A Trip to the Hospital and a Baby Shower!!!

Man, what a week! I got word back from Dr. Phillips that I had failed my 1 hour glucose test. Guess I shouldn't have eaten the Ultimate Breakfast Jack from Jack in the Box and some coffee with creamer that morning! Oops! So I had to schedule a 3 hour glucose test for last Wednesday morning. This time the drink was red and had like 3 times the sugar as the last one I drank. I had to have my blood drawn 4 times that morning, every hour. Just so you know I have already gotten word back from the Doc that I passed and everything is ok...YEA!

Thursday at work (Oct. 23) I was coughing, as usual, trying to get all the flem up and suddenly felt this sharp pain in my chest that lasted about 15 minutes. It made me get light headed and dizzy and very clammy feeling. I had to leave my classroom and go into a room next door where our reading recovery teacher was. I asked her if I looked pale and she said yes and went to get the nurse. Because I had said the words "chest pain" and "shortness of breath" she decided to call 911, which landed me in an ambulance and on the way to Clear Lake Hospital. Once I got into the ambulance I had already started feeling better and wanted to turn around and go back. Not happening!!! I got to the hospital and my mother-n-law and Robby met me there. I had a lot of tests run: xrays, Doppler on my legs (checking for blood clots), Cat Scan, etc. Everything came back fine except the Cat Scan. It showed what they thought might be possible pneumonia in the lower left lung area. Well, I had been coughing for now over 4 weeks, so it makes sense. They went ahead and admitted me to the hospital and I had to stay over night. They started me on 2 different antibiotics Thursday night. Friday morning a had more tests run: an EKG and an Echo. Both came back fine. An internal medicine doctor came by to see Robby and me and discussed what he thought it was and decided to put me on oral meds instead of IV meds. The nurse went ahead and took the IV out. They monitored the baby's heart beat several times while I was there and he had a great heart rate every time. Dr. Phillips came by, said she wanted me to stay one more night (Friday night). I tried to explain to her that my first baby shower was the very next day, Saturday, in DALLAS!!! That didn't seem to bother her and still wanted me to stay, even though I had NOTHING hooked up to me and ALL my tests came back good. Friday night I asked the nurse what time the Doctor on-call would come by in the morning to release me and I told her my situation with my Dallas shower. She said she would try to do what she could. A couple hours later she came back into the room, said she talked to the doctor on-call and the doctor said I could go ahead and go home. I started to cry, I was sooooo happy that I would make it to my Dallas shower. My mother-n-law took me home and came to pick me back up Saturday morning and we headed to Dallas. I don't know what I would do without her. Thank you Cindy!!! I am still taking my antibiotics and actually feeling much better. The cough is finally coming to an end.

Well, I had my first baby shower in Dallas this weekend. It was wonderful. My Aunt Karen put the shower on for me and it was beautiful. I received lots of goodies. My nieces where there and were a big help too. I have lots of pictures below of the shower.

I also went to my 2 week OB follow up appointment today. Everything is measuring good and the baby's heart beat was 140...good! I did get into a little trouble because I had not gained any weight for 4 weeks. She told me I needed to be gaining 1/2 a pound each week from this point on. I guess being sick for the last month has kept me from gaining weight...because I am eating!!!

I go to Dr. Rowe to check the placenta Wednesday after school, so hopefully it has moved. I'll blog then to update y'all.

Enjoy the pics!
Kelly


My best friend Ruth, and me!



The Mimi's. This is my mimi and Robby's mimi.



The soon to be grandparents!!! My mom and Rob's mom.




The Host, Aunt Karen and me.


Cheyenne and Sierra were a BIG help!



My Mimi made this football quilt with Anthony's name on it.



I received lots of personal items with Anthony's name



Got to love the Activity Gym!



All my wonderful goodies!!!

Glucose Test, 28 Weeks/7 months!!!

Well, it's been awhile since I've blogged and I have a lot to say. At the end of September I went back to Dr. Rowe to see if the placenta had moved out of the way of my cervix...and the answer was NO. Still there!!! It didn't look like it had moved at all. Dr. Rowe seemed very confident that it still might and wants me to continue to come back each month to monitor it until up to delivery. If it does not move we will schedule a c-section probably sometime after Christmas but before New Years. So we will probably have a little baby boy for Christmas this year :) But cross your fingers and say a prayer that the placenta moves out of the way.

My mother in law has been AWESOME...thanks to her the baby's room is almost complete. We painted (or she did) the room two different colors divided by a chair rail. Cindy did all she could and then my father-n-law completed it. He painted the top of the room and installed the chair rail. There is just a little touch-ups to do then we can put the furniture in place. I can't wait for the room to look like a room!!! My first baby shower is Oct 25th in Dallas and I want to come home and be able to organized the stuff I get.

