20 weeks- halfway point!

This week marks the halfway point of my second pregnancy! I can’t believe I’m actually writing those words. The fact that we are in this place is so unbelievable to us and we are so incredibly excited!

The last few weeks have been kind of tough bc M has been on his 6 week outage- 7 days a week 13 hrs a day! So I have been playing single mom- maybe because I haven’t been doing it that long yet but it’s not as bad as I imagined.  Don’t get me wrong, we need two parents to raise these kids! But….I am enjoying my alone time and play time with Luke in the evenings.  He is such a special little person and I love spending time with him!

Today I ordered the new baby’s furniture.  I got the exact same Baby’s Dream Legendary furniture as we got Luke, except in the Cinnamon color instead of Espresso.  Everything else is from Luke’s nursery (sorry new baby!) including the rug, recliner and wall art.   I have to get another diaper genie and double stroller/car seat but otherwise I think we are set!  My cousin gave me all of her new baby’s newborn and 3 month clothes, and combined with the existing set I had this baby is going to get to wear a new outfit every day of the first 3 months he is born! 

I am now going to my new/old OBGYN that admits to Chester County Hospital.  I went to them for the 5 month appointment last week and met with the doctor the doula Nikki wanted me to go to because she was doula and VBAC friendly, and also willing to let me go until 42 weeks. All seems to be going well; I met the sweetest nurse that I hope to keep seeing during my upcoming visits to their KSQ office.  She was also an infertility patient with my doctor but has not had success yet.  What a job to have!  Around babies and pregnant women all day when you are having trouble yourself! She seemed to be a very sweet person and I completely feel her pain!  We spent most of my hour appointment talking about her situation because I just wanted to listen to her and have her feel like someone understood.  I almost sent her this blog ;)  Maybe she’ll find it on her own.  

Yesterday I had the normal 20 week level 2 ultrasound/anatomy scan at Maternal/fetal medicine of Chester County Hospital.  I was there for about an hour and a half and the little guy is just making a huge ruckus in there!  I don’t feel him that often, but judging by the movement on the screen he will not be the laid back one! He was moving around so much and stretching, putting his arms up, etc.  Everything is wonderfully NORMAL and uneventful.  Just how I like it, I’ve had enough excitement in my life, normal is good-

This week we are getting a new ceiling fan installed in our room to replace the 10 yr old one that is now gray instead of white. Also, in Luke’s big boy room we are getting one installed because there was not an existing one and his room has no light and also will probably get hot in the summer.  I think that should do it for house projects before the baby comes- I need to relax with spending all of M’s outage money! Well…maybe after the outage and into the new year M can start the basement- we are going to need that play room before we know it! Our upstairs is starting to be over taken with toys and it’s only going to get worse…

As far as my own physical and emotional (ha) health right now, I would say things are pretty status quo. I am still seeing my chiropractor on a monthly basis and that seems to have helped relieve some/all of my previous back pain and my sciatica is at a minimum.  I have gained approx 12 lbs so far and I swear 5 of it is boob weight J  I have cravings still for cheese, but I can keep my meat cravings at bay if I have veggie cheese pizza every night. I’ve been eating risotto, veggie chili, pizza, greek and cesear salads, and candy.  Candy is my vice- not even desserts. I could care less about cake, brownies and dare I say in this fall season…pumpkin.  I usually am a pumpkin freak but honestly I don’t even really care if I have pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. I’m trying to think if there is any one thing I could eat every day, and I would have to say it is PIZZA.  I don’t care what kind either- veggie, tomato pie, regular plain cheese- just pizza pizza pizza.  Maybe it’s the carbs- but I love bread. I’ve been eating bagels with cream cheese too like it’s going out of style, and apples, peaches and plums.   Anything that’s easy to prepare- given that I was thinking about outsourcing my food prep a few short weeks ago.  I think I’m off that topic for now- but when the second baby comes perhaps we’ll revisit that to help with weight loss, too..

All in all I would say this is going quite well and I’m looking forward to a very low profile pregnancy for the next half J

19 weeks

I can't believe this pregnancy is almost halfway through.  I feel like I have had zero time to enjoy it, between all of the testing up through 13 weeks and now with work being so busy and M working lots of overtime.  It's difficult to stop and smell the roses and just relax.  It is definitely difficult being pregnant with a 15 month old running around non stop.   I can't play and roll around with him like I want to.  I am definitely getting bigger...but got on the scale yesterday and I'm only up around 8 lbs from starting weight.  That is definitely good compared to last time!

A few weeks ago we had our upstairs hardwood floors finished and moved Luke into the big boy room.  I am 6 weeks into an area rug search for the hallway and our master bedroom.  This feels like the granite fiasco just before Luke was born- at least I didn't wait until I was 30 weeks pregnant to start this task!  Next week an electrician is coming to install a new ceiling fan in our bedroom and a ceiling fan with light in Luke's new big boy bedroom (that didn't have a fan before).  Luke is officially all set up with his new big boy room and decor!

