Yep, still in the hospital... 36 weeks today!

So I am still in the hospital and yes I feel like a bipolar mess... One day I am doing good and the next I want to yell at someone. It really depends on how much sleep I get, which is hardly any. It's really funny when I talk to someone and they say, I understand what you're going through.. It's hard for me to say really, when was the last time you were bedrest in a hospital for over 2 weeks- no privacy- medical staff coming in all hours of the day, night- getting blood drawn all the time, examined everywhere and having people poke around on you all day long.

I am at the point where no visitors is nice. I limit my husband from being up here all the time because all I want to do when I see him is yell at him. I guess I get a little jealous hearing about how nice the weather is, or about some new Hibachi restaraunt, or hearing about an awesome spa day, etc. Anyone reading this, I bet a million bucks if you were in my shoes you would be feeling this way after your second week in here knowing you still have more days of it ahead.

Don't get me wrong.. Good Samaritan hospital is a great hospital. They really accomodate their patients BUT I hate being in bed 24 hours a day with the exception to; use the bathroom, get some ice, and go outside when Justin can wheel me out for 30 minutes (which I haven't been outside since last Saturday). It really really sucks.

On the bright side of everything.. Jaxson is doing great! He is passing all of his tests! We get an aminocentisis next Tuesday or Wed to see if his lungs are fully developed. If they're fully developed I will be induced!! We are 36 weeks today so next Wed Jaxson will be considered Full Term- which is good! I am hoping next week is my last week in the hospital. I am ready for my shower, bed and toilet. AND Jaxson:)

Fluid levels dropped today! BLAH

Today has not started off the best! First of all, I am getting a little homesick:( I miss my dogs, my hubby and my personal stuff! This hospital room feels like the walls are closing in on me. I am trying to stay strong and not have a melt down but it's hard.. Being confined to this bed and only allowed to get up to use the restroom.

They checked my fluid levels today and they dropped almost a point.. The doctor says my placenta is not working like it should and the stress of the growing baby isn't helping so we will deliver in 3 weeks! As long as baby Jaxson passes all his tests! If he shows any signs of distress or stops growing I will be induced earlier.

I am waiting for my 24 hour urine test to come back! I am hoping the protein hasn't increased! If it has this could be another factor in delivering early!

I am ready to meet my baby boy! I am trying my hardest to stay strong and praying for both our health everyday!

Fluid Levels went up to 6.7

After being off the IV drip for 24 hours we went back down this morning for another fluid level check and it increased to 6.7:) This is better than 5. Of course the levels need to be at least an 8 to be considered normal but it's getting there! I will be getting checked everyday! So I am praying that they keep going up. Like I said before if they ended up taking him early he's at a good weight-- 5 pounds ten ounces! Next Wed, we do another growth development check and hopefully he's gained. If not, then taking him would be the next step. If he's not growing then my placenta isn't delivering the nutrients he needs. So outside care would be better than womb care. It's all a little frustrating at times, but on the bright side we're in good hands! His non stress test have had good results. I am starting to have contractions a little more but it's okay as long as I am not dilating. We started another urine test today and it ends tomorrow at this time-- checking to make sure the protein in my urine hasn't increased! My BP was slightly elevated yesterday so they want to keep an eye on pre eclampsia. Right now I am considered Mild, but they said it could get worse overnight. Scary, huh??

Other than that, we're doing good! I will try and keep you updated on a daily basis!

Back in the hospital...

So Monday we went in for our fluid check and it dropped from a 9 to a 5. Pretty big drop. They admitted me Monday morning back up to the Labor and Delivery floor and I will be in here for the duration of pregnancy! So yesterday they started me back on IV drip and steroid shots for developing the baby's lungs a little faster.

This morning we went downstairs for another fluid check and it was still at a level 5 which means the IV fluid didn't help. So after some more tests they found that my placenta is prematurely aging. This causes the fluid to be low- AKA Ogliohydramnios. So me and baby will be in the hospital til he arrives! We will be 34 weeks tomorrow and they're planning on taking him at week 37. He will be considered full term. We both are being monitored daily with lots of tests so any sign of distress on baby he will be delivered sooner! These steroid shots are going to help out a lot with his lung development if anything happens!

