Pics of the babe!

These are a bit out of order, but whatev. The last one is of me before we left for the hospital, I look a ton happier than I was feeling. The babe was 7lbs 9.5oz, WAY smaller than Connelly (9lbs, 4oz). She was also 19.75inches. And she has LOTS of black hair, just like Connelly. She slid right out & there was no tearing or need for stitches, which I am SO thankful for. I think the recovery will be much easier.

We got home Sunday to our power being out so had to stay w/ my parents. Parker is going to have quite the birth story to talk about someday: dad almost missing it, coming 2 weeks early, my mom missing it, 1 minute of pushing, and then not being able to even come home to our house on her 1st night home. Also not to mention I was not prepared at all for her at home. Luckily Jeremy's parents helped w/ that while we were in the hospital. In the end I realize none of it matters, just glad she is here & safe.

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Beth

Baby's Here!!!

We had a girl! Parker Elizabeth. My doctor thought it would be a good idea to strip my membranes on my appt. Thursday before I could think about it and realize that would progress labor which was NOT on plan. Jeremy was out of town, my mom was out of town, I already felt like things were happening that day, but as soon as he did that I immediately went into labor. Jeremy had to race home from Tulsa and finally got home around 11:30pm, we then waited on his parents to get there to be w/ Connelly & finally went to the hospital a little after 1am. She was born at 7:49am. She is perfect. The labor was the exact same as w/ Connelly if not a bit easier. Delivery was way easier, only pushed 3 times for 1 contraction for less than a minute and she was out. We feel so blessed. Connelly is being such a great big sis. Pics to follow!

Things Are Progressing!

Well at my doctor's appt. last week the doc said I was already 50% effaced & 2-3cm dilated. So I didn't go to the lake. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED, but knew it was the right decision. Baby still isn't here though, but I am okay w/ that b/c I am still not ready. I have SO much still to do at work & at home. I am feeling quite overwhelmed. I go back again today so we'll see if I have progressed from last Friday. I am anxious to see.

Hope all is well w/ everyone, talk to you soon.
Beth

Connelly's sick AGAIN!

Well Connelly has hand, foot & mouth syndrome, or whatever it's called. Bad rash, blisters on her feet & in her mouth, puking, fever, AND she has an ear infection. I swear that child can't go more than a month w/o being sick. Luckily mother-in-law came in town to save the day and is w/ her today & tomorrow so I don't have to use my sick time! I hope she feels better soon though, it was so sad yesterday to see her throwing up. She was so scared:(.

I am doing okay. People are starting to think I am dropping but I am not really sure. Today my stomach has been upset, so now I am semi freaking out thinking what if I were to go into labor in the next day or so. I am really hoping not. 1. b/c I want to keep my maternity leave the way it is. I need these couple more weeks at work & home and I don't want to come back to work until mid October, so this babe needs to bake a few more weeks. 2. b/c I still really want to go to the lake this weekend.

Jeremy comes home tomorrow & I am SO excited. It has been hard w/o him here. We haven't been w/o him this long ever, but I am doing remarkably well, I am very proud of myself, but still miss him like crazy and can't wait for him to be home. Plus I know he misses Connelly & she misses him too. I am glad we will have a long weekend together!

Anyways, hope all is well w/ all you out there.
Have a good night!
Beth

SO.STRESSED.OUT!!!

I can't believe how stressed I am. Every time I give myself a second to stop & think about it, I almost cry so I keep moving. I am so far behind in work & only have about 2-1/2 weeks left and don't know how I will ever finish everything up. And then I think about all I have to do at home, I really just want to cry. I am so overwhelmed!!!

We pre-registered yesterday at the hospital and I think I am going to get the same delivery nurse I had w/ Connelly. Luckily she was there yesterday and Jeremy pretty much offered to pay her under the table to ensure her being my nurse. He went on & on to her about how wonderful she was to us, and that our experience would not have been the same w/o her. She isn't scheduled to work the day we want to induce, but said that she would come in anyway. She said she does it alot, and that it is the staff that would stop her. I was still a little weary about it, but when I got home, our coordinator called me and said that the nurse had put on our file that she is to be our nurse, no matter when I deliver, even if it is the middle of the night or on a shift she isn't working. The coordinator said I could pretty much rest assured that she would be there. I was SO excited. I know I could do it w/o her, but I don't want to, she is amazing!!! So I hope it all works out, but we'll see.

