Well, as I just got through recovering from the first "real" Halloween celebration with our now THREE YEAR OLD(!!) daughter, I found my way in here to deal with another slew of spammer jerks plaguing the site. So sorry for the lack of work on this site, but the spammers and other work/life/stuff has gotten in the way for both Amy and I. It's been tough to move My Baby FAQ up the list of things to do.

I just decided to drop a note, but I don't have much else to say. I guess I'll plop some more info here if anyone's interested...

Today marked the day for our daughter's three year doctor's visit and all went fine. The third year visit turns out to be wonderfully easy, since there aren't a slew of vaccines and tests to run. Last year was a bit burly and I read that the fourth year really sucks, with at least four (!) vaccines for various stuff.

The only bump in the road was a flu shot for today, which started out with the usual screaming and tears, until I worked it out with her that the poor nurse (they must hate giving those shots) was just giving her some special medicine that hurts at first, but then it will help her not be sick later. She thought that was kind of neat after more thought. I then encouraged her to track down the nurse to tell her "thank you for the medicine", which prompted a long (well, long for a 3-year old... so, a few minutes) discussion about how she was thankful for the medicine so she could get the pretty red bandage and so she would "feel much better" now. It seemed to be much appreciated by the nurse.

Anyway, she's been doing very well and we're all holding on for our dear lives. It's been a wild ride, to say the least! I'll see what I can do to facilitate some updates and more content on this site. We'll do our best, but not sure what I can work out at this point... time, she's a precious commodity.

Thanks for visiting. Let us know if there's anything we can help share with you to assist in some way.

Paul

(Oh, and PS: spammers, please go and get lost somewhere miserable. Thanks.)

Oh boy... I'm really sorry about the complete lack of updates here. There is so much other stuff going on in our world and so much work to do -- baby work as well as "work work" that just takes up a ton of time.

We really appreciate people coming around here from wherever you found us. We'll try to get some posts in as we go. I run over a dozen different websites that need more attention because they actually make me money and support us (and our beautiful little girl.)

I'll get some stuff updated and encourage Amy to write up some stuff soon. Thank you for dropping in and please do come back.

--Paul

Wow, I can't believe how fast time is flying by. I've been really busy with my other work and with this tiny bundle of smelly (some good, some bad) joy. I'm taking care of the itty baby during the day and working at night, while Amy works during the day and takes the baby shift in evenings. It's been wearing me out some, but I'm getting the hang of it on most levels.

I just really need to make blogging & posting here an almost daily event, or this just isn't going to get done. Just today, I had Amy put out a call for help on the issue of swaddling a 4+ month-old during naps, & got a fantastic set of replies! She's got some great friends.

On my end, if I asked my network of people, I'd get something more like: "what's a swaddle?" or "do you want to play Halo later tonight?" These are not useful responses, to say the least.

Well, just wanted to touch base here real quick. I need to do some work on this site soon and get Amy posting too. We'll see what we can do. I have a lot of stuff to post, but just not the time to get it done.

... sleep has come in tiny bits & pieces around here lately. *sigh*

Baby is healthy & happy most of the time, so things are good over here. Thanks for asking. :)

--Paul

Well, I'm not sure if I should apologize or not, but it seems like it. We're sorry to say that our lives have been swamped with both work and our now-born baby. It's been freakin' crazy around here with little sleep in general and many stresses of our new lives with a child in the house.

We had a healthy baby girl in late October and have been helping her grow out of one size of diaper after another. It is becoming clear that she will not even get a chance to wear many of the clothes friends/family have handed down to us. She is growing pretty fast. We're very fortunate.

However, it has really put some things (like this web site!) on the back burner as we try to sort out the rest of our world(s).

We'll work on getting posts here since we have amassed a plethora of articles and entries that should be able to help out a lot of parents out there. It would be great info to get out to the world... if only it didn't take so much time.

Anyway, thank you VERY much for visiting and we'll do our best to get our butts in gear and post around here.

Thanks!
Paul

Oh boy, I'm way behind. I know you see that for yourself, but I just had to affirm. Things have been massively busy around here and I'm pretty stressed in general about getting all my work done both for home and, well.. work.

So I'm feeling a lot better about most of this whole Baby thing, but the weight of many things is certainly great. For now, I'm trying to get as much work done as I can while Amy isn't totally knocked out. She's been sick a few times now, which sucks for her since she has very limited medicinal options. Luckily, it's been smaller things like head colds and coughs, but it still sucks.

Our friends have been contributing many wonderful things to us, including things like car booster seats (will be a while before we use those) and toys that have been previously-loved. I think that rocks. I like the idea of using stuff passed-down, but that's basically how I grew up. I'm the youngest of a large group, so I mostly knew only of hand-me-downs in general.

On the other side of the "wonderful to get helpful stuff" coin is the part where the stress hits a bit: where are we going to put this wonderful, helpful stuff??!? Again I'll point out that we have been together, doing our thing, for over a decade and we're pretty well settled into a bit of a routine. We're less than stone-like in our ways, but still, we didn't spend a bunch of years planning on having a little rug-rat rummaging around and needing his/her own space! So... we're trying to figure out how to rearrange our home to accommodate.

For instance, we've been given a wonderful (yeah, that word again) crib that is both beautiful and, well... massive! I haven't put it together yet, but dang, this thing should hold the kid until s/he is about 10 years old, I figure. (yeah, that's a joke... maybe.) This is an example of what I'm getting at -- we don't have a place for a separate bed!! We barely had a setup for a spare bedroom, but now I guess the kid gets that space. We went from having a guest room (with a bit of storage thrown in) to having a kid's room with absolutely nothing kid-like in it! I've got some cleaning to do. *sigh*

In Amy's words: "quit yer bellyachin'!"... yeah, I know. We're whining a lot about this stuff, but it really is a major adjustment for us. I know we're not unique on that front, but hey.. it's my blog, so I'm writing about my gripes!

Anyway... I'm not sure what I'm getting at with all this. I just figured I'd write something down and let folks know I'm still around. Amy is claiming she's getting ready to post more too, so we'll see if we can get 'er done.

Cheers,
Paul

At this next regular check up appointment, I will be tested for Gestational Diabetes. I've been told some horror stories on the solution to drink! Here's more on what it is:

Glucose Tolerance Test

Gestational diabetes sure ain't sweet — but it is manageable. Here are the details on glucose screening and diagnostic tests.

What it screens for: A one-hour glucose test screens for (but does not diagnose) gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). If your sugar levels seem high after a one-hour test, you'll have to come back for the three-hour version, which will give you a firm diagnosis. Gestational diabetes can usually be controlled with a special diet and exercise. (In rare cases, women need insulin to regulate their sugars during pregnancy.)

Who it's for: Most practitioners routinely screen all pregnant women for gestational diabetes. Some screen only women at higher risk for the disorder, including those who are obese or have a family history of diabetes.

How it's done: First, you drink a special glucose (aka sugar) mixture (think flat soda). Then you sit and wait (be sure to bring some reading!). Some practitioners may give you the mixture in advance of that particular appointment, so you arrive primed and ready to be pricked (just don't be late!). Exactly one hour later, your blood is drawn and tested for glucose. A high level of glucose at this point doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes; it just means you need the next test. For that tolerance test, you will be asked to fast overnight. Your blood will be drawn in the morning, and then you drink a different glucose mixture. Your blood will be drawn three more times, at one, two, and three hours later. (Triple the fun!)

Source: www.whattoexpect.com

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.

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!

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.

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.

:-)