Xander has been home from the hospital now for a week. We are exhausted and sleep deprived and blissfully happy to have him home. Michael and I feel that being parents is already rewarding even though Xander is still so new. We were in the hospital for 3 days (2 after his birth) for observation, and baby and I were so thankful to be released with good bills of health. My local family visited while we were in the hospital and were able to see the new arrival. My Dad came by the day we were released and bought us some diapers and wipes, and we got a very sweet picture of him holding Xander in the little tyke's new nursery. Alexander Keenan Martin is such a cutey. We will be posting many pics in the Photos section of this website under various headings, so stay tuned and check back often for more updates and pics. I will even be doing a reverse play-by-play of my tummy shrinking. I lost 12 pounds in the first week after birth (I had gained about 25 pounds during pregnancy) and am determined to get back to pre-baby weight in the next few months. And then I am planning to lose even more weight by 6 months! Wish me luck.
Thanksgiving was craziness- between feedings and family feuds and exhaustion. Holidays can never pass without at least a little family drama, huh? Did you ever see that well-acted Holly Hunter/Robert Downy Jr comedy-drama movie, "Home for the Holidays?" It is about this dysfunctional family coming together for Thanksgiving and all the drama that ensues due to the different personality types in the family. If you haven't seen it, you should. It makes my family drama seem tame. You will probably feel good about your own family after watching that movie, in fact. *sigh* We were able to get some good pics of family members holding our Xander, though. And the food and fellowship in our home was amazing- I didn't have to cook anything this year, which was a blessing. My family all pitched in and made the food while Michael and I concentrated on Xander's care.
BTW: we are thankful for our newest addition to the family: our beautiful little baby boy. He has made our home the happiest home on the block.
We have another pediatric appointment tomorrow morning- for little bit's circumcision (insert creepy "duh, duh, duh" music here). We are also gonna check his weight and his breathing while we are there, to make sue our little man is on track to being a healthy newborn.
Speaking of weight, did you know that a baby loses weight in the first few days of life, then gains it back to his original birth weight by 10 days post-birth? Also, did you know that babies go thru tons and tons of teeny-tiny laundry!? Not to mention tons of diapers and baby wipes, of course. Every time I turn around, something else needs to be washed or the baby needs to be cleaned. My Mom has been here for the past week helping around the house, which has been great, b/c being a new mommy and daddy to a newborn is hard work. Time for a nap.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Xander's Arrival
..."Alexander Keenan Martin." Isn't he the most beautiful little person ever (see pics on the Home page or Photos section)? He is so sweet. Officially, Xander is one week old today. His stats at birth: 6 lbs, 7 ounces, 19 inches long, born at 3:48am on November 20, 2009. He came into this world crying and screaming and a little over 3 weeks premature (the term used by the hospital was that he was a "late pre-term baby"). He is healthy, by the grace of God. His first pediatric appointment went well, and the pediatrician said he is only a few weeks behind full-term newborns, in terms of his sleep patterns and feeding patterns and will catch up very soon. Whew!
My labor started with my amniotic sac rupturing while I slept at 4am on Nov 19. Less than 15% of labors begin with the "water breaking". Most women have their waters broken by the doctor during labor. I had no contractions, no pain, just some light cramping and a constant leaking. We packed (we had no suitcase packed since we weren't planning on going to the hospital for at least a few more weeks, if not a month), and arrived at the hospital about an hour later. After hours, one must ring a bell outside in order to be admitted, and Michael pushed the doorbell and exclaimed: "My wife is gushing," to which the receptionist laughed and let us in. Since my water broke, the hospital admitted me immediately, and checked for signs of infection. I was only 1 cm dilated and they told me it was gonna be a long time before I even started active labor, so "get comfy." When the stores opened, Michael went to get all the items we were lacking for the nursery (again, we weren't planning on our little man coming for quite a while, so we were a little unprepared). He drove back to the house and picked up more items for the hospital stay, since the nurses told us we were gonna be there a while and that Xander may have to stay in the neo-natal nursery for 24 hours after birth for observation, due to his "preemie" status. We asked if we should contact our family to tell everyone we are in labor, and they said not to b/c I was gonna be in for a long labor, since I was not even having proper contractions. This period of early labor lasted 16 hours; I was hooked up to many machines and IV's for monitoring and given meds to help me efface (thinning out of the cervix) and to begin proper contractions (I was not in any pain at all during this early labor period). By 8pm, I was 100% effaced and 3 cm dilated and the doctor said it probably would be the next day before I would deliver. I was given pitocin to speed up contractions, and hooked up to more monitors. Michael called our family members and told them we were in the hospital and that visiting hours did not start until the next morning; the doctor and nurses had said I would be in labor throughout the night and would probably deliver late the next morning. By 