August / September updates

August and September have been such a whirlwind! Brooklyn just turned TWO MONTHS; my baby is growing up too fast already! She is the sweetest little girl and melts my heart. She already has done some incredible things in her short time outside the womb. She has turned over belly to back, back to belly and even one time a full turn from back to belly to back again. She has unbelievable strength in her arms, legs, torso and especially neck. She has been supporting herself really well since about 2 weeks. Everything she does is just so cute! Recently she has become very smiley. She is able to track objects with her eyes, reach out to grab things, recognizes our voices and make eye contact. I love everything about her.

Baby push up in action 

swatting at her toys, 8 weeks 

Almost supporting herself, 5 weeks

I really wanted to record the whole process of her birth. While I was crazy from lack of sleep and the epidural I took notes on my phone to remember.  This is what I have: “Started getting cramps 12, water broke 1AM, epidural at hospital 4AM, can’t feel needle just numbing needle they give you first, feels like a bee sting- about the same as the IV going in the arm – sleep- Dilated 4.5cm & received Pitocin to speed up contractions 8AM, still dilated 5cm & received more Pitocin 9AM, Dilated 9.5, baby is 0 they want baby head +2 down canal, nurse said 30mins – 1 hour then we can start pushing! Dilated 10cm, baby only +1 down canal. They want baby +2 before we start pushing to eliminate time I need to push so I don’t get worn out. Also, doctor is delivering another baby right now. Started pushing at 1PM after a long time of waiting, delivered at 3:46PM. Doctor came in for last 30 minutes to help ease help out.” How precise huh? The craziest part I was scheduled to be induced THAT morning at 6AM. When the water broke Rob and I just looked at each other like its happening! The last month I had so much anticipation and excitement but in that moment I didn’t feel ready! We excitedly drove to the hospital then we arrived and nothing. I thought I would immediately start pushing and deliver her, nope! My contractions needed to speed up before I could get the epidural. This part was painful and scary. After the epidural I felt loopy and was just exhausted from not sleeping. We half slept/ rested until I was dilated enough. Everything was surreal I had waited for this day for 9 months and it was finally here! When it was time to push I was ready and just wanted to get on with it. (I am inpatient, even with delivering my child!) After 2.5 hours of pushing our angle was born.

After we brought Brooklyn home we had one week before we were scheduled to move. I had crazy nesting fever at the end and packed everything prior to her being born (so thankful for that!) We journeyed down to a rental home in Santa Clara so we could be close to the Plaza house during construction. It was really nice to have six weeks of maternity leave so I wasn’t working and was able to go over there just about every day. Brooklyn was always so good and would fall asleep so I could make decisions on wall color, texture, location of things, etc. Being able to remodel the house was stressful but also really fun and in the end totally worth it. I really feel like this is OUR home, we love it! I will need to add some pictures after we finish decorating.

Apartment is finally empty!

I am back at work (currently writing in the doctor’s lounge while waiting for a procedure to start). Travel schedule is crazy as ever, especially because I want to be home every night with Brooklyn AND I am breastfeeding. I get on a flight at 6:30 almost every morning. I am a madwomen sneaking into procedure rooms to pump and then going to get ice and finding a refrigerator, storing the milk, transporting the milk, repeat. I want her to have the best start so I think it’s worth it. Beacon has promised me another person for 2013 (lets see).

My goal is to blog a lot more often. I love the idea of a virtual journal and I know it will be fun to look back on in the future. 

The Final Stretch!

We are almost there! It seems incredible that nine months have already passed by. Each trimester brought something different. The first I felt like I had the flu and like death, second I was the hungriest person alive, third I am tired and uncomfortable.

Today marks officially three weeks until our baby's August 2nd due date. I am now going to the doctor each week where they check to see if the cervix is thinning and if there is any dilation. On July 3d I found out my cervix was beginning to thin and 1 cm dilated! Our little girl is in perfect head down position, heartbeat excellent, size and weight right on track. Earlier this week on July 10th we were excited to find out the cervix is continuing to thin and I am almost 2cm dilated now. The doctor told us the due date is like the center point with half the population going before and the other half going after. He said based on his experience I should be going in the before group!

He also told us great news that if we choose they will induce me in the 39th week if she has not yet been born. I am very excited about this for a few reasons. First I am DONE being pregnant, second I was 9.5 pounds when I was born, 10 days early so I am terrified of having a large baby, third I have agreed with my work I would work up until the baby's birth and then take six weeks for maternity leave however I am so tired and uncomfortable I can't imagine working for three more weeks. Finally we decided 7/27 sounds like a great date and since it would be a Friday it would be the most convenient for Rob to take off of work.

All in all, physically this pregnancy has been OK. Besides the sciatic nerve pain I have felt as upbeat and  energetic as a pregnant person could. I attribute feeling well to the diligent exercise I have done. Even though my "workouts" are 20-30 minutes every other day just walking around has helped me feel good. Emotionally I think this pregnancy was really tough. Moving, starting a new job, getting married, building new relationships with Rob's kids, the potential disability scare, buying a new house that needs to be renovated and moving again has been A LOT. My mom keeps joking saying if Rob and I can make it through this time we will be golden for the rest of our marriage. I attribute my mental stability to Rob being the most amazing husband and support system I could ask for. Through everything he has assured me things will be OK and we will make it through. I am so excited to be this close to welcoming our bundle of joy into the world. I already love our little Brooklyn more than I could imagine.

