Week 13

Well not too much has been going on the past three weeks. Steve and I attended a 4-hour pregnancy class through Kaiser. The class pretty much went over a brief explanation of what us first time mothers will be experiencing. The next part of the class was a discussion on all the genetic testing that you can do to find out if your baby is at a high risk for birth defects.  Boy, if this doesn’t scare you to death. The last thing you want to hear about is all the things that could go wrong to your baby and that there really isn’t anything you can do to prevent it. All screening and genetic testing is optional so Steve and I decided that we would do the blood screening and genetic ultrasound. These procedures are the least invasive to the baby so we opted to do them. With these procedures it will detect up to 90% if the baby has a defect. If something comes back not in our favor, we may be at high risk and there are other procedures that can be done to tell you for sure or not, but these procedures are a little more invasive to the baby so we'll have to decide if this is something we want to do if and when that times comes.  We just pray that all tests come back in our favor.

We’ve had to do a few additional tests as Steve is a carrier for the sickle cell trait and I am a carrier for Cystic Fibrosis. I got tested for the sickle cell trait prior to being pregnant and found our that I’m not a carrier so we are good there and yesterday we found out that I am a carrier for the Cystic Fibrosis, so Steve went and got the test done and now it’s just the waiting game. It takes 10 to 14 days to get results. Both these gene defects are common amongst our ethnicity and so we have a very good chance of both of us not being carries of the same gene defect.

On a less scary note, Steve and I are planning on eloping to Tahoe on April 27^th to get married. We decided that this would be the best option for us as we have been together for 13 years now and a big wedding has never really been in our interests. We have talked about having a wedding in the past but it was more or less that we were going to do it for everyone else and it should be about us since this is our BIG day. We plan on staying the night in Tahoe and then going onto Mammoth for our annual fishing/camping trip. We are both really excited.

Well we have my week 13 appointment on Monday so stay turned for an update and hopefully another ultrasound picture of baby Arana!!

The Holidays

Well since my last post nothing much has really happened. Christmas was a little lonely, as Steve had to work a double shift, so I just went to a friend’s house for dinner. She was having a bunch of people over and it ended up being a pretty good night. I went home around 8:00 pm, as I was pretty pooped. Boy, I guess the days of being out until all hours of the night are over for me!! Lol 

That following Monday we were to head to NY to spend a week with Steve’s family but Mother Nature had other plans. The Northeast was getting slammed with a blizzard so we weren’t able to leave until Thursday morning. When we finally got into NY it was about 3:00 pm and we went straight to Steve’s mami’s house. I was dying to get there because I know Colombian goodness (food) was waiting for me!!! And I was right; as soon as we literally walked in the door there were plates of food being served up just for me!! I was going to be spoiled the whole time we were there…this was heaven!! Soon after, it was nappy time for me. Imagine that!! Lol  After laying down for an hour or so Steve’s niece, Nia arrived. We hadn’t seen her since last Christmas and it was a great joy to hang with her. 

Friday was New Year’s Eve and as most of you know (from me) that Steve’s family usually has a party that lasts until the wee hours and I’m talking like 7 am the next morning. So it was time for me to sleep in and get as many Z’s as possible just so I could stay up until midnight. Later that afternoon Steve’s sister Sharon showed up with her other daughter and boyfriend and we finally had a Christmas. We opened gifts and had some good laughs. It was a good time.

Later that night we all got gussied up and were ready to party, well I was gussied up but was already starting to struggle to stay up. For crying out loud, it was only 9:30 or 10:00 and I was already to go to bed!! Lol  This was going to be a LONG night. People slowly started coming over and drinking and dancing. Everyone was having a good time. About a minute to midnight we all turned to the TV to watch the ball drop from NY Time Square. As we all shouted 3….2…. 1 HAPPY NEW YEAR  I turned to my beloved to give him a big smooch and to my surprise he was getting down on his knee with a ring in hand. I was completely and utterly shocked as he asked me to marry him. Of course I started crying, being the big bawl baby that I am and accepted his proposal.

I won’t go into details of the rest of the night but lets just say it got a little out of hand and I didn’t end up going to bed until 4:30 am!!!  Needless to say, this mama was T-I-R-E-D.

The rest of the trip was great. We got out into the city a few times and were able to enjoy some quality time with Steve’s family. We can hardly wait to see them all again.

As for the way I felt the whole time, I felt pretty good for the most part except the tiredness and SEVERE constipation. Also, I think the morning sickness is finally starting to subside which is great!!!

First Doctor's Appointment

Friday Steve and I went for our first prenatal doctor’s appointment. Boy what a wave of emotions this created for me. At first I was so excited, then nervous, then excited, then nervous. This was crazy! Lol  Anyway, once I got registered and Steve and I were in the waiting room the emotions subsided. When the nurse called me name, I felt as though I had been waiting an eternity but in reality it was only 10 minutes. Steve and I both got up but the nurse told him that I was the only one to go in but that she would come get him when it was ok. I thought that was kind of weird but quickly realized why, they ask you questions about feeling safe in your home and if your being threatened or hurt by anyone. I kind of had to chuckle to myself but I understood. I couldn’t wait to tell Steve this, as he would get a chuckle at it too.

Once I was in the room ,the nurse went and got Steve. He walked in like a lost dog with his tail in between his legs. You could just see the uncertainty and terror in his eyes of what was about to happen. I told him what the doctor was going to do (vaginal ultrasound) and I think he about pooped his pants! Lol  I had to laugh at him but I told him he wasn’t going to be down in that view and that all he had to do was look at the monitor. He was ok with that but still a little nervous.

