The Meatloaf Saved the Day

The Rest of the Story.....

After our appointment on Friday, November 13th, I was still of work because of the “early labor” and was told to take it easy. Since we didn’t have good meals during the week due my hospital visits, I decided I would make meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and home made Nestle Toll House Cookies for dinner. I was really craving meat and cookies!

I rested all morning with contractions every 7 minutes. I had just finished lunch when I had a really strong contraction and then I felt a little “gush” of something. I went to the bathroom and found nothing except that the pad I was wearing seemed a little damp but definitely not soaked. It didn’t look like urine but I couldn’t be sure. So, I just figured it was something from the doctors checking me all week. The contractions did come a little closer together and later that afternoon I felt another smaller “gush”. It was the same as before but now I was questioning if my bag of water was leaking.

I called Chief at work and gave him a heads up. I also told him I wasn’t going to call the doctor because they would tell me to go to the hospital and then when I got there they would tell me to go home and rest! I told him I was going to “monitor the situation” and that I didn’t feel bad so it couldn’t be anything.

After Chief got home from work he walked the dogs and I was finishing up dinner. I was still timing contractions to be about every 5 minutes but to me they felt worse the day before. We had our ice cream and cookies for dessert and then it happened. I had another “gush”. This time I didn’t have a pad on so I was positive it happened. Chief convinced me to just call the hospital and it wouldn’t be a big deal if we just went there for them to confirm that my water did or did not break.

We headed off to the hospital. We checked in and were put in the same room as the previous night. I got undressed, hooked up to monitors and then the nurse took a peek and told me she was very sure I broke my water. Then the resident came in and confirmed it to be true. My first thought was I couldn’t have the baby on Friday the 13th; Nemo spelled backwards is Omen!

Well, the meatloaf saved the day! Because we ate a big dinner so late in the evening the anesthesiologist said the surgery would have to wait until 4:15 AM. There was nothing left for us to do but try to sleep and wait. We tried to rest and maybe would doze in and out. Mostly I was laying and watching the monitor. I loved listening to Nemo’s heartbeat. I had so many thoughts and emotions. I couldn’t believe that the baby was coming in a few hours. I held Chief’s hand, I cried, I thought about the future. I even wrote Nemo a little note just before the surgery.

Promptly at 4:00AM they came and took me to the OR to get prepped. Chief stayed behind and waited for them to get him. The OR was interesting. They had good classic rock playing on the stereo. Everyone was running around getting things ready. The anestesiolgist told me that the usual plan for C-Section is that the woman gets and spinal and epidural, but because of my allergy to morphine I was only able to get a spinal. The big deal is that they only have 2 hours of numbness. If I could have gotten the epidural the post op pain would have been less because the medication would have lasted 6 hours. I was really worried about getting the needle placed in my back but he talked me through it and it wasn’t so bad. Almost immediately the medication kicked in and I was basically paralyzed from my rib cage to toes. That is the worst feeling! I also had some lightheadedness and was dizzy because my blood dropped a little bit. They would give me IV medication to help with this.

I was so anxious to see Chief and when he came in I felt a lot better. A little while later I heard Dr. R say it was a big baby, asked for the vacuum and with two people pushing him from the top and Dr. R pulling from the bottom it was announced that we had a baby boy!

Tears of joy filled my eyes. Chief went to the baby while he was being taken care of by the NICU team. Everything seemed to be fine. Our little one was healthy and screaming!

I couldn’t wait to get to the recovery room because I had only seen the baby for a second. Chief and I waited for over an hour and I asked the nurse to please bring him to us. Finally, she did and when I held him I instantly loved him.

Nemo was 9 lb 2 oz; 20 inches long; and born at 5:07am. I will remember this day and that moment as the best part of my life.

Labor and Delivery (Part One)

Labor and Delivery… I am sorry that this is late but for those of you who don't know the story here it is part one and I wrote this on November 13th.

On Monday November 9th, I had an OB visit and NST (non stress test). During the visit I started having contractions 5 minutes apart. The OB-GYN check me and said I was only a finger tip dilated and I should go home with the instructions to call if the contractions did not let up or if they got closer together.

Chief got home from work and walked the dogs. Then he and a neighbor moved the rocking chair to Nemo’s room. Unfortunately, he also threw out his back in the process. By 7pm I had talked with the doctor and was sent to the hospital because the contractions were now 2-3 minutes apart and I had some concern about the amount of spotting that was occurring.

We grabbed the bags and off we went to the hospital; me with contractions and Chief with back spasms. When we got near the hospital Chief considered not parking in the garage because it would cost $4.00. You see, he pays for parking because he is an employee, but his parking spot is a bit of a walk for a man with an injured back and a woman with contraction. Thankfully, he opted to park and pay!

I knew his back was killing him so I hopped out of the car, grabbed the bag and cameras. He was having a hard time getting out of the car. We walked slowly to the hospital and I asked him if he would like a wheel chair and I could give him a push. I carried the stuff for a while until his back loosened up and then he took over. His next funny question and I think he was serious: “Do you want to take the stairs?” I think my glare answered the question.

When we got to L+D they quickly got me on a monitor. Yep, contractions are regular and 2-3 minutes apart. I was examined and was told I dilated about 1 cm. They decided to give me a liter of saline with the hope that this would slow things down. Over an hour later I was still contracting. I only progressed to 2 cm, which isn’t very much in 8 hours. The next step was to give me a shot to stop the contractions. Finally, around midnight they stopped and we got to go home.

We made it though the week until Thursday when the contractions started at 2:00 AM. At my OB appointment I was checked again and still only 2 cm. The contractions were only 7 minutes apart and I was instructed to stay home, drink fluids and call if anything changes. On Friday we had our ultrasound and we saw Dr. White afterward. The baby was 9 ½ pounds. Dr. White talked to Chief and I about our options. Her gut feeling was that the baby is big and if we tried to labor naturally it would probably result in 48 hours of labor and a C-Section anyway. She did check me and I was only 2 cm dilated with the baby still high. I was sent home to rest and wait for Nemo to come on Monday.

Now I am resting, drinking, and praying that everything works out. I can’t believe we are going to see our baby in just a few days. It seems that the time has passed too quickly. I know this pregnancy will end and another journey is about to begin. I thank God everyday for blessing us with this baby. Nemo, mom and dad can’t wait to meet you.

