have you voted? and test results...

My "1st trimester screening" test results came in and the results are "normal."  Yay team!  I actually sort of forgot about the test results because what that appointment meant to me was that I got to see the little guy/girl and hear the heartbeat.  I forgot that there was a purpose beyond that.  The actual stats are 1 in 1900 for Down's (the high risk range is 1 in 220, so I'm WAAAAY out of that range) and 1 in 10,000 for trisomy 18.  Since I'm so ancient, this is very good news for us.

And on another note.... have you voted?  Yes YOU... my loyal readers... if not.. there is a poll in the upper right hand of this blog just waiting for your 2 cents worth.   Please humor me.

That's it for now.  Thanks for checking in!

the end of one era, the beginning of another

So, with  my mad match skills, I figure that 40 divided by 3 is 13.3333.  33% of a 7 day week is 2.1.  What this all means is that if today is 13 weeks plus 4 days for me and this babe, then I am into my 2nd trimester!!!  Woo Hoo for team eggs and swimmers!!!!  What does this mean for me, the mamma?  Well... let's see, it means that I have taken the plunge and bought new (reads bigger) underwear.  Unsuccessfully at that.  For the last ?? years I have always bought my underwear from VS.  Since I am hoping that this need for a size upgrade is temporary, I didn't want to pay VS prices, so I went to Target.  1st mistake.  I bought 3 packs of 3 (2nd mistake), took them home, unwrapped them all and washed them all (3rd mistake).  This morning I was like....woo hoo, I've got some new panties to wear and I put a pair on.  YIKES!!!  Not all sizes are created equally.  What I thought would be more than ample room for my expanding thighs (the "old ones" were cutting into me... very sad sight to see) ended up being, um... let's say snug.  The thing it, the material is not stretchy AT ALL.  What?  Aren't underwear supposed to be sort of stretchy??  Weird.  So now... I am stuck with 9 pair of underpants that I'm not really happy with.  Now... don't be gross.  I wouldn't have returned the pack I wore... but if I didn't make mistake #3, I could at least return the 2 packs that should've been untouched.

What else?  Well... the nausea seems to have subsided... at least the kind that stuck with me all day.  Now it's just comes and goes... which I'm totally fine with.  

The tits still kill... I mean, even the shower water hitting them =  Whoa Nelly!... I can't imagine little babe sucking on these sensitive parts... OUCH!

I'm still tired.  Where is that 2nd trimester energy I keep hearing about?  Mind you... before little babe came along, I'd be constantly on the go.  Get home from work, attend to whatever project needed tending to, eat dinner, maybe work a little more and go to bed.  Rinse and repeat.  Now?  Oh geez, I get home from work exhausted and get on the couch for a little nappy poo.  Keep in mind that pre-babe, I couldn't take a nap if my life depended on it.  I'm talking I could run a marathon and still be unable to catch a nap.  No problem these days.  My how things change!

The big thorn in my side is cleaning out and emptying my art studio.  This is going to be the babe's room and I'm super stoked to start decorating it, but it is so full of STUFF.  I have to pack it up in some sort of neat and orderly fashion and stack it up in the garage.  I can't even get started.  It's so sad.  Organizing is a favorite pastime of mine too.  I can't muster up the energy to just do it.  UGH!

What else?  Oh... the stories about pregnancy hair being all great and full and luscious and delicious are a big load of crap.  My hair is lifeless and dull and blah.  My nails however grow like mad.  Still not complaining.... just reporting.  

I think that's it for now, but I can't remember... pregnancy brain has definitely set in!!!

week 13

On Saturday I hit week 13... so some would say I am in my 14th week.  Very exciting stuff here.  Some of the resources I read have conflicting information, one says the baby can hear me now... the other says I have to wait until week 16.  I'll just assume it's now.  I don't have many other updates about the babe right now, since I'm still 2 weeks away from my next appointment.  Instead, I will bore you with some of my current observations.

