On January 1, I set some pretty tough resolutions for myself:
1. Pay off my Visa card.
2. Pay off a loan from grad school.
3. Lose 20 more pounds or get pregnant, whichever happens first.
I succeeded! I met every goal!
I started couponing in March after being inspired by the show "Extreme Couponing." The savings added up fast and I was able to pay off my Visa card by May even though I didn't think I would be able to do so until at least October.
Two months later, thanks to couponing and the absence of a Visa bill, I paid off my loan!!
I thought the third resolution would be the most difficult because it involved losing weight and/or perfect chemistry (haha!). At the beginning of 2010, I was the heaviest I'd ever been: 205 pounds! Woof! I spent 2010 watching what I ate and working my buns off, literally. By our wedding in August, I was down 20 pounds and at the same weight I was when Ryan and I started dating in 2002. Between our wedding and March 2011, I lost 10 more pounds and was back to the weight I was senior year of high school: 175! I was well on my my way to reaching my weight loss goal for the year when we became pregnant!!!
I totally accomplished my goals for 2011! Go me!
I have some big resolutions for 2012:
1. Pay off my MasterCard.
2. Lose my last 11 pounds of pregnancy weight and then lose 15 more pounds. End goal weight: 160! (That's freshman year of high school!)
3. Run a 5k with Logan in a jogging stroller. This will be my toughest resolution thanks to some post-pregnancy complications, but I'm not going to let anything stop me from being a healthy wife and mother. When Logan was still in my belly, I promised him I would be a healthy, active, mommy so I could keep up with him. It's up to me to have a healthy family!
You still have one more day to meet your goals for 2011! Good luck to all of you in 2012! Happy New Year!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas Crafty
Well, thanks to the early delivery of our sweet baby boy, the time I intended to spend on Christmas crafts was cut a bit short. I'm happy I was able to get our apartment decorated thanks to the help of a special elf: my sister! Today, I managed to make Christmas dinner for us and my in-laws!
I am very proud of the gift tags I made. These are made from card stock that I trimmed, punched, dunked in chamomile tea, then baked until they were dry. I like the aged look. I think I'll make these again soon but with a darker tea. Ryan thought our gifts looked "fancy" this year!
I am very proud of the gift tags I made. These are made from card stock that I trimmed, punched, dunked in chamomile tea, then baked until they were dry. I like the aged look. I think I'll make these again soon but with a darker tea. Ryan thought our gifts looked "fancy" this year!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Life with Logan
Life with Logan has been awesome! As hard as it was for Logan to spend his first week in the NICU (for us and him), we were grateful for all the awesome nurses teaching us how to take care of him. As soon as we knew his health was on the upswing, we looked at the time as a learning opportunity. Neither of us had ever spent real time with a newborn (or a baby at any age, really) and we could count the number of diapers we'd changed on one hand. Thankfully, my Mom was here for Logan's first few days home and she helped us through some of the rough spots while keeping our apartment clean and making an awesome Christmas outfit for Logan.
Since Logan has been home...
Oma changed his first diaper on his new changing table.
He's had many, many bottles, which means a lot of burping. Logan thinks burping is very weird and he makes the cutest faces while it's happening.
We've snuggled a lot.
Logan had his first sponge bath.
He's helped daddy not fall behind at work.
He's slept a lot.
He took his first baby bath (after his umbilical cord stump came off on Aunt Dani). He loves the tub!
Aunt Dani visited. She cooked for us all week, put up our Christmas tree, and spoiled Logan with love.
It's really hard for us to put Logan down, but when we do, this is how he spends his free time.
Our days have been filled with smiles and laughter. We just can't get enough of our little Logan!
Since Logan has been home...
Oma changed his first diaper on his new changing table.
He's had many, many bottles, which means a lot of burping. Logan thinks burping is very weird and he makes the cutest faces while it's happening.
We've snuggled a lot.
Logan had his first sponge bath.
He's helped daddy not fall behind at work.
He's slept a lot.
He took his first baby bath (after his umbilical cord stump came off on Aunt Dani). He loves the tub!
Aunt Dani visited. She cooked for us all week, put up our Christmas tree, and spoiled Logan with love.
It's really hard for us to put Logan down, but when we do, this is how he spends his free time.
Our days have been filled with smiles and laughter. We just can't get enough of our little Logan!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Logan's Birth Story
If you read our last post and have followed our blog throughout our pregnancy, you know there has never been a dull moment with this pregnancy. That remains true for the story of Logan's birth.
On Friday, December 2, I awoke to mild contractions. They weren't strong enough to time so I wasn't concerned. I planned on spending the day in bed just like my doctor instructed the day before while I was in labor and delivery with high blood pressure. Throughout the day, the contractions did not increase in strength or duration but the pain in my abdomen increased and remained constant. By the time Ryan got home from work, which was actually pretty late because he knew he had a lot of work to do to prepare for our induction Monday, I really wasn't feeling well. In addition to the pain in my abdomen, I couldn't eat anything and I had the chills. Even after a hot shower and Ryan being sweet enough to blow dry my hair, I was still freezing. Ryan thought to take my temperature and it was 101.4! Time to call my obstetrician!
We were instructed to come in to labor and delivery right away. We had a feeling this was it, so we took our overnight bags and baby supplies with us this time. As expected, my blood pressure was still high. What was unexpected was how high Logan's heart rate was: 200-218! That is so dangerous for such a little guy! After seeing Logan's heart rate and applying pressure to my abdomen, our OB determined I had an infection and our sweet boy would be delivered that night. Since his heart rate was already so high and there was no telling what type of infection I had or what the extent of it was, an induction was out of the question.
At 2:58am, on Saturday, December 3, Logan Patrick Joyce was born via c-section, weighing in at 9 pounds 1 ounce, and 21 1/2 inches long.
He was just perfect at birth! His APGAR scores were fantastic and the surgical staff was surprised at his size for being only 37 weeks, 5 days. They said there was no way he was going to fit through the birth canal (it was clear by the shape of his head that he had been trying) and we probably would have ended up with a c-section regardless.