9pm, I was 4cm dilated and feeling some pain (Michael had been breathing with me and massaging me and being a great coach throughout the process so far, but I was ready for pain relief), so I requested my ordered epidural. Just my luck, there were 2 C-sections ahead of me! So I labored in active labor with Michael as my coach for 2 more long hours waiting for the epidural to arrive. By midnight, the epidural was given (with me having 3 hard contractions in the middle of it), and I was hooked up to even more machines and checked for infection again. I was 5cm dilated by this point. I felt so much better immediately!!!! Epidurals are Godsends for laboring mothers- at least, it certainly was for me. Michael and I settled in for a nap. The nurse would come in to check me and by 1:30am, I was 8 cm dilated. By 3am, I was in a lot of pain again, and I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push! AHHH!!! Since, no one expected me to be ready to push that early, the doctor was not even present and in fact was home asleep! They started me pushing about 20 minutes later. The doctor and nursery nurse arrived about 3:30am and I pushed some more. With Michael holding one leg and the labor nurse Vanessa holding the other leg, I grabbed my thighs and pushed our little man into this world. It was the most amazing experience. He was placed on my tummy, kicking and screaming, while Michael cut the cord. Then he was whisked away to be cleaned/checked and for Michael to hold him, while the doctor and nurse patched me up. The nurses and staff and doctors were all wonderful- and as a side note, after not eating for over 24 hours, hospital food is soo yummy! November 20, 2009, is the BEST DAY EVER!!! More to follow regarding parenthood, as Michael and I get into a routine and somehow figure out how to get over sleep deprivation...
My labor started with my amniotic sac rupturing while I slept at 4am on Nov 19. Less than 15% of labors begin with the "water breaking". Most women have their waters broken by the doctor during labor. I had no contractions, no pain, just some light cramping and a constant leaking. We packed (we had no suitcase packed since we weren't planning on going to the hospital for at least a few more weeks, if not a month), and arrived at the hospital about an hour later. After hours, one must ring a bell outside in order to be admitted, and Michael pushed the doorbell and exclaimed: "My wife is gushing," to which the receptionist laughed and let us in. Since my water broke, the hospital admitted me immediately, and checked for signs of infection. I was only 1 cm dilated and they told me it was gonna be a long time before I even started active labor, so "get comfy." When the stores opened, Michael went to get all the items we were lacking for the nursery (again, we weren't planning on our little man coming for quite a while, so we were a little unprepared). He drove back to the house and picked up more items for the hospital stay, since the nurses told us we were gonna be there a while and that Xander may have to stay in the neo-natal nursery for 24 hours after birth for observation, due to his "preemie" status. We asked if we should contact our family to tell everyone we are in labor, and they said not to b/c I was gonna be in for a long labor, since I was not even having proper contractions. This period of early labor lasted 16 hours; I was hooked up to many machines and IV's for monitoring and given meds to help me efface (thinning out of the cervix) and to begin proper contractions (I was not in any pain at all during this early labor period). By 8pm, I was 100% effaced and 3 cm dilated and the doctor said it probably would be the next day before I would deliver. I was given pitocin to speed up contractions, and hooked up to more monitors. Michael called our family members and told them we were in the hospital and that visiting hours did not start until the next morning; the doctor and nurses had said I would be in labor throughout the night and would probably deliver late the next morning. By 9pm, I was 4cm dilated and feeling some pain (Michael had been breathing with me and massaging me and being a great coach throughout the process so far, but I was ready for pain relief), so I requested my ordered epidural. Just my luck, there were 2 C-sections ahead of me! So I labored in active labor with Michael as my coach for 2 more long hours waiting for the epidural to arrive. By midnight, the epidural was given (with me having 3 hard contractions in the middle of it), and I was hooked up to even more machines and checked for infection again. I was 5cm dilated by this point. I felt so much better immediately!!!! Epidurals are Godsends for laboring mothers- at least, it certainly was for me. Michael and I settled in for a nap. The nurse would come in to check me and by 1:30am, I was 8 cm dilated. By 3am, I was in a lot of pain again, and I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push! AHHH!!! Since, no one expected me to be ready to push that early, the doctor was not even present and in fact was home asleep! They started me pushing about 20 minutes later. The doctor and nursery nurse arrived about 3:30am and I pushed some more. With Michael holding one leg and the labor nurse Vanessa holding the other leg, I grabbed my thighs and pushed our little man into this world. It was the most amazing experience. He was placed on my tummy, kicking and screaming, while Michael cut the cord. Then he was whisked away to be cleaned/checked and for Michael to hold him, while the doctor and nurse patched me up. The nurses and staff and doctors were all wonderful- and as a side note, after not eating for over 24 hours, hospital food is soo yummy! November 20, 2009, is the BEST DAY EVER!!! More to follow regarding parenthood, as Michael and I get into a routine and somehow figure out how to get over sleep deprivation...
