Want to see what we saw? Here it is!!!
TWINS!!!!
This will be a new adventure for us.... I'm pretty excited, and so is everyone else. I'm really curious to see how this pregnancy progresses compared to a singleton pregnancy.
Lilypie First Birthday tickers
pregnancy ticker
Friday, March 13, 2015
And here we go!!!
Yesterday we had our first ultrasound!!! It was weird not being able to share the results with B&G immediately, but there is a huge time difference between us. They had lots of interesting and fantastic messages to wake up to, though.....
Want to see what we saw? Here it is!!!
TWINS!!!!
This will be a new adventure for us.... I'm pretty excited, and so is everyone else. I'm really curious to see how this pregnancy progresses compared to a singleton pregnancy.
Want to see what we saw? Here it is!!!
TWINS!!!!
This will be a new adventure for us.... I'm pretty excited, and so is everyone else. I'm really curious to see how this pregnancy progresses compared to a singleton pregnancy.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
It seems that I am REALLY pregnant
So, my day 8 and 10 betas were really good. My 20 day beta draw was this week (it was actually a 21 day), and I was hoping for big numbers. My 19 day beta with my last singleton pregnancy was just over 5,000. I was pretty curious to see what it would be this time, given my higher day 8 and 10 numbers.
On the FB page I share with other surros in my agency, we post what our betas are. Everyone's are different, and there isn't an official range of numbers for singletons, twins, etc- but it's fun to compare to see if we can get an idea of what is going on "in there". It seems that most of the ladies that end up carrying multiples have betas in the ten thousands range- some are higher and some are lower, but that seems a pretty good indicator.
My 20 day beta was 22,220. That's right.... Twenty two thousand two hundred and twenty. I'm now dying for our first ultrasound!!!
Carrying multiples is an adventure I haven't had yet, but I'm up for it! Plus, how awesome would it be for B&G to have two babies in one pregnancy??? And yes, I know the risk of multiples. But I almost think that my last pregnancy may have prepared me to carry twins. Levi was just under 10 pounds, and there had to have been 2 gallons of fluid in there (really, it was flowing over the sides of the bed when my water broke). If the math follows, I should be able to carry TWO babies to at least 5 pounds each without much difficulty. Plus, if there ARE two babies in there, I am going to go to a doctor that has a ton of experience with both surrogates and surrogate twin pregnancies.
I'm starting to feel pregnant. I've been light-headed this time around more than the others. Not all the time, or super bad but noticeable. I'm also starting to feel nauseated during the day. It's not debilitating, and I hope it doesn't get that way! We'll see, though.... I would like to avoid taking meds for nausea. I've never needed them in the past, and I'd like to not take them this time. It will be interesting to see what I can and can't eat this time around.....
Until the ultrasound....
On the FB page I share with other surros in my agency, we post what our betas are. Everyone's are different, and there isn't an official range of numbers for singletons, twins, etc- but it's fun to compare to see if we can get an idea of what is going on "in there". It seems that most of the ladies that end up carrying multiples have betas in the ten thousands range- some are higher and some are lower, but that seems a pretty good indicator.
My 20 day beta was 22,220. That's right.... Twenty two thousand two hundred and twenty. I'm now dying for our first ultrasound!!!
Carrying multiples is an adventure I haven't had yet, but I'm up for it! Plus, how awesome would it be for B&G to have two babies in one pregnancy??? And yes, I know the risk of multiples. But I almost think that my last pregnancy may have prepared me to carry twins. Levi was just under 10 pounds, and there had to have been 2 gallons of fluid in there (really, it was flowing over the sides of the bed when my water broke). If the math follows, I should be able to carry TWO babies to at least 5 pounds each without much difficulty. Plus, if there ARE two babies in there, I am going to go to a doctor that has a ton of experience with both surrogates and surrogate twin pregnancies.
I'm starting to feel pregnant. I've been light-headed this time around more than the others. Not all the time, or super bad but noticeable. I'm also starting to feel nauseated during the day. It's not debilitating, and I hope it doesn't get that way! We'll see, though.... I would like to avoid taking meds for nausea. I've never needed them in the past, and I'd like to not take them this time. It will be interesting to see what I can and can't eat this time around.....
Until the ultrasound....
Thursday, February 19, 2015
I want to say that my uterus is magical....
.... but I don't want to jinx things!
Being superstitious, I don't like to talk about good things too soon. But I'm pretty excited that we are officially pregnant!!!
My little uterus has done it's job again, and we have positive betas!!! We also had positive hpts, but I didn't want to post anything before it was "official".
So, here are the stats!!!
Beta #1, 8 days post 5 day transfer................................178
Beta #2, 10 days post 5 day transfer..............................375
We were looking for the second number to be at least double of the first, and there we are!
We'll have a third draw on/ around Day 20 just to confirm that my betas are rising, and after that is our first ultrasound!!!
I love seeing those lines get darker!!!
I'm feeling pretty normal still. No nausea (yet), and that can take its sweet time getting here! I've been STARVING the last few days, and though Chris assures me it's normal for me, I don't remember being this hungry with the others. My skin is getting itchy, which is a weird pregnancy thing for me- but it should get better (for awhile) soon. Getting some heartburn, but I've had that more and more in-between pregnancy, too, so I'm not too surprised about that.
We're just SO excited for B&G!!!
Being superstitious, I don't like to talk about good things too soon. But I'm pretty excited that we are officially pregnant!!!
My little uterus has done it's job again, and we have positive betas!!! We also had positive hpts, but I didn't want to post anything before it was "official".
So, here are the stats!!!
Beta #1, 8 days post 5 day transfer................................178
Beta #2, 10 days post 5 day transfer..............................375
We were looking for the second number to be at least double of the first, and there we are!
We'll have a third draw on/ around Day 20 just to confirm that my betas are rising, and after that is our first ultrasound!!!
I'm feeling pretty normal still. No nausea (yet), and that can take its sweet time getting here! I've been STARVING the last few days, and though Chris assures me it's normal for me, I don't remember being this hungry with the others. My skin is getting itchy, which is a weird pregnancy thing for me- but it should get better (for awhile) soon. Getting some heartburn, but I've had that more and more in-between pregnancy, too, so I'm not too surprised about that.
We're just SO excited for B&G!!!
Sunday, February 15, 2015
The eternal question when waiting for Beta draws.....
.... do I take a home pregnancy test (hpt) or just wait for the blood draws???
I take a hpt, silly!!! But the bigger question for some carriers is when to take that test. I know some gals that have tested at 4 days post transfer, but that's pretty early to get a positive. I usually make myself wait until about 7 days post transfer- and sometimes that coincides with a blood draw. This time, our blood draws are going to be on Day 8 and Day 10. I like having a positive home test (or a negative one, too...), so waiting for the blood results doesn't consume my entire being. Tomorrow is Day 7 post transfer....
At this point, I'm still feeling pretty normal. I have a close friend who has been a gestational carrier, too. She checks on me almost daily, and 2 nights ago I was lamenting to her that I feel totally normal. She reminded me that I said the exact same thing to her at the same point last time, and I had a perfectly healthy pregnancy. I'm glad she reminded me, because I didn't remember!!! I'm still having some occasional cramping- which has always been a good sign in the past, and I'm starting to get a little achy in a couple of other key areas. I'm actually dying to see what my blood results are. ;)
In other news, I've been off work for the last 12 days. I took a little staycation to coincide with the transfer, and have enjoyed every moment of it. Tonight, it's back to work and back to a more normal routine for me. So, I'm going to have a lazy day and enjoy every last second until I have to head back to the hospital tonight.
I take a hpt, silly!!! But the bigger question for some carriers is when to take that test. I know some gals that have tested at 4 days post transfer, but that's pretty early to get a positive. I usually make myself wait until about 7 days post transfer- and sometimes that coincides with a blood draw. This time, our blood draws are going to be on Day 8 and Day 10. I like having a positive home test (or a negative one, too...), so waiting for the blood results doesn't consume my entire being. Tomorrow is Day 7 post transfer....
At this point, I'm still feeling pretty normal. I have a close friend who has been a gestational carrier, too. She checks on me almost daily, and 2 nights ago I was lamenting to her that I feel totally normal. She reminded me that I said the exact same thing to her at the same point last time, and I had a perfectly healthy pregnancy. I'm glad she reminded me, because I didn't remember!!! I'm still having some occasional cramping- which has always been a good sign in the past, and I'm starting to get a little achy in a couple of other key areas. I'm actually dying to see what my blood results are. ;)
In other news, I've been off work for the last 12 days. I took a little staycation to coincide with the transfer, and have enjoyed every moment of it. Tonight, it's back to work and back to a more normal routine for me. So, I'm going to have a lazy day and enjoy every last second until I have to head back to the hospital tonight.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Just passing time
Day three of bedrest....
I finally moved down to the couch today!!! Some people say that having three days of nothing to do but hang out in bed must be fantastic.... Well. It is unless you HAVE to.
Our transfer on Monday went well. Well, after our lawyer got all HER ducks in a row. She seemed to think that she didn't have all the necessary paperwork in place. She did- she just didn't know it. Talk about a stressful beginning to the morning. But, the clinic gave me my Valium in the middle of all that, so I didn't really care after awhile.... ;) The Valium didn't make me quite as sleepy as it normally does- though Chris did point out that I was talking with my hands much more than usual. B & G have some awesome looking embryos, and we transferred two of them in. Fingers crossed that they both stick!!!
After the transfer, it was straight home and straight to bed. I took a nap, watched some TV, and then watched more TV, then went to bed.
Day two post transfer was pretty much the same. It's not the easiest thing in the world to lay down for days at a time though!!! I managed to get pretty creative with the pillows, and that helps. Toward the end of the day, I started to get a little restless, and started to get a headache- I'm being really good and having zero caffeine. And I quit cold turkey- ouch!!! Chris made me a yummy dinner, and then it was time to sleep again. Oh, and I had a couple pretty awesome (lazy) bed companions, too. Our siberian huskies did their best to keep me company.
And now, Day 3.
The bed was killing my lower back and hips, so I moved to the couch today. Lots of water to try and offset the lack of caffeine, but I still couldn't kick the headache. Maybe tomorrow. I've been feeling crampy on and off since Monday night, and that has been a good sign in the past. I find myself NOT doing any of the things I said I was going to during my three days of "freedom"- also how that usually goes. Like tonight... I'm supposed to be catching up on a new show that I've wanted to watch. Instead, I'm watching back and forth between The Terminator, and Aliens.... Good ol' 80s movies.
