Avriana Anne's Birth Story

It all started on Monday, November 14th, 2011. We had a doctor's appointment scheduled and I had intended on discussing the idea of inducing if she didn't come by her due date. I wanted to avoid being in the hospital on Thanksgiving. At the appointment she checked me and I was completely effaced but not at all dilated. I had scar tissue on my cervix that wasn't allowing it to dilate. My doctor went ahead and manually dilated me. That my friends, was not fun. She decided that she would put me on the induction list for the next day and I was to go home and await a call from the hospital.

The relief of knowing I was going to have our baby the next day in combination with the manual dilation put me into labor. And it was not later that evening, no it was on the way home from our appointment. I started to have strong contractions with some regularity. We started to time them and went home to get ready and finish packing. The contractions were getting stronger and closer together. I knew it was happening but I didn't want to get sent home from the hospital so we waited. My mom came over to help us and be there when we went to the hospital. We knew I was going that evening. My contractions were getting very painful and they were a few minutes apart. We called the on call doctor and explained the situation, he told us to head to the hospital. It was an unreal feeling, something we had waited for for so long, and it was actually happening. I will never forget the feeling I had as we drove to the hospital, it was excitement and fear all wrapped into one. It was around 6pm.

We checked in at the hospital and they checked me, only one centimeter dilated. The nurse said something about "false labor" and I wanted to scream. She told me to walk the halls for an hour and we'd check again after that. That was the longest hour of my life. My contractions were extremely painful, bringing me to tears every time. I couldn't imagine being sent home, there was no way I was going to be able to get through the night. When we got back she checked me and I wasn't much further along. But it was obvious I was in pain and since I was on the induction list they decided to let me stay. They didn't want to send me to labor and delivery yet so they gave me some morphine. In retrospect, I wish I wouldn't have had it. It just made me loopy and it didn't even touch the pain. Eventually, they sent me upstairs and I was in line for an epidural!

We got settled into our room and the anesthesiologist came in to give me the epidural. I was terrified of it and I shook constantly. Once it kicked in, I was perfectly content. I remember saying how I didn't understand why anyone would try to go through labor without one. The bad thing was that I was strapped to the bed. I had an IV, my epidural, a catheter, a blood pressure monitor, fetal monitor, contraction monitor and an oxygen mask. I couldn't move without a lot of assistance. I had to lay on my side and Avriana preferred when I laid on my right side. I had to switch every once in a while because my side would go numb. But when I did her heart rate would decrease a little so the nurse would make me go back to my right side. Ugh, it was so hard and I was very uncomfortable.

I labored like that until 7am the next morning when my doctor decided it was time to push some pitocin to get things moving along faster. I was dilated to about 3 cm at this point. Once they pushed the pitocin my contractions got a lot stronger,  some of them lasting 3 minutes. I couldn't feel them thankfully! Danny and my mom stayed by my side the entire time. Danny would feed me ice chips and my mom would put chap stick on my lips. I didn't sleep at all, I would just lay there resting. Anytime I would start to doze off, the nurse would come in to check me or the blood pressure monitor would take my measurement and then beep annoyingly loud. All along I had to have an oxygen mask on which annoyed me to no end. The nurse kept telling me that the baby liked the oxygen so I had to keep it on.

Around 5pm they checked me and I was 9 1/2 cm. I had a 1/2 cm left to go before I could start pushing. I was so happy to hear this. I was ready, so ready to get this over with. Surprisingly, it took about an hour for me to dilate that last 1/2 cm. I had to have a peanut fitness ball between my legs and I had to switch from side to side until I finally hit 10 cm. It was time to push!

All of a sudden it got very busy in my room. I had my mom on my left and Danny on my right and the nurse went over how I was supposed to push. At this time I started to feel pain in my tail bone area. It was getting worse and worse with every contraction. It assisted me in knowing when to push, but the pain was becoming unbearable. They increased my epidural several times but it wasn't touching the pain. I tried several positions to push but nothing was happening. My doctor still hadn't showed up yet. I was on my hands and knees when the pain in my tail bone was so bad that I began to scream out loud. I nearly ripped all the cords out of me. I was begging for someone to help me, for something to take the pain away. My amazing nurse got the anesthesiologist back in the room and he topped me off with something that made me numb from the waist down. I could have kissed him I was so relieved. I had never felt pain that badly in my life.

The problem now, was that I couldn't push. I had no feeling down there and I had no idea when I was having a contraction. When I pushed, I couldn't tell if I was pushing correctly. Nothing was happening, Avriana was still stuck up there and I couldn't get her down. I had been pushing for two hours and I was exhausted. I would collapse in between pushes and practically pass out. Right about now, my doctor arrived. She was not happy that I had no feeling and that I was unable to push. She tried to manually move her down and she even tried the vacuum. My mom held one leg and Danny held the other. They were so supportive and tried so hard to help me push. I was so depleted that I couldn't say it, but I knew what needed to be done. I knew a c-section was the only option. My mom was the one who finally said it and I agreed. My birth plan had changed but at that point I didn't care. I needed her out, I needed to be done. It had been 24 hours since we checked in to the hospital.

Because of the epidural I had the shakes really badly. I wasn't cold, but involuntarily could not stop shaking. Once we made the decision to do a c-section the room exploded with hospital staff and nurses. It's crazy how they all just kick into gear. I was about to go right in to surgery when my doctors other patient was wheeled in for an emergency c-section. I had to wait until they were finished until I could go in. The pain in my tail bone was sneaking back and I started to panic. The anesthesiologist was in surgery so he couldn't come top me off again. The pain was building and I started to beg the nurse to please get the anesthesiologist in there as soon as possible. Once he was done in surgery he came right in to me and administered the meds to relieve the pain. She was sitting right there on my tail bone and pushing with every contraction. All along, her heart rate never dropped, she was never in distress. My strong little girl.

