Ryan, Kelli, Piper and Maggie

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:50:00.008-05:00

My Belle

Ever seen a pink leopard before?

Don't forget to vote!!

This kid LOVES her fist!

My Girls

2008-10-06T15:06:00.003-05:00

Maggie Rose, Neala Kate & Aiden Grace

2008-10-06T14:53:00.007-05:00

Maggie and I went to my best friend Kristin's house for a play date this morning. Though Neala (3 1/2 months) and Maggie were totally unaware of what was going on, Aiden (2 1/2) had a really good time being the big helper! Aiden is the best big sister (aside from Piper, of course :)) and when I joked that I was taking Neala home with me, she looked at me and said "Don't take my Neala home. You take Maggie home!"

The three girls

Maggie & Neala

This is one Aiden took!

I wish Aiden would have been looking at the camera. A sweet picture nonetheless.

Happy Two Months, Baby Girl!

2008-10-02T14:42:00.002-05:00

Maggie weighs 9 pounds, 5 ounces and is 21 1/4" long. She's definitely going to be a shrimpster! 15th% for both height and weight - too cute. :) She had her shots and man, did she EVER scream. Yikes. Real tears and everything.

Oh, and she has another ear infection. For those keeping track, that would be #4. Fun, fun, fun!

Her next appointment is with the ENT guy at UIHC on the 22nd. We'll be discussing tubes then. Bummer!

Don't Forget The Boobies!

2008-10-02T14:31:00.004-05:00

Piper & Isaac

2008-09-30T17:59:00.004-05:00

Piper and Maggie

2008-09-16T17:58:00.010-05:00

Our sweet angel
Piper loves her dress up shoes!
Piper's first day of preschool, taken at the END of the day because I'm a horrible mother. (Actually, I didn't think about it and was just focusing on getting both girls out of the house on time!)

This onesie says it all <3

Sorry this is so small but it was taken with my camera phone. Isn't she adorable? I have one of Piper that's VERY similar to this one.

Aunt Laura got this adorable outfit for Mags. It matches that of her Baltimore BFF, Bridget Jane.

Time For The WHOLE Story

2008-09-11T10:59:00.002-05:00

Okay, it's not as dramatic as all that but when I first posted about Maggie's arrival, I was just so happy to have her home safe and sound that I didn't feel like getting into all the not so happy stuff. Six weeks later, I'm in a whole new place and feeling very good about everything so I figured it was time to tell my nearest and dearest what's been going on with our precious baby girl.

As I said before, she was born at 11:28 on Saturday, August 2nd. Due to low blood sugar and a low temp, she was in the nursery for the next 24 hours. Meaning, I didn't get to really look at her or hold her until the next morning. That was freaking brutal, let me tell you. Ryan went to the nursery frequently and took pictures of her and I actually handled the whole thing surprisingly well. I knew that being hysterical and bawling all over the place wouldn't do anyone any good. Besides, I had my own issues to deal with. I suffered from anemia from almost day one of my pregnancy and my pre-op iron level was at a 7. Yeah, that's pretty darn low. My doctor was *this* close to giving me a transfusion but she decided to wait it out and see how I was after the surgery. I'm just now starting to feel better; not as many headaches or dizzy spells. The day after Maggie was born, I almost passed out which was INSANE. I've never experienced anything like that before and, thankfully, I haven't since.

When I finally got to hold my sweet girl, it was only to have the lactation consultant slap her right on my boob. All I wanted was to LOOK at her. Count her fingers and toes, see whose nose she had, look into her eyes. I was pretty bummed that that wasn't the case but I knew that if I were going to nurse, I needed to get started. Well, it was a complete bust. We spent almost an hour trying to get her to latch on. It was awful and I finally just said "Stop! Let's just continue with the bottle feeding and let her be." Ugh, it was so frustrating!

I figured out Monday morning why she wasn't able to latch on: she has a cleft palate. Not the lip, just her soft palate. You can't see it unless she's crying or yawning really big and it just looks like an arch at the back of her throat. That explained everything! Sucking is very, very difficult when that hole breaks up the cycle of pulling in the formula, etc. She'll get the momentum and then lose it when she hits the hole.

We took her to an otolaryngologist on that Thursday and he confirmed that she does indeed have a cleft and will need surgery when she's about a year old. We got special nipples that have made all the difference and she's gaining weight like a pro! As of yesterday, she's 8 lbs, 10 oz! Yay, Maggie!

The crappiest part of the cleft is that she's way more susceptible to ear infections. She's in the midst of her second one right now. She'll probably have to get tubes within the next few months but we've been expecting that. She also had yet to pass her hearing test but seeing as she's had an ear infection nonstop, that's not too surprising. We go back on October 22nd for another test - fingers crossed she passes! I also scheduled her palate repair surgery for August 13th. It's so weird planning for something so far in advance but Dr. Canady is a busy, busy man. :)

I feel like I just rambled through all of that but I'm at work and am trying to actually get stuff done. Ha ha!

OH!! Piper started preschool last week!! She's such a big girl, I can't even believe it. She loves it and I think it'll be so good for her. If you want to check out where she's going, click here.

That's all for now! I hope to be better about posting but until our computer is fixed, that will probably prove to be a bit difficult.

Much love to everyone!

