Unless this little one is like his/her older sister and decides to come early...that's the date and time of my c-section!!!!
How exciting, huh?
Now let's just pray I can hold out that long because I would really, really, really like to be able to see my co-workers through our first big deadline of March 15th! I know it sounds ridiculous but my work ethic forbids me to feel otherwise.
**talking to the baby** "Do you hear me little one? Mommy really can't wait to meet you...but please stay in there until March 16th!"
Yesterday I had another doctor's appointment. Nothing major to report, thankfully.
I have gained three pounds - which I'm sure is, in part, due to Dustin bringing home Wild Berry Skittles every night for me. Yummy.
Baby's heartbeat was 155 and everything else looked great!!! We're almost there people!!!
Baby Update: 33 weeks
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
A report from the trenches....
We frantically tried to finish the bathroom in the basement this weekend and thanks to several obstacles we didn't COMPLETELY finish.
We still need to put up the baseboard, hang the door and put up the hardware (i.e. toilet paper holder, towel bars, mirror, etc.).
However, it is a usable bathroom as of today...so I guess it still counts as a victory for "Team Bricker".
We still need to put up the baseboard, hang the door and put up the hardware (i.e. toilet paper holder, towel bars, mirror, etc.).
However, it is a usable bathroom as of today...so I guess it still counts as a victory for "Team Bricker".
A little piece of heaven
We had our 3d/4d ultrasound in Des Moines this weekend. I had seriously thought about canceling it for a number of reasons: time, bathroom remodel, tax season, etc. But Dustin refused to let me do so and I am so glad I didn't. Mom took the kids for us and not only did we get to have some much needed time alone, we also got to see a beautiful baby and the first signs of personality from our newest addition.
The slideshow goes kind of fast and you can pause it down by the bottom right-hand corner (yes, I'm talking to you Pop-pop!).
Baby looks PERFECT!!! Baby weighs 4 pounds, 4 ounces!!! He/she has tons of hair (it measured 1.85 centimeters long at the back of the head), chubby cheeks, 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 inch long feet, makes the same "mad face" as Josh and Lauren and is perfect in every possible way. What a pleasure it was to watch our little baby practice breathing, yawning and smiling! I mean honestly, talk about a once in a lifetime experience.
The whole day was perfect and I am even more excited to meet this little person...if that's possible! :-)
The slideshow goes kind of fast and you can pause it down by the bottom right-hand corner (yes, I'm talking to you Pop-pop!).
Baby looks PERFECT!!! Baby weighs 4 pounds, 4 ounces!!! He/she has tons of hair (it measured 1.85 centimeters long at the back of the head), chubby cheeks, 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 inch long feet, makes the same "mad face" as Josh and Lauren and is perfect in every possible way. What a pleasure it was to watch our little baby practice breathing, yawning and smiling! I mean honestly, talk about a once in a lifetime experience.
The whole day was perfect and I am even more excited to meet this little person...if that's possible! :-)
What I've been doing....
Sorry, I've been behind but I can barely feel my fingers enough to type these few words out.
This weekend was busy and each night I've been up past 11:30 working in the basement bathroom and in the nursery.
Monday night was drywall in the bathroom, paint and assemble the crib in the nursery. Last night was clean the nursery and lay the floor in the bathroom.
Here's proof!
I promise I will try and update more later...but I'm swamped at work and my nights are pretty full right now.
Baby Update: 32 weeks
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb.
This weekend was busy and each night I've been up past 11:30 working in the basement bathroom and in the nursery.
Monday night was drywall in the bathroom, paint and assemble the crib in the nursery. Last night was clean the nursery and lay the floor in the bathroom.
Here's proof!
I promise I will try and update more later...but I'm swamped at work and my nights are pretty full right now.
Baby Update: 32 weeks
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb.
-32
Minus 32...that's what Dustin's truck temperature read this morning.
This week had record breaking temperatures, a late start, an early out, three days of no school, two snowstorms dumping a total of 13", a mysterious rash, late night contractions, late night puking which lead to late night bath and bed sheet change, one trip to the OB, one trip to the pediatrician, full snow gear every day, engines seizing, the beginnings of tax season at my work, numbness and frustration at Dustin's work and a whole lot of missed sleep.
