Sweet Pea

The Birth Story

2010-12-05T16:39:00.023-05:00

What brings me here today, almost 15 months after the birth of our first child, Lidia Louise? The truth is that I've been working on this specific post here and there for over a year. I have had to make sure every detail was correct and no emotion was left over-looked. After all that has culminated in the posts before, I felt I would be doing my readers an injustice if I left out even one small bit of information. And let's be honest here - raising our child has sucked up just about every minute of free time on my hands. But, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here it is. Unedited. Uncensored. Beautiful. This is the story of Lidia's birth.

As you can tell from my previous post, I was rather unhappy with the delay in Lidia's arrival. I had done everything I could think of to urge her on to this world, but she was not budging. I had planned on going into work the week following her due date, but I woke up that Tuesday morning and wasn't feeling good. I felt that this could be the day, so I officially started my maternity leave. It turns out I was just feeling ill from the entire pineapple I had eaten the day before. So all day Tuesday, Wednesday, and half the day on Thursday I worked from home. I sat on my birth ball, went on walks, and prayed to God that Lidia would arrive before my scheduled induction. I honestly didn't have much hope that my prayers would be answered. Not that I didn't have faith, but sometimes God has plans for us that are better than what we would prefer. On Wednesday, Jason and I went to our last doctor's appointment and everything checked out just the same as it had been the appointment before. Of course I cried to the nurse and the doctor and they both assured me that I wouldn't be pregnant forever. For all the rants I have been on about not wanting to be induced, I begged my doctor to just start the process now. I had given up on my body naturally going into labor. As fate would have it, the Doctor stated that she would not be able to induce me, strip membranes, etc. until the scheduled induction. I hung my head low and walked out of the doctor's office with little hope that Lidia would be coming soon.

After working from home on Thursday morning, I decided to get out of the house and do some shopping. Shopping always cheers me up! Plus, I had received an e-mail from a spa I go to stating that they were doing hour massages for the half-hour price. I signed myself up for a pregnancy massage later that afternoon and off I went. I went to Dillards first to buy some make-up and lucky me, it was bonus time at Clinique! I then went up to Aveda and purchased some hair care items. The women there asked me when I was due and after I told them I was overdue, they looked scared and said, "I hope your hospital is close!" I wasn't concerned, though, and I kept shopping. I then went to the Children's Place and got this incredibly cute winter outfit for Lidia. In a much better mood, I headed to my massage appointment. While in the waiting room, Jason called and I failed to mention to him where I was. He gets a little upset when I spend money on massages - my plan was to tell him about the massage when I was in labor so he wouldn't be able to be mad at me! As I walked into the massage room, I explained to the therapist that I wanted to go into labor and told her to NOT avoid the labor-inducing pressure points. The massage was amazing - I felt so refreshed afterwards.

On my way home from my massage, I had to talk some coworkers through an issue at work and then I stopped at Servati's for a pretzel. I made it home around 4 pm and collapsed on the couch with my puppies to take a nap. An hour and a half later, I woke up with terrible menstrual-like cramps. I was pretty sure that these cramps were not labor, so I just took it easy and watched TV and played on the Internet. At about 6:30, the cramps were still present and I felt a little unsure of whether labor was imminent or not. I called Jason at work 2 times and did not get an answer. I could tell he was hitting the "ignore" button on his phone. Of all the times I have called him before thinking that I was in labor, I really can't blame him for not thinking it was urgent. After I called him the third time, he answered and I explained what was going on. He said he would head home from work to be with me. A half hour later Jason called me back and asked me how I was doing, I replied "fine" and asked him if he was on his way home. He said he was just about to leave. Just about to leave?! Apparently I had cried wolf one too many times. Jason got home and stayed by my side throughout the night. I was going back and forth between thinking I was in labor and thinking it was false labor again. I wasn't really having true contractions at this point - they were just constant menstrual-like cramps that were slowly intensifying. We went upstairs to make sure all of our bags were packed. I spoke to my parents and put them on alert. Then it was the waiting game.

I sat and rocked in the rocking chair while watching the first football game of the 2009 season - the Steelers! They actually weren't playing that well and I wasn't able to pay much attention anyway. The rest of the night at home was pretty much a blur. By this time, it was close to 9:30 or 10 pm. I had begun to loose all concept of time. The dogs could definitely tell there was something about to happen as they were nervous and watching my every move. I decided to call the doctor on call at that point. As mentioned earlier, we went to a practice that consisted of 7 female doctors. We liked them all, but there were definitely some we preferred over others. The doctor on call happened to be one of the ones we could have done without. She said that based on the fact that I was having contractions and I was overdue, then I should probably come to the hospital. Since she wasn't 100% convinced I was in labor, we decided to wait around a little while longer. Then about an hour later, the sign I had been waiting for came. I went to the bathroom (remember, this is uncensored) and a gush of blood appeared. This was a HUGE sign that it was here - I had no doubt that I was in labor. I was so excited/nervous that I began shaking. I screamed to Jason to get the bags ready to go - a process that felt like it took an hour.

It's Go Time

On our way to the hospital, Jason and I both called our parents to let them know we were on our way. The phone tree must have been started immediately because about 2 minutes after the phone call to Jason's parents, I had already gotten an e-mail from his sister-in-law! Now, here's a fact that is important to know about me. No matter how joyous the occasion, when I am stressed, I am not a happy person. When we got off of the highway I was quoted as yelling, "Com'on Jason this isn't a joyride!"

As we were approaching the hospital, I saw in the distance police car lights flashing. As we came closer, the road that we needed to continue on to get to the hospital was blocked off. "Are you kidding me?!" I screamed. I rolled down my window and beckoned one of the officers to me. "Can you please let us go through. I am in labor!" He scrunched his face at me and said, "Uh oh. That's not good. Go right ahead," and then walkie-talked to his buddies to signal us through.

We finally got to the hospital and weaved through the halls and up elevators to arrive at triage. They sat me down, took my insurance card, and ushered me back to a room that Jason was not allowed to go in. Here they asked me if I was being abused (a standard procedure, I later find out) and I replied by saying, "At this point I think you better be asking my husband that question!" The nurse put the contraction monitor around my belly as well as checked my dilation - 3 cm. Sure enough, I was in active labor. She got the OK from the doctor to admit me and a huge sense of relief came over me. Finally...our baby is on her way!

Let the Fun Begin

By this time, it was around 11:30 pm and Jason had entered the room and told me the good news - the Steelers had won their home opener! One of the first things the triage nurse wanted to do is hook me up to IV fluids. I politely declined and she said abruptly, "Oh, you're going to be one of those women." I was not offended by this, but just smiled and shook my head yes. After trying 3 times to find a good vein to put my port in, she had to call in another nurse to do the job. My doctor OK'ed the no IV fluids, but insisted that I have a port put in my arm in case of an emergency. A port is just a needle head into your arm with no tubing attached. They had it taped up so it wouldn't be moving anywhere.

To the Birthing Suite We Go

At this point, the hospital gown was already on and full, active labor had begun. The triage nurse walked us to our room - which was amazing - and introduced us to our first labor and delivery nurse. She was as sweet as could be as I explained to her our plan of natural, unmedicated birth. She didn't ridicule me or give me a look of "yeah right we'll see if that actually happens," a look that we got from many others. Very soon after we got to the room, the doctor came into see us. Her name was Dr. LeMasters and she was the oldest one of the 7. She was very experienced, but just seemed a little flighty. I told her our plans of having an unmedicated birth and she said, "If I would have known that I would have had you stay at home longer." A look of horror came over my face and I think she noticed. She quickly said, "I can break your water to make labor come more quickly." I agreed with no hesitation. She checked my dilation and I had already dilated another cm. I was 4 cm now when an hour earlier I was only 3. This was good news! She predicted the baby being born around 9 am.

The Water Breaking

Yes, they are right when they tell you the tool they use to manually break a woman's water is like a crochet hook. It didn't hurt when she reached the hook inside to break the water - the only thing I felt was pressure. And then a gush of liquid. The Doctor and nurse studied the liquid and told me something I was not happy to hear - the amniotic fluid had meconnium in it. In layman's terms - Lidia had pooped in the womb. The NICU was immediately notified because a newborn can get very sick from this. It wasn't anything to be particularly worried about, but it just meant she now had a strict deadline of when she needed to be born.

When I pictured someones water breaking, I pictured it happening all at once. This, however, is not the case. The body continues to produce amniotic fluid even after the water has been broken. It was the most uncomfortable feeling to be leaking fluid constantly. The hospital supplied me with these disposable underwear. I'm not afraid to say that I went through at least 10 pairs in the amount of time I was in the labor and delivery room (I also stole about 2 weeks worth to take home with me!).

By this time, both sets of parents were on their way to the hospital. My parents had a 4 hour drive and Jason's parents were already almost there since they lived only an hour away. Little did both sets of parents know that they didn't need to rush (that's a little bit of foreshadowing).

The Contractions

For every contraction that I had, I grabbed onto Jason and clenched my teeth together. They were unlike anything that I had ever felt in my lifetime. Contractions are like menstrual cramps - times 100. Men can maybe compare contractions to getting hit you-know-where about 20 times repeatedly. The pain gradually comes on, peaks, and then slowly fades away. I spent most of the first part of my labor on a birth ball - which is just like an exercise ball. In hindsight, I really should have been up moving around. But, I needed to do anything I could to make the pain go away. Being on the birth ball was the most comfortable position for me. At one point, I was on the bed with my butt up in the air, but that position didn't last long. Jason was with me constantly, taking all my whining and snappiness in stride. He tried massaging me, talking to me about Lidia and trying to do just about anything to get my mind off of the pain. I was ungrateful for most of the time - wanting not to be touched or talked to. One of the worst parts of the whole experience was having mine and Lidia's vitals checked every hour. Because I opted to forgo the epidural, I was not hooked up to anything. I was free to move around and to get into any position that felt good. When it was time for vital check, I had to sit in one place while many apparatuses were strapped to me. This process took about 10 minutes each time. And each time it was completely miserable.

Dilation - or Lack Thereof

There is a reason why many woman who do natural births opt not to have their dilation checked during labor. I decided that I had reached a point that I could no longer take it. I needed to know how far I had dilated because I felt like I had been working so hard. I thought that I had to be so close to 9 cm, and hearing that I was close would motivate me to labor on. So, despite trying to talk me out of it, the nurse checked my dilation at around 5 a.m. By this time, I had been in labor for 12 hours, give or take a few. I had to be close. When I heard the number - that stinky, nasty number - I gasped. 5 cm. 5 CENTIMETERS! My dwindling motivation at this point was just about at none. I could not believe that I had only dilated 1 centimeter in 5 hours. I was beyond hopeless at this point. However, I still had it in me to keep going. I don't know who suggested it, but to the shower I went.

Wash It All Away

There is something I can't explain about the power of the shower. I was in the shower for at least 4 hours. I had the heat up pretty darn high and the water pressure beating down on my lower back and then my belly. For every contraction, I grasped the shower bar so tight that my arms were sore for days after. Jason sat quietly in the bathroom the whole time. I don't remember clear details from the shower, but I do remember looking at him sitting down, head in his hands. I remember thinking how difficult it must be to see his love go through all this pain and not be able to do a damn thing for me. He helped me dry off each time the nurse had to get me to check my vitals. Time went by while I was in the shower. Life went on outside of the little haven I found. For me, time seemed to stand still as I was praying furiously to God for him to end this pain. Then, like clock work, the nurse got me out to do the oh-so-favorite vital check. That's when everything changed.

There is No Gold Medal

There had been a shift change in nurses and doctors by this time. I would say it was around 8 or 9 a.m. According to the first doctor (who I had not seen since she broke my water), I should have had this baby by now. My dilation hadn't been checked since 5 a.m. The joking, optimistic Amy was nowhere to be seen. I had been beaten down to literally nothing. I didn't even have enough energy to raise my head. I sunk down to the floor and at this point the nurse and the new doctor, Dr. Rinala, got down to my level. One on my left side and one on my right side. Dr. Rinala was one of our favorite Doctors. I didn't even have enough energy to realize how lucky we were to have her as the Doctor who would be delivering our child. She was the first doctor we saw at the practice. She was very young for a doctor - early 30s - and had this energy that just radiated from her. She was very smart and I trusted her. She sat there and told me that no one is given a gold medal for going through labor and delivery unmedicated. She told me that if I kept on going like I had been, then I would have no energy to push the baby out. The nurse was sitting right next to me, letting me know that she, too, tried to go unmedicated. She reached a certain point where she said "Enough is enough," and opted for the epidural. I looked and Jason and I knew. I knew that I couldn't last any longer without the dreaded epidural. I had run a 5K when I was 5 months pregnant and made it to the finish line without walking. I would definitely finish this race, but I was going to have to walk.

Optimistic and Witty

The tears started to fall and I could not hide my disappointment with myself. I decided to opt for the epidural after 17 hours of labor. Once that decision was made, I wanted it right then. Something they forgot to tell me in my birthing class is that you have to have an entire liter of IV fluids in you before you can get an epidural. This is not a short process. I can without doubt say that this was the most painful and grueling part of the whole labor and delivery. I had to sit there, hooked up to the IV fluid, unable to move much at all. My contractions at this point felt like someone was taking a 2x4 and hitting me repeatedly in my belly as hard as possible. Finally, after about an hour, the IV fluids were in. The anesthesiologist came by and asked if he could attend to someone before me. The nurse looked at me as I was having a contraction and looked frantically at him. She told him abruptly that I needed my epidural yesterday. He got the picture, grabbed his cart, and got me all ready for my drugs. The epidural was a fairly easy process. I can't quite explain it at this point because honestly, I forget it. But it wasn't painful at all. After the epidural was in, it was instant relief. There was honestly no more pain. My joking and optimism came back. I felt like I had just gotten a burst of energy. Here's the kicker - right after the epidural, the nurse decided to check my dilation. I was at 8 cm at this point. Really?! I had only 1 more cm to go and I could start pushing. In hindsight, I sometimes wish that I would have stuck it out without the epidural for a little longer. I know that everything happens for a reason and I think the epidural was just what I needed to speed things along. I was fighting my contractions instead of working through them. I was tensing up and wishing they would go away instead of finding a way to work in harmony with them. The only intervention that could have helped me move things along was the epidural, and for that I am thankful. The next couple hours Jason and I rested. Then, it was go time.

Pushing for Life

When the nurse told me it was time to push, I had no idea what to do. I could not feel one ounce of a contraction, so I had no idea when to push or how to push. We had to rely on the monitor to let us know when I was having a contraction. She coached Jason and I through the pushing process. It seemed fairly simple - she grabbed a leg, Jason grabbed a leg, and then all I had to do was push. That was my one job. Surely, Lidia was within a hour of being born, I could just feel it. And the nurse could, too - she literally felt Lidia's head. Well, I pushed, pushed harder, pushed some more, and still no Lidia. After an hour of pushing had passed, the nurse recommended that we turn down the epidural. Perhaps Lidia wasn't budging because I couldn't quite feel where to direct my pushing. Just about as quick as the epidural was turned down, I had it turned back up. The pain that had been washed away came crashing back. I wasn't ready to go down that road again so the epidural was back on. Then I pushed and pushed and pushed. It was around 3:30 by this time and Dr. Rinala could see the utter exhaustion written all over my face. She knew how long we had been fighting this battle - almost 24 hours at this point. She again made a recommendation - that she would assist the birth of Lidia with forceps. She would have to do an episiotomy as well. The top three bolded items on my birth plan: NO EPIDURAL, NO EPISIOTMY, and NO FORCEPS. At this point, I was up for anything. After over 3 hours of pushing, I had NO energy left in me. Actually, I had enough energy for one more push - and then with the help of the forceps, she was finally here.

Why Isn't She Crying?

Lidia came out very quickly. Jason cut the cord and she was placed on my stomach for about 3-5 seconds and immediately wisked away from me. A wave of panic came over me because I didn't hear her cry. I asked the doctor with tears in my eyes, "Why isn't she crying?!" The doctor assured me that she was fine and she would eventually cry. There were close to 10 nurses/doctors in the room as Lidia was getting ready to be born waiting to take her away. Because of the meconnium in the amniotic fluid, she had to be sucked and cleaned and pricted and prodded. Then, the crying begun. It was such a relief to hear that sweet little newborn cry of hers. After about 15 minutes, I finally got her back in my arms and Jason and I just stared at her beauty. She was perfect. We immediately noticed her big, beautiful eyes and her lucscious, plump lips. She had big hands, too - Jason said they were perfect for basketball and I said they were perfect for playing the piano. Grandpa Danzo was the first to notice the tinge of red in her hair that she still has to this day. She was everything we had envisioned her to be - and more.

