14 weeks and Shankin things up a bit!

Yesterday we did a little looking for things for the baby.  It was really the first time we looked and thought this time we would actually be needing things soon.  That was different for sure, and the kids enjoyed looking at things with us.

I decided it was time for a belly pillow much to my hubbies dismay.  He hates them because that means I don't cuddle as much.  :)  It's all about being comfortable, right?  Of course! 
We bought a heart listening device and were able to locate the baby's heartbeat, and we could hear the little peanut bouncing around and kicking.  So Cool!  This morning Miss E needed to hear the baby again and slapped it on me just in time to catch some of the first movements I have felt from the outside of my belly. So loud through the headphones! The best feeling in the world is feeling these little guys when they are moving around.  I wish I could feel it more often, but that will soon turn into wishing the little stinker would calm down a little and give me a rest.  :)

4 more days till we get to see the little mover and shaker....I can't wait!

Full night of sleep! Woo Hoo!

Okay so last night was the first night in 14 weeks that I slept through the night and didn't have to get up to go to the bathroom!  It was cold and windy all night and I slept warmly under the covers and barely moved around the whole night.  How wonderful to have uninterrupted sleep, I know once the baby is here those nights will be very few and far between! 

Crazy winds again.

I guess this is the time of year to expect wind and lots of it around here.  More strong winds have blown in today kicking up the dust once again.  This time however, cooler temperatures and cold winds. 

Today I received a call from good ole southern edison electric company informing me that they will be turning our power off on Thursday in order to serve us better.  Hmm, let's see, usually power that is on is much better serve than power that is off.  It had better not go any longer than they say it will, I have way to much to do.  So weird. 

I was looking around my house and wondered where in the world these crazy dust bunnies are coming from.  Every time I turn around there are more, and I can't tell where they are coming from.  They like to taunt me for sure.  With tile floors it's a given I have come to realize, but I would still like to know where they are hiding when I am dusting, sweeping, swiffering, and vacuuming, even after all that there they are again. 

I managed to make it to Costco today, took the kids this time so I wasn't alone in case I decided to poop out.  We got in and out in record time, and the lines were short.  Tuesday evenings are the times to go, less people.  Weekends are a big no-no, and we try to avoid it like the plague.  Still have another grocery store to get too sometime this week, but, one thing at a time. 

So last night I sent my husband a text to call me before he went to bed, and when I didn't hear from him I became a little worried.  I stayed up and waited until 11, which would have been 1am in Texas..so decided to shoot him another text to see if he was still up.  No response, so I assumed he fell asleep.  This morning though I still didn't hear from him, which is very unusual for him.  So I called, and the phone sent it right to voice mail...this wasn't making me feel any better.  Finally called the hotel he was staying at and reached him around 2:30 his time.  He informed me his phone was broken...because he dropped it in the toilet, after he had just gone to the bathroom and before he had flushed!  Lol!  What a dork. Haha, I say that out of love.  :)  Crisis averted, but a broken phone...no biggie. 

More work to be done around here, off I go or it won't get done. 

Busy week

I think this will end up being a busy week for me.  J is out of town, and his help with getting the garage cleaned up this last weekend helped get me motivated.  There is something about knowing there is a lot to do that makes me not accomplish very much.  It just ends up being overwhelming, and the garage was my biggest problem.  So that one is mostly taken care of, now I can focus on stuff inside.  Windows need to be cleaned and the courtyards are both super dusty and need to be washed down, the tile floors are looking lack luster, not sure how to fix that one.  The major problem is that I hate flat wall paint, and everything that touches it leaves a mark.  That is so frustrating to me, and I can't leave it the way it is.  No amount of scrubbing the walls will make it go away.  Since I am feeling better lately, I think I just might be able to get some of this done.  Hope so, because if I don't it's likely to drive me to madness.

Last night we had some Santa Ana winds blow through that kept me from sleeping last night.  The french door in our bedroom allows just enough air through that at high speeds sounds like a squeal!  Horrible!  So I woke up pretty tense this morning, and with a stuffy nose, I think from all the dust the winds kicked up.  The weather has been all over the place, 90's one day and 60's the next.  Reminds me of Canada, one day there would be snow, and the next the Chinook winds would blow in and melt it all away changing the temperature drastically.  So strange!  I do prefer the cooler weather, and am looking forward to it staying that way for awhile.

