Awesome News!!!

Over at Lisa's! Head on over and check it out!!!

YAY!!! I am so excited!! Pin It

Well... ****Updated - With Pics!!*****

Today I am 12 weeks. I had the NT Scan over lunch today, and I promise to add lots of pics later! It was great seeing the little meatball twist and turn, and kick and stretch. I wish this was the u/s that we find out which team s/he's playing for, but no such luck! Our tech did say she had a guess, but I"m keeping that to myself! I will spill her prediction after the poll is down. Maybe even on the day of our BIG u/s, just so we can all see if she was right or not. So for now, VOTE!!!

Something is funky, and it keeps only saving this photo. I'll get more later.

Anyway, today I am 12 weeks. Hmm. I still haven't told anyone new. But I may email my HR. Lord, give me strength!

***Oh, and of course, s/he was still a baby, not a weird cyst after all. I know I was keeping you on the edge of your seat wondering!! :)

****and speaking of cysts, my real one (as opposed to the imaginary one from my nightmares) has continued to get smaller!

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12 Weeks

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed.

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Umm... I also just noticed

That I have 197 days left. Less than 200 days, and we will have a baby. Pin It

Approaching the 12 week mark.

And honestly? Its kinda scaring me. See, 12 weeks is when it's considered ok to start telling people. I know, I know. It's all over my blog. Technically I told the world at like 4 weeks. So it should be cake to just make an announcement on myspace, or change my status on facebook. Scares the hell out of me. I think it's sinking more and more in lately. The closer I get to 2nd tri, the more likely it is that we are actually going to end up with a baby at the end of this. Stupid, I know. We'd been trying for more than 6 months! Shouldn't we have guessed that once it worked, we'd have a baby? Honest answer? No. I never thought we would just be able to get pregnant, and not have another ectopic. Contrary to my usual positive self, I've been very worse case scenario about this whole thing. I don't know what that means. I don't really think it means anything. I'm sure it's pretty normal. Or maybe it isn't, and I'm just a freak. Whatever.

I think I need to say that I am thrilled to be pregnant, and I have been blessed with a really easy pregnancy so far. Maybe that's part of the problem, maybe if I had crazy food aversions, or morning sickness, or any of the unpleasant parts of pregnancy, I wouldn't feel like such an imposter. I feel like it shouldn't be this easy to be pregnant, so therefore something is wrong. And at my next appointment, they'll say "Oh! Look at that! It wasn't a baby, just a weird cyst this whole time!" or something equally stupid. Which I logically know will not happen. But, there haven't been very many easy things about my life. Why should pregnancy be one of them?

Anyway, so I'm starting to have mini-panic attacks about letting the cat out of the bag. I don't actually have to tell, do I? Can I just wait until it's obvious and let people find out on their own? There are more people that know now (work, acquaintances, people I've never met) than I ever wanted, and whenever I find out that yet another person knows, I get hit with a wave of terror. I don't understand. It's like I don't want to talk about it. Which is absurd, because I talk about being pregnant all the time on the internets. But its like I want to keep this our little secret...

Can I pretend to be one of those women who didn't know they were pregnant? And just show up somewhere with a baby in November? Or would that be crazy.... Pin It

Weekly Update - Week 11

How far along? 11 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: + 0.2lbs (-2.6 this week)
Maternity Clothes?No change.
Stretch Marks? nothing yet
Sleep? Yes, Please! I'm still consistently tired all day.
Best moment this week: Hearing the meatballs heart beat at the ultrasound.
Movement? Well, none I can feel! S/he was waving their arms, and kicking and stretching during the ultrasound.
Food Cravings: Soft serve ice cream, specifically swirl cones. Jamba Juice. I could eat it every day.
Gender: This week I'm feeling boy!
Labor Signs: nothing
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: sushi, BEER!
What I am looking forward to: NT Scan at 12 weeks
Weekly Wisdom: Too lame for wisdom.
Milestones: We heard the heartbeat!


***PS!! I tried to put a poll in my sidebar, and I can't figure it out! If you know an easy way to do so, please let me know!***** PPS - Apparently I am just an idiot. I got it now. GO VOTE!!!

