Memorial day weekend was baby registry weekend. We went out looking at rocker/gliders. Found one we liked, now just shopping around for prices. We "officially" decided what stroller we liked after tons of painstaking hours at the computer doing research. We went to Target and Babies R Us and made our registries! So much progress! I'm compiling the registries into one that is comprehensive, and has links to both registries. The registry link will be provided in the right hand column when it is complete and pretty.
We ordered the crib and crib mattress this weekend. Our first official baby purchase!! Should be here in a few weeks. We figured it was about time to buy something.
Pregnancy update time: I think I may have overdone it being out and about so much this weekend. Either that or the little one is playing tug-o-war with my uterus. My lower abdomen has been killing me, starting around 3 or 4pm if I've been standing/walking for any length of time. Did it the past two days and is doing it again today. And towards 8pm I start to get these cramps (I don't want to call it cramps b/c it's not what I think of when I think cramps). It starts as a tightening toward the base of my uterus and it becomes hard as a rock, then occasionally it gets higher up, especially if I just lay down. Stays tight for a minute or two, and then just goes away. Not really painful, just a tad uncomfortable that makes me take a deeper breath. I have more energy... well sometimes. My battery lasts longer, but runs out real fast though once I reach my tired point. I think my tummy is getting ready for a growth spurt again. There's stretching and pulling, and itchiness. New belly pics from this weekend are up in the photo album.
I get my fetal assessment scan Tuesday. I'm praying for 4 heart chambers all well developed, pulmonary arteries connecting where they're supposed to and no unnecessary holes, well developed brain and spine, intestines in the proper spot, proper amount of lung tissue, correct number of kidneys, etc. Chris is praying for a boy. So we'll see who's prayers are answered lol. Although we did get a free Playtex nurser system that came in dark boy blue, so maybe that's a sign? or maybe it just jinxed it and it'll be a girl lol. Chris was really careful not to scan anything gender specific for the registry just in case; he didn't want to jinx anything :)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Went to the doctor today. After waiting freaking forever! My appointment was at 2:50 and I got called in around 4, and seen after that. I love the midwife. She's so sweet and takes a personal approach to pregnancy, but she's always running late. Love to have her at my delivery, but for routine appointments, i think I'm going back to the doctor. He might be straight to the point, but at least you don't wait forever.
So we got an ultrasound. Got to see the baby suck it's thumb. Did a little dance up my uterus. Then rolled over away from us. Very very quiet lil kiddo. Couldn't even tell anything close to gender. Then again we're convinced she didn't try. We think if she'd moved the wand more to the side, she could have got it, cause it was right up against the edge of the uterus knees on it's chest. Oh well. We have the detailed scan of the organs (I guess what everyone calls the "anatomy scan") on June 3. Then Chris can wear his baby blue shirt and hope it brings a boy again lol. I also did the AFP test for fetal abnormalities. It's a blood test, so I should get the results at or before my next appointment (June 17).
I don't know if I'll have time to transfer the photo to the computer before we leave tomorrow. Check the photos cause I'll upload it there if I do.
So we got an ultrasound. Got to see the baby suck it's thumb. Did a little dance up my uterus. Then rolled over away from us. Very very quiet lil kiddo. Couldn't even tell anything close to gender. Then again we're convinced she didn't try. We think if she'd moved the wand more to the side, she could have got it, cause it was right up against the edge of the uterus knees on it's chest. Oh well. We have the detailed scan of the organs (I guess what everyone calls the "anatomy scan") on June 3. Then Chris can wear his baby blue shirt and hope it brings a boy again lol. I also did the AFP test for fetal abnormalities. It's a blood test, so I should get the results at or before my next appointment (June 17).
I don't know if I'll have time to transfer the photo to the computer before we leave tomorrow. Check the photos cause I'll upload it there if I do.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
New pictures
There's new belly pictures up from weeks 12 til now (week 15).
We go to the doctor on Tuesday for our next neonatal appointment, so hopefully we'll have more pictures Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Chris is even hoping that we find out the sex this week. I'm not going to get my hopes up because this appointment is with the nurse midwife and her ultrasound machine isn't as clear as the doctor's. We'll see though...
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| Baby Pruett |
We go to the doctor on Tuesday for our next neonatal appointment, so hopefully we'll have more pictures Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Chris is even hoping that we find out the sex this week. I'm not going to get my hopes up because this appointment is with the nurse midwife and her ultrasound machine isn't as clear as the doctor's. We'll see though...
Friday, May 9, 2008
All about my pregnancy
Someone posted this in a pregnant community online. I'm a little bored, so I figured why not?
About You
Name?: Julie
Age?: 25
Height?: 5'1"
Pre-pregnancy weight?: 127lbs
About The Father
Name?: Chris
Age?: 30
Height?: 5'8"ish
About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy?: Yup
When did you find out you were pregnant?: February 25, 2008 around 4pm
Was it planned?: yup
What was your first reaction?: shocked, excited, and a little scared
Who was with you when you found out?: Took the test solo, but Chris was standing there when I opened the door and handed him the test.
Who was the first person you told?: Chris. Then I went to the doctor the same week. Then about a week later, I told D2. Our parents found out at week 8.
How did your parents react?: My parents were shocked and excited. I'm sure Chris's parents were stoked too.
How far along are you?: 15 weeks today
What was your first symptom?: Missed period, continuous cramping in lower abdomen, pain that felt like an ovarian cyst.
What is your due date?: Based on my cycle length October 30. According to the doctors assumption of a 28-day cycle. November 2. Based on baby's growth as of last ultrasound October 29. So we're still keeping Nov. 2 until the baby grows too big and they change it.
Do you know the sex of the baby?: Not yet. But Chris REALLY wants to know, so he's praying we can find out on Tuesday.
Have you picked out names?: Nah, we just started looking at names. Negotiations start soon :)
How much weight have you gained?: I'm around 131 now, so 3 or 4lbs.
Do you have stretch marks?: Not yet.
Have you felt the baby move?: I get this sensation that feels like a heartbeat in my pelvis which started a week or so ago, and some quick occasional stuff that might be movement, but nothing I can pinpoint as definite baby movement.
Have you heard the heartbeat?: Haven't heard it, but we've seen it twice now on the ultrasounds.
About the birth
Will you keep the baby?: Um YEAH!
Home or hospital birth?: Hospital... I just like them so much :)
Natural or medicated birth?: Natural until I can't take the pain anymore. No objection to medication, especially epidurals!
Who will be in the delivery room with you?: Chris
Will you breastfeed?: Sure
Do you think you'll need a c-section?: Never know, but I hope not!
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?: Probably
What's the first thing you might say to him/her?: "Hi baby!"
Would you let someone videotape the birth?: Nope :)
About You
Name?: Julie
Age?: 25
Height?: 5'1"
Pre-pregnancy weight?: 127lbs
About The Father
Name?: Chris
Age?: 30
Height?: 5'8"ish
About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy?: Yup
When did you find out you were pregnant?: February 25, 2008 around 4pm
Was it planned?: yup
What was your first reaction?: shocked, excited, and a little scared
Who was with you when you found out?: Took the test solo, but Chris was standing there when I opened the door and handed him the test.
Who was the first person you told?: Chris. Then I went to the doctor the same week. Then about a week later, I told D2. Our parents found out at week 8.
How did your parents react?: My parents were shocked and excited. I'm sure Chris's parents were stoked too.
How far along are you?: 15 weeks today
What was your first symptom?: Missed period, continuous cramping in lower abdomen, pain that felt like an ovarian cyst.
What is your due date?: Based on my cycle length October 30. According to the doctors assumption of a 28-day cycle. November 2. Based on baby's growth as of last ultrasound October 29. So we're still keeping Nov. 2 until the baby grows too big and they change it.
Do you know the sex of the baby?: Not yet. But Chris REALLY wants to know, so he's praying we can find out on Tuesday.
Have you picked out names?: Nah, we just started looking at names. Negotiations start soon :)
How much weight have you gained?: I'm around 131 now, so 3 or 4lbs.