I think it's safe to say....THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!
This week had record breaking temperatures, a late start, an early out, three days of no school, two snowstorms dumping a total of 13", a mysterious rash, late night contractions, late night puking which lead to late night bath and bed sheet change, one trip to the OB, one trip to the pediatrician, full snow gear every day, engines seizing, the beginnings of tax season at my work, numbness and frustration at Dustin's work and a whole lot of missed sleep.
I think it's safe to say....THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!
Miss Lauren
I think I should just set up a standing weekly appointment at the pediatrician. Because lately, it feels like we live there.
Today it was Miss Lauren.
This morning when I dressed her I thought that her poor little legs had become chapped from the frigid, dry weather. I mentioned something to Jaime, our daycare provider, that she should keep putting lotion on her legs throughout the day because when I went to put her pants on her this morning I rubbed against her thigh and she said, "Owie".
Well, Jaime called my office around noon and told me that she didn't think it was just chapped skin: she thought it was Fifth Disease and it was spreading.
Fifth Disease is normally harmless but can be dangerous to unborn children. So I sent Dustin off to the doctor with her to find out if I should be calling my doctor but thankfully, Dr. Anderson did not feel it was Fifth Disease.
Nonetheless, it is not pretty to look at. So I'll share. :-)
Dr. Anderson said there wasn't really anything we could give her as it is a virus. So...he said to keep it moisturized with Vaseline and give her Tylenol to relieve any discomfort.
Poor thing. Tonight she was sliding down the stairs saying, "Owie" with each step. I ran over and picked her up but even the pressure of my hands on her thighs hurt.
I can't get over how fast it spread so I'm hoping it passes quickly!
Today it was Miss Lauren.
This morning when I dressed her I thought that her poor little legs had become chapped from the frigid, dry weather. I mentioned something to Jaime, our daycare provider, that she should keep putting lotion on her legs throughout the day because when I went to put her pants on her this morning I rubbed against her thigh and she said, "Owie".
Well, Jaime called my office around noon and told me that she didn't think it was just chapped skin: she thought it was Fifth Disease and it was spreading.
Fifth Disease is normally harmless but can be dangerous to unborn children. So I sent Dustin off to the doctor with her to find out if I should be calling my doctor but thankfully, Dr. Anderson did not feel it was Fifth Disease.
Nonetheless, it is not pretty to look at. So I'll share. :-)
Dr. Anderson said there wasn't really anything we could give her as it is a virus. So...he said to keep it moisturized with Vaseline and give her Tylenol to relieve any discomfort.
Poor thing. Tonight she was sliding down the stairs saying, "Owie" with each step. I ran over and picked her up but even the pressure of my hands on her thighs hurt.
I can't get over how fast it spread so I'm hoping it passes quickly!
Nesting
Upon the realization that this past weekend was the last free weekend before baby's here, I got a serious case of nesting. With so many tasks at hand I knew it was not going to be a nice, relaxing couple of days but on the other hand...I was hoping it would help me feel more "together".
Saturday the snow came. As soon as Josh woke up and saw what was outside he began jumping around with excitement. "Can I go out, mom?" "Can I go out in the snow, mom?" "Mom, how much longer till we can go outside?"
But of course as everyone and their neighbor was out clearing their driveways, I bundled the family up and forced them to run errands with me. I knew I wanted to get the nursery painted this weekend so our first stop was Home Depot, then lunch, and then Target.
As soon as we got home Lauren took a nap and Josh, Dustin and I went out and played in the snow!
I'm not sure who had more fun: Josh or Mattie. Mattie just ran and ran and ran. I was sitting in a patio chair remembering the warmer days of summer and Mattie had her face buried in the snow. As you can see by the video she is also not the smartest dog, but you can't help but smile when she runs around with Josh like she's just another kid in the family.
We took a break and warmed up for a bit and then Lauren woke up. So out we went again...this time with the Pink Monster!
It didn't take long and she was ready for a snack. Shocker. So her and I came inside and made the boys some hot cocoa while they played a little longer.
Then we met Larry and Toni for a dinner. We hadn't really sat down with them for awhile and it was nice to sort of "catch up". We went for Chinese and at the end of the meal we all got a customary fortune cookie.
