1.10.2008

I missed the second pediatrician appointment Monday morning (my leg was still not working well). I re-scheduled the appointment for today. He weighed in at 8 lbs 13 oz, and he had a slight heart murmur (which they say is completely normal). Oh and a slight eye infection - the Dr. prescribed some ointment.

1.04.2008

First pediatrician appointment. He weighed in at 8 lbs 10 oz, but everything else checked out fine. I have to go back Monday to have him re-weighed.

1.02.2008

Mom left today...dad is sticking around for a couple more days to help out!

1.01.2008

I left the hospital today, but not until 8 pm as I was still having major issues with my leg!

12.31.2007

Day two in the hospital. Most of my day was consumed by learning to breastfeed and figuring out how to function with one leg. My left leg was completely numb from what the hospital called a "stretch injury." I think it was a complication with the epidural, but who am I to argue with a MD?

12.30.2007 (40.2)

I wrote a birthing story that I published on this site, and apparently it was either not saved or deleted. To re-hash: although I was scheduled to go on for my induction at 6 pm on the 30th, I went into labor the evening of the 29th. By 11pm (on the 29th) I was having regular contractions about 5 minutes apart. At first I wasn't sure if I was really in labor as the contractions fluctuated in intensity. By 1:30 am my husband had convinced me to go to go to the hospital.

I had an epidural around 3:30 am at which time I was either not dilated at all or 1cm. The doctors started Pitocin, and I slept for the next couple hours. The next time that they checked me (around 6 am), I was 7 cm. A couple hours later, they woke me back up to push.

The first time I “pushed” was around 9 am, and unfortunately after 30 minutes he still wasn’t coming! They drugged me again and waited for an hour. During that period the baby descended down the birth canal, so the second attempt was successful!

After 12 hours of labor, our baby was born at 12:10 pm at just under 10lbs!

12.28.2007 (40.0)

Today is my Due Date!!!! Yea, except no baby! I went to the Dr. this morning for a stress test, and everything looked good. My guess is that the baby is staying put, at least until I am induced on Monday! Just a couple more days - good luck everyone!

12.27.2007 (39.6)

Tomorrow is my EDD. And still no baby! The past two weeks have seemed so long despite the holiday and family in town. I did see the Dr. yesterday. No progress, but I am scheduled for an induction on the 31st! I am so happy to have a date. By the very latest, the baby will be here Monday!

12.17.2007 (38.3)

Eleven more days until my EDD! Surreal! Although I am sure that he is going to be late...hopefully, not too late! I really want him here before the end of the year!

12.12.2007 (37.5)

Just got back from the Dr. The head is high, no dialation - ugh, this baby is not coming anytime soon!

12.05.2007 (36.5)

The baby has dropped. he feels like he is falling out! Well not really, but my stomach is sitting lower, which in turn, makes my clothes more ill-fitting. I only have one pair of pants for work and a pair of sweats that actually fit. Again, just a couple more weeks!

After labor and delivery, my maternity clothes will fit again!!!! Yea!!! How long until I am upset that I am still wearing maternity clothes b/c none of my regular clothes fit?

11.29.2007 (35.6)

I am 36 weeks tomorrow as well...it seems so close now~Part of me sooo wants this baby NOW, and another part of me is sooo not ready! Wow the next month is going to be so exciting as a lot of us will have our 'labor and delivery' stories any day!!!

11.28.2007 (35.5)

I had a Dr. appointment yesterday including the check for Strep B. Everything is normal, and the Dr. confirmed that the baby is in the head down position.

Wow ... does he move a lot. I wouldn't think there is enough room in there fo rhim, but somehow he manages to turn and twist. Only 3 and a half more weeks of work! Now, that is exciting!

11.26.2007 (35.3)

Only 32 days until my EDD! yeah! Thanksgiving was fun, but exhausting. I just don't have the energy anymore!

My Mom was in town, and we picked-up the rest of teh baby things that I will need for when he comes. The care seat was really the most important, and it is all ready now!

