The Joys of Pregnancy!

Wow, a lot has happened in the last month or so since I last blogged.
May started out with finals and me graduating from nursing school....so I can say I am done with school for a few years! I convinced Matt it was a good idea for me to take off 3 weeks between graduation and the start of orientation. And ugh after day 2 of building a shed I was ready to be anywhere but sweating outside being Matt's apprentice, meaning handing him tools and holding stuff.

On May 14th, the floor I work on threw me a baby shower- and so began the mounds of baby stuff piling up in her room. Then on May 16th, we had our 4D ultrasound...which was absolutely amazing and I would recommend to all my preggers friends! She was very cooperative and made lots of big movements and was so full of expression- smiling, pouty lips, etc. More people say she looks like me Daddy, but we'll know in only 42 days........


That next weekend, a very good friend in Mansfield threw me my "big" shower. And I just thought she had lots of stuff! We went to Matt's parents' lakehouse on Lake Granbury for 10 days during those 3 weeks off.
Last weekend, my baby sister Courtney graduated from high school...crazy that she's all grown up!

Now for some venting.....don't get me wrong, I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed being pregnant and I know without a doubt it's all worth it- but danggit I just had no clue what I was really getting myself into! So I think I was told something like 95% of all women get stretchmarks (or as my mom friends call them "mommy marks!"). Although I got them from growth spurts as a young girl...I guess I was hoping I would somehow fall into that lucky 5%- not so much! There's this skin rash that less than 1% of pregnant women get, called PUPPS, and yup you guessed it- I'm one of those lucky 1%ers! It's like a crazy eczema outbreak all over my body with bumps & whelps that itches like the dickens....once again during this pregnancy I found myself scratching until I was bleeding. (finally got a prescription yesterday!) Prior to this week, I had no idea that pads (ie maxi pads & pantyliners) came in the shape of thongs...but good news ladies- THEY DO! And I just thought I leaked fluids in my first trimester. Dr. P thinks I'm just gradually losing my mucus plug- lucky me! Then there's the hemangiomas I've developed, the worsening Vitiligo, the epulis in my mouth, swollen fingers that don't allow my rings so I look like I'm carrying an illegitimate baby with a married man, yadayada the list could go on and on!
Oh and to top it all off, I went to the dr yesterday and I've gained 37 pounds and I'm measuring 38 weeks, yet I'm only 34 weeks. So either 1) the due date is off,2) Maycee is swimming in an excessive amount of fluid, or 3) she's just a plump healthy baby in there.

But as I'm so kindly reminded by my husband, this is what I wanted and will soon have a beautiful baby girl that will make me forget about all these oh so fun joys of pregnancy!

Oops I did it again!

Ok Jane, this one's for you!
Well I went to the doctor this week- for our 7 month check-up, which is just mind blowing that I'm already in my 28th week. And this appt. was also the oh so fun glucose tolerance test- you mommys out there know how much fun this one is! Actually to be honest, I was so thirsty since I hadn't had anything to drink in 2 hours that the lemon-lime drink really wasn't that bad! I passed the glucose test but like many pregnant women, I am now anemic so I get to add some iron to my prenatal vitamin- bring on the GI problems! My uterus did measure a little big for my gestation, measuring over 29 weeks. So we're going to "keep an eye on her growth"- hopefully this means I can be induced early and not have to suffer in the middle of July (although I would love to be able to go into labor naturally). And I did once again gain another 7lbs this month....yup thats a grand total of 21 lbs in 7 months. So I am again saying for the second month in a row I am going to go on more walks and eat better...we'll see how this goes!


I got a job as a RN- I will be working on the oncology unit. I'll start June 7th......so excited to be making some real money! The plan is to work up until "D-day" and then take off 6-8 weeks to spend with the little princess. Maycee will be going to daddy day care, as Matt is home for 48 hours after working a 24hr shift. And on the days when we're both working- she'll spend her days with her Gammy or her Auntie Courtney. I will only be working 3 days/week, so between our schedules- she's going to be able to be taken care of by family only!
Alright, well that's about enough for now- until next time!
~Steph

Preparing for the lil Princess!

Ahh forgive me, it's been too long and I haven't updated this in a while.....this semester has been crazy!

So we found out on February 16th that we're having a little girl, which I'm so excited about and I think daddy is getting there too! I of course took my entourage with us to the appointment (that's my mom, Gammy, Jessica, & Courtney). And as if having a good looking older male OB do the ultrasound wasn't bad enough, his resident was there too.....and he's a cutie patootie too! Matt swore he wasn't disappointed, but I'm sure deep down he was hoping that the "100% It's a Girl" was wrong. But not mommy, I've had so much fun shopping for this little girl.