K

More Pics!! (Finally)

2008-09-05T19:08:00.005-05:00

Introducing Maggie Amelia Rose!!

2008-08-11T18:20:00.014-05:00

I'm finally able to post! Our sweet baby girl is already 9 days old and has captured the hearts of all of us. The days in the hospital are still a blur of tears, frustration, pain and joy, and I think it'll be awhile before I'm able to piece it all together and put into words. So, I'll just stick to the basics:

She was born at 11:28 a.m. (via repeat c-section) and weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. She was 17.5" long and looked JUST like Piper.

Now that we're home, we're getting our groove and she's doing well with feeding/sleeping. She goes about 3 hours between feedings so things are going pretty well. My mom ROCKS and has been at our place everyday since we've been home, and will be here until the end of the week. It should be interesting being home with both girls all day but I'm feeling good enough physically that I don't think it'll be a problem. The recovery from the c-section has been SO much better this time around, and I'm assuming that's because I'm basically forced to be up and about. I can't just lay in bed all day.

Time for pictures!

Another Great NST!

2008-07-31T14:53:00.001-05:00

Miss Maggie did well today and though I had some killer contractions (good GOD!), all looked as it should. Ultrasound and cervical check on Saturday. Woo hoo!

The Belly at 38 Weeks

2008-07-31T09:57:00.000-05:00

I'm Still Here!

2008-07-31T09:31:00.003-05:00

Sorry I went totally MIA for a bit there. The past few weeks have been insane and I haven't been at work much, which means no internet access. Since I last posted, I've had 5 NSTs and 3 ultrasounds - needless to say, I'm just a BIT sick of the hospital. My amniotic fluid is the reason behind all the testing and although it's "very" borderline, we're still hanging in there. As of last Tuesday's in depth growth scan, Miss Maggie was estimated at 6 pounds, 10 ounces! That's my girl!

I had a few very dark days there - just feeling really, really low - but I pulled myself out of that funk and have started to focus all my energy on Maggie and getting her here safely. It hit me all of a sudden that I will NOT be pregnant forever (though some days it really does feel like I will be!) and that Maggie WILL be here no later than next Thursday. There *is* a light at the end of the tunnel!

I have another NST this afternoon at 1:00 and another u/s Saturday morning at 8:30 to check the AFI (amniotic fluid index) again so we shall see.

*****************************************************************
In MUCH happier news, I'm thrilled to congratulate the Brown Family on their new addition!!! Samantha Quinn Brown was born yesterday morning at 10:05 and weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces! Congrats to Katy, Matt, Cooper & Madelyn!!! I can't wait to meet Sweet Sam!

Yet Another Eventful Appointment

2008-07-15T19:51:00.003-05:00

I had my 36 week appointment this morning, which was a good thing because I started feeling very "off" yesterday afternoon. Lots of pressure, lots of cramping, and horrible back pain. Because of all of that, I asked for an internal (not routine until 37 or 38 weeks). Well, lo and behold, I'm dilated 2cm and am 50% effaced. Along with that, I had protein in my urine (possible sign of Pre-Eclampsia) and *another* bladder infection. I'm now on another 5-day round of Macrobid and then on "suppression" until I deliver.

Because of the protein, I was sent to the hospital for an NST (non stress test). I was there for 2 hours and both Maggie and I did well. My BP has always been very low and today was no different; she somehow managed to fall off the radar a few times so the nurses had to readjust the monitor. One of them said "Boy, she's already a handful, huh?" Um, yeah, kinda. I was sent home with a jug to collect my urine for 24 hours, which I will then take back to the lab.

Ryan almost had a heart attack when I said "dilated" on the phone but honestly, in the grand scheme of the entire day, that wasn't even a blip and was never brought up again. I could be stuck there until the end so I won't be getting my hopes up. Oh, and when I was hooked up, I could feel what I thought were contractions but the doc comes in and says "I see you aren't having any contractions so that's good." I almost laughed myself off the bed. All I have to say it, to all you women who have experienced REAL contractions, you have my sympathy and love. These HURT - maybe I'm just a pansy? Ha ha.

While I'm not on bedrest, per se, I've been instructed to take it as easy as possible, keep my feet up and get plenty of rest. Tell that to my 4-year-old!

So, that's that. I will update as soon as I hear from my doc, which I hope will be Thursday-ish.

Some Pics From the 4th

2008-07-10T19:04:00.013-05:00

Piper and Carson
Carson and Mike
Rach helping the kids gather up candy
Piper and Daddy
"I got a deck of cards, Mommy!"

Look at that haul!!
Piper and Daddy - so sweet

Hailey and Sydney were so tired

30 Days, People, 30 DAYS!

2008-07-08T12:26:00.002-05:00

OH.MY.GOD! It's insane to think that 4 weeks from Thursday, I'll be holding my baby girl. Unless, of course, she decides to come earlier. I had 3 contractions in an hour yesterday (um, panic much?) but nothing since then. I *know* they were real contractions and not just BH. Who knows what will happen? I'm just trying to rest as much as I can, drink as much water as humanly possible and remain calm. My appointment isn't until next Tuesday and I have a feeling the next 6 days are going to drag by.