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Less Than 30 Days to Go?
So, our Estimated Due Date is less than 30 days away now (see our Estimated Due Date Countdown on the homepage of this website). Of course, the OBGYN repeated that there is only a 5% chance of babies actually being born on their due dates, but it is exciting to think about! I hope to go into labor naturally, barring any complications or birth plan changes enacted by my doctor, and there is never a warning when that happens. One just goes into labor. Doc says that could happen tomorrow or it could happen over a month from now. We'll see. Keep fingers crossed that he and I will be healthy when he is born- that is all that matters, of course.
We had our OBGYN appointment yesterday. Our little man is measuring perfectly. He has completely turned in the right direction for full-term status (which will happen very soon), and his heartbeat is a strong 150 beats per minute. My health appears good too- just lots of the "normal" aches, pains, insomnia, and stomach discomforts of pregnancy. I have gained 24 pounds in the pregnancy so far, which is perfect for my body type- *celebrate* And she did a swab to check for dilation of my cervix to make sure pre-term labor was not a concern right now, and I am in the clear. Because I rock.
Yay! I don't know if I told you, but we picked a pediatrician. *whew* What a load of our minds! And Michael not only installed the car seat, but we got it inspected too. Just in time! Isn't he awesome?
After our doctor appointment, we decided to grab some food at our local Chipotle. Yum. I have actually started having cravings. I like cravings. Cravings don't always like my tummy though. While we were at Chipotle, the manager stopped by and asked me questions about the baby (when I actually do venture out in public, I get that a lot since I look sooo obviously pregnant now). She then related her experience with her two pregnancies (both boys). When she asked how far along I was, I told her. She said I was so "tiny" compared to other women who are as far along as I was. I told her I love her and that she was my new best friend. *grin* She offered to buy us lunch or dinner if we came in with the baby sometime after the birth, when we were feeling up to going out. How sweet is that??? *Insert marketing plug here for Chipotle.* It was a big day for me- I was soo exhausted after going to the doctor and then having lunch in public that I stayed on the couch the rest of the day. I feel like such a wimp: can't drive, can't stand or walk for longer than 30 minutes a day without feeling dizzy, can't sleep longer than 2 hour intervals. But, by the grace of God, we will have a munchkin to show for it soon.
This weekend is a big weekend: Michael is going to a Graduation get-together for one of our friends on Saturday, and that night we have a dinner to go to with another group of friends. I am making homemade macaroni and cheese- comfort food. Is there any other kind of food, really?
My youngest brother's birthday party is this weekend! He will be 26. Wow. Our family is heading over to my other brother's house for the birthday party, which is sure to be fun! There will be bbq, and family, and fun- can't wait!!
On an apologetic note, Michael and I will get the Baby Shower and gift Thank You cards out to everyone soon, I promise! I haven't forgotten about it. And as soon as we receive the photos from my Baby Shower, Michael will have those up for everyone to see and enjoy. For now, I must get back to work or people won't be paid for this month. And that would be bad...very bad. Working from home means no "real" maternity leave. Still gotta make sure the payroll and accounting is done. No rest for the weary.
We had our OBGYN appointment yesterday. Our little man is measuring perfectly. He has completely turned in the right direction for full-term status (which will happen very soon), and his heartbeat is a strong 150 beats per minute. My health appears good too- just lots of the "normal" aches, pains, insomnia, and stomach discomforts of pregnancy. I have gained 24 pounds in the pregnancy so far, which is perfect for my body type- *celebrate* And she did a swab to check for dilation of my cervix to make sure pre-term labor was not a concern right now, and I am in the clear. Because I rock.
Yay! I don't know if I told you, but we picked a pediatrician. *whew* What a load of our minds! And Michael not only installed the car seat, but we got it inspected too. Just in time! Isn't he awesome?
After our doctor appointment, we decided to grab some food at our local Chipotle. Yum. I have actually started having cravings. I like cravings. Cravings don't always like my tummy though. While we were at Chipotle, the manager stopped by and asked me questions about the baby (when I actually do venture out in public, I get that a lot since I look sooo obviously pregnant now). She then related her experience with her two pregnancies (both boys). When she asked how far along I was, I told her. She said I was so "tiny" compared to other women who are as far along as I was. I told her I love her and that she was my new best friend. *grin* She offered to buy us lunch or dinner if we came in with the baby sometime after the birth, when we were feeling up to going out. How sweet is that??? *Insert marketing plug here for Chipotle.* It was a big day for me- I was soo exhausted after going to the doctor and then having lunch in public that I stayed on the couch the rest of the day. I feel like such a wimp: can't drive, can't stand or walk for longer than 30 minutes a day without feeling dizzy, can't sleep longer than 2 hour intervals. But, by the grace of God, we will have a munchkin to show for it soon.