If the Chute Fits...

We found out recently that Chief’s reputation as a child is coming back to get all of us in our home. When Chief was just a little chief, he decided to take a short cut into the basement from the first floor of his parents’ house to the basement via the clothes chute. Even though he was much smaller when he was 4-5 years old, the results were not good. He did not get stuck but the drop was quite intimidating looking once he got in there. Let’s just say that his mom needed to come and help him down to the basement.

We found out this past week that little Nemo is nowhere near little. We found out that Nemo’s weight is 9.5. I am not sure if that means 9.5 pounds or 9 pounds, 5 ounces. I know that this is only a difference of 3 ounces but we were told by the OB Fellow that if Nemo is over 10 pounds they will strongly recommend a c-section. (Groaning….) I really do not want a c-section. I had always thought that if Chief and I were fortunate enough to have a baby, I wanted to deliver vaginally without an epidural if possible. It sounds like that plan is not going to happen.

Two days after the ultrasound, I had a check-up appointment and the Nurse Practitioner and the Physician were concerned about the size. They wanted to schedule a c-section for November 13. I was against this plan for three reasons: first, I want Nemo to stay in me a little closer to full-term for development; second, this date is one day after my birthday and we don’t want our birthdays to be so close; and finally, something about delivering on Friday the 13th is unsettling. We compromised and decided to schedule the c-section for November 16.

Now on to my original point. I was told the c-section is going to be scheduled because they do not want the baby to get stuck in the chute. I did not realize the humor of this statement until Chief reminded me about the clothes chute. So this is how I see it, the doctors do not want Nemo to get stuck in the chute like his (or her) dad almost got stuck in the chute when he was little. Like father like son or daughter I guess.

Thoughts From JJ

Something’s happening around here. It feels almost like someone is getting ready to move in. I hope it’s not another puppy. I am still recovering from Dusty coming into my world. My mom and dad have been bringing all kinds of stuff into the house (as generous friends and family have been showering them with gifts), putting things together, and doing more laundry than we normally produce. For example, a few weeks ago my dad decided to move the computer. That was quite the undertaking, not much creative language mind you, but an adventure nonetheless. What started as taking apart the computer turned into moving Uncle Dennis’ desk out of the den, putting a new desk in the den, putting new rafters in the garage to store Dennis’ desk, moving the day-bed out of the spare bedroom, reassembling the day-bed in the den and putting a raised, wood kennel in the spare bedroom. I hope that new wood bed is for Dusty because he is a bed hog. Did I tell you he barks and kicks in his sleep? He should go into that new bed, it has safety rails to prevent him from falling out. Did I tell you he fell out of bed once and landed on me? That was traumatic and I don’t want to talk about it. Funny thing about the new bed in the little bedroom, there is no top on it like my kennel and there are some toys that hang and move in a circle. I don’t know what that’s all about because Dusty would eat the toys and be able to escape that pretty easily.

I did not want to tell mom but she has been getting a little bigger lately. She has been taking more space in the bed and seems to have a hard time getting comfortable some nights. I think I know why…she is possessed. I think this because, remember how I told you that Dusty kicks in his sleep, well moms belly kicks back once in a while. When her belly kicks me I just look at her wondering why we are not calling for an exorcist. I am worried and hope this kicking will end in the next few weeks. I don’t really care if Dusty gets kicked because he usually kicks first.

I was really worried two nights ago. Mom was packing a bag like she was going on vacation. A bag was not packed for me but Dad did not pack a bag for himself so I was only a little nervous. I think things will be OK if they go away because sometimes Dusty and I get to go to Doggie Depot for a few days.

A little more about Dusty. When he and I go in the car with my mom and dad, if we stop somewhere, Dusty likes to jump from the back of the car to the back seat and sometimes go all the way to the front. I think my mom and dad have a solution on the way. One day a seat came in the mail with a bunch of seatbelts. It looks like this seat will strap into the car and then Dusty could be put in it. I think this is for Dusty to keep him in place. One thing that is confusing me though is this car seat for Dusty can be removed from the car and put into a stroller for walking. The confusing part is Dusty does like to walk and chase squirrels. I need to think about this part of my theory for a while.

I don’t know about you, but I think something is about to change around here. I would not bet any of my kibble on that because I love my kibble too much. I would be willing to bet Dusty though, any takers. Anyway, here is that strange bed.

36 Weeks Down

This past Saturday we went to our final birthing class. We learned about pain medications during labor (morphine and dilaudid are used at our hospital), epidural, cesarean sections, post-partum depression, and got a tour of the birthing suit and post-partum room. It was a long day but we both agree it was a great series of classes.

When we got home, we kicked up our feet for a while and then headed off to church. We do our best to get to mass on time but we were late once. As we walked in the door, we could here music coming from inside and Chief asked if we were late again. To our surprise, it was a polka mass. We were hearing the band all the way outside. As we sat on the south side of the church, we could see the north side of the church was packed, standing room only. Evidentially members of the Polish community travel around to the polka masses because parts of the mass will be in their native tongue. The first reading was in Polish. We had no idea what was being said. Fortunately the priest used the sermon to talk about the first reading and the gospel because most of the regulars had no clue what the reader had said.

I was very uncomfortable during Church. My back was sore and I had a few Braxton Hicks’ contractions. I asked Chief if we could leave after communion and he agreed. So, we are in line for Communion and of course the person in front of me received the host with her tongue. Now, being a nurse and in my 9th month of pregnancy, I am really getting paranoid with the germs that are around me. I almost bailed out of line because I know that that woman had to have breathed her germs on the distributor’s fingers that would then give me my host. Oh my God, I was so glad to get out of church this week. There just seems that during a possible pandemic of H1N1, there should be no receiving communion by the mouth, no drinking of the wine, no holding of hands during the Our Father and no shaking hands for peace.

On Sunday, Chief put the crib together and it looks so nice! I am really getting excited. We ran out to Buy Buy Baby to get a few things that we needed. I asked Chief if I should start washing stuff but he thought maybe I could wait until next weekend. I think he is right. Although we both think Nemo will be coming early I am pretty sure it wont be next weekend.

My neighbor stopped over today and invited me to my baby shower! I was so surprised. It will be next Sunday. We are really lucky to have nice neighbors and friends.

