My name is Jenn. I'm a first-time Mommy, and I live with my husband Jason and my pug, Winnie. I've had female reproductive issues since I was 16, which led to 4 laparoscopies within 1 year, along with the removal of my right ovary and fallopian tube when I was 22. For anyone with endometriosis, I feel for you! I'd been put through menopause at 21, then on the pill continuously for 4 years. Last September, I had a 5th laparoscopy, then decided to go off the pill so that I could join an endo study. After a few months, we decided that since I've had so many reproductive issues we should just stay off the pill and the study, because we assumed it would take a while to get pregnant. When it didn't happen for a few months, I started to get anxious...part of me hoped that I'd be among that small percentage of women that get pregnant right away. Fast forward to January '08- had TERRIBLE food poisoning and went to the dr., who did a ua and bloodwork, and it came back negative. Next thing you know, a week later I'm doing a pregnancy test the day I was supposed to get my period, and it's positive! My husband is a MedTech at the hospital, and works the evening shift, so I called him and said "Could you pick up a pregnancy test on your way home, I'm pregnant." He brings home two, I take one the next morning and leave it on the bathroom sink for him to find, and head out to work...I'm pregnant! Funnily enough, I keep taking them, even though I've already seen the heartbeat on u/s, because it just doesn't seem real to me! =)

St. Gerard Maiella, C.SS.R.
Wonder-Worker,Ornament and Glory of the Redemptorist Order,
Powerful Protector of the Mother and her Unborn Child
Pray For us!

July 2nd, 2008

Went to the doctor today- I've gained 3#, so my grand total for the pregnancy is 18. She made me feel like absolute crap, since I'm practically killing myself at the gym 5x/wk. And, I'm hardly eating anything. I thought that this was supposed to be a joyful time in my life? Instead I'm obsessed about being fat. Nice, huh? She also suggested that I cut down on my work hours, but I've just started with this company and they need me to travel about 3 hours a day, and I'd hate to cut back because I know that it would upset them. I really like my job, but I am pretty tired all of the time, and stressed. And I find myself close to tears a lot, but I just figured that was pregnancy. Hmm...many things to think about in the upcoming weeks.

June 27th, 2008

I had to stay home from work again yesterday because of an ear infection and sinus infection. I haven't had an ear infection since I was a kid- boy are they painful! I'm going to try to go into work today for a little while, but I'm still feeling crappy. Plus, my bp is lower than the last time I went to the OB, at 102/70, so I'm a little concerned about that. Oh well. Good thing it's the weekend- I've got to rest and start working on Eamon's room.

June 20, 2008

So, I haven't written in a while because I was in a mad dash to finish school and my clinicals. I graduated from college for the second time on May 16th. I take my boards to become a Certified Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant tomorrow, and I'm super-nervous. I'm excited to get it over with, though, and start practicing! I went to my 20 week check-up a few weeks ago, and my doctor told me that I've gained 14 lbs total this entire pregnancy, and that I need to eat less and exercise more. I was really upset, especially since I work out an average of 2 hours/4-5 days/wk. Plus, my bp was low. So, the next day I didn't eat as much and was exercising more, and felt really crappy, like I was going to faint, so I called the doctor and the midwife told me to eat more. Which is it??? Anyway, my mom told me that next time she says anything, I should tell her that I pay her salary to be nice to me, and that I don't want to hear anything more about my weight. I don't think she knows about my history with an eating disorder, so I'm sure she wouldn't have said it if she'd known. Stupid doctor. Just wait until I give birth to a 24" long baby!!

May 8th, 2008

IT'S A BOY!!!!!! We're naming him Eamon, but still working on a middle name=) He's also measuring a few days ahead of 17 weeks, so I'm pretty happy about that!

April 8th, 2008

Good news- one of my best friends had her baby today! A little boy, Matthew Corrigan, and he is so cute. He has a full head of hair=) Mom was only in labor for 5 hours, lucky thing! I held him today and all he did was sleep. Mommy and Daddy are doing well. I am so happy for them, and now I can't wait until my baby's here!

April 2nd, 2008

So I went back for my check-up today. Since they didn't really get a good hb last week, they tried again this week, to no avail. Baby's being a booger. I ended up getting a u/s (woohoo!) and they gave me pics and everything. Baby's still ticking in there. I could see hands, a face, a nose, ears, legs, feet, toes...it was truly amazing. It's exciting when you see u/s of your friends' babies, but until you see a pic of your own....WOW!!!

Oh, and my due date is now Oct. 17th, so I'm not as far along as we thought.

