Birth Story

I hope that I get this done  before my child is a year old. LOL. At the rate I am going I will not get it done.

Lets just go do a day by day break down by the day of the week.

Saturday

Shower in local town hosted by my friend. I felt like a.s.s. To be honest I really didn’t want to go. I wanted to sit on the recliner and just be. I didn’t care if I got another thing for Oat. I figured I could have a naked baby with no toys…and an undecorated room for that matter..and I was OKAY with that…as long as I was able to just lay around.  Let me back up. I don’t remember what all I have blogged about, but I had high blood pressure PRIOR to pregnancy.  After I got pregnant my readings were all wonderful. Actually the best I have ever really consistently had.  I wish I had written it down, but my numbers started creeping up. It was around four weeks or so prior to delivery. The readings were elevated at home, and at the MFM (high risk doctors) office, but never at my OBs. Honestly-I think the tech didn’t know how to take pressures. She put the  stethoscope halfway down my forearm. I have faint pulses, so I know she couldn’t hear it…ie she made up the reading of 122/78

Anyhoo- I was doing the normal “Nurse Treat Thyself” and checking everything at home. I have urine dippers to check for protein, b p readings etc. The only issue is that my manual cuff all the sudden quit fitting! (HELLO??! That should have been a clue), so I was using a wrist cuff. The numbers had been great until the weekend of the shower. That AM I was getting insane readings. 200/113..where the day before they had been 135/88.

So I did what all normal people do. I ordered more cuffs off of amazon. LOL. Anyways. By the time saturday rolled around I realized that I really was having issues and needed to rest. My b/p would be awesome when laying down- they as soon as I got up, did ANYTHING then laid back down my bp would go up by around 30-40 points. Not cool.

So Saturday we had the shower- I was HUGE. So swollen everywhere. I had ONE dress I could wear, and two pairs of shoes. No underwear fit all the sudden without a lot of pinchy pain. Everything hurt. My arms, my hands, my head, my back. I had carpal tunnel in both hands and my right ELBOW felt like it had been crushed. I had trigger fingers in my 3rd&4th fingers on both hands.

So, to the shower I go. ugh. I honestly can say I don’t remember much of it. I was so out of it. I don’t know why physiologically, but i just don’t.

Sunday.

Ass. I felt like ass. I didn’t sleep all night. I was on the recliner for the last 1.5-2 months and I couldn’t get comfortable. I had an ice pack on my elbow, tried wrist splints, even took a percocet. You name it, it hurt.  My blood pressure was up (I don’t remember what- 200/100?) and I had 3+ protein in my urine.

To L&D triage I went. yeah. When we got there they retested my urine- the dipstick was 2+ done by the nurse, but the labs official result was negative…but to be honest I have it on good authority they suck. I don’t trust them. I had not realized it until then, but I my urine output had decreased and my pee was dark- but I was drinking like a fish. My b/p was up (170s/100s) when we got there, but after a bunch water to get a better urine it came down some.  My PIH labwork showed a slightly elevated uric acid, but other than that okay. The MFM (Dr. #(*#&) was on call and he sent us home, but to recheck the next day.

Monday

I felt like ass. Beat up ass. At recheck my b/p was 150/100 at first, then 190/110. The MFM gave us the option of doing a 24 hour urine at home and recheck b/p daily in the office, get two doses of steroids in case anything happened, monitor bp  at home and adding repeat PIH bloodwork, etc. or going into the hospital. He was hesitant to admit us b/c he was going out of town and knew that another doc would induce us…but he has the experience to manage PIH with meds, etc. We talked about it and decided that we would go ahead and b e admitted to be closely watched and for the fact also that he was going out of town and WOULDN”T be able to manage us outpatient. Plus we just felt better that way. He was fine with it…so on our way to the hospital we went.

The rest of that day was more of the same. Feeling like ass and watching the trial…and tweeting. A lot. I had books, my laptop, but I didn’t feel like doing much else other than lay there, tweet and watch TV. My bp stayed up and they added labetolol.  That night after the first dose of steroids I thought I was going crazy. So worn out, tired, but jittery. I got a 5 of ambien, but it didn’t touch me.