By the way, on Thursday I saw Dr. Reddy at the OB appointment. She said everything is looking good. I was shocked when she brought up inducing me between the 39th and 40th week. I had no clue that we would talk about this and I was taken back but she explained it is because of the hypothyroidism and the risk of the placenta dying makes me unable to deliver any time past 40 weeks. So, Nemo will be here between now and November 21st. She said if I don’t go naturally before my 39th week we would discuss the options in a few weeks. I also have to start the “kick counts”. I hate kick counting because they want you to do it during the day and with working I don’t have the time to sit and relax. I am supposed to feel 10 kicks in 60 minutes. I didn’t remember feeling any on Friday so I woke up at 1:00am on Saturday and of course the little guy was probably sleeping. I couldn’t fall back asleep because I was getting worried. Finally by 3:00am Nemo woke up and was moving like crazy!

Chief told me last Sunday that I have dropped, my co-workers and I agree. I can eat more, have less heartburn, and I can breathe. But now I have more pelvic pressure and I pee more too! Funny thing is that I have had some weird cravings. For instance I need to eat meat and I really needed banana pudding pie so for dinner we are going to have Sloppy Joes and pudding pie. I forgot the Cool Whip and ran back to the store. When I checked out I left with Flaming Hot Cheetos! The lady who checked me out made a funny comment about my Cheetos and Cool Whip. I told her I would blame this one on the baby!

Here is our 36-week belly shot:

Burning Ring of Fire

No it’s not the song “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash. It is the only thing I am afraid of when it comes to birthing the baby. More on this later.

So, we had our first birthing class today. We gathered our blanket and pillows and off we went. The class was from 10am-2:30pm. There were 9 couples with due dates from November to January. It is kind of neat being in this class because of the different personalities. There is this poor woman who worries about everything…her poor husband. The couple behind us was really cool. They are expecting a boy a few days after us. They are kind of funny and had some under the breath comments that made Chief and I giggle in class. There were also a few younger couples and of course the “preppy couple” but everyone seems to be in the same boat, which is cool.

Class began with us filling our “wheel of emotions” worksheet. It really looked like a pizza to me but whatever. Each “Slice” had something to do with pregnancy and labor. We had to put in some comments in each section. It was fun filling this out because it made me realize what I really am feeling. The slice topics were: pain, labor, cesarean section, parenting, the pregnant body, and medication.

Next, we went right into the first stages of labor. This involved us learning how to time contractions and ways to deal with the pain we are going to have. We did get on the floor to practice breathing and relaxation techniques. While us girls relaxed and breathed, our partners practiced on their supportive touching. Chief did really good until the end of a “contraction” he decide to do the old Karate chop massage down my back. You can image my surprise going from a nice gentle massage to a karate chop. It did make me laugh which we decided could be used as a distraction at some other point in labor.

After this Chief took us on a field trip to the cafeteria. We ate lunch with two other couples. I had bean soup but then thought better not finish it because I had a fear we would have to go back on the floor and I would relax a fart out. Chief was a trooper and took one for the team – he finished my soup.

Back from lunch it was part 2 of the stages of labor. This was the live labor and delivery clip. Nice of them to wait until after lunch! First off, no one got sick or passed out! ( I know this is a concern for some of Chief’s family, as one of his brothers didn’t make it through a class.) Seeing actual people go through labor with out medication is amazing. I tried to think about what I would be like and I can see me having some crying breakdowns when things get long, hard, and frustrating. I know Chief will be great at helping me through those times. The instructor gave good advice for our partners such as don’t take anything she may say or do personally and don’t argue with her. So, I guess I can count on Chief to be there for me and probably humor me somewhat.

Now, about that burning ring of fire: I am a little freaked out about this pain I am going to be experiencing. This supposedly occurs when I am at 10 cm dilated, when my cervix is total stretched out and ready for Nemo’s head to come through. She told us if we were to take our fingers and put them into our mouths, and stretch out our side of our mouths as far as it could go, we might understand this pain. Need I say more? And by the way, when we had a bathroom break you better believe I tried this in the stall. Not very pleasant at all. There probably is no breathing that will help me get though this pain. On the bright side…she said it is brief!

I actually got teary eyed with seeing the birth. I find this so amazing and beautiful. I didn’t like it when they showed the lady her placenta. No need for me to see mine thank you very much.

Just so you know, we are the only couple planning on natural childbirth. I was a bit shocked and thought that maybe I could be insane. The instructor gave Chief and I some extra time after class. She told us to communicate our plan with our nurse and perhaps ask for a nurse that supports this. She said almost all deliveries are with moms getting epidurals and nurses really encourage them. In fact, she said I would be asked multiple times if I am ready for the epidural. I am a little discouraged by this. I guess I thought I would have a ton of support.

With speaking with our instructor I felt like she really understood what I was saying. When people ask me if I am going to get an epidural, I tell them I am not planning on it. I then hear them say things like I am not going to get a medal by doing this naturally. I understand this. I am going to do this because I know it can be done and I want to experience what my body is made to do. I am not opposed to epidurals and pain medication. I just really want to try this without using medication.

Well, that is about it for part one. Next Saturday we learn about epidurals, infant care, and get a tour of the labor and delivery floor.

By the way, my appointment last week went well. We have another ultrasound scheduled for the first week of November. We could say it is Nemo’s make up test! I will have this little one sugared up this time. I hope he figures out this breathing thing by then.

Showers and Appointments

We are so lucky to have good friends and wonderful families. My old co-workers gave me a baby shower the last week of September. These girls have known me for almost as long as I have lived in Illinois. It was a beautiful shower. We had lunch, played games, opened gifts and just had a really nice time visiting. The baby is so lucky to have so many nice new things.

Last weekend we headed up to Wisconsin for our family baby shower. My mom, sisters, and Chief’s mom planned a menu of all of our favorite foods. I was in heaven. There was so much to choose from. I had no idea that I had so many favorites! We had to pace ourselves and I am happy to say I did not explode.

The last time both families got together was for our rehearsal dinner. Of course the group is now bigger! Nemo will have 10 cousins, 1 great uncle, 2 great aunties, 6 uncles, 7 aunties, 2 grandmas, and 1 grandpa. Talk about a lot of love.

