04.26.09 (Sunday)

Hi everyone! I'm back!!

I had my 24wk appt last week, and FINALLLLLY, for the first time ever - all looks good! NO issues whatsoever! I even gained weight for the first time! The scale put me at +4.5lbs fully clothed (and after dinner), so now my total weight change is 17-18lbs less than my pre-pg weight. Where's my gold star???

Blood is good, urine is good, blood pressure is a happy 120/80. Yay.

The Dr was thrilled to hear that my morning hurl sessions are no longer solids, but mostly liquid. He said that's usually a sign of it slowing down! Let's hope he's right. YAAAAY!!!

No more sonos until the end, but at this point in time, baby is likely over a foot long and weighs about 2lbs. (plus another 2 pounds in amniotic fluid, and at least a pound in placenta! ewwies!) Our baby has been measuring big all along, so he may even be bigger than that! It's so strange that something the size of a poppy seed is now BABY sized.

Next Dr appt is in 4 wks.

Baby is moving ALLLLL DAYYYY LONGGG - I love every second of it! I can FINALLY stop worrying that he's OK in there, because he tells me. :) He REALLY REALLY LIKES green cactus salsa. I'm a pretty light sleeper, but THIS light?! Baby woke me up with his kicks yesterday!!! It was 6am and I think maybe he was doing bicycles or something. The kicks are definitely higher now than they've been the past couple of weeks - I wonder if he flipped over and isn't breech anymore? Either that or he's just punching me. Yay!

Long day yesterday - 6am wake up call and a fundraising gala for Rich's job at night - I was excited to hop into bed at 1am! And I slept til 9 today with only a few minor interruptions at 4 and 6. :) Yay!

Clearly, this has been a YAY post! :)
I feel the best I've felt in 6 months. I have some energy back,

Some pics:

24.5 weeks belly shot! (ignore the angry face - I was trying to hold the camera still with my right hand and it was a little difficult!)




And a pic from last night (taken after midnight- be gentle on me!!!)

Be back soon!

04.16.09 (Thursday)

23 weeks now!
Hope everyone had a nice Easter :)

No changes here, everything is still status quo. Of course, there's the usual growing gut... and of course, daily [some discrete, some not so much] belly button inspections courtesy of Rich. Some wonderful person that he works with told him that it usually pops out by the end, so he's become a little obsessed. Just for the record, its still very much an innie.

We went to Citi Field last night (after I worked all day) - and yeahhhhh, I can't see that happening again anytime soon! I was exhausted all day today! Feel pretty lousy. It's now 8pm and I'm in bed as I type this.

No Dr. appts until the end of April, so no medical news for another couple weeks.


Easter Pic - Sunday, 04.12.09



Last night at the Mets Game...SEE? I look tired!!! Wednesday 04.15.09
Baby enjoyed himself - I got lots of kicks the whole time!


Be back soon :)
Does anyone still read this? LoL

04.07.09 (Tuesday)

22 weeks already! That went fast, didn't it?

Mom, Dad, Danielle, and Tom came over tonight and we (ok - mostly Dad/Tom, but I DID put some knobs on AND I picked up the screwdriver gun once...) put the dresser together. I can't wait for the crib and the rug to get here so I can start making it look like a nursery! :)

Lots and lots of kicks these past few days. In fact, when I pushed where the kicks were this morning, he totally pushed back. hahahahaha

best.kid.ever.

Here I am.... large and in charge....STILL DOWN 20 LBS, SO I DON'T WANT ANY FAT COMMENTS!!! (and yes, "Chubsy" counts!)


Will update soon...

04.04.09 (Saturday)

Morning!

I think this kid has woken up in there! hahaha!!!

The past few days, it feels like THIS in my tummy! I call Rich over when baby's really wiggling, but he hasn't been able to feel him yet. We'll keep trying!



All is well over here. I feel pretty good! Only sick in the morning. I'm sleeping well, although it's starting to get a little uncomfortable. I'm a usual tummy sleeper, and well, that's not quite possible anymore. I end up propping myself on my side with blankets - it's working so far. I can't see getting one of those body pillows. They're huge!

Soooo we're off to Citi Field today for baby's first in-utero Mets game. Should be fun!

I'll check back in soon :) ... maybe with pics from the game later!

