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Monday, November 24, 2008

Not much to write about!

I'm finding that I don't really have a weekly update for this blog like I did for my weightloss blog! I don't have much new to tell....

I will report that even though I know it's okay to be be gaining weight now, it's hard to see the number going up after praying for it to go down for a year! I'm 8 weeks along and I've gained 2.4 pounds since I found out I was pregnant 4 weeks ago. I'm not upset with that but I'm really trying to stay between 3-5 pounds during the first 13 weeks. I've read that that's an average amound of gain so that's my target. I'll admit that I haven't ate as healthy as I could be. =(

Other than feeling tired all the time and like my boobs have been beaten with a meat tenderizer...I'm doing well. The nausea that I had been experiencing for a week was related to the prenatal vitamins. I started taking them before bed and since then I haven't felt sick during the day. I still get the stabbing pains in my abdomen from the cyst but I'm getting used to them.

We're going back to my parents' home for Thanksgiving. We'll leave here around 1 or 1:30 on Wednesday and will be there in time for dinner....er, supper as my mom calls it. I've requested she make meatloaf and scalloped potatoes that night. Mmmm....comfort food!

She told me she made a blueberry pie (my favorite and I request it every year) and I can have "a small slice" of it. What?! I asked why a small slice and not a regular slice and she said she didn't want me to blow my progress on one meal. You see, she thinks I'm still doing WW....she doesn't know I'm knocked up. ; ) lol....

My MIL also asks my hubs each week how my weigh-in went. He tells her I either maintained or had a small gain....so really, he's being honest. ; )

We've decided to give bottles of wine to his parents and sister at Christmas as a way of telling them the news. I've designed a label that we're going to stick on the bottle. It has a cartoon-like picture of a stork with the words "Special Delivery" at the top and underneath the picture it says "Carefully Aged 40 Weeks" and then beneath that it says "Ready to Enjoy on July 5, 2009." Once we have it stuck to the bottles I'll take a picture and post it.

I've decided, and the hubs has reluctantly agreed, that spare bedroom #1 will be turned into the nursery. This is the room we just repainted last New Year's Day. It will require another change of color eventually. The bedding set from that room will be moved to spare bedroom #2...which will also require painting. Okay, okay....technically we wouldn't have to since the walls are a neutral light beige, but I want it to be green like the other room is now. It's a light shade, very pretty. I think it was called seagrass or something like that. We still have some left so I can get another gallon no problem.

The nursery will be painted a medium shade of brown as the plan as of now is to decorate in either pink/brown or blue/brown. I'd love to do brown on the bottom, like up to the window, and then either light pink or light blue the rest of the way up....but the hubs reminded me that we aren't exactly DIYers. lol... I have two cousins in town who are good at DIY jobs though so maybe I'll recruit one of them. =)

Okay, that's all for now. I hope you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. Don't pass out from too much turkey. ; )

Thursday, November 13, 2008

We have daycare!

I wanted to get daycare out of the way since places fill up fast. So many of the providers I called either knew they'd have no openings when we needed it in October (I'm taking 12 weeks off from work after the baby arrives in July) or wouldn't know till next summer. I didn't want to put it off till then.

I ended up finding a licensed in-home daycare in our area...a 5-minute drive away...who would have a vacancy when we need it. She told me over the phone that she's been licensed for 15 years (with no negative reports...I checked), she has 3 kids of her own (ages 18, 6, 20 months), and she has a part-time assistant who has 7 grown kids and 6 grandkids!

We interviewed her Monday night and I visited on Tuesday when the kids were there. I also talked to two moms whose kids go there, and my husband talked to one of the dads (via email...turns out they work for the same company). They all gave her glowing reviews and are very happy with the care she provides and all said they would recommend her to their friends and family. We went over last night and paid a retainer fee (equal to two weeks of care) so she will keep the spot, which becomes vacant in August, open for us.

She operates the daycare out of her basement (a walk-out) and it was very clean and organized. There were posters with baby sign language, the alphabet, colors, shapes, numbers and also a poster with all of the kids' birthdays on it. Lots of toys and books but they were all put away on shelves and toyboxes. No clutter at all. The yard was large and had lots of play stuff, too.

The infants (18 months and younger) sleep in portable cribs in a separate room; the older kids nap in the main room on mats. Also, the infants are only in the other room while they are sleeping or getting diaper changes; otherwise they are in the main room with the other kids in bouncers, swings, etc. so they aren't just lying in a bed all day long and secluded.

She teaches a preschool program to the older kids (ages 3-5) which includes sign language. The younger kids also learn stuff since they're in there, too.

She also particpates in the USDA food program so other than breastmilk, we don't have to supply any other food which will be nice. I won't have to pack containers of baby food, snacks, etc. each day.

When I visited they were just getting ready for lunch (ravioli, green beans, applesauce and milk) and her assistant was leading the 5 older kids in prayer at a little table. The younger ones were in little chairs with trays attached on the floor and she and the assistant fed them. After lunch, the younger ones (4 total) walked into their room to take a nap. Very orderly and no fussing at all. She fed the baby and then took him in as well. I was very impressed with how organized and scheduled everything was.

