A "Normal" pregnancy

I've been upgraded from "high risk" to "normal"! The bleed has been stretching out, but from the ultrasounds, it looks like old blood. The bleeding has slowed down tremendously. I'll go an entire week without seeing any spotting.
The ultrasound showed our little bean waving around and the doctor noted that it was really active! I swear I can feel it fluttering around, but its probably just gas at this point... I can pretend, can't I?
I'm finally starting to feel excited about this pregnancy. I was always grateful, but didn't feel like I could let my guard down. I'm sure I'll find something to worry about, but for now, I'm trying to enjoy this.

Cloth Diapering

I've started cloth diapering Emilia about 6 weeks ago. I was so nervous to start, but its going really, really well! I have my favorites, and some that I cannot use at all, because after a week, they practically fell apart. It is amazing how many WAHMs out there make these dipes, and how some of them are making a KILLING! One diaper could go for over $100!! I'm NOT kidding!
We haven't had any leak issues, now that I've figured out which ones need extra liners, and that after she drinks a ton, I need to change her more often. I've read all this information about all of the icky things in disposables and how they are so bad for the environment... I really feel like I've made the right decision! And its so much fun to buy cute little dipes!! I already told J that I'm going to start buying little diapers in a couple of months for this new little bean!! :)

Drama!

My mom has insisted I'm a drama queen. I really don't mean to be. I just want a happy, normal pregnancy. On Sunday, I went to the bathroom, and noticed bleeding. I freaked, called the doctor, and my mom took me to the ER. The bleeding kept getting worse and I really thought I was having a miscarriage. I wanted to go home, but the nurse said to stay so I could get an ultrasound to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. My mom and I spent 2 hours in the ER, watching the Olympics and starving. Finally, I got my ultrasound, but the tech was colder than cold. She laid me down so I couldn't see anything at all. She wouldn't tell me anything. I was told it would be about 15, 20 minutes. After an hour, and my mom asking again if I could eat anything (NOPE!!), I was shoved out of my room, so a woman who was giving birth in her car could have my room. I got a front row view of the isolette and the new mom and her baby. It ripped me apart. My mom turned into mamabear and screamed at every nurse she saw, and miraculously, they found me a room, the doctor had the results and someone brought me a sandwich. All they could tell me was... nothing... Maybe I would miscarry, maybe not. I left feeling weepy, sure that I would be miscarrying that night. Overnight, the bleeding stopped. I called the nurse from my doctor's office and she said that can happen during a miscarriage and that I needed my HCG level rechecked. It was almost 10,000 on Sunday. On Tuesday, is was over 13,000, my prog. was 22, and the nurse was really happy with all that! I don't need to get my level rechecked and I get to have an ultrasound on Monday (this time at my doctor's office where someone will talk to me!).

For now, I'm still pregnant, feeling exhausted and getting more and more nauseous as the days go on. I'm hoping for a strong heartbeat on Monday and for more morning sickness and more exhaustion.

I don't know how this happened...

When I've been telling people that we are pregnant, they ask if we did IVF, like I would be able to hide that!! I honestly don't know HOW this little bean came to be... Jeff has been so busy, we maybe had time twice this entire month (pathetic, I know!!) When my period was late, I figured it was my PCOS or something else going on. I bought the test on a whim, just to be able to tell the doctor that I wasn't pregnant, but I wasn't getting my period. When the test came back positive, I was shocked! I jumped up and down and cried. Mia was laughing at me and mimicking me as well! It was so cute. She was the first one I told. I then called the doctor to set up an appt., because, who else do I call? With "normal" pregnancies, they don't see you until 9 weeks! I'm used to being seen immediately. I called my GP and asked her to do an HCG test, just so I can have that number. Why? I don't know...
I feel really good about this pregnancy and I'm still in shock that I'm actually able to write that I am pregnant!

Surprise!!

Baby "o" due April 9, 2009

Happy 4th of July!

 

Wordless Wednesday

Our Anniversary!

Today is dh's and my 5 year anniversary! We have been together 9 years and have known each other 13 years. We met at Jewel, were we both worked. I was 17, he was 18, we were both in other relationships. He was dating a cranky blond, and I was dating a wanna be punk rocker. Both of us had the typical rocky relationships. My exboyfriend and I fought more than we were happy together. When he broke up with me, it was because I wasn't happy enough. I was crushed, but felt a little bit of... freedom! People kept telling us we would get back together. Oh, how I tried, but he moved on and I... well, I made up for the not dating anyone else for the past 3 years. I went away to college when I was 20, dating random guys and working at Jewel over breaks. Jeff would talk to me, but he was really shy. He asked my roomate, Jessica, who also worked at Jewel if we were meeting lots of guys. Jess said "Well, Jo is!" Jeff said he wanted to visit us, but never did. When school let out for the summer, I worked at the Jewel greenhouse. One sunny Sunday, we were both working an 8 hour shift. I was looking forward to a carefree summer, determined to find a summer fling. I was in a great mood. I was finally over my ex and getting into the groove of things. I was extra goofy that day, and started telling people that Ricky Martin was my boyfriend (this was 9 years ago, when he was HUGE!). Jeff asked if he could be my boyfriend and I told everyone he was! I flirted with him all day, shooting him with a hose and probably being a little obnoxious. At the end of our shift, we were both filthy and exhausted. Jeff was acting all awkward and I assumed he had had enough of me and my weirdness and wanted to go home. But, instead, he asked me out! I was shocked, but said yes. Anyone who could like me at my goofiest, couldn't be all that bad...

