Hello new moms

I am Colleen. I have been married since October 2000. My husband is in the US Army. We have been trying and failing many times since our marriage. We have been in infertility for over 2 years. I began to lose hope. I have been on many infertility drugs only to gain a ton of weight and lose my spirit. I also was born with a spinal birth defect and lupis. Through our new doctor, I learned that I have a Progesterone problem. This time my new doctor has been on top of things. I am proud to say we did it. I am pregnant.

I am going to use the blog feature for specific details and still update my front page with quick notes and such.

___________________

July 14

Was in hospital with contractions again (july 12). They stopped them and sent me home. They tested me for my itch and I have something going on with my liver that makes me itch from head to toe. Doc named it but I can’t for the life of me remember what he called it. Bed Rest again. Blah.

___________________

July 10th

My crotch hurts very badly now. I can barely get out of bed.

The itching is driving me crazy. I hate stretch marks.

Contractions have begun but no dilation so back to bed rest.

___________________

July 1st

It's official they moved my c-section to July 30th.

I will now see the hospital on Tuesday mornings for tests and doctors appts are now tuesdays and fridays.

They will watch me extremely closely now. I wouldn't mind going into labor 2 or 3 weeks!! I am ready to meet our son. Let's get on with our lives as a family.

Oh, I am sooo excited.

___________________

June 12 2008

Saw the Para on Monday the 9th and he thinks we may need to move my c-section up. The baby's ab is measuring at 34w4d while head is at 33w2d. Not so good. But expected due to the fact that I have diabetes and thyroid issues. Today, I went to see my OB/Gyn to disuss matters. OHHHH, I tell ya I just hate this guy. He has no bedside manners at all. I can't wait to be out of his office for good. He has agreed to have an amno done to see about the lungs and then well, "we will have to see; the hospital doesn't just reschedule a scheduled c-section". Funny, how the two offices are completely different on information. Drives me crazy.

No u/s pic this time; it was a horrible pic and you can't really see anything but a blob. I am going weekly now so hopefully next time I will have a picture for everyone. We have decided not to have the 3d. We decided to spend the money on something else nice for the baby.

___________________

June 3 2008

Had a good scare last week that I am still recovering from. On thursday, I thought I peed my pants. Was the strangest thing ever. I cleaned up and while doing so, I noticed that it didnt smell like pee and it had a clay color to it. I tried not to panic and called my hubby. We went right to the doctors office. Turns out that those sacs in the beginning of my pregnancy was not absorbed by the placenta. Instead the placenta pushed the sacs to the outside edges. Well, one popped and I was very lucky. If it had torn the membrane I would have had a premature baby and that would not have been good.

Needless to say, I hate bed rest. It's been a week now and I have one week of bedrest left. Baby is still kicking and moving. Doctor says I should be fine.

___________________

May 11 2008

Great Mother's Day. Had brunch with friends and went shopping for a few items I needed. Have a few nursing outfits now. I am almost ready for the baby.

Had my appt on the 9th. Doctor was impressed by me. I didnt gain any weight, only baby gained. Doctor is pleased with my progress and so am I.

___________________

April 22

Blogged about Birth Classes. I am really disappointed. I sure hope others enjoyed their birth classes.

___________________

April 11th

These doctors are crazy and very cool, so I have mixed emotions right now. My scan shows me at 22wk and 4 days. I asked how am I back up to the original date. Well-hell, it just works out that way, I am told.

Well, coolness. I am jumping ahead and it feels good to get closer to the finish line. I kinda feel like I won the lotto. Doctor says they may push my csection up another week... Ok, BINGO again. as things go, I will let y'all know.

___________________

April 10th

Have another appointment tomorrow. I am very excited. 21 weeks is wonderful. I have soo much energy, it's crazy. I actually did yardwork yesterday. I have to watch it, still. I am having sharp ligament pains in my thigh area. I will get more details from doc tomorrow.

___________________

April 5th

well, Uncle Sam stricks again. My DH is off on tour, not a long one, just long enough to piss me off.