Maternal Guilt

The doctors were right when they told me early on in my pregnancy that my maternal guilt would start before Lidia was even born. I never wanted to be responsible for any issues that Lidia may have had. I wanted to say that I did everything to produce a healthy, happy baby. After we got situated in the post-natal room, a nurse came in to check Lidia. She checked her heartbeat and heard something that she didn't like. She casually told me that she was going to take Lidia and have a doctor check her out real quick. The nurse came back to our room without Lidia and stated that Lidia had a heart murmur. I immediately started crying and asked about a million questions. I immediately blamed myself and said it must have been something I had done. The nurse didn't have many answers and we waited for literally hours before we got to see our baby girl again. We got updates, and we tried to sleep, but nothing could relieve the worry that I had. Finally, Lidia's fabulous pediatrician, Dr. Papas, came to save the day. If any of you watch Private Practice, Dr. Papas reminds me exactly of Cooper on this show. Anyways, the doctor said that the murmur is there, but it would correct itself over time. He said that this type of thing is very common in newborns - he talked some mumbo jumbo doctor talk about the lungs and the heart and blah blah blah. The only thing I fixated on was that she was fine. Lidia was brought back into our room and he said we had a perfectly healthy baby girl. The rest of the time in the hospital was spent thanking God for blessing us with such a perfect human being. She was, and is still, perfect.

And the story of the first year of our little gem's life? Well, it can be summed up by this quote by Jennifer Armitage:

"And she is beautiful, our daughter, only six months, but a person. She turns to look at everything, out walking. All so precious. I musn't disturb it with words."

So here I leave you with no words, but a 15 minute video montage of Lidia's first year of life. Stay tuned for baby #2's blog...whenever the good Lord decides to bless us again.

40 Weeks - Happy Non-Labor Day!

2009-09-07T10:19:00.006-04:00

All About Us

I spoke to my mom this morning and she was disappointed to have logged onto her Internet in anticipation of reading the weekly blog only to have found no updates. I asked her, "How does it feel to expect something on a certain day and not get it?" Not that I didn't do the blog yesterday to spite anyone, but I honestly just didn't feel up to it. This Labor Day is turning out to be not so much of a picnic. And yes, I'm whiny and grumpy and all the other adjectives you can come up with to describe a woman who has gone past her due date. I know, I know I can hear what's going through all of your heads right now, "It's only been a day past," and "She'll come when she's ready." Believe me, I have heard it all. Just take a step back and think of something that you have been looking forward to for 40 weeks - 4o WEEKS - and then it does not happen. It's extremely disappointing, isn't it? And let us add into the mix the constant pain and pressure, the utter exhaustion, and the emotional roller-coaster. Jason and I were convinced that this little girl was going to be in our arms early and instead she will be late. Jason asked me if I had a feeling that she would come this week and I said I honestly do not know anymore. All of my instincts and feelings have been wrong this entire pregnancy - I didn't think I was pregnant at first, I thought for sure Lidia was a boy, and I thought she would arrive early. I hope my mothering instincts are a lot better than these instincts have been.

I think the most frustrating part of this whole thing is that there is no straight answer to anything regarding the time-frame of labor. I have researched the Internet high and low on typical pregnancies and labor. While there is a set standard, there are many variations. Yes, 50% of women go past their due date, but why? Why do 50% of women deliver before their due date? There is no answer to that. And of the 50% that go after their due date, how long after do they go? Does labor happen naturally or do most of these women end up getting induced? Which is better, to induce at 41 weeks or to go to past that point? There are so many unanswered questions out there, which is why I can only put my faith in the good Lord above. I can only pray furiously that this baby will arrive before our scheduled induction on September 13th. This scheduled induction is another factor that has got us in a frenzy. Many women are induced - my mom was with me, Jason's mom was. It's not that I don't want to be induced but it seems like a week is too soon. Jason and I may talk our doctor into giving Lidia a couple more days. My body has been able to house and nurture this healthy, amazing baby so far, I just feel like we're giving up on it by inducing so early. Don't get me wrong, I am ready to meet my baby girl! But if we are going to play God here and pick her birthday, I'd rather give her and my body more time to make it happen naturally. Then, if it doesn't happen, juice me up with as much Pitocin as needed.

And yes, the Pitocin would completely ruin our plan of an unmedicated birth so I will be disappointed. I told Jason that I want to be able to say that I did everything humanly possible in this pregnancy, labor, and delivery to produce a healthy baby. I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to our babies - just look at how I am with our dogs! So of course nothing less should be expected of me when it comes to our own baby. This plan of ours has a little bit to do with us and everything to do with Lidia. If a doctor could tell us that in no way, shape, or form would the medication affect our baby, we would be all for it. Bring on the Pitocin and Epidural, please! But that cannot be guaranteed, so here we stand in ambivalence land.

So, Jason and I will both return to work tomorrow and go on as we have been for the past 40 weeks. Just know that we will not be completely 100% happy until this little one is safely in our arms.

You're Done Cooking!

Hey pretty lady, the timer went off yesterday, didn't you hear it? It's time for you to come out! Yes, mommy is a bit grumpy lately but it is certainly not your fault and I do not hold it against you. Mommy has been doing all kinds of things to urge you out, but for some reason mommy's body is not catching on. Right now it is so cute - you are moving all around and Ava has her head on my tummy just sleeping away, despite being jostled by you. You are going to be the most amazing baby, your daddy and I just know it. It is obvious that mommy cannot wait to meet you, since I am the one who writes the blog every week. But your daddy is just as excited. Everyday he talks to you and tells you how much he loves you and how he cannot wait to hold and kiss you. I want you to know that you are the topic of most of our discussions and we daydream about you all day long. I think that is what makes this waiting game so hard - because we are just so gosh darn anxious to see your beautiful face! We have got the cutest outfit planned for your first trip home. One thing I know for sure is that you will be the most stylish little baby around!

Well, now is the time for your daddy and I to take our 3 mile journey filled with hills to hopefully get you in the right position. If it's one thing I'm sure of, we will definitely be seeing you next week, if not sooner! We love you baby girl!

39 Weeks and No Baby Yet!

2009-08-30T19:17:00.007-04:00

All About Us

This week has been one of the most normal weeks we have had to date. Jason and I kept busy at our respective jobs and spent most every night going on our 2 mile walk. We had a very successful doctors appointment in which we found out I have gained 29 pounds so far in this pregnancy. The normal range is 25-30 pounds, so I am pretty content. Let's hope that there is no more weight gain in these last days! Also, we found out that my blood pressure is slightly elevated, which is completely normal for this stage in pregnancy. I am a little more closer to being 2 cm dilated and I am now 50% effaced. The doctor stated that I had a "perfect" pelvis, so hopefully that means Lidia will just slide out of me like a torpedo! She also commented on my great skin and said I must have good genes to not have gotten any stretch marks. I am extremely surprised by this because I feel like my skin has been stretched to the ultimate max and I certainly haven't been doing anything to prevent stretch marks. Score one for me for avoidance of annoying pregnancy symptoms! It is getting extremely hard for me to walk these days, especially since I over-did it yesterday with a 3 mile walk and a day full of cleaning. I almost cried each time I had to get up and walk. I have been holding onto Jason's arm so tightly lately that I think he is going to have bruises before this is all said and done! I had deemed today a bed rest day, but after talking to my sister, I felt that the best thing I could do for me and Lidia was to keep moving. So Jason and I decided to check out the new outlet mall in Cincinnati which was so totally awesome. If anyone would like to come down and visit, I would LOVE to take you to these new outlets - they have everything! I especially enjoyed the Polo store where they had the cutest little Polo outfits for babies. Lidia will definitely be getting some once she is here!

And how could we forget to mention our baby boy's 4th birthday? He sure enjoyed his jr. hamburger cake!

As you can tell, we are just patiently waiting for our little lady to arrive. We are trying to live as normal a life as possible so we do not get overly anxious. Throughout pregnancy, many statistics were thrown my way. As I near the end of this pregnancy, I am hoping not to be in the 50% that deliver after their due date and in the 20% that need to be induced. So to avoid these two statistics, Jason and I have been doing everything under the sun. From walking, to massaging pressure points, to eating pineapple and spicy foods, and to some unmentionable things, we are all for urging the labor process on. I really hope to not be writing a 40 weeks blog next week, but as the date gets closer I am having my doubts. I have had every single labor sign that a woman could have, minus the painful contractions. And until those lovely baby-movers arrive, we are stuck here in pregnancy land indefinitely. A frustrating time, but through this frustration I have thought of another list. The top 10 things I will miss about pregnancy and the top 10 things I will not miss.

The Top 10 Things I Will Miss About Pregnancy

10. Having the excuse, "I'm pregnant" work for about anything I don't want to or can't do.
9. Having an excuse to eat ice cream everyday (and I do, just ask Jason).
8. Having an excuse to eat anything I want.
7. Wasting away parts of my work day with coworkers that want to talk babies and pregnancy.
6. Wearing my cute maternity clothes - I think they are much cuter than my non-pregnancy clothes!
5. Going to the doctor - I really enjoy those check-ups!
4. Sleeping as much as I want to.
3. Feeling Lidia move.
2. Getting daily massages from my hubby
1. Having everyday be "Bring your child to work day"

The Top 10 Things I Will NOT Miss About Being Pregnant

10. Constipation.
9. The aches and pains.
8. The constant weight gain.
7. People constantly asking me baby questions.
6. People constantly giving me their opinions without being asked.
5. Not being able to indulge in an adult beverage every now and then.
4. Not being able to lay on my back or stomach.
3. Having to seriously think about everything I am putting into my body.
2. Constantly worrying about Lidia since I cannot see or hear her.
1. Not being able to run!

Baby Come Out!

Hi sweet Lidia. There is not much going on with you as far as development is concerned. Of course, your brain is growing as rapidly as ever. Your weight gain has begun to slow and you shouldn't have any languo (fuzzy hair all over your body) or vernix (a cheesy coating that kept your skin safe from the amniotic fluid) left on your body when you arrive. Speaking of your arrival, your daddy and I just cannot wait for you to get here! I just read where there is a chemical in your brain that will actually set off the hormones in my body that trigger labor. You must just really love it in that cozy place- I don't think you have plans of leaving the Uterine Hotel anytime soon. We want a happy baby, so come as you please my dear. Just know we will be waiting with open, loving arms when you finally decide to arrive!

38 Weeks - Surprise!

2009-08-23T18:24:00.010-04:00

All About Us - Turn up your volume for this video:)

I am very surprised to be writing this blog tonight. Last night around this time, I was for sure that Lidia was trying to make her debut into this world. Jason and I decided to use one of our last Saturdays as just the two of us as a date night. We had the whole night planned - movie, dinner, and a Girl Scout cookie blizzard from Dairy Queen. The movie we chose was The Hangover - very crude, but very funny. During the movie, I was getting the traditional Braxton-Hicks contractions that I have had since about week 20 of this pregnancy. I thought nothing of them until they started coming more furiously. At around 6:30, I decided to start timing them. They were lasting about a minute long and coming at various frequencies, but never more than 5 minutes apart. I alerted Jason of the contractions and his eyes showed a little bit of panic. I reassured him that I was OK for the time being. I decided to wait until after the movie and then assess the situation. The contractions were still coming steady after the movie, so we decided to go home. After sitting at home for another hour with the contractions not easing up, it started to get extremely real to us that we could be having a baby in the next couple of hours. So we went upstairs to make sure our bag was packed with everything we needed. I called my parents to put them on alert and Jason called his sister Terri to put her on alert. So we sat and waited for the contractions to start hurting, but they never did. We were so excited and really couldn't believe that this could actually be it - our baby girl was about to be in our arms!

About 3 hours into it, I decided to call the doctor. I thought if it was false labor, the contractions would have subsided by then and they wouldn't have been so timeable. The doctor called me back and is quoted as saying, "Your message is cracking me up!" She said I was way too calm for a woman who was in labor. I had let her know in the message that I was not in pain, but the contractions were coming at regular intervals for quite some time. She said that until they get painful and until I'm no longer able to talk through them, then I didn't need to think about coming to the hospital. She said it could be 12 hours to many days until I went into active labor. She instructed me to get some sleep and that's exactly what I tried to do. After 5 straight hours of consistent contractions, I went to bed. I didn't necessarily wake up to them in the night, but I did wake up a lot due to a lower back ache. This morning I could tell that the contractions had subsided. Throughout the day today they have still been coming, but with frequency with which I am familiar. At mass today, Jason asked me if I was feeling OK and I frowned and said "Yes, but I wish I was feeling miserable." Needless to say, Lidia is not ready for this world quite yet. We will keep praying for her speedy arrival, as well as continuing our 2 mile daily walks to guide her into position. We will continue to live our lives as normal. After all, it's up to God when Lidia will arrive...which will hopefully be soon!

Playing Games

You seem to be unfazed with all the squishing mommy's uterus has been putting you through in the past 24 hours. You are still moving like crazy and playing your games with mommy's ribs and bladder. You will be happy to know that mommy and daddy finished our 7 weeks of childbirth classes this past week, so we are totally prepared for you to come now. At our last doctor's appointment, the dr. informed us that there was no change in your progression into this world - mommy is still 1 1/2 cm dilated and 25% effaced. If we make it to Thursday's appointment, I have a feeling we might see a little more progress due to all the activity this weekend.

According to all the books, you are about 7 pounds now, which contradicts what one doctor has predicted - that you will only be around 7 pounds if you are to make it to 40 weeks. You do seem like a pretty small baby, which I don't quite understand because I have always done well to feed you. It could be because mommy has been quite active during this pregnancy, which supposedly leads to smaller babies. The smaller, the better to push you out my dear!

Well, Lidia, we may see you soon or we may not see you for another 2 weeks. No matter when it will be, it will still be the absolute best day of our lives. We love you!

37 Weeks = Full Term Baby!

2009-08-16T20:13:00.006-04:00

All About Us

As we near the end of this journey, I have a need to look back on everything that we have been through. There have been close to 40 blogs written, each documented the many lessons learned. At the start of this pregnancy, I was a blank slate. Having taken many child development classes in the past, no book or lecture could have prepared me for what I was about to go through for the next 9 months. Of the lessons learned, I compiled a list of the 10 most important lessons learned:

10) Not all pregnancy symptoms are by the book. My first clues to being pregnant were menstrual cramps and massive headaches - none of which were on the list of early pregnancy symptoms. Always trust your instincts over what a book may tell you.

9) Always eat. No matter how sick I was in the first trimester, I always ate. Whether it was watermelon, White Cheddar Cheez-Its, or toast, my body needed food. I learned to eat whatever sounded "OK." Even though it didn't make me feel better, I think it at least made it so I didn't feel worse.

8) Don't be afraid to exercise. I was, at first. If you read the books, they will all tell you to exercise, but with certain restrictions. I was healthy, so there was no need for me to exercise with restrictions. I listened to my body and my body said keep going, so go I did. I strongly believe that is why I have been able to stay within a healthy pregnancy weight gain (we all know I haven't been shy with the ice cream and cake (and pizza, and french fries, and..!).

7) Look forward to dates. Having different activities going on throughout my pregnancy helped break up the time so I didn't go absolutely crazy. I would highly recommend planning at least one new activity every week.

6) Don't compare yourself to other pregnant women. Even though my sister is at about the same stage in pregnancy I am, our pregnancies have been very different. You would think sisters would have equal pregnancy symptoms due to the genetic link, but that is not true. My pregnancy is my own - very unique and individual.

5) Don't be afraid to call the doctor. I never wanted to be one of those women whose doctors' office secretaries cringed whenever they heard who was calling. But it was amazing what fears were non-existent when the need to protect my baby came into the picture. I learned to adopt the attitude of "who cares what others think," which in turn gave me piece of mind. While I have only called the doctor's office with questions 5 times during my pregnancy, I may have never if I let my pride get in the way.

4) You don't have to take other people's advice. Becoming pregnant, I realized that many people wanted to become my OB as they dispensed medical advice like they had a M.D. behind their name. From the dental hygienist who told me that I was killing my baby's brain cells by drinking diet pop, to the many people who try to convince me to give birth with medication, I have realized that the only thing they are dispensing is their opinions. People will voice their opinions whether you ask or not. I have learned to smile and nod, except in the case of the dental hygienist. There's only so far I let people go with their opinions. Then it is my responsibility to stick up for myself and my baby.

3) Pamper yourself. Pedicures, massages, shopping sprees. All these were needed to reward myself for being completely selfless for 9 straight months.

2) Eat nutritiously. Yes, I have blizzards and McFlurrys. But, I always make sure I have my daily servings of fruit, vegetables, protein and carbs. It's not just my health I'm worried about - it's my baby's health. Everything I put in my mouth goes to her. So while she may get a sugar rush, she's also getting the good stuff, too. And crazy as it is, I have never been this healthy in my entire life. I have had 1 sickness this entire pregnancy when usually I am sick close to 5 times a year. My parents can affirm that!

1) I wouldn't have had such a smooth pregnancy without my support person. Jason, my husband, has been an absolute angel throughout this entire pregnancy. He has been present for nearly every dr's appointment and every birthing class. He has given me massages just about every single night. He doesn't do everything I ask him to - he senses what I need and does it without me even asking. I truly believe that he has such a pure and holy soul. I have never met anyone as caring and selfless as he. We all know how much I adore this man!