I went to my friends, Hayley's, shower a couple weeks ago and WOW...she got so much stuff...cute stuff for boys and girls. It kinda got me excited about everything. Her mother took a picture of us (which is posted below)...yes, my belly is getting big.

Everyone keeps asking me, "Are you ready for the baby?" ... Well, honestly NO. I couldn't imagine having a baby yet. I know it's a little TOO late and he's coming no matter what...but I'm getting a little nervous. If I have a c-section then there really is about 10 weeks left and the weeks are flying. I hope this is a normal feeling and I'm not a BAD mom already. I'm sure I'll be ready to meet him more in November or December...but right now...SHIT...what do I do? I have NO idea how to have a baby or what to do with him. I know I'll have a lot of help with Robby, and my mom and Cindy (mother-n-law). I tried to sign up for a "baby class" today with the cradle club at the Clear Lake Hospital, but all classes were full. So now I'm really nervous. The lady told me to try Women's Hospital, so I'll do that tomorrow.

Today I went for the glucose test where you drink that yummy orange drink and wait an hour and then have blood work. It wasn't bad at all. Everyone told me the drink was bad, but it really didn't taste that bad. I drank it in a few minutes and then as I waited I had my OB visit while I was there. Rob took the day off to go with me. Today's visit (28 weeks) started the 2 week appointments. So I will be going back every 2 weeks from now on. First thing Dr. said to me when she walked in the room was to go home and take my heels off!!! No more heels, only flats. I wish she could have written my a prescription to wear FLIP FLOPS to work the rest of the pregnancy...but I will wear them anyway. The baby's heartbeat was good, I think it was 130 (the lowest it's been), but in the normal range. My belly measured 29, so a little on the bigger side, but in normal range. Then she prescribed me vicotin...that's a whole other story...

About 2 1/2 weeks ago I started getting that drainage in my troat. Then I started coughing a little. Then it turned into that HACKing cough where I couldn't stop. It was horrible! I went to the doctor and she put me on several drugs over the counter that was safe to take...but nothing seemed to help the cough. I lost my voice and a few days of work. Then last Sunday (a week ago) I coughed so bad that I thought I had broken a rib or two. Man, it hurt so bad and I was in severe pain for about 3 days and decided to go back to the doctor. Thank God Robby went with me, because she sent me over to the hospital to have x-rays for my chest and ribs. The results came back fine...no cracked ribs and no signs of pneumonia...thank God. She gave me some cough med with a little vicotin in it for the pain. The cough has finally eased up, but the pain is horrible. I can't sleep at night, pick up my purse, turn to the side, bend down to scoop the dog food...nothing. So this morning when I went for my OB visit she gave me a pain med...yes, more vicotin. Surely she wouldn't be giving me meds that would harm my baby! I am a little worried about taking them, but the pain is so bad. Robby is afraid we are going to have a "crack baby". That's the first thing he said when we got in the car. I hope I start to feel better soon. Lots of people are saying their cough lasted a month...so I'm almost there!

Well, I hope I didn't leave anything out.
Will blog and post Dallas shower pictures soon!



The almost completed baby's room!



Hayley's Shower...and our bellies!!!

Man...he's growing fast!!!

Went today for my OBGYN checkup. Everything looks good. Our little boy measured exactly 21 weeks and his heartbeat was 140. I'm not sure if I told you yet, but my doctor, Dr. Phillips is pregnant too. She is 20 weeks...yes, 1 week behind me. Which means she might not be able to deliver our little boy. But I am confident that the other doctors she works with will do a fine job. This was the first appointment that Robby did not make (thanks to football season) but his mother went with me. Next week I have my follow up with Dr. Rowe to see if the placenta has moved - PLEASE say a prayer for me and my placenta!!! I really need to vacuum my house and can't until the placenta moves!

I finally felt the baby move...yea!!! I can't believe it took 21 weeks. I was getting worried because I've read that you can start to feel movement between 16 and 20 weeks. Oh well, I know he's there now. Yesterday at work I felt this funny feeling in my tummy and it lasted about 10 minutes (so I know it wasn't gas!) Yes, I've had lots of that..he he. I can't believe I just told everyone that.

Anyway, here is a HORRIBLE picture of me. Rob is not the best of photographers and I look horrible. I will post better pictures of myself in the future. I'll update again next week to let you know about the placenta.



Yes, my belly is getting bigger (along with some other body parts!) Holly is loving on the baby!