I will never forget the look on Ryan's face when he saw our beautiful boy for the first time. At first, there was the look of shock and I could tell he had accidentally looked down at me, but then, his eyes became an entirely different shade of blue and I could see his smile glowing through his surgical mask. I knew he was in love. When the nurse brought him around the curtain, I started to cry. He was so beautiful. They pulled Ryan away from me briefly and had to remind him to take pictures of the things I couldn't see. The nurse took the camera to take our first family picture. As Ryan held our son, I just stared at him and said, "we can name him Logan, he looks like a Logan."
Since it was clear I had some sort of infection, Logan was taken to the NICU for a thorough examination. As the surgical team was finishing the procedure, a doctor returned from the NICU to tell us that Logan had taken a turn for the worse and his beautiful color had turned gray. They needed to do a spinal tap and begin antibiotic treatments immediately. We told them to do whatever they needed to do to make him healthy.
We were both terrified. Our brand new baby boy was in danger and we were helpless. I was still open on a surgical table! Even though Ryan knew he was just as terrified and feeling just as helpless, he said all the best things he could possibly say to keep me calm. Ryan was amazing. As they wheeled me away to recovery, Ryan joined me briefly. When Logan was about three hours old, Ryan was finally taken to see him. He was in an isolet with an IV in his heel and little stickers on his chest monitoring him. Aside from the tubes and wires, he looked good. When Ryan reached in to touch his hand, Logan squeezed and held on tight. We knew he was a fighter.
A few days later, we received the results of Logan's blood cultures and the culture from the placenta. It turned out I had a group B strep infection in the placenta. It affected Logan but didn't infect him, thank goodness. The infection wasn't present in any of my prior labs. My doctor thought the bacteria probably colonized somewhere inside me when I had a urinary tract infection in October and made their way into the placenta when I started dilating. The antibiotics I took for the UTI probably gave Logan enough resistance to fight the infection. Just like I said, we knew he was a fighter!
After 7 days in the NICU, Logan was released with a perfect bill of health!! We were so happy to bring our sweet, strong, little boy home. He is the best Christmas gift we could ever ask for!
On Friday, December 2, I awoke to mild contractions. They weren't strong enough to time so I wasn't concerned. I planned on spending the day in bed just like my doctor instructed the day before while I was in labor and delivery with high blood pressure. Throughout the day, the contractions did not increase in strength or duration but the pain in my abdomen increased and remained constant. By the time Ryan got home from work, which was actually pretty late because he knew he had a lot of work to do to prepare for our induction Monday, I really wasn't feeling well. In addition to the pain in my abdomen, I couldn't eat anything and I had the chills. Even after a hot shower and Ryan being sweet enough to blow dry my hair, I was still freezing. Ryan thought to take my temperature and it was 101.4! Time to call my obstetrician!
We were instructed to come in to labor and delivery right away. We had a feeling this was it, so we took our overnight bags and baby supplies with us this time. As expected, my blood pressure was still high. What was unexpected was how high Logan's heart rate was: 200-218! That is so dangerous for such a little guy! After seeing Logan's heart rate and applying pressure to my abdomen, our OB determined I had an infection and our sweet boy would be delivered that night. Since his heart rate was already so high and there was no telling what type of infection I had or what the extent of it was, an induction was out of the question.
At 2:58am, on Saturday, December 3, Logan Patrick Joyce was born via c-section, weighing in at 9 pounds 1 ounce, and 21 1/2 inches long.
He was just perfect at birth! His APGAR scores were fantastic and the surgical staff was surprised at his size for being only 37 weeks, 5 days. They said there was no way he was going to fit through the birth canal (it was clear by the shape of his head that he had been trying) and we probably would have ended up with a c-section regardless.I will never forget the look on Ryan's face when he saw our beautiful boy for the first time. At first, there was the look of shock and I could tell he had accidentally looked down at me, but then, his eyes became an entirely different shade of blue and I could see his smile glowing through his surgical mask. I knew he was in love. When the nurse brought him around the curtain, I started to cry. He was so beautiful. They pulled Ryan away from me briefly and had to remind him to take pictures of the things I couldn't see. The nurse took the camera to take our first family picture. As Ryan held our son, I just stared at him and said, "we can name him Logan, he looks like a Logan."
Since it was clear I had some sort of infection, Logan was taken to the NICU for a thorough examination. As the surgical team was finishing the procedure, a doctor returned from the NICU to tell us that Logan had taken a turn for the worse and his beautiful color had turned gray. They needed to do a spinal tap and begin antibiotic treatments immediately. We told them to do whatever they needed to do to make him healthy.We were both terrified. Our brand new baby boy was in danger and we were helpless. I was still open on a surgical table! Even though Ryan knew he was just as terrified and feeling just as helpless, he said all the best things he could possibly say to keep me calm. Ryan was amazing. As they wheeled me away to recovery, Ryan joined me briefly. When Logan was about three hours old, Ryan was finally taken to see him. He was in an isolet with an IV in his heel and little stickers on his chest monitoring him. Aside from the tubes and wires, he looked good. When Ryan reached in to touch his hand, Logan squeezed and held on tight. We knew he was a fighter.
A few days later, we received the results of Logan's blood cultures and the culture from the placenta. It turned out I had a group B strep infection in the placenta. It affected Logan but didn't infect him, thank goodness. The infection wasn't present in any of my prior labs. My doctor thought the bacteria probably colonized somewhere inside me when I had a urinary tract infection in October and made their way into the placenta when I started dilating. The antibiotics I took for the UTI probably gave Logan enough resistance to fight the infection. Just like I said, we knew he was a fighter!
After 7 days in the NICU, Logan was released with a perfect bill of health!! We were so happy to bring our sweet, strong, little boy home. He is the best Christmas gift we could ever ask for!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Never a Dull Moment
There has never been a dull moment with Baby J! A nurse totally called it when we were in the hospital at 26 weeks. She said babies with low placentas are special because they almost didn't exist, but at the last minute, they decided to hang on and be a baby instead of a period. She also said, from the way he was kicking and squirming already, he was going to be quite the handful and would demand our attention all of the time. I think this is absolutely true. He has been perfectly healthy, but I feel like I bled just enough to be forced to relax and focus on him from 26 weeks to 34 weeks, then as soon as I was able to be on my feet, doing things around the house and running supervised errands with Ryan, my blood pressure began to rise just enough for me to have to relax again and focus on him again. For the last few weeks, we've been able to see him on sonograms and hear his little heart beat at least twice a week during non-stress tests.
