Kicks a Miss

Little baby girl (LBG) worried me today... and last night. It's all good, but I just wanted to document it for myself.
Alright, so last night I ate waaaayy too much, which I didn't think was too much because it was a pretty average sized sinner, but then the desert was a bit big and probably put me over. A ton of sugary goodness, that after I ate it was almost instantly regretting having it all to myself. Oh, glutony, what a cruel cruel thing.
Anyway, My stomach was feeling super-dooper tight, and was visibly so too because Chris was concerned when he saw it. I went and tried to relieve it by relaxing in the tub for a bit, but that only worked slightly. So then I decided to get up and walk around a bit, you know exercise it off maybe. So I went out and picked up the doggie doo (at 9:30pm). That didn't work either.
That's when I started to notice that I ahdn't felt her move. I mean, I had noticed it at first, but just thought she couldn't because of everything I ate. I went and laid down for a little bit, and still couldn't get her going. Finally I just gave in to my superior worring skills and called the "baby hotline."
The "Baby Hotline" is a special thing I signed up for free of charge with BCBS. They have 24 hour nurses on call for any worries or questions I might have. I asked her what I should do, and she said to drink a lot of water, then go lay on my left side and count her movement. She should move 5-10 times in one hour. Well, she did, but it was barely. So I still worried and didn't get a lot of sleep because I coudln't feel her when I normally could (rolling over, getting up to go pee, etc). So when I got up at 3am and couldn't feel her any more I lay worrying. I woke Chris up and borrowed his iPhone so I could play her music. I played a number of songs, but only got 1 kick... and that worried me a lot because they were songs she usually went crazy on! I voiced my concern, but then went back to sleep because she had kicked.
When I got up this morning for work I was so exhausted. She didn't kick me at all like she normally does early on. So again, I was worried, but figured it was because we were both exhausted. Went to work and she laid low the whole time. When I got home I ate and drank some juice (something the nurse had reccomended last night, but I didn't have any)(the juice is good because of the sugar), then I went and laid down again. Nothing. No movement. LBG was scaring the crap out of me now!
Let's recap: Last night my stomach was feeling super dooper tight, add to that her lack of movement. Then since then I'd started to get cramps that felt like really bad menstrul cramps.
So I decided I'd call my nurse here locally and see if I needed to go in or what. She gave me the same advice "drink lots of liquids, preferably juice, lay down on my left side and count the kicks." There were some mild differences: "I mean, a ton of liquids; like those 42-oz big gulps," and for the kicks "there should be 6-10 per hour," she also added "to maybe have something sugary to eat." So I did. I followed the instructions as best I could. I only had one more juice box, so I didn't drink that. But I did have a miniature Hershey bar from our trick-or-treat stash and two full tall glasses of ice-cold water (I'd read that they respond a bit more if it's really cold). Then I went and laid down. She started kicking right away. I got to six before half an hour. She was doing just fine, she even gave me some weird little movements that are still hard to describe (but I'll try: it's like she adjusted her position, and sat on it).
To conclude, yes, she scared me, but everything's alright. She's up and moving as I type. My stomach hurts off and on, but I'm trying to take it easy and eat a little at a time. Maybe I'm dehydrated?

Gotta Have it

I had my first "gotta have it" craving just a few moments ago. I just had to have candied walnuts... diamond brand prefered. I went to two different grocery stores and finally found something resembling what I wanted at Walgreens. Not quite what I want, but it works... for now. Its a good thing McDonalds has it, but it's in such little amounts, and I'd have to get it with a few other things and I don't want to waste all that. I just wish I could find it in larger amounts.