All in all, I believe I have had a very smooth pregnancy. Jason and I have savored every moment - from the very first positive pregnancy test, to the first ultrasound, to our baby bash. This pregnancy has been a life-altering experience for us in more ways than one. My blank slate is now filled with information to bring with me to my next pregnancy...and the one after that...and the one after that:)

Our Little Italian Bun!

You're almost done cookin' baby girl! I cannot believe that we are already at this point where you can be born and considered full-term. We had an amazing doctor's appointment this past week. The Dr. let your daddy and I know that you are very close to making your arrival. Mommy is 1 1/2 cm dilated and 25% effaced. You are still head down, thank God! The doctor estimated that if you were to go to 40 weeks, you wouldn't be more than 7 pounds. This is good news to us, as it means that labor and delivery won't be as difficult. The term no pain, no gain has taken on a whole new meaning for us. I actually want to be completely miserable with labor and delivery - that is how nature intended it! It will make seeing and holding you for the first time that much better.

I am still amazed at how much you are moving and growing. Your lungs are now completely mature. So apparently it is up to you now when you want to arrive. Mommy would prefer you come very soon, but you come when you're ready dear. Mommy is not really happy with the 2 people who voted that you will be a week late. Don't make me wait that long! Your daddy and I are so excited to meet you, we almost can't take it anymore. Until then, we will be here cleaning and biding time. Will there be a 38 Weeks blog next week? It's not so certain anymore!

36 Weeks - The Beginning of the End

2009-08-09T20:07:00.006-04:00

All About Us

We have some very exciting news to share - Lidia has a new cousin! Brandon Michael Schneider was born on August 4, weighing in at 5 lbs, 7 oz and measuring 19 inches. Despite his early arrival, Brandon is doing marvelous! Congratulations to the proud parents, Erin & Brian, and big brother Kyle. We hope to see pictures very soon!

The bigger I get, the harder I fall. Yes, I fell again this week. Thankfully, the healing process took 3 days and not 3 weeks, so it obviously wasn't as big of a fall as the first one. It was a bit more embarrassing, being that it happened in front of 50 college students taking an ACT. They all just stared at me and I picked myself up and announced that I was OK. And of course, Lidia was OK. This is beginning to be a common occurrence for her - something that she is used to by now, sadly!

Has it hit us that in 4 weeks or less we will be parents? I don't think it has. We are more than prepared for Lidia's arrival and I have confidence that Jason and I are definitely ready to be parents. But, I just don't think it has hit us yet that we are actually going to be parents in less than 30 days. One thing my confidence is shaky on is the actual labor and delivery itself. I have no doubt that I can handle the level of pain, it's just the duration of the pain that worries me. Jason and I plan on staying at home as long as possible during labor. When I am no longer able to talk or walk through the contractions, that will be a good indication that it's hospital time. We are doing everything in our power to prepare for the labor and delivery, but since it is something we have ever experienced before, it's just so hard to have complete confidence that I will be able to manage without medication. The reality is that 95% of women have medicated births. Its hard to believe that I can be in the 5% that is able to go unmedicated. Please pray for me! The first reading at mass definitely spoke to Jason and I today. Basically, when I think that I have had enough, that I can't take anymore, the Lord just wants me to take a break, drink some water, relax, and then get back to work. That reading will be my inspiration!

Last, but not least, Saturday was dedicated to our babies, Ava and Angelo. It was their favorite day of the year - the Wiener Nationals! This is their 2nd year of running in the race, with many more to come, I'm sure. No, they didn't win their race, but they sure had fun trying. Their Aunt Terri and Uncle Dave came to help with the pictures and the "holding" of Ava, since Jason could only hold Angelo. They sprinted out pretty fast, but slowed down as they got towards the end. It was definitely the hottest, most humid day of the summer, so they were understandably exhausted before we even got to the starting line. Mommy was struggling as well! Being 36 weeks pregnant outside on a heat advisory day for 3 hours is no walk in the park. But we are so happy that we got to give the pups this experience.

Peek-A-Boo, I See You!

Hello my dear! Let me first say that Daddy has obviously been there with us throughout this whole pregnancy. He has been to every single one of our doctor's appointments, even the unscheduled ones, which is probably close to 12 or so. We had another appointment this past Friday and Daddy decided to play golf instead of attend this appointment. There is no need to be upset about this, though, because we got him back in the end! It was very busy at the doctor's office and they had to put me in the ultrasound room. When the doctor walked in, she said, "Well since we are in here, lets take a peak at the baby." I got to see you again! You are doing so fabulously in there - you are in a perfect birth position (head down, of course), your heart is beating strong, and you've got a great amount of amniotic fluid for swimming. I also got to see your beautiful face. It wasn't as clear as our 3D photos of you, but it was just as sweet. I just love you so much! The doctor said that if I happened to go into labor soon, she would not try to stop it. She said if you were born soon, you would be just as healthy and would probably even be able to go home with us. So you can guess how upset your daddy was when he learned what he had missed! He made me tell him every detail about the visit. Something tells me he won't pick golf over us anymore:)

You are almost 100% ready to enter into the real world. You've got about 1 1/2 to 2 lbs left to gain and your lungs have a little more maturing to do. You are moving around as usual in my tummy, which I always enjoy. I am guessing that you haven't dropped yet, but that is to be expected. The pressure that your growing body is putting on my pelvic area is sometimes unbearable - I have to stop and just take deep breaths. The positive thing about this is that I know it is one of the tell-tale signs of the end. And it's not really an end, per say, but the beginning of something extremely remarkable and exciting- the start of our life with you.

35 Weeks of Pure Joy!

2009-08-02T20:40:00.012-04:00

All About Us

Well, folks, the end is definitely in sight. Something that signified the closing of this journey was the extremely successful baby bash we had last night. While it was sad that it was missing my siblings, the friends and family that did attend made up for their absence. Everyone who attended deserves a HUGE thank you - many people traveled from afar to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Lidia Louise. And many people spent much of their time, energy, thoughts, and money on making this party one for us to remember forever. Lidia was showered with many presents and many well wishes. We really feel extremely blessed to have such great friends and family who have provided us with so much to make our start with Lidia as smooth and stress-free as possible. Plus, with all the great clothes she has received, she will definitely be one stylin' little lady!

Aside from the fabulous time we had at the baby bash, our week has been filled with surprises and not necessarily good ones. Lidia's other cousin (who is due to arrive around the same time she is) decided to try and get out a little early. Luckily, the doctors were able to stop this from happening and both mommy and baby are resting safely at home. Our prayers were answered yet again! These babies seem to want to race to see who is going to arrive first, but what they don't realize is that this is not a fun game for their mommies and daddies! Listen up babies, you all 3 need to stay in your respective ovns until it is time for you to arrive!

Speaking of misbehaving babies, Lidia decided to scare us this week as well. Tonight as I sit here, Lidia has been moving non-stop for the last 3 hours. Last Thursday and into Friday, Lidia decided to hide out for awhile and not move much at all. This caused me and Jason to be very worried, so off we went to the Doctor's office. They hooked me up to a non-stress test and little Lidia moved about 15 times within 10 minutes. The doctor reassured us that as long as we felt 10 movements within an hour once a day, then our baby is perfectly fine. A little misinformation is what brought us there, but the doctor stated she was glad we came so we could have piece of mind. And what a piece of mind it is to know that our baby is perfectly healthy.

I Dream of Lidia

Wow. 5 more weeks and you will grace us with your presence for the first time. I have been dreaming about you a lot lately - more than I ever have this entire pregnancy. I try to concentrate on other life activities, but it is getting extremely difficult to think of anything but you. I feel so extremely blessed to be carrying the most beautiful baby ever and even more blessed knowing that you were made by two people who are over-the-top in love with one another. Your daddy and I worked all day putting all of your items together. I was so proud to watch him walk along, pushing the stroller and pretending you were in it. As nature puts its finishing touches on you, we are anxiously awaiting your arrival. Goodnight sweetheart, mommy and daddy love you dearly!

34 Weeks - Vote for Lidia's Arrival Date to the Left!

2009-07-26T20:45:00.010-04:00

All About Us

I'm naked! No, it's not what you think. I am pretty sure I can no longer wear my wedding rings. I wasn't able to fit them on comfortably all day today. When I squeezed them on, it was extremely difficult to get them off. I'm not sure if I like the idea of going the next 6 weeks without my rings. I may have to go purchase a cheap ring somewhere just to wear in the mean time. I will try again tomorrow, but I'm not very hopeful. My toes also look like Vienna sausages. And I definitely can say I am now the proud owner of cankles. The swelling has begun!

Jason and I are sure glad this week is over. It has been one hectic day followed by another. We had a little scare on Tuesday and the doctor wanted to see us immediately to rule out pre-term labor. Everything checked out perfectly, though, so we are good to go! This little girl is getting bigger and bigger, which makes us very happy. The only bad thing about this is that I have to go potty constantly. At mass today, I had to use the bathroom twice. Speaking of going potty, I thought I might have had to go in a bottle in the car this week. Jason was nice enough to drive me to a national conference in Louisville, KY that I presented at this past Wednesday. On our way there, it took us 3 + hours when it should of only taken us 1 and 1/2. We were stopped in traffic two times for accidents. Luckily, we ended up getting there about 20 minutes before it was time for me to do my presentation, thank God! I knew that after this past Saturday was over, we would be smooth sailing for awhile. Jason and I both had to work - me, unfortunately for 11 hours. But no more Saturday work for me until I go back to work after Lidia is born - yay!

We're Ready!

Hi sweet pea. We are soooo ready for you! Look at your room - it's just waiting for you to arrive. And you will be happy to know that mommy read an extremely comforting article today that said babies born between 34 and 37 weeks will be just as healthy as full-term babies. These babies may need some extra time in the hospital and may have some minor health issues, but all in all they will be A. O.K.! Not to say that we'd want you to come sooner than 37 weeks, but if it would happen we can all rest assured that you will be just as perfect as ever. It's just so hard to believe that if you are to go full term, we only have 6 more weeks left to wait. 6 WEEKS!! Daddy keeps wanting to pack the suitcase for the hospital and I think I may actually let him now.

I really notice you noticing your surroundings lately. Angelo barked two times in the middle of the night last night and both times you moved your 5 1/2 pound frame all around. When me or daddy talk directly to you and rub my tummy, you move as well. I am so excited to get my hands on you and kiss you non-stop!

Here is a picture to show you what life will be like when you enter this world. We love to cuddle!

33 Weeks - 7 To Go!

2009-07-19T20:57:00.006-04:00

All About Us

How far along are you? When are you due? How long do you have left? Do you know what you're having? Do you have a name for her? Is your nursery done? Those are a few of the many questions that I have been asked in the last couple weeks, and questions that most pregnant women at this point will get. I am guessing these questions are more prevalent in this stage in pregnancy because it is OH so obvious that there is a baby in there. For those of you who haven't reached this point, I have one piece of advise - Answer all questions with a smile on your face :) Though this may seem easy to do, as us pregnant ladies are always willing to take time out to talk about our babies, after the fifth time a question is asked in a day it gets to be a little too much. When you're in a job where you encounter many different people each day, chances are you will be asked these questions over and over again. The askers of these questions expect you to smile and gush over the fact that they are taking time to notice you and your "condition." So please, give the people what they want. If not, they may talk behind your back about how the pregnancy "hormones" must be getting to you. Or, you may choose to use humor in these situations by answering the question, "How far along are you?" with "Excuse me? I don't know what you're talking about." My favorite was when a worker at Subway asked me "How long?" and I replied by saying, "A foot long, please." Apparently, he wasn't inquiring about my sub size, but my tummy size.

Honeydew List

Your list of amazing acts inside the womb is getting longer and longer. You have recently grown quite fond of hiccuping at least once a day. This is so neat to feel! Sometimes you hiccup so hard that I think it startles you and you move all around. Speaking of moving, your increasing growth has not slowed down your movement in the least. I cannot believe that you are nearly 5 pounds! You move around for hours at a time, many times a day. Every time you move around, it makes me the happiest person on this earth. Your movement alone is enough to make what could be a horrible day an especially pleasant one. And I'm not the only one who benefits from your movement - daddy does as well. When he talks to you and puts his hand on my tummy, you move around like crazy. I can tell that you are already a daddy's girl! I can't determine right now if you are head up or head down, but I will be sure to ask the doctor this week. Just as long as you are head down around 36 weeks, your mommy and daddy will not worry.

Do you like to hear your fishie at night? Your great-grandma and great aunts got you this musical fish that your daddy and I absolutely love. We play it for you each night before we go to sleep. Hopefully it will be a very comforting sound to you when you enter this world.

Some very exciting news for you this week - you will be getting another cousin in March! Congratulations to Terri and Dave!!

Lidia Louise, how sweet it is to dream of you as your daddy and I do every second of everyday. Even without yet holding you in our arms, you make our hearts whole and our smiles never-ending. Goodnight my dear - I will feel you when we wake!

32 weeks = 8 MONTHS!

2009-07-10T09:15:00.013-04:00

All About Us

I am going to spend the first paragraph of this blog merely praising God for answering my family's prayers this week. Because I believe that my sister would not appreciate much detail and attention to this situation, I am going to simply say thank you Lord for keeping Kristi and baby Venuti safe and sound. I am eagerly waiting to meet baby Venuti when he/she is scheduled to arrive!

Jason and I had a very baby related week. On Tuesday, we had our first childbirth class. We didn't talk about childbirth, though. The whole class was focused on mom and baby nutrition. Needless to say, I caught Jason dozing off a couple times. The most exciting part of the class was being able to see women who are at the same stage in pregnancy as I am. It is so neat to see how each woman carries her baby differently. And I found that many of these women had the same cravings as I do - spicy food, ice cream, cheese, and Trader Joe's Raisin Bran. We have 6 weeks of classes to go and Jason and I can't wait to get to the good stuff - preparation for childbirth!

We chose this series of classes because they are focused on those who are wanting to have an unmedicated birth. Being able to go through this experience without the use of induction drugs or an epidural would mean the world to me, Jason, and Lidia. It would be the single-most important goal we could ever meet. At our Doctor's appointment this week, I was able to talk to the Dr. about this wish of ours. She asked me if my mother had natural, unmediated births and I responded proudly by saying she had four. The doctor said if my body type is similar to my mother's, which it is, it is highly likely that I will be able to do the same. She also recommended that my mother be with me and Jason during labor and delivery since she has been through four successful unmedicated births herself. So, what do you say mama? The reality is that it would probably take her and my dad at least 5 hours to get down here and by then, baby Lidia might have already come. Jason and I are going to be like sponges in these classes and soak up all the information we need to know about natural pain relief. I will still have an open mind about the whole process because I know that you can't always predict how the baby is going to perform. Our next Dr.'s appointment is now only 2 weeks away - something that is very reassuring to me. I like to get confirmation from the Dr. that everything is as it should be - that Ms. Lidia is perfect.

As this pregnancy moves onto the 8th month, I am trying my hardest to stay normal and active. I am extremely exhausted and my back pains are almost enough to drive me crazy. Laying down too long is painful - as is sitting, standing, and walking. As you can assume, the ability to find a comfortable position has become the focus of most of my days. It's affecting Jason as well because he has to massage my back frequently - so much so that his hands are actually sore. I think I may have to invest in an actual licensed massage therapist so I don't drive Jason away (I also might want to invest in some beano and gasx, too)!
Also, I am getting extremely full with small amounts of food lately. This could be because our little girl and all of her components are resting against my stomach. This has been quite a shock for many who are aware of how much I used to eat. It makes me very conscious of everything I am putting in my mouth, as dear Lidia would appreciate me getting full on chicken and broccoli rather than ice cream sandwiches and cheetos. I can hardly believe I feel this way and we have 8 weeks left!

It's very exciting that my belly is getting big and my baby is moving almost non-stop. The one annoying thing about having a pregnant belly is having people that want to touch it all the time. One day this week, a woman at work saw me and ran over to me to rub my belly. She said she was having a bad week and needed to rub my belly for luck. I quickly shot back by smiling and saying, "I am not Buddha!" I don't mind when people ask my permission to touch my belly or when close family members touch my belly, but I find it very annoying when some people - acquaintances and perfect strangers - just think they have the right to touch my belly. I'm going to make a new shirt that says, "Hands Off the Belly!"

Ouch that Hurt!

Lidia, you can pack quite a punch or kick! A little bit ago, you hit my ribs so hard that I screamed out in pain. Daddy thought I was having a contraction and that we needed to go to the hospital (a little too soon for that). It was reassuring to him to find out that you were only beating up your dear mother who has been carrying you selflessly for the past 8 months. I read where your kicks and punches are going to be felt more strongly now because your over 4 pound frame is running out of room and amniotic fluid to cushion those blows. Just promise me that you won't do that when I'm in an important meeting!

Other than your weight and your brain, you are also growing in length. You are a whopping 19 inches now from head to tow. Daddy asked if you would be squirming around and kicking your legs when you are first born since you are so squished in my belly right now. I assume you will be, but I haven't ever seen a newborn baby before so who knows! You are no longer translucent because of the fat that has been accumulating on your body. Also, your finger and toe nails are now filling the beds of your nails.