March 26, 2008

I had worked myself up into such a frenzy over Easter weekend, especially since we visited my parents and I had terrible, doubled-over in pain cramps. Then, on Monday and Tuesday I noticed that my belly seemed flatter and my boobs weren't as sore. So I called the dr. and begged for them to see me. This morning Jason and I went in, and I was so anxious that my hands were cold and sweating, so my poor husband was rubbing them trying to get me to calm down a bit. Turns out I've gained 6 lbs since week 7, but that's not the point. I told the dr. my fears and asked to be put on some medication to calm me down, because the anxiety is so high that I can barely function. She also tried the doppler, and found the heartbeat twice for about 2 seconds, but both she and the nurse were convinced that they heard it. I sobbed because I wasn't so sure, but I don't think that the dr. would have told me she had heard it if she really hadn't. So, I was a lot better after all of that. I'm on Prozac now, and she's going to see me back in a week, presumably to check my meds and to try the doppler again. Thank goodness! And, a moritorium has been placed on my going on baby blogs and looking up miscarriage information. My husband is being vigilant and checking my computer history. I'm glad that he's here, though, to be my voice of reason, especially since I can't see myself clearly right now.

March 19th, 2008

So, after all of the fears of the last few days, I'm starting to become a little more upbeat. I had a dream last night that I had a girl, and she was a chubby-faced one year old with dark hair and blue eyes...no name, but we were sitting on the floor getting ready to go out and Jason came in, and I looked her and said, "There's Daddy!" and she smiled...maybe a sign from God not to worry, and that everything is going to be fine? I hope so. Odd thing is that my husband and I both have brown eyes, but I carry a blue from my mom, and Jason has one brother with blue eyes, so maybe he has a brown and a blue, too (both his parents had brown). Nausea was back with a vengence today. In a weird way I'm glad, because it's kind of reassuring. My mom said that she forgot to mention that paranoia goes hand-in-hand with pregnancy. I'm thinking of buying/renting a doppler, just for my own piece of mind. Any suggestions?

March 17th, 2008

What if I've had a miscarriage and I don't even know it? Not knowing is total hell. I keep reading other ladies' pages who've said that they didn't know their baby had died until 3 weeks after they'd m/c, and couldn't even tell because their bodies still felt pregnant. This is torture. I don't even have another u/s until week 17. I have a doppler in 2 weeks, but what if they don't find a heartbeat? Will they do an u/s? Is it unreasonable to ask for another u/s? Help!

March 16th, 2008

I'm so tired! When does this end?

March 7th, 2008

I am so uncomfortable!!! Urgh, do I really have 7 more months of this?! Between feeling like a fat, bloated pig and constantly worrying that I'm going to miscarry, I can barely stand myself. I have absolutely no basis (as I have never been pregnant before) for fearing the worst, yet I continue to do it...Why? My husband says not to give up on this baby, but I feel like it's easier to not be so disappointed if something happens if I don't go into this whole thing expecting everything to be perfect. Why am I being so fatalistic? Why can't I just be happy and content? *Sigh* I'm blaming it on pregnancy hormones and being off the anti-depressants. Much easier than saying that my thinking is messed up, don't you think?

February 29th, 2008

Oh my gosh! Today I feel so good, I don't even feel pregnant! I guess I should relish it, huh? I've heard that these days are few and far between in your first trimester =) What do we all think of the nickname Little Nugget for now?

February 26th, 2008

Just want to thank everyone for the advice and tips. I'm having a hard time dealing with the physical changes I'm going through. I used to be so fit and eat so healthy, but all I want to do is eat junk right now. I'm trying to choke down the good stuff, but all I can seem to manage without getting super-nauseous is carbs. I never ate pasta before this, and now I eat it at least 3x per week! My doctor says that it's okay to have mixed feelings about being pregnant and losing my body, so I'm trying to focus on that fact. Plus, I was in a big car accident today, so maybe it's a wake-up call to keep myself safe and treat myself a little better. Who knows?

February 22nd, 2008

Jason and I just had our first prenatal today. We're only just 6 weeks pregnant, and everything's going great! We saw the baby on u/s- so far, we're having a yolk sac and a hearbeat=) Not ectopic, which is something I worried about with the cramping and spotting- plus, only having one ovary and fallopian tube...so, the odds were not exactly in our favor. Due date is October 14th-20th. Guess we'll just have to wait and see when it decides to come!

February 18th, 2008

Hi All! Jason and I are so excited to meet Shnookums in 7 months. Every day I wake up and am so thankful for this whole experience. I try to remind myself of that while I'm resisting the urge to run to the toilet (darn nausea!). Our first Dr. appointment is on Friday, and maybe I'll have pictures to share. Since my mother is definitely hoping for twins ;-)

Madame Zaritska, our resident clairvoyant, wants to help you prepare for the arrival of your child. Here she does her best to predict certain aspects of your labor and birth experience.

What she senses for you
The day you deliver, outside will be cloudy. Your baby will arrive in wee hours of the morning .

After a labor lasting approximately 5 hours, your child, a boy, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and will be 21 inches long. This child will have light blue eyes and some blond hair.

But there is more. It is perfectly healthy and normal to want to look good, even during these interesting months! I sense you feel a little reluctant. Well, you're not being silly or shallow -- you're taking care of yourself. And I am happy that you are. Here is some fashionable advice for you to peruse at this special time.