23 Weeks: Have Yourself A Merry LITTLE Christmas!

Yay! It's Christmas/Birthday time! Got lots of baby loot and stuff for the new house (if we ever decide on one..) this year. It was quite difficult telling people what I wanted for Christmas/ my birthday this year since I normally ask for clothes/purses etc.. and well I don't fit into my regular clothes and am not planning on being in these whale clothes for much longer.. and all of my wonderful purses will be replaced by my super snazzy JJ Cole diaper bag (one of my many Christmas gifts from my parents.. Thanks Mama & Daddy). 

Christmas festivities went very well this year.. Adam & I used our Christmas card to announce the pregnancy to our extended family so Christmas was the first time we got to see them since the big announcement. There were lots of hugs & congratulations being exchanged. All in all, I would call it a successful holiday. Is it sad that I'm already so excited for Christmas next year & being able to spend it with our new Lil Man! Pretty sure I'm going to start Christmas shopping for him like... now. =)

A huge thank you to Stephanie Vandenburg from Everburg Photography for the AMAZING christmas cards that she made us! We will definitely be using her services again!  

https://www.etsy.com/shop/EverburgPhotography

Celebrating your birthday while pregnant is a totally different ball game than celebrating when you're without child. However, after a huge shopping debacle/disaster I did manage to squeeze my pregnant self into these fabulous metallic leathery leggings.complimented by a sheer black top and some flashy jewelry I didn't even feel too big that night. Instead of hitting the bars and dancing all night long, I decided to spend the day with close friends & Adam. We had dinner and played games at Dave & Busters and won a bunch of ridiculous children's crap that will fill the shelves of Lil Man's room. Again, all in all, a very good night. 

 My best friends in the whole world.

 Probably the best part of dinner was this chocolate fondue.. Ugh.. Literally died.

With this new year quickly approaching I am realizing how fast this is all going. It feels like just yesterday I was still super skinny & just finding out I was pregnant... Very excited to see what this new year has to bring for us. 

How far along: 23w 6d

Total weight loss/gain: 10 lbs gained

Measurements: 40" 40 1/2" 40" 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Good

Best Moment: Christmas & my birthday! 

Worst Moment: Not being able to have any wine hasn't been any fun at all. 

Miss anything: Wine, wine and more wine
Movement: I feel like he's teaching a karate class in there. 

Cravings: Lots and lots of fruit

Anything making you queasy: Meat

Showing: yep yep yep

Labor signs: Nope,

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Another ultrasound at 24 weeks to check if the placenta has moved at all & starting this new year that I'm sure will certainly bring many wonderful things 

22 weeks

How far along: 22w 6d

Total weight loss/gain: 10 lbs gained

Measurements: 40" 40" 40" (Well isn't that special...Psh..)

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Not too bad..

Best Moment: Getting ready for Christmas, and Dr says things are going well. 

Worst Moment: Finding out at the Dr that I've gained 10 lbs thus far.. & I am certainly feeling every pound. He told me to watch the sweets over the holidays since the jerk scheduled me for my Glucose Test 2 weeks after! 

Miss anything: Not feeling like a whale.
Movement: Lil Man is getting stronger and stronger each day

Cravings: Milano Double Chocolate Cookies & Milk still, and any and all fruit

Anything making you queasy: Meat

Showing: Oh ya.. Supposedly Lil man is supposed to weigh 1 lb now.. I'm thinking he's way more than that.

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Another ultrasound at 24 weeks to check if the placenta has moved at all. 

21 Weeks: Finally up to date with my posts!

Finally up to date with my posts people! I've been so behind posting weekly pictures due to school and work and such, but I am finally up to date & am going to try my hardest to stay on track! 

How far along: 21w 6d

Total weight loss/gain: 8 lbs gained

Measurements: 39 1/2" 40" 40" 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Not too bad..

Best Moment: Getting Christmas shopping done (for the most part) I know I'm a major procrastinator.. & Finishing up finals! Ready for Graduation for Bachelors degree #2!