On another note, my wonderful sister who just had a baby a couple months ago is sending me her maternity clothes.  They can't get here soon enough, I don't have many things to choose from, and appreciate not having to spend a bunch on money on something I will only be able to wear another 6 months.  My ultrasound is a week away, can't wait to see the little one and how much things have changed in 3 weeks.  I know it will be a big change, and I am hoping to find out what we are having..we will keep our fingers crossed that the baby will show us, but it may be too early for it.  We will see.  J is calling the baby George and I am looking forward to finding out whether it's a boy or girl to come up with a name...I don't want George to stick, and the girls are worried that if it's a girl we are calling her something offensive.  :) 

I don't know what to think, it's been so long since the last time I was pregnant.  I really don't know what it is, but, I lean towards thinking boy!

Second Trimester, At Last!

I am so excited to have made it to the second trimester!  I feel like I have hit a major milestone, one that seemed so far away, and yet here it is! 

Things have been going pretty well for me the last few days.  I have managed to go 2 days without a headache!  My dizziness isn't as bad as it was, still there though, and I still get up a few times a night to go to the bathroom.  No big deal really!  I did go to the Chiropractor for my headaches, and thank goodness it helped, I was at my wits end there!  I did have more spotting again the last day and a half, not anything to call the Dr. about though.  I think it would be good at this point to just get that part over with instead of it lingering on.  I am looking forward to my next appointment on the 3rd.  We hope to get some good pictures at this next ultrasound. 

Today was one of those days that revealed confusion and chaos.  I hate days like this, when it's something that you have to go and fix the damage that has been done.  It's a huge pain in the rear, and I hope I can get it all fixed.  Unfortunately I have two uphill battles to fight, one with the the Dr.'s billing issues to our insurance, and the other for our HOA fees that were supposedly paid through escrow until we learned otherwise today.  That was a shocker!  Anyway, there were tears shed today, it's not life or death, but, it's rough when it all comes at once and I happen to be a little hormonal...I wonder why!  :) 

This too shall pass....right?

Long but good day!

I can't believe how much I did today and felt fine all the way through, until we were about 30 minutes from home!  That's when it hit me that I am tired!

We had a lunch meeting with some associates from Libya in downtown L.A.  The drive there was fine, it took an hour, and we arrived at our destination, Spago, in Beverly Hills.  This was my first time in that area, we don't normally venture too far from home, although it's only 11 miles from where my hubby works downtown.  First I must say that lunch was delicious, and we met the chef and owner of the restaurant, Wolfgang Puck.  He noticed my pregnant belly and asked how long I have till the baby comes, and after my response he chuckled and said, oh you have plenty more time to eat.  We all loved the food, but, we were stuffed and couldn't finish what was on our plates.  Our new Libyan friends were wonderful as well.  They are newlyweds, and traveling all over for a few weeks before going heading back to work in Libya.  They were easy to talk to and spoke English very well, conversation was nice.  We then walked up and down Rodeo Dr. checking out the sites, took a couple pictures and made our way back to get the car.  I knew something was up with my feet because they didn't feel the greatest walking around in heels, and found I grew a few good sized blisters on my toes.  Flip-flops for me for the next coming weeks I think!

The hard part came with the drive home.  We left for home at 3:45 and didn't arrive at home until 6:40.  Yuck, I cannot imagine driving that everyday.  3 hours for 50 miles just doesn't seem right.  I am thankful J can ride the Metrolink to work and doesn't have to fight the traffic, I think he is even more thankful for it than I am.  Not good commuters in this house!  :)

All in all it was a great day, and now I am ready for a nap.

12w3d

Made it to the middle of week 12!  This last week I had started feeling like I was a little more like me again, until the headaches set in, which I haven't been able to shake.  Otherwise though, things seem to be going okay.  Nothing new on the SCH front, just waiting until something happens there.  For the past several weeks I had a bad case of the progesterone bloat that made me look a lot farther along that I obviously was.  Now that I have been off of it for a while I am finding that the bloat is gone, and the real belly has popped out.  My uterus is quite high, but, considering I've done this a few times it's totally normal. 

Anyway, I have a couple of things I picked up that I can wear, but tomorrow I need something to go out in, and I don't have it.  My husband has a business thing and I am going with him, we are entertaining a couple from Libya.  Normally something like this wouldn't be a big deal, but the only things that I have that are worthy of going out in are all strapless, and apparently this won't fly with the Libyans.  At least it wouldn't in Libya, but, I don't want to offend anyone, so I must find something appropriate for the day, and that means buying something.  It's hard at this awkward size that I am, but hopefully I can find the right thing for this.  We are going to Spago in downtown LA, don't know how fancy that is for lunch time.
Dinner there would be a dressy occasion, but what about lunch.  What to do! 

Subchorionic Hemmorhage...please go away!