Yesterday morning, we settled in to have my blood pressure, baby's heart rate, and my contractions monitored for 30 minutes. Baby's heart was great and we had a few sporadic contractions, but my blood pressure readings were troubling. My normal BP is 120/80, but between 7:45am and 8:15am, I had the following readings: 138/84, 128/94, and 134/94. Not good. Fortunately, I'm not showing any other symptoms of preeclampsia, but the specialist thought it's probably hypertension and wanted to see what my OB thought at our appointment with her later that morning. Our ultrasound showed a great level of amniotic fluid, a big active baby, and an aging placenta which looks like it belongs to a mature 39-week-old baby. With my blood pressure, baby's size, and state of the placenta, the specialist thought it wouldn't be likely that we would be pregnant beyond the 38th week.
We left that appointment, got some breakfast at the hospital cafeteria, and went to our second appointment of the day with the orthopedic specialist to check on my floating thumb. Everything looked good there so we headed up to our OB appointment. After spending a good amount of time relaxing in the waiting room and drinking plenty of water, my BP was 140/100! The appointment pretty much ended right there and we were sent up to labor and delivery (for what is now our third visit!) to have my BP monitored for a few hours and do some other labs.
We were freaking out that we might end up delivering that day; not at all what we expected when we woke up in the morning! During my pelvic exam, we learned that I was already 50% effaced and 3 cm dilated! I'd been having sporadic contractions but they hadn't been painful, so that was surprising as well. Our nurse commented that, in case we needed it, the hardest part of having an induction was already over since I was already at 3.
My lab results were all good; no signs of preeclampsia. My blood pressure improved, but wasn't great, when I laid on my side and my contractions remained sporadic. Giving consideration to my unstable blood pressure, aging placenta, baby's size, good lab results, and progress already made toward delivery, my OB and specialist decided it would be best to come back on Monday to be induced if labor didn't intensify on it's own over the weekend. Yesterday was definitely eventful, but Monday will bring us the most eventful day of all! We are so excited (and nervous) to meet our baby boy! We can't believe we'll be parents next week!
Yesterday morning, we settled in to have my blood pressure, baby's heart rate, and my contractions monitored for 30 minutes. Baby's heart was great and we had a few sporadic contractions, but my blood pressure readings were troubling. My normal BP is 120/80, but between 7:45am and 8:15am, I had the following readings: 138/84, 128/94, and 134/94. Not good. Fortunately, I'm not showing any other symptoms of preeclampsia, but the specialist thought it's probably hypertension and wanted to see what my OB thought at our appointment with her later that morning. Our ultrasound showed a great level of amniotic fluid, a big active baby, and an aging placenta which looks like it belongs to a mature 39-week-old baby. With my blood pressure, baby's size, and state of the placenta, the specialist thought it wouldn't be likely that we would be pregnant beyond the 38th week.
We left that appointment, got some breakfast at the hospital cafeteria, and went to our second appointment of the day with the orthopedic specialist to check on my floating thumb. Everything looked good there so we headed up to our OB appointment. After spending a good amount of time relaxing in the waiting room and drinking plenty of water, my BP was 140/100! The appointment pretty much ended right there and we were sent up to labor and delivery (for what is now our third visit!) to have my BP monitored for a few hours and do some other labs.
We were freaking out that we might end up delivering that day; not at all what we expected when we woke up in the morning! During my pelvic exam, we learned that I was already 50% effaced and 3 cm dilated! I'd been having sporadic contractions but they hadn't been painful, so that was surprising as well. Our nurse commented that, in case we needed it, the hardest part of having an induction was already over since I was already at 3.
My lab results were all good; no signs of preeclampsia. My blood pressure improved, but wasn't great, when I laid on my side and my contractions remained sporadic. Giving consideration to my unstable blood pressure, aging placenta, baby's size, good lab results, and progress already made toward delivery, my OB and specialist decided it would be best to come back on Monday to be induced if labor didn't intensify on it's own over the weekend. Yesterday was definitely eventful, but Monday will bring us the most eventful day of all! We are so excited (and nervous) to meet our baby boy! We can't believe we'll be parents next week!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Cheesy Broccoli Soup
Yesterday was the perfect day for a yummy, creamy, soup. I spent most of the day putting up Christmas decorations and watching the leaves fall from the trees in the rain outside our window. I recently found this food.com recipe on Pinterest and changed it a little based on the ingredients and time I had available. Ryan and I both loved it. The soup had really rich flavor and didn't require any additional seasonings, not even salt or pepper. Here's the recipe.
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 Tbsp butter
10 oz can reduced fat cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups low fat milk
16 oz velveeta cheese cut into cubes (Ryan thought it could actually use a little less cheese)
14 oz frozen broccoli
Melt the butter in a soup pot. Add the onions and sauté until they begin to brown. Stir in the cream of chicken. Allow to heat through. Stir in the milk and allow to heat through. Add the velveeta and stir occasionally until melted. Add the frozen broccoli and stir occasionally until heated through.
Serve with warm bread. (We had Hawaiian rolls leftover from Thanksgiving and they tasted delicious with the soup).
Enjoy!
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 Tbsp butter
10 oz can reduced fat cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups low fat milk
16 oz velveeta cheese cut into cubes (Ryan thought it could actually use a little less cheese)
14 oz frozen broccoli
Melt the butter in a soup pot. Add the onions and sauté until they begin to brown. Stir in the cream of chicken. Allow to heat through. Stir in the milk and allow to heat through. Add the velveeta and stir occasionally until melted. Add the frozen broccoli and stir occasionally until heated through.
Serve with warm bread. (We had Hawaiian rolls leftover from Thanksgiving and they tasted delicious with the soup).
Enjoy!
Christmas Decorating while 9 Months Pregnant
Unpack a few items.
Refill water glass.
Unpack a few items.
Sit with feet up.
Unpack a few items.
Put a few decorations up.
Take a bathroom break.
Unpack a few items.