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Back from the Doctor! **Now with Pics**

** actual size!**

**Sorry Jenni, no 4d this time! But I'll get one at my 16-18w scan!!**

Our little meatball actually looks like a baby! Last time s/he just looked like a little blob!

It has arms and legs now! S/he was kicking and stretching and waving their little arms around! It was so incredible to see!

We heard the heartbeat! It was just amazing. 158 beats per minute.

We are having a baby. Wow.

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Drs Appt Today

Today is our follow up ultrasound to check on the cyst they found at 7 weeks. I am very excited to see the meatball again, but I am very nervous as well. Part of me still doesn't believe this is all real. I am afraid we're going to get there, and something will be wrong. I have very few symptoms. Sore boobs, tired all day, and I cried watching One Tree Hill this week. Thats about it. I have made it 11 weeks without throwing up once. While these things are wonderful, they aren't reassuring.

I am trying to think positive though! Nothing has happened to point in that direction. No spotting or cramping or anything scary like that. So, until someone tells me otherwise I am almost out of the scary first trimester! Pin It

11 weeks

Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

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Vote for Kaylee!

Go here and "rate" Kaylee's photos! Isn't she just the cutest!

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Eye Color Predictor

So I found this neat site that you can plug in your parents eye color, and your SO's eye color and it will give you the percentages of what color your childs eyes will be! Pretty neat! Check it out.

ps I saw it on Danse's blog too!

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Weekly Update - Week 10

How far along? 10 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: + 2.8 lbs (+1 this week)
Maternity Clothes? I bought a second Be Band this weekend. I don't like it as much as my last one. Which is odd since they are exactly the same. Maybe I just need to break this one in more.
Stretch Marks? nothing yet
Sleep? Yes, Please! I am tired all.the.time now. I literally slept almost 12 hours last night.
Best moment this week: Taking the H to the baby Expo. It was really neat to be there, and know that even though I don't look pregnant, I am. Although the expo itself was pretty lame.
Movement? waaaaay to early for any of that
Food Cravings: Soft serve ice cream, specifically swirl cones.
Gender: This week I'm feeling boy!
Labor Signs: nothingBelly Button in or out? In
What I miss: sushi
What I am looking forward to: second ultrasound at 11 weeks
Weekly Wisdom: Too tired for wisdom.
Milestones: I was told I was showing yesterday. Twice. I tried to tell them that the bloat is just taking over.... Pin It

The No-No List for Pregnant Women

When you find out you are pregnant, everyone (your doctor, all the books you read, the tv shows, the internet etc) starts telling you about all the things you can't do/eat/say/think/drink anymore. I don't want to talk about that. I hear/read/think about this list ALL day long. So I have compiled my own list for those who have pregnant people in their lives. Please read this with humor, as it was intended. These are the things you may no longer do/say/eat/drink/think.

• Anything that I cannot do. If I can't drink a beer, do not drink one in front of me without explicit permission. This goes triple for things I cannot eat. Like sushi. If you eat sushi in front of me, I may have to let the hormones take control and deliver a well-deserved throat punch. You have been warned.
• Touch without permission. If it would not have been appropriate for you to touch my stomach before I got knocked up, it still isn't. Please refrain until I invite you. Which will not be for months and months I promise.
• Tell me I'm showing, unless I tell you first. Because really, I'm not. I know you think you notice a difference, but I promise you; you just never noticed it before. You're paying more attention to the whole area now. That's not a baby, that's just lunch.
• Ask if I'm having twins. I promise, if it was twins, I would tell you.
• Tell me you "knew" I was pregnant before I told you because I was gaining weight. If it would not be ok for me to comment on your weight gain, it's not ok to comment on mine.
• Ask me if it was planned. This is rude.
• Comment on my name choices. I honestly do not care if your ex hairdresser had the name I am considering. I like it, you don't have to. You name your kids, I'll name mine. Thank you.
• Ask me/tell me I should/n't eat/drink/do/say/think certain things. I promise you I know. Also, if you see me doing one of these things, please trust that I have called and cleared it with my doctor. So unless you can provide your own medical degree, I think I have the situation under control.
• Compare my pregnancy to any one elses. Just because Suzy Jane gained forty pounds, does not mean that I will too. That sucks that you had morning sickness until your third trimester, but to tell me that I'm going to go through the same thing is just silly. Every pregnancy is different.
• Offer me a glass of wine. I am pregnant, therefore I will not drink. I don't care if thirty years ago your doctor told you that it was ok. Mine didn't.
• Question my labor choices. Better yet, don't even ask me about them. Unless I bring it up to you, then it doesn't really matter how the kid gets out, does it?
• Invite yourself to the birth. If we don't ask you to be there, we don't want you to be there. (Side note, as of right now, Scott and I are leaning towards just the two of us in the room. If that changes, we'll let you know!)
• Ask if I've had the baby (I know, this certainly does not apply now, but for future reference). I PROMISE that we will call/email/text/telepathically let you know when we are going to the hospital.

