My little lemon

Well today was another fun day at the doctor's office. I love it when I am the first appointment of the day and we time to chat. He always asks how Brian is doing and what class he is in next. It is nice to know he remembers and cares, but that could be because he gets a little check in on his students for two years from now. Brian's school uses our doctor to do rotations with so I see students there a lot. 

This week we went over all the fun stuff I discussed with the specialist and planned out another test to check off the list. We tested this week for antiphospholipid syndrome. I naively assumed just one for test. No no that means five more blood draws. I am glad I did it today though because in the next visit or two I have another full blood work up which is about 5 to 10 samples. This wouldn't be a big deal for anyone else but for me and my tiny shy veins it poses quite a trial. Thankfully I had a nice patient nurse and after 10 minutes of arm massage and vein surveying she was able to find a descent one. And of course the tests they are running are pretty rare so one they couldn't find in the coding so I might have to make another run up to see the lab next week. Oh well all in the name of my little lemon. 

I am really excited to find out what little one is growing in four weeks! I see our doctor on Thursday to double check on any special measurements he wants done, the regular measurements, and of course I pee. Then Friday it is off to the specialist to check in on baby. 

I am thankful my doctor went ahead and scheduled all my appointments up until the big 28 week mark. I should be going to see him three more times and I will we seeing the specialist for 2 to 3 ultrasounds before Christmas. 

I keep thinking I have all this time to prepare but really time is flying by. Before I know it I won't be able to see my feet and I will be packing my emergency bag for early delivery. CRAZY! But it was good to check in and hear my little one's heart beat. It tends to calm me down and help me relax for a bit longer. 

Oh and on a good note I have only gained 0.6 pounds since pre-pregnancy! That makes me feel SO GOOD! When I usually check into the hospital 100+ pounds more than my start weight it is nice to know that I am keeping that to a minimum as long as humanly possible. 

So since we only have four weeks until we find out lets take a little pole and see what everyone thinks! I have NO IDEA. My mind shifts about every 2 days between them. At the top right of the blog check in and let me know what you think!

Of course the one time.....

Of course the one time I decide that buying school pictures for two kids which may or may not come out is a waste of money we need to save, Layla takes a great picture! We bought a ton of photos last year because she was the only one in school but they were all one pose which bugs me about photos. So seeing that the cost to get the sizes we needed for grandparents was going to cost me $80.00 plus for the two kids. I thought that it just wasn't going to happen rather I would go to target and get a big bundle of what I want in the sizes I want and only spend $20-$30. Well I have done the best cropping and photoshopping skills (which are not that great!) and here is Layla's photo!

 Cute right, now lets just hope that she can pull it off again for the photos I am actually going to purchase.

Avoiding homework

Since school started a week ago and I dove back into the world of full time classes i realized why it has been since before I was married that i took a full load, I am too busy! I have been doing homework for 3 1/2 hours every morning and squeezing in more reading throughout the day and then ending the night with a quiz or two. Now last week I was a bit spoiled because it was intro week and it was a million syllabus quizzes. This week not so much. I have pages of essays, tests, and a billion other assignments that take way more time then I want. So this morning when I need to be reading a twenty page talk and writing up a 5 page paper over the topic, I am avoiding homework and making a post.

These are my two busy little school girls who have found a love for baseball. Of course we fight over the rules and are upset when we are struck out. But they insist on playing it I love to watch. I get to sit and read my homework while being referee to their outburst and then it all ends with a nature walk. These walks are the best and usually mean we wonder the neighborhoods and check out the hidden swings in our complex. I am loving the weather lately, not hot just right! And in the mornings I even put on a light sweater.... oh I love fall!

The girls are doing GREAT in school this year. They are really loving either classes and each of them have found friends they just have to hang out with. And Mom loves school because it gives us a lot of time to talk. They have so much to tell me when they come home and I love hearing about life through their eyes. They see and experience a whole world I have forgotten since becoming "old" as the girls are now referring to parenthood age! It is fun and I am enjoying it. Now if I could only figure out the trick to keep enough energy to do my "mom jobs" after they have exhausted all my energy and I have time to clean the house after they go to bed before I have to take more quizzes and skype into class, that would be great!

We are enjoying this wonderful adventure of everyone in school but don't judge our success by my laundry, it is fine that i have 4 loads left to wash and have 8 sitting ready to fold about every day right? Doesn't everyone?

Pregnancy Update

I am just a week away and I know I am going to cry happy tears when I get there!

This big update is for those who are waiting for my update and news from the many doctors visit and tests that I have had run the last few weeks, aka Kathy!!! 

