't have a preference. Since we aren't sure what we are having it doesn't make it any easier, I am not sure how I feel about white furniture for a boy. Chris and I will probably go again in a few weeks, the gentleman at Behr's said it could take 16 weeks for it to come in. We have a very busy 6 weeks coming up, so I am not sure we will order it right away. However, I want to get an idea of costs and see what we like. Tomorrow I will be in Connecticut. My mom and I are going to spend the morning shopping & then going to lunch. I am really looking forward to it and while I am there we are going to hit Babies R Us, might even start the registry. Can't wait!!!

Pregnant women should NOT bake

I have heard the stories of when you are pregnant you forget things and are flighty, but oh my. I tried baking that blueberry crumb cake, which I have made before, but I don't know what the heck happened. The 1st problem was I used Splenda for baking instead of sugar and thought it measured cup for cup for sugar, but nope you use 1/2 the amount. I was already doubling it so now I had to quadruple it. Well now I didn't have enough flour, so back to the store. Well at least 3 times I lost my place in the recipe (which isn't long or complicated) and had to rethink what I just did. So we ended up with one cake which I frosted with chocolate icing and a large blueberry crumb. Both tasted good, but it wasn't cake consistency and was soooo dense. Obviously I made some other mistake along the way, ohwell - everyone ate it.

Otherwise it was a lovely mother's day and although I am not a mom yet, my SILs got my flowers & a card, my MIL got me a bag full of Bath & Body stuff, and my mom got me a great shirt:

Chris surprised me with a gc for a pregnancy massage! Plus since I made a big brunch, Chris made me dinner (he never cooks) and cleaned up. It was really a special day :-)

Back from the tropics

Chris, baby Fuffs, and I just got back from a long weekend in the Bahamas. We had a wonderful time, it was of course too short, but it was so relaxing and really fun. The weather was beautiful. The hotel was nice, we had thought it would be more like a resort, but it wasn't. I guess we are used to more of a resort-type. The pool & beach were really nice and they had some nice restaurants, so that was good. The staff could have been more helpful & friendlier though. The hotel was located downtown by the shopping but when we want to do anything outside of shopping or the beach/pool at the hotel we went to Paradise Island. We spent 2 days at Atlantis which was really nice (but expensive). The facilities are great there, the pools are beautiful, many restaurant choices and we had a ton of fun there, including watching the Derby and some time at the casino. We took a boat excursion one day to a very remote island, went snorkeling, had lunch, and spent the afternoon reading & napping on a hammock. Chris and I just had such a nice time together, relaxed and had fun! It was a much needed vacation.

During the trip I felt pretty good. No complaints, even the gas & constipation that have been plaguing me seemed to take a hiatus. We did go on a boat ride to a remote island and spent the morning snorkeling and then had lunch. During lunch I got sick, but that might be because I ate too quickly, who knows. As a result, we spent the afternoon reading & napping on a hammock. Another day I got sever gas cramps out of nowhere, that had me hunched over. We were actually at a timeshare presentation so in some ways it was a good thing, because we used that as an excuse.

The trip was great and like I said I felt good, the one bad thing was I got some rash on my legs - who knows what it is. I thought it was heat rash, but it spread all over. I tried to let it pass, but it itches like hell. So yesterday I called my ob/gyn (Dr. L) and she said she wanted to see me. She looked at it today and has no idea, I can't take Benadryl so she told me to put cortisone cream on it and referred me to a dermatologist. I am going to see if it goes away on its own and if not by next week, I will call the dermatologist. Hopefully it goes away soon, so I can stop scratching and looking like I have bugs (lol) and so I can shave my legs again!

While I saw Dr. L she had me take the 'AFP' test, aka Triple Screen Test. They do this by just drawing blood from me. For more information about this genetic test you can see the particulars here: http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/afp/a/afptesting.htm . Dr. L definitely pressured me into taking the test, but she had some strong arguments. Had I met with her before the window of my other genetic test, we probably would have done that one too (but she was on vacation and I saw Dr. R). Anyway, she said she had wished I had taken that one because it had less false positives and it is better to have more information. I see her again on May 21st, so I will get the results then. My concern is I am a worrier and if something does come back wrong, I know I will get stressed about it. She assured me not to worry. So we will see.

Third u/s - March 14, 2007

Here is our little Fuffs, getting bigger every time! We can't wait for the level 2 at 20 weeks, what a big difference that will be :-)

Second u/s pic - March 6, 2007

I felt like Rachel from Friends each time, all I saw was a black dot....


