Irish You a Happy 2009!

In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship but never in want.

Slainte!

...And We're Back

Who knew bloggy stuff could get so technically involved?! But, it's been resolved (thank you, Danielle!) and here we are, at our "new" site with the pretty stuff.

The url hasn't changed, but all of the other posts (and comments) are on an "old" blog now, which can be accessed by a link on the sidebar. The super-anal part of me really, really, really wants to move all of those posts over here, one by one...and I'm not saying the sane part of me has won for good...but for now, if you'd like to view any previous posts or pictures, you can get there via the link. I don't want to lose all those fabulous comments from you guys, so it'll most likely remain as it is - I'm just having to reconcile my need-to-have-all-things-consolidated-self to that outcome :)

Anyway, we're still here! And we'll continue to update as our pregnancy continues ... or, ya know, if our kitties do something extremely funny that I just have to share :)

Happy New Year!
Love and hugs from

A Mile Marker

Just noting that today we are 19 weeks pregnant! Woo-hoo!

As you may recall, Samantha was born at exactly 19 weeks, so ... we've made it this far with none of the issues we experienced then. Yea!!

Thanks and thanks and thanks for all of your continued prayers for us and our Peanut. I don't want you to think I'm being glib with our appreciation - I say it a lot because we mean it. THANK YOU!

A Mile Marker

Just noting that today we are 19 weeks pregnant! Woo-hoo!

As you may recall, Samantha was born at exactly 19 weeks, so ... we've made it this far with none of the issues we experienced then. Yea!!

Thanks and thanks and thanks for all of your continued prayers for us and our Peanut. I don't want you to think I'm being glib with our appreciation - I say it a lot because we mean it. THANK YOU!

Week 18 and All Is Well

Today was our 18 week ultrasound. This is the one where they check Peanut all over for how he/she's growing and developing. Assuming our babe cooperates. Which he didn't. Not that stubborn runs in my family or anything :)

Everything looks good, though, regardless of our non-obliging kiddo. All Peanut's little parts are right on track. Weight is now 8 ounces (perfect!) and he's squirming around in there a lot, even though I can't yet feel it (the doc said, due to the position of the placenta, that it could easily be another month before I feel movement, since the placenta will act as a cushion or buffer). The only thing the tech or ultrasound doctor couldn't get a good picture of was Peanut's heart. The doc said Peanut's heart looks good and the heartbeat and rythmn are normal, so we have nothing to worry about, but because our babe was laying transverse today (sideways across my belly as opposed to up-n-down) and was refusing to change positions at all, that they would want to try again in a couple of weeks or so to get the heart picture they want for our profile. Which, of course, means more pics of Peanut - oh, darn :)

Due to my age at the time of delivery (they sure make 35 sound so old!), the doc offered amniocentesis, which I quickly declined. None of the testing indicates any need for it, plus it's creepy and I don't want another one (I had one in the hospital in April and they had to stick me TWICE - blllaaaaggghhh!!!!)

Also, as an update, the monitoring for incompetent cervix officially began today, and all looks well. I will be going weekly until about the first week in February, so I won't be updating here after every monitoring appointment. Just assume no news is good news.

And, without further ado, another pic of Peanut:

Check Out One of Our Cuties

I just had to share this with y'all! This is our Munchkin, Chloe. This is the best pic we've gotten where you can really see her nubby little legs :)


(By the way, she's trying to grab a guitar wire. A favorite playtime for our kitties is whenever Jorde changes the strings on his guitar!)

New Shopping Option

I just wanted to let y'all know about a new etsy store opened by my friend, Mary. You can view her products at http://www.mmm917.etsy.com/ . She makes everything with her own two hands, and since she's putting herself through grad school once again, every little bit helps :) So, be sure to visit her store!

Pregnancy - It Makes a Man Outta Ya

Can we talk a sec about being pregnant? Girlfriend to girlfriend?

(And I just want to preface this post with telling all you men in my life - I love and appreciate you! But you know I'm telling the truth!)

I always thought of pregnancy as this dreamy, magical, womanly time of life, with bluebirds and butterflies floating around you, and a sweet, demure smile always on your lips (think Cinderella with a post-honeymoon pooch). And then it happened to me. Boy, what a delusion I was laboring under (yeah, pun intended).

Just so ya know, pregnancy turns you into a guy. Not physically, but your ladylike ways go right out the window as you deal with the constant assault pregnancy throws at you.

For example: spit. I don't spit. Ever. It isn't in my makeup to do something so tacky and un-ladylike, whereas my husband will spit just because he can. And my brother. And the half-dozen other guys we see around here on a regular basis. Until I became pregnant, that is. Now, I spit so much I'm getting better at it! See, once you're pregnant, your mouth begins to send your saliva production into hyper-drive, and all that excess has to go somewhere. Even if you don't have bad morning sickness or you're past that particularly fun time, swallowing all that spit all the time just makes you ill. So, ya know, it has to go somewhere. I've been known to lean out an open car door at a red light to deal with this issue. It's possible by the end of this pregnancy I'll be able to enter a spitting contest - I probably wouldn't win, but I may place!