I hope this helps someone with a pregnant friend/wife/sister/daughter/cousin! We are hormonal, and the rules seem so different now, but they are still so close to the same. Any other moms or moms to be have any ones I missed, leave them in a comment! Pin It

I noticed something just now...

Normally, I don't care for chocolate. I know, I know. Blasphemy you say. But its true. I get very sick of chocolate, very quickly. Usually before I finish the candy bar.

Now, however.

Let me share with you the contents of my snack drawer here at work.
It used to be Pringles, Goldfish, Cheez-itz etc.

Now I have brownies, a Twix bar, half a ziploc full of Mini Snickers from Easter and a Hershey bar with almonds.

What in the world? I hardly even know myself anymore... Pin It

10 Weeks (Can we pretend its a walnut, not a prune?)

With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.)

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Selling H's Car

We've purchased (well we're in the process of purchasing) a new car (more about it in it's own post) so we need to sell his old one.

It's a 2003 Yellow Chevy Cavalier. 81,000 miles, power locks/alarm, 5-speed manual, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, A/C, CD player, tinted windows. Small spare, full-size spare and jack included. Runs great. The only reason we're selling is to get him into a more family friendly car. $3500

Let me know if you're interested!

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My Email Conversation With Another Pregnant Friend

Our friend "L" is pregnant too. She is just about 10 weeks ahead of me. So right now she's almost 20 weeks. So far our pregnancies have been very different. L had HORRIBLE morning sickness for weeks and weeks. She lost weight her whole 1st Tri. I however, haven't been sick a day, so I've put on a little weight (literally 2 lbs). So this was our conversation (I'll c/p).

L: Mya – I just saw your picture on your blog… wowwwwwwwwww girl, you are showing more than me! It’s going to be interesting seeing you in 7 months, you will be like a balloon hahahaha…

Me: Thanks.

L: Thanks as in sarcastic thanks or thanks as in “thanks cause I want to show and get very big” lol..

Me: sarcastic. Would you like me to tell you how fat you've gotten?

L: (blank email)

Me: am I missing something?

L: Mya… u make me laugh.

L: No, I hit send by mistake before I wrote anything ( I was laughing too hard from your previous email). Btw, you are not fat, you are beautiful. Pregnant women are the most beautiful thing on earth.

:sighs: At least I am amusing. Pin It

I walk into the living room....

Why does my husband think he is Spiderman? He is going to give me a heart attack. Also, this is the ladder that he slid the old couch down, and the new couch up yesterday.

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For Jamie **UPDATED**

Old Couch:

New Couch:

No photos of Scott actually moving the couches, as I was too busy preparing to call 911 if it fell on him. I don't have any links as we did not purchase this couch. I have no idea what store it came from. After his mother passed away, Kenny moved into a smaller apartment, and did not have space for his mothers furniture. So we brought it to our house! Please ignore the ghetto-ness of the missing cushion cover. Its in the wash.

This was the living room before.

This is the journey the couches had to make. Yep, up and over the railing... Pin It

One thing they never tell you about being pregnant....