But when you compare the pics to the other u/s you can see a difference!

First pic of Baby Fuffs - 2/27/07

We finally scanned in the first pics of our little peanut!

Ultrasound 1 - 2/27/07

Dinner - take two

Seriously pregnancy is weird, weird things happen to your body. And randomly - seems like no rhyme or reason, at least to me anyway. Yesterday I was fine, Megan (SIL) came over and I was working on some calligraphy. My stomach started feeling off, but no big deal. So I made dinner and we all sat down to eat and I had maybe 3 bites. I just sat there so uncomfortable, ready to gag. I had to excuse myself, especially since Chris & Megan were enjoying their dinner, and ended up getting sick. Although I didn't really have anything in my stomach. And I had the worst gas! I lied down for awhile on the sofa and started feeling better after awhile. The dr and the nutritionist told me I couldn't skip meals, because I don't eat much as it was. So about an hour or so later we did dinner - take two. This time since my stomach was more settled we were successful.

Today I feel fine. A bit tired since Chris and I were awoken by the house shaking, literally. We had the worst thunder & lightening storm. The rain was coming down so hard, still is. Doesn't really motivate me to go out and go grocery shopping or go to they gym, but you gotta.

Strong heartbeat

Today I went to the doctor's and I got to hear the heartbeat. The doctor said it sounded very strong. It is an amazing sound. I have gained a pound since getting pregnant, but no one is concerned. To be honest I was surprised, I feel like I have a belly. Plus this baby is really craving sweets. In fact, on Saturday I went to lunch with my aunts, my mom, and my sister and we ordered dessert. My sister and I split something and it was so yummy, but I got so sick. I just can't handle the sweets, which is what I am craving. Thankfully it passed quickly.

The doctor is having Chris tested for thalassemia minor. I have this blood disorder, I have known about it for years and it isn't really a problem. We just hope Chris isn't a carrier, because if he is the baby has a 1 in 4 chance of having thalassemia major. Most likely he isn't, because he probably would have found it out already, especially since he donates so much blood.

I am going to have to go and buy some clothes. Now that the weather is finally nice, I have nothing to wear. Everything from last year I got rid of for the most part, it was too big. Right now I am still not ready for maternity clothes, but I am going to need a few things to carry me through.

Still feeling pretty good, getting a bit more energy.

Another one!

While I couldn't be happier and more excited about being pregnant, but there are definitely some drawbacks, like cold sores! ARGH, I hate these things. I have had more in the last 13 weeks then I have had in the last 3 years. I am prone to them, but this is ridiculous. Of course the only thing you can do is use Abreva and wait. They are gross! Last week I had one starting on my nose (because of course it is a misconception they are just on your lip). I was able to stop it before it became totally unsightly with some Abreva; just to wake up a couple of days later with one on my lip - lovely.

So I am 13 weeks now and in my second trimester and maybe now I am getting that morning sickness? For most it is supposed to end at this point, but for me I am having more problems with the eating thing. The past couple of days when it comes to mealtime I just can't seem to do it. I can't seem to stomach anything. I prepare the meal and then when I sit down I just lose my appetite and the food turns my stomach. Last night we went to City Crab (my choice) and I had 2 bites of my crab cake and just couldn't deal. Of course, when offered dessert, I was more then willing, but ended up passing. For whatever reason I have had no appetite lately for food, but sweets I crave. We ended up stopping at the grocery store on the way home for some American cheese and I made cheese toast for dinner. Not much, but better then nothing.

Before I forget

This blog is as much for us to journal & remember my pregnancy as it is to share with our family and friends. Thinking back I realized there were some things that I wanted to write down before I forgot. So this post is going to start back at the beginning:

TESTING

I tested on Thurs, Feb 15th and we found out I was pregnant. But why did I test in the first place? Yes, I was late, but only like 3 days and since I have never been regular that wasn't reason alone. Some say 'they just know' and it is intuition, I guess you could say that for me. The full truth is that I actually felt different. There was something with my body that just felt different (including increased constipation). I kept telling myself to wait a bit longer, give it another day. In the past I have tested before and they were all BFN (Big Fat Negative), but this time I just felt different. At the same time I had HOPE and HOPE is really powerful, I wasn't quite ready to lose it. All day I debated and finally said what the heck (I would have tested the next day because Chris & I were going to our usual Friday happy hour). So I decided to take the test and then showered so I wouldn't stare at it for the next three minutes. Surprisingly I was pretty calm (and hopeful) while in the shower. That pretty much disappeared when I saw the results. I was ecstatic and started jumping up and down.