They wheeled me in to surgery and Danny was right there beside me. I was terrified, mostly scared I would feel pain. I didn't feel a thing, even the pressure they talk about wasn't that bad at all. I trembled the whole time because of the meds but held Danny's hand. I was very dehydrated and was asking for water, which they couldn't give me. Finally, the doctor told Danny to get his camera ready, she was about to come out. He took pictures as they pulled her out and I remember hearing her soft, beautiful cry. I have never been more relieved in all of my life, then I was at that moment. Danny went with her as they examined her and I watched them. I cried, looking at my baby girl, arms and legs moving around and her sweet cries. I couldn't believe she was here, we finally got to meet our Sweet Baby Chen. Avriana was born at 7:41 PM on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011. Weighing 8 lbs .4 oz and measuring 20 inches.

The rest of the story is a bit of a blur. I was so exhausted it was very difficult for me to stay awake. I couldn't even hold my girl without someones help. We were wheeled into recovery and our family was able to join us and meet Avriana.

Avriana's birth was the hardest thing I had ever had to do in my life. There is no way I could have done it without my amazing husband. He never left my side, making sure I was taken care of at all times. I also could not have done it without my mom. She provided the support we both needed and she was the one to finally speak up when none of us could. My dad was also there to support us and his prayers helped us through. I am so blessed to have you all in my life. It is because of you that we have this beautiful angel and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you, we love you.

39 Weeks

It's official, I am on my way to having this baby. I can't believe I am in my final week. Not too much has happened yet. I've been experiencing some early labor signs, stronger contractions and they're more frequent. I think she has dropped some. It's hard to tell because it wasn't a dramatic thing. I can just tell she's sitting lower. I feel ok during the day but once evening comes around I'm fairly miserable. Tomorrow we have a doctors appointment and we'll discuss our options if she doesn't come by her due date. My goal is to avoid 1) having her on Thanksgiving and 2) being in the hospital on Thanksgiving.

Danny and I got pregnant along with 4 of his best friends and their wives. It was a crazy situation that we all got pregnant around the same time. Well the 4th couple had their beautiful baby boy a couple days ago and all went well. That leaves me. I am the last of the five of us. :-)

Halloween Festivities

Halloween was fun, we went to the Hot Air Balloon Festival on Saturday night. It was actually pretty cool and we got to eat funnel cake. Yummy. On Halloween we ran out of candy and had to go through our private stash. Poor kids. But at least Danny's pumpkin looked awesome! We can't wait until next year when we get to dress up our little girl. We're thinking she's going to be an elephant. So cute!

38 Weeks and Counting

Tomorrow makes me 38 weeks! Can you believe it? I can't. I am ready in all senses of the word. We are ready at home, hospital bag packed, car seat is in place, mini bottles of champagne bought, house is clean and I am ready inside. I am terrified but also beyond excited. I listen all day to my bodies signals, just waiting for the signs of labor. This may be the hardest part yet. Knowing I am so close but not knowing when it will happen.

We went to our doctor appointment on Wednesday and there wasn't any change. We had an ultrasound and they guessed she is about 6.5 lbs (but I'm thinking they're a little off, she's got to be bigger than that). I have been going for walks every day, just trying to jump start things. Hopefully we won't have much longer to wait until we get to meet our Sweet Baby Chen.

Ouchy!!!!

I went to the doctor yesterday and everything looks good. She did my first cervical check and...what the hell was that? My gosh did that hurt. I mean I knew it wasn't going to feel good, but jeez. She said that my cervix is thinned out a bit but not dilated much. So, now is the time to start moving this process along!

Today was my last day at work. It is definitely bitter-sweet. I will miss so many of my coworkers but I am SOOOOO ready to be done. Sitting at a desk for eight hours a day just isn't cutting it anymore.

I'm feeling very tired and I think my appetite has increased. I'm craving Z Tejas' chips and queso dip. OMG, I am so getting that this weekend (Hubby already said we could). I'm HOT, I mean my body has got to be at least 5 degrees hotter. It has finally cooled down here, and you would think that would help. It hasn't.

I keep looking down at my belly and after I get over how large it is, I try to see if she has dropped at all. Sometimes I think she has, but then other times I still feel her in my throat. So, she probably hasn't. I've heard that you can feel a difference when they drop, you can breathe easier and you have more room in your stomach. I can't wait for that!

36 Weeks and a Fun New Symptom

Yesterday I started to get an aching pain in my jaw. It continued through the night (making it even harder for me to sleep) and I am still feeling it today. It is very uncomfortable and painful. I'm thinking I should see a dentist. I did a little searching online but didn't find anything coming from a reputable source. Most people think it has to do with the "relaxin" that your body puts out at this stage in pregnancy to relax the joints. Part of me also thinks it might be related to my sinuses, but I really don't know. I just want it to go away :-(

This week is busy. It's my last week of work and it's going to be a miracle if I make it. I have no idea how women work up until delivery, I seriously don't. Between the complete lack of sleep and the extreme discomfort, I can't imagine working that long. We are taking an infant CPR course Tuesday night and Thursday is the start of our weekly doctors appointments.

I don't think She-ra has dropped much at all yet, she's still sitting up super high crushing my lungs, yeah! I'm soooooo ready! Hospital bags are packed, finally. Danny is relieved about that one. So now we wait...

Great Weekend

We had a great weekend. It consisted of a lot of wifey/hubby time, and A LOT of laying around and doing nothing. Which is not lazy! It is intentional because we know that this is a luxury which will soon be taken away. We went to a movie (Moneyball), rented a movie (Horrible Bosses), ate at a restaurant we've been wanting to try (Los Taquitos), cooked a great dinner for my rents and brother and went to a very special baby boys 2nd birthday (Micah). In between all of that, we laid on the couch and caught up on our shows. It was beautiful and I hope we get another weekend like that in before Baby Girl makes her appearance.

Speaking of Baby Girl, tomorrow is the 19th of October. My "due date" is the 19th of November. Insert freaking out emoticon.

Maternity Photo Shoot

Here are some of the maternity photos my amazing friend took (PamelaNicole.com). I am 33 weeks in these pictures.

Baby Breaths

I had my doctors appointment today and everything looks good. While I was sitting there I started to get a little nervous, realizing that I'm not far away from delivering our baby girl. We checked her heart beat, which was 167. She's head down and facing my right side. She was all scrunched up in a ball, it looked pretty tight in there. We could see her chest and stomach rising and falling and the tech said that she is practicing her breathing, getting ready to come out. This really hit me hard. It is such a beautiful miracle, that we're just wired to do those things, instinctively.

