What no one told me about becoming a parent....

That breastfeeding would suck...I'm a slave to my pumps (My rented Medela Symphony AND my Ameda Purely Yours Ultra)

-but I know its best

That you have point a boys private DOWNWARD unless you like pee pee coming UPWARD

-but it only took one time of getting pee on him, me, and the wall to figure it out

That I would eventually have to let go and put him in his big boy crib

-but I don't wanna...I like him in the same room with me (just not in the same bed)

That you'd rather spend hours gazing into your son's eyes instead of the tv, computer, phone etc.

That I really did need that Boppy in order to save my poor arm

That I really did need a bottle sanitizer especially when its 2 am and you are out of bottles and your son is wailing like a banshee and YOU want to wail like a banshee.

That we would go through 250 diapers in two weeks.

I'm sure I can add more as time goes on :)

Week 38

No progress after Wed appointment. Doc said she will not induce me unless I super uncomfortable which I am not. Work is keeping me occupied so I am thankful for that.

Week 37

My husband and I are excited for little B to get here. He keeps asking me "Is there anything else we need to get?" No dude relax and install the doggone car seat base lol. Confession: We skipped our last childbirth class today and slept in. Thats what the internet is for.....

I have exactly 3 doctors appointments left. The last one sucked because I tested positive for Group B Strep which from what I read is a bacteria that lives in your G.I tract. It is my understanding that either you carry the bacteria or you don't. So because of that I have to get an antibiotic drip every 4 hours before and during labor or else little B can develop a severe infection. The Group B doesn't affect the carrier at all, just the baby on his way out. Doc didn't seem to pressed she said it was normal. I was pressed because I thought it was something I caught like cooties. She said its not. So as soon as my water breaks or I go into labor, I have to go to the hospital to get the IV drip. This was NOT my plan because I had planned on laboring at home for as long as I could in my own surroundings, now I gotta go in ASAP.

Soooo I need him to stay in as long as possible because my long term sub is doing someone else's leave on short notice and I need her to do mine since she was assigned to me first lol.

Hello 35 weeks

I don't have anything special to report out. I appreciate all of the weekly calls and texts I've been getting from people checking in on me (us). They usually go something like this:

Person: How are you hanging in there?

Me: Ready for it to be overrrr...

Person: Awww it won't be too much longer now

Me: I know, I need to reach in and get him out myself

I decided to post this very first ultrasound picture @ 6 weeks as a reminder of how far we've come...This was taken the day it was confirmed we were having a baby. I remember that day clearly because we absolutely could not believe what we were seeing on the screen. A flutter of a heartbeat then, and an almost fully grown baby now.

Week 34

There really is no more room for him or me for that matter. The doctor said she would like to see me put on a bit more extra weight. I'm thinking "ummm no thanks." Weekly appointments have started and they have just finished a new wing of the hospital that will house the OB/GYN outpatient offices. I'm excited to see what it looks like inside and also excited to be among the first to utilize it!

The nursery is 90% finished...FINALLY!

Dissertation process is moving along. I have a rough draft of Chapter 1 finished which has been written, ripped apart, revised, ripped apart by a different person, and revised again. I am now on my 5th draft (in one month) and I see why people rarely finish doctoral programs. I am happy to say that I still have straight A's after 18 credit hours of work. Two more classes to go and then I am done with coursework!

31 weeks

Still hanging in there. Looking forward to attending the Sade concert next week. It will be my second concert in a month!

Happenings:

My innie is now an outie....

People say I still look 4 months preggo.

We have narrowed our name list to two names but now we are back at square one with middle names, so the whole process has to begin again.

Nursery set up is next weekend. (Put the brakes on a home purchase. No sense in buying a house just because you have the money if you aren't really in love with it. I'm not really wanting to move in this condition anyway. Too hot...) The sesame street decals and foam building blocks have arrived. I just need some sort of small dresser/shelf combo for all 20 of his books.