Lauren's said, "You have an iron will."
Uh...ya think?
Sunday was work day. And by work day I mean, "Work Until I'm Laid Up With Contractions." More details on that to come.
Sunday we were busy. Christmas decorations and trees came down, laundry was done, all of Lauren's old clothes were sorted and organized by size and placed into tubs, Lauren's bedroom closet was cleaned out, her carpeting was steam cleaned, the entire house was vacuumed and picked up, the nursery was painted and somewhere in there the kids had baths and we ate two meals. I'm sure I'm forgetting something else but honestly, I don't want my doctor to read this and yell at me more.
Anyway, Lauren's room is cleaned, organized and adorable! She has so much room to play in and I smile every time I look in there because it's sooooo "little girlish". Hehehehehe.
Uh...don't mind the pile of nursery stuff on her little table. I forgot it was there until I just looked at the picture.
Other than that...isn't it adorable?!?!?!?
Obviously, by Sunday night I was wiped out. I know you won't believe this...but I ACTUALLY quit painting in the nursery and walked away because I didn't feel good. ME! Say I can't do something! Crazy, huh?
I got ready for bed and around 11:00 felt uneasy. By the time Dustin's alarm went off at 12:15 I still had not fallen asleep and the braxton hicks contractions were getting stronger. I got up and walked around for awhile, drank some water and laid back down. By 1:30 I started to panic. I knew they weren't regular but they were coming every 4-7 minutes and they were definitely painful. By 2:00 I called Dustin. He told me to call labor & delivery.
Me, being stubborn, didn't want to. I guess I feel more self-conscious about looking stupid than anything. I mean, this is my third. You'd think I'd know by now. But I didn't want to wake everyone up, trek down to the hospital for a few hours only to be told that I needed to have a glass of water.
Well, by 2:30 I was looking for a phone book to call the hospital. I walked around a little bit wondering if I should really do this and thought I'd give one last chance to a drink of water and a new resting position. By 3:00 they had gotten better and by 3:30/4:00 I must have fallen asleep.
A short night later it was time to get up. I got the kids ready and we all went on with our day but I noticed baby wasn't moving as much. I'm sure he/she was just exhausted. But by 11:30 I called my OB and they told me to come on in.
Everything was fine. We had a non-stress test and got to listen to the heartbeat for about 45 minutes. That was SO comforting. Dr. Hocking checked me and said my cervix was nice and tight - so for as uncomfortable as the contractions were...they were not "productive".
Basically, I over did it. I know that now. I'm naughty and you can each scold me like my father, my doctor and my husband already have. But you all know I'm not one to sit still - pregnant or not.
I did learn my lesson, though. I will try much harder to take it easy and remind myself that my body can only take so much.
On the upside, though...I feel much more comfortable with the shape my house is in. And given that tax season has already started and work is swamped, I enjoy coming home to a clean and organized house that much more!
Baby Update: 31 weeks
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt.He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.
Saturday the snow came. As soon as Josh woke up and saw what was outside he began jumping around with excitement. "Can I go out, mom?" "Can I go out in the snow, mom?" "Mom, how much longer till we can go outside?"
But of course as everyone and their neighbor was out clearing their driveways, I bundled the family up and forced them to run errands with me. I knew I wanted to get the nursery painted this weekend so our first stop was Home Depot, then lunch, and then Target.
As soon as we got home Lauren took a nap and Josh, Dustin and I went out and played in the snow!
I'm not sure who had more fun: Josh or Mattie. Mattie just ran and ran and ran. I was sitting in a patio chair remembering the warmer days of summer and Mattie had her face buried in the snow. As you can see by the video she is also not the smartest dog, but you can't help but smile when she runs around with Josh like she's just another kid in the family.
We took a break and warmed up for a bit and then Lauren woke up. So out we went again...this time with the Pink Monster!
It didn't take long and she was ready for a snack. Shocker. So her and I came inside and made the boys some hot cocoa while they played a little longer.
Then we met Larry and Toni for a dinner. We hadn't really sat down with them for awhile and it was nice to sort of "catch up". We went for Chinese and at the end of the meal we all got a customary fortune cookie.