Do you have stretch marks?: Not yet.
Have you felt the baby move?: I get this sensation that feels like a heartbeat in my pelvis which started a week or so ago, and some quick occasional stuff that might be movement, but nothing I can pinpoint as definite baby movement.
Have you heard the heartbeat?: Haven't heard it, but we've seen it twice now on the ultrasounds.
About the birth
Will you keep the baby?: Um YEAH!
Home or hospital birth?: Hospital... I just like them so much :)
Natural or medicated birth?: Natural until I can't take the pain anymore. No objection to medication, especially epidurals!
Who will be in the delivery room with you?: Chris
Will you breastfeed?: Sure
Do you think you'll need a c-section?: Never know, but I hope not!
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?: Probably
What's the first thing you might say to him/her?: "Hi baby!"
Would you let someone videotape the birth?: Nope :)
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Blogs up to this point
Okay so I'd been documenting the journey towards our baby in another blog, but felt it necessary to share one with loved ones in a little more user friendly fashion. So here are the updates I've documented so far (most recent first):
February 26, 2008:
Last week I finally had a Dr. appointment for my cyst that kept hurting ever since I finished my last period. I even had a transvaginal ultrasound and everything. I'm supposed to meet with my Dr. again in about 2 weeks to see what the next step is. Was supposed to get my period by Friday. Still nothing. I was really tired on Sat and Sun but figured it was cause I didn't sleep too well. Sunday I was having hot flashes. Sun flying home from Phoenix my tummy kinda hurt. So I told myself if by Monday after work I still didn't start my period (which would have been 30 days) I would get a PG test. Yesterday (Monday) during work my cyst pain was bad, but the pain was more crampy and pangs all over in that region. I was exhausted yesterday. I still felt like I was hot. Had a mild dull headache for the third day in a row. Went to Target and picked up a PG test. Chris was really excited when I told him I was getting one. He couldn't wait for me to pee when I got home. And low and behold it was POSITIVE!! I'm still a little shocked, excited but shocked. I can't wait to tell my parents. They better come for Easter. I don't know if I can keep it a secret that long. I know it's still early, so I'm a little leary even telling "my person."
Today I'm really crampy. Now I"m looking at all the stuff I can't take. I've cut my 4 advils down to 2. I'm thinking about all the toxins at work I'm exposed to and how long I can keep it a secret there. I mean how suspicious is it to ask "hey ray can you come fill my forane for me?"
So I guess my Dr. appointment is going to be a prenatal one, not a "what to do now one". So yeah, apparently 4 weeks... due about Oct. 31/ Nov. 1-ish. We'll see what the doctors say whenever I get an appointment with them.
February 29, 2008:
So after a bunch of MickeyMouse and run around at Kaiser trying to get signed up for prenatal care, I finally have a doctor and an appointment for a first visit! Yesterday I decided to use the fact that I was wide awake at 7am to my advantage before my case. I went to Kaiser and finally got to the women's health clinic. There was a nurse there who was amazing. She took me under her care and helped me get everything straightened out. Peed on a stick for her--Positive. Filled out paperwork. Saw Dr. Kivnik. He's really good. He did an ultrasound to check my pain. And maybe saw where the pregnancy was starting. Although it's still early, we might not be able to see it yet. So my appointment is in 2 weeks (March 12) to meet with the midwife and get all my info squared away. She'll do an ultrasound and make sure that it's actually in my uterus and not tubal (something the dr. is cautious of given my "cyst" pain). The nurse at women's health that took me under her wing waited for me to come back with my paperwork, even giving up part of her lunch break knowing I'd be coming back. I need to find out her name b/c she's amazing. She went well above and beyond. I'm so thankful for her help. Then I got like a pint of blood drawn for every test under the sun. And once again I had to pee in another cup. Got the pee results back and I guess I'm still fighting off something b/c my white cell count is slightly elevated. That's the update for now. Researching creative ways to tell our parents and my grandmas.
So far I have:
1. Split photo frame (of wallet size photos). Put the sonogram in one and a note saying "coming soon: 11/1/08" (grandma's?)
2. A variation of the above on a photo box with bibs inside saying something like "grandma's angel" and "grandpa's helper" (for parents)
3. Keepsake grandma books (mom's)
4. Baby photo frame with sonogram picture
I'm still on the hunt for a good idea. possibly 3 weeks til i tell my parents... yay! On my way to week 5...
March 4, 2008:
So it's already slipped out to a few people. Of course my "person" knows. And I had to tell Kristal when she was there with Ella asking when we were going to have our own baby. And I was telling a guy at work about this "perfect" job in Tennessee, and he was lecturing me about not taking it, but changed his tone when I broke the news lol. And when turning down the job in TN, I had to tell Mike why I couldn't accept when he totally thought of me for the position.
So far no morning sickness, thank goodness. Definitely eat less though. Just the occasional pain in the pelvic region. Kinda hurts when I cough. Other than that nothing too bad yet.
March 5, 2008:
I'm actually really nervous about telling my parents, I know they'll be excited and shocked, but I'm still nervous (and excited) to tell them. I've always been afraid I'd disappoint them, even though I know they are totally proud of all I've accomplished, and the news is going to be completely out of left field for them, so I wanted to do something good. I didn't just want to call them up, I wanted to be there to see their reaction since it's their first grandchild. Since they're coming the week before Easter, I made up an Easter basket. Pink and blue easter eggs filled with baby items (small scrapbooking ones). Pacifiers. Bottles. "new arrival" sticker. pink and blue safety pins. With pink and blue easter candy scattered in there too. And if they don't figure it out already I'm gonna have a baby frame in there with this poem in it:
I do not have a face to see,
Or put inside a frame.
I do not have soft cheeks to kiss,
I don't yet have a name.
You can't yet hold my tiny hands,
Nor whisper in my ear.
It's still too soon to sing a song,
Or cuddle me so near.
But all will change come November 2,
That's when they say I'm due.
I'm your new grandson or granddaughter,
I can't wait to till I meet you.
All I ask between now and then
Is your patience while I grow.
I promise I'll be worth the wait,
Because of all the love we'll know.
So what I have to give you now,
Is a wish to you from me.
I cannot wait to be a part
Of this wonderful family.
I'll take a picture when it's complete. I was gonna do an ultrasound pic, but it will be too early for a good one. We plan to use the u/s pic for Chris's parents since we'll be about 19 weeks when we tell his family. I think I'll use the poem for my grandma's too, still debating, but I better decide quick since I'll see everyone on Easter and my mom can't keep secrets!
March 8, 2008:
Had my first bout with pseudo morning sickness last night and this morning. Came home from work yesterday kinda tired and feeling yucky. Took a 2 hour nap in hopes of feeling a little better. Woke up feeling nauseous. Thought it was cause I hadn't eaten in hours, but felt like I couldn't eat anything. Chris wanted to go out to dinner, so we went. Felt a little better after eating, but I definitely paced myself. Came home, felt shitty and nauseous again. Went to bed. Woke up feeling better but starving. Ate an english muffin and peanut butter... after about 30 min nauseous again... didn't feel better until about 3 hours after eating after finally giving in and trying some pepto. Must have worked a little cause now I'm getting little waves but nothing serious. I'd almost rather just puke and get it over with than have the constant feeling that the inevitable is coming. And I hate puking, I'll avoid it at all costs, so it kinda surprises me that I'd rather do it that be nauseous...
nausea sucks!
Coincidence that I just reached the 6 week mark yesterday? lol
March 9, 2008:
WOO HOO! Made it almost through the whole day with only a twinge of nausea, okay a few twinges.
Last night I woke up around 1:30am when Chris got in bed. The longer I tried to go back to sleep, the more sick I felt. Chris finally offered to go get me some saltines. The crackers actually worked. I think I was just hungry, but that translates into feeling sick lately. I got back to sleep and work up feeling normal. Was a little leary eating anything, had a few crackers before getting out of bed, just in case. Took my car in to get the tire fixed and did pretty well until the drive home, began to feel a little crappy. Later in the day while making something to eat, I got this really bad wave that went as quickly as it came. So I guess today is a good day. Let's just hope these good outnumber the bad.