Tuesday

More of the same. Sitting around wondering why in the world they kept saying I would go home THURSDAY if I was getting my final steriod dose that day, and finishing up with the 24 hour urine that night. I tweeted. I watched TV. I ate. That is about it honestly.

That night was the second steroid shot and it was brutal. I was so jumpy/jittery/anxious…I ended up BEGGING for a 10 of ambien around 2am. I couldn’t take it. I finally got a few hours sleep- only to be woken up by the freaking LAB TECH drawing blood. Blah.

Wednesday.

Morning rolled around and did I mention I FEEEEEL LIKE ASSSS??? I was s.t.a.r.v.i.n.g. because some masochist in dietary thinks a pregnant person doesn’t get hungry between 5pm and 8am. Seriously. Dinner is at 5pm and NOTHING until 8am the next day!! UGH. My meal try came in and was looking so very yummy. I had taken a drink of coffee and was prepping the rest…and the doctor walked in. As soon as I saw her face I pushed my tray away- I knew it wasn’t good news…….

phew. I will break this up and spare you all….and leave you wanting (as Paul Harvy said) THE REST OF THE STORY.

We have hair!

On this past tuesday (June 7th) we had our third MFM followup with Dr. %$@*!. We had a bit of snafu b/c the appointment was scheduled for Monday the 6th, but when they called on Monday at 1030 (appt. was at 1230) to remind of my appt THE NEXT DAY…I freaked. I was a little worried b/c I was having a lot of pressure “down there” and contractions. I was so thankful that we had an appointment that day.

So when she said my appt. wasn’t that day..I was miffed. I knew for various reasons that my original appt was on Monday. We had a conversation about Kingman’s work (mondays are better than tuesday b/c of scheduling), and how it would be good on Monday b/c we would have a busy weekend going to the shower and back in three days, and also a few days after I looked at the appt card and verified the info with my Google Calender to make sure it jived.

Obviously, the receptionist clicked on the wrong day. No  biggie right?

HA HA. I freaked b/c my husband doesn’t have a job that you can just “call in” with. He has people that what a significant amount of time to see him. People ge MAD and really could care less if he has an emergency.

Anyhoo- thanks to my friend and his scheduler person….they all were notified and only one tried to raise some hell. She just said “His wife is pregnant and needs him tomorrow, you can come in today or earlier in the day if you are able to”.

Whatever. I don’t care.
ANYHOO. I had a heavy heart that day also b/c two very close friends of mine got devastating news. Lis and Audrey both suffered losses that are so unfair…and could use a hug so go over and give them a virtual hug.  The story is theirs to tell, so I won’t tell it on here.

The week before at the OB office the girl in the room next to me was getting an ultrasound, and got the diapnosis of fetal demise. The screaming sobs will haunt me forever. I saw this girl in the waiting room, and we did the smile and nod while passing each other for the vital  sign room and bathroom for urine specimen. we got placed in our rooms at the same time.  The walls are paper thin, so it was hard to not know what was going on. I just cried for her, and I am still saying prayers for her. She was very pregnant. I would think early 30 weeks or so. She was slimmer than me, but her belly was big.

Her cries echoed in my ears when I found out about Lis and Audrey. It isn’t fair.

SO- needless to say I was nervous about my appointment b/c it seemed like a bad juju day amongst all my friends.

Anyhoo- they got our US done first. I have been on the Indocin since the cerclage, and three weeks ago we reduced it once a day (previously on twice a day). The US tech didn’t say anything during the US (ugh), but I could hear there was some regurgitation of the heart valve on the ultrasound. I could also see the regurg when she turned on the colors for the flow studies. I know JUUUUUST enough to make me dangerous.

Sweet Oat kept his/her hands up to the face…and turned its face away from the US frequently. It is actually very cute. We got a few cute pictures-pursed lips that look like baby kisses, pictures showing the baby has HAIR, and of course the arms. We don’t  get to many leg pictures b/c we don’t want to know the sex.

The rest of it looked good. I will put some pictures in the Sweet Oat tab.

