and though I don't know what comes next, I will not hold my horses...

Year In Review - December 2011

2012-01-16T13:57:00.000-05:00

Year In Review - November 2011

2012-01-16T11:43:00.000-05:00

I hate today.

2012-01-13T09:49:00.001-05:00

As always, I'm torn as to whether I want to be surrounded by people so I'm at least distracted, or whether I just want to be left alone. I just know I feel like butt.

Every year, it hits me in a different way. This year. I've spent the week entertaining glances of thoughts in my head about how he was an only child, his mother's son, her baby...and now I am a mother of a son. I say entertaining glances of thoughts because I've been doing my best to shove the thoughts the hell out of my mind the moment they enter because I can't imagine losing Elliot now, 23 years from now, 50 years from now. I just don't want to even think about it. I can't bear it.

So I'm numb.

I hate today. Probably always will. Even though according to the calculations our doctors made, Elliot was apparently conceived a year ago today.

I think that makes today even stranger-feeling, and I'm not quite sure HOW to feel, so I don't. Feel, that is.

Hopefully I'll be better tomorrow.

Live through this...
And you won't. Look. Back.

Year In Review - October 2011

2012-01-13T09:42:00.001-05:00

Basically, a collection of photos from Elliot's first month of life! LOL

Year In Review - September 2011

2012-01-12T08:23:00.001-05:00

nursery before...

...and after!

our new car! right on time...

packing the hospital bag

after 46 hours of labor!

he's here!!!!!!! :*)

Year In Review - August 2011

2012-01-11T11:05:00.000-05:00

our smiling Baboosh

nudie belly pic

getting big!

Quailman visited my house

before....

and after!

making changes at home

new fixture in the dining room

our pimp new ottoman (no more marble coffee table with a baby on the way!)

our new ceiling fan

Year In Review - July 2011

2012-01-09T10:29:00.000-05:00

Independence Day

we made a pig!!!

the preggos

at our baby shower

third trimester!

death to Vixen

Year In Review - June 2011

2012-01-06T08:12:00.000-05:00

Our first false alarm/scare

Paps and Abulo

growing Baboosh

Kenny's first Father's Day card :)

Year In Review - May 2011

2012-01-04T11:21:00.001-05:00

our little man!

From Memorial Day

From when I was on the news

my "pregnancy glow" ;)

Hubs and Pig

Year In Review - April 2011

2012-01-03T12:14:00.000-05:00

Easter!

Baby's first deluge of presents :)

my festive belly (with my wonky sweaty hair!!! Pregnancy - constantly hot!!!)

I knew it!!!

WHOA!!!

See also: January 2011, February 2011, March 2011

Year In Review - March 2011

2012-01-02T12:03:00.000-05:00

When Elliot was the size of a raspberry!!!

already looking for potential baby gear

I LOVED this app!!!

the cravings begin! LOL

Year In Review - February 2011

2012-01-01T13:09:00.000-05:00

how we announced our new addition to our family...via text message!

the day after the announcement...no sign of a bump yet!

We spent our 6th anniversary together meeting our little one

hanging out with his little sibling

I was so excited that she read my blog!!!

Kenny hated this pillow, but I wouldn't have made it through the pregnancy without it!

already started to eat like a preggo!

awesome weather :)

upgraded from a queen to a king!

Year In Review - January 2011

2011-12-31T10:28:00.001-05:00

awesome!!!

reunion!

los abuelos (the day after conception LOL)

my hipster-ness LOL

Ana's first tattoo! 10 points! ;)

Piggly looking dapper!

I LIVE!!!!

2011-12-29T13:18:00.000-05:00

I finally got a chance to log in just to let everyone know that I'm alive and well, and absolutely loving mommyhood!

I'm getting Elliot accustomed to a new routine/schedule (well, the ONLY routine/schedule I've tried) so I hope to be able to get on here at least a couple times a week from here on out...I have so much to update on! All of Elliot's milestones (and about 1200 pictures and videos!), my breastfeeding sagas, and of course my birth story (I haven't forgotten, I promise!)

I don't have time for much more right now, Elliot is about to wake up from his nap and it only just now occurred to me to log on here, but for sure starting next week, you'll be hearing much more from us! ;)

don't even know where to start!!!

2011-11-09T11:36:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged in so long, I feel like there's so much to say...there's not even really a way to organize everything I want to write into cohesive sentences! LOL

So, I guess an update...Elliot is now 6 weeks old. I stay home with him all day cuddling him, feeding him, trying to keep my eyes from involuntarily shutting and wondering how I'm going to keep up on work and errands. I love every moment of it, though sometimes I have to remind myself of that (ok, only when I'm falling asleep while holding him)...

I LOVE being a SAHM/WAHM...I get to spend all day with my spud, I don't miss any of the amazing and fun new things he does EVERY SINGLE DAY...it blows my mind how insane it is to see the world through my sons eyes. So many things we take for granted every day (like, THAT OUR ARMS ARE ATTACHED TO OUR BODIES!) are brand new to a baby, and that is just the coolest thing.

He's been holding his head up on his own since before we left the hospital (CRAZY), he rolled over from belly to back for the first time the day he turned a month old, he's been smiling for a few days and finally sort of laughed yesterday (it sounded more breathy than giggly LOL)...He's super alert, always looking at everything around him, studying people and things, taking them all in...and trying like crazy to tell us stuff though of course he's nowhere near talking. He's just incredible.

Being a SAHM is very demanding though, so blogging has taken a backseat. I'd rather be fully living with my son than just sitting behind a laptop telling people about it. Hopefully now that things are KIND OF finding a routine, I can get on here a bit more frequently to update every once in a while (though facebook and instragram get updated fairly regularly).

I also fully intend on writing my birth story sometime this month. I just feel it's going to be pretty long and detailed (it oughta be, considering it was 46 hours!) so I want to make sure I can find the time to start and finish it in the same session so I don't lose my flow :)

Well, I'm going to try to eat something and sterilize some baby bottles while Elliot naps...I leave you with some pics from the past few weeks and hopefully you'll hear some more from us sooner rather than later!

(by the way, after I write my birth story, I plan to make my blog invite-only and post only general mom-type musings on tumblr...nothing incredibly personal in order to protect my family's privacy. If you'd like an invite, leave me a comment with your email, which is required by Blogger in order to let you in to the blog. Thanks!)

September 26, 2011 - 2:02 a.m.

2011-10-07T16:05:00.002-04:00

My world changed forever.

Then I threw up.

LOL...it's funny cuz it's true (and gross)...I hope to write our birth story soon, but I've been busy soaking in my little Milk-Monster's awesomeness. He looks different every day, and each day is so full of new experiences and craziness that I don't know where to begin writing.

Right now, I leave you with some IG photos from the last 11 days :) I love my son!!!

nap time at the hospital

mid-boob munch

my little sir's little legs

after his first at-home bath...he loved it, esp. getting his hair washed!!!

Maybe not an epiphany, but...

2011-09-23T11:36:00.000-04:00

...definitely a tough realization. I had "it" last night while talking to my sister...it was one of those things where you talk and talk so much that eventually something profound pops out of your mouth without even thinking about it.

I was explaining to my sister all the reasons why I want a completely unmedicated birth (in no particular order):

1) I want to avoid the slippery slope of unnecessary interventions. For example, if you are induced and they start you on Pitocin, your body is forced to labor before it is ready, which leads to much stronger and more painful contractions than you might have actually had if you had avoided the drugs. Now that the pain is SO strong, you feel like you need an Epidural, so you get one. the thing about an epidural (or any pain medication) is that it slows down your contractions, and before you know it, you're being given MORE pitocin because you've plateaued or slowed down more than the hospital would like. The pain is back full force, so you get more pain medication. Lo and behold, the doctor walks in and tells you that the baby's heartbeat has slowed/risen/become erratic, etc. and now you need an emergency c-section. What they won't tell you is that the heartbeat got like that because the baby couldn't handle the constant changes in the uterus due to the medications. Now your baby is in danger and you need emergency surgery just because of one intervention that didn't even need to happen.

2) It's safer for the baby to labor naturally, not just because of the reasons I listed above, but because every medication you could be given (and there are LOTS of kinds, not just pitocin or an epidural) can leave your baby in a stupor for hours, even days after birth. I would rather bond with a baby that is more alert than know he has no clue who I am because I made sure he was born zonked out.

3) the most important reason in my gut is that I VALUE the hard work and dedication it takes to give birth naturally. I don't know if it's this city and it's "get in, get out, get on with life" superficiality, or what...but there is ZERO support here for mothers that want to go natural. You're likelier to be told you're insane for trying (even by other moms) than receive any sort of support. There's no natural-method birthing classes in the entire county, insurance doesn't cover midwives (if you can FIND one), there's no resources on cloth diapering or baby wearing...even breast-feeding past 3 months is weird and taboo here. I've spoken to two OBs and even hospital staff regarding my wishes for a natural birth, and every SINGLE time, I was answered that all my requests would depend on what drug(s) I was on at that particular stage of labor. So literally EVERY person I spoke to regarding my birth assumed that I would have some sort of drugs at some point of the labor, even when I had prefaced the conversation with "I want a natural birth, so..."

I mentioned that earlier this week, I had a breakdown because I was so frustrated with the anxiety of the upcoming birth and not being able to plan for everything because every time I spoke to someone else about my birth plan, I was told at least a couple more things I could not count on having. While I was talking to my sister, I realized that my problem was the planning. I desperately want a natural, drug-free birth, but the fact is that all the books I've read on the topic and all the videos I've watched to prepare all assume that I will be among supportive people in an environment suitable for natural labor and delivery.

I am not. And I will not. And as much as I blame myself for that, it is unreasonable to because there's nothing I can do about it.

The hospital requires continuous fetal monitoring. They don't have wireless OR waterproof monitors. This means that once I am admitted to the hospital, I will literally be strapped to a bed in one position until I have the baby. In my original birth plan, I wanted to labor in a tub, or at least in a shower because I've found throughout the pregnancy that all my pains can be eased substantially with warm water. Well, there ARE no tubs, and I am not ALLOWED to shower until after the baby is out, "considering whatever drugs you're on have worn off at that point". Why? "Hospital rules." That's it. I've not once been given a legit medical reason why I can't do X, Y, Z...all I get is "it's hospital policy and they're not flexible" which is basically they're way of saying "don't try to fight us on this, you're going to lose." In fact, I was even told by one of the doctors that if I want to labor in the shower, I better "stay at home as long as possible". Hmm.

Because the hospital requires continuous monitoring, I am also not allowed to walk, squat, or otherwise change position at all because I cannot take the monitor off. Every resource I've come across says that changing positions can be the difference between tolerable and intolerable contractions, and that laying on your back is the absolute WORST and most PAINFUL way to labor. Well, that's apparently the only choice I have.

I've been mentally preparing for the fact that labor is going to be hard and painful and will require a LOT of determination on my part, but that's considering that I'd have the ability to labor in a way that would encourage or facilitate what I want/need. In my current situation, I'm fighting an uphill battle because I'm putting pressure on myself to do something that's ALREADY so difficult, PLUS I have the hospital policy pushing back at me. It's an uphill battle at best.

So what conclusion did I come to?

I cannot plan. I should not worry. I am as prepared as I can be, but I do not know what to expect, and I shouldn't expect anything because it will only lead to disappointment if/when things don't go the way I thought they would.

So I am still going to do my best to cope with the pain naturally using the techniques that I have been focusing on for months. But I am also trying to come to peace with the fact that I might feel I need pain medication, and that I shouldn't hate myself or feel disappointed if I go that path. As it is right now, I know I will feel like an absolute failure if I opt for pain medication, but I realize I need to cut myself some slack because the hospital is literally making everything as backwards to what I need as they can, and there's nothing I can do about that.

As soon as I said out loud to my sister that I should try to forgive myself in advance in case I DO opt for pain medications, a calm came over me. As long as Elliot gets here healthy, I should focus on that and not HOW he got here, though I do still feel it's so important to do my best and go natural for the both of us. I'm not 100% ok with being this flexible yet, but I can't regret something I haven't even done yet, and if I DO do it, I can only use it as a learning experience for next time.

And by next time, I mean I am NEVER setting foot in an OB or hospital again when it comes to having children. I must find support for a more natural path here, otherwise I foresee all of Elliot's future siblings being born outside this city. This pregnancy has made so many beautiful things in my life, but it has also made me deeply dislike this city and it's attitude, and I'd love nothing more than to give my children a chance to live AWAY from it and it's influence.