11.20.2007 (34.4)

Heartburn and rib kicking - fun! I cannot wait until I am not pregnant anymore. I know that it is worth it, but I miss my old body!

I had a Dr. appointment last Thursday, November 15th. After waiting in the lobbey for almost two hours I learned that my fungal height was 35 cm, and I had gained 2 more pounds. I know that these appointments are necessary, but can't they they do a little more to make the trip seem worthwhile?

I have another appointment next week and then another two weeks later. I think that I will be seen weekly after the December 12th appointment. At least I hope that I am being seen weekly from that point on as I will be almost 38 weeks!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

11.12.2007 (33.3)

After this weekend, I am positive that the baby is head down. I am now feeling all of his movements high or low, but in the center. I even think that I felt hiccups last night! Although I am happy that I am "proceeding normally" and the baby is correctly positioned for this point in the pregnancy, I am now also experiencing pain and discomfort as he begins to drop. Oh well, just a couple more weeks.

Many authorities have cited that it is normal to experience labor anytime from 3 week before to 2 weeks after your due date. So, on that schedule - I only have a little over three weeks until "it's amy day now".

My husband put together the crib, and I had my shower a couple weeks ago. I still have to buy the car seat, stroller, some additional bedding and bottles. After I get those things, I should be about ready...oh, maybe some diapers would be a good idea as well.

11.1.2007 (31.6)

Surprisingly I don't feel all that badly today. I am even a tad energetic! Yeah! I had another pre-natal appointment yesterday. Everything is fine, and I go back in two weeks. I will likely have my strep B test in four weeks which may afford me the opportunity to find out of I might possibly deliver early! (I measured 33 weeks yesterday; one and a half weeks early.)

10.26.2007 (31.0)

Wow nine more weeks; single digits, I can hardly believe it! My shower is this weekend. It should be small and nice. My Mom is flying in for the occaseion, and I am looking forward to seeing her. October certainly passed by quickly, and I presume that Novemver will fly by just as fast!

10.25.2007 (30.6)

I am having Whoppers for breakfast. Not the best choice for nutrition, but yummy all the same. This past weekend, I went to H&M and bought some new maternity clothes. I feel much better wearing some items that actually fit and look (relatively) nice. Maybe I can get to Old Navy sometime in the next week to pick-up a couple more shirts. Only 9 more weeks (and just 8 weeks of work)!

10.16.2007 (29.4)

I have been a member of this web site for 91 days, which means that 91 days ago I made my appointment for my Level II ultra sound. I can't decide if the last three months have gone by very quickly or very slowly.

10.12.2007 (29.0)

Eleven weeks until my due date. ten weeks of work, six weeks until Thanksgiving, three weeks until Hallowwen and two weeks until my shower!!!

10.11.2007 (28.6)

My appetite has been ravenous the past couple of days. I don’t even want to think about how many calories that I must have consumed!!! Only 10 more weeks of work ~ wow, the baby is going to be here very very soon!

10.8.2007 (28.3)

I am so tired today! Really, I have three more months of this?

10.3.2007 (27.5)

This web site went down and I lost everything posted after the 21st week. Thankfully (following the advice of some other VIPs), I found a cached version or my page from mid-September. So now, I am only missing the last two weeks.

I am trying to remember what happend the past two weeks...the baby turned, or at least I think that he did. Starting a week ago his kicks started getting higher (although still on the right side only). He also began making atypical movements. Usually, it feels like a thump, twitch or tickle when he moves. However, this past week it felt like he was raking his fist or foot across my abdomen. All of this "movement" has settled down during the past two days which leads me to belive that he has turned. Hopefully, I will find out (for sure) next week at my prenatal appointment.

9.19.2007 (25.5)

One-hundred days until the little one comes! With Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, time should move quickly. On another note, I tried pre-natal yoga (from a DVD) yesterday evening and this morning. Although I only completed about 20 minutes each session, I feel remarkably better. The stretching really helped my back and hips which have been causing me problems the last month due to the increased weight.

