Let's see...I'm 28 and expecting my second child in June. I have been with my husband for alomst 11 years, married for 5. We have a 2 year old boy (Hunter), and are excited that we are having another boy. We were a little crushed at first, because we really wanted a girl and we aren't planning on having anymore. But...we are finding ourselves already getting excited about this lil' boy, and we are TOTALLY prepared. I kept EVERYTHING, and it's all is GREAT condition! Hunter is so sweet...he tells me all the time that he wants to share his toys with his baby brother. I think he's already in love with the baby in my tummy!

Anyhow, I have a lot of pregnancy experience...not personally, but my father is an Ob/Gyn so I've grown up around it all! I actually work in his office part time, so I have access to all the great stuff! I get to check the heartbeat whenever I'm feeling down, or I'll catch my Dad on a lunch break and beg for a quick ultrasound! It's difficult though, because he's the best Ob/Gyn in Katy (he's actually the chief at the hospital), but I can't go to him. I had a hard time deciding who I would go to since my last Ob moved away! I did my research though, and I think I found the next best thing! She's great, and I hope eveyone else loves their Ob like I love mine! It's an important relationship to have, so don't take it lightly!

Well, if you have any crazy questions...I'll try to help! I find it relaxing to type, so I'm glad I found this site to journal my thoughts and talk to other expectant moms! We gotta find something to do to keep us busy for the next 7 months!!! Good luck to everyone!

Tuesday, December 11 - 14 weeks 0 days

Woo Hoo! Second Trimester is finally here. I'm finally starting to feel better, as the nausea has been really difficult this pregnancy. I've also had very little energy this time around and I seem to be less tired now too! YEAH! Right on schedule. I am feeling huge (partly because I've been so lazy and the scale proves it!) and also because I seem to being carrying real high this time. Even on the ultrasounds, my dad says the baby has attached very high in the uterus and with a uterus that is tilted sooo forward I will definitely begin to show early. He's right! My neighbor stopped me the other day and said, "Gosh, I didn't realize you were so far along!" What was that supposed to mean??? Oh well...thank God I still have my maternity clothes!

Friday, December 14 - 14 weeks 3 days

So, I checked out a bunch of online chinese gender charts and........THEY ALL SAY BOY!!! I try not to listen to all the myths and such, but it's so hard not to wonder whether or not a few could be true. I looked at 9 different charts and that just seems too coincidental to me. I double checked my first pregnancy and they were all different. In fact, more charts said girl than boy and I had a boy. So...what do you think?

Monday, December 17 - 14 weeks 6 days

Well, I had to have another ultrasound today because of a pain I was having in my side. My dad just wouldn't let me leave work until he was able to do a quick scan. He was going to try to not look at the anatomy since we were wanting it to be a Christmas surprise, but it was the FIRST thing you could see on the screen. IT'S 100% definitely another BOY!!! We are excited to finally know for sure. I am already looking at paint samples for the nursery. I've picked out the bedding and we will start moving furniture and painting after Christmas. I want to be done sooner rather than later this time. I moved when my first was just a week old, so I didn't get to do his nursery until he was already here and I missed out on some of the fun planning the room. I like to take BIG tasks and break them into smaller parts anyway, so I'll enjoy this lengthy project and feel very proud when it's all done. We are also going to redo our 2 year old's room at the same time. He's getting a twin bed and we are changing the theme of his room. He's so excited and wants to help pick out his paint! I'll post pics when it's all said and done!

Wednesday, January 23 - 20 weeks 1 day

I haven't been able to post in over two weeks...I had to change my username and redo my entire page. Oh well...it's fixed now, so I thought it was time for an update. I am getting very excited about another little boy. I was so afraid that I would be a bad mother for wanting a girl so bad, and now I can't imagine what I would do with one if I were having one! I have gone through all of Hunter's old things and everything is in GREAT condition for the next little guy. I feel so prepared. Hunter is super excited about his baby brother coming. He knows that he will be here right before his birthday, and he says that he just wants his baby brother for his birthday! I think that's so sweet! I've already started a baby book for "Jellybean". I found the cutest one at the store the other day, and I just HAD to get it. There is a lot of stuff in there that pertains to the pregnancy too, so I'm glad that I did get it now. Plus, I read ahead and I have an idea of what kind of things to plan ahead for and keep for his memory box.

I'm feeling huge these days. My husband says I'm just pregnant and that I'm not getting fat. He just wants sex, so I don't believe him! I am so hungry though, and I'm trying so hard not to eat BAD things. But, this baby wants cheeseburgers!!! I really don't think I'm eating too much...but the scale just keeps going up. I already feel like I'm swelling up, so I'm afraid I'm going to be at risk for pre-eclampsia. I usually have low blood pressure, but so does my mother and she had it BAD with my brother. She swelled up so bad in her last trimester that it broke her foot! AHHH! I've cut out salt, or at least I don't ADD it to ANYTHING that I eat. I'm drinking lots of water, but then I'm afraid of putting on too much water weight! It's such a bad cycle...there is just no RIGHT way to do it. I guess my body is just going to do this no matter what. I would exercise more if my back and hips didn't hurt so bad. What's a girl supposed to do???