Week 37

2011-09-22T12:04:00.001-04:00

OFFICIALLY full term!!! I decided in order to celebrate our full-term-ness, I should take my belly pic this week in my hospital gown ;)

This week I began maternity leave, and I've made it a point to stay in bed every single morning until past 10am, because once Elliot is here, I won't be able to do that til he and all his siblings are in college (maybe not even then)...so I'm taking advantage and trying to do my best to be as calm, content and relaxed as I can stand to be in the days (weeks?) leading up to Elliot's birthday.

I can truly say at this point that at every second of every day and night, I am in SOME sort of pain. The contractions won't quit (to the point that we went to the doctor twice this week just to check that I wasn't in labor), the sciatica is getting worse (I'm now becoming paralyzed in my left leg at certain intervals/positions...it feels like there's a giant weight strapped to my thigh and as much as I want to move, I simply CANNOT without help) and now we've also got these crazy menstrual-type cramps going 24/7 for the past 4 days. I finally broke down on Tuesday and cried for the first time about wanting to have Elliot here already...much to my husband's delight...not because I no longer want to be pregnant, but because the anticipation of the actual birth is killing me and I want to be able to look BACK on it already, not keep thinking about when it MIGHT happen.

BTW, that aspect of pregnancy is absolute torture for a Type A personality like myself that likes to plan everything and always know exactly what to expect. Absolute TORTURE.

A week ago today (the first day of week 37, as today is actually the first day of week 38...I am posting late, but the pic is from yesterday), we had an ultrasound showing that Elliot was weighing 6 lb, 10 oz. In a few hours, we shall have another to see how much weight he's gained since last week.

In related news: Hubs finished putting together the baby's room yesterday. I wasn't allowed in it for a week so he could set everything up. I cried when I saw it, of course. Hopefully over the weekend, I can do a post on the nursery, and I'd also like to do one on the latest book I read, and also a post dedicated to putting together our hospital bag.

:)

Yay!!!

2011-09-16T16:42:00.001-04:00

As I've mentioned before, we haven't had the best luck with cars...ever.

My car officially died back in July, and in the meantime I've been hitching rides to work with my dad (poor guy!) while my husband kept using our 2000 Cavalier (donated by my dad...again, what a saint!) which is a 2 door death trap. The AC doesn't work if you're standing in traffic, the brakes catch and get stuck, and the car constantly overheats. Yesterday was the last freaking straw because on our way to an ultrasound, a POISONOUS SPIDER crawled out of a crack in the dash and terrified us all the way to the hospital and back home.

Well, it just so happens that for the past couple of weeks, we've been looking for a functioning 4 door car and...(SURPRISE) we got one! We found THE car we wanted (all the way in Naples) and bought it sight unseen cuz it was just perfect! It was delivered today to my job and it is a DREAM! The first thing we did after driving around the block was install the base for Elliot's car seat. It's official. WE HAVE A FAMILY CAR.

So happy!

hubs installing Elliot's seat!

I've always wanted a station wagon!!! And now I have the coolest almost-station wagon ever ;) And I'm SO RELIEVED that we have a safe way to bring my baby home!

Week 36

2011-09-14T21:22:00.001-04:00

If I had to sum up this week in one word, it would be: CONTRACTIONS.

Painful, take-your-breath-away contractions. Yipes! The weirdest thing is that if I'm having particularly long or extra painful contractions, I just eat something and it goes away...it freaks me out because idk if Elliot complaining that he's hungry might be exacerbating the pain, or if something else might be wrong. I am, however, taking the contractions in general as a sign to get ready and I am getting SUPER EXCITED that our little sir will be here any day now!

Speaking of coming any day, yet ANOTHER doctor (this time one of my OBs) confirmed that Elliot is in position and engaged, meaning his head is already between my hips and he's locked and loaded for birth! He confirmed this by literally GRABBING Elliot's head through my pelvis and wiggling him around...it felt just about as pleasant as it sounds *dies*

Said OB also surprised me with a Group B Strep test yesterday, when I was told (read: FOOLED) that it was next week...that wasn't so pleasant either LOL but a necessary evil, I suppose.

I'm so happy that in this past week, we received the dresser, changing table and crib (thank you, mom and dad!) and that my glider came in (it's SO comfortable...I fell asleep on it pretty much the moment hubs finished putting it together), so now we just need to put everything in its place. I was so worried the baby would get here before his things, since most of them were in back order, but thankfully everything seems to be falling into place, as hubs kept insisting they would. Speaking of things falling into place, we might even have a pretty big surprise by the end of the week...big for us, anyway. We shall see...

Book Review: "Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds"

2011-09-14T15:55:00.000-04:00

I read this book in NO TIME at all! I couldn't put it down.

It is such an easy read! There is a flow to it like it's a conversation you're having with an old friend that happens to know A LOT about labor and delivery, rather than being talked at. It goes in depth into the interventions that could be suggested (or insisted on) by hospital staff, but rather than just list the side effects of each, etc., the book explains how best to handle saying no to the intervention in a way that doesn't undermine the caregivers. It also talks about the evolutionary reasons why we need advocates during birth, because our rational mind will basically fly out the window at some point during the labor and we need help making sure the hospital staff know what we want and why we want it.

The thing I liked most about this book is that the author took the time to write an entire chapter describing how labor FEELS. Every book I've read throughout the pregnancy stresses that it'll be difficult, painful, etc. but in this book, the author tries her best to describe the exact sensations your body and mind will go through each step of the way...I guess some women would prefer not to know that, but I like the fact that I can prepare myself mentally for what might arise.

Bottom line: for sure if I were to recommend only one book for mommas-to-be, this would be it. I loved the tone, and it was super informative.

I'm going to start focusing on post-birth books, considering that I might not have time to read those once the baby is actually here...The next book on my list is "The Happiest Baby on the Block" which came very highly recommended!

Last Week!

2011-09-12T12:15:00.000-04:00

OFFICIALLY: This is my last week working in the office for the foreseeable future. I'm going to come in every day this week (I usually come in 3-4 days a week) so I can finish training my brother, who started last week, to do the office management duties around here, and to tie up any loose ends before I go on maternity leave starting next week.

Considering that I AM the agent in the office, and my brother doesn't have a license for quoting/selling insurance, he is limited to administrative day-to-day things that I handle, meaning I'll be taking home my binder of prospects and quoting/selling from home, so I am officially a WAHM as of Monday. I'm not sure if my dad realizes that my intentions are to stay working at home indefinitely, considering that putting Elliot in day care would pretty much take up my ENTIRE take home pay, making working at all useless...but I have no doubt he'll decide on his own it's the best thing once he sees how efficient everything runs with me at home and my brother handling the daily stuff here.

OMG it's really happening!!!

Book Review: "The Birth Partner"

2011-09-09T14:26:00.001-04:00

I never went back to reading the Ina May book since I figured rather than continue to traumatize myself, I could just look for alternatives...

It took me a REALLY long time to get through this book, mostly because it reads like a textbook...but I did appreciate how IN DEPTH they get about EVERYTHING. This book doesn't necessarily have an "agenda" as far as pushing for med-free births, as some other books I've picked up have had. Rather, it runs through pretty much EVERY option in EVERY scenario so that the mother and her birth partner(s) can be as informed as possible should an unforeseen scenario arise. This is one thing I really appreciate about this book, since one of my biggest concerns is being bullied into an intervention that might not be necessary...if you ask for explanations of procedures once you "need" them, you may or may not have time to get a direct response, much less be able to think on it, so it helps to be taught and prepared in advance.

I recommend mommas-to-be read this book, especially if you're interested in learning the ins and outs of the labor process in detail and/or if you're interested in trying to go pain-med-free for your labor/delivery. Try to start reading it sooner rather than later in your pregnancy though ;) I started reading it in week 32 and I finally finished it today because it wasn't exactly a page-turner.

Next, I'm going to read "Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds"...Hopefully I can finish it this week, because I have a couple more books I'd like to digest before our little man makes his way into the world :)

contractions, contractions, contractions...

2011-09-09T10:08:00.000-04:00

daily for the past WEEK.

Yay for my body showing me it's efficient and practicing to have my baby! Boo for the discomfort and lack of sleep.

That is all.

Week 35

2011-09-08T11:45:00.000-04:00

A day late and a dollar short...or just a day late...the blog post at least, not the photo. I took the photo yesterday, still safely in week 35, but hubs insisted we hang out and watch "Top Shot" rather than blog, and I happily obliged!

I cannot even FATHOM how close we are! Hubs is sure Elliot will be here between September 15-20, and my mom is betting on September 26 on some hunch she has, so I'm wondering if we should start taking bets ;) If my son is anything like me, he'll come late just because it's the last thing everyone expects!

My insomnia (and the cold or whatever was causing it) have gone completely away, which is great, but sleep hasn't been completely easy because of the sciatica...my left hip all the way down to my foot are in constant pain to some degree, and (TMI) my groin is the most painful bit of it all! The baby's head is separating my inner leg from my "area", and it feels just like it sounds. Sitting and walking are crazy uncomfortable/painful. This has been the first week that I've FELT pregnant.

Hubs was teasing me last night, asking if I've hit that "OMG JUST COME OUT!" phase yet, and I let him know that actually, I haven't yet. In reality, I spent a good 10 minutes crying in the shower the other night because my days with my son in my belly are numbered. I've been told that my love of pregnancy is not normal LOL but I guess normal isn't really my thing...

I love my son!!!!

my view from above LOL

Another trip to the hospital...

2011-09-06T14:46:00.001-04:00

On Sunday, I had a hard time feeling Elliot move (actually, I only felt him move once, right after breakfast, and then not at all the whole day)...I tried to keep calm figuring maybe he was just moving differently since I'd suspected he'd dropped the day before (the pressure down low is CRAZY).

At 8pm I got home from a day long outing with my mom (hubs kicked me out of the house so he could paint the baby's room LOL) and I still felt nothing, so I told my exhausted husband I was giving it another hour before I called the doctor, knowing she would tell me to go to the Labor and Delivery ward. Sure enough, the hour rolled by, and I was told to do exactly that.

We got to hospital and I was immediately put on a monitor. The nurse had no trouble find Elliot's perfect little heartbeat and told me he was actually moving plenty, and it's still a mystery why I wasn't feeling him. Then she gave me a huge guilt trip about how I should have come much earlier, which just made me furious because I had been insisting on going earlier but I couldn't control the fact that I have no car and had to rely on other people to decide I should go.

ANYWAY...

He was fine, and they were about to release me, when I felt a crazy pain really low and towards my back. The nurse noticed a pattern and lo and behold, I was having contractions. The conversation of having to possibly stop the labor since I'm only 35 weeks came up, and I freaked out because I haven't so much as had a TYLENOL throughout the pregnancy, so I didn't want to have to be medicated now unless absolutely necessary.

we checked out a birthing suite while we waited. It was HUGE!

most comfy couch EVER.

I was sent to do an ultrasound and to check if I was dilating because the contractions were pretty steady. We learned that Elliot HAS indeed dropped, and that he's in anterior vertex position, meaning he's perfectly poised for delivery. We also learned that he has the perfect amount of fluid in there with him, and my cervix is not at all dilated so I was just experiencing some very "professional" Braxton Hicks contractions LOL.

We also determined that I absolutely am suffering from sciatica on my left side, which explains A LOT of the excruciating pain I've had the past few weeks when I lay/sit/stand/anything but hover.

So long story short, we're fine and it looks like we're right on track. Today makes a month exactly til our due date!!! :)

Big Girl Furniture

2011-09-03T14:14:00.000-04:00

I've been on a mission to find the perfect glider suitable for plus size preggos...The glider we originally registered for was not only obscenely expensive, but did not have the highest of weight capacities. The last thing we wanted was to spend $400 on a chair that we could expect to fall apart on us because it wasn't meant to hold me in the first place...

After checking countless forums, manufacturers websites and reviews online (not to mention comparison shopping at different websites to get the best deal), I was able to find this:

It costs $200 retail INCLUDING the ottoman, is the exact material and color of all our other furniture, and holds up to 300 pounds.

BONUS: This weekend, it's $20 off and comes with free standard shipping, so I was able to get it for $185 including shipping and taxes. The cheapest option at Babies R Us would have cost us at least $250, PLUS it would have had a much lower weight capacity, rendering it pretty much useless to us.

Yay, plus size friendly finds! Let me know if you have any tips for plus size friendly mommy gear that you'd like to share...

Week 34

2011-08-31T20:22:00.002-04:00

My little squirmy man is so big already!!! Today I actually got some video of him kicking my hand off my belly LOL...his grandpa, who is already a tad hysterical/overprotective kept yelling at me to leave the baby alone, thinking I was bugging him by putting my hand on my belly :D he's so cute...