As always, the waiting is the worst part. I hate that there is nothing I can do to guarantee that those two little embies are going to stick and grow. We indulged in all our pre-transfer superstitions, we've visualized, meditated, crossed fingers, toes, and eyeballs. I'm talking my meds religiously and trying to stay busy- so the time won't drag before our blood draws. But in the end, all we can do is wait...
I finally moved down to the couch today!!! Some people say that having three days of nothing to do but hang out in bed must be fantastic.... Well. It is unless you HAVE to.
Our transfer on Monday went well. Well, after our lawyer got all HER ducks in a row. She seemed to think that she didn't have all the necessary paperwork in place. She did- she just didn't know it. Talk about a stressful beginning to the morning. But, the clinic gave me my Valium in the middle of all that, so I didn't really care after awhile.... ;) The Valium didn't make me quite as sleepy as it normally does- though Chris did point out that I was talking with my hands much more than usual. B & G have some awesome looking embryos, and we transferred two of them in. Fingers crossed that they both stick!!!
After the transfer, it was straight home and straight to bed. I took a nap, watched some TV, and then watched more TV, then went to bed.
Day two post transfer was pretty much the same. It's not the easiest thing in the world to lay down for days at a time though!!! I managed to get pretty creative with the pillows, and that helps. Toward the end of the day, I started to get a little restless, and started to get a headache- I'm being really good and having zero caffeine. And I quit cold turkey- ouch!!! Chris made me a yummy dinner, and then it was time to sleep again. Oh, and I had a couple pretty awesome (lazy) bed companions, too. Our siberian huskies did their best to keep me company.
And now, Day 3.
The bed was killing my lower back and hips, so I moved to the couch today. Lots of water to try and offset the lack of caffeine, but I still couldn't kick the headache. Maybe tomorrow. I've been feeling crampy on and off since Monday night, and that has been a good sign in the past. I find myself NOT doing any of the things I said I was going to during my three days of "freedom"- also how that usually goes. Like tonight... I'm supposed to be catching up on a new show that I've wanted to watch. Instead, I'm watching back and forth between The Terminator, and Aliens.... Good ol' 80s movies.
As always, the waiting is the worst part. I hate that there is nothing I can do to guarantee that those two little embies are going to stick and grow. We indulged in all our pre-transfer superstitions, we've visualized, meditated, crossed fingers, toes, and eyeballs. I'm talking my meds religiously and trying to stay busy- so the time won't drag before our blood draws. But in the end, all we can do is wait...
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Surrogacy reflections and another new beginning...
People ask all the time what made me want to be a gestational carrier. The truth? I don't know! I feel like it has always been something I wanted to do. I can't pinpoint an exact time or event that impressed upon me YES!!! this is something that I want to do! Obviously I heard about it somewhere from someone.... But it has always been something that has been a part of my heart- even before Chris and I had children. After our first was born, I distinctly remember thinking to myself that I was glad my pregnancy had gone well- that meant that being a gestational carrier was an actual possibility. I feel like there's not a lot of magic left in our world, and I love magic. I think I love pregnancy and childbirth so much because it IS magic. You put two tiny cells together, and by some unseen miracle they fuse to make a third, completely independent being. Then that being grows from a microscopic cluster of cells to an entire infant human being- inside ME! Then, at the moment of birth, when one complete entity separates to become two independently living, breathing people??? Pure magic. Being a gestational carrier allows me to be a part of that magic again and again. Not to mention the part about helping a couple grow into a family....
It's been five years since our family embarked on our surrogacy journey. In the beginning, we were matched with a lovely couple from Germany who taught us how the beginning of the process works. We learned how being matched is like having that really awkward blind date- with a lot more riding on the deal than whether or not we all liked the restaurant. We learned that you fall in love really fast, and bond SO quickly around the idea of bringing new life into the world. Then we learned about the heartbreak of being told (by a doctor) that I wasn't good enough after all to carry someone else's baby. The loss of hope I had of ever fulfilling one of my life's dreams.
About a year later, the rekindling of that hope, when I met a woman who owned a surrogacy agency in town. Rekindling that hope after finding out that the doctor that screened me before was one of the strictest in the country- and three doctors and the IVF clinic here cleared me. Then being matched with Jason.
Our journey with Jason taught us how a pretty much perfect experience can go. Meds and appointments, travel and a transfer. A positive pregnancy test 7 days after, with an ultrasound showing one perfect heartbeat. Not all roads are totally smooth, though, and we had a scary weekend with some bleeding- then a diagnosed subchorionic bleed. The rest of the pregnancy was a dream, and before we knew it my water broke at 38 weeks and 4 days. Baby M joined her family, and I knew this was something I had to do again. It was incredible.
Our journey with Seth and Johnny taught us how we only grow stronger through trials together. Our match was perfect from the beginning, and I knew it was going to be smooth sailing the entire way through. When our first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at 9 weeks, I was devastated. These wonderful men had placed all their hopes and dreams for a child in MY hands (uterus), and I had failed. That wasn't supposed to happen! But we stuck with each other, talked often, and grew together. Our second transfer was a success- with that one perfect heartbeat again. Baby L was born after 39 weeks and 3 days, an uncomplicated pregnancy, and a difficult delivery. Hours later, I remember thinking that as difficult as that delivery was, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Now, we have been matched with a fantastic couple from Australia! Maybe this time, we will learn how a journey with twins will be....!!! Even though we are pretty much surrogacy pros by now, it doesn't diminish the excitement we feel. Chris and I love meeting our new prospective match, the getting to know each other part, and the excitement leading up to our transfer. I'll be on pins and needles for the week after transfer, just praying that I can text that coveted picture of a pregnancy test with TWO pink lines to two new daddies-to-be. That we can provide another uncomplicated pregnancy, a smooth delivery, and most importantly the realization of B & G's dream for a family.
Here's to another new beginning!!!
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Saying Goodbye
It never ceases to amaze me how fast the time goes. It's been a year and a half since we first started talking with Johnny and Seth. In that time we've had three visits, on both sides of the country, 2 IVF transfers, one miscarriage, and the birth of one incredible boy. Yet it seems like we just started contemplating our whole journey!
I had my court appointment yesterday to terminate my parental rights to Levi. In the state where we live, this is the final step of the surrogacy process. So, Journey #2 is officially over. I've said it before... At the beginning of the whole process, I feel like the birth of a child is that almost unattainable goal at the end of a long tunnel with no end in sight. The first stages are full of appointments, and medications, and anxiety, and hope. Then the pregnancy itself is 9 whole months! That should take for.ev.er to pass, right? Well, it really doesn't..... I can't believe it is December, and that Levi is here, that I'm not pregnant any more. It goes SO fast looking back on everything. Which is why I try my hardest to pay attention to, and cherish, every moment.
I've been blessed with two incredible families to carry for. I say that my second journey is "over", but I know that that really isn't the case. The legal processes are done, and Levi is here and settled with his family, but this is not "the end" for us. Chris, our kids, and I have been accepted into the hearts and lives of two amazing families. Our family has expanded to include everyone as well. At the risk of sounding really mushy and cliche, surrogacy has brought us so much more than two beautiful children.
I feel peaceful after this second journey. It took me a few days to put my finger on the right word for my feelings, but I settled on peaceful. It's been almost two weeks since Levi was born. He came early on a Monday morning, and left for home with his family Thursday afternoon. In the three days after his delivery, I was able to spend as much time as I wanted with Levi- and S&J. They allowed me the things that are important to me after delivery- time being the biggest one. I was able to feed Levi, change him, snuggle him, and show him off to my friends and family. The last night we were in the hospital, Seth and Johnny got one last night of baby-free sleep at their hotel, gifting me with uninterrupted time with Levi. Between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon I think we packed in a week's worth of visits- pictures, food, messages, and being together, our family and theirs. And then it was time for them to take Levi home.
The goodbyes are always hard. Our family "grew" this beautiful baby for 39.3 weeks. I carried him with love, the same way that I carried my own babies. I was more prepared for the emotions this time- the love that I felt for this child that wasn't mine, the inevitable separation when it was time for me to step back from being the care giver and turning that role over to his parents, the bittersweet of our last "see you soon, and this is NOT goodbye" at the hotel on Thursday morning.... Our experience with Jason and Mia prepared me for all that. But it still sucked (lol). Suddenly, Chris and I wished we lived a whole lot closer to the East coast- or that everyone would move out our way!
I say I'm peaceful because settling back into our "normal" routines at home was easier this time. I think it's because we have done this before. After Mia went home, I struggled a little bit with not having a baby to care for. Chris and I were used to bringing home that new little bundle from the hospital and having our world turned upside down for awhile. And here I was, newly delivered, with no baby at home. For about a week, I felt as though something was missing. After Seth and Johnny took Levi home, I expected to feel the same way; I watched for it, prepared to tell everyone I was doing okay- but maybe lying just a little. But that missing feeling never came, and it still hasn't. I am perfectly content with my little family here, getting back to "normal", and enjoying my time off from work. I talk to S&J at least once a day right now, and love getting their updates- or just chatting like we did before Levi was here.
It helps knowing that these people are a part of our lives now. I won't ever have to wonder how Mia and Levi are doing, how they are growing, if they are loved. Even if our contact tapers off, I know that we'll still be included in milestone moments and life's big events. Chris, and the kids, and I may be that branch of crazy family that lives really far away, but we will still be family. Who knew when we started down the surrogacy path all those years ago that our lives would be enriched in so many ways? These experiences have turned into so much more than I ever expected them to be, and I am grateful for every moment- all the ups and the downs.
So, it's come to that time again. Time to say goodbye to another surrogacy journey, time to say goodbye to my surro blog. Already, my friends are asking me "Do you think you'll do this again???". And my answer is "Well, it's just too soon to tell". I already miss being pregnant- there is something truly magical about growing another life inside you, and feeling that little person start to move and grow. Bringing new life into the world is one of the most amazing, special feelings... And even after a difficult delivery, I can look back and say I would do it all over again. So who knows? Maybe in a couple years, I can revisit this blog and share another journey with you. We'll just have to wait and see.
