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Maternity & Parenting Center

Fun weekend

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This weekend was really relaxing . . . Elliot & I went to a concert at Wolf Trap on Friday night, and had a picnic dinner. I have learned that pregnancy requires better back support when hanging out on the ground for several hours! We had a baby naming for Madison on Sunday, and it was great to see so many family friends. We are getting excited for the next week . . . I leave for a business trip to Salt Lake City, then when I come back, we have our big ultrasound! Elliot is hoping for a boy . . . I kind of think it is a boy, too. I want one of each, but always thought of having the girl first. I think that since we are having such a hard time thinking of boys’ names that it will definitely be a boy!

The good news is both the AFP and my glucose test came back normal, which means so far, both of us are doing well! I can’t believe we are rapidly approaching the 1/2 way point. Now, if we can just put an end to this morning sickness . . .

On the home front, we are finally making some progress on our home renovation project. The bathroom tiles are all done, I’ve picked out all the paint for the house, the granite has been decided – we just need to deal with hardware now. I can’t wait to finally move in and start getting ready for the baby.

Back from vacation

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Coming back from vacation is never fun . . . why can’t it last forever? I went out for girl’s night dinner tonight with some friends . . . I’m so exhausted from being on vacation! I have to go in for my bloodwork tomorrow, and then my big ultrasound is on 8/8/08.

It’s back . . . .

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Well, I’m having a wonderful time at the beach on vacation (despite a little tropical storm). I handled the morning sickness on the trip down pretty well, and only threw up once so far! Unfortunately, I got a call from the midwives . . . I have ANOTHER UTI . . . but it is a different bacteria this time. So, unfortunately, it is back on antibiotics I go!

On a more positive note, we received a message that Sam & Betsy had their baby this weekend – Rebecca Sadie! We are thrilled for them, and can’t wait to meet her when we return.

16 week appointment

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I had my 16 week appointment today! All is going well . . . I’m measuring right on target, and the baby’s heartbeat was 155. I wasn’t able to record it this time, but hopefully next appointment! I was cleared to travel for work next month, and I’m off for my vacation in North Carolina tomorrow morning with Heather & Brad – a week at the beach (and hopefully we’ll get to see the movie Mamma Mia, too)! I was given a prescription for our 20 week u/s and for bloodwork (an AFP – to check for spina bifida/Down’s Syndrome, and a glucose check to make sure I’m not dealing with early onset gestational diabetes). I had a work conference this week – I can’t believe I actually got away with “hiding” the pregnancy . . . or, at least, no one asked if I was pregnant.

I’m still dealing with morning sickness, but all is going well!

15 weeks 2 days . . . an update (and a whine!)

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Let’s see . . . I’m 15 weeks and 2 days today. Not much to update about . . . just time to whine, I guess! We went to our niece Melissa’s high school graduation on June 26, and the Phenergan was wonderful! I didn’t get sick in the car, and I made it through the whole event without getting sick. Unfortunately, our nephew Brian was sick while we were there . . . he just looked so miserable!

I returned to find out that once again, I had a urinary tract infection . . . so back on antibiotics for me! I just can’t seem to catch a break sometimes. I guess I shouldn’t complain – in the scheme of things, these are all minor problems – just annoyances/inconveniences, really. I am just so frustrated with the UTIs . . . this darn Strep B infection doesn’t want to go away at all!

Of course, on Friday, Elliot decided it was time for HIM to get sick. On Sunday night, I guess I decided it was time to join him. The sore throat and the congestion started to set in. Elliot went to the doctor on Monday – he had a nasty sinus infection (just like Brian) but the antibiotics made him feel better quickly. I wasn’t getting any better . . . just got worse and worse all week. I was fairly certain I had a sinus infection, too, despite the fact I was taking antibiotics. I knew I needed to wait to finish my course of antibiotics before a doctor would do anything else for me, so I waited until Thursday afternoon (July 3). Unfortunately, I was told to wait out the weekend, but call if I got worse.

