I'm Anemic! 28 weeks

Yesterday I did my glucose test-- I drank the fruit punch flavor, and it wasn't that bad. I also purposefully didn't drink any water for the 30 minutes or so before the test so I was PARCHED. Any liquid felt good :)


Dr. Judd called today to let me know that I'm anemic. I have to take an iron supplement. Waiting to hear back to get the prescription called in, but oh well. I can handle a minor iron deficiency! Just as long as my tiny baby is growing nicely :)

Family Baby Shower I - Dad's side of the family!

Today I went to Donna's house in Annapolis for a wonderful baby shower thrown by Dad's side of the family. Mom and Grandmom were there, as were: Donna, Tony, Brady & his adorable little Lilia, Tre, Angie, Coral & Cayman, Aunt Jeanne & Michele, Uncle Don, Lauree & Mike, and Hilary and Roger. The shower was also for Hilary, who is going to have a little girl in May.

I got some wonderful presents and can't wait to share them with Liam! We are so blessed to have a wonderful family so eager to support and welcome our baby boy!!!

Hiccuping Baby Boy!

I started feeling Liam's hiccups! It happened yesterday morning at school during 1st period. I just had to text Matt (at lunch, I'm responsible!) to tell him about it... it was so cute.

The thing that bothers me is google. If you google "fetal hiccups" you see a whole bunch of scary stuff about cord compression and hiccups. Dear Lord, I love this little guy so much and I don't want anything to go wrong. The internet is so scary!

I know it's totally normal for the baby to be hiccuping, so I'm going to just hope for the best. Love you, Liam!

Stroller colors!

We registered over a month ago at Babies R Us. I went in expecting it to be stressful and it really wasn't; it was great! We got a stroller that we were both really happy with, and picked it in a deep purple color that goes with our favorite football team-- the Ravens.

And then I got home. I got to thinking that the purple made no sense. Liam is a boy, sure, but it's not that I care about "genderizing" specific colors. I do however kinda like colors agreeing with each other. I am not a "matchy" person, but while I was at Target I saw a woman with our purple stroller and a little boy. The light baby blue blanket in the purple stroller just looked clash-y. I know! Picky picky. But all of our blankets and outfits will be in blues, greens or browns. There would be very few purples.

So we switched. We went from purple to light green, and I can't wait to see how cute his little dinosaur blankets are in the stroller. Bet yet I can't wait to see how cute my little dinosaur is in his stroller! He is kicking and squirming all the time now. I love him soooo much.

Stay strong little baby and keep growing. I will see you in 10+ weeks! Love, mommy

Scoogie Woo

My little scudger loves to move around in my tummy. I call him my scudger (scooger?) because he scudges across my belly sometimes, bump, bump, bump! I love it. I love my little guy so much! When he starts moving around all I want to do is just watch... I wish I had a window into my belly so I could see him and see what he's doing and see what he looks like. I can not wait to see what he looks like! Will he have a head full of hair? Who knows!!! :)

I just love my little guy so much!

Crib Mattresses?!

I didn't even realize that all crib mattresses are not created alike? I found this mattress through a forum that people say fits the crib model well:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sealy-Baby-Ultra-Rest-Crib-and-Toddler-Bed-Mattress/12662573#Specifications

Placenta Previa! Found at 23 Weeks

At my ultrasound today the sonographer found that my placenta was lying very low, so low in fact that it's considered "marginal placenta previa". I know what this is through other women on the Shady Grove Graduates page: it's where the placenta is lying on, across, or (in my case) very near to the cervix. This can become an issue later in pregnancy: it can cause heavy bleeding, and the bleeding itself may trigger labor.

Usually this is controlled through bedrest. I won't need bedrest if I don't bleed though, so I am really hoping this placenta decides to cooperate and move up as my uterus grows. I am terrified of bleeding. At this point, I've had OHSS, a morphine drip at 5 weeks pg, 4 surgeries, one lost baby, 2 ovarian cysts, and four gall bladder attacks. I want a free pass from any bleeding during this pregnancy :) Better yet, I just want Liam to grow to term and be born totally healthy. Yes, please!!!