The kids at the daycare were all nicely dressed and well-groomed...none of them looked "ghetto" if you know what I mean. lol....

I'm happy with our decision and glad it's out of the way. One less thing to worry about!

Here's a picture of her house:


Saturday, November 8, 2008

Opinions Please

As I've said before, we've decided to tell our families at Christmas but here's my problem...we alternate whose family we spend the major holidays with and this year we'll be with my husband's family. We could make an extra trip to my hometown the weekend before, but given that it's a 4-hour drive one way and could be bad weather....we aren't really wanting to do that.

I have an idea and would just like your thoughts. I could call the florist back home and ask if they could deliver a floral arrangement on Christmas Eve to my parents for the centerpiece for dinner. Since the baby is going to arrive around the 4th of July, I thought it could be sort of a patriotic theme with red, white and blue flowers and maybe a small American flag. I found a few ideas online....what do you think?










On the card we could say something like, "I'm looking forward to meeting you around July 5! Love, Baby L."

Granted, I wouldn't be able to see their reaction...which I know will be complete shock...but I know they'll call as soon as they read it. I don't think my mom will be upset that I didn't tell them in person. On the other hand, I don't want to make her mad or hurt her feelings, you know? So do you think it's an okay idea or should we go home??

On a side note, I'm hoping that I don't go too much earlier than my due date because I found out today that my parents will be gone June 21-28 to Niagara Falls! But I also don't want to be much later than the 5th because they have plans to go 'tanking' down the Calamus River with my dad's 3 siblings and their families. I was looking forward to going, too, but it's July 10-12, so my husband and I obviously won't be going now!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Lab Results

Just an update...my doctor's office called and said my progesterone levels are nice and high so no more blood draws or need for further treatment. =)

Thursday, November 6, 2008

First Ultrasound

I had to go in for an ultrasound today because the doctor was concerned about the stabbing-like pain I've been having on the left side of my abdomen. It turns out I have a cyst on my left ovary but it's nothing to worry about.

Apparently when the egg was released from my left ovary, it left a cavity which sealed over and filled with fluid. The cyst is producing the progesterone for the baby until the placenta takes over. They aren't all that uncommon and 99% of them dissolve on their own by the 13th week. Until then, I'll experience the sharp jabbing pains where the cyst is on that side. As the ultrasound tech said, "the pain can stop you in your tracks" which is a very good description because it literally has. So the next 7 weeks or so won't be the most comfortable, but at least I know nothing is wrong. Most importantly, the baby is developing in the uterus where it should.

I did have to get my blood drawn to check my body's progesterone levels to make sure they'll be high enough to sustain the pregnancy once the cyst dissolves and the placenta takes over. The results will be back tomorrow. If they're too low I'll be put on progesterone.

The yolk sac is a good size and the amount of fluid is good, too. Everything looks normal. =) She measured the baby at 2 mm or 1/12" .... TINY! It's measuring at 5 weeks 3 days and according to my last period, I'm 5 weeks 5 days so they're very close. She said usually they're doing good to be within a week of eachother and mine are only 2 days apart. See, it pays to be OCD! Each month I would circle the date my period started on my calendar so I knew the exact date. lol...

Before we started she told me not to be concerned if we couldn't see the heartbeat since I'm less than 6 weeks, but guess what? WE DID! And it was thumping nice and strong...and fast!

She sent me home with 3 photos. I tried scanning them but they didn't turn out good enough to post. So you'll just have to take my word for it....he/she is absolutely gorgeous. lol... ; )

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Five Weeks, Four Days

I met with a nurse/pregnancy educator at my new OB 's office today. Her name is Bonnie and she was really nice...though loud! We were in a very small room but she was talking loud enough for a lecture hall! lol...

My new due date is July 5. The July 1 date came from a web site that used my LMP (last menstrual period) and the number of days in my menstrual cycle. When the doctor's office calculated the due date, they don't figure in your normal cycle (mine is only 23 days), so that's why the date is a few days later. But either way, we can expect him (or her) the first week of July.

I received lots of information and free stuff...even a "dad approved" diaper bag. It's black with tan trim. I'm excited to get home so I can go through everything because I haven't had a chance to yet.

She asked me how things have been going and if I'm experiencing any cramping, which is normal. I haven't had cramps really for a few days, but I get a stabbing sensation on the left side of my abdomen so I mentioned that to her. I haven't felt it since Monday, but up until then I'd had it nearly every day I think and a couple of times a day. She was concerned about that so the next time it happens I have to call the office and report it. More than likely I'll have to go in and get an ultrasound done to make sure nothing is wrong. I just thought it was "round ligament pain," which I've read a lot about or just growing pains from my uterus getting larger. So now I'm a little worried and hope that it doesn't happen again.

I'm starting to have a few food issues...no more turkey sandwiches for me. The smell of it about made me gag yesterday and after one bite, I couldn't do it. My yogurt later in the afternoon was hard to choke down, too. So far I haven't vomitted and I hope I don't!

That's all for now...