Worst Moment: Had another "episode" while in Charming Charlie this week.. ugh If anyone knows what these could be from.. feel free to let me know. I also kind of feel a cold coming on.. Praying to God that it's just a false alarm though.

Miss anything: Regular coffee.. need something to keep me warm but I feel like the decaf stuff is giving me headaches
Movement: Oh yes.. Our Lil Ninja delivers quite the punch. 

Cravings: Milano Double Chocolate Cookies & Milk.. No I am not currently eating them... (yes I am.) 

Anything making you queasy: Meat

Showing: Oh ya.. Beginning to wonder if there are twins.. perhaps triplets in there that are hiding from the ultrasound.. I can only imagine the large beached whale that I'll look like once I actually reach the end of this pregnancy.  

Labor signs: Nope, just the Braxton Hicks

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Another ultrasound at 24 weeks to check if the placenta has moved at all, My best friend Jaclyn is coming back home for a few weeks on Thursday & celebrating my other best friend Zibba's birthday on Friday. Oh, and of course Christmas, my birthday, and New Years the following weeks. How I love love love this time of year! (now I actually have an excuse to max out on all the holiday sweets that I want.. muahaha) 

20 Weeks

So they say when it rains it pours.. Well, I can attest to that. We went to our 20 week ultrasound this week, and while Lil Man is doing absolutely fabulous and growing like crazy, I was told I have Placenta Previa. As if all the complications I'm facing with my uterine septum weren't enough.. now we have this to worry about. The OB had to come in after the ultrasound tech was finished and take some more pictures and talk to us about what this new diagnosis meant. She told us we have to come back in 3-4 weeks to do another ultrasound to see if the placenta has moved.. however, she didn't seem too optimistic about it. So, if it hasn't moved then we'll have to schedule a C-section at 36-37 weeks to ensure that I don't go into labor. Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't experience any bleeding before than because I was also told that if that happens then I'll have to go straight to the hospital and possibly be admitted and probably be put on bed rest. Was told to continue the no lifting/pushing/pulling order, more now than ever.. Trying to stay positive and take it easy until our next ultrasound at 24 weeks and go from there.. Easier said than done. 

On a better note, my boss was able to find me a position down in dispatch, so I'm back to work next week! Working ~3 days a week, 12 hour shifts sitting at a desk answering phones and telling my ambulances where to go from here on out! Only problem... headquarters is a good 45 min-1 hr drive from my house... Bah... REALLY going to need a new car ASAP unless I want to spend my whole check at the gas pump. Damn you 12 mpg Jeep. 

How far along: 20w 6d

Total weight loss/gain: 7 lbs gained

Measurements: 39 1/2" 38 1/2" 40" 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Getting a little better

Best Moment: Seeing Lil Man on the ultrasound again this week, growing nice & big!

Worst Moment: Finding out that I have Placenta Previa & that Lil Man is still breech

Miss anything: Hotdogs
Movement: Yep.. Lil Man is quite the ninja, being breech and all, his little fists deliver quite the punch in my side

Cravings: Jello 

Anything making you queasy: Meat

Showing: Oh ya..   

Labor signs: Nope, just the Braxton Hicks

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Another ultrasound at 24 weeks to check if the placenta has moved at all

Our 20 week ultrasound picture of Lil Man

Hand up by the head, like always, pondering life's dilemmas 

Little nose & nostrils 

Creepy skeleton looking face...

Definitely still a boy! 

Mr. Big Foot! 

19 Weeks ~ Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was very yummy this year! Could only eat a little bit of turkey because I'm still not feeling meat too much, but I loaded up on cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, and rolls with cinnamon butter (best thing ever!). After dinner my sister, nephews, mom & I went shopping to get these TVs that were on super sale for "Brown Thursday". Needless to say, I will NEVER be doing that again. Great deals, got some great stuff, but holy cannoli people are NUTZO! Legit fights broke out, people got taken away on stretchers and in cop cars, and the lines were OUTRAGEOUS for checkout. Kind of sad that people are going out on THANKSGIVING, shopping for CHRISTMAS gifts.. and act like complete selfish, crazy, people with no morals. Consider me dumbfounded. On my score list this weekend: a new comforter, new bed sheet sets, crock pot, stand mixer, Bluray Wi-Fi DVD player, a winter coat that might fit my growing belly throughout the winter, a few toys and outfits for Lil Man, a Wi-Fi printer, Philosophy perfume and some Ulta gift sets. I'm sure there's more that I'm forgetting. 