All major baby items have been purchased! For some reason we do not have any blankets though??!! We went to Target yesterday and swooped up some baby pants on clearance. I figured they could go over any one of the 30 onesies he has once it gets cold.

Hello Labor and Delivery Dept. @ 29 weeks

Its been awhile since I've posted. We spent a scary night in labor and delivery. More bleeding out of nowhere. (Sorry TMI). This hasn't happened since waayyyy early in the pregnancy. We found ourselves in labor and delivery within 30 minutes from our house to me laying with the gown on. They strapped two monitors on my belly, and two for me. Luckily the high risk doctor was on call that night and was not able to find anything major, however they will be keeping an eye on my placenta as it may shift lower which may cause more issues. Apparently the baby thought this was funny because he chose to show off his acrobatic skills so much so that the nurse commented on it from her station across the room. I guess she must have been watching the monitors. I was very happy when they told us that we could go home. We just need to hang on for at least 9 more weeks.

100 days left

Thats what the ticker says for me. My countdown. I knocked another thing off of my to do list and that is getting a district level internship in a neighboring district. Hopefully this will provide better networking opportunities for me as I branch out. Grades were posted yesterday and I managed to keep my perfect 4.0 in my doctoral classes.

I had to take a glucose tolerance test yesterday. Can you say icky? Its a juice-like mixture they give you to test for gestational diabetes. Imagine drinking your hi-c orange pop from McDonald's the next day after you bought it...thats what its like. Fortunately I gulped it down and went about my day.

My doctor also told me she is leaving to go back to UCLA. I'm bummed. I really liked her. She referred me to another doctor and told me I would like her just as much.....I hope so.

B and I had an amazing time in Aruba. I came back with great tan lines! There were lizards and iguanas EVERYWHERE! I took a picture with one of them haha! We went on a sunset sail and it was so beautiful. The crew served me first b/c I was the only preggo onboard lol!

OMG its sooo hot here....I'm so glad school is out (no more work until August!) and I am thankful for a/c but sheesh can I get some relief?

Tomorrow is another ultrasound day! My 7th ultrasound (literally). I am going to get a fruit smoothie from Mickey D's and see if I can get the baby to be more active for the tech. If they had appointments at night it wouldn't be a problem because he is up kicking and punching ALL night.

We are still at an impasse with names and I am just going to let it go for now :-)

22 weeks

Baby is officially weighing in at 1 pound. Weird things are starting to happen like laying down and seeing a section my belly jiggle because I am getting kicked or punched. We purchased a diaper genie II today. We'll see how that works. I had a coupon at Burlington so we went ahead and got it. I took the one I had off the registry and added a baby gate in its place lol! I have one more coupon that expires at the end of the month so I am sure that we will find something else to buy off our checklist. Yes, we have a checklist....

Letter to my Son

First you need to learn that all glory is given to God and thats where we will start. We found out you were a boy today. The tech said "Can you tell?" and I said, "thats a penis." Your dad and I hi-fived, but he wouldn't take his eyes off of the screen or stop smiling. I guess thats means you both can go to the barbershop and play golf. Your dad, uncle C, and grandpa love to play golf. I'm not a golf fan, but I'll come watch.

Today during the appointment you again refused to move to get good shots (your hand was in your face AGAIN during the 3D shot). I have to go back in 4 weeks to get confirmation photos that all of the chambers in your heart are working properly. We saw it on the screen, but without the perfect shot the doc needs us to go back.

We also surprised your new aunts today and they are very excited. One of your aunts cried. (she's cries at everything). The kids at school came up with a list of names that they are determined to vote on. (I think they were just trying to get out of class work).

We are excited that in 4 months you will be here. Your dad is excited because someone will carry on the family last name. I'm excited because you are about to be a momma's boy. Remember: no babies until you are married (or crazy girls at my house as a teenager, because they will get their feelings hurt)

PS: I read that boys pee on faces/shirts/legs and various other parts. I just ask that you do not pee on me directly.

