Christmas!!!

Matt and I just returned from a short trip back to California to celebrate Christmas with our families. Although I was 34 weeks along, and both Matt and my Dad didn't really want me to travel "just in case", I was determined to celebrate Christmas with family. Thankfully all turned out great, and Baby B decided not to make an early entrance!

I arrived in California on Tuesday night and spent Wednesday and Thursday running errands, trying to avoid the rain (on Wednesday), getting my hair done (very high priority!!), having our annual dinner with my friends and wrapping lots of gifts! Dinner with my friends was great and we were commenting how different the dinner has changed over the years... when we started most of us were single (except Tammy and Sau of course, who have been married the whole time we've known them), so there was usually a lot of drinking going on! Now both Nicole and I are married and both Nicole and Tammy have young children... and we of course have one coming shortly! So now the dinners are about catching up and presents for the kids.

Matt arrived late on Thursday night... he didn't want to take time off work this year since he'll be taking a week or two at the end of January when the baby arrives. So he really had a short trip out! On Friday, Christmas Eve, Matt and I got a chance to visit with one of his close friends, Garret (who married us) and was out visiting his family from Washington DC. It was great to see him and catch up... although whenever Matt and Garret get together, topics turn politics and the economy and I often am lost! Afterwards, we headed to Gretta's for dinner with Matt's family. Gretta did a beautiful job of setting a gorgeous table (although we forgot to take a picture of it!) and we had a really nice time with Gretta, Joseph, Maggie and Matt's cousins, Jose, Gay and Amanda. Normally Matt's family has everyone open gifts all at once, which can make it a bit chaotic and hard to see what people are getting (our family does one at a time), but this year everyone opened gifts one at a time and it was great to get to see their reactions!

Christmas Day is at my parents house. We start the day with my favorite... my Mom's Eggs Benedict... nothing better! Then Bethany, Ryan and Shaye came over in the early afternoon and we opened gifts. In addition to the educational gift Bethany requested for Shaye, we got her two Sesame Elmo and Abby dolls that were just her size.... She loved them and I loved it!!!

Bethany and I also ended up getting my Mom the same gift... the new Kindle! Every year we usually talk to each other about what to get our parents... except this year of course! So I cracked up when I saw my Mom open the Kindle from Bethany and Ryan. At least we also bough her a case for the Kindle, so she got something from us! She actually ended up giving the Kindle we gave her to her Dad for a very early birthday gift, so it worked out great for everyone!

Christmas dinner included many more family including my Grandpa, Uncle Matt, Uncle Jeff and his family. We had a great time catching up, watching Shaye and Sylus play and talk about the pending arrival of Baby B.

Overall it was a great trip and we really enjoyed our time with family! Now we are back home, and will be spending time getting ready for Baby B to join us!

Childbirth Prep Class

This past Sunday, Matt and I attended an 8-hour Childbirth Prep class at Memorial Hospital. This isn't the hospital we'll be giving birth at, but the one across town. We learned about the stages of labor, what to expect during those stages, when to go to the hosital, breathing and relaxation techniques and different positions to use during contractions and to help rotate the baby to move labor along. It seems to be really important to continue to move around during labor, including walking, going up and down stairs, doing lunges and sitting or squatting in different positions to open up the pelvis to give the baby room to move down.

I felt it was really helpful for me to get all this information since I really didn't know any of the specifics of labor and delivery. For example, it was good to know that it's really best to stay at home during early labor for as long as possible... you should wait until contractions have been 5 minutes apart for an hour AND the pain gets so strong you can't talk during them. I wouldn't have thought that you have to wait that long.

One exercise we did to show how focusing and breathing techniques can help was that we learned how to use our brain to sort of overpower our body's reaction to pain. When a contraction hits, your body's natural reaction to the pain is to tense up and create adrenaline, which slows the process of labor. So instead we need to focus on something, breathe and use our brain to focus our body off the pain as much as possible. So she taught us that technique. Then she gave us each a bag of ice and had us put our hand in the bag for 30 seconds (to represent a contraction) and told us not to use any techniques. It was really painful and seemed to last forever. Once the "contraction" was over, we practiced our relaxation technique, and then when we put our hand in the ice again, we were to use our focusing and breathing techniques... it really did help! It still was painful, but not as painful and didn't seem to last as long. So I definately saw the potential for using these tools!

We also got a tour of a hospital room (we are also taking a tour of the actual Memorial Hospital downtown that we will be at), which are practically idential at each hospital. The beds are pretty fancy and can move into tons of positions allowing you to continue to move around even if you've had a epidural and are confined to the bed. Since it's so important to continue to move around during labor, sometimes receiving an epidural too early can keep you from moving around because you are to stay in bed. But because these beds can move into many different positions, you can continue to move.

Overall, I felt it was a great class and really helpful for me. Matt felt it was helpful too... even mentioning that he thought it would be a great class for med students to take before they take their OB class and learn all the medical technical terms. It would be helpful to learn the techniques that help Moms as a doctor. I feel more relaxed about labor and delivery knowing what to expect... although I'm still scared of labor and just pray I don't become one of those horror stories! But I definately feel much more prepared having much more knowledge than I had!

New Ornaments

We recently bought some new Colorado ornaments for our tree. We got a cool Colorado one that features the Aspens that turn golden in the Fall, as well as a Broadmoor one since we live near and love that hotel. They look beautiful up on the tree!!

8 Months!!!

As of yesterday, I started my 32nd week and my 8th month! We only have about 7 weeks left... I can't believe it! I also had a doctor's appointment today and all went well. As I expected, the scale I used on my last visit with the other doctor was very different. According to my doctor's scale, I'm at the same weight, so it looks like I gained 5 lbs. this month... this is the most that I've gained in one month, but the baby is also growing a ton and should be about 4 lbs in weight this week! This brings my total weight gain so far to 18 lbs. Not too bad...