Well, our love, it is now 8 short weeks until we meet. I have no doubt that it will be the best day of our lives. Keep dreaming and kicking girl. All the pain is worth the day when we will finally be able to see you, hold you, and kiss you. We love you, Lidia!

PS - not sure why the date and time are off on this blog. It was posted on July 12, 2009 at 11:oo p.m.

31 Weeks - Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-05T21:31:00.004-04:00

All About Us

Major headache + amazing weekend with the Danzo family + pure exhaustion = Writer's block. Enjoy the pictures!

Little Liddie Lou

This is your new nickname - we hope you like it! It sounds like a character from a Dr. Seuss book, doesn't it? Your brain is developing as rapidly as ever this week. You can perceive so many sensations now like light and sound. Your 5 senses are all in working order now, thanks to the thousands of connections in your brain that have been forming over the last couple of weeks. You have currently been moving around in my belly for the past two hours and have shown no signs of stopping. It is amazing to think that you are now sleeping and waking like an actual newborn. I can definitely tell when you are in these sleep and wake cycles. Luckily for me, the sleep periods are when I am sleeping, too! And speaking of sleep, it is something mommy needs to get a lot of tonight - starting now. I will see you in my dreams my love!

30 Weeks - One Quarter Left!

2009-06-28T21:41:00.011-04:00

All About Mommy and Daddy - Through Ava's Eyes
Mommy asked me to do the blog tonight because she was very tired. I wasn't sure what to write about, so I am going to tell you all what mommy and daddy did this week. Every morning, Angelo and I get to cuddle with daddy for awhile when mommy first goes to work. On most days, he goes to work and puts us in our cage. One day this week, daddy got to stay home with us all day. We absolutely love it when he takes us on runs - which he did on this day. Poor Angelo, though, he tuckered out about half way through the run and daddy had to carry him. I, on the other hand, could run for miles! Mommy and daddy are going to enter us in the Wiener Nationals again this summer. I hope I win this time! Angelo has no prayer. Come down and watch us on August 8th at River Downs in Cincinnati!

Moving on, early Friday morning, it was storming really bad. I hate the rain and I hate going out to pee in the rain even more. This storm was different, though. The thunder was so loud and there was so much lightening. Daddy got a call at 5 a.m., which isn't unusual. It's usually something to do with his work. I could tell that this call was different by the way that daddy was reacting. When he got off the phone, mommy sounded scared, too, and he told her that his workplace had been destroyed by the storm. Daddy later said that it was a mini-tornado that hit his work! He left for work at 530 am that day and didn't get home until 9 pm. I could tell that mommy was really missing him when she got home from work. She took a nap with me and Angelo until 8 pm that night - Daddy would never let her do that!

The next day, Angelo and I got very excited because we were leaving to go on a trip. The worst part about it was that we had to be buckled in the back seat. Before mommy had this baby in her tummy, we got to be buckled up front with her. Now, mommy can't get comfortable when we are on her lap, so we have to go in the backseat. I am very sad about this and I cry for about the first 15 minutes or so. Then I cry some more periodically throughout the trip. I'm hoping that mommy will one day bring at least me back up there with her, but I'm starting to believe that it will never happen again. We finally got to our destination, which according to mommy and daddy, was Columbus, Ohio. We ran into the house of mommy and daddy's friends - Ashley and Chris. We were stopped in our tracks by what looked like a big horse and his name was Ben. Mommy later told me that he was a Newfoundland - a very big dog. He ended up being nice after he batted me and Angelo around first. Then mommy and daddy said me and Angelo needed practice with this small human named Isaac. Isaac pulled my ears, banged on me with his hand, pulled my skin, and yanked my collar. I remained calm and cool, though, because I knew that's what mommy and daddy wanted me to do. I have a feeling that kind of stuff might be happening a lot to me in the near future. Angelo just wanted to lick the small human. Mommy kept pushing him away from Isaac, so I'm guessing that we aren't really supposed to do that to small humans. Licking is fun! After a fun-filled day in Columbus, we went back home to see our sister Sophia.

Mommy and daddy spent the whole day today working on the house because all of Daddy's family came over to our house to celebrate daddy's birthday. Me and Angelo's favorite part was licking up all the crumbs that people spilled on the floor. Mommy also gave me and Angelo a bath, cleaned out our ears, and clipped our nails. She kept telling us that she does this because she loves us, not because she likes to see us upset - which we were. I guess love means suffering. Well, mommy needs to take over from here so I'm going to go lay on a pillow and cuddle up with my brother. I hope you all enjoyed my week!

Our Dreamgirl

Lidia, our love for you was brought to a whole new level this weekend. As you know, we got to see you in a 3D/4D ultrasound. We got to see your chubby cheeks, your round nose, your cute little hands and feet, and your beautiful eyes. It was so surreal because you looked like an actual baby. I know that you have so much more developing to do in the next 10 weeks, but you honestly looked like a full-term baby. You were very intent on keeping your hands and your feet in front of your face during most of the ultrasound. The ultrasound tech kept pushing on my belly to get you to move, but you wouldn't move much. I told her that you are used to being jostled around when I run and when the animals step on you, so I didn't expect you to care too much that she was rocking you all around. It's OK, though, because we got some pretty good pictures of you. And either lucky or unlucky for you, you resemble my newborn picture quite a bit. 10 weeks ago we saw you for the first time and 10 weeks from now we will get to actually hold you in our arms. There are no words to explain how full our hearts are already with love for you!

The major development going on this week is your brain. Your brain is now able to regulate your body temperature, which means that the soft hair covering your body, lanugo, will start to fall off (you won't need it to keep you warm anymore!). I have no doubt that your brain will grow big and you will be a very smart girl! Daddy and I are going to stare at your pictures, as we have been doing all weekend. Goodnight sweet Lidia!

29th Week - The Last of the Twenties

2009-06-21T19:54:00.000-04:00

All About Us

Jason and I are currently relaxing after an exciting weekend with the Schneider family at Lake Cumberland. Lake Cumberland is in Jamestown, Kentucky and is about 3 hours south of our home. We got to the house that Jason's parents rented late Friday night and spent all day Saturday on the Lake. We rented a pontoon boat and a jet ski. We had fun getting out in the water and swimming around with the fishies. Jason was quite the speed demon on the jet ski, which is one of the reasons I refused to get on it. I have heard so many horror stories about jet skis that I decided to play it safe and stay on the boat and in the water. There's always next year! I thought that I could get away with no SPF for the first couple hours I was out there, but I was badly mistaken. My shoulders are now the same color of red as the red in the McDonald's sign. The rest of my body was pretty much saved, though. So in addition to all of the discomforts of pregnancy, I have to add sunburn to my list - with no one to blame but myself. Another lesson learned - no spf = a very uncomfortable and grumpy pregnant lady. Our sleep was a little compromised this weekend as well. I couldn't get comfortable due to many factors - backache, anxiety, sunburn, dogs, small bed, husband taking up too much room, etc. And lets face it, when you're sleeping next to someone who can't get comfortable, you can't get to sleep either - which was Jason's story. Lidia was up with us as well, poor thing. So here's to a good nights sleep tonight in our own bed- hopefully!

Squishy Squash

Hi my dear! You are now the size of a squash - strange comparison but I'm cool with it. You are a whopping 3 pounds and you are about 16 inches from head to toe. I am guessing that it is your foot that has been jabbing my upper right ribs these days, as the Doctor said that you are head down. Speaking of Doctors, we got to go to our monthly visit again this week. Mommy and daddy learned many things, one being that mommy has gained a total of 20 pounds so far. I was extremely surprised by this number, but have since been made aware that it is right on target for this stage in pregnancy. You, on the other hand, are a mere 3 pounds according to the doctor. That means that you are growing as you should be! We also got to hear your heartbeat again, at which time the Doctor said you were showing off. We have now seen 4 out of the 7 women doctors at our clinic, which means we only have 3 left to see. They have all been very nice and extremely knowledgeable. I have no doubt that you and I will be in very good hands no matter which one of them delivers you. Our next appointment was set for 3 weeks away instead of the typical 4 weeks- which is a sign that the end is in sight. The closer our appointments get, the sooner you will be here in our arms! Your daddy and I keep talking about next Saturday when we will get to see you again at our 3D/4D ultrasound. I have heard that the pictures we will get to see of you will be very similar to what you will actually look like when we get to see you in person. So you can imagine how excited we are for this! Don't worry, we will be sure to post pictures for all to see:) We will see you soon, Lidia!

28 Weeks

2009-06-14T20:53:00.000-04:00

An Open Letter to My Husband, Lidia's Father

It has been one year. 365 days. 52 weeks. Not a day, week, or now year has gone by when I don't thank God for you. I am convinced that you are an angel sent down from heaven especially for me. This past year has been the best year of my entire life - all which can be credited to you, my husband. I had always heard that the 1st year of marriage was the roughest. I was prepared for the worst - the fights, slammed doors, thrown kitchen plates (ok, maybe not that extreme). But something else happened - the first year of marriage was awesome! Yes, we have had our fights, but the best thing about us is that we actually learned from them. Take a look back at where we were when we first were married - we were two different lives merging into one. We have made so many compromises in this past year that have made our lives so much better. For example, it really irked you how I would leave dishes in the sink, so I decided that I would make your life easier by putting them in their appropriate places. And you know I hated it when you left the seat up on the toilet and then blamed it on Angelo. Now, I can't even remember the last time I went to the bathroom and had to put the seat down. The great thing about our love is that we both want to make each other happy. The selfish lifestyle of single life is not remaining in our home anymore. We are a team in so many aspects. We all know I would have never been able to train and complete any of the 3 5K's I ran this year without you. Your motivation and confidence in me has made me feel like I can accomplish anything, as long as you are by my side. And I'm sure that all the home improvement projects you have done this year wouldn't have been possible without my help, motivation, and confidence in you. We have made some very important decisions together this year - from putting our house on the market to taking it off and from getting pregnant to naming our baby. One thing is evident, no matter what decision we make, as long as it is a mutual decision, it has always proven to be the best for us. As a girl growing up, I could have never imagined finding a love as strong as our love. My life before you was extremely empty - I was always thinking, "There's gotta be more to life." From the moment I met you I knew that I would marry you. You were it - you are more than anything I could have ever imagined a husband to be. My life is meaningful now that you have entered it and again, I thank God for you. Remember my Dad's toast at our wedding when he said that you would now be the man helping me through troubled waters? Well he was absolutely right. You have always been there for me in the still water, waiting for me to make it through the troubled water so you could catch me. I have no doubt in my mind that Lidia is going to be the luckiest girl alive to have a father like you. You and I will be teaming up again to be the best parents to Lidia that we can be. I am so lucky to have you, Jason Matthew. Happy 1st Anniversary - I love you!

3rd Trimester!

Hello baby! We have now successfully entered the 3rd trimester and Daddy and I are already so proud of what you have accomplished. I can now feel actual fluid movements from you - not just kicks and jabs. For example, I can feel and see what seems to be a leg or an arm moving across my belly. I can also feel when you change positions. You seem to like when mommy is having conversations with other people, as this is the time when I feel you move like crazy. I'm sure you have much to add to the conversation!

You are supposively able to dream now and I wonder what you are dreaming about. Could it be the day when you finally get to see your mommy and daddy? Because we certainly dream about that day! You are continuing to practice sucking and blinking and might even be coughing in there. You must be growing up a storm because there's not one day that goes by that someone doesn't comment on how big my belly is getting.

It's time for bed now, sweet one. You are so sweet the way you sleep when mommy does. Good night Lidia!

27 Weeks of Baby

2009-06-07T19:53:00.001-04:00

All About Us

Baby Brain - yes, it is really a true condition and I have become a victim. Apparently, the blood flow to my brain is acting rather sluggish and causing me to work extra hard to remember things. My Jeopardy! skills are also suffering due to my brain's slow processing. People say that the reason this happens is due to the low blood pressure pregnancy causes. So, I apologize ahead of time if I forget important dates and certain facts I should know. Oh yeah, and don't hold it against me when I "forget" to shower on Sundays. :)

As far as other pregnancy symptoms I'm experiencing this week, just give me a checklist of possible symptoms and I could put a check by each and every one. Needless to say, this hasn't been the greatest week of pregnancy. I am very eager for the next 3 months to go by as quickly as possible so that I can feel like myself again. Yes, I'm whining, but boy does it ever feel good. Luckily for me, I have the most caring, understanding, and empathetic husband ever. He gives me a massage every single day without even being asked. We went to a Reds game last night with one of Jason's friends and he asked me, "When are you guys due?" I immediately shot back with, "We?! I am due at the beginning of September." But then I realized how selfish I was being by saying that and I apologized. Even though I am the one experiencing this pregnancy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Jason is too - just in a different way. And I don't think this happens with every husband/partner. I know that Jason feels every ache and every ounce of anxiety I have running through my body. I can tell this because he does everything in his power to make me feel better. He doesn't feel 100% unless I feel 100%. And that makes me the happiest woman alive. Well, that, and our dear Lidia.

Your First Reds Game!

Well hello my little crazy legs! I hope you were able to enjoy your first Reds game last night. We were part of a sold-out crowd of over 40,000 fans. And, we got to sit 7 rows back from the Reds dugout. What a night! I felt you kicking while we were there, but it was probably because mommy stuffed herself at dinner again. Speaking of dinner, you got to hear mommy's friend Jena and her husband Mark as we scarfed down food from Don Pablos. Their 2 boys are going to be a couple of your best friends! Also, you were a hit in Mommy's new shirt, as many people stopped to compliment us on it.

I cannot hardly believe it, but this week you are a whopping 15 inches! That would explain why in the mornings when I am laying in bed I can feel you wake up and hit me on both sides of abdomen at the same time. It's a great way to start my day! Next week, mommy has to officially start counting your kicks. This "kick count" insures that you are happy and healthy. As long as I count 10 kicks in 1 hour, 2 times a day, you are doing fabulous. I have no doubt in my mind that this will be easy. We both know how much you love to squirm around! You are also putting some more meat on those bones as you are weighing in at over 2 pounds. As far as developments are concerned, your eyes are now open after being fused shut for the past 7 months. It's supposedly pretty dark in there, so there's not much for you to see. But, you can at least practice blinking!

Our sweet Lidia, next week we will enter the last phase of this pregnancy and then you will finally be here in our arms. Your mommy and daddy dream about you every second of every day. We love you so much!

27 in week 26

2009-05-31T20:12:00.000-04:00

All About Us

Birthdays - they come and they go. To a 16 or 21 year old, a birthday is the best day ever. To this 27-year old on her birthday, it was just one more day that brought me closer to the birthday of our precious baby girl. While I appreciate the calls, cards, e-mails, presents, text messages, and facebook messages, it was really just another ordindary day for me. One of the best things about the day was being able to spend it with my parents - something I haven't been able to do in years. Jason, me, and the puppies went up to their house for the weekend and relaxed. Mom, Jason, and I went through all of my junk from high school and college that hadn't been sorted through since my parents moved 6 years ago. It was fun going through old yearbooks and college pictures. I was able to part with a lot of things, leaving only one box of "keepsakes" to grab when Jason and I are able to move into a bigger house. One of the items I found was a book that my mom had given me. She always gave me such meaningful books - a couple were dedicated to "daughter" quotes, which will come in very handy when I will soon have a daughter of my own. Any book given to me by my mom always had a special message written inside by her. This particular book simply stated: "To: Amy, From: Mom, Why: I Love You." It was touching when I first received it, but even more so when I read it while thinking of Lidia. And then I read it again aloud to Jason and we both cried. This book is an inside look at the lyrics of a Lee Ann Womack song titled, "I Hope You Dance."

To Lidia:

As my mother once hoped for me, your Daddy and I hope the same for you...

I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder;

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger;

May you never take one single breath for granted;

God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed;

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean;

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens;

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance;

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance;

I hope you dance;

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance;

Never settle for the path of least resistance;

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin';

Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin';

Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter;

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider;

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance;

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance;

I hope you dance;

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along;

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder

where those years have gone;

I hope you dance

100 Day Special Edition!

2009-05-28T12:00:00.001-04:00

Belly Bump

I cannot believe we are already at this point! 100 days left until Lidia Louise, the joy of our lives, enters this world. To commemorate this joyous occasion, I have posted the Belly Bump picture. Erin and I are both 25 weeks pregnant in this picture and Uncle Bob is 12 years pregnant.