My new mantra: "I will FEEL healthy throughout my pregnancy" ... relying on the power of positive thinking and "the secret" theory that the universe only hears the positive... Hey, I'm willing to try anything at this point!
March 10, 2008:
So I guess tonight will be my first test on call with all day sickness. I'm at work finishing some cell savers which I totally can handle. But I just found out there's a heart transplant tonight, at some unknown time. I'm hoping the time stays more and more unknown, so maybe it'll go tomorrow morning lol. And it's on a VAD patient which means the case takes twice as long b/c they have to get the device out. I brought a stash of crackers to work with me so I guess I can sneak those in my pocket, and bring a bottle of 7up or water in with me, and make sure I eat something heavy right before. I think it's funny that not only do I have to plan my case, but my diet to get through my case now lol
One of my sorority sisters is pregnant too... didn't tell her I was yet, but I checked out her blog. She mentioned carrying around the heavy duty ziploc bags in your purse or bag just in case m/s hit while out and about. Something I never thought of. Maybe I'll stash one in my perfusion bag lol.
March 11, 2008:
So the transplant went at 2am, but got pushed back so much I didn't have to pump it. I survived without a single nauseous wave coming to visit. I just had to keep my tummy full and I was good. Ran out of food around 6am and couldn't wait for my boss to get there and get me out. Grabbed a donut for the drive home. Yeah I know not the healthiest, but I'm eating what sounds good lately, which isn't much. I'm listening to my tummy for what sounds good so I don't aggrivate it and have it come back to haunt me minutes/hours later.
This sleeping thing is weird too. So February changed my sleep pattern. Gone were the weekends where I could sleep 12 hours easy. Come February, before I found out I was pregnant, I would go to bed around 8-9pm. Fall asleep right away, and be completely dead to the world until about 11 or midnight when Chris would get in bed. Then I'd be up for about an hour until around 1ish. Then sleep until about 3 or 4. I was lucky if I fall back asleep before my alarm goes off at 4:45. This pattern hasn't stopped. I figured out I'm so restless around 1, that's why I wake myself up or can't get back to sleep cause I just keep flip flopping around. BUT, today after being up for roughly 24 hours with a 2 hour "nap" between 11pm and 1am this morning you'd think I'd be exhausted. Especially after running around between floors for 6 hours, then stressing and running around to get the transplant put together. Got home around 7:30 and just couldn't fall asleep. I watched tv... Finally around 9 I got to sleep, woke up at 12:30 on the dot. Wide awake. I got some food thinking maybe I was just hungry (which has been the case before)... nope, couldn't get back to sleep! WTH... I"m growing a new human and on normal days I'm exhausted without working even 8 hours most days and up for 12-14 hours, and here I am working 12 hours overnight, and up for 24 and I'm not tired enough to fall asleep for more than 4 hours??!! Just weird I tell ya!
Tomorrow is my first prenatal appointment. I'm excited to see if the little bean is for sure in the uterus. My pelvic pain has gotten much better, and with the sudden onset of nausea my hormones are on the rise, so I figure it is where it's supposed to be. I get to actually learn my blood type! (Yeah I'm a loser who works every day with blood and still doesn't even know my own blood type, cause I'm too big a sissy to actually donate blood. According to the tests I performed in my Physiology 202 lab class I'm O neg, thus the reason I'm a little fearful to donate due to the stalking of the blood bank following blood donation.) I'm a little sad Chris can't go with me though. I know it's probably too early to hear the heartbeat, but I'll be sad if he misses that one. He tried to rearrange his schedule to negotiate a day off, but they changed one of his regional manager meetings to tomorrow, so there's no way he can get it off now. Ooh and I actually get an official due date!!! YAY!!
March 12, 2008:
Just got back from my first prenatal appointment with the Nurse Midwife. She's great! I mean after waiting for over an hour in the room I could have been uber cranky, but she's a breath of fresh air. She went over all my medical history. Then we went over all my blood work. I'm O neg just like I thought! Yay me, RhoGam here I come. All my blood work was normal. She did a pap, claymidia test, and HPV DNA test. Then she did an ultrasound for dating. Yes it is in fact in my uterus--YAY! You could see the heartbeat which was really cool, but still too early to hear it. According to the measurements I'm 6w4d (calculations figure 6w3d), and the little "shrimp" (the NMW's word for the bean) is 0.73cm. And my "official" due date is November 2.
March 20, 2008:
We finally told my parents last night. I was so proud of myself for not telling my mom on one of several phone calls in the past few weeks.
Chris had let it slip in general conversation with his mom. "oh yeah, well we only have about 2 months before Julie will start showing to switch jobs, so it has to be quick or we'll be here for a while." He apparently covered by saying "no, we're not pregnant yet, but we're not trying not to be..." yeah I think she knows. So we sent his family a baby themed easter basket and a grandparent poem in a baby frame too.
Okay so back to telling my parents...
So they come in last night and we go meet them at happy hour at their hotel. We bring the baby easter basket.
Dad: "so what is this?"
Me: "It's an easter present"
Dad: "since when do we do easter presents"
Me: "it's a new tradition. I just couldn't pass it up"
So my dad digs in since my mom is way too preoccupied with her wine. He pulls out the basket with all the pink and blue eggs and pink and blue candy... and he still has this bewildered look on his face like 'okay great easter basket where's the present'. He starts picking at the candy, etc. Then he gets to the baby bottles in an egg and he's like "what are these?" with a puzzled look... then my brother points out to the poem which was signed "Baby Pruett" and he smiles and is like "YOU GUYS!" My mom is like what? what's going on? "wait, you aren't?" Then there were hugs all around. Then finally they read the poem. My dad said he thought something was up last time we went out to Phoenix since Chris came with me, so I guess he was thinking it was coming sometime. My mom was clueless. They were all happy for us though. At dinner I kept getting teased about "eating for two" and one of my brothers wouldn't sit next to me b/c "i needed space for two" lol. We teased my mom about becoming a grandma, but told her it was okay b/c by the time the baby comes she'll be 50 and 50 year olds are allowed to be grandmas. And I'm glad my parents are cautiously optimistic, and realize that it's still very early and anything can happen.
I'll post a picture of the basket when I get home tonight. Now on to tell my grandmas. I did frames with the poem for them too b/c great-grandma stuff is too hard to come up with. So Saturday I plan to give it to my mom's mom. I'm so glad I don't have to keep my mouth shut anymore with my mom. Three plus weeks was hard enough.
March 27, 2008:
My aunt and cousin arrive Saturday. My cousin finds the frame and texts me. I tell her to keep her mouth shut b/c I wanna tell ppl in person Sunday (Easter), she agrees to do so. Well in the mean time my 10 year old cousin finds it and gets it. She calls my aunt and tells her to come pick her up and come inside (she always just picks her up at the curb). So my aunt finds out. My aunt tells all the free world, calling my mom about a million times. So by the time I show up at Easter my aunt's stepdaughter is one of the first to come up and congratulate me... WTF! My grandma was so good not saying anything, come to find out the snitch was Samantha lol. So I figured almost everyone knew. We sit down to eat and one of my mom's cousin who's 15 or 16 weeks along is giving me crap for eating, saying how much she hates me for being able to eat (apparently she couldn't tolerate food until 2 weeks ago), my other Aunt Teri is like "what's going on?" I'm like "duh, I'm pregnant, how did you completely miss the gossip, especially when we were talking about it in the kitchen?" So Easter was definitely comical.
Chris thinks I officially have the start of a belly. You could kinda tell in a dress I was wearing this past weekend. I'm still calling it bloat cause that's what it looks like, but there is some solidness growing underneath.