Dr. Visits on July 30th

On the 30th of July we had two appointments, one with Dr. Rowe in the morning for the full anatomy scan and one with Dr. Phillips (OBGYN) in the afternoon for our monthly checkup. Both appointments went well. The baby was a little tired for Dr. Rowe's ultrasound and wasn't changing places like they wanted him to do, but he was active in that one little spot he didn't want to move from. They are so wonderful at Dr. Rowe's office, they explain everything and talk to you the whole time about what they are doing or measuring. Everything looked great with the baby. All measurements were exactly where they needed to be. And it is for sure a BOY!!! There was one problem however...with me. I have what you call Placenta Previa. That is where my placenta is covering my cervix (the birth canal). It was just partially covering it and Dr. Rowe and Dr. Phillips are pretty positive that the placenta will move upward where it belongs before the due date. But, for now I am under strict orders (no vacuuming, sweeping or mopping, exercise (except walking), and I can't lift over 5 lbs.). I mean that's pretty much what I've been doing all summer anyway :) The only thing that is killing me is that I can't vacuum...with my dogs I need to vacuum at least 2 times a week. And Rob will only do it once a week! I have to go back to Dr. Rowe once a month until the placenta has lifted and if it doesn't then we will have to do a C-section I guess a week or two before the due date, so I don't bleed and go into labor. My placenta looks like the middle picture.



As for me, my belly is getting a little bigger (and I guess baby grows in the butt and hips too)! I can't wear anything but maternity pants (thanks to my friend Emily who let me use all her clothes):) I think I might have felt baby move once but wasn't sure and haven't felt it again since then...so who knows. It's killing me that I can't feel anything yet and I'm 19 weeks along. Most books and friends say you can start feeling baby between 16 and 20 weeks. He better start kicking harder so I know he's still there. Well, school starts back Friday the 15th and I'm kinda excited because it's getting a little boring around the house. I'm ready for the school year to start and I'm sure being busy with that will make the rest of my pregnancy go by fast. That and football games. Robby is excited that football season has started and two-a-days start tomorrow, so I am offically a widow until mid November. GO COUGARS!!!

Well, we finally got registered for baby. It took 4 days to finish and was one of the hardest things we've done. We didn't know what in the hell to click on. There are only 100 differnt bottles, binkies, toys, strollers, etc. But we figured it out with lots of reading and research and advice from friends. My mom came down this past week and we shopped a lot. We bought the bedding for the baby and some extremely cute clothes from Carters (football outfits of course). Thanks mom for everything! I'll see if I can upload a picture of the bedding. Well, that's it for this blog, enjoy the pictures of baby!



This is showing the two legs and penis (from the bottom view)


This is profile of baby


Here is baby's arm...


and foot.


Baby's mouth is open.



Here is my bedding. We will probably mix the football team with it.

Ok, Ok, I know I've been bad about blogging!

You don't realized how many people read your blog until you get emails and phone calls asking why I haven't updated my blog. Well, the reason is because I have been 100% LAZY. I can truely say that this is the first summer that I have got to experience relaxation. No summer school, no masters, no vacation! I have had a couple doctor appointments in the last couple weeks. My first visit to my OBGYN, Dr. Phillips, was on July 2nd. I was so excited to see my baby again. But was shocked and disappointed when all they did was use the doppler to listen to the heartbeat, which was 150 (I think). They do not do ultrasounds right there in her office, but across the hallway with Dr. Rowe (which is whole different appointment). Dr. Phillips was awesome, she sat with us for at least 45 minutes to an hour just talking about all kinds of things. I think because she had lunch after my appointment, so she wasn't in a hurry. We told her about Dr. Schnell's concern of the gestational sac so she wanted us to go ahead and see Dr. Rowe the very next week just to check it. So we did. We went to see Dr. Rowe on July 9th for an ultrasound (YEA...I got to SEE my baby). And boy was he asleep!!! He would not move for anything. So the tech went to get me a capri sun...WOW, he was jumping all over the place within 1 minute. I couldn't believe how well capri sun worked. I was told to drink one before my July 30th appointment to make sure he is awake. YES, that is right, I said HE. After finally waking up, we got to see lots of views of baby. And Dr. Rowe asked if we wanted to know what the sex was. OF COURSE! He said he was 80% sure it was a boy. A few minutes later both hands moved down there and he started playing with his little thing, and Dr. moved from 80% to 85% sure now! Dr. Rowe is awesome by the way. We will get to see him for all ultrasounds, since he works directly with Dr. Phillips. Here are some pictures of the ultrasound:



Baby's side view 1



Side view 2



Side view 3



Ok, this picture is if baby is sitting on glass table and you are looking up from below the table. You can see his legs and the thingy in the middle looks like a pee pee!