** I just read that this condition is more common in women who've had C-sections or previous uterine surgeries.  That septate uterus is the gift that keeps on giving!!!

Thoughts on Being a Mother

A poem I found on a couple blogs...

"Thoughts on Becoming a Mother"There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better. 

I will be better not because of genetics, or money or that I have read more books, but because I have struggled and toiled for this child. I have longed and waited. I have cried and prayed. I have endured and planned over and over again. Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams. 

I will notice everything about my child. I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life. I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be crying for me. 

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see. Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love. I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain. I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my own body, I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall. I have prevailed. I have succeeded. I have won. 

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs. I listen. And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard. I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes.I have learned to appreciate life.Yes I will be a wonderful mother.

-Author Unknown

Finally

I love every single moment of being pregnant. 

I can see his kicks!!!

I can see my belly move when Liam kicks now! I love it :) He was kicking so strongly that I ran over to show Matt. He and I were sitting watching his little kick show. Matt could feel him kicking strongly. I love sharing that with him!!!

20 Weeks Belly Shot!

I am 20 weeks. Halfway through. lalalala!! I could sing from the mountaintops!!!!

I love my little kicker/squirmer so much... being pregnant is such a wonderful blessing and I am cherishing every wonderful part of it. Even the painful parts (like the gall bladder, ligament pain) are amazing blessings from God that are bringing us our miracle... and so worth it.

Gall Bladder Shmall Bladder!

... and twenty other reasons I'm grateful Liam is still in my tummy

Saturday night I woke up about 5 minutes after going to bed with a dull ache in my right side. I tossed and turned but the pain got worse-- no position was comfortable! I got out of bed and tried to walk it off. I thought maybe I had a bruise or something. No. I tried the recliner, thinking maybe it was OHSS residual pain, but no. The pain got worse; it stretched up to my shoulder, around to my chest, and down to my hip.

I went out to the living room, hoping it was gas and walking around would help. The pain got worse. Then I started to freak out, fearing this was pre-term labor and that I was going to lose the baby. I got pretty sure this was what was going on. I called my doctor on call and they said to go to the ER-- had it been two days later I'd be 20 weeks and could go to Labor & Delivery! But no.

The drive down was agonizing. I was in so much pain-- and was so afraid this was "it". I prayed to Jesus, God, and the Blessed Mother that they'd watch over my baby (Liam must be Catholic).

Then we got to the ER, and by the time I sat in the waiting room, the pain was gone. It was so weird! And Liam was squirmmmmmming! So I knew my baby boy was okay. So what was it?

We had to wait a couple hours to see a doctor and he knew right away what it was: my gall bladder! He gave us a prescription for Tylenol w/ Codeine & Reglan. And off we left!!

This morning I woke up with another attack and it was AWFUL. We hadn't filled the prescription last night (leaving the ER at 3:30am) so I just had to bear it. I was crying and made Matt hold my hand at one point... :(

Dear God, thank you for blessing my baby and keeping him safe. 

Finding out the gender!

It's a.... BOY!

    Turns out that Liam has been hanging out in my belly all this time :) (we were wondering if it was Liam or Ava!). I was thrilled when she showed/told us it was a boy. I can't wait to meet my little man. I am thrilled to give Matt a son too. I know that's silly but I want my golfer to have a little golfer of his own!

Liam, I can't wait to meet you. I loved seeing you squirming around on the screen today, moving your hands and feet for us. Keep growing strong, little man. I will love you more and more each day, especially after I meet you!  Love, Mommy

18 week belly pic

18 weeks and counting-- feeling good but belly is definitely growing! So far I've put on about 6 pounds, and it seems that my appetite is getting stronger by the day this week. My heartburn is still around randomly, but I wouldn't say that I have any major pregnancy symptoms right now, other than feeling the little beeb kicking and squirming :) I do also have round ligament pain when I get up too quickly... :)

Dear baby,

I love, love, love when you kick and move inside me! Today during my 4th period class you did a flip. The first flip I ever really felt! And let me tell you, it took my breath away. It felt like you were crawling around in there or trying to get out through my belly button! I love you so much little baby and love to know you're in there... :)