So I have offically reached what Meredith called "the uncomfortable stage". Sleep has become a huge struggle because my legs are constantly cramping/ developing Charlie horses, and my ankles have become super puffy. I have been trying to put my feet up while I am at work to minimize the swelling but alas there is really nothing to be done. I am excited that my belly has started to grow. Yesterday my Director said to me that I "look more pregnant today than yesterday". I was so excited to hear that since I have been seeming to just get wider but not really get "the belly". Who knew I would be this excited over hearing that my belly was starting to bulge? Luckfully my back has been feeling a lot better since I got bras that actually fit.
Things really seem to be coming along though and I am getting more excited each day. I think I have finally kicked my worry about the childbirth pain realizing that I have dealt with some pretty bad pain and usually it is a lot worse for those around me than it is for myself--just kidding. I have just realized that pain is ephemeral and if not then its too late now. I know I will be fine. Stan and I are offically signed up for our childbirth classes which are scheduled to start the week after my B-day, we have a hospital tour scheduled for November (not that going there twice a week for the Perio isn't tour enough), and we are planning this weekend to get started on the nursery (I know I have written about doing this every single weekend for weeks now but this time we have extra time b/c it's Labor Day Weekend!!)
Speaking of my broken promises I am going to be posting pictures really soon of my belly, I promise...I only have one at this point but I am going to try to get a shot every week or two and then make a post every month until the end. I am aware I should have done this from the start but trust me there really wasn't much change in my stomach somehow the baby has only been effecting my hips and butt (go figure!)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
My little Fruit Fly
Well sure enough I smelled an orange at work today and just about tore down the walls to eat it. Luckfully it was Margot's so she was very nice and gave it to me. I have been all about the aromatic fruits recently like peaches OMG they smell soooo good and are soooo sweet. God bless this baby and his good nutritional judgement!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Playing the Name Game
There are so many names out there and I just want to be sure we pick the best one so Stan and I have been going through the books and trying to figure out what our tops are. We are thinking of posting our possible names onto the blog and letting everyone comment on which they like and don't like. I am thinking this way if there is something that Stan and I don't see then people can come up with it. So keep looking for that in the very near future. I was thinking of not even really naming the baby until he is here and we can see what he looks like a little more. I feel like that moment when you see the baby might bring some sort of clarity either that or all the pain medication will inspire something really wacky and man won't that make for a story. The only debate I have with myself in waiting is once you come up with a name and you call him that it gives you a chance to get to know the baby as that name. Recently I have been calling him Wyatt since it is my #1 contender currently and I've been liking it. So another input request I want to get what everyone thinks on naming should Stan and I really wait until the baby is born to completely decide or do you think we should start getting acclimated to the name before the baby is born?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
He's Getting Stronger
The last few days I have really noticed a difference in the kicks at first it felt so light but now that the baby is getting stronger all of his little taps have gotten well not so little!! I am loving it though, it always makes me so happy to have my little guy give me a quick reminder that he is there and everything is still going well. He just keeps moving all around in there. I can tell we are getting a lot closer to when Stan will be able to feel his movements.
We are still trying to come up with names. I have a feeling that our name search is going to take a longer time than I thought. Last night we tried to come up with lists and we couldn't agree on anything on either list. I want a name that embodies his energy and has a sort of explorer feel (although not Indiana Jones).
We are still trying to come up with names. I have a feeling that our name search is going to take a longer time than I thought. Last night we tried to come up with lists and we couldn't agree on anything on either list. I want a name that embodies his energy and has a sort of explorer feel (although not Indiana Jones).
Thursday, August 7, 2008
We're Okay!!
Yesterday was a long process but I have to say well worth it. I was registered with the hospital around 11 and 15 minutes later was taken back for an extensive sonogram. They had all the best equipment at the perionatologist office so I was able to see everything so clearly on the screen.
Because I had never been seen at that office before we had to repeat the 20 week fetal anatomy screen. This sonographer got great pictures!! She was able to show us both bones in both legs and arms. We saw the two hemispheres of the brain and the four chambers of the heart very clearly. The only thing he was a little shy about was his face. Although we did get to see the notrils this time which was really cool. One of the causes of Oligohydrinos could be malfunctioning kidneys so the sonographer got lots of pictures of the kidneys for the doctor to view. She had me move all around to make sure that she was able to get everything she needed and she was able to zoom in and adjust the light as needed. She left us in the room for a while so the doctor could look over all over the pictures and get back with us.