I had my court appointment yesterday to terminate my parental rights to Levi. In the state where we live, this is the final step of the surrogacy process. So, Journey #2 is officially over. I've said it before... At the beginning of the whole process, I feel like the birth of a child is that almost unattainable goal at the end of a long tunnel with no end in sight. The first stages are full of appointments, and medications, and anxiety, and hope. Then the pregnancy itself is 9 whole months! That should take for.ev.er to pass, right? Well, it really doesn't..... I can't believe it is December, and that Levi is here, that I'm not pregnant any more. It goes SO fast looking back on everything. Which is why I try my hardest to pay attention to, and cherish, every moment.
I've been blessed with two incredible families to carry for. I say that my second journey is "over", but I know that that really isn't the case. The legal processes are done, and Levi is here and settled with his family, but this is not "the end" for us. Chris, our kids, and I have been accepted into the hearts and lives of two amazing families. Our family has expanded to include everyone as well. At the risk of sounding really mushy and cliche, surrogacy has brought us so much more than two beautiful children.
I feel peaceful after this second journey. It took me a few days to put my finger on the right word for my feelings, but I settled on peaceful. It's been almost two weeks since Levi was born. He came early on a Monday morning, and left for home with his family Thursday afternoon. In the three days after his delivery, I was able to spend as much time as I wanted with Levi- and S&J. They allowed me the things that are important to me after delivery- time being the biggest one. I was able to feed Levi, change him, snuggle him, and show him off to my friends and family. The last night we were in the hospital, Seth and Johnny got one last night of baby-free sleep at their hotel, gifting me with uninterrupted time with Levi. Between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon I think we packed in a week's worth of visits- pictures, food, messages, and being together, our family and theirs. And then it was time for them to take Levi home.
The goodbyes are always hard. Our family "grew" this beautiful baby for 39.3 weeks. I carried him with love, the same way that I carried my own babies. I was more prepared for the emotions this time- the love that I felt for this child that wasn't mine, the inevitable separation when it was time for me to step back from being the care giver and turning that role over to his parents, the bittersweet of our last "see you soon, and this is NOT goodbye" at the hotel on Thursday morning.... Our experience with Jason and Mia prepared me for all that. But it still sucked (lol). Suddenly, Chris and I wished we lived a whole lot closer to the East coast- or that everyone would move out our way!
I say I'm peaceful because settling back into our "normal" routines at home was easier this time. I think it's because we have done this before. After Mia went home, I struggled a little bit with not having a baby to care for. Chris and I were used to bringing home that new little bundle from the hospital and having our world turned upside down for awhile. And here I was, newly delivered, with no baby at home. For about a week, I felt as though something was missing. After Seth and Johnny took Levi home, I expected to feel the same way; I watched for it, prepared to tell everyone I was doing okay- but maybe lying just a little. But that missing feeling never came, and it still hasn't. I am perfectly content with my little family here, getting back to "normal", and enjoying my time off from work. I talk to S&J at least once a day right now, and love getting their updates- or just chatting like we did before Levi was here.
It helps knowing that these people are a part of our lives now. I won't ever have to wonder how Mia and Levi are doing, how they are growing, if they are loved. Even if our contact tapers off, I know that we'll still be included in milestone moments and life's big events. Chris, and the kids, and I may be that branch of crazy family that lives really far away, but we will still be family. Who knew when we started down the surrogacy path all those years ago that our lives would be enriched in so many ways? These experiences have turned into so much more than I ever expected them to be, and I am grateful for every moment- all the ups and the downs.
So, it's come to that time again. Time to say goodbye to another surrogacy journey, time to say goodbye to my surro blog. Already, my friends are asking me "Do you think you'll do this again???". And my answer is "Well, it's just too soon to tell". I already miss being pregnant- there is something truly magical about growing another life inside you, and feeling that little person start to move and grow. Bringing new life into the world is one of the most amazing, special feelings... And even after a difficult delivery, I can look back and say I would do it all over again. So who knows? Maybe in a couple years, I can revisit this blog and share another journey with you. We'll just have to wait and see.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
He's Here!!!!
Wow. I can't believe it's over..... Again.
The last post left us at 39 weeks, and waiting for this little man to arrive in the world. Seth, Johnny, Joan, and Mike were all here; we celebrated Thanksgiving together, and everyone was settling in to wait. Friday came and went, Saturday came and went.... I was having contractions every now and then, but nothing that resembled labor. We were all beginning to think I was going to make my next doctor's appointment that following Tuesday!
Sunday morning, I was up early with contractions again. But just like the previous two or three nights, the contractions completely stopped after about three hours. We made plans to meet everyone for lunch, then go wander around the Festival of the Trees- a yearly holiday activity one of the hospitals puts on. It was gray and gloomy outside, and I don't think anyone was really up for going out, but we all went anyway. Afterward, S&J came back to our house with us. We were going to just veg on the couch, watch movies, and eat popcorn and chocolate covered goodies.
We hadn't been home for very long when I finally decided we should probably head to the hospital and get checked out. I'll spare you the details, but I had been having some leaking throughout the day. After consulting with a couple of my nurse friends (at almost the end of the day, of course) I told Chris we should probably go in. I didn't think what I was leaking was amniotic fluid, so I didn't want to get S&J all excited by announcing that I thought my water had broken. Instead I had to use the really vague "there's something going on, but I'm not really sure what......".
So, we had a friend come watch the kids while S&J and Chris and I headed down to the hospital. In triage, I told my nurse (also one of the friends I'd "consulted") that I still didn't think it was amniotic fluid.... And after seeing it, she wasn't sure that it was either. But guess what??? It was. lol... How long have I been doing this? 12+ years??? Just goes to show that it's not always easy to tell what is going on. Turns out, I had what we call a "high leak"; I was leaking just little amounts of fluid at a time- not enough to soak anything, or even make me feel wet. The "weirdness" I was seeing all day was these tiny amounts of fluid- but there was meconium in the fluid, which made it look green.
It was Baby Day!!!! Or Baby Night, as it was about 8pm by then.... Since I wasn't sure exactly how long I'd been ruptured, it was decided to start some pitocin. I had been leaking all day with no spontaneous contractions, so I didn't think waiting any longer would change anything. I had a great friend as my labor nurse, and it wasn't too long before we were all settled in our room. Labor room 2408, where Aiden, Paige, and Finn had all made their entrance into the world. Mia came on a day where all our rooms were full, so I didn't get to pick my room that day.... Chris went home to collect Aiden and Paige, who both desperately wanted to be there for delivery.
I was about 5cm dilated when I was admitted. My nurse and I expected my labor to progress fairly quickly after starting the pitocin. That was, after all, my history. I figured we would start the pitocin, get into a good labor pattern, get an epidural, and deliver a couple hours later. We started the pit around 10, and I was ready to get an epidural by midnight. My contractions weren't very strong, and I wasn't leaking much fluid so I was a little worried this might not be as quick as we originally thought. After the epidural, the "high leak" popped, and my water broke completely. So much for worrying about not leaking much.... there ended up being a TON of fluid in there. My nurse and I joked that the baby was probably only 5 or 6 pounds because all the fluid had to have taken up the rest of the space! But, I was still only 5cm dilated. At 2am, I was 7cm. My nurse and I started to wonder what was going on. This was not going as expected. So everyone settled in and tried to doze or sleep a little- the kids were sleeping and doing great.
At 4am, I was still 7cm. The baby was lower, and my cervix was thinned out, but I was still only 7. So, I really started turning side to side with some sitting straight up in between. My contraction pattern was good, the baby was looking great, but this delivery just wasn't happening. The next little bit of time runs together for me. The moving around was working, and I was getting more uncomfortable. I know at one point I was 8cm, then 9cm- both numbers I hadn't seen before. "Usually" I would power through from 7 to 10 with no inbetween. Finally, finally, my nurse said she was going to call the doctor in and I could push soon. I could feel the baby's head moving down, and it was getting worse with every contraction. I was shaking, and uncomfortable, and teary. This was definitely NOT the graceful delivery I had anticipated.
I looked up my delivery record afterward. They called me 10cm at 528 in the morning. Seth and Johnny, Aiden and Paige were up and ready. Chris was on one side of me and my nurse on the other. First contraction I was able to push the kiddo down to almost crowning, but it was hard!!! The second contraction was harder, but they all said his head was out. I sure couldn't tell- there was no sense of relief like I had felt before. By now, I think I was hyperventilating and I know I was crying. I couldn't breathe, and it all hurt, and the baby wasn't coming out! Turns out, he really was stuck. I was in the midst of what we call a shoulder dystocia. The kiddo's head delivered, but his shoulders were wide enough that they wouldn't fit under my pubic bone- at least not without a lot of help. Lucky for baby, and for me, the doctor who was on call that night is very good with that kind of thing. After a lot of work, and a huge amount of group effort, Baby Levi finally made his way into the world. He was quickly handed off to the NICU team who were there and waiting- both for the meconium, and now the shoulder dystocia. Before too long, I heard his sweet cry, and they told me he was okay. The doctor looked at me and said "I'm serious when I say this.... I think that baby is over 10 pounds!". I think I cried a little harder.
Baby Levi
December 2, 2013, 534am
9 pounds, 10 ounces 21.5 inches long
My longest pregnancy, at 39.3 days. My biggest baby. One of my longest labors. Mr. Levi broke some pretty impressive records. My nurse and I looked at each other and said, "that's why this labor took so long!!!'.....
But I would do every second of it over again to bring this miracle into the world.
The last post left us at 39 weeks, and waiting for this little man to arrive in the world. Seth, Johnny, Joan, and Mike were all here; we celebrated Thanksgiving together, and everyone was settling in to wait. Friday came and went, Saturday came and went.... I was having contractions every now and then, but nothing that resembled labor. We were all beginning to think I was going to make my next doctor's appointment that following Tuesday!
Sunday morning, I was up early with contractions again. But just like the previous two or three nights, the contractions completely stopped after about three hours. We made plans to meet everyone for lunch, then go wander around the Festival of the Trees- a yearly holiday activity one of the hospitals puts on. It was gray and gloomy outside, and I don't think anyone was really up for going out, but we all went anyway. Afterward, S&J came back to our house with us. We were going to just veg on the couch, watch movies, and eat popcorn and chocolate covered goodies.
