Since finding out this week that we will be having our baby on Wednesday!!, it has occurred to me that a lot of my normal routines and day-to-day happenings will be my last as a single, responsibility-free person. I cried in bed Tuesday night when my two girlfriends left my house from a wonderful visit thinking that would be the last time I would ever hang out with them again without worrying about a baby or needing to excuse myself to call home and check on said baby. While watching Grey's last night (yes I still watch that) my mom said, "you know, next time you watch Grey's you'll be holding your son, too!"And, this morning I had my last doctor's appointment. I felt like I was graduating as the receptionists and nurses all congratulated me in advance and looked surprised when I told them they wouldn't be seeing me again next week.
It all seems so final. I know this is the end of a significant chapter in our life as a married couple, but I also get butterflies of excitement thinking about the new chapter that's about to begin. The emotions I feel about becoming a mom in five days are overwhelming -- elated, scared, sad, but mostly serious excitement.
This weekend, we will celebrate our last weekend as a family of two. We will go on our last date without needing to hire a babysitter. We'll watch the Michigan football game with friends and not worry that we are going to wake up a napping little boy. And, we'll soak up every minute of each other knowing for the rest of our lives, we will have to share the overwhelming love we have for each other with something greater than we can even imagine.
The time is here and I can hardly believe it. Stay tuned for the main event!
A Dose of Happiness
Showing posts with label Pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pregnancy. Show all posts
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Exciting News!
Day 2 of bed rest has turned out to be a pretty exciting day. I went in for my marathon appointment today at the doctor and came home with lots of information. So here it goes:
1. Baby M is measuring in the 77th percentile at 5 lbs 12 oz! We have a big boy on our hands.
2. He seems to have a big belly and short legs...hmmm....
3. He's growing well and the doc was pleased with all of his measurements
4. My blood pressure was at an all time low! Rock that!
And for the most exciting part... barring any emergencies, we are scheduled to be induced November 7 or 8 (depending on the hospital's availability). It's so surreal to think that in 3 weeks our little man will be here!
The ultrasound tech had just received a new machine today and asked if I'd be her guinea pig. Um okay! So I got an extra long look at him and she took some pretty cool 3D shots. Here's one of him kind of smiling:
He still has the smushy nose similar to mine as a newborn. I'm so excited to see what he looks like in person!
The doctor also clarified a little bit about my bed rest restrictions. She said she wanted me to walk around and not be a couch potato, but that I should not be doing anything strenuous or that requires a lot of exertion. The goal of bed rest right now is to keep calm and relaxed so my blood pressure remains low on the medication I am taking.
So.... when I got home I felt a wave of anxious energy come upon me and what did I do?? I baked. I found this recipe online yesterday as I was bored at home and it looked delicious. The cookies are currently in the oven so I don't have pictures yet, but I'm pretty sure they'll be awesome.
I guess the countdown is on!
1. Baby M is measuring in the 77th percentile at 5 lbs 12 oz! We have a big boy on our hands.
2. He seems to have a big belly and short legs...hmmm....
3. He's growing well and the doc was pleased with all of his measurements
4. My blood pressure was at an all time low! Rock that!
And for the most exciting part... barring any emergencies, we are scheduled to be induced November 7 or 8 (depending on the hospital's availability). It's so surreal to think that in 3 weeks our little man will be here!
The ultrasound tech had just received a new machine today and asked if I'd be her guinea pig. Um okay! So I got an extra long look at him and she took some pretty cool 3D shots. Here's one of him kind of smiling:
The doctor also clarified a little bit about my bed rest restrictions. She said she wanted me to walk around and not be a couch potato, but that I should not be doing anything strenuous or that requires a lot of exertion. The goal of bed rest right now is to keep calm and relaxed so my blood pressure remains low on the medication I am taking.
So.... when I got home I felt a wave of anxious energy come upon me and what did I do?? I baked. I found this recipe online yesterday as I was bored at home and it looked delicious. The cookies are currently in the oven so I don't have pictures yet, but I'm pretty sure they'll be awesome.
I guess the countdown is on!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Rose and Thorn
A friend introduced me and our group of girls to this game many years ago. Every time we get together, we share the "Rose" and "Thorn" of our day (the good and bad). It became a way for us to quickly check in with each other, but also an opportunity to reflect on our own days and how lucky we really all are to be healthy and happy in our day to day lives.