My sugar levels are still a bit high sometimes, so my doctor again adjusted my medication. I told her of my frustration that especially during this past week, we finally joined a gym, and I have been walking everyday, so I thought my numbers would get better. But she said to just keep up doing my best with diet and exercise and we'll just try to control things with medication. Between pregnancy and placenta hormones there is a big part of this diabetes I can't control.

We talked a bit more about a birth plan. She said that it's really important to monitor my sugar levels during the delivery, and that they'll be checked every hour. They can give me insulin if needed via an IV... the concern is that my levels could be high, which make the baby's levels high... and once delivered and the cord and placenta are cut, the baby can become hypoglycemic and kind of be "shocked" at the sudden lack of sugar. I also asked her about pain meds and she said that is up to me... whatever I want so I made sure to tell her I meds as early and as much as possible!!!

So overall, a good appointment. I heard the heartbeat and it was good and strong. The baby's head was down low today, although that will change I'm sure. I'm getting lots of movements, but also have long spells of quiet... according to my book, the baby is getting more REM sleep, so there is more down time. Thankfully the baby doesn't feel the need to be super active at night, so I'm not being woken up by kicking!

Below are pictures taken today of the growing bump... definately getting big!!

An Upgraded "Rock"

So I finally got to the point where I couldn't wear any of my rings on my ring finger. And I felt weird being pregnant and not having a ring on my finger, so this weekend while Matt and I were out doing some shopping, we came across this ring and I just couldn't resist... of course it's a fake (it was only $10), but I think it's hysterical because it's ridiculously big! But I feel better having a ring back on at least...

Another Baby Shower

Today we had a second baby shower... this time at Matt's work. I headed over there just before lunch and they had ordered PF Changs for everyone. The staff was there, as well as Bill's wife, Bette, and Wynne, our realtor and friend. I had a great time visiting with people and meeting some of the new staff.

We received many very generous gifts, including several gift cards, some books, and a few outfits. But the best and most thoughtful gifts were 2 blankets that two staff members made by hand. One is a beautifully crocheted white and green blanket that will go perfectly with our beach themed nursery and the other is perfect for laying on the floor and letting the baby hang out on. It was so amazing that they would make these items for us and we are very appreciative! Overall, it was a great shower and we were so thankful for everyone's generosity!!!

Our First Christmas Tree!!!

Although Matt and I met 4 years ago (on December 3rd), we have yet to have a Christmas tree together. Either we lived apart while dating, or when I did move to Connecticut, we were visiting California for a long time at Christmas and also didn't really have the money for a tree. So finally this year, we got our first tree together. I am a BIG believer in having a real tree (even though my parents and sister have now moved to fake trees!!!)... there is nothing better than the smell of a Christmas tree in the house!!! So we headed out to Home Depot on Saturday and got a tree, stand and tree skirt. After a few issues with the tree stand, we finally got the tree up and lights on. After that, however, I was exhausted, so putting ornaments on didn't happen until this morning. And I don't have as many ornaments as I remembered... of course, I had forgotten that I use to put up a tree with my roommate in California, and he had his share of ornaments. Plus, over the years, the cats have broken several. But we've got enough for now... I'll probably get some more after Christmas when they are cheap! I love that the tree is in our main family room so we can really enjoy it... and smell it!!!

Delivery Details

My parents and I have been talking about their trip out here when the baby arrives lately. So I called my doctor to get more detailed information on the delivery. She and I had talked previously in general terms about delivering me early because of my age and the gestational diabetes. So in talking with her assistant it looks like on my appointment on January 18th (the start of my 38th week), she'll check me to see if I am dialating on my own yet and if I might be progressing naturally. Depending on those results, she'll schedule me to be induced on my 39th week (which begins on January 25th). So it looks like if I don't deliver on my own, the baby should be arriving sometime around January 25th!

The Nursery Has Begun!

We finally got things rolling on the nursery this weekend. We bought some blinds for the window (the window in this room was one of the few in the house that had no window treatment), 3 white shelves to put decorative items up on the walls, picked up the crib and we were able to find a seashell wallpaper border. I want to use the wallpaper border as a chair rail. Originally my thought was to do a taupe, sand-like color below the border and an ocean blue color above. But in talking to Matt, we decided to put some more green into the room instead of blue. We looked a bit for wallpaper borders yesterday, but I was finding that I wasn't going to find what I wanted.... I didn't want an "under the sea" look, or something that looks baby-ish.

So I went online last night and found this border to put up. Once we receive it, we'll look to find paints that match and also figure out the color material we want on our glider... either a seafoam green or taupe color. What do you think of our wallpaper selection?

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We have much to be thankful for this year... healthy and happy families, a job Matt loves, and in about 7 weeks, the arrival of Baby B!!! We were invited to spend Thanksgiving with some people we became friends with this year... the Schley's. It was just Herb, Trinnie and their son Vinny (who is the one that calls Matt Dr. Blowfish) and us... Trinnie really did all the work, cooking the turkey and side dishes. Matt made his now "famous" pumpkin cheesecake (pictured left), which was delicious... although I think I'm starting to get that cold that Matt had last weekend, so my tastebuds were a bit off today! Everything was delicious. We also enjoyed watching the Cowboys lose to the Saints! We are also really thankful to Trinnie and Herb for including us... if we can't be with our families in CA, it was great to spend the day with some good friends!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!!

Doctor's Appointment

We are now going for our doctor's appointments every 2 weeks through the remainder of the year... then we move to weekly appointments until Baby B arrives. Today we met with one of the other doctor's in the practice (there are 4 total), since my doctor is out of town for Thanksgiving. I figured it's good to at least meet the other doctors, on the off chance that one of them delivers me. She was nice.