While Thanksgiving went well, I have been having these bizarre "episodes" of feeling really dizzy all of a sudden followed by tingly fingers, getting super hot and feeling like I'm going to puke and pass out at the same time. I've found that if I sit down on a cold surface (my bathroom, bathroom at BabiesRUs..def sanitized and showered after that one, and a bench at Target) the feeling goes away after about five minutes.. Not exactly sure what's going on, and not exactly liking it, but hoping that it goes away soon. 

How far along: 19w 6d

Total weight loss/gain: 6 lbs gained

Measurements: 39 1/2" 38 1/2" 40" 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: barely

Best Moment: Feeling Lil Man kick/punch when I lay down to go to "sleep"

Worst Moment: Sitting around not working.. Going stir crazy. 

Miss anything: Sleep & Wine
Movement: Yep.. Lil Man likes to either kick/punch for a few minutes when I try and lay down to go to sleep otherwise it just feels like he's doing jumping jacks on my pelvic bone 

Cravings: Jello 

Anything making you queasy: Meat

Showing: Oh ya..   

Labor signs: Nope, just the Braxton Hicks

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Our 20 week ultrasound next week & decorating for the holidays

18 Weeks

Sooo.. The back pain is still lingering, so are the Braxton Hicks. Hasn't been a very fun week. Still waiting to hear from my boss so I'm going a little nutzo sitting at home. On a good note.. Feeling more and more movement, typically really late at night when I'm trying to fall asleep. Oh ya.. Sleep.. HA! I am seriously suffering from insomnia. Not sure if it's from the back pain, the little gymnast in my belly, or all of the thoughts running through my head but I could really use a night where I don't sit up for 3+ hours staring at the ceiling. Really looking forward to Black Friday shopping for Lil Man next week.. ToysRUs is having some pretty awesome sales! I guess you know you're a mom when shopping for your nugget is more exciting than shopping for yourself. 

How far along: 18w 6d

Total weight loss/gain: 5 lbs gained

Measurements: 38 1/2" 38 1/2" 39" 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: What's that?

Best Moment: Feeling Lil Man roll around in there 

Worst Moment: Sitting around not working.. Going stir crazy

Miss anything: Sleep, not feeling like crap, and being able to take meds for my pain

Movement: Yep.. totally skipped that "butterfly" feeling and went straight to him doing back flips 

Cravings: Jello 

Anything making you queasy: Tried eating a steak the other day & it totally made me want to vomit 

Showing: I'd say.  

Labor signs: Nope, just the Braxton Hicks

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Black Friday baby deals & spending time with family for the holiday. 

17 Weeks :: Baby H is a BOY!

Well, This week has been interesting to say that least. My back pain escalated from just dull everyday pain to full out back spasms over the weekend. I ended up going to the ER to make sure that everything with Baby H was OK, given my issues with preterm labor. I had also been feeling tightness in my belly, a few times a day. Nothing painful, but strong enough to where I noticed it and made me kind of uncomfortable. Fearing that super baby was in danger, I sucked up my pride and put the muzzle on my medical professional inner ego telling me to wait it out & went to the ER. The nurses were able to find his heart beat right away, strong and steady, but the doctor wanted to do an ultrasound to make sure there were no signs of labor. I'll never pass up an opportunity to see my little nugget so I agreed. We were told that Baby H is doing well, that he is for sure a bouncing baby boy and that he's currently breech.... Awesome. Little snot better turn around before he makes his appearance so this Mama doesn't need to have a C-section! However, the doctor said no more ambulance work for me for the week due to my back pain and the apparent Braxton Hick contractions that I'm having. We were told to follow up later in the week with our OB and they would have the final say if I could go back to work or not. 