We hadn't been home for very long when I finally decided we should probably head to the hospital and get checked out. I'll spare you the details, but I had been having some leaking throughout the day. After consulting with a couple of my nurse friends (at almost the end of the day, of course) I told Chris we should probably go in. I didn't think what I was leaking was amniotic fluid, so I didn't want to get S&J all excited by announcing that I thought my water had broken. Instead I had to use the really vague "there's something going on, but I'm not really sure what......".
So, we had a friend come watch the kids while S&J and Chris and I headed down to the hospital. In triage, I told my nurse (also one of the friends I'd "consulted") that I still didn't think it was amniotic fluid.... And after seeing it, she wasn't sure that it was either. But guess what??? It was. lol... How long have I been doing this? 12+ years??? Just goes to show that it's not always easy to tell what is going on. Turns out, I had what we call a "high leak"; I was leaking just little amounts of fluid at a time- not enough to soak anything, or even make me feel wet. The "weirdness" I was seeing all day was these tiny amounts of fluid- but there was meconium in the fluid, which made it look green.
It was Baby Day!!!! Or Baby Night, as it was about 8pm by then.... Since I wasn't sure exactly how long I'd been ruptured, it was decided to start some pitocin. I had been leaking all day with no spontaneous contractions, so I didn't think waiting any longer would change anything. I had a great friend as my labor nurse, and it wasn't too long before we were all settled in our room. Labor room 2408, where Aiden, Paige, and Finn had all made their entrance into the world. Mia came on a day where all our rooms were full, so I didn't get to pick my room that day.... Chris went home to collect Aiden and Paige, who both desperately wanted to be there for delivery.
I was about 5cm dilated when I was admitted. My nurse and I expected my labor to progress fairly quickly after starting the pitocin. That was, after all, my history. I figured we would start the pitocin, get into a good labor pattern, get an epidural, and deliver a couple hours later. We started the pit around 10, and I was ready to get an epidural by midnight. My contractions weren't very strong, and I wasn't leaking much fluid so I was a little worried this might not be as quick as we originally thought. After the epidural, the "high leak" popped, and my water broke completely. So much for worrying about not leaking much.... there ended up being a TON of fluid in there. My nurse and I joked that the baby was probably only 5 or 6 pounds because all the fluid had to have taken up the rest of the space! But, I was still only 5cm dilated. At 2am, I was 7cm. My nurse and I started to wonder what was going on. This was not going as expected. So everyone settled in and tried to doze or sleep a little- the kids were sleeping and doing great.
At 4am, I was still 7cm. The baby was lower, and my cervix was thinned out, but I was still only 7. So, I really started turning side to side with some sitting straight up in between. My contraction pattern was good, the baby was looking great, but this delivery just wasn't happening. The next little bit of time runs together for me. The moving around was working, and I was getting more uncomfortable. I know at one point I was 8cm, then 9cm- both numbers I hadn't seen before. "Usually" I would power through from 7 to 10 with no inbetween. Finally, finally, my nurse said she was going to call the doctor in and I could push soon. I could feel the baby's head moving down, and it was getting worse with every contraction. I was shaking, and uncomfortable, and teary. This was definitely NOT the graceful delivery I had anticipated.
I looked up my delivery record afterward. They called me 10cm at 528 in the morning. Seth and Johnny, Aiden and Paige were up and ready. Chris was on one side of me and my nurse on the other. First contraction I was able to push the kiddo down to almost crowning, but it was hard!!! The second contraction was harder, but they all said his head was out. I sure couldn't tell- there was no sense of relief like I had felt before. By now, I think I was hyperventilating and I know I was crying. I couldn't breathe, and it all hurt, and the baby wasn't coming out! Turns out, he really was stuck. I was in the midst of what we call a shoulder dystocia. The kiddo's head delivered, but his shoulders were wide enough that they wouldn't fit under my pubic bone- at least not without a lot of help. Lucky for baby, and for me, the doctor who was on call that night is very good with that kind of thing. After a lot of work, and a huge amount of group effort, Baby Levi finally made his way into the world. He was quickly handed off to the NICU team who were there and waiting- both for the meconium, and now the shoulder dystocia. Before too long, I heard his sweet cry, and they told me he was okay. The doctor looked at me and said "I'm serious when I say this.... I think that baby is over 10 pounds!". I think I cried a little harder.
December 2, 2013, 534am
9 pounds, 10 ounces 21.5 inches long
My longest pregnancy, at 39.3 days. My biggest baby. One of my longest labors. Mr. Levi broke some pretty impressive records. My nurse and I looked at each other and said, "that's why this labor took so long!!!'.....
But I would do every second of it over again to bring this miracle into the world.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
39 weeks and waiting.....
Well, any day now......
The big question at the end of a surro pregnancy (other than when will the baby get here) is when should the parents come to town?
Our plan was for S&J to head to town last Monday, November 25th. But then some things came up, and it turned out that they weren't going to have the time they were expecting to just hang out and wait for baby like we all thought they would. This turn of events caused us to start playing the "when is the best time to come out" game.... Unfortunately, there is just no way to tell. A lot of surros will schedule an elective induction to give their IPs an end date to the pregnancy. Even though babies don't always follow best laid plans (Miss Mia.....), it at least gives a jumping off point for planning travel. We decided not to do that this time; S&J want Baby Boy to come when he is ready, and not when we are ready for him. Also, my doc went out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday- so scheduling an induction with an absent doc is a little tricky. Every week at my appointments we tried to gauge if anything was happening in there. And every week, it was a resounding NO! Little Mister seems perfectly content to hang out and be all cozy in my uterus. And apparently, my uterus likes him there and is not interested in kicking him out.
So, travel plans were changed. I delivered two of our babies at 39.1 weeks; the longest I was ever pregnant. My doc and I figured I would very likely go to that date, if not a little later. Nov 25th put me at just over 38 weeks; not wanting S&J to have to hang around with no baby, we pushed back the travel date. Seth and Johnny, and Seth's parents came in on Thanksgiving evening.
What a fantastic Thanksgiving! My parents were here for the holiday, so they were able to meet everyone. We had a ton of food and good conversation. The travel itself was a different story, though. Well.... The travel was okay. It was getting into town that was the kicker. Someone in Phoenix, the connecting stop, fell down on the job that afternoon.... He or she neglected to load a whole bin of luggage onto the plane. And, yep, that's right- all of our party's luggage was in that bin. They had to wait until after 2pm the next day to get their things!!! And to add insult to injury, when they arrived in our fair city, the rental car place was out of cars. Oh yes, you read that right. Totally out of cars. Now I know we live in a smallish town, but seriously....... Good thing Chris and I decided to surprise them at the airport!!! Luckily, the reservation at the hotel was on file and they were able to check in without a hitch. And as of now, they have their rental along with all their things.
So now we wait. I'm 39.1 weeks today. The longest I've been pregnant. Will Baby Boy choose to come sometime today? I thought maybe so earlier. Now I'm not so certain. I had a night and early morning full of contractions, but now they've calmed down. My luck, it will happen at 2am, when I have to wake a babysitter for the kids and drag them all out of bed. Oh yeah, and my doctor is still out of town. I guess statistically I was bound to have a call doctor sooner or later. The first 4 babies were all delivered by my own doc, and that is a pretty rare thing. My next appointment is Tuesday morning. We may make it until then, who knows???
I just hope we don't have to wait on Little Mister too much longer. We're all very excited to meet him!
38 weeks and counting in this pic.
The big question at the end of a surro pregnancy (other than when will the baby get here) is when should the parents come to town?
Our plan was for S&J to head to town last Monday, November 25th. But then some things came up, and it turned out that they weren't going to have the time they were expecting to just hang out and wait for baby like we all thought they would. This turn of events caused us to start playing the "when is the best time to come out" game.... Unfortunately, there is just no way to tell. A lot of surros will schedule an elective induction to give their IPs an end date to the pregnancy. Even though babies don't always follow best laid plans (Miss Mia.....), it at least gives a jumping off point for planning travel. We decided not to do that this time; S&J want Baby Boy to come when he is ready, and not when we are ready for him. Also, my doc went out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday- so scheduling an induction with an absent doc is a little tricky. Every week at my appointments we tried to gauge if anything was happening in there. And every week, it was a resounding NO! Little Mister seems perfectly content to hang out and be all cozy in my uterus. And apparently, my uterus likes him there and is not interested in kicking him out.
So, travel plans were changed. I delivered two of our babies at 39.1 weeks; the longest I was ever pregnant. My doc and I figured I would very likely go to that date, if not a little later. Nov 25th put me at just over 38 weeks; not wanting S&J to have to hang around with no baby, we pushed back the travel date. Seth and Johnny, and Seth's parents came in on Thanksgiving evening.
What a fantastic Thanksgiving! My parents were here for the holiday, so they were able to meet everyone. We had a ton of food and good conversation. The travel itself was a different story, though. Well.... The travel was okay. It was getting into town that was the kicker. Someone in Phoenix, the connecting stop, fell down on the job that afternoon.... He or she neglected to load a whole bin of luggage onto the plane. And, yep, that's right- all of our party's luggage was in that bin. They had to wait until after 2pm the next day to get their things!!! And to add insult to injury, when they arrived in our fair city, the rental car place was out of cars. Oh yes, you read that right. Totally out of cars. Now I know we live in a smallish town, but seriously....... Good thing Chris and I decided to surprise them at the airport!!! Luckily, the reservation at the hotel was on file and they were able to check in without a hitch. And as of now, they have their rental along with all their things.
So now we wait. I'm 39.1 weeks today. The longest I've been pregnant. Will Baby Boy choose to come sometime today? I thought maybe so earlier. Now I'm not so certain. I had a night and early morning full of contractions, but now they've calmed down. My luck, it will happen at 2am, when I have to wake a babysitter for the kids and drag them all out of bed. Oh yeah, and my doctor is still out of town. I guess statistically I was bound to have a call doctor sooner or later. The first 4 babies were all delivered by my own doc, and that is a pretty rare thing. My next appointment is Tuesday morning. We may make it until then, who knows???
I just hope we don't have to wait on Little Mister too much longer. We're all very excited to meet him!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Playing catch up
So I've been falling way behind on posting. The time is going by so fast that I think of updating, then a week flies by and I realize I haven't written.....