Still feeling pretty good. Aside from 2 days of nausea around week 6, I've been good. Still have to eat all the time or else I get really lightheaded and extra bitchy. Been getting headaches nightly for the past week or so. They start around 3pm and just get worse until I go to bed. Go away a little with sleep, but come back after I've been up for a bit. Wonder if they're allergy related, but they're definitely migraine material. Been starting to get what may be considered heartburn, although it's not really a burn. It's like I'm stuffed to the brim and it's sitting at the base of my esophagus. Kinda makes me nauseous if Chris pushs on my stomach or lays his arm over me. Feels like I want to relieve the pressure in my abdominal region but can't... don't really have to puke, not coming out the other end, it's just sitting there making me feel full until like 2am...
Which brings me to sleep... sleeping sucks lately. I mean I'm exhausted by 2pm and really feel it around 3 or 4 when I'm driving home from work or itching to get out. Get home and usually have a great nap around 6pm for about an hour, at which point I'm woken up but could definitely sleep longer. Go to bed at 9ish and sleep great until 11 when I have to pee... then get up again around 2 to pee. At which point I will either fall back asleep after about half hour (rare), or will stay awake until 4am. At which point I'll fall into a deep sleep only to be waken at 4:50am by my alarm. Needless to say I'm so thankful for 8 hours of continual sleep, even if it's interrupted once or twice by potty trips.
Overall I'm happy with how things are going. Starting to get a cramp in my right side again. It went away for a few weeks, but it's back with a vengance. Hurts standing from a chair, or sitting down. Also I think my uterus has found my sciatic nerve. I have this pain in my sacral region, and sorta radiates down my left butt cheek to the end of my tailbone. Doesn't radiate down my leg yet. Hurts to stand too long. Walking is uncomfortable. I'm convinced I've developed a limp.
March 31, 2008:
I'm starting to realize what food cravings are. Since week 6 a few times a week I'd just be sitting at work around 10:30-11am and think "man, _________ sounds really good right now." And at first I thought it was just cause I hadn't had it in a long time. So far I've been through Taco Bell Tacos, Sour Cream and Onion chips (not the baked!), Sunday it was Oreos, today it was a Johnny Rockets hotdog (made from Nathan's hotdogs... man I miss getting those whenever I wanted to Tucson). It was so bad today, and well I got off work early, so why not... that I made a trip at JR on the way home. And man it tasted good. I'm happy camper now. Crazy how it's not one thing in particular, or even something weird or in combo with something else. And it's not like someone mentioned it first... it just comes like a wave around lunch time. A few times the people at work have wondered what wall it came off of it's so random. But lucky me they haven't caught on yet hehe!
April 7, 2008:
I love pregnant moodiness especially when half the people at work fall victim to it and have no idea. We had an emergency today in the cath lab that lucky me I fell into. But I do have to brag, I'm a pretty darn good perfusionist when it comes down to the nitty gritty emergencies. Not many people can keep their calm, and delegate what needs to get done when blood is pouring out on the floor and the patient has no pressure. And all that while getting a headache and starting to get hungry while massively having to pee. I did work in a pee break even during the emergency (go me! "go open the femoral cannulas to the field, I'll be right there" lol). The floor charge nurse got the brunt of my bitchy-ness. She's just a down right nasty person who tries to sugar coat her stupidity. So after she yelled twice for a perfusionist while I'm standing within five feet of her in less than twenty minutes, then proceeded to lecture me about giving her "a look" when I gave her the "are you freaking kidding me I'm standing right in front of your face" look... I started bossing her around while getting the room ready. She just kept getting in the way and making things more difficult so I literally kicked her out of my side of the room. In an emergency dealing with stupidity is the worst. And thank you pregnancy hormones for giving me the guts to say what I'm really thinking. In the end, patient died (we couldn't fix the hole in her heart muscle, it just kept falling apart). But the surgeon actually gave me this huge "thank you" which is all I could ask for.
Here's the update I posted earlier today in a pregnancy community.
How Far Along Are You?
10 weeks 2 days
What's Up Physically This Week?
Getting nauseous more frequently again when my tummy goes empty (I'd been good since week 6 thankfully). Got this occasional pain on my right side in the pelvic region. It's tender to the touch occasionally, but I wonder if the wee one is just hanging out over there, cause when I push on it the pain goes away after 20 seconds or so. Exhaustion has come back full force. I've been wiped out by 4pm each afternoon. Getting daily headaches around that time too. Doesn't help that sleep is so sporatic. Still waking up at midnight, and 2am and not being able to get back to sleep for over an hour at the 2am wake up. Still have the occasional sciatic pain too, but less frequent than a few weeks ago. Started to get more of a belly. Pants are starting to get tighter (thankfully I live in sweats and scrubs at work), and it's becoming a noticeable bump in my shirts now.
What's Up Emotionally & Mentally This Week?
This week I'm stressed. 2 of my coworkers are in Ecuador for a medical mission and I'm on call. So aside from being tired all the time, I have to work a heck of a lot more. I hope transplants are kept at bay until next week, I don't think I'll be able to handle overnight cases this week.
What Are You Reading - Books, Magazines, Web Sites?
babycenter.com. Found the pregnancy section of the discovery health website. Ordered consumer reports "best baby products"
Random things: Next dr. appointment next Monday!
April 9, 2008:
A few weeks ago I was roaming Target (I was due for a leisurely stroll in the store) and I wandered to the baby section. The baby area isn't even that big, something like 5 aisles plus clothes. But dude, I realized there's so many products out there, how do you even begin to choose which ones to use? I got overwhelmed and didn't even finish wandering the department. I mean infant carseat which you'll only use for like 6 months? or convertible? standard baby bottles? or super special angled? latex or silicone? Swings--is there really a difference? Just the thought of even entering a Babies R Us now kinda makes me anxious and want to avoid it at all costs lol.
So the following Monday I was checking out consumer reports and ordered Consumer Reports "best baby products". I got it yesterday, and just started reading it today. I think I'm in love with it! I can't put it down. So easy to read. Good pro/con of many products on the market and things to consider when choosing a product. And it lists every baby product you'd care about from best baby friendly autos to zebras (and other plush toys) A-Z, plus safety, medications, vaccination info... If it's done ratings/testings some of the best and worst performers are listed in there. I think this book has just become my registry bible.
April 9, 2008 (again):
Haven't been good at posting belly pics, but I got a book this weekend called "the belly book" with spots for belly pics every week. It's kinda motivation to do them. Hopefully I'll get to doing them weekly.
See a difference:
I think I'm just filling out the pooch I had to start with.
April 11, 2008:
oh yeah had a weird dream last night:
So I'm pregnant and I go to the hospital and get 2 IVs in my left arm. I'm supposed to come back in 2 days to have the baby. But they leave the IVs in my arm. And it's an anesthesiologist I work with at Cedars who "calculates" that I can leave them in and still use them when I come back in 2 days. So I come back and the nurses rip out my 2 IVs b/c they say they are old and un-sterile. My anesthesiologist friend isn't around and they're trying to start this ginormous one in my other arm, at which point I'm arguing with them about why they had to take out the perfectly good ones in my other arm.
Then Chris wakes me up. I totally would have loved to see where that dream went.
But after a pee break and I come back to bed and my arm is still throbbing in my wrist region, like the pain of ripping out the IV in my dream was real lol. I couldn't stop laughing when I realized it, but dude my wrist really hurt!
April 15, 2008:
Yesterday Chris actually got to come with me to the OB/GYN. Apparently me racing to get to the appointment on time does nothing good for my blood pressure. Once again it's high. But at my last appointment with the midwife it was low, but I sat in the waiting room for over half an hour that time. So now I'm under doctors orders to get a blood pressure machine (or test at work, but what's the likelihood given the stressful environment I work in that it's accurate?), and keep a log to show him next time.
Asked about the pain in my right lower abdomen. He checked for cysts and found nothing. So the pain is round ligament pain. Whatever it is, it hurt throughout my whole case yesterday! The transition between sitting and standing or when laying down at night is when it hurts the most.
