9 Months Pregnant

I'm officially 9 months pregnant. Did you know that pregnancy is actually closer to 10 months? (40 weeks) I know all you moms already know that. Anyway - next month is the month! You all get to meet little __________! I can't wait to meet her. I think she's going to be nothing like little Miss Molly.

I got my hair highlighted and trimmed last week (and flat ironed). Molly was a little weirded out by the new hair but it went back to being curly so she was cool with it. Plus she now says "I got my hair done too."

I've been getting a little better with the routine: insulin, blood testing and the diet. I still hate it. My poor belly is black and blue. I want candy and a Surplee and Jamba Juice and some potato chips and real coffee and a doughnut and a beer (the list goes on).

The baby is in good health. I've been having to do testing a few times a week (non-stress, stress & fluid measurements). Last week was my first week. I did NOT enjoy the stress test and from what I can gather, there is no really good reason why I should be going through it. So I'm undergoing non-stress testing 2x a week plus regular doctor appointments. And the worst part is that I have to find care for Molly during these stupid appointments. Thank goodness for my cousin Liz! Thank you! Thank you Liz! Molly LOVES going to "Aunt" Liz's house because she gets to play with Seamus and Annie.

What else? Ichy palms and feet - that's a weird pregnancy symptom. I did not have that with Molly. In fact I didn't have heartburn or any of the stuff I have had this time around. But I do have nice swollen ankles and fingers like I did with Molly. Wow - who would ever want to get pregnant?

So with all the "drama" of this pregnancy, I'm looking forward to an orderly delivery. When I was pregnant with Molly - easy peasy pregnancy followed by an all drama delievery! I know, it could be much much worse. Sorry for complaining.

But I'll tell you, all of this is worth it. I would do it all over again because the result is amazing. I can't believe what an amazing and beautiful daughter we have. The new baby is going to be equally amazing. I really do love being a mommy.

OK it's late and I need some sleep.
Ta ta.
C

Well This SUCKS!

So I have gestational diabetes which means I have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day and inject insulin 3 times a day. I am NOT a happy camper. I've cried a lot in the past 24 hours but I'm getting over it and need to stay strong especially for Molly. She gets very upset if she sees me crying.



So so far so good. I had to modify my diet - that is totally do-able but I really wanted to finish the box of Girl Scout cookies AND I ordered more from my cousin's daughter (Annie) so I need to hide them until after I deliver. So I'll need a box of Samoas and a beer after I'm back from the hospital, OK?



Thanks to everyone for being so supportive. Most of you may know that my mom had a big diabetic episode before Molly was born - she was hospitalized and everything. She had to go through blood testing and insulin and a complete diet change. It's good to have someone so close understand. Thank goodness my mom is back to normal now and she doesn't have to take insulin anymore. She had to do this a lot longer than I will have to do it - gestational diabetes usually goes away right after delivery.



I keep beating myself up - could I have eaten better? Exercised more before I got pregnant? Less chocolate here and there? I practically lived on cereal. But I can't place any blame now - I just have to get through this for our new baby. It's only about 8 weeks to go. So for that time, I'm going to take it as easy as I can and just take care of myself and of my family. Try not to stress. My parents have been so supportive this time around. It's been wonderful.

It's Sunday afternoon and it was a beautiful day. Daylight savings time so more light. Molly has been down for like 4 hours now!

Oh - Brian is allergic to penicillin. He had been on antibiotics for the past week or so for an infection (really bad cough, etc) and Friday morning he noticed some red bumps on his neck. It looked like a bug bite. Off to work he went - really busy day. He sat in a very warm room working and very fortunately forgot to take his next dose of antibiotics. At the end of his day, he had broken out in a severe rash from head to toe. Next morning it was worse so off to urgent care he went where he found out that was having an allergic reaction to the antibiotics. If he had taken that dose when he was scheduled to, the outcome may have been much much worse. Now he has to take Benedryl and some steroids so the rash will go away. It's very weird and the doctor said it just happens. You could be not allergic and then all of a sudden you are or maybe he's been allergic but never mixed with the heat to make it show itself. He's considering a very functional tattoo now to alert people to his allergy!

