I flew to Sacramento today for work and it amazed me how unresponsive people were to me being pregnant. I'm positive that I'm to the point where I definitely do not look fat, but actually pregnant and I was wearing a shirt that really shows off my belly. Now, I realize people aren't going to just come up and start saying "when is it due?", etc. because there are enough horror stories with that mistake. But when I finally waddled myself over to the gate, there was nowhere to sit. I also don't expect people to give up their seat to me, but there were a couple people that just had their bag on the seat next to them and a guy who had his feet up on the seat. No one even flinched to let me sit down. So I sat on the floor and ate my McDonalds. I guess the nice thing was that a couple people gave the guy with his feet on the seat a dirty look after they saw me on the floor. I guess it's just one example of chivalry being dead.
On the other side of the coin, I've gotten a pretty warm reception here in Grass Valley. The receptionist/general manager of the inn that I'm staying at remembered me from the last time I was here about a month and a half ago and was very interested in how the pregnancy was going and how I was feeling. She also picked out a bunch of stuff for my breakfast in the morning (they leave it in your fridge for the night before) and it was almost exactly what I ordered last time I was here. After I got checked in and started going to my room I heard a "Hey, Liz!" and it was one of the DTI core team members, Pat. He came over and also wanted to know how I was doing, told me I looked great and glowing and then brought me their leftover pizza and salad. They do certainly take care of me here. :)
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Little baby hearts
At 20 weeks we had the "big" ultrasound, which consisted of a 45 minute ultrasound where they measured everything from head size to check if the baby has clubbed feet. According to the doctor, everything looked normal except for one bright spot on the baby's heart. The name for it is an Echogenic intracardiac focus (Explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echogenic_intracardiac_focus) which is essentially a calcium deposit on the heart. She said that it is one marker of down syndrome, but if they don't have any other symptoms then it's nothing to worry about. It is apparently very common in young and old mothers, and is especially becoming more common because ultrasounds are so precise these days. When the doctor told me about it she said that I could either go to Denver right away and get more tests or wait a couple of weeks and see if it had gone away.
This week on May 13th I had a follow-up ultrasound to see if it had dissolves, but it's still there. The tech said it hadn't gotten any bigger though, and that was a good sign. There is also still only one spot, which is also a good sign. She said that the doctor would probably be giving me a call that day, but it's Thursday and still no word. My regular appointment is on the 19th, so I'm guessing that since I haven't heard anything that they aren't real worried. That helps in easing my worry, but it's really hard not to get a little worked up about it. I know it's not helping matters though. This week I've been pretty on edge and very preoccupied thinking about the whole thing. It's amazing how insignificant other people's problems seem when I'm dealing with a baby that has a heart abnormality.
The good thing that happened at our 20 week appointment is that we found out that it's a boy!! We're still pretty set on naming him Silas Nathan, but I'm not totally setting that in stone. If something better comes along then I think I could be persuaded. Or if he is born and is just not a Silas, we should probably leave it open. I'm so excited to be having a boy, that is really what I've always wanted. I am realizing, though, that life around here will be a little different and I'm going to be outnumbered. Nothing I'm not used to already, I truly have no close girl friends and it's always Nate's friends that are over. It really hit me that I'm going to be the only girl around here when I asked Nate if he thought my pant and shirt matched and all I got was "Meh." Then I realize that I'll just be getting two "Meh's" now and no girly opinions. Honestly, that will be different. I'm used to having guy friends over (Nate's) but I'm really not used to living with guys, besides Nate, of course. Nate came in the other day and asked me if I knew what I was getting into having a little boy. Then he gave me this scene of how we'll come in and he'll be standing on the couch and he'll have a vacuum cleaner hose, pretending like it's a gun, but we'll have to scold him because you don't point guns at people. You know what? I don't know what I'm getting into. At all. But I'm very much looking forward to it and I know that if we can be the best parents we can to Silas, I'll have nothing at all to worry about.
This week on May 13th I had a follow-up ultrasound to see if it had dissolves, but it's still there. The tech said it hadn't gotten any bigger though, and that was a good sign. There is also still only one spot, which is also a good sign. She said that the doctor would probably be giving me a call that day, but it's Thursday and still no word. My regular appointment is on the 19th, so I'm guessing that since I haven't heard anything that they aren't real worried. That helps in easing my worry, but it's really hard not to get a little worked up about it. I know it's not helping matters though. This week I've been pretty on edge and very preoccupied thinking about the whole thing. It's amazing how insignificant other people's problems seem when I'm dealing with a baby that has a heart abnormality.