9.18.2007 (25.4)

Tomorrow marks the 100 day milestone. Currently, I have 101 days left although I am convinced that thehbaby is coming early (December 21st or 22nd). Besides a lack of mobility and absolutely no agility or strength, I feel pretty good. I haven't had any heartburn or digestive issues in a couple weeks. (However, I did read that these symptoms come back in the third trimester!) I am just looking forward to the final count down, which I think will fly by since August and September have disappeared following a long June and July.

9.13.2007 (24.6)

Today was my fourth prenatal appointment. I have gained four more pounds since my last appointment. I was also measured for the first time today (25 cm) and took my one hour gluclose blood test. That drink has a ton of sugar; I think that I had a slight buzz right after I drank it. Hopefully, everything will come back normal so that I don't have to wait in the lab again. They made me drink the fluid then sit there for an hour. I wasn't even allowed to go upstairs and sit outside – damn bureaucracy!
9.12.2007 (24.5)

I think that I am addicted to baby shows - John and Kate Plus 8, Special Delivery, etc. What strikes me as ironic is that I had ABSOLUTELY NO interest in this programming six montsh ago. I am not even grossed out by the labor and delivery scenes. I guess that my maternal instincts are kicking in to high gear.

9.11.2007 (24.4)

I hate maternity pants! They are always hanging a couple inches too low and need to constantly be pulled up! And skirts just make you look (and feel) HUGE!

9.10.2007 (24.3)

9.6.2007 (23.6)

I weighed myself this morning - 24lbs. For the first time since I got pregnant my weight gain equals my weeks. Since my goal is no more than 40 lbs, this puts me right on schedule.

A month ago, I had all these ideas about eating healthy and "losing" weight, or at least not gaining weight as quickly. What really happened? I lost a lot of my cravings.I am down to just milkshake cravings. There is no more insatiable desire for cookies, chocolate, cake, etc.

All and all, I feel pretty good about the weight, and this will last until I get on the doctor’s scale next week which always has me at 5lbs higher than my home scale. Ugh! 16 more weeks to go!

9.4.2007 (23.4)

I have two new items to report regarding my pregnancy. First, I have been feeling the baby rise for the past few weeks. He is now resting comfortably higher in my abdomen, and as a result there have been a lot fewer trips to the restroom especially in the middle of the night. Second, my husband and I went to Babys R Us this past weekend, so I cold look at everything in person. I really liked half of the things that I picked out for my registry (online), and I found better replacements for the other half. Sixteen weeks until he comes!!!

8.23.2007 (21.6)

Almost to week 22...just four short months to go!

8.20.2007 (21.3)

I can really feel the baby kick now. For the past month, I have "thought" that I was feeling him, but I wasn't sure. Starting at the end of last week, I am now positive that its him! I have even felt him from the outside with my hand. So far, he is usually most active at night when I am trying to relax - or more likely because I am relaxed, I am more likely to feel him.

8.16.2007 (20.6)
My stomache grew so much the past week. I feel as though I am carrying around a bowling ball (it's that heavy too). I am so happy that I am halfway and it is now a count down until the baby arrives! Only a little over four months to go ... and Fall is my favorite season, so it should go by quickly.

8.14.2007 (20.4)

I really want the baby to come before Christmas, December 22nd to be exact! My husband, on the other hand, is convinced that the baby is coming December 31st. So far my husband is 1-0 predicting the sex of the baby, while I am 0-1 (I could have sworn it was a girl). I guess it's another four months before we know who is right!

8.13.2007 (20.3)

8.10.2007 (20.0)

8.9.2007 (19.6)

8.8.2007 (19.5)

I was searching for a hair color predictor on the internet. While I have yet to find out whether my little boy could possibly be a red head, I did happen upon a pretty neat site that determines your baby's eye color.

8.7.2007 (19.4)

I am going to have to admit that I am one of those women who thought being pregnant gave me a free pass to eat whatever and whenever I wanted. My body type takes effort to keep trim; no sweets and no chips! Prior to four months ago, I hadn't touched a cookie or ice cream in a decade. As of today, my freezer is packed with Java Chip, Moose Tracks, and Snickers bars. Last week, I caught myself scrounging for spare change to feed the vending machine. The result - I have gained more than the recommended amount of weight.

