a few of my favorite things as of late..

A few things that have gotten me through pregnancy so far....

1. Working out...this has been a HUGE thing for me. I am lucky enough to be able to go to the gym 4-5 times a week and do cardio for about 45-hr plus weights when I go. I feel like I have more energy and a better desire and craving to eat healthy.
2. Stretch mark oil and lotion. I am obsessed with Clarins stretch mark oil..not only is it working for me so far but also smells really good!! I mix it with a less expensive lotion so it last longer!
3. Foot massages. I have had some serious problems with my foot and was in the middle of doing physical therapy my 2 time around when I found out I was pregnant..so I was unable to finsh...anyways..a miracle has happened and my foot is almost all the way better. Dave is kind enough to massage my feet every night before bed.
4. Body pillow.  These things are wonderful. We just got a regular long body pillow. Nothing fancy or expensive. I love it.  I was more of a back and stomach sleeper before I got pregnant and even though my Dr said I could continue to sleep as so..I decided not to. This body pillow helps my back and provides extra cushion!
5. Coke.  I don't care what people say or think about this. I am perfectly ok to drink this..(another OK from my Dr) It helped with morning sickness and honestly gets me through some days!
6. Bellaband. I love it! I have not had to buy maternity jeans or shorts yet..I also use an elastic to button my pants. 
7. Maternity clothes. Yeah, I know with the style and all that some people get away with wearing regular shirts and stuff throughout their pregnancy...well, I would rather be comfortable! There are cute maternity stores!  ASOS is one of my favorites! Oh, and of course Gap and Old Navy!

I can't think of anymore at the moment! I am sure I will later! I just want to remember these things for my other pregnancies and well..just because! If you have any items that helped you through please share! I would love to know!!!

21 weeks!!

I am a little behind with pregnancy pictures....

Here I was at 21 weeks

This was taken while we were Venice. I am also behind with ourEurope pictures..they are coming soon!!

An Unnerving Experience

Dave and I were so excited to find out what we were having.  Everyday our minds would change from thinking it was a boy to a girl. We talked the doctor into letting us find out before we left for Europe..so I was 19 weeks and not 20.  The Friday before we left we made the trek to the hospital (not the one I usually go to and this one was an hr away).  Our appt. was at 7:30 so we knew we would be the first ones and hoping it would not take that long.

I don't think I have ever been tried more in my life with having patience. When we were seen, we had 2 different techs helping us. The baby was not cooperating at all. Her legs were crossed and she wouldn't move the right way in order for them to get correct measurements. I was so frustrated. They shook my belly, had me go to the bathroom, had me stand up, lay in different positions and still nothing!  This went on for about an hour. Dave kept saying..I don't care if we find out the gender..all that matters to me is if the baby is healthy... 

When the techs finished getting all the measurements the ultrasound doctor came in to double check everything and hopefully tell us the gender! We were still there forever and we thought he was just doing his job. We did however think it was taking a long time...at this point we had been there for almost 2 hours.  As he is looking at everything and zooming in we notice he kept looking at  the same thing. He then begins to tell us some things we were not expecting to hear...in fact things no parents and especially first timers don't want to hear.  He told us that the baby had an echogenic bowel. He suggested to us that we see a genetic specialist. He said echogenic bowel is a marker for cystic fibrosis and Downs Syndrome...or it could be caused by a virus. He said the chances of major problems occurring were still very small...but there was a greater risk compared to our babies. While he is telling us all this he types on the screen..it's a girl.  OK, well that was a little weird...I mean, as he is telling us to go to a specialist, he writes this? It was so strange and so depressing for us. We left feeling all sorts of confused and not knowing what was going to happen and knowing we were leaving the country in 2 days. 

I quickly phoned my OB to see what they had to say.  She called back several times and made us feel a little bit better. She insisted that I go the next day to get blood work to see if I had some sort of virus. This was challenging because I work in a salon... Saturday is the busiest day. I didn't want to miss work..especially because we were leaving the next day and I had taken 2 weeks off. We figured we would go at 7 in the morning to get the blood work, giving us some spare time before I had to go to work.