This is baby saying HI.

About two weeks ago Rob, me, and the dogs took a trip to Dallas to visit my family for the 4th. We had lots of fun. It was relaxing. My brother grilled for us at his place and we popped some fireworks. I was so excited that my parents agreed to take me and Robby to eat at Joe T Garcia's in Fort Worth and then walk around the stockyards for a while. Then my mom and my 2 nieces came down to visit. Robby and I took them to Schlitterbahn in Galveston. We had lots of fun. I of course couldn't do much except float in the lazy river, which was so much fun. We woke up early and got there when they opened at 10...which is the way to go so you can get a good table right by the water. Robby was a good sport, he was the one that rode all the rides with the Sierra and Cheyenne. Thanks honey. We also took them to Kemah Boardwalk to eat and ride some rides. That place has really grown. Here are some pictures.



Sierra and Cheyenne at the stockyards being goofy.



Ok, this is my dad. He is wearing Sierra's crazy hat and acting like he always does...goofy! Gotta love him!



This is Sierra riding the Inverter at Kemah



Robby and Cheyenne riding the Aviator.

It's a kickin!!!

I'm warning you, this will be long, so get your reading glasses on. As many of you know I went to the doc yesterday for my 12 week ultrasound and my exit exam with Dr. Schnell. It was bitter-sweet, I am very happy that everything is good and I'm moving on to my regular OBGYN, but I will truely miss the staff at CORM. They have been great. Well, because it had been a month since my last visit I was a little nervous about the ultrasound. I was so afraid that doc would stick that wand up there and find nothing. I have had no sickness and can't feel a thing, so I just didn't feel pregnant for the past month. However, my breasts are still hurting. Many many people keep saying that it will go away...but it hasn't. My sore breasts are the only thing reminding me that I am pregnant..oh, that and the fact that I am growing a belly...a fat belly!!! I can't wait til it's a baby and not a bunch of fat. Ok, back on track...so as doc started the ultrasound, the first thing we saw was a picture of his/her head from the top view. We could see both sides of the brain. Next the baby moved perfect to get a shot of his/her spinal cord (doc said it looked beautiful). It was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The baby was moving so fast, kicking and waving. He/She kept putting his/her hands up to it's mouth and then back down. At one point I swear he/she waved to us. I only got three pictures this time (I guess nurses are more generous than doctors)! Doc kept the wand in me for a long time and we just watched our little baby move all over the place. It was so fun. (When I got home my mind started wandering "shit I hope it's not ADHD"). I'll take what I can get. I can't post pictures of the ultrasound pics she gave me because they have a huge glare when I try to photograph them. There was one thing (of course...there always is!) that doc was worried about. She measured the baby and that looked great, then she measured the heart beat and that was good (167 bpm) but when she measured the gestational sac, it didn't measure big enough. It measured 10 weeks 4 days, which is about a week and a half behind. She did want to recommend us to Dr. Rowe, the high-risk preg doctor, to check things out a little more. It will probably be a couple weeks before I see him though. We left the office feeling very excited and happy...and pregnant!! We went straight to the mall to buy a bra for my poor big boobs! Overall, it was a great day.

When I first got to the doctor's office the nurse asked me several questions that I answered yes to. "Do you have bloating?" "Yes...I mean I'm getting fatter" "Do you have constapation?" "Yes, off and on" "Do you have insomnia?" "Yes" And most of the other questions I answered no to. But let me tell ya, this not-sleeping-at-night thing is killing me. I wake about 3 times each night to potty, but then it's like an alarm is going off inside my head at 4:30 am each and every morning. I can not sleep from 4:30 to 6:30 at ALL!!! My friend, Mary Ellen, told me that that is God's way of preparing me for the baby. That is soooo true! So if you're awake and want to talk...just call me! Robby wakes up at 5:30 to get ready for work and leaves around 6 or so. It usually takes me about 30 more minutes to fall alseep and then I sleep GOOD for several hours. At first I would stay in bed until about 11 but this week I am trying to make myself get out of bed around 9 or 10 am. It's nice that I'm on summer break so I can sleep all day. I feel so lazy. I just usually bum around the house in my pjs until about 5 or 6 pm and then take a shower for the day and either cook dinner or we'll go get something. Then I lie myself back on the couch...life is nice. Although, I think it drives Robby a little crazy (probably because he wishes he could do the same).

Life is about to suck for Rob, he just started back to school to get his masters through that on-line Lamar Masters program. I'm so glad it's him and not me. You should see the stack of articles he has to read and respond to in just week one. This is an 18 month masters for only $5000, which is pretty dang good. Football season will be very hard on him, his mother and I have already promised to help. Please pray that he'll make it.