25 Weeks - Oops I'm late!

2009-05-25T20:34:00.000-04:00

All About Us

OK so I tried to be perfect and deliver you all an update every weekend. It looks like this week I fell from my perfect podium and have to admit that I completely forgot about the blog. I have some really good excuses, so I thought I would share and then maybe you all will forgive me. Jason and I were both ecstatic that we had a nice, long weekend to spend together. Saturday started off poolside with a couple of my girls while Jason spent some time at work. When he got home, we headed up to Dayton to celebrate Jason's dad's retirement. We got to hang out with all of Jason's family. Stay tuned for the "Belly Bump" picture. It is as amusing as it sounds! Jason's sister-in-law, Erin, and I are at about the exact same stage of pregnancy. It is so great to be able to talk to someone who is going through the exact same symptoms and issues as I am. For example, Erin and I found out that we both suffer from two not very common pregnancy symptoms - bloody noses and blurry vision. This seems odd, but I actually find it exciting to talk to other women about our strange, fun, and downright nasty pregnancy ailments. After our fun family get-together, Jason and I headed home exhausted. The next day, we decided to go to Lowe's to get some plants to spruce up our back patio. Then, Jason's parents came down to see our new home renovations, took us out to dinner, and bought us the best birthday present ever - a kitchen table from Ikea! So needless to say, even though it was 10 pm before we started, we decided to put the table and chairs together from start to finish. A few mistakes and a couple hours later and we now have our first ever kitchen table! So, has my day-by-day recap of the weekend made you want to forgive me for being a day late on the blog? I hope so!

Eggplant Parmesan

Mom's always say that their children owe them "big time" for having to go through pregnancy and labor. I, on the other hand, believe that I owe you a big one, Lidia. Not only have you brought the politeness out in people, but you have afforded me so many luxuries that I wouldn't normally get. People give up their seats for me, they let me go ahead of them in the grocery line, they pile food on my plate, they offer to do things for me, and the list goes on. I have felt like a princess ever since you came into our lives and I have no one other to thank than you, my dear. And God, of course!

As always, you have been moving around like crazy. We got to see the doctor again this week and all blood tests that have been done are great! Mommy's blood is O+, so no need for shots, which would have been the case if I was Rh -. The doctor said a specialist took a look at your ultrasound and everything looked perfect. They moved up your due date 1 day to September 5, but I will probably still use September 6 as your date. I have a feeling you might be here earlier than both of those dates anyways. The Doctor asked me if I had felt small little movements from you yet and I responded by saying, "Are you kidding?" I told her just to watch my stomach and then she will have the answer to that question. I absolutely LOVE to see and feel you move. It has got to be the greatest feeling in this entire world. I could write a whole book on how much I love it! It is an even more special feeling when Daddy sees and feels you move, too.

You've got some exciting developments going on this week. The capillaries under your skin are filling with blood and the capillaries that line air sacs are developing in your lungs. Your lungs are also developing surfactant that will help them expand after birth. Your nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are beginning to open so you can begin to practice the art of breathing - something we all take for granted. Also, your vocal chords are completely functional now and this apparently leads to you hiccuping. OK, your Daddy wants to cuddle with me and you now, so we will catch up next week my dear. Just always remember that no matter what, your mommy and daddy love you and will always be there for you. Goodnight my love.

24 Weeks

2009-05-17T19:13:00.000-04:00

All About Us

This week has been extremely low-key, which is much needed sometimes. This weekend was especially delightful because we had no plans. I love having one of those weekends every once in awhile. I spent a lot of time relaxing and Jason spent time checking things off of his house chore to-do list. I joke with him that he has a touch of ADD as he cannot stand to just sit and relax before 9 p.m. He always finds something that he can be doing. I, on the other hand, have the opposite of ADD. Each day this weekend I took a nap - or a "nipper" as Jason and I call it. I hate to say it, but it's one of the things I enjoy doing most. And knowing that in 3 months my nippering will be non-existent makes them that much more enjoyable. My energy level lately has been declining day by day. I can't help but believe it is because I haven't been able to do vigorous exercise since the foot injury. So hopefully I will back on my feet again soon and maybe even develop a smidgen of ADD myself. After all, we've only got 3 months left to prepare for our little lady!

A Pineapple?

I was thinking that we could compare you to a pineapple. Daddy and I bought one today and it looked as though you might be the same size as one. Who knows! I do know that you are inching closer and closer to the 2 pound mark. You are beginning to gain 6 ounces every week from now until you are born, which seems like a lot, but your grandma and I counted today and it would equal about 6 pounds. Don't you worry, you will have no problem putting on those extra ounces as your mommy does very well to feed you. Speaking of food, mommy has yet to learn her lesson - which is that her appetite is a lot bigger than what her tummy can hold at this point. So after I ate a hamburger, a sausage, vegetables, and fries tonight, I am sitting here bloated and unable to move. I can't help but wonder if my fullness is crowding your space as well. One of these days mommy will learn to eat small meals instead of big meals - maybe.

You seem to have found a comfortable position this week. I can't tell exactly what appendage of yours is doing the damage, but my bladder is getting a beating. Before too long, I may have to invest in some depends. This week, your eyebrows and eyelashes are full and in place on that beautiful face of yours. Speaking of your beautiful face, we will get to see it again in 6 short weeks. We have scheduled a 3D/4D ultrasound so we can have a sneak peak of what you look like. Daddy and mommy cannot wait! OK it's time for Daddy to put his hand on mommy's belly to feel you move. We love you Lidia!

A Crippling 23rd Week

2009-05-10T19:50:00.000-04:00

All About Us

The recipe on how to make a delightfully crippled pregnant lady:

1 newly waxed floor

1 dash of rain-soaked high heels

2 bags of groceries - one in each hand

1 pregnant, ambitious worker who is already suffering from a lack of balance

Mix the ingredients together vigorously and you will have yourself one pain in the ass! As you can imagine, this week has been nothing short of interesting. This little mishap happened on Wednesday and I am still feeling the after-effects. I have a badly sprained foot and a killer bruise on my knee. Of course none of this even phased me until I was sure that Lidia had escaped any injury from the fall. While there is no way to tell this for sure, she has been as active as ever. That, coupled with the fact that my OB said as long as I didn't have any bruising or scrapes on my abdomen, then the baby is fine. So once that initial concern was addressed, the pain slowly kicked in. My wonderful husband drove me to Urgent Care where I had X-rays done and was given crutches. No broken bones - just a badly sprained foot. Since I would be the one to break my arm while on crutches for a non-related injury, I decided to only use 1 crutch on which to hobble around. The night of the accident was brutal. I laid in bed with my foot elevated and throbbing. I tried to position myself so that I wasn't on my back, as the added weight from dear Lidia and all of her components puts too much pressure on a major artery that leads to my heart and brain. This pressure leads me to feel dizzy and uncomfortable, so all night I was trying to maintain a comfortable position while still having my foot elevated. The pain was so bad that I just couldn't help but cry...and cry and cry. I likened the pain to that of labor and delivery pain, so I tried to breathe through it, which helped. Then, there was a point in the night where Lidia was moving non-stop. She was throwing kicks, punches, elbows, and knees all over the place. This helped me keep my mind off the pain, but I couldn't help but think that she was somewhat feeling the discomfort as well. Somehow I managed to get to sleep that night. Really, it was thanks to Jason and all of his efforts to make me well that finally got me to sleep. The next day, I did not want to go to work, but I made myself because I knew that I could do my job sitting in a chair with my foot elevated all day. Jason drove me there, helped me into my office, and told my coworkers to make sure I was partaking in the RICE method of recovery. Needless to say, it was quite a sight to see a pregnant lady hobbling around on crutches. I was referred to as "waddles" for a whole new reason. While I did fill the prescription for Vicoden that my OB called in for me (yes, I was just as amazed that pregnant women can take Vicoden!), I didn't end up taking any. My feelings were that if the pain got as bad as the night before, then I would pop one immediately. It never did, so I never took it. While the pain has subsided the past few days, it is not gone and my gimpiness continues. I can't walk for long periods of time, let alone exercise, so I am in major withdrawal from lack of physical activity. I may try the stationary bike tomorrow, as it seems it wouldn't put too much pressure on my foot. I certainly do not thank God for this happening to me, but I do see it as a blessing that it happened THIS week instead of LAST week. I would have been completely crushed had that been the case. So, the moral of the story? The lesson learned? There are a couple. One - I learned that as hard as it sounds, it will always be instinctual for me to put Lidia's health and well-being before my own. Two - that I am very BLESSED to have two sisters who gave me EXCELLENT advice (better than the Orthopedic specialist I saw on Friday), one of which is a Physical Therapist and the other who is an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner. Three - Jason and my parents have won the battle - I will no longer be wearing high heels - at least until Lidia arrives. Four - I can always count on my husband to be there for me when I'm injured. This includes being able to tell him a little white lie - that the Orthopedic specialist told me that having someone massage my foot will make it heal faster because it increases blood flow to the injured area. Hey, it sounds believable to me! And, it's working! :)

On another note, our kitchen renovation is finally complete! The finishing touch, the kitchen faucet, was completed today by none other than that handy husband of mine. Take a look at how snazzy it is! New floor, new window coverings/blinds, new cabinets, new hardware for cabinets, new faucet, new light fixture, and mostly impressive - new granite countertops!

You Are Still a Papaya!

I must apologize. As I had mentioned in the last blog, I was going to try to find a fruit or vegetable to compare you to this week since the Web site I rely on to do this is no longer doing week-by-week produce comparisons, just month-by-month comparisons. Needless to say, I haven't been able to find anything to which to compare you. So, I have decided to post a picture of us hanging out today. You, in my belly, and your siblings, by my side, as I was trying to find a recipe in my Betty Crocker cookbook for Scalloped Potatoes. I found the recipe and made them for dinner tonight. I made sure to scoop a couple extra out on my plate just for you, my dear. They were delicious - I hope you liked them!

One thing mommy has to confess - I have come down with little baby girl clothes shopaholic syndrome, otherwise known as LBGCSS. Yes, Lidia, I admit it. I have been buying clothes for you like they are going out of style. Which wouldn't make much sense, but you get the picture. Every time I'm out, I have to buy you something. I've already bought you close to 5 going-home outfits, about 15 onesies, and 5 sleepers. Not to mention the oh-so-cute newborn booties and a "Daddy loves me" bib. And though I thought my 2-store shopping spree yesterday had subsided my addiction for awhile, LBGCSS struck again today. You will be sporting a Bengals onesie from 0-3 months and a Steelers onesie from 3-6 months. You see, I planned that perfectly because you will be about 4 months when the Steelers are in the Superbowl again next year. Daddy doesn't think you will look good in Black and Gold, but I know that you will be born to wear those colors! Girl, you are going to be one stylish baby!

Your development this week continues to be on a maintenance and maturing cycle. Your organs continue to practice what they will be doing in the outside world. Your brain is continuing to grow exponentially. Fat is continuing to build on that skin-and-bones frame of yours and because of this, you will double your weight by the end of this month. This month is also our last in the 2nd trimester. Let's make it a great one, Lidia! Your Daddy and I continue to read to you every night in an effort to get ourselves into a routine for when you are finally here. In the meantime, we hope you are able to enjoy our witty rendition of Dr. Seuss' ABC's! Until next week, Liddie Lou, we love you!

Week 22 - A Victory for Team Lidia!

2009-05-03T18:43:00.001-04:00

All About Us

The secret is out. We are having a baby girl and could not be more excited! Her name is Lidia Louise. It seemed like you all really liked the name Stella, as it showed on the blog poll. But there was one small problem with the name Stella - Jason hated it. So after much consideration, we agreed that Lidia would be the perfect name for our little girl. And even though I grew up hating my middle name, it has become such an important part of me and I couldn't imagine our first born girl with any other middle name. I am just so happy that I can start using the pronoun "she" instead of "it" now! A secret holder I am not, so keeping this in was very hard for me. I knew that it would be well worth it in the end, though! You see, it was this moment that kept me training instead of giving up and succumbing to the traditional role of a pregnant woman. I pictured Jason and I with our shirts on, crossing that finish line with our cheering section and their "Team Lidia" shirts. While our cheering section ended up only being 2 people, it was the best cheering section for which we could have asked. Now, let me bring you all back to the start of the race.

I was on edge, to say the least. While Jason and I have ran 2 5k races before, this one was different. There were many factors that tied into the major anxiety that plagued me as soon as I woke up that morning. First of all, this race was huge. Not only were the number of contestants around 2,000, the build-up to the race was enormous. Part of that could be because I told just about everyone I knew that we were running it. My reasoning behind that was because the more people I told, the more obligated I was to continue training and actually make it to the race. Another anxiety-related factor were the hills. I have been known to get extremely fatigued going up A hill - so knowing that I had hills plural scared me to death. Finally, the past 2 races we ran, I had been on my anti-anxiety medicine. For obvious reasons, I had weaned myself off of this before Jason and I started trying for a baby. So I no longer had that medicine as a crutch. The worst part of the race was the 5 minutes before we started. I almost literally crapped my pants! I just wanted to start running - instead there was a countdown and music and mass people all around me just acting crazy. Then relief came. The gun shot off and the crowd finally started moving. As soon as Jason and I started running, I knew that I was going to finish the race. I had no injuries (I had to take it easy the week prior due to shin splints) and I had a surge of energy. Knowing that Jason was right there beside me was like my natural anti-anxiety medicine. So we ran - and we ran up the hills and through the crowds of cheering fans. We ran around the walkers and joggers and witnessed someone fall, but pick himself up, right in front of us. There wasn't one second where I felt like I needed to stop and walk. I later told Jason that I thought I could have ran 3 more miles on pure adrenaline alone. As we came upon Pete Rose Way, I knew that we were almost finished. I picked up the speed and as we approached the finish "swine" I couldn't help but hold back tears. My parents were right there, wearing their "Team Lidia" shirts with their cameras ready to catch Jason and I as crossed the finish line at 33 minutes and 49 seconds. Not my best time, but definitely one of the best goals I have ever met. My mom was very proud to say that I was the first pregnant woman to cross the finish line, so that alone was worth it! And I couldn't have done it without my key people - Jason by my side, my parents waiting for us at the finish line, our other family and their motivating words, my friend Cindy who has known about this goal of mine since day 1, and most importantly - our sweet little girl Lidia, to whom this race was dedicated.

Popping Papaya
And what a popping papaya you are as I can feel you move like crazy! Last Sunday, an amazing moment happened. While I have been able to feel you wiggle around for weeks now, your Daddy actually got to feel you move for the first time. Although we don't know if it was a kick or a punch, it was definitely you - and you definitely scared him (but in a good way!). Your movements just amaze me. It makes me so extremely happy to feel you on the inside, as well as put my hand on the outside and feel you that way, too. I can almost predict now when I am going to feel you. Lately you've been shy when I try to get Daddy to put his hand on my tummy and feel you move, but I'm sure that you will come around. You are most definitely over a pound now, since at our last Dr's visit you were 14 ounces. I will have to say, most people, including your mommy and daddy, were very surprised that you were a girl. I had a couple of the traditional girl pregnancy symptoms, but definitely more traditional boy symptoms. For example, I'm carrying low, out in the front, craving meats and cheese, didn't get too sick in the first trimester, and eating like a teenage boy - all boy symptoms. For the traditional girl symptoms, I have the acne and have had dreams that I was going to have a boy (as did daddy). So to be honest, it took your daddy and I about a day for it to sink in that you were actually a girl. This is by no means a bad thing! I love little baby girls and I know that you are going to get Daddy in a way that a boy never could. You are going to be our little princess, the apple of our eyes! We have already talked about what we want you do when you get old enough. Daddy wants to get you started on soccer and I want to get you into gymnastics and piano lessons. Of course, you will end up being your own person with your own interests. Which according to the meaning of your name, you will be funny and cute!

In terms of your development this week, you are just growing and growing! Your senses are developing rapidly. Apparently, if I point a flashlight towards my stomach, you will be able to see this, even though your eyelids are still fused shut. For some reason, that just seems cruel to me - so no worries! I won't be shining a flashlight in your eyes. Your daddy and I have been reading books to you since you can hear us now. Your favorite right now is a Dr. Seuss book called Mr. Brown can Moo, Can You? And we know it's your favorite because Daddy and I sound very goofy as we read it. I am a little upset that the Web site I use for your fruit of the week has now started lumping the fruit into 4-week periods. What am I going to do next week? I will have to find my own way of comparing you to produce. Lidia...it is so sweet to be able to call you by name, our little one. We are truly blessed.

Week 21

2009-04-25T21:30:00.000-04:00

All About Us

Finally this month is almost over! April has been a very busy month for us, by far. We have had either work or out-of-town commitments every weekend in April, which made it a very hectic month for us. The month started out very cold - there was actually a day when it was below freezing. Today, on the other hand, was sunny and HOT as temperatures soared into the 80s. Now I'm not complaining about the weather, but I would have liked to have at least a month in the 70s. Today made me realize what the summer is actually going to be like - hot, sticky, and pregnant. I am by no means a person who wears shorts (other than to run in and sleep in), but I may have to invest in some for this summer. If today is any indicator of how things will be, I would stay clear of this grumpy pregnant lady if I were you! Just kidding!

We got some very good news at the Dr's office this week. The results from the quad screening I had done - which is able to predict if it is likely that the baby will have a developmental disorder like spinobifida or down syndrome - came back as "no increased risk." That was music to our ears!

Go Bananas!