I know we're in the best hands right now and being taken well care of! Good Samaritan hospital is awesome! I would definately recommend this hospital to anyone high risk.

34 weeks this Wed... And it's been awhile since I last posted

Okay so I have been horrible about posting on here but I would like to give an update on the last few months.. It's been a VERY busy summer with weddings, showers, vacation and graduations. Now, I am on strict bed rest so I will have sometime to blog. So the last time I blogged I was 22 weeks I believe and a lot has changed! For instance, my weight before pregnancy was in the 130's and now I am 160. A lot of this weight gain has occured in the past 2 weeks.. My appetite has increased and I am definately eating for 2... Jaxson is one little active baby. He is moving around all the time and kicking up a storm. I can't wait to meet him!

I had a regular doctor appointment last Wednesday and ended up being admitted to the hospital that day when my fluid levels were extremely low. They're supposed to be at a level 9 and mine we're at a level 4. I was hooked up to an IV for 24 hours and had my urine tested for 24 hours. I was diagnosed with mild preeclampsia. So from here on out I am not doing much of anything except laying around and reading lots! I will be going to the hospital 3x a week for fluid level checks and doctor follow ups. If anything changes with my fluid levels I will be back in the hospital til Jaxson is born. A lot of this probably has something to do with me being sooooooooooo active like painting, yard work, walking up stairs a lot, cleaning, flying, losing my grandfather, hot summer, stress from everyday things, etc. I wasn't drinking enough fluids or taking care of myself like I should have been..

Jaxson weighs 5 pounds and ten ounces so if they decide taking him this week or next he will be fine! They want to try and keep him in as long as they can but if he shows any signs of distress then he will be early. Justin and I are ready for him... We have his nursery done and all of his bedding, clothes, towels, etc washed!

Keep us in your prayers! We're almost there and right now baby Jaxson is doing GREAT!

19 weeks this Wed..

It's been awhile since I last posted so you know what that means???? :) I am feeling much much better.. I finally got my second wind and I feel GREAT!! I have been eating like a pig and enjoying life. Hopefully when I go to my doctor's appointment on 6-17 they tell me I gained instead of losing.

I have felt flutters here and there and it's the best feeling! Knowing our baby is moving and doing great makes my day. My belly is getting really hard and looking like a baby bump. Everyone that has seen it thinks I am carrying high so they're thinking a girl. I really don't care what we have as long as the baby is healthy.

My maternal instincts have kicked in high gear. It's quite funny to see how I went from not caring about certain things to not liking them at all. For instance, cigarette smoke, drunks, fast driving, big dogs, candy, soda, bitchy people, waiting in line, high heels, and jeans I don't like at all right now!

The training that we have been doing with Emmy has worked! She is relaxing more around the baby doll. She doesn't seem to get all worked up when we place it on the couch. Don't get me wrong, she's curious and wants to smell but she knows that getting close will get her in time out.

My hair looks great right now! The prenatals have done wonders to my hair, nails and skin! My hair has never been this silky and my nails have NEVER been this strong. It's great to know these pills not only help "baby" but help me.

My husband has been doing P90X and he's looking great! He's getting ready to start the second month of it and his abs are ripped and his arms look buff. I am proud of him for getting in shape, but I am a little jealous that I will only get bigger while he gets buffer:) No, really I am okay with getting bigger since our baby is growing inside.  We're going to the beach in August (my third trimester) so I am excited to see how my body will look then. We have been taking pictures every month so we can look back on them.

Our next appointment is 6-17. We find out the sex of our baby! Keep in tune til then!

16 weeks today!

We had our checkup today and everything is going great  the doctor says. The heartbeat was 150 today:) It's amazing! The doctor wrote a RX for Reglan for nausea. I am hoping this works so I can start feeling better.

We go back June 17th for the sex of the baby and the second part of the early screening. I can't believe we're already here... This pregnancy is flying by.