Lauren's said, "You have an iron will."
Uh...ya think?
Sunday was work day. And by work day I mean, "Work Until I'm Laid Up With Contractions." More details on that to come.
Sunday we were busy. Christmas decorations and trees came down, laundry was done, all of Lauren's old clothes were sorted and organized by size and placed into tubs, Lauren's bedroom closet was cleaned out, her carpeting was steam cleaned, the entire house was vacuumed and picked up, the nursery was painted and somewhere in there the kids had baths and we ate two meals. I'm sure I'm forgetting something else but honestly, I don't want my doctor to read this and yell at me more.
Anyway, Lauren's room is cleaned, organized and adorable! She has so much room to play in and I smile every time I look in there because it's sooooo "little girlish". Hehehehehe.
Uh...don't mind the pile of nursery stuff on her little table. I forgot it was there until I just looked at the picture.
Other than that...isn't it adorable?!?!?!?
Obviously, by Sunday night I was wiped out. I know you won't believe this...but I ACTUALLY quit painting in the nursery and walked away because I didn't feel good. ME! Say I can't do something! Crazy, huh?
I got ready for bed and around 11:00 felt uneasy. By the time Dustin's alarm went off at 12:15 I still had not fallen asleep and the braxton hicks contractions were getting stronger. I got up and walked around for awhile, drank some water and laid back down. By 1:30 I started to panic. I knew they weren't regular but they were coming every 4-7 minutes and they were definitely painful. By 2:00 I called Dustin. He told me to call labor & delivery.
Me, being stubborn, didn't want to. I guess I feel more self-conscious about looking stupid than anything. I mean, this is my third. You'd think I'd know by now. But I didn't want to wake everyone up, trek down to the hospital for a few hours only to be told that I needed to have a glass of water.
Well, by 2:30 I was looking for a phone book to call the hospital. I walked around a little bit wondering if I should really do this and thought I'd give one last chance to a drink of water and a new resting position. By 3:00 they had gotten better and by 3:30/4:00 I must have fallen asleep.
A short night later it was time to get up. I got the kids ready and we all went on with our day but I noticed baby wasn't moving as much. I'm sure he/she was just exhausted. But by 11:30 I called my OB and they told me to come on in.
Everything was fine. We had a non-stress test and got to listen to the heartbeat for about 45 minutes. That was SO comforting. Dr. Hocking checked me and said my cervix was nice and tight - so for as uncomfortable as the contractions were...they were not "productive".
Basically, I over did it. I know that now. I'm naughty and you can each scold me like my father, my doctor and my husband already have. But you all know I'm not one to sit still - pregnant or not.
I did learn my lesson, though. I will try much harder to take it easy and remind myself that my body can only take so much.
On the upside, though...I feel much more comfortable with the shape my house is in. And given that tax season has already started and work is swamped, I enjoy coming home to a clean and organized house that much more!
Baby Update: 31 weeks
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt.He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.
Exhaustion
ex⋅haus⋅tion
Pronunciation [ig-zaws-chuhn]- noun
1. the act or process of exhausting.
2. the state of being exhausted.
3. extreme weakness or fatigue.
4. the total consumption of something: the exhaustion of your vacation benefits for the year.
Really...need I say more?
Since we found out Josh had strep throat on Thursday, Dustin stayed home with the kids on Friday so I could go into work.
By Friday night I was so sick to my stomach and suffering from such severe heart burn that I didn't get more than 3 hours of sleep.
Pop-pop and Joyce came into town (Round #5) on Saturday and because I still haven't found a camera that smacks me up aside the head when the battery is low...I have no pictures.
By Saturday night I was ready to crash but instead...we decided to begin assembling Lauren's "Big Girl Bed" around 8:00 at night. You'd think after the entire remodeling project in the basement we would have learned. After a million problems we finally finished around 10:15, which in "Bricker Project Time" is actually not that bad, I guess.
We moved Lauren into her new bed and she immediately fell back asleep. I went down to check on Josh and he was having issues with his tv. I asked what the heck he was still doing up and he just gave me a blank stare. So I spent the next 20 minutes fixing the satellite problem.
By 11:00 I headed back up to our bedroom and found Dustin snoozing away. I literally fell into bed.