I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th! We definitely did and I'm hoping to get some pictures uploaded soon. Piper had a blast and was SO into it this year! After each firework, she'd yell "Yes!" and jump out of her chair. It was pretty hysterical and so, so sweet.

Later!

An Almost Comical Update

2008-06-30T18:36:00.002-05:00

I'm still laughing about my appointment 4 hours later - at least I'm not crying, right? Well, still no weight gain (haven't gained anything for 8 weeks) and I measured 30cm. I just looked at Dr. W and said "So, now I'm going backwards?" She just said that I'm just carrying the baby differently (to which Mom said "You're still carrying her in your uterus though, right??" LMAO, Bean!) and that I need to try not to worry so much. Easier said than done but I felt a hell of a lot better after hearing that from her, let me tell ya.

Oh and I have another bladder infection. For those keeping track, that would be #4 for this pregnancy. (I need to do some research and figure out what the heck is up with that.)

BUT the good news is that my c/s is OFFICIALLY on the books for Thursday, August 7th. That's 5 weeks from this Thursday - OH.MY.GOD!!

To my dear Kris: THANK YOU. I've been thinking about you a lot lately, as I remember how annoyed you would get at the "you're so small" comments. I know I said it a time or two myself and I'm so totally sorry. Love you for checking in! Give your beautiful girls kisses for me!

And, Lisa, thank you as well. You've been such a huge support during this entire pregnancy and you're always there with a kind word and a way to make me laugh my ass off. Love you!

A Vent, A Rant, A Meltdown, Call It What You Will

2008-06-30T11:40:00.002-05:00

Okay, I just *have* to get this off my chest and I apologize in advance for coming across as an insane woman. However, I *am* 8 months pregnant so I'm allowed...right?

As my readers (ha ha!) know, I've been measuring small and have gained only minimal weight. While it may sound like "Oh, must be rough NOT gaining a zillion pounds" is the proper response, IT ISN'T. Or, when you hear how far along I am, "Oh, wow, you're so small" is also not what needs to be said. I worry constantly. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I worry that Maggie isn't growning; I worry and lose sleep like crazy the day before my appointments; I worry that I'm going to hear from my doctor that she's just not happy with where I'm at and that she's going to take the baby; I just worry. And when I hear these comments, it makes me feel like I'm a failure and just reminds me all over again of how vulnerable Maggie and I both are.

I also want to say that this post is NOT directed at anyone in particular, it's just a general musing, if you will. Commenting on how small I am makes me feel the same as when I would hear "Are you EVER going to have another baby?" These things just really aren't okay to say to someone because, really, you may not have a clue what is going on with that person.

We saw some friends this weekend and they're just a month away from celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary. No children yet. Of course, I wanted to ask the BIG question, but I didn't. I've been there and it's a horrible question to hear. And again, I don't know what's happening with them. For all I know, they've been trying since their honeymoon and have had multiple losses.

I have my 34 week appointment in just a few hours and I'm a mess. I am praying like mad for some good weight gain and to be measuring close to 34 cm. I'm also hoping to finally get my c/s date confirmed - that's definitely something to look forward to!

Fingers crossed, people!

Babies, Babies, Everywhere!!

2008-06-27T10:20:00.004-05:00

One of my oldest and dearest friends, Kristin, gave birth to her second baby girl on Tuesday, June 24th. Neala Kate weighed in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was 19 1/2" inches long. I got to hold her for an hour Tuesday evening and, let me tell ya, I was in HEAVEN!! She's such a sweet and beautiful baby, just like her big sister Aiden Grace.

Here's the beauty!

Congratulations to Kris, Nate & Aiden! I love you guys!
Kel

PS Oh, and Piper can't WAIT to see the baby (and play with Addie's dollhouse!)

Introducing Wyatt & Bridget

2008-06-24T11:43:00.004-05:00

My dear friend Laura had her beautiful babies 3 weeks ago and I'm so excited to be able to post a few pictures of them! I'm sure proud Aunt Kelli will share more later.

Aren't they GORGEOUS??

The Room

2008-06-23T14:33:00.010-05:00

I am BEYOND thrilled to say that our girls' room is DONE!! The only thing left to do is to hang up a couple shelves and finish painting a basket and that's it. It looks AMAZING (Mom even got choked up!) and Piper absolutely loves it!

We spent all day Saturday and almost all of yesterday organizing, moving stuff around and painting. My God, I've never painted so much in my life. I was quite crafty, if I do say so myself. Ryan was AMAZING and didn't bark at me once, even when we wandering the aisles at Wal Mart and Menards - we don't usually shop well together. He just let me call the shots and went along with everything I said. I love you, honey!

I didn't take any before pics but just imagine a bed, a dresser, a bookcase and TONS of toys all over the floor. Seriously, it was BAD.

I bought the letters at Hobby Lobby and painted them myself.

I love how Ryan did Maggie's name!

Not the greatest picture of Maggie's bedding but it's lime green polka dots and stripes. I love it and it goes really well with Piper's bedding.

Piper's artwork that she created specifically for her baby sister. I bought the frames at Menards and painted them!

The changing area and a better look at Maggie's bedding.

We took the closet doors off and it makes the room feel so much bigger! I absolutely LOVE it!

Piper's dresser.

Oh, here's an exciting belly pic. 32 weeks (last Thursday).