This weekend is a big weekend: Michael is going to a Graduation get-together for one of our friends on Saturday, and that night we have a dinner to go to with another group of friends. I am making homemade macaroni and cheese- comfort food. Is there any other kind of food, really?
My youngest brother's birthday party is this weekend! He will be 26. Wow. Our family is heading over to my other brother's house for the birthday party, which is sure to be fun! There will be bbq, and family, and fun- can't wait!!
On an apologetic note, Michael and I will get the Baby Shower and gift Thank You cards out to everyone soon, I promise! I haven't forgotten about it. And as soon as we receive the photos from my Baby Shower, Michael will have those up for everyone to see and enjoy. For now, I must get back to work or people won't be paid for this month. And that would be bad...very bad. Working from home means no "real" maternity leave. Still gotta make sure the payroll and accounting is done. No rest for the weary.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Baby Shower
Our Baby Shower weekend was amazing!!!!! Michael and I would like to thank my Mom for cleaning the house and making the cake for the Saturday baby shower. We would also like to thank all 17 of our friends and family who attended, and we want to tell everyone how much we appreciated the gifts and fellowship. Lastly (but most importantly), we need to thank my brother Adam and his fiance Brandi for all the hard work, food, and time they invested in our Shower; Brandi organized the soiree, as well as took the rsvp's and planned the fun games! She and my brother will be sending us pictures of the baby shower gifts, decor, and attendees, and we will post them on the Photos section of this website, along with the photos we took, as soon as we receive them.
On Sunday, there was another shower planned, but it was essentially cancelled due to lack of attendance. Instead, we had a small get-together with friends for a Baby-Themed Luncheon. Meagan and Derek brought food (Michael loved Derek's homemade apple salad, btw, and Mexican cheese dip is always a hit), and they brought gifts from my theatre friends who were unable to attend. And Denise was even able to stop by from Sierra Vista for a few hours and enjoy lunch and coffee with us! We want to thank you three for coming and celebrating the upcoming birth of our little man. Also, we appreciated the gifts from those who attended this lunch, and from those who were unable to attend but sent gift cards, baby items, and well-wishes! Michael will be posting Photos on this website of the now well-appointed nursery.
Last weekend, we went out to eat at the Flying V with our friends Brett and Casie. Once monthly, we 4 get together and talk and vent and eat at a local restaurant. We all love to try new kinds of food. The Flying V was great- the food was yummy and the ambience was top-notch. I recommend the restaurant to anyone with a special occasion coming up. It would have been a little pricey, but we had dining cards (thanks to Casie's mad hunting skills for restaurant coupons), which made the meal half-price! How awesome is that? Brett and Casie also surprised us with some baby gifts from our registry and some homemade burp cloths. Now our little Tigger can spit-up in style.
Tonight we have another class- Breastfeeding. Sounds fun, huh? Michael and all the men in the class are sure to turn red. Maybe I should take a picture of his embarrassed face as we watch the highly informative, yet sure-to-be-entertaining instructional videos on nursing. *grin*
On Wednesday, we have another OBGYN appointment. I look forward to being poked and prodded and measured and weighed yet again. Not. *growl* I am 35 weeks pregnant. Getting dangerously close to full-term. Keep baking in there son; we don't want you in the world until you are fully cooked and ready for the outside world. But...while you're in there, could you tell Mommy's body NOT to hurt or sweat or become irritable or have tummy troubles or suffer from sleep deprivation all the time...please?!
On Sunday, there was another shower planned, but it was essentially cancelled due to lack of attendance. Instead, we had a small get-together with friends for a Baby-Themed Luncheon. Meagan and Derek brought food (Michael loved Derek's homemade apple salad, btw, and Mexican cheese dip is always a hit), and they brought gifts from my theatre friends who were unable to attend. And Denise was even able to stop by from Sierra Vista for a few hours and enjoy lunch and coffee with us! We want to thank you three for coming and celebrating the upcoming birth of our little man. Also, we appreciated the gifts from those who attended this lunch, and from those who were unable to attend but sent gift cards, baby items, and well-wishes! Michael will be posting Photos on this website of the now well-appointed nursery.