At 11:30 Lauren started screaming. I jumped up, assuming by her scream, that either she had fallen off her new bed and broken her arm or she had fallen off her bed and cracked her head open.
What I found was a little girl pulling on her ears. Yeah, that's a familiar sign to any mother. I gave her some Tylenol and brought her into our room. She'd find a comfy position on my shoulder or cuddle in my arm and fall asleep for about 20 minutes at a time but then wake up crying again.
So by about 4:00 am I'd had about two hours of very uncomfortable and awkward sleep. The next time she woke up I pleaded with Dustin to hold her for awhile. I mean...I HAD taken care of her on my own for almost five hours and let him sleep. So...I thought it was the least he could do. But, no. He had to huff and puff and turn on all the lights in our bedroom because, I guess, if HE can't sleep...then NO ONE'S gonna sleep.
I'm just gonna let you think about that moment in time and imagine what was said. I'll give you a hint...it involved tears and was probably not the image of wedded bliss.
She finally fell back asleep and was up running around like nothing had happened by 6:15. I, however, was barely able to function.
As soon as 8:15 rolled around I asked Dustin to make an appointment for her at the pediatrician's office. I made breakfast for everyone (except myself), gathered the laundry and started a load. I came up to the kitchen and thought I'd make myself a bagel and as Dustin was eating his breakfast he said, "If you're going to make it down to Dr. Anderson's office by 9:40, you'd better get going."
I honestly don't know what saved him from impending death: my belief that murder is wrong or my lack of energy to actually do it.
Needless to say...he ended up taking her. And yes, she had a double ear infection.
By Sunday night I thought everyone would be tired enough to just fall right asleep.
That was very stupid of me.
Lauren had liked sleeping with mom and dad the night before and didn't want a thing to do with her "Big Girl Bed". By about 11:30 she had worn me down and I gave up and let her sleep with us. By 12:30, Dustin got up for work, moved her back to her room and was off to work.
Finally, I had the whole bed to myself and no screaming children. It was glorious.
Yeah...that lasted a whole 10 minutes because right at 1:00 Josh started screaming. I frantically ran downstairs to check on him. Yeah, he was hungry and wondered if he could just get up. Confused, I said, "Uh...have you not slept yet?"
Josh: **blank stare**
Me: God, you look like your father.
Josh: What?
Me: Nevermind. **Looking at his tv and realizing it's still on.**
Me: Have you not fallen asleep yet?
Josh: Um...no?
Me: JOSHUA!
Josh: What? I'm hungry and I was just wondering if I could get up and have some breakfast!
Me: GET UP TO MY ROOM AND GO TO BED!!!
Josh: Okay, mom.
So when my alarm went off at 5:55 this morning my body screamed, "NOOOOOO!!!!!"
I am beyond beat tonight. And since I've started writing this blog Josh has already fallen asleep on the couch next to me. Of course Lauren's wide awake...but I swear she runs off of batteries.
I am really hoping this isn't a sign of what more is to come and that 2009 is not the Chinese Year of the Sleep Deprived.
Pronunciation [ig-zaws-chuhn]- noun
1. the act or process of exhausting.
2. the state of being exhausted.
3. extreme weakness or fatigue.
4. the total consumption of something: the exhaustion of your vacation benefits for the year.
Really...need I say more?
Since we found out Josh had strep throat on Thursday, Dustin stayed home with the kids on Friday so I could go into work.
By Friday night I was so sick to my stomach and suffering from such severe heart burn that I didn't get more than 3 hours of sleep.
Pop-pop and Joyce came into town (Round #5) on Saturday and because I still haven't found a camera that smacks me up aside the head when the battery is low...I have no pictures.
By Saturday night I was ready to crash but instead...we decided to begin assembling Lauren's "Big Girl Bed" around 8:00 at night. You'd think after the entire remodeling project in the basement we would have learned. After a million problems we finally finished around 10:15, which in "Bricker Project Time" is actually not that bad, I guess.
We moved Lauren into her new bed and she immediately fell back asleep. I went down to check on Josh and he was having issues with his tv. I asked what the heck he was still doing up and he just gave me a blank stare. So I spent the next 20 minutes fixing the satellite problem.