Refill water glass.
Unpack a few items.
Put a few decorations up.
Take snack break.
Unpack a few items.
Take a bathroom break.
Put a few decorations up.
Refill water glass.
Take a nap.
Repeat all previous steps.
This was much easier last year!
Refill water glass.
Unpack a few items.
Sit with feet up.
Unpack a few items.
Put a few decorations up.
Take a bathroom break.
Unpack a few items.
Refill water glass.
Unpack a few items.
Put a few decorations up.
Take snack break.
Unpack a few items.
Take a bathroom break.
Put a few decorations up.
Refill water glass.
Take a nap.
Repeat all previous steps.
This was much easier last year!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
37 Weeks
How far along? 37 weeks! Our little turkey is fully cooked and my belly button is popped out to prove it! Now we can finally say, we can't wait to meet our baby boy and welcome his arrival as soon as he's ready to join us.
Weight gain? 37 pounds... Thanksgiving!
How big is baby? Baby J is probably 21+ inches from head to toe and weighs between 8 and 8.5 pounds.
Maternity clothes? I'm finally able to wear my maternity clothes and some items are now too small for my torpedo belly! I don't know how mamas of multiples find clothes to wear, especially pants and tops together. I tend to have a gap between the bottom of my top and the top of my pants! Dresses seem to work out best for now, as long as they are long enough or I wear them with leggings.
Sleep? I find myself yelling at Ryan while he's asleep. He loves to snuggle, but at this point, he usually just ends up kneeing my belly or kind of on top of my belly and squishing me. I'm uncomfortable enough as it is!
Best moment of the week? With the exception of the crib, which is still getting refinished, baby's room is ready to go! Well, it's still a work in progress, but at least it's a comfortable, functional, space. His dresser is full of clean, ready to wear, clothes; the changing table is fully stocked with diapers, wipes, ointments and creams; the glider chair is equipped with a cozy blanket and boppy pillow, ready for us to feed him and rock him to sleep; he has a shelf full of books for us to read to him and even his very own cell phone fully uploaded with lullabies and soothing songs. He'll be sleeping in a Moses basket in our room for the first few months. We still have to put up some shelves, get some artwork, and a few more accessories, but for the most part, his little nook is ready and waiting.
Funny moment of the week? During our ultrasound Thursday, we learned that baby boy has a full head of hair! Just as we pictured him full of muscles after I had the cortisteroid shot when the placenta was bleeding, we now picture him with a full beard and mustache. My dad said, two months from now, we'll hear him from the bathroom, "yo Pops! Come teach me how to shave!"
Symptoms? Baby loves to push on my pelvic bone. I can actually feel his little hand push on the bone, especially on the right side. When he stretches, his little head puts a lot of pressure on bladder, so if he's in a wiggly mood, I might have to pee a couple of times an hour. I can also see how long his legs are when he stretches. His little butt pushes out of my left side and his little feet stretch out of my right side. When he wiggles his knees, it's like you can see a mouse crawling under my shirt. The first thing the doctor said during last week's ultrasound was, "wow! It looks crowded in there!" Believe me, it sure feels crowded!
Over the last two weeks, I've had a bit of high blood pressure. Combine this with my swelling hands and feet, and we have a concern for preeclampsia. I took a blood test last week and should learn Monday whether the signs are present there as well. Since my blood pressure is high, baby is big, and the placenta may deteriorate early, we now have to go in for non-stress tests and ultrasounds twice per week. So, this week, we have appointments Monday and Thursday to monitor my blood pressure, baby's heart rate, and whether I'm contracting for 30 minutes followed by a songogram to check the placenta and amniotic fluid level. Thursday, we have an appointment with the OB where we may discuss whether an induction is necessary based on the results of all the tests. Even though we'd be happy to welcome baby today, I'd love for him to have a early December birthday. I love the December flower and birthstone!
This morning's non-stress test showed my systolic blood pressure was still a tiny bit high but no higher than last week. It also showed that I'm having itty bitty contractions about 10 minutes apart! I can't really feel them, but they suggested staying super hydrated with my feet up, especially if I want to keep this little guy in until December.
What I miss? Seeing my lap! Yesterday, I was eating a piece of pie and of course Ryan needed a bite. He dropped half the bite on my lap and I had no idea where it landed! Thankfully, he cleaned up his mess.
What I'm looking forward to? December! Decorating for Christmas! Giving gifts! Online shopping! Baking cookies! Baby J is on the way and that means family and friends will soon be here as well! I can't wait! Our first Christmas as a family of three! It's going to be the best month ever!!
Here's the 37 week bump (plus a little preview of Baby J's nook).
Weight gain? 37 pounds... Thanksgiving!
How big is baby? Baby J is probably 21+ inches from head to toe and weighs between 8 and 8.5 pounds.
Maternity clothes? I'm finally able to wear my maternity clothes and some items are now too small for my torpedo belly! I don't know how mamas of multiples find clothes to wear, especially pants and tops together. I tend to have a gap between the bottom of my top and the top of my pants! Dresses seem to work out best for now, as long as they are long enough or I wear them with leggings.
Sleep? I find myself yelling at Ryan while he's asleep. He loves to snuggle, but at this point, he usually just ends up kneeing my belly or kind of on top of my belly and squishing me. I'm uncomfortable enough as it is!
Best moment of the week? With the exception of the crib, which is still getting refinished, baby's room is ready to go! Well, it's still a work in progress, but at least it's a comfortable, functional, space. His dresser is full of clean, ready to wear, clothes; the changing table is fully stocked with diapers, wipes, ointments and creams; the glider chair is equipped with a cozy blanket and boppy pillow, ready for us to feed him and rock him to sleep; he has a shelf full of books for us to read to him and even his very own cell phone fully uploaded with lullabies and soothing songs. He'll be sleeping in a Moses basket in our room for the first few months. We still have to put up some shelves, get some artwork, and a few more accessories, but for the most part, his little nook is ready and waiting.
Funny moment of the week? During our ultrasound Thursday, we learned that baby boy has a full head of hair! Just as we pictured him full of muscles after I had the cortisteroid shot when the placenta was bleeding, we now picture him with a full beard and mustache. My dad said, two months from now, we'll hear him from the bathroom, "yo Pops! Come teach me how to shave!"
