ORANGE YOU ADORABLE

Week 15: Navel Orange Average size: 4 inches, 2.5 oz.

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE. I WAS KIND OF STRESSING THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST TRIMESTER SCREENING SO I DIDN'T WANT TO POST ANYTHING UNTIL WE GOT THEM. WELL WE GOT THEM YESTERDAY AND THEY WERE AWESOME! AS PER THE GENETIC COUNSELOR THE BASE LINE CHANCE FOR A 36/37 YR OLD WOMAN OF HAVING A CHILD WITH DS IS 1/300. AFTER MY BLOOD AND NT SCAN,  MINE IS CALCULATED AT  1/1800. MY CHANCES OF TRISOMY 18 IS 1/5000 - PRETTY MUCH THE LOWEST IT CAN GET AS PER HIM (THOUGH I THINK THE LOWEST CHANCE IS 1/6000 BUT I WILL TAKE IT) 

WE ARE SCHEDULED FOR ANOTHER SONO, AND THE SEQUENTIAL SCREENING NEXT WEEK AS WELL AS AN EARLY GLUCOSE SCREENING - YUCK! I AM REALLY HOPING WE WILL SEE THE LITTLE BUG'S GENDER (THOUGH FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES I ALWAYS REFER TO THE BABY AS SHE) IF SHE (LOL) IS NOT COOPERATIVE WE ARE GONNA TRY AND GO ON ON OUR 14TH ANNIVERSARY, 3/14, TO ONE OF THOSE 3D/4D PLACES TO GET A LOOK.

ON ANOTHER NOTE - A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK I HAD A FEW MOMENTS OF REALLY DEEP BLUE SADNESS - I FELT AFRAID TO BE HAPPY AND ENJOY THIS PREGNANCY. I WAS AFRAID TO GET ATTACHED. I WOULD HAVE BET MONEY THAT SOMETHING BAD WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. I MAY HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAKDOWN. THEN MY WONDERFUL WIFE KIND OF LIT INTO ME - WAIT, THAT WAS NOT THE GOOD PART - THE GOOD PART WAS AT THE END OF IT ALL SHE ASKED ME TO TRY AND FIND ONE HAPPY THING ABOUT THE PREGNANCY EVERY DAY. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING AND IT HAS HELPED ENORMOUSLY. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BABY AND ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TIME WE CAN SEE/HEAR HER. 

WE EVEN STARTED OUR REGISTRY AND DISCUSSING THE (SUMMER) BABY SHOWER WITH OUR MOMS. NOW WE JUST HAVE TO GET OUR ASSES MOVING ON GETTING THE BABY'S ROOM TOGETHER AND WE SHOULD BE OK. THE LAST PIC I GOT WAS THE DAY OF THE NT SCAN AT 13W2D SO I HAVE HELD IT HOSTAGE, BUT THERE IT IS BELOW. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT LITTLE FACE AGAIN A WEEK FROM TODAY.

How far along? 15 wks 3 days

How big is baby? the size of a navel orange (pretty specific kind of orange)

Total weight gain/loss: this fluctuates day by day but it seems I may have gained a total of @ 3 lbs

Maternity Clothes:  hell yes - finally bought some jeans and a few shirts

Have you started to show yet? yes and I think it is no longer extra fluff

Sleep: badly - up all the time to pee and shift position

Best moment this week: getting good results from our screening

Miss Anything? cold cuts - specifically ham

Movement: flutters for a couple of weeks now
Food Cravings: fruit and crab legs - I need to hit Joe's Crab Shack ASAP

Anything make you queasy or sick? the smell of perfume makes me nuts 

Gender prediction: Girl 

Symptoms: some round ligament pain, fatigue and migraines

Major purchases this week? just my maternity clothes (though we have collected tons of stuff over   the years)