I have to stay late at work b/c I am so behind and I left early the last 2 days for appts. Jeremy didn't end up going to my doctor's appt., but it wasn't that big of a deal. I got over it. I did ask the doc about traveling over the 4th which he didn't recommend, but said he'll check me the Friday before (next Friday) and we'll go from there. I REALLY want to go and think I will if I am not effaced or dilated at all, but am still scared that something will happen and I will never forgive myself for being so selfish. We'll see, I just don't want to miss out, but don't want to put myself at risk either.

Connelly starts swim lessons tomorrrow. I am so excited. Those folks are going to get a nice surprise when I get in the pool in my lil' bikini w/ my big ol' belly, but what ev. I don't care. I hope she does good. We have a nice little weekend planned. I am excited, but just exhausted today.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Beth

Going in today for Group B Strep Test

Today I have the Group B Strep Swab, yuck! Not looking forward to that. At my last doctor's appt. 2 weeks ago the nurse said, now next time starts "bottoms off." And I did not look very excited and she was like "aren't you glad, you don't have that much time left?" Which I am excited about, however, I hate when the doc starts checking me. I hate having bottoms off, I just feel so much more comfortable when I get to keep all my clothes on.

Things are going good here. Baby is moving like crazy. We still don't have the room even close to done. We have put together the crib, bought the mattress & bedding and well that is about it. The mattress is in the crib, but bedding still not set up. I still haven't gone through any of Connelly's baby things to separate out what I will need right away. The nursery still has a guest bed in there along w/ a huge desk and also tons of crap that I like to put in that room b/c I don't want to put it away.

Jeremy starts his hard core work training in one week, so I am pretty much going to be on my own which is a little scary. I have so much to do w/ so little energy.

I am still hoping to talk my doctor into letting me go to the lake over the 4th. We'll see what he has to say about that b/c it is only 15-18 days before our tentative induction date of the 20th. I REALLY want to go though. Jeremy's whole family is going to be there, including my favorite relatives of his that I haven't seen in forever. It is only 3-1/2 hours away, so hopefully I'd be able to make it home if I were to go into labor. The doctor will be checking me for the first time next week, so hopefully he'll have an idea of how close I'll be and then let me go. We'll see. Wishful thinking I know:)

Like I said I have a doctor's appt. today & I preregister at the hospital tomorrow. I want Jeremy to come to both but he is making me choose. I am a bit annoyed b/c he was going to take the whole day off to golf tomorrow but it didn't end up working out, but then is making a big deal about leaving 1-1/2 hours early boths days for doctor's appts. for me & our baby. Not like he has had to come to many, I am the one that always has to leave work to go to these & take Connelly to the doctor or home sick. I think I might email him and give him that guilt trip and see where it gets me:). I hope he'll come to both, but we'll see.

Anyways, hope everyone out there is good.
Talk to you soon.
Beth

Hello anyone still out there:)

I am still here & baby is still kicking:) We are slowing down lately. I have the WORST ECP EVER!!! It is way worse this time around, but I am dealing. I have about 6 1/2 weeks to go, so about 5 1/2 work weeks to go!!! Jeremy's work assignment is changing a bit, so we might schedule an induction, but if so, it will only be 1 day early. So we'll see as time gets closer. I want to make sure the babe is ready and my body too, b/c I want to have an easy labor & delivery again.

Life is good though. We are really happy and Connelly is still brightening each day. She just makes me smile by just looking at her. Never knew how happy being a mom would really make me. I know for some that is hard to hear b/c you are still trying and I am really sorry. I can't wait for you to be able to say the same thing. I think I already mentioned that my older sister that had been TTC for 5 years is pregnant FINALLY. She is 14 or 15 weeks I think. I am just SO thrilled for them!!!

I attached a couple pics. Enjoy!