Had another ultrasound. I love how my doctors are ultrasound happy! The baby was really quiet at first when he was doing measurements and stuff. Could see the heart beat. Then all the sudden s/he woke up and started kicking and even moved it's arms up to scratch it's head. It was cute! Even though the ultrasound pics look like a baby alien. S/he's measuring 4.86cm or just shy of two inches long. Also dating at 11 weeks 5 days (I was 11w2d yesterday). EDD is now calculated at 10/29/08... but they still don't officially change it. I go back in 4 weeks with the midwife right before we leave for Ohio. Still don't know when I get all the prenatal testing done, maybe I'll find out next appointment? I thought it was all supposed to be done between 15-20 weeks. But I guess if I go every 4 weeks no matter what, then I'll fall in the window sometime.
Picture Time:
April 28, 2008:
May 7, 2008:
Whew, and I thought I hadn't been documenting enough... So I got nothing as of late. Definitely feeling better in terms of nausea, think it's pretty much gone for now. I can get hungry and not eat and not feel sick. Headaches are back full force. Thank you springtime allergies, coupled with pregnancy. But I did get the okay from my doctor to use my allergy meds and nose spray if needed. Round ligament pain is still painful. Went away for about a week. But the past few days my pelvic area has been really tight and all I wanna do is stay in an arched back position to stretch out my stomach. Think I'm getting ready for another growth spurt. Pants are getting snug. I already gave in and got a Bella Band, but I think I'm gonna give in and just get a pair of maternity pants already cause it's just not comfortable always worrying whether or not your pants are going to fall down. That's my task for this weekend if not earlier, but definitely before going to Ohio.
February 26, 2008:
Last week I finally had a Dr. appointment for my cyst that kept hurting ever since I finished my last period. I even had a transvaginal ultrasound and everything. I'm supposed to meet with my Dr. again in about 2 weeks to see what the next step is. Was supposed to get my period by Friday. Still nothing. I was really tired on Sat and Sun but figured it was cause I didn't sleep too well. Sunday I was having hot flashes. Sun flying home from Phoenix my tummy kinda hurt. So I told myself if by Monday after work I still didn't start my period (which would have been 30 days) I would get a PG test. Yesterday (Monday) during work my cyst pain was bad, but the pain was more crampy and pangs all over in that region. I was exhausted yesterday. I still felt like I was hot. Had a mild dull headache for the third day in a row. Went to Target and picked up a PG test. Chris was really excited when I told him I was getting one. He couldn't wait for me to pee when I got home. And low and behold it was POSITIVE!! I'm still a little shocked, excited but shocked. I can't wait to tell my parents. They better come for Easter. I don't know if I can keep it a secret that long. I know it's still early, so I'm a little leary even telling "my person."
Today I'm really crampy. Now I"m looking at all the stuff I can't take. I've cut my 4 advils down to 2. I'm thinking about all the toxins at work I'm exposed to and how long I can keep it a secret there. I mean how suspicious is it to ask "hey ray can you come fill my forane for me?"
So I guess my Dr. appointment is going to be a prenatal one, not a "what to do now one". So yeah, apparently 4 weeks... due about Oct. 31/ Nov. 1-ish. We'll see what the doctors say whenever I get an appointment with them.
February 29, 2008:
So after a bunch of MickeyMouse and run around at Kaiser trying to get signed up for prenatal care, I finally have a doctor and an appointment for a first visit! Yesterday I decided to use the fact that I was wide awake at 7am to my advantage before my case. I went to Kaiser and finally got to the women's health clinic. There was a nurse there who was amazing. She took me under her care and helped me get everything straightened out. Peed on a stick for her--Positive. Filled out paperwork. Saw Dr. Kivnik. He's really good. He did an ultrasound to check my pain. And maybe saw where the pregnancy was starting. Although it's still early, we might not be able to see it yet. So my appointment is in 2 weeks (March 12) to meet with the midwife and get all my info squared away. She'll do an ultrasound and make sure that it's actually in my uterus and not tubal (something the dr. is cautious of given my "cyst" pain). The nurse at women's health that took me under her wing waited for me to come back with my paperwork, even giving up part of her lunch break knowing I'd be coming back. I need to find out her name b/c she's amazing. She went well above and beyond. I'm so thankful for her help. Then I got like a pint of blood drawn for every test under the sun. And once again I had to pee in another cup. Got the pee results back and I guess I'm still fighting off something b/c my white cell count is slightly elevated. That's the update for now. Researching creative ways to tell our parents and my grandmas.
So far I have:
1. Split photo frame (of wallet size photos). Put the sonogram in one and a note saying "coming soon: 11/1/08" (grandma's?)
2. A variation of the above on a photo box with bibs inside saying something like "grandma's angel" and "grandpa's helper" (for parents)
3. Keepsake grandma books (mom's)
4. Baby photo frame with sonogram picture
I'm still on the hunt for a good idea. possibly 3 weeks til i tell my parents... yay! On my way to week 5...
March 4, 2008:
So it's already slipped out to a few people. Of course my "person" knows. And I had to tell Kristal when she was there with Ella asking when we were going to have our own baby. And I was telling a guy at work about this "perfect" job in Tennessee, and he was lecturing me about not taking it, but changed his tone when I broke the news lol. And when turning down the job in TN, I had to tell Mike why I couldn't accept when he totally thought of me for the position.
So far no morning sickness, thank goodness. Definitely eat less though. Just the occasional pain in the pelvic region. Kinda hurts when I cough. Other than that nothing too bad yet.
March 5, 2008:
I'm actually really nervous about telling my parents, I know they'll be excited and shocked, but I'm still nervous (and excited) to tell them. I've always been afraid I'd disappoint them, even though I know they are totally proud of all I've accomplished, and the news is going to be completely out of left field for them, so I wanted to do something good. I didn't just want to call them up, I wanted to be there to see their reaction since it's their first grandchild. Since they're coming the week before Easter, I made up an Easter basket. Pink and blue easter eggs filled with baby items (small scrapbooking ones). Pacifiers. Bottles. "new arrival" sticker. pink and blue safety pins. With pink and blue easter candy scattered in there too. And if they don't figure it out already I'm gonna have a baby frame in there with this poem in it:
I do not have a face to see,
Or put inside a frame.
I do not have soft cheeks to kiss,
I don't yet have a name.
You can't yet hold my tiny hands,
Nor whisper in my ear.
It's still too soon to sing a song,
Or cuddle me so near.
But all will change come November 2,
That's when they say I'm due.
I'm your new grandson or granddaughter,
I can't wait to till I meet you.
All I ask between now and then
Is your patience while I grow.
I promise I'll be worth the wait,
Because of all the love we'll know.
So what I have to give you now,
Is a wish to you from me.
I cannot wait to be a part
Of this wonderful family.
I'll take a picture when it's complete. I was gonna do an ultrasound pic, but it will be too early for a good one. We plan to use the u/s pic for Chris's parents since we'll be about 19 weeks when we tell his family. I think I'll use the poem for my grandma's too, still debating, but I better decide quick since I'll see everyone on Easter and my mom can't keep secrets!
March 8, 2008:
Had my first bout with pseudo morning sickness last night and this morning. Came home from work yesterday kinda tired and feeling yucky. Took a 2 hour nap in hopes of feeling a little better. Woke up feeling nauseous. Thought it was cause I hadn't eaten in hours, but felt like I couldn't eat anything. Chris wanted to go out to dinner, so we went. Felt a little better after eating, but I definitely paced myself. Came home, felt shitty and nauseous again. Went to bed. Woke up feeling better but starving. Ate an english muffin and peanut butter... after about 30 min nauseous again... didn't feel better until about 3 hours after eating after finally giving in and trying some pepto. Must have worked a little cause now I'm getting little waves but nothing serious. I'd almost rather just puke and get it over with than have the constant feeling that the inevitable is coming. And I hate puking, I'll avoid it at all costs, so it kinda surprises me that I'd rather do it that be nauseous...
nausea sucks!
Coincidence that I just reached the 6 week mark yesterday? lol
March 9, 2008:
WOO HOO! Made it almost through the whole day with only a twinge of nausea, okay a few twinges.