I guess I've been a slacker when it comes to getting prepared for her arrival, her room is still empty and I haven't picked out the bedding or furniture.....although I have narrowed everything down to just a few. Matt says he won't paint the nursery unless it has green in it, so the bedding choices I've picked out all are pink and green and not any of the pink & brown stuff that's so easy to find!
So at my 5 month appointment, I was delighted to learn that while most women at that point usually have gained 12-15lbs, I had only gained 7! But I guess I thought that meant I was entitled to eat anything & everything b/c at my 6 mo. appointment, I had gained gained another 7lbs. Meaning I put on the same amount of weight in 4 weeks that I had put on in the first 5 months. I've eaten more salads in the last few days than I have the whole pregnancy. No more cokes (or at least very limited!) and we're back to riding our bikes and going on walks. Even though I'm still within the weight gain for my gestation, I can't continue to gain 7lbs/month for the next 4 mos.

Well I could keep going on and on since I haven't blogged in forever, but I spare you. Hopefully by next blog we will have decided on her full name and the spelling, b/c that's been a source of contention...but I have faith that mommy will prevail and daddy will come around!

So Christmas came and went, it was by far the weirdest Christmas I've ever had and it doesn't even feel like Christmas is already over. I knew Matt had to work this Christmas all year long so I tried to prepared myself and scheduled me to work, but it still didn't feel like Christmas. But that's all in the past and now I get to look forward to next year....I can't believe this was our last holiday as a family of two! It warms my heart to know next year we'll have a little one to share the day with....and oh my gosh can't imagine the amount of gifts this little one will have under the tree. It's no understatement to say that this will be one SPOILED little baby!

Speaking of the baby, we had our first ultrasound on December 9....here's some if his/her first pictures:

I know, not much to see but still so amazing to see and hear that flickering heartbeat on the monitor. I didn't cry, which surprised me, but of course my entourage did. Yup, it was me, Matt, my mom (aka Gammy), Jessica, and Courtney (along with the nurse practitioner and nurse) in this tiny little dark room. But it was great and I wouldn't have had it any other way!

My pregnancy has been absolutely amazing, no morning sickness/nausea/vomiting. I was so tired the first few weeks, but I attribute some of that to my body adjusting to not being on my Adderall. I'd say the most difficult part of this journey thus far has been dealing with my eczema, since I can't use the prescribed steroids to treat it. The worst body site imaginable has been the toughest for me to deal with -my nipples/breasts (...yes sorry for those whom I just offended, but if so you might not want to follow my blog b/c I don't hold much back!) And the nurse practitioner's suggestion to help it...lay out in your backyard topless. You kidding me? I know we're in Texas and all but that's just not feasible lady! I'm just hoping I can get this under control before D-Day because I plan on nursing and don't want this to stand in the way!

The "big" sonogram where we will find out the sex (so I can start buying all these amazingly adorable outfits I keep finding) is February 16...... I keep checking my "Days Until..." app, which says 50 days till "Boy or Girl?" I had a dream that it's a boy, no not the first dream which was about the twin boys and a triplet sister! Matt of course wants a boy and wants nothing to do with talking about it being a little girl. But I know if it is she will have him wrapped around her little finger just like we did with my daddy! So he's naming a little boy and I am naming a little girl...that's what we've worked out thus far!

Gammy (my mom) gave us a video camera for Christmas and will get to try it out on our ski trip to Red River we've had planned all year, or should I say Matt's ski trip and my watch trip! We're going Matt's youngest brother and his gf, his parents, and their friends. The NP suggested I not ski at all and one of the OBGYN's I talked to at work said if I am going to do any skiing, to stay on the bunny hills and to just take it easy. I haven't made up my mind what I'll do, keeping in mind we do ski every year. In fact we ski so often we own our own skis/boots/poles. While I'm no Picabo Street, I am a fairly good skier and might fall only once during a 3 day ski, partly b/c I don't allow myself to get that fast or out of control. But I go for my next appointment the day before we leave (Jan 6), so I'm going to check with my doctor and see what she says. I'll have no problems with sipping hot cocoa and shopping if she nixes the skiing!

Ok, well my fingers hurt and I'm sure your eyes do too! Until next time...thanks for reading!

~Steph

ExCiTiNg NeWs.......

So I've been reminded yet again (ok so maybe I'm not getting any better about updating this thing without reminders) that I need to share a little bit of news with the world......WE'RE EXPECTING!

Our little one is due Thursday July 22, 2010 - I know the day b/c I had to look at the calendar to see Matt's shift schedule, and of course the baby is due on "C" shift (Matt's shift)! We're so very excited I just want to ffwd to the day I first feel a kick, to the day we find out what it is, to the big day, and on and on. But I know I will look back and think how fast it went by so I am trying to remind myself to just enjoy the moment!