Or at least, no one really told me. Acne. Yuck.

My face looks like a teenagers. I have not been so broken out since I graduated high school. And here's the kicker... all that face wash, the scrubs, your exfoliant? You can't use it. It all has salicylic acid. I had to go through all of my various bottles and tubs, checking the ingredients. Yup. I can't use a single one. Argh.

So I called Aliza (you may remember her, she is an esthetician, and she recently started working out of Panache Salon - GO THERE!!!) and explained my dilemma. Lo and behold, NOTHING in her product line has the dreaded acid! So I headed on over, and picked up a bottle of the Yonka Gel cleaner on Saturday. I started using it last night, and I woke up this morning, and my skin was already better! I officially swear by this stuff! I like the gel, for my sometimes oily skin, but for those of you with dry, there is a milk based version as well, that is supposed to be heaven on your face!

Seriously, call Panache ((602) 678-5517‎) and make an appointment with Aliza today! She is offering 25% of your first facial right now! You know you want to!!!

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Sunday Update - Week 9

How far along? 9 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + ~ 2 lbs (0 this week)

Maternity Clothes? I have started to wear my Be Band everyday. It has become a must have for work.

Stretch Marks? nothing yet

Sleep? no different yet, starting to get tired earlier

Best moment this week: Deciding on a crib.
Movement? waay to early for any of that

Food Cravings: Soft serve ice cream, specifically swirl cones.

Gender: This week I'm feeling girl

Labor Signs: nothing

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: sushi

What I am looking forward to: second ultrasound at 11 weeks

Weekly Wisdom: Don't watch your husband slide the old couch from the loft to the living room balanced on the extension ladder. It is very scary.

Milestones: We picked a crib!!! Pin It

Rocky is home again.

They called, and he was ready to be picked up. I went and got him on him on my lunch break. Which I think is actually pretty fitting, since thats when we took him there. Now I need to get together with my dad to create his resting place.

Although, while I was waiting for his ashes, I noticed a sign on the wall for "Floramorial". I asked about it, and basically you send these people the ashes, and they send you back potting soil infused with your loved one. So you plant flowers (or whatever, I guess), and you have a living memorial. I guess they treat the ashes somehow so that they are actually absorbed by the plant, so he would literally be a part of the plant.

I don't know how I feel about this. A few things come to mind.

• It seems just a little bit creepy now that I've typed it all out, although I do like the sentiment
• What if someone knocked the plant over while vacuuming? We now have Rocky all over the floor, and he's gone all over again.
• Lastly, and I think this might be the most convincing for me, I have a black thumb. If you like your plants, don't bring them to my house. My Mother in Law gave us a plant that she had for years. She swore it was the most hardy, low maintenence plant ever created. I killed that plant in less than a week. So chances are, I would kill the Rocky plant, too. I don't think that is something I would handle well emotionally.

So I guess its still an option. But I don't think we'll end up going that way.

P.S. You can do it with people, too...

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Unsettled...

It's a little weird today. After over a week of daily (or more!) posts keeping you updated about my poor puppies, it seems a little weird to not have anything to say. I'd like to continue posting regularly, so I'm winging it. But it feels open ended right now. I can't describe it.

First, the puppers. Socks is fantastic. I cannot believe that this is the same dog that was so sick last week. He's eating, pooping, peeing, playing, barking, growling, cuddling and getting into trouble already. I am so glad he had such an easy recovery.

We took Rocky to be cremated Tuesday over my lunch hour. This was something that we both felt strongly about. It is important to us to be able to bring him home again, and take him with us wherever life leads. The process takes up to 4 business days. I hope we get him back before this weekend. My dad is an artist, and he is going to make an urn for his ashes. I miss my dog. And I still don't want to talk about it.

Now me. I am not doing as well. I find myself losing patience with Scott, and being shorter with him than normal. This isn't fair, as I know he is hurting just like me. But men are so much less emotional; it's easy for me to forget his pain. I am trying, but this is just a rough time for both of us. Yesterday was Asher’s birthday. Asher passed 4 years ago from cancer. It’s even harder for me to see Debi in the ICU at this time of year, and if she isn't home in November, it will be even worse. Happy Birthday Asher! We love you!