Ugh, this pesky bleed is causing some troubles...Nothing major, but it's making me quite uncomfortable.  Wednesday night my tummy was upset and I was actually having some braxton hicks contractions, no big deal normally, but I could really feel it.  Thursday morning I had spotting, totally expected with the SCH, it has to go somewhere.  The problem with this is, no woman in her right mind wants to see any bleeding at all while pregnant, it leaves an uneasy feeling and a mind full of questions that need to be answered...right now!  My Dr. got me in late in the day, and as I arrived he got me right in.  He was concerned that I had come alone, I certainly didn't want to be there by myself, but my hubbies mode of transportation, the Metrolink train was canceled when he tried to catch it.  The next one was delayed as well, leaving me at the appointment totally alone.  In the back of my mind I was thinking this has to be from the bleed and there is nothing more to it, but, I didn't feel secure in that feeling until I could see my little one happy and healthy. 

The Dr. kept the screen pointed towards him when he started the ultrasound, and to my relief he said, Baby is alive.  Music to my ears!  He then commented several times that this baby is really active, and then turned the screen to me so I could see.  Little one was bouncing all over the screen, active is an understatement!  He couldn't believe how much movement was going on and I was happily surprised to see the acrobat bounce about. 

Unfortunately the bleed is still moderate in size and will continue to be a problem until it is completely gone...who knows how long that will take, until then I remain on restricted activity to keep it from growing.  This will no doubt only be the beginning of questionable days and not feeling so great!  Apparently any blood in the uterus is an irritant, and until it's gone, more contracting and irritation and at some point there will be some significant bleeding when it decides it's time for it all to come out.  

My reassurance right now is knowing that the little bean is safe and sound, and growing strong.  I was able to see the baby's profile, so cool! 
So much has changed in so little time, it's amazing to me the difference even in just one week! 

Out of the mouths of Babes

This summer while driving with my brother-in-law back to the Boise valley from beautiful Mccall, my daughter said something that had me on the edge of my seat. 
You know when kids open their mouths sometimes you just never know what will come out of it and this was definitely one of those times. 

"Mom", she says...

"Yes? "

"There's two places on my body that I like to put Cool Whip! " 

At this point I look over at my brother-in-law and he looks at me with a look of uh oh what's she gonna say next!  We continue to play along and see. 

She continues...

"In my mouth, and on my chin! "

Big smiles and giggles coming from the front and back seat at this point!

Then she feels the need to justify it because of the laughter..

"Mom, you KNOW I love Cool Whip!"   

Tee Hee!  How funny!  I wish I could have bottled up all the things the kids have said over the years and go back down memory lane often for many laughs and smiles.  Unfortunately I don't remember most of the funny things the kids used to say, I know there are so many moments that had all of us in stitches that would be fun to relive over and over again.  

This is from the same little girl that about 7 years ago at the age of 3 proclaimed that "When I grow up, I wanna be a Pig!"  My older 2 were telling what they wanted to be when they grew up and she didn't want to be left out, so she chimed right in... If I remember correctly my oldest wanted to be a house builder, and my son wanted to be a cowboy...The little one once again stole the show with her comment, it happens often with her.  I will miss these days with each of them, they are growing so fast! 

I think through it all I have learned to cherish these precious moments and let these memories reign far and above the rough ones.  Believe me there can be some tough stuff to deal with as a parent, especially as they get older and feel that they know what they need to know before they are ready to handle the realities of life.  Parenting is one of the best things, and one of the hardest things.  I am so glad I chose to take this path, even when you don't know where it will exactly take you.  I think that may be part of the fun, and even the craziness of raising kids. 

They are the best thing we have ever done!  =) 

Progesterone Withdrawls?

Last Wednesday was my last dose of the Progesterone, and this week, I think I have been paying for it.  The last 3 days have not been the nicest to me, headaches everyday...and of course my only medicine allowed is Tylenol.  Not gonna cut it!  It's not the worst thing ever, but, add dizziness too it, and it makes for days involve nothing getting done.  Looking around the house I am seeing that it has definitely affected the appearance of my normally clean home.  I am slowly trying to knock it out by doing one thing at a time, since it seems it's all I am capable of at the moment.  One load of laundry here, sweeping the floor there, scrubbing the stove up when I am really feeling ambitious, and so on!  I am confident this will soon end, and I will begin feeling more like me again, thus putting all things back in order and letting the kids know Mom is back in business and she means it!  :)   It can take anywhere from a week to a month for certain meds to get out of your system, I am hoping for the week, and not the month.  Such a high dose and coming off of it is bound to have some effect at some point.  Should be over soon! 

