What A Week!

So much has happened in the past few days, let me recap for you:

FRIDAY - I finally actually talk to my doctor about the Previa. She told me that she and the Radiologist were not really concerned about the Previa. As a matter of fact, they weren’t even sure if I had it as it is still somewhat early and I did not have any bleeding or spotting. The sonographer was not in a position to make that medical call without talking to a doctor first. So all the worrying and “doom and gloom” I read on the Internet may have been for nothing. Which is a HUGE relief! Anyway, she proceeded to tell me that we will do another ultrasound in about a month just to check the placenta and it’s location, just to be on the safe side. So this was all great news from my doctor and I got the reassurance I needed.

SUNDAY – Steve and I were in bed on Sunday watching a movie and I felt the baby starting to move around. Until now I have only been able to feel the baby from within side my belly. Well I put my hand on my belly just to see if I might be able to feel it kicking and sure enough it kicked my hand softly!! I was amazed but yet wasn’t sure if I actually had felt something or just so badly wanted to feel something. Anyway, I left my hand there and sure enough it kicked a few more times. I finally said something to Steve about it and of course he says “uh-uh”. So he put his hand on my tummy and of course little one didn’t do anything. So now Steve thinks I’m crazy, which is normal ops, but I was determined I felt something. So I put my hand back on my tummy and it started kicking again. I told Steve that the baby was really going to town and kicking away. So again he put his hand on my tummy and nothing…….what was up with this kid??? Lol I was getting frustrated but as Steve kept his hand on my tummy a little longer the baby finally gave a big kick right into his hand!! I have never seen Steve’s eyes SO big as to when he felt the kick. He jerked his hand away so fast and said “that’s no bueno” lol I instantly started laughing so hard, then I was crying and then I was laughing and then I was crying. This went on for about 5 minutes. Not sure why I was crying but it was such an emotional experience for me. After I calmed down, Steve seemed a little weirded out so I asked him if he was ok and he said “yeah, but there’s an alien in there”. Lol Again I laughed.  It was a memorable night and every night since that I put my hand on my belly to feel the baby kicking. It’s a mommy and me time that I will cherish.

TUESDAY – Yesterday, we had another ultrasound, as the previous sonographer did not capture good images of the baby’s heart, profile and lips & nose. This worked in our favor because this was another opportunity to see if we could find out the gender of the baby…….AND WE DID……… we are having a baby girl, Amelia Faye Arana! Steve and I were thrilled! Here is the picture of her “girly” part (the angle is as if you were looking up and you see to buttcheeks and her "private part" are the two distinctive lines) and the other picture is her profile with her hand up by her mouth. She may be sucking her thumb but we are not sure.

            After the appointment, Steve and I thought we would go buy our first gender specific outfit for Amelia. It sounded like a good idea but when we got to the stores we were so overwhelmed that we didn’t even know where to start. Lol  So we just bought one little thing and left. Shopping will have to be another day as it shock sets in that we are having a baby girl.

WEDNESDAY – Just got an email from my doctor and the ultrasound for the baby turned out normal. Everything is good with her organs. So very relieved!! Now we can focus on the following upcoming events:

-         April 8^th - Porthos getting neutered (going to be torturous for me, going to cry like a baby).

-         April 14^th Steve’s mom comes for 10 days (so much cleaning to get done).

-         April 27^th Getting married in Tahoe

-         April 28^th – May 2^nd Fishing/Camping trip at Mammoth CA

-         May 9^th – May 15^th Trip to Omaha NE to visit Steve’s sister.

Going to be a busy month and half.

Ultrasound 3/28

On March 28, 2011 we had an ultrasound for the baby to make sure its organs were functioning correctly and located in the correct spots. The sonographer took many pictures but none that were really “keepers” for us. Below are two pictures of the baby’s face, which if you look at them they are actually scary looking. The first picture actually reminds me of the Terminator with the eye being so prominent. The sonographer was trying to show us how we could see the baby's eye lens. The second picture looks like the scary clown from the Steve King “IT” movie with its razor teeth!! My baby is going to be evil!! Lol

Anyway, we were unable to determine the sex of the baby as it was sleeping and its legs were closed in a tight fetal position. The sonographer thought that is was a girl but I’m not 100% convinced yet. At the end of the appointment the sonographer tells us that she doesn’t see anything wrong with the baby but that mine placenta is partially covering my uterus, which means I have partial previa. My doctor called me the next day and told me that she is not concerned with it at this time as it’s still really early in the pregnancy and that as my uterus grows the placenta will move up the uterine wall into the correct spot. We will have to go back in a month or so for another ultrasound to monitor the placenta. We are hoping that it will fix itself and if not then I could possible be bedridden if there is bleeding in the third trimester and will have to have a cesarean.

The next day, we got a call from the radiology department saying they needed another ultrasound of the baby, as there were some unclear pictures of the baby's heart. So we will have another ultrasound next week April 5^th and hopefully this will give us another opportunity to see if we can find out what the gender is. I made the appointment for later in the afternoon so the baby will be up and moving plus I will be drinking some juice to give it a little sugar high!!   Whoo Hoo sugar!! lol

I will let you know the outcome of the next ultrasound next week.