I have this thought which is haunting me, that I will deliver and they're going to tell me it's a boy. I would still be over-joyed, of course, but it gives me anxiety because everything we have is for a girl. I asked the tech to check today but because she is so tight in there we couldn't get a look. I don't know why I've been thinking that, I'm sure it's just nerves. I've been having a lot of crazy thoughts these days.

In Denial

Sometimes I forget how far along I am and I have to come to this blog and look at the ticker on the side. No joke. I will think to myself, there's no way you're coming up on 35 weeks, it's got to be 34. But alas, it is 35 weeks, this weekend. And I seriously can not believe it.

Elephants

It's no secret that I love elephants, and baby elephants even more. My friend sent this photo to me and it made me so happy. Again, the little things. So I thought I'd share.

Scary Things I Saw/Heard in Birthing Class

1) The placenta.

2) The epidural cord hanging out of a woman's spine.

3) All the details surrounding the "mucus plug".

4) The ridiculously large pad that is supposed to go in your underwear after giving birth. Pretty sure planes could land on that thing.

5) The placenta.

We didn't...Oh yes we did!

Princess She-ra's Lair

Been a While

Sorry I haven't written in a while, it's not because I don't love you. It's actually because I have been rather miserable lately and I don't want to complain anymore on here. It's nothing serious, just the expected and usual difficulties of being this far along.

The nursery is done! I will post some pictures soon. It's beautiful and certainly fit for our little Princess She-ra. We also had our maternity photo shoot, so as soon as I get those back I'll post them as well.

Doctor appointment yesterday went well, everything looks good and we're right where we should be. Birthing class is tomorrow, I'm sure I'll have plenty to say after that. Everything is coming along and I know she'll be here before I know it.

And for some reason this made me laugh hysterically today. It's the little things!

31 Weeks

I had an amazing weekend. It was one of those weekends you don't want to end because it was so perfect.

Friday was my birthday and my honey spoiled me, making it a very special day. Saturday we got to hang out all day together and run errands. And Sunday was my baby shower. It was so fun, I couldn't have been happier. All of my friends and family were so amazing and made my day unforgettable. It's one of those things that makes you realize how fortunate you are to have such amazing people in your life.

Danny and I went through all of our baby stuff and separated it into piles (bathroom, feeding, blankets, etc.). It was a tad bit overwhelming but we have a good idea of what we still need. We're almost ready for baby She-ra to come home!!!!

No One Ever Said it Would Be Easy

I did not have unrealistic expectations for pregnancy, I knew it was going to be difficult (especially after my intro into it a.k.a. 1st trimester). But you can not imagine, without having experienced it, what "difficult" entails. I have now gone over a week without sleep. My nights have become a source of anxiety for me, which is not helping matters. I can't fall sleep nor can I stay asleep. And as you can imagine, it is catching up to me. I don't feel like myself, I am an exhausted, weepy version. Couple that with the pregnancy hormones and aches and pains, and I'm a walking fun house!

I have a really bad habit of saying "how am I going to do this for "x" more months?". All this does is cause me to panic when I should really be living day to day. So instead of getting through the next two months, I'm going to try to focus on getting through the day. I hope, pray and wish that tonight I get some sleep!

We have our doctors appointment tomorrow, 30 week ultrasound. We'll get some measurements and pictures, I can't wait to see her. Hopefully my doctor can provide me with some tips on how to get some sleep.

So Sweet!

My coworkers wife made this hand quilted sweater for She-ra. It is the cutest thing ever! I love it. Sometimes I'm blown away at the generosity and kindness of other people, especially when those people have never met me before!

Operation "She-ra's Nursery" Has Begun

Finally! Finally, I can say that we have started the nursery. And whats even better, we did A LOT! The walls are painted and the chair rail molding is up. It looks perfect, better than I imagined. We also hung the chandelier and the crib is in place. Now we just have to get the rest of our furniture and do some more detailed decorating and we'll be ready to welcome our lil peanut.

I already feel an overwhelming sense of relief. Once it is done, I will post some pictures.

This weekend we took our hospital tour. It was informative, but I think we already knew most of it. It definitely makes it more real though. We also had a lot of friends and family over for a Labor Day BBQ and Danny had his Diaper Shower. All went very well, and we had a great time. I may have broken my toe, but it's not a good story and I'll be ok.

I'm coming up on 30 weeks this weekend and I really can't believe it. I feel like it wasn't that long ago when I was 12 weeks, and then 20. I'm not ready to be done yet, I'm not ready to have her out of me. I will do my best to savor these last 10 weeks with my baby girl so close to me. Because really, she'll never be as close as she is at this very moment.

Sleepless in Scottsdale

Sorry about the title. LOL, humor me, I'm delirious!

I have had an incredibly emotional and frustrating week dealing with my dog and her mystery ailment. We have been treating her for a "slipped disk" sort of issue in her neck. She's on pain killers, muscle relaxers and steroids. She shouldn't be feeling a thing at this point. All tests for liver, pancreatitis and Valley Fever have come back negative. She has resorted to being a puppy and I have become the mean mommy. Whenever I am around she acts up, trembling and whimpering. But when I'm not around, she's perfectly fine. The vet said she is doing it to get attention from me. SO ANNOYING. So now I have to be stern and not baby her (mean mommy).

All of this has caused me a lot of stress. Last night I went to sleep just fine but woke up at 12:30am and could not go back to sleep. I moved to the couch where I laid for hours, not sleeping. Around 4am I finally fell asleep only to wake up two hours later for work. This is not something I want to do again. I find my mind is always on my dog, listening for her whimper.

I am praying that this is just a stage and that she will soon go back to being my sweet puppy. And then I have the baby and we'll get to deal with that!

Glucose Test

PASSED! Yeah!!!!!! :-)

Oh What a Weekend

We had a little "staycation" this weekend for a family wedding. We had so much fun with our family and friends. We even got some pool time in (hot hot hot). I had to get dressed up for the wedding which I was lucky enough to borrow my friends maternity dress which was so cute.