We went out on our first date 2 days before my 21st birthday and had a blast! He was so sweet and funny. I remember laughing and feeling so comfortable with him. I remember looking at the stars and thinking "I could fall in love with this guy..." 3 years to the day, he proposed in the exact spot where I stared at the stars and a year later we were married! It hasn't all been hand holding and restaurant desserts, but it has been 5 years of falling in love over and over again.

Play Date Anxiety

Have you ever gone on a play date? Its kind of like a blind date, or for me it is, anyway... I took Emilia to Storytime in the Park today with high expectations of her running around and not listening to the story, and that is pretty much what happened. She didn't hear much of the story, but it was a cute book and there was a craft, but it was kind of over her head. I did meet a woman there with a little boy who was 5 months older than Mia. She seemed nice and we found out we go to the same pediatrician's office! That is for some reason always my question when I meet someone new... Where is your pediatrician? Its kind of like What's your sign? oh my... am I a creepy pick up play dater? When we were getting ready to leave, I wanted to ask her for her number or email or something, but HOW do you do it? Just ask? Do I make up little business cards? Something like "Joei... Emilia's Mom... Wants to be your friend" Its like a whole new world out there. It makes my heart pound and I get sweaty and I giggle a lot and worry about what I look like and what I say... Thank goodness I'm married since I don't even know how to make new friends, let alone pick up a guy...

Why Me?

Do you ever say that to yourself? Lately, I've been thinking it a lot. Why did Jessica get cancer? Why not me? Why did I get pregnant? Why is Emilia here and running around and Jessica's arms are empty?
Jess got some bad news last week. The chemo didn't work. She is going to get some radiation on her lungs, as that is where the cancer has spread. The tumor got LARGER! It just really stinks. Her only chance now is some exploratory medication that is not FDA approved. She has only heard bad news for the past 18 months. This is the second summer she will not be able to go to the Indiana Dunes, where we have gone every year since we were 17. She get too tired to even go for a short walk. Shopping is out of the question. All the million things I do daily and take for granted are almost impossible for her. And she counts herself "lucky" because she wasn't very sick from the chemo. What do you say to someone who is fighting for her life? I'm sorry? Look at the positive? What right do I have to complain about a bad day at work or trouble with Emilia? Its all so insignificant.

Happy Birthday, Princess Mia!

Today Emilia turned one! I cannot believe how quickly time as flown! It seems like only yesterday I was 41 weeks pregnant, patiently (or not...) awaiting labor. And now, my baby girl is here and one! She had a blast eating lots of fruit and amusing everyone by showing one finger when anyone asked her how old she was. She could have cared less about her presents, or her cake. My advice to anyone with a newborn, enjoy every teeny moment. It all passes way too fast!

Happy birthday, my Princess!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mommy's Day to all of you who are mommy's with babies in their arms, and all of you who are mommies with babies in their hearts.

Wordless Wednesday(thanks for the idea, Jenn!!)

Spring Break!!

YEAH!!
I have been on break since Friday and it is wonderful!
Last year this time I was doing laundry and panicking about getting stuff ready (if I only would have known Mia was going to be late...) and this year, well.. this year I am doing laundry and panicking about...getting.... stuff... done... okay, not much has changed...

I finally packed up a bunch of Mia's clothes, which was actually very sad. I looked at all of her baby newborn clothes and couldn't believe how fast time had gone. It sounds like such a cliche, but it is so true!

I went out to buy Mia some new clothes for spring, in case it EVER gets warm and some shoes to protect her little feet since she'll be running around outside, if it EVER gets warm... :) Her shoes are so cute... they light up! of course, she won't walk in them, but, at least they are cute!

Sounds like Princess has awaken from her slumber! Off to the grocery store!!
:)
Love,
Joei

Happy Easter!

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

Baby Dentures?

Mia still has no teeth! I took all the "gummy smile" pictures expecting to see those pearly whites. Nada, nothing... I'm convinced my daughter will be the only kindergartner unable to enjoy a snack other than applesauce. She'll have it all over her face as she is such a messy girl. Maybe Mel can get me a discount on dentures???

Mia has started to walk! It is so funny seeing a tiny baby toddle drunkenly around. She also said her first word yesterday... "da" for dog.

Every day gets more and more fun with her. She just giggles all day and loves for me to chase her around the couch.

I'm so in LOVE!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

Mia is my FAVORITE valentine!!

8 months old

I cannot believe my little girl is 8 months old already! She is getting bigger and cuter everyday! She still has no teeth and I am convinced she is going to be the only kindergartner with dentures. I keep telling her I don't want to hear whining that she is the only kid who hasn't lost a tooth yet; that's if she ever gets any!

She is eating lots of solids and some table food. I still have no idea what the pacing is for feeding babies and everytime I ask the doctor, I get vague responses. I'm kind of following friends' advice. She loves every food, even though she is still pretty petite. She still fits in many 3-6 month clothes!

I'm starting to get the baby itch again. I was looking at newborn baby boy stuff today and that feeling just came back. Dh and I decided to wait until Mia is 2, which makes sense... I still can't help but feel that baby lust come back!

Here is a picture of Mia today!

Happy New Year!

I'm sure no one is reading this blog anymore... For the longest time, I couldn't add any photos!

I got a new laptop for Christmas, so hopefully I'll be able to blog more often... especially since we are starting to think about number 2 (and 3??)

Mia is 7 and a half months old and is such a busy girl! She started crawling at 6 months and pulling herself up a couple weeks after that. She is cruising along the furniture. But, NO TEETH!!! :)

Love and laughter,

Joei