Today I went to see the specialist that works with my Doctor and will be watching my care. He hopefully will just be in the background but if things go south then he will be the one to swoop in and take over. He was SO NICE and I am really going to enjoy working with him. It doesn't hurt that every doctor we go see right now is also an alumni for Brian's school. They always get a bit excited and are from then on a bit more detailed which is awesome. We simply mapped out a plan for this pregnancy and a rough guess as to what we will need to do to keep little peanut cooking. 

The Plan: 

Fruit is my new best friend. I am loading up on antioxidants and taking a few extra vitamins to really boost my body. One of the problems that women like me (preeclampsia patients) have is that their body is rejecting the placenta and they have low antioxidant levels. That is not to say that loading up on the healthy stuff is going to make a big difference but in my case if it could help and can't hurt we are doing it! Thankfully I LOVE LOVE LOVE my fruit and it makes me happy to know that it is a good deal to load up for all my snacks!

As I said before I am taking a few extra vitamins along with my basic prenatal. I am also doing aspirin therapy. That mean a baby aspirin everyday. It has such possible great benefits and virtually no side effects that it is really a good plan for me. I have been tested for dozen clotting disorders which all came back negative so I am thankfully not having to do a shot a day just a chewable pill and I am good. 

Next ultrasounds are going to be a common thing for me which I don't really mind. I kind of like the idea of getting to peak in and check up often. I have already had two ultra sounds to make sure that my placenta is attached and going strong. In case you don't know with Layla it completely detached without me having any signs of tearing so they really wanted to make sure it is in a good spot to stay put, which thankfully it is. I will go in for my next ultrasound in 6 weeks. Usually around here you head over to the hospital to have a technician do the scan and then your doctor will do over everything with you later. Some doctors do it in the office but that just depends on your doctor and insurance. That was the plan for me until today. My periantologist (ob specialist) really wanted to go in and look for himself because he wanted to make sure they checked a few really rare measurements. I will be having him measure the flow of blood through my placental arteries. He wants to make sure there is no slowing or clogs yet. They also will have a good base line on what is normal for me. They will also measure the blood flow in the umbilical cord. 

Next, yes there is SO MUCH MORE! I will be headed back to the specialist for a follow up and to really map out what our bed rest and emergency plan is going to be. That should be nice and scary but thankfully it is weeks before I will need to put it into action. I will then do another ultrasound to check up on baby and our umbilical blood flow at my next ob appointment. Starting at 26-28 weeks I will be having weekly doctor appointments. That means a pee test and a few random 24 hour tests to make sure I am getting accurate readings.... those stink if you haven't had one! I will also have fetal monitoring done at each of these weekly visits. If my blood pressure increases or if there is any sign of protein in my urine then it is off to bed for me. With Isa I started to slow down at about 28-29 weeks so that is what they are assuming for this time as well. 

Last our big goal is to make it once again to 32 weeks. Any time after that is a gift and we will be grateful but non of the doctors are getting our hopes up. They simply inform us that at 32 weeks we can deliver down the street and keep the baby at the hospital with us and they have the best chance of little complications. Isa is great proof that it is possible. She had it just that far plus a day or two and was nice and healthy. She spend 10 days in the NICU but really she was a trooper and learned quick to make it on her own. Plus she never needed oxygen which is SO IMPORTANT to be able to accomplish. 

So basically once Christmas is over we are all just watching, slowing down, and looking for help when the time arrives. Thankfully we are prepared and will have our hospital bag packed. We will check into the bus service for the girls to get to and Layla to get home from school. We will be filling the freezer with meals to pop into the crock pot. And most importantly we will be praying minute by minute that our peanut is going to be a fighter just like their older sisters and make it out as perfect and strong. 

Pregnancy emotion moment:

I have to say that when I am out and about and talking with friends and family I am brave and strong and more positive then I thought possible. But then I come home and I look at my fridge with my tiny tiny babies I get emotional and just a bit scared. I want a boy, that would be fun. But boys sometimes are not as strong as those girls when they come early. I think about all the things we didn't have to go through that other parents of preemies the same age dealt with and I just sob. I love my little ones so much and watching them struggle to do the most simple task like breath is the most painful thing I have had to endure. You are helpless and can only watch. The day Layla was born we were only allowed to put a finger on her foot. I remember that foot like it was just an hour ago. It was the size of a tiny grape. It was barely bigger then my first knuckle. 