June Baby Updates

Lots to report for the month of June..... just over 5 weeks until our sweet pea is born!

The great bedding debate- solved.

Thank you to friends and family who sent me numerous links of bedding and suggestions of where to find things. Rob and I just could NOT decide what to choose. Every set we looked at we found something wrong with. A week ago we said thats it, we are just going to order something. Lisa bought the hanging mobile when she came to visit so we wanted to incorporate that and the butterflies into the design. We settled on the below pink and green butterfly quilt that we really love.

Michael & Matthew bought the minnie blanket at Disney World- sweet uncles! 

Baby classes: CPR & delivery/birth 

My gorgeous husband below paying such good attention to the babies while on his cell phone. This 3 hour class was actually really informative. We learned how to give baby, infant and child CPR among other safety tips.

The second class we took, the birth and delivery class was NINE HOURS! This also was extremely informative and I am really happy we went. It was a good refresher for Rob and necessary for me. We learned everything from identifying contractions to different birthing positions to pain options. The above was one of the posters they told us to take a picture of and study. As you can see here there is a really long, painful yellow road that is a natural birth or a short street road that includes "rest and wait." We have chosen for me to journey down the short street road with an epidural :)

Last work trip!! (finally!)

I am currently in Arizona for a three day work trip and this will be my last until after the baby! I have been traveling around the west coast installing the new device like a crazy person and I am so relieved that I will not have to fly anymore. The doctor said flying until 36 weeks on short flights is OK but it has been making me really anxious to be away just in case I go into early labor. I am looking forward to spending time working in the Bay Area close to Rob. 

34 weeks! 

Final Preparations

Although I feel anxious and nervous about giving birth I just think about all the people who have done it already and it makes me feel better. The hospital bag is packed, birth plan written, car seat purchased, we feel as prepared as possible. It has been fun over the last several months buying all the different baby stuff with Rob. Now if the baby only had her real own room but that soon will be solved too! 

We are closing escrow July 22nd!   

We went back and forth debating between renting and owning and ultimately even though we do not anticipate being in this home long term it made more sense to buy. We can control any improvements, resale value, tax breaks but mostly because the rental properties were expensive and crap. This home was purchased in a short sale which actually should be called a long, expensive sale. We ended up paying $15,000 over the asking price- silicon valley real estate is crazy right now. Its 2,040 square feet, 4 bedrooms, in an awesome palm treat lined location and has a fruit trees and a cool -brand new- sauna house in the backyard. The entire house needs to be remodeled which we will start end of July/beginning of August and should be able to move in about 6-8 weeks after. A few pictures of our beauty.... 

Bonus room/ family room

Dining room

Kitchen, including FOLDING CHAIRS.

Front of house from the right side. Behind that wall is a patio/ sitting area.

Front of the house from the left angle - showing garage. 

View from our front yard- we are the red roofed house to the left. The area is called "Palm Haven" and there is cool courtyard/ park right filled with palm trees right in front of our house. Also all the streets are lines with palms, which I love. 

32 weeks >> 7 months !!

I can't believe how soon our little baby will be coming home with us-- only 8 weeks left! We had a 30 week growth scan two weeks ago and everything was perfect. The cysts in her brain and the hyperechogenic bowel were both gone. We also found out at that time she weighed approximiatly 3 pounds 11 ounces. We are so happy to know our little one is completely healthy.

As for me work has been crazy and I have been traveling Monday through Friday but that will all end beginning of July at 36 weeks. I still feel really good although I begin to get tired around 5PM each day. I usually find if I can sneak in a nap and get 8 hours of rest I am pretty high in energy. I wear compression socks while in the procedure room because I do a lot of standing. Everyone has been very nice to me, offering me a seat and water. All the nurses like to tell me stories about their pregnancy and children, its a nice way to bond with them. I think my belly is actually helping my sales!

32 weeks! 

I can't believe how big my belly already is and I know she will double in size before she is born. I have been really lucky not to get a lot of the horrible pregnancy things (hemorrhoids, varicose veins, severe headaches, etc) but I have had terrible sciatic nerve pain in my back and then the dreaded line below>>
I put Palmers stretch mark cream on each night to hopefully avoid those ugly white/ purple lines (so far, so good) and the creame will also help my skin go back to normal color on the line portion after the baby is born.

Linea negra is getting longer and darker, ah. 

Funny story: at 25 weeks Rob and I went to the standard doctor oppointment. Here I was told I was "ahead of schedule" as far as my weight. I had already gained 25 pounds and was only suppose to gain 18. In a very serious voice the doctor started talking to me about my food choices and ways to modify my diet. He also told me I needed to start doing some form of exercise at least 3 days a week for 30 minutes. Rob was in the back of the room with an ear to ear smile and a "I told you so" look on his face. As funny as it was at the time it was a reality check for me; just because I am pregnant I can't pig out on anything I want. You all will be happy to know I took the doctors advice and six weeks later I am back on track!

Me taking a photo to prove to Rob I'm actually excercising while on a work trip. :)