I try to look over everyone else's blogs, I just don't make as much time for mine anymore. Sorry about that. I appreciate those that check in on me:)

Beth

Flunked my Glucose Test:(

So I guess the Chick-Fil-A I had for dinner and the huge bowl of ice cream I ate before bed were a good idea the night before my glucose test. I flunked!!! So bummed that I will have to do the 3 hour test. I also found out the taking iron at the same time you take your prenatal vitamin is a bad idea b/c your body can't take that much iron at one time so flushes it out. Wish someone would have mentioned that since I have been taking those pills together for quite some time now. The nurse said I have to take one at breakfast & the other at lunch b/c my iron is really low.

Connelly is sick:( I think just a cold, but luckily Jeremy's mom is coming to save the day once again so we don't have to take sick days.

Otherwise I am feeling good. Still have ECP like crazy, but whatev.

Have a great night!
Beth

Hanging In There

I am starting to get pretty uncomfortable. Yesterday I wore a dress that made me look 8 months pregnant (only 5 1/2 actually) and everyone told me how huge I looked all day. I know the weight is only in my tummy, but still, I started questioning myself as to if there were 2 in there even though I know there is just one. I think I may have done a little too much this weekend and am REALLY sore today. I pee about 3-5 times a night, which is pretty annoying for me and Jeremy.

Easter was great, Connelly has such a blast and it was so fun to see her so excited for everything and able to play outside. I can't believe how fast she is growing up, she is really my everything:)

U/s went well about 1-1/2 weeks ago. I attached a couple pics. Still don't know what we are having. I scheduled my 3d/4d u/s for the end of April & I am looking forward to that. Doc said Bean was 1lb 3oz (I think, can't really remember), but in the 44% percentile. So we'll see if I have another huge baby or not. He said we might take another look towards the end, which I am going to strongly push for!!!

Still loving being pregnant & so excited for June to get here. I am so glad I passed the 24 week milestone, now I looking forward to getting past 30 weeks. We still are procrastinating most decisions, as far as where to put baby, girl names, and pretty much everything else. When you don't find out the sex and it is your 2nd, you really allow yourself to push everything to the side. I am sure this is going to come around and bite me in the butt eventually, but for now I am trying to relax.

Hope everyone had a great Easter!

Have a great week!

Recent Pic of Connelly

I hadn't shared any pics lately, so I thought I would share this cute one of Connelly. She is getting so big. I can't believe the joy she brings to me every day.

Enjoy!

Life

Well, I was getting ready to post this morning about having a great day yesterday. Last night Jeremy was able to feel Bean for the first time & my sister called and told me she was pregnant. They have been trying for almost 5 years, and after 1 miscarriage & 2 IUIs, they are pregnant. She has already had 2 betas & her numbers are doubling, so that is good. Now we just have to hold our breath until March 29th when she will go in to hear the heartbeat. I am praying so hard that this baby sticks for them. My grandma, aunt & uncle were supposed to be coming in town this weekend, so we were looking forward to seeing them, but then I got an email today from my mom saying the trip has been canceled due to my other aunt's health. I know I have talked about this other aunt before, she has breast cancer, and has fought it at least 3 times. She has been doing okay, so I thought, but I guess recently she was having trouble writing and keeping balance. She went in & they have now found a brain tumor. I am so scared for her. I just can't imagine fighting for your life that many times and the emotional & physical stress that must wear on her & her family. Please say a prayer for her today!

As far as I go, I am doing well. Feeling my jumping bean more & more daily & he/she is getting stronger. I feel so blessed to have this baby inside me & can not wait to meet him/her in July. I am just so excited to be able to hold this little baby, and I just pray it all works out that way!!! Right now I am just trying to make it to the 24 week milestone. After that, I think I will be waiting for the 30 week milestone, and then I might start to relax a little bit more.

I hope you are all having a good week. Thank god it is Friday & have a good weekend!!!
Beth

ECP!!!

Well, not even 5 months in and the EVIL CROTCH PAIN is here:( I haven't even been walking around too much today, but it is NO fun!!! I think I am starting to get sick too:( Today I have a headache & my throat is starting to hurt, so I am REALLY hoping that by tomorrow I will feel better. Jeremy works late tonight, which always seems to happen on the nights that I don't feel good. I am really ready for the day to be over and for me to be sitting on my couch eating dinner & hanging out w/ Connelly!!!