Symptoms? Baby loves to push on my pelvic bone. I can actually feel his little hand push on the bone, especially on the right side. When he stretches, his little head puts a lot of pressure on bladder, so if he's in a wiggly mood, I might have to pee a couple of times an hour. I can also see how long his legs are when he stretches. His little butt pushes out of my left side and his little feet stretch out of my right side. When he wiggles his knees, it's like you can see a mouse crawling under my shirt. The first thing the doctor said during last week's ultrasound was, "wow! It looks crowded in there!" Believe me, it sure feels crowded!
Over the last two weeks, I've had a bit of high blood pressure. Combine this with my swelling hands and feet, and we have a concern for preeclampsia. I took a blood test last week and should learn Monday whether the signs are present there as well. Since my blood pressure is high, baby is big, and the placenta may deteriorate early, we now have to go in for non-stress tests and ultrasounds twice per week. So, this week, we have appointments Monday and Thursday to monitor my blood pressure, baby's heart rate, and whether I'm contracting for 30 minutes followed by a songogram to check the placenta and amniotic fluid level. Thursday, we have an appointment with the OB where we may discuss whether an induction is necessary based on the results of all the tests. Even though we'd be happy to welcome baby today, I'd love for him to have a early December birthday. I love the December flower and birthstone!
This morning's non-stress test showed my systolic blood pressure was still a tiny bit high but no higher than last week. It also showed that I'm having itty bitty contractions about 10 minutes apart! I can't really feel them, but they suggested staying super hydrated with my feet up, especially if I want to keep this little guy in until December.
What I miss? Seeing my lap! Yesterday, I was eating a piece of pie and of course Ryan needed a bite. He dropped half the bite on my lap and I had no idea where it landed! Thankfully, he cleaned up his mess.
What I'm looking forward to? December! Decorating for Christmas! Giving gifts! Online shopping! Baking cookies! Baby J is on the way and that means family and friends will soon be here as well! I can't wait! Our first Christmas as a family of three! It's going to be the best month ever!!
Here's the 37 week bump (plus a little preview of Baby J's nook).
Thursday, November 24, 2011
So Thankful
I'm not the biggest fan of the historical significance of Thanksgiving but I'm always grateful for the reminder to be thankful. We have so much to be thankful for, including...
1. The little one rolling around in my belly. We still can't believe I'm nine months pregnant, but this time next year, our baby boy will be rolling around in a cute little walker and perhaps nibbling his first tastes of holiday turkey and pumpkin pie.
2. Our jobs. So many people continue to struggle to work for a living wage and we've managed to find and keep good jobs. We've been able to travel to spend quality time with family and friends, travel just for fun on our first foreign vacation together, not be too stressed about being able to provide for the baby, and live a pretty comfortable life in the last year.
3. My mom's health. She had to deal with some crazy heart problems this year and it took quite awhile to find the solution to having the energy to make it through the day. We're so thankful she will be healthy enough to fly here as soon as the baby is born. I couldn't imagine going through this without her.
4. Our health. I'm grateful I was in the best health of my adult life early this year and was able to beome pregnant, which is something I never thought would happen without the help of science. Despite dealing with (and overcoming) several random complications I have had to deal with throughout the pregnancy, Baby J seems to be perfectly healthy. Taking care of me, worrying about the baby and me, and being responsible for preparing our apartment for our new arrival could have caused a lot of stress for Ryan, but he's amazing and is taking everything like a champ. We're also thankful for my wonderful medical benefits!
5. Supportive family. Even though our family is so far away, they've all shown support in different ways at just the right time. My mom provides the emotional support that every pregnant woman needs, my dad calms me down when I worry about medical complications, my sister provides me with abundant spa supplies to make me feel comfortable and beautiful, Ryan's parents are quick to send us anything we might need, and everyone else is so happy about the new addition to the family, we can feel their excitement. We're looking forward to seeing several visitors in the coming months!
6. Supportive friends. We really have the best friends and colleagues. Many of them have been a strong part of our support system for years and we are always grateful for their love and kindness. They know us inside and out and always know exactly how to make us smile. This year, we've learned we've built a great support system here as well. So many of our new frends are showing support in ways we've never expected and it surprises us every time.
These are just a few of the things we're thankful for this year. Hopefully, you have had a great year, too! Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
36 Weeks
How far along? 36 weeks.
Weight gain? 36 pounds... But fortunately, Ryan sweetly complimented me by saying I don't look pregnant from the back. Before becoming pregnant, one of my biggest nightmares was that I would look pregnant all over but I just FEEL pregnant all over!
How big is baby? Baby J is probably 20.5+ inches from head to toe and weighs between 7.5 and 8 pounds. On Wednesday, we'll have an ultrasound and OB appointment which may determine whether his expected arrival date moves up a bit due to his size and/or a deteriorating placenta. Since I did have a bleed, it's possible that the placenta might not hold up as long as it should.
Maternity clothes? At our OB appointment last week, I received permission to go on walks! Now that I get to go outside, I get to wear my clothes instead of living in jammies!
Sleep? Right now I'm actually glad I get up all night to pee. If that slowed down, it could be a sign of preeclampsia which is something we are keeping our eye on right now.
Best moment of the week? Getting permission to go on walks! I still need to take it easy, but it's been great to get out and breathe some fresh air before it becomes uncomfortably cold out. Ryan and I walked to our favorite sandwich place, my friend Bryana picked me up and took me to dinner, Ryan and I went to Buy Buy Baby and purchased a few more essentials for baby, and today we did some pre-baby stock up shopping at the grocery store. I feel semi-normal. As good as it feels to get out, my body is in shock! My muscles are totally depleted from 10 weeks of rest so moving, even just a little bit, really makes me feel the pregnancy in my back, belly, and pelvis. and I think I caught some sort of bug. I have a sore throat and congestion. I wish I could have been more active throughout the pregnancy, but I would do it ll over again to keep baby safe.
Other good news: my braces are finally off! Yay for chewing gum!!
Funny moment of the week? I have had several, "oh butterfingers!" moments this week. I drop at least three things every day: full glasses of water, cooking utensils while cooking, my cell phone, writing utensils, eating utensils... If it's in my hand, I will probably drop it.