I have my next appointment next Monday and I'm SOOOO hoping my doc will confirm/schedule my c/s. I'll keep you updated!

Update From Monday's Growth Scan

2008-06-12T10:34:00.003-05:00

Everything is just FINE!! Once I heard "normal", all was right with the world. Maggie is approximately 3 pounds which is right where she should be. So, I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and stop worrying so much. (Yeah, right!)

K

More Pictures!

2008-06-10T19:06:00.007-05:00

My beautiful girl
Poor kid needs some swim trunks!
Piper and Isaac sunning themselves
The belly at 30 weeks

An Update and a Few Pictures!!

2008-06-10T11:32:00.005-05:00

Well, I'm now almost 31 weeks (craziness!) and starting to count down the minutes. At my last appointment (on Friday), I was measuring 2 weeks "behind" and that, coupled with not much weight gain, led my doctor to decide it was time for a growth scan. So, yesterday I had a nice 1/2 hour peek at Maggie! From what I could see, she's where she should be. With each measurement, the weeks/days would display on the bottom of the screen and every measurement was at at least 30 weeks, some were bigger. Of course, I have no idea about the amniotic fluid, placenta or umbilical cord, but she looked great and she's definitely grown since I last saw her! The radiologist was going to go over my results this morning and then send everything over to Dr. Wenzel's office. I should hear the results tomorrow. I'm not too worried, though I definitely would have been had I not seen those numbers. Plus, the tech was AWESOME and explained everything as she was doing it.

Here are a few pics of our girl!

This one I absolutely love! Just look at those lips! Spitting image of her daddy and her big sister. <3

In other news, my dear friend Laura gave birth to her beautiful twins last Monday! Wyatt and Bridget were born just shy of 4 weeks early and are in spectacular health! No NICU time and have been home since last Wednesday. Much love to Laura and her beautiful family!

Sweet Isaac will be TWO on Thursday, which totally blows my mind. We're having his birthday party at Mom and Danny's on Saturday - we can't wait! I know this is particularly tough on Kari (her baby boy growing up and all) so if you're on Facebook or MySpace with her, send her a little note.

Ryan and I are spending all of Saturday the 21st getting the girls' room ready. I think he's chosen to forget that but I lovingly remind him every chance I get. Ha ha. We don't really have *that* much to do and I'm actually quite excited about it. I'll be sure to post pictures of the before and after!

Okay, that's about all for now. I'll be sure to update after I hear from Dr. Wenzel.

Much love,
K

28 Weeks! Holy crap!

2008-05-23T14:35:00.002-05:00

"Your baby weighs approximately 2.4 pounds and is a little under 15 inches from head to heel. He or she has been gaining weight steadily during the past 27 weeks as its stem cells develop into organs, blood and immune systems, and bones. However, from this point forward, your baby's weight gain will be due to increasing amounts of body fat. Your baby would have a very good chance of surviving a premature delivery if born today, but preemies are relatively rare thanks to modern obstetrical care."

I have absolutely nothing to report this week. We've got a packed weekend and I'm already planning on going to bed early tonight to gear up for it! If anyone (local) is looking for something to do tonight or tomorrow night, my dad's band is playing at the Riverside Casino from 5-8 both nights. I'll be there tomorrow!

Have a safe and happy holiday!

27 Week Belly Pic and a New One of Piper

2008-05-15T08:46:00.003-05:00

I got urged by a friend of mine to post more (Hi, Jennie!) so I'm going to try and write more often, no matter how boring my life may seem. :) Let's see, what's new this week? Oh, yeah, the heartburn is absolutely OUT OF CONTROL! So bad that I was up every 1/2 hour last night - my chest and throat felt like they were going to explode. Total B.S., if you ask me. Ha ha.

We got Maggie's bedding on Monday! My WONDERFUL mom bought it for us and I'm just THRILLED with how beautiful it is! Click here to check it out. It'll look fantastic with Piper's bedding and we've decided to go with green accents throughout their room, instead of completely painting the walls. Too much of a hassle! Piper has also said she'd like to create some artwork for us to hang around the room; her own "gift" to her baby sister.

I've got a million other pictures I'm dying to show off but my computer at work is suuuuuppppperrr slow so that'll have to wait until another day. I hope everyone is doing well!

Maggie is getting BIG!

2008-05-08T09:15:00.002-05:00

From baby-gaga:
Your miniature baby isn't so teeny tiny anymore: weighing just under 2 pounds and measuring about 14 inches from head to foot. They're still collecting their baby fat, growing their brain, and generally getting bigger and better. As for you, you're heavier, more likely to experience back ache, and probably would benefit from a nice long foot rub right about now. (Hear that, Ryan??)

From PregnancyWeekly:
Your baby weighs almost 2 pounds, measures around 14 inches from head to heel, and hears noises, responds to light, and is generally more aware of its surroundings. In the same way that you can see a flashlight if you hold it against your palm, your baby can see the light coming through your belly. You may notice increased activity when in brighter light and decreased activity in darkened rooms. Its hearing is fully developed, and as she reacts to sounds, its pulse increases. Your baby may even move in rhythm to music!