The back pain persisted and we went to our OB appointment at the end of the week. He checked out my belly & found the heart beat in a totally different spot than at the hospital, so I'm hoping that means Lil Man shifted & is no longer breech. We told him about our hospital visit; the back pain and the Braxton Hick contractions and he agreed that me getting off the ambulance is the best move, and that he was planning on taking me off in a few weeks anyways, but now that I'm experiencing this severe back pain and these super early Braxton Hicks that it's best if I slow down now if I want to stay off bed rest later. Yikes. So, for the sake of my sanity and my extreme desire to stay off bed rest, I decided I would follow orders & tell my bosses that I will no longer be able to work on the ambulance. I'm currently waiting to hear back from them regarding a desk job position with the company, hoping that happens soon so I don't go stir crazy sitting at home. 

How far along: 17w 5d

Total weight loss/gain: 4 lbs gained

Measurements: 38" 37 1/2" 38" 

Stretch marks: Nope.. thanks to my Mustela stetch mark cream

Sleep: Friggen sucks.. this back pain is horrific

Best Moment: Finding out that Baby H is officially a baby BOY! One good thing that came out of having to go to the hospital at least.. got to see Lil Man on ultrasound again. 

Worst Moment:The back pain & having to take a trip to the hospital

Miss anything: Feeling like someone isn't twisting my spine.. 

Movement: Starting to feel like he's doing summersaults in there 

Cravings: Jello 

Anything making you queasy: Nope

Showing: I suppose I am actually looking kinda pregnant now.  

Labor signs: Nope, Just the Braxton Hicks 

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Feeling more distinguishable movement & having Adam be able to feel it

16 Weeks.. Where did this belly come from?!

Soo I'm 16 weeks now.. & I feel like I woke up this morning and my belly just blew up. Pretty sure it doubled in size from last week. If I keep growing at this rate gravity is going to take a toll on me & I'm pretty sure I'm just going to fall forward sooner or later.

Other news: Adam finally sealed the deal on a new car & got a pretty (family friendly) Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited (much better than the death trap of a Chevy Camero he was previously driving) & we may have found a possible house! Although, it is completely gutted so it is a huge project.. but we would be able to build it back up the way we wanted to.. basically the next best thing to building a house from scratch I guess. My inner interior designer ego is doing backflips at all of the possibilities! More to come on the house front as things do or do not progress.

How far along: 16w 5d

Total weight loss/gain: 4 lbs gained

Measurements: 36 1/2" 35 1/2" 37 1/2" 

Stretch marks: Nope.. thanks to my Mustela stetch mark cream

Sleep: Meh.. could be better

Best Moment: No more nausea.. ALMOST done with my registry.. who knew that picking a stroller/car seat combo would be harder than taking my MCAT. 

Miss anything: sub sandwhiches and actually getting a good nights rest

Movement: Not yet, patiently waiting

Cravings: Baked potatoes 

Anything making you queasy: Nope

Showing: Looking more and more chubby 

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Feeling movement.. C'mon baby kick those long legs! 

15 Weeks // Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween all you little goblins & ghosts!! 

Yay!! Upgraded chalkboard is finally finished!! 

How far along: 15w 4d

Total weight loss/gain: 2 lbs gained

Measurements: 36" 34 1/2" 37" 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Not too bad

Best Moment: Nausea is only in the morning now, finally living up to its name

Miss anything: White Chocolate Latte from Starbucks.. dammit caffeine. 

Movement: Not yet

Cravings: Jelly donuts, fruit, anything fruity really...  

Anything making you queasy: Nope

Showing: Bump is actually getting a little bigger

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button in/out: In.. Belly button ring out. 

Things you're looking forward to: Getting my registry together before the madness of the holidays begins, and getting to see our little nugget again at our next ultrasound

Halloween Throughout The Years 

14 Weeks

Upgraded chalkboard is in the making! Will be ready for next week!