Southern Cali was hit with some drizzle last night and this morning!  A welcome sight, but not the rain I was hoping for.  There is something about a nice hard rain after it's been so hot and dusty that is appealing.  It just doesn't do that here often enough for me.  Thankful for what we got though, it probably won't happen again for a long time!  Temperatures will be back in the mid 90's by the end of the week, so the cooler weather was short lived.  I hope it returns to us very soon!

11 weeks!

This week seems big to me even though next week will be a bigger milestone.  I graduated from going to the specialist to a regular OB, and I am also done taking the progesterone shots.  My bum can now have time to heal from those oily shots!  Woo Hoo!  Feels good to get to this point!  Unfortunately, the day greeted me with a terrible cramp in my right calf muscle, and super dizziness, oh well, tomorrow will be a new day!

On an even better note:  My brother-in-law is a Daddy for the first time, and his wonderful wife delivered a big, healthy, baby boy!  My first baby was a whopping 5lbs 5oz.  I don't know how for her first baby she was able to do 8lbs 13oz and 22 inches, but she managed!  I'm so excited for them, and on a more selfish note, I can't wait to give him a big squeeze when they come down for Thanksgiving.  My other sister-in-law, also the wife of my hubbies other brother, is expecting a little girl in February.  If the second one is half as cute as their first daughter they are going to have their hands super full!  What a little cutie pie their 2 year old is!

This leaves me to wonder if we are having a girl or boy...Daddy and brother are rooting for another little guy in the house, and of course the girls think it would be so great to have another sister.  If I go off of old wives tales, the heartbeat would indicate a girl since it's so high, but I kinda think it's a boy.  I guess time will tell!  I wonder if we will be able to know at the next appointment.  I will be just about 15 weeks, I think it's a toss up, I may have to wait until the next one.
I definitely want to know what we are having, I'm too impatient for waiting! =)

Demanding already...You betcha!

I survived the appointment this morning!  Barely!  This was one of those off mornings.  While getting ready to go, my heart was racing and I was a bit lightheaded, not a fun feeling when you have a blow dryer to your head.  Made it out to the car just in time to make it there by my scheduled time and when I turn on the car a horrible high pitched scream was coming from underneath my seat.  I couldn't figure out what it was and had to leave, so the whole drive there left an annoying ring coming from my ears.

I liked the Dr., thankfully.  He's not one of those know it all's that is in your face, so I felt pretty comfortable with him.  He practices with his wife, who is a Family Practice Dr, it's a family business, and it's a little more low key.  They see less patients than the normal place that has many Doctors of the same type.  He listened for the heartbeat, but couldn't find it yet, so he ran the ultrasound over my belly to make sure all was well.  I was so thankful for that.  This was the first time I didn't have to strip down for one of those un-fun vaginal ultrasounds!  Yay!  This was a much better resolution than the other Dr. had, and I could see the baby clearly, legs, arms and all!  There was a huge difference in size from the one I had a week ago, so amazing!  Baby was swimming around, and I could see a profile.  I can't believe how much things have changed in so little time.  The sub-chorionic hemorrhage is a bit bigger, so I have to just take it easy, there is really nothing that can be done about it, but, in the mean time nothing strenuous, and no heavy lifting.  I don't have to go back for 4 weeks, and at that point we will take another look to see if it's shrinking or growing.  Please pray it's goes away between now and then with no complications.  I feel like I graduated..a whole month before I have to go back, it's almost weird.

So I leave, and that sound that started when I turned on the car was still ringing even with no key in the ignition...so very annoying.  J helped by looking up a place I could get to quickly to get some help, and thankfully I not only found the place, but they were able to turn it off easily costing me nothing!  After that I headed around the corner to Costco for some much needed restocking of the fridge and freezer.

I figured I needed something to drink while I shopped and grabbed a delicious berry smoothie before going in the store, grabbed a couple samples, hoping that it would give me the energy to finish pushing a heavy cart.   Well, not so much!  About 3/4 of the way through the store I start feeling my heart race again, so I start walking slower, as I turn the corner things aren't looking so good for me.  I am blacking out, and can feel the blood rushing out of my arms and legs.  I tried to hold myself up by leaning over the cart, but eventually I ended up sitting on the floor with my head between my legs!  Nice huh!  This has happened to me without fail every time I have been pregnant in the first trimester with all my kids, and always at the grocery store.  This was the first time I was alone though.  So embarrassing!  I made my way a little while later around the next corner and found a place to sit at the pharmacy until I could finish up...Then I get a call from the kids, Hey Mom, don't forget the batteries!  Oh Yeah, one of the reasons I went there...but I couldn't find them.  The ended up being on the opposite side of the store, and it really seemed horribly far considering how I felt.

