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Hi ladies! My name is Lisa (former screen name: Missreader). This is where I'll be recording thoughts and memories from my pregnancy (and beyond) ...

Update, 8/8/07: Went for our level 2 ultrasound today ... it was SO TEMPTING to find out what we're having, but we resisted :-). The baby is completely healthy and everything is going great - it was waving, kicking it's legs around, sucking it's thumb - just adorable!

Update, 8/20/07: Finally registered for my baby shower - it was hard work! There's so much to research and learn and decide ... definitely educational, though. Next up is painting the nursery (In the Twilight from Benjamin Moore), registering for hypnobirthing classes, and selecting a pediatrician and day care provider. Can't believe I'm over halfway there!

Update, 10/16/07: I had been posting pretty regularly, but then there was some sort of bizarre glitch on the website and I lost everything from the past few months - GRRRRR!!! :-) Between working and trying to stay fit and prepare for the little person, I don't have time to re-do everything ... so, if you're interested in hearing more about me and my pregnancy, please visit my myspace page .... www.myspace.com/lisarajt. I have lots of pics up, a blog, vegetarian recipes - all kinds of stuff! I'll still be checking the site on a daily basis, just not re-creating all my posts here on the page.

Update, 11/2/07: I finally found the pediatrician of my dreams :-) My co-worker referred me to him. He totally shares my views on the importance of breastfeeding for as long as possible, the use of complementary and alternative medicine and not just "drug-pushing," etc. He's great! We are also continuing to practice our hypnobirthing to prepare for a fabulous natural birth - still loving my midwife, too. She's super-supportive.

Things have been a little crazy lately because my husband broke his leg playing soccer and now cannot drive - so I have to take him to work, do all the errands, etc. But my shower is this weekend, so I'm really looking forward to that - this should be a fun month!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT BREASTPUMPS!!!!!!! Ladies, if you're interested in getting a breastpump and you have health insurance, call your health care provider (usually it's the number on the back of your insurance card), and ask if breastpumps are a covered benefit. LOTS of companies cover breastpumps (the expensive, double electric ones) but they don't publicize it ... I know, because I work at a health insurance company, and I just found out myself that I can get a $280 Medela breastpump for $28 with my 10% copay. All I have to do is have my medical provider write me a prescription once I have the baby, take it into a medical supply place, and VOILA!! They'll ship it right to my house. So check that out if you want to pump!

11/8/07: I had my shower this weekend, and may I just say that my family and friends rock!! We got EVERYTHING we need, and pretty much all of it came directly off our registries. Literally, all we need to buy are some diapers and a Boppy cover. We are so hooked up. I feel so grateful to everyone :-).

11/29/07: Oh my goodness, I feel so darn PREGNANT!!!!!! I had been having a really great pregnancy ... I still felt (relatively) good, energetic, like my usual self, what-have-you. I attributed it to the light cardio and prenatal yoga I had been doing a few times a week. But the past two or three weeks - especially the past few days - have kind of sucked. Swelling (especially my fingers and my ankles - actually, they are now best described as CANKLES!!), cramping, my tummy feeling all tight and uncomfortable, the baby kicking my a** regularly, none of my maternity clothes fitting that well and me being too cheap to buy more at this point, barely being able to roll out of bed or get into my car, etc. I guess it had to happen at some point :-)

12/6/07: Well, we are officially full-term today. Feel free to come at any time, Baby! We went on the hospital tour last night, and everything is laundered and organized, give or take a few small items. We're still waiting on the glider, and we still need to hang some stuff up for decoration, but overall, it's no big deal. The main thing now is CARSEATS!! We need to get them installed ASAP. AND, I need to feel better. I've had a stomach virus since Monday night and spent part of the night at the hospital hooked up to an IV to prevent dehydration (which can spark pre-term labor). No more outward "symptoms" at this point, but my stomach still just does not feel right. It hurts, lots of cramping and gas, and occasional queasiness. Coupled with being 37 weeks pregnant, it's a LOT of fun!!

12/14/07: Note to the baby: We're ready for you anytime! You are fully cooked and just putting on weight at this point. Feel free to come on out and meet us, and make us soooo happy :-)

I am so tired these days, and cranky, and emotional. I am still trying very hard to be active, go to the gym and do my yoga, but I think I need more sleep! I am also drinking pregnancy tea + red raspberry leaf tea a few times a day to help condition my uterus for the long haul ahead :-). Still practicing hypnobirthing and doing perineal massage, too. This site has been such a big help to me during my pregnancy - don't know what I'd do without it!

12/17/07: Today is a rough day for me so far. I started it off cranky that I didn't have the baby this weekend and actually had to come to work :-) (I can't imagine what Dec. 26th, 27th, and 28th will be like if I haven't had the baby yet - my irritability will probably drive other people out of the building!). I feel so much pressure way down low and PAIN too, because of my SPD. My back and hips hurt, I'm crampy, I'm nauseous & exhausted, my feet are swollen, and I'm even a little dizzy when I stand up and walk around. At the same time, I really want to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible and I want the baby to feel comfortable coming out whenever it chooses to. I know these are all normal feelings, both physically and emotionally ... I just need to take some deep breaths and be more positive!

Update, 12/27/07: It's a boy! Benjamin David arrived on Monday December 24th at 3am, after almost 22 hours of hard labor ... what an amazing Christmas gift! He weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz. and was 19 3/4 inches long, with a full head of hair :-) He is awesome. We named him after Ben Folds!

Check me out on myspace: http://myspace.com/lisarajt