How far along: 14w 3d

Total weight loss/gain: 0 lbs lost/gain, all-day-sickness is still lurking around.

Measurements: 36" 33 1/2" 36 1/2" 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: So-So.. 

Best Moment: Nausea and having to eat every 2 hours is finally starting to wear off.. only have to eat every 4-5 hours now. (I'm sure my partner's waisline is thankful) 

Miss anything: hot dogs, sub sandwhiches, and sleeping on my tummy

Movement: Not yet

Cravings: Jelly donuts (I hated jelly donuts before getting preggo FYI)

Anything making you queasy: Not really

Showing: A little bump.. just kinda looking chubby right about now

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Feeling movement & upgrading my chalkboard!  

A Night Out Downtown For A Friends Birthday 

13 Weeks

We made it through the first trimester without a glitch! Adam was shocked, but then was all aboard the baby express within no time, book marking pages on his iPad for articles on things I should/shouldn't eat and should/shouldn't do.. (basically if it were up to him I would live on lentils, flaxseed and water... and "burnt to shit meat".. don't think I'm going to be following any of those rules any time soon.) Parents & grandparents were told. Some were super excited at first, while others will take some time to adjust to the new life plans that we have. All in all, Adam & I are thrilled that we made it to the second trimester, but still want to wait a while before we tell people that aren't absolutely necessary.. due to the fact that we still have that preterm labor cloud hovering over our heads.

We went for our first trimester screening this week... but our not so little nugget measured too big to perform the tests! I was supposed to be 13w2d, but nugget was measuring to be 14w4d! over 1/2 in longer than expected! Holy COW! We were also told the sex of the baby.. but have to wait until at least 18 weeks to have it be "definitive". (Sorry.. keeping it a secret until then!) I really need to upgrade this chalkboard.. this tiny one just isn't cutting it.

How far along: 13w 3d

Total weight loss/gain: 6 lbs lost.. ugh morning all day sickness is killing me.. Boobs have certainly grown though! 

Measurements: 36" 33" 36" 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: So-So.. working 24 hr shifts on the ambulance isn't helping

Best Moment: finding out the gender & seeing little nugget move on the ultrasound

Miss anything: A tall glass of Moscato & sleeping on my tummy

Movement: Not yet, but seen it on the ultrasound

Cravings: Pizza & baked potatoes 

Anything making you queasy: Nothing in particular.. have to eat every 2-3 hours to keep the nausea at bay.. pretty sure my partner is going to gain sympathy wait with me if we keep eating like this while on duty.

Showing: A little bump.. looks more like I ate too much chocolate cake while on my period

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Feeling some movement & getting rid of this nausea! 

Our Little Nugget @ 13w2d

Clearly didn't inherit my shorty legs... 

Our Little Surprise!

After finally getting my mind off of the horrible news I had gotten over the summer, I was doing well. I had started school again, finishing up my last semester in the post-baccalaureate program, and had started my new job as an EMT on an ambulance. They say things happen when you least expect them.. and I am living proof of that! At the beginning of September we found out that we would be expecting our first little one in April 2014. I'm half convinced that I'm carrying Super Baby in here & that he will come out wearing a cape.. as he had to overcome multiple forms of BC, and my hostile uterus.. I'm a firm believer that the most unexpected of blessings are the best ones.

Our little nugget... 7 1/2 weeks

Let the chalkboard madness begin!

How far along: 7w 5d

Total weight loss/gain: 2 lbs lost.. nausea has been horrible

Measurements: 34" 31" 36" 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Not too bad

Best Moment: Finding out about our little nugget!

Miss anything: Suddenly I want to eat all of the hot dogs in the world.. because I can't have them.

Movement: Nope

Cravings: None yet.. nausea has been too bad. 