So about 20 minutes later the doctor comes in and says that the kidneys look great and then the sonographer shows her where the fluid is on the screen. They looked all around the baby (which is something my OB sonographer did not do) and saw pockets of water all around the baby. In some places the water level looked a little low but there was water in other areas that looked fine. The perionatlogist then explained to Stan and I that the way they assess water levels is different then what the OB does. When the baby reaches the belly button they divide the stomach into four quadrants. They measure the fluid in each quadrant and take the total divided by four to get an average amount of water in the sack. At this point the baby is still under the belly button so it is still too early to get a fluid measurement but as long as there is enough fluid for the baby to move around in etc. then the baby is not in any harm. She explained that when the baby's movements or growth become restricted that is when they have to intervene medically.
Since we are too early to tell the fluid volume we don't have a measurement for anyone however we do know that there was plenty of fluid for the baby to move around in and the doctor did not seem in the least bit worried. She wants to be able to measure the fluid though in a couple of weeks so Stan and I made another appointment for August 20th.
Then I was off to my final test. The doctor wanted to make sure I was not leaking any fluid so I was checked into the Labor and Delivery department to be checked out by one of my phyicians from Capital Women's Care. It was nuts, we had a nurse who was being trained for the Labor and Delivery department so regardless of the fact that I was only there for a quick check she went through her usual labor stuff. She even showed me where the shower was! I had to answer a million questions about my medical history and what level of pain I was in (after answering all those questions I was prob. about a 10 but I said 0 ) There was this other nurse who was in there training my nurse and she kept bringing up all this private information that she read in my file. I was like ok any minute now you can stop talking about my business. After a good 20-30 minutes the doctor came in and took a swab, put it on a slide, and then left to evaluate. She saw no traces of fluid so there was no rupture in the sac--yeah great news!! Then everyone left and I was able to get dressed and (finally) leave.
Stan and I were shocked we didn't leave the hospital until about 2:30-3 o'clock. I did not think that appointment was going to be that long. It was the longest time where I wasn't getting surgery I had ever spent in the hospital. I kept telling the nurses I was being really nice to them now because when I come back in December I can't make any guarentees.
In the end it was such a happy day and getting all these tests has lifted a load off. I think Stan and I are feeling so relieved to see the little guy in there moving around just fine and growing big stong and healthy. These past few days have been so hard (all the waiting and the ups and downs associated with that) but one thing that situations like this brings out is all those people who really care about you. It tests your will and I think gave Stan and I the realization of what being a parent is all about. We have had our strong moments and our weak ones over the last few days but what never changed was the strong community that came together for us and will one day come together for the baby too.
Because I had never been seen at that office before we had to repeat the 20 week fetal anatomy screen. This sonographer got great pictures!! She was able to show us both bones in both legs and arms. We saw the two hemispheres of the brain and the four chambers of the heart very clearly. The only thing he was a little shy about was his face. Although we did get to see the notrils this time which was really cool. One of the causes of Oligohydrinos could be malfunctioning kidneys so the sonographer got lots of pictures of the kidneys for the doctor to view. She had me move all around to make sure that she was able to get everything she needed and she was able to zoom in and adjust the light as needed. She left us in the room for a while so the doctor could look over all over the pictures and get back with us.
So about 20 minutes later the doctor comes in and says that the kidneys look great and then the sonographer shows her where the fluid is on the screen. They looked all around the baby (which is something my OB sonographer did not do) and saw pockets of water all around the baby. In some places the water level looked a little low but there was water in other areas that looked fine. The perionatlogist then explained to Stan and I that the way they assess water levels is different then what the OB does. When the baby reaches the belly button they divide the stomach into four quadrants. They measure the fluid in each quadrant and take the total divided by four to get an average amount of water in the sack. At this point the baby is still under the belly button so it is still too early to get a fluid measurement but as long as there is enough fluid for the baby to move around in etc. then the baby is not in any harm. She explained that when the baby's movements or growth become restricted that is when they have to intervene medically.
Since we are too early to tell the fluid volume we don't have a measurement for anyone however we do know that there was plenty of fluid for the baby to move around in and the doctor did not seem in the least bit worried. She wants to be able to measure the fluid though in a couple of weeks so Stan and I made another appointment for August 20th.