Thanks for all the emails, comments and support. Keep us in your prayers.

Update

So many things have been happening since my last post so he's a little review of what has happened over the past few weeks.

March 16^th we had our prenatal appointment and everything went well. We talked a little about vaccinations for myself while being pregnant and we opted out. We feel the less toxins I put into my body while being pregnant the more beneficial it will be for the baby and me. We just hope I don’t get sick because as all of you that have been pregnant know there are limited things you can take. I try to eat a healthy diet most of the time and I run or walk everyday. My doctor seemed pretty pleased that at 5 months I was still running 4 miles every other day; however, running is getting a little more difficult as I am getting bigger. It’s not so much the size yet that is bothering me but the breathing is getting a little harder as this little peanut is growing in me and pushing my innards up into my throat!! Lol I will keep with the running as long as I can as it has helped me maintain a healthy growing baby weight. Thus far I have gained 4lbs.

Another thing my doctor brought to our attention as we were leaving were vaccinations for the baby once it’s born. I have thought a little about this but not too much. I really need to start doing some research on vaccinations for babies. If anyone has any good advice or information, I am open. I know this is a controversial topic, so if you don’t want to leave a comment on the site you can email me at wildsunflower2@hotmail.com. I would love to hear what you have to say.

On a different note, Steve left for Alabama on Sunday for a week. He will be doing some Coast Guard training on haz-mat stuff. Him being gone this time is different then when he was gone in August last year (month and half). I feel more vulnerable and concerned all the time. I think about the safety of the baby all the time. I think about all the hazards that could go on in the house such as a fire starting while I’m asleep or someone breaking in. I’m not quite sure what this is all about but I’m thinking maybe it has to do with the safety of my unborn child. I am already worrying about someone who is not even here yet. Is that silly??

Well next Monday is the BIG day for us. We hopefully (if baby is cooperating) will find out the gender. We are both really excited about this but we are actually more excited to see our little peanut and how it is growing. This ultrasound is basically for the doctors to make sure all the baby’s organs are growing properly and in the correct spot as well as the functionality of the organs. I’m told you have the ultrasound but do not get the results until a week after so that will be a little unnerving but it’s just another hurdle to get over.

So Steve and I have narrowed down a girl’s name and a boy’s name. If it’s a girl, her name will be Amelia Faye. Amelia is after one of Steve’s grandmothers and Faye is after my mother. For a boy, well we have discussed this in depth and Steve really would like to name the boy after his father, Luis Bernardo. I’m not too keen on it but I know how much it means to Steve and I know I will love it once the baby is born. So there you have it……we are either having an Amelia Faye or a Luis Bernardo. We’ll keep you posted.

March BIG Buy

Steve and I went out on Wednesday and bought our BIG-ticket purchase for this month. We bought a crib mattress and a rocker/glider with ottoman. We really lucked out this month in that we got some good deals.


Now with that being said, let me just say doing research on all these items is as stressful as having a baby!! lol  Who would have thought that buying a crib mattress would be so difficult?? I started researching them and found out that there are quite of few things to be cautious of, who would have thought? For crying out loud, it's a mattress!! lol Anyway, we had to make sure that the mattress was firm enough, whether we wanted foam or innerspring, if we went with innerspring that it had at least 150 coil count, that is was flame retardant, that it had vents at the ends of the mattress so it didn't get all stinky and moldy, that is was toxin free and blah blah blah. lol With all that we found one of the top 3 crib mattresses recommended at Wal-Mart of all places and it was on sale!! We were thrilled or at least I was. Steve just laughed as I gave him a high-five in the aisle and a big WHOO HOO!! lol


Next was the Glider/Rocker, well forget about reading reviews online because you will never and I mean NEVER find a perfect one. Someone ALWAYS has something negative to say about them. So we found one that we both liked at Target that was on sale for $179. The woodwork matches the crib and we liked the style. That was all I needed!! lol Now, if Steve can just put it together without breaking it or his usual........have parts left over. lol Here's a picture.
On our way home Steve asked me if I was excited about getting the rocker/glider and I actually said that while I was, I was MORE excited about the crib mattress. He just laughed at me.


We have two doctor's appointments this month. First appointment is on March 16th and this is just a regular prenatal appointment. The second appointment is on March 28th and this is the BIG appointment for us...........we hopefully (fingers and toes crossed) get to find out the sex of the baby. lol  The appointment is really for an ultrasound of the baby to make sure its organs are functioning properly and are in the correct spots. We are really looking forward to this appointment. I know Steve is really looking forward to it as he missed the last ultrasound appointment so he hasn't seen the baby since it was a peanut (Week 7). Well time to get back to work. I'll post after each appointment to let you know how things are going. Ciao.