Last weekend, we went out to eat at the Flying V with our friends Brett and Casie. Once monthly, we 4 get together and talk and vent and eat at a local restaurant. We all love to try new kinds of food. The Flying V was great- the food was yummy and the ambience was top-notch. I recommend the restaurant to anyone with a special occasion coming up. It would have been a little pricey, but we had dining cards (thanks to Casie's mad hunting skills for restaurant coupons), which made the meal half-price! How awesome is that? Brett and Casie also surprised us with some baby gifts from our registry and some homemade burp cloths. Now our little Tigger can spit-up in style.
Tonight we have another class- Breastfeeding. Sounds fun, huh? Michael and all the men in the class are sure to turn red. Maybe I should take a picture of his embarrassed face as we watch the highly informative, yet sure-to-be-entertaining instructional videos on nursing. *grin*
On Wednesday, we have another OBGYN appointment. I look forward to being poked and prodded and measured and weighed yet again. Not. *growl* I am 35 weeks pregnant. Getting dangerously close to full-term. Keep baking in there son; we don't want you in the world until you are fully cooked and ready for the outside world. But...while you're in there, could you tell Mommy's body NOT to hurt or sweat or become irritable or have tummy troubles or suffer from sleep deprivation all the time...please?!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
An Inch Away
So, I took my last pregnancy drive yesterday. My belly is literally one inch away from the steering wheel, and doc says that once I can no longer fit behind the steering wheel comfortably, I can no longer drive. *sigh* What a trapped feeling- it is like I am 15 again, with no way of going where I need/want to go, when I want to go. Or like when I broke my ankle 7 years ago. I have to rely on the kindness of a scheduled chauffer. Silliness.
I had an OBGYN appointment yesterday. It went well. My personal OBGYN is back from maternity leave and she and I have now switched places! She is thin again and I am...well...not thin. My face is puffy and my tummy is big and hard- filled with a perfectly sized baby boy. My blood pressure is good, all my tests have come out well, my weight is on track, and (with the exception of the many little pregnancy complaints- not sleeping, leg & back cramps, daily tummy troubles, Braxton Hicks contractions, exhaustion, irritability and frustration, nesting) I am a healthy pregnant woman. The baby is great as well, from what the doc saw: he is measuring right on target, his heartbeat is strong and regular, and he moves often. *whew*
We have a new Baby Bump photo up. You can check it out in the Photos section of this website. Click on the Photos tab in the upper left, then click on Baby Bump and click on the arrows- it is like playing with one of those old-fashioned cartoon flip books you did in art class as a kid. You get to watch my belly (and face and boobs) grow as the pregnancy progresses. Hilarious. We will be posting Nursery pics after the Baby Showers my friends and family have planned, so stay tuned to that Photo tab in the next few weeks.
For this week: 1) Michael and I are having an Anniversary!!! Yay! We had our big costume weddin g on Halloween years ago and are still going strong. We have received many sweet Anniversary gifts (thank you Aunt Marty and Aunt Tracy and Mom Kathy) and well-wishes from family and friends for our Anniversary and thank everyone so much for the love and support we have received over the years in our marriage. As a bonus, my Mom volunteered to stop smoking as an Anniversary gift to us and the baby! How cool is that? I can't wait to hug my smoke-free Mommy. 2) We are attending the annual Halloween Bash thrown by our good friends Leon and Elaine. Still not sure what our costumes are gonna be! We are thinking of recycling some costumes from the past (whatever will fit over my ever-growing belly will work just fine!). 3) Michael installed the car seat. Now we have to get it inspected. 4) I had my monthly lunch and gab-fest with my friend Meagan yesterday. It is always such a treasure to be able to vent and talk and decompress with a girlfriend about everything that bugs me, as well as everything that makes me happy. It is also nice to have the company of someone who feels just as comfortable to do it back. 5) We had our on-going Birthing Class yesterday. We learned about pediatricians and a little basic baby info. 6) We have pediatrician interviews (FYI: to interview them during prenatal time is free) with some doctors who are in our insurance network. The OBGYN recommends that we interview a couple of pediatricians and make a decision as to which one would be best for us and the care of our baby. 7) Michael and I will be picking up my Mom from my brother's house on Sunday after my haircut. She is gonna help for a week with all the heavier things I can't do around the house any more and I, therefore, have been putting off for the last few weeks. It is so nice that my bro and his gal have had her in Tucson available for me during the pregnancy. Mom will also be here for about a week during Thanksgiving.