Countdown to Friday

So we'll find out the sex Friday afternoon. Don't expect any immediate updates on here until later in the weekend. Its so funny because I have students who literally want me to email them the minute I find out. They're so silly. Many of them (including my boys) are coming up with name lists. Everyone is jockeying for their name to be the one.

In the spirit of Mother's Day we've decided to tell our mothers/grandmothers via flower delivery or edible arrangement (haven't decided yet) and surprise them. The tag on the flowers will say something cheesy and it's a "boy" or "girl" So if you are reading this and you know our moms don't go blabbing it.

Its been 5 months and my weight gain is only 5 pounds. I think I'm still rolling pretty well. I still wear all of my regular pants (rubber bands and bella bands work wonders) and have not worn any yucky maternity shirts. Creative shopping in larger shirt sizes works well too.

We just spent a wonderful weekend in Pittsburgh (and flying 1st class wasn't half bad, thank goodness for B's frequent travel. Can you say FREE UPGRADES?) attending B's sister's graduation. I am so proud of her. I remember when she was born (because B and I sat next to each other in 4th grade and my sister was born 2 months before her). I giggle when I think back to how B and I used to have to pick them up from their Brownie Troop. Now she is making plans to attend medical school! I was glad for the vacay and even moreso glad to see familiar faces. B hasn't been home since Thanksgiving so I know he was happy for sure.

We leave for Aruba in 4 weeks! 16 days left of school!!!!!

I have only accomplished one thing off my to do list.... (smirk)

Time Management

I need good time management.

The school year is winding down and for that I am happy. However, before September I also need to...

Get my internship at someone's district office squared away. Hopefully it will lead to a lead if you know what I mean.

Start working on chapter 1 of my dissertation. I really have to have it finished by December of next year.

Find a home to live in. We have been approved for a home loan...so we're about to own TWO houses. Reminds me of that line in Menace II Society where Cain asks the dude he's carjacking "Oh you a baller now?" (Note: If you haven't seen Menace then it won't make sense to you) We need to close by the end of June. Um...PRESSURE!!! (and sourness cause we'll have to spend regular price out here for a loan and not Michigan foreclosure rates, think about a new construction foreclosure in the mitten and add $120,000 to that price)

Get all baby gear situated. I registered at Target for bare minimum stuff as I stated before I don't want any clutter.

Help find B a new car since his lease is up. Decide if he'll get the SUV or if I will when my lease is up.

Get new license plates BEFORE next FRIDAY because if I don't after that I'll be riding durty...(and possibly wind up with a ticket)

Is anyone looking for a job as a personal assistant???

Can we get a beat?

Today was the usual routine doctor's appointment or so I thought.....

Med student came in, asked the exam questions and proceeded to take out the fetal heart monitor. Couple of minutes... no beat

5 minutes...no beat

almost 8 minutes...no beat

You know how they say when you're about to die your life flashes before you? Well, my whole TTC process from start to finish flashed before my eyes. I thought well, better call Dr. K for that IUI cause here we go again..

Internally I was flipping out and I could tell he was too. So in between me trying to stop my mind from racing and trying to reassure this poor med student that it was okay and that at the previous appt it took awhile too (more like 2 minutes) I wanted to scream..

GO GET DR.______________!!!!! *#&@&@!!!!!

He must have read my mind because he did just that. She came into the room and took the monitor and in 45 seconds flat we heard it! She even knew the bpm off the top of her head while the med student confirmed it with his watch.

Turns out I have an anterior placenta which means it goes stomach>> placenta>>baby. Its growing the opposite side of where most develop. As far as movement is concerned they said I probably won't feel any for another 4 weeks since the position of my placenta is acting like an extra cushion.

Anatomy/gender scan is May 6th.

Why? Randoms....

Why did two of my students leave their classroom come to mine and say "Oh Mrs...____ we know your secret!" Proceed to lean in and whisper.."You're preggo!"

Why was I ready to sufflex one of my teammates for telling them?

Why do I not even really care?