We had a wonderful time opening gifts. I was very emotional at times and had some serious crying breakdowns in the middle of the shower. I just became overwhelmed looking at all of the things we were receiving. I guess at some point I realized that Nemo will come out and we will have this little person to take care of and love. Things won’t be in boxes waiting to be washed and put in his drawers. Bottles will go in the cabinet, crib will be set up, and we will have a place for our baby.

Chief and I are so touched by everyone’s thoughtfulness. We know how blessed and we are thankful everyday.

After the whirlwind tour of showering, we got to look forward to the ultrasound. The little guy showed us his face this time!

Nemo got his first report card and he got a C. Part of the test is called a Biophysical Profile. Basically, baby is supposed to do 5 things and gets scored 0-2 on each. Our child got 8/10 because he wasn’t doing the fetal breathing movements. Here is the thing. Nemo was up all night and was a bit sluggish for his big test. He was not interested in being awakened. Believe me, they tried everything! So, because he scored a big, fat zero on the breathing part we were put on a monitor, given 2 grape juices for mom, 1 orange juice for dad, and finally he passed a non-stress test! Listen kids, extra credit pays off!

Thursday, I had my weekly OB appointment. The ultrasound report was not completed in time for my appointment but Nemo and I seem to be fine. The high risk OB and my OB have not talked about the next step so I don’t know if we have another ultrasound or not. My last thyroid test was great!

Next weekend is the first birthing class. I am sure we will have a lot to share with everyone!

Here are the 32 and 34 week belly shots.

Parenting Classes

Yesterday we went to our “Baby Makes Three” and “Breastfeeding” classes. I am happy to say that my anxieties are lessoned and I really think I can handle most of the mommy duties.

The first class was 2 hours and was all about infant care. We discussed everything from what happens the first moments after the baby is born all the way to the first few weeks at home. I guess I was surprised that I knew most of the stuff. Chief was very attentive and made me giggle a few times with his sideline comments. I have to share at least two of these. The first was when the baby is born they put a blue or pink hat on them. Chief’s comment was “How about Packer green?” When we talked about the umbilical cord falling off he surprised me when he told me that one of our friend’s dog ate their baby’s cord and something about “good protein”.

The breastfeeding class was great because none of the other couples that signed up for it came. We had total one on one time with the nurse. This was good because I have no clue about breastfeeding and I needed to ask a lot of questions. We watched a video that really helped us to see what the correct positions are and how proper sucking should look. I decided that I am a bit analytical and I told the nurse that my concern is that I wont know how much the baby is eating. Knowing exactly how many ounces the baby is taking is the one thing about bottle-feeding that I wish would convert to breastfeeding. I almost wish my boobs had a dipstick for me to some how figure this out. I know I should not over think. I am so glad Chief went to this class. He knows he will need to give me timeouts when I am upset it isn’t working. I hope Nemo is a good eater!

We got home from Loyola and did yard work. It was nice to get the perennials cut back and I pulled out the annuals. I love fall and all I have to do is wait for the colors to change. After yard work and a quick shower it was off to Saturday mass. I think the parish had a rent-a-priest. We never saw this one before and he was a bit boring. My highlight had to pee during the offering and stepping out to find the bathroom. I have never needed to use the bathroom in church but my Catholic School upbringing helped I’m sure. All church basements are very similar and this was no exception. On my way back to the pew I peeked into a few rooms but nothing exciting to report. I must have been nosey today because I also peeked into a cabinet in the lobby and almost got caught. I can’t figure out where those weekly missalettes are. There are a few people at every mass that get one. I want one too! I like to read the readings for myself. One day I will win and find one.

Today we worked on house chores. I finally got the bathroom walls and baseboards washed. Then it was onto the bedroom windows. Chief cleaned out some drawers and slowly but surely we will be ready. We napped during the Packer game and will relax the rest of the night. The weeks are flying past us. Only 9 more to go and we will see our little one. I hope I get Nemo’s other blanket done in time!

Here are a few 28 week and 31 week belly shots.

The Icky Stuff We Don't Talk About

So far this pregnancy has been pretty swell! In the beginning I considered the nausea to be mild and only threw up twice. I did go through a spell of headaches, which at times seemed unbearable, but with ice and rest I was able to get through this as well. I have benefited these past months with less acne and a bit larger chest.

With less than 10 weeks to go I am now getting to the annoying stuff that isn’t going away and at times seems to get worse. I thought I could just list this icky stuff and if anyone has help for me please feel free to respond.

Pregnancy brain...unable to multi-task or remember anything
Swollen feet and ankles-gross!
Leg cramps (including feet, hamstring and most recently my left shin area)
Stretching belly pain
Weight gain-need I say more?
Thunder thighs
Blind shaving the bikini line (I can’t see that area anymore!)
Crotch pain – this is one no one told me about. Sometimes out of nowhere I feel like there is a 2x4 up there.
Shopping for maternity bras – I will need to blog on our shopping experience
“Tighty” whiteys
Limbs falling asleep during the night
Itchy nips
Restroom breaks every two to three hours. This includes during the night.
Easily tired with walking the boys. I can’t seem to go as fast or as far anymore.
Tiredness which can lead to crankiness
Extra stretch marks
Marathon stair climbing – it is getting hard to climb more than 2 flights of stairs
Belly in the way at a restaurant when I need to squeeze into a booth.
Feeling stuffed after only eating 1/3-1/2 of any meal and not to mention heart burn.

I have heard there is still some stuff to come. My friend gave me breast pads to use before the baby is here. Apparently, I will be leaking sometime in the near future. I hope I don’t freak out.

All of the above is tolerable. It all doesn’t really matter because having Nemo inside of me, moving and kicking is the best of all feelings. Having Chief feel the baby move is one of my favorite moments of my day. So, Nemo, bring it on! You are worth it!

New Due Date

Well, it’s official; Nemo’s arrival date is now November 21st. Which makes me 30 weeks pregnant on Saturday. I am still crossing my fingers for him to come after Thanksgiving but I may lose this battle. The little guy seems to be measuring big. At today’s appointment (with the new due date) I should have been measuring 30 weeks. I of course measured a little over 31 weeks.

My weight was good because I lost a little bit! I was not feeling good over the weekend and I am definitely not as hungry anymore so I am sure that had something to do with it. Believe me I was shocked!