Hope everyone else's days are going better than mine.

Oh, but on a positive note, I am now feeling the baby daily. It started last Wednesday, so that has made me happy, however, I haven't really felt the baby much today, so hopefully tonight bean is much more active!

Growing:)

Hey there, well I am still here & growing. I am definitely bigger at this point than I was w/ Connelly. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and he said everything looks good. We have our u/s on March 26th, but we are still not finding out:( I am still excited to see the babe though. I have been feeling bean a lot more, but I still wouldn't say everyday at this point. Sunday the baby completely turned around and that was kind of uncomfortable, but other than that the feelings have been very small. I did feel like I felt bean quite a bit yesterday though, so I am hoping for another day like that today. We bought a truck this week. Jeremy's car broke down quite a while ago & we have been borrowing cars since, so it is so nice to have one again. It is going to be hard w/ the payments (other car was paid off), but we'll have to make it work. We started the Dave Ramsey class last week, so I am hoping that we are able to buckle down on our finances and really get things in order! Connelly is doing great, getting bigger & more intelligent each day. I just smile thinking about her, b/c it is crazy how much you love your lil' ones!!!

Well, hope everyone is having a good week!
Beth

Things still going well

I haven't had bleeding for a little over a week now & we even did "it" last night:) I know Jeremy was REALLY ready and actually so did I. It was so nice to be intimate again w/ my hubby:) We decided that if I don't bleed in the next couple days we'll try again. So we'll see. I'm not feeling the babe every day like I was w/ Connelly at this point. I am only a couple days past that point, but I am still a little disappointed, I really want to be able to feel the baby every day to help reassure me that everything is okay. Even w/ the doppler, you still worry. I just read someone's blog today that miscarried at 16 weeks, I just am so nervous, that it could happen to me. I really hope not though, I so want to bring this baby home in July:) It is funny that time has gone by faster. W/ Connelly is counted down the minutes between doctor's appointments, and this time I keep forgetting that I actually go back next week. I almost want to push it back one more week and then ask for the u/s then, rather than going back next week & not getting an u/s for 3 more weeks after that. We'll see. It is also weird b/c I was counting down the seconds until we found out the sex w/ Connelly & it is hard to believe that I am only a few weeks away from when we did that w/ her. I guess since we aren't finding out, that doctor's appt. isn't as appealing, but I am still VERY anxious to see our lil' bean:)

Okay, well back to American Idol, hope you all are doing well:)
Beth

I'm still here

Hello there, is anyone still out there? Hope so, sorry I've been gone so long:) I have been doing good. I have still been spotting for the past few weeks. Two days ago was the first day in weeks that I didn't, however, it started again yesterday. I am SO over the spotting. Blood is nasty and disgusting and smelly and I HATE IT!!!
This week has sucked b/c Connelly has been sick all week. Ear infections again. She is supposed to get tubes on Tuesday, so we are hoping she is well enough to do so. She is napping right now while I watch DVRed shows:) I should be cleaning, but whatev, I want to relax.

I hope everyone is having a great day.
Have a good weekend.
Beth

Finally bigger boobs, but still bleeding.

Well the red blood scares haven't happened in about 2 weeks, however, I am still constantly having alot of brown blood. Since Thursday night, I have had some cramping & brown bleeding every day. It is getting VERY old!!! I go in tomorrow so I hope they'll do another u/s to check the tear or whatever was causing this.

My boobs are FINALLY growing!!! I started noticing it a little less than a week ago. Even yesterday I was wearing this tank w/ l/s shirt over it & I was leaning over & Jeremy was like holy cow those babies are growing. I was so excited!!! When you are small chested, it is nice to have a little extra:)

I have been feeling pretty good otherwise. Like I said above, I wish the cramping & spotting would stop, but I check the baby w/ my doppler about every other day & bean's little heart is beating away:) I am at least starting to get used to the bleeding & spotting so it doesn't freak me out anymore.

Sorry I was so distant for awhile. We went to Colorado over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend for 5 days & then Connelly & I were both have health issues so I was just a little absent. I am so ready for winter to be over. I am glad February is almost here & then March and then spring. I can't wait for Bean to get here!!!