Blood pressure was smidge up, the MFM doc doesn’t worry as much as my OB on this either.  So his take was that the Tricuspid regurgitation is reversible with stopping the Indocin. There is no other cardiac involvement at all, so all is well. The Tricuspid Regurg will correct itself, and this is a common side effect.  The cord flow, the placenta, the amnio fluid levels, the PDA all look stellar. That is good. There is still the issue of the contractions- so he switched my medicine to procardia which is a calcium channel blocker. My instructions were to see how I did off of the indocin, and start procardia if needed.

I was to give the indocine time to get out of my system- he explained that the body and rebound of sorts as the prostraglandin inhibition wears off. An inital increase in contrations, then leveling down/plateu out. So Wednesday was rough. Really rough. No lie. I will post more about that later.

My cervix has shortened a little bit more to 2cm, but there was no funneling with pressure. The baby is still head down, and loves to press it on the old cervix. The stitch is in place and smack in the middle, so 1 cm of cervix on either side of the cerclage. Phew.

Doc thinks that maybe I have some scar tissue rebuilding my cervix due to the fact I am not funneling anymore…but there is not way to tell. This could mean that I won’t go into labor right away after the cerclage removal. This type of scar tissue doesn’t mean my cervix is forever closed…but more just stable. Good strong contractions will pull this scar tissue away.

The cerclage removal is still set for July 15th, and I will be 36w5d. Fine with me.   the rest of the appointment went well.

 

Side note- people that are on wordpress….what is up with all these recommended links? Why would I do that? What are the promoted ones? I am confused…does that link my blog to articles? Is there a benefit on doing this or do you just get more spam?

 

<3

Whats new in the hoochie coo?

I went last week to my OB and had my little OB checkup. For the most part these are and will be uneventful, unless I have issues. They want to see me every two weeks until I deliver, which is no big deal to me- but for my poor husband it is tough. He has been to every appointment so far. He wanted to be able to say he went to EVERY ONE during my pregnancy- but I think that is going to have to give. I am also going to the MFM (maternal Fetal Medicine/ High Risk Doctor) every two weeks), so that is one doctors appointment every week.

This may not sound like much, but my husband has people make appointments with him MONTHS in advance- so it is not very convient for his customers to get moved around. Granted- he has awesome staff that work them in here and there…but a lot of people get grumpy. They DON’T CARE that his wife is having a complicated pregnancy- what is that to them?

Oh well…soapbox.

The OB appt. was good last week. Got results of 1 hours glucose screening- and it was 113. They want under 135, so I did great. My hemoglobin was 11.3, so I have been started on Slow Fe iron supplements. Oh the joys. I have even MORE issues crapping- and have I explained that I am not supposed strain…at all? I am supposed to just let my bidniz just SLLLLLIIIIIDDDE OUT?

Yeah whatever. I don’t think that has happened to me since I was in infant…..or had a GI bug or major IBS flair up. I am constantly worried about the state of my bowels. Kinda like a 85 year old man. It is insane.  I predict it now- after I get my stitch out, I will break my water with the first post cerclage removal poo.

There. I said it. LOL

Other than that, my OBs office is pretty much telling me get up to shower, eat, come to appointments only. Phsaw.  Okay, before hackles get raised- I am NOT defying orders. They also stated that I should also heed what what my MFM doctor said ( Dr. %$@*!….b/c he like to curse. LOL).  Dr. %$@*! says, no lifting/straining (from anything)/running, dehydration or full bladder. Then just listen to my body. So- these are obviously the different ends of the spectrum here.  I am kinda goign down the middle.

I am not doing much around the house (HA HA HA), except laundry (oh…HA HA HA HA), dishwasher stuff, basic picking up of stuff like a remote or blanket. I make myself meals, and go out to eat my with my husband. That is really about it. I probably stand too much, but I am working on that.  Most of the time I am sitting on my happy ass tweeting, working on a photobook for my mom, watching DVR’d episoded of Dr. Who..(WHO? It’s The Doctor….), and generally buying shit I probably don’t need, but THIS site and THIS site make me think I do.

I digress.