I am happy to say I survived the day, but it just reminded me how much these little guys demand from Mom even before they are born.  It's amazing to me how someone so small can drain a healthy body from normal function.  This is why I must eat, all the time!  Thanks for the reminder little one!  :)

Beautiful Weather

The weather finally took a turn for the better this past weekend.  After temperatures soaring in the 100's last week, we made it to the glorious 70's!  The a/c hasn't run since Friday, hoping to see that make a huge difference in the electric bill.  We have been able to open windows and have nice breezes all day.  What a blessing!  By the end of the week we will be back in the upper 80's and in the 60's at night.  I hope this comes back soon and lasts for awhile.  Everything in life is more tolerable when it's not blazing hot. 

On another note, I am starting to feel a little more like myself everyday, thankfully.  I am always starving it seems, and when I get to do anything I feel like I am going to blackout.  These aren't the worst things to be feeling for sure, I can handle this!  My Dr. appointment is tomorrow, I think I am looking forward to it, or maybe looking forward to getting it over with...who knows.  :)

We should have a new family member by the weekend.  One of my sisters-in-law will be induced tomorrow if things don't get going on there own by the end of the day.  They didn't find out what they are having, but I am really thinking it's a boy.  It's been a long time since we had baby boys in the family, can't wait to hear the their good news.  Also, praying that if she must be induced that things go well and don't drag on.  So excited for them! 

Not much else going on, it's been pretty uneventful lately! 

Missing the humidity!

Okay I know what your thinking....who likes humidity?  Well I happen to be one of those that do...and these days I could use a little in my life.  It's super dry here, all the time, not like it was when we were in Canada, but still pretty close.  It's something that you adjust to, but just about the time you do the weather, or seasons change.  That is where I am, the weather has cooled a bit, so that means more windows open for cool fresh breezes, which I love!  Here's the trouble: My nose is bleeding constantly, add in being pregnant and it makes it worse.  I've become a chronic nose picker just trying to keep the air flow going!  Gross I know, but completely necessary!  Haha!

So lady like!  A little humidity please! 

Big Bear Fun

This weekend was a nice change from the norm.  SoCal has many beautiful places all within an hour drive from our home.  We made our way up the mountain this time with our destination a cabin in the woods.  After temps in the 100's last week it was a welcome relief to feel cool breezes, and hints of fall in the air.  The drive up was interesting.  I have never in my life been on such a curvy road that climbed from 3000 feet to 7000 in about 25 miles.  The GPS showed more turns up ahead and as the deep heavy breathes from the backseat got deeper and longer, I became worried that we may have a mess on our hands pretty fast.  After a switcheroo of the seats, and a brief stop for some fresh air all was well, everyone managed to keep everything down, thankfully! 
It seems as though everyone in the family had a good time, and would like to go again.  I don't think we would want to attempt the drive in the snow though, it's too steep and windy and the roads are pretty narrow.  Not my idea of a good time!  Out of all our mountain adventures, I would say this is the toughest to get to, and the easiest mountain trek was the one to Banff.  I must say that Banff is a favorite, but thankful to have access to such a beautiful landscape of mountains and a lake in Big Bear.
Looking forward to my appointment at the end of the week...hoping this Dr. will be good and I won't have to find another.  Feeling pretty good this weekend, tired but good!

Time for Christmas?

This morning I have heard many references and songs being sung about Christmas around my house.  I guess it being October has the natives restless for December to get here!  My son just walked over and asked me if I am excited, I asked for what and he says...For Christmas!  Of course, how could I not be.  There's talk of skipping Halloween and going straight to Christmas.  They are getting a bit ahead of themselves here I'm thinking.  Come to think of it though, I have no idea what to get them this year.  Every year that goes by seems to get a little harder.  It was so simple when they were little and a small toy would be the best thing ever.  In fact last year my 4 year old nephew said it best after he opened a gift of race cars...."It's what I've always dreamed of!"  The best response I have heard about a gift in a long time.  We don't hear things like that anymore.  I have usually started shopping and have a really good idea of what I will get by now.  I guess I have been a little distracted lately!  I can't beat myself up to much over it, after all I have purchased 2 gifts, one for each of the girls.  Need to do some brain storming! 

I guess I had better get myself to the store and pick up the goodies we need for our trip to the cabin in the mountains.  The weather is supposed to be cold at night and cool during the day, I am so looking forward to that. 

Hope you all have a great, wonderful, relaxing weekend.