I had to take off my ring right after this...my finger is naked for the first time in almost 6 years!

nudie preggo mirror shot ;)

This week has been all about SEVERE insomnia which I thought was brought on by really really dry sinuses, but it turns out I'm fighting off a really bad cold that hit hubs this morning FULL FORCE. I feel so bad for him, cuz I've been feeling pretty awful but nothing like he looks...I've been sleeping better the past couple of nights after toying with the humidifier on my sleep apnea machine, but I'm also able to breathe better since the cold is diminishing. Hopefully I feel 100% soon.

I went to the doctor yesterday and was asked basically why I'm going to a GD specialist if I've been going to an endocrinologist throughout the pregnancy...I basically answered with a combination of "I've been wondering the same thing" and "because one of your colleagues doesn't believe I could possibly be this fat and not have GD". The doctor told me to stop seeing the specialist, especially after I let her know they've been stalking me by phone trying to insist that I need to take a drug to help my pancreas produce more insulin, even though my sugar levels are normal and the drug has never been tested on pregnant women so there's no way of knowing what the side effects would be for Elliot. HELL NO.

The baby shower this past weekend was ok, mostly because my mom, sister and grandmother were there to be sarcastic about the whole thing with me. Of the 40+ people that went, only 3 bothered to ask how I was feeling, if I was excited, etc. Everyone else got introduced to me and then continued on their way, talking amongst themselves and completely ignoring me. By the end of the "party", I was in a pretty stubborn mood, seeing as my suspicions of being an excuse for my MIL to throw herself an "I'm gonna be a grandma" party was confirmed, so I refused to open gifts. I wasn't going to anyway, seeing as I didn't at my own shower because I hate that, but everyone seemed to take offense. They would have avoided that whole awkward situation for themselves if they'd bothered to ask me, well...ANYTHING, but they didn't so...oh well.

My mom and I at the shower, holdin' these balloons

We also had our (third) 3D/4D ultrasound this week, and we finally got some halfway decent pics of el nene. My mom thinks he's looking a lot like my husband, which I think is so adorable...hopefully he has a little of me in him as well :)

my little snuggle ball resting on his hand, which he insisted on having on his face the whole time :)

Resistance is futile

2011-08-28T07:10:00.001-04:00

I spent all day yesterday battling major sinus pain and congestion, and generally feeling awful. I've been up all night unable to breathe, and now a sore throat has decided to join the party. These circumstances find me in our guest room on a futon before 7am on a Sunday, watching the Flintstones movie instead of being in bed like a normal person...and blogging from my iPhone.

Did I mention my second baby shower is 7 hours from now?

I'll be honest, I haven't been looking forward to today. I've actually been dreading it. You might remember I was on the fence about having a baby shower to begin with, but my mom made sure to keep me as involved and uninvolved in each individual aspect as I desired...even then I was a teensy bit upset to see that of the 60 people invited to the first shower, I didn't know like 4...

Well for today's shower (which was sprung on me the day of my first shower), I have absolutely no input. In fact, I just found out the exact time and date this past week, having not even received an invite to my own shower. My mother-in-law is putting this together for me, and of the 60 people SHE invited, I only know 8, INCLUDING her and my husband.

I don't know if she plans to have cheesy baby shower games, which I was very picky about at my first shower (it actually feels like I should be saying my shower vs. hers, rather than my first vs. my second)...I don't know what we're eating, who is invited, the theme...I hate surprises. I hate being the center of attention, and I hate meeting new people, especially knowing that the only reason I'm meeting them is to get gifts from them. Feels pretty prostitute-y.

It also bothers me that since the subject of a baby shower came up in my first trimester, I was adamant about not waiting too long past the start of the third trimester to have my shower because I'd been told and read that the third is the hardest, and I didn't want to be tired or miserable the day of my shower...hence, the third trimester started week 28, and my shower was on week 29...now I'm in week 34, third trimester insomnia and aches in full effect, and I have to put on a happy face for a bunch of strangers. She actually wanted to do it closer to week 38, til my husband told her she was crazy and the baby might be here by then for all we know...

I know I sound like a brat, and I've been trying for a month to be upbeat and feel excited that someone wants to celebrate my baby like this, but I can't help but feel (as you can tell) that this is less for me than it is for her, and I'm just going to be paraded around like prized livestock on display for the sake of having a party.

Bleh. I feel like crap. I've never wanted it to be Monday so bad.

Oh, Elliot...

2011-08-27T12:58:00.000-04:00

Oh, my darling boy...

I've had a lot of time to think these past few nights (seeing as I'm not sleeping...ever). Last night in particular I was up for a little over an hour (from about 3:30 to almost 5) just thinking about how I'm about to become a parent. A real, grown-up parent...to you.

Thoughts flooded my head about how much I already love you, and how that love is just going to burst in magnitude when I meet you...how much I want the best for you, and how I want you to grow up to be the best, happiest version of yourself that you can possibly be...

And I have no idea how to do that.

When I was a teenager (and even before, I always was pretty mature for my age LOL), I sometimes looked at my parents like they must be diseased, or stupid, or both. The things they did didn't make sense to me, the things they said sounded ridiculous, their rules were pointless...as I got older, it occurred to me that they are just human, and I didn't come with a manual. They did their best, and I think I came out alright, both because and in spite ;) of them.

Now that I'm pregnant, I know that my life has been completely changed from the moment I found out you were in there, and it's going to change again the second you make your entrance. I've never been more scared, or worried, or elated, or excited in my whole life. People say pregnant women have a glow about them...well I FEEL that glow. I feel like I'm radiating electricity that people can see and feel around me because I am so in love with you and so proud of you already, my wonderful little man. Never has a child been so desperately loved and wanted as you.

Maybe it's just me, but I never considered while I was fighting with my parents, or wishing I'd never been born, or telling myself how much I hate them because I wasn't allowed to go to a party or whatever, that they spent endless nights before I even got here just scared shitless (excuse the language, I'm sure you'll get used to it) that they loved someone they didn't even know SOOOO much that they were just hoping beyond hope that they wouldn't screw up TOO badly.

I can't wait to meet you. And yet I have no clue what I'll do once you're here.

Sometimes I'm going to do too much for you because I want your life to be easy, and I will undoubtedly spoil you that way. Other times I might be harsher than either of us feels I need to be, because I don't want you to miss a chance to learn something valuable and become a better person for it. For both of things, I apologize profusely in advance, but I promise I mean well.

Your Mom and Dad have both been through A LOT, both together and before we met. Some of it heartbreaking, and some it insanely beautiful...so try us. We might understand. We might even be able to help. And even if we can't, we promise to listen, never judge, and be here for you however we can...even if it's just a shoulder to cry on or an ear to vent to.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is: I can assure you that you did not come with instructions, and sometimes I'm going to do things that make no sense and that sound stupid or make you think I must be diseased...but I want you to know every breath I take, I take for you, and everything I do and say is entirely and completely out of love for you. I will do my best, and that's all I can promise. So when I embarrass you or piss you off for what seems like no reason, cut me a little slack, please. After all, I'm only human, as you will one day learn.

Mami loves you, mi nene lindo. More than I could ever say, write, or show. But I will damn sure try.

Weeks 32 and 33

2011-08-24T19:49:00.000-04:00

Two posts in one! I keep waiting til the last minute (almost literally) with my belly pics since my hubs lost the bracket that connects my camera to my tripod, so I missed posting last week (though I did manage to get the pic on time!)

WEEK 32:

I was literally already in bed last Wednesday night when I said "OMG! My belly pic!" and leapt out of bed to take this, hence the awesome hair lol

Week 32 was full of cries. I cried for everything. I don't know why, I was just very emotional. I felt WAY better towards the end of the week, when I had an appointment with my favorite OB, who reassured me that my chances of a c-section were so slim because of my weight, when my mom and grandmother had been warning (read: scaring) me that the exact opposite might happen. I was under the impression thanks to my family that I was practically guaranteed a cesarean because of my bigness and it turns out that it couldn't be further from the truth!

WEEK 33:

I was joking with my husband that this week I fully fell into the third trimester HARD. All the discomforts from the first trimester are back in full force, PLUS I'm huge (so huge that 3 people asked me today in a span of 10 MINUTES whether I was carrying twins) which makes everything much more uncomfortable. I've slept a total of maybe 10 hours in the past 4 nights. Every position I could possibly lay, sit or stand in hurts in some way. Still, I'm not ready or in a rush for my little man to come out, like everyone expects. I'm still in such shock and delirium about even being pregnant that I don't want to rush a single moment of it.

We have almost all the baby's furniture and necessities, and our to-do list is getting smaller and smaller, which is making me so happy. I was anxious basically throughout the whole pregnancy that we wouldn't be prepared for Elliot's arrival on time, but I'm starting to relax and realize that if we don't have EVERYTHING, it's not the end of the world.

Though a functioning 4 door car would be great right now, not gonna lie ;)

woo hoo!

2011-08-15T09:32:00.003-04:00

Today makes 2 years since I quit smoking! Happy anniversary to me!!!

Present to myself? Today is our second 4D ultrasound appointment! :D

::EDIT:: The appointment was a total bust because Elliot was facing my back and the tech (who didn't know WTF she was doing) kept insisting on prodding and shaking me while making really loud shrill noises next to my belly to get the baby to move...needless to say I left really pissed and frustrated, and I was told to make yet ANOTHER appointment to come back, but at this point idk if I want to keep going through this. Spent all night in a really irritable mood when I wasn't crying. Not a good night.

It's been over a week...

2011-08-12T10:05:00.002-04:00

since I started on my GD-prevention diet (which is what I'm calling it, since as far as the doctors are concerned, it's a GD-treatment diet which is total malarkey)...and not only have I not had a SINGLE cheat, but my numbers have been fantastic! So fantastic in fact, that yesterday I spent all morning researching whether I could possibly be hypoglycemic, because my numbers have been so low...but it turns out they're not low enough to qualify for hypoglycemia. So, my numbers are too high for hypoglycemia, but too low for diabetes, meaning :GASP!: I'M PERFECTLY FREAKING HEALTHY.

So there. LOL

It hasn't been easy, and I haven't been without temptations (with my husband drinking sodas and eating pop tarts left and right in front of me LOL) but I will always accept a challenge that will prove someone else wrong :)

Week 31

2011-08-10T22:36:00.001-04:00

My baby is so big!!! We were told the first day of the 31st week that he was already weighing 4 lbs, 5 oz...he should have only been weighing 3 pounds! As a matter of fact, he's big for even 32 weeks! As a result, his movements have been much slower and more deliberate...I guess he's running out of room in there, poor thing!

I'm feeling him all over my belly this week, which is new for me because throughout this entire pregnancy (with very VERY few exceptions), I've only felt him very low in my belly. Now he's kicking and punching all over!

I've got a few birth prep books that I'm determined to read before I actually go INTO labor LOL let's see if I'm able to get anything done in week 32, because week 31 has been more about researching cloth diapers, prepping the baby's room for paint, and lots of other little things.

Speaking of little things, I'd heard a lot about the book "Love You Forever" and thought it would be nice to buy it for Elliot and read it to him every night while he's still in my belly so that it's familiar to him once he's here...

Well, I finally read it to myself tonight, and erupted in a pile of tears on about the third page that turned into a giant sobbing mess by the end of the book...I gave the book to my husband with instructions to never let me read it again, went into the bathroom and totally lost it crying. OMG, that book!!! I was NOT expecting that! It's a beautiful story, but I'm just WAY too sentimental (regardless of pregnant status) for it.

Our 4D Ultrasound!

2011-08-10T15:40:00.002-04:00

I haven't gotten a chance to tell you about the other appointment we had last week...our 4D ultrasound appointment!

We originally went to our regular ultrasound place at the hospital because we were told that they do complimentary 3D/4D imaging, but as soon as we started the tech dude basically said "He's in a bad position. Sorry." and didn't bother trying. I guess we got what we paid for there...

Anyway, we then called and made an appointment at Jemay, who could see us that day! Woohoo!!! My husband, my sister and I all rode together to the great adventure of seeing our little sir.

The first thing the tech told me is that the baby was in a weird position (as always LOL), with his face smushed up against the placenta...so it would be difficult, but not impossible. The second thing the tech told me (or I guess, asked me) is if it had been a while since I'd eaten. I told him I ate about 2.5 hours prior, but not a whole lot...why? Well, he says, look at the screen...and there's my poor little guy sticking his tongue out (licking the placenta basically, ew LOL) imitating breast feeding because he was hungry!!! :( That about broke my heart! Pobrecito!!! That was amazing though, how even in the womb, the instinct to breastfeed exists in babies...

It took about 40 minutes, a pee break and a LOT of shifting positions for me, but eventually we got an amazing view of my little one...The tech kept telling me to talk to him, which I thought was pretty awkward at first, but it was amazing how he reacted to my voice! I didn't think he recognized me til then!!! My little sir kept smiling whenever I'd mention our dog (I have a feeling they're going to be great friends!) and then he yawned followed by a big grin and it was just about the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. My heart was so full. Of course, we got a DVD of the whole thing which we've shown to pretty much everyone we know.

with his hand near his mouth and his foot near his ear(!)