I had an OBGYN appointment yesterday. It went well. My personal OBGYN is back from maternity leave and she and I have now switched places! She is thin again and I am...well...not thin. My face is puffy and my tummy is big and hard- filled with a perfectly sized baby boy. My blood pressure is good, all my tests have come out well, my weight is on track, and (with the exception of the many little pregnancy complaints- not sleeping, leg & back cramps, daily tummy troubles, Braxton Hicks contractions, exhaustion, irritability and frustration, nesting) I am a healthy pregnant woman. The baby is great as well, from what the doc saw: he is measuring right on target, his heartbeat is strong and regular, and he moves often. *whew*
We have a new Baby Bump photo up. You can check it out in the Photos section of this website. Click on the Photos tab in the upper left, then click on Baby Bump and click on the arrows- it is like playing with one of those old-fashioned cartoon flip books you did in art class as a kid. You get to watch my belly (and face and boobs) grow as the pregnancy progresses. Hilarious. We will be posting Nursery pics after the Baby Showers my friends and family have planned, so stay tuned to that Photo tab in the next few weeks.
For this week: 1) Michael and I are having an Anniversary!!! Yay! We had our big costume weddin g on Halloween years ago and are still going strong. We have received many sweet Anniversary gifts (thank you Aunt Marty and Aunt Tracy and Mom Kathy) and well-wishes from family and friends for our Anniversary and thank everyone so much for the love and support we have received over the years in our marriage. As a bonus, my Mom volunteered to stop smoking as an Anniversary gift to us and the baby! How cool is that? I can't wait to hug my smoke-free Mommy. 2) We are attending the annual Halloween Bash thrown by our good friends Leon and Elaine. Still not sure what our costumes are gonna be! We are thinking of recycling some costumes from the past (whatever will fit over my ever-growing belly will work just fine!). 3) Michael installed the car seat. Now we have to get it inspected. 4) I had my monthly lunch and gab-fest with my friend Meagan yesterday. It is always such a treasure to be able to vent and talk and decompress with a girlfriend about everything that bugs me, as well as everything that makes me happy. It is also nice to have the company of someone who feels just as comfortable to do it back. 5) We had our on-going Birthing Class yesterday. We learned about pediatricians and a little basic baby info. 6) We have pediatrician interviews (FYI: to interview them during prenatal time is free) with some doctors who are in our insurance network. The OBGYN recommends that we interview a couple of pediatricians and make a decision as to which one would be best for us and the care of our baby. 7) Michael and I will be picking up my Mom from my brother's house on Sunday after my haircut. She is gonna help for a week with all the heavier things I can't do around the house any more and I, therefore, have been putting off for the last few weeks. It is so nice that my bro and his gal have had her in Tucson available for me during the pregnancy. Mom will also be here for about a week during Thanksgiving.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Masked Mommy
Sorry it has been a few weeks since our last blog. Here are the updates on life, liberty, and the pursuit of (pregnant) happiness in the Boyd-Martin household:
1) I got sick. Yucky, nasty, phlegmy sick. I was so lucky that I received my flu shot about a month ago, b/c the sickness could have been tons worse, according to the doc. I caught a cold, accompanied by severe tinnitus (ringing in ears) and pharyngitis (raw, sore throat/pharynx). What makes a common cold so awful when you are pregnant, you ask? You can't take the "typical" OTC and prescribed meds to get rid of the symptoms! Ahhhh!!!! Thankfully, the cold itself lasted about a week (I still am coughing up goo, though), but it was sooo not fun. Lozenges, Tylenol, fluids, rest (which is ridiculously hard to get when one is 8 months pregnant), being around as few people as possible, and force-feeding myself small, children's doses of Robitussin were all I was allowed. My fever never got above 100 degrees, which was all my doctor really worried about since a high fever (usually accompanied with the dreaded flu) is bad for both baby and mother. I feel better now, but not quite 100% yet. I wasn't even allowed to go to my Birthing Class last Wednesday, which was regretful. Michael and I will be making-up what we missed next class (sick pregnant women are not supposed to be around anyone else, let alone OTHER pregnant women, I learned). In fact, when I went to see the doctor, the office gave me a surgical mask I had to wear while in the office (hence, the title of this blog journal). Those suckers are really hard to breathe out of when one's nose is stuffed-up and congested, btw!
2) I am in my 8th month! Exciting and new. And painfully sharp. By that I mean: sharp, incessant pains in my lower calves and lower back. *ouch* Once a lady hits the 8th month (after 32 weeks gestation), she is asked not to travel further away than a 1 hour drive, and in fact to only get in a car for short drives to/from places if needed (the docs really frown upon a pregnant woman like myself finding herself too far from her hospital as full-term status approaches). For those of ya'll who aren't in the know, full-term is considered 37 weeks, but Michael and I learned that pre-term labor (labor before 37 weeks) is pretty common in our country. The scientists don't really know why.