Looking forward to: seeing the baby bug on 3/5   

AND JUST IN CASE YOU ARE STILL READING HERE IS A PIC OF MY BELLY @ 15 WKS 

BABY BELLY PIC @ 15 WKS - GROW BABY GROW

corona with lime, ok...just the lime

Our baby is the size of a lime right now
(damn I wish I had a corona with lime)

We had our first official prenatal appointment yesterday. It went well. Besides the really long wait to be seen (and therefore pee) I am really glad we chose to go with them. Everyone is so nice and pleasant. We got to see the bug again and it was the first non invasive sono I have had. It was fantastic to not get probed. I was a little worried that my extra fluff would get in the way of a clear pic, but my worry was for nothing because we were able to see the little one bouncing, waving and kicking. The heartbeat was nice and strong and once again all looked well. I have to admit all that pressing hurt like hell and I am still hurting a little today, but it was so worth it. I had some blood taken, although my definition of some differs from their 7 tubes. Then we sat and talked to the PA who was very nice but a little off on her due date wheel. She had us measuring at 11 wks 5 days and we were only 11 wks 3 days but no biggie. Anyway we left there with 3 appointments scheduled. We have our first trimester screening on 2/11, we go back for results on 2/25 and then we go in for our 16 wk (hopefully gender reveal sono) on 3/5. Busy, Busy, Busy and it feels like it is already flying by.

I will leave you with a pic and some stats to tide you over for now:

the baby bug just chillin' knees up arms bent , sittin' and relaxin'.

How far along? 11 wks 4 days

How big is baby? the size of a lime

Total weight gain/loss: this fluctuates day by day but it seems I have gained @ 2 lbs

Maternity Clothes:  just a belly band - but I could use some jeans

Have you started to show yet?yes but I think its because the extra fluff is rounding out

Sleep: badly - up all the time to pee and shift position

Best moment this week: hearing the baby's hb and seeing the acrobatic show yesterday

Miss Anything? Corona with limes, kidding, actually nothing yet 

Movement: haven't felt any but saw plenty on the sonos

Food Cravings: steak and fruit

Anything make you queasy or sick? toothpaste makes me a little queasy 

Gender prediction: Girl 

Symptoms: some round ligament pain, fatigue and migraines

Major purchases this week? none

Looking forward to: getting the testing over with and hearing good news so I can breathe easier            

baby steps for 1 Big Brother

SO THINGS HAVE BEEN BETTER WITH THE RESISTANT BIG BROTHER. HE REALLY ONLY TOOK A DAY OR TWO TO GATHER HIS WITS AND BE SUPPORTIVE. I AM SO PROUD OF HIM AND SO RELIEVED. I DON'T KNOW IF HE KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT MEANS TO ME, I TOLD HIM, BUT WORDS DON'T CUT IT. HE IS ON BOARD AND HAS EVEN EXPRESSED HIS DESIRE TO PAINT THE BABY'S ROOM (ALTHOUGH HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT HE DOESN'T GET TO PICK THE COLOR) WE ARE ALREADY SET ON A COLOR BUT WE WILL TAKE THE MANUAL LABOR. HE EVEN ASKED ABOUT WHEN HE IS AN ADULT AND HAS HIS OWN PLACE IF WE WILL LET HIM TAKE HIS SIBLING FOR WEEKENDS. FREE WEEKENDS??? HELL YEAH!!! HOWEVER, HE DID SAY HE WANTS A BROTHER AND THAT HE WAS WORRIED HE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH A SISTER BECAUSE THEY ARE FRAGILE AND DELICATE. WHICH IS FUNNY SINCE NOT ONE WOMAN IN HIS LIFE IS FRAGILE OR DELICATE. I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT EXPECT HIM TO TREAT A SISTER LIKE SHE WOULD BREAK ANY MORE THAT IF HE HAD A BROTHER - I DON'T THINK HE BOUGHT IT SO I HOPE HE IS NOT DISAPPOINTED IF IT IS A GIRL. AS USUAL, OUR EASY GOING KID, HASN'T REALLY GIVEN A PREFERENCE.