Of course I am going to dedicate most of this week's blog to you, my dear! We fell in love with you at first sight this past Wednesday. Daddy and I were extremely anxious all day to see your beautiful face at the Dr's office. We could have never imagined all the emotions we were going to feel as we saw your entire body for the first time. It was an emotional roller coaster - we laughed, we cried, and we got nervous as the Ultrasound Technician checked out your vital organs and counted your fingers and toes. We had nothing to worry about, though, as she referred to your heart as "beautiful" and said that your brain was developing very well (I told her it must be from the fish oil I am taking every morning!). You were weighing in at a healthy 14 ounces and I was told that all of those ounces were sitting pretty directly on top of my bladder, which would explain why it sometimes feels like my bladder is being used as a trampoline. Also, we got to see you yawn, kick, and move your hands and arms around. Your profile definitely showed that you are a product of mommy and daddy. You have nice, full lips and of course, our lovely Italian nose. When we first saw you, you were sitting half Indian style - one leg was sticking straight out and the other was crossed. This made it very difficult to determine your gender. The Ultrasound Tech did a lot of poking and had me cough to get you into a position where she could definitely tell what gender you were. When you finally spread your legs for her, it was clear to both her and us what name we could officially start calling you! By next week at this time, the word will be out and you will be hearing your name from people other than just Daddy and me. Our lips are sealed until then!

In terms of your development this week, your taste buds are working overtime as you drink in the amniotic fluid. I was advised by many articles to start eating what I would like you to have a taste for when you enter this world. Needless to say, you will love Italian food! And of course I'm eating the good stuff, too, like fruits and vegetables. Your movements are becoming more coordinated because of your neuron development and the fact that most of your cartilage is turning to bone. That would explain why I feel you move a lot more these days! Well, little one, it was such a blessing for us to see you for the first time this week - a wait that was definitely worth-while. Strap yourself in for this coming week as we count down to our big run next Saturday. Your Daddy and Mommy love you dearly!

Week 20 - Half Way Through!

2009-04-19T22:09:00.001-04:00

All About Us

We are so excited that we have reached this milestone! 20 weeks! Half-way! Cantaloupe! I remember looking ahead when I was just newly pregnant and thinking that it would be so surreal when baby is actually the size of a cantaloupe - it didn't seem possible. But now it's here and we have entered into a new phase. The new phase is action and reality. Nursery ideas are becoming more real and we actually have a game plan and time frame as to when it is going to be completed. Our home improvement projects are about 98% completed, which means that all of our focus can now be put on our little one. And the little one got a lot of focus this weekend.

It couldn't have been a more perfect weekend - the entire family gathered together to celebrate Rob's 30th's birthday. I couldn't have picked a better way to celebrate our milestone than with family. My sister, Kristi, is 3 weeks behind me and not showing in the least. I, on the other hand, am large and in-charge compared to her. We did manage to get together so our babies could have their first play date. We also had quite a bit of fun with the fetal heart monitor! I can't explain how extremely lucky and blessed I feel to be going through this experience with my best friend. A miracle in itself, but even more-so knowing that my sister is right there with me, experiencing the same miracles and milestones that I am.

Cantaloupe Can't Get Any Cuter!

Hi baby! You are amazingly the size of a cantaloupe now. This past week, I have felt you move quite a bit. It feels like you are doing somersaults a lot. I hope that you weren't affected too much with my sickness. We didn't get much sleep because of it, but hopefully we will make up for it this week. Your digestive system is now producing meconium, which will fill your first diapers. Meconium is made up of all the amniotic fluid you've been swallowing. We will let daddy handle that diaper! My little one, the day is almost here when your daddy and I will be able to see you for the first time. Just 3 short days and we will see your little hands and feet, your beautiful face, and most importantly - whether you are a boy or a girl! On Wednesday at about 3:30 p.m., you will finally be able to be called by your name. Daddy and I are going to keep it our little secret for about 10 days until we reveal the gender and name at the Flying Pig 5K. We have been looking forward to this day for such a long time, so hopefully you won't be shy! Good night, my love, and we will see you on Wednesday!

19th Week

2009-04-12T20:50:00.000-04:00

All About Us

I just finished wiping my nose with my sleeve and I am currently only able to breath out of my mouth. Needless to say, I don't have much to say this week because I have caught my first bug since being pregnant. Being pregnant in addition to having a cold is definitely nothing to sneeze about. One of the biggest struggles I have faced with this sickness is what medicine to take. I have a list of acceptable medicines that was given to me by my doctor, but it isn't an all-encompassing list. What I really wish I had was a list of medicines to absolutely NOT take while pregnant. I found that I can't necessarily rely on the medicine labels, either. They all say, "Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing before taking this medicine." Consulting my doctor on a Saturday night or Easter Sunday is not as easy as the makers of Tylenol Cold Nighttime make it seem. I have been taking a very mild decongestant, but I'm not going to bother with it anymore because it isn't helping one bit. If anything, it is making it more frustrating because I'm actually taking medicine, but it's not making me feel any better. I can't help but feel like I'm a little more emotional being pregnant and sick than being just sick. I have to say though, that man of mine has done an excellent job of taking care of me. From folding laundry, to getting me water, to actually offering to do the blog - he has been a true care-taker. I have no worries that he is going to be just as great with our little mango.

Mango Madness

I have to say, I've never actually seen or held a mango, but from what I can gather, they are about twice the size of a medium apple. I apologize if I have been startling you with my sneezes lately, as I have read where you may react to them. Your body is apparently covered with a cheesy, waxy coating that protects you from the amniotic fluid. Not so appetizing right now, but it's quite functional when you think about how a person would look after soaking in a bathtub for 9 months. We hit a milestone this week - mommy actually got recognized as being pregnant by someone who did not know I was pregnant. This means that you are growing up a storm! I am so excited that in 1 week from now, we will be half-way through. Only 21 more weeks until your mommy and daddy can hold you in our arms for the first time. We love you!

18 Weeks!

2009-04-05T21:09:00.000-04:00

All About Us

Well, it is officially 4 weeks until we cross the finish line of our first 5K with baby. Have you signed up for the Flying Pig yet? We have been able to enjoy our training in the beautiful outdoors this week. I think that it is pretty ironic that I am more fit at this point in my life than I have ever been. All it took was motivation and a husband that is willing to go at my pace and to believe in me every step of the way - literally. Take today for example - we arrived home, exhausted after a great weekend. We took the dogs up to Columbus to spend the night with our friends, Ashley, Chris, and their 6 month old, Isaac. Ashley and Chris so graciously let us "practice" on baby Isaac. Jason received an "A" in Diaper-Changing 101 and Intro to How to Make a Baby Smile. We went out to eat to this quaint, little Italian restaurant and I was comforted by the fact that my lactating friend and I had matching ravenous appetites. We surpassed the men by far in our food consumption. Ashley and Chris make parenting seem simple, but I can see where the most exhausting part for us will be balancing the dogs with the baby, since our dogs are not used to having a small human in their midst. After saying our goodbyes, we came home and despite our exhaustion, went for a run. Though staying curled up with my pups was a more pleasant alternative than exerting myself, I decided to get up. Jason was ready to run and it was his motivation that got my motivation in gear. 3.1 miles later and we were more than happy with our decision - especially since it started storming as soon as we got back. I urge all of you reading this blog to grab a partner, fire up your motivation, and get moving. Find what you like to like to do to keep yourself in shape and do it on a regular basis. Because if this pregnant, back-achy, and exhausted woman can do it, then anyone can. Flying Pig 5K here we come!

You Say Potato, I Say Potawto

Well sprinkle you with brown sugar, bake you in the oven, and call you a Sweet Potato! You continue to move and wiggle around. I am actually feeling slight movements from you, which has made a somewhat abstract concept seem more concrete. We now know your heart rate, thanks to our handle dandy little fetal heart monitor. Your heart rate ranges between 132 and 138 beats per minute, which in old wives terms would mean you are a boy. In just 2 short weeks we will find this out for sure! You are yawning and hiccuping now, which I will probably be able to feel in a couple weeks. Daddy keeps saying that he wants you to be born now, but don't you worry, I let him know that you still have quite a bit of growing to do before you make your big debut. Our minds and hearts are definitely ready for you, but we realize that you will come into our world when you are ready. Luckily for you, you are going to be entering into a world that will be filled with lots of love.

Mid 18th Week Extra

2009-04-01T20:08:00.001-04:00

It is our pleasure to introduce you to baby for the very first time. We hope you fall in love with baby as we have. It was love at first hear!

Sunny Seventeenth Week

2009-03-29T23:03:00.000-04:00

All About Us

I had difficulty logging into blogger.com tonight to update the blog. I almost thought that it was a sign that I should just go to bed. But like everything else that happened today, I had to finish what I started. I have a sneaky suspicion that I won't be able to move tomorrow morning. Jason may have some trouble as well. I am already suffering from round ligament pain (a pregnancy symptom that includes abdominal and back pain due to the growing uterus) and I decided not only to run a 5K, but to do 8 loads of laundry, help Jason hang a new light fixture in the kitchen, and spend 6 hours organizing our storage so we can eventually get the baby's room set up. I definitely over-worked myself today, but I had no choice. Jason and I both live by the philosophy that when we start something, we have to finish it - no matter what the cost. Of course he ran into some issues while hanging the new kitchen light. He didn't want to quit or call it a day. Instead, he was determined to finish what he had intended to finish in the first place. I think this philosophy of ours can be good and bad. It's bad because we don't know when to stop. It's good because we work hard and accomplish many things. I am 100% sure that this philosophy of ours will spill over into our parenting. With the good and bad, we will never quit on our children. We will keep our faith in them until our job is finished. But like many say, a parent's job is never done.

Tears of Joy

As you grow to the size of an onion this week, our hearts are growing just as large. You are practicing many of your reflexes this week, some including blinking your eyes, sucking, and swallowing. You've also started to accumulate some fat on your body, which will make your skin less translucent. We got to hear your heartbeat again this week at the Dr's office and of course it was breath-taking. It was so much louder than last visit, most likely because your heart, along with you, has grown quite a bit in the past month. Because your daddy and I absolutely love to hear your heart beat, I decided to go out on a limb after our Dr's appointment. I rented an at-home fetal heart Doppler so we can hear your heartbeat whenever we want. I would have bought one, but renting one at $25 a month is better than buying one for $450. It is supposed to arrive at our home in 4 days from today, so I am very eager to try it out. I will have your daddy tape it so I can post it here on our blog.

I'm sure that you've felt mommy's stress as she has had to take care of both your sick daddy and your sick sister this week. Your daddy came down with what his Dr. referred to as Walking Pneumonia and Ava had a UTI. Some antibiotics and rest for both of them did good. One thing that I will always do is take care of you when you are sick. Whether it's rubbing your tummy, giving you medicine, getting you Popsicles, or making you chicken noodle soup, I will always be there for you when you need me. I am sure daddy would agree with that as well. One of the most important times in both of our lives was when our mommys (and daddys) were always there for us when we were sick. We can only hope that our presence and love will comfort you as much as our parents comforted us.

Sweet Sixteen

2009-03-22T20:43:00.000-04:00

All About Us

Spring has sprung! We have been taking advantage of the euphoria that Spring has brought to us. We were able to run our first 5K outside since October, we've grilled out, and we've done some Spring cleaning. I have felt my energy creeping back all week. I'm not sure if it's the warmer weather or the stage in pregnancy that has got me on my feet again, but whatever it is I like it! Jason has had a bittersweet week when it comes to his beloved Dayton Flyers. They made it into the top 32, but lost against Kansas for a spot in the sweet sixteen. He seems to be handling it well, though.

Earlier this week, Jason and I attended a maternity ward tour of the hospital where our baby is going to be born, Good Samaritan. It was quite surreal to think that the next time we would be there would be when our baby is about to arrive. We know where to park, we know what door to use to enter the hospital, and we know what floor we need to go to. It was emotional for me, of course, and I teared up a couple of times, especially when I saw the birthing room (pic below). I have every intention of going through labor and delivery unmedicated, especially since I have such a motivating partner with me. It is just reassuring to know that if I can't handle the pain, the hospital will be equipped with everything I will need to make it through. The hospital also has a Level 3 NICU, which is always prefaced with, "God forbid you will ever need to use it, but..." This means that the hospital has everything that is needed to handle any health situation involving a newborn. We left this hospital knowing that we are going to be in very good hands.

Holy Guacamole!

Did I feel you move today? I could have sworn that when I took a rest after cleaning, I felt you move below my belly button on the right side of my abdomen. If it was you, thank you! Daddy was happy, too. It just makes it so much more real for us to feel you actually moving around down there. You are getting bigger, which would explain why I may be able to feel you move every once in a while. You are the size of an avocado, weighing in at 3.5 oz and measuring nearly 5 inches. Your taste buds are forming, and I'm sure they will learn to love pasta and meatballs as much as your mommy and daddy do. Also, something awesome this week, you can totally hear us now! I have been making an effort to sing to you and daddy has been talking to you in that silly voice of his. It's very special, this voice of daddy's, because he wouldn't dare let anyone else hear it. It's our own little special piece of daddy! I apologize for how much barking you hear from Ava and Angelo. I have to wonder if their barking or me yelling at them for barking is worse for you to hear. I'm sure neither of them are the sweet sounds you would like to be hearing. Daddy and I have been working hard to make this house a perfect place for you to come home to. It's official - our house won't be a home until you arrive.

15 Weeks

2009-03-15T21:11:00.000-04:00

All About Us

Something that I noticed this week is that women love to tell stories. Women like to tell stories about their jobs, their families, their friends, their animals, their health - the list goes on. The more women I tell about our little one, the more stories I hear. I'm not saying that I don't appreciate the stories about how long Barb was in labor, how many C-sections Mel had, or that Sally couldn't stand the smell of her spice cabinet throughout her entire pregnancy. I'm simply stating that I have noticed that women love to talk about their pregnancy and birth stories. It's almost like once you go through it yourself, you've earned the right to tell your stories as many times to as many people as you see fit. I feel that through these women's stories, they are able to relive the best moments of their lives. Even as they tell of the sleepless nights, the utter sickness, and the painful delivery, their eyes light up and ear-to-ear smiles appear on their faces. I can only imagine how happy I will be when it is time for me to tell our story. And luckily for us, our story will live on as long as the internet does.

Orange You a Cute Little Thing?!

Hi baby! Amazlingly, you are the size of a naval orange. You are an active little one with the way you've been moving around - kicking, making fists, curling your toes, oh and not to forget, breathing! You've been holding steady with mommy as we run those 5ks every week. Daddy walks by our treadmill and cheers us on every step of the way. Daddy has begun reading his book, The Expectant Father. He likes telling mommy what he's learned. I'm pretty sure we've got your name and it will only be another 5 short weeks until we can start calling you by it. This coming week, Daddy and I get to go on a tour of the hospital and room where you will be born. I will be sure to tell you all about it. Until next time, your mommy and daddy love you dearly little one.

Flawless Fourteenth Week

2009-03-08T21:18:00.000-04:00

All About Us

The only notable news about this week is that our little one is going to have not one, but TWO cousins both born in the same month that he/she will be...more details to follow in coming weeks! We couldn't be more thrilled!!

When Life Throws You Lemons...

...put them in your belly and make a baby! You are the size of a lemon this week. You are a little thumb-sucking, summer-salting fetus. Your movements have begun to be more controlled and less spontaneous. I would like to say that I could feel you move, but every sensation I feel can be chalked up to my familiar friend, gas. You are growing hair all over - your head, your eyebrows, and your entire body. You've become a little fur ball! Speaking of fur balls, I wanted to take this opportunity to formally introduce you to your older brother and sisters. Some may say that mommy and daddy's love for these guys will fade as soon as you arrive, but we can't imagine not loving them like they are our own babies.

First is Sophia, the kitty. You will notice that Sophia is very dog-like. Some might even refer to her as a catdog (that one is for Ashley & Chris). She cuddles up with the puppies and even bathes them with her tongue. She sleeps in the dog cage when they are not in it and begs for your attention as if she is a canine. She likes to get into odd places to sleep - boxes, bookshelves, laundry baskets - the list is never-ending. Whenever you are sleeping in your bed, we will have to make sure that the door is closed, because Sophia will most likely try to get into the crib and cuddle up with you. She is the queen of the animals in this household. It is very evident that she rules the roost.

Next up is Ava. Ava is a mommy's girl - she follows me around everywhere and whines when I leave. She is only happy and content when she is right next to me. She is as sweet as can be and is really tolerable of children. It's almost as if she knows she is so cute and squishy, which leads little kids to go crazy over her. Her cousin, Alexis, has poked, prodded, squished, and squeezed her. Ava has never once showed disdain or agony over this - she tolerates it with pride. Ava will most likely be your protector, as she was for baby Isaac when he came to visit. She may try to lick you, but mostly she will just want to lay by you to protect you. "Protect me from whom?", you may ask. That "whom" would be Angelo.

Angelo is going to have quite a culture shock when you arrive. Our big boy is used to getting all the attention, which is why he is mostly referred to as the "attention hog." If our attention is on Ava or Sophia and not him, he lets us know that this is not acceptable. The couple of times that Isaac has come to visit, Angelo has been nothing less than a nuisance. He will attempt to lick the skin off of you and when you cry, he will bark. Daddy and I joke that we will have to get the Dog Whisperer to come over once you get here to sort through all of Angelo's issues. Once Angelo gets used to you, you will love his happy disposition. He is always wagging his tail and smiling. You will also love the smell of his Dorito paws.

