a typical day

As unusual as this morning has been, it feels so routine at the same time. I spent this morning going to 2 doctors offices and a hospital to get blood drawn for testing and to get a Holter Monitor (basically a portable EKG) put on. It all started about 2 months ago when I asked my OB if it was normal to be laying down and suddenly feel my heart pounding so hard - the answer was yes because my blood volume has increased being pregnant it can do that from time to time. Perfectly normal and nothing to think about unless my heart rate also raises above 100 when I'm laying down. Normally it just beats hard and eventually calms down, but the other night it decided to play around with me a bit. I had been laying down for about 10 minutes or so and it started beating hard as it does sometimes, then it felt like it threw a few extra beats in there, and then my heart rate went up. Not high enough that I thought I was having a heart attack or anything, but fast enough that I knew I'd have to be calling my OB. I was having issues watching the clock & counting the beats myself (you wouldn't think it was very hard) so Greg came to my aid. He sat me up and had me take some deep breathes and he took my pulse after it had calmed down a bit. Well, it was 100 then so I'm not sure how high it had been. After it finally went back to normal he had me sit on the couch with my feet up for a bit to make sure I was okay and when I could finally muster up the energy (the ordeal zapped my energy completely) I headed to bed. The next day my OB told me she wanted to check me for anemia, thyroid problems and possibly an arrhythmia. So today I went and got blood taken for testing with her, had a consultation with my Primary Care doc to "order" the Holter Monitor, and ran by the hospital to get all plugged in. I have to keep track of any abnormal feelings I get whether I think they are heart related or not (except my little guy moving) and what time they happened according to this device. I also have to keep track of when I sleep and if I get up in the middle of the night so they can understand the declines & increases in my heart rate when they print out the report this thing is recording. When it has run for 24 hours I get to take it off, stick it in a baggie with my data sheet, and drop it off the ER. Fun times ;-)

On a slightly different note, Greg finally has some answers about the pain in his leg lately. He had an MRI last week (our hospitals love us lately I'm sure) and it turns out that he has dysplasia of the L4, L5 & S1 vertebrae and the S1 is sitting on a nerve, causing the pain down his leg. This is good news and bad news. It's good because we finally have some answers about his back/leg issues AND because this MRI has finally shown something his past MRI's haven't. Now we can get cracking on treatment and hopefully have a new man by the time this kiddo arrives next April. The bad part is not huge, it's only a possibility really, but it's still not great. He begins specialized physical therapy daily starting next week, which is probably going to cause him some pain until he gets used to it - that sucks. They are hopeful that it will help the problem and get him to a better point than he's been in years - that is great. There is a chance that it won't be enough, which we will know 2 weeks after he starts, and if it's not then they do surgery - that SUCKS. I am hoping and praying that the therapy (and the drugs they've given him) will be all that it takes to get him on the right side of things. I pray that it doesn't come to surgery, but that if it does I can stay calm during the ordeal and that he can recover from it before the baby comes. He wants so badly to be able to play on the floor with his son and run around or play ball when the day comes, but that couldn't happen as things are now. Only time will tell how things turn out.....

So that's us in a nutshell lately! I DO get to start the baby registering today though!!! My beautiful sis and I are going to the store after work today and will be picking out all of the fun and necessary things for her favorite nephew!! That right there could make the crappiest day great, I'm so excited!!

snips & snails & puppy dog tails...

Well our ultrasound was this morning and all signs point towards a BOY! The little booger was being stubborn at first and had his legs smashed together so the tech went about her business checking all of the things she needed to check. When she finally came back to the gender he decided to cooperate and showed her his goods few times! The he decided to be stubborn like his daddy and kept turning his head away or sticking his hand in his face every time she went to get a good profile picture - needless to say we didn't get one! We got a few pictures, probably as good as any ultrasound pictures are. I am looking forward to January when we go do a 3D ultrasound and really get a look at his precious little face! He looked healthy and strong - his heart rate was a strong 156 and they estimate his weight for now around 9 ounces already (YIKES!)

I am SO excited to really start planning now - finalizing bedding, painting & decorating the nursery, picking out his name (not sure I'm looking too forward to that one though, it's so hard!) Greg and I just couldn't be happier - it's so surreal when I think about where we were just 5 months ago and where we are now. Every time I hear his little heart beating or see his picture I just couldn't be happier!! Such a huge blessing we've been given, one I wasn't sure we'd ever get, but already couldn't imagine life without.

17 weeks!

Well today marks 17 weeks for me! It is either the shirt I am wearing today, or I reached the point where I wake up and go "WHOA! I actually look pregnant!" I guess we'll see if I still look this way as the week progresses ;-) We have our big ultrasound THIS WEDNESDAY - as in less than 48 hours from now!!! I will post any news we get later that day or shortly thereafter, and some pics of munchkin! Still in disbelief how fast this is going, but I am so ready to see and hold this little blessing!!!