Status Quo

Ultrascreen came back negative. Everything is fine. Not much else to report, except that I'm losing my sanity from my damn job. Hopefully, I'll be back in better form next week. Have a fab weekend everyone!!!

I'm in, I'm out, I'm sleepin...

Quick post, just so ya'll know I'm alive and kickin'. Work and life have both been crazy busy lately and I haven't had time to get everything down "on paper".

The ultrascreen went well...I'll have results this week. What was really awesome though, was the in depth sonogram they performed for the test. We got to see baby movin and groovin all over the place. I actually cried on the table, I was so happy to see it move. The only sucky part was the damn finger prick blood test. Take a vial out of my arm any day, please! Ugh.

Visit with the OB tomorrow and I'll hopefully have a better update. Otherwise, finally starting to feel more like myself. Also, have moved up to maternity pants...the jeans were just too tight when I was sitting.

Sending all of my best thoughts, and sticky vibes to the residents of Gryffindor House over at Reproductive Jeans!!!

I'm Melting!

It's 95 degrees here in NY today (but feels like over 100). I'm sitting in my bedroom/office with the A/C turned up and all of my shades pulled down. It's a fortress. I'm somewhat cool, but this is kind of depressing. We're supposed to have major thunderstorms tonight, and then more acceptable temperatures tomorrow. Thank God!

In this heat, the last thing I feel like doing is eating, but being pregnant has kept me hungry constantly - it's a vicious cycle. I'm getting by on light but not very nutritious foods...hopefully I'll be able to stomach some more variety soon.

Nothing much else going on...except that I'm having an Ultrascreen on Thursday morning. Anyone have experience with one of these? It's supposedly a very early test for Down's. My OB asks all of her patients to have one. It's pretty much an ultrasound where they look at fatty deposits behind the baby's skull and also take some blood from me. Both of the tests will be combined to come up with a risk factor, and from that they should be able to tell if I'll need any further testing down the line. It takes about one week for results to come in. I know this is a good thing, but it also makes me somewhat nervous. Keep your fingers crossed for me if you can.
Also, keep those fingers crossed for Kymberli and Sara too - both of them are going through some trials right now and could use the good luck and well wishes.

Like the deserts miss the rain...

In lieu of any news (I don't have another OB appt for 3 weeks), I figured I'd dedicate this post to all of the things I miss in my life due to this pregnancy. Now, I'm not bitching about being pregnant, but man, do I miss a few of these guys like a kid misses candy. Mmmmm...candy.

Number 1:
Coffee.
Ah, sweet nectar of life, how I miss you daily. Before IVF started, I had a 3-cup a day habit. Totally bad, I know, but it got me through the day. I eventually moved to half-caf, and then to decaf, and now to nothing, and it's KILLING me. And people, I'm sorry, but decaf is NOT the same. Tons of people say that to me, but it's not. All you coffee drinkers out there know what I mean. I have told the Barron that after delivery, I request that he make a trip to Dunkin Donuts and bring me a medium french vanilla coffee w/ skim milk and sugar. In the hospital.


Number 2:
Beer.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a big fan of beer. I have never been all that into mixed drinks, and am not a wine connoisseur. Beer, I can do. And, not just any beer - I like the good stuff. the Barron and I love going to various breweries and tap houses to try all different types of beers from around the world and such. It was our Friday tradition to go out after work for a few beers and good conversation. I miss it. It's for the best, definitely, but I do miss it. Especially now that it's getting warmer and I just want a cold beer. (At left is a pic we took of taps in Ireland - ahhh Guinness.)

Number 3:


Cold cuts.

Sometimes I just want a damn sandwich. Is that so much to ask? Gah.





There's more to the list, but not enough time to put it in today - I'm sure I'll have other posts like this down the line. Seriously, not trying to bitch, and I know I'll be able to have all of this post baby, but damn. I think when you're pregnant, you should be able to have everything you want, as well as look kick ass. Instead, I have to cut things out and look like an unholy mess. Ah, the wonders of life. Hee!