___________________

March 28th

Well, not much to report. I love my bed and sleeping seems to be the most wonderful invention. teeheee. I have been trying to do more stuff. Trying, is a bit understated, but I am.

I saw my Spinal surgeon on Wed. Today, his letter arrived. The letter stated that I should have a c-section. YEAH. Finally. Now my ObGyn and Prenatal Specialist can quit arguing over it. Schedule it, buddy!! I am ready for a date!!

___________________

March 14th

Saw my Chiro today. I love HER!! She rocks my world. She is a pregnancy specialist. She put me right back since my fall. I can walk again!!!! My leg is still sore but that is power for the course. I am going to see her 2x a month. She will help me prepare for NATURAL birth. Scary as that is. I have decided that I will do it, ONLY with her help. Soooo, she has agreed to hold my hand thru it. With my spine problem, one wrong move and I am paralized from waist down. We are going to work on this plan... Walking afterwards!!! AMEN. see, I love her. Anyone in the ATL and want her name, by all means ASK. You will love her too.

I will not hide that I am afraid of natural birth. I was set and comfortable with my c-section. I just have to keep reminding myself, OPTIONS are good.

___________________

March 13th

What a week. I had my first fall last friday. I have been trying to recover ever since. Had my 17week appt today. We are having a little MAN!!! Yep, baby is a boy. We couldn't be happier. I have this thing about big brothers. Now, hopefully in the future, little man will be just that.. A big brother.

All my test have returned wonderful. My concern is that my GD is out of control. I have an appt with the Diabeties Mgmt team on Monday. The doctor reports that the baby is normal size and perfect thus far. I just need to get the sugar under control. I think I can do that.

___________________

Feb 18th

What a great week. V-Day was amazing. My hubby gave me flowers. Too sweet. We had our appointment with the new doctor. My sugars are not all that bad. I am not sure why the nurse likes to torment me. We had a 2 hr talk with the new doctor. I really really like him. I still have to monitor my sugars and stay on the diet. Since getting pregnant I have gain a whole 7lbs. The nurse made me feel so bad about that and the new doctor complimented me on the gains. Big difference. He also agreed that in my case - with my spinal cord issues - that a C-Section would be best. I was soo happy... again, wham, mean nurse... mean mean nurse. He took us to the U/S woman and I had my NT test. Passed. YEAH. The baby was sleeping. AND finally, we heard the heartbeat for more than 2 minutes straight. SOOO, cool. We tried to get sex but baby kept legs closed. Next appointment is in 3 weeks so we will try again, then.

I believe we have kicks and pinches. The new doctor assured me the feelings that I am experiencing is indeed the babe making me know Babe, loves me. hehhee see, I dig my new doc!! oh, and the new u/s shows that I was on V-day 13wks and 2days along. Baby is growing well. We got a really great pic of the lips and noses. TOOO Cool. I am soo excited about everything now. Seems soo real to me now. No more progesterone pills, yeah. I hate taking pills. The prenatal are like horse pills and that's enough for me.

This weekend I took my first trip out of town. We went to the Virginia Mountains. Everyone kept telling me I was gonna get sick from the altitude. I didn't. My aunt chain-smokes so we had to politely request her to bud it out. My lungs hurt. I used my inhaler and slept the entire way home. Tonight, I am better. Goodness, that was the first time I have been around ciggy smoke since being pregnant; my girlfriends don't even drink around me. Yuck. No more trips where people have bad habits. NO not again.

So, new U/S pics as soon as he sends them back to me. HUGS to all.

___________________

Feb 12th

New pic added. This pic was taken Feb 5th when I was 11w5d. Too cute. Couldn't get the scan, due to holiday push at the base.

As for me, I am fine. I still am sleeping a ton. I hope to get thru this sometime soon. I am going to start water ballet classes. I haven't swam in years. I think it will be fun. Maybe swimming will recharge me to some normal. One can only HOPE.