The the apt. with Dr. $%*&! today was good. I got back quickly (um, within 30 minutes, so that is good in my eyes) and we got an awesome ultrasound. It was a different tech, so she didn’t spend as much time on the ‘cute’ stuff…but oh well. I mean, we have already had more ultrasounds that most people do in ALL off their pregnancies combined- so I shouldn’t complain.

The cervix measured at 2.5cm- 1 cm less that last week, but the good news is that there was minimal funneling with pressure (heavy), and none when the baby moved. This makes me feel better! We got some cute pictures of the face, and saw the baby clear as day- full face. Think that as the first time ever- it is so shy! The baby was opening its mouth WIIIIIDE and then sticking out its tongue. So freaking cute….LOL. ALthough I do believe if I were to walk around doing that people would look at me like I am a lunatic. LOL

Oat’s heart looks awesome, and the blood flow everywhere is perfect. I had no contractions on the monitor.

While was waiting in the room for the doctor, my OB nurse called to tell me that my Nexium rx was turn down by the insurance company. They are refusing to cover it b/c they feel like I didn’t give the OTC (over the counter) medicines long enough to see if they helped. I am furious. To the point I honestly hope they all develop ulcers. Fuckers. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t sleep for two nights in a row and couldn’t even recline the littlest bit b/c I am was is SO MUCH PAIN even after taking pepcid, prilosec and 12 tums in a 24 hour period- four days in a row. It doesn’t matter that I have a history of ulcers. That I had heartburn BEFORE I started this stomach lining erroding medicine called indocin. That I HAVE to take to stop my contractions….so I don’t have a micro preemie baby.

They feel I didn’t SUFFER in pain and agony long enough.

They feel I didn’t stress my baby out too much.

They feel I didn’t put my babies life at risk long enough.

Karma is a bitch people. Whoever denied me- I rest well knowing they will get theirs one day. The universe has a way of dealing with these people- I know I will never know, and I have no clue what jackass sitting behind a desk decided my life isn’t full of enough pain and suffering…but it will come around again.

Sorry, stepping off THAT soapbox also.

SO, I am backing down off on my twice a day indocin b/c the doc doesn’t want me in pain from the heartburn/reflux/etc. He has seen people develop ulcers from this and doesn’t want me to. Lets pray my contractions stay aways.
I am also going to be on pepcid, zegrid and tums. Pretty sure it won’t work since I Have done it before…but oh well.

Also- he said we can go 3 weeks before our next appointment unless I start having any issues!  WOOOO HOOOOOOO!

That is nice and reassuring, but geez. Three weeks with out an ultrasound?I am going to be nervous.

Other than that life is good. Pretty boring otherwise. We got out fancy ass bed and put it in the ‘new’ master bedroom we are moving to. It on the same side of the house as the nursery. This way our guests won’t be right next to the baby, and us on the other side of the house. LOL. The bed is awesome. So comfy..nowI just need a king sized comforter.

We also finally decided on a car! We are getting an Acura MDX, and hopefully it will be ready this week. The furniture should be here this week also, and that is super exciting. We got a Storytime series glider/recliner. I am too exicted about that thing! LOL.  It is slowly coming together….as most things do in my life.

SLoooooooooooooowwwwwlllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

So slowly in fact two of my IRL friends came over and helped me clear out the closets in my ‘new’ master bedroom. LOL. Awesomeness…I wonder if they do laundry……

Labor dreams.

I am in awe over all my friends from Twitter that have accepted my challenge and have sent items to help tornado victims. If you haven’t seen my last post, please check it out. If you are able to spare five bucks, send the church some work gloves. Pick up some coloring books at the dollar store and send them media mail rate. In these circumstances, nothing is too small.

I have talked about my “Fake” friends before and some people may not know where it comes from.  That phrase comes from an IRL friend that said “Fake” friends were”those people that you pretend are you friends that you meet on the internet. They aren’t real friends”

I am sorry that she hasn’t met you guys. During the rough times you all have been here with me….during the good times you have cheered me on. I may not post for a month, but you still are there. Thank  you.

You guys keep me sane…..um..sane-ish. Guess you can’t KEEP me sane if I am already a little crazy. LOL.