*******************************************************

I can't believe I'm 26 weeks today! That's just crazy! My appointment on Tuesday was kind of lame. I got there and they had no record of my appointment (wha??) but fit me in quickly, which surprised me. I've gained another 3 pounds (7 total), my BP was 126/76, Maggie's heartrate was 152 and I measured 25cm. Everything looked great! I then got my blood drawn to check for GD and if I don't hear anything from Dr. Wenzel, that's good news. I'm not too worried, though seeing as how NOT enjoyable this pregnancy has been, I guess anything's possible!

Not much else is going on with us. Ryan's surprise birthday party was last Friday and was he ever surprised! It was pretty cool and he was quite happy.

Piper is starting to get a bit anxious about Maggie's arrival and every time I go to the doctor, she asks me "Are you getting the baby out THIS time?" She's just too sweet. She told me last night that she was going to call her baby sister "Maggie Giraffe". I told her that was fine, as it's HER sister and she can call her whatever she wants (within reason!)

I guess that's all for now. I hope everyone is doing well!

25 Weeks!

2008-05-01T09:28:00.002-05:00

From baby-gaga:
From head to foot, your little one is now about 13.5 inches long, and they're about a pound and a half in weight. They've also started to finally put on the baby fat, which will be the one main ongoing change in appearance in the upcoming weeks. You may be getting tired of all the oddities your body is putting you through including additional thick hair (everywhere!)

******************************************************

Sorry this blog is oh-so-boring, I just don't really have much to talk about. I'm freaked out that Maggie will be here in THREE MONTHS and we have done NOTHING to prepare for her! Yikes! Not that there's really much *to* do but it's time to clean out Piper's room, do some organizing, etc, etc. Blech.

I'm feeling just okay; lots of numbness in my arms and legs, I find myself short of breath at odd times and my energy level is pretty much non-existant. I have my Glucose Tolerance Test next Tuesday so let's hope I pass THAT with flying colors!

*******************************************************

Today is Missy's 34th birthday so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MISS!! Which means, for those keeping track, that Ryan will be THIRTY tomorrow!! OMGoodness, I never thought I'd see the day - ha ha! I met him when he was just nineteen - I can't believe it's been 10 years. Wow!

Happy Birthday, honey! Me and the girls love you! <3

The Belly at 24 Weeks

2008-04-25T19:25:00.001-05:00

We Have a Name!!

2008-04-15T10:38:00.002-05:00

Shocker of all shockers, this LO already has a name! We decided on Saturday that we will call her Maggie Amelia. The more we say it, the more we love it and I think even Piper is starting to get used to it! We figured since Piper is named after someone in my family (my sweet baby brother) then we would name Maggie after someone in Ryan's family (his grandma). Amelia is Rita's middle name and we absolutely ADORE her so it's perfect!

While it's tempting to run out and buy a whole bunch of personalized "Maggie" stuff, I refuse to do so. That was my one and only rule when pregnant with Piper: I don't want anything with her name on it until she's safe and sound at home. Same goes for Maggie. It just wouldn't feel right (to me) until I'm holding her in her own home, in her own room.

Aside from that, not much going on. Oh, except for all the sickness floating around...again! Ryan has a horrific cold and I'm scared to even get near him; Mom and Danny both have some weird cough/fever/achy thing going on. Danny even closed work yesterday (UNHEARD OF) because he was so sick. That probably also had to do with me not being here either - I had a headache for 48 hours and was ready to scream last night. It's *finally* gone and I'm now at work all by my lonesome.

Piper and I have a fun playdate tomorrow with Kristin and Aiden! It's supposed to be in the 70s so the pg mamas will sit and watch their girls ride bikes - I can't wait!

I guess that's all for now. Any extra prayers/good thoughts that Piper and I do NOT get the nastiness that's around us would be greatly appreciated!

22 Weeks

2008-04-10T21:04:00.003-05:00

From babycenter:
Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out. Your baby's eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks some pigment. Your baby's lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line.

*******************************************************

I had my appointment this afternoon and it was pretty routine. Up 2.5 pounds (4 total), BP was 115/70, measured 22cm, I have my GTT in 4 weeks and I have a bladder infection. Absolutely no symptoms of that so whatever. Antibiotics for 5 days.

After all that, Doc asks about our BIG ultrasound and I told her I wasn't at all impressed with the technician. She was very blase about everything and didn't really focus or zoom in on the girly bits. I left that ultrasound feeling very uncertain and I don't like that feeling, especially when it comes to THIS. So, Doc says "Why don't we run back and take a peek? Maybe I can get a good shot." OMG, I *love* her!! She is simply THE best doctor EVER! She spent a good 5 minutes focusing on LO who was in the midst of her afternoon nap (little stinker) and we both came up with the same conclusion: definitely a GIRL! We saw the 3 white lines and I even got a picture! And the best part was hearing her say "That definitely looks like a girl to me!" FINALLY, someone said the words! Not just "Well, I don't see a penis." Ugh, whatever, lady.

So, I can be more confident now and actually start buying a few things. I've pretty much bought nothing (which is shocking) as I just wasn't feeling it. I am now! We'll have ourselves a Maggie or an Ella in just 4 months!!