Then I was off to my final test. The doctor wanted to make sure I was not leaking any fluid so I was checked into the Labor and Delivery department to be checked out by one of my phyicians from Capital Women's Care. It was nuts, we had a nurse who was being trained for the Labor and Delivery department so regardless of the fact that I was only there for a quick check she went through her usual labor stuff. She even showed me where the shower was! I had to answer a million questions about my medical history and what level of pain I was in (after answering all those questions I was prob. about a 10 but I said 0 ) There was this other nurse who was in there training my nurse and she kept bringing up all this private information that she read in my file. I was like ok any minute now you can stop talking about my business. After a good 20-30 minutes the doctor came in and took a swab, put it on a slide, and then left to evaluate. She saw no traces of fluid so there was no rupture in the sac--yeah great news!! Then everyone left and I was able to get dressed and (finally) leave.
Stan and I were shocked we didn't leave the hospital until about 2:30-3 o'clock. I did not think that appointment was going to be that long. It was the longest time where I wasn't getting surgery I had ever spent in the hospital. I kept telling the nurses I was being really nice to them now because when I come back in December I can't make any guarentees.
In the end it was such a happy day and getting all these tests has lifted a load off. I think Stan and I are feeling so relieved to see the little guy in there moving around just fine and growing big stong and healthy. These past few days have been so hard (all the waiting and the ups and downs associated with that) but one thing that situations like this brings out is all those people who really care about you. It tests your will and I think gave Stan and I the realization of what being a parent is all about. We have had our strong moments and our weak ones over the last few days but what never changed was the strong community that came together for us and will one day come together for the baby too.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
We Be Jammin
I had such a great time yesterday. At lunch I shut off all the lights and laid down across two chairs and played with my belly (I have an office so I shut the door). The baby loves to kick while I am at lunch so I thought it would be cool to have a little bonding moment so I would tap on my belly and rub in different areas while he kicked back.
This event was so fun that when I got in the car to go home I cranked up my ABBA cd for a little jam session. I tapped out the tune on my belly while I sang along (Let's give this kid some rhythm). It was hilarious he was going to town in there. He was kicking all over the place and I felt one of those really huge movements too. I had so much fun and I think it gave the little man quite a workout. It was really reassuring to feel him kicking so strong and so much!
Now how to tell Stan that his son is a "Dancing Queen"!
This event was so fun that when I got in the car to go home I cranked up my ABBA cd for a little jam session. I tapped out the tune on my belly while I sang along (Let's give this kid some rhythm). It was hilarious he was going to town in there. He was kicking all over the place and I felt one of those really huge movements too. I had so much fun and I think it gave the little man quite a workout. It was really reassuring to feel him kicking so strong and so much!
Now how to tell Stan that his son is a "Dancing Queen"!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Growing Pains
Recently I have been a little concerned because I was having this sharp pain on my side that would stay around for a little minute or so and then go once I doubled over and took a break for a second. I was really worried given everything else so this morning first thing I called the doctor and it was round ligament pain. Because the uterus is sloshing around from side to side at this point it apparently is perfectly normal to have it pull on these round ligaments cause pain when you have sudden movemnents that involve you moving from one side to the other like when I got out of the car the other day. To be honest I suspected it was round ligaments (or gas) so that is why I wasn't going to the hospital. The solution to this pain is I have to move more like a pregnant women (which means I wasn't before--score!) and just be more careful with my movements, she also said that when the uterus gets a little bigger in the next few weeks I won't even have the round ligament problems.
Friday, August 1, 2008
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
I have not slept all night long and I am thinking about going home. All I did yesterday was cry and it seems today might not be too different--only Sonya isn't here to make it ok. I just found out that I don't need to work on the project I was going to today so my whole day is clear for some well needed emotional therapy. Inside I am a big ball of grrr... about the water situation. I just want to feel that everything is ok and will remain ok. I don't like it when my stasis gets rocked so can we get to the ending stasis already so I don't have to deal with the process?? And I am craving an Auntie Anne's pretzel although I think it is pretty unlikely that craving will get fulfilled. I am just drained of energy right now and really need to rest although I am feeling some pretty fun baby kicks. Actually the baby kicks like all the time now. I love it just a little bump telling me it's ok in there. He's already turning into a sensative little guy like his daddy.
** Sorry if my spelling is bad my eyes are all poofy so I can't really see and I am not reading before publishing
** Sorry if my spelling is bad my eyes are all poofy so I can't really see and I am not reading before publishing
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