SO…HOW are the Bumps going on my Journey so far? It has been two weeks since my cerclage and it has definitely been filled with bumps/lumps and hurdles.

I am slowly healing, but I think where I am now is pretty much how it will be for a while. I move around too much and start having contractions. Painful contractions. I am supposed to be having braxton hicks at this point in my pregnancy (26w4d), and I can tell the difference b/t them and “real” contractions. I notice I start with painless contractions (a tightening feeling of sorts), then my cervix HURTS and I swear I feel the baby get low. This would be b/c my ute is irritable (aka CRANKY UTE) and it makes my cervix open up like a large  mouth bass to the point of my cerclage.

THEN I have pain, and then the ‘real’ contractions start. PAINFUL, and my ute feels like granite. It isn’t fun.

The mornings are the worse by far. Combination of sleeping for several hours and not keeping my bladder empty, and positioning, etc. It takes til around noon to feel okay to move around and do stuff. Then by 1 or 2 I am exhausted b/c I didnt’ sleep well   have to take a nap. I am blessed I am able to be at home. Although, I made the statement on Twitter the other day that SAHM and Housewives deserve to file for temporary disability in situations like this.

I have a hard time doing laundry. The bending into the washer presses my belly on the washer. Bending over to pick up clothes, or get them out of the dryer puts pressure on my belly….pressure on my belly results in my cervix opening up like a frigging LARGE MOUTH BASS….and we all know where this goes. Same goes for loading the dishwasher, making the bed, basically anything. Sigh.

So the whole nighttime crappy sleep thing? I have issues with insomnia ANYWAYS, but it is about to get a lot worse. I had a very vivid dream that I was in labor. I was getting coached to push…My best friend was counting and my husband had his hand on my arm for comfort and encouragement. Nothing was happening no matter how hard I pushed…..and it hurt.so.bad.

Then I kinda woke up.

So apparently I am trying to PUSH my 26 week baby out in MY FREAKING SLEEP.

Needless to say I now have issues falling asleep.

Ugh

Doing Well

Update. I am 3 days post op and doing good. Mom and I have been watching a zillion episodes of Doctor Who on BBC America. My mom LOVES Doctor Who and doesn’t get it where she lives, so this has been PERFECT!!!!

I am having a little pain still, and it hurts to sit up too long.

Had a few contractions this AM when i forgot my pain pills b/c i overslept.

I keep realizing how freaking lucky we are.

We are beyond blessed, and I guess it is hitting me more now that it is over and done with. I suppose I wouldn’t let myself think too much about the gravity of the situation before the surgery. I didn’t Google funneling, and I asked Kingman not to- or at least not tell me all the info if he did. Sometimes knowledge is power…sometimes ignorance is bliss.

I have been googling the last few days, and I am so glad I didn’t before hand…I would have totally freaked.

I am very lucky that we got this ultrasound. I have had no problems up till now, so it was really just a whim that my doc did it b/c I had an IUI. She is the only doctor I have heard of that gets an extra US b/c of IUIs. She told us that day, that she normally doesn’t- but for some reason she felt the need to. I think it was my angel whispering in her ear. I am lucky I was still 24 weeks- this is generally the cut off for cerclages. I was 24 weeks 4days.  Any later and I would probably have been on complete bed rest in the hospital until delievery.

We are lucky that nothing happened when I was on the many plane rides I took recently.

We are lucky nothing happened IN the Bahamas.

We are lucky we got the stomach bug and didn’t feel like having sex. Hell, we are lucky my libido has been nil and we haven’t been overly active.

The baby has always been really really low. Even at 24 weeks, I only really felt it move right behind my pubic bone and a smidge above. The heart tones were always found extremely low. I never felt much any higher. I carried really low, but my uterus could be felt in the right spot above my belly button. I felt like was waddling b/c my legs wouldn’t walk right- perhaps it is b/c the baby was so low? I don’t know, but that makes sense. Currently the baby is testing out new real estate around and above my belly button. (s)He is more active now, and I swear it kicked my stomach earlier. It is almost like feeling it move for the first time!

my brother calls me Gladstone Gander b/c I have pretty awesome luck.