So today, I will share the Rose and Thorn of my weekend:
We'll start with the thorn because I always like to end on a sweet note :)
I received a call from my doctor on Thursday evening that I needed to come into the office on Friday because some labwork came back with abnormalities that were concerning. Of course, I began to read online and slightly panic (I even packed my hospital bag!) and by Friday afternoon when the doctor's appointment arrived, my fears had been realized -- I have been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. This condition is why the doctors have been monitoring my blood pressure so closely. It can be dangerous, but my case is mild as of now. Nevertheless, I have been put on bed rest and have to stop working. Sounds fun, right? I was obviously an emotional wreck on Friday, but lucky for me Candy was coming in town anyway and she and Allie arrived Friday evening with some good humor, Mexican food and a lot of love. By Saturday morning, I felt I had processed the information and was feeling a lot better emotionally. So, while my thorn certainly hurt this weekend, it's not the end of the world, and my focus now is on keeping this little guy cooking as long as I can!
Without a doubt, the Rose of my weekend was the most perfect Baby Shower that my sisters, Adrienne and Sara hosted for me yesterday. My doctor gave me the okay to attend the shower given I stay seated, and let me tell you, my sisters barely let me scratch my foot without their help. The shower couldn't have come at a better time. Unlike a typical Baby Shower, this one was a "Pamper the Mom" shower and we got manicures and chair massages and everyone showed up in their comfy spa clothes. It was a day of pampering, friends and relaxation... truly everything I needed. Thank you to my wonderful hostesses for making me feel so special and loved.
Here are some pictures from the event:
And for a little silver lining: at least I have plenty of time on my hands to write thank you notes, right?
So today, I will share the Rose and Thorn of my weekend:
We'll start with the thorn because I always like to end on a sweet note :)
I received a call from my doctor on Thursday evening that I needed to come into the office on Friday because some labwork came back with abnormalities that were concerning. Of course, I began to read online and slightly panic (I even packed my hospital bag!) and by Friday afternoon when the doctor's appointment arrived, my fears had been realized -- I have been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. This condition is why the doctors have been monitoring my blood pressure so closely. It can be dangerous, but my case is mild as of now. Nevertheless, I have been put on bed rest and have to stop working. Sounds fun, right? I was obviously an emotional wreck on Friday, but lucky for me Candy was coming in town anyway and she and Allie arrived Friday evening with some good humor, Mexican food and a lot of love. By Saturday morning, I felt I had processed the information and was feeling a lot better emotionally. So, while my thorn certainly hurt this weekend, it's not the end of the world, and my focus now is on keeping this little guy cooking as long as I can!
Without a doubt, the Rose of my weekend was the most perfect Baby Shower that my sisters, Adrienne and Sara hosted for me yesterday. My doctor gave me the okay to attend the shower given I stay seated, and let me tell you, my sisters barely let me scratch my foot without their help. The shower couldn't have come at a better time. Unlike a typical Baby Shower, this one was a "Pamper the Mom" shower and we got manicures and chair massages and everyone showed up in their comfy spa clothes. It was a day of pampering, friends and relaxation... truly everything I needed. Thank you to my wonderful hostesses for making me feel so special and loved.
Here are some pictures from the event:
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| Me with all the hostesses! |
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| The beautiful spa flowers and yummy grub! |
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| Everyone decorated bibs and onesies! |
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| They also wrote funny messages on diapers! |
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| We had a very special visitor |
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| Two preggos |
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| Proof for Rick that I was seated the whole time! :) |
And for a little silver lining: at least I have plenty of time on my hands to write thank you notes, right?
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Never a Dull Moment
Well, here's the update from yesterday's doctor's appointment:
1. Baby M weighs about 4 lbs 10 oz according to the ultrasound tech... a bit above average, but we're pretty sure it's all muscle :)
2. He has hair! The tech could see it on the screen which was really cool. I have always wanted a baby with lots of hair, so I'm hoping he wasn't tricking us and that he comes out ready for me to tease his locks Steel Magnolias style!
3. Baby M is perfectly healthy. He's growing perfectly and very comfortable... but he's one stubborn fella. He had his hands covering his face the whole time so we couldn't get a good picture of his cuteness.