I'm 36 weeks now, going to be 37 on Friday. The baby is getting bigger, he moves all the time, and I am starting to get uncomfortable. I'm in that weird in-between time- my body is getting tired and is about ready for kiddo to vacate; but I'm not ready for the pregnancy to be over yet either. I love the time that I get to carry this baby, the time that our family has to care for him. We are all super excited for his delivery, to see what he looks like, and to meet him "on the outside"- not to mention SO excited to see him with his family for the first time. But all of those incredibly special things mean that our time with him are just about over. Certainly a bittersweet transition.
I wish I had a crystal ball that predicted labor, too. It would be way easier to plan when to bring S&J to town and when to have things ready if we knew even the day.... But, as it has been with childbirth since the dawn of time, there is just no real way to know. I'm contracting quite a bit, but it's sporadic. Some days I contract all day on and off, and other days I don't have any contractions at all. I'm not sleeping well- during the days between my work shifts especially, but that is pretty normal for me this close to the end. Kiddo seems to be pretty low, but sometimes that doesn't mean anything. I love feeling him rock and roll in there, and it's kind of cool (and sometimes a little Alien creepy) to see him move. He has been getting the hiccups daily now, and can't decide if he wants to be head down or breech. That has been our adventure of the last week......
Baby Boy has decided to give me some extra anxiety and a few sleepless moments. He has spent much of the last week breech or transverse (sideways) in there. Of course today, for the doc, he was firmly head down. My doc assures me that he should stay that way from now on. But none of the other kiddos I carried flipped out of vertex this late. So I'm a little concerned that he will be in a "bad" position when I go into labor. I'm not dying to experience a c/s; at all.
I think his impending arrival has hit just about every one of us this last week. From S&J trying to pinpoint a day to come out and getting their bags packed, to me and Chris arranging for midnight babysitters if needed and me thinking about getting a bag packed for the hospital.... We're all preparing for these final weeks and the imminent arrival of a new baby. It's such a far off concept for so long- a baby is coming- to Boom!!! a BABY is going to be here. Soon.
It's a little hard to wrap my head around that it's almost over.
A little sneak peek of some pictures I had taken. Me and Baby Boy are about 33 and a half weeks.
I'm 36 weeks now, going to be 37 on Friday. The baby is getting bigger, he moves all the time, and I am starting to get uncomfortable. I'm in that weird in-between time- my body is getting tired and is about ready for kiddo to vacate; but I'm not ready for the pregnancy to be over yet either. I love the time that I get to carry this baby, the time that our family has to care for him. We are all super excited for his delivery, to see what he looks like, and to meet him "on the outside"- not to mention SO excited to see him with his family for the first time. But all of those incredibly special things mean that our time with him are just about over. Certainly a bittersweet transition.
I wish I had a crystal ball that predicted labor, too. It would be way easier to plan when to bring S&J to town and when to have things ready if we knew even the day.... But, as it has been with childbirth since the dawn of time, there is just no real way to know. I'm contracting quite a bit, but it's sporadic. Some days I contract all day on and off, and other days I don't have any contractions at all. I'm not sleeping well- during the days between my work shifts especially, but that is pretty normal for me this close to the end. Kiddo seems to be pretty low, but sometimes that doesn't mean anything. I love feeling him rock and roll in there, and it's kind of cool (and sometimes a little Alien creepy) to see him move. He has been getting the hiccups daily now, and can't decide if he wants to be head down or breech. That has been our adventure of the last week......
Baby Boy has decided to give me some extra anxiety and a few sleepless moments. He has spent much of the last week breech or transverse (sideways) in there. Of course today, for the doc, he was firmly head down. My doc assures me that he should stay that way from now on. But none of the other kiddos I carried flipped out of vertex this late. So I'm a little concerned that he will be in a "bad" position when I go into labor. I'm not dying to experience a c/s; at all.
I think his impending arrival has hit just about every one of us this last week. From S&J trying to pinpoint a day to come out and getting their bags packed, to me and Chris arranging for midnight babysitters if needed and me thinking about getting a bag packed for the hospital.... We're all preparing for these final weeks and the imminent arrival of a new baby. It's such a far off concept for so long- a baby is coming- to Boom!!! a BABY is going to be here. Soon.
It's a little hard to wrap my head around that it's almost over.
A little sneak peek of some pictures I had taken. Me and Baby Boy are about 33 and a half weeks.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Adventures in Baby-sitting... uh... Showers
The primary reason for our trip our to the east coast was for Seth and Johnny's baby shower. We had been together since Thursday afternoon, and were having a great time catching up and just being together. When Saturday morning rolled around, it was time to pack up and drive to NJ.
We all piled into the new VW wagon and headed north. Everyone was concerned that we were going to be in the car for so long on Saturday getting there. It takes us 7 hours to get to Chris's family and 6 hours to get to mine by car; we were anticipating about a 3 hour car ride to get to Seth's family. So really, it was a drop in the bucket for us, but we were appreciative of the concern.
I won't lie. I was a little nervous to get there and meet everyone. Crowds of people I don't know make me anxious. I was hoping there would only be a few people there and that we could trickle into it slowly. Don't get me wrong- I was very excited for the party, and wanted to meet everyone, but I knew there would be a crowd.
The car ride, just like everything else on our vacay, went very fast- before I knew it, we were driving into a beautiful neighborhood and pulling up to a beautiful house. With people out front. Seth's brother and his family were already there along with his parents and I think one of his aunts (it has all run together a little for me by now...). Meeting the family there was pretty great. There was such a feeling of warmth, love, and excitement in the house. Chris and I were welcomed with open arms and made to feel right at home with great big hugs and lots of smiles. It wasn't as overwhelming as I was afraid it was going to be.
When we got there, everyone was finishing up with last minute details before the party. I wandered around to get a look at things. There was so much time, effort, and thought that went into planning S&J's shower.... I could tell that Seth's mom- and his family- were SO excited for them. Seth's mom even made ME a sash to wear during the shower!!! Lol. I'm pretty sure my face was red when she draped it around me. I really cringe at being the center of anyone's attention- but everyone wanted me and Chris to feel special for the day too.
Before too long, people started showing up. There were more introductions, more hugs, smiles, and talking. There was fantastic food, and we got to meet some amazing people. Jason, his parents, and Mia were able to be there as well- but that's another story. :) Needless to say I cried when I saw them, and it was all I could do not to hover around Mia the whole time.
After an enormous, tasty ice cream cake (yes, I ate TWO pieces), we finally managed to get S&J to break into their very large pile of gifts. The day was winding down, and it seemed that it was mostly close family and friends who were still at the house. It was so much fun for me to watch them open their gifts, and to see their faces light up imagining their little boy who was going to be using all the new, tiny (or not so tiny) things. Their family and friends were so amazingly generous and thoughtful.
Chris and I left later that evening; Seth's parent's had very thoughtfully provided us our own hotel room to stay in overnight. I left the house that night marveling at the family and friends we met through the course of the day. Chris and I both come from loving and supportive families, so it's not that I was expecting Seth & Johnny's family to be any different. And we've known for a long time that S&J are going to be amazing parents. But it was heartwarming and peaceful to know that this Baby Boy is coming into such a large loving, supportive environment. He will be cherished by so many people, as every baby deserves to be.
We all piled into the new VW wagon and headed north. Everyone was concerned that we were going to be in the car for so long on Saturday getting there. It takes us 7 hours to get to Chris's family and 6 hours to get to mine by car; we were anticipating about a 3 hour car ride to get to Seth's family. So really, it was a drop in the bucket for us, but we were appreciative of the concern.
I won't lie. I was a little nervous to get there and meet everyone. Crowds of people I don't know make me anxious. I was hoping there would only be a few people there and that we could trickle into it slowly. Don't get me wrong- I was very excited for the party, and wanted to meet everyone, but I knew there would be a crowd.
The car ride, just like everything else on our vacay, went very fast- before I knew it, we were driving into a beautiful neighborhood and pulling up to a beautiful house. With people out front. Seth's brother and his family were already there along with his parents and I think one of his aunts (it has all run together a little for me by now...). Meeting the family there was pretty great. There was such a feeling of warmth, love, and excitement in the house. Chris and I were welcomed with open arms and made to feel right at home with great big hugs and lots of smiles. It wasn't as overwhelming as I was afraid it was going to be.
When we got there, everyone was finishing up with last minute details before the party. I wandered around to get a look at things. There was so much time, effort, and thought that went into planning S&J's shower.... I could tell that Seth's mom- and his family- were SO excited for them. Seth's mom even made ME a sash to wear during the shower!!! Lol. I'm pretty sure my face was red when she draped it around me. I really cringe at being the center of anyone's attention- but everyone wanted me and Chris to feel special for the day too.
Before too long, people started showing up. There were more introductions, more hugs, smiles, and talking. There was fantastic food, and we got to meet some amazing people. Jason, his parents, and Mia were able to be there as well- but that's another story. :) Needless to say I cried when I saw them, and it was all I could do not to hover around Mia the whole time.
After an enormous, tasty ice cream cake (yes, I ate TWO pieces), we finally managed to get S&J to break into their very large pile of gifts. The day was winding down, and it seemed that it was mostly close family and friends who were still at the house. It was so much fun for me to watch them open their gifts, and to see their faces light up imagining their little boy who was going to be using all the new, tiny (or not so tiny) things. Their family and friends were so amazingly generous and thoughtful.
Chris and I left later that evening; Seth's parent's had very thoughtfully provided us our own hotel room to stay in overnight. I left the house that night marveling at the family and friends we met through the course of the day. Chris and I both come from loving and supportive families, so it's not that I was expecting Seth & Johnny's family to be any different. And we've known for a long time that S&J are going to be amazing parents. But it was heartwarming and peaceful to know that this Baby Boy is coming into such a large loving, supportive environment. He will be cherished by so many people, as every baby deserves to be.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Our trip in a snapshot
Chris and I just got home from our trip to Washington DC and New Jersey. We had such an incredible time, and I want to share it all!!! But I don't even really know where to start. :)
We had been looking forward to this trip for quite some time. I spent the last week at home with a weird work schedule and a crazy time trying to get everything in the house ready for our trip. I am a master procrastinator, so there were things left over that could have been done in the weeks prior. In any event, it was time for us to leave before we knew it.
We lamented just a little that the federal government was shut down- after all, we were going to be in Washington DC, and had planned on trying to get in some of that touristy stuff. This is what our trip looked like: Fly into DC on Thursday, mid-afternoon arrival. Hang out on Friday. Drive to NJ Saturday morning for the shower on Saturday afternoon. Brunch in NJ on Sunday morning, then drive back to DC. Leave Monday afternoon for home. To be fair, that is a LOT of things to do already. Maybe the shutdown was a blessing in disguise for us..... We would have crammed in some sightseeing, but I think we all would have been over- exhausted if we had done that.