I will trade in all my luck for the rest of my life to let me carry my sweet baby to term.

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Predictions

Seems like everyone I meet has a prediction as to the sex of this toddler I am gestating. (I really think I will give birth to a toddler at the rate I am growing)

I thought that I should start keeping track of the predictions- and WHY exactly they think this way b/c sometimes it is really comical!

Here we go ( and i have forgotten some)

Tell me your predictions and I will add them!!!! Just leave a comment> I know I have had a lot more, but I can’t remember right now. ALSO- don’t forget to click appropriately on the poll to the left!!! Get on a team!

Team Blue

1. My sister- Boys are active. This kiddo was first felt around 16weeks. now at 20 weeks I am feeling REAL kicks.
2. Eye Brow Waxer- She said it is b/c I was carrying low and my hips were getting wider. (GEE THANKS FOR NOTICING)
3. Cleaning Lady-  Boy b/c I am carrying HIGH (?) and I didn’t have morning sickness.
4. Husband’s nurse- Boy, since there are two girls and one boy being born from people at the office.
5. My MIL- ‘intuition’
6. My 10yr old Nephew- “Because boys are more fun”
7. HanwayInk- Boy vibes.
8. SomewhatOrdinary(private blog, no link)- Boy…so many boys and so few girls being born.
9. Sarah (blogger)- Boy….”Just a Hunch”
10. Alison 1 L- 58% sure…..we shall see!!!!

Team Pink

1. Kingman- b/c everyone else is having boys, and the baby was trying to hide it’s face during the ultrasound on 3/24/10
2. My Niece – No reason
3. My Mom- no reason
4. Terrell AKA ‘Doc’ at the Nissan dealership- b/c when he told me to put out my hands straight in front of me, I did with my palms facing out. (?!?)
5. LowFatLady- “Cute Bump. ” I am counting that as a reason!
6. IRL Friend Sarah- “The face just look girlish to me” (BOY- she will eat those words if it comes out a boy!!!! LOL)

We had our ultrasound today, and our tech lets us video tape it….but my fecking camera malfunctioned. Ugh. I only have about 8 seconds two or three times. I am beyond mad. BEYOND MAD! She did burn us a CD of the stills and gave us some print outs. I am going to put them in under the Oat tab above if you want to see them.

***I want to keep those separate b/c I remember being surprised in a post with US pictures and there are days I just didn’t want to see it. Reading was one thing- seeing those grainy photos was another. ***

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Awwww.

Yesterday was our 4th ultrasound, but it was the first one where it actually LOOKED like a baby, and not some random weird growth of a blob.
It is the the first time I ‘felt’ pregnant. I have been FEELING pregnant with some of the symptoms- bloating, tiredness, etc….but seeing a blob on the screen is different than seeing a face, fingers, the individual vertebrea of the human being you are nurturing with your body.

We saw the doctor(Still working on her nickname), and she was able to get the heartbeat the with handheld doppler without a problem. She wasn’t going to get an ultrasound, and I think she really saw the disappointment on our faces. I said that I thought we were going to be getting the NT scan that visit, but that was okay- we understood. I said I was just paranoid b/c I didn’t feel pregnant and told her about buying the home Doppler. She said I couldn’t ‘out parannoy” her b/c when she was pregnant she would do self transvaginal ultrasounds (ON HERSELF) after everyone was gone b/c she was so paranoid. LOL. She she GOT IT. Then she started asking if I have ever had any issues with my cervix, etc. I have had to have some cauterization, but no LEEP or anything like that. The doc was concerned since I did have an IUI- even though it wasn’t needles through the cervix like with IVF, it was still “invasive”…so she wanted to check out the cervix. She said to wait a minute and she would check with the US tech too see about ‘taking a look’.

Turned out the US(ultrasound) tech (Ms. Patience) was in the office next door getting her eye exam b/c she had a while between patients. We TOTALLY didn’t mind waiting on her- so about 45 mintues later she came and got us. OMG- can I say I LOVE HER? Lets go ahead and get that out there now.