03.25.09 (Wednesday)

Big appointment today! Full of good news! (other than the fact that the incompetent old hag of a receptionist scheduled me incorrectly...honestly, who schedules a level 2 sonogram without putting the patient into the sonography schedule?!)

We've passed the halfway mark, and baby looks GREAT! He passed his anatomy scan with flying colors - meaning all parts exist where they should! woohoo!

He's so calm... he's just chillin' in his little utero hotel. Not much wiggling/kicking/punching at all.

SURPRISE, we have a stubborn baby. hahaha
He's breech (head up near my ribs, feet bouncing off my bladder) AND face down into my back. The sono tech had to fight with him a little to get a shot of his face. :) Nothing to worry about yet, as he still has PLENTY of time to flip flop. And I'm sure he will!

Mommy gained 2 lbs this month - my first gain this whole pregnancy! The total weight-o-meter now sits at -20lbs. SEE, PEOPLE? I EAT!!! Stop yelling at me!!! As I've stretched, my placenta has moved and my restrictions have been lifted!

No more sonograms...just a measurement/heartbeat check in 4 weeks, then more bloodwork and measurements/heartbeat checks in another 4 weeks. I certainly won't miss waiting in that stupid waiting room for the next 4 weeks!!!

OK, that was all good news, right? FINALLY! :)


Some pics:

Our BOY confirmation...best way to describe this pic: picture you're floating on your back in toilet water, looking up at the little boy sitting on the bowl. hahahaha. If you can't see the boy parts, you need some help!!!



Face shot, head on. Not the best pic, like I said, baby was facing my back, so his face wasn't too clear.




Nice shot of his spine, little pot belly, profile of the face, open mouth, etc.




Another spine shot, baby's hand up by his mouth.



As always, if you click on each picture, it GETS BIGGER! MAGIC! hahahaha
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03.21.09 (Saturday)

Hi! :)
Not much to report here. Big Dr's appt coming up on Wednesday- can't wait to see the little guy again!

Still sick in the morning.
Still can't eat chicken (unless it's totally disguised in a fantastic burrito or something..hah!)
Not really into pickles and ice cream - go figure...

The belly is OUT now! Seriously NO HIDING IT. hahaha. Clients are noticing, checkout clerks are noticing, and I'm even getting smiles when I walk past strangers (especially old people!) :). It's adorable.

The baby's room is piling up. This kid is going have the best wardrobe EVER! We've bought a few things, Danielle has bought a few things (hah...more like 1/2 the GAP), Christine has brought us a few things, Candace and Brian and Lucas brought over 2 BAGS FULL! I love little man clothes!!!! :) Thanks again, everyone.

These pics were taken Thursday night. And just for the record, Thursday was an eating day! And the belly always comes out more at night. hah. I posted them on Facebook, so most of you have probably already seen them...but if you haven't, PLEASE don't laugh at me!!! hahahahaha




Baby has his FIRST VERY IMPORTANT ITEM OF CLOTHING!!!!

03.09.09 (Monday)

Not much to report - Baby wants to say HI though!!!
(this is a video - click the play button and make sure the volume is way up!)




YES, that's his heartbeat! Consistently 145 beats per minute.

If the video doesn't load on here, you can check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQkHDLXJcm0 :)

03.04.09 (Wednesday)

Hiya :)

Had a scheduled Dr appt tonight for bloodwork/spina bifida screening/weight/etc.

Baby is doing well - Heartbeat is holding steady at 145 beats per minute. No ultrasound today - the big one (full anatomy scan where the tech goes through all the baby's parts just to make sure everything is where it needs to be) is 3/25. No appointments until then!

Mommy is doing well too (down 1 more pound even though I ate like a HORSE these past few days...I think the burrito I ate for lunch probably weighed 2 pounds!)

Official results are in from the Nuchal Scan last month:
Chance of Downs: 1 in 10,000
Change of Trisomy: 1 in 10,000.

The test maxes out at 10,ooo, so I think we're in a good place there.

Still puking - but it's really only in the morning now, unless I smell something reallllly bad during the day. hah. Don't laugh - it happens. I dry heaved at my desk today because a client stunk like motor oil. hahaha

The bronchitis is gone, too. Yay! I still cough here and there, but nothing - NOTHING like last week. Thank God.

