3D Ultrasound and Shower Weekend!

Saturday, November 7th & Sunday, November 8th, 2009

We had a busy weekend!
Saturday was the 3D/4D ultrasound. Normally, at the time of the u/s she’s kicking up a storm, but of course the one time you want her too, she was sleeping! The tech was nice enough to work extra hard and give us more prints, but her face is hugging the placenta, so the pictures weren’t all they could be. The technician asked me to lay on my side, facing away from the monitor, but it didn't help get a better view. At least I got to watch Don and mom view the monitor.... Still, it’ll be fun to see what she “really looks like” at birth! Plus, she's no longer breech! Don & mom were pretty excited.

My favorite face shot: Pouting already!

My favorite anatomy shot: She’s got Daddy’s big feet! He’s so excited because he said he saw her wiggle her toes… something he does constantly…lol…. behind that, you can see her fist.

Sunday was the first baby shower (11 guests) and I have to tell you, Babies R Us did not update the registry except for ONE small item and several of my guests told me they DID give the clerk my registry info at check out. That was pretty frustrating, but LUCKILY we didn’t get a single repeat gift and nothing we’d need to exchange. We feel very blessed! We happened to get the Travel System, Pack n’ Play & swing, bouncy seat, bath tub, books, and diapers – what a relief! We hadn't picked out a bouncy seat, but Kari was so funny explaining it. She said, "I know you haven't registered for it, but so many of my friends couldn't live without theirs!" Then she went on to explain E-V-E-R-Y feature.... she'll be a doting aunt. :)

Another precious moment: Walter drew me a very detailed picture full of trucks. He spoke so long about it, I couldn't attempt to remember it all.... though there was mention of trucks that shoot at you, so he recommended a truck I should buy that will protect me... Anyway, while he's talking, he picked his nose and then stuck it in his mouth. Ewww! Lucky me!! He's such a 4 year old. lol

I don’t get to see my younger sisters often (not since Feb) so it was great to see first-hand how excited they are to become aunts. :) Some (evil) coworkers teased me horribly about having “only” 11 guests but I was so pleased that I got to spend time with everyone. It was a lot of fun - and after that weekend, I'm exhausted!

Tiny Dancer!

Baby Girl,

You've been kicking up a storm lately! Some days I can sit and watch my belly move as if it isn't even connected to my body!

Last night, while we were trying to go to sleep, you started kicking like crazy. Daddy put his hand on my tummy and you kicked for so long, he fell asleep! At least 30 minutes later, I fell asleep, but only because you had just started to slow down. Are you trying to force your way out? ;-)

Love you!

Baby Updatin'

10/12/09
I haven't updated lately, but we just had our last doctor's appointment on Friday, 10/9/09.

We heard the heartbeat once again (around 150) and doc told me everything on my end looks good. Since she was breech, the last time they checked, we'll have another ultrasound around 7.5 - 8 months.
We're considering a 3D ultrasound, but those things are expensive!
I'll post the last 2D ultrasounds if I ever remember....

Oh, and did you notice? The countdown has gotten into the double-digits!
As of 10/10/09 we have 99 days left until the due date! Wowsa!

UPDATES!

9/8/09 ~ 21w2d ~ ITS A GIRL!!!
The ultrasound was long and intense-in a good way! Her heartbeat was 146 and she weighs just under 1lb. No doubt its a girl! One view looks like she was sitting right on the camera! It was really amazing to see her fully formed hand... and she has Daddy's feet! Her spine ... femur, tibia... so neat!

The doctor said we're on track and everything is normal (yay for me not gaining in a month!) She was on a weird angle (wrapped in a C-shape around my belly button) and breech, so we'll repeat the ultrasound at 7 months to get more views.

We're so excited!

9/4/09 ~ 20w5d ~ Don felt the baby kick for the first time! It was quite a THUD if I say so myself. You should have seen his eyes bug out! The movement has really picked up since week 20 - more and more everyday! :)

Kinda Cool, Right?

I just think its kinda cool.