21 Weeks

2008-04-03T09:18:00.002-05:00

From baby-gaga:

Your baby is now around three-quarters of a pound and nearly 11 inches long, they have fully formed eyelids and eyebrows at this point, what's more they're getting ready for another growth spurt-- this time to start packing on that cute baby fat. If you've noticed what seem like mild contractions, you're right! But not to worry, they're a far cry from what you're going to experience during labor.*

*But I won't be experiencing that (hopefully) as this LO will be coming via c/s. Yay!

*************************************************

"Names?" That seems to be THE question as of late. Even before "How are you feeling?", we hear "Do you have any names yet?" Well, any of you who know Ryan and I won't be at ALL surprised that we can't agree on anything and that it took us until almost month 8 with Piper to pick that name. That will NOT be happening this time around and we've definitely made progress already.

My next poll - if you'll indulge me - will be to see what all of YOU think of our names. And I won't say who wants what, as that'll probably sway all the votes in MY direction...right? ;)

Piper's New Bike!

2008-04-01T20:36:00.007-05:00

It was beautiful on Sunday so Piper got to (finally!) take her Christmas bike for a spin! She had SO much fun!

20 Weeks - Halfway!!

2008-03-28T13:24:00.002-05:00

From baby-gaga:

Your baby is now about 10.5 inches long from head to foot and their little limbs and head have finally reached their relative birth proportions, although they've still got loads of growing to do. On average, you should've gained about 10 lbs by now, although that's just an average so, don't be too devastated if you're over or under slightly.

******************************

Baby Girl has been SUPER active lately; definitely making her presence known! Lots of growing pains and I'm pretty uncomfortable by the end of the day but that's par for the course, right?

The name discussion has begun and we're actually agreeing on a few! This is SHOCKING for Ryan and I, really it is. I'll keep you updated!

Life and Loss

2008-03-24T20:22:00.002-05:00

For those who know what happened in Iowa City today, hold your kids a little bit tighter. Tell those you love how *much* you love them. Be thankful for all that you have.

Love and prayers to all those hurting tonight.

Well...

2008-03-21T18:10:00.003-05:00

"It" is a GIRL!! We could NOT be more thrilled, though I'm totally shocked. Piper is over the moon as she's wanted a sister since day one. LO looked wonderful and even waved at her big sister!

EIGHT MORE HOURS!

2008-03-21T07:33:00.003-05:00

How, oh HOW, will I make it through this day?? I got up at 5:40 because I couldn't sleep and now (of course) I'm exhausted. So lame. Piper's going to work with me this morning and then we'll grab some lunch together before we head off to the appointment. I'm so excited!!!

TOMORROW

2008-03-20T10:18:00.002-05:00

I really think I could pee my pants, I'm so excited!!! In just 29 hours, we'll be at our ultrasound getting a nice, long look at Baby R. Finding out the sex is just an added bonus! I will be updating just as soon as I can (we probably won't be home until 5 or so), though I will definitely be texting many of you like crazy. Ha ha ha!

Oh, and according to baby-gaga, LO is approximately 10 inches long now! No wonder I can feel him EVERYWHERE! Little sweetie. <3

Week 18

2008-03-13T09:18:00.000-05:00

From baby-gaga:

Your child is nearly half a foot long (CR measurements that is) and nearing a half pound (about 7 ounces). Their skin is now covered in a waxy substance known as vernix and their external genitals are now developed enough to be seen from an ultrasound. As for you, well, there's a good chance you've noticed some odd dark spots on your skin, which are a result of your body overproducing melanin.

Piper Update

2008-03-12T13:12:00.003-05:00

I'm bummed to say that my sweet girl has officially been "diagnosed" with migraines. Now, really, isn't that the MOST depressing thing you've ever heard?? She's FOUR! Ugh. Of all the things I could have passed onto her, she gets THAT. I was pretty upset for a few days but now I'm just taking it one day at a time with her and watching her like a hawk. Sometimes she'll catch me and say "Mommy, I'm FINE!"

The thing with this child is that she doesn't complain and she won't tell me she has a headache until it's too late. From the time she says "Mommy, my forehead hurts" to when she's sound asleep, it's no more than an hour. No warning whatsoever - just "My head hurts", then she vomits, then she goes to sleep. I'm hoping I can convince her to tell us when she first feels a headache so we can give her Tylenol or something. I've talked it over with everyone who takes care of her and we're all aware of the warning signs now (slowing in activity, she gets very pale and quiet, and just looks odd) so hopefully we can catch them and deal with them before they're full blown.

Such a bummer. :(

Appointment Update

2008-03-12T13:07:00.002-05:00

Another routine and uneventful appointment this morning. Piper didn't want to go with me so she stayed at Kari's and played with Isaac. Let's see... I've gained a total of 1.5 pounds (she even said "Now, no dieting, okay?" Yeah, like I'd be doing that.), BP was 110/62 (I'm a zombie), LO's heartrate was in the 150s and I go back in 4 weeks, on April 10th. That's about it! She gave me my instruction sheet for the ultrasound and told me to go ahead and schedule the appointment; I just laughed. "Yep, did that already!" I was also told to double my dose of iron (blech) and see how I feel after 2 weeks. I've been very, very tired lately and have been getting headaches pretty much daily. Hopefully this will help a bit!