The point of these introductions is to let it be known that our desire to have children can be traced back to these three. We have so much love for these animals, our hearts knew that we could have just as much, if not more for our own children. While we understand that there is a definite species difference between you, the basic layer remains - Unconditional love. Our cups runneth over...

Welcome to Week 13 and The Second Trimester!

2009-03-01T20:05:00.000-05:00

All About Us

I've decided that I would like to bring Will Ferrell with me every where I go. When things get stressful, he can help everyone break out in a Spartan cheer to lighten the mood. At least that's what he's done here in our home tonight. As you know, Jason has been working tirelessly on tiling the floor. As everything was put back in place and all was like it was, the toilet started leaking. This toilet has been what I like to refer to as a big, fat pimple that won't go away (believe me, I know). Jason keeps fixing it (all new insides, new bolts, new wax ring, new shut-off valve) but there is a new layer of problems after each fix is made. What do you do for a man who wants to fix everything, but has exhausted all of his options? I've found that if you listen to him, feed him, do his laundry, and give him Will Ferrell, everything will work out in the end. Toilets will fix themselves. And if not, you can always dig a hole in the backyard.

Take a look at this masterpiece! Our new foyer and powder room look amazing, thanks to my handy husband. I must admit, I had the fabulous job of peeling off the wallpaper border. Note to self - never, ever wallpaper anything. If you could see a before picture, you would notice these differences - new paint, new vanity, new faucet, new vanity top, and most important - new floor!

Our Doctor's appointment this week was everything I had imagined it would be. My vitals were checked and were good. I have only gained 3 pounds thus far, which is a rate I want to continue. I would like to average 4 pounds in 4 weeks * 6 more months = about 24 pounds of total baby weight gain. Of course, this is figuring that I don't keep eating nachos and cheese and that I keep on exercising 3-4 times a week. Speaking of exercising, I have gotten the OK from the Dr. to run the 5K in May - Hooray! She said I could keep running until I deliver. While that would be nice, I am not ignorant to the fact of reality. There may come a point where I won't be able to see my feet, let alone run with them. Another great thing about the appointment was hearing the heartbeat! The sound of baby's heartbeat reduced us to nothing less than tears. Of course, they were tears of joy, especially since the Dr. said the heartbeat was good and strong. We weren't able to tape it because baby kept playing hide and seek, so the Dr. kept losing the heartbeat. She assured us that at the next visit, we will be able to hear it for longer because baby won't have as much room to hide. So our next appointment is set for March 25th. At this appointment, I'll be getting my blood taken for an elective screening that will test for Down Syndrome and other genetic disorders. Also, we will be making our ultrasound appointment where we will find out what gender the baby is. OK, who wants to start the betting pool? I can give you a full list of my typical boy symptoms and typical girls symptoms. The winner gets to name the baby (OK, not really, but I thought I would try to sweeten the pot).

Everything is Peachy!

I've got some juicy news - you are now the size of a peach! You are 3 inches long and your intestines (which have been housed in the umbilical cord) are now making their way to their rightful place - your abdomen. Your vocal chords have begun to develop and I'm sure they will be used for beautiful singing and nice words. I can't imagine that you will ever use them for evil - such as crying non-stop or telling me or Daddy that you hate us (gotta love teenagers). You are now visible in my tummy. You have begun to pouch me out - so much so that I had to make a special trip this weekend to get some maternity pants. Thank God for the Gap Clearance Outlet! You have been hearing Daddy talk to you a lot more lately. Don't worry, he doesn't always talk in that goofy voice. The three of us have successfully made it together into the 2nd trimester. You have accomplished so many milestones already in these first 3 months. We are so proud of you!

12 Weeks and Counting

2009-02-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

All About Us

It is finally here - take a look to the left and you will see the boy name list. We need your input so vote away!

This week has been quite normal. Stressful at work for the both of us but, nonetheless, normal. Jason accomplished quite a goal - he completely finished tiling the kitchen in a matter of 2 days. He worked non-stop on his only day off this week, Wednesday. By Thursday night, the tile grout was drying and waiting for my finishing touch of sealing the grout. The baseboards were nailed and the appliances were moved back in on Saturday. Sunday, I was able to use my stove after it was out of commission for 4 days. I chose to make the only meal worth indoctrinating our new kitchen - pasta and meatballs. There are still 2 projects left to do in the kitchen - new counter tops and new cabinets. Once these are complete, I will post a picture of the renovation. Here, I have posted the renovation of our upstairs bathroom. I have no before picture, so only those who have seen it before can truly appreciate how much work Jason (and my dad) put into it. One last final home improvement note - the windows were trimmed and finished today. They look AMAZING! And, we can actually open them to get some fresh air - hooray!

This blog is intended for many purposes. One of those purposes is to educate and inform other pregnant women. I want my experiences to reassure someone else that they are not alone, that other women go through these somewhat strange pregnancy symptoms, too. This is why I have decided to post this most horrid picture of myself. As you can see, about every square inch of my face is sporting a nice, red blemish (go ahead, click on the image to enlarge it. I dare you!). I kind of thought it might be a good idea to post this picture in high schools for an effective birth control method. I've been to a dermatologist and told that there is basically nothing that can be done. I was given some topical ointment that hasn't worked and a prescription for an antibiotic that I have to show the baby doctor before I can get it filled. This is why I believe that pregnancy should only come with maturity. I was reminiscing with my friend, Kristen, the other day about how I wouldn't go out in college on the weekends if I had one zit. I obviously have no choice to show my face to the outside world at this point in my life, but I don't really care. There is just one person who I am interested in impressing and he loves me, zits and all. Thanks honey!

One more important event to mention this week is Ava's 4th birthday. I am ashamed to admit it, but her birthday was actually February 15th. Jason and I had talked about it up until the day before. Then for some reason, the day of, it slipped our minds. And it continued to slip our minds until yesterday, when we finally were able to celebrate it. I have a feeling that Ava is not going to hold it against us. I told her it was only fair since we forgot Angelo's birthday last year as well. Hopefully this is not a glimpse into how we are going to be as parents - that we are going to get so wrapped up in our lives that we forget about what's most important, our babies. I think this was a big wake up call for us, dog or no dog! We pledge to remember every birthday from now until the end! Speaking of birthdays, there's one I just can't wait to celebrate...

I Spy Something Purple

There is something I must clear up before I talk about how you have grown this past week. Last week, you were compared to a lime. I have since realized that it had to have been a key lime, as a plum almost seems smaller than a normal-sized lime. Speaking of a plum, a large plum I might add, you are now 2 1/2 inches in length and weigh 1/2 an ounce. It's hard to believe that you will weigh 6-8 pounds upon delivery! Your major systems are basically formed now, with only maturing to do. Your digestive track is practicing the release of, well, poop, your bone marrow is producing white blood cells to fight off infections and your pituitary gland has started producing hormones so you can have babies, too, one day.

This coming Wednesday, your daddy and I will have one of the greatest days of our lives. We are going to the doctor to hear your heartbeat for the first time, little one! I just can't even imagine how it will sound or how I will feel when I hear those first thump, thumps. I'm going to have daddy use the video function on our camera to record this special moment so we can share it with you. At this appointment, I am hopefully going to get permission from our doctor to train for the Flying Pig 5K at the beginning of May. As I was running the last mile of a 5K this past Saturday, the idea hit me. I will be a couple weeks past 20 weeks at that point, which is when I am apparently supposed to start taming down my workouts to biking or walking. If it means keeping you safe, I will obviously not partake in it. But I thought it would be a miraculous moment when daddy, me AND you would cross that finish line. It would prove that pregnant women can be active - that they don't have to sit around and eat pickles and ice cream all day, crying as they watch one depressing movie after another. If there is any life lesson that your daddy and I will teach you, it is that you can do anything to which you set your heart. Daddy and I proved that when we made you.

11 Weeks of Heaven

2009-02-15T20:32:00.001-05:00

All About Us

As I sit here and ponder over this past weeks' ongoings, I am now understanding why I am so exhausted tonight. We have had a very busy week, starting first with the Dayton Flyers basketball game on Wednesday night. Many members of Jason's family have season tickets and a couple of them couldn't be at the game on Wednesday. Upsetting for them, but a gift from God for Jason. He loves the Flyers and they happened to be playing their biggest rival, Xavier, that night. He talked me into going (I'm not a huge basketball fan) as well as his friend, Mike. The game was exciting, with Dayton up in points almost the entire game. Jason was in his element. I was too as I munched on my nachos with jalapenos. Dayton ended up winning and Jason was so happy. Even though I'm not a Dayton fan, it was so satisfying to see my husband so happy that he was glowing. As the wind blew us home, a thought occurred to me - I have my appetite back! As long as I keep my tummy full, I have not been getting sick. My appetite is not only back, it is voracious. That night along with my nachos, I had to stop and get a 6-inch chicken sub from Subway. That moment alone made my entire week.

Moving onward, this weekend has proven to be a non-stop home improvement whirlwind. My mom and dad came into town on Friday to help Jason and I with tiling our home. We are tiling our two bathrooms, our foyer, and our kitchen. Jason and Tony worked tirelessly for 1 1/2 days and finished the upstairs bathroom completely. Tony also assisted us in installing a new light fixture. The room looks amazing! In addition to the tile work, our windows were getting replaced. Our previous windows were older than Jason and I - the seals and balances were broke, the aluminum was warped, and our heat pump was working almost 24/7. We thought it would be a good time to have them all replaced - including our sliding glass doors. As of now, they only have the 2 bedrooms left to do. I can already feel that the new doors and window are already providing more insulation.

We didn't forget that it was Valentine's Day, despite the non-stop work. We went out to Maggianos Little Italy and had a much-deserved, fabulous Italian meal. Before the meal, we had mom take a picture of mommy and daddy and the emerging baby bump. I am now using the rubber-band method of holding my pants up, as my buttons are just not able to close. I never thought I would get so excited to see that my pants no longer fit!

You Put the Lime in the Coconut...

No wonder why mommy is having trouble fitting into her jeans - you are the size of a lime! Your hair and nails are forming. Daddy and I are hoping that you are blessed with my fullness of hair and his curly hair. Your little toes and fingers don't look so much like duck's feet now - they have separated and are no longer webbed. If you are a girl, your ovaries have begun developing.

I thought you might be excited to know that Daddy and I got your crib and changing table. The way we acquired it made it meant-to-be. Mommy absolutely fell in love with the crib from the moment I saw it, which was 10 days ago. Since it was a store that was going out of business, I knew that we had to act fast. However, I needed your Daddy's, Grandmom's, and Grandpa's opinion on it before the purchase was made. Thankfully, there was still 1 set in the box left and everyone agreed that it was perfect. The maker is Bonavita and the collection is Sheffield. It's quite reassuring that it is also a Consumer's Digest Best Buy. It is a beautiful, sturdy pine that will hopefully be able to be passed down to your brothers and sisters. I am hoping it will stay in our family forever. The changing table/dresser is just as well-built and beautiful. I cannot wait to put you in it with your froggy bedding for the first time! I thought I would attach a picture for you to see. We are almost out of the 1st trimester my love. I am trying to savor the miracle that is pregnancy, but I just can't help pining for the moment when I will get to hold you for the first time.

10 Things About Week 10

2009-02-08T20:52:00.001-05:00

All About Us

1. We have been asked a lot lately if we have any names picked out, if we are going to find out what the sex is, etc. I definitely wanted to find the sex out as soon as I found out we were expecting, but Jason wants it to be a surprise. Through all of the painful and uncomfortable symptoms I am having, one of the things that keeps me going is a count down to when we will find out if we are having a boy or a girl. Unfortunately for Jason, when I find out the sex, it is most definite that he will know as well. Slowly, I think he is beginning to accept this reality. As far as names go, we agree on names just about as much as Obama and McCain agreed on political issues. I'm for nontraditional names like Giada and Rocco, and Jason likes the more "popular" names like Emma and Blake. We have 8 weeks until we find out what we are having, so I'm optimistic that we will be able to meet half-way (or better yet, he will succumb to the pressure from me and agree to my nontraditional names!). Since Jason and I have different last names, the baby will get both of our names, but my last name will be one of his/her middle names. Vote for your favorite in the upper left hand corner of this page. The boys names will follow!

2. I've found a furry little friend in nature's laxative, the Kiwi fruit. The best cure for fatigue, constipation, and nausea is to get moving. When I exercise, I find that my symptoms decrease significantly.

3. My oldest sister, Jen, has offered to give us a bunch of baby items like a car seat, stroller, crib mattress, breast pump, maternity clothes, and other items. This is such a big relief, as we do not want to rely on other people to buy these things for us, so it is a list of things that we don't have to buy ourselves. Thank you Jen (and Lexi)!!

4. I haven't gained any weight yet. In fact, I've lost some. I am not worried, but relieved. Baby only has tiny nutritional needs at this point, so I'm not focused on eating more than normal. I don't think I could if I wanted to. I am hoping to gain no more than 20-25 pounds during the entire pregnancy. The more I exercise and watch what I eat, the more easy it will be to take it off once baby gets here.

5. Jason and I made our first baby purchase this week! A baby store close to us is going out of business, so we went to check out the sales. We fell in love with this bedding set - it has all of the crib bedding, a diaper stacker, wall hangings, a musical moving mobile, and a hamper. Best of all, we got $100 off! The main colors are green, yellow, and blue and it has froggies and turtles on it. So cute!

A Prune?

6. Baby is now the size of a prune...yes, a prune. I am not happy with the comparison to a geriatric favorite, but I understand the need to keep within the produce theme.

7. You are 1.5 inches in length! Compare an Appleseed to a prune and you have grown a lot in the past 5 weeks.

8. Your aunt Kristi will appreciate this one - your bones and cartilage are forming now. Your little knees and ankles are forming so you can develop into that great athlete that I know you are going to be! Also, your elbows are forming. Hopefully you don't drop the elbow on me while you're in my tummy!

9. Your baby teeth are forming under your gums, your stomach is producing digestive juices, and your kidneys are producing larger quantities of urine. You are almost a fully, functioning human being at the gestational age of 10 weeks!

10. Something your daddy will appreciate - if you are a boy, your testes have begun producing testosterone. Boys will be boys!

I hope you enjoyed our list! We are 1/4 of the way through!

Doin' Fine in Week Nine

2009-02-01T22:44:00.000-05:00

All About Us

I must not hold back my current feelings. HERE WE GO STILL'RS, HERE WE GO! The Pittsburgh Steelers just won their 2nd Superbowl in 4 years and I am ecstatic. Jason and I chose to stay home by ourselves to watch this game, as I haven't been feeling well lately. I wouldn't have rather been anywhere else. My husband, a die-hard Bengals fan, hung up his Boomer jersey and cheered with me through the entire game. He was just as nervous as I was in the 4th quarter when the Steelers were down by 3. Picture me in my Big Ben jersey clutching my terrible towel and Jason on the edge of his seat. Then finally, Ben hit Santonio and the rest is history. I feel extremely connected to the Steelers since Ben has been quarterback because he is from Ohio and he is our age. He is the man! God bless him and the Pittsburgh Still'rs!!

Moving on, this week has been anything but ordinary. First of all, Cincinnati had its most intense winter storm since I have lived here. 6 inches of snow followed by 1 inch of ice topped off with another 4 inches of snow. I was happily left jobless for 2 days out of the week. While I was getting a little stir-crazy after the 2nd day, I was happy to have extra time to spend with my husband. Since he runs a health club, he really didn't get time off because he was the one calling all the shots. The puppies were not happy about the snow and ice which is why they made their potty trips outside super-fast. Many trees in our backyard were weighed down with the snow and ice. One large branch almost went through our bedroom window. Jason got out his big guns and tore the branch down so it wouldn't beat against the window and keep me up for the 2nd night in a row. My car got stuck once in our parking lot and Jason and a mysterious man pushed me out. Other than that, it was quite beautiful. The next day when the sun came out, the picture of the sun glistening on the iced tree branches was breath-taking.

Another interesting factoid this week was that we actually got to see a Doctor on Friday. Woohoo! I decided to call around and get an idea of when other practice's Doctors like to see their pregnant patients. Well, it turns out 12 weeks is not the standard norm. I spoke with a woman from a practice called For Women. This practice is made up of 7 women OB/GYNs and they would prefer to see their patients starting at 8 weeks. I was quick to jump on the first available appointment, which was the next day. Jason was a little hesitant, being that he is not one for change. He knew, however, that I would feel much more relieved to actually see a doctor. So onward we went to our first, real, Dr's appointment. Much care was taken with us - we were treated like real people and were congratulated. Then the Dr. came and talked with us and answered all of our questions. Yes, I can still keep dying my hair; No, it won't hurt the baby if Angelo steps on my abdomen; Yes, I can continue exercising as much as I was before I got pregnant. She didn't put any constraints on how high my heart rate could get. Best of all, she did a pelvic exam on me and said that everything is as it should be - uterus is growing and cervix is closed. I felt like we left a new couple. We were more relaxed and excited about the future. Our scary-time (miscarriage likeliness) is getting shorter and shorter. We were assured that at the next appointment, on February 25, we would get to hear our baby's heartbeat. The thought of that brought tears to my eyes.