Symptoms? My hands and feet are still swelling, so I'm now wearing a brace on my left hand for my runaway thumb. It's not carpel tunnel, just my crazy loose ligaments. The OB thinks wearing a brace now will keep it stable so picking baby up will not be uncomfortable. Also, my blood pressure was slightly higher than normal on Thursday, so we're looking out for signs of preeclampsia. There always has to be something!
What I miss? This week I miss using my thumb! I've had to do some creative handling in the kitchen which isn't easy considering how clumsy I have been. Thanksgiving dinner may have several challenges.
What I'm looking forward to? Ryan's taking an infant and child CPR class today and I can't wait to hear what he learns for keeping baby safe. I'm also looking forward to our ultrasound and OB appointment Wednesday, and becoming an overstuffed turkey on Thanksgiving! You think my belly is big now, just wait til it's full of turkey and maple pumpkin pie!
Here's my 36 week bump! When we bought this shirt back in May, it was huge! I had to roll it under to make it fit. Now, it's a completely different story. Notice I am only using the back burners so I don't catch my belly on fire!
And, I never thought my sausage toes could be any more sausagey, but apparently they can. This is how puffy I am around 4am. I think I need to start wearing frisbees as shoes.
Weight gain? 36 pounds... But fortunately, Ryan sweetly complimented me by saying I don't look pregnant from the back. Before becoming pregnant, one of my biggest nightmares was that I would look pregnant all over but I just FEEL pregnant all over!
How big is baby? Baby J is probably 20.5+ inches from head to toe and weighs between 7.5 and 8 pounds. On Wednesday, we'll have an ultrasound and OB appointment which may determine whether his expected arrival date moves up a bit due to his size and/or a deteriorating placenta. Since I did have a bleed, it's possible that the placenta might not hold up as long as it should.
Maternity clothes? At our OB appointment last week, I received permission to go on walks! Now that I get to go outside, I get to wear my clothes instead of living in jammies!
Sleep? Right now I'm actually glad I get up all night to pee. If that slowed down, it could be a sign of preeclampsia which is something we are keeping our eye on right now.
Best moment of the week? Getting permission to go on walks! I still need to take it easy, but it's been great to get out and breathe some fresh air before it becomes uncomfortably cold out. Ryan and I walked to our favorite sandwich place, my friend Bryana picked me up and took me to dinner, Ryan and I went to Buy Buy Baby and purchased a few more essentials for baby, and today we did some pre-baby stock up shopping at the grocery store. I feel semi-normal. As good as it feels to get out, my body is in shock! My muscles are totally depleted from 10 weeks of rest so moving, even just a little bit, really makes me feel the pregnancy in my back, belly, and pelvis. and I think I caught some sort of bug. I have a sore throat and congestion. I wish I could have been more active throughout the pregnancy, but I would do it ll over again to keep baby safe.
Other good news: my braces are finally off! Yay for chewing gum!!
Funny moment of the week? I have had several, "oh butterfingers!" moments this week. I drop at least three things every day: full glasses of water, cooking utensils while cooking, my cell phone, writing utensils, eating utensils... If it's in my hand, I will probably drop it.
Symptoms? My hands and feet are still swelling, so I'm now wearing a brace on my left hand for my runaway thumb. It's not carpel tunnel, just my crazy loose ligaments. The OB thinks wearing a brace now will keep it stable so picking baby up will not be uncomfortable. Also, my blood pressure was slightly higher than normal on Thursday, so we're looking out for signs of preeclampsia. There always has to be something!
What I miss? This week I miss using my thumb! I've had to do some creative handling in the kitchen which isn't easy considering how clumsy I have been. Thanksgiving dinner may have several challenges.
What I'm looking forward to? Ryan's taking an infant and child CPR class today and I can't wait to hear what he learns for keeping baby safe. I'm also looking forward to our ultrasound and OB appointment Wednesday, and becoming an overstuffed turkey on Thanksgiving! You think my belly is big now, just wait til it's full of turkey and maple pumpkin pie!
Here's my 36 week bump! When we bought this shirt back in May, it was huge! I had to roll it under to make it fit. Now, it's a completely different story. Notice I am only using the back burners so I don't catch my belly on fire!
And, I never thought my sausage toes could be any more sausagey, but apparently they can. This is how puffy I am around 4am. I think I need to start wearing frisbees as shoes.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
One Month to Go!
I just can't believe how quickly the time is flying by. Has it really been 31 weeks since I was exhausted and feeling quite strange on a cruise in the Bahamas, suspecting I was pregnant, but having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of finally becoming pregnant after trying for two and a half years? Our baby boy is due one month from today and I still can't wrap my head around it! Ryan and I could become real live parents any day now and we still have so much to do... Time, please slow down!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Freedom!
Finally, some freedom! At our appointment Thursday, I told our OB that I was feeling really unfit and physically unprepared for labor and asked, since the placenta has moved up a bit, if I could go on walks and do some yoga? She said yes! Ryan and I went on a walk last night, and even though it was only 40 degrees, it felt amazing! I could feel my heart beating and my blood flowing and baby was really reacting to the movement. I did about 20 minutes of maternity yoga this morning and I can't wait to go on a walk again tonight. I will never again take for granted the ability to walk and move at my own free will.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
35 Weeks
How far along? 35 weeks.
Weight gain? 34 pounds... Oy!
How big is baby? Baby J is probably 20+ inches from head to toe and weighs between 7 and 7.5 pounds. At our ultrasound last Thursday, they estimated his weight to be 6 pounds, 13 ounces!
Maternity clothes? I was so happy to get dressed up for the baby shower! It'd been two months since I'd straightened my hair and wore makeup in the same day.
Sleep? Sleeping sucks! I'm trying to change up my bed time routine so I can get a longer stretch of sleep when I first lay down. I'm testing whether showering before bed helps relax me.
Best moment of the week? Visiting with family and friends at my baby shower on Saturday! See my previous post for photos.