• It seems that since this is my 3rd pregnancy (with no kids to show for it, yet) that people aren't as excited for me as they were in the past.  Mind you, some people are and I need to focus on that... but it just seems like some people think I am crying wolf or something.  Whatever... the people that matter are excited so I should just leave it at that.
• My least favorite phrase is now "oh, just wait, YOU'LL SEE!"  WTF?  If I happen to mention some grand plan I have to, oh, let's say, put the baby on a schedule.  That someone will scoff and say "right, just wait and see..."  I say... "thank you, I think I will."  What the hell am I supposed to say?  "Oh, really?  Well then I'd better not try it then."  Do people honestly think that I don't know enough to know that things don't always go as planned?  That every baby is different and I hope to one of the lucky ones that has a baby that easily adapts to a consistent sleep-eat-play schedule?  But if not, I will adapt and overcome?  Duh!  Also, just because YOU couldn't get YOUR kid to do it doesn't mean it won't work for me.  So back off.
• Don't touch my belly!  Really!  I don't even like my husband touching my fat gross stomach.... why would I want some random person touching my belly.  Stop it.
• Today a co-worker of mine who has a 1 year old grandson just asked me if I was ok with hand-me-downs and I was like "hell to the yea I am."  She is going to hook me up with some baby gear, some to borrow and some to have (I think).  I'm like... "bring it on!"  So far I know I"m getting a swing (sweet... I wasn't planning on buying one b/c a) they are space hogs and b) not all babes like them and c) even if the babe likes it I believe in tough love... ha ha just kidding... really, they only use them for such a short time, I was going to make it work without a swing.  The best part of getting the gear to loan is... I get to use it for free and then GIVE.IT.BACK.  Wooo hooo.  
• For all of those out there that may not know my experience with babies and feel the need to give me advice that I don't ask for.... please know that 1) my brother was born when I was 11, so I spent a lot of time taking care of him.  2) I babysat as my primary source of income from ages 10-18 and then some.  3) I then nannied for several families to get through college. 4)  I worked on the LA&D ward, the postpartum ward and finally the newborn nursery while I was in the Navy.  And 5)  I read a lot.  Books, magazines, and internet.  I also am a great observer of life and a quick study.  A great way to learn is from others mistakes or successes.  So there you have it.  I've got it.  What I don't know I will figure out.  And if I can't figure it out, it's probably beyond my scope (and the scope of most parents out there) and I will go to the doctor's office.  OK?
• I just got a "flip" video camera.  I haven't tried it on anything fascinating yet... but it is SUPER user friendly and SUPER easy to use.  I highly recommend it.  Check it out here.

So... that's all the ranting and raving I've got for now.  Back to your normally scheduled programming.

mamma mia! 12 plus 3 weeks???

OK... before we get to the regularly scheduled programming, can I just interrupt by saying HOW.SICK.I.AM.OF.THE.MAMMA.MIA.PREVIEWS.AND.COMMERCIALS????  OMG... enough already... you'd think this was the #1 Oscar pick of the year (not).  Shit, even the latest Batman movie isn't getting this much attention.  It's a freaking musical.  The only thing worse than seeing a musical on stage is seeing one on film.  GROSS.  Ok.   Enough of that.

Now... let's get on with the good stuff.  I mean the GREAT stuff.

So I went in for my genetic screening today... which consisted of a tiny blood donation (prick on the finger) and a "comprehensive" ultrasound... and it was quite exciting!  The little munchkin is growing like a weed!  It appears that it may be growing some weed too, b/c I could swear I saw a doobie in his/her hand.  Anyway... at my first OB appointment, it was determined that my due date was February 6th.  Then at my first "pre-natal" appointment (some 3 weeks later I think), my due date was moved up to February 2nd.  We gained 4 days.  Hmm.  Then... today... 3 weeks later, my due date is now January 31, we gained another 2 days.  Hmm Hmm.  I knew I shouldn't have drunk that Miracle Grow last month... ha ha.  So needless to say, the baby is growing FAST!  I also got to hear the heartbeat... an added bonus b/c my US tech. was the bomb.  It was so cool to hear it... strong and fast!

We couldn't tell if he is a she or if she is a he... still too early to check out the junk.  I hate referring to the baby as "it" and "the baby" doesn't always flow out too easily... so I usually slip and say "he was dancing" or "he looks like a monkey."  If I slip and refer to the baby as a he or a she... I don't know anything you don't already know... it just comes out that way.  Here is the latest picture... the scan doesn't do the actual photo justice... but it's something.

Other than this... I just had some Thai food and it is NOT sitting well with us.   Won't be doing THAT again, at least not anytime soon.

Except for today... the nausea seems to have gone away.  My boobs are still sore, but I'm not complaining, just reporting.  I still can't breathe with this constant congestion/sneezing/runny nose... I hope to resolve that little issue at my next doctor's appointment in 3 weeks.  

Thanks for checking in....   we really appreciate the positive thoughts, well wishes and prayers.  As you can see, it's working like a charm!  Thanks a mill!