Anything making you queasy: Everything

Showing: Nope.. just a little bloated

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button in/out: In

Things you're looking forward to: Getting rid of this nausea & getting through the first trimester

Weekend before we found out about Baby H 

Prologue

Adam & I had always planned on getting married, me finishing medical school, him establishing a career and then starting a family. Needless to say it was quite a blow when we found out at the beginning of the summer that I had a congenital uterine anomaly that left me with extremely high odds of having difficulties getting pregnant, and staying pregnant for that matter. At the end of June, after suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting for days, I finally decided to go to the GYN. They did a whole battery of tests, and ended up doing an ultrasound to check if maybe an ovarian cyst was the cause of my symptoms. They did indeed find a cyst, but they also informed me that I had a uterine septum. This didn't sound like a very good thing to me, so I had a bunch of questions for the doctor right away. She explained that I was born with a septum, basically a wall of tissue, dividing my uterus, essentially making it heart shaped instead of pear shaped. She told me that it wasn't a problem right then because we weren't planning on having children yet, but when we did decide to try and conceive we would probably run into some issues and would have to seek the assistance of a specialist. I left the office devastated, and immediately starting looking up the diagnosis online (I know.. as a medical professional I really should know to stay off the internet.. but I couldn't help it.) I decided that instead of reading forums and horror stories online that I was going to be proactive and find a specialist right then and there, get professional advice, and start building a relationship with a doctor that we would hopefully keep until we decided to have children. I found an amazing doctor, and was able to set up an appointment with her mid-August. She was so helpful and informative. She clearly explained my diagnosis, and told me all of the odds that were against me. She told me that there was about an 80% chance of having a miscarriage every time I conceived, since there was a high probability that the embryo would implant on the septum, and would not be provided with the appropriate nutrients to survive. If I beat those odds, and the embryo implanted elsewhere in my hostile uterus, I would have an 80% chance of going into preterm labor because due to the septum, my uterus wouldn't be able to stretch like it would need to and the baby would be born early. As if those statistics weren't bad enough.. I had a 90% chance of having to have a C-section, due to the septum preventing the baby from turning into a head-down position therefore, leaving the baby in the breech position. She informed me of a surgery that was an option to remove the septum, but explained how that came with its own set of risks of course, many of which were the same as if I just left it in. I felt so much more informed after meeting with her. Even though everything she said left me horrified, I was happy to have the right information. It didn't make things much easier though, since being a mother was the only thing in the world besides being a doctor that I wanted to do in life. I always said I wanted a whole litter of kids running around, and I wanted to have them all naturally with no epidural. Needless to say this diagnosis basically looked at my life plans and laughed in my face.. Adam was very supportive and helped me through a lot of the emotions I was feeling. With August coming to a close, school starting up again and me starting my new job, I decided that my hostile uterus had to take the back burner and that I would deal with it when the time came. But you know what they say.. once you stop wishing for something is when you typically get it..

Our Story..

Adam & I went to high school together. While we were great friends, we never dated in high school, which was probably the best thing we could've done. We started dating a few months after graduation, both moving to the city to go to college, and starting our "grown-up" lives together. Through the years we have become closer than ever. We've had plenty of ups & downs, adopted our first dog, Beef, who we had to put to sleep due to cancer only 18 short months after we brought him home, found our cat, Duncan, in a window well and took her in, and adopted our second pooch, Boone. We have been quite busy over the years, with me being a full-time student, finishing my second bachelors degree through a post-baccalaureate program and applying to medical school this year and Adam working at his family businesses that he will soon be taking over. We spend our free time watching Netflix, Blackhawks Hockey and football, playing outside with Boone, working on Adam's beloved salt water fish tank, going hunting (well..Adam hunts.. I sit there trying to be quiet..but miserably failing), and fishing (again, Adam & my dad go fishing.. I lay on the boat and work on my tan while occasionally complaining about how I have to pee.) Adam's family owns property in northern WI so we enjoy riding the ATVs and dirt bikes and taking the paddle boat out on the lake during the warmer months, and putting miles upon miles on the snowmobiles during the winter. While we have plenty of history together, the best is yet to come as we recently found out that we are expecting our first little one in April 2014! I have high hopes of documenting our journey into becoming new parents in the coming months with the help of my awesome chalkboard, beloved camera, and my new blog =)