___________________

Jan 30th

When it rains it pours. I am very sad today. I have been in and out of the doctor's office. I have been tested again for Gestational Diabetes and I failed. Very sad. I seem to get it with every pregnancy. My last pregnancy was about 3 years ago. In that pregnancy, I developed thyroid and diabetes issues. They believe I actually have type 1 Diabetes, but because I have been on a very healthy diet and exercise program for 2 years, everyone missed the signs. I was being tested every 6 months by my PCM and each test was clear.

Needless to say, I have it again. This time my counts are soo high. Monday on a fast, I registered at 295. OUCH. By lunch, I had dropped to 220. Not good enough, even for me. I have now been placed on Glyburide. I have a new diet to follow. Diets don't scare me it's the food selections that piss me off. EGGS are horrible. They smell bad to me and they give me with worst gas and heartburn. I am soo doomed on this new diet. They scheduled me for a special clinic to help me manage this new form of diabetes.

I am happy that this mornings wake up reading was at 90. 2 hours after breakfast it was 93. Still not good. I just hate this diet plan. I need to find a new one with different foods. My last GD diet was with Mayo Clinic and it was pretty good. I could eat 99% of the diet. Well, I will not try to complain too much. I am still having a healthy baby!!

PLUS, yep more wonderful news, I am begining to hate this week, I have early signs of Placenta Previa. I will be tested again, in two weeks.

Guess my wish of a C-Section may still come true.

___________________

Jan 25th

Bleed most of the 24th. I called midwife like a good girl. She said to raise feeties again and rest up. I understand that as long as I don't see clots or feel as if the blood is a cycle, I am ok, the sac is dropped.

Ok, so today I am fine. No cramps and no blood. Well, you know, I wipe and see discoloration but nothing, it has stopped.

I sure hope to feel normal again soon. I am up to 12 hours of sleep plus my 2 hour nap, each day. I can't take much more of the sleep thing. I now hurt from sleeping too much. I am going to make a chiro appt, in the am. I have to... and I need a nice rub, deep tissue. Heck yeah. Work is sooo slow right now, thank the stars. However, I need to make some sales. I now dream about work. I still haven't a baby dream. Once, I dreamed that I was push a stroller but my roomie can and took the stroller so I could go to work. I wasn't upset by it, it was ok. So, I don't think that dream counted. I think it was more about going to work to make money.

Well, full circle again, If the midwife is correct, and I don't mean to second guess her, I have one more sac to drop and I am good as gold again. My next appt is Feb 7th. I can hold out until then. Isn't all this a wait game, anyway?

___________________

Jan 21st

Had a nice scare on Sunday. I woke in blood. I had no idea what happened. I cleaned up and called the on-call doctor. Do I stay home or go to hospital? He called me back right away. He said stay in bed and go to office first thing. So, I did just that. Raised my feet and watched some TV.

I went in to the office today. I had an appointment to test Diabetes. The midwife worked me in when she read my off-hours call report. She did and examine and sent my hubby and I into the u/s room. The u/s showed that the placenta is growing already and that the baby is fine. Heartbeating away, just fine. My issue is that I have developed 3 sacs of blood behind the placenta. One which dropped sunday. The other 2 are up high and need to be watched closely. My body should absorb the sacs or they will drop and I will bleed. The highest one is about a nickle size. If it keeps filling then the placenta what a higher risk of tearing. SCARY. The plan... no sex... poor hubby... rest and call if bleeding happens.

Other than that I am still not sick at all. Just tired. very tired, therefore, I sleep. My progesterone is only 23.8. But they are not too worried about that. They say that I will not really go higher. Now, that the placenta is growing, I am going to be removed from the pills on week 13.

___________________

Jan 16th

I am sleeping soo much I don't have a clue what day it is. On the 15th, I returned to the doc for my big checkup. We did the woman stuff and the midwife and I chatted up a storm. I will not have her deliver me... the doctor will do that. She is there to help with all the in between stuff.