My mom is in town again so it will give me a little bit of "me" time. I need that.

Well, wow - it's been a very very rough 3 months but as Leigh and I were discussing today - that's life, right? You just have to laugh and move along and get through it. What else can you do especially when you have little ones depending on you.

Love you all!

3 Hour Gloucose Test

So here's me today outside of Harriman Jones Medical Center during my 3 hour gloucose test.

Yes, that's right...my 1st test came back high so I had to go through the torture of fasting and having blood drawn 4 times today. Luckily the lab is open on the weekends because this would have been a pain if I had to take the Molster with me (cute photo of her with my belly, eh?).

Brian is sick - poor guy but he watched her while I was undergoing my boring day. Then we went out to Lucille's to have RIBS! Yummy!

Speaking of eating, I have been so hungry lately. I really wasn't too hungry most of this pregnancy but the last week or so, I've been chowing. Good thing I ate so much yesterday otherwise I wouldn't have survived today.

I had the same thing happen when I was pregnant with Molly. I was a bit high for the regular test and then having to take the 3 hour test - which came back slightly high - I didn't have gestinational diabetes but my doctor wanted me to be careful. Maybe that's another reason why Molly was so big...well also that she was 2 weeks overdue.

Yesterday I had Braxton-Hicks contractions all day. I was a little freaked out but I didn't see any type of pattern so I'm not going to worry too much about it. I did call the advice nurse but she was just following questions to ask on some medical computer program. I'll call my doctors office tomorrow just to be sure I let them know what's going on.

Let's see...what else? It's March already! St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner. Our time honored tradition of corn beef and potato dinner while we watch Brigadoon will be followed. Yes, I know Brigadoon takes place in Scotland but for some reason we started watching it every year - can't go wrong with Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse AND Van Johnson.

Then Easter is a few days later?! What's up with that? We'll be heading to Bakersfield to spend Easter with Gramma Bev.

OK, gotta go. Good night.

Catalina & About 10 Weeks to Go

So Brian (AKA Daddy) & I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary at the Catalina Inn Hotel on the beautiful island of Catalina (nice view, eh?). We were able to sleep in late, nap when we wanted, read, and of course EAT! It was a very nice, easy and relaxing weekend.

Gramma Bev and Molly had a blast together. Molly told me "don't go" and of course I cried but when Brian went back in a few minutes later because I forgot my coat, he was pleased to report that she was just fine.

Of course I'm having trouble sleeping now. I'm uncomfortable as all get out. I build a pillow fort around myself every night but it's still hard to sleep. Check out the nice belly on me! I can't believe I'm going to get even larger! My rings don't fit anymore but that happened about this time with Molly.

I have a doctors appointment on Wednesday. I'll see if I can get good o' Dr. Spieser to give me a few deliver date options. It's going to be so much easier knowing when it's going to happen and mostly what to expect. I'm looking forward to not going through induction, labor, and pushing, just to be cut open anyway! I took my gloucouse test last Wed - hopefully I don't have to experience the 3 hour test again like I did with Molly. That was not fun. Doctors appointments will be every 2 weeks now.

Molly & I went to a toddler dance class last Tuesday and we are going again tomorrow. It's fun to be out and about and see her interact with other little ones. We also have a few play dates this week. We get to meet my friend Suzanne's baby Diego on Friday! He's 1 month old tomorrow and had he been born a girl, Suzanne and her husband Rick had decided to name her Cielo. Way cool, right? Ah but who needs or wants ANOTHER crazy Cielo in this world? Good thing he's a boy.

So our newest little addition has been kicking and punching but not like Molly. This one is way more kick back. I wonder if this is any indication of how she will be outside of the womb. I told you we decided on a name. It's been hard to keep it a secret. Brian & I have been calling her by her name but again, we can't tell Molly because she has a big mouth. Her name is unique - not unheard of but one that I don't think will get popular.

