Borderline

So if it's not my fluid its my hormones! I have been to my weekly NST and AFI monitoring, and the good news I got this week is that I didn't have more fluid then I had last time, I was still regular but high. After she did the measuring of the fluid I lay there and listen to the baby's heart beat. Like always baby was very active and so I got to lay there longer till it settled down. I would say in total I was listening for 30 minutes. Well within the first 20 minutes I had 4 contractions. I had no idea I had, had any let a lone four! Thankfully I already had a doctor's appointment set up for later in the afternoon, but I did get a little nervous when the nurse said I might have to go upstairs to the hospital for a further check up. Luckily that turned out not to be the case.

Once I managed to give my parents a little scare with the text message of a quick run down of the appointment, and give Erik the feeling of a "dry run" I calmed down a bit and went to work. Then it was time for our other doctors appointment...

Since I have been having contractions our Midwife, Paloma, wanted to take a culture to see if I had a high level of the stress hormone. If it turns out to be a high level there is a possibility of going into early labor, as early 2 weeks! I was also told to rest and relax, since my cervix is soft, but still closed. So I will follow the doctors orders, but hope that the results come back and I can continue to go to the gym and not be stuck on bed rest. Here's hoping!

That's a cute looking baby!

Well last week I had to have another detailed ultrasound. The doctor wanted to do another measurement and look at the baby a little more. I was very relived to hear everything is fine with our baby and that I was still doing good. Here's what I was told was going on...

I have about 1.5cm of too much Amniotic fluid, which like I said in our previous blog, can be something or could be nothing. In our case, as far as they can see, it is nothing. The ultra sound tech tried to explain to me in simple terms: Your uterus is like a balloon and it can only hold some much. You have a great looking uterus (a compliment I'd NEVER thought I'd hear), but there is just a little too much inside it. This only means, from what we can see, that you may get more uncomfortable from here on out. Oh and your probably are going to make a bigger mess when your water breaks!

So maybe those weren't her exact words but this is what I took from it. I was told from here on out to take it a bit easier, so I guess that means no more marathons! I can continue to go to the gym, walk and be mobile but I just need to pay attention to how I am feeling and my breathing.

The only thing I wanted to know was that our baby is healthy, and it is so we are happy.

We got some pretty amazing photos taken in 4D (take that Hollywood) and it's pretty cool to see an actual face.

So here's what I get to look forward to in the next 7 weeks... Weekly visits to Sutter Perinatal Care for fluid checks, fetal heart rate monitoring and contraction monitoring. So every week I just have to lay down have some belts strapped on my belly and listen to our baby's heart rate. It's rough but I think I will manage relaxing for that hour. I also need to count kicks, which I find interesting since I have an avid kick boxer inside me, but doctors orders.

Only 7 weeks to go till D Day (delivery day)! I have to admit I am getting a little more nervous about giving birth, and it's not so much the actually birth part, it's all the needles that will possibly be used. I am pro drugs but the idea of all the needles that go along with it freak me out. So we'll see! Erik and I have a safety word so if I say it in during labor and there's still time he knows to get the drugs. We have also completed our child birth/ breastfeeding/ child care classes! Everyone in the class is having boys, and it was just us and another couple who are waiting to find out. I joked and said "we better have girls! we got to even out the playing field!" But it will be in no time at all until we find out what we are having! and we can't wait to meet him or her!

when is too much fluid a bad thing?

Well about a month ago we went to my appointment, and when the doctor measured me I measured larger then I should according to how many weeks I was. Two weeks later I went back and again measured large for how many weeks I was. Typically if your 28 weeks you should measure between 26-30cm, I was measuring at 33cm. So under the direction of the doctor I scheduled what is called a 2nd Opinion Ultra Sound. This is where they do all the measurements again and make sure everything looks okay. It took us almost 2 weeks to get an appointment and trust me, I was not dealing with this very well. We had NO idea what any of this meant! The doctors weren't saying much, and that was not helping me relax.

Once we were finally able to go get the ultra sound there were a lot of emotions going through me in the waiting room. I was really excited to see our little baby again, since the last time the little nugget was only 17weeks. But I was preparing myself for the worse. I had no idea what they were going to find, or what they would see. Prepare for the worse but pray for the best.