Funny moment of the week? Stacy helping me put my new boots on, me breaking in my boots by wearing them with a strapless beach coverup so I wouldn't get overheated while getting ready for the baby shower and looking like pregnant Fontucky Barbie, and then needing Jacque to help me get the boots off at the end of the day! Also, hearing so many expressions of "wow, look at that belly" at the baby shower! You get crazy reactions when you've been in hiding for two months!
Symptoms? My hands and feet have been swelling quite a bit for the last few weeks, especially when I sleep. This mysterious thing happens at night where I wake up and my left thumb seems to have popped out of the socket, I feel my pulse in my fingers when I bend them, and I can't bend them enough to touch the palms of my hands! It improves somewhat throughout the day, but my thumb's been bothering me for a few days.
What I miss? Putting my boots on with assistants was a new challenge this week! I miss being able to easily reach my feet. Even putting lotion on them is awkward and difficult!
What I'm looking forward to? This week, we have what I think will be the first of our weekly OB appointments and we'll reach the 9-month mark on Monday!
Here's my 35 week bump... (this is one of my favorite pictures from the baby shower. Carol and I have been friends since I was 14!)
Weight gain? 34 pounds... Oy!
How big is baby? Baby J is probably 20+ inches from head to toe and weighs between 7 and 7.5 pounds. At our ultrasound last Thursday, they estimated his weight to be 6 pounds, 13 ounces!
Maternity clothes? I was so happy to get dressed up for the baby shower! It'd been two months since I'd straightened my hair and wore makeup in the same day.
Sleep? Sleeping sucks! I'm trying to change up my bed time routine so I can get a longer stretch of sleep when I first lay down. I'm testing whether showering before bed helps relax me.
Best moment of the week? Visiting with family and friends at my baby shower on Saturday! See my previous post for photos.
Funny moment of the week? Stacy helping me put my new boots on, me breaking in my boots by wearing them with a strapless beach coverup so I wouldn't get overheated while getting ready for the baby shower and looking like pregnant Fontucky Barbie, and then needing Jacque to help me get the boots off at the end of the day! Also, hearing so many expressions of "wow, look at that belly" at the baby shower! You get crazy reactions when you've been in hiding for two months!
Symptoms? My hands and feet have been swelling quite a bit for the last few weeks, especially when I sleep. This mysterious thing happens at night where I wake up and my left thumb seems to have popped out of the socket, I feel my pulse in my fingers when I bend them, and I can't bend them enough to touch the palms of my hands! It improves somewhat throughout the day, but my thumb's been bothering me for a few days.
What I miss? Putting my boots on with assistants was a new challenge this week! I miss being able to easily reach my feet. Even putting lotion on them is awkward and difficult!
What I'm looking forward to? This week, we have what I think will be the first of our weekly OB appointments and we'll reach the 9-month mark on Monday!
Here's my 35 week bump... (this is one of my favorite pictures from the baby shower. Carol and I have been friends since I was 14!)
Monday, November 14, 2011
East Coast Baby Shower
On Saturday, my sweet friends, Jocelyn and Whitney, hosted a beautiful baby shower for us. This was our third shower! Baby J is so loved!
It's been two whole months that I have been home on bed/house arrest and even though I don't mind all the resting, crafting, and tv watching, being at home all day, every day, without a baby to snuggle with or even a cashier to interact with at the market, life gets pretty lonely. I couldn't have been more excited to spend a whole afternoon surrounded by friends and family.
Our celebration started Thursday when we received good news at our ultrasound which made us feel a lot more comfortable with the idea of me spending Saturday away from our home and the vicinity of our hospital. Thursday evening, my big sister, Stacy, arrived to spend a few days with us and attend the shower. We hadn't seen each other in a couple of years, so it was great to catch up in person. Plus, she's a nanny so I took advantage of getting great advice!
Saturday morning, Jacque and her hubby, Jeff, arrived to spend the weekend. While Jacque attended the shower with Stacy and me, Ryan and Jeff attended the Georgetown University basketball game where they had box seats to themselves! Their suite was fully stocked with beer, so needless to say they had a good time!
Whitney and Jocelyn did a fantastic job with the shower. They were great hostesses!
Everything was so sweet and elegant at the same time. For example, would you believe this lovely headband/fascinator is actually made from nursing pads?! Whitney wanted it to match the headband Traci made for my wedding. Jocelyn made all of the food and it was delicious!! I practically licked my plate...
It was great to catch up with colleagues who were so used to seeing me every day for the first and second trimester. They were all shocked by how much my belly has grown in the last two months and they were happy to see me on my feet. I was so happy to celebrate with family and old friends, too! I couldn't believe they drove in from Ohio, southern Virginia, and New York to celebrate Baby J! Everyone was so generous, Baby J was completely spoiled. I'm so grateful for our wonderfully thoughtful family and friends!!
This was the best weekend of my whole third trimester!
It's been two whole months that I have been home on bed/house arrest and even though I don't mind all the resting, crafting, and tv watching, being at home all day, every day, without a baby to snuggle with or even a cashier to interact with at the market, life gets pretty lonely. I couldn't have been more excited to spend a whole afternoon surrounded by friends and family.
Our celebration started Thursday when we received good news at our ultrasound which made us feel a lot more comfortable with the idea of me spending Saturday away from our home and the vicinity of our hospital. Thursday evening, my big sister, Stacy, arrived to spend a few days with us and attend the shower. We hadn't seen each other in a couple of years, so it was great to catch up in person. Plus, she's a nanny so I took advantage of getting great advice!
Saturday morning, Jacque and her hubby, Jeff, arrived to spend the weekend. While Jacque attended the shower with Stacy and me, Ryan and Jeff attended the Georgetown University basketball game where they had box seats to themselves! Their suite was fully stocked with beer, so needless to say they had a good time!
Whitney and Jocelyn did a fantastic job with the shower. They were great hostesses!
Everything was so sweet and elegant at the same time. For example, would you believe this lovely headband/fascinator is actually made from nursing pads?! Whitney wanted it to match the headband Traci made for my wedding. Jocelyn made all of the food and it was delicious!! I practically licked my plate...