The Crib and Me

So we are at 16 weeks (4 months) today. Seems like the weeks are starting to go by faster now that we have gotten use to the idea of me being pregnant. We have been starting to think of all the things that we need to get to prepare for this little peanut and boy is that overwhelming!! lol Steve and I decided that once a month we would be a BIG-ticket items so this month we bought the crib.  We searched and searched and researched and researched for the perfect crib but nothing was feeling right. We eventually happen to be out and about this past Sunday and stumbled upon this beauty!

This crib actually was a $500 crib but we got it for $250. I am absolutely in love with it and its very sturdy. The crib is a convertible crib so it does go to the toddler bed and full size bed if we want it to. So our first "Parent" purchase is done. Needless to say we felt accomplished!! lol


Changes in me: Cravings and clothes are starting to get tight.


Strange cravings have begun for me (well these are at least strange for me). I cannot get enough peanut butter. I have been putting it on everything; however, I'm trying to be healthy about it so it goes on my apples, cinnamon raisin muffins and now my bananas. Plus I like a spoonful every now and then.  Last night's dinner was a Ham (made it on Wednesday), Swiss and jalapeno potato chip sandwich!! OMG, this was delish!! lol If the chips weren't a little on the hot side, I would have probably eaten two!! lol  The last thing that is strange for me is sweet things. I have never been one to like desserts, candy or anything that was really sweet, however, I could eat a whole bag of chips or crackers. The salt is what I liked. I'm really hoping this need for sweetness goes away after I have the baby. lol


So as of Monday I haven't gained any weight but I can tell my body is changing as my pants are fitting a little tighter around the waist these days!! I may have to go pant shopping here in a week or so as the discomfort is only going to get worse. I do have about 4 maternity shirts thanks to my Mama and by friend Connie. I can hardly wait to start wearing them, as they are all so cute. Hopefully, I will get a belly picture here soon for you all to see the growth.

Week 15

Went to my diagnostic ultrasound appointment on February 4th. Unfortunately, Steve was unable to make it. He ended up running out of gas and couldn't make it in time. We were both sad. This was somewhat of a scary appointment for us as we were going to find out the risk of our baby having Down Syndrome and one other genetic disorder. Thank goodness the results were in our favor and we are at low risk for the baby having either one of these disorders.

On a lighter note, I got to see Baby Arana doing its thing at Week 14. The baby was at first pretty quite but once the doctor starting pushing around on my belly the baby got more mobile. I saw so many pictures of it from all different angles. It really was awesome and wished Steve had been there to share this moment with me. The pictures aren't the best but the first picture is just a profile of Baby Arana. Boy, does it look like it has Steve's head!! BIG!! lol Hopefully, our little peanut grows into that head for his sake and mine!! lol The second picture shows Baby Arana with its hand in his mouth. Can't really tell if it's sucking its thumb or just nomming on its hand. The last picture is another profile pic from a further distance. You can see the profile and its torso.

Upcoming appointments for me are:

February 25th - Blood work for the second trimester. This blood work will be compared with my first trimester's blood work and will tell us if the baby is at risk for any defects. I swear the scare of having an unhealthy baby sure is tiring!! This here should be the last tests that we have to take so from then on I should be able to enjoy the pregnancy.

March 16th - 20 week prenatal exam.

March 28th - Ultrasound. This ultrasound will view the baby’s organs and make sure that they are all growing and functioning properly. We also should be able to find out the sex of Baby Arana. This will be a very exciting day for us!!

As for me, I've been feeling really well. I have been running 5K's (3.1 miles) with Porthos two to three times a week and attending Crossfit. I am doing everything in my power to make sure this birth goes easy, well much as I can do on my end. Baby Arana might have another story to tell. lol I'm still not wearing any maternity clothes and don't really have the "baby bump" yet but I'm sure it will be here all too soon.

In my spare time, if I'm not sleeping (lol), I am online researching and researching all the different products we are going to need for Baby Arana. Who knew there were so many things for the baby to look for? I am so frustrated and have no idea what to buy!! Everytime you find something you like and you read the reviews there's always that one review that just sticks out like a sore thumb and you can't get past it.  Reviews are bitter/sweet I tell ya!! Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions on anything please let me know!!!

Heartbeat!!

So on Monday we had a prenatal appointment and we got to hear the baby's heartbeat!! It was really surreal to me because all this time I know I'm pregnant but I don't look pregnant and I don't feel pregnant so a part of me was like "is anything still in there?" lol  I know it's silly but I'm just at that stage in my pregnancy where I really need the reassurance that our little peanut was still in there. The sound of baby Arana's heartbeat is exactly what I needed!!!  Now, I'm in love all over again and I haven't even met the little peanut. What a great feeling.

Friday, Steve and I have another doctor's appointment. This one is for a diagnostic ultrasound that will measure the back of the baby's neck and tell you your risks of your baby having down syndrome or not. A friend of mine, who is at the same stage in her pregnancy just had this done on Monday and said it was awesome. She got to see her baby blowing bubbles, stretching and sucking its thumb!! How cool is that?? I can hardly wait to see our ultrasound and see what our little baby is up to!! I'll post next week and let you all know how it went.