Last night I woke up around 1:30am when Chris got in bed. The longer I tried to go back to sleep, the more sick I felt. Chris finally offered to go get me some saltines. The crackers actually worked. I think I was just hungry, but that translates into feeling sick lately. I got back to sleep and work up feeling normal. Was a little leary eating anything, had a few crackers before getting out of bed, just in case. Took my car in to get the tire fixed and did pretty well until the drive home, began to feel a little crappy. Later in the day while making something to eat, I got this really bad wave that went as quickly as it came. So I guess today is a good day. Let's just hope these good outnumber the bad.
My new mantra: "I will FEEL healthy throughout my pregnancy" ... relying on the power of positive thinking and "the secret" theory that the universe only hears the positive... Hey, I'm willing to try anything at this point!
March 10, 2008:
So I guess tonight will be my first test on call with all day sickness. I'm at work finishing some cell savers which I totally can handle. But I just found out there's a heart transplant tonight, at some unknown time. I'm hoping the time stays more and more unknown, so maybe it'll go tomorrow morning lol. And it's on a VAD patient which means the case takes twice as long b/c they have to get the device out. I brought a stash of crackers to work with me so I guess I can sneak those in my pocket, and bring a bottle of 7up or water in with me, and make sure I eat something heavy right before. I think it's funny that not only do I have to plan my case, but my diet to get through my case now lol
One of my sorority sisters is pregnant too... didn't tell her I was yet, but I checked out her blog. She mentioned carrying around the heavy duty ziploc bags in your purse or bag just in case m/s hit while out and about. Something I never thought of. Maybe I'll stash one in my perfusion bag lol.
March 11, 2008:
So the transplant went at 2am, but got pushed back so much I didn't have to pump it. I survived without a single nauseous wave coming to visit. I just had to keep my tummy full and I was good. Ran out of food around 6am and couldn't wait for my boss to get there and get me out. Grabbed a donut for the drive home. Yeah I know not the healthiest, but I'm eating what sounds good lately, which isn't much. I'm listening to my tummy for what sounds good so I don't aggrivate it and have it come back to haunt me minutes/hours later.
This sleeping thing is weird too. So February changed my sleep pattern. Gone were the weekends where I could sleep 12 hours easy. Come February, before I found out I was pregnant, I would go to bed around 8-9pm. Fall asleep right away, and be completely dead to the world until about 11 or midnight when Chris would get in bed. Then I'd be up for about an hour until around 1ish. Then sleep until about 3 or 4. I was lucky if I fall back asleep before my alarm goes off at 4:45. This pattern hasn't stopped. I figured out I'm so restless around 1, that's why I wake myself up or can't get back to sleep cause I just keep flip flopping around. BUT, today after being up for roughly 24 hours with a 2 hour "nap" between 11pm and 1am this morning you'd think I'd be exhausted. Especially after running around between floors for 6 hours, then stressing and running around to get the transplant put together. Got home around 7:30 and just couldn't fall asleep. I watched tv... Finally around 9 I got to sleep, woke up at 12:30 on the dot. Wide awake. I got some food thinking maybe I was just hungry (which has been the case before)... nope, couldn't get back to sleep! WTH... I"m growing a new human and on normal days I'm exhausted without working even 8 hours most days and up for 12-14 hours, and here I am working 12 hours overnight, and up for 24 and I'm not tired enough to fall asleep for more than 4 hours??!! Just weird I tell ya!
Tomorrow is my first prenatal appointment. I'm excited to see if the little bean is for sure in the uterus. My pelvic pain has gotten much better, and with the sudden onset of nausea my hormones are on the rise, so I figure it is where it's supposed to be. I get to actually learn my blood type! (Yeah I'm a loser who works every day with blood and still doesn't even know my own blood type, cause I'm too big a sissy to actually donate blood. According to the tests I performed in my Physiology 202 lab class I'm O neg, thus the reason I'm a little fearful to donate due to the stalking of the blood bank following blood donation.) I'm a little sad Chris can't go with me though. I know it's probably too early to hear the heartbeat, but I'll be sad if he misses that one. He tried to rearrange his schedule to negotiate a day off, but they changed one of his regional manager meetings to tomorrow, so there's no way he can get it off now. Ooh and I actually get an official due date!!! YAY!!
March 12, 2008:
Just got back from my first prenatal appointment with the Nurse Midwife. She's great! I mean after waiting for over an hour in the room I could have been uber cranky, but she's a breath of fresh air. She went over all my medical history. Then we went over all my blood work. I'm O neg just like I thought! Yay me, RhoGam here I come. All my blood work was normal. She did a pap, claymidia test, and HPV DNA test. Then she did an ultrasound for dating. Yes it is in fact in my uterus--YAY! You could see the heartbeat which was really cool, but still too early to hear it. According to the measurements I'm 6w4d (calculations figure 6w3d), and the little "shrimp" (the NMW's word for the bean) is 0.73cm. And my "official" due date is November 2.
March 20, 2008:
We finally told my parents last night. I was so proud of myself for not telling my mom on one of several phone calls in the past few weeks.
Chris had let it slip in general conversation with his mom. "oh yeah, well we only have about 2 months before Julie will start showing to switch jobs, so it has to be quick or we'll be here for a while." He apparently covered by saying "no, we're not pregnant yet, but we're not trying not to be..." yeah I think she knows. So we sent his family a baby themed easter basket and a grandparent poem in a baby frame too.
Okay so back to telling my parents...
So they come in last night and we go meet them at happy hour at their hotel. We bring the baby easter basket.
Dad: "so what is this?"
Me: "It's an easter present"
Dad: "since when do we do easter presents"
Me: "it's a new tradition. I just couldn't pass it up"
So my dad digs in since my mom is way too preoccupied with her wine. He pulls out the basket with all the pink and blue eggs and pink and blue candy... and he still has this bewildered look on his face like 'okay great easter basket where's the present'. He starts picking at the candy, etc. Then he gets to the baby bottles in an egg and he's like "what are these?" with a puzzled look... then my brother points out to the poem which was signed "Baby Pruett" and he smiles and is like "YOU GUYS!" My mom is like what? what's going on? "wait, you aren't?" Then there were hugs all around. Then finally they read the poem. My dad said he thought something was up last time we went out to Phoenix since Chris came with me, so I guess he was thinking it was coming sometime. My mom was clueless. They were all happy for us though. At dinner I kept getting teased about "eating for two" and one of my brothers wouldn't sit next to me b/c "i needed space for two" lol. We teased my mom about becoming a grandma, but told her it was okay b/c by the time the baby comes she'll be 50 and 50 year olds are allowed to be grandmas. And I'm glad my parents are cautiously optimistic, and realize that it's still very early and anything can happen.
I'll post a picture of the basket when I get home tonight. Now on to tell my grandmas. I did frames with the poem for them too b/c great-grandma stuff is too hard to come up with. So Saturday I plan to give it to my mom's mom. I'm so glad I don't have to keep my mouth shut anymore with my mom. Three plus weeks was hard enough.
March 27, 2008:
So after telling my parents on Wednesday, I went down to Orange County after work to have dinner with my parents and my grandma. Chris couldn't come cause he gets off work too late. So I give my grandma the gift wrapped frame. Except she knew before she read the poem in the frame b/c her frame was too dang cute. (It was a crib, picture goes inside the "crib", and there's a mobile over the crib that spells out baby.) She was so excited. She couldn't stop smiling. My silly grandma says, "oh I'm so excited. I was wondering when someone was going to give me great grandchildren. I've been reading all these obituaries and all these people have tons of great grandkids and I was just wondering if I'd die before I get any." LOL Love my grandma! We tried to call my other aunts/uncles who live nearby so we could tell them too, and go out to dinner with them, but they were all busy. So she leaves the frame out at her house.