As of Tuesday, September 1st, we've been married
2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days.


xoxoxox

Handy Dandy Tips: Baby

*Instead of buying an expensive nursing cover, go to your local craft store! Buy clips and ribbon to create a behind-the-neck clip that can turn any baby blanket into a nursing cover.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29445651&ref=sr_list_3&&ga_search_query=nursing+cover&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2&min=0.2&max=5&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title
A friend made her own for $1.98 with supplies from Joann Fabrics.

*Before registering, check out Baby Bargains 8th edition. Its a superb Consumers Report style book outlining brands, stores, must haves, and wastes of money for all things baby. We've gotten so many great tips from this book!

*Check out the website nhtsa.gov for information on carseats and safety ratings.

*Our new favorite: Once Upon a Child second-hand retail shops. They are a chain and hold high standards. All items are checked for recall before they are accepted/sold. We bought a brand new sleeper for our January bean for $3.50. Parents can also sell their gently used goods!

~I'll add more as I come across them :)

Movement!

Preggo brain strikes again!

I meant to update - On August 11th, I felt the first movement of our Wee One! 17w,1d and I felt tiny bubbles/flutters everyone talks about. Maybe its because of my extra layer of fat, but I only seem to feel it at night (even now at 19w1d). I promptly told Don that since this baby already has his/her days & nights mixed up, he'll be on midnight bottle duty.

Our TTC Story

My story started 11 years ago when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 19. Luckily, I only had surgery to remove a 15 lb. tumor - but I lost one ovary. Because of the risk of reaccurant cysts, I was put on BCP immediately, so I never knew if I was ovulating. We got married in '07 and I went of BCP 4 months after the wedding.

Though we TTC right away, I was charting and realized nearly 5 months passed before my period was "normal" again. At 7 months of trying, I talked to my OB who gave me a Rx for Clomid to start the next cycle. A few days later, I got a BFP. That pregnancy ended in a m/c at 13+w.

I had to have a D&C because my body was not rejecting the fetus. It literally took 78 days before the bleeding stopped. I tried pills to help remove the tissue, but I refused another D&C so I just had to deal with it. I was able to TTC again, 108 days after the D&C.

I had spotting while on BCP and it continued afterward, getting worse and worse, especially after the D&C. My doc was never concerned, so I did research of my own and tried self-medicating with B6 pills (I had side-effects). I got my next BFP only 3 months after we TTC again, but it ended at only 4w.

My doctor tested my ANA (auto-immune), Progesterone, and PTT levels (blood clot). I had an elevated ANA (Rheumatoid) and he put me on Baby Aspirin (81 mg) daily. He claimed the other levels were "normal".

I was fed up and refused to accept my spotting was for "no reason" so I bought progesterone cream from an Internet site. After two months of using that, baby aspirin, preseed (sperm-friendly lube), OPKs, and charting, I was pregnant again. This time, even with the progesterone I was spotting (red/pink) for nearly two weeks after the BFP.

My doctor wrote me a Rx for vaginal progesterone and it stopped immediately. I was taking 200 mg suppositories 2x a day till week 13.

The baby is doing well, dispite loosing the twin. My doctor still takes credit for the progesterone. "If I wouldn't have put you on it, that baby might not have been here right now."

Oh... but my self-medicating with the pro. cream didn't do anything, right? Sheesh!

Hallelujah!

Can we please celebrate the fact that at 17w4d I can still fit into ONE pair of my normal dress pants!!!

Sure, they were falling off before, but I choose not to dwell on the fine details.

Late Update

August 7th, 2009 Appointment ~ 16w5d

It took a minute to find the heartbeat but it was there and healthy! Hooray!!

The BIG ultrasound is September 8th! (Unless my pregnancy brain is deceiving me...I better double check.)

We are so excited to see what this little one is going to be! Let the shopping begin!

I've been on Team Blue since the beginning, but lately I've had serious doubts. Maybe its because we have a girls name already, but a girl is what I'm starting to expect. Either way, I can't wait! I would love either a girl or boy so it doesn't matter much to me. :)