Chris and I are positive that there is some weird time warp in DC, though. We arrived in the afternoon, before rush hour and were greeted at the airport by Johnny. Then on to home where Seth and his brother Jared were waiting. Then we blinked and it was after 11!!! Jared went home, and we ate dinner in that time, but still.... Friday was the same. We were up by 9 in the morning, but it was one in the afternoon and time for lunch before we knew what happened! Seth took us on a walking tour of their neighborhood, and to a really yummy pizza place for lunch. (City living vs out west living is very different. I could write a whole post just on that!) The plan that night was for dinner and a movie in. Well, we had a fantastic lasagna, but somehow we missed starting the movie and it was after midnight.... I'm pretty sure we didn't even stop in NJ. I feel like we got in the car, got out, got in, and ended up in DC again!
Now, all the sneaky boys in my life conspired to surprise me on Sunday night when we got back to DC. As far as I knew, we were going to go to this fabulous Mexican restaurant for dinner. And then try again for that darn movie. Well, little did I know that they were all texting back and forth to each other (in the car right around me!!!) and to my friend who lives in the DC area. We hadn't seen each other in about 9 years, and the boys were coordinating our time so she could meet us at the Mexican place for dinner too! I was already sad that I hadn't had a chance to contact her to see if she was free for a meal or coffee. Seriously, how often am I on that side of the country??? And Chris played right along with it when I said something to him. All, "yeah, I don't think we're going to be able to fit it in this trip...". When Chris walked in the door with my friend, it was dim and I didn't have my glasses on. All I could think was "Who is that woman with Chris??? Someone just stopped by to see Seth & Johnny??? Damn it, I'm hungry!!!". It took me about 5 full seconds to realize that it was my friend.... Off to dinner we went. The Mexican place was fantastic, with some of the best salsa I've ever had. But the highlight (of course) was getting to catch up with my friend. In person. :)
Monday morning, Johnny had to head back to work. Boo. Chris, Seth, and I finally got that movie in, but before we were ready or prepared for it, it was time to get our stuff packed and ready for the flight home. It's amazing how slowly the time goes when you are waiting for something- but how quickly it goes when you want it to drag on. Goodbyes suck. The only thing that made it even partly okay to be saying goodbye after such a short time was knowing that we would see each other again in a matter of just weeks. Wow. Just a few weeks and Baby Boy will be here.......
It was so fantastic to see Johnny and Seth again, finally, after almost a year. I am amazed every day at the relationship we have formed with these two wonderful men. After more than a year and all our experiences together, they are more than just our "intended fathers". They are our family.
We had been looking forward to this trip for quite some time. I spent the last week at home with a weird work schedule and a crazy time trying to get everything in the house ready for our trip. I am a master procrastinator, so there were things left over that could have been done in the weeks prior. In any event, it was time for us to leave before we knew it.
We lamented just a little that the federal government was shut down- after all, we were going to be in Washington DC, and had planned on trying to get in some of that touristy stuff. This is what our trip looked like: Fly into DC on Thursday, mid-afternoon arrival. Hang out on Friday. Drive to NJ Saturday morning for the shower on Saturday afternoon. Brunch in NJ on Sunday morning, then drive back to DC. Leave Monday afternoon for home. To be fair, that is a LOT of things to do already. Maybe the shutdown was a blessing in disguise for us..... We would have crammed in some sightseeing, but I think we all would have been over- exhausted if we had done that.
Chris and I are positive that there is some weird time warp in DC, though. We arrived in the afternoon, before rush hour and were greeted at the airport by Johnny. Then on to home where Seth and his brother Jared were waiting. Then we blinked and it was after 11!!! Jared went home, and we ate dinner in that time, but still.... Friday was the same. We were up by 9 in the morning, but it was one in the afternoon and time for lunch before we knew what happened! Seth took us on a walking tour of their neighborhood, and to a really yummy pizza place for lunch. (City living vs out west living is very different. I could write a whole post just on that!) The plan that night was for dinner and a movie in. Well, we had a fantastic lasagna, but somehow we missed starting the movie and it was after midnight.... I'm pretty sure we didn't even stop in NJ. I feel like we got in the car, got out, got in, and ended up in DC again!
Now, all the sneaky boys in my life conspired to surprise me on Sunday night when we got back to DC. As far as I knew, we were going to go to this fabulous Mexican restaurant for dinner. And then try again for that darn movie. Well, little did I know that they were all texting back and forth to each other (in the car right around me!!!) and to my friend who lives in the DC area. We hadn't seen each other in about 9 years, and the boys were coordinating our time so she could meet us at the Mexican place for dinner too! I was already sad that I hadn't had a chance to contact her to see if she was free for a meal or coffee. Seriously, how often am I on that side of the country??? And Chris played right along with it when I said something to him. All, "yeah, I don't think we're going to be able to fit it in this trip...". When Chris walked in the door with my friend, it was dim and I didn't have my glasses on. All I could think was "Who is that woman with Chris??? Someone just stopped by to see Seth & Johnny??? Damn it, I'm hungry!!!". It took me about 5 full seconds to realize that it was my friend.... Off to dinner we went. The Mexican place was fantastic, with some of the best salsa I've ever had. But the highlight (of course) was getting to catch up with my friend. In person. :)
Monday morning, Johnny had to head back to work. Boo. Chris, Seth, and I finally got that movie in, but before we were ready or prepared for it, it was time to get our stuff packed and ready for the flight home. It's amazing how slowly the time goes when you are waiting for something- but how quickly it goes when you want it to drag on. Goodbyes suck. The only thing that made it even partly okay to be saying goodbye after such a short time was knowing that we would see each other again in a matter of just weeks. Wow. Just a few weeks and Baby Boy will be here.......
It was so fantastic to see Johnny and Seth again, finally, after almost a year. I am amazed every day at the relationship we have formed with these two wonderful men. After more than a year and all our experiences together, they are more than just our "intended fathers". They are our family.
Monday, September 23, 2013
I'm turning into a slacker...
Wow. Long time, no post. Really long time....
It's not just school starting, and being busy, and all that. Everything is going along just as it should right now. Thankfully, there isn't anything "exciting" happening, and I don't think that anyone wants to read about the mundane day- to- day things.
Let's see if I can play catch up a little. I'm 29 and a half weeks now, and it boggles my mind that I only have about 10 weeks left with this little person inside me. It is going to be over before I know it. He is moving all the time now, and seems to be in a good position. He really likes music, and deep voices. His movements always pick up when we've been quiet for awhile, then Chris starts talking. He also moves a lot when Finn is around, but he's just loud. I'm starting to get super hot at night now, but not quite all the time yet. It's perfect that the weather is starting to cool down a little. My shoes are starting to get tight at work, so it looks like I'm starting to swell a little. I finally caved and bought those compression hose. But you know what? They work! I wore them on a recent road trip, and they made a huge difference. I'm planning to wear them on our DC adventure. Well, the flight, anyway.
Speaking of which.... That's coming up in just a week and a half!!! I won't lie. I'm not looking forward to the flight, but I'm SO excited for the rest of the trip! We get to see S&J again after almost a year, we get to go to DC, we get to meet more of the family, and we are going to have an awesome baby shower- that's a lot of great things to look forward to. And Jason, his mom, and Mia will likely be at the baby shower- talk about a bonus! After the trip and the shower, the "end" (for me anyway) is going to be in sight. It's such a bittersweet thing. I'm so excited for Baby Boy to finally meet and go home with S&J, but at the same time that means our time with him is over. It is something that is inevitable, and heartwarming, and a smidge sad all wrapped into one.
Our new "baby" came home 2 weeks ago, though. Our road trip was to travel to Oregon to pick up our puppy, Astrid. Whew, puppies are HARD!!! The first week she was home, I would have been happy to trade her for another human newborn. But every day gets better and better, and we are learning to be a "pack" for her.
Here's hoping I do a better job with the updates!!!
It's not just school starting, and being busy, and all that. Everything is going along just as it should right now. Thankfully, there isn't anything "exciting" happening, and I don't think that anyone wants to read about the mundane day- to- day things.
Let's see if I can play catch up a little. I'm 29 and a half weeks now, and it boggles my mind that I only have about 10 weeks left with this little person inside me. It is going to be over before I know it. He is moving all the time now, and seems to be in a good position. He really likes music, and deep voices. His movements always pick up when we've been quiet for awhile, then Chris starts talking. He also moves a lot when Finn is around, but he's just loud. I'm starting to get super hot at night now, but not quite all the time yet. It's perfect that the weather is starting to cool down a little. My shoes are starting to get tight at work, so it looks like I'm starting to swell a little. I finally caved and bought those compression hose. But you know what? They work! I wore them on a recent road trip, and they made a huge difference. I'm planning to wear them on our DC adventure. Well, the flight, anyway.
Speaking of which.... That's coming up in just a week and a half!!! I won't lie. I'm not looking forward to the flight, but I'm SO excited for the rest of the trip! We get to see S&J again after almost a year, we get to go to DC, we get to meet more of the family, and we are going to have an awesome baby shower- that's a lot of great things to look forward to. And Jason, his mom, and Mia will likely be at the baby shower- talk about a bonus! After the trip and the shower, the "end" (for me anyway) is going to be in sight. It's such a bittersweet thing. I'm so excited for Baby Boy to finally meet and go home with S&J, but at the same time that means our time with him is over. It is something that is inevitable, and heartwarming, and a smidge sad all wrapped into one.
Our new "baby" came home 2 weeks ago, though. Our road trip was to travel to Oregon to pick up our puppy, Astrid. Whew, puppies are HARD!!! The first week she was home, I would have been happy to trade her for another human newborn. But every day gets better and better, and we are learning to be a "pack" for her.
Here's hoping I do a better job with the updates!!!
Friday, August 23, 2013
25 week update
The time just keeps flying by!
All is well and moving right along. I saw the doc last week, and Baby is growing just like he needs to be. His heartbeat was perfect, I got a prescription for heartburn meds (whew!), and another script for some really HOT compression hose. I notice that my feet are starting to swell slightly at the end of my shifts at work and I'm going to need the hose when we fly back east in October. Might as well make use of them now....