Another thing those pesky hormones create: the lack of desire to clean anything. Actually, it's less the "cleaning" and more the "no energy for anything but lying like a lump while my kitties walk all over me" issue. But still. How many guys do you know that keep up on all the cleaning? Jorde's pretty good with dishes and floors and vacuuming cat hair, but a toilet has to be physically attacking him with crud before he'll mount a counter-assault. Ditto the shower. And the dusting. And all the other miscellaneous things that he never would think about actually cleaning until he realizes (months later) that it's starting to look shabby here or there. Between cooking grease spatters and cat hair, the bottom drawer of our oven is starting to take on the appearance of old-man eyebrows. Which is gross, truly. And I will get to it. I just have to remember it's there (another hormonal assault: swiss cheese brain - the inability to remember anything due to the information leaking out of enormous holes in your head, ie: why your alarm clock is going off - really!).

Another manly issue is...um...well...(it's about to get tacky)...farting. I know, I know. There's no delicate way to say it, so there it is. BPA (Before Pregnancy Assault), I never did this in public (of course, as a "lady", I would technically have to deny I did this at all, but that's a whole other issue). Heck, I never did it in front of my husband until pregnancy took over my body. Plus, ya know, ladies (if we must) pass wind--we don't fart, for goodness sake! Until pregnant. There ain't nothin' delicate or nice about a pregnant fart. Just ask Jorde. Especially after eating onions. Or broccoli. I'm starting to be concerned about being able to leave our office quick enough so the staff isn't decimated by noxious gas, they come on so quick. I don't know exactly what my digestive system is doing (or not doing), but it's possible I can be liable for the hazmet team being called out for investigation if I don't run fast enough.

Hmm. Maybe that's a bit too much information. I'm sure the post-pregnant ladies out there are nodding their heads in agreement, the never-been-pregnant women wonder why they've never heard any of this before, and the men are staring at the screen in shock. Hopefully, you won't remember this post the next time you see me, or you may begin keeping a 25 foot distance from me at all times. Just come hug me - I promise not to explode :)

Sweet Lil' Josie

I just wanted to give y'all a peek at the little girl so many of you have offered prayers for over the past few months.

You may recall that Josie (one of our Donatelli relations) was born very premature at the end of April. My mom shared with me a couple of weeks ago that Josie is now in need of a kidney transplant. Her current weight is 12 lbs, and she needs to reach 22 lbs before the doctors will do a transplant. She eats via a feeding tube, but I don't know if this is a recent addition or something she's had all along. Please continue to prayer for her, specifically for her transplant needs.

As you can see, Josie is a happy little baby! You can't help but smile when you see that little face! What a sweet blessing she is!

Thank you to everyone who has asked about this little miracle, and prayed for her. I know her family appreciates each of you for your kind thoughts and prayers. I'll continue to keep everyone updated with any news or prayer requests for Josie that I hear about.

Y'all are an awesome prayer team and support system for me and my family - you just need to know that!!

You're a Good Man, Coach Tubs

Sigh.

I just shouldn't get so worked up. It's a game, after all.

But as I read the news this morning and learned that my beloved head coach, Tommy Tuberville, had resigned...I felt my good mood drain right outta me.

Oh, and I say "resigned" lightly - I don't live in Alabama anymore, and so am only getting the "official" news reports, but we all know how these things often work. The word "forced" comes to mind. So does "scapegoat".

Anyway, it just makes me sad. Definitely the end of an era for Auburn.

Plus...well...I just love Tommy Tuberville! He's been an awesome coach, one I have appreciated not only for his coaching abilities, but his leadership-by-example mentality. He's a class act in a profession that doesn't often showcase class. He seems to be a kind-hearted, down-to-earth family man. And he's not just about football - he's about Auburn, too. He's Auburn's perfect fit. At least, I and many other fans think so.

So, Coach T, so long. You will be missed more than you know. And always remember ...

WAR EAGLE!

15 Down, 25 to Go

We had a regular OB appointment this morning. Well, as regular as it can be with a perinatology group :)

I'm glad to say, so far, so good. Everything is checking out well - bp is good and controlled; all baseline tests I've had over the past month or so have all come back normal; Peanut's heartbeat is strong at 145 bpm; no issues to report on my end - all in all, the boring pregnancy I want. Ya know, except for having to stab myself with a stick twice a day :)

We did talk with the doctor today about incompetent cervix, which was an issue Dr. Elliot indicated when he cared for me in the hospital in April. Due to all that transpired then, it is something they will keep a close eye on over the next couple of months. I will have a baseline ultrasound next week, then weekly monitoring until our 24th week. We were told incompetent cervix usually presents between the 18th and 24th week, so if nothing shows by the 24th week - even though they'll continue to monitor (just less often) - then it'll be one less thing to worry about. If, however, any cervical changes are seen, then we talk about how best to proceed to keep this pregnancy safe (bed rest or cerclage or whatever else they may suggest). According to the doc, since they can't know if the chicken or the egg came first (meaning, in April, did the contractions cause the cervix to open, or vice versa) everything will be under scrutiny until it doesn't need to be. Better to have too much monitoring than not enough.

I know we wouldn't be with these docs unless we needed them, so I'm trying not get too worried and just take things as they come. "Don't worry until there's something to worry about" - my new motto. At least, I'm trying to adopt it as such...work in progress and all that :)