So you probably know, if you've been following the blog, that we started trying in August. Even though I said I wasn't going to use the daily ovulation strips and pee on the pregnancy test like the day before I was due to start, I did all those things ;) But when the ovulation strips ran out and the 2 pack pregnancy tests came up negative, I decided I wasn't going to be so crazy about the whole thing and "just let it happen." Ok, so I didn't give up all control....I charted my last few periods on the pregnancy wheel I permanetly borrowed from the hosptial! So on the few days before I knew I was supposed to start, I noticed a few weird things that were and weren't happening. On the day before I was due to start, something just told me I was pregnant so I drove my happy butt down to the Walgreens and purchased a 3 pack. Matt was at Cabellas with some friends and had no clue what was going! As soon as my urine hit the stick, I thought I noticed both lines starting to turn pink. Determined not to sit there and stare at it, I loaded some dishes and went outside with Oliver. But when I walked back into the bathroom I spotted both pink lines from the door and just started crying.

I was so freakin excited all I wanted to do was call Matt but I also knew I wanted to tell him in a special way. But I did have to tell somebody so I texted the picture to my middle sister, Jessica. So since Matt was at Cabellas getting some last minute stuff for his upcoming hunting trip to Kansas, I stopped by Academy and purchased a newborn camo onsie and wrapped it in a camo bag. Then I went to class where I had the hardest time concentrating and keeping my big mouth shut....but I did manage to not spill the beans. I got home and Matt was playing the new Modern Warfare and was totally distracted. So I made him put the controller down and handed him the bag and told him I picked him up something that he probably couldn't use on this hunting trip but definitely could next year. He opened it up and pulled it out upside down, holding it by the snaps. Looked at me and said "so are you pregnant?" I responded yes and he said "for real?" When he realized I was serious he said "yeah my love" and gave me a kiss.

Wow, that's a lot to write...sorry to be so wordy but there it is! Our first ultrasound is December 9th and I warned the nurse that I will be there with my entourage, b/c I know my mom and sisters, and of course Matt will be in attendance.

So now I will be posting more often because I actually have what I've always considered "worthy information" to blog about!

~Steph

Hi! I'm trying to get into the habit of keeping up to date with this blog thing, b/c I'm hoping that soon I can really have something interesting to blog about, oh like a baby. But for now we're still trying, or "practicing" as Matt refers to it...nice dear, nice!

Nothing really new going on. Matt graduated as salutatorian from paramedic school in August (missed valedictorian by .0001 of a difference!), so we've actually been able to see each other and spend quality time together since we're not both is school and both working. I'm still working at Scott & White as a Nurse Tech on the oncology floor, but since I want to work in peds after graduation, I'm def looking forward to our pedi rotation this semester. Adult med-surg is just not my thing!

Jessica is still living with us, but will soon be evicted and forced to be a big girl as she is graduating in December. We finally appeased our homeowner's association- planted a freakin tree (one of the 4 species allowed), and did some rock work around the new flower beds...flowers coming soon! But perhaps the most exciting about the house is our new neighbors:

Yes, the snakes have decided to move- closer to mi casa is what they had in mind. This one is at the stop sign just by my house...we are the first house on the street so it's not far! This is the 4th snake we've seen in a week.....one of which I killed myself. Although it was only like 2-3 inches long, big snakes were once little baby snakes is what I told Matt since he didn't want to kill it b/c it "was just a baby." And my neighbor said her 4 yr old daughter found one last month coiled up in the bottom of her pink princess toy box...IN HER ROOM. So I'm pretty much freaking out, I won't let Oliver use his doggie door b/c I'm afraid one might want to decide to use it as a snakie door...and then we have HUGE problem. I posed the idea of an outside cat to help the problem, but that went over like a turd in a punch bowl,,,,any ideas?

Well that's about all I got for now,,,hopefully the next blog I can post will be something about a big announcement. But until then we'll keep doing what we do!

~Steph

Little Update

So, I was reminded this weekend that I have fallen way behind on this blog thing, ok more like I totally suck since I posted only 1 blog 6 months ago. But I'm here and that's the most important thing (Amos!). Oh my, where do I begin?

We finally bought a house after what was supposed to be only 6 months renting turned into a year. We bought a foreclosure (of course!) in a great little gated neighborhood in Belton (ok actually just on the edge of Temple & Belton, but Belton schools so I just claim Belton). I can't see us ever buying a house where we are paying market value without the prospect of making some serious cash, it's just addicting!

Well I went for a follow-up mammogram today, all is good and I've decided to just leave the tumors alone. There hasn't been any change in cell type (ie benign to malignant), size, or shape....so my next mammo is scheduled for after my 40th birthday, WOOHOO! The whole lupus thing is still an unknown, but I haven't been back to the Rheumy and for now don't plan on it....unless I experience a significant change in my health.

So the month has arrived in which we had set to "start trying," and I received several text messages from my mom and sisters on the 1st asking me if I was pregnant yet.....the answer is NO! But August is the month we said we we're going to start trying. The Dr. said that since I've been off the pill for 2 years, if I'm not pregnant within 6 months, we should go see a specialist, so we'll see!

Well I guess that about sums it up, I'm going to try and keep up with this thing.....hopefully soon I will have a good reason to start blogging ;0)

~Steph