The last time I have had to have US was at my OB/GYN in AL and that was diagnostic for my endo. That tech was NOT NICE. During one episode of pain and DUB (dysfunctional uterine bleeding), she did an US on me and had me thinking I was pregnant. I was single and just “having fun”…so I was freaked the FUCK OUT until I saw the doctor. He couldn’t figure out why I was hysterical by the time I made it to him. Okay, maybe not hysterical, but I was already naming the baby by the time I got to him. Turned out my cervix and uterus were bleeding constantly and I had to be cauterized from the inside out. (OWWWIE BTW).  I  also have friends that went to the same doctor and pretty much all of them didn’t like her. She was not happy to see the babies, could care less, and hardly told you a thing. (with the exception of one friend who had one good experience during an ice storm…well as far as I know anyways)

Ms Patience  is awesome. She did the trans vaginal view first, and Oat wasn’t cooperating with a good position to measure stuff. She tried for around 5 minutes, but no such luck. The cool thing is that she let us video tape the US. Many practitioners will not let you- pretty much for liability reasons. She was totally open to it, and encouraging. Towards the end even making sure we got the heartbeat on video. Comical b/c we got the home hand held Doppler b/c I am neurotic and listen to the heartbeat everyday.

Anyhoo- she moved on the the belly ultrasound to try and get a better view…but no such luck on the NT scan part. I didn’t care really- it is not like finding out there was abnormality would change anything about our having this child, but I think knowledge is power. An ounce of preparedness is worth a pound of scrambling at the last minute (Like my twist on the old quote?)
So this super sweet Tech spent the next twelve minutes measuring a good bit and just showing us our sweet little baby. The video of the belly US was 12 minutes. WHO in the world gets around 17 minutes of ULTRASOUND?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Oh- and did I mention that Ms Patience is STEELERS FAN?!?!?!?!?! YAY!

The little kiddo was sitting straight up with it’s little bum sitting right on my cervix. Just chilling. From the profile it looked like he was sucking his thumb.

***DISCLAIMER**** We are not finding out what we are having. If I say Him/his/her/hers it is just b/c it is weird saying “it”. I automatically say him/his b/c it seems like baby boys are the only things being born these days, and I am used to saying his/him in referring to babies in the womb. LOL.

Anyhoo- when we got the frontal face view you could tell the hands were mostly up on either side of his/her head. I said that was b/c he was constantly ready to cover his ears after all the screaming he heard last Sunday at the Steeler v Jets Game. I did some serious screaming that game…as did 66,661 other people in that stadium. LOL. Either that or he is trying to give the universal sign for “TOUCHDOWN!!!!” LOL.

The whole experience was crazy. Just seeing how much Sweet Oat has grown in 4 quick weeks. The ‘crown to rump’ length is 6.09 centimeters (I think), which is just about the height of a dollar bill (the short side obviously).

That is really about all I have to update for now.

Look in my Sweet Oat tab for ultrasound pictures from yesterday.

Swhoosh.

We headed up to the BAU this past weekend to meet with Dr. 5000 and get our ultrasound. It was a good weekend- busy trying to see everyone that we needed to see. As per usual I am sure I ticked people off b/c they think b/c I come up there I need to be sure and go see them. NEVER occurs to some people to come where I AM. Since after driving 4 hours I might be a little damn tired of being in the fucking car.  It gets old. Whatev.

Anyhoo- we got to the appt early. Like a hour early. We had checked out of the hotel we stayed in (wanted to be near BWW so Kingman could drink) at 11am, and went to eat BBQ. It was all so fast, and we got to the clinic at 1230- our appt wasn’t until 130pm. LOL. I had my Nintendo DS, and Kingman had his Droid2, so all was good.

What was cool, is that they called us back at 1250!  Just quick history by the fellow, then blood pressure and all that good stuff. They had me undressed and waiting on the doctor by 1pm. They kept apologizing b/c he was still in a meeting (LOL- meaning he was eating still). So the fellow and the resident started on the ultrasound. It was funny b/c the resident was so timid with the vag-a-sound.  Turning it about 5 degrees either way, and not being able to see anything. LOL. I was about to say “Shove it in farther and ram it around crazy girl!!!” The fellow finally guided her what to do and things started showing up.