I gave more blood... like the peeing... offering my blood is getting old really fast. Yes, the Progesterone is helping. My counts are normal ranged now. I am not high risk any longer, however they have spys watching me... doomed from here on out, under a keen eye of my hubby. We got another U/S done too. My DH is like a kid in the candy store; it's amazing and SOOO EXCITING. This time we measured the heartbeat and seen the arm and leg buds. Right on track... 8w5d

AHHH, I still am having a hard time KNOWING I am pregnant. I mean, all I do is sleep and pee. I am thankful I don't have any other symptoms. My sinus cold is going a way finally. The midwife said that I will mostlikely have the sniffles thru out. I guess that is better than being quesy 24/7.

I will post the new U/S after my hubby scans them. My hubby - I think I will keep him. heheeheeee

___________________

Jan 10th

We finally told our families and the guys on the base. What a great response. I added the U/S Picture for your viewing pleasures. We are very excited. I believe my hubby is more excited than I. My hubby called my youngest brother in FL tonight and told him the good news. My brother was like "really, really, really. That's totally Cool. How is my sis, thou?" LOL I love my younger brother; he always makes me laugh.

I feel soooo much better now I told my parents. They were very happy for us. Since we made it out of the woods, so to speak, we all are happy and relieved about the news. Seeing the little beat is still on my mind's eye. Totally a cool experience. We also let my folks know that if the baby is a little man, he will have my father's name as his middle name. I think my father was proud to hear that. I almost cried. I love my folks more than anything.

I still need to ask when I need to drain the waterbed and put up a flat bed. I will miss my waterbed. It's a soft side mattress waterbed. So I am not sure what to do about this issue. I have read that regular waterbeds were not good. But I also read that my kind is find as long as we keep it extra firm.

___________________

Jan 8th

WOW what a day I have had. Yep, we saw the peanut AND the small beating of it's heart. EVERY EVERY exciting. However, I am only 7w5d, Due Aug 21st. My doctor is soo funny. I adore him; I couldn't be happier in a doctor.

My hubby is soo excited. He kept telling the nurses to becareful, "it's his baby!" lol Goshdarnit, I love him soo much. Scan will be up tomorrow; I can't figure out my scanner... All I make is copies. blah.

___________________

Jan 4th

I am very tired. All I do is sleep and sleep.

My new symptom is a horrible dry mouth. I don't know what to do about this but suck on stuff and that really doesn't help me. My friend who has twins says she had the same symptoms as I have. Dry mouth, sleep and no morning sickness.

I don't get to tummy sick. never really have, unless its the flu. Doctor says some woman never have morning sickness. I am hungry and have hunger pains but not sickly... unless I am super starving. Crazy. U/S is on the 8th. I am very excited about that.

_____ ______________

Dec 27th

This cold is kicking my tail. I can't hear a bloody thing. I am craving Olive Garden Salad LIKE CRAZY. But salad gives me gas... heheee... YEAH, finally I clear my hubby out of the room...hehehe, gross, I know.

___________________

Dec 26th

Went to see my PCP about my cold. I took another test and YEP, still pregnant. OH MY GOD... dreams do come true. SOOO, I have a nice nasty cold. My poor ears as clogged and I can barely hear. He gave me some meds and I can use my nebulizer for my asthma. I don't get to use much. Sudifed, cough drops and Vicks VapoRub. I just needed that reality check. I am still doing all the right stuff.

My hubby is funny. I think he is more excited than I am. I have a few magazines to read whilest on my bed rest. I am sooo sick of my bed. I am sleeping all the time. I sleep, pee, sleep, pee, eat, sleep, pee, eat and pee some more. I am the baby!! I have been keeping my food log faithfully and taking my prenatal faithfully. With this lovely cold, I am gonna double up on vitamins. Can't hurt.

AGAIN, the doctor said I could be having twins. AHHHH, can you believe. I said God, just one, please. I guess, lol, if you wait this long for your dreams to come true you get blessed beyond your imagination. C'mon January 8th. The U/S will tell us what's in there. Well, I am off to that bed of mine.

OHHH, speaking of beds... when do I change beds? We currently are on a softside waterbed. We have a spare room with a flat hard bed, which I sure don't look forward to. But, when is when? Guess I have one more question to add to my "ask doctor" list.