 Handsome man and his pregnant wife

My fun filled weekend ended abruptly on Sunday. My poor dog, Baby, has been acting strange lately. I know her very well so I just knew something was wrong. The vet originally sent her home and said that it was stress related. Once I saw her on Sunday, I knew it was more than stress. She was shaking violently all night so after a tear-filled call to my parents we decided to take her to the ER vet Sunday night. We were there for hours, leaving around midnight. After some blood work and tests the vet gave her some pain meds and told us it was her liver and we were to schedule an ultra sound for her the next day.

Monday morning rolls around and it seems that the pain meds aren't working for her. I call our main vet and we were about to head over there when my car wouldn't start. Dead battery. After the help of my Dad and AAA I was able to get a new battery and get Baby to the vet. Ugh. My dog now had a pain patch attached to her and we're waiting for the results of another test. Vet thinks its pancreatitis.

What I have learned from all this is that it is ten times harder dealing with life's curve-balls while being pregnant. I thank God for my husband and my amazing parents. I just pray my puppy is going to be ok. And I can't imagine what it will be like when I'm dealing with my sick child, a hundred times harder.

Work Baby Shower

 Yum Yum

Holy Back Pain!

A new pregnancy symptom has made its way into my life over the past couple of days. I am having terrible, awful, miserable lower back pain. I sit at a desk all day, and I know that is making it ten times worse. I have tried EVERYTHING to make it more comfortable. I have tried three different chairs, with or without a back pillow, and I have my feet elevated. But it is very near unbearable. I get up at least once an hour to walk around the office (walk, ha! that's funny, what I'm doing is more of a limp and waddle).

I'm not really sure what else I can do to alleviate some of the pain. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, so maybe she'll give me some suggestions. Tomorrow is also the infamous blood glucose test. I am seriously hoping and praying I don't fail it.

Today my coworkers had a baby shower for me at the office. It was SOOOO sweet and perfect, I couldn't have been happier. Everyone brought food and we had a potluck and then played some games. My friend Allie is an amazing baker and she made a perfectly pink Neapolitan cake, it was DE-LICIOUS. I ate a lot and opened presents and stuffed myself full of sweets! I will post pictures soon.

Here's hoping I find some magic back pain eraser (OMG, I have 2 1/2 more months of this!)

I Can't Decide

I can't decide if I'm offended or if I should be offended. Should I care if someone looks at me and says, "wow, that's a big baby", or "you have 2 and a half months left! I thought you were due soon".

I know most of it is ignorance, but I can't help but feel a twinge of anger. My baby is measuring exactly how she should be, so no, she is not a big baby. That only leaves the word big to be applied to ME! So there in lies the offense.

I've read enough to know that this is a common occurrence (seriously people, just don't say anything at all. Unless you want to say how I'm glowing or how great I look, just keep your mouth shut). So, I will get over it but I do fear what will be said once I actually do resemble a house!

For those of you who have reached out to me and been so sweet and helpful, I thank you! You have no idea how much I appreciate it. The "Mom Club" is one I am very proud to now be a member of. As a friend once told me "Us mom's stick together". Love you all!

26 Weeks

Third Trimester Begins

I suppose it's the countdown now. It's scary and exciting all at once. We had a really great weekend. Danny and my Dad worked very hard on the new room addition. Next step is the sheet rock and then we're ready to paint. Once the room is done, we'll focus on the nursery. The nursery had to take a back seat for a little while but I'm very anxious to get started on it. We also went out and bought a king size bed. We're pretty excited about that. Between me and my expanding belly, my body pillow (named Haboob) and our dog, poor Danny doesn't have much room.

I'm feeling pretty good still. Some nights I sleep well, other nights I sleep terribly. My fingers are swollen, making it hard to wear my rings. I'm evidently in a cooking and baking stage and I'm still obsessing over Cheetos.

We have 26 week belly photos, I'll post them soon!

Shrinking from behind

When I started to gain weight with this pregnancy, I gained it all below the waist. Mainly, from behind (if you know what I mean). I couldn't believe how much bigger it actual got. Today at work I looked in the mirror, and noticed that my behind had actually gotten SMALLER. Could it be? Have I somehow lost weight? Maybe it's the pilates, tightening me up?

But then it hit me. It's an optical illusion. It only LOOKS smaller in comparison to my extremely round, protruding belly. But hey, I'll take what I can get! :-)

Is it the heat or the pregnancy?

I think the heat is getting to me. It's so hot out and in addition it's humid. I was convinced, thoroughly, that my air conditioning in my vehicle was not working. I would drive from work to my house, and it never cooled down. It would blow hot air out at me with no relief. I was so convinced that I had my husband bring it in to the shop to get the air checked. What was wrong with it? Nothing. Everything was working just fine, he said, "it's probably the humidity". No, it's probably the pregnant, miserably hot driver! Ugh!

On a happier note, today She-ra's Grandpa Don and Daddy are starting the construction of her playroom/office. They get to play Bob the Builder for the next couple of weeks and I'm so excited to have the extra room. I'll keep you posted on their status.

Craving update: Cheetos, I can't stop. I eat them until my hands are orange. I don't know what is wrong with me, but I must be stopped!

No One Ever Told Me...

This is going to be a recurring blog post, updated as I experience more wonders of pregnancy. Everyone tells you the main things, "you're going to be uncomfortable, all the time!", "you won't have anything to wear", "heartburn", "swelling", etc., etc. But then there's the things that no one tells you about. My friend recently had her baby and I of course probed her for details. She tells me that the birth itself was no problem, "it will be easy for you", it's the after the birth part no one tells you about. So there it is, the stuff no one tells you about. So for those of you who read my blog, and will someday have babies of your own, this is for you!

- That I won't be able to put on pants or tie my shoes. Now keep in mind, I'm only 6 months along. I have a whole lot of growing to do yet. I was at the gym and nearly fell on my face trying to put one leg in my pants and then the other. Then I put my shoes on and attempt to lean over to tie them, nope! That won't work. It becomes a game, how can I tie my shoes? I take a deep breath, plunge over and tie as quickly and inefficiently as possible and bound up to get some air. Yeah, that's fun!

- That I can't stand up, sit down, rollover or really move without making a grunting noise that certainly was adapted from a wild animal.