CRAVINGS & FOOD

• During the first 6 weeks I would say my biggest craving was orange juice. I had at least 16 ounces a day.
• My favorite afternoon snack is by far hard pretzels. Love those things! They even seem to settle my stomach.
• Funny thing is one day I want salty things and the next I would love sweets. Some new habits - I bought marinated mushrooms and finished it in a couple of days (I never bought these before), love pickles now on my cheeseburgers, and constantly want french fries (which I try and limit).
• Nothing has really turned me off.
• At night I always have a cup of peppermint tea before bed, helps settle the stomach.
• Afternoons are when I get hungry & want to snack. I try to fill that with some fruit or something healthy (protein).

ETC

The tiredness has knocked me out. Late morning I hit a brick wall and is usually when I take my daily nap. The nap never lasts more then an hour, in fact like clock work I seem to wake up after 50 mins. Of course a few hours later I could use another nap.

Bloating and constipation have been my biggest complaints. I am totally uncomfortable, but can't complain too much, I know it could be a thousand times worse. At least twice a week I am in pain and totally bloated, it is like clockwork.

I have been trying to keep up with the gym. My energy level has definitely decreased in that area since I got pregnant. My goal is 35 minutes of cardio 4-5 times a week, plus some lifting. Some weeks I don't actually make that, but I try. I do want to do some ab exercises, so I need to learn some new ones that I can do.

At the three month mark my clothes still fit. I did buy some maternity clothes online last week because they were on sale. I tried going to a maternity store, but everything is just still too big now and makes me look fat, not pregnant.

Speaking of shopping I have been really good at NOT shopping, lol. The only purchases I have made for the baby thus far were a handmade knitted sweater set and a really soft green elephant. I am expecting the not shopping trend will end soon, but for now I have been really good.

The secret is out!

Over the weekend we shared our good news with family & friends. It was such a relief to tell them our big secret and not have to make up 'stories' any longer. As expected everyone was thrilled! And it is nice to be able to talk to everyone about it and share with them our happiness.

For me it is nice to be able to talk to my friends who have been pregnant and ask questions. And boy do I have a lot of questions.

Now that we are in the 12th week and about to start our second trimester I am looking forward to all the good things that are going to happen.

B negative

Is my blood type, who knew? Chris's blood type is A+, so as a result I found out yesterday I will have to have the Rhogam Shot during my 26th week. Anytime one of you is negative and the other is positive you need to get it according to my doctor. She also said that after birth they test the baby's blood and if it is + then I will get another shot. It is no harm to me or the baby.

The appointment with the doctor went well, everything looks good and I go back again in 3 weeks. In the meantime, we have to decide if we want to get the 'integrated test'. It is a two-part sonogram/blood test to see if their are abnormalities. Since I am considered low risk (under 35) an amnio isn't recommended, however we can do this integrated test. If something were to appear abnormal then we would see a genetic counselor and then decide if we wanted to go for an amnio. She said it is a personal decision and that if we wouldn't even consider an amnio (which is quite invasive and risky) then there is no point in the test. Chris and I are mulling it over. I think we are both leaning towards not doing it. We have to decide quickly as the test is supposed to be done between weeks 11-13 and I am half way through my 11th week.

Other then that I feel the same and all is going well.

Beginning of the fetal period

All is well here; not much new to report. I am 10 weeks 2 days and according to the books the baby is no longer an embryo. Saturday night was a bit scary though. Chris and I had gone for a nice dinner and afterwards went to the Cheesecake Factory. We were on line to get some to go (they have a yummy sugar-free cheesecake with fresh strawberries) and I got very hot. I had to take my jacket off and lean against the counter. My head was spinning and I broke out in a cold sweat. It took all I had to not get sick right then and there. I had to leave immediately and was worried I would pass out on the way to the car. Thankfully, the cool fresh air helped and I started to feel better. Don't know what brought this on, but it was an awful feeling and I am glad it didn't last too long.

Today was a gorgeous day. I twisted Chris' arm to take a nice long walk around the neighborhood after dinner. Hopefully this can become a common occurrence. The nice weather made me realize I need to get some spring/summer clothes - of which I have none. I am going to try and hold off as long as I can. My clothes fit fine now, I hope that lasts awhile.