Wednesday, February 2o - 24 weeks 1 day

Hey everyone... I just got home from the hospital, where I spent 2 days in preterm labor. I started having contractions on Sunday night and by Monday morning I noticed that they were getting regular. They were about 2 minutes apart, but not very strong. I was sent straight to labor & delivery, they checked my cervix and thank goodness it was still closed, thick and high. But...they COULDN'T stop the contractions. I got a steroid shot to mature the babies lungs, brain, and digestive system since they assume there isn't much chance I will carry to term. They hydrated me, gave me endocine (not sure about the spelling) but it's an oral medication to stop contractions. It didn't work. Then I got three shots of terbutaline every 15 minutes and after about 5 hours or so, the contractions slowed down. I continued to have random contractions for the next 24 hours, but they have since faded and now I'm just on strict bed rest for a while. I got really scared when they came in and consented me for an emergency c-section and started telling me about the survival rate of a baby less than 24 weeks. But...I'm home now, so I'm just going to be low-key for a while and take it easy. Good thing is that my low-lying placenta moved up to a good 4.5 centimeters from my cervix through all the contractions!!! So, if I do carry closer to term I won't have to have a c-section!

Thursday, February 28th - 25 weeks 2 days

I seem to be better for now. I am off of bed rest, and just restricted to low activity and low stress. The low activity is very boring, but at least I'm not stuck in bed! The low stress is harder than I thought! I am so hormonal right now, and everything drives me crazy! I am working a lot on my breathing, which also come in handy in the delivery room!

I am getting a lot of help from my husband and my neighbors. Everyone is trying to keep me from doing anything, and they are trying to keep me relaxed. I feel so useless, but them I have to remind myself that just because my arms, legs, and brain FEEL capable of doing something, does not mean that my "baby making machine" can tolerate it! I have to keep this little guy in, and if that means giving up doing laundry, the dishes, or even cooking dinner...well, then I will just have to sacrifice!

My goal is to make it to 38 weeks, but my doctor says she will be happy with 34 or 35. I'm still shooting for May 25th, so keep your fingers crossed for me! I'll keep everyone updated! Thanks so much for the sweet thoughts and prayers!

Monday, May 5th - 34 weeks 5 days

Well...it's been forever since I've updated. Just been really busy. I had another round of preterm contractions at about 31 weeks and my doctor put me on bedrest until 35 weeks. BUTTTT.....I feel safer at work, so I've been going anyway. I work in an ob/gyn office so I know I'm safe. And it's so much easier than being at home with a 3 year old. So, I've been busy working but my staff takes GREAT care of me. I have access to the NST monitor if I get worried and I can come and go as I need to. I plan on working until probaby next Thursday. We'll see though. I've definitely dropped and the excrutiating back pain started today. It feels as if my tailbone is being crushed. I don't remember it being this bad with my first one, but he didn't drop until right before I had him. So...just waiting to see what happens. I need to keep him in until at least Saturday, but I'm really hoping to make it to 37 weeks. I don't want to rush it. I'm trying to enjoy it, but it's difficult with the back pain.

Monday, May 26th - Birth Story!!!!!!

Just wanted to update everyone.......

Caden Joseph Gwin made his arrival today, Monday, May 26th at 5:16pm. He is 6lbs. 11oz. and 19 1/2 inches. He's PERFECT! He even has the sweetest cry :) !

I had been having contractions on/off for SEVERAL days and was really uncomfortable at home. The contractions weren't necessarily strong at first, but they would get to 1 - 3 minutes apart and it made me really nervous. Unfortunately my cervix just wasn't doing anything, so I was frustrated. I went to the hospital yesterday and they said to go home for a few hours because they were PACKED and didn't have room to admit me unless I was at least 4 - 5 cms. So, I went home and rested. We went back around 10pm and they gave me an Ambien and let me rest for a few hours while they monitored me. They started my labor at 7am this morning. I was on pitocin and the contractions were suprisingly tolerable. My cervix started making change and I went for several hours without an epidural. I finally gave in and got one because the anestesiologist was going in for a c-section and would be gone for over an hour....so I didn't want to chance it! My epidural worked GREAT....on my left side. I could still feel EVERYTHING on the right and was really uncomfortable. I tried to handle it though because I didn't want him to have to redo it, but I just couldn't take it anymore. It was about 4:30pm and I was 6cms. He came in...redid the epidural....and I was finally at rest. It was 5:00pm when he was done and the epidural kicked in. Within 5 minutes I felt A TON of pressure and told the nurse who just HAPPENED to be in the room. She came over, lifted the covers and yelled to the other nurse..."CALL DR. DUFF for a precipitious delivery!!!" They told me not to talk, sneeze, cough, laugh, or push! His head was right there and they were running around prepping the room. My doc came right in (she was just across the hall) and threw on her cover-up, waited for a contraction and then told me to push. He was out with ONE push! No kidding....ONE PUSH! I am STILL in shock. I can't believe it. As she was cleaning me up she told me that if I have anymore children I need to be prepared to deliver VERY QUICKLY.

She said if I go back to her for anymore pregnancies she will schedule an induction at 37/38 weeks so that I don't have to worry about getting to the hospital in time!!!!!!!! AHH! That's so scary!

I couldn't have asked for a better day. I am blessed. I appreciate all the love and prayers! I'll be posting pics frequently, so check back!