I am at least 10 lbs over what I should be for 20 weeks and encroaching on 15 lbs very quickly. Unless I want to have 50 lbs to lose next winter, I have to make some sacrifices. No more Twinkies (they aren't even any good), no more trips to the Cheesecake Factory (which should save me some money - who in their right mind spends $7 for a slice of cheesecake?), and no more Doritos (I forgot how much I loved them).

I am cleaning house tonight and throwing it all away. I am back to my former diet of tasteless oatmeal, dry potatoes, raw vegetables, and cottage cheese. But not before I have one more piece of cake!

8.3.2007 (19.2)

8.2.2007 (19.1)

According to justmommies, "You won't need to try any secret recipes to bring on labor. Have your emergency numbers ready. Don't wait until the last minute to get your nursery ready. We predict your baby will come 1-2 weeks early. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. Justmommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 7.8 pounds and that your labor will be about 11 hours long." While it would be neat to have the baby before Christmas, I have to remember that I was also predicted a girl!

8.1.2007 (19.0)

7.31.2007 (18.4)

I had a Level II ultrasound this morning. It's a boy!!! My husband is thrilled; he really wanted a first born son. For the first part of the ultrasound we were both silent as the practioner measured growth and checked out all of the major organs. (The baby is healthy and exactly on schedule.) When the practioner finally said that it was a boy, my husband let out an excited "YES!" It was so adorable. I know that he wanted a boy, but he hadn't quite let on how much. My husband was joking and laughing the rest of the examination, and he called everyone with the announcement immediately!

7.27.2007 (18.0)

Last night during dinner I felt the baby for the first time! The little one must have known that we were talking about him/her! I have had "sensations" in the general area, but I haven't been able to tell if it was the baby, round ligament pain, or indigestion. I am positive that the dull thumping last night was my baby saying hello!

7.25.2007 (17.5)

Last month it was nausea; this month it is heartburn. I never had heartburn before. Actually, I use to mock my “older” friends who had to pop a Zantac at the bar. Now I empathize with their pain. One more week until the ultrasound! I decide to take the day off of work and make a vacation out of the event. Hopefully my husband won’t have any pressing business matters so that we can enjoy the day together!

7.24.2007 (17.4)

7.20.2007 (17.0)

I have had a headache for three days! Has anyone else experienced this since becoming pregnant? And Tylenol does not seem to be helping! Hopefully this is just a phase and will pass soon.

7.17.2007 (16.4)

I go in for my ultra-sound July 31st! My husband really wants a boy, but all of the online tests are predicting a girl. We will find out for sure in a couple weeks.

7.12.2007 (15.6)

My second doctor's appointment was today. All my tests from my first visit came back normal. More blood work today, but I was also given my referral for my Level II ultra-sound. AND I was able to hear the baby's heart beat with the doppler for the first time. I have to admit that I teared up a little!

5.31.2007 (9.6)

4.27.2007 (5.0)

Listed below are some of my favorite pregnancy and baby related web sites. Feel free to share your favorites so that I can add them to my list.

1. Nymbler - Your Personal Name Assistant
2. House of Names - Surname Origins and Meanings
3. Amazing Pregnacy - Due Date Calculator
4. Eye Color Calculator - Predict Your Baby's Eye Color
5. National Marrow Donor Program - Cord Blood Donation FAQ
6. Home and Living - Nursery Furniture (free shipping)
   
7. Overstock - More Nursery Furniture ($2.95 shipping)
   
8. Parents Magazine - Free Online Baby Related Podcats
9. PregTASTIC - More Free Online Pregnancy Related Podcasts
10. Shutterfly - Best and Easiest Photo Sharing Web Site ;)
11. Taking Charge of Your Fertility - Natural Family Planning and Choosing the Sex of Your Baby
12. How to Choose the sex of Your Baby - The Original Source on How to Have a Boy or Girl
13. Contraction Master - Looking forward to week 40!