15 weeks today! 175 days to go

It's been a rough week! Vomiting everytime I eat and feeling a little dizzy is the norm here lately. When I called the doctor's office to let them know the reply was the same as always. BRATTS diet and rest. I am so looking forward to the day this sickness ends, lol. It's taken a toll on me and my poor husband. Imagine having the stomach flu everyday.. What kind of person would you feel like? Exactly, a monster. I love when I am talking to other pregnant women and they have no idea about morning sickness. Bless their hearts!

I was reading my weekly emails that I get from Baby center and soon I should be feeling some movement! Some women say they do feel movement at this time but not me. All I feel is sickness, heartbearn and lovely acid reflex. It's weird how the sickness goes away for a couple of days and then hits you for a week afterwards.

I start my prenatals back up next Wed. and hopefully this time they stay down. Heartbearn and acid reflex has started and boy oh boy does it suck. I was hoping to gain some weight for my next doctor appointment but I have a feeling I have lost another couple of pounds. We'll see...

Justin and I have been working with our dogs. We have one of my old baby dolls that we carry around and pretend it's our real baby. Our oldest dog Rocky is great with the baby, Emmy on the other hand still needs a lot of practice. She is very aggressive and jealous. Just when you think she is getting use to the baby, we lay it down and she is up on the couch growling at it. OH BOY...I really want to keep her around but if she attacks my real child we will have a problem and she will have a new home.

We realized that after having my nephew stay with us last month she needed some help! My 2 year old nephew was eating a cookie and Emmy decided to jump and snap at his face. Luckily she didn't get him because he threw his little arms up and Justin was on her like glue.

Hopefully now til the baby gets here Emmy will have been trained enough! I am hoping for her sake!

3 months today...

Today we're 3 months. It's hard to believe that my second trimester is right around the corner. It feels like yesterday I just found out! It's amazing to see the difference in our ultrasound pictures at 7 weeks and 12 weeks. It went from a blob to a baby.

We have our 3 month checkup tomorrow and hopefully our baby cooperates with the testing..

Here's how our baby is growing:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.
Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.  (and our baby weighs 2 oz right now!!!)
 
How my life is changing:
 
Your uterus has grown to the point where your healthcare provider can now feel the top of it (the fundus) low in your abdomen, just above your pubic bone. You may already be into maternity clothes, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy. If you're still fairly small and not yet ready for maternity clothes, you've no doubt noticed that your waist is thickening and that you're more comfortable in loose, less restrictive clothing.
You may begin to feel heartburn (also called acid indigestion), a burning sensation that often extends from the bottom of your breastbone to your lower throat. Many women get heartburn for the first time during pregnancy, and those who've previously had bouts of heartburn may find that it gets worse. During pregnancy, the placenta produces a lot of the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach. Particularly when you're lying down, gastric acid can seep back up the pipe, which causes the uncomfortable burning sensation. For many women the problem doesn't begin (or get worse) until later in pregnancy, when your growing uterus starts to push up on your stomach. The discomfort may range from mildly annoying to intense and distracting.

Early Screening

Well what can I say... Our child didn't cooperate today for our early screening appointment. He/She was bouncing all over the place. It was amazing to see the little legs springing and the heartbeat. Hiccups were happening as well! We will try again on Thursday  morning but if the baby doesn't cooperate then no testing will be done. We did get 6 new ultrasound pictures today! I must say they're quite funny! If I knew how to upload pictures I would upload them now.

The morning sickness is easing up a bit. It's really bad in the morning but gets better as the day goes by. I think taking the prenatals at night as helped out.

Baby heartbeat 158 bpm
Baby weighs 2 oz

Baby profile pix looks a little like Justin! Will it be a boy of girl????

Dreams...

I have been experiencing some crazy dreams! I dream of people drowning, being locked inside a ship in the middle of the ocean with no one there to help, and these dreams scare the shit out of me! I've been told the first trimester you will have crazy dreams! Mine are more scary than anything. Almost every dream water is involved. Large bodies of water at that. So I decided to google "Dreams and Pregnancy."