Molly & I took my dad for a follow up visit to his doctor today. He had a dizzy spell/sorta seizure like episode a few weeks ago which really scared everyone. Bloodwork was normal. He's still going for an EKG as recommended by the neurologist we saw on the 15th. Honestly he just needs to relax more and drink lots of water. Gotta keep him healthy! We want Cappy (Molly's nickname for him) around for a long time.

Wow, I do ramble on.

The Girls

After 3 weeks, my sister has gone back home. We'll miss her! Molly had a great time with her "Auntie Bo". This photo was taken at a tea room in Long Beach. You get to pick out a hat and tea cup - it was very girly and alot of fun. Tea was fabulous - I kid you not, FABULOUS! Best tea and lemon curd I have ever had. We didn't do a ton of outrageous things (we did get our nails done and go for massages). Mostly Spronz got to be around for the daily routine which was great for the Molly Bear (and great for this mommy to be too). My mom was here most of the time too - that was really nice to have them here.

So I'm about 27 weeks now. The baby is kicking like crazy! Especially when I am lounging. I've been going to prenatal yoga at least once a week and she loves that too.

I'm still a little bit sick. I'm not as bad as I was but my ear is still stuffy and I'm a bit congested. Sorry I know this is boring to hear about my health but it's my blog, darn it! Brian got sick but I don't think he got it from me otherwise I think he would have caught it earlier.

We finally have decided on the baby's name but it's a surprise! So you've got 11 or 12 more weeks to go for proper introductions! We can say that it's a good "old lady" name (just like Molly) and it's not in the top 100 most popular names. (Terry - you'll never guess it!!!)

Brian & I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary (14 years together total!) next Thursday Feb. 21. We are going to Catalina. Gramma Bev is going to hang out with Mol. I always said we'd be going to Paris for our 10th but instead we are going to be having baby girl #2. I think that's worth it. Paris isn't going anywhere.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
XXOO,
Cielo

25 weeks and counting

I have been sick for 3 weeks now and I am so done with this! Molly started getting a runny nose today so I'm hoping that will not get any worse than that.

I feel VERY heavy and big. I'm only 6 months (25 weeks). I love it when random people ask if I'm having twins. Jerks. Check out my nice big o' belly!

My sister is here visiting from Sacramento area. It's nice to have her here. She's quite helpful and cute. She brought her doggie Sam. Molly is having a good time with them. My mom is here too - Molly loves hanging out with Gramma Ata.

Well I think it's time to take a nap since Molly is napping too (well attempting a nap anyway).

Everything will be GREAT in '08!

Happy New Year Everyone!

New Years Eve was very quiet - quieter even than the last two years. Mike joined us and found out just how really boring a New Years can really be.

I have an ear infection and a cold. I haven't been able to ear out of my left ear for over a week now. Egads!

Photo is from Jan. 2 at the Belmont Pool in LB. Molly and I have been "swimming" a lot (well not since the ear infection) but it's been very nice. She loves the water. It's very good for a very heavy mommy. How the heck and I going to get any bigger than I am now. I feel huge!

The baby has been kicking and moving around like crazy. It's been cool. She is very active mostly when I am not.

As for my positive theme for the year....I'm not feeling that positive today. In fact, I'm feeling icky today - sick of being sick and not happy about fighting with Molly. Trying to be patient. What is it going to be like with two???? A big test of patience....

OK, back to being positive....I'm going to order my new photo brochures today and when they come in, I'm going to distribute them to yoga studios that offer prenatal yoga. Good target audience - moms who have a bit of leisure money for photos of themselves and their kids. I will make this work. I have to make this work. So spread the news....

http://www.cielophotography.com/: photos of moms to be, kids, families.

Okey dokey pokey. Will try to do this more often.
GREAT IN '08!