Why is my belling coming out farther each day?

Why am I wanting this new pair of shoes for outfits I can no longer fit into?

Why did I spend $$$$ on a new CHI that made my hair bone straight but its still too soft and full?

Why do I think I overconditioned it? Is that possible? To overcondition your hair that is?

Why did I go to service today with a slightly burnt smell to my hair because I went over it again to make it flat.

Why does my child have 27 onesies and 8 footed pjs already?

Why did my sister ask me what an "on-es-see" was? Why did I slob laughing and then cringe because she could not decode the word onesie?

Heat

Remember how I mentioned that I needed a warm weather vacay? The temp outside is 89 degrees...If this is any indication of how the summer is going to go I'm in for it....

Babymoon

Our Babymoon itinerary is complete and paid. Aruba here we come....I need a warm weather vacay. I cannot wait.

More pokes prods scans

Had the NT scan on Tuesday which was the longest appointment ever. 3 hours to be exact. I was examined first by a 3rd year medical student (they're all so nervous). He found the heartbeart on the doppler after about 5 minutes of trying. Next I met my new doctor who I enjoyed right off the bat mainly because her bedside manner was so energetic. That will come in handy down the line. (I've had some dry doctors)

Went for a short walk to get all the blood taken out of my body for various tests and then it was down the hall to visit the sonogram tech. Let me tell you the feel of warm gel on your stomach when you are expecting something cold is amazing. The ultrasound room was very comfy with a couch and some chairs and a huge flatscreen monitor so that you can watch everything real time.

The baby was not cooperating fully so she made me cough a few times to make it move. Nope. It was nap time and the more she prodded the more fussy it became. Everytime she pushed down with the scope a tiny foot would appear out of nowhere and kick upward toward the scope. She tried in a different position and again upward foot kick as if to say "Lady please beat it."

They took some cool 3d pics and I at least know that on the left hand there are 5 fingers since the picture gave the appearance of "Here is my hand, you have a picture now leave me alone."
I met with the genetic nurse afterward and she went over the NT results and basically we are far away from having to worry about any genetic defects (Thank you God).

Next appointment is in 4 weeks and gender/anatomy scan is 3 weeks after that.

New artist discovery-Sufjan Steven

Okay but why do I love this guy? (Maybe b/c his voice sounds a bit like Michael Franks?) Save for the fact that he did a song titled after my beloved city...(I did check out his other songs and they are equally beautiful) there is something about his music that is hauntingly beautiful...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVkSdf_AMWM

Romulus-Sufjan Steven

Once when our mother called
She had a voice of last year's cough
We passed around the phone
Sharing a word about Oregon
When my turn came, I was ashamed
When my turn came, I was ashamed

Once when we moved away
She came to Romulus for a day
Her Chevrolet broke down
We prayed it'd never be fixed or found
We touched her hair, we touched her hair
We touched her hair, we touched her hair

When she had her last child
Once when she had some boyfriends, some wild
She moved away quite far
Our grandpa bought us a new VCR
We watched it all night, we grew up in spite of it
We watched it all night, we grew up in spite of it

We saw her once last fall
Our grandpa died in a hospital gown
She didn't seem to care
She smoked in her room and colored her hair
And I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her
I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her
I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her
I was ashamed of her

12 weeks...

My stomach is poked out to the point where I can no longer conceal it. One of my co-workers was like "Yeah you've got like maybe one more week for that shirt..." Ughh...I still have only gained about 1 lb so far. I'm glad for this because I am not going to turn into a moo moo. My next appointment is next week so I'll get to meet the new doc.

I'm so tired today which is mainly my fault because I was out late going to see Tony Rock at the Improv. He was sooo funny...although I was slightly jealous of those around me who were consuming the yummy looking strawberry daiquiris.

I'm also so glad B is back from his trip to Indy and Conn. He leaves for Denmark again in April, then hopefully I can have him to myself again for a stretch.