The one thing I didn't like was that I had to use their scale for my weigh in. I've been using the same scale in my doctor's offices this whole time... this new one I had to use I don't think is calibrated the same or something because it said that I had gained 5 lbs in the last 2 weeks. I definately don't think that's right. I was tempted to ask to be weighed in on my usual scale, and I should have done that. So we'll see what my weigh in is in two weeks when I'm back with my doctor and her scale! My blood pressure what still good with no changes there. We also heard the heartbeat with was strong and perfect.

She reviewed my sugar levels I've been keeping track of. In looking at them, she decided to up my dosage in the morning because I have a little more trouble with my numbers after breakfast. So now I'll be taking 2 pills in the morning and 1 at night. She said it's quite common to have to adjust dosages through the pregnancy because the further along you get, the more insulin your body needs. If I have more than 3-4 numbers that are out of my suggested range before my next appointment, then she wants me to call in and have my medication adjusted again. She really made the point that it's not anything I'm doing right or wrong... I could be doing everything right and still need adjustments. I really like that both my doctor and now the one I saw today really made a point to tell me that this isn't my fault and it's not something I'm failing at or doing to the baby. I think that's important, especially for first time Moms.

So we go back in weeks and I'll be seeing my doctor. And we'll see what the "correct" scale says!!!

8 More Weeks???

Today I am 30 weeks along! I can't believe the end is getting so near... I'm really enjoying pregnancy and am sort of sad that it's coming to an end. And because of my age and the gestational diabetes, my doctor is probably going to have me deliver early... probably sometime between the 38-39th week, so somewhere probably between January 18-25. I hope we can avoid Joseph's (Matt's nephew) birthday because I think everyone should have their own day and not have to share.

We still haven't started putting the nursery together. The plan was to get that started last weekend, but Matt got a horrible, nasty cold. So this weekend I hope to get the nursery cleared out, pick out a wallpaper border, find some paint to match and get some blinds for the window. And maybe we can even get the room painted with the wallpaper up! I ordered our crib last weekend (a very generous gift from Matt's Mom) so hopefully that should be here in another week. Then we'll order the glider (another very generous gift from my parents) and start getting the room together. I've got a picture in my mind of how it's laid out and how it'll look, so I'm excited to see the finished product.

But only 8 more weeks... wow!!! I can't believe I'm finally going to be a Mom in just 8 weeks!!! I've waited for this my whole life and I'm so excited that I've got a husband who is just as excited about becoming a parent as I am!!!

Monthly Ultrasound

Today I am 29 weeks along... and since I'll probably be deliered a week or two early that means there are only 9 or 10 weeks left!!!! Today we had our monthly ultrasound. Fibroids were measured... I forgot to ask their size and if they had gotten bigger (I have a Dr. appt next week so I can ask then), but we did get some good news... the one fibroid of concern near the cervix has actually moved up and further away from the cervix! That's exactly what we hoped would happen. Hopefully it continues to stay away from the cervix so it won't be an issue during delivery.

The baby weighs 2lbs, 14oz now... so nearly 3 lbs! This is right one track and about average... which is great news... I don't want a 9lb 9oz baby like Matt was!!! The baby's head, forearm, femur and abdomen were all measured as well as the amniotic fluid... everything looked great! The baby was in a breech position, so his/her feet and bottom were down. We got some great, clear profile shots, but that is all that he/she wanted to show today. Does the baby look like anyone yet??!!

We also briefly met with my doctor to discuss the gestational diabetes. I've been feeling overwhelmed and stressed that she wanted me to try my new diet for a week and see if we could get my numbers down. I felt that such a huge time would take more than a week. So in talking with her and with Matt, we decided to put me on a very low dose of medication. Since getting the diabetes under control is important for the baby, and we only have about 10 weeks left, I wanted to give the baby as much time as possible with things under control. So I'll start taking medication twice a day, will continue to work on my diet and will also start to exercise more (Matt and I are going the gym this weekend!). If my numbers get more under control, then I'll just continue with the medication, diet and exercise. Since I'm seeing the doctor next week, we'll go over my numbers. I already feel much less stressed knowing I've got the medication to help me out. And since my numbers aren't really out of control, I think that getting some regular exercise will really make the difference.

We now are seeing the doctor every 2 weeks, until the last month where we go every week. So we have another appointment next week. We are getting close!

My Grandma's Ring

My wedding and engagement rings have finally gotten too tight to wear. So this past week I put my grandma's engagement ring on. I received it nearly 15 years ago when she passed away (she is my only grandparent to have passed away). I can't believe this January will be 15 years! I still miss her a ton and really wish she could have been here to see Bethany and I get married and now have children. Not only is her ring beautiful, but I like feeling like I'm carrying a piece of her with me now during the end of the pregnancy. Hopefully it'll be able to remain on through the arrival of the baby and she can be a part of that incredible day!

Baby Bowdish Shower

Last Sunday, Matt's Mom, sister and cousin hosted a baby shower for me. Our nursery theme is going to be seashells and beach, since Matt and I grew up near the water. So Maggie did a beautiful job of keeping in that theme, from the invitation, to the cake and the table decorations.

She hosted the shower at her condo's clubhouse and it was a perfect location. Nearly 25 people attended... a mix of family, friends and friends of Maggie's and my Mom. It was great getting to see some people that I hadn't seen in awhile, and some that I have heard about, but haven't had the chance to meet yet.

We played a couple of baby games, and Matt's cousin, Gaye, did a great job of keeping them simple and fun. If you know me, then you know I hate baby shower games.... especially the one where you can't say the word baby or you lose a safety pin, or the "dirty diaper" game. But the games Gaye chose were fun, quick and not too painful! And the prizes were a big hit too... especially the cool shell bracelets she bought in the Philippines while she was there.

Maggie prepared a wonderful lunch of chicken salad sandwiches, broccoli salad and fruit salad. And then the cake she had ordered (pictured above), was so beautiful. I had a hard time cutting it up because I didn't want to ruin it! Maggie, Gretta and Gaye did a wonderful job of throwing a memorable shower for me and I appreciated all the work and attention to detail they gave!