- That eating a meal, I mean a real meal, will become something of the past. I eat like a bird (that's what my husband says). I literally do not have the room to eat. I have to eat small amounts of food throughout the day. And if I do decide to sit down to a full on meal, I will pay for it miserably afterward.

I found this on a blog that I read, thought it was appropriate. :-)

23 Weeks

Today was a great day. We went to the hospital to visit two of our close friends who just had their babies. Reznor and Charli were born only 40 hours apart. Both moms and babies are doing well. I was so excited to go visit them and meet their little ones. It's so crazy, they've been growing for so long and then we finally get to meet them. I enjoyed every moment I was able to spend with both sweet little babies.

We also had an appointment today with the doctor and we were able to check in on our little one. Everything looks good! I'll never get tired of hearing that! Visiting the babies today made Danny and I very anxious to meet our baby girl.

Here are some recent photos taken this past weekend. 23 Weeks!!!!

Daddy's Home

After a rather difficult journey, Danny finally made it home. He was supposed to be home Saturday around 4pm but didn't end up getting home until Sunday around 10pm. So we didn't get to spend any time together this weekend like we hoped, but at least he made it back safely. I'm pretty sure I'm not letting him out of a 20 mile radius for the next 4 months.

I have started to really feel She-ra kick! At night when I'm laying in bed, reading or watching TV, she gets pretty active. It no longer feels like bubbles, it now feels like an alien inside of me trying to get out (like that movie that I can't remember the name of). It is definitely the strangest thing I've ever felt. I can actually see my belly move when she kicks. It made me laugh out loud to myself. I can see how it is going to take some getting used to though. Hard to sleep when you have a party going on in your belly.

The heat is unbearable, and I hate every moment that I am forced to be outside. I think about my friends who are in their final weeks of pregnancy, and feel so sorry for them! If it's bad for me, it's dreadful for them.

Exhausted

I'm exhausted. It's actually painful trying to get the energy to be at work. I've been sleeping "okay" but I get really tired now during the day. I hope this is a phase that will pass, but considering how close I am to my third trimester probably not. All I can think about is coffee, I would love a strong cup of (fully caffeinated) coffee. :-(

Danny is coming home tomorrow! Yeah! This was probably the longest week of my life, I am so happy it's almost over. We're going to make working on the nursery a priority now. I am so excited to get started with the design, I've been waiting so long. We're keeping the colors somewhat neutral with a little bit of mauve added. I want the nursery to be calming so we're not going to drench it in bright pink (we'll save that for her clothes).

This is the crib set we got:

21 Week Ultrasound

Every time I go to the doctor, they look at my sweet baby girl and I see that little heart pumping away, I try to really absorb it. But truthfully, it still seems surreal. My belly is growing, I feel something in there, and I have pictures to prove it, but it's still so hard to believe. I wonder if one day I'll wake up and it will hit me, we're having a baby!

I love being able to tell you all that everything looks good. Doctor is very happy with my progress and we're just plugging along. She mentioned how next time we'll discuss pediatricians and registering at the hospital (wow, already?). Above photo was taken today, she had her hands up by her face. I bet that thumb will make its way to her mouth soon if it hasn't already. Awwwwww.

I miss my husband a lot. I really miss talking to him during the day. All we can do is send emails back and forth. He's been really busy since he got there, and he's off to Korea today.

I've been taking pilates classes and I love it. I can't do everything I used to be able to do, but I can do most of it. I love being sore, I miss that feeling. I am sure though, that me doing pilates is a hilarious site to see. lol

Without My Hubby

I survived my first night without my man. I'm staying at my parents house so at least I'm not alone. My dog is acting funny too. When Daddy is home she snuggles up at the end of the bed. With him gone she curls up next to my head on the pillow next to me. I think she misses Daddy, too!

She-ra has been kicking and moving around. I hadnt felt her much recently so I enjoyed the flutters today. I have been craving cheese lately, any kind. I love it and I think about it often. In writing this, I am drooling over the thought of it. Yummy!

I went to the mall yesterday and bought a new pregnancy book, The Hot Mom to be Handbook. I like it so far, she gives a lot of great websites to check out. She was very passionate about not drinking during pregnancy, not even red wine! It just makes me wonder why some people say it's ok and others say its not. I guess in the end it's all about risk, and it's not worth the risk.

Minnesota Trip

I went to Minnesota for the 4th of July and to spend some time with my family. We had a great time and the weather was amazing. A little hot and humid, but the sun was out and the rain stayed away. My relatives threw me a surprise baby shower on the 4th which was so fun, my first one! Unfortunately, I think that was the last trip I'll be taking during my pregnancy.

The flight to MN was bad. I had really painful, achy restless legs. Now I'm not sure if this is something other women experience while pregnant, but I get this symptom pretty often. It's made worse when I am wearing jeans, or constricting pants. It feels like my muscles are going to jump right out of my legs. Having to sit on a plane for that long was awful. I got a little bit of motion sickness but I was able to work through it, unlike my flight home.

On my flight back to AZ, there was a ton of turbulence. I was sick the entire flight, fighting the urge to throw up in the little baggie shoved in the back of the seat in front of me. I was so miserable that I wanted to burst into tears but instead I held it in and waited til I got off the plane. Upon seeing my husband who was waiting for me, I couldn't hold it in anymore. :'-(

So as of now, I don't see traveling by plane in my immediate future. My husband leaves for Asia on Saturday and now I am thankful we decided I shouldn't go this year. I am going to miss him so much and I am sure it will be a tough week for me and She-ra without Daddy around.

Still a Girl

Ultrasound today confirmed that our sweet baby She-ra is still a girl. I say this because I have heard stories of seeing something in the ultrasound they didn't see before. But no, not for our little one. She is as healthy as can be. Weighing in at a hefty 11 ounces and measuring about 14cm. We saw ten fingers and ten toes! We couldn't be happier with the good news.

My placenta has moved and is no longer in the way, so I am off pelvic rest. This is really good news (for the obvious reason) but also because now I don't have to worry about it not moving and needing a C-Section.

My doctor had to have the weight gain talk with me, which I had been dreading. She said I am doing good now but that I need to be aware of it and make sure I'm working out, etc., etc. Now that I feel pretty good there's really no excuse for me to not be working out. I know this sounds like an excuse but this heat makes me not want to do anything at all! It's awful.