My sister is going to do IUI sometime this week I think. I have a feeling she won't tell anyone, but I know that she was getting ready to ovulate, so it should be soon. Please keep her in your thoughts & prayers, I know that is a really hard time for her!

Hope everyone is doing well.
Beth

More bleeding, but still okay!

I went in to see my doc yesterday & he cleaned out down there & said I looked good. So anyways, Connelly was sick today & so I had to take her to her doctor this morning, & I knew I was doing way too much, but couldn't really work around it. When we walked into Target to fill her prescription I felt my pants fill up again. I rushed to the bathroom & once again, w/in seconds had bled through my underwear, long underwear & jeans. I was so freaked out once again. I called the doctor's office & they wanted to get me in asap for an u/s. Jeremy met me there & they did the dildo cam this time, but baby still looked okay. The doc came in for it too, so that was nice. He was asking the sonographer if I had placenta previa (which I need to google, b/c don't really understand) and she said no b/c I am too early, that right now they just call it a low placenta. Still don't really understand, but he said that the blood was maybe caused from a very small partial separation of the placenta. So again, he said to just take it easy, but he thinks the baby is still going to be okay. I decided that we are going to take my doppler on vaca w/ us & do that if I get worried or have more bleeding. He did use the doppler yesterday & found the heartbeat fast, so I have more confidence now that I'll be able to.

Thanks for your prayers!
Beth

Bean is still alive & kicking:)

So we went in for the u/s today & at first I couldn't see a heart beating, so I was a little freaked out, but I had thought I had seen the baby moving. But then the sonographer moved the thing around a bit & we were able to see the heart beating away at 162. I am SO relieved that Bean is doing okay. She said that there was just a small nick in a vesicle I believe and there was still some fluid (blood) in there, so she said I still could have some bleeding or spotting, but I am hoping not. She thought the baby looked great though. She seemed pretty confused that the ER doc wouldn't do an u/s or didn't try the doppler. I am going to ask my OB about it tomorrow, they have set an appt. up for me to see him tomorrow. Thank you for all your thoughts & prayers.

Beth

We may have lost the baby:(

Yesterday while walking around Costco I felt my underwear fill and so I rushed to the bathroom praying I wasn't spotting again and was in no way ready for what I saw. My underwear was soaking w/ red blood. I was completely freaked out. I called the doctor and he told me to lay down and if the bleeding didn't stop that I would need to go to the ER. Well it didn't stop so we finally headed that way around 5pm. We were there for a few hours. The doctor said that the mouth of my uterus is still closed so I hadn't miscarried yet. He was very hopeful, to where he said that 90% of the time everything will be fine & even said "congratulations" which I thought was a little weird. They wouldn't do an u/s though b/c he said they would only do that if they were scared of an eptopic pregnancy or if I needed surgery right them, so that was pretty disappointing. So Jeremy & I have just been in limbo not really sure to be positive or prepare ourselves for the worst. We will be at the doctor's office tomorrow at 9am when they open. I will keep you posted. I was still bleeding late last night & this morning. But as of now it is brown blood no more red.

Please keep me in your prayers!
Beth

Ready for the Weekend

It is hard to work 5 days in a row when you haven't done that in at least 3 weeks. It sucks!!! Anyway, glad the day is over half way over, & really for the past couple hours I was just out running errands. It is snowing again!!! I feel like it has been snowing for 3 weeks, b/c it kind of has.

I have such a busy weekend, this weekend. My house is such a mess, so that is one thing on the to do list. I was thinking about it the other night & realized if I walked in to anyone's house that looked like mine I would be horrified, that is how bad it is. I really need to do laundry too. And I am co-hosting 2 baby showers this weekend, so that is going to keep me busy too.

Just finished "The Lovely Bones" last night. And would STRONLY recommend it to EVERYONE. I read it in 4 days, it was awesome. A few parts were slow, but the rest of it was so good, that they few parts barely slowed me down. The first couple chapters were sad, the book is about a young girl being murdered & it is her story of what happened and how she watched over her family afterwards. It is actually going to be a movie & comes out in a few months I think. Read it, you'll love it, I promise!!!