To see all the pictures from the shower, click on View Matt & Kara's Pictures above on the right.

Diabetes Education Class

So I had my Diabetes education class this past Friday, and left feeling fairly overwhelmed. It just seems that so much of what I eat (including items I felt were so healthy and I could have in abundance like fruits and milk!) are items that have carbs... and carbs are the enemy in diabetes because carbs turn into sugar in the body. I know my sugar levels when I had my glucose test weren't very high, so I think if I just incorporate some more excercise into my daily routine it'll really help. I admit I haven't been nearly as consistent as I should be when it comes to excercise, and now that it's cold outside, it's harder to go out for walks. But I've seen some excercise "on demand" stuff on our television so I think I'll check that out and see what I can do inside the house. So hopefully in understanding more about carbs, proteins, sugars, fats, etc, and incorporating more excercise, I'll be able to get my numbers under control. If that still doesn't work, then my doctor wants to put me on medication which is a pill twice a day. So I'll give it my best shot, but we'll see!!!

28 Weeks and a Doctor's Appointment

Yesterday I started my 28th week and officially started my 3rd trimester! I can't believe there are only 12 weeks left!!! I had a doctor's appointment this monrning and it went well. I gained 4 lbs, which is right on target. Going forward I should be gaining 3-4 lbs per month... I was impressed especially since my last appointment we went on our cruise!

She was a bit concerned with my sugar levels that I've been keeping track of. But I also reminded her that I hadn't yet taken my Diabetes education class yet (I'll take that on Friday), so I was just winging it as best I could. She wants me to contact them next Friday, after I've taken my class and been watching my diet more closely for a week, to see if the numbers have improved. If they haven't, then I'll need to go on medication to control it. She said sometimes, it just doesn't matter... you can eat perfectly and still have high levels. So hopefully my numbers will go down a bit next week once I really understand what I should and should not be eating.

I got to hear the heartbeat, which is always great to hear, and it was right on track... 163 and strong! I now also need to start paying attention to the baby's kicks. I should be able to count at least 10 movements within a 2 hour period (any 2-hour period I choose to pay attention to). If I don't feel 10 movements, then she suggested I eat something, drink a big glass of water, and then sit and relax and really pay attention. If I still don't feel 10 movements, then I need to call her. But I don't think it'll be an issue... I dont' feel the baby all day long, but definately feel him/her everyday... 10 kicks in 2 hours shouldn't be an issue!

I asked her about her opinion traveling for Christmas. I really want to head home for Christmas for a few days to see all my family one more time before the baby arrives. Matt (and my Dad) aren't thrilled with the idea, since I'll be 35 weeks along, but my doctor said that as long as everything is going along ok, and my blood pressure is doing well (it hasn't been an issue at all during the pregnancy), then it's up to me and if I feel comfortable traveling. Matt and I will discuss it, but I can't imagine spending Christmas away from my family.

We also discussed the baby's due date and what to expect. My doctor had mentioned at one point that because of my age, she wouldn't let me go past my due date (of February 1st). In talking to her today, it seems that it might be more likely that she'll be looking to deliver me closer to the 39th week, assuming I can control the diabetes without medication. If I am on medication, then we might push it up to the closer to the 38th week. It depends if I'm starting to dialate or not and when she decides that I might need to get induced. So it's looking more and more like a mid-late January baby for us!

I also got her opinion on pediatricians in the area. And I went and got my RhoGam shot... this is normally when I would have received my first shot since my blood is Rh-negative, but because of some bleeding early in the pregancy and my CVS test, I've already had two of them! I'll potentially have one more at delivery if the baby's core blood is also negative.

So lots of information during this appointment! I start going every 2 weeks now, until January when I go every week!!!

Here are baby bump pictures taken today... I'm definately growing!!

A "Fab"ulous Wedding!

At the end of last month Matt and I flew out to California to attend the wedding of one of Matt's ex-girlfriends. They've stayed good friends over the years, and I finally met Fab at our wedding.

Their wedding was at a church in Long Beach. I was expecting a lot more people at the wedding because she is Argentinian and he is Mexican, so I figured they had huge families. But actually there were only about 75 at the ceremony and about 100 at the reception. The ceremony was a Catholic mass, so Matt wasn't thrilled with it, but I was impressed that I still remembered all my prayers and responses since I haven't been to mass in several years.

Fabiola looked beautiful... her dress was exquisite... all lace and just stunning. I was hoping some more pictures would have gotten posted of her on Facebook, so I could include them in my blog, but this is the only one of her and Jorge I could find.

There were a couple of hours to kill between the ceremony and reception, so Matt and I headed to the shoreline and had some appetizers at the Yard House. The reception was held at the Hotel Maya which is just across the water from the Pier Street shopping area and very near the Queen Mary. It was a beautiful, boutique hotel and the room for their reception was perfect. It was small, but had a bit deck off of it and when the lights of the city and the Queen Mary lit up, it made for a beautiful backdrop. We had a good time at the reception... Matt caught up with friends he hadn't seen in many years... we did a bit of dancing... but eventually left when the Spanish-techno music became a bit much! We had a great time!

Our Wedding Anniversary/Babymoon Cruise

Last week Matt and I spent the week aboard Holland America's Eurodam ship for a week of rest and relaxation. In addition to celebrating our first wedding anniversary, we also considered this our "babymoon", which just means it's our last big vacation before the baby arrives and changes everything!

Our cruise took us from Ft. Lauderdale to Grand Turk, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and then to Holland America's own island of Half Moon Cay. We relaxed while on board the ship and enjoyed taking our daily naps! Matt really needed a relaxing vacation... he's been so busy at work and studying for his Board exam lately that he was completely burned out. So a week of cruising the Caribbean is just what he needed!