We are going to do another ultrasound in 4 weeks. They need to keep an eye on my fibroid and to keep an eye on Nemo’s growth. The ultrasound report said that the fibroid has displaced my cervix but the birth canal is open which is good.

I will have another appointment in 2 weeks with the OB and for my thyroid blood test. Everything seems to be going great. I am enjoying Nemo and I hope he decides to hang out with me until the end of November.

After my appointment I drove to work and was going through a construction zone. Unfortunately, I hit one of those barrier things and it smashed the driver’s mirror of Chief’s car. I was not so happy. I was half way through the construction and then BANG out of nowhere my mirror snaps and it is completely shattered! To be honest, I never saw and I am only assuming that is what hit me. I wonder if the car in front of me hit it first but who knows. Anyway, that really sucks!

Chief's knee is slowly trying to heal itself. He saw a sports medicine physician on Tuesday. The preliminary diagnosis is that he has medial and lateral meniscus tears. He recommended no running or twisting activities for 4 more weeks. He also has an order for an MRI which he may get if there doesn't seem to be improvement. There is a chance this may heal itself which would be great. If not his option is arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage. I really understand how he is feeling about not running. It is painful for me to watch him go through what I did.

About the baby’s baptism: it is definitely December 12th. I am so glad that I made copies of the sponsor certificates because they were lost in limbo for a few days. I guess the lady that taught the class did not turn them in right away so that when I went to make arrangements for the baptism they did not have them. After three phone calls and me faxing my copies everything worked out. I later got a phone call saying that the original certificates were eventually found and Father Ernie gave us his stamp of approval! Now we pray for good weather!

I promise to get a nice belly shot this weekend for all of you who want to see how big I am getting!

Quick Update

I will make this one quick! We had our ultrasound yesterday and little Nemo was very shy. He is head down and apparently likes to smush his face in my placenta. He was pretty laid back and did not move too much during the exam. We did get him kick a few times but that was about it. His heart rate was 153. My fibroid looks like it is behaving and really shouldn't be a problem with delivery. The baby weighs 3 lbs 4 oz which puts him at 67%. (Yes, I did the math...mommy gained a lot of the weight!) He is doing great. Everything is coming along fine with the due date at November 21st. I am assuming when I see my OB next week it will be officially changed.

Chief and I went to baptism class last night. Now we just need to choose a date. I really feel that it is important to do baptism early. With winter weather early December should be okay for travel. We could go as later in December but we are thinking about Christmas and again the potential for winter weather seems to increase later in the month. Oh, does anyone have a Farmer's Almanac?

One more thing...still didn't find out if Nemo is a boy or a girl. Does anyone want to start a pool?

Lots to Talk About

Wow, there is a lot to talk about since I blogged last. Let me start with my last OB appointment. My thyroid level has gone down since we changed my medication dose. I will get another blood test in six weeks. I had my glucose tolerance test and I passed with flying colors. Nemo seems to like sugar (he moves and grooves) so I was a little worried. I gained 6 pounds and I was very upset. I have now decided to “grin and bear it”. So I will just keep walking and I will try to eat a little better. I have noticed the weight gain in my face, arms, legs, and tush. Many mommies tell me that this will go away and I need to just keep up with the walking and enjoy the pregnancy. Sounds like good advice.

Chief picked up the cradle and crib that we are borrowing from his brother and sister-in-law. Our rocking chair arrived and we love it. Things are starting to come together. We really need to get the den cleaned out so that we can move the daybed and get Nemo’s room ready. I am still knitting that darn blanket. I only have to finish one side of ruffles. I will post a picture when it is done.

Today we drove northwest to meet up with a friend of mine from high school. It was so great to see Jodelle and her family. She has two great kids and a wonderful husband. They made us lunch and I especially loved his delicious pub burger. We had a really nice time visiting and I am sure we will keep in touch.

Now the exciting news…we had our first baby shower on Saturday. I can’t even describe how fortunate I feel to have so many friends and how lucky we are to have such nice gifts. I had a blast playing games and visiting with the ladies from work. Chief was there as well but my boss’s husband kept him entertained with beer and watching golf. He did help with the gift opening and we both had a really great time.

Here are some pictures.

Pregnancy, A Different Point Of View (From Chief)

I thought I would share my thoughts on pregnancy. It is definitely going to be a change for all four of us. As time has been passing during this pregnancy, I have seen some advantages and disadvantages to this adventure.

First the advantages, there is more room in the bed. Now most people would think that with the gradual gain of girth during pregnancy, you would lose real estate in bed. Not in our house. JJ and Dusty have been kind enough to allow us in their bed for the past 2 years but they have gotten tired of being disturbed when Toni needs to use the restroom. I’m sure Toni looks as this as a partial advantage as she is the person taking one for the team getting up all night. She does appreciate more space though.

Second, we were at Buy Buy Baby recently and found out that they have handicapped parking and reserved parking for expecting moms. Can you say, “I must be in the front row.” I have been good about the reserved parking for the handicapped, clergy, employee of the month, compact cars, and even Bears’ fans (boo) but I finally have one I get to use. Sweet.

Third, there are of course many cravings to be had while pregnant. Toni has been craving burgers, ice cream, and lemon ice. I have been taking one for the team in this category. I have been taking her to get these items (in moderation of course) and have had to “suffer” by having them myself. I hope I need to suffer through chicken wings, pizza and maybe Mexican food next.

Fourth, I am planning on taking Nemo running and biking with me when he is strong enough. Cool toys!! Can’t say much more about that.

Now the disadvantages,










Many of you had requested a belly shot but it was not quite clear who the belly shot was supposed to be of, so…

Chief

Belly Up?

Well the title is not perfect but here is the belly shots everyone has been looking for:

And I can still see the ends of my toes.

Keeping Busy

It has been a fast and furious weekend. I was running non-stop until 7:00 pm on Saturday. I woke up, walked the dogs, went for an eye exam, picked out glasses, signed up for Baptism class, went to a Lia Sophia party, went to church and then helped make supper. I was exhausted and was fast asleep by 8:30pm. Chief was also busy but his was fun stuff. He ran a 10-mile race on Saturday at Waterfall Glen and on Sunday biked 38 miles with some friends. I got to meet them afterwards at Starbucks. It is fun talking baby stuff with our friends. They of course are experienced moms and have lots of good advise. I like watching Chief’s face when we discuss things like “nipple confusion”.