The good thing that happened at our 20 week appointment is that we found out that it's a boy!! We're still pretty set on naming him Silas Nathan, but I'm not totally setting that in stone. If something better comes along then I think I could be persuaded. Or if he is born and is just not a Silas, we should probably leave it open. I'm so excited to be having a boy, that is really what I've always wanted. I am realizing, though, that life around here will be a little different and I'm going to be outnumbered. Nothing I'm not used to already, I truly have no close girl friends and it's always Nate's friends that are over. It really hit me that I'm going to be the only girl around here when I asked Nate if he thought my pant and shirt matched and all I got was "Meh." Then I realize that I'll just be getting two "Meh's" now and no girly opinions. Honestly, that will be different. I'm used to having guy friends over (Nate's) but I'm really not used to living with guys, besides Nate, of course. Nate came in the other day and asked me if I knew what I was getting into having a little boy. Then he gave me this scene of how we'll come in and he'll be standing on the couch and he'll have a vacuum cleaner hose, pretending like it's a gun, but we'll have to scold him because you don't point guns at people. You know what? I don't know what I'm getting into. At all. But I'm very much looking forward to it and I know that if we can be the best parents we can to Silas, I'll have nothing at all to worry about.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
MIA
I wish I had a great excuse for not posting in so long, but it has been nothing other than sheer laziness and fatigue. I honestly cannot believe how tired I have been! I feel like I am on "good" cold medicine 24/7 because I am out of it and my head feels foggy. I have been able to not give in to my old caffeine fall-back, mostly because sugar water sounds pretty horrid right about now. I tried to stay up last night, but didn't make it past 11, and actually haven't for about a month. I feel like at about 10 every night I have to lay down and stretch out because my insides feel crowded, or at least that's the best way I can explain it.
On a very exciting note, I think I've been able to feel the baby move a couple times! (Even if it was just gas or something, I'm going to go on believing it was baby.) The first time I was sitting at my computer and it felt like someone moved their finger across my insides - maybe someone was swimming around a bit violently? :) The second time I was laying in bed and it was just a really weird sensation that felt kind of like butterflies, but it was almost warm. Weird. Just the idea that all of these symptoms and feeling are coming from an actual person inside of me is really mind-blowing.
Everyone who has "predicted" what this baby will be has said girl. There have been 2-3 people at work, my doctor, Christine, and the Chinese conception chart (I've been bored the last couple weekends) all are thinking girl. I'm honestly leaning toward boy though, because I've had cravings for salt and not at all sweet, and the majority of people I've talked to have had morning sickness with boys, not girls. We'll see! I've got about a month until we find out, I think. We don't have an ultrasound set up yet, but she said they would do another one at 18 weeks, and that would be in April.
Mom and Dad got their package to tell them the news last Friday and were very, very happy. Mom called and screamed and was thrilled and Dad called me a couple days later to talk and find out how I was doing. Some people at work were asking me if I was nervous to tell my parents, and I didn't know how to answer. Of course not!! I knew the reaction I was going to get and, of course, it was good. I am realizing more and more how blessed I am to be in this great family.
My tummy really popped out this week. Unless I wear a tight shirt you can't tell and really no one would know I was pregnant because it still could look like fat. But I can tell!! It's kind of strange because I've got this prominent pooch, but it is hard when you push on it, instead of flubby. I suppose that makes sense though, since there is a large grapefruit sized waterballon in my abdomen!
Off to eat some more!
I swear if I keep this up I will gain 100 pounds by September, but luckily I've been fluctuating between only 4-6 pounds extra. Whew! Now as long as I lay off the cheeseburgers......
On a very exciting note, I think I've been able to feel the baby move a couple times! (Even if it was just gas or something, I'm going to go on believing it was baby.) The first time I was sitting at my computer and it felt like someone moved their finger across my insides - maybe someone was swimming around a bit violently? :) The second time I was laying in bed and it was just a really weird sensation that felt kind of like butterflies, but it was almost warm. Weird. Just the idea that all of these symptoms and feeling are coming from an actual person inside of me is really mind-blowing.
Everyone who has "predicted" what this baby will be has said girl. There have been 2-3 people at work, my doctor, Christine, and the Chinese conception chart (I've been bored the last couple weekends) all are thinking girl. I'm honestly leaning toward boy though, because I've had cravings for salt and not at all sweet, and the majority of people I've talked to have had morning sickness with boys, not girls. We'll see! I've got about a month until we find out, I think. We don't have an ultrasound set up yet, but she said they would do another one at 18 weeks, and that would be in April.
Mom and Dad got their package to tell them the news last Friday and were very, very happy. Mom called and screamed and was thrilled and Dad called me a couple days later to talk and find out how I was doing. Some people at work were asking me if I was nervous to tell my parents, and I didn't know how to answer. Of course not!! I knew the reaction I was going to get and, of course, it was good. I am realizing more and more how blessed I am to be in this great family.