The ultra sound went well, and everything looked good. The weight was 3lbs 15oz, and was told it was not a big baby and that everything matched up with our original due date. The doctor took a look at the baby's neck and throat to make sure that there were no abnormalities or any blockage of the throat. Everything was good! so after a release of the breath I was holding we went home feeling much better.

Today I had my 2 week appointment, and again I measured big. this time I am 31.5 weeks and measured at 36.5cm. So again I have to go for another ultra sound AND take the Diabetes test again. If I continue to measure large I will be on weekly ultra sounds. I just am at a loss for words at this point.

I have eaten healthy through out the entire pregnancy, expect the couple of random trips to get a scoop of ice cream. We exercise weekly and I don't do anything that would put our baby at risk! so I don't understand why this is happening. There is NOTHING I can do to change how much fluid is being accumulated. We have talked to friends who had the same thing and their baby's were fine, but you can't help and wonder if your baby will be the same. I try not to look up too much online, mainly because the sites always put the worse case scenarios, and that will not help me relax. So I will listen to the doctor and relax and pay attention to the movements, and don't worry.

I am so lucky to have Erik with me during this whole thing. We have fallen more in love with each other, and he has been the rock I need when I feel over whelmed. I couldn't and wouldn't want to imagine this time with out him, he helps keep me balanced. When we first had to go through the 2nd ultra sound he held my hand tightly and never once made me feel silly for my random crying outburst that I have been having these past few weeks.

I will keep everyone informed after the appointment Friday!

Hope everyone is well!

6 months and counting

Well it has been a crazy month! I got the chance to go to Japan, Guam and Tiapei all in a weeks time. The trip was great, but then got bronchitis. Now that I am FINALLY over that I am feeling much better and I am sure our little nugget is glad the random "earthquakes" are over with. I also had the chance to bring Erik to New Jersey to meet grandma and courtney. It was a great trip and we are so glad we got to ask Courtney to be the Godmother in person, she is very happy to take on that role. We did a lot of sight seeing, but like any trip to NYC you never see it all, so we will go back again and go to some other places we missed out on.

Erik and I have moved! we were able to find a nice two bedroom duplex in Rincon Valley. We were already out growing our little one bedroom, but with the baby coming we had to make a move and fast. It's a great place, with good size rooms and a large yard, which will be great for the warmer months. But getting everything set up has been a slow going process, mainly because I am limited as to what I can do. I am so use to lifting heavy boxes and getting up on the couch to hang photos, but now it doesn't seem like such a good idea. So I am sure Erik is enjoying having me point at where we should put things, er where HE should put things! haha!

I am finally off work for Delta! wahoo! well honestly I wasn't working that much since I transferred to SFO, but in all honesty I wasn't enjoying the job anymore and I think it was a good thing to get out of there when I did. Besides working for the WORST airline isn't much to be proud of, so hopefully they will get things figured out soon so when I do come back I can be proud to say I work for them. I'm not holding my breath though.

The baby shower is this weekend! I am so very excited to see all my family and friends. I think I took on too much with making desserts, but I love baking so I am sure I will manage :) We were really hoping that the weather would be good enough for an out door party but living in Northern CA you learn to not count on the weather anytime of the year. So we were lucky enough to find a place to host the party, at least it's one last thing we need to stress/ worry about right now.

I can't see my feet! last week I noticed that my toes were no longer in my view when I stood up. And now my belly button is starting to make an appearance. I know this is all amazing, and I am truely enjoying it, but not having control of what on your body is growing, popping out, swelling up etc. is a little yucky. But it's nice to not have to suck in my stomach all the time, in fact it's impossible. Growing up dancing you get in the habit of sucking it in and now there is no sucking in going on :) I have had some weird cravings, weird for me but probably not that strange. two weeks ago I couldn't get enough grape juice! ugh I can't stand grape juice but I had to have it! so Erik got me some, and it lasted long enough for the craving to go away. I don't crave bean and cheese burritos as much as I use to, but I'm not gonna pass up the opportunity to have one if the moment presents its self. We have become regulars at Mary's Pizza Shack, and it's not for the pizza. I'm pretty sure they have the BEST house salad around. I could go there for lunch every day if we could afford it, in fact when we got done at the gym today we went and got some salads for dinner, and once again I was not let down.