I TOLD WORK - MY BOSS IS AN ASSHOLE - SHE WAS NOT TACTFUL AT ALL. SHE HAD LOTS OF INAPPROPRIATE REMARKS. SHE IS JUST THAT KIND OF PERSON SO I REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT DIFFERENT. A FEW OTHER PEOPLE AT WORK KNOW AND THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE, SOME HAD QUESTIONS ON TOP OF THEIR WELL WISHES. AS OF NOW OUR FAMILIES KNOW (MINUS SOME OF MY WIFE'S AUNTS AND UNCLES AND SOME COUSINS) THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD. IT HAS BEEN NICE TO FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE TO HIDE IT ANYMORE. ALTHOUGH, IT WOULDN'T BE EASY IF I TRIED SINCE I HAVE THIS LIL BIT OF BABY BELLY SHOWING ALREADY. THE EXTRA PADDING I HAD BEFORE SEEMS TO HAVE ROUNDED OUT FAIRLY QUICK AND EVEN THOUGH I AM ONLY 11 WEEKS AND 1 DAY I AM ROCKING THE HELL OUT OF THE BELLY BAND. TIME FOR SOME MATERNITY PANTS SOON THOUGH BECAUSE THE ZIPPER ON MY REGULAR JEANS ONLY HAS A LITTLE BIT LEFT BEFORE IT IS ALL THE WAY DOWN.

WE HAVE OUR 2ND APPOINTMENT WITH THE OB TOMORROW (ALTHOUGH IT IS CONSIDERED OUR 1ST PRENATAL APPOINTMENT) THE FIRST APPOINTMENT (LAST MONDAY) WAS GREAT. IT IS THE SAME DOCTORS GROUP THAT DELIVERED DAVID 17 YRS AGO AND THE AFFILIATED HOSPITALS MATERNITY WING HAS TOTALLY BEEN REVAMPED TO ONLY PRIVATE POSTPARTUM ROOMS WITH PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THE WIFE TO STAY WITH ME FOR THE DURATION. ANYWAY THE APPOINTMENT WENT WELL, THE DOC SAYS ALL LOOKS JUST THE WAY IT SHOULD. LAST MONDAY WE MEASURED 10wks 2days , 33.6 mm, HB 188bpm. THE HEARTBEAT SOUNDED SO STRONG AND FAST. I WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF IT. DAWN WAS ABLE TO SEE THE BABY MOVING AROUND DOING A LITTLE WIGGLE DANCE. HER FACE WAS PRICELESS. THE SONO WAS VERY UNCLEAR, HOPEFULLY THE NEXT ONE WILL BE BLOG WORTHY. I WILL UPDATE IN A FEW WITH THE NEWEST STATS.

IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD

SO ON MONDAY...WE TOLD THE KIDS. AS PREDICTED, RYAN WAS FINE, DAVID...NOT SO MUCH. HE ACTUALLY REACTED WORSE THAN I THOUGHT. I AM DEVASTATED. HE IS MAD AND HURT BUT I GUESS HE IS COMING AROUND A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME. HE TOLD ME HIS CONCERNS AND SOME MADE SENSE TO ME, SOME DID NOT. I FEEL LIKE I LOST MY BEST FRIEND. I HOPE TO GOD HE LETS GO OF THE ANGER AND EMBRACES HIS SIBLING SOON. HE IS SUCH AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN AND I DON'T WANT THE BABY TO MISS OUT ON ANY OF HIM. I AM TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE...CHANGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR HIM AND FOR THE MOST PART I HAVE ALWAYS PROVIDED HIM WITH CONSISTENCY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A CHANGE. I FEEL INCOMPLETE RIGHT NOW. 