Back to the baby front, here is a video of the (brand new as of Jan. this year) birthing suites at University of Kansas. Love em! Can't wait to go if nothing else then to hang out in the bathroom of the birthing suite. It looks amazing and the best thing is that I don't have to share a room with anyone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm6Syf6nGfM

Babymoon, Weddings, and Baby Stuff...Oh My!

B and I are beginning to plan our "babymoon" get away for sometime in June. People say that once your baby comes you don't get to do anything. I think that nothing could be farther from the truth. B and I have every intention of continuing our travels (GOD and $$ permitting) to exotic locales just like we have always done. I'm going to try and twist his arm and see if we can go to the Dominican Republic this time.

Just received a wedding invitation in the mail from a former parent/turned close friend of mine. Its so nice when somebody when someone finds that person that they truly love. I'm so excited to see her next month! I've been stalking her registry (i'm a registry stalker...I love picking the perfect gift for people) and I can't wait to purchase her gift.

Speaking of registries...I've been researching baby items (i'm a planner, my anxiety levels drop when I have a plan of attack) and have decided that I'd like to go with the bare minimum necessities. I figure we'll buy the rest of the stuff when we need it (don't want a ton of stuff laying around my house). I did, however, decide on colors (brown and lime green) and a stroller, but the stroller is now clearance :(...I'll be keeping my eye on it to make a quick purchase if necessary. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Evenflo-Aura-Travel-System-Sienna/10745665

and the back up system....

http://www.target.com/Graco-Passage-Travel-System-Lowery/dp/B0020W0XNK/ref=br_1_1?ie=UTF8&id=Graco%20Passage%20Travel%20System%20Lowery&node=3579971&searchSize=30&searchView=grid3&searchPage=1&sr=1-1&qid=1298821685&rh=&searchBinNameList=style_name%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Cprice&searchRank=pmrank&frombrowse=1

Well...

We are officially having a baby. I hesitated for a moment whether or not I was going to put this up here, but then I thought, well things can happen at anytime to anyone. The Bible says "time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all." I thank God for his beautiful blessing that HE has bestowed on my family.

Right now I am sitting on the floor between my bed and the window hoping that B doesn't come in the room and see me inhale this hot dog and chips. Is this what it has come down to? Sneaking food? I don't even eat hot dogs like that, but when I saw it I couldn't resist. Plus I haven't eaten since around 11 am so it was time considering that its now 4:15. Today that was the world's best hot dog courtesy of the local gas station.

My appointment on Friday went well. There were 2 med students and the tech and the doc in the room plus me so it was kind of cramped. This was my 3rd ultrasound due to some bleeding complications I've had since I first found out. The doctor took me off progesterone but I am going to use the last of it because it cost $90 and I don't like wasting $$. It can't hurt.

I also graduated to be able to see a regular OB next month unless the RE calls me tomorrow with abnormal blood results. I may have to go back on the tumor medication if my numbers get higher in order to keep in check during the next 7 months for my health more so than the baby's.

I can't even tell you when I got pregnant. Doing the math, it appears sometime before Christmas. Since I didn't know for almost two months after that, its hard to pinpoint. My due date is Sept 18th and since I already had a pooch to begin with I am already experiencing tightness in my pants that do not have the "stretch" material sooooo I went and purchased a BeBand (in black) http://www.target.com/BeBand-Maternity-Band-Ebony/dp/B001DDRYCU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid3&keywords=beband&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-2&qid=1298240961&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=BeBand%20Maternity%20Band%20Ebony&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=30&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0 Its from the same people who make the more expensive one. I haven't had to use it yet, because according to the doctors scale I haven't gained any weight yet. The nurse drawing my blood was like "wow are you gonna be able to handle the summer?" I told her I didn't mind because I don't work in the summer and I intend on buying cute maxi and sundresses to wear every day of the week. So I figure that will save me a ton on maternity clothes.

Another trick I utilized today at JCP was buying shirts a size larger than what I normally wear so I can make it until the end of the school year. Since I had a $10 off coupon I hit the jackpot and I intend of using the other 3 $10 off coupons we have this week too. Wham!