Erik has been great! but then again I am an angel like always. We are back at the gym on a regular basis, which is great since my days have been full of endless errands, and his full of hard work. He rubs my feet and back with out me even asking. I finally got him to talk to the baby, though he does feel weird talking to my stomach ;) The other night we watched my belly for about 15 min. there happened to be a kickboxing class going on inside there and my belly was moving around like crazy. I actually could sit and watch forever, I am afraid I am going to miss a good kick or punch if I look away.

sorry for the long delay, but like the title... Life Happens

wow it's no longer a blob!

Well yesterday we had a doctors appointment to hear the heart beat for the first time. Since Erik was able to come we decided to do the ultra sound so that he could see what's been growing for the first time. Well needless to say we were both speechless, which if you know us isn't a common thing for us. The image we were looking at was amazing! The doctor was great and we watched for about 5 minutes, mostly trying to get a good pic, with our mouths wide open. The baby was moving around like CRAZY! twisting and turning, movin and groovin! we got to see it's little fingers and toes, and it's round belly and head. I tell you what, I was used to seeing a blob on the grainy pic, but this was a little human being inside of me. Words cannot express the excitement and thrill that we were experiencing in those moments. After words we got to hear a healthy heartbeat, 150 to be exact. But even when listening to the heart you could hear it moving around. It was just an insane experience.

So of course the reality of everything is getter stronger and stronger, not that it wasn't real before, but when you don't see much change or feel much change it sometimes slips my mind. But yesterday it was very real, and very scary! You live your life saving money where you can and living according to how much you can afford with you and your partner, but then all of a sudden you have to factor in a new person, who is going to rely on you for everything. So we have started to look at what areas can we cut back, of course Erik suggested selling Graham, I'm sure he was joking... but yeah so we have started to consolidate and plan things, and one of the things we are looking at is becoming home owners! cause well a new baby isn't stressful enough we want to buy a home, in northern CA. So yeah it's an exciting time and we are learning new things everyday, but we are holding hands through all of it and standing strong as a team. these next 6 months should be an interesting time.

The other day I got Erik a book "The Expectant Father", mainly because when I am reading my book I wanted him to be able to read with me, but of course something more geared towards men. So If anyone has suggestions of other good reads for dads to be I am open to suggestions, of course any for me too!

I am showing now, not much but enough to make my jeans uncomfortable after a few minutes. I went to target a bought a belly band, which seems to be a great solution without having to spend money on new clothes, which I don't want to do until I absolutely have to. Of course nobody can tell but to me I am huge! My biggest concern is my work uniforms, they are not that great to begin with, and trust me what they have for pregnant women is very unflattering. So here's hoping the bellyband will last me long enough that I don't have to worry about work clothes for a while.

Back to work for me tomorrow, hopefully I get a good trip but I'm not holding my breath. I received and email from my manager and she told me that transfers will be worked in August, so here's hoping that by September I will be based in San Francisco. I will be flying like crazy in August to make some extra money while I can. I am hoping to fly until 7 months which will bring me to Dec. but I am going to listen to my body and my baby to let me know how much is too much.

Sorry this piece has been a little all over the place but I am just trying to get everything in that is on my mind. Peace, Love and Happiness!

Hello There!

Fourteen years ago Erik and I met. We had friends in common and would often run into each other, I never thought that he and I would fall in love and plan our life with each other.

About two years ago I was in my home town for my ten year high school reunion. Over a couple beers with my good friend Bec I asked her is she still saw Erik Gosiak. Still to this day I don't know what trigger me to ask her that, especially since Erik and I hadn't talked in many years nor were we ever close friends. To my surprise Bec had run into him serveral months before and he gave her his number in case she was ever out. So I insisted that she give him a call and tell him I was in town.
A few hours later Erik and his friend were picking us up, and the rest is history!
In a month we will be celebrating out two years together, and getting ready for our little family getting one more addition.
We are expecting a new addition in February 2011! I am at the end my first trimester of pregnancy, and soon will be entering the second trimester! So far things have been going great, all the tests and ultra sounds have been good and the morning sickness hasn't played much of a role (knocking on wood).
While all this is very exciting and we are thrilled to start our family, of course there are moments of stress. But we are both strong and love each other very much that no matter the challenges that may come upon us, we will be able to over come them and face them head on.
I am starting this blog so that I can update everyone we hold dear to us, and allow us to have an open forum. I hope that you all enjoy this and I will try to do weekly updates or just silly posts. I hope that is will also serve as a place for me to ramble or just post pictures of the places I go.

Cheers!

living involves tearing up one rough draft after another- unknown