About five minutes later the doctor came in and asked us questions and talked about any concerns we had. She put us at ease on the questions we asked and by the way I think first time parents are so neurotic and ask every stupid question there is, us included!! Lol  But it feels good to hear the answers from a profession instead of many contradicting responses on the Internet. Well the vaginal ultrasound was about to start and Steve’s eyes were like the size of sand dollars when he saw the wand come out and how big it was. I could only imagine the thoughts going through his head. ;-)  Anyway, the doctor began to look around for the baby and at first we could find it and I thought, “oh crap! Where is the baby? Am I not really pregnant?” lol  Just as I was about to go into a panic, a little peanut size image came into view with a flickering heart beat. It was absolutely beautiful. I think it really put things into prospective for Steve and I. We were having a baby!

The picture above is our peanut at 7 weeks. It’s almost too small for you to see but it’s there. It's where the two little cursor marks are (hard to see), I promise. Also, the picture shows our expected due date is August 8, 2011 but the doctor says the due date is August 5, 2011. Let the fun begin!

Week 6

So far week 6 has turned out to be not so good. The so-called “morning sickness”, which should be called “pregnancy sickness” has been lasting ALL day long and has worsened this week. I feel sick to my stomach all the time. No throwing up yet (thank god) but at times I wonder if it would make me feel better. Lol  The heartburn has also started this week. It seems whatever I eat triggers it!! I need to figure something out here now and fast! 

Other symptoms that I have had since the beginning are the sore boobs and the fatigue. I have never in my life felt so much pain in my boobs!! I have woken up many times in pain throughout the night because of turning over to sleep on my stomach. This is no bueno…Ouch!!  Oh and also when I take a shower the pressure hitting my nipples is like daggering needles. What the heck is that about??? Lol

On a lighter note, yesterday I was wearing my favorite pants and I was thinking “Boy I could probably wear these throughout the whole pregnancy as long as my butt doesn’t get too much bigger.” Well low and behold I squatted down to pet Porthos and Rrrrriiiiiippppp!! I was so mad. I haven’t gained any weight as of yet as I’ve been walking anywhere from 3 to 5 miles a day and then this happens!! Lol  Here I was feeling all good about myself and what do I do, I rip my pants, so typical. Anyway, now today my pants feel all tight around the gut. I need to weigh here soon and see what the heck is happening! Lol Oh yeah and needless to say Steve thought it was hilarious and he said, “What’s up fat kid?”  LOL

Well Steve and I have my first prenatal doctor’s appointment on Friday. We are both really excited and looking forward to hopefully getting to at least see our little spec of a monkey and hear its heartbeat.  We’ll keep you posted.

Telling Our Mom's

Many thoughts ran through our heads as we decided whether to tell our mothers that they were going to be grandmas again. First thought was to hold off until after the first trimester as many doctors say to do, second thought was to hold off until Christmas and third thought was to spill the beans immediately. Well as excited as Steve and I both were about the pregnancy we obviously went with telling them as soon as possible.

As many of you know I’m extremely close with my mother so letting her know should have been a special event for me, but nope… I notified her via email. She could have cared less how she was notified as she has been badgering me for years about having a baby (love you mama)! Lol  Anyway she was very happy and has already asked me many questions from How are you feeling today? to Do you know what you’re having? She is completely thrilled and I couldn't be happier for her and myself. She will be a great wealth of support and knowledge throughout this amazing experience. Love you Mama. 

Telling Steve’s mami was really sweet. Steve called her and talked to her as if it was their normal weekly conversation; however to my surprise during the conversation Steve said, “Lisa’s got something to tell you.” I was shocked because I thought he was going to tell her. So as I stammered around for the right words to say I finally just blurted out that I was pregnant. She was so happy. You could just hear the happiness in her voice that her baby boy was finally going to be a father. Steve and I both got teary-eyed. It really was a special moment for me but especially Steve.

We're going to be Parents

I knew when I woke up on December 1^st that it was going to be a great day but what I didn’t know was HOW great it was going to be.

Steve and I had planned a day out on the lake on the boat we just recently bought and this was going to be its maiden voyage (with us). Steve and I were both really excited so we decided to get up at 4:00 am. Well actually, Steve decided to get up that early. I honestly don’t know why fishermen think they need to get up that early to catch the BIG fish but anyway that’s the time I crawled out of bed. I stumbled to the bathroom in the dark and decided to take a pregnancy test as I was two days late. Being late wasn’t unusual for me but for some reason I decided to just take the test and to my surprise it was positive. I just looked at it in disbelief at first. Then I kind of shook my head and rubbed my eyes to make sure the line wasn’t just blurry and then the shock set in. All these thoughts instantly starting running through my head, “Do I tell Steve now?” “What if he’s not happy?” “How do I tell him?” “When do I tell him?” Oh my god, I was freaking out!! I then took a deep breath and decided not to tell him until after the fishing trip. Well, the fishing trip ended up being a success; Steve caught his first fish on his new boat. He was just a like a small kid at Christmas, opening that toy he longed for. It really was a great day.

After we got home, I decided to take another pregnancy test before I told him. Maybe the first test was a false positive. Nope, the test came back positive again. Ok, so this was the real deal. We were going to have a baby! At that moment, Steve came into the bedroom and laid on the bed and I laid next to him. I started out with “ I have something to tell you but I’m scared to tell you.” I can only imagine what was going through his head when I said that but I can guarantee it wasn’t what I was going to tell him. Lol Anyway, I proceed to tell him that I was pregnant and he said “Really” with a smile on his face. I instantly felt at ease and started crying tears of happiness. Steve, not being a very emotional man and not understanding my tears, asked, “Why are you crying? We wanted this to happen.” I just smiled and said, “Yes, we did want this!”