We are slowly making progress in regards to making room for Nemo. I have gone through most of my drawers and now will start to focus on the closets. I didn’t have too hard of a time packing away my clothes that don’t fit. I know that someday I will be back in them. I had been squishing Nemo in my scrubs and decided last week that I had to buy some bigger ones. I admit that I had a bad day and cried when someone at work told me that I had bigger pants on. I am now over it. My goal is to look nice and feel comfortable. I do notice how there are all shapes and sizes of pregnant ladies. Of course, it is hard not to compare myself to the skinny people with obvious inherented good genes!

After we are done with the above I will work organizing the bathroom space. Nemo will need a shelf for his things. Then it is on to the kitchen to clean out a cabinet for bottles and future food supplies.

We are also working on the baby registry. This is not so fun. I have no idea of what is really needed. There are too many choices in every category. Chief is working on baby monitors and I just picked out the high chair. There is the “Consumer Reports guide to baby products” book that I am going to purchase today. Hopefully this will take out some of the guesswork. We have decided on the car seat and stroller, which we already purchased. I really love it! The other item I am excited about is our choice on crib bedding. Since we are Wisconsin natives and since I happen to love cows Nemo will be having a “moo cow” themed room.

Not else much to report. We are staying busy and trying to get things ready in stride so that there is not a panic near the end. Nemo is also getting stronger. I feel him more everyday or should I say every night. I am a little concerned that he is more active near bedtime!

Our Baby is NO Chicken!!

For the past week I have heard so many opinions on the gender of the baby. It is kind of funny listening to people. I had multiple people say it is a boy because my face hasn’t changed. I had some people say it is a girl based on how I was showing. My favorite was that it is a boy because I am not ugly! Good to know. All of this has lead to some very weird dreams. The best one was that I had to go with my mom to the grocery store and I told Chief to watch the baby. When I came home “she” was a chicken and Chief was walking her on a leash! Yes, I said “she” because in the dream Nemo was a girl.

My OB appointment went well today. I am so glad I finally didn’t gain so much weight! I should be wearing a star or at least a smiley sticker for my hard effort this past month. We are going to go ahead with the next ultrasound in September. Apparently, I have a fibroid near my cervix, which may cause me a problem with delivering the baby, and the worse case scenario is to have a c-section. So, we will keep an eye on this and we will get to see Nemo perform for us again. Maybe this time he won’t be so shy and will show us his little face more.

A neighbor of ours that moved to Arizona gave us a big tub of baby clothes. It took me an hour to go through them! We are definitely set with sleeping outfits for a boy or girl until 3 months old. She has some amazing clothes and since she had three girls I have a lot of girl stuff to use until 12 months old. If Nemo is a Nema, she will be well dressed. It was weird holding those tiny clothes. Very cute, but weird.

This weekend is the final decision for our rocker. We are pretty much set with a nice upholstered rocker from a local department store. It is one that has higher arms which will help with me holding when breastfeeding. It will look nice in the living room for when we are done with it in the baby’s room. I just have to make one more stop to check out a higher end baby furniture shop. I want to see what all the hype is and why gliders are so great. I am fairly frugal and I don’t want to spend a ton of money on a rocker.

So off to bed I go. Hopefully, no chicken dreams tonight.

Happy Day

Our appointment with the genetic councilor went very well. We received confirmation that we are at low risk for having a baby with chromosome abnormalities. She asked us if we had thought about an amniocentesis. Chief and I decide that we would decline as long as the ultrasound went well. We are happy to report that it went very well.

For all of you who want to know the sex of the baby, here it is…you will have to wait 20 weeks like the two of us. An OB resident did the first part of the ultrasound. He was obviously practicing and forgot to tell us when he was down by the baby’s legs. I thought that I saw “evidence” to prove it was a boy but my reading skills were questioned when I said “look at his hand” and was told that it was a foot. When the technician came in she told us when she was below the baby’s waist and we would look away. I told her I thought it was a boy but she would not give me any hints. Now, I am not sure if she was messing with me but I heard her in a whisper say to the resident that “she” wasn’t cooperating with her. I am sure she didn’t mean me. Someone at Chief’s work asked if we received any new pictures because they indicated they would be able to tell the sex from the picture. Good luck…

Nemo really was not cooperating with the tech. He didn’t want to show her his right foot. And when it came time to show his face, he was shy. They had me lay on my side and even had put my head lower than my feet to try to get him to move. Eventually, they got the pictures. I think I even saw a “grumpy” face and commented that he didn’t look too happy. I think we woke him up. Everything looked fine. We saw every (almost every) part of him. For those keeping track of the heart rate it was 150 beats a minute.

The maternal fetal medicine (high risk OB) physician came in afterwards and said that the ultrasound was completely normal. He is growing fine and measuring at 20 weeks and 5 days old. I may have to succumb to the fact that the due date will be changed. We briefly discussed my thyroid and she said that since everything is right on track it might not be necessary to have additional ultrasounds every month. She said that we just need to monitor my hormone levels but I should talk with my doctor to see what she thinks.

I can’t stop thinking about our baby. I can’t stop going over all of the images we saw. I keep looking at my belly. This little baby is in me. I still can’t believe that we are going to have a baby. We are blessed and I am thankful for our little one.

18 Weeks and Counting

Time is flying by. I can’t believe Nemo is 18 weeks old. I continue to feel good and have been walking more. This week my internist increased my thyroid medicine and we will check my levels in 8 weeks. I am confident in her decision. We also found out that the MSAFP test was normal which means Nemo should have no neurotube defects. I am so thankful. The level II ultrasound is scheduled for 2 weeks from now. We still don’t want to know the sex of the baby. I will admit there are days that I really want to find out but mostly I want the surprise at the birth. I still think it is a boy and Chief is toying with the idea that it is a girl.

Speaking of surprises we went to the Farmers Market today and they had Michigan Sour Cherries. Those are the ones you bake pies with. I just love to eat them! I bought 2 quarts and I am not sure that they will last until Monday. If anyone must know, I have a real talent for eating these things. I did stop swallowing the pits due to being pregnant. I figure Nemo doesn’t need pits to be in my system.