One little Sweet Oat. (just one! Phew)

o.m.g. It was crazy. Seeing a little cheerio that is the yolk sac, and the fluid filled gestational sac was just surreal. That was really inside ME. They were able to zoom in and get the heart beat. We could see the two separate chambers, and then…swhooosh, swhoosh, swhoosh of the heartbeat. So insane that in just about four weeks THAT was created. A tiny being that is so dependent on me- yet so much seperate with its own beating heart. Already.

Of course I started crying, and laughing…and shot all the pictures to hell and back b/c it is kinda hard to ultrasound a jiggling pelvis. It was crazy to laugh and SEE the little blob move. We got a few printed out pictures, that almost got crushed b/c Kingman was holding onto them so hard. He is so excited. I asked him if he felt any detachment b/c it wasn’t his sperm that created his child- and he said no. He said he had a fleeting second a little bit after the initial seeing/hearing it, but it was also relief. He said he realizes he would be MORE worried that something would be wrong with the baby if it was from him. His health issues have not been disproven to have a genetic link, so we would be terrified he would pass that through his genes. I am so glad to hear that, I was so worried what it would be like when the moment happened.

All of us girls with Azoo know this feeling. They say they are ready, but are they really? Are they just saying go ahead with this cycle to make us happy? Will the pull away and not have an attachment? I obviously can’t speak for all men-but it was totally all OURS. It is OUR baby. This is OUR pregnancy. This little Sweet Oat is going to be Kingman’s Prince or Princess. No further question in either of our hearts.

SO, if you are an Azoo girl, and you are reading this (or an Azoo guy)- it really doesn’t matter. Okay, it does, but it DOESN’T. It is hard to explain. Sigh.

Anyhoo- the doctor said that everything looked “Perfect”. See? I ALREADY have a perfect child. *ahem* I measured exactly 6w0d, which is right on target with my LMP and IUI. So my tentative due date is 8/8/10.  I am going to be making FULL use out of my pool this next summer. LOL.

I am going to add a tab up at the top to keep the ultrasounds and other various pictures on- so if you want to see them you. I don’t want to alienate my girls that are still in the journey. I know it is hard to see those grainy black and whites- even if it is a fellow IFer. Feelings don’t stop just because it a comrade that has gotten on the pregnancy train.

I love you all, and want you all to experience this. If I could delay my pregnancy just one month to insure you all had BFPs I totally would. In my joy, I feel sorrow for pain I know is out there. I pray for you all every time I think about you guys.

<3

Blimp…(tmi)

You are warned….tmi

I am a blimp. A huge gas filled blimp. In the course of about three weeks my stomach has tripled in size. My little sweet Oat(s) may be the size of a grain of rice…but HOLY SHITE the havoc that is being reeked on my GI tract is unheard of.

I can’t wear most of my jeans- from The Bloat.

I look about 14 weeks already- from  The Bloat.

My husband gets grossed out a regular intervals, but doesn’t say a WORD (God bless him)- from The Bloat.

WTF is going on with me? oh, yeah, I am pregnant. wha- tha? OMG I AM PREGNANT. No way. Really? They got the blood tests wrong. No, wait- they got them right, but I am pretty sure I farted my baby out

BECAUSE OF THE FUCKING BLOAT!

On another note (ppppffffttt)…uh, sorry. THE BLOAT is even reaching through the computer to YOU!!! Mwaaaa-ha-ha-ha.

I have been insanely tired. I don’t know if it is the pregnancy…wha-I am WHAT? PREGNANT? REALLY?! No way. REALLY? OMG.

oh-sorry, that is how my mind works. Or doesn’t work lately. Whatever…I am kinda like that normally, but THE BLOAT is killing me.

ooooohhhhh…something shiny…….

 

 

 

 

 

oh, yeah. My beta #2 was called in Monday at 1110am. I knew they would call, and she was apologitic about it. She said she thought I knew. I understand. It was Friday. Whatever.

It was 868 on 18dpt! Sweet Oat has a rockin’ placenta…or I have a Pheasant Chasing that Oat.