My aunt and cousin arrive Saturday. My cousin finds the frame and texts me. I tell her to keep her mouth shut b/c I wanna tell ppl in person Sunday (Easter), she agrees to do so. Well in the mean time my 10 year old cousin finds it and gets it. She calls my aunt and tells her to come pick her up and come inside (she always just picks her up at the curb). So my aunt finds out. My aunt tells all the free world, calling my mom about a million times. So by the time I show up at Easter my aunt's stepdaughter is one of the first to come up and congratulate me... WTF! My grandma was so good not saying anything, come to find out the snitch was Samantha lol. So I figured almost everyone knew. We sit down to eat and one of my mom's cousin who's 15 or 16 weeks along is giving me crap for eating, saying how much she hates me for being able to eat (apparently she couldn't tolerate food until 2 weeks ago), my other Aunt Teri is like "what's going on?" I'm like "duh, I'm pregnant, how did you completely miss the gossip, especially when we were talking about it in the kitchen?" So Easter was definitely comical.
Chris thinks I officially have the start of a belly. You could kinda tell in a dress I was wearing this past weekend. I'm still calling it bloat cause that's what it looks like, but there is some solidness growing underneath.
Still feeling pretty good. Aside from 2 days of nausea around week 6, I've been good. Still have to eat all the time or else I get really lightheaded and extra bitchy. Been getting headaches nightly for the past week or so. They start around 3pm and just get worse until I go to bed. Go away a little with sleep, but come back after I've been up for a bit. Wonder if they're allergy related, but they're definitely migraine material. Been starting to get what may be considered heartburn, although it's not really a burn. It's like I'm stuffed to the brim and it's sitting at the base of my esophagus. Kinda makes me nauseous if Chris pushs on my stomach or lays his arm over me. Feels like I want to relieve the pressure in my abdominal region but can't... don't really have to puke, not coming out the other end, it's just sitting there making me feel full until like 2am...
Which brings me to sleep... sleeping sucks lately. I mean I'm exhausted by 2pm and really feel it around 3 or 4 when I'm driving home from work or itching to get out. Get home and usually have a great nap around 6pm for about an hour, at which point I'm woken up but could definitely sleep longer. Go to bed at 9ish and sleep great until 11 when I have to pee... then get up again around 2 to pee. At which point I will either fall back asleep after about half hour (rare), or will stay awake until 4am. At which point I'll fall into a deep sleep only to be waken at 4:50am by my alarm. Needless to say I'm so thankful for 8 hours of continual sleep, even if it's interrupted once or twice by potty trips.
Overall I'm happy with how things are going. Starting to get a cramp in my right side again. It went away for a few weeks, but it's back with a vengance. Hurts standing from a chair, or sitting down. Also I think my uterus has found my sciatic nerve. I have this pain in my sacral region, and sorta radiates down my left butt cheek to the end of my tailbone. Doesn't radiate down my leg yet. Hurts to stand too long. Walking is uncomfortable. I'm convinced I've developed a limp.
March 31, 2008:
I'm starting to realize what food cravings are. Since week 6 a few times a week I'd just be sitting at work around 10:30-11am and think "man, _________ sounds really good right now." And at first I thought it was just cause I hadn't had it in a long time. So far I've been through Taco Bell Tacos, Sour Cream and Onion chips (not the baked!), Sunday it was Oreos, today it was a Johnny Rockets hotdog (made from Nathan's hotdogs... man I miss getting those whenever I wanted to Tucson). It was so bad today, and well I got off work early, so why not... that I made a trip at JR on the way home. And man it tasted good. I'm happy camper now. Crazy how it's not one thing in particular, or even something weird or in combo with something else. And it's not like someone mentioned it first... it just comes like a wave around lunch time. A few times the people at work have wondered what wall it came off of it's so random. But lucky me they haven't caught on yet hehe!
April 7, 2008:
I love pregnant moodiness especially when half the people at work fall victim to it and have no idea. We had an emergency today in the cath lab that lucky me I fell into. But I do have to brag, I'm a pretty darn good perfusionist when it comes down to the nitty gritty emergencies. Not many people can keep their calm, and delegate what needs to get done when blood is pouring out on the floor and the patient has no pressure. And all that while getting a headache and starting to get hungry while massively having to pee. I did work in a pee break even during the emergency (go me! "go open the femoral cannulas to the field, I'll be right there" lol). The floor charge nurse got the brunt of my bitchy-ness. She's just a down right nasty person who tries to sugar coat her stupidity. So after she yelled twice for a perfusionist while I'm standing within five feet of her in less than twenty minutes, then proceeded to lecture me about giving her "a look" when I gave her the "are you freaking kidding me I'm standing right in front of your face" look... I started bossing her around while getting the room ready. She just kept getting in the way and making things more difficult so I literally kicked her out of my side of the room. In an emergency dealing with stupidity is the worst. And thank you pregnancy hormones for giving me the guts to say what I'm really thinking. In the end, patient died (we couldn't fix the hole in her heart muscle, it just kept falling apart). But the surgeon actually gave me this huge "thank you" which is all I could ask for.
Here's the update I posted earlier today in a pregnancy community.
How Far Along Are You?
10 weeks 2 days
What's Up Physically This Week?
Getting nauseous more frequently again when my tummy goes empty (I'd been good since week 6 thankfully). Got this occasional pain on my right side in the pelvic region. It's tender to the touch occasionally, but I wonder if the wee one is just hanging out over there, cause when I push on it the pain goes away after 20 seconds or so. Exhaustion has come back full force. I've been wiped out by 4pm each afternoon. Getting daily headaches around that time too. Doesn't help that sleep is so sporatic. Still waking up at midnight, and 2am and not being able to get back to sleep for over an hour at the 2am wake up. Still have the occasional sciatic pain too, but less frequent than a few weeks ago. Started to get more of a belly. Pants are starting to get tighter (thankfully I live in sweats and scrubs at work), and it's becoming a noticeable bump in my shirts now.
What's Up Emotionally & Mentally This Week?
This week I'm stressed. 2 of my coworkers are in Ecuador for a medical mission and I'm on call. So aside from being tired all the time, I have to work a heck of a lot more. I hope transplants are kept at bay until next week, I don't think I'll be able to handle overnight cases this week.
What Are You Reading - Books, Magazines, Web Sites?
babycenter.com. Found the pregnancy section of the discovery health website. Ordered consumer reports "best baby products"
Random things: Next dr. appointment next Monday!
April 9, 2008:
A few weeks ago I was roaming Target (I was due for a leisurely stroll in the store) and I wandered to the baby section. The baby area isn't even that big, something like 5 aisles plus clothes. But dude, I realized there's so many products out there, how do you even begin to choose which ones to use? I got overwhelmed and didn't even finish wandering the department. I mean infant carseat which you'll only use for like 6 months? or convertible? standard baby bottles? or super special angled? latex or silicone? Swings--is there really a difference? Just the thought of even entering a Babies R Us now kinda makes me anxious and want to avoid it at all costs lol.
So the following Monday I was checking out consumer reports and ordered Consumer Reports "best baby products". I got it yesterday, and just started reading it today. I think I'm in love with it! I can't put it down. So easy to read. Good pro/con of many products on the market and things to consider when choosing a product. And it lists every baby product you'd care about from best baby friendly autos to zebras (and other plush toys) A-Z, plus safety, medications, vaccination info... If it's done ratings/testings some of the best and worst performers are listed in there. I think this book has just become my registry bible.
April 9, 2008 (again):
Haven't been good at posting belly pics, but I got a book this weekend called "the belly book" with spots for belly pics every week. It's kinda motivation to do them. Hopefully I'll get to doing them weekly.
See a difference:
I think I'm just filling out the pooch I had to start with.
April 11, 2008:
oh yeah had a weird dream last night:
So I'm pregnant and I go to the hospital and get 2 IVs in my left arm. I'm supposed to come back in 2 days to have the baby. But they leave the IVs in my arm. And it's an anesthesiologist I work with at Cedars who "calculates" that I can leave them in and still use them when I come back in 2 days. So I come back and the nurses rip out my 2 IVs b/c they say they are old and un-sterile. My anesthesiologist friend isn't around and they're trying to start this ginormous one in my other arm, at which point I'm arguing with them about why they had to take out the perfectly good ones in my other arm.
Then Chris wakes me up. I totally would have loved to see where that dream went.