In Grand Turk, we just spent the day at Govenor's Beach snorkeling, swimming and relaxing. It was a beautiful beach and the snorkeling was great. And the baby loved being in the Caribbean water!!!

I loved being the water and feeling so weightless!!! But as soon as I walked out of the water, I felt the weight of the baby and forgot how heavy my stomach was getting!

In San Juan, Puerto Rico we took a historical walking tour. It was great, but it was soooo hot and humid that day that by the end of the 3 hour walk, I was completely exhausted. I think I pushed it too far that day, even though I tried to sit and drink water as often as possible. Our tour guide, Ramon, was fantastic. So knowledgable and so funny! He's retired now, so he does the tours to keep him busy. We visited El Morro Fort and walked through downtown.

That night we headed to San Juan's oldest restaurant, La Mallorquina. They had lost electricity earlier in the day, but thankfully got it back on for the evening. However, we ended up being the only customer's in the place and we spent a lot of time talking with our waiter, who had been working there for nearly 35 years!

For dinner, we both had the same thing... Pastelon which is basically a Plantain "lasagna". It was layers of plantaines and meat and was so delicious! We had a wonderful time!

In St. Thomas, we took a catamaran to Turtle Bay where we spent the day snorkeling. It was by far the best snorkeling I've ever seen. The water was so amazingly clear and beautiful. We saw tons of fish, including a barracuda, and beautiful coral, sea urchins and starfish. The best part was that I finally saw my first sea turtle!!! I could have watched it all day... so graceful as it glided through the water! There was also a shipwreck at the bottom that was a 200 ft vessel that had been broken up into 4 pieces after 2 hurricanes had thrown it around. Very impressive!

Aboard ship, we had a great time. We spent a lot of time up at the Crow's Nest which was a relaxing area at the front and top of the ship. We would spend time reading, relaxing and listening to music. The food was great, although I don't think Matt was all that impressed. Although dinner in the main dining room was always good. We ate most of our breakfasts and lunches at the Lido restaurant which was always a buffet... it was good, but not great. Overall, we had a great vacation and really enjoyed the time relaxing together. Now just 3 more months until Baby Bowdish arrives!!!

To see all of our pictures, click on link under "View Our Photos" above on the right!

Gestational Diabetes

Just before our vacation, I went for a glucose screening test. My result was a little high (163... the doctor wants it below 135), so because of that, I had to go for the bigger 3-hour test this week. It was a pain because I had to sit at the lab for 3 hours, and get blood drawn 4 times after fasting for 12 hours before, and all during the test. I had blood drawn at the start of the test (fasting), and then at each hour (Hour 1, 2, 3).

I got the call from my doctor this morning that 2 of the 4 blood tests came back abnormal (higher than wanted), and if at least 2 of the results are high, then you have gestational diabetes. In asking for my numbers, I just missed the levels wanted slightly...

Fasting result: 66

Should be under: 80

Hour 1 result: 188

Should be under: 80

Hour 2 result: 166

Should be under: 155

Hour 3 result: can't remember

Should be under: can't remember that either, but I was under

I was glad my numbers were too high, but I still have to go through the process now. So now I have to go to a diabetes center and find out about my new diet. The part this is a major pain is that I have to test my blood 6 times a day... before each meal, and then 2 hours after each meal! What a hassle!!! I was a bit overwhelmed this afternoon after picking up the tester and strips, but I'll get used to it.

My doctor feels that I'll be able to get the diabetes under control with just diet and exercise, but if for some reason that doesn't work, then there is medication I can take. So as far as things that can go wrong in pregnancy, this isn't the worst thing, but it is going to be an adjustment.

6 Months!

Today I am 24 weeks along! Officially at the start of my 6th month! According to my "Expecting" book, the baby is about 1 1/2 lbs and about 8 1/2 inches long! The baby's weekly weight gain is about 6 oz. now and I should be gaining on average about 3-4 lbs per month (I'm sure after our cruise I'll meet that this month!!!). The baby's face nearly fully formed, including eyelashes and eyebrows and some hair on the head, although the hair pigment is not there yet, so the baby has snow white hair!

Here's the baby bump growing right along! I'm loving this point in my pregnancy... feeling great, definately looking pregnant and am not too huge or uncomfortable yet!

Our 1st Wedding Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been a year already! Today I thought back to our wedding and what a special day it was. It was so wonderful to get so many family and friends together. For Matt and I, the most special part of the day was as I walked down the aisle and getting to see each other for the first time that day.

Now it's a year later and we are settled in Colorado Springs expecting our first baby in a few months. We started our day at... IHOP! I know, so romantic... but I've been craving pancakes during this pregnancy, and since they are having an "all you can eat" pancake special, we gave into my craving for breakfast!

Then Matt and I drove up to a jewelry store on the north end of town for me to pick out a piece of jewelry I liked. I hadn't planned on receiving or giving any gifts since we are going on a cruise this coming weekend... I just assumed that was our gift to each other. But last night Matt mentioned that he wanted to get me something for our anniversary. So we found this beautiful diamond pendant necklace that I just love!!! It's very simple, elegant and beautiful!

After relaxing in the afternoon (and me taking my usual nap!), we headed out to the Cliff House for dinner. It was recommended to me by a friend who grew up in Colorado Springs. It's located in Manitou Springs which is just a short drive away. It's actually a hotel, but we headed to their dining room. Dinner and the ambiance was wonderful... I had a pasta with lobster, sea scallops and shrimp and a light broth and Matt had NY Strip steak. Both were excellent. We shared the frozen chocolate mousse souffle which was excellent (pictured at top). We had such a wonderful first anniversary. And we both are really looking forward to our Caribbean cruise that leaves this coming Saturday!!! What a way to celebrate!!

Board Exam Day!!!