I had to bring my puppy, Beibers, to the vet yesterday. My vet took it upon himself to inform me of all his parenting wisdom. I found humor in most of it, but I'm pretty sure he was trying to talk me out of it (as if I could go back now). One thing he did mention actually made sense. I was complaining about being five months pregnant and suffering in this heat wave, and he said that it is actually perfect timing for me to be pregnant (huh?). Once I have the baby it will be Fall, and the weather will be cool. I'll be able to be outside with her. If I had her now, I would be stuck in the house. Hmmmm, good point.

She-ra pictures coming soon...

Grandma being Grandma

All I know is that I have the best mom in the world. Going through this pregnancy has not been easy and those close to me will testify to that! My mom has stuck with me and helped me along the way so much. There are just some things that only your mom can help you get through. I appreciate her more and more every day for all the love and support she has shown us.

When it comes to babies, no one spoils them like their grandma does. My mom has definitely given us a good head start on our clothing situation AND she made our very first nursery purchase for an early shower gift!!!!

Most of all though, she takes care of me. She provides the support that I need if I'm feeling sick, sad, scared or anxious. I definitely could not do this without her. She also never misses an opportunity to take an embarassing picture of me and my ever-growing belly, only moms can do that!

I love you, Momma!

18 1/2 Weeks

I feel like in a matter of days by belly popped out. Little She-ra is growing fast and so am I! On our way to the half way point.

Sedona

Danny and I went to Sedona this weekend for some much needed alone time and relaxation. It was really nice to get a break from the heat! We ate a lot of really good food and spent a lot of time outside. Part of that time outside was in the pool. I was not prepared for this at all. I have not gone shopping for a maternity suit yet nor did I try any of mine on to see if they fit (too depressing). So I just grabbed one out of my drawer and hoped for the best. LOL. It fit, but it was not the same. Time to go shopping for a maternity suit.

As we were laying on the bed watching a movie, She-ra was moving around a lot. I was enjoying the kicks and flutters that I was feeling. I grabbed Danny's hand and he felt a little kick, his first one. I don't feel it everyday but it is becoming more recognizable.

And yesterday was Father's Day, Danny got to celebrate his very first Daddy's Day. He is as much a father now as he will be next year. He watches over us, protects us and loves us as only a father and husband can. We love you, Mr. Bunny. xoxo

Babies R Us

I probably don't need to say anything more than that but I'll dive into it a little bit.

Danny and I decided to start our registry now that we know we're having a baby girl. They get you all set up in their system and give you an intro packet. She went through the packet and then she came to the registry check list. I almost died right there, jaw on the floor. You're kidding right? There must have been over 100 items on that list!

Where do you even start? We tried following the list and marking things off as Danny shot them with the gun, but  that didn't last too long. Next thing I know we're wandering around aimlessly, shooting anything and everything we saw.

It was a tad overwhelming, but at least we got it started. And Danny finally accepted the inevitable fact that there will be pink in our home. :-)

May or May Not Have Felt Her Kick

I've started becoming extremely uncomfortable after eating. If I eat too much (which is not much at all) I become very full and uncomfortable. I try to keep my portions down, but it's also hard to know how much will be too much. I ate a small salad today for lunch, but it was too much, probably because of the lettuce. Afterwards I sat in my chair at my desk, miserable with my hands on my belly and I felt something.

Now, this could very well be my tummy talking to me but I sat there feeling it for a very long time. It was a very faint, little rumble. It happened periodically and in different places around the same area of my belly.

So, the jury is out. I'll keep checking and if I continue to feel it, then I guess I've felt my baby kick! She-ra is getting bigger and bigger. :-)

It's a GIRL!!!!

I had this feeling that we weren't going to get an ultrasound today. I don't know why, I just kept thinking that I never remembered them saying anything about it. I think Danny and I had made it up in our heads that we were getting one. I prepared myself to be let down, but I was still hoping that we might.

When we got to our appointment, sure enough, we weren't having an ultrasound to look at the baby's anatomy. We were having one to measure my cervix. We mentioned to the tech that we were really hoping to find out the sex today, and she said if she saw anything she'd tell us but she wasn't looking for that today (ugh!).

She took some pictures for us, checked the heart and then moved to the legs and showed us the area between the legs which was flat, vacant, nothing there. She said that we were having a girl! I was so thankful just to have her tell us something, and then to hear it was a girl! So amazing! We now get to talk about our baby girl by name, She-ra!

We did get some bad news though, evidently my placenta is covering my cervix which is not a good thing. So until it moves I'm on "pelvic rest". It's not life threatening to She-ra or to me so I'll take it! Next ultrasound in 3 weeks.

16 Weeks

Ok, so I just ate a rather large dinner, but you get the idea. Getting bigger and bigger every day. We're looking forward to Tuesday when we get to find out the sex of the baby!!!!! We have a poll going and we want everyone to enter their guess: www.expectnet.com/games/babychen

xoxo

My First Scare

It's really a very helpless feeling, not knowing what is going on inside of you. I try to listen to my body and what it is tellin gme. But when you feel pain where you shouldn't, what do you do?

I was running on the treadmill and when I stopped running and started to walk, I had this pain in my pelvic region. It hurt to even walk. It continued to bother me all day. We started to call around, asking other women if they had any ideas. I was set on the thought that it was due to the growth of my baby and the growth of my uterus.

As the day went on it seemed to get worse. When I was sitting or laying down, I was fin. But when I was up and walking, it would hurt. Finally, by the end of the night, I was in tears. On one hand I kept thinkin it wasn't "severe" pain so I shouldn't call the Dr unless it is severe. On the other hand, what if something is wrong and I don't do anything about it. It was Danny who made the decision for me. We called the on call Dr and waited a grueling 30 minutes for him to call back.

He told me that I most likely pulled a pelvic tendon running. As long as I was feeling ok when resting, there was nothing to worry about, the baby was not in any harm. Rest and tylenol should take care of it.

I woke up this moring feeling better and feeling relieved. I guess there's no such thing as over-reacting when it comes to our baby. My husband taught me that.

Welcome Back...