Maternity Clothes

Maternity clothes are great! I didn't realize how frumpy I looked before when I was just wearing baggy clothes and pj bottoms. Now I feel good about my looks (sexy one might say, but it sounds weird given the pregnancy big belly part of it) when I go out. I want to thank both Patty and Mom for getting me some new threads. I really really really appriciate it! They were much needed, and I didn't even realize how much so.
I was trying to hold out all nine months and not buy any... well, I got six months through, and I'm starting to think I should have gotten them earlier! I mean, at three months, you couldn't even tell how far along I was. I only really started showing within the last couple of months. Month 4 my pants were tight at the waist, and I had gained back the belly I had worked on loosing before getting pregnant.
Month 5, I've just been wearing my big clothes from before I lost weight, and even some of Chris' clothes that he accidently shrunk. But pants had been restricted to elastic waistbands and drawstrings. I think it's because I don't feel I get out enough for me to go out and get clothes for it, but with two weddings and some other things to go to, I had to look really really hard for things I could wear.
So last time Mom was here, I broke down and we went shopping for "pants that weren't PJs... specifically jeans." I found some that were really nice. I had to exchange one pair, but I got some nice stuff from the exchange. I'm glad they have the return policy on their clothes. I liked the pair I had to exchange, but they were just not fitting right. When I walked around too much they'd slide down. I felt like I was pulling up my pants all the time, and that's hard to do with the "secret belly fit" because you're not only pulling up around the waist, you have to pull up under the boobs and backside too! But it's all good. I traded them in for some jeans that are under the belly. I didn't think I'd like that style because I don't like low-riders, but they fit great! They sit nice and high in the back, so I'm not showing any sort of underwear when I bend or sit, but are low in front. The only thing is they feel a bit odd when I sit because there's all that denim right where my belly crease is and she responds to it. So I don't know if I'll have to return those too, or not. I'm going to talk to the Dr. and see if that's normal, or if I should worry about what the pants are doing to her (I don't know how that works).
When I'm sitting round the house I still wear the pjs and loose tees, but I'm very glad now that I know I won't look frumpy if I just want to run out to the store to grab something. I had read an article early early on about how women who are pregnant suddenly just don't care. And yeah, I was like that. I kept thinking "I'm obviously pregnant, so let me be comfortable." But now I know I can be comfortable and stylish. Thank you ladies, I really appriciate it!

Adendum (10.21.09): I'm a medium, for all points and purposes... and a petite, because of my height I'm right under the "average height". Oh well. But I am able to find some small pants that fit well, which makes me estatic. And normally (un-preggers me) I would be able to wear larges as well because they're comfortable. But with pregnancy pants, they need to fit just right, otherwise you'll be showing off more than your stomach! So...
I think I've figured out the pants thing, at least for me. They say that for each person it's different, but here's how it goes with me: If it's heavy materials, like denium, then they should be the "under the belly." But if they're some of the more lightweight materials, I can do the "secret belly panel." PJs are always just comfortable. I think I'm so used to wearing pants under my stomache the jeans feel normal.
As for shirts... ok, you'll have to check out my next blogpost for more details, but basically I'm still a steady medium (only in tees and unisex shirts have I been smalls for a while now). Because when I try on larges they're a bit baggy, and don't fit as nicely as they should. The problem with some medium shirts is my bust... heck yes, I'm busty. So anything that requires me to button it up is a no go (like those nice little dress shirts that look like office wear).
When I was first getting shirts, I was self concious because my boobs looked huge! Only just within the last few weeks has my stomach out-bumped them. But after talking to people (husband and such) I've come to realize that even with the low-cuts people are still looking at the stomach bump, and not the other two. I've also come to really appriciate the low cut/button-down/v-neck/etc. tops because they've usually got past the pregnancy in mind. They're also a great option for when you're nursing. I hadn't thought about that until someone else pointed it out to me.

Nursery Plans (sketches)

These are my sketches and ideas for the nursery. I know, promises of grandure... I just hope I can get it up and done before she's here! All except the first are done in 3/4" scale, so details have not been hashed out. They're quick sketches, details have not played into it. And some details (like the houses) are readily available, and I'll use them probably on in the final application (on the wall!).




This picture (above) is a very early and very fast sketch of what I wanted to do overall with the room. It starts ("read" it left to right) with the window wall. It's a forest pathway, then the next wall had originally just a house (later modified to maybe a village, then just a few buildings). The door wall is the castle gates with a view of the castle. And then it fades into a countryside scene (with a hobbit hole). I incorporated different places Chris and I have been together in the overal mural (so keep an eye out for CJ notations).

This next picture (above) is the "countryside scene". I really wanted the mural to have a hobbit hole, but wasn't sure how big. It turned out a good size after I added the Cliffs of Dover (CJ honeymoon Ireland). In the ocean I had a pirate ship (CJ honeymoon St. Lucia) but erased it before I scanned the sketch. I plan on working on the details on it before putting it back in. Other characters we see are the Cheshire Cat and the Lorax. I figure I might also put in something else, I just don't know what.

The inside wall or "village scene" is this one (above). It's gone through many developments: from just one house, to many, to lots of fairytale houses (lady in the shoe, gingerbread house, etc), to just a few. I think the few don't seem to crowd it as much. It needs some basic work on scaling, as I look at it now I realize this. But it's the basic jist of what I want... I think (this and the "countryside scene" have been the hardest to figure out what I want).