I know that this is getting rather lengthy, but I thought I would share how I am actually feeling. I have been getting ill at night, usually starting around 4 or 5 o'clock. Trying to fend off vomiting, I have been heading for bed around 9:30 every night. I wake up and I feel fine - not great, but fine. Nausea has been one of my biggest perils during this pregnancy. That is, until a case of chicken pox hit me. OK, I don't really have chicken pox, but I have so much acne people look at me and think I'm in junior high. Also, as I'm moving along in my pregnancy I feel like I have had a couple situations in which I can provide advice to other women who may be in my shoes. For instance, if you find that things aren't "moving along" as quickly as you would like, don't couple Taco Bell with a Stool Softener. You may find yourself on the toilet at 2 a.m. for a half-an-hour.

Olive You!

Hey buddy, you are now the size of a medium olive! I don't really see much size difference from a large raspberry to a medium green olive. You are now a full inch in length and have moved from being referred to as an embryo to a fetus. Your brain keeps developing like crazy and tiny muscles are beginning to form. Apparently, I will be able to feel movements from you in just another month.

Like I wrote earlier, your Daddy and I will be able to hear your heartbeat at our next Dr's visit. I want you to know that this will be the best day of our lives - that is, until you are born. Hearing your heartbeat will make it extremely real for us. You haven't grown so much that people can actually tell that you are in my belly, so it's still hard to believe that there is a human growing inside of me. You have given me a lot of pregnancy symptoms, though, but I promise you I won't hold that against you later in life. You are the light in our eyes already. Daddy says he loves you!

Everything's Great in Week 8!

2009-01-24T14:51:00.000-05:00

All About Us

So, I can picture you on the edge of your seat, waiting to read how our very first Dr's appointment went. Well, let me tell you, you can go ahead and sit back, because it was rather disappointing. Jason and I were super-excited for this appointment because we thought we were finally going to get some of our questions answered and even more exciting, get to see the baby's heartbeat. I got up early, shaved my legs (what kind of Dr. wants to feel prickly legs?), and tried to look my best for our first glimpse at our baby. I started the car and off we went to encounter one of the best days of our lives. We walked in and watched Saved By the Bell until we were escorted by a "Medical Assistant" (whatever that is) to a small, 6 x 6 room. The "Medical Assistant" then began asking me all these questions about my health and sex history. She then asked me if my current sexual partner had ever engaged in intercourse with a man - I looked over at Jason and asked him, "Well, have you?" It was quite funny - I guess you had to be there. Moving on, I finally asked the girl if I was going to see the Dr. today. She said "no" and my heart sank. She stated that the Dr's don't see pregnant women until they are 10-12 weeks along. In my head I thought, "bullshit," but I kept my cool. She then walked out of the room and had Jason and I listen to some 10 minute tape that she obviously did not have time to say herself. I was so sad that I sank in my chair and laid my head on Jason's shoulder and began to cry. I felt like I had been stood up by my own Dr. She had the potential to show Jason and I the most amazing thing we have ever seen and in an instant, it was stripped away from us. After the long, monotonous tape was over, we were brought to the room where they draw blood. I have never had a needle in my arm for as long as I did here at this visit. The woman took 6 viles of blood from me - most likely to check my hcg levels (pregnancy hormone), to check for the cystic fibrosis gene, my blood type and Rh status, my iron level, my antibody titer levels, and possibly whether I have rubella immunity. This was not told to me, this was something I learned by reading my book, What to Expect When You're Expecting. The only good thing about this entire appointment was that I learned I only have to pay one $40 copay for the entire pregnancy (not including labor and delivery). This was extremely relieving to us! We got our next appointment date, February 25, and off we went. On my way to work, I contemplated whether I had made the right choice in Doctor's. How could my Dr. not want to see me on my first visit? It just didn't make sense to me. I decided that I would wait until our actual first appointment with her to make that judgement. Hopefully, our expectations will be met at this next appointment and we will get to see our baby at last!

This week, Jason has been catering to my needs as usual. I am still sick, but towards the end of the week I have been feeling better. He is very good to me and doesn't take things offensively. I may have snapped at him a few times, but he was able to stand back and realize that it was just the hormones talking. I feel extremely lucky to have such a kind, understanding, and loving husband. I had a craving for lasagna and he had no problem going to the grocery to get me the ingredients I needed to make it. I've noticed that once I crave something and have it, I don't want it anymore. The list so far has been nachos and cheese, yellow cake with white frosting, and lasagna. I was able to get my hands on all of these items, but thinking of them now makes me ill. I have been trying to eat a lot of veggies and fruit - even though that's not what I want, I know it's what baby wants. Also, it helps my most recent pregnancy symptom - constipation. Anything that will help "move things along" looks appetizing to me!

It kind of seems like I haven't had a good week, but really I have. Any week that our little raspberry is still with us is a GREAT week.

Little Raspberry

Our little one is now the size of a large raspberry. I knew you would get sweeter! You are measuring a half an inch in length (always measured head to rump). That still seems so small! But if you compare an Appleseed to a large raspberry, there is quite a difference in size. You have been growing up a storm! Your heartbeat is going strong at 150 beats per minute. A very exciting thing - you are beginning to make spontaneous movements in your arms and legs. This is so neat to think about. I obviously cannot feel these movements. You have quite a bit of room down there, so get moving my child! It's kind of like when mommy and daddy are about to fall asleep and we jerk our legs - a spontaneous movement.

You were comforted this week by your brother, Angelo. Ang has been sick the past few days and has been laying his head on mommy's abdomen for comfort. I have a feeling that Ang knows you're in there. You also got to hear your pseudo Aunt Ashley and cousin Isaac as they visited us on MLK day. You are going to have so much fun with Isaac! You two can do all sorts of things together. He might boss you around, though, since he'll be a year older than you, and most likely, a lot taller than you.

Here's to another great and amazing week of pregnancy!

Sizzling Seventh Week

2009-01-17T14:48:00.000-05:00

All About Us

Talk about COLD! The past few days have put the B-R-R in brrrrrrrrr! It's not even pleasurable to go outside for some fresh air. I'd rather stay inside by my electric heater, watching movies like Sex and the City, all day long. I might add that I sobbed like a baby when Big stood Carrie up at the beginning. And I probably cried at least 5 times after that. Oh the joy of pregnancy hormones!

The idea of pregnancy has not gotten old to us yet. I don't feel like I will ever get over the joy and anticipation of a human being growing inside of me (please don't make me eat my words in month 7). Baby making is a full-time job - and I'm not talking about the actual act of baby making. Making sure I take my vitamin and fish oil every day, drinking at least 64 ounces of water, exercising, flossing (yes, I hate it), avoiding alcohol (hey, this is hard, especially after a long day at work), resting, stretching, eating, positioning my sea bands, cutting up lemon to put in my water (for some reason I have an aversion to plain water), the list goes on. Then, waking up and doing it all again the next day. But, the crazy thing is, if I weren't pregnant this would all seem like a chore - like a punishment I was forced to do. The fact that I know that all of this will increase our chances of having a happy, healthy, bouncing baby makes doing these things more enjoyable and less of a nuisance. Let's not forget Jason's pregnancy "to-do" list - taking out the trash, cleaning out the cat litter box, cutting my lemons for me when I am too tired to get my butt off the couch and cut them myself, eating pasta 5 times a week because that's the only thing I don't have an aversion to, and the list goes on. But he does it because he wants what I want, and what you all want too - a perfectly healthy baby. One with 10 fingers and 10 toes (although we would be still be happy if he was missing a few). One that is so sweet, that when you kiss him he tastes like a blueberry.

Our Blueberry

Blueberry, we love you! Mommy was sick for most of the week, not being able to stand to eat much. I've been told that this is due to all the extra and weird hormones that you have brought to my body. That's OK, though. Bring them on, I say! Blueberry, when we see your smiling (or screaming) face, it will all fade away.

Now, you will see me referring to you as a "he" throughout the next couple of months until we find out for sure. If you are a girl, please don't take this offensively because your Mommy and Daddy will love you with whatever you come out with - a baseball bat or a Prada bag. It makes no difference to us! It's just a lot easier for mommy to refer to you as "he" instead of "he or she." I hope you understand!

Daddy and I have been talking a lot about our first Dr.'s appointment, which is in a couple days. I will most likely burst into tears when I see your heartbeat and I have a feeling that Daddy might get a little teary-eyed. I am hoping that we get to hear your little heart, too!

I can't believe how much you've grown so far. Apparently, you are 10,000 times bigger than you were when you were first formed at conception. You are the size of a blueberry - and as sweet as one too! Your mouth and tongue are forming and your brain is growing at a rate of 100 cells per minute (the fish oil that you are getting from mommy will help this process so you can become a very smart blueberry). Your arms and legs are separating into segments that will become your feet, hands, upper arms, lower arms, upper legs, and lower legs. Your kidneys are fully functioning and waiting for you to start peeing. As long as I don't feel it, pee away my child.

Tomorrow, you will be covered with a Big Ben jersey because Mommy (and, I know he will never admit it, but Daddy too) will be cheering for the Steelers to win against the stinky Ravens. Then, they go to the Superbowl to win it once again! But dont you worry, as soon as you come out we will have a Big Ben jersey waiting for you as well!

My question is, can you develop into anything more sweet than a blueberry? I guess we will find out next week!

Wild Week 6

2009-01-11T15:57:00.000-05:00

All About Us

Week 6 has proven to be quite a roller-coaster ride. It was Jason and I's first week back to work since the holidays, so the days were filled with a hectic atmosphere. I felt pretty good throughout the week, only suffering cramps and sore nipples (sorry men). After I let my coworkers know about the bun in my oven and how easy it has been for me so far, a dark cloud of nausea came upon me. Since Thursday, I haven't been myself when it comes to eating. I haven't been able to look at most foods, let alone eat them. Nothing seems appetizing to me anymore. Food to me right now is like fuel to my car - something I have to do to keep it running. I am the queen of eating and I love food. Now, I despise food and hate that I have to force myself to eat it. I took my mom's advice and got some ginger ale, which has been soothing to my stomach, but it still doesn't make me hungry. I also have a bottle of Tums by my side at all times. At least I won't have to worry about getting enough calcium. I am extremely emotional lately. Today at mass, I had to hold back tears because the songs that were being sung were so beautiful. Seriously?!

Jason has been extremely helpful to me so far, as I knew he would be. He comes home from work and greets the puppies then comes over and kisses me and kisses my belly, or what he refers to as his little pea. He gets me anything I ask for, even with a smile on his face. We're talking more about home improvements this week than the baby, mostly because we want everything done before the baby gets here. Also, home improvements seem more real than the baby at this point.

Sweet Pea

Our little sweet pea! You got to spend the week with mommy at work. You got to witness what I do when I'm at work. You heard me advising a lot of students and consulting with other grown-up people. You got to feel mommy's stress as she administered a career high of 3 high stakes tests in 1 week. You looked forward to Daddy's kiss every evening when he got home. Sweet Pea is relieved that we are relaxing now, waiting to watch the Steeler's crush the Chargers.

Our little baby is getting bigger every day! You are now the size of a sweet pea (no, really?). Your heart is beating faster than mine. You now have eyes, ears, a nose, cheeks, and a chin. All of your major organs are taking form - kidneys, liver, and lungs. If you are a boy, Daddy and I have been given hope that you will have a chance at a career in NFL football because of Darren Sproles. Your daddy and mommy are both vertically challenged, so chances are, buddy, you will be too. Even though you are making me sick, Daddy and I already love you more than anything.

5th Week

2009-01-03T11:48:00.001-05:00

All About Us

Welcome to our 5th week! The pregnancy idea is sinking in one day at a time. It doesn't feel completely real yet, but it has us thinking of things we weren't thinking of a month ago. This morning I spoke to Jason about possibly needing a new car. It's hard enough getting things out of his backseat, let alone a baby. A topic that will for sure be revisited soon. Also, last night we spent some time on http://www.care.com/. This site has a listing of babysitters/nannies who post their profile in hopes of finding job. We perused the list and found a couple that we liked, but again, this is a topic that can be revisited at a later time. We are hoping for someone that can come to our house and watch our baby. We would only need her for 5 hours a day, 4 days a week, which is why we are straying from daycare. Fortunately, our jobs overlap in a way that we would only need a babysitter for 20 hours a week. The hard part will be finding someone that we actually trust. Hey Momma, ever think of moving to Cincinnati? :) Or maybe we need to move to T-county!

I have been weary of exercising lately, something that I didn't want to happen. I have been partaking in moderate exercise like walking, but nothing heavy like running or working hard on the elliptical. The day I found out, I went to the gym and ran. I checked my heart rate and it was over 140, something that you are not supposed to let happen. I was very bummed because I rely on cardio for my mental and physical health. The big picture then hit me, and I decided that moderate exercise is better than none. So I will be taking it easy for the next 8 months - don't you worry mom!

In the past couple of days, we have told our close family and friends. Most of the reactions were filled with excited screams, hugs, and many congratulations. We had to swear them all to secrecy before we make the big announcement, which will hopefully be around week 8, after we hear baby's heartbeat at the Dr.'s office.

As for the actual physical symptoms of pregnancy, I have gotten lucky so far, and pray to God that it will stay that way. I have had a pounding headache everyday coupled with menstrual-like cramps, though not as severe. I have read that this is due to the uterus stretching and growing to make a cozy space for our little apple seed.

Apple Seed

Right now, baby is the size of an apple seed, according to http://www.thebump.com/. I've seen it referred to as a grain of rice in, The Joy of Pregnancy, and an orange seed in, What to Expect When You're Expecting. The term, "Apple seed" seemed to fit with me better. Jason and I have been doing a lot of reading lately. After I read a month, then he reads it too. I made him stop at 3 supermarkets to find the book, What to Expect When You're Expecting, but none of them had it. I finally had time yesterday to go to Border's and get it. We have learned so much already from it! It's interesting to know that our baby's heart is already formed and beating. Wow! Baby's neural tube is formed, which will eventually become baby's spinal cord and brain. I read where baby looks like a tadpole right now. Tune in next week to find out what our little apple seed is up to! (Graphic thanks to http://www.thebump.com/).

Introduction

2009-01-01T23:06:00.000-05:00

Hi! This blog is intended for two audiences: 1) Our friends and family; and 2) Our baby. Yes, by this sentence you have learned that Jason and I are expecting a baby. Expecting it to do what, you ask? Smiling, I ask that question because many are unaware that we were even trying. When some may find out, they may outwardly or inwardly question, "Was this planned?" Our succinct response is a resounding "yes!" While it was a surprise in that we thought it would take a lot longer, we had been praying for it since we decided to start going at it. While I won't succumb you to the details of what "going at it" actually means, I will fast-forward to the day we found out.

The night before, Jason and I had decided to go get a pregnancy test. I was 2 days late for my period, which didn't alert me to anything unusual because the previous month I was 6 days late. Personally, I wanted a definite answer to the question, "Can I have a couple (three, four, five) drinks on New Years Eve?" We then went to Walgreen's and the sight of a sale on Clear Blue Easy Digital caught my eye. The results were in the words "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant." Words were more reassuring to me than plus or minus signs. In addition, I had used the three pack the month before, all which resulted in "Not Pregnant," so I knew that they were reliable. With our handy FSA card, we casually bought the package of three. Jason and I decided that I wouldn't take one until New Years Eve Day, which was 2 mornings away.

Well, needless to say, the next morning I woke up and wanted to take one. "What's one day?", I thought. So while Jason was taking the dogs out for their morning pee, I was peeing on a stick. Exactly one minute later our lives changed forever. I flushed the toilet, almost positive to see a "Not Pregnant" as I glanced over at the test. However, when I looked over, I saw something very different. My breath was taken away and I felt like I was watching myself on a movie. The test read "Pregnant" and I immediately started chanting, "Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh." I ran downstairs and as Jason was walking in with the dogs, my chanting greeted him along with the test. Initially, he heard the rush of water from the flush of the toilet and thought that I had caused some kind of plumbing mishap (which very well could have been the case). Then, he looked at the test, joined me in my chant, and we started to hug and cry. We were excited, scared, and nervous, but mostly excited. We wondered how accurate the test was. I was sure there couldn't ever be a false positive unless I was on some sort of medicine or had some kind of condition, as the test measures a hormone only found in pregnant women. There was only one way to find out. After the second test I peed on was positive, it was positive in our minds that in 8 months, we would be welcoming the joy of our lives into this world. (I might add that a third test was taken the next day - can you guess what the digital reading was?)

My question was answered - No drinking on New Years Eve! We are full of joy, anticipation, and feel truly blessed by the good Lord above for answering our prayers. We hope that you follow us on this roller coaster of a journey that is pregnancy. While many of you will not begin reading this for months to come, I hope that you can be entertained and informed by our story from day one. God Bless!