I also had to do my one hour glucose test. I have a history of gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy (I'll get to THAT in a minute), so my doc does the test about 4 weeks earlier than "normal". I was lucky enough to pass the 1 hour my second, third, and fourth pregnancies; this time not so much. :( I "failed" it by 15 points- either because I was sick with a stomach virus when I took it, because I didn't have any protein before the test (thank you stomach virus), or because I was destined to have GDM. Again. Ugh. So that meant I had to come back for the three hour test.
Fast forward to this week. The syrupy, gross glucose drink they give you for the one hour is bad enough. For the three hour test, you have to drink three times as much of the stuff! You have 5 minutes to get it all in, but really it's just best to chug it all down. You have three flavor choices: orange, lemon lime, and fruit punch. Pretty sure the stuff could pass for sno-cone syrup.... I chose the fruit punch for my one hour (maybe THAT was the problem, I always choose orange) and I "failed", so I went with the orange for the three hour. Gag. Oh! And you have to be fasting for 10-12 hours before hand. All that sugar hitting an empty stomach. So, I went in, had my fasting blood draw- not a finger poke, but an actual blood draw, drank my syrup and then waited.
By the one hour draw, I had a bit of a queasy unsettled feeling in my stomach. By two hours I was nauseous, headachy, and a little light headed. By three hours I felt super gross and was ready to bolt out of there and get something to eat. Luckily I had plans to meet a friend for lunch at a local Mexican place. With a nice, carb filled tortilla wrapped burrito. Best. Burrito. Ever.
But I passed!!! No gestational diabetes for me.
I did have one value that was high- my second hour, which strikes me as odd. But one elevated value out of the four draws is allowed. You are diagnosed with two or more abnormals. So, back to my first pregnancy.... I am positive that I only had one abnormal with those 4 draws, too. I was at a different clinic at the time though, and they diagnosed me and made me do all the gestational diabetes things. I have a friend who recently delivered who sees a doc in my old clinic- she had to do her three hour test as well and had one abnormal, and her doc tried to diagnose her too!!! She checked her (perfectly normal) blood sugars for 4 days though, and talked her doc out of the diagnosis. Smart lady.
In other news, the baby is big enough now that we can see him move. And Chris and the kids have all felt him move too. They think it's pretty cool. And so do I. :)
All is well and moving right along. I saw the doc last week, and Baby is growing just like he needs to be. His heartbeat was perfect, I got a prescription for heartburn meds (whew!), and another script for some really HOT compression hose. I notice that my feet are starting to swell slightly at the end of my shifts at work and I'm going to need the hose when we fly back east in October. Might as well make use of them now....
I also had to do my one hour glucose test. I have a history of gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy (I'll get to THAT in a minute), so my doc does the test about 4 weeks earlier than "normal". I was lucky enough to pass the 1 hour my second, third, and fourth pregnancies; this time not so much. :( I "failed" it by 15 points- either because I was sick with a stomach virus when I took it, because I didn't have any protein before the test (thank you stomach virus), or because I was destined to have GDM. Again. Ugh. So that meant I had to come back for the three hour test.
Fast forward to this week. The syrupy, gross glucose drink they give you for the one hour is bad enough. For the three hour test, you have to drink three times as much of the stuff! You have 5 minutes to get it all in, but really it's just best to chug it all down. You have three flavor choices: orange, lemon lime, and fruit punch. Pretty sure the stuff could pass for sno-cone syrup.... I chose the fruit punch for my one hour (maybe THAT was the problem, I always choose orange) and I "failed", so I went with the orange for the three hour. Gag. Oh! And you have to be fasting for 10-12 hours before hand. All that sugar hitting an empty stomach. So, I went in, had my fasting blood draw- not a finger poke, but an actual blood draw, drank my syrup and then waited.
By the one hour draw, I had a bit of a queasy unsettled feeling in my stomach. By two hours I was nauseous, headachy, and a little light headed. By three hours I felt super gross and was ready to bolt out of there and get something to eat. Luckily I had plans to meet a friend for lunch at a local Mexican place. With a nice, carb filled tortilla wrapped burrito. Best. Burrito. Ever.
But I passed!!! No gestational diabetes for me.
I did have one value that was high- my second hour, which strikes me as odd. But one elevated value out of the four draws is allowed. You are diagnosed with two or more abnormals. So, back to my first pregnancy.... I am positive that I only had one abnormal with those 4 draws, too. I was at a different clinic at the time though, and they diagnosed me and made me do all the gestational diabetes things. I have a friend who recently delivered who sees a doc in my old clinic- she had to do her three hour test as well and had one abnormal, and her doc tried to diagnose her too!!! She checked her (perfectly normal) blood sugars for 4 days though, and talked her doc out of the diagnosis. Smart lady.
In other news, the baby is big enough now that we can see him move. And Chris and the kids have all felt him move too. They think it's pretty cool. And so do I. :)
Friday, August 9, 2013
23 and counting
23 weeks today! The time just seems to be sliding by. I was talking to a friend earlier this week and was a little surprised to say that I only have 4 months left before Baby comes.... It's going to go by SO fast! The kids will go back to school in a couple weeks, we'll be getting the house ready for our puppy then going to pick her up, then our trip out to DC. After that it's holidays, and birthdays, and then the baby. I'll blink and it will be here!
Everything has been going well the last couple of weeks. I'm feeling good, and the baby is growing. One of my patients at work was horrified when I told her I wasn't due until December- she asked if there were "two in there".... Lol. Lucky for me, I think those comments are pretty funny and I don't get offended. I've always said I'd rather be obviously, roundly pregnant than one of those you have to guess about.
We're at the very outer edges of viability, so I'm hoping these next few weeks go by rather quickly. I generally try to NOT wish away any time during my pregnancy, but these weeks can be the scariest. I'd pretty much be happy if I could stay home in a bubble for the next 2-3 weeks. I don't have a history of preterm labor or delivery at all, but I think every labor nurse (or ex labor nurse) worth her salt is a little nervous around this time. Little Mister in there needs to stay put. Until the end of November at the earliest.
Next up: My one hour glucose test next week. Fingers crossed against gestational diabetes, folks!
Everything has been going well the last couple of weeks. I'm feeling good, and the baby is growing. One of my patients at work was horrified when I told her I wasn't due until December- she asked if there were "two in there".... Lol. Lucky for me, I think those comments are pretty funny and I don't get offended. I've always said I'd rather be obviously, roundly pregnant than one of those you have to guess about.
We're at the very outer edges of viability, so I'm hoping these next few weeks go by rather quickly. I generally try to NOT wish away any time during my pregnancy, but these weeks can be the scariest. I'd pretty much be happy if I could stay home in a bubble for the next 2-3 weeks. I don't have a history of preterm labor or delivery at all, but I think every labor nurse (or ex labor nurse) worth her salt is a little nervous around this time. Little Mister in there needs to stay put. Until the end of November at the earliest.
Next up: My one hour glucose test next week. Fingers crossed against gestational diabetes, folks!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
And it's a........
BOY!!!
We had our anatomy scan, well a couple weeks ago now. Between work and vacation, I haven't been the greatest at updating what's going on. The scan went better than expected, as my appointment was just a smidge early at 18.4 weeks. The tech was able to see all the parts she needed to, and everything was in perfect working order. We looked at Baby's heart, brain, spine, internal organs, blood flow, cord, placenta, and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting. Then we had the "fun shots" where we got to see hands and feet, and a little face. And of, course, that all important "It's a Boy!" shot.
I'm still not feeling this kiddo move as much as I like. He is moving for me, and it's getting stronger by the day. But that dang anterior placenta is really hampering my ability to feel him. I've had anterior placentas before, but this one must be in just the "right" spot.
I'm done with all the first trimester symptoms, though some days I still find that I'm really tired. Those days, I just tell myself that he is growing. My heartburn is pretty well under control- as long as I remember to take my meds, and my appetite is back to normal. My itching is getting bad again, similar to when I was pregnant with Mia. I don't really like a lot of fabrics- or anything- close to my skin. So I've really appreciated being able to wear a lot of loose dresses and skirts this summer. There have been many times in the last few weeks where I have wished I could wear them to work, too! I've been enjoying Eggo waffles for breakfast almost every morning- a food I never eat when I'm not pregnant, and I'm starting to crave red meat again. In past pregnancies, this has been a sign of anemia in me, so I'll have to have that checked out at my next appointment.
I can't believe we're halfway through this pregnancy!!!
Here is the profile pic the tech got at the anatomy scan. It's a little blurry, but kiddo was very active too.
We had our anatomy scan, well a couple weeks ago now. Between work and vacation, I haven't been the greatest at updating what's going on. The scan went better than expected, as my appointment was just a smidge early at 18.4 weeks. The tech was able to see all the parts she needed to, and everything was in perfect working order. We looked at Baby's heart, brain, spine, internal organs, blood flow, cord, placenta, and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting. Then we had the "fun shots" where we got to see hands and feet, and a little face. And of, course, that all important "It's a Boy!" shot.
I'm still not feeling this kiddo move as much as I like. He is moving for me, and it's getting stronger by the day. But that dang anterior placenta is really hampering my ability to feel him. I've had anterior placentas before, but this one must be in just the "right" spot.
I'm done with all the first trimester symptoms, though some days I still find that I'm really tired. Those days, I just tell myself that he is growing. My heartburn is pretty well under control- as long as I remember to take my meds, and my appetite is back to normal. My itching is getting bad again, similar to when I was pregnant with Mia. I don't really like a lot of fabrics- or anything- close to my skin. So I've really appreciated being able to wear a lot of loose dresses and skirts this summer. There have been many times in the last few weeks where I have wished I could wear them to work, too! I've been enjoying Eggo waffles for breakfast almost every morning- a food I never eat when I'm not pregnant, and I'm starting to crave red meat again. In past pregnancies, this has been a sign of anemia in me, so I'll have to have that checked out at my next appointment.
I can't believe we're halfway through this pregnancy!!!
Here is the profile pic the tech got at the anatomy scan. It's a little blurry, but kiddo was very active too.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
We're "expecting" too!!!
Wait! What??? How can our family be expecting too? Well, we finally decided that it is time to add a puppy to our family. We have decided on a Siberian Husky, and are waiting on a littler that is due on the 17th of this month. So hopefully sometime in the next week! Then we will have to wait until September to bring our puppy home.