After the Farmers Market, I met Chief downtown for Heritage Festival. I don’t think I will be riding my bike much longer. It is a bit uncomfortable. Chief was helping out with the bike corral so I met him there and went to the craft show. I went to the first booth I saw and bought a baby blanket and a soft stuffed puppy. Of course I didn’t bring the checkbook so I walked home, drank some water to cool down, and then walked back. Chief and I then shared some food and went to the beer tent to listen to a Beatles tribute band. I of course did not have beer but it looked really good! We then had “lupper” which is a late lunch/early supper. After filling up, we grabbed our bikes and headed home. Gosh were we tired.

We are going to early mass tomorrow so that Chief can go for a bike ride. I plan on cleaning out some drawers. Maybe we will do some other things but it seems to be looking like a lazy Sunday.

Four Month Check-Up

I was so busy for a few weeks that I have not had time to catch everyone up. I will try to do at least one entry a week because so much changes and I will otherwise forget to tell you what is going on.

We are in the process of registering for baby items. I don’t really know how much stuff we need. We figured out the big things but we are going to be guessing on clothes, blankets, and the little necessities. I have no clue as to what bottle or nipples will be okay for Nemo. There are so many choices and it is overwhelming to me. I might take my friend up on the offer to go with me to help me sort this out. These are the days that I wished we lived closer to family, as our moms, sisters, and sisters-in-law would be great help.

I had to buy a dress for a wedding that we went to last night. Chief and I went to Motherhood and found they are reasonably priced and had very comfortable clothes. I can’t believe how comfortable maternity clothes are. Chief was fun to shop with. I must have tried on three or four dresses and then he found a pair of shorts. I told him they would be too small and I was using that “Bellaband” to hold up my regular shorts that I no longer can zip. Anyway, I tried them on and they are so wonderful. So we left with a dress and a pair of shorts. Later that week during his lunch break he went to the mall to get me another pair of shorts. I thought it was one of the nicest things he has done. How many husbands go to that store during lunch to buy their wives clothes? I know I am lucky.

I went for my 4-month check up on Thursday and everything seems to be going well. The baby’s heartbeat was strong and was running about 150 beats per minute. My thyroid level went up again. We decided to recheck it in 8 weeks and will then decide if I need more medication. I am comfortable with not raising my medication right now but I am a little concerned as to the increase in my level. I am still controlled but with the hormones from being pregnant it is expected that they will continue to increase.

Today is Father’s Day. Chief went running and I rode my bike next to him for 9 miles. We had a really nice time talking and enjoyed the weather. We grilled out brats and burgers for dinner. It was a relaxing day! I think it will be neat to have Nemo with us next year. I often find myself thinking about how things will be with a baby in our lives. I can’t wait to find out.

We plan on visiting our families for the Fourth of July. I know everyone wants to see my “bump”. I have had requests to post a picture but I think it looks better in person. Maybe next month I will have Chief take a picture. For now, here is one of us taken at the wedding last night.

Blame It On Being Pregnant

Sometimes I feel like I am loosing my mind. It seems as though I am more forgetful. Take yesterday at work. I was walking around with an envelope in my hand and I couldn't figure out what I was going to do with it. Duh...maybe put it in the mail bin? I told Chief I was going to make egg salad sandwiches for lunch. When I went to crack the eggs they were not done. I think I set the timer for 6 minutes instead of 16 minutes. Yes. Things like this are happening all the time.

Let's not forget my emotions. Poor Chief, this morning I had a breakdown. I was crying for no real reason. I have been happy, anxious, sad and worried all since waking up this morning. At least I am not angry. The other night we were watching “Wipe Out” and I was laughing so hard I had tears. Normally, I wouldn’t think that this would be a funny show. I am also sensitive to the “Baby Story” on TLC. It is a sure bet that I will cry at the end of those episodes. These emotional up and downs are weird.

I am still walking. I wish I could get in a really tough workout, the kind that you leave your heart at the gym. Those workouts used to make me feel so good. Unfortunately, Nemo doesn't want to be baked or shaken. I guess I will have to dig out the heart rate monitor and maybe hit an elliptical at 70% of max. Oh, there is always swimming but my suit won't fit.

This will be a busy weekend. We have a few chores to do around the house. The windows need to be washed and base boards. I also want to clean out my car. There are a lot of nose prints on the car windows. Darn JJ, Dusty, and Chief (not so much the latter though). The other day I thought it will be kind of fun for Nemo to see the boys in the back of the car. This child will always be entertained.

3 Month Check Up

It was a busy week but we made it through. I had my appointment on Thursday with Cheryl, a nurse practioner at Loyola. I really felt comfortable with her and she took a lot of time with me in regards to my thyroid condition. She went through my old ultrasounds and decided to keep an eye on my parathyroid as well as my thyroid. Apparently, I had a questionable enlarged parathyroid on an exam but the one a few years later looked better. This brought up an interesting family history note that I totally forgot to mention at my first OB appointment. My sister Jodi had 2 of her parathyroid glands removed after having her daughter. Cheryl also added a T4 onto my next lab to help her understand how my thyroid function is doing. I will be getting the blood test in 2 weeks.

Nemo's heartbeat was strong (once she found it). He was moving about as usual. I think it was around 156-160. We also discussed our due date. If you remember the date got change to Nov. 21st because of the ultrasound results. I am very sure of my cycle. After Cheryl and I looked at my calendar she decided that we are going to keep the Nov. 28th date. Chief and I are not little people so that may explain the size concern. Changing the date this early isn't going to matter too much. We will be having plenty more ultrasounds to change everyone’s mind between now and November, so I am not too concerned.

Loyola would like me to try to see each of the physicians so that there are no surprises when it comes time to deliver. I discussed this with Cheryl and her thought is that I shouldn't go out of my way to try to see each doctor, especially if I have to change my work schedule. You all know how I hate to change my work hours so I decided that I will be sticking with Cheryl and to be honest, I don't think I will care who is delivering our baby. I will just be happy that there is someone down there that knows what the heck they are doing.