As for the puppies (and yes I'll attach some pictures) they are all GONE...YEA. We were getting so tired of waking up to tons of pee and poo every morning. I cried last Thursday more than I'd cried in a long time. We have 6 pups leave us that day...and it was sad. But by Saturday and Sunday, I was happy to see the last few ones go. I think Holly was too. She seems very happy and back to her normal self (that's kinda sad).


Remember when they were born?



And now they are 7 weeks old and playful as can be.



Cute as a button, but glad they're gone!



Play Time!



Dinner Time!



Last weekend Robby's sister got married. So my wonderful parents came in town to stay at our house to puppy sit for the weekend...bless their hearts! And my awesome neighbor came over all weekend to help my parents clean and care for all 14 animals. Thanks to them!!! Robby and I got to enjoy a peaceful puppy-free weekend in Galveston at the San Luis Resort. It was also our 5-year anniversary Saturday (the day his sister married). During the ceremony, the priest congratulated Robby and I on our anniversary...and I started crying like a baby. I am sooooo emotional lately. Everything makes me cry! I thought that was very sweet of Michelle and Matt to have him announce that during the ceremony. The reception was beautiful and I was very busy talking all night and didn't get many pictures but I will post a few. Robby also set up a "wedding suite" for Saturday night with rose petals all over the room and a beautiful arrangement delivered with a dozen sterling roses. I was so amazed. He is still wonderful to me. I don't know if you've ever seen sterling roses, but they are the most pretty shade of purple.


Robby and our new brother-n-law, Matt



Me and Michelle, the beautiful Bride!



This was an awesome 5-year anniversary party!!!



Thank you honey for my beautiful sterling roses.


Well, I think I'll wrap it up. I go to my regular doc on Wednesday the 2nd (Dr. Phillips). I will post again then! Enjoy the pictures. Oh, and please pray for my gestational sac to keep up with the baby! A good friend once told me that God likes specific prayers!!!

Am I still pregnant???

OK, it's been 2 weeks since I've been to the doctor and had an ultrasound so I could see my baby and see the heartbeat. It's going to be another 2 weeks before I get to go back and see it again. That is a total of 4 weeks without seeing my baby. Because I don't have morning sickness and of course it's too early to feel the baby, I sometimes ask myself..."AM I still pregnant?" It is like I need to go to the doctor once a week to reassure myself that I in-fact AM pregnant. I still have breast tenderness (not as bad...but still bad enough that they are off-limits)! This past week I had a few experiences where smells got to me. I was at our end-of-the-year awards ceremony at the high school on Friday and I had to go to the bathroom. Well, I just needed to pee, but someone else decided to stink the place up and poop!! Not that that smell is pleasing to me anyway, but usually I can handle it, getting in and out really fast. But for some reason I just stood there over the toilet gagging, and finally ran out for some fresh air. Whew...I thought I was going to die. Then a friend of mine that I was sitting next too was wearing (what seemed like) a lot of hairspray. Again...gagging! I finally had to get up and stand in the aisle for some fresh air. That is about all the symptoms I am having. Oh, I did buy my first pair of maternity shorts...man they are sooooo comfortable. I'm not showing yet, but my clothes are getting a little tight in the belly area...that's because I eat A LOT!!!

Well, when I go back to the doctor on June 23rd, I will be exactally 12 weeks! YEA, that will be the end of my first trimester...that's neat! That will also be my last doctor appointment with Dr. Schnell :( I will miss everyone there. They are sooo wonderful and nice. I will start seeing my regular OBGYN soon after that appointment, but not sure how soon. I need to call and find that out. That is when I will get to hear the heartbeat instead of just seeing it. I will let you know how those appointments go.

There is a lot going on this week. My parents are coming in on Friday or Saturday to help take care of the puppies, because my sister-n-law is getting married Saturday the 14th (that is Robby's and my 5 year anniversary) WOW...5 years already! We will be gone a lot this weekend because we are in the wedding, so we will be very busy. Thank God my parents are coming to help with the pups. I will post some new pictures of the puppies. The last pictures I posted, they were still in their whelping box, they have now taken over the kitchen!! And yes, it smells wonderful when we cook :)

Enjoy the pictures!


Here is one of our boys roaming the house...we only let one out at a time!



Our trip to the vet...Doc is giving them their first deworming.



Only some of them have figured out how to play with the balls.



Dinner time. You should see this, everything is gone in 2 min. max!



Then it's nap time...yes, in one big pile!