Sailing 101

So... I am now officially a certified sailor!  That's right folks, put your boats away... I am now free to roam the open waters all by myself!  You would've thought that by giving the ol' Navy 5 years of my life that I would at least get out knowing how to sail, right?  Wrong.  Have you seen the boats the Navy sails?  No sails in sight.  So you see where the complications come into play.  I, as the skipper, had to learn how to use the sails and boss people around, while steering the vessel...  all while trying to avoid other vessels in my way.  I just spent the last two days out on the water, got a 97% on my written exam, a 100% on my practical exam and voila!  my certification is in the mail!

It's unbelievable how much the water wipes me out!  I don't usually get sea-sick (knock on wood), but these two days I feel much woozier on land than I did on the water.  Weird, huh?  As a matter of fact, that is usually how it goes for me.  The more motion on the water, the more fun it is for me.  Then I hit land and whoosh... here comes the "land" sickness...  it's like getting the spins after drinking too much, without the cottonmouth and spinning part.  Yeech!

Tuesday is the next big update... so stay tuned. 

a week in review

-husband came home Sunday. tired.
-we went window shopping for baby gear. he's just as excited as I am... or maybe he's faking it.
-work as usual M-F.
-husband leaves again on Thursday.
-bowling on Friday... got a new ball! (Just in time as my 28 year old ball has a big hole in it now).
-Mom flew in Saturday morning to hang out for a week. I guess Las Vegas is baking hot.
-went shopping at the outlet malls on Saturday... wore me OUT!
-chilled like cucumbers on Sunday
-drank lots of (decaf) iced-tea to stay cool all weekend
-back to the ol' grind today (Monday).

Happy Anniversary Husband!

Christine_Tony_187.jpg, originally uploaded by lks2run262.

Tones finally got home from his business trip yesterday. Ugh...what a mess... he was supposed to be home on Saturday but got caught up in immigration for 3.5 hours, therefore missing his flight home. I hung out at Jean's on Saturday where we made rag baskets/hats and she taught me to crochet. Not to be confused with croquet. Ha ha.

Anyway... Tones came home Sunday morning and we just hung out and watched Wimbledon... can you believe that men's match? Wowza! I wanted Fedderer to win... oh well.

So, today is 07/07/08... our one year anniversary. It's a Monday... which means we both had to work... which is poopy... but we'll go out to dinner tonight and have some fun.
Happy Anniversary Husband! Love you lots.

8 weeks + 4 days

You have to use your imagination a little... but imagine you are looking at the kid straight on. The head is at the top and the bottom part is the body. You can see little arm buds coming out of the body. He/she looks sort of like a turtle... with the big body and little arms and legs. (Click on the picture to enlarge).

a HUGE sigh of relief...

I had my first "official" pre-natal appointment today... although I saw the doc at 6 weeks... okay... whatever.  Anyway... I had massive amounts of anxiety going in to this appointment because so far, I haven't made it to this point... seeing the baby grow to be more than a dot in a bubble.  The first time I wasn't even close and the second time I went in for my "12 week" appointment only to find the baby was only at 8 weeks and had no heartbeat.  So... if one more person tries to tell me to "relax" or to "not worry about it" or that "it will be fine" I will punch them in the face simply smile and walk away.  Trust me, it's not that easy.  I know all the tricks in the book... self-talk... deep breathing... shopping... eating... believe me... those thoughts still find a way to creep back into your head.

So you can imagine my HUGE RELIEF when the doc stuck the probe up my va-jay-jay and we got to see the little dude (or dudette), dancing to the beat of that little heart.  Mama Jean was right there by my side (the husband is still traveling for work) and we both burst out in tears... ok, so I burst, she just teared up.  I bawled my head off.  Trust me, they were tears of pure joy, not sadness.  I was so relieved.  I don't know how else to put it other than I felt like I could finally breathe and relax and for gosh sakes... GO BABY SHOPPING!!!  (not for a new baby, for baby stuff for THIS baby!).  I think the doc thinks I'm a freak-a-zoid.  Who cares man?  

Cute moment of the day was when we went in for one more look at the bebe and we caught him/her shaking his/her head... as if saying no, no, no.    So exciting.

The rest of the appointment went as expected.  Next one is in 6 weeks.  Hello?  That is way too long to wait to see the bebe again... I totally get why Tom Cruise bought Katie Holmes their very own sonogram machine.  I'd be checking in on things every week!!!

Thanks for all of the prayers and good thoughts.... it worked!