There's a mint Skinny Cow with my name on it begging to come out of the freezer - NO CHIPS - seriously, its a little sandwich sent straight from Heaven.

Til next time...




(I'm aware this pic is the same outfit as 2 weeks ago - I DID THAT ON PURPOSE!) :)

02.21.09 (Saturday)

As most of you know, I've been dealing with bronchitis since Thursday... I love having a cautious Dr, because between the violent coughing and high fever (up to 103 for a while there), she ordered another sono just to check things out. I'm down another 3lbs making total baby gain a whopping NEGATIVE 21. hahaha. Dr doesn't seem concerned - baby is getting all it needs.

We went for our appt at 9am, and as proven in the past, we definitely have a morning baby on our hands! Much more active in the morning than at night. Everything looks great and the tech was able to tell us that we have a perfect, yet SHAMELESS little boy on our hands! Legs wide open. hah! I joked that he already knows how to sit like Daddy.

IT'S A BOY !!!

I am so excited. SOOOOO EXCITED!!! I actually put both arms up in the ultrasound room and let out a roaring, "NO PINK! WOOO!"
You all know I don't DO pink, and I've never really been "good at girls". hahahaha
I can't wait to go pick out blue and green and all things BOY!


Some new pics of our little Logan Paul :)
(again - if you click on each pic, it will get bigger)



Looking at this pic, I guess his little legs WERE crossed for a moment or 2 - ok ok - I take back the "shameless" part :)

Next appt is 3/4, just for bloodwork, then 3/25 for another sono.

And thanks for all the love lately - bronchitis really does stink, but like I said, I'd take morning vomit and bronchitis and whatever else you want to throw at me for 9 WHOLE MONTHS as long as we get to take home a happy, healthy little boy at the end of it all.

See you later!

02.16.09 (Monday)

Hi! Ok, first, you get a rundown of the past 10 days, then some pics.

Let's just get this out of the way early --- I'm still hurling. I had ONE GLORIOUS DAY of puke-free goodness on Friday the 13th, but it was back with a vengeance on the 14th. Even worse today. I'm getting kind of used to it.

My butt and thighs are shrinking, but my tummy is growing. I tried to wear regular work pants this morning and I swear they laughed at me when I tried to button them. I'm at that stage where strangers are asking me if I'm pregnant (and not just fat!). I like it. :)

I had a scheduled Dr's appt for 2/11, but on 2/9 I started to feel a little 'off'. I didn't know if it was from eating (because I actually DID eat that day), or something else. I slept on it, and when it was still there on 2/10, I called the Dr. I left a note on the nurses line and they called back within 30 mins. They told me to come in that evening instead of the next day. They're really awesome. :)

I walked right into the ultrasound room and everything looked great with the baby. My 'off' feeling and cramps was probably just normal stretching twinges. The tech noted something not so normal in her notes, but didn't say a word to me about it. I guess the Dr needs to tell you those things? I was shuttled into a room and my favorite Dr everrrr came in and hugged me. :) I LOVE DR. RUBIN. She said the baby looks perfect, and is measuring in the 90th percentile for it's age. She also mentioned that I have a marginal placental previa. Basically, the placenta (baby's food/oxygen room service) is low. Since this is only the 2nd trimester, there's PLENTY of time for Mr Placenta to scoot north by delivery. If he chooses not to, I'll just need a C-section. No big deal. I'm supposed to take it easy- no exercise, no lifting, feet up when I can, no excessive walking, standing, etc. Rich is doing an excellent job at making sure I follow those rules.

My test results for the Downs Syndrome screening came back perfect... we have a healthy little booger. I lost another 3 pounds since my last appointment, so now I'm down 18 lbs. The Dr hasn't expressed any concerns about this because, frankly, I have the padding, and clearly the baby is getting everything it needs.

My next Dr's appt is 3/4, but it's not a scheduled sonogram. We'll see what the Dr does that day...one never knows. She may want to check on the previa. I know the AFP bloodwork is scheduled (spina bifida screening).

I had a great birthday and Valentine's Day, and then we spent Sunday (yesterday) in the city to see Guys n Dolls on B'way. Apparently this little hippo likes showtunes, because I FELT THE BABY during the show!!! At first it was just a little tap tap and I thought it was gas (as usual). Then a little while later, it was tap tap tap in the same spot! It went on and off for about an hour - little thuds in the same spot. I actually giggled out loud. hehehehehe! Now that I know what it is, I realize that I've been feeling it for a few days now, just never recognized what it was. In fact, it's doing it right now!