The tech also told us he has LOTS of hair...I guess that old wives tale about heartburn is true! LOL

I'm so excited to meet him already! His daddy was so happy to see him smiling in there, he's been driving me nuts everyday (more than usual) asking if I can hurry and pop him out already :)

We have another appointment next week to try to get better shots (for FREE), and I was given instructions to eat beforehand so he won't be so fussy, poor thing! ;) I'm so excited to see him again!

One Big Racket

2011-08-09T16:00:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, we had several appointments...one of which was with a Gestational Diabetes specialist. My endocrinologist has been subjecting me to random glucose tolerance tests (BLECH!) and having me monitor my blood sugar pretty much since the beginning of the second trimester, simply due to the fact that I'm obese and the obstetrician insisted I be monitored closely since I'm "more likely" to develop GD. Throughout the pregnancy, my results have bounced from borderline pre-diabetes to completely normal and back, but never conclusively YOU HAVE GD.

One of the OBs in the practice (whom I really never liked because she has a really shitty attitude about everything) decided to give me yet ANOTHER glucose tolerance test because she didn't believe I hadn't developed GD (nice, right?)...so I went to the lab SHE wanted me to, took yet another test, and it came back positive for pre-diabetes (again, not full blown GD, just that I COULD develop it, which obviously we've known from the get-go). Well, based on that, she decided that rather than retest to see why that test came back high when none of the others had, she'd rather just send me to a diabetes specialist despite what my endocrinologist said.

So, I went...in the waiting room, I met a woman who DID have GD, and she told me she could tell just by looking at me that I was fine, and started pointing out all the physical manifestations of diabetes that she possessed that I clearly did not. I felt good about just letting whatever the specialist said roll off my back, until I got in there and she insisted that I was endangering my baby just by being me. At least, that's what I took away from the conversation, since my blood work was perfect, so if I was endangering Elliot, it's not due to my sugars.

I got REALLY pissed and kind of took it out on the lady, who kept trying to win me over after I went off on her, but I let her know not to bother, she'd lost any hope of me liking her and she should just say what she had to say. Long story short, I was given a booklet on diabetes management and given a VERY strict diet to go on immediately. I was given more testing supplies and told that I was to send her my blood work results once a week for the next 3 weeks to make sure my pre-diabetes could be controlled simply by diet and that insulin wasn't necessary. I KNOW insulin isn't necessary because I'M NOT SICK, so I decided to make the best of it....ok, a diet and testing 4 times a day...big whoop. I can stand to eat better and testing isn't SUCH a drag...if it'll shut these guys up in only 3 weeks, fine. I'll play along.

THEN I got a call on Saturday from the specialists office, letting me know that I needed to meet with a nurse AT HOME, and have her give me more supplies, including ketostix (sounds like they're doing more than monitoring my diet)...and SHOCKER! My insurance won't pay for all of it, just 70%, so I need to pay $200 co-pay in order to be put on this program that I'm positive I don't even need. If I thought for a SECOND that I was truly endangering my son, I absolutely would be on board, but since I've started the program, my blood sugar levels have been IDEAL. Not just good for a fat woman or good for a pregnant woman, but SIMPLY PERFECT. This is just one big racket to get the scared fat girl to pay for crap she doesn't need and to squeeze more out of the insurance. How about I just buy some ketostix at Walgreens for $15 and we call it fair that I didn't just send the whole pile of people involved to hell?

So yeah. The diet doesn't SUCK (in fact, it's a LOT of food), it just involves a LOT of planning because it's not easy to count exchanges for pre-packaged food, so I've been eating nothing but home cooked food SIX times a day for the past 5 days, and will be for at least the next couple of weeks. The baby's movements have been more subtle since I've started the diet, hubs thinks it might be because he's not hopped up on fruit juice anymore LOL

End of rant.

Week 30

2011-08-03T18:00:00.001-04:00

I can't believe we're in the 30s!!!!!

BTW, I repeated this outfit because I wanted to compare myself at 15 weeks to now (TWICE as pregnant LOL) Here is the comparison:

MUCH pregnant-er! LOL ;)

This week:

- I started reading Guide to Childbirth by Ina May. I was more than a little traumatized, but after watching some videos of her speaking, I'm giving it another shot and it's going much better now :)

- My ankle pain has gone away for the most part, which is a HUGE relief. Plus I was told yesterday at the OB that my feet and ankles were not at all swollen and that my BP is perfect, plus the baby's heartrate is great and I lost 2 pounds in 2 weeks just from eating more veggies, so yay us!

- Hubs moved all his stuff out of his man cave (which is now the baby's room) and we united our office spaces into what was MY cave, and I'm very impressed at how nice everything turned out. I forgot how great it was for my husband and I to each be on our computers, listening to music and chatting, like we used to when we lived with my parents :)

- I bought myself a hospital gown to wear during delivery! I had been meaning to do it since pretty much the first trimester, when I discovered people actually MADE custom hospital gowns, and I finally got around to doing it! Here is a picture of what I got:

Source

Getting a GD consult/ultrasound tomorrow. If all goes to plan, it'll be a 3D ultrasound!!! So excited!

And now, some facts/estimates on my little wiggle-worm :D

Birth Plan revisited

2011-08-03T14:44:00.000-04:00

Spoke to an OB at my practice yesterday (they rotate so you get to know everyone), and I was pretty disappointed with what I was told about my birth plan, even PO'ed at one point...As I told my sister, who came to the appointment with me: "Unless something magical happens during birth that makes me want to blow everyone in that hospital, I am NOT going to do a hospital birth with the next baby!" (Blunt but true story LOL)

* I'd like the following people to be present during labor and/or birth: My husband, my sister, and my mother. "OK"

* I'd like to wear my own clothes during labor and delivery. "OK, but you probably won't want to"

* I'd like to take pictures and/or video during labor and delivery. "Only allowed BEFORE labor, AFTER birth and NOT during newborn tests"

* I'd like the option of returning home if I'm not in active labor. "OK"
* Once I'm admitted, I'd like my partner to be allowed to stay with me at all times. "OK"

* Once I'm admitted, I'd like to eat if I wish to. "Not going to happen"

* Once I'm admitted, I'd like to try to stay hydrated by drinking clear fluids instead of having an IV. "Not going to happen, either"

* Once I'm admitted, I'd like to walk and move around as I choose. "You'll be strapped to a monitor so you can walk as long as you're not far from the edge of the bed" read: NO.

* As long as the baby and I are doing fine, I'd like to have intermittent rather than continuous electronic fetal monitoring. "We can do it, but it'd be a nuisance." read: "Not going to happen"

* As long as the baby and I are doing fine, I'd like to be allowed to progress free of stringent time limits and have my labor augmented only if necessary. "OK"

* If available, I'd like to try a birthing ball, birthing stool, squatting bar, and/or a birthing tub/pool. "What are these things?" I WISH I was kidding.

* I'd like to try the following pain-management techniques: bath/shower, hot/cold therapy, massage. "No bathing or showering, stay home and do that until you MUST come to the hospital"
* Please don't offer me pain medication. I'll request it if I need it. "Make sure you tell them that at the hospital" I thought that's what the point of THIS was?

* If I decide I want medicinal pain relief, I'd prefer regional analgesia (an epidural and/or spinal block). "OK"

* When it's time to push, I'd like to be coached on when to push and for how long. "OK"

* I'd like to try the following positions for pushing (and birth): semi-reclining, squatting, hands and knees, whatever feels right at the time... "We're not equipped for that" read: "Not going to happen"

* During delivery, I'd like to give birth without an episiotomy. Again, "Make sure you tell them that". Um, will do.

* After birth, I'd like to hold my baby right away, putting off any procedures that aren't urgent. "OK"

* After birth, I'd like to breastfeed as soon as possible. "OK"

* After birth, I'd like not to get oxytocin (Pitocin) after I deliver the placenta unless it's necessary. This is where I got pissed. "Well, we will do that so you don't bleed. I mean, you're going to bleed anyway...but we're physicians. This is what we do." Uh-huh. So basically, fuck yourself. We're medicating you one way or the other.

* After birth, I'd like my partner to cut the umbilical cord. "OK"

* If I have a c-section, I'd like my partner present at all times during the operation. "OK"

* If I have a c-section, I'd like the baby to be given to my partner as soon as he's dried, if appropriate. "OK"

* If I have a c-section, I'd like to breastfeed my baby in the recovery room. "OK"

* I'm planning to bank cord blood privately. "OK"

* After delivery, I'd like all newborn procedures to take place in my presence. "OK"

* After delivery, I'd like my partner to stay with the baby at all times if I can't be there. "OK"

* I'd like 24-hour rooming-in with my baby. "After the birth, ALL babies go to the nursery for a bit, but then he's all yours" I almost clawed at her face when she said that. I'm going to fight this one.

* I plan to breastfeed EXCLUSIVELY. "OK"

* Do not offer my baby: formula, sugar water, a pacifier. "OK"

* I do NOT want my baby circumcised. "OK"

* I'd like to wait and see how I feel before deciding about the timing of hospital discharge. "OK"

So I reiterate...I knew I'd be disappointed because I was expecting too much from a hospital, but for the most part, I expected this. Next go round, once I know I can successfully have a birth without complications, it's birthing center all the way!!!

Birth Plan

2011-08-01T15:01:00.000-04:00

* I'd like the following people to be present during labor and/or birth: My husband, my sister, and my mother.

* I'd like to wear my own clothes during labor and delivery.

* I'd like to take pictures and/or video during labor and delivery.

* I'd like the option of returning home if I'm not in active labor.

* Once I'm admitted, I'd like my partner to be allowed to stay with me at all times.

* Once I'm admitted, I'd like to eat if I wish to.

* Once I'm admitted, I'd like to try to stay hydrated by drinking clear fluids instead of having an IV.

* Once I'm admitted, I'd like to walk and move around as I choose.

* As long as the baby and I are doing fine, I'd like to have intermittent rather than continuous electronic fetal monitoring.

* As long as the baby and I are doing fine, I'd like to be allowed to progress free of stringent time limits and have my labor augmented only if necessary.

* If available, I'd like to try a birthing ball, birthing stool, squatting bar, and/or a birthing tub/pool.

* I'd like to try the following pain-management techniques: bath/shower, hot/cold therapy, massage.

* Please don't offer me pain medication. I'll request it if I need it.

* If I decide I want medicinal pain relief, I'd prefer regional analgesia (an epidural and/or spinal block).

* When it's time to push, I'd like to be coached on when to push and for how long.

* I'd like to try the following positions for pushing (and birth): semi-reclining, squatting, hands and knees, whatever feels right at the time...

* During delivery, I'd like to give birth without an episiotomy.

* After birth, I'd like to hold my baby right away, putting off any procedures that aren't urgent.

* After birth, I'd like to breastfeed as soon as possible.

* After birth, I'd like not to get oxytocin (Pitocin) after I deliver the placenta unless it's necessary.

* After birth, I'd like my partner to cut the umbilical cord.

* If I have a c-section, I'd like my partner present at all times during the operation.

* If I have a c-section, I'd like the baby to be given to my partner as soon as he's dried, if appropriate.

* If I have a c-section, I'd like to breastfeed my baby in the recovery room.

* I'm planning to bank cord blood privately.

* After delivery, I'd like all newborn procedures to take place in my presence.

* After delivery, I'd like my partner to stay with the baby at all times if I can't be there.

* I'd like 24-hour rooming-in with my baby.

* I plan to breastfeed EXCLUSIVELY.

* Do not offer my baby: formula, sugar water, a pacifier.

* I do NOT want my baby circumcised.

* I'd like to wait and see how I feel before deciding about the timing of hospital discharge.

I' m sure a lot of these won't be do-able (I'm looking at YOU, eating during labor and no IV!) but I'm going to take this to my OB appointment tomorrow and talk everything over with my doctor to see what I am willing to compromise and what MUST be.

(This nifty PDF was a big help in articulating just what I wanted during my labor and delivery.)

It's going to be a big week!!!

2011-07-31T19:23:00.001-04:00

This week:

* I'm going to put together my birth-plan and discuss it with my OB to make sure everyone is on the same page.

* I'll be having a consult (and possibly an ultrasound) regarding my possible GD, because the consensus is that I'm still borderline, as I've been from the get-go, and the OB wants me treated for diabetes while the endocrinologist (read: expert) does NOT think it's necessary.