Anyway, you see up front and personal Anne Hathaway's house (representing England, CJ)... well the basic outline for it. I was going to sketch in the details, but that can be hashed out later. In front of it will be a little garden of flowers and veggies with Peter Rabbit running through it.

Then starting at top is a windmill for Don Quixote, then the little pigs houses... well what's left of them. There's a pile of wood and a windblown pile of straw, and after some thought, I'd like the red brick house to look more like our current house (which is red, but not fully bricked). And then of course ASF (CJ where we met). I figure in all that sky space I'd like to put an actual dragon flying in the distance.

This is the door wall or "castle scene". The castle you see in the background is one I cannot find a name for from Ireland (CJ honeymoon Ireland). Paddywagoners, if you know/remember the last day castles we saw I'd appriciate it. Otherwise it's just a basic turret system on either side with a bridge between and mountains behind. The first door/turret has climbing roses on it, and one will be where the handle is. I'm still trying to figure out if I'm going to do something similar to the other door as well or not. Might just be a stone.

Notable characters are: Rapunzel, Notre Dame Bell (well it will be in the first turret's window), the worm from Labyrnth (yes, he's there by Rap.'s hair), and the Little Mirmaid (a very fast rendition that will get more details the large it gets).

The above is the sketch for inside the closet. When you open the door you'd see Rumplestillskin(and yes, he's only 3 feet tall) creaping up the stairs. On the backside of the door would be the 3 blind mice. Also in the picture are the frog prince, spiderweb (representing spider and the fly story), Cinderella's glass slipper, and the sock fary (you know, he usually stays around your laundry and steals socks so you only pull out one of a kind).

This last one (below) isn't a sketch at all, but I found pretty much what I want to do from a digital image when I was researching some of the other images online. This would be the forest wall, the one with the window. The window would fall right where that nice little opening is at the end of the pathway between the trees. I like house the trees seem to be going through all the seasons. It won't be full trees, but 3/4 of them, probaby. Like this picture will actually wrap around to the next wall a couple of feet, just to start to incorporate everything together.

Also, I'd like to add some fairy characters into it, and maybe some smurfs down low.

FRIENDS - Ross Inappropiate Song

Ooohhh, I can totally see this happening. The womb music we played for her last night consisted of Dropkick Murpheys and Tenacious D. But, hey! They were upbeat and got her kickin' up a storm!

Baby Kicks Chris

Yeah!!! So excited! These last few days I've been able to visibly see her kick more and more. Last night when we all went to bed, she was doing so big time. At first I just had Chris put his hand on my stomach and feel, but then I figured out that he doesn't know what he's feeling for and that it'd be much easier for him to see it beforehand. Chris let me use his iphone and we played some jovial music on it and she became very visible about it! Chris saw the baby kick! So then he put his hand over where she was kicking and was able to feel her! It was such a cool thing! I know I notice her move a lot, but last night with all the music... it was cute, and she would somewhat follow it (not rythmically, but location wise). Like originally we put the phone's speaker right below my bellybutton (which has not popped out fully yet), and she'd kick at that area. Then we moved it to the side, and she'd kick at it over there! It was so cool! Although I'm not sure if that means she liked the music or was trying to get rid of it. It was an awesome thing that I'm so glad Chris can finally be a part of.

Rolling Over

Last night I had an epiphany (that I think I had before, so a re-piphany): The baby rolls over every time I do. She was kicking me really hard right after I'd roll over. I think she was trying to get situated or something (because even though they're in the fluids, it's still not zero-gravity. So I was wondering how good this was for the baby, and it's apparently okay. It just worried me if I needed to slow down my rollover, or something. It's good to feel her kick, but I don't want her to be uncomfortable.

Quick Update

My belly button is almost fully popped out. It's odd feeling.
Also, whenever she had hickups today (or was kicking me extremely), I had major bowel movements. I don't know if it's due to what she's doing on the inside or vice versa.

Dr. Apt... again.