When we arrived at the hospital they wouldn't accept me. I usually go to a clinic for blood, but my doctor said I could go to my hospital. It ended up not working out. I said screw it... I need to get to work so we will have to do this when we got back. When we called the doctor to tell her our new plan, she instead insisted I go. She said the hospital should have taken me and that she would talk to my boss for me and that missing work wasn't as important as this blood work. So of course I freaked and went to the salon and told them what was going on...(they were so sweet and still are about this situation). We headed back to the hospital and had a million tests done.

When I called to find out results they told me I tested positive for chicken pox. Well I've had them before so that was strange. I had to go back as soon as we got home from Europe for more testing and another ultrasound. They wanted to see if all this was a fluke or what. I guess if I had the chicken pox that is what could have caused the echogenic bowel (or maybe not) so they needed to know.

When we went for the follow up ultrasound the doctor gave us the same news. The baby still has that brightened bowel. My 2 test results came back even more positive for chicken pox as well. This is all so odd! They obviously don't think I have chicken pix and maybe it is just my body and I have naturally high levels. They said not to worry so much about that. Our main concern at this point is the bowel problem. Even though our little baby girl is measuring fine (thank goodness!) they still need to watch everything and make sure she continues to measure OK. They put me as a "high risk".. I'm assuming for insurance purposes and we have to go every 4 weeks for ultrasounds. We have been stressed out about this and even though we feel like everything will be OK, it has been hard. We want our little girl to be happy and healthy. We know that it is not in our hands and are praying things work out, however they are meant to be.

This has really been a learning experience for us and are grateful for those who have supported us and helped us! I'm especially grateful for Dave's parents and how living so close to them has been such a help. Dave was on a work trip when I had the ultrasound and his mom came with me. It was really sweet!!

We love our baby girl and can't wait to meet her in 3 1/2 months!!!

I was completely shocked yesterday when Dave's dad surprised me and his mom with a really cute poem. He wrote one for me from our little baby to be and one to my MIL...

Here is the one he wrote me...

Love From Within

Here I am inside your tummy

All warm and snug tasting something yummy

I hear your voice so sweet and clear

Anxiously waiting for me to appear

I feel so happy knowing I am loved already

I hear my Dad saying take it nice and steady

Each day that passes I am looking more like my folks

Developing nicely and tasting Mom's coke

So until that day when we look in each others eye's

and I can look up at you and smile with glee

Let me bethe first to day "I Love You Mom"

Have a happy Mother's Day from me.

It seriously was the sweetest thing in the world. I was so emotional that I was laughing so hard while reading it but really felt like crying! I know he is just my father-in-law but he is more like a dad to me. I know that this little baby will be blessed to have such a great pop pop!

This is the poem he wrote to my mother-in-law..

Someone Special

Even though I am still inside my mommy's tummy

I can hear voices that sound so loving

Mom, Dad, Pop Pop and Uncle Jason

But there is one that I can't wait embracing

I picture her holding me close to her heart

Looking down at God's and Mommy's work of art

She speaks of me with love like no other

I can't wait to meet my grandmother

So even though it will be a while

Before we meet and share a smile

Just remember who this is from

Happy Mother's Day Grandmom.

I feel very lucky to have married not only a great guy but a great guy who had a great family! It made my day! We all can't wait to meet this little girl!!!!!



We are back!

We had such a good time. We took tons of pictures. We ate lots of good food..(especially Italian and Dave was in heaven). We (I) went to the bathroom one too many times and we had to pay each time we went! We spent lots of time with family. We did lots of walking. We loved every minute of it.

We obviously have not had time to go through all our pictures..so here is one picture from Lake Como. It was absolutely gorgeous!!!

I will hopefully get around to organizing pictures this week!!!



It's a....

EUROPE!!

We are leaving in just a few days to go visit my sister in Germany.  While we are there we are going to to Italy. We will be visiting Venice, Verona and Lake Como! Even though it has been stressful trying to get ready and doing a few extra projects around the house...we couldn't be more excited!

Isn't Lake Como gorgeous??

Let the COUNTDOWN begin!!!!