It was great to catch up with colleagues who were so used to seeing me every day for the first and second trimester. They were all shocked by how much my belly has grown in the last two months and they were happy to see me on my feet. I was so happy to celebrate with family and old friends, too! I couldn't believe they drove in from Ohio, southern Virginia, and New York to celebrate Baby J! Everyone was so generous, Baby J was completely spoiled. I'm so grateful for our wonderfully thoughtful family and friends!!
This was the best weekend of my whole third trimester!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Ultrasound Update: Week 34
Our last ultrasound was 4 weeks ago. At that time, the placenta was measured to be only 1.3 centimeters away from the cervix, which was still in the danger zone for marginal placenta previa. At that time, the maternal fetal specialist thought it would be a good idea to do weekly ultrasounds beginning during week 34.
We had an ultrasound yesterday morning and I was so nervous but we ended up being surprised by tons of good news! First, at the last ultrasound, Baby J was estimated to be 4 pounds 6 ounces, but his chunky butt jumped up to an estimated 6 pounds 13 ounces in the last 4 weeks! His position dropped significantly, which I suspected. The combination of his growth and lower position seems to have caused my uterus to FINALLY expand in the front. Neither the sono tech nor the specialist could get an accurate measurement of the distance between the cervix and placenta edge (due to baby's big beautiful head blocking their view) but both could tell it was significantly higher than it was before and is definitely higher than 2 centimeters.
What does this mean? If a bleed starts, baby's head could put enough pressure on it to stop the bleeding which is something the lower uterus can't do on it's own (the lower uterus doesn't contract, which is why hemorraging can occur of a bleed starts). It also means our chances of going for a natural delivery have just improved! But now we're freaking out because we're not prepared for actual labor and it's too late to get into any classes! Ahhh! All I can say is I'm going to give unmedicated labor my best shot, but I don't know how things are going to go with this potentially giant baby and no method for relaxation and pain management. ;-)
We don't have an ultrasound next week, but during week 36 (Thanksgiving week), the specialist is going to start monitoring the health of the placenta. Since we did experience bleeding, it's possible that the placenta could deteriorate early and they want to make sure baby stays healthy (clearly, it hasn't been a problem so far, so we're not too worried). They will also continue to monitor baby's size. I only weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces when I was born, and I was born on my due date, but Baby J is definitely his father's son. Ryan weighed 9 pounds 10 ounces at birth! If our little man continues to gain half a pound a week and we make it all the way to 40 weeks, he could very well be 10 pounds! The specialist suggested being more active at home (YES!) and watching my caloric Intake in the coming weeks, just in case, because baby does have a well-above average sized belly. I do want him to be healthy, so Ryan said no more mac'n'cheese. Boo. I must admit though, I'm so excited to smooch on baby's pudgy belly!!!
Sorry we don't have a picture. Now that he's so big, the images aren't too clear. However, the sono tech did say, "oh my gosh! Look how cute his lips are!" He definitely has Arnold lips and it was so cute to see him sucking on his little hand!
We had an ultrasound yesterday morning and I was so nervous but we ended up being surprised by tons of good news! First, at the last ultrasound, Baby J was estimated to be 4 pounds 6 ounces, but his chunky butt jumped up to an estimated 6 pounds 13 ounces in the last 4 weeks! His position dropped significantly, which I suspected. The combination of his growth and lower position seems to have caused my uterus to FINALLY expand in the front. Neither the sono tech nor the specialist could get an accurate measurement of the distance between the cervix and placenta edge (due to baby's big beautiful head blocking their view) but both could tell it was significantly higher than it was before and is definitely higher than 2 centimeters.
What does this mean? If a bleed starts, baby's head could put enough pressure on it to stop the bleeding which is something the lower uterus can't do on it's own (the lower uterus doesn't contract, which is why hemorraging can occur of a bleed starts). It also means our chances of going for a natural delivery have just improved! But now we're freaking out because we're not prepared for actual labor and it's too late to get into any classes! Ahhh! All I can say is I'm going to give unmedicated labor my best shot, but I don't know how things are going to go with this potentially giant baby and no method for relaxation and pain management. ;-)
We don't have an ultrasound next week, but during week 36 (Thanksgiving week), the specialist is going to start monitoring the health of the placenta. Since we did experience bleeding, it's possible that the placenta could deteriorate early and they want to make sure baby stays healthy (clearly, it hasn't been a problem so far, so we're not too worried). They will also continue to monitor baby's size. I only weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces when I was born, and I was born on my due date, but Baby J is definitely his father's son. Ryan weighed 9 pounds 10 ounces at birth! If our little man continues to gain half a pound a week and we make it all the way to 40 weeks, he could very well be 10 pounds! The specialist suggested being more active at home (YES!) and watching my caloric Intake in the coming weeks, just in case, because baby does have a well-above average sized belly. I do want him to be healthy, so Ryan said no more mac'n'cheese. Boo. I must admit though, I'm so excited to smooch on baby's pudgy belly!!!
Sorry we don't have a picture. Now that he's so big, the images aren't too clear. However, the sono tech did say, "oh my gosh! Look how cute his lips are!" He definitely has Arnold lips and it was so cute to see him sucking on his little hand!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Progression of the Belly Bump
While we were away on a cruise, I suspected I was pregnant. That Friday, I took a pregnancy test shortly after we docked and learned I was expecting. I was about 5 weeks along in this photo.
10 weeks. Only 1 pound gained at this point but my pants were already snug.
14 weeks. 4 pounds gained. I finally had some energy and craved ice water.
21 weeks. 14 pounds gained. Ryan started feeling Baby's kicks this week.
25 weeks. 19 pounds gained. This was the most free I'd ever felt in a bikini!
30 weeks. 24 pounds gained. I was able to see inside my innie for the first time!
34 weeks. 32 pounds gained. Baby started kicking my ribs hard this week.
More to come!
10 weeks. Only 1 pound gained at this point but my pants were already snug.
14 weeks. 4 pounds gained. I finally had some energy and craved ice water.
21 weeks. 14 pounds gained. Ryan started feeling Baby's kicks this week.
25 weeks. 19 pounds gained. This was the most free I'd ever felt in a bikini!
30 weeks. 24 pounds gained. I was able to see inside my innie for the first time!
34 weeks. 32 pounds gained. Baby started kicking my ribs hard this week.
More to come!
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