Being high risk with the BIG possibility of going in for yet another c-section at 32 weeks is hard. I see so many women go about their pregnancies happy, (pain ridden, tired, aching, sick, and plain miserable) but on they go. And I dreamt of that for years. We waited so long and I was so tough. Now that it is just months away from that everyday "am I bigger, how is my blood pressure, oh no I am on bed rest now what" stuff is hard to prepare for. On the upside I have the most amazing husband who has always been there and is by far more perfect than I ever thought. Having him in medical school is lonely but it is strengthened our family. He comes home and takes over. He cooks, cleans, does the laundry, dishes, and plays with the girls until they are all exhausted. And he does it all because it makes him happy. He loves to be needed and to make my whole world light up with a simple load of laundry. I know having the stress of not being able to drive the girls anywhere and being stuck in bed trying NOT to stress is going to be hard. But I am thankful for a husband who understands more than anyone I know. He went through the same stress and doubly worried for my safety as it was so difficult on my body and spirit. He is my hero and I am thankful everyday for the wonderful man I get to call my husband. 

So there you have it, the whole maternity plan and a bit of tear filled worries from a hormonally driven mama. 

For now I am going to eat my fruit, find a water aerobics class in town, attempt to keep down my handful of pills, and pray everyday. Wish us luck and we will post more NEXT TRIMESTER!!!! (did I mention it is in a week because I am REALLY EXCITED, this one is the only one I really get to enjoy!)

Poor neglected blog

Can you tell that I have not been feeling well the last 3 months? Could that be the number one reason poor bloggy here has been neglected. Why yes, yes it is. I didn't want to spend post after post complaining about how crappy I feel and thus being down the usual chipperness I try to convey! Not to say I am always chipper but that is one of my goals.

But I did have A hurl free day which means that feeling better is just around the corner. Also I am really hoping that the old wise tale that if your pregnancy is the COMPLETE opposite of what you have had before you are having the opposite gender. That would mean I am cooking up one darn cute little boy. (hopefully one with blond  hair and blue eyes, just to mix it all up!)

Over the last few weeks since school has started the girls have really started to grow up. I used to get sad at the fact that they don't need me so much. However it is really a blessing right now. Isa is my super buddy half the day. She comes home from school and takes care of me. She lets me rest and gets lunch for herself. Usually it means 50% snacks, 40% fruit, and 10% food with actual substance. But she is learning to take care of herself which makes her feel so proud.

She also is the sunshine in my afternoon because I pick her up at a quarter till noon and for the next half hour she is one long non stop dialogue about her day. I LOVE IT! My little shy Isa has more to say then I ever thought possible!

Layla is thriving in First grade. I thought the switch to all day would be hard for her but she seems to love it. She has made an instant friend and that has made ALL the difference. She has two best friends at school. One from her class last year and one from this years class. They hang out and play everyday at recess and they are all such sweet girls. Layla has found that some girls are just to sassy to be nice and that I am proud of. She is in one word a DIVA here at our house but outside in the world she is the wonderful girl I have worked hard to raise. Kind, respectful, and above all a good example. But as this next photo shows, she has a flare for the dramatic which she saves special for me!

Brian is doing GREAT in med school however we are learning that it takes a lot of study time to earn that A but hopefully it will all pay off today when he finishing his first course (yep all done in four weeks!) and earns a great grade. I know he can do it, he isn't quite sure but that is why I love him, humble!!!

As for me I am hanging in there. Most days are spend on the couch with saltines and ginger ale. But I am making less trips to the bathroom and don't constantly need to chew gum to get rid of the nasty taste so that is an improvement. The timing is just perfect since next week I begin classes and won't be too busy for another week or so later. That HOPEFULLY means that when I am boggled down with school I also with have the energy and health to make it worth all the effort. I am excited to take classes again (that may change though in a couple weeks but that is to be expected, I am pregnant i can't make up my mind!)

Anyways here are a few more photos to hold you over until i am back to myself and can really post like i used to!

These two might make me go gray this year with the amount of yelling they do but they also make my life wonderful because they are BEST FRIENDS and they fight because they never want to leave each others side. And really I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Small world in cyber land

You know the blogging world is crazy small when you cook a lovely birthday dinner and then the next day your Mother (who is lucky to know how to turn on the computer) gives you a cook book which she heard some Mormon blogging moms wrote that she thought you might like. (hmm yes I got my birthday recipe from them that I cooked last night!)

Why yes mother seeing that all those recipes I keep telling you are saving my family from starvation while I am pregnant and don't want to cook come from those very women, yes that is the PERFECT gift. 

Thank you Brev for showing my mom this lovely and explaining that if I blog I know the authors. I in fact do and am LOVING browsing the book for potential meals when i actually can stand the scent of more then 2 ingredients cooking at the same time. 

 If you don't already follow their blog OurBestBites.com you need to. They are super easy and Healthy and of course taste WONDERFUL!