* We should be finishing patching up and painting the baby's room, which means we should be able to go get his furniture and put it all together! :)

* I'm going to put together as many resources as I can on Bradley Method and Hypnobirthing so I can feel prepared to go natural when the time comes. I will, of course, listen to my body and push myself as hard as I can, but I am trying to be flexible as well in case I decide to give in to medication. As it is, I feel like I'll be very disappointed in myself if I give in to pain meds, but I'm trying to convince myself to be reasonable and not be so hard on myself, because the fact is that I don't know what I'll be up against. I want to be fully present for the birth of my son, that's what's most important to me.

* I will (FINALLY) be setting up our cord blood banking, after taking several weeks to research our options and this whole last week to think about which company we will be going with. I might do a post on this decision soon...

* I hope to set up a tour at the hospital to become familiar with the L&D ward, and to make an appointment for a 3D/4D ultrasound before our little sir is too big for a good pic :)

Truth.

2011-07-27T15:18:00.000-04:00

I am going to miss being pregnant SO much. I love my belly (in fact, I've never felt more beautiful or more like a WOMAN)...and I love knowing that my child is so close to me. I'm going to miss feeling him in there, nudging me awake in the mornings and having a crazy dance party every night before bed. It'll be a tremendous joy to hold him in my arms, but it'll be bittersweet knowing he won't ever be as close to me as he is right now.

I love how he reacts to his father's voice, and how he wiggles after I've eaten and he's chowing down...I'm even going to miss him pushing on my bladder, threatening to make me pee all over the couch, while I imagine a mischievous look on his face, cuz that's just what I would do if I were so close to someone's bladder ):)

I won't miss the heartburn or the back pain, but I'll miss everything else about these days I'm spending with my littlest sir.

Ahh, who knows. Maybe I'll even miss the back pain.

Our Baby Shower!!! (PIC HEAVY POST)

2011-07-26T14:12:00.002-04:00

We had our baby shower this past weekend on the 23rd, and it was so great! I had been uneasy about the idea of a baby shower since it occurred to me that I would have one, just because I really don't like being the center of attention, and I ESPECIALLY hate opening presents in front of people. I never know how to react, even when I legit love what I've received! It's too much pressure LOL

Well, my mom put everything together and it came out PERFECT. All I did was give her my guest list (which she MOSTLY stuck to LOL) and tell her that I wanted owls, blue, green and brown (since that's what we're going for with Elliot's room as well). She took it from there and MADE every decoration herself, while my grandmother made all the food for the 60 people that were there! My paternal grandparents had the flu and it broke my heart (and theirs) that they couldn't be there, which is the only thing I would have changed about the whole event. My husband made sure to take LOTS of pics to show them when we visit them next week, and here are a few of my favorites (there are A LOT).

I was told my one of my husband's cousins that he had been dragged to a LOT of co-ed showers before, and that they're always a bummer, but that he had a great time at ours and he was impressed at how awesome everything was. I think that says it all right there! ;)

The 2 preggos

The only IMAIM shirt for babies that exists! LOL

almost passed out LOL it was HOT! The AC was cranking, but there were so many people it felt like it wasn't doing much...

My reaction to my sister getting Elliot "The Monster at the End of This Book", which I still remember my mom reading to us, doing all the voices :)

AND I didn't have to open any gifts! (except my aunts and sisters, because they both insisted LOL)

:::EDIT::: Even MORE pics that I just snatched off Giannina's facebook!!! :)

Week 29

2011-07-25T12:58:00.001-04:00

It's blurry, but we took it once we got home from our baby shower, so we were too tired to keep trying LOL

Little sir continues wiggling and squirming like there's no tomorrow, though there were a couple days where he was pretty quiet during the day, so I assume he was conserving his energy for a growth spurt :)

I officially own NO shoes that fit me except my camo Crocs that my husband has decided to steal for himself, and my $2.50 Old Navy flip-flops. The latter provides ZERO support and as a result I've had a really bad pain in my right ankle for the past week. No bueno.

As I mentioned, we had our baby shower over the weekend, and it was AWESOME (so awesome that I'll have another post dedicated just to it later this week) but I had to post this pic because I can't even believe how perfect this is for Elliot!

Isn't that adorable?! And so fitting! LOL

HEARTBURN FROM HELL!!!! (My final thoughts LOL)

wow!

2011-07-24T18:19:00.000-04:00

Week 7/Week 29

That's mah baybah in there!!! :)

Surprise!

2011-07-19T13:45:00.000-04:00

I found out this morning that apparently, out of over 600 blogs written by Latinas, mine was one of 5 nominated for parenting blog of the year! YAY!

Please vote HERE, you only have to do it once (not once a day like a lot of voting sites) and I only have a week to get as much support as possible, so feel free to pass this on! Help us win stuff for Elliot! :)

I'm up against the blog that won my category last year, and the voting is only open for a week, so please vote guys! (I'm told it works best on Internet explorer, and make sure you click FINISHED at the end of the survey or it won't count your votes!)

Vote for Plus Size Preggo http://bblawards.blogspot.com/p/vote-now.html

Week 28

2011-07-17T13:55:00.002-04:00

Third trimester OFFICIALLY!!!

Elliot is active all the time now...he wakes me up in the morning with little knocks on my belly, he does his most impressive stretches and somersaults before I go to bed every night, and every so often while I'm sitting at my desk or on the couch, he'll give me a nice wiggle to say hello :)

As I mentioned earlier, this week I had my 28 week glucose test, which I should be getting results for on Tuesday, the same day I'm getting my last RhoGam shot (I had one earlier in the pregnancy). This upcoming weekend is my baby shower, which I'm SUPER excited about, especially since I insisted my mom take the reins (I wanted as little input as possible, as my mom is very crafty and knows what I like), so everything is going to be a surprise to me! I usually hate surprises with a passion, but knowing it's more for Elliot than me makes me happy.

I have no idea how I'm getting to work tomorrow (or any other day) and doctors appointments are going to be especially tricky, but everything is great in the world of Baboosh, so I am beyond content.

of all the times for this to happen...

2011-07-16T13:09:00.000-04:00

My car (the only car I've ever had in the 8 years I've been driving) developed transmission problems (conveniently) right after it's warranty expired, about 4 years ago. Turns out every 04 Maxima on earth has the exact same problem because Nissan built the transmission on that year and model very cheaply and irresponsibly, and there is currently a class action suit to make Nissan responsible for the shoddy craftsmanship.

My car has been unpredictable and sometimes undriveable as a result of this (in fact, I went about a year and a half where I just had the car parked in my parents driveway because I was so scared to drive it in its state...I, for all purposes, had no car until we moved out and I NEEDED to drive my car, fucked up or not).

Well, on Thursday I had my glucose test, so I drove the 6 miles to the doctors office, almost fainting while fighting the urge to puke after drinking that vile fruit punch flavored syrup, then spent my hour waiting contemplating all the different places I wanted to go eat after this test, since I was fasting and STARVING.

After the bloodwork, I get in my car and get a whole mile down the road before my car just dies. It rolled (in neutral) about 100 feet and just stopped...in the middle of Kendall Drive. For those of you not familiar with Miami roads, Kendall is one of THE busiest streets in the city, is in fact a state road, and is absolutely terrifying (to me) to drive on, let alone to get stalled out on.

In absolute HYSTERICS, I call my husband, afraid to get out of the car because of all the cars whizzing by me, but afraid to stay inside because some asshole might not see my hazard lights and slam right into my stopped car with me inside...I finally get out and run to the sidewalk, compose myself enough to call a tow truck and...long story short...

I was MELTING in the 92 degree weather, stressed out to the max because of the circumstance, dehydrated and STARVING. Quite a way to remember the first day of my third trimester.

My car is still stalled at home, with no hope of getting fixed (or even looked at by a mechanic) for a good long while because we've already been told that replacing my transmission (as it is beyond fixing) will cost about $4000, money we do NOT have especially considering all the things we need for Elliot.

So yeah. Doctors appointments, work, etc...and all we have to rely on for transportation is our 11 year old Cavalier that overheats and has an AC that functions when it feels like it. We have an unreliable 2 door car to get my husband and I (and maybe even our son, depending on how long this takes to resolve) around. Fan-fucking-tastic.

Of all the times for my car to finally decide to take a shit and die, in all these years that's its been a ticking time bomb, why did it have to go off now?

Piggle overload!

2011-07-13T11:38:00.000-04:00

I was joking with my sister last night that my Pig is the star of my instagram because he's one of my favorite "people" to photograph LOL...I thought I might share some of my favorite shots of him from the past few weeks :)

"Sears" portrait from last night LMAO

cuddling on the couch with his little brother

more couch cuddling...he loves his little brother!

Week 27

2011-07-12T18:32:00.001-04:00

so, it's either the last week of the second trimester or the first week of the third trimester, depending on which app/website you read...We're in the home stretch, guys!

Elliot is super wiggly, sometimes he moves so suddenly and well, HEAVILY is the only way I can describe it, that he takes my breath away. I wish I knew when/if we were having an ultrasound again, I'd love to see him!!! Hubs tells me at least once a day that he can't wait for the baby to be here, and while I'm just as excited to meet my son, I can wait. I know I'm only going to spend so much of my life pregnant, and only so much time having this type of bond/closeness with my little one, so I'm savoring every minute, even the uncomfortable ones.

I've been sleeping for much longer stretches this past week, but much lighter. I almost don't even realize I'm sleeping til I wake up, you know? Maybe not. LOL

I went to the endocrinologist today and was told that I could be doing better with my diet (which I fully own), but otherwise my blood work looks fine to him and I don't seem to be developing gestational diabetes, which I was worried about since I've been so excessively thirsty lately. I have my 3rd (and hopefully last) glucose tolerance test this week and then I just need to see the endocrinologist every 4 weeks (instead of 6-8) to keep an eye on things.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yesterday was hubs' 33rd birthday, and we celebrated by eating some Longhorns (YUM) and then heading home and eating birthday pecan pie that I surprised him with! (I don't know why he still gets surprised...he doesn't like cake so I always bake him a pecan pie for his birthday cuz it's his favorite)

for my hubs

2011-07-11T09:28:00.002-04:00

the happiest of birthdays to my partner in crime and in life, my best friend, my husband and my baby daddy ;) whom I love more than words can say ♥

wooza...

2011-07-07T18:33:00.001-04:00

So, last night I had an epic breakdown of gargantuan proportions, and of all things it was brought on by my family...

I've already expressed how my family tends to be a little less than supportive, and sometimes they're ACTUALLY not secretive about it. I absolutely DETEST hypocrisy, which is why I try to keep out of everyone's personal life...no one talks more shit or hates on each other more than my family, sad to say.

Since the moment I told my family that I wanted to try my best to have a natural, drug-free birth, I've gotten shit for it. My mother, maternal grandmother, and older cousin, all of whom have children of their own (and I imagine must know what wanting to do something for yourself and your child is like) have told me to my face that I can't do it, that I'll be begging for drugs in no time, and that I should be terrified of anything other than a c-section (which they've all had). On one hand, kudos for at least telling me to my face that you don't believe in me or support my decisions, but on the other hand, it's pretty fucking sad that not even the people that SHOULD BE my "built-in" support have my back. The only person that is proud of me for wanting to even TRY to go drug-free is my husband, who has been as amazing and supportive throughout the whole pregnancy as I knew he would be, and who makes me love him more and more everyday.

I KNOW labor isn't easy. I KNOW it's going to be painful, and I KNOW that I will most likely be dying to give in and have drugs. I might even, who knows? I won't beat myself up over it if I DO decide to get an epidural, but I really want to give it my best shot. The point is that knowing how hard labor is going to be (or at least imagining how hard it COULD be), I need to have people around me that will build me up and tell me I CAN do it and I AM strong enough, not the opposite.

Then last night, my sister comes over and throughout the course of conversation, drops the bomb that she and basically everyone else in my family (I should specify, all the WOMEN in my family...as far as I know, the men have been either on board or totally out of the loop) thinks I'm being crazy/ridiculous/irrational/laughable because I want my parents, siblings and in-laws (AT LEAST them) to take an infant CPR class before Elliot arrives, and I want them to get adult pertussis vaccines.

1) I really don't think I'm being irrational in wanting the adults that intend to surround my baby to be prepared in case of an emergency. As a matter of fact, I don't think it would be irrational to say that they simply can't feel entitled to be around my baby if they're not willing to do something so simple to ensure his safety. Period.

2) I followed a blog for over a year written by a very talented photographer who got pregnant while I was reading her site daily. I followed her whole pregnancy and the birth of her son. Then I followed when her infant son caught pertussis and after a short battle, died at 10 weeks old. It's something that might have been prevented by a simple vaccine, as his mother herself has said. She now is affiliated with Sounds of Pertussis, bringing awareness to the disease that took her youngest son. It is important to me that EVERYONE that intends to come in contact with my son get vaccinated for pertussis, not just because Baby Gavin's story touched me so much, but because MY OWN OB told me that...wait for it....EVERY ADULT THAT PLANS ON COMING IN CONTACT WITH ELLIOT SHOULD GET THE VACCINE.