Today Matt took his Allergy and Clinical Immunology Board exam. He's been studying like crazy lately so I was looking forward to it being over with so I could have my husband back!!! He drove down to Pueblo early this morning and found out the exam was half the amount of questions than he anticipated. So he was home by lunchtime... although when I asked him about it he said it was a really hard exam and several questions he had to guess the answer. It'll take a couple of months to get the results, so we just pray that he passed. The exam is only offered once a year, so if he doesn't pass, he'll have to go through this again next year. We both are glad that it's over with and now we can just look foward to relaxing on our cruise that leaves next weekend. Thanks to everyone who sent good wishes and thoughts for him today!!!

Humidifier to the Rescue!

My "pregnancy nose" wakes me up several times each night. But last week when I was in California, I was noticing that I could sleep about 5-6 hours at one time without waking up. After mentioning this to my Mom, she thought that maybe it was because there is more moisture in the air in California versus in Colorado where the air is VERY dry. She suggested I try a humidifier, so when I got back I got one and it's been a huge help! I'm finally able to get about 6 hours of continuous sleep before I have to get up and mess with my nose. It's make such a difference and I'm feeling much more rested these days! Thanks Mom!!!!!

Monthly Dr. Visit and Ultrasound

Today I am at 23 weeks. We had an ultrasound and regular doctor's visit. The ultrasound went great... the baby slept during it and the technician pointed out the closed eyes and eyelids, although I couldn't really make that out. The baby was measured at 1 lb, 2 oz and is growing right on track. We got a few new pictures, but they aren't super clear.

They also saw a few newer fibroids growing, but at this point they are very small. They are still wanting to watch the one near my cervix most carefully because it could become an issue during delivery. Right now it's located behind the cervix, which is where we want it to stay. If it moves in front, it could block the baby's way out, and if I have to have a c-section, it could also be in the way. They want to avoid touching the fibroids at all costs during delivery because there is so much blood flow to that area during delivery, that they want to avoid having to cut anything they don't have to... bleeding can be very hard to stop once it starts. So for now, we are still just continuing to watch them and we'll make any decisions we need to when the time comes.

The doctor visit was also great... I only gained 1 lb this month (total of 9 lbs!) which I think was great considering I'm just over half was through! I know a lot of weight comes on in the last month or two so I was worried about gaining too much in the beginning. She didn't mention anything about my sugar levels being high, so I think the fact that I had a fruit smoothie and some soda on the day on my last visit could have been the cause of my higher results last month. Although next week I'll get blood drawn for a glucose test to get the official results. I got a prescription for some sea sickness medication I can take in case I get sea sick on the cruise coming up... I've never gotten sea sick before, but who knows how my body will react now!

So everything is going great and I'm still feeling great. So glad that the baby is growing on track. The baby is moving more and more each day and I love each kick I feel!!!

The Baby is Kicking!!!

On Sunday night I felt the baby's kick with my hand on my stomach for the first time! It was so amazing and I got teary when it happened. I had my Mom feel my stomach and she felt the baby strong kick a couple of times. Since then I've been able to feel the kicking about once a day. The baby is definately starting to kick more and being able to feel the kicking with my hand is just the best!

Tonight Matt felt the baby kick for the first time... he felt just one kick, but he had a huge smile on his face when he felt it! The baby seems to kick more in the morning and at night so I'm sure Matt will get to feel a lot more kicks soon!

Shaye is 1!!!

Shaye turned 1 on Setptember 22! I can't believe it's been a whole year already!!! I was in town for her birthday celebration and was thrilled to get to spend most of the day with her on her actual birthday! Bethany, Shaye and I went to a local farmer's market and then headed to a park for a picnic lunch and some playtime. The park we went to had wood chips instead of sand, so Shaye was trying her best to get handfuls of wood chips into her mouth... I think we got most of them out, but I think she got a few down! After her afternoon nap, Ryan came home early from work and we headed over to the District to play in the mini pop-up water fountains. Shaye loved it and got soaked from head to toe! And stuck her face in the path of the water shooting up... it was hysterical to watch! She had so much fun!

I brought over Shaye's birthday gift from Matt and I so that she could have a present to open on her actual birthday. Although she was most interested in the bow I put on it than the actual gift, but in time I think she'll come to love it. We got her one of those "recordable books" from Hallmark. Matt and I recorded our voices reading the bedtime story so that she can hear our voices and get used to them. Everyone who saw it thought it was such a great idea! I think in time Shaye will love it too, but for now she doesn't have the patience to stop on each page to hear us.

Sunday was her birthday party with family and few close friends. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate and it was nearly 100 degrees!!! So it was a bit crowded in the house, but it worked out just fine. The best part of the day was Shaye devouring her birthday cake. At first she wasn't sure what it was, but after Bethany fed her a couple of fingers of frosting, it was on!!! Both hands were shoving fistfuls of cake in her mouth as quickly as possible! She literally had a beard of frosting on her face and it was the most hysterical sight I've ever seen! She really takes after her mother and that sweet tooth! For those of you on Facebook, check out my profile page where I posted a video of her! Bethany and Ryan were so thrilled to have that moment live up to all their expectations!!!

Halfway There!!!

I am 20 weeks along today... halfway home! And I felt a "fluttering" of the baby moving last night! I think I have felt it a couple of times in the last several days, but last night was the first time that I was sure of it! Very excited to feel the baby start to move more and more... definately makes it feel more real and amazing!

According to my "Expecting" book, the baby is about 6 1/2 inches (crown to rump) long and about 10 ounces in weight. And we could find out the sex by now... if we wanted to!! The baby has lots of room right now to move around so I'm hoping I'll be feeling him/her more often soon!

The pictures below I took this morning to show the growing bump!!