It feels damn good to have my wife back and smiling again. As most of you know, she had a terrible first trimester. So thank you, second trimester, for being so awesome. We have been enjoying our simple luxuries that we once enjoyed doing together, for instance, one of them being 'eating' we love to eat, if the act of enjoying good food was a sport, I'm pretty positive we would prevail at it... we think of ourselves as true definitions of bon vivants. We've also been working out together, something else we haven't done because Corine was so miserable. But here we are, eating and working out, life is good. My wife is happy so that makes me very happy! So thanks again for giving me back my wife.

A Good Week

This week was my first "good week" in regards to my pregnancy (because in regards to work, not so good). I didn't feel too sick, my other symptoms seem to be at bay and I slept half-way decent. In addition, I was able to work out most of the days of the week. <Insert sigh> Finally, I think I feel normal again.

It is definitely difficult to go through this without having anyone to experience it with me. I keep thinking about what it would be like to have a friend going through the same things. I have my husband and my family, but it would be nice to have someone who knows.

Next milestone is two weeks from Tuesday. We have our ultrasound and we should find out the sex of the baby. I can hardly wait!!!!

NT Test Results - Negative!

We received the test results for the NT screening, and they came back negative. We are so grateful and relieved to hear this. It is undescribable, knowing that you're baby is healthy. We thank God and hope the rest of our tests go the same way.

Week 12 Ultrasound...Check

Today we got to spend a lot of time looking at our baby. He or she was very stubborn, I wonder where they get that from??????

We had an NT test today which is done by measuring the back of the baby's neck and testing my blood. This test can let you know if your baby has downs syndrome. The baby has to be in a certain position for the tech to get the measurement. Well, my baby didn't want to play. He or she was extremely active, bouncing all around. It took about an hour until she could get the perfect photo to make the measurement. It was nice though, we got a lot of pictures and really got to see our baby. It's so crazy to see the hands and feet, moving around. It's beautiful.

 You can see his or her little hand and all five fingers! So cute!

Here is a really good profile photo, you can see his/her nose and chin. Looks cute to me!

The tech said in her very non-medical opinion that she thinks it's a girl because of how active and stubborn the baby was being. I like that thought!

12 Weeks

Can you see it? Little itty bitty baby bump.

The Little Heartbeat Within

So the doctor ordered tylenol and tylenol PM. Kind of funny I had to go in for that BUT it was worth it because we got to hear the HEARTBEAT. This is the moment you hear about from the time you find out your pregnant. I had no idea we were going to be able to do it today! So she puts the little heartbeat monitor on my belly and there it was. A swishy little (strong) heartbeat. And what did I do upon hearing this amazing proof of life inside me? I giggled, like a little girl. And then we couldn't hear the heartbeat cause all we could hear was my laughing. I guess it was happiness, I couldn't hold it in. It was beautiful and the doctor said it was strong, which is all we care about.

I had to get weighed of course. I do not enjoy this part of the visit at all. It is incredibly hard to handle my increasing weight gain. Ugh! I am starting to feel better, so now maybe I can start working out more. That should help. I'm used to running 15-20 miles a week, so this is definitely a change for me. I don't expect to be able to run that much, but maybe just a little.

So tonight I'm trying the tylenol pm, and I am going to be optimistic that I will get a full nights rest. Though I can see myself staying up all night thinking about that beautiful noise, the heartbeat inside me.

Warrior

I got to spend the whole weekend with my man! It was great (pregnancy symptoms aside). On Saturday, Danny ran in the Warrior Dash. This was something I decided I wanted to do a few months back, and Danny said he'd do it with me. Once we realized I was expecting, we decided it wasn't a good idea for me to participate, not worth the risk. So, I went along to cheer him on. I'm not one to sit on the sidelines and watch as everyone has fun around me. I'm much more of a participator. So, it wasn't easy for me, but I knew it was best for Baby Chen. Danny did a great job, he ran it with our friend Sarah. They both finished and had a blast. I realized while I was baking in the Arizona sun (sans shade) that being pregnant makes everything you do that much more difficult. After the race I couldn't wait to get home into some A/C and rest my exhausted body.

I am still not sleeping, and I mean not at all. I lay awake for hours throughout the night. This is definitely taking a toll on me and my ability to function during the day. I have a call in to the doctor, hopefully there is something we can do. On a brighter note, my appetite has come around. I seem to be starving a lot lately. This is a good sign, means our little one is growing! The challenge is to try to eat healthy food, and not so much pizza. Ohhhh, but I love pizza...

11 Weeks

We're one week away from that safety zone. I don't know why, but I'm going to feel sooooo much better once I hit week 12 and I'm finally in my 2nd trimester. I think it's because most people wait to announce their pregnancy until they're in their 2nd trimester. We didn't wait, we told most of our friends and family but I'll feel a lot better once we finally hit that land mark.

I think I'm also looking forward to that day every one talks about. When you wake up and you feel great and you're full of energy. I have had many people tell me about this "day", so I am anxiously awaiting it. I try to keep in mind that everyone is different and every pregnancy is different but I really want that day to come! Meanwhile, I'm feeling less and less nauseous but the headaches are killer, I've been getting them every day.

Danny has this weekend off so at least we get to spend some time together! I hope I don't send him off on some crazy food run. The other night I was craving a roast beef and cheddar sandwich from Arby's with curly fries. Had he been home, I'm pretty sure I would have sent him out for that one. And he's so amazing that he would have done it. I'm a lucky girl!

Sleepless

I'm exhausted. Sleep is something I used to love! Now, I dread it. I miss the days of sleeping through the night. Now I wake up on average twice during the night. My mom said it's to prepare me for when the baby comes. I think I should be able to get as much sleep as I can before the baby comes, but I guess not.

At least I'm having relatively good days. I still suffer at night with all of the symptoms, but the days are getting a lot better. I have been able to eat more; including vegetables and fruit into my diet.

They say that you're not supposed to start "showing" until you're in your fourth month but I don't think that applies to me. I have a slight belly that sticks out especially after I eat. I know that it is most likely the baby's home (uterus, etc.) and bloating, but it sure looks like a baby bump to me. It has caused me to not be able to fit into my jeans comfortably anymore. Which is not a fun thing to go through. So I went out and bought one of those bands to wear over my jeans. Ugh, I wasn't ready for that step yet.