The Belly at 17w1d

2008-03-07T10:32:00.002-06:00

Week 17

2008-03-07T07:38:00.002-06:00

From baby-gaga:
As your baby is in the middle of an impressive growth spurt it should come as not surprise to hear that they've already added nearly another inch to their length and over an ounce and a half to their weight (they're around 5 ounces and 5 inches). You're definitely feeling the growth as your belly expands enough to make you feel a bit off balance now and again. Also watch out for that round ligament pain...

From babycenter:
Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby can move his joints, and his skeleton until now, rubbery cartilage is starting to harden into bone. Some of it will remain cartilage for years after he's born. A newborn's skeleton has 300 parts (a combination of bone and cartilage). As your child grows, some of these parts harden and fuse together. By the time your baby reaches adulthood, he'll have just 206 bones.

Fun in the Snow!!

2008-03-03T20:40:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day so Piper and I headed out to enjoy the sunshine!

Week 16 - 4 months!!

2008-02-28T10:32:00.000-06:00

Once again, courtesy of baby gaga:
Your little one is nearly five inches in length and weighs over three ounces! This week is the beginning of an impressive three-week growth spurt for them which you'll soon be feeling. If you haven't yet, you'll soon be feeling those first exciting fluttering "kicks". It's also time to head in for that critical ultrasound if you're up for knowing whether you've got a little boy or girl.

Friday, March 21st

2008-02-26T16:45:00.002-06:00

Woo hoo!! We have our BIG ultrasound scheduled for the 21st at 3:15! I'm SO excited, I can't even stand it! I'm just SO glad to have a date in mind so I can stop obsessing about it. Mom and Piper will be with us (in the waiting room) and will get to come in at the end for the "fun" stuff. Woo hoo!!! Hope that baby cooperates and shows us the goods!

What Happened Here??

2008-02-24T19:01:00.001-06:00

Is this what "they" mean when they say "You'll suddenly pop"? I swear, I look bigger today than I did Thursday. Am I losing my mind??

Just For Katy

2008-02-22T17:17:00.002-06:00

Shield your eyes for the bare belly!

Week 15

2008-02-21T10:22:00.000-06:00

Courtesy of baby gaga:

Your nearly four-inch long gymnast is happily mobile inside your womb and if you're really lucky, you’ll notice a point when your sneezing, coughing or laughing results in a little kick here or a poke there. Still, many women don't feel anything until the 17th week or later. Although the poking and kicking isn't very charming during sleeping hours, it’s a good sign as it means your baby is actually reacting to outside events. Yay! You’ve got yourself one active healthy baby! Their little elbows and knees are bending more freely this week and their little legs are finally growing longer than their arms and getting pumped up for prenatal Richard Simmons. Many of their major organ systems are increasing in capacity—particularly that amazing tiny heart and complex circulation system, which is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood per day, and will increase to a very impressive 200 quarts per day by the end of the pregnancy. As far as hair goes, we’ve got some new scalp patterns beginning to develop on the head, although actual head hair is not yet present.

I Got the Call

2008-02-20T10:44:00.002-06:00

It's official: my baby girl is registered for preschool this fall. I bawled like a baby on and off all day Friday; I just can't believe she's going to SCHOOL!! I know it's "just" preschool, but next year is kindergarten and then, before we know it, she'll be graduating. Ugh. She'll be going to Kinderfarm, which we're all pretty excited about. Though she keeps saying "I hate school, Mommy", I think she'll change her tune when we go for our visit in the spring.

Our baby is growing up, and just in time for a new baby to come into our lives! Wow.

Something Close To My Heart

2008-02-14T11:55:00.003-06:00

Today, Valentine's Day, is a day to show your love for your husband or wife, right? Well, in my eyes, a perfect world would allow everyone to LEGALLY use those words "husband" and "wife", regardless of their sexual orientation. I think a man or a woman should be able to marry the man or woman he/she loves and have all the same rights as hetero couples. Before I go off on some scary rant, I'll just post this link and hope some of you use it. Million For Marriage.

Much love to everyone.

So...

2008-02-13T16:26:00.001-06:00

...who's voting on my poll?? I thought I'd be able to check it periodically to see who's stopping in but I can't! 'Fess up, people!

Not Much to Report

2008-02-12T16:02:00.002-06:00

As predicted, yesterday's appointment was pretty blah. I peed in a cup, got weighed (shocked to learn I haven't gained any weight), listened to LO's hearbeat (in the 150s) and was "yelled" at about my iron level. I always seem to teeter back and forth into anemia and it gets worse when I'm pregnant. So, I need to keep taking my iron pills (which I HATE) and up my red meat intake. Blah, blah, blah.

Piper came with me but seemed very unimpressed with the whole thing. We've listened to LO's heartbeat enough at home that she was all "What's the big deal?" She cracks me up. Dr. W has only seen Piper once since she was born and was really shocked to see how big she is! Dr. W also has a daughter named Piper so they had a lot to talk about.

My next appointment is March 12th and I will *hopefully* be able to schedule my BIG ultrasound then. My good friend Katy is due on the 9th and finds out on March 17th - I'm so excited for her and her family! Two of my other friends are due in June so this is turning out to be the summer of babies! Kristin and Laura are both due June 28th - Laura is having boy/girl twins and Kris found out today but is being coy in her emails. I'm pretty sure it's a boy... (Okay, I'm wrong. Looks like Aiden will be having a sister!!)