2nd Trimester Ultrasound

Today, in addition to our 19 week doctor's visit, we had the 2nd trimester ultrasound. In this ultrasound they go through the baby from head to toe, measuring everything from skull size, jaw bones, arm and leg bones and can even tell if the baby has a cleft palette or club foot! In addition, it's a chance to make sure the spine and heart chambers look good. The baby wasn't really cooperative during this process wanting to flip around and put it's hand up to cover the face. I found it strange that I could see the baby moving all around and yet can't feel the movement yet... although it should be any day now and I can't wait!!!

The ultrasound tech we had this time was thorough, but I didn't like her nearly as much as the guy we've had twice before. She was pleasant, but not very personable and was very "by the book"... whenever I would ask how things were looking, she just would say "you have to ask the doctor". Thankfully the doctor said all the measurements were normal and that everything looked good! They are estimating the baby to be 9 oz right now, which is right on track.

One thing they did discover is that I have 3 fibroid masses (1 was discovered on my first ultrasound). Two are connected outside the uterus and one is down near the cervix. The only concern with the one at the cervix is that it could block the baby's way out, but they feel it's not a big concern right now. Often these masses either shrink during the 3rd trimester, or the baby is able to make it's way past it during labor since everything is so flexible. They also found a cyst on my ovary, but again aren't too concerned about it since it's fairly common. They are going to have me have an ultrasound every 4 weeks through the end of the pregnancy just to track the size of the fibroids, cyst and baby and make sure everything is ok. Because of my age and the fact that I had some low placenta hormone levels, I was going to have some extra screenings anyway, so now this just makes for more opportunities to see the baby!!!

Below are the best pictures from today... The first is a 4D shot, but the baby seems camera shy! The second is a profile picture, and the last is my favorite... the baby is on it's head (the head is on the bottom, the spine goes up to the right and the butt is on top!)... a position the baby remained in for awhile so it was hard to get some measurements!!!

Afterwards, we headed to my doctor's office for our monthly visit. My sugar level was a little up, so I just need to watch my sugar intake a bit. I'll have a glucose test at 24 weeks to check for any signs of gestestional diabetes. Thankfully I only gained 2 lbs this month (I've gained a total of 8 lbs so far)! I was thrilled with that!!! I was so happy to hear that the baby is growing and that everything looked great!!! I'm looking forward to seeing the baby again in a month!!!

18 Weeks!

As of today, I am 18 weeks along! According to my "What to Expect" book, I've just entered the 5th month and by the end of this month I should be feeling the baby move... I can't wait for that! The baby is about 5 inches in length and approximately 5 ounces in weight this week. The cutest part is that the baby is yawning and hiccuping this week! I'm still feeling great and am definately getting bigger!

The Baby Bump is Growing!

I am now 17 weeks and 2 days along and still feeling great. I feel like in the last week or two I've finally started to look more pregnant and not so fat anymore. And on my flight back from CA on Sunday, the flight attendant said "looks like you are having a baby!"... the first time that someone has acknowledged I look pregnant! It was very exciting.

For those of you who haven't seen me yet, or haven't seen me in awhile, this is a picture I took this morning showing how "Baby B" is growing!!!

The Big 6-0!

Last week I went to CA to visit family and friends, but also to celebrate my Dad's 60th Birthday! I can't believe he's 60 now... you would never know it from all he does! I hope I look that good at 60!

It was so great to see family, especially since this was the first time being home since becoming pregnant. And I'm starting to show so I think it was fun for the family to see the baby bump too!

Mom and I put together posters of pictures of Dad throughout his life. It was fun going through the photo albums to pick out pictures that represented him and all he's done. My favorite was of him at about 18 years old posing with a flexed arm to show off those muscles!!! It was actually one I had never seen before... hysterical!

Mom ordered Dad's favorite pasta from Maggiano's, and make some marinaded chicken, salad and garlic bread. Bethany made cupcakes and put them in the shape of "6-0"... they looked great when we put candles on each one! We enjoyed sitting outside, talking, eating great food and even making fun of Dad some...

Grandpa had the greatest "gifts" of the night... a selection of items that he'll need now that he's entered the "older" part of his life... Reading glassses, Milk of Magnesia, denture cleanser etc. It was hysterical!!!

It was a great party of family and great friends!!!

Matt's New "Baby"

Matt and I have been talking about getting him a new car for a little while now. But after driving his car last winter and having it slide all over the place, I told him I would not allow a baby to be put in that car during the winter! So we got my car paid off early, so we would only have one car payment, and decided to get him a car before this winter. His dream car has always been a Land Rover and even though I knew that is what he would end up with, we decided to look at a few other cars and pretend we gave them a chance!

We were able to find a certified pre-owned LR3 in white just as he wanted at the dealership near our house. We test drove it and Matt was in love. While I was in CA last week, I called Matt and he says, "Guess what? I bought a car!" I was fairly shocked that it happened that quickly but he was able to coordinate everything fast. I was just bummed I couldn't be with him to pick it up! He is just thrilled to have it and it's great for him to realize a dream he's had for so long... he's just thrilled that he can finally afford something like this instead of just dream about it!

Fat... and not with a "PH"!

So I'm in this awful "in-between" stage of this pregnancy, where I can tell my stomach is getting bigger, but I don't yet look pregnant. Instead I just look fat!!! I don't have people asking me if I'm pregnant becaue they aren't yet sure... and you know you never ask a woman if she's pregnant unless you are sure!!! I've started to wear a couple of maternity items I bought because I'm not fitting into regular clothes that aren't lose fitting dresses. I know that this is just a phase, but I'm already ready for it to be over with!!!

Hot Rod Ho-Down

Matt and I have become friends recently with a couple that are big into Rockabilly... Trinnie and Herb. Each year they put on the Hot Rod Ho-Down at Southside Johnny's downtown with a hot rod show and rockabilly music bands all day. It all began when they wanted to put together an event where they could choose the bands they wanted to see. Now it's also their way of giving back to the community. They raise money for a charity of their choosing each year. So Matt and I decided to check it out.