Another doctor's apt today with Dr. Sorenson. She's really cool, and quick as far as doctors go. It was going to be a very basic baby check (weight, heartbeat, bloodpressure, questions), but they ended up having to put me in one of their new rooms with an ultrasound machine in it. I didn't think anything of it when the nurse said she was going to have to put me in there, I just thought it was going to be a normal checkup (because I'd had my major ultrasound last month) that just happens to be in a room with one. Turns out "well, since it's in here, let's use it!" seemed to be the idea. So I am very glad I got put in that room! I got some more pictures of Baby Rich (but they look pretty much like last time). Dr. S was excited to use the machine, and was doing all sorts of measurements on it (I think it must have been her first time or something in there with it since it's a new room). Everything is healthy. She's at a good weight (1 lb 1 oz) and her heartbeat is 150, which is good for her. Nothing's swollen on me and I'm at a good weight climb (just have to keep reminding myself to have protein for breakfast).
Other than that, I got a flu shot while I was there. I talked to the nurse about weither or not to get a regular one and a swine flu one, and she said they were doing regular ones if I wanted (and to not worry about the swine flu one just yet). I said sure, so that I couldn't chicken out. I almost did, but glad I didn't. Now I don't have to worry for the next three months about it. She was a good injector and got it right in the muscle. So it bled a little, but it looked like a lot because the alcohol hadn't fully dried yet, so she had to give me another bandaid. I'm getting less aprehensive about shots thanks to the MS, I think. She was good at it, and honestly I couldn't tell she did it. The bandaid hurt worse when I ripped it off then the shot. I just have to remember that next time I get a little nervous/anxious about that stuff... especially in the arm (I'm used to the hip now).
Oh, and I'm supposed to do a Glucose Test before my next apt. It's just a lab, but I can't figure out if it's blood or urin. Either way I'm supposed to eat normal, and then for two hours not eat anything but drink plenty of fluids (can't figure out if I'm allowed to pee or not beforehand, though). When I get there it takes a while, because they give me an orange fluid that takes an hour to work through the system, and then I do the test. They said I can go in any time to do that, but I think I might call them just to make sure I know what I'm doing.
Anyway, I'll post up the new pics when I get this computer hooked up to the scanner again. And remember folks, November 3rd is my 3-d/4-d date!

I just have to say...

Someone was saying that the best time in their life was when they were pregnant (I think it was Patty, but I'm not sure). And I'm finding that to be true as well. I look at Linda and have asked her if her little one is kicking her a lot, and she seems a bit annoyed by it when she answers. But I absolutely love it when she kicks! It reminds me that she's there, otherwise I just feel regular (with some extra weight and heartburn). But I cannot wait until Chris can feel her kick too (not that I want it to end anytime soon, I just want him to be able to feel it too)! It's THE BEST feeling in the world! I absolutely love it! I could lay there for hours with my hand on my stomach and have her kick me. I thought I would get annoyed or bothered by it after a while, but the more she does it the more I love it! And when we're in public and she gives me a big kick I just smile and want to yell out about it, but I don't.
I will definetly tell her after she's born that she makes me so happy, she even made me smile when she was in the womb.
Her kicks remind me to talk to her. Like when I was looking at images for her nursery, she kept kicking me when we came across this one castle image. I thought the nursery would be nice with Blarney Castle in it, but I've decided to change the castle to the one that she kept kicking me on. I'd scroll past this one castle (a picture I took in Ireland, I don't even know what the castle's name is), and she kicked me. This happened whenever I went past it, just in passing, so that is the castle we're using.
Another cute time she kicked me was yesterday. At Sarah M's wedding she kicked me throughout the prayers, but only during the prayers, so I know my child will know God (which, of course, also makes me happy). It was so fun, a bit destracting, but made me smile.

Heartburn and ankles

So the update is I've had some major heartburn the last few days. It doesn't help that I've had to skip out on my daily dose of cold calcium (aka ice cream) because of the sinus drainage caused the soar throat I had for about a week and a half. The soar throat is gone, but I haven't tempted fate too much, because it still makes me cough a little. So heartburn is flairing up. But is apparently a major symptom of pregnancy that doesn't really go away. Pooh.
Anyway, on to the ankle thing: My ankle has been swollen since almost day one (you know, I've talked about it. Just my right ankle). Yesterday, after Sarah Morris (now Honeycutt)'s wedding my ankle was a major pain in the butt. And just a notice, I did not wear heals, so it wasn't that. I wore really comfortable shoes. Anyway, when I woke up this morning it was throbbing so badly! I don't know what I've done. It wasn't throbbing as much as it was busting at the seams, but it didn't look a bit swollen, it just felt that way. It was so bad I couldn't get back to sleep. I had to get up and walk around a bit to get it to calm down. I don't know what or why it is this way. Yes, I've elevated it, it just makes it hurt worse sometimes. Now that I've been on it a while it's ok, throbbing just a little, but completely ignorably. So I'm going to try and attempt a nap and see what happens from there.