**** ON THE BABY FRONT, MONDAY WAS MY LAST APPOINTMENT AT THE FERTILITY CLINIC. WE GRADUATED OUT AND NOW HAVE OUR FIRST REGULAR OB APPOINTMENT THIS COMING MONDAY. I WAS OFFICIALLY 9wks BUT BABY CAUGHT UP IN GROWTH AND WAS MEASURING 9wks 1day, 24.58mm AND THE HEARTBEAT WAS LIKE A HERD OF HORSES AT FULL GALLOP. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SOUND. AND HERE IS A PIC OF OUR BABY...ACTUALLY LOOKING LIKE A BABY!!!

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT LITTLE LEGS, TUMMY, LITTLE ARMS AND SIDE PROFILE OF LITTLE HEAD

17 YEARS AND 8 WKS

THE BIRTHDAY BOY, DAVID

ON JANUARY 3RD MY FIRST BORN, DAVID,  TURNED 17. HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE? HOW THE HELL DID I GET SO OLD?? I REMEMBER THAT DAY LIKE IT JUST HAPPENED. THAT MOMENT AND EVERY MOMENT SINCE I HAVE FELT LIKE HE HAS GIVEN ME A PURPOSE THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD WITHOUT HIM AND THERE IS NOTHING I WOULDN'T DO FOR HIM. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HIM. HE IS A GOOD KID WITH A GREAT HEART. HE HAS HAD A LOT OF ROUGH TIMES BUT HAS MANAGED TO GET THROUGH THEM A PRETTY WELL ROUNDED, LOVING, INTELLIGIBLE AND OPEN MINDED INDIVIDUAL WITH A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR AND A SWEET INNOCENCE TO HIM THAT YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT. HE IS GOING TO BE AN AMAZING MAN... AND BIG BROTHER

THE BABY BUG

SO WE ARE 8wks AND THINGS ARE GOING WELL. THE BUG IS GROWING NICELY (THOUGH FLUCTUATES FROM RIGHT ON SCHEDULE TO A DAY OR TWO BEHIND ACCORDING TO WHO DOES THE SONO) AND THE HEARTBEAT IS A STRONG 165 BPM. 

WE STILL HAVEN'T TOLD THE KIDS. I KNOW, I KNOW...BAD FORM. NEXT MONDAY IS MY LAST APPOINTMENT AT THE FERTILITY CLINIC AND THEN THEY RELEASE ME OUT INTO THE WORLD OF REGULAR OBs. (HEADING BACK TO THE OB AND HOSPITAL THAT DELIVERED DAVID) WE WILL TELL THE KIDS THEN. I AM STRESSED ABOUT IT. I HAVE BEEN OVER THINKING IT AND PLANNING IT AND GOING OVER IN MY MIND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SAY ENDLESSLY. IN THE END I THINK MY DARLING WIFE IS RIGHT AND WE ARE JUST GONNA RIP THE BAND AID OFF AND TELL THEM. THEY ARE 16 AND 17 SO THEIR REACTIONS (OR ANYTHING ABOUT THEM REALLY) ARE HARD TO PREDICT. SO CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR US THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE. 

BESIDES THAT I FEEL FAT(TER) LOL. I STARTED OUT BIG TO BEGIN WITH AND I HAVEN'T GAINED WEIGHT BUT EVEN THOUGH I AM TRYING TO STAY IN DENIAL...MY LITTLE FAT ROLL HAS STARTED TO ROUND OUT AND IT IS HARDER TO HIDE IT AND I AM SOOOOOO TRYING TO HIDE IT UNTIL WE TELL PEOPLE. NO MORNING SICKNESS EXCEPT FOR SOME SHORT LIVED NAUSEA (THANK GOD), STILL GET CRAMPS ON AND OFF BUT NOTHING HORRIBLE. I AM ALWAYS THIRSTY AND SOMETIMES I AM SO HUNGRY I COULD SCREAM AND THEN I GO TO EAT AND I DON'T EVEN WANT IT. LOL. THE WORST THING IS THE EXHAUSTION. I AM JUST SO TIRED. ALL THE TIME. I AM GRATEFUL FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE THINGS.