When I heard my sister tell me that basically everyone was only pretending to be on board with my requests and that no one actually intended to get the vaccine OR take the CPR class, I had to walk away and fight back angry tears. Once she left, I absolutely lost it. How could my own FAMILY not back me up when all I want is to protect my baby? I do my best to stay out of everyone's situations because I don't want to get caught up in talking behind anyone's back, especially my own blood, and yet here they all are agreeing with me to my face, and talking about how crazy I am as soon as I leave the room.

My first instinct was that I just wanted to grab Kenny and Pig, and run off somewhere, not tell anyone where we're going, and telling my family they could see Elliot in their dreams because I didn't want to see them again. But a day later, all I know is that NO ONE but my husband has earned the right to be in the room with me when my son enters this world, and if anyone on this PLANET besides my husband and I feel like they are entitled to or deserve to spend ANY time with my son, they have a limited time to prove that to me. They know how quick I am to cut even very important people from my life if I feel they are toxic to me. They don't want to test how quickly I'll cut out someone that I deem toxic to my child.

4th of July!

2011-07-06T09:33:00.000-04:00

Week 26

2011-07-03T20:21:00.000-04:00

Isn't that little kickboard thing adorable? My mom got it for the baby even though "he won't be able to use it for at least a year" (her words LOL) because it's an alligator and I love all things alligator :)

I promised a couple of people that once I received my maternity swimsuit in the mail, that I'd post a pic of it here...Well, here it is! It arrived JUST in time for the Fourth of July! Yay!!! It fits great, and has some extra belly fabric so I can keep using it as I (and my Baboosh) get bigger, and it's so freaking cute! Totally a style/color/pattern that I'd rock even if I weren't pregnant!

We're officially in the double digits! Less than 100 days til Elliot should be making his arrival! I'm so excited! It's pretty amazing how one reacts to curveballs, because (:confession:) I've ALWAYS wanted nothing more than to be a mother, but I always had a terrible PHOBIA (no other word for it) of giving birth. Just thinking about it would send me into panic attacks...and from the moment I found out I was pregnant (with the exception of the first 24 hours, where I guess my brain forced me to work through it all fast LOL) I haven't been panicked in the slightest. A little apprehensive, of course, because it's definitely going to be an experience...but I can't even believe how excited I am to give birth to my child!

This week has been marked a complete and utter lack of sleep...for both me and my husband, since my tossing and turning keeps him up...he even tried sleeping on the couch one night, but he missed my snoring (LMAO) so he ended up not sleeping then either...the thing is I also got a new CPAP machine last week, so between that and regular pregnancy sleep (or lack thereof), it's been difficult.

Elliot has been SUPER active...almost nonstop. It's funny because I would worry all the time because I'd feel him wiggling around, then not feel anything for a couple of days, and continue in that cycle to the point that several nurses and doctors had to reassure me that such patterns are normal in this stage of pregnancy, and yet since the DAY this 26th week started, he's been a little wiggle machine! :)

::TMI::

Also, I've been suffering from REALLY itchy boobs lately! LOL And the worst part is that I know I'd be much more comfortable in a bra, but I own NONE that fit properly. I bought several last week and discovered today that NONE of them fit...I ordered 2 sizes up (for the back, not the cup size) and I guess I overestimated my weight/size gain because they are HUGE on me and the lot of them must be returned. :sigh:

So, that's that! I hope to be back in the next couple of days with some Fourth of July pics...have a safe holiday!

Cloth Diapering Advice?

2011-07-03T19:47:00.001-04:00

We’ve been seriously considering trying cloth diapers when Elliot gets here (or a few weeks after, actually, since I’ve heard we’re better off with disposables for the first couple of weeks)…Unfortunately (and unbelievably), in a metropolis as huge as Miami, there are NO classes or resources on cloth diapering available.

So here’s where you come in :)

I was hoping anyone out there in the interwebs could share opinions regarding particular brands of diapers, what I should seek out or avoid based on your own experiences. Also, if you know of any online resources as far as where to get said diapers and how to learn more, I’d really appreciate it.

My husband is excited to just fold up white blankets and safety pin them to our son, please save me from this ancient practice! LOL

Week 25

2011-06-27T21:30:00.000-04:00

I really need to stop taking pics RIGHT AFTER laying down! My hair always looks insane LOL

I can't believe how fast the weeks are flying by! Just 15 more weeks til the little sir arrives!!!

It's been a big week! He's become quite good at kicking/punching me, particularly in the bladder and cervix LOL His movements are such a weird sensation, totally not what I expected kicks to feel like...sometimes his movements are so intense and strange that I get a little light-headed LOL

I've been experiencing a CRAZY insatiable thirst for the past 3-4 days (though today hasn't been as bad), which has me a bit worried I might have developed gestational diabetes...it's possible that at this stage of a pregnancy, regardless of weight, a woman might develop gestational diabetes because the placenta, which affects insulin, becomes so large. I've already done a couple glucose tolerance tests earlier in the pregnancy (based solely on "you're fat, so lets assume you have it") and have come away just fine, but I have to be realistic about the fact that it could happen to me the same way it might happen to a 115 pound pregnant woman entering her third trimester.

I have an appointment tomorrow with my OB, to which I am bringing a list of 11 questions (no joke), and blood work next week so I can see the endocrinologist again for a routine visit the following week. I'm definitely going to bring up the thirst issue if it persists, though if something IS wrong, the doctor will likely tell me anyway seeing as he'll have my lab results ;)

I finally caved...

2011-06-24T16:45:00.002-04:00

I bought a maternity swimsuit today. No more swimming in tank tops and shorts for me!

I also finally bought bigger bras. Lane Bryant is having a Buy 2 Get 2 Free sale, so I got 4 bras in different sizes…I figure at least one should fit (LOL) and I can return or grow into the rest. The bras I currently own have been KILLING ME for weeks, but I didn’t want to spend so much money. Good thing I stumbled upon that sale!

Today...

2011-06-23T21:22:00.000-04:00

*Elliot learned to bounce on my bladder.

*I’m 25 weeks pregnant.

*I had my first Braxton-Hicks contraction.

*He has never been more active! He even kicked his dad in the face…which led to hubs tearing up because FINALLY he experienced something in the pregnancy I couldn’t :) aww! lol

We are celebrating by ordering Chinese food :)

Father's Day 2011

2011-06-22T13:58:00.001-04:00

half the table...there were 20 people over!

Baboosh

GAY-O!!!

The pool was so warm and awesome!

I don't even know...

Kenny's first Fathers Day card ever...made by my cousin's 6 y/o daughter! He put it on the fridge because "that's what dads do, isn't it?" ♥

Week 24

2011-06-20T12:35:00.000-04:00

Yay, girls night! You know the gossip is good when the 3 bottles of wine purchased (for everyone else, of course) go unopened and the conversation doesn't stop for 7 hours! :)

New this week: insomnia, leg cramps, and sore throat. Yippee! LOL The last one might be unrelated, but I definitely feel like I've been fighting off a cold the past couple of days. The congestion, sore throat and earaches are no joke, especially when one can't (won't?) medicate.

Elliot Rael (yes, that's offiicially Baboosh's name) is now weighing about 2 pounds and measuring 13.5 inches according to pregnancy websites, so I'm willing to bet my little man is just slightly over those marks...At least I figure that based on the growth spurt he had in the past couple of weeks...

We found a new baby shower location which we were able to get for the same date, the registry is complete, and now all that's missing is preparing and sending out invitations! I'm so excited! :)

If only I could find a way to sleep properly, this week would be perfect! ;)

from this past weekend...

2011-06-16T16:59:00.000-04:00

my husband harassing my mom LOL

We tried to go see the baby shower location but it was closed (it's just as well, we decided today to find a different place anyway...it wasn't in great condition when my mom saw it in person), so we decided to go to Babies R Us and finish up our registry!

my belly, 23 weeks and 2 days

they were checking out baby-proofing supplies while I clowned around with my camera ;)

oh yeah!

So...yeah. LOL I'm a little frustrated about the baby shower site being a bust...who am I kidding? I had a total meltdown when my mom described it to me as a "giant piece of shit" LOL. I really am frustrated just because I was hoping for a shower at the end of July, and we were already cutting it close, but now that we don't even have a place in mind, it looks like we'll have to push the shower back to August. Oh, well. Back to the drawing board, I guess :)

YAY!!!!

2011-06-13T16:25:00.001-04:00

I'll be back with a "real" post tomorrow, but I just wanted to drop a little note to let you all know that:

I JUST BOUGHT THIS FOR MY SON AND I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Also, hubs showed these to me today and I HAD to snatch them up for my little sir! :)

So cute!!! :)

Week 23

2011-06-10T13:38:00.000-04:00

Last day of "taking it easy"! The baby was pretty active last night, especially since I kept yelling at the TV watching game 5 of the series LOL

Thank goodness most of the pain is gone, with the exception of the occasional ZING! in my spine. Little sir is growing in a rush and my body is still trying to figure out just how to accommodate him.

I've noticed that laying on my left, which is where I'm usually most comfortable, is what makes the back and belly pains worse. If I turn to my right, I can feel the baby move rather than feeling the pains, but I also have a harder time breathing. I know laying on my left is better for both our circulations as well, so this is pretty frustrating. I'm hoping it's only temporary, though realistic about the chances that this might just be "the way" for the rest of the pregnancy.

Also, I've had to bring back the maternity pillow in the past few nights. My makeshift pillow fort just wasn't cutting it anymore. Hopefully I can figure out how to maneuver myself in and out of bed with that thing cocooning me without just falling out of bed or waking my poor hubs...

Tomorrow we're going to check out the baby shower spot again, this time with my mom in tow...She's setting everything up for us, from the decorations to the food, and she's concerned the space might not be big enough for the 70 people we're inviting. I'm sure it will be fine, since I'm sure not EVERYONE invited will be able to make it, but she's more worried about people showing up with extras...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I started out writing about my pregnancy so that I can have something to look back on, and then I thought it might be nice for my son to be able to read this one day and see all the things he made me feel, emotionally and otherwise, on his way into the world...but everyday I get some sort of nod, comment or note telling me that putting my story out there so candidly has helped someone somehow, whether it's been someone pregnant, someone overweight, or both...or even someone reliving their own pregnancy through my stories...It's nice to feel so encouraged and supported by so many during a time where my usually controlling self needs to just ride the wave and let go. So to all of you reading, whether it's everyday or every once in a while, thank you.

what a day...

2011-06-08T19:41:00.001-04:00

We've had quite a rollercoaster of a day 'round these here parts...

For the past couple of days, Baboosh's movements have slowed down substantially. As if that wasn't cause enough to worry, I've having sharp back pains, along with some uterine and (TMI) vaginal pain. Last night the baby moved ONCE so I tried to chalk up the pains to growing Baboosh and chill out, since I tend to get REALLY worked up and I didn't want to stress myself or the baby.

This morning, I told my mom about the pain and how the baby was so quiet lately, and she insisted that I call the doctor right away. I was at work by myself, so I didn't want to bother because I was sure I was fine, and if I wasn't, I wouldn't be able to leave the office anyway. Well, in order to ease HER mind, I went ahead and called the OB...and was told I needed to come in to the practice in a couple of hours when the doctor could see me so they could check us out. That got me a little worried, but I figured it was routine. Not 10 minutes after I hung up with the nurse, I got a call back from the doctors office saying they didn't want me to wait and I should go to the emergency labor and delivery wing at the hospital NOW.

I panicked (of course! Wouldn't you?!) and left the office as is, I didn't even lock the door (my mind was elsewhere). I called my husband, mom and sister on the way to the hospital, hysterical the whole time. I had a breakdown in triage because everything was taking so long and I was so worried about the baby. The nurses must have sensed my urgency (or maybe I dripped snot on someone's shoe, whatever) so before I even changed into my gown, one of the nurses grabbed a doppler and found the baby's heartbeat while I stood next to the hospital bed, lifting my dress over my head. Thank GOODNESS he was right there and just fine!

After that, I calmed down considerably. They admitted me and ran a series of tests, making sure I wasn't having contractions or any other signs of premature labor...they hooked me up to a fetal monitor, took my blood pressure about 5 times, and did a sonogram of my little sir (who is looking pretty endowed LOL)...he is weighing a pound and 3 oz and measuring about 4 days ahead, so he is BIG. He's also really really active, running away from the monitors as he's apt to do...

