Home » Monthly archive

July 2008

THE HEAT - the heeaaaatttt......

Submitted by Amy on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 2:50pm

I know I'm whining and I KNOW I don't have to deal with humidity....

but holy moly! It knocks me out!

Last Sat was at an event, outside, in the shade the whole time, drinking water, and I came home sweaty and hot and couldn't MOVE!!

My house doesn't have air conditioning except for our master bedroom, where I spent the rest of the day.

So I look forward to going to work, where I actually have to wear a sweater it's so cold there.

I don't think I've moved into the "hot-all-the-time" stage, cuz I really don't feel that way, so I don't think that's a factor. Just hot in the house.

OK I'll try to stop whining.

Capturing all the regular OB/GYN visits

Submitted by Amy on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 10:45pm

I now have the "preggo head" full-on and can't remember much. I'm surprised I haven't screwed up royally at work or missed a mtg.

Here's the dates, so far, of all the regular doctor visits:

1) 3/27/08 - first, 'confirmation' visit. Internal Ultrasound at I think 10 weeks. My doc doesn't have you come in until around then, so that she can confirm the baby's heartbeat. Never did ask why, specifically, but I think it has to do w/ a lot of Nervous Nellies (I'm one of 'em) parading through her office too early to tell anything concrete. Smart doc; I'd have been in there way before, right after my home pregnancy test! Check weight and pee in a cup too. W/ the internal ultrasound, could hear the baby's heart beat. Paul took video/audio on his phone. I think it became a bit more concrete then.

2) 4/10 - Appt #2. Regular check up. Weight check up and pee in a cup. More info from doc; nurse tries to hear heartbeat w/ a 'doppler radar' or some such gadget but she couldn't get it. Doc came and in it took her awhile too, but she finally got it.

3) 4/11 - SPECIALIST APPT - referral to genetic counselor. Concerned about Down Syndrome because of my age; this doc does the testing. She sends all her patients who might need this to this guy. Very nice doc - been an OB/GYN for years and years, still has a faculty appointment at the University of Colorado Denver and teaches. Most of his time he does genetic testing.

4) 4/18 - SPECIALIST APPT - This is the 'nuchal translucency' testing w/ the blood work. A specialized ultrasound tech did this ultrasound - went over all the baby's parts to make sure they were there; looked for Down Syndrome markers (and apparently could not see any at this stage!) and went over how the whole test works.

5) 5/8 - Appt. #3 - Regular check up. Weight check and pee in a cup. Again listen to baby heart beat w/ hand-held doppler device. More news and what to expect.

6) 6/10 - Appt. #4 - ANATOMY ULTRASOUND!!! Looking good! Again Paul took video/audio w/ his phone. Got real pics at this one; pretty cool! Doc not in the office today, come back in two days for visit w/ her.

6a) 6/12 - Appt. #4a - Regular check up w/ doc cuz she wasn't in the office on 6/10. Everything tracking normal so far. Can't recall how many weeks here - you do the math from 3/27.

7) 6/27 - SPECIALIST APPT - the doc wanted me to get a 'fetal echogram' to be sure that baby's heart is developing A-OK at my 'advanced maternal age'. This is a DETAILED look at the baby's heart; again looking for markers for Down Syndrome and/or possible defects that are detectable at this stage. I think I was 19 weeks. Doc reviewed, and could not tell any DS markers nor defects at this time! Great news! Paul went to this one too; pretty darn cool to see that little one moving around in there!

8) 7/10 - Appt. #5 - Regular check up. Weight check and pee in a cup. Measured my belly again; I must be right on at this stage cuz she didn't mention a thing. I think 25 weeks. Did I say that someone figured out that the measurement of your uterus in cm is the same as the # of weeks along you should be. I should research that and post an article!

9) 8/7 - Coming up - Appt. #6 - Gestational Diabetes screening test. Drink a horrible glucose solution and then 1 hr later take a blood test. If I fail this one, based on the blood test results, then I go in for a longer, more intense testing appointment. If I pass, then I'm good to go; no further testing; keep watching what I eat!

10) and more: After 8/7 - doc says I need to go every two weeks. So, let's see.... that means Aug 21 or so....Sept 4 and 18....then 1 x per week up until delivery: Oct 2 or so, then every week in October. Yeah, can't wait. I'm a little tired of doctor visits already.

I KNOW - QUIT YER BELLYACHIN'!!! All for the safety of this kid!

We're busy getting ready

Submitted by Paul on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 1:02am

Hiya folks. Sorry about the lack of updates around here, but we've been busy. I'm working on expanding and updating other web sites of ours, while trying to keep all the other ones updated (yes, there are even more sites than those three and this one -- ack!).

Anyway, to get on topic real quick, Amy's doing well with the incubation of our kid. She'll have to talk about things from her perspective (I'll bug her about it), but things have been pretty smooth in general. We had thought there would be another ultrasound appointment (and I really looked forward to it) but our Dr. doesn't do one at this stage unless there's a problematic reason to do so.

Well, I just needed to drop a note here. Again, we'll really try to get things rolling on here. We are swamped with work and such, but we need to get this thing going.

Thanks for visiting!
--Paul

July 4 Family Weekend

Submitted by Amy on Thu, 07/10/2008 - 8:00pm

My entire family - on my side - came to visit me, except my older brother, for this whole weekend because my cousin got married in Vail.

An awesome trip, tho way too many people for my small house, but that's ok. Lot's of good time w/ my sis and her 4-yr old twins. That was interesting.

An entirely super visit - a family reunion of sorts of my Dad's side of the family - his sisters were there, whom he hardly ever gets to spend time with. He and my mom were able to spend LOTS of time with them! I haven't seen them in a really long time, either.

Nice to catch up with my cousins, too!

However, they all WORE ME OUT! I thought I had energy. I guess not so much.

"On Oxygen"

Submitted by Amy on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 7:00pm

Went up to the mountains for a family visit and wedding. I found out that I have REAL, SUPER trouble w/ altitude!!!!

My father-in-law is on oxygen 24/7; and he offered for me to have some. He's got several types of nifty portable oxygen carrier-thingys.

SO I DID!

ABSOLUTELY HELPED!!

Before I turned it on, I couldn't breathe well, my ankles swelled up really fast, I could not hardly make it to the top of their staircase (full staircase)....felt like I had just finished a 2 hour hard muscle work out! Not breathing heavy, but I could hardly move my legs!

Then, I sucked some air. Yep, the good stuff.

Blamo - felt better! It's a good thing, because this wedding ceremony was at the top of Vail Mountain, on what they call the "Wedding Deck", which is something like 11,000 feet. Had to walk there too; that wasn't too much fun, but at least I could walk (i.e., move my legs) better! No, I didn't wear high heels!

I thought it was funny. Perhaps you had to be there. Can you visualize my predicament? Let me know and I'll try to be more descriptive.

:-)