I am getting excited because in two weeks we plan on telling people. I am thrilled to share the news with our friends and extended families.

Size of a grape?

So according to my books the baby is about the size of a grape now. I am 9 1/2 weeks and still feeling good. The nausea has actually increased and is so very random, but I haven't been sick - so that is good. Yesterday, I went to another doctor and I have actually lost weight since being pregnant. The ob/gyn said that was likely to happen to me, especially in the beginning. No complaints about that, although I was surprised because I already feel like I have a belly.

At the doctors yesterday they were so excited for us & knew this is something we had really wanted. One of the women behind the desk started asking me about names. I told her we hadn't picked any out and were especially having a hard time with boy names. Then she went on & on with her suggestions. It was very sweet of her, but what do you say? I just stood there and smiled & nodded, saying things like 'oh nice'. Truth is most of the names she mentioned weren't really 'us'. Which proved my point that when we finally do decide on some names it is better to keep it to ourselves.

At night I have a new tradition of talking to the baby. I read that now is a good time to start the bonding with the baby and spend some quiet quality time together. The baby can't hear me yet and most of it is stuff I don't say out loud (since Chris is sleeping next to me), but it is nice to think about all that is to come, the type of parents we will be, etc. I find myself getting so excited already for things to come, like Easter for example - not this Easter which is fast approaching, but next year when we will hopefully have a healthy little baby with us.

Sweet sound

Nothing sounds sweeter then hearing the sound of your baby's heartbeat. Today I got to hear it again, when I went for my follow-up ultrasound. This time I could actually see it too. Such a little flutter on the screen but oh sooo cute! So after seeing my baby and hearing the heartbeat for the last few weeks I don't get another sneak peak until week twenty. Everything looks great. I am in my 8th week, 8 weeks 4 days. The baby is measuring 7 weeks 4 days and according to my conception date - that is perfect, right on schedule. The u/s tech said that puts my estimated due date at October 27, 2007. That would make the baby a Scorpio.

I am feeling good, a bit dizzy now and then, but no new symptoms.

Edited to add: The reason I had a follow-up u/s was the blood clot they had seen last week. Anyway it is gone! They said 90% are just absorbed and the tech couldn't see it any longer. What a relief! Chris says now I can sleep again at night.

Oh My!

This might be TMI for some, but I want to post all about this pregnancy. So you might just want to skip this post.

Last night I awoke at 4am with the worst cramps. I was so uncomfortable and thought there was something wrong with the baby. I said a few 'Our Fathers' and 'Hail Marys'. I finally fell back to sleep only to awake again at 7am. Chris was concerned and said I didn't sound good. He asked if there was anything he could do, of course there wasn't and I sent him on his way to work. Well I will be damned, it was gas (and a bit more). I guess all expectant mothers get lots of gas and I heard about the cramps, but wow. I am so glad that was all it was, but I have to admit, I was really worried in the middle of the night.

Long awaited update

Sorry for the delay in posting. I started out so strong and then life got in the way. My mom had surgery and stayed with us while she recovered. Then unexpectedly my grandfather passed away. He was such a good, inspirational man and was loved by so many. As my dad said, Papa is watching over this little one and protecting him/her.

On Tuesday (March 6th), Chris & I went for another sono. I was 7 weeks, 3 days. During the visit we heard the most amazing sound ever - our baby's heartbeat! OMG, it was so strong, I thought for sure it had to be mine. But you could see it on the screen and the doctor assured me it was the baby's. The screen shot of the baby looked good, but when I was to compare it to the previous weeks - wow; our 'little Fuffs' almost doubled in size! The doctor did see a blood clot during the ultrasound, which he said was nothing to worry about, but that he wanted me to follow-up with another sono. 90% of the time the blood clot is just absorbed and there is nothing to worry about. The surprise at the end is he told me I 'graduated' and it was time for me to go see my regular OB/GYN.

I feel good, no complaints. I did get sick on Weds, poor Chris I was such a joy on his bday, and ended up in bed by 9am, but who knows why. The breasts are still unbelievably sore and I am exhausted, but that is all good, makes me 'feel pregnant'.