But after a pee break and I come back to bed and my arm is still throbbing in my wrist region, like the pain of ripping out the IV in my dream was real lol. I couldn't stop laughing when I realized it, but dude my wrist really hurt!
April 15, 2008:
Yesterday Chris actually got to come with me to the OB/GYN. Apparently me racing to get to the appointment on time does nothing good for my blood pressure. Once again it's high. But at my last appointment with the midwife it was low, but I sat in the waiting room for over half an hour that time. So now I'm under doctors orders to get a blood pressure machine (or test at work, but what's the likelihood given the stressful environment I work in that it's accurate?), and keep a log to show him next time.
Asked about the pain in my right lower abdomen. He checked for cysts and found nothing. So the pain is round ligament pain. Whatever it is, it hurt throughout my whole case yesterday! The transition between sitting and standing or when laying down at night is when it hurts the most.
Had another ultrasound. I love how my doctors are ultrasound happy! The baby was really quiet at first when he was doing measurements and stuff. Could see the heart beat. Then all the sudden s/he woke up and started kicking and even moved it's arms up to scratch it's head. It was cute! Even though the ultrasound pics look like a baby alien. S/he's measuring 4.86cm or just shy of two inches long. Also dating at 11 weeks 5 days (I was 11w2d yesterday). EDD is now calculated at 10/29/08... but they still don't officially change it. I go back in 4 weeks with the midwife right before we leave for Ohio. Still don't know when I get all the prenatal testing done, maybe I'll find out next appointment? I thought it was all supposed to be done between 15-20 weeks. But I guess if I go every 4 weeks no matter what, then I'll fall in the window sometime.
Picture Time:
April 28, 2008:
I conquered my fear of Babies R Us this weekend!!!
I mean for such little things, babies need so much stuff. And how do you choose what STUFF to get? I was at a loss. I've been doing my research. Consumer Reports "best baby products" pointed me in a good direction, and gave me perspective when looking at baby stuff. Internet research has done wonders too, but I still wanted to see stuff in person.
After my adventures in pregnancy land, let's just say, I hope I'm not a procrastinator in terms of baby preparation. I mean I procrastinate in general, but get everything done. But there were these women who I couldn't help but shake my head at. 2 stick in my head. One was easily 9 months, with the clock almost out of time. The other looked around 8 months or so, but could cook a little longer. I thought at first that maybe they were just buying last minute stuff, or finishing off their registries (ie. buying out their registry). NOPE! "Running out of Time" was still contemplating which child seat to get, and didn't even make a decision, and then she moved to debating strollers!! "Still cooking" looked most like she was there to buy out her registry, until I noticed she didn't know what pack n' play she wanted. She didn't know which swing she wanted. I would figure if you were buying out your registry, you'd have at least KNOWN what one you'd want! I definitely don't want to be one of those women!!!
Car seats. We're still debating. We like the Britax ones. They have very good consumer report ratings. They're also apparently easy to install. We're leaning toward getting a convertible one that works on babies 5-35lbs rear, and up to 50+ forward facing, rather than getting an infant seat. I talked to Kristal last Friday and she said Ella outgrew hers by 3-4 months. That way it eliminates spending double within a short period of time.
Strollers. I'm still stuck. Most that work for babies are the travel centers, which I don't really like/want (especially if I don't want to use it in the car). Others have removable seats that can fit an infant seat/bassinet type thingy, but you have to buy that separately. So I'm still up in the air on that one. I'm looking at the Britax, Baby Planet... I forgot the other one.
We looked at cribs too. What happened to the old days where the they had the rail that just went down with a foot petal or something. All the ones that BRU had had some funky bowing mechanism (or a mechanism we couldn't figure out), so we gave up looking at those b/c non of them seemed to work right. So we thought about maybe getting a convertible b/c we want our kids 3-4 years (Chris says 2-3years :P) apart. So If we do a convertible crib we could use it as a toddler bed up til he/she out grows the bed or til we have another baby. Plus I like how the front tends to be lower, easier access for short little me to put the baby in. Still looking for one we really like.
Found a nursery pattern I like. There's a whole series at BRU that comes in the pattern from crib stuff, to high chair, swing, etc. It's plain but really neutral. Found a few classic pooh patterns I found I liked to.
All in all adventures in BRU wasn't so bad. Not as overwhelming after doing a little research.
Got a baby name book this weekend. One night of looking through it and Chris wanted to give up til we know if it's a boy or girl so we know which section to focus on lol... it was his idea to start looking :) More procrastination!
I mean for such little things, babies need so much stuff. And how do you choose what STUFF to get? I was at a loss. I've been doing my research. Consumer Reports "best baby products" pointed me in a good direction, and gave me perspective when looking at baby stuff. Internet research has done wonders too, but I still wanted to see stuff in person.
After my adventures in pregnancy land, let's just say, I hope I'm not a procrastinator in terms of baby preparation. I mean I procrastinate in general, but get everything done. But there were these women who I couldn't help but shake my head at. 2 stick in my head. One was easily 9 months, with the clock almost out of time. The other looked around 8 months or so, but could cook a little longer. I thought at first that maybe they were just buying last minute stuff, or finishing off their registries (ie. buying out their registry). NOPE! "Running out of Time" was still contemplating which child seat to get, and didn't even make a decision, and then she moved to debating strollers!! "Still cooking" looked most like she was there to buy out her registry, until I noticed she didn't know what pack n' play she wanted. She didn't know which swing she wanted. I would figure if you were buying out your registry, you'd have at least KNOWN what one you'd want! I definitely don't want to be one of those women!!!
Car seats. We're still debating. We like the Britax ones. They have very good consumer report ratings. They're also apparently easy to install. We're leaning toward getting a convertible one that works on babies 5-35lbs rear, and up to 50+ forward facing, rather than getting an infant seat. I talked to Kristal last Friday and she said Ella outgrew hers by 3-4 months. That way it eliminates spending double within a short period of time.
Strollers. I'm still stuck. Most that work for babies are the travel centers, which I don't really like/want (especially if I don't want to use it in the car). Others have removable seats that can fit an infant seat/bassinet type thingy, but you have to buy that separately. So I'm still up in the air on that one. I'm looking at the Britax, Baby Planet... I forgot the other one.
We looked at cribs too. What happened to the old days where the they had the rail that just went down with a foot petal or something. All the ones that BRU had had some funky bowing mechanism (or a mechanism we couldn't figure out), so we gave up looking at those b/c non of them seemed to work right. So we thought about maybe getting a convertible b/c we want our kids 3-4 years (Chris says 2-3years :P) apart. So If we do a convertible crib we could use it as a toddler bed up til he/she out grows the bed or til we have another baby. Plus I like how the front tends to be lower, easier access for short little me to put the baby in. Still looking for one we really like.
Found a nursery pattern I like. There's a whole series at BRU that comes in the pattern from crib stuff, to high chair, swing, etc. It's plain but really neutral. Found a few classic pooh patterns I found I liked to.
All in all adventures in BRU wasn't so bad. Not as overwhelming after doing a little research.
Got a baby name book this weekend. One night of looking through it and Chris wanted to give up til we know if it's a boy or girl so we know which section to focus on lol... it was his idea to start looking :) More procrastination!
May 7, 2008:
Whew, and I thought I hadn't been documenting enough... So I got nothing as of late. Definitely feeling better in terms of nausea, think it's pretty much gone for now. I can get hungry and not eat and not feel sick. Headaches are back full force. Thank you springtime allergies, coupled with pregnancy. But I did get the okay from my doctor to use my allergy meds and nose spray if needed. Round ligament pain is still painful. Went away for about a week. But the past few days my pelvic area has been really tight and all I wanna do is stay in an arched back position to stretch out my stomach. Think I'm getting ready for another growth spurt. Pants are getting snug. I already gave in and got a Bella Band, but I think I'm gonna give in and just get a pair of maternity pants already cause it's just not comfortable always worrying whether or not your pants are going to fall down. That's my task for this weekend if not earlier, but definitely before going to Ohio.
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