Other than that, not much to report. I've been ill for three days straight now. I thought I was over the sickness, but I've been having persistent nausea and HORRIBLE headaches since Sunday. Little one, please give your mama a break. Thanks!

And when I go there, I go there with you...

...it's all I can do.

-Where the Streets Have No Name, U2

Today is the Barron's birthday. He doesn't read this blog, although he does know about it's existence. So, with that in mind, Happy Birthday, hon! It's been a long and rough year, but I could never have gotten through it with out your love and unwavering support. Marrying you was the best decision I ever made, and I can't wait to see you be a father to our baby. I love you.

Introducing....

Here's my little bean! It doesn't look much like a bean anymore, so I'm going to have to come up with some new names for it. My husband and I love its little arms, and walk around the house with our hands glued to our sides to imitate what they look like (kind of like dinosaur arms!)



Heh. So cute.

Tag! Looks like I'm it

Sara the GasPasser has tagged me! Oy, the pressure to be interesting. Forgive me if I bore your brains out, but it's gotta be done.

But first, an update:

This week has been insane. Work is crazy busy and we're dealing with some sort of legislation in New York State that may affect my business-dealings negatively. I'm hoping it all boils over and that the law doesn't officially go through, but I need to prepare. Gah. Oh well, I guess it's good to obsess over something that isn't baby-related.

As for the baby, things are going smoothly. I'm still seeing some trace spotting, mostly when using the bathroom, but the OB says that everything looks perfect with the baby and that I shouldn't be concerned. I'm going to try and scan my ultrasound at some point to share the pic with ya'll. It's really starting to look like a baby now, and hearing the heartbeat was seriously just the most amazing thing. I didn't expect to be affected the way I was, but it was wonderful.

Ok, so on to the tagging - here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you. - Done!
   
2. Post the rules. - Done!
   
3. Share six non-important habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag three other people.
5. Make sure the people you tagged know you did by commenting on what you did.

1. My sister is 20 years older than me, and we are the only two children in the family. Same parents, no miscarriages in between, etc...(wonder where I get my fertility issues from?). My mother was 20 when she had her, 40 when she had me. Most of my life, my sister and I have had more of a mother/daughter relationship, but have recently started becoming much closer as sisters - she is thrilled about this pregnancy and is planning on spoiling the baby rotten!

2. As a result of #1, I have been an Aunt since the age of four. I have two nephews; one is four years younger than me and the other is eight years younger. They are more my brothers than my nephews and I could never imagine my life without them.

3. I have seen the Pope (John Paul II) twice. In 1994 while I was in High School, I attended World Youth Day in Denver, CO with my Youth Ministry group; and in 1997 I perfomed at the Vatican as part of my college choir at the Canonization (making a saint) of the founder of my college.

4. My husband and I LOVE going to concerts. I have always been a music fan, but he far encompasses me. Just for example, in the next month, we are seeing REM, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam (twice), and Dave Matthews Band. Other favorites include U2, Foo Fighters, and the Tragically Hip (and wishful thinking, the Beatles). We are determined to have this child listen to good music, but I'm sure we'll loose out to the kiddie music at some point.

5. I did a college internship at Late Night with Conan O'Brien. During that time, his assistant was pregnant, so I filled in for her on a number of occasions. He's an awesome guy and I have nothing but good things to say about that experience.

6. My favorite place in the world is the Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, LA. My husband and I spent our honeymoon in NOLA, and spent many an hour sitting there, drinking cafe au lait, eating beignets, and watching the world go by. During Katrina, I was devastated to think of the damage done to this beloved city, and I am counting the days until we go back. I have been to Ireland and Italy, which are both amazing, but this always holds a special place in my heart.

Ok, so that's my dealio. In return, I am tagging Tara, JJ, and Candi - sorry if you've done these already ladies, I'm new at this!

For all my American compatriots - have a great extended weekend! Woo hoo!