I was anxiously awaiting the results of our Early Screening for Down syndrome, Trisomy 18/13. Chief and I had discussed all the "what ifs" and clearly we would have been accepting and loving to our child if it had one of these chromosome conditions. The waiting is still hard and I even felt that I had wished that we hadn't been screened, but on the other side if we were to be faced with this challenge, I would have wanted to be prepared. On Thursday afternoon we found out that Nemo has a 1:1392 chance for Down syndrome and 1:5500 for trisomy! We both are happy and feel even more blessed. The next little hurdle is an AFP blood test, sometime in the next month.

On Friday we started to look at day care options. We found that we have to register Nemo fairly soon to guarantee a spot when I go back to work. We have an appointment on Tuesday with a place in town. Other options are still being looked at. We joked that we would try to get him in with the boys at Doggie Depot. We figured he would just need a small kennel and a few extra feedings. Nemo would have the cleanest face and fingers of anyone in town. I am not sure B & C will go for it though.

Thanks for all of the extra prayers that have been sent our way. We do appreciate everyone's concern. I told Nemo that he just has to keep growing and stay healthy. We will take care of the rest.

For no reason, here is a picture of JJ and Dusty, imitating Nemo, mooning us:

Baby On Board

We are so excited! It is really happening. We are going to have a baby!

I found out I was pregnant after our vacation in March. Chief and I saw the doctor in April and that is when we saw the little heart beat. It was so special. Of course I cried. Since then, we have had an ultrasound as a screening for possible chromosome abnormalities to the baby. We are awaiting those results. The little guy was squirming and kicking. We even got “mooned”. The experience was amazing. To see our baby moving about was incredible. I was joking because he was active and I am not a morning person so I am sure he is taking after his father.

The ultrasound technologist did a measurement and subsequently the baby measured a week bigger than what we expected so our due date got changed to November 21st.


Because of my hypothryroidism, we will continue to be monitored by the High Risk OB physicians. Apparently the concern is growth and development of the baby. They will monitor my TSH levels and watch the baby with ultrasounds starting at 20 weeks. I will be asking very specific questions about this at my next appointment so I can give more details later.

I have been feeling good. I get occasional nausea and I am tired but I hear this should be ending soon. I still walk in the mornings and I am really wanting to swim. It is just that I am tired when I get home from work so I have not had the energy to go to the YMCA. Maybe this week will be better.

By the way, we don’t want to find out the sex of the baby. I know that there is a chance we may accidentally find out with the upcoming ultrasounds but we are not planning on it. As Chief said “there are not enough surprises in life.” I have been calling the baby “my little guy” and after a recent trip to Florida we started to call the baby Nemo. If she is a girl I will apologize to her in person in 6 months.

Not Much Happening

March flew by and now April is upon us. Chief and I went to Florida a few weeks ago. We had a wonderful time on the Gulf Coast visiting with our Aunt and Uncle. Everyday was fun and relaxing. It is just what we needed. After a few days we drove over to the Atlantic side and stayed with our friends. Unfortunately, I got sick with a nasty cold. Finally, by the end of the trip I felt better and had a fun time with Rhonda in the Keys while Chief and Steve went snorkeling.

I gave up on the running. I know it is better this way. I am so glad that I can still get a decent workout with walking. I probably should get to the Y and do other cardio stuff but I really don't feel like it. I still want to swim and work on weight training. All in time I guess.

I am also happy to say that Chief is in the last week of training for his marathon next weekend. Thank God! He could use some rest. He got my cold on the last day of vacation and it turned into a sinus infection.

The boys are fine. They enjoyed Doggie Depot while we were on vacation.

Not much else to report. We are just waiting for spring to come. I can't wait to get outside and work on my garden.

If It Makes You Happy

I made myself happy! I woke up, put on my running stuff, hooked up JJ and went for a 30 minute walk/run. I haven't been this happy in 3 months. There is nothing that could ruin my wonderful mood.

The plan was to walk the first and last 5 minutes. Anything in between was based on how my knee felt. It was so strange when I began the run. I felt like I had to tell myself how to do it. It didn't matter if it was super slow or that I walked all of the hills. All that matters is that I actually listened to my body.

I promised Dr. E that I would only do short walk/runs on soft surfaces. I know that the sidewalk is not considered soft and because of this I really will listen to my body. Today was a good start. I know I will not be back to where I was in November but at least I can say I am trying again.

Alive

Yes, I am still alive. I just am not living my life to its fullest. I have not jumped into the pool yet. I was trying to convince Chief to go with me these last few weeks but he isn’t interested. I don’t blame him, as I am not interested either. I did hop on the trainer and have some medial pain especially in a higher gear. I will be sure to talk to Dr. E about that tomorrow. I have gained some weight but not so much that I hate myself. I just need to get things in control very soon.

I am glad that the weather is warming up. I did take a really nice and long walk with JJ on Saturday. Chief went running with his friends and took Dusty with him. Dusty was very dirty when they got done and had his first bath in our bathtub. He was not happy with this. On the other hand, JJ was thrilled. He just wagged his tail and was watching the whole time.

Nothing is new with me. I have just been a slug trying to crawl out of this hole that I am in. Things are better with my sadness. I am okay now. It is hard to get back into a fitness routine when so much time was taken off. I just need to get motivated again.

I have been thinking of a new name for my blog. Any suggestions? Blogging is good for me so I will post more often. I know it won’t be about me running. Maybe it will be about me learning to be a “real swimmer”. That’s a thought.

BUSTED

JJ has never been allowed on the furniture. He has always been okay with this rule. Something changed his mind. This something was probably Dusty. Now, Dusty has always been allowed a small corner of the couch. Not because we encouraged it but because he is so OCD that it was a battle we couldn’t win. Thankfully he is only 20 pounds and doesn’t take up much space. Plus he is very easy to pick up and move.

A few weeks ago Chief went downstairs in the middle of the night and busted JJ. Our sweet, innocent, obedient dog was stretched on his back, tummy up, on our couch! I didn’t believe Chief when he told me. Well, we have been playing detective and have the pictures to prove it. As you can see, JJ is quite content being up on the furniture. There are times when we are watching TV and JJ will sit in front of us and start “talking”. Mostly it is a whine/moan and we are convinced he is saying, “Move over and make room for me”. Yes, we are suckers. We are dealing with this new behavior by not encouraging it but at the same time we are not kicking him off either. Let’s say that I believe dogs understand the concept of “fairness”. So, we will see what he thinks he is entitled to next. Hopefully, it is not taking my seat in the car!