C'mon Friday

Its Sunday, and I already can't wait for Friday. Big appointment day!!!!! I think I have seen the inside of my RE's office more times in the last 3 weeks than I have in all of our months of treatments.

I'm behind on my 31 day rest posts but I'll catch up.

Sidebar: SchoolDaze is on....Love that movie!!!! My parents (and neither would B's from what he told me) wouldn't let me go to an HBCU (but they let my youngest sister go figure) B said our future kid(s) can go only if its certain ones like Howard, Morehouse, or Spelman other than that its a wrap.

More meds

I am now on my 3rd medication. 400 mg of progesterone taken twice a day. I think I am allergic to the materials in it because I've gotten a pretty bad reaction. But......I gotta do what I gotta do since my uterine lining is so thin. Hopefully this will thicken it and help me along.

Headed Home

I'm headed home this week to attend the funeral of....well I can't even put into words how much she meant to me. She was another mom, sister, friend, shoulder to cry on, partner to eat with, clown to laugh with.

I've been dealing with it in my own kind of way. Its been a long time since someone close to me passed away. The Bible tells us that the day will come when everyone in the memorial tombs will hear HIS voice and come out. I'm so grateful for the possible chance to see her again.

Lesson: When you have great friends tell them...don't let weeks go by and say "oh well I'll call them Saturday or I'll call them next week." We're not promised that. We're not even promised this evening. As we finished our phone call the last time we spoke a few weeks ago she ended by saying "I love you SO much." I'm comforted now by those words.

I'll miss when you laughed how your whole body shook

I'll miss our 2 o'clock lunch date

I'll miss you coming over and cooking the meat when we had a bbq

I'll miss you hugging me and comforting me

I'll miss listening to your dreams for Jasmine becoming a doctor

I'll miss cleaning out the fridge at school with you

I'll miss watching you give Ariel her insulin injections and making her feel better

I'll miss you cracking on Mr. Hunter

I'll miss you cutting your eyes at us and giving us "the Ms. Cook look"

I love you Mamma Cook! SC for life! I'll make sure Jasmine finishes college just like I promised you if something happened to you.

Feeling Better!

I don't know if I'm feeling better from the fact that I just had two snow days in row or if its because I am acclimating to the medicine but I feel better. The key with the bromocriptine for me is taking it immediately before I go to bed. I am now taking the full pill instead of just 1/2. I figure that if I was able to withstand 50 mg of Clomid (and the personal summers I endured while on it), then surely I can do 2.5 mg of bromocriptine.

I hope that it begins lowering my levels soon. My levels are at 45 and I need to get below 25. This is promising because I've read about people who had levels as high as 2000! Luckily I don't have THAT far to go. B told me the first night that I should go rest because I looked "alittle green." Below is a fun shot I took of the freeway outside of the clinic. Way too much time on my hands before the appointment.

ughhh 1/2 a pill and i feel terrible already!

Second Drug on the Fertility Journey

I had my appt today. Doc had a med student in there. Poor thing. He gave me my script and told me I had to take it for 2 mos. then get my prolactin drawn again. He told me if I got a BFP in the meantime call him. I asked him what the B plan was if my levels weren't lowered. He looked at me and said "They'll come down" I was like well alrighty then! LOL He also told me if they come down and there still is no BFP I move on to IUI w/ injectables.

I went ahead and made a follow-up for March. If I wait until I'm done w/ the meds and then make the appt I won't see him until June with his busy schedule...

I'm nervous about the meds. One of the side effects is fainting and dizzy spells. Please don't let me faint in front of my students. I don't want them to have any reason to think they won't have homework for the day or that I will be absent because I do have perfect attendance. Good thing we have a school nurse on staff in all of our buildings. :)

Patience Patience Patience

My appt is on Wednesday and I can hardly wait. Ugghh!!!! I know this appt is going to change my life.