Other than the mornings, I'm feeling great. I really only eat 1 full meal a day (lunch) because my stomach can't handle any more than that, but it's enough. I used some birthday gift money and bought myself some comfortable clothes that actually fit - much better!!!

I'll leave you with some pics from our 2/10 appt:
(***IF YOU CLICK EACH PIC, IT WILL GET BIGGER***)

Profile shot. Baby was wiggling a lot again, but not as many log rolls as last time. It seems we already have a morning person on our hands. Please note the tightly closed legs. They're crossed at the ankles and kicking me. Hey, modesty is awesome.



Baby's face is turning away from the ultrasound wandy-thing in this pic. I can just hear, "LEAVE ME ALONE, PEOPLE!" Ahhhh, definitely my kid.



AND FINALLY, the same profile shot above, this time DECODED for those that don't speak ultrasound. I had no clue - with Rich as my witness, I had the u/s tech point out all the body parts. I am NOT GOOD at little wiggly blobs!


Until next time... :) hehehehehehehehe

02.05.09 (Thursday)

Soooo it's been a week since I've been here. Nothing new to report.

Still hurling like it's a part time job.

Safely nestled in the 2nd trimester.

Next Dr's appt not til next week (no sono though...although I may fib and tell them i fell and would feel better with a look at the baby...kinda like an early bday gift...we'll see how the day treats me.)

Still puking.

I have a new pain in my butt, but hey, who wants to know that?! It feels like I busted my tailbone in 3 places. Never felt THAT before. Dr's office suggested getting a Boppy and planting myself on it instead of regular chairs. It's been 2 days and it seems to be working.

For those not fluent in "baby", THIS is a Boppy:


[I don't blame you. I had no clue what it was either. I had to google it.]


Rich likes to steal it and wear it around his neck. He looks like a cross between the Lion King and Smokey Robinson being mUlested by the letter U back in the day when Sesame Street was pretty awesome. (YES, I spelled molested with a U. It's fun.)


Evidence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyUxVCR0p9g






Ok that's it for now... be back soon.

01.28.09 (Wednesday)

Had another Dr appointment this morning- all looks well! Baby Hippo has 2 arms and 2 legs and it's already taking after Mommy... the sono tech had to try 3 times to get measurements because Hippo was stubborn and uncooperative and wouldn't stop moving!! Friggin log rolls, I tell you. LoL. Lots of kicking and arm movement too, and it was cute to see the mouth opening and closing. Heartbeat is strong at 148 beats per minute. Very wiggly. I think I may have seen some of the Raspberry Beret dance going on. We're going to have to nip that ASAP, along with baby crocs. :-P

We're taking bets on the gender/date/time/etc. Enter your guesses here: multiple guesses allowed. http://www.expectnet.com/games/HippoBaby

Mommy is doing well too. Still no weight gained, and down 15lbs from pre-pregnancy. Not nearly as sick anymore, though some mornings are still pretty rough.

The pics are kind of stinky, because, like I said, Hippo wouldn't stop moving. I call these it's "action shots". hahaha

01.23.09 (Friday)

Mmmm. Finally - I got my baby bok choy!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

01.20.09 (Tuesday)

Just wanted to say thank you to all of you that have reached out to us since Thursday...thank you thank you thank you. I'm still not even sure how I'm "supposed" to feel. I'm hanging in.

Oh- and thank you for realizing that I hate the phone and NOT calling me! hahaha.

Your cards, emails, texts, IMs and everything else that comes through my computer (hah) were perfect. Just knowing that everyone is here for us is huge. It's actually all we can ask for right now.

Here's some hippo love for you - thanks for keeping us in your thoughts!!!

01.18.09 (Sunday)

As promised... some updated baby pictures. Baby Hippo is a real wiggle monster. The little arms and legs were going the whole time! I anticipate a LOT of kicks in the future... :)

01.15.09 (Thursday)

Had my OB appt tonight... I can't really talk about this - like physically CAN'T - but it's much easier to write it all out and see it on the page.