I'll take a picture soon and post it, probably around week 12. :-)

My Wife.... the Rockstar

No one ever said that pregnancy was easy, and when they said it would be hard... you had no idea just how hard it is until you experience it first hand. And this is spoken as a bystander. Corine's wellbeing and health is of the utmost importance to me, after all, she is bearing my seed, our child. She is giving me the greatest gift of all, our He-man or She-ra as we like to call him/her for the time being. When Corine decided to start this blog, I told her 'good', then he/she can read the hell they put you through. It hasn't been pretty, but being the fighter that Corine is when she is confronted with an obstacle, she pushes through it. And after all the pain and sufferings of her first trimester, she's slowly finding the comforts of the second.

My wife is my Rock, and through this pregnancy she's been a Rockstar. It hasn't all been bright lights and rock n roll, but it has been an incredible journey so far, and I wouldn't take this journey with anyone else in the world. I'm so proud of you, you are an amazing woman, and you will be an incredible mother. I will do everything in my power to help you as much as I can throughout this journey. I love you.

Pleasing a Pregnant Woman

Funny thing happens when you’re pregnant (well, lots of funny things, but this one stands out today). Once you get something in your head, something that you want, you have to have it. It can’t be anything else but that thing. Even if it’s practically the same thing, but it’s not, it won’t work. Take my salad obsession for the moment. We had purchased a salad kit from the store the other day and I thought it was AMAZING. I said I had to get more! So Danny and I decided to have dinner at home last night. I wanted stuffed crust pizza and the salad we had a couple nights before. Danny, bless his heart, went to two different grocery stores to find the frozen stuffed crust pizza that I wanted. He had also picked up a salad kit. Problem was, it was not the same salad kit we had a couple nights before. This was not going to work for me. We had to go to the store right then and there to get the one I wanted. Then I was happy.

Seems silly even to me but I couldn’t help it, I had to have it. It’s only the beginning, I’m sure there will be plenty more stories like this one. The good news is that I was feeling well enough to eat the salad AND we went for a walk. This is a huge deal because I have not been able to get any exercise what so ever in over a month. I felt pretty good and I was so grateful. Ahhhh, I hope it is a sign of things to come!

Good Days/ Bad Days

Yesterday was not a good day. The nausea came back in full force and brought along with it a major headache. The hardest part about being pregnant is getting used to the fact that you can’t take any medications. Before, when I started to feel sick or got a slight headache, I would take something and be all better. It doesn’t work that way now. There are certain meds that are said to be “safer” but I’m just not comfortable with that so I try not to take anything. It’s hard, very, very hard. I was also very emotional yesterday and spent too much time in tears. I thank God for my supportive parents and husband. I couldn’t do it without them. I ended my day trying to go to bed early. I woke up at 1:30 am and couldn’t fall back asleep.

Today is slightly better, but not good. I’m not feeling well and I feel that same headache lurking on the horizon. We had some chocolate and candy brought in to the office today and I can’t eat it. Those of you who know me, know that I LOVE chocolate. Never went a day without eating it. Now, I can’t touch it. Even if I do eat it, it doesn’t taste good to me. So odd! I’m looking into some prenatal yoga classes. Danny and I decided I need to work on lowering my stress level. I think my physical symptoms are directly related to my emotional and mental state. So, I guess I’ll be trying some prenatal yoga.

Hoping for a better rest of the day!

Body Works Exhibit

So I got it in my head that I wanted to see the Body Works exhibit at the Science Center. My friend told me about the section where they show you in detail what size your baby is at various stages of development in the womb. I was very interested in seeing this, as I'm sure most new mothers would be.

Danny took me on a Sunday. I was feeling pretty good over the weekend. I hadn't experienced any extreme nausea so I thought I was up for the adventure. What I didn't think about, was the other terribly disturbing figures on display. About 5 minutes into the thing and I started to feel queasy. I made it to the section on the babies and I was blown away by the information. Totally worth going just for that! Shortly after I started to get sweaty and faint, so we had to leave :-(.

Being able to see how big (or little I should say) our baby is was amazing. I definitely recommend it! Just beware if you have a weak stomach like I do, the rest of it is pretty sick.

Always good to spend time with my man though, there's never enough of that!

How We Found Out

February 25th, 2011 was the best day of our lives. That was the day we got married, and it was perfect. We have beautiful memories that will last a life time. Just two days after we left for our Honeymoon and enjoyed 7 days of relaxation. Nothing to do but enjoy each other and bask in the glow of being newlyweds. Coming home was certainly a shock, we were thrown right back into reality. We spent the next week wondering how it went by so fast. Then on March 15th our lives changed.

I had a slight feeling that maybe I should take a test, just to put my mind at ease. I didn't really think I was pregnant, but I was late and I needed reassurance. I was at Walmart walking around, talking on the phone to my brother when I walked past the EPT section. I grabbed the cheapest one I could find and threw it in the cart. No big deal. Danny happened to be home that night and we decided to grill some food for dinner. In the middle of cooking I remembered I bought it, and I ran to the bathroom quick to take it. Again, no big deal, not really worried. Yeah...it was positive.

I called Danny in to the bathroom and with a very shaky hand, showed him the proof. After that point, it's mostly a blur. I was overcome with emotion. I called my mom and dad and then we sat down to dinner. Hard to eat after that! Neither of us really able to believe it.

After a few doctor's appointments we figured out that the baby is due around November 19th, 2011. He or she is growing well and has a very strong heart beat. He or she is also putting their momma through hell. Shortly after figuring out we were pregnant, I started to feel nauseous. It is a 24-7 nausea with very little relief. I have also experienced every other symptom that pregnancy brings. It has certainly been difficult but knowing what it is all for makes it worth it. We feel blessed and we do not take for granted the miracle that was bestowed upon us.

So this is a blog about our Sweet Baby Chen and the whole pregnancy experience for us. This is new to both of us and we welcome any advice!

PS- I have the most amazing husband in all of the world. He does everything and anything he can to help me through this difficult time. He reads his book, makes sure I take my vitamins and only eat whats good for us (baby and I). I know it is just as hard for him as it is for me. Love you, Baby! <3