We spent the Fourth of July at Dave and Jen’s house for a bbq . . . well, a rained-out bbq. Naturally, they have a cat, so I couldn’t stay in the house too long, and we ended up leaving fairly early. It was nice to hang out with everyone for a bit. I swear, I think we used to be fun, but it is starting to feel like a distant memory! I wasn’t feeling well that day, and was having some bad cramping, so we spent the night on the couch watching fireworks on tv.

By Saturday, I was officially miserable . . . temperature, sore throat, tons of congestion, and nasty headache. I made it through Saturday, but was up most of the night unable to sleep because I felt so awful. I stuck it out on Sunday, too, but it was a rough day. Because I was taking medicine for the congestion, I stopped taking the Phenergan on Thursday or Friday. . . I didn’t want to tempt fate by taking too many pills at once! Unfortunately, my morning sickness was back full swing . . . and all I can say is that puking with a sore throat and full sinuses is just not an experience I would recommend to anyone. By Sunday night, I couldn’t speak because my throat hurt so much, and the sinus headache was causing my eyes to water and my head to feel as if it was about to explode.

When Monday morning arrived, I called the doctor first thing to get in for an appointment. Before I went in to see him, I ran to the midwife and left another urine sample to check on the status of my UTI. Naturally, at my doctor’s appointment, he decided to put me back on antibiotics . . . for a sinus infection! Thankfully, the antibiotics seem to be working for me, and I’m finally starting to feel better! I was actually worried – I’ve been known to be resistant to antibiotics in the past, so this is quite a relief. I swear, for as hard as I try to stay away from medication, I’m sure taking a lot of stuff! I really hope these pills don’t cause my baby to be born with 3 heads.

The good news is that I got the results from my urinalysis today . . . and it was negative for Strep B!! I’m officially (albeit possibly temporarily) infection-free! That is such a relief for me . . . I hope it stays that way for the rest of this pregnancy. But then again, if I were a betting person, I’d have to bet against me on that one – I always seem to get sick!

Now that I’m done whining, I guess it is time for some positive things! I am definitely feeling movement. It isn’t strong yet, and it isn’t constant, but I can feel it when I’m standing or sitting now, too. Sometimes it is just a flutter or a bubble, but sometimes it has felt almost like a tap or a palpitation. I’m looking forward to the future as this little one grows!!

What else can I add? Oh yes . . . I’ve learned a valuable lesson I should document. Note to self: no more ice cream. Elliot bought this yummy delicious light chocolate cookies and cream ice cream a few days ago, and with my sore throat I just thought it would hit the spot. I had a tiny little bit of it . . . maybe 1/4 cup? Not even a full serving size!! Apparently, the baby doesn’t seem to like ice cream, because EVERY time I eat ANY ice cream , I end up throwing up (yes, I’m ashamed to say it has taken me 3 tries to learn this lesson). I might as well just dump the ice cream into the toilet! The bright side is at least ice cream doesn’t taste as bad coming back up as some foods. I think it is time for me to stay away for a while. It makes sense . . . I’m a bit lactose intolerant on a good day, so I guess a few spoonfuls of ice cream really just aren’t agreeing with me right now.

Next week is a crazy busy week with work. I’m in meetings all day every day, and I’m trying to figure out if there is any chance I can disguise this pregnancy from my clients at these meetings next week. I’m not quite ready for everyone I work with to know yet . . . I think as an independent contractor, I’m worried that it will negatively affect my business. We shall see! Then, on Friday we have our next appointment with the midwife!! We’ll get our prescription to do the quad screen (to check for problems like spina bifida) and for the 20 week ultrasound. We then leave on Saturday for a week at the beach with our friends. I can’t believe how this summer is already flying by!

Movement . . . I think

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Here I am, comfortably in the 2nd trimester (I’m 13 weeks and 5 days today!!), and I’m still battling morning sickness. I’ve been thinking that I might be feeling movement for the past several weeks. Yes, I know it is pretty early, but I’m hyper-sensitive and notice things many other people would miss. I think since maybe 10 or 11 weeks, I’ve had these feelings, mostly at night or when lying down in a certain position, that almost feel like a flutter or bubbles in my lower abdomen. They would just last a second or two and then disappear, so I kept dismissing the feeling. It has been increasing gradually the past few weeks, and the past few days, I have noticed the feeling, a bit stronger, during the day, too.