4. My BP was really high and the monitors were picking up some regular contractions, so I was sent to be monitored at the hospital for a few hours. All the blood work came back normal, which is great and I was given some directions for what to do this week until I need to go back to the doc on Monday for a follow up. The doctors sent me home last night with simple instructions and no alarming looks on their faces so I'm feeling pretty confident that they have this under control. She did say to expect that I'll be induced early, but we want to keep him cooking for as long as possible, so I've booked a massage for Sunday and I'm thinking that should help :)
That's about it for now... keep sending your zen vibes!!
1. Baby M weighs about 4 lbs 10 oz according to the ultrasound tech... a bit above average, but we're pretty sure it's all muscle :)
2. He has hair! The tech could see it on the screen which was really cool. I have always wanted a baby with lots of hair, so I'm hoping he wasn't tricking us and that he comes out ready for me to tease his locks Steel Magnolias style!
3. Baby M is perfectly healthy. He's growing perfectly and very comfortable... but he's one stubborn fella. He had his hands covering his face the whole time so we couldn't get a good picture of his cuteness.
4. My BP was really high and the monitors were picking up some regular contractions, so I was sent to be monitored at the hospital for a few hours. All the blood work came back normal, which is great and I was given some directions for what to do this week until I need to go back to the doc on Monday for a follow up. The doctors sent me home last night with simple instructions and no alarming looks on their faces so I'm feeling pretty confident that they have this under control. She did say to expect that I'll be induced early, but we want to keep him cooking for as long as possible, so I've booked a massage for Sunday and I'm thinking that should help :)
That's about it for now... keep sending your zen vibes!!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Pregnancy Positives
The more and more I talk to pregnant women and read message boards, the more I've come to realize that one of the unspoken symptoms of pregnancy is complaining! If it's not about peeing every hour, it's about swollen ankles or dry skin. If it's not about husbands who don't understand what it feels like to carry a person around all day it's about the woman at the grocery store who rudely stared at the big belly. While I'm sure I do plenty of my own complaining, I think it's important to also recognize the "plus" side of being 20+ pounds heavier, moodier than ever, and generally uncomfortable. So here's my take on the top ten reasons I'm enjoying pregnancy (other than the obvious one that I'm creating a life, yada yada yada):
10. I get to wear spandex as much as I want without feeling too casual or inappropriate.
9. I don't need pedicures as often because I can't see my feet anyway.
8. I can eat ice cream for dinner without feeling guilty.
7. My house seems to be cleaner because I get wiffs of every piece of dirt and dust with my superhuman sense of smell.
6. Rick gives really good back rubs and foot rubs.
5. People let me cut in line at the port-a-potty line while tailgaiting.
4. The look on Rick's face when he gets to feel the baby move. Melts my heart. Every time.
3. I've made new friends because we have something in common that no one else can quite understand until they experience it themselves.
2. I get spoiled with goodies like these:
Yes, Allie brought back a bag-o-Canadianess from her trip to Montreal last weekend. Kraft Dinner, Felix and Norton cookies and maple sugar candies!
1. But the number one reason I have enjoyed being pregnant so far is that I have quickly learned in the last 8 months that the little things in life just don't matter as much anymore. Growing a person really puts life in perspective, and I feel the most grounded and centered right now than I ever have. The stresses of teaching aren't so stressful, and people's comments and judgments don't seem to bring me to tears (though scenes from My Best Friend's Wedding still do). I can only hope that this feeling doesn't wither away once Baby M makes his arrival. Now, my waistline... that's a different story.
10. I get to wear spandex as much as I want without feeling too casual or inappropriate.
9. I don't need pedicures as often because I can't see my feet anyway.
8. I can eat ice cream for dinner without feeling guilty.
7. My house seems to be cleaner because I get wiffs of every piece of dirt and dust with my superhuman sense of smell.
6. Rick gives really good back rubs and foot rubs.
5. People let me cut in line at the port-a-potty line while tailgaiting.
4. The look on Rick's face when he gets to feel the baby move. Melts my heart. Every time.
3. I've made new friends because we have something in common that no one else can quite understand until they experience it themselves.
2. I get spoiled with goodies like these:
1. But the number one reason I have enjoyed being pregnant so far is that I have quickly learned in the last 8 months that the little things in life just don't matter as much anymore. Growing a person really puts life in perspective, and I feel the most grounded and centered right now than I ever have. The stresses of teaching aren't so stressful, and people's comments and judgments don't seem to bring me to tears (though scenes from My Best Friend's Wedding still do). I can only hope that this feeling doesn't wither away once Baby M makes his arrival. Now, my waistline... that's a different story.
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