Here's what I found: (notice the section I highlighted in red below)

Are Pregnancy Dreams Normal?

Though these vivid dreams can often be confusing and even frightening, it is entirely normal to experience a large number of dreams during pregnancy. There are a variety of reasons that can help explain this dramatic increase in dreams:

Pregnancy Hormones: Throughout your pregnancy, your body pumps out a variety of different hormones, including progesterone and estrogen. It is thought that these hormones affect the way we sleep at night, causing us to experience longer periods of REM sleep. It is during REM sleep that our minds begin to dream.

Increased Waking: Pregnant women are much more likely to wake up during the night than women who aren’t pregnant. Whether you have a leg cramp or a backache, you may find that you wake up several times every night. When your body wakes up from a deep sleep, it has better dream recall than it would had you slept through the night. This means that you may be experiencing more vivid dreams simply because your body is better at recalling them.

Pregnancy Anxiety: Pregnancy is a time of distinct changes, many of which are scary and overwhelming. You probably have a number of anxieties over becoming a parent: for instance, you may worry how you will handle having a baby and if you will be a capable mother. Our subconscious mind often works through these anxieties while we are sleeping, in the form of dreams.

Common Pregnancy Dreams

Many pregnant women experience dreams that are similar in content or theme. Some commonly-reported pregnancy dreams include:

• dreams of falling
• dreams of running
• dreams of being trapped
• dreams of baby’s gender
• dreams of baby’s appearance
• dreams of labor and delivery

Don’t be surprised if many of these are unpleasant in nature. Because of all the anxiety and stress that pregnant women experience, dreams often take on a frightening tone. But this is simply your mind’s way of working out your worries and fears. You will also find that much of your excitement about pregnancy also translates into your dreams.

Dream Development by Trimester

Many dream studies have shown that dreams tend to change from trimester to trimester of pregnancy. During the first trimester, women have reported dreaming of water and water symbols. This may be because of the increased amniotic fluid inside of your womb. During the second trimester, women report an increase in dreams about animals. This could be triggered by the your baby’s increased development and movement inside of your body. And during the third trimester, dreams are much more likely to be about baby himself, and may focus on giving birth or caring for baby after he is born.

Good reads!

Every week I read, " What to Expect when Expecting". This gives answers to any question you may have. It explains what your body is going through and what to expect! If I feel something weird in my belly or notice something out of the ordinary-- I go straight to this book for answers before calling the doctor. Don't get me wrong I still make about 5 calls a weeks to the doctor office:) This book has the answer to EVERY question you think of! Even if you think it's stupid, it's in the book!

"Belly Laughs" is a must read!!! This book is hilarious and to the point! A Playmate, Jenny McCarthy wrote this book and she's quite comical! My husband is reading it now and really enjoys it! This book will make you laugh because Jenny goes where most women won't.. She talks about the other side of pregnancy, the gross side! She talks about the different kinds of vaginal discharge, gas, constipation, hemorrhoids, and sex.

babycenter.com is a great place to find all sorts of pregnancy information! I search this website atleast 10 times a week! Food recipes, exercise, information on our growing baby, and tips on parenting!

10 weeks today! 210 days to go

Today is week 10 of our pregnancy and the morning sickness is HORRIBLE! I have it all day and night. I feel miserable 99.9% of the time and can't wait to hit my second trimester! I pray that this morning sickness will go away after week 12. I use to enjoy food commercials and now if one comes on it's an instant vomit fest! My husband and I try to change the channel ASAP but sometimes we're to slow and it's gets pretty nasty! I feel sorry for anyone who has morning sickness like this! It's not fun!

My husband and I registered online at babycenter.com to get weekly updates. Here's what week 10 says!

How your baby's growing:


Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

8 weeks today!!!

So the past week has been horrible!!! Morning sickness all day and all night! Nothing seems to help. I am out of breath and tired all the time. Even though I feel like crap 98% of the time, I can't help but to be happy knowing our baby is doing good! They say morning sickness is a good sign in pregnancy! It's crazy to see how my eating habits have done a 360. I usually like spice food, Thai food, Italian food and the thought of these makes me gag!!! Right now, I only eat banana's, toast, apples, water, ice cream,  milk and yogurt. AND the one food that I crave is french fries!! I have been eating french fries almost everyday! My stomach isn't the only thing that will get big!