And the meatball. It is really surreal to me that I am actually 9 weeks pregnant. I have to admit that there has been a little part of me that hasn't accepted that this is real, and happening. I really am pregnant. And it seems as though I might stay that way for the next seven months or so. In just over three more weeks, I will be in the second trimester. I can't believe it. Pin It

9 Weeks - Yeah! for fetus-hood!

Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby!

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How do you like the new look?

I'd like to keep the background neutral, until we find out if our little meatball is a boy or a girl. Then I'll change the color scheme accordingly.

Leave a comment and tell me what you think! Pin It

He's gone.

The vets just called, he passed as they were about to start treatment.

This hurts. I am not ok. Pin It

News

I just talked to Scott. He's at the hospital now with Rocky, waiting to get a final estimate from the vet. We were told we have two options. Hospitalization or putting him to sleep. The new vet doesn't think we will be able to do anything more for him at home. Unfortunately, I agree with him.

So as of now, we are admitting him. We have agreed on a three day overnight treatment plan. This will cost roughly $800. I think that this will be a step in the right direction.

The vet gives him a 25% chance of survival. Pin It

Oh my goodness...

HE MADE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!

I can't believe it! Scott is taking him to the 24 hour facility that accepts Parvo, so he can get the best care. At this point, if we continue to try and treat him ourselves, there is no way he can get past this. I can't see him surviving another night like the last. So we are taking his care to the next level. We found a facility that will be less than we thought (less then $200/night) so we'll see how today goes. Pin It

**Update - Updated**

Update - he is screaming in his kennel now. I don't know if he is having a nightmare (since he is actually sleeping for the first time today) or if he is in pain. I don't know what to do for him. I'm going to bed now. I'm going to cuddle my dog until it doesn't matter anymore, and tell him I love him until he can't hear me. Thank you for all your thoughts.

He is getting worse. He was seizing a few minutes ago, so much so that he almost shook himself out of his kennel.

I am starting to lose hope. I can't see how he can come back from this.

Scott is taking a walk, Rocky was his puppy for sure. Well, he was both of ours, but Rocky was his favorite. Crap. Rocky IS his favorite. I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.

I just want my family to be whole and healthy. Please. Pin It

Saying Goodbye

Rocky's situation has not improved as the day has gone by. I can't be certain that it has gotten worse, but that is a pretty safe assumption.

We do not expect him to last through the night.

This is horrible. I am hurting so badly right now. We all are. It is so difficult to sit and tell him how much we love him, and that he was the best dog ever, knowing that this may be the last things we say to him. He is laying in our room (aka the infirmary) right now, and we are trying to keep it together. We are dreading going to sleep, in fear that he won't be our Rocky anymore when we wake.

This is my dog. My little Rockefeller. Rocky who cuddles up between my legs every night, until we got pregnant, now he sleeps curled up over my uterus. Rocky who is the first to sing along when we all start howling. My puppy, who is the friendliest of dogs, who sits on strangers laps at the dog park.

I am aching. I need him to heal.

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Rocky

Rocky is most definitely not doing well. I went home to check on him during my lunch, and I thought he had passed, he was so cold, and didn't move at all. He finally started to make this pathetic little wheezing noise, so I knew he was still alive. I am so worried about him. I feel like Socks was never this sick, although Scott assures me that he was. I hate this. I hate not wanting to leave the house in case he dies before we get home, and I hate not wanting to come home again to find him dead. I just want all of my babies to be better.

So we called the vet to make sure that there is nothing else we could possibly be doing, and with their assurances we will continue the same treatment. I hope that Rocky will recover as quickly as Socks has, otherwise it is not looking good for him at all.