My tummy really popped out this week. Unless I wear a tight shirt you can't tell and really no one would know I was pregnant because it still could look like fat. But I can tell!! It's kind of strange because I've got this prominent pooch, but it is hard when you push on it, instead of flubby. I suppose that makes sense though, since there is a large grapefruit sized waterballon in my abdomen!
Off to eat some more!
I swear if I keep this up I will gain 100 pounds by September, but luckily I've been fluctuating between only 4-6 pounds extra. Whew! Now as long as I lay off the cheeseburgers......
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
It's real!!!
I had my first ultrasound/appointment today!!!
We got to see the baby and it was absolutely amazing! He was moving around and even waved his little arm. The ultrasound technician was really great and made sure I understood what everything was and took her time with us. We saw a heartbeat which was amazing and the heartrate was 171, which she said was good.
The doctor I saw was also really nice. The place I'm going is a shared practice, so I see all of the doctors and then one of them will deliver the baby, it's just not guaranteed who it will be. I still have to get bloodwork done at a different hospital, but I've got a month to do that (before my next appointment) so I'm not stressing out to bad about that.
The other thing I am not at all stressing out about is work. It's kind of to the point where it could defintiely be to my detriment, so I'm trying to not let it get me in trouble. Ever since I found out, and expecially after I told people at work, I have really not cared about work at all. I've got major preggo brain and I seem to forget everything. I've been pretty good about keeping a note pad aroud and writing down things that I have to do, so that I don't forget anything. I have forgotten to do a couple big things though, but luckily none of them were life or death. When people have been coming to me with problems I am trying so hard to care, but I just can't help but think "it's not that big of a deal!". I am really, really trying to not let my attitute show, but I am afraid that one of these days my hormones are going to get the best of me. The people at work have been really awesome about the whole thing and make sure that I'm ok all the time. They've even sent me home twice, once for morning sickness and today because I've got a bad cold. I'm a touch worried that this sympathy is going to run out though, and I'm not going to be getting as many "breaks". I can just pray that people continue to be compassionate and that my attitude gets better.
Off to bed now! :)
Monday, February 11, 2008
I got back from business trip #2 to Carson City, and this one was even better than the last. This time I didn't go alone, Alan (the Art Director of the Tribune) went along with me too. As much as I like traveling alone, it was really nice to have him along to kind of take care of me. A lot of the days I didn't feel great so having him there to drive, etc. was a blessing. I told the DTI team right off the bat so that they knew. They were all so happy for me and took great care of me, making sure I had enough to eat and anywhere that we went had food. :) One night a couple of us went and saw Juno (About the movie) which is a great movie, especially in my "current state".
The bad part of the trip was that I managed to get a horrible cold. Complete with runny nose and cough, the best part about the whole situation is that I can't take anything except Tylenol. Tylenol did nothing before I got pregnant, and really isn't helping now, so I've given up on that. Luckily, I think the worst is over now and I will be mostly ok for work tomorrow.
My first doctor's appointment and u/s are tomorrow, I am so excited! There is a little part of me that is petrified that maybe something is wrong and I'm going to miscarry, but I'm still pretty nauseous and haven't had bad cramping or bleeding, so there is really nothing to backup that feeling.
Final thing for tonight - Nate is the sweetest husband ever. Since we found out he has let me have the big couch with no argument and he curls up in a ball on the love seat. Most of the time I give in and let him have the couch anyway, but he always made me move before. And on Sunday I was absolutely miserable but we had to go to an open house at Grandpa John's house. Very little of the food looked appetizing and the rest I pretty much couldn't eat so I left pretty hungry. I told him that I wanted grapes and a cheeseburger for dinner and he drove me to Safeway and McDonald's on our way home, just to get me my food. He's really the best and I am so lucky to have a guy who cares about me so much.
The bad part of the trip was that I managed to get a horrible cold. Complete with runny nose and cough, the best part about the whole situation is that I can't take anything except Tylenol. Tylenol did nothing before I got pregnant, and really isn't helping now, so I've given up on that. Luckily, I think the worst is over now and I will be mostly ok for work tomorrow.
My first doctor's appointment and u/s are tomorrow, I am so excited! There is a little part of me that is petrified that maybe something is wrong and I'm going to miscarry, but I'm still pretty nauseous and haven't had bad cramping or bleeding, so there is really nothing to backup that feeling.
Final thing for tonight - Nate is the sweetest husband ever. Since we found out he has let me have the big couch with no argument and he curls up in a ball on the love seat. Most of the time I give in and let him have the couch anyway, but he always made me move before. And on Sunday I was absolutely miserable but we had to go to an open house at Grandpa John's house. Very little of the food looked appetizing and the rest I pretty much couldn't eat so I left pretty hungry. I told him that I wanted grapes and a cheeseburger for dinner and he drove me to Safeway and McDonald's on our way home, just to get me my food. He's really the best and I am so lucky to have a guy who cares about me so much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