Well, today I’m sitting here on the couch watching Wimbledon and waiting for my mom to bring Paige and Peyton over so we can go to the pool, and I’m CERTAIN that the baby is moving. It has been on and off all morning – kind of between a flutter and a tap. I’ve felt it in a few different spots, but I’m now convinced I’m feeling the baby move! This is so exciting . . . I’m sure over the next weeks the feeling will get more intense! I can’t wait until Elliot can feel it, too! He asked already if I thought he could feel it, but it just isn’t strong enough yet.

Morning sickness is back . . .

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Whoever said morning sickness disappears in the second trimester lied!! My morning sickness returned full force (and with a vengeance) around 12 weeks. I’ve been so sick, and back to puking. I couldn’t keep anything down this weekend. It was particularly bad on Saturday and Sunday during shiva for my grandmother. I finally gave in on Sunday and sent Elliot home to pick up my Phenergan (prescription anti-nausea medication). I have to say – it is a wonder drug! If only it lasted longer . . . it wears off, and then I try to put off taking another one . . . well, let’s just say I ended up sick again at night last night.

We are driving to New Jersey tomorrow for my niece’s high school graduation – you can bet I’ll be popping pills all day long!!

Baby’s Heartbeat

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I think we finally figured out the technology . . . hopefully this will work for sharing the baby’s heartbeat. Just click play to listen! Partway through, there is a loud “thwap” sound, and we were told it was the baby kicking!

A new chapter . . . . maybe a boy?

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Time marches on . . . this week has been pretty rough. We drove 9 hrs in a car up to Utica to go to my grandmother’s funeral, and my morning sickness was out of control! I puked 3 times on the way up, and was generally feeling miserable. My cousin Trenna and her husband John came in to join us for dinner. Unfortunately, they got a little turned around as we were trying to find a restaurant . . . and I ended up puking out the window AGAIN!! We had a small graveside service, which was nice . . . except for the horrible, miserable and inappropriate Rabbi who conducted the service. I was appalled by his behavior towards us, and some of the things he said during his “eulogy.” I will try and be kind and not post any of the things he said to me here. We did have a nice luncheon afterwards, paid for by a close friend of my grandmother’s.

We had to leave right after lunch since we had such a long journey home. Luckily, the car ride back from Utica was not quite as horrible (it was only 7 hours and I only puked 1 time)! We returned here late Thursday night to discover that Arleen and Lorin had left a pitcher of water outside the door for us – a kind and thoughtful gesture (and part of the Jewish tradition to wash your hands before entering a house of mourning/after leaving a cemetery, for those of you who do not know). We went to services on Friday night, and our family friends Gail and Steven, Arleen and Lorin, and Suellen and Gregg brought over dinner for us. Saturday night we held Shiva at our house, and we just barely had enough people to make a minyan (10 people – the minimum needed to say the prayer for mourning). Thanks to Heather and Brad for coming over at the last minute to meet our quota!! Today we have more family and friends stopping by to visit and we will have another night of shiva at my parents’ house. Hopefully, we won’t have any problem obtaining our minyan tonight.

The good news is that on Friday we had a midwife appointment. It was a fantastic appointment. She took the time to answer all of our questions, and discuss options for my fear of needles. I really like this practice, and I’m so thrilled I switched. I also picked up a prescription to help control my morning sickness, so hopefully that will help. We were able to hear (and record) the heartbeat, which I will try to figure out how to post here later. There is a “thwap” sound about halfway through, which we were told is a kick!

Then, just for fun, we decided to take the IntelliGender test today . . . I figure it must be about 50% accurate!! According to IntelliGender, we are having . . . .


I suppose we will see in August if this is correct!

Sad News

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I can’t believe I have to post this right on the heels of our wonderful news, but my Grandma died this afternoon. My father and I were planning to visit her today to check on her. About 5 minutes before my father arrived, the nurses went in to check on her blood pressure. They stepped out while the machine was reading, and when they returned, she had died.