7 week update

PROUD MAMAS OF THE BABY BUG

OUR LIL BABY BUG

SO TODAY WE WENT IN FOR OUR FIRST "OFFICIAL" SONO AND IT WENT PERFECT! WE ARE OFFICIALLY 7wks TODAY AND THE LIL BUG IS A WHOPPING 9.51 mm BIG. LOL. WE SAW THE HEARTBEAT AND EVEN BETTER...WE GOT TO HEAR IT! IT WAS A STRONG AND STEADY 139 bpm. I FORGOT HOW AMAZING THAT SOUND IS. (CONSIDERING THAT THIS THURSDAY MY DAVID WILL BE 17yrs OLD, TO SAY IT HAS BEEN A WHILE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.) TEARS JUST STARTED RUNNING DOWN MY FACE. IT WAS STILL SO SURREAL. THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE I FEEL PREGNANT AND THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE I ALMOST FORGET I AM. TODAY, WITH MY WIFE RIGHT BY MY SIDE, HEARING OUR BABY'S HEART BEAT, THE FACT THAT WE ARE HAVING A BABY FINALLY HIT ME HARD. I AM STILL ANXIOUS AND SCARED AND WAITING FOR THE PROVERBIAL OTHER SHOE...BUT I AM DETERMINED TO ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF THIS TO ITS FULLEST. OF COURSE TELLING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE KIDS, MAY OR MAY NOT HELP WITH THAT.  I AM IN NO RUSH TO FIND OUT WHICH IT WILL BE, THOUGH MY DARLING DAWN IS GOING BANANAS WITH IMPATIENCE.  I AM HOPING FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS OF SELFISHNESS, ENJOYING OUR LITTLE SECRET, ENJOYING THE PEACE OF IT ALL WITH OUT ALL THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND OPINIONS...I AM GONNA MISS THAT. WE WILL SEE HOW LONG WE CAN HOLD OUT. 

Our Christmas Eve Joy

introducing our little bug

WE HAD AN APPOINTMENT FOR MORE BLOOD WORK ON CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING. MY DARLING WIFE WAS HELLBENT ON ASKING FOR A SONO EVEN THOUGH OUR DOCTORS DON'T DO ONE UNTIL 7 WKS AND I WAS 6. I DIDN'T EVEN DO ANY SHAVING BECAUSE I WAS CONVINCED SHE WOULD BE TOLD TO GO SCRATCH. WELL, ME OF LITTLE FAITH WAS WRONG. WE NOT ONLY GOT TO SEE THE LITTLE BLOB THAT IS OUR BABY BUG...WE ALSO GOT TO SEE HER HEARTBEAT. SHE WAS MEASURING AT  5WKS 6 DAYS AND HER HEARTBEAT WAS STEADY. WE SAW THE OTHER STUFF TOO LIKE THE GESTATIONAL SAC AND THE YOLK SAC BUT NOTHING BEAT SEEING THE HEARTBEAT (PUN INTENDED). THE DOCTOR SAID THE HEARTBEAT WAS A LITTLE SLOW BUT THAT THE SONO WAS REALLY EARLY SO NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE BY THE NEXT ONE, THIS MONDAY THE 31ST, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE MUCH MORE AND THE HEARTBEAT WILL BE A LOT FASTER. WE STILL HAVEN'T TOLD THE KIDS, I REALLY WANT TO WAIT, BUT WE DID EACH GET TO PICK ONE TRUSTWORTHY PERSON. I GOT TO TELL MY SISTER AND SHE GOT TO TELL HER MOM. NOW MY SUPERSTITIOUS BUTT IS JUST HOPING AD PRAYING THAT I HAVEN'T JINXED ANYTHING AND ALL CONTINUES TO GO WELL.