Have a great weekend!

200 Days to Go!

Feeling good today, a little nauseous, so don't really know about that, but whatev. I went back to May 2008 to read the posts from the same period of the pregnancy w/ Connelly & it is funny to see the differences and similarities. At 10 weeks I talked about how badly my boobs hurt, and yet today they still haven't hurt at all w/ this pregnancy. Weird. Anyways, hoping that Bean is doing good (at least I know he/she was yesterday). And talking about he/she, I think I am going to just use he. I more than anything want a healthy child, however, I would love to have another daughter this time around b/c I want Connelly to have what I do. I am 18 months older than my younger sister and we have always been very close & I would love for Connelly to have that too. So I figure if I call Bean a he this whole time I am preparing myself for a boy, so I will be excited and ready for a little boy to come home w/ me (since we aren't finding out), but then if Bean is a girl & I will be pleasantly surprised. Either way I win, no matter what, but this way I am prepared for either. And again, please don't be offended by this, my #1 goal is to have a healthy baby, but let's be honest here, if we are asking me to choose, for this pregnancy I would choose a little girl over the boy. Ask me again if we are lucky to have more kids in the future and my answer will be the opposite b/c I want at least one little boy b/c I just do & I know Jeremy would love to have a little guy!!!

Anyways, my sister & her husband went in to my RE today for their 1st consultation. They have been TTC for 4 1/2 years now. They unexpectedly found out they were pregnant the day before Connelly was born, however, they miscarried around New Year's last year. I just feel so badly for them. She has a 13 year son from her previous marriage, but they so badly want a baby. Also they are VERY broke. Her ex-husband or "shit for brains" as we like to call him (but of course not around my nephew) is such an awful person, he owes her I think around 40 GRAND in back child support. They struggle each month to pay their bills and yet the courts see visitation and child support as different things and so her ex still gets to see her son. God he is such an ass. I can't wait for the day for my nephew to realize how much his dad sucks, even though, I think that will be very painful for him, so then again, I just don't know. Anyways, they aren't going to be able to afford to do much as far as ART goes, but I hope that maybe that can at least afford fertility drugs & maybe IUI eventually. I just wish she could win the lottery so they could do IVF or something. She is in law school right now, so within the next 5 years, I am hoping that their lives will be greatly improved financially after she begins working. I am just so proud of her for going back to school after all this time and she has been through so much. So anyways, if you could all please keep her family in your prayers and send good baby making vibes their way, they REALLY need them. I know it is hard for her that I am pregnant, that is actually what finally sent her to my RE. She said she couldn't take one more person getting pregnant w/o trying something, so they saved some of their Christmas money for this.

Alright, I will stop rambling now. Hope you are all have a great day!

Doing MUCH better!

I am feeling a ton better today & the u/s went good. Baby is doing good, the heartbeat was 167, so glad that Bean is okay!!! Thanks for your well wishes!!!

MISERABLE!

I have been up since 4:30am throwing up. I feel miserable!!! My back is absolutely killing me along w/ my stomach. I have barely been able to eat anything. I don't think that this is related to the brown discharge I have been having but not happy that I am dealing w/ either. God I hope I feel better soon!

Pretty Much Freaking Out!

So last night as I was out of town at my friend's house I started to feel wetness in my undies so I went straight to the bathroom & found brown discharge to my surprise. When I went to wipe there was a lot of brown discharge. It took me about three different wads of tp to wipe everything, I was horrified. I called for Jeremy into the bathroom, but he didn't really know what to say. I went straight into the bedroom and starting bawling and called the doctor. Luckily the on-call doctor didn't seem worried at all, but I still am. She told me that many different things in the first trimester can cause bleeding internally which them sometimes the blood pools inside and leaks out later and that maybe the doctor disrupted that during his internal exam. She said I could come in Monday morning for an u/s so I would be reassured I was okay. That made me feel a little better however ALL day today I have been cramping. I haven't had anymore of the brown discharge, but still w/ the cramps I am just a wreck. I am so freaked now that I may beginning to miscarry. I really need your good thoughts, prayers & vibes sent my way. I am just praying like crazy right now & hoping Bean can stick around!