I was in the hospital being monitored for about 3 hours...my placenta and cervix were totally intact, everything looked great. Why I can't feel the baby is anyone's guess, considering he's so active, but he IS facing my back right now so that could account for why I can't feel him in my belly like I'm used to. They chalked up all the pains to my body adjusting to the growing baby, who is growing really fast these days...my only real-life source of pregnancy advice is my mother, who tends to be as much of a hysterical hypochondriac as I am, so the doctors instructions were basically take it easy for a couple of days, and stop listening to my mother because the stress I'm putting on myself is worse than anything else for the baby. So I'm officially ignoring my mothers well-meaning hysteria, doctors orders! ;)

When I got back to my car, I couldn't find my keys and my taillights were on...turned out I was such a mess when I got to the hospital, I never turned my car off! I left it running for 3 and half hours with the keys in the ignition because I was in such a rush to get to the Labor unit, apparently I couldn't be bothered to grab my keys. Lucky it didn't get stolen!

So now I'm home, on bed rest til Saturday. I was told to take Tylenol PM if the pain gets worse, but I haven't taken ANY medication during the entire pregnancy, and I've always been against nighttime medicines because I hate feeling knocked out, so I'm just going to brave it.

It's been a rough day, and I'm glad it's gotten better now that I know my honey is ok. Pregnancy is a scary scary thing!!!! I love my little honey so much though, and I think that's about 98% why I find it so scary ;) so I will gladly accept any more curveballs thrown my way while fiercely hoping I am spared said curveballs :)

Week 22

2011-06-06T09:49:00.001-04:00

In the past few days:

* Baboosh has been ACTIVE!!! Kicking and wiggling so hard that he wakes me up, punching daddy in the face when he lays his head on my belly to talk to the baby (LOL) It's awesome to feel him moving around so much in there!

*I've been SUPER short of breath, which is normal due to the shifting around of organs, but isn't being helped by the brush fire directly across the street from my office. There's news vans and helicopters everywhere, but no firefighters. Curious...

*I narrowed down the possible baby locations to five, which was a waste of time in the end because Kenny fell in love with the very first place! Now I have to call today to ask questions and book it, then all that's left is mailing out invitations!

*A long time friend of mine, Raquel, surprised me by recording my NBC feature and mailing it to me so I can show the baby when he's older! Totally made my day :)

*I am losing and forgetting EVERYTHING, including a glass of juice that I decided to lock in the pantry yesterday for about 3 minutes. Pregnant brain is not a myth!

Papaya!

2011-06-02T13:35:00.002-04:00

week 22!

Memorial Day 2011

2011-06-01T16:55:00.000-04:00

my hubs at the grill

my brother decided he wanted to make "people" burgers...with clothes made of woven bacon and all!!

putting together the people

my gramps with the jet ski

The pool-dwellers had an audience at any given time

the finished "people"

my cousin doing a possessed robot dance...with a swimming watermelon. We still don't know just why my dad put 2 watermelons in the pool all day...then ate them.

my brother actually made an ice cream cake too! This is from a guy that's never even scrambled an egg for himself, and he decides to help cater a family event!

Banana!

2011-05-31T14:24:00.002-04:00

week 21!

Week 21

2011-05-31T14:22:00.001-04:00

It has been a great week so far! I got to finally go swimming, and it was AWESOME! I can't float on my back because the weight of the belly sinks me (LOL) but it is so nice to have my belly feel weightless for a while...I'm at the point where I'm having to sleep with a pillow under my belly to support it because it hurts to sleep any other way. I gave up on the maternity pillow weeks ago just because it made it difficult to get in and out of bed when I have to pee (3-5 times a night!) so I just have a regular pillow that I position under me every time I move.

Our sweetie is growing right on track, and he's still shy/stubborn when it comes to monitors...just today I went to the OB and it took 3 minutes to get a good heartbeat reading because he kept "swimming" away from the microphone LOL He's developing a reputation with our doctors as a handful :)

We FINALLY decided on a name this past week...Well, we've known his first name for a while, but we had been going back and forth agonizing over middle names and whether he'd even have one. Turns out he does, and it's a family name, so I'm extra excited about it. I cried when hubs told me he wanted to name the baby that, of course LOL. Actually, my reaction was to dive across the couch at him and cover his face in kisses :)

Damn near everyone in the family has felt Baboosh's little kicks and wiggles. He was the life of the party yesterday at my parents Memorial Day BBQ. I'm so excited for little sir to arrive, and at the same time I want to have him hanging out in my belly forever. I am so in love with this little guy, it's overwhelming to think how much more I'm going to love him when we actually get to meet.

the second half begins...

2011-05-27T12:13:00.000-04:00

I haven't taken this week's official belly pic, so I'll be back at some point this weekend with that...but I did take some photos yesterday, our official 21 week mark, so here are a couple of my faves!

This is my belly. LOL At 21 weeks pregnant, I am decidedly much rounder than I used to be. I love looking down and seeing my buddha-ness, though. I was so worried when we first found out that I might not show at all because of my weight, so every belly growth spurt is a reason to smile for me :)

I visited my parents last night because it was my momma's birthday! My kitty Brady, who is staying with them for the duration of my pregnancy, was very excited to hang out and cuddle with me, but had a hard time figuring out just how to maneuver this new landscape LOL

The birthday cake I got my momma! Raspberry cheesecake ice cream cake! Nevermind that raspberry desserts are totally my fave LOL...we thought it was kind of funny how all the fruit was "petrified" as my dad kept saying, and ONE little berry was fresh-looking. It didn't stop us from eating!

We also had a sonogram yesterday! Baboosh is still a boy (LOL)...The blood work came back perfect, he's completely healthy and growing well. He weighs 13 oz, which is an ounce above average and measures about 10.5 inches. We also got to see his face and it looks like he has mommy's chin and cheeks! :)

Got it!

2011-05-21T21:04:00.000-04:00

Tracked down the official link to my NBC feature (which also recently aired in Texas and is going nationwide) on being an obese soon-to-be mom :) http://bit.ly/iTLvr8

Week 20!

2011-05-20T13:14:00.000-04:00

Me with both my little ones ;)

Week 20! We've hit the halfway mark! Less than 20 weeks (supposedly) til we meet our little sir!

This week, I'm still having morning sickness, which is pretty annoying considering it was "supposed" to stop at week 14...I'm also having pelvic and back pain like WHOA!!! My little honey is making himself comfy, for sure.

According to one of the many pregnancy websites I'm using to track our progress, this week I'm "carrying around 10.5 inches and 10.5 ounces of solid magical baby goodness!"...Idk how accurate that is, considering that at his 17 week ultrasound, I was told he weighed 6 oz when he "should" have weighed almost 5.

Hubs is making me love him more and more everyday, which I didn't know was possible. He always greets the baby when he gets home from work and gets real close to my tummy to talk to the baby...they have conversations about the days happenings, what we're having for dinner, my mood swings ;) and mostly hubs tries to convince the baby to lay off the pains he's putting me through. LOL

In less than a week, we have another ultrasound! Very excited to see my honey again!

Cantaloupe!!!

2011-05-20T13:01:00.002-04:00

week 20!

surreal...

2011-05-18T11:58:00.001-04:00

Remember that little blog post I wrote yesterday? Well, I finished the blog at 6pm, and by 7pm I was sitting at my office being interviewed by Sharon Lawson of NBC 6 regarding my opinions on the article. I was the top story at 11pm last night. I would never have imagined when I woke up yesterday morning that I'd be featured on TV before I went to bed!

Sharon Lawson interviewing me...actually, this was for a pick-up shot, so we were actually talking about the knock-off Disney merch in one of the stores in the plaza LMAO

I was so nervous after I did it! What if I sounded like a goon?! I SUCK at public speaking, so every time the camera came on, my nerves would kick in and I'd sound so lame! LOL What if my words were misconstrued or jumbled to sound like I was saying something I didn't mean? (That was my one complaint, I spent 45 minutes talking some brilliant stuff, to the point that they had a hard time editing my tape since there was so much good stuff, and they only used really bleh statements)...but I was so relieved when I saw it! I was totally satisfied with how it turned out, and REALLY pleasantly surprised to see it was the top story of the evening!

It was a great experience, and I'm glad I did it not just because I was able to see firsthand just how much goes into making a minute and a half long news segment, but because I was able to make my voice heard on something I believe in. The blog post I wrote yesterday REALLY expresses my view the way the news story couldn't due to time constraints, but nonetheless, it brought awareness to an issue that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

I'm working on getting the video online so I can post it. All I have right now is a video my sister took of her tv and posted on her Facebook LOL

I can't believe some people are DEFENDING this.

2011-05-17T18:10:00.001-04:00

Fifteen out of 105 of ob-gyns the Sentinel surveyed have set weight limits for patients, which usually start around 200 pounds or are based on BMI levels.

Most of the doctors said that their equipment and examining tables couldn't hold larger woman (which smells oddly like bullshit), but some said that obesity comes with more complications that the doctors would rather avoid.

"People don't realize the risk we're taking by taking care of these patients," Dr. Albert Triana, who practices in South Miami, tells the paper. "There's more risk of something going wrong and more risk of getting sued. Everything is more complicated with an obese patient in GYN surgeries and in [pregnancies]."

Unsurprisingly, many of the doctors who have enacted the weight cut-off also have a history of being sued for malpractice or cover high malpractice insurance premiums.

While doctors can not turn down patients based on race, gender, or sexual orientation they are free to turn away patients based on weight. Though not everyone agrees with the policy.

"This completely goes against the principles of being a doctor," James Zervios, a spokesman for the Obesity Action Commission said to the paper. "Health care professionals are there to help individuals improve their quality of health, not stigmatize them according to their weight."

Source: Miami New Times Blog

I weighed about 280 when I conceived. I am having absolutely NO complications. I'm expected to have a perfectly healthy pregnancy and birth. To have turned me away simply due to weight would be discrimination, plain and simple, because weight has nothing to do with health or possible complications. Not all thin people are healthy and not all fat people are lazy diseased slobs.

I argued this point on my facebook earlier. You know what I was met with? A MAN I don't know defending the article saying, and I quote, "if you care so much about your baby, why are you not in the healthiest condition you could be?"

My response?

"ideally I would have weighed less when I conceived, but it was unplanned. Seeing as losing 150 pounds overnight by sheer will and love for my child is impossible, suggesting I don't care about my baby by not being "at my healthiest" (which actually, I am in spite of me weight) is remarkably fucked up and ignorant. My two cents."

I saw the article earlier and was already pissed off, so to see a couple of MEN argue that fat women don't love their kids simply because they're fat kind of REALLY set me off. WTF do men know about being a woman, about being pregnant, about losing or gaining weight as a woman (because men and woman metabolize differently, in case I needed to point that out)? Answer: NOTHING.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if the topic is over your head and is something you could never and will never understand, you will only sound ignorant and/or like an asshole by sharing your opinion. Not to mention that owning up to discrimination of any type isn't exactly an attractive quality.

I've always been considered overweight, obese, or even morbidly obese. I've NEVER had a problem with BP, cholesterol, etc whereas several of my thinner friends who don't take care of themselves have had such problems. I'm not saying I'm the picture of health despite my weight, but I AM of the very strong opinion that simply LOOKING at me shouldn't be enough to decide I'm not healthy. ssumptions are dangerous, regardless of what they're based on. Turning someone away based simply on weight is no different then turning them away simply because they're black, catholic, or gay. NONE of these things mean anything definitely about someone's health, even if statistics might suggest differently.

The point I am making is that obesity in and of itself should NOT be reason enough to turn anyone away for treatment. And in this particular case, the insurance companies are applying pressure to doctors that based on their own histories of malpractice, are high-risk doctors, not necessarily because they deal with high-risk patients.

I'm willing to repeat my stance til my fingers fall off. Living an unhealthy lifestyle and being overweight are not synonymous. I haven't had a problem with a doctor, thankyouverymuch but I don't think anyone else in my position should.

:EDIT: I juts want to add that just today, I went to the endocrinologist, a specialist that I am supposed to see every 6 weeks throughout my pregnancy simply due to my weight and nothing else...he looked over my blood work and was impressed with how good everything looked. "Beyond perfection!", he said. He also told me he wished he could give me some suggestions or pointers, but, and I quote "You can't argue with success!"

So there.

Mango!

2011-05-13T20:21:00.002-04:00

week 19!

Week 19

2011-05-13T20:18:00.000-04:00

I haven't noticed a lot of belly growth this week, but BOY have I been feeling it! The past couple of days have been pure pelvic pain...such sharp bursts of OUCH that I have to concentrate just to catch my breath.

I've also realized that I am 19 weeks pregnant and still suffering from very slight morning sickness. I say very slight because even when it was in full force, I'd only throw up once a day (with a couple of exceptions) and lately it's once or twice a week, but it's definitely undeniable.