Everything looks good

On Tuesday Chris and I went for our ultrasound, everything looks great. He said we are measuring perfectly, I am in my 6th week. We got our first look at "LilPerf/Little Fuffs". Ever see that episode of 'Friends'? It looked like a black hole to me, LOL. I know it was early and I expect as we go along I should be able to recognize something, hopefully. The next few weeks we will be going once a week for ultrasounds. Because we had gone to see an infertility specialist, this is the regiment they follow, especially because I have PCOS. So although we had a miracle and conceived on our own, we have the benefit of seeing the baby each week. According to the doctor we should be able to see the heartbeat in the next couple of weeks.

Over the weekend we told our immediate families. They were overjoyed! It was so fun to tell them all and share our wonderful news. They are just as excited as we are. Little Fuffs is loved so much already!

My Bad

No Ultrasound (U/S) today. I rescheduled it for Tuesday afternoon. With all the excitement and the prospect of seeing our baby, I didn't realize at the time that Chris wanted to be there. DUH! Thinking back it was so silly on my part, but it is important to both of us that he is there. So we will wait until Tuesday to see our little peanut (or "baby Mac" as I have been calling it the past couple of days). Plus there might be more to see then, as I will be 6 weeks. Once we have the U/S I assume we will get an official estimated delivery date (EDD). According to my calculations and some websites we are looking at October 21st.

Have a nice weekend :-)
Jennifer

2097....

Is my latest Beta level, Woohoo :-) Tomorrow I am going to have an U/S!!! When the nurse called she said 'now is the time to schedule your U/S, I can do 10:30 tomorrow or sometime next week'. I was like 'see you tomorrow'!

My father's bday is tomorrow so we are having a quiet family dinner - pizza at the house. We are going to take this opportunity to share our exciting news. Then on Saturday we are having a family dinner with my in-laws, both my SILs will be there. So the timing is perfect to tell them. Since I really want to tell our family in person, we will wait until Sunday to tell my mom, as she will be down (she is having surgery on Monday, and is staying with us for a couple of weeks). It works out great that we will be able to tell all of our family this weekend. At this point we are only telling our immediate family. Both my mom and sister have commented I don't seem like myself and have asked if everything is ok, it will be nice to tell them what has been going on.

As for me - I feel good. I have some of your typical early pregnancy symptoms, but nothing horrible at all, so no complaints. My breasts feel like melons (I have always, um been 'blessed' in this area, but damn they seem huge) and are so tender. No true "morning sickness", I have had bouts of queasiness and my stomach has been off; but overall I am quite lucky so far. The tiredness on the other hand has knocked me for a loop. It is weird because it is like I just hit a wall and it happens around the same time every night (8ish), but then I seem to get a second wind. The past two nights I went out to dinner with girlfriends and I quickly faded after dinner and was thoroughly exhausted. For now I am blaming it on work (which isn't really a lie, since that is crazy right now).

I am so thrilled about tomorrow's appt and will post again about that soon!

Tata for now :-)
Jennifer

My first entry

Hello! This is my first blog entry. I am not sure how this is going to work yet, how often I will post and what type of info, so please be patient as it is a work in progress. I will try to post frequently. To be honest I have been thinking about doing this for awhile and last night Chris suggested I start a blog, since we are at the beginning of a new journey for us....

Our exciting news is, we are pregnant!!!! Unbelievable! I am still in amazement. I tested on Thursday, Feb 15th. When I looked at the test and saw the 2 lines, I couldn't believe it, I must have checked it a dozen times. Thank goodness I didn't test until around 5pm, so I didn't have to wait that long for Chris to come home. I ran to the store and got some burp clothes that say 'I love Daddy'. That night when Chris came home I gave him a belated V-day gift. His reaction was priceless. For a split second he was confused and didn't know what to make of it. I was bursting with excitement and he was thrilled. We have had quite an interesting 8 months trying to get here (we were gearing up to do our first IUI treatment this month, so imagine our shock when it happened on its own!!). For those of you who know me, I was absolutely giddy. Friday I went for a blood test at the doctor's which confirmed our news (progesterone levels were good and Beta was 89). On Tuesday I went back to have my beta levels checked and they were up to 750 which was great. I go back on Thursday and if they doubled again (like they are supposed to) next week I should be able to have an US.

As of now we haven't told anyone. It is nice to have this little secret and keep it between the two of us. Not sharing our news, has given us time to let it sink in and enjoy the quiet time together. Although it is getting harder and harder not to tell anyone (especially for me), so we plan on telling our immediate family this weekend.

Till next time :-)
Jennifer