Our little sweetie in 3D

WE COULD NOT WAIT THE FEW WEEKS TO SEE HER AGAIN! SO WE WENT TO OUR LOCAL 3D PLACE. SHE IS 100% GIRL AND FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL A TOTAL SHOW OFF. WE GOT A PIC OF HER SUCKING HER FINGERS AND HOLDING HER EAR. WE ARE JUST TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH HER.

WE ARE NOW A FEW DAYS INTO OUR 18TH WEEK AND WE ACTUALLY THINK SHE IS WAYYYYY CUTER THAN A SWEET POTATO

I love onions and gender reveal

So in our 17th week (16 wks 4 days today) our baby is the size of an onion 

Yesterday we had our 16 wk prenatal appointment and it went a little nuts. We waited forever because the doctors were backed up. When we finally went in...we waited some more. Then they called us into a room to get the heartbeat and draw bloods for the AFP. A girl who we have never dealt with before comes in with the doppler and finds nothing. I was stressed beyond belief and barely held in my tears. I kept looking at Dawn who was giving me the "don't worry she is an idiot look". Finally after what felt like eternity but was probably five minutes, she went to get someone else. That woman was phenomenal and found the heartbeat in 5 seconds flat. Dumb dumb nurse came back in to take my blood. She asks which side is better and I tell her left but they are both pretty crappy. I don't mind having blood taken, it is actually the rubber band that makes me want to pass the fuck out. So she rubber bands the left arm, can't find a vein, then does right arm and can;t find a vein, then back to the left and still no vein. She finally says she is going to go get someone else because she can't find one and is afraid of trying and collapsing a vein. Second girl comes in and what do you know...finds a vein in my left arm in no time flat. Dumb Dumb never comes back and we...wait. Finally someone notices we are just sitting there and sends the doctor in. All looks well and I am scheduled for a glucose screen this Friday  Then we go back @ 20 weeks for an anatomy scan. I asked if it would be ok to get a sono and take a peak at the sex and thankfully she says yes!!! off we go and....

It is a Girl and we could not be happier. We wanted a girl so badly... and now there she is... beautiful and perfect and OURS. She was hamming it up in there too. We saw her flexing her little toes and fingers, kicking her long little legs and rubbing her face with her perfect little hands. She is beautiful and we are in love. We can't wait to meet our daughter in August. 

How far along? 16 wks 4 days

How big is baby? the size of an onion (or an avocado or who knows bc every app says something different)

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

Maternity Clothes:  need good underwear that comes up high but can't find any plus size

Have you started to show yet? still showing but the belly looks a little lower to me

Sleep: badly but better - getting more sleep less pee but still uncomfortable 

Best moment this week: seeing our beautiful and perfect little princess

Miss Anything? still cold cuts - specifically ham and I could have really used a beer the other day

Movement: I can feel her moving all over the place but still not from the outside
Food Cravings: fruit and cheese - (no more crab because We hit Joe's Crab Shack YUMMMM)

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

Gender prediction: SHE IS DEFINITELY A GIRL 

Symptoms: some round ligament pain and right ankle swelling

Major purchases this week? ladybug bedding set 

Looking forward to: Seeing her again in a few weeks - I miss her little face already  

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.