I can't believe we're almost at the halfway point!!!!

news of the day...

2011-05-11T09:30:00.000-04:00

Officially, my fingers are so swollen that I had to remove my wedding ring :*( my engagement ring still fits fine since it was big on me before...lets see how long THAT lasts.

In other news, I know that making decisions in such a heightened emotional state isn't the wisest thing, but the more I think about it, the more real the possibility of being a stay-at-home-mommy seems. It's looking like it might be doable! I reworked our budget last night and while it won't be the easiest thing, there's no reason why the 3 of us can't live off just Kenny's salary. Vacations and stuff won't be as probable as they might be with both of us working, but our necessities would be MORE than taken care of, and the baby wouldn't have to go to day care with strangers. I have no clue what I'd do with myself once the baby is old enough to go to school, or if we'll have more kids by then...but we're talking 5 years from now, and I have plenty of time to figure it out while still being happy taking care of my family exclusively right now.

2011-05-09T16:51:00.002-04:00

dying to leave insurance, but I honestly haven't got a CLUE what I could for steady work or a career if I quit this piece of shit industry. I have no motivation or aspiration to do anything but be with my family, but seeing as I'm broke as shit, that's not a choice. So fucking tired of everything. I'm ready to just grab my husband and dog, and drive to wherever the fuck we end up and just live there in a shack.

a quick little note...

2011-05-09T09:33:00.001-04:00

Kenny has been calling our little sir his "little potato" this whole week, because I told him that the baby was the length of a sweet potato from head to booty. I think this might be the cutest freaking thing I've witnessed to date.

I'm at work now, so tomorrow I plan to post about my "first" mother's day, since I'll have access to pictures. Hope everyone had a great weekend! And happy belated mother's day to all the new, veteran and expecting mommas out there!

CH-CH-CH-CH-Changes!!!

2011-05-06T10:01:00.002-04:00

I couldn't sleep last night (again), so I grabbed my iPhone and started looking through my fashion blog, wondering just how big my belly HAS gotten. Everyone that saw yesterday's belly pic and hasn't seen me in a while expressed total shock that I'm so big. I had to wonder, how much of that is me, and how much is baby?

Each of the photos above is from 4-8 weeks before I got pregnant...

In this photo, I was 6 weeks along...

And just for comparison, here's my 18 week photo again:

YOWZA!!!

Yeah, I'd say that though I started with some extra belly, a FAIRLY good portion of that is baby LOL

Week 18

2011-05-05T17:43:00.001-04:00

My belly is growing out of control from week to week! Two different people have told me this past week that my waist is much more defined lately, but the belly just doesn't quit! In other recent developments, my hair is looking NICE!!! It's fluffier and silkier, it's even straighter! It's still falling out, but not in the huge clumps I had gotten used to. I was also told today that I "have the glow" LOL

In not so great news, the indigestion has been crazy at night. It's this awful, neverending pressure. Imagine a horse standing on your chest while you're trying to sleep. Not nice. Also, the hot flashes are out of hand! I am sweating buckets randomly, and THAT is not very cute. Perhaps not related to the pregnancy, but my throat has been really scratchy and sore all day, so I'm hoping it's a very temporary pregnancy symptom and not an impending illness.

I can't believe I'm almost at the halfway point! And I can't believe I'm supposed to steadily and rapidly grow a half inch a week for the next 5 months! I'm gonna be ginormous!!! LOL I can't wait! I heart my belly so much!

Sweet Potato!!!

2011-05-05T11:35:00.000-04:00

week 18!

Really? But, like, really REALLY?

2011-05-04T16:09:00.002-04:00

Hubs and I just talked about it (skimmed over it, really, because I'm at work right now and I can't really talk about such things), but he's on board with me possibly being a stay-at-home mom. I never thought that's what I would BE, but the more I think about my baby, the more excited I get at the possibility.

We make very little between the two of us, more than enough considering how low our household expenses are, but we are also in a LOT of debt...credit cards and my student loans from my now defunct graduate school career, plus a student loan of hubs'...so we're seriously considering filing for bankruptcy. I have no idea how that works, so if anyone does, I'd love to hear about it, but the only way we can really make ends meet is to try to reduce our debt as much as possible. Otherwise, I really don't know WHAT we'll do...If I quit work, we're down a salary (though I make half what hubs does, but it obviously is a contribution we won't have)...but if I don't quit work, I'll be working just to keep my son in day care. I don't want my child in day care PERIOD, but I also don't want him here...he'll be in a stressful environment day in and day out, with people constantly yelling and cursing, plus Thundercunt with her nasty food, cigarette and body smells...plus, honestly, what kind of work could I possibly get done while caring for a newborn? Maternity leave exists for a reason, though obviously not here.

We have to think ahead, too...what's going to happen when I have to breastfeed, considering I don't even get a lunch break here? What about when the baby starts crawling and he needs constant entertainment and stimulation? I always said I didn't want to be one of those parents that lets a TV babysit her kids, plus I'd have to be constantly running around to make sure he doesn't hurt himself with anything in the office or accidentally swallows a paper clip or something. It's just too much, and it simply will not work in this environment.

Bottom line: unless something changes drastically, I'm going to have to change things drastically.

WHAAAAAAAA?

2011-05-04T11:25:00.002-04:00

OFFICIALLY in crisis mode. Thundercunt just excitedly told me that she can't wait to hold and feed my baby considering that I'm not going to have maternity leave and I can't afford day care so the baby is going to be in the office whenever I am. I NEED TO QUIT NOW. I don't want this woman anywhere NEAR my child, let alone trying to feed him! FML!!!

what's going on...

2011-05-04T10:39:00.000-04:00

* This past weekend, we started our baby registry! We spent 2.5 hours at Babies R Us on Saturday, and another 2 hours there on Sunday...and we haven't finished yet! There's a couple repeated items, because some things required separate purchases, etc, so we're trying to tailor down before we release the list to family.

* Yesterday, I went to doctors visit 1 of 6 scheduled for the month of May. Everything is great! Baboosh is growing at the perfect rate, I haven't gained any weight since last month, which means I'm losing weight but gaining baby, and the results from my copolscopy came back 100% clean! Thank goodness!

* Speaking of the doctor, I've started rotating doctors within the practice, which is common when there are several doctors. They want you to meet and become familiar with everyone in case your primary OB isn't available the day you go into labor. Yesterday I met my second male doctor, and for the second time, a male doctor told me it was impossible that I've been feeling the baby for so long, and I must be feeling gas. Both times I was told this, it both annoyed and frustrated me, because with all due respect, doctors, I've been farting my whole life and I know what I've been feeling. WELL...right after Male Doctor #2 (who is otherwise a really sweet man) assured me that the baby can't be moving yet, he felt around for my uterus and felt the baby move HIMSELF. His face of disbelief was priceless. THEN he brought out the heartbeat monitor and we HEARD the baby WOOSH right out of the way of the monitor. He looked at me with wide eyes and went "WOW, THAT is one active baby!" Um, yeah...I TOLD you, doc. LOL That is SO my son, already proving people wrong in utero. It makes momma so proud ;)

* The indigestion has been out of hand the past couple of days, particularly yesterday. I slept so bad last night because I felt like someone was standing on my chest all night. It's not acid indigestion or heartburn, but just a horrible pressure. I hope this doesn't last too long, though I'm told it tends to be the norm :\

mood swings and/or nostalgia

2011-05-01T11:58:00.001-04:00

I spent the morning watching Scooby Doo movies...by far my favorite cartoon...Then I managed to catch Dirty Dancing starting on another channel. I remember being 3 or 4 years old and watching Dirty Dancing NONSTOP...I mean, I had the choreography to the entire movie memorized before I understood any of the innuendo on the dialogue. Whenever we'd go to the beach or a pool, I'd insist that my dad catch me and lift me up over his head over and over again like Johnny Castle did to Baby in the final scene...To say I was obsessed in an understatement. I STILL know all the choreography...

And now while I was watching the opening credits, this overwhelming sadness hit me. Maybe not sadness, but definitely nostalgia. I remember being a BABY watching this movie, and now here I am HAVING a baby. All at once, it hit me how the years have flown by, and also how my dad must feel seeing his little girl having a child of her own. My dad and I have very similar personalities...we're both very stubborn, and have crazy tempers, but we also are a couple of the most sensitive and sentimental people I've ever known. Listening to "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes and watching all those people dancing in slow motion made me immediately think of my dad and those days at the beach, and I couldn't control the tears. Even typing this I'm crying while the movie plays behind me.

Years pass by way too quickly...and now that I'm having my own child, I know they're only going to fly by even faster...I only hope I'm able to give my baby memories that will still warm his heart in 25 years the way I got to have...

Onion!

2011-04-28T19:10:00.002-04:00

week 17!

We were told today that the baby weighs 6 ounces! :)

Week 17

2011-04-28T18:48:00.002-04:00

Baboosh is a Ba-BOY!!!

We were cracking up the whole time we were at the ultrasound because this little guy was sitting with his legs crossed and covering his face with BOTH hands...as stubborn as his momma and as camera-shy as his daddy!

I am so excited! I KNEW the whole time I was pregnant that I was having a boy...I had to actually give myself a couple of talks preparing myself in case they told me I was wrong and it was a girl...it's not that I don't want a girl, I actually always imagined myself as the mother of multiple little girls, but just because the feeling inside me that this was a little man was SO STRONG, that it would have shaken me to my core being told that something I KNEW to be true was wrong.

We're thrilled, and so is the family! Now, to think up a name and start on the registry!!!

I'M GOING TO HAVE A SON!!!!!!!!!

:edit: I just looked over at the due date countdown and funny enough, this is EXACTLY the position the baby was in the whole time, except with his hands crossed over his face!

DIY for Baboosh!

2011-04-27T13:02:00.000-04:00

I didn't get a chance to photograph each gift Baboosh got on Easter because hubs (who is on stay-cation from work to tidy up the house and do a little fixing up here and there) scooted everything away to it's rightful place in our closet (LOL) before I got a chance to take photos...Hopefully this pic of all the gifts together will suffice! :)

My brother also took a pic of me and Baboosh in my new Easter dress that I was so excited to wear! LOL My hair is a HOT MESS after running around after the kids during the egg hunt, but the point is the dress and belly, so please direct your attention there! LOL

Now, on to the original topic of this post! One of the things I received for Easter for myself (there wasn't much LOL my mom made me a shirt, gave me a handful of chocolate, PLUS...) was this latch hook kit. I was going to buy it myself on Friday, but decided against it when I saw the line at Michaels. We happened to run into my mom there and she bought it for me after we'd left as a surprise.

I used to make these when I was 10 or 11...my mom introduced me to them when she was getting her AA and needed something to entertain us on those nights where she had to take us to class with her...I was so excited when I saw this because I hadn't made one in over a decade and thought it would be so fun to make something for the Baboosh! I'm hoping to do this one and maybe a second one so I can stitch them together and stuff it into a throw pillow for the baby's room.

I've already completed 2 of the 40 rows yesterday LOL This is very relaxing for the most part (unless you mess up at some point and don't discover it til much later), but it is very time consuming...as hubs put it "That's why it's a hobby! It's SUPPOSED to pass time!"...I'm just hoping I'm able to complete 2 before the baby arrives, since I'm usually running around from one spot to the other, but I'm so excited to be MAKING something for my baby!

SO....

2011-04-25T09:48:00.001-04:00

* The bleeding has STOPPED, thank goodness. I'm also back at work, which sucks because hubs is on vacation this week, but is also great news because I'm well enough to be back!

* There has been almost complete radio silence from Baboosh since Wednesday. This has me worried beyond all measure. I'm really anxious for Thursday...even if they can't tell me whether Baboosh is a boy or a girl, I'm looking forward to see him/her and being told that Baboosh is fine and healthy.

* Easter was great yesterday. Baboosh got a great haul! LOL To the point that my cousins 6-year-old staged a protest because the Easter Bunny left more stuff for the baby than for her ;) I cried, of course, and there's photos of me looking a fool somewhere...I'll post pics of the family gathering and Baboosh's little things tomorrow when I'm home.

Here's hoping Thursday comes around fast...this is going to be a LONG week!

Week 16

2011-04-22T19:06:00.001-04:00

My belly looks WAY bigger to me this week...

1) My hair is insane. Bed rest will do that to you.

2) I thought olives should have a place in the belly pics, since they've been such a big part of the pregnancy so far.

3) Yes, I'm wearing a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers shirt. Be jealous. LOL

4) LESS THAN A WEEK TIL WE FIND OUT WHETHER BABOOSH IS A BOY OR A GIRL!!! Have you voted in the poll yet as far as what you THINK Baboosh is?