I am scheduled to go to my brand new (but old) OBGYN this week.  I am excited to hear what they have to say about VBAC and they come highly recommended from doula Nikki.  I also let day care know to hold a spot for me in August 2014 for this new little bundle!  We have day care, pediatrician, hospital, doula all arranged! I think I just have to order the furniture and the cord blood kit and we are all good.   Although, now that I'm thinking about it, I'll probably need a double stroller, another diaper genie and to transition Luke into a toddler carseat so the baby can have the other car seat.  Man, maybe I do need a list after all...I was thinking this one was so much easier because we did everything and have everything already...

I feel the little guy kicking in there every couple of days.  I can't remember if I felt more last time, but sometimes I have to doppler because I get nervous.  My appetite has been very weird lately, I'm not really that hungry or craving much of anything.  I only eat because I have to- not because I necessarily want anything.  If you can believe it, I don't even care that much if I have sweets or ice cream.  I am not sure if it's because I'm busy with a toddler, but there's not a whole lot of time for mama to eat.  I think I need to outsource food preparation ;)

17 weeks

My sweet baby boy. I am so lucky to be your mama!!   There is so much we are preparing for you!

This week we had contractors in to do the entire upstairs of our house in hardwood floors.  We moved your big brother into his new room in order to prepare your room! Everything looks great so far- just have to order your furniture and we will be ready for your arrival!  You have been moving around a lot more lately and I feel you especially at night.  I have some sciatic pain coming back  as we move forward, but the numbness has not returned- yet.  I keep waiting for that to come back, but maybe with my regular chiropractic care we can ward some of it off.

I have switched doctors yet again.  After signing up doula Nikki again for the birth, I have decided to go back to my original OBGYN that handled my miscarriages back in 2010/2011 because their practice and hospital has the lowest c section rate in the tri state area.  Since I'm trying for a VBAC, they apparently will stop at nothing  to get you one if that's what you desire. Sold!

I am wondering how Luke will handle the new baby.  When I am around his little cousins who are 6 months younger than he is, he gets very protective and wants to cuddle in my lap. It's very interesting to see him act that way because usually he is very independent.   I am sure it will work out but I just hope he knows that I have room enough in my heart for everyone and he will always be my first baby!

And my second baby- we may have decided on a name for you.  I think we are almost positive you will be Shaun Patrick.  It was weird just writing that. I've only been saying it so far.  Not sure if we like Sean Patrick or Shaun Patrick.  Regardless, being born around St. Patrick's day was pretty much a given that you were going to have a very , very Irish name.  Daddy is so proud!  Because Luke is so light, I can pretty much guarantee that irish Shaun Patrick will be the darkest italian looking kid you've ever seen ;)

17 weeks 1 day with Luke

15 weeks

Now that I'm into my second trimester (which really flew this time, btw), I am able to focus more on enjoying this pregnancy.  Because let's face it, this is probably it for me.   These were my child bearing years- the last 3, almost 4, years.  I'm turning 34 in about a month and I really don't want to have another baby past 35.   Unless it's with my frozen embryo made from a 31 year old's eggs ;)  My 31 year old eggs.  Yeah, more on that later- maybe I'm not done.

I have been feeling really good so far.  First trimester was uneventful outside of the CVS debacle.  I have been feeling good (though tired) and crazy cravings are waning.  I'm back on salads and non- pizza foods.  I have been trying to eat healthy- veggies, salads, back to cooking vegetarian dinners at least twice a week.  I have indulged in a few sodas and definitely candy and goodies.  Surprisingly by the picture, I'm only up about 8 lbs from my starting weight so far.  I think this time in my last pregnancy I was up 10+ lbs from the start.

A week or so ago, after I got my final results, I told work my news.  It was so nice that everyone was happy for me, even though I know my supervisor is probably thinking how annoying it is to have another girl out on maternity leave.  Is it wrong that I am counting down the days already.  I am going to ask for another 4 months off and I hope I get it.  I am so not in a motivated place right now.

14 weeks

I finally feel like I can breathe.  During our 12th, almost 13th week, we got all of our final test results back of the CVS.  I am so happy to report after many sleepless nights that there is absolutely, positively nothing wrong with this baby chromosomally.  He is perfect in every way, as we knew he would be.  Not only is he perfect, but he does not even carry my inversion on chromosome set 7.  Luke is the same.  It blows my mind that this could happen.  All of the statistics I was given, I just can't believe it.  How did we get so lucky not once but TWICE?  Granted, Luke was many painful rounds of IVF and hormones, but he happened for us.  Now, this? Could we get any more blessed?  I am so humbled by the universe and the ability of the body to produce something so perfect in the face of such obstacles and seemingly impossible odds.

Wake me up

Hi Buddy-  This song makes me think of you and our journey to get here.   

Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a beating heart
I can't tell where the journey will end
But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes
Well that's fine by me

So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself, and I
didn't know I was lost

I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
Hope I get the chance to travel the world
But I don't have any plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life's a game made for everyone
And love is the prize

Prelim FSH results

We got what will hopefully be our first round of good news today!   Our FSH results came back today, and all was normal for Trisomy 21, 18 and 13.  In addition, gender confirmation is in- definitely another BOY!!  I was made to have boys, it is in the cards and is my fate!  We make normal boys- our girls were not meant to survive.   We proved it through IVF and now even leaving it up to chance the outcome is the same. I am so happy today- one more hurdle crossed!  Microarray should be in later this week.