By 11:00 I headed back up to our bedroom and found Dustin snoozing away. I literally fell into bed.
At 11:30 Lauren started screaming. I jumped up, assuming by her scream, that either she had fallen off her new bed and broken her arm or she had fallen off her bed and cracked her head open.
What I found was a little girl pulling on her ears. Yeah, that's a familiar sign to any mother. I gave her some Tylenol and brought her into our room. She'd find a comfy position on my shoulder or cuddle in my arm and fall asleep for about 20 minutes at a time but then wake up crying again.
So by about 4:00 am I'd had about two hours of very uncomfortable and awkward sleep. The next time she woke up I pleaded with Dustin to hold her for awhile. I mean...I HAD taken care of her on my own for almost five hours and let him sleep. So...I thought it was the least he could do. But, no. He had to huff and puff and turn on all the lights in our bedroom because, I guess, if HE can't sleep...then NO ONE'S gonna sleep.
I'm just gonna let you think about that moment in time and imagine what was said. I'll give you a hint...it involved tears and was probably not the image of wedded bliss.
She finally fell back asleep and was up running around like nothing had happened by 6:15. I, however, was barely able to function.
As soon as 8:15 rolled around I asked Dustin to make an appointment for her at the pediatrician's office. I made breakfast for everyone (except myself), gathered the laundry and started a load. I came up to the kitchen and thought I'd make myself a bagel and as Dustin was eating his breakfast he said, "If you're going to make it down to Dr. Anderson's office by 9:40, you'd better get going."
I honestly don't know what saved him from impending death: my belief that murder is wrong or my lack of energy to actually do it.
Needless to say...he ended up taking her. And yes, she had a double ear infection.
By Sunday night I thought everyone would be tired enough to just fall right asleep.
That was very stupid of me.
Lauren had liked sleeping with mom and dad the night before and didn't want a thing to do with her "Big Girl Bed". By about 11:30 she had worn me down and I gave up and let her sleep with us. By 12:30, Dustin got up for work, moved her back to her room and was off to work.
Finally, I had the whole bed to myself and no screaming children. It was glorious.
Yeah...that lasted a whole 10 minutes because right at 1:00 Josh started screaming. I frantically ran downstairs to check on him. Yeah, he was hungry and wondered if he could just get up. Confused, I said, "Uh...have you not slept yet?"
Josh: **blank stare**
Me: God, you look like your father.
Josh: What?
Me: Nevermind. **Looking at his tv and realizing it's still on.**
Me: Have you not fallen asleep yet?
Josh: Um...no?
Me: JOSHUA!
Josh: What? I'm hungry and I was just wondering if I could get up and have some breakfast!
Me: GET UP TO MY ROOM AND GO TO BED!!!
Josh: Okay, mom.
So when my alarm went off at 5:55 this morning my body screamed, "NOOOOOO!!!!!"
I am beyond beat tonight. And since I've started writing this blog Josh has already fallen asleep on the couch next to me. Of course Lauren's wide awake...but I swear she runs off of batteries.
I am really hoping this isn't a sign of what more is to come and that 2009 is not the Chinese Year of the Sleep Deprived.
Happy New Year!!!!
It is oficially 2009 and my "fresh start" has been a little rocky!
First things first...my OB appointment:
I had my glucose test and basically you have to drink this sugary drink, wait an hour and have some blood drawn. So while I waited they had me see a nurse practioner for my appointment.
I went back to get weighed in and was happy to see I've gained a pound and a half! Then it pretty much feel to crap from there on out.
I had sugar and white blood cells in my urine and my blood pressure was up. Then they couldn't find the heart. One nurse practioner, two doppler machines, one doctor and one portable ultrasound machine later I was being rushed to the "fancy" ultrasound machines. I honestly wasn't paniced because I could feel him/her moving around (thanks to the sugar drink) but it appeared his/her heart was right underneath my belly button.
So we sat and waited to have one of the technicians come and get us for the big ultrasound. Then Dustin's phone rang...Lauren puked at daycare.
So as Dustin tried to find arrangements for Lauren I went off to ultrasound.