3) We had a sick kitty for about a week, too, but our youngest cat is now better and seems to be feeling more like himself.
4) We received a Target gift card as a baby present from Denise! Thanks Denise!!! We can't wait to go pick out little baby things with your generous gift! Our little man is on his way to being the best dressed baby on the block.
5) There are new pics in the Family Photos section (thank you, Michael, for putting all the photos up on our website. I can tell you are a proud father already). Click on the Photos tab in the upper, left- hand corner, then click on Family Photos and scroll the pages until you find the newest ones.
6) Our last OBGYN appointment went well. I talked with the doctor about my highly irregular sleep patterns and my growing anxiety and irritability. She said that women often go through all this in the third trimester due to increasing hormones, increasing discomfort due to size and position of baby, and a lower immune system. Oh joy. Our mini-man seems to be good though. The baby's heart rate is 139. He is measuring 30.5 (again, back to being a little small, but he has growth spurts here and there which usually make up for it). I have gained 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks (the baby is gaining an average of 1/2 pound a week now until his birth, which is contributing to my current weight gain significantly). In fact, the baby weighs about 4+ pounds right now, and measures about 18 inches in length! Radical little man, isn't he? he astonishes us everyday.
1) I got sick. Yucky, nasty, phlegmy sick. I was so lucky that I received my flu shot about a month ago, b/c the sickness could have been tons worse, according to the doc. I caught a cold, accompanied by severe tinnitus (ringing in ears) and pharyngitis (raw, sore throat/pharynx). What makes a common cold so awful when you are pregnant, you ask? You can't take the "typical" OTC and prescribed meds to get rid of the symptoms! Ahhhh!!!! Thankfully, the cold itself lasted about a week (I still am coughing up goo, though), but it was sooo not fun. Lozenges, Tylenol, fluids, rest (which is ridiculously hard to get when one is 8 months pregnant), being around as few people as possible, and force-feeding myself small, children's doses of Robitussin were all I was allowed. My fever never got above 100 degrees, which was all my doctor really worried about since a high fever (usually accompanied with the dreaded flu) is bad for both baby and mother. I feel better now, but not quite 100% yet. I wasn't even allowed to go to my Birthing Class last Wednesday, which was regretful. Michael and I will be making-up what we missed next class (sick pregnant women are not supposed to be around anyone else, let alone OTHER pregnant women, I learned). In fact, when I went to see the doctor, the office gave me a surgical mask I had to wear while in the office (hence, the title of this blog journal). Those suckers are really hard to breathe out of when one's nose is stuffed-up and congested, btw!
2) I am in my 8th month! Exciting and new. And painfully sharp. By that I mean: sharp, incessant pains in my lower calves and lower back. *ouch* Once a lady hits the 8th month (after 32 weeks gestation), she is asked not to travel further away than a 1 hour drive, and in fact to only get in a car for short drives to/from places if needed (the docs really frown upon a pregnant woman like myself finding herself too far from her hospital as full-term status approaches). For those of ya'll who aren't in the know, full-term is considered 37 weeks, but Michael and I learned that pre-term labor (labor before 37 weeks) is pretty common in our country. The scientists don't really know why.
3) We had a sick kitty for about a week, too, but our youngest cat is now better and seems to be feeling more like himself.
4) We received a Target gift card as a baby present from Denise! Thanks Denise!!! We can't wait to go pick out little baby things with your generous gift! Our little man is on his way to being the best dressed baby on the block.
5) There are new pics in the Family Photos section (thank you, Michael, for putting all the photos up on our website. I can tell you are a proud father already). Click on the Photos tab in the upper, left- hand corner, then click on Family Photos and scroll the pages until you find the newest ones.
6) Our last OBGYN appointment went well. I talked with the doctor about my highly irregular sleep patterns and my growing anxiety and irritability. She said that women often go through all this in the third trimester due to increasing hormones, increasing discomfort due to size and position of baby, and a lower immune system. Oh joy. Our mini-man seems to be good though. The baby's heart rate is 139. He is measuring 30.5 (again, back to being a little small, but he has growth spurts here and there which usually make up for it). I have gained 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks (the baby is gaining an average of 1/2 pound a week now until his birth, which is contributing to my current weight gain significantly). In fact, the baby weighs about 4+ pounds right now, and measures about 18 inches in length! Radical little man, isn't he? he astonishes us everyday.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fun Vegas, High Hormones, and 2 Months to Go!!!