In other news, it seems Ryan's side of the family is having a rough go with sickness. Missy and her three boys are all suffering from Influenza B and it sounds like they've had a few really bad days. Poor Brennen had to go to the ER for fluids - he's only 2. :( If you could keep all of them in your thoughts, I'd really appreciate it!

Love,
Kelli

New(er) Pictures of Piper

2008-02-10T12:40:00.000-06:00

Showing off her lovely dress at my cousin Eric's wedding reception. He married the lovely Amy in Florida on December 1st and then had a reception for the Iowa clan on the 29th!

The SpongeBob Squarepants birthday cake she just HAD to have!

Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Today Is A Good Day!

2008-02-07T09:28:00.001-06:00

For two reasons:

1) I'm 13 weeks so I'm OFFICIALLY in the 2nd trimester. There's a discrepancy as to when the 2nd tri actually starts - is it 12 weeks? Is it 13? Blah, blah, blah. I'm there so WHATEVER. I can't believe it.

2) No later than 6 MONTHS FROM TODAY, my little one will be here. Wow, that totally blows my mind. If everything goes according to "plan" (ha ha) and Little One doesn't surprise us like his sister did, then his birthday will be August 7th. I'm saying "he" and "him" all the time now, as it just seems to fit. Like I told Mom yesterday, I'll call him that until/unless I'm proven wrong!

My next appointment is on Monday but it's just a boring routine check-up (get weighed, pee in a cup) so there won't be much to report.

It's kind of scary to me that at just 13 weeks, I can say "This little guy is so active!" What will the rest of the pregnancy be like?? He's moving around a lot and I feel pokes and jabs and head butts throughout the day. Very reassuring - oh, how the mind wanders at night... - but also alarming at times. What'll it be like when he's KICKING me? Ack!

I guess that's all for now. We were snowed in yesterday so my desk is a bit scary today. Later!

Love,
Kelli

I Can't Believe It's February!!

2008-02-01T18:31:00.000-06:00

I have absolutely nothing to report except the fact that my shirts are ever so slightly getting too short and I'm sick to death of constantly yanking them down. I went to target and got the most beautiful - and comfortable! - sweater today and just *had* to take my picture in it. This is today, 12w1d.

OH! How could I forget?? I felt the Little One move the other night. It was a light tapping sensation and I instantly froze, just waiting for it to come back. A few minutes later, "tap tap tap" right under my belly button. Oh my goodness, it was SO cool and made me feel so connected to baby. This all feels so real to me now. I know that sounds silly but I never let my mind go so far as thinking about actually HAVING a baby. Now I can start planning and thinking up names (which Ryan will immediately veto) and dream about holding him (yes, I think it's a boy.)

I'M PREGNANT!!!

The Little One's Second Picture

2008-01-30T12:16:00.001-06:00

Looking more like an alien, this is at 9w4d.

*If anyone has tips to help make these pics bigger, I'd be so grateful!

The Little One's First Picture

2008-01-30T12:14:00.000-06:00

The "blob" at 6w1d (6 weeks, 1 day).

*Such a lousy photo but I took it with my camera phone, which is why it's so small.

Viewer Beware

2008-01-30T12:10:00.000-06:00

This would be the belly at 11 weeks - yikes!

We're Having a Baby!

2008-01-30T11:46:00.001-06:00

Since I'll be 12 weeks tomorrow (yay!), I thought it was time to start our blog. I've been wanting to do this for some time but wanted to wait until I was in the "safe" zone. I'm still a bit nervous and unsure but excited at the same time.

Just a little info for those unaware of what we've been up to:
we are living in iowa city, I work for Danny at Berg Auto and Ryan's a foreman at Ace Electric, where he's been for almost 4 years (this time.) Piper just turned 4 on Christmas Eve - still trying to get used to that, by the way - and is absolutely thrilled at the idea of being a big sister!

I found out on Monday, December 3rd that I was pregnant (I took a total of 7 tests over the course of 4 days) and I still don't think it's really sunk in yet. I've had two ultrasounds and have heard the little one's hearbeat on numerous occasions, as I splurged and rented a doppler for a few months. Let me tell you, it's great for peace of mind. Piper loves to sit next to me and listen to her sister's hearbeat. Yes, I said sister. She's insisting that we're having a girl because "I need a sister, Mommy!" Well, we'll find out in march and I hope for her sake, she's right!

I'm feeling pretty good...now. Morning sickness - something I wasn't "blessed" with when pregnant with Piper - set in at 6 weeks and hung on for dear life until almost 10 weeks. I got an Rx for phenergan (aka "miracle drug") which really helped with the nausea. I'm only taking half a dose at night now, as I feel great during the day.

My due date is august 14th, with my repeat c-section tentatively scheduled for august 7th. As my doctor said "This baby may have other plans like Piper did so we'll be keeping our eye on you".

I'm getting quite the belly on me and will be posting belly pics along the way. I guess that's about all for now. I'm really glad i'm doing this, as I want to make sure all our friends and family can check in as they want and keep updated. I don't want to be obnoxious and send out monthly emails so if you want to know what's going on with us, YOU have to do the work. Ha ha!

Until next time,
Kelli