What does this have to do with surrogacy, you ask?
Well, when you're pregnant and adding a baby to your own family there is definitely an air of excited expectation. Your family has to get ready- choosing a name, buying supplies, getting a room ready... all those kinds of things. Carrying a surro baby, our family really doesn't have those things to look forward to. Instead, we get to see Seth and Johnny making these preparations. I'm having so much fun hearing about how they are going to decorate the nursery, and speculating about whether they are having a boy or a girl. And it's driving me crazy that they won't tell me the names they have chosen! I mean, I'd even take the top three!!! ;) Chris and I have even been invited to attend their baby shower in October- so we're making plans to be there.
Now we have this puppy coming home to our family, and the puppy isn't even born yet. So (in a very small way, I'm sure) I feel a bit like I imagine intended parents feel. I'm anticipating the delivery, checking the breeder website multiple times a day for updates. Chris and I have been talking about what changes will have to happen in our house for the puppy to come home. We've been looking at crates, and toys, and dog runs. And it took us almost two weeks to decide on a name that we are both happy with. Very reminiscent of when we had our children....
Wishing that my breeder would update her website more often reminds me to keep the guys in the loop with what is happening here. We're definitely in that calmer part of the pregnancy where something new doesn't happen every day. And while this is my fifth pregnancy, it is still their first.
Here's to happy waiting all around!!!
This is our puppy's mom, Kady.
And this is our puppy's dad, Matar (like the "Mater" in Cars.)
If you are interested in peeking at our breeder site, the address is:
www.phichas-siberians.com
What does this have to do with surrogacy, you ask?
Well, when you're pregnant and adding a baby to your own family there is definitely an air of excited expectation. Your family has to get ready- choosing a name, buying supplies, getting a room ready... all those kinds of things. Carrying a surro baby, our family really doesn't have those things to look forward to. Instead, we get to see Seth and Johnny making these preparations. I'm having so much fun hearing about how they are going to decorate the nursery, and speculating about whether they are having a boy or a girl. And it's driving me crazy that they won't tell me the names they have chosen! I mean, I'd even take the top three!!! ;) Chris and I have even been invited to attend their baby shower in October- so we're making plans to be there.
Now we have this puppy coming home to our family, and the puppy isn't even born yet. So (in a very small way, I'm sure) I feel a bit like I imagine intended parents feel. I'm anticipating the delivery, checking the breeder website multiple times a day for updates. Chris and I have been talking about what changes will have to happen in our house for the puppy to come home. We've been looking at crates, and toys, and dog runs. And it took us almost two weeks to decide on a name that we are both happy with. Very reminiscent of when we had our children....
Wishing that my breeder would update her website more often reminds me to keep the guys in the loop with what is happening here. We're definitely in that calmer part of the pregnancy where something new doesn't happen every day. And while this is my fifth pregnancy, it is still their first.
Here's to happy waiting all around!!!
If you are interested in peeking at our breeder site, the address is:
www.phichas-siberians.com
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Just some pictures
Here are some pics I've gotten over the last few weeks.
Hmmmm..... Yep, that was at 13 weeks. I still say my tummy looks huge because of the angle. I was turned toward the mirror a little. But still.....
And here we are at 15 weeks. Told you it would be a pretty undeniable baby belly by then......
Baby is waving hello! Pretty awesome shot of a little hand.
Hmmmm..... Yep, that was at 13 weeks. I still say my tummy looks huge because of the angle. I was turned toward the mirror a little. But still.....
16 weeks! Sethbryo is definitely growing.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Little flutters
The thing I love the most about being pregnant is feeling the baby move and wiggle. I can put up with all the usual (and a couple not so usual) discomforts for that unique feeling of life growing inside of me. I'm a little bit of a worrywart until I can feel Baby moving, too. Thankfully I work in a place where I have access to a doppler and other instruments to check up on kiddo from time to time.
One of my friends, who is a week further along than I am, asked me if I was feeling anything yet- probably about a week ago. I told her a few little flutters here and there, but nothing definite or consistent. She said, "Oh I feel flutters every now and then too. And then 10 seconds later I fart." I laughed and laughed. That's one of the great mysteries around feeling the first "quickening" as the experts like to call it. Is that the baby, or is that just gas? Luckily there does come a time when there is no doubt that you are feeling Baby. That time is just a little different for everyone.
In the last two days, I've been pretty sure I'm feeling Sethbryo in there. The movements are small, and not predictable or consistent, but that's how it always starts for me. I could lay on the couch for hours just trying to pay attention to what is going on in my uterus. I don't, because there's not enough time in the day, but I could. It may take me a few more weeks to feel any bigger movements, though. My placenta is anterior (again) this pregnancy. Out of the 5 times I've carried, I've had 4 anterior placentas- so this is nothing new to me. "Anterior" just means that my placenta is hanging out in the front of my uterus- right in the part that curves outward to make that beautiful baby belly. It also means that it usually takes longer to feel good movement out of the baby. The placenta is in there, like a pillow, between the baby and the outside of my tummy. So the baby kicks, and it hits my placenta instead of the wall of my uterus- so it will take a stronger kick for me to feel anything. With my last pregnancy, I had my first ever posterior placenta- meaning that the placenta was on the opposite wall of my uterus, toward my back. I could feel little Miss Mia all the time by the time I hit 15 weeks, where I am now.
So, I'll have to be a little more patient. And pay attention to those little flutters I feel down low or to the side. By 18 weeks, I should be able to say that I'm feeling Sethbryo all the time, and I can't wait for that. It's one of my favorite feelings in the world.
One of my friends, who is a week further along than I am, asked me if I was feeling anything yet- probably about a week ago. I told her a few little flutters here and there, but nothing definite or consistent. She said, "Oh I feel flutters every now and then too. And then 10 seconds later I fart." I laughed and laughed. That's one of the great mysteries around feeling the first "quickening" as the experts like to call it. Is that the baby, or is that just gas? Luckily there does come a time when there is no doubt that you are feeling Baby. That time is just a little different for everyone.
In the last two days, I've been pretty sure I'm feeling Sethbryo in there. The movements are small, and not predictable or consistent, but that's how it always starts for me. I could lay on the couch for hours just trying to pay attention to what is going on in my uterus. I don't, because there's not enough time in the day, but I could. It may take me a few more weeks to feel any bigger movements, though. My placenta is anterior (again) this pregnancy. Out of the 5 times I've carried, I've had 4 anterior placentas- so this is nothing new to me. "Anterior" just means that my placenta is hanging out in the front of my uterus- right in the part that curves outward to make that beautiful baby belly. It also means that it usually takes longer to feel good movement out of the baby. The placenta is in there, like a pillow, between the baby and the outside of my tummy. So the baby kicks, and it hits my placenta instead of the wall of my uterus- so it will take a stronger kick for me to feel anything. With my last pregnancy, I had my first ever posterior placenta- meaning that the placenta was on the opposite wall of my uterus, toward my back. I could feel little Miss Mia all the time by the time I hit 15 weeks, where I am now.
So, I'll have to be a little more patient. And pay attention to those little flutters I feel down low or to the side. By 18 weeks, I should be able to say that I'm feeling Sethbryo all the time, and I can't wait for that. It's one of my favorite feelings in the world.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Into the mundane
12 and 13 weeks. Whew! Made it through the first trimester....
In the beginning, I feel like we're never going to get to this point. Meds and transfer, more meds and ultrasounds, going to two different doctors, constantly waiting for the results of something. With that all going on, who could think that the first trimester would drag by? Me. I'm always so glad to get to the end of the first trimester; Our risks for many different things decrease, I start to feel better, the baby gets much bigger, and I start to relax about it all a little more.
Awesome things that are happening: I'm done with all the clinic meds!!! No more shots, no more "gels", and no more extra pills. I'm on to just taking a prenatal vitamin and my daily acid reducer. I'm just starting to eek out of that "chubby" stage (well, to me anyway). I feel like things in the belly area are starting to look pretty round, and my patients are starting to give me the "are you pregnant, too???" eyeball. My nausea is pretty much gone, and the appetite is back to normal. This could be considered good or bad. ;)
The little discomforts: Well, I have raging heartburn if I forget a dose of zantac; good thing I stay prepared for that. I have more trouble day sleeping now between work shifts. This happened with my last pregnancy too. I sleep great for the first four or five hours, but if anything wakes me after that, I have a really hard time getting any more sleep. Staying hydrated is a challenge for me; but it always has been and it probably always will.
Things are going well, right on track. It won't be too much longer and I'll start feeling the baby move for sure. I get little flutters now, but hey, that may just be gas. This is the time that I say we slide into the mundane. Life slows down without a ton of doctor's appointments, everything gets pretty much back to normal, and I forget to blog. The milestones are fewer and farther between, and not a whole lot changes week to week. I might just have to start telling stories about my crazy kids instead.....
In the beginning, I feel like we're never going to get to this point. Meds and transfer, more meds and ultrasounds, going to two different doctors, constantly waiting for the results of something. With that all going on, who could think that the first trimester would drag by? Me. I'm always so glad to get to the end of the first trimester; Our risks for many different things decrease, I start to feel better, the baby gets much bigger, and I start to relax about it all a little more.
Awesome things that are happening: I'm done with all the clinic meds!!! No more shots, no more "gels", and no more extra pills. I'm on to just taking a prenatal vitamin and my daily acid reducer. I'm just starting to eek out of that "chubby" stage (well, to me anyway). I feel like things in the belly area are starting to look pretty round, and my patients are starting to give me the "are you pregnant, too???" eyeball. My nausea is pretty much gone, and the appetite is back to normal. This could be considered good or bad. ;)
The little discomforts: Well, I have raging heartburn if I forget a dose of zantac; good thing I stay prepared for that. I have more trouble day sleeping now between work shifts. This happened with my last pregnancy too. I sleep great for the first four or five hours, but if anything wakes me after that, I have a really hard time getting any more sleep. Staying hydrated is a challenge for me; but it always has been and it probably always will.
Things are going well, right on track. It won't be too much longer and I'll start feeling the baby move for sure. I get little flutters now, but hey, that may just be gas. This is the time that I say we slide into the mundane. Life slows down without a ton of doctor's appointments, everything gets pretty much back to normal, and I forget to blog. The milestones are fewer and farther between, and not a whole lot changes week to week. I might just have to start telling stories about my crazy kids instead.....
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