I'm back... it took me a few hours to get myself together, but here I am. We lost Baby B. After seeing AND hearing the heartbeat and movement, no less. :(

We really thought we were OK, but I guess God has other plans. I had no bleeding, no cramping....nothing. According to the measurements, Baby B died just days after my last ultrasound.... right around Christmas. He just stopped growing.

I'm a little numb, and it hurts, but I'm not sure how. It aches, really. Of course, I blame myself and I just feel SO GUILTY. I know it's ridiculous, just let me deal with that for a while.

A woman at the OB's office actually SAID to me, "At least you still get 1."
SERIOUSLY?!

Bittersweet...
Baby A is thriving. I really think she's a girl. Just instinct, I guess. (I thought B was a boy.) HB is 162 beats per minute, and she was wiggling all over. (it really looked just like my wiggle peepee dance. LoL) Her brain is developed - 2 perfect little hemispheres...and she's measuring a few days bigger, too. YAY for fatties :). She's perfect.

We're so lucky to have her. This whole thing is really a miracle. Some of you know that I was told that I would never conceive without IVF or IUI...we were lucky to conceive at all. We're so lucky to have her. But it still hurts when I'm flipping through my sonos and have 4 with 2 babies, and now 1.

I really really love my Dr - she didn't even have to say anything, she just hugged me. I'm so glad it was her... I was shaking, and I just felt like falling off that table and laying on the floor til it all went away. I know it sounds a little dramatic and you know I hate the prissy girl crap, but I can't even begin to tell you what it feels like. Thank God for Rich, and how well he knows me. He didn't push me to talk about it, he didn't push me for ANYTHING, really...he just wrapped his perfect hugging arms around me and kept them there until I moved. I know he has to be hurting too, but the way he was there for me, you'd never know. I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

Thanks everyone, for being here, and for understanding that I can't really talk about it.

We love our little hippo.

I'll scan and post some pics tomorrow/later/sometime. Here's a cell pic to hold you over :-)

01.11.09 (Sunday)

Hey, I have a bump! Whether it's bloat or babies is still up for discussion...but it's there! heeheeeeee!

01.07.09 (Wednesday) through 01.10.09 (Saturday)

For some reason, I couldn't access my blog for the past few days! Rarrr. Idk if the issue was with blogspot or the fact that I attempted it from my work computer. eh. whatever. over it.


Photo 1: Carrots. nummmm. Actually, that's all I ate on Wednesday! Spicy, jalapeno-juice covered carrots. The medicine seems to be helping, because now I just hurl from about 3am-8am, and only a max of 5 times. Sure beats 10-12 times over the entire day!!!





Photos 2 & 3: Gizmo is here to visit this weekend. Joe had to go back to school and Danielle is in VT on her ass in the snow...er...I mean SKIING... so we're doggy-sitting! I really <3 this little monster!



His favorite part is snuggly time with the Riiiiich.





And finally photo 4: I didn't take it, but apparently this is what the hippos look like now. They have eyelids and throw punches! I hope they're not beating each other up in there...


see you tomorrow!

01.06.09 (Tuesday)

oh boy... I could've gone without Tuesday. Tuesday was a pukey, fainty, terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I gave in and called the Dr. I've been dealing with morning sickness every day for a month now, but Tuesday was just too much. I lost my cookies 10 TIMES. TEN. TIMES. Including on the side of the Southern State Pkwy. hah. I couldn't keep anything down all day and somehow fainted in the bathroom at work. I called Charlie cryingggg- she picked Rich up and they came and rescued me and my car. I ended up at the Dr's office in the late afternoon. All is great with my little hippos :). Dr prescribed a crazy-expensive wonder drug (don't worry - it's as safe as tylenol) to help kill my nausea.

With that, I bring you today's pic... the little piece of heaven that has allowed me to vomit only twice today, not 10 times. YAY for Zofran!

Happy Wednesday! [hump]

01.05.09 (Monday)

Bahhhh I hate Monday after a vacation/long weekend. I seriously think people FORGET how to drive. $%#%^&%^. OK we (the feti and I) are done whining.

Monday's pic was actually taken Sunday, but I can't stop giggling over it. I received it in a text msg with the comment, "This is what your babies are going to look like."

AHHHHH!!!!!! Can someone explain how my 18yr old brother got his booty into that carseat?!?! LoL




Happy Tuesday!