The Boys (Michael and my brothers) are happy to report that they had a fun time in Las Vegas! They saw the Cirque Du Soliel: Ka show at the MGM, went to a Circus Circus Haunted House, ate at the Bellagio buffet, and got free drinks while gambling for 3 days/2 nights. While the boys played, the girls relaxed. We (Me, my Mom, and Adam's fiance) went to museums and high tea at Tohono Chul Park while the boys were away. Mom bought the baby a cute shirt from the International Wildlife Museum that reads "Wild Thing" on it. My Mom stayed the rest of the weekend with me and she and I had a relaxing time, complete with dinner at Lookout Bar and Grill, brunch at Gold Restaurant, and a little bit of lovely pampering- something every pregnant woman and her Mom needs. Pictures will be posted very soon in the Family Photos section of our respective weekend. The only downside to the weekend was that there was mass confusion as to who would pick the boys up at the airport- which got this already weepy pregnant woman very frazzled.
OMG- we still have so much to do!!! We have to install the car seat and have it inspected. We have to wash all the baby bedding & clothes and put them away. We have to baby proof & clean the house and stock up on quick-fix foods. We have Baby Showers in a month. And Michael and I start our hospital-sanctioned Birthing Classes tonight. We are gonna learn breathing techniques for labor, when to call the doctor & go to the hospital during labor, postpartum info, what to do in case of emergency during the rest of pregnancy, coaching, pain relief and medication options, when to call family to the hospital, what to bring to the hospital, etc. AHHH!! My mind is totally full of baby info now; I don't even want to think about how much more there is to learn. *sob*
Our baby boy moves all the time- which is awesome. My heart rate is still really fast, my blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good. His heart beat is perfect, and he is measuring a little big for his gestational age (he measured 30.5 weeks at our last appt- when he was about 29 weeks along- he has always measured a little small before, but I guess that is all normal). The odd thing is that I have actually been losing weight!!! Even though I am swelling, have edema (face, hands, feet puff up), and my Baby Bump is getting bigger (see Baby Bump Photo in Photo section for proof), I have lost a few pounds. How??!! My doctor doesn't seem concerned at this point, so that is a good sign. I have been feeling: hotter, itchier, more tired, more hip and perennial pains, more intense Braxton Hicks, stronger fetal movement, and waaaay more hormonal and irritable for the past few weeks- I have been told and read that it is all "normal," but I feel very vulnerable and exhausted all the time. Emotionally, I have a lot of excitement mixed with trepidation over: money, family, the health if the baby, labor, delivery, housing, trust/will, and postpartum issues. In short: I am driving myself crazy. Any other woman out there feel this way in the last weeks/months of pregnancy?? I will be officially full-term in 6 weeks, and his official due date is in 9 weeks, and I am scared about a lot of crazy things- my mind is racing. I want my hubby. I want my mommy. I want to go back to sleep....
OMG- we still have so much to do!!! We have to install the car seat and have it inspected. We have to wash all the baby bedding & clothes and put them away. We have to baby proof & clean the house and stock up on quick-fix foods. We have Baby Showers in a month. And Michael and I start our hospital-sanctioned Birthing Classes tonight. We are gonna learn breathing techniques for labor, when to call the doctor & go to the hospital during labor, postpartum info, what to do in case of emergency during the rest of pregnancy, coaching, pain relief and medication options, when to call family to the hospital, what to bring to the hospital, etc. AHHH!! My mind is totally full of baby info now; I don't even want to think about how much more there is to learn. *sob*
Our baby boy moves all the time- which is awesome. My heart rate is still really fast, my blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good. His heart beat is perfect, and he is measuring a little big for his gestational age (he measured 30.5 weeks at our last appt- when he was about 29 weeks along- he has always measured a little small before, but I guess that is all normal). The odd thing is that I have actually been losing weight!!! Even though I am swelling, have edema (face, hands, feet puff up), and my Baby Bump is getting bigger (see Baby Bump Photo in Photo section for proof), I have lost a few pounds. How??!! My doctor doesn't seem concerned at this point, so that is a good sign. I have been feeling: hotter, itchier, more tired, more hip and perennial pains, more intense Braxton Hicks, stronger fetal movement, and waaaay more hormonal and irritable for the past few weeks- I have been told and read that it is all "normal," but I feel very vulnerable and exhausted all the time. Emotionally, I have a lot of excitement mixed with trepidation over: money, family, the health if the baby, labor, delivery, housing, trust/will, and postpartum issues. In short: I am driving myself crazy. Any other woman out there feel this way in the last weeks/months of pregnancy?? I will be officially full-term in 6 weeks, and his official due date is in 9 weeks, and I am scared about a lot of crazy things- my mind is racing. I want my hubby. I want my mommy. I want to go back to sleep....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)