Actually on Friday night we went to Trinnie and Herb's house for a BBQ. The most hysterical part is that Matt saw their son, 3 year-old Vinny, as an allergy patient earlier in the week. Not only was he a great patient being so good during all the skin testing, but calls Matt "Dr. Blowfish"... I think one of Trinnie's friend's told him that was his name so he really thinks it is! When we showed up at their house for the bbq, Vinny came up and said "Hi, Dr. Blowfish!" I was laughing so hard... it was the cutest thing EVER!!!

So back to Saturday... we headed over to Southside Johnny's early in the afternoon to see the car show. It was so much more impressive than I anticipated. There were about 80 cars there from unfinished "beaters" to cars that were works of art.

One of My Favorites

This won Best in Show

Our Favorite

After the car show we headed inside Southside Johnny's, a restaurant/bar, grabbed some lunch and listened to the opening act... they were actually really great. After meeting a few more of Trinnie and Herb's friends, we decided to head out and run some errands and come back later.

We arrived back later that evening where we caught the tail end of a group (I don't remember the name) that was really great. Trinnie was so excited and said they were so great that it took her back to "they day". Afterwards they had a Burlesque Show and Pin Up Girl contest that was a lot of fun. Matt and I headed out, but we had such a great time. Not only was it great to hear some fun music, see some amazing cars, but also to meet some new people. We are looking forward to making this an annual tradition!

Claritin... My New Best Friend!

Thankfully I have not had any morning sickness during the pregnancy so far. Both Mom and Bethany had pretty easy pregnancies so I was hoping the same for me... and so far, so good! The only thing I've noticed the last several weeks is that my nose has been running like crazy, and I've been sneezing about 25 times (no exaggeration!) a day... and I've suddenly started sneezing in pairs almost every time which I've never done before! So strange the things pregnancy do to a body (and I'm sure this is just the beginning!)

Finally I had enough and asked Matt what I can take (so handy having a doctor in the family!). After checking his iPhone medical app he suggested Claritin. Although he doesn't necessarily think I've developed any allergies (although that's not uncommon during pregnancy apparently), he thought the Claritin could help with my symptoms... and of course, the doctor is right!!! I can finally get through my day without going through a box of Kleenex! We are hitting up Costco to get it in bulk so I've covered the rest of the pregnancy!

And Baby Makes Three!!!

For those of you that don't know already, Matt and I are thrilled to annouce that we are pregnant!!! I am 14 weeks along and have been feeling great so far. The due date is February 1st. And we are NOT (I repeat NOT Bethany!!!) going to find out the sex of the baby. I figure that it's my "reward" for labor and it gives Matt his "15 Seconds of Fame" when he goes out to tell the family the sex and the name chosen. We are just thrilled.

We can't wait for the changes in store for us up ahead. Both of us have wanted children for a long time... even before we met each other! So now that it's a reality, it's so amazing. Next week we've got our monthly appointment with my doctor.

Above is a picture from our 12 week ultrasound. I love how you can see the baby's leg kicked up and it looks like he/she is just kicking back and relaxing! Keep up to date with the pregnancy with this blog!

Flower's First Visit

Last weekend Bethany, Ryan and Shaye made their first trip to Colorado. Everyone was a little worried about how Shaye would travel since she had never been on a plane and is not used to sleeping in other places. They arrived on Friday afternoon and it was great to hear that Shaye had slept through half the flight! Surprisingly, she seemed comfortable with me pretty quickly... maybe she does remember me! We got home, put Shaye down for a short nap and then headed off to the America the Beautiful park. It's a great park, with lots of kids playing for Shaye to watch (she is a serious people watcher!!) and lots of fun!

Saturday morning we headed to the zoo... I was really looking forward to seeing Shaye's reaction to feeding the giraffes and having them so up close. But as I learned over the weekend, Shaye is more interested in watching the people around her. Although with my help, she did feed a giraffe!

After returning home for her afternoon nap, we headed out to the Garden of the Gods. It's a beautiful park and we drove around and got out a few times to check it out. Then we headed over to our favorite Mexican place, Amanda's Fonda, for an early dinner.

Sunday we headed to Downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City. We checked out the shops and grabbed some lunch. We were expecting rain, but it turned out to be a beautiful day... so much for weathermen! After Shaye's nap, we headed up to the north end of town and went to the Air Force Academy. We skipped the Visitor Center (not too exciting anyway), and just went straight to the Chapel and surrounding area. Luckily the Chapel was still open... although they only conduct official tours during the week, it was great that we could still check out all 3 levels. It's truly impressive!!!

Monday, we (without Matt since he was back at work!) went to Golden where the Coors Brewery is located. We took the tour and then arrived at the Lounge, where you get to taste up to 3 free beers! Ryan really loved the Batch 19, which was a resurrected recipe from before Prohibition. They are in the testing phase right now, but it seems to be popular and it sounds like it'll be on the grocery shelves sometime soon! Afterwards, we walked around the town and ate some lunch. Luckily we were able to time it all so that Shaye could take her morning and afternoon naps in car. Tuesday they were headed back home and thankfully Shaye slept through half the flight again! She did such a great job sleeping here in the Pack n' Play, going down easily for naps and at night. Shaye also had a great time interacting with Nate. The moment she laid eyes on him, she was fascinated! She would crawl around and chase him around the house, although Nate was not too thrilled when she tried to pet him and it turned into more of a slap in the face than petting! He spent the rest of the weekend keeping his eye on her and keeping his distance!

It was a fantastic trip and we loved having them around. It's so nice that family is just a quick 2 hour flight away... makes it much easily for them to visit! We can't wait to have the Flower's back!!!

To see all of the pictures Bethany and Ryan took of the trip, check out this link (there are some really cute ones I didn't include!):

http://picasaweb.google.com/bnetro/TripToVisitAuntieColoradoSprings#