Speaking of Socks, he is all better now! He is barking at strangers (and friends too, for that matter), trying to play with us, and begging for table scraps again! We moved him out of the sick room today, and now it is just a matter of regaining his lost weight (he's down to just over 4 lbs) and muscle. Pin It

Sunday Update - Week 8

How far along? 8 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + ~ 2 lbs

Maternity Clothes? Just my be band, and that only with jeans

Stretch Marks? nothing yet

Sleep? no different yet, starting to get tired earlier

Best moment this week: Looking at the tiny onsies

Movement? waay to early for any of that

Food Cravings: Soft serve ice cream, specifically swirl cones.

Gender: This week I'm feeling boy

Labor Signs: nothing

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: sushi

What I am looking forward to: second ultrasound at 11 weeks

Weekly Wisdom: I'm too boring for wisdom.
Milestones: Not that I was aware of.... Pin It

Sister, if you're reading....

I saw this on the Cake Wrecks Blog and I thought of you!

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Two steps forward, one step back....

Socks is behaving much more like himself now. He is not "better" by any means, but he is on the road to recovery! Last night, while we were doing his IV, he tried to bite Scott for stabbing him. YEAH!!! All we could do was laugh. He is showing much more moxie, and is fighting our torture methods more and more. Also, this morning, he peed. I know, I know. The glory of the pee is that he has enough fluids in him to need to pee. So we were thrilled. Our bedsheets, however, were not as happy and went straight into the wash. So basically we will continue this treatment plan until Socks start to eat on his own again. He still hates the baby food...

Aaaand, we step back. We took one of our other dogs in this morning because he didn't eat ANYTHING yesterday. Rocky has had a little diarreah, and a little vomiting since Wednesday. I picked up the same antibiotics we were given for Socks and we've been doing that twice a day to try and be proactive. Last night we noticed that his energy level was definately sinking. He has still been drinking on his own, but him not eating was a big flag. And sure enough, he has parvo. So we will start him on the same course we have Socks on. Rocky has always been a little bigger, stronger and healthier than Socks, so hopefully he won't be hit as hard. And I'm hoping that since we started him on the antibiotics so early, he'll pull through much quicker.

I am sorry I haven't had many baby related things to comment on lately, I've been a little distracted by my furbabies. Poor little guys... Pin It

Socks seems to be improving!

His mood is much improved over the last couple of days. We have started "force feeding" him baby food (per the vet) so that he can get the calories and nutrients his little body so desperately needs while he recovers. We will do this until he starts to eat on his own again. He hates it. Absolutely hates it. And he stays mad at us for over an hour after each time. Its starting to make us laugh, as horrible as that is. But the fact that he's fighting, and trying to run away means he now has the energy to do so. He's feeling well enough to struggle. Earlier this week, and last weekend, he didn't do anything but lay around. He wouldn't even move if he threw up, poor baby. To see him sneaking away from us, and fighting the food is fabulous!

Keep the prayers coming! It is starting to look like he may actually pull through this! Pin It

Update on Socks

I got some phone calls yesterday, wondering how he was doing, and what we are doing to help him. When we went to the vet on Monday, we were told we have two options. He can be admitted to a 24 hour facility, at which they would put him on a 24 hour iv drip to keep him hydrated, and to help replenish some of his lost nutrients. This would have been (admittedly) the best situation for him. Except that it costs AT LEAST $600 per day, and we are looking at 5-7 days. You do the math. Expensive.

Our second option is to do a revised version at home. We purchased the medication, and we are doing it at home. We do a fluid IV push every 12 hours, every 24 hours he gets a shot of anti-nausea meds, and twice a day we give him liquid anti-biotics with a little eye dropper (he hates this part the most). Bringing us to a total of around $325 including the day he spent at the vet, his blood labs, and iv fluids while he was there.

he is doing a little better today. He got through the night without vomiting or diarrhea, so that is a BIG step in the right direction. He was also a *tiny* bit perkier this morning. He's starting to wag his tail again, and his ears were perking up while Scott was wandering the house today.

Keep the prayers coming! Hang in there little guy! Pin It

8 Weeks

Your baby is growing like mad, putting on about a millimeter every day and continuing to straighten out in the trunk. Though you can't feel it yet, baby is moving those little arms, legs and (now only slightly) webbed fingers and toes like crazy.

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