 I have experienced spotting the last couple of days. I was a little panicked at first but got confirmation that it was old blood and nothing to worry about. The doctor told me if I experience dark red or pink spotting and severe cramping then I need to come in for a checkup.

Our baby is now 5/8 of an inch long, about the size of a kidney bean. Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from the baby's hands and feet, his/her eyelids practically cover the eyes, breathing tubes extend from its throat to the branches of its developing lungs, and the "tail" is just about gone. The arms have lengthened, too, and the hands are now flexed at the wrist and meet over the heart. Its knee joints have formed, and the feet may be long enough to meet in front of the body. In his/her brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.

We learned today that our baby can bend its knees and elbows!!

Appointment # 2

3/18/2010 we had our first ultrasound! It was amazing... It really hit home seeing that heart beat! We are approximately 7 weeks and 1 day. Our baby measures 1.1 cm long, and it heart beats 136 beats per minute. Our expected due date is 11/3/2010.  We're so excited!

I also found out today that one of my best friends Jill Ball is pregnant. It's really neat because we will be due about the same time. I am so excited to share this experience with her:)

Our next visit is 4/21 for an early screening and 4/22 for our 3 month check up.

7 Week Pregnancy/ How your baby's growing:


The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.
If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.


How your life's changing:
Your uterus has doubled in size in the past five weeks, and eating may feel like a chore — or worse — thanks to morning sickness, which by now may be in full swing. (If you're feeling fine, don't worry — you're lucky!)
You may need to pee more than usual, too, thanks to your increasing blood volume and the extra fluid being processed through your kidneys. (By now, you already have about 10 percent more blood than you did before you were pregnant. And by the end of your pregnancy, you'll have 40 to 45 percent more blood running through your veins to meet the demands of your full-term baby.) As your uterus grows, pressure on your bladder will send you to the bathroom as well.
About half of the women who feel nauseated during the first trimester will find complete relief by about 14 weeks. For most of the rest, it'll take another month or so for the queasiness to ease up. It's unlikely, though, that the need to pee more than usual will ease up. In fact, research shows that both the frequency and volume of urine tends to increase over the course of pregnancy.

Doctor Appointment #1

Today Justin and I went in for a Q&A pretty much. We will be delivering at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, OH (not really where I want to deliver but it's where Dr. Voss is located and it's the best for high risk pregnancies). The CNP went over my medical history and answered a million questions that Justin and I had. We let her know on 2/5/10 Dr. Chin did a vaginal ultrasound and confirmed not pregnant so this bumped our EDD to 11/4/2010. She said next Thursday we would know more accurately the time of delivery when we have the ultrasound done. Dr. Voss will have a plan ironed out for Justin and I next week! We're so excited!!

No morning sickness YAY!!

We're expecting!

I woke up yesterday morning feeling the urge to take another pregnancy test. I noticed these weird pressures, tinglings and cramps in my lower abdomen and felt a little off. Not to mention that all I wanted to do was sleep:) Last week when I did an at home pregnancy test it was negative but I had this crazy feeling that I was. I haven't had a period since 1/12/2010 so I decided to take another one. IMMEDIATELY the results showed positive. So I took another one and the same results. I was such a spaz:) I was nervous, excited and anxious! I scheduled an appointment later that day to get an HCG Qualitative test (blood) just to make sure we we're pregnant and sure enough it was positive.

This journey has been a little difficult because I was diagnosed with PCOS and Factor 12 deficiency! Both fixable with a little help:)

Justin and I decided to create this blog to keep everyone updated with our pregnancy adventure! We will try and post once a week if not more!

No secrets will be kept! I will document belly pictures, ultrasound pictures, mood swings, cravings and whatever else might come our ways!!

Doctor appointments for the month of March!

Doctor appointment 3/11/2010

Ultrasound 3/18/2010

Doctor appointment 3/18/2010