As soon as we got in the room the tech got started right away and found the heart beating away...right under my belly button! I guess I had some excessive scar tissue around my belly button from when I had gall bladder surgery after Josh was born and it was making it difficult to pick up with the doppler. It also didn't help that this little one is laying sideways (transverse). I guess he/she is on their way into the birthing position.
I told the tech that we haven't gotten any decent pictures of this little one and she said, "Well...let's see if we can rectify that!" She tried and tried and tried. And this little one is as stubborn as his/her big sister!
So...this is what we got.
Baby weighs 3 pounds, 2 ounces, the heart beat was 140 and he/she is measuring at 29 weeks, 5 days.
The lab had to come in during the middle of my ultrasound and draw blood because my hour was up. Even in the dark she only poked me once!! And just like with Lauren, my iron is low. I figured it was, because I've been feeling the same way I did the last time.
In summary, it was a chaotic visit but it is always fun to get a chance to see our baby moving around in there!
Other than that we had a pretty boring New Year's Eve. Dustin and I had all these plans of fun things to do with the kids and they were squashed because of two sick kids. So none of us saw midnight. In fact, I don't think any of us saw 8:30.
However, it was only the 1st of January and I already had first medical deduction for 2009: Josh has strep. I swear that kid gets strep EVERY time he gets sick! So while the rest of the world slept in from staying out too late the night before I sat in the pediatrician's office with Josh.
Ahh...the joys of motherhood.
Dad also requested I post the rest of our pictures from the famous "Christmas picture session". So here they are...
So, here's to a great 2009!! I can pretty much guarantee it will be as crazy as last year...you know, with the completion of our three ring circus and all. :-)
Many blessings to all in 2009!
First things first...my OB appointment:
I had my glucose test and basically you have to drink this sugary drink, wait an hour and have some blood drawn. So while I waited they had me see a nurse practioner for my appointment.
I went back to get weighed in and was happy to see I've gained a pound and a half! Then it pretty much feel to crap from there on out.
I had sugar and white blood cells in my urine and my blood pressure was up. Then they couldn't find the heart. One nurse practioner, two doppler machines, one doctor and one portable ultrasound machine later I was being rushed to the "fancy" ultrasound machines. I honestly wasn't paniced because I could feel him/her moving around (thanks to the sugar drink) but it appeared his/her heart was right underneath my belly button.
So we sat and waited to have one of the technicians come and get us for the big ultrasound. Then Dustin's phone rang...Lauren puked at daycare.
So as Dustin tried to find arrangements for Lauren I went off to ultrasound.
As soon as we got in the room the tech got started right away and found the heart beating away...right under my belly button! I guess I had some excessive scar tissue around my belly button from when I had gall bladder surgery after Josh was born and it was making it difficult to pick up with the doppler. It also didn't help that this little one is laying sideways (transverse). I guess he/she is on their way into the birthing position.
I told the tech that we haven't gotten any decent pictures of this little one and she said, "Well...let's see if we can rectify that!" She tried and tried and tried. And this little one is as stubborn as his/her big sister!
So...this is what we got.
Baby weighs 3 pounds, 2 ounces, the heart beat was 140 and he/she is measuring at 29 weeks, 5 days.
The lab had to come in during the middle of my ultrasound and draw blood because my hour was up. Even in the dark she only poked me once!! And just like with Lauren, my iron is low. I figured it was, because I've been feeling the same way I did the last time.
In summary, it was a chaotic visit but it is always fun to get a chance to see our baby moving around in there!
Other than that we had a pretty boring New Year's Eve. Dustin and I had all these plans of fun things to do with the kids and they were squashed because of two sick kids. So none of us saw midnight. In fact, I don't think any of us saw 8:30.
However, it was only the 1st of January and I already had first medical deduction for 2009: Josh has strep. I swear that kid gets strep EVERY time he gets sick! So while the rest of the world slept in from staying out too late the night before I sat in the pediatrician's office with Josh.
Ahh...the joys of motherhood.
Dad also requested I post the rest of our pictures from the famous "Christmas picture session". So here they are...
So, here's to a great 2009!! I can pretty much guarantee